The launch of the Philippines' first creative hub - ENSAYO - is seen as key to meeting head-on all the challenges facing the country's P1.6-trillion creative industries such as film, music and architecture, according to the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) highest-ranking official.
In his speech at the launch of ENSAYO Creative Hub on Friday, Sept. 22, DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said, “our creative industries have always been a cornerstone adding billions to our GDP, providing livelihoods to millions, and painting a vibrant image of our culture on the world stage."
The DTI chief stressed that, "(and) yet, like any masterpiece, there are challenges that cast shadows on its brilliance. ENSAYO stands as our answer to these challenges, offering resources, training, and market accessibility to ensure our artists and creative firms don't just survive but thrive.”
Advertising, film, design, animation, literature, music, architecture, crafts, culinary arts, and new media are some of the sectors that encompass the creative industries in the country.
The ENSAYO Creative Hub, through the Philippine Trade Training Center - Global MSME Academy (PTTC-GMEA), supports the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA) by providing a co-working space for creative talents, enhancing design thinking capabilities, and supporting the growth of creative firms and artists towards economic and social development.
Pascual said that PCIDA reflects the DTI’s “sentiment for bolstering the creative sector”, considering the hub “as its tangible manifestation.”
By championing PCIDA’s mission of developing and promoting the Philippine creative industries, the DTI chief cited three significant roles and features of the creative hub.
First, he said, ENSAYO hub’s state-of-the-art facilities and tools will equip both the creative firms and individual creators to advance their design thinking.
Secondly, the creative hub will train creators to be globally competitive by offering diverse entrepreneurial and technical programs.
And lastly, ENSAYO explores partnerships and collaborations to strengthen the unity among the whole community as “we create, innovate, and elevate”.
PTTC-GMEA Executive Director Nelly Nita N. Dillera said in an interview with reporters that “these are actually for the private sector. We hope that you take opportunity, and take advantage of all the equipment, the facilities, and the programs that we have here because, at the end of the day, this is for the whole country.”
Dillera said that all the facilities in the hub are open to all creative artists, who sometimes struggle to find facilities that they can use because of cost constraints, especially those who are still starting.
With a large space, the ENSAYO creative hub can be a venue for various creative activities such as training, workshops, recitals, and exhibitions.
She also emphasized that apart from the equipment and facilities, PTTC also has partners like Husay, an online platform that provides artists with blended learning experiences on business and creativity.
Through a partner center like this, “they can even help our artists look for a possible employer,” Dillera said, noting that this is a great opportunity for creative startups to build networks with small enterprises who plan to promote their products or services.
“Our enterprises, sometimes they want to pitch their businesses to potential investors but they don't know how to do it well, they don't know how to make their presentation better. So we can look for possible partners for them," she said.
In addition, Dillera said, “PTTC is more established in terms of trade training” where it can guide artists on how to establish their business using their skill potentials, in such areas as pricing or costing, product marketing, financial organization, and debt management.
They can also be assisted in accessing loans from various financial services including government agencies like DTI, private institutions like the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), and even international services like the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Proxtera, according to Dillera.
In 2022, the Philippine creative industry’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 12.1 percent with P1.60 trillion from the previous year’s P1.43 trillion, bringing a total share of 7.3 percent.
According to DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG) Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, “the creative industries were number one in terms of exports in ASEAN.”
“In 2022, we were able to export around $8 billion. So, we’re really hopeful that through the ENSAYO hub, we will be able to really catalyze the growth and development of the creative industries,” she added.
The ENSAYO Creative Hub is located at the Philippine Trade Training Center - Global MSME Academy, beside the World Trade Center in Pasay, Metro Manila.
It is just one of the various creative projects and events of DTI this September in the first national celebration of the Philippine Creative Industry Month. (Ma. Joselie C. Garcia)