Let us Celebrate Filipino Heritage Month
The month of May is special in the Philippines as it is recognized as National Heritage Month (NHM). Join us in recognizing the need to create an appreciation, respect, and love for the legacies of Filipino cultural history. This year, the NHM 2018 has the theme “National Unity for Heritage” (“Pambansang Pagkakaisa Para sa Pamana”).
IMAGE grabbed from NCCA website
The primary government agency in promoting culture and arts in the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), through the Subcommission on Cultural Heritage (SCH), spearheads the celebration of NHM 2018 with online advocacies, tours, demonstrations, conferences, exhibits, and clean-up drives in cultural and historical sites. Activities which aim to increase public consciousness on the value of preserving cultural heritage that has shaped the Filipino identity for centuries.
Performances and Exhibits
See Filipino heritage in action with concerts from the The National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) featuring Vella C. Damian School of Ballet Inc., Penny’s, University of Sto. Tomas Conservatory of Music, Bocaue Youth Concert Band ’16, Gin Rum & Truth, soprano Anya Tapales, Zoe and the Jaywalkers, and the St. James Cathedral Choir. Watch them at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium and at the Paco Park every 6 pm for free.
IMAGE grabbed from NPDC Facebook Page
We are also celebrating the International Museums Day with the theme “Hyperconnected Museums: New Approaches, New Public”. To celebrate this, the National Museum is set to inaugurate the National Museum of Natural History on the same day. The new museum will showcase the country’s rich biodiversity.
Other exhibits for the National Heritage Month 2018 include a weeklong exhibit from May 21 to May 28 will be held at the main lobby of the PHLPOST Building in Manila featuring 20 Philatelic Frames of heritage stamps issued by PHLPost throughout the years. The National Library of the Philippines will open an exhibit of books and photos on Filipino culture and history entitled A Books to Remember. The exhibit opened last May 2 and will run until May 31.
Mall-goers will also be able to see a few exhibits without going to the museum as the Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. will mount exhibitions featuring National Artists, Heritage Churches, Philippine fashion, and Filipino culinary traditions in selected SM Malls.
Lectures and Workshops
The NCCA along with partner organizations and agencies have organized lectures and workshops to celebrate National Heritage Month 2018. A few include the Batang ROFG Workshop from The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group (ROFG) to teach and educate the children on the dance and music researches of Ramon Obusan, National Artist for Dance.
Lectures on history and national heroes will be held on May 10 at the Museo ni Jose Rizal Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila on the trial of Andres Bonifacio and another on May 18 at the Museo ni Apolinario Mabini PUP, Sta. Mesa, Manila on Apolinario Mabini’s ideas on governance.
Contests
A contest from the NCCA initiative enjoins netizen’s perspectives in their idea of cultural heritage conservation and preservation; and how they see themselves contributing to making these ideas happen. The initiative will use Facebook as a platform for the photo-essay campaign using the hashtag #ParaSaPamana to spread awareness and encourage the public to participate in the advocacy of preserving our cultural and historical heritage. Refer to this pdf file for the mechanics of the contest. Submissions will be evaluated and 20 winners will be chosen to receive a special prize.
In this year’s of National Heritage Month 2018, the government aims to strengthen the people’s awareness of cultural heritage sites, structures, and landscapes, and encourage their participation in the preservation of these cultural legacies through various activities. As well as give homage to living traditions and both tangible and intangible heritage.
Source: National Commission for Culture and the Arts
