BEYOND BUDGET

*Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.* “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” — Mahatma Ghandi Each of us may be from different backgrounds and upbringings, but as Filipinos, we're tied together by a common history and environment, which ultimately shapes our culture. Our cultural heritage connects us with our past as we navigate our future as a nation. This is why I'm still heartbroken from the tragedy that happened to our beloved Manila Central Postal Office (MCPO) building last week. The almost century-old neo-classical structure has been destroyed by fire and now, only the faint shape of its columns reveals what used to be one of the grandest edifices in Manila. It especially saddens me that the misfortune of such a historic building should happen as the country concluded National Heritage Month in May. The devastation that happened to the MCPO building is a distressing call for everyone to persist giving value to historic structures and other tangible proofs of our heritage. Culture speaks of our heart and soul as a nation—it's the beautiful weave that cloaks our being with such strength, hope, and purpose. The preservation and promotion of our country’s arts, culture, and history should be parallel, if not, interwoven, with the country's vision for progress. To our dedicated men and women of the Philippine Postal Corporation, we hear you. We are with you in rebuilding the MCPO, especially in assessing the immediate funds needed for its restoration and rehabilitation. As an Important Cultural Property, the MCPO building is safeguarded by the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 provision that states, “In times of armed conflict, natural disasters and other exceptional events that endanger the cultural heritage of the country… All cultural properties declared as important cultural property may also receive government funding for its protection, conservation and restoration." The National Heritage Cultural Act (NHCA) was principally authored by the late Senator Edgardo J. Angara or SEJA as we fondly called him. SEJA envisioned the law to help protect and preserve our national cultural treasures especially in the light of what he called the "cultural neglect" of numerous cultural heritages that were being destroyed. For him, the passage of the NHCA is one vital step in upholding our identity as a people. It provided a comprehensive framework for the preservation of Philippine cultural heritage that were of significance and had historic value to the country. Clearly, the MCPO fits the criteria. Fourteen years after, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, another strong champion for the promotion of Philippine art and culture, seeks the review of the decade-old law with the integration of cultural mapping at all levels of our government. The cultural mapping bill, which the bicameral conference committee approved in March 2023, delegates the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), along with other concerned agencies to coordinate with local government units to implement the cultural mapping mandate to further strengthen heritage conservation in the country, which, in effect, will address new threats from a fast-changing cultural landscape. I have personally witnessed how Senator Legarda strongly upholds our country’s heritage, arts, and rich culture. She is a fervent advocate of protecting our heritage values, as she thinks these endeavors will ensure that our culture will live on. In fact, she was largely instrumental in the Philippines’ return to one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious exhibitions of contemporary art, the Venice Art Biennale, after a 50-year hiatus. Speaking of our rich arts and culture, the Philippines has been represented in various global art gatherings. Last week, for instance, we celebrated Filipino artists and architects Sam Domingo and Choie Funk, and the exhibitor Architecture Collective, who were featured at the Philippine Pavilion of the prestigious 18th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in Italy. Entitled, Tripa de Gallina: Guts of Estuary, the work impressed international viewers with its massive, intricately woven bamboo structure meant to provoke reflection, care, and action for the estuaries and its residents. It also gave them an avenue for more collaborations, and hopefully, more support from the government and the private sector. Indeed, the Filipino artist is truly world-class. Our built cultural heritage alone, made by dedicated architects, artisans, and workers from decades past to the present, is a monument to the indomitable soul of our nation.

Support for culture and the arts

For 2023, DBM has released funding for our cultural agencies to sustain their projects. It has allocated ₱212 million for the National Historical Commission of the Philippines; ₱33 million for NCCA; ₱164 million for the National Archives; ₱70 million for the Filipino language commission; ₱356 million for CCP, and ₱444 million for the National Museum. The budgetary allocations aim to support the implementation of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which provides measures to help strengthen the cultural and economic development of the nation through the transfer of knowledge and practices in promoting Filipino cultural values, promote capacity building initiatives to protect the cultural skills of Filipino creative industry stakeholders, and further promote and protect the works of creatives in the country, among others. The administration of President Bongbong Marcos believes that a nation cannot exclude culture in addressing our developmental challenges, as it cuts across our collective values and sets of beliefs—and therefore, it influences how we regard and collectively acts on socio-economic concerns, and promoting democracy and peace. Arts and culture have a special place in our vision to have responsive budget and management policies that will support our recovery and rebuilding efforts from the pandemic. All these are interconnected. Beyond budget, preserving our cultural heritage and historical possessions is a priceless act of love for our country. Giving pride and honor to our national heritage must truly be a mandate for every Filipino. More than ever, there is a critical need to invest in our culture and education to avoid a future beset with cultural bankruptcy. Material wealth has its allure, but giving premium to spiritual values, humanity, and meaningful life will truly make us a richer nation.