THE National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), led by its chairman National Artist Virgilio S. Almario, through its Subcommission for Cultural Heritage is set to kick off the celebration of National Heritage Month for the whole month of May.
Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation no. 439 signed in 20013, the National Heritage Month celebration takes a prime among Filipinos the consciousness, respect, and love for the cultural heritage.
Carrying the theme “Mga Pinuno para sa Pamana”, this year’s celebration aims to send a message to Filipinos to be the frontrunners in preserving and promoting our culture and heritage. It intends to instill the importance of our heritage as an integral part of our identity as Filipinos.
The National Heritage Month 2019 is set to open on May 2, 2019 at the St. Matthias Parish Church in Tumauini, Isabela. The St. Matthias Parish Church is declared by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) as a National Historical Landmark and by National Museum of the Philippines (NM) as National Cultural Property, it is also one of the four Baroque Churches in the Philippines included in the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Commission also initiated a competition through social media called #TanglawNgPamana that intends to showcase talents in promoting cultural heritage through an audio-visual presentation. This will also serve to reach audience particularly the youth on a national celebration like the National Heritage Month.
The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) will also launch this year’s commemorative stamp featuring Women as Keepers of Heritage. In line with the National Heritage Month celebration, various cultural agencies, national government agencies, schools, public libraries, Philippine embassies and consulates, and private organizations will hold heritage-related activities such as lectures, demonstrations, conferences, and exhibit, which aim to educate and raise awareness among the youth on tangible and intangible heritage, and to recognize and support the roles of local artists and cultural workers in preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
For more details, please contact Mr. Rene Napeñas, head of the Public Affairs and Information Section, through 0928-5081057, 527-2192 loc 628 or through email address ncca.paio@gmail.com. Log on to www.ncca.gov.ph.