Davao City – Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has lauded the virtual forum “Pakighinabi” as it levels up the appreciation for Filipino folk arts and artists. PAKIGHINÁBI: Forum on Order of National Artists and Gawad sa Manlilika ng Bayan” is a collaboration of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the city government held virtually last March 25, 2021.
Pakighinábi – Bisaya word for conversation – is a special NCCA outreach to local government units with a strong local culture and arts sector, such as Davao City. The virtual forum intends to develop an eye for nationally significant fine and folk arts and artists in the locality and to strengthen its capacity to actively participate in future nominations of National Artists and Manlilikha ng Bayan.
Mayor Sara in her opening message expressed her gratitude to NCCA for bringing the event online to educate more Filipinos about Filipino art and artists.
“This is a great opportunity for more artists and art supporters across the country to gain information about the honors that may be bestowed upon artists who have shown excellence in the pursuit of their national craft of culturally significant body of work,” she said.
Three of the country’s esteemed cultural workers discussed the nature, objective, distinction, and congruence of the two awards that make up the National Orders of Cultural Merit. These are Ms. Corazon S. Alvina, Curator, and Director of Museo ng Kaalamáng Katutubò; Dr. Felipe M. De Leon, Jr., former Chairman of Gawad ng Manlilikha ng Bayan Executive Council; and Dr. Patrick D. Flores, Professor in the Department of Art Studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Curator of UP Vargas Museum.
The forum also discussed the selection processes for both awards.
According to NCCA, some 150 individuals attended the Zoom meeting.. These were registered participants whose backgrounds ranged from academe, cultural work, arts management, heritage conservation, and the civil service. Sixty-two (62) or 41% of these attendees were from Davao City.
Pakighinabi live stream on Facebook drew a total of 10,233 views; 24,651 people reached (number of unique newsfeeds where the forum post was seen); 2,751 engagements (either through likes, comments, or shares); and 152 shares.
Also, its online feedback form was requested to be answered but only by the Zoom attendees. Seventy-five (75) persons or 50% of these attendees answered the feedback form. Seventy-two percent (72%) percent of the respondents expressed the need to improve the technical facilities of the program. More importantly, however, 100% of the respondents conveyed that the forum enhanced their understanding of ONA and GAMABA and was encouraged to value its laureates more.
The NCCA was gratified by the support of Davao City, Mayor Sara Duterte, City Administrator Zuleika T. Lopez, the Davao City Culture and Arts Council, and the Museo Dabawenyo Staff and for making Pakighinabi a success. (City Information Office | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)