ARTS appreciation from the mountains to the seas of Sagay City.
The Ata Indigenous Peoples group from the upland barangay of Sagay City highlighted the opening of this year’s Sagay Arts Month as they shared their culture and tradition through a series of performances in Margaha Beach, Barangay Old Sagay on February 7.
This month-long celebration called “Diin Tabo Man?” held annually right in the residence of internationally acclaimed visual artist Nunelucio Alvarado opened recently at the Margaha Beach, considered to be Sagay’s epicenter of art movement.
This is in line with the National Arts Month Celebration led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
The event was attended by hundreds of artists in Sagay, as well as the residents and city officials who participated in various activities like foot parade, “Pinta Baruto” or painting of the boats, “ArtKutso-Kutso” or an artist talk with Alvarado, “Lumba Baruto” or boat race, “Pinta Sikad” and continuous training of pedicab drivers of Purok Bougainvillea, opening of “Brave heARTS” exhibition of Pintas Sagaynon, and the community dance.
The Ata group from the upland Brgy. Puey performed various dances “Pangayam”, “Inamo”, and “Inagong” (courtship dance) and served as the highlight of the opening.
Indie singer Martin Miraveles also performed during the opening with his original song “Perlas ng Silangan”.
Mayor Alfredo D. Maranon, III in his message during the opening program urged the parents to help their children to develop their special talents and skills in the arts as the celebration of the National Arts Month every year to bring out their hidden talents.
He added that the city is fortunate to have Nunelucio Alvarado, one of the best artists of our country and his wife, Sally, who is the prime mover of arts celebration in our city.
Negros Occidental 2nd District Representative Leo Rafael Cueva said he is happy for the performances of the Ata Tribe which means that their culture is alive and that we need to support them to protect and preserve it for the next generations.
He also said that for the past seven years of celebration, the event has evolved and that it is only in Sagay that arts month is being celebrated and thanked Mayor Marañon for his full support to the arts and culture programs of the city.
Cueva also called on everyone to continue to support the arts and culture program of the city.
During the month-long celebration, Arts Month activities will also be brought to the Ata Village in Barangay Puey, “Para sa Kabataan” event with the Sagay Young Tourism Volunteers, Panika-Tika Workshop on Film, Margaha Film Festival, and “Panulaan sa Mt. Nabigaa” poetry reading.
The celebration will be capped on February 28 through “Callmenation” that will be held in Margaha Beach. (PR)