President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. reiterated his continuous commitment to promoting Philippine culture and preserving and protecting the country's cultural heritage.
Marcos said this at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) awarding ceremony in Malacañang on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
In his speech, the President told the artists that the government was there to support them.
"Makaaasa kayo na kaisa ninyo ang pamahalaan at administrasyong ito sa pagsusulong at pagpapayaman ng ating sining at kultura (Rest assured that the government is one with you in promoting and enriching our culture and arts),” he said.
"Nagtitiwala ako na kung pauunlarin natin ang industriyang ito, higit tayong makatutulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya, at maiangat ang Pilipino saan mang dako ng daigdig (I believe that if we can grow the industry, we can help grow our economy and lift Filipinos wherever they are),” he added.
Marcos called on NCCA to support Filipino artists who significantly contribute to developing and promoting Philippine culture and the arts.
He likewise urged Filipino artists to show the country's culture and identity and feature the Philippines' rich artistry and cultural heritage.
"Hiling ko na lalong magtulak ito sa inyo na ipagpatuloy ang inyong mga nasimulan upang mapangalagaan ang kultura at pagkakakilanlan ng ating sining at bayan (I wish that this recognition will push you to continue what you started to porotect our culture, arts, and the country)," Marcos said.
"Sa inyong patuloy na paglikha at pagsulong ng ating orihinal na mga katha, pinapa-unlad ninyo ang ating industriya ng sining at pinakikilala ang ating lahi sa buong mundo (With your continued creation of original crafts, you enrich the arts industry and introduce our race to the world)," he added.
Ani ng Dangal honors natural-born Filipino artists or groups who have received international awards and accolades in nine categories — Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Literary Arts, Music, Visual Arts, Folk Arts, and Broadcast Arts — over the past year.
The awardees under Architecture and Allied Arts were: The Penthouse (Best Residential Interior Apartment); The Galleon Residences Showroom (Best Residential Show Home); Equilateral House (Winner for Innovative Architecture); Batangas Forest City (Best of the Best for Innovative Architecture.
For Cinema, the awardees were Jeric Gonzales (Best Actor); Dolly De Leon (Best Supporting Performer); 'Di N'yo Ba Naririnig (Golden Kinabalu Award for Best Documentary): The Flight of Banog (Golden Kinabalu Award for Best Indigenous Language Film); Geraldo B. Jumawan (Best Actor); Black Rainbow (Best Short Film); Joaquin Ditan Domagoso (Best Actor); The HeadHunter's Daughter (Grand Jury Prize); It's Raining Frogs Outside (International Award); Days of the New (International Competition Grand Prix); Leonor Will Never Die (World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award).
For Dance, the awardees were Billy Crawford, ELECTRO GROOVERS, Halili-Cruz School of Ballet, and Bayanihan.
Meanwhile, the list of awardees under the Music category includes Ryle Custodio, Darwin J. Lomentigar, Rafael Adobas Bayog, Ily Matthew Maniano, Theodore Julius Chua Tan, Adrik Cristobal, Jeanne Rafaella Marquez, Far Eastern University Chorale, Michael Valenciano, and Danikka Dy.
Albert Reyes, Mariah Zamora, and Froiland Rivera received honors for Visual Arts, while A Thousand Cuts, a film by Ramona Diaz, was honored as the Outstanding Social Issue Documentary.