NEW NCCA GRANT FOR MARINDUQUE

After the success of last February's "Viva Marinduque" cultural showcase tour on the island-province, the National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA) has decided to provide a new grant to the provincial government of Marinduque for the re-mounting of the presentation in celebration of Philipine International Arts Festival (PIAF)2009.

It will be recalled that since the inception of the said festival there has been no known effort from the side of local government units in Marinduque, nor national line agencies offices or cultural organizations to celebrate it with appropriate programs and activities. The provincial government thus took up the challenge in December last year by spearheading the "Viva" move. This was quickly responded to by the municipal LGUs and the private sector.

The Marinduque celebration of the Philippine Arts Festival 2008, (Ani ng Sining in Marinduque), through a cultural showcase that included the various art forms was conducted from February 6-26, 2008. This was done through a series of shows presented in all the six (6) municipalities of Marinduque that saw the participation of some 100-120 artistic and production staff. All the municipalities contributed their own showcases/numbers through songs, dances or plays, making it a truly unifying project. This has also probably made it the longest Philippine Arts Festival held in a particular locality.

Critical acclaim to the project was strengthened by two separate resolutions – one from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque that praised the project for having “exuded the province’s unique culture, customs and traditions which were hailed by most of those who witnessed the various activities and presentations relative to the same” and “ despite the limited time and budget of the provincial government and the six municipalities, it did not constrain them from organizing a committee that made the event a success and even strengthened a collaborative effort with the national government offices/agencies and other organizations that led to such an achievement”.

The second resolution was adopted by the Sangguniang Bayan ng Gasan which stressed that “those who were able to watch the presentation of this theatrical production can not help but admire the depth of its message, the beauty of its choreography, and the craftiness of its adaptation of light and sound effects and musical scoring”, that “Viva Marinduque is truly reflective of the richness of Marinduque’s beliefs, customs and traditions, and can also be an effective vehicle in the preservation of these cultures”; further stating, that the participation of Gasan youths “in this theatrical production have elevated them to a new dimension of skills, confidence and discipline” and that Viva Marinduque “is worthy of watching again and again and again”.

Cultural presentations of this nature also play significantly in continuously unifying the people. "Viva" organizers hope that the 2009 presentations could also be presented in far-flung areas on the island.