THE art scene in Davao City has been active for the whole of 2019.
The visual arts are as vibrant and as colorful as it is with numerous exhibits staged by various artists.
It was also a banner year for the music scene in Davao City with homegrown talents taking centerstage in the national songwriting and musical competitions.
The local film industry is also very much active with the film festivals here and the screening of films created by homegrown talents.
With so many art-related events held throughout the year, here is a wrap of three major activities in visual and performing arts.
In 2019, we saw the launch of two major arts activities -- the 1st Mindanao Art Fair, Exhibit and Conferences (Mindanao Art) and the first Mindanao Popular Music (Minpop). Likewise, Mindanao Film Fest (MFF) continues to cement its footing as among the major platforms for Mindanawon film makers to showcase their works.
Mindanao Art
Held on October 5 to 6, the MindanaoArt, organized by Lawig-Diwa, served as a venue for established and emerging Mindanaoan artists to showcase their works.
“Although we are very active in the art world pero hindi sya industry. Actually, yun yung ina-address ng Mindanao Art Fair... We have to build an industry so that the artists can now make more art ng hindi nagugutom (Although we are very active in the art world, it is not yet an industry. Actually, that is what we are trying to address here in Mindanao Art Fair... We have to build an industry so that the artists can now make more art while not being starved),” Stella A. Estremera, corporate secretary of Lawig-Diwa and former SunStar Davao editor-in-chief, said in a previous interview.
In a PTV interview, Lawig-Diwa president Mudjahir Rey “Kublai” Millan said, “The purpose is by coming together Mindanao artists will have a stronger and louder voice. Pag buhay ang mga artists, they can create and express more, mas nakakagawa sila ng creations that are beyond themselves. Not just about their selves but also with our culture.”
Estremera said the ultimate vision is to create an ecosystem of art where artists will have a sustainable, profitable profession.
In her SunStar Davao article entitled “MindanaoArt: The inside story”, which was published on October 20, 2019, Estremera said the attempts to organize such an event date back to more than six years ago “when artist friends gathered to commit to hold exhibits as malls opened their doors to art exhibits.”
From this, Artists Helping Artists was born and several exhibits were held at prime spots of Abreeza Mall.
“After several group exhibits came the realization that this is not enough. If we are to bring to life an industry that sustains artists, then just setting up exhibits is not the way,” said Millan in his speech during the Mindanao Art gala night on October 4, 2019.
There were around several galleries in the MindanaoArt showcasing the works of various artists. At the Datu Bago Gallery, for example, art instructor Jefferson Bangot made a 8 feet by 32 feet acrylic polytych. Aside from showcasing Bangot’s works and fellow instructor Jayreeve Guerrero, the gallery also featured artworks from senior high school students.
Another gallery is Tabula Rasa, which featured the works of Dadai Joaquin, Brando Cedeno, Daryl Descallar, Jane Raos, Dinky Munda, Jojo Jimenez, and Madoline dela Rosa.
MinPop
Though the Minpop Music Festival is still slated in February 2, 2020, its movement began to materialize in 2019 with the Minpop Bootcamp earlier this year.
After the success of Mindanawon songwriters and musical talents in Himig Handog and Philpop, both prestigiou songwriting competitions, a group of songwriters have banded together to start the Minpop movement.
These songwriters hope to bring music written by Mindanawons to the mainstream.
“The pop music here in Mindanao will not only be recognized here and the Philippines. We are talking about globally recognizing the pop music from Mindanao,” Chito Joseph de Castro, songwriter and Minpop PR head, said in a previous interview.
Philpop 2018 grand winner Chud Festejo said if Vispop was able to penetrate the Philippine airwaves in recent years, they are optimistic that Minpop will also be able to get the attention of listeners and music lovers.
“Nakaya nila sa Cebu and na curious mga taga-Manila. Kung kaya sa taga Visayas, kaya sa taga Mindanao (They got curious in Manila after Cebu did it. If Visayas can do it, Mindanao can too),” Festejo said.
With Minpop, songwriters here would want to campaign for a much diverse and colorful music scene in Mindanao.
“Para mapakita pud (So we can show) that there is more to Mindanao than ethnic music. The culture in Mindanao is very diverse,” Anton Kintanar, songwriter and member of the band Vino, said.
On November 9, 2019, organizers of the Minpop Music Festival revealed its top ten finalists: #Buang by Sherwin Fugoso of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte; Bahala Na and Sabihin Mo Lang both by Crissia Jenn Kaamiño of Medina, Misamis Oriental; Bulawan by Miggy Ann Kaamiño of Medina Misamis Oriental; Rason by Kent Charcos of Davao City; Sayaw by Marvin Asis of Davao City; A.M. by Mau Ria Pama of Lupon, Davao Oriental; Balay by Kenneth and Adam Niel Corvera of Tubay, Agusan del Norte; Filters by Sarah Faye Dulaca of Davao City; and Tethered by Marckenny Joshua Bohol of Iligan City.
MFF
In the last 16 years, the Mindanao Film Festival (MFF) has been showcasing the works of Mindanaon filmmakers on films about, related to, or shot in the island.
“MFF’s ultimate goal is to establish a sustainable movie industry, where artists earn or can have a livelihood,” festival director Rudolph Ian Alama said in a previous interview.
Organized by the Mindanao Film and Television Development Foundation, Inc. (MFTDFI) with Dax Canedo as president, the MFF has featured some 500 films since it began.
“It is happy to note that more film communities are born because of the festival, through this, a lot of Mindanao stories are told, not just war narratives. In a way, the film fest has broken the stereotype about Mindanao being just a war zone,” Alama said.
In a SunStar Davao report by Ace June Rell Perez published on March 30, 2019, “the people behind MFF are committed to sustain the festival for as long as it is deemed necessary in the industry. Plans of establishing better archiving system is also underway to preserve the films of Mindanao and make it more accessible to the viewing public.”
Recently, Trabungko was named as the Best Film of the 17th Mindanao Film Festival during the Awards Night at the Matina Town Square Taboan on Monday night, December 9.
Directed by Joshua Caesar Medroso, a filmmaker from Barangay Tibungco, Davao City, Trabungko also bagged the Best in Production Design and Best in Cinematography while Medroso was named as the Best Director.
Trabungko is a film that takes inspiration from where Tibungco gets its name. Trabungko is a mythical creature said to be a supernatural giant snake that was sighted in the barangay a long time ago. The film meanwhile is a story of a princess living in a kingdom who was attacked by a witch. The Kingdom’s Lakan then journeys to find the witch and kill her to avenge the princess. (With reports from Ace June Rell S. Perez, Roberto A. Gumba Jr., Juliet C. Revita, and Stella A. Estremera)