CAN you imagine living in a city without artists? I believe that a city without architects, musicians, painters, sculptors, poets, dancer-performers and cinema is a dead city. More so if there are no craftsmen, artisans, designers and creative people engaged in folk arts.
Recent talks in social media discusses Baguio as the 1st Philippine city in Unesco's Creative Cities particularly on the field of crafts and folk art. As expected, there are well-wishers and skeptics and my sharing of Rappler’s and CNN's online news about it elicited mixed reactions. Many are particularly dumbfounded on the word "folk art."
A check on Unesco’s website, the Creative Cities Network was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The 116 cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.
By joining said Network, cities commit to sharing their best practices and developing partnerships involving the public and private sectors as well as civil society. Cities recognized by Unesco are expected strengthen the creation, production, distribution and dissemination of cultural activities, goods and services; develop hubs of creativity and innovation and broaden opportunities for creators and professionals in the cultural sector; improve access to and participation in cultural life, in particular for marginalized or vulnerable groups and individuals and finally to fully integrate culture and creativity into sustainable development plans. Accordingly, the Network covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music. The Creative Cities Network is a privileged partner of UNESCO, not only as a platform for reflection on the role of creativity as a lever for sustainable development but also as a breeding ground of action and innovation, notably for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Musician and academy professor Bobby Carantes shared his view of what "Baguio Folk Arts and Crafts." Quoting National artist, Dr. Ben Lumbera, "folk culture" refers to what Filipinos originally had, and what they had INDIGENIZED in the course of their history... in the process of accommodation & resistance by the community in its multifarious relationships with outsiders..." Bobby opines that the range & breadth of what is "folk art" is encompassing. With the visual arts, and going by Lumbera, traditional indigenous (Igorot) art, or the current Tam-awan artists or works of BAG & Maryknoll artists are within scope of Baguio "folk art." As regards the distinction of ART & CRAFT, former NCCA Chair Dr. Felipe de Leon in a seminar had this to say: Unlike the West, here in the East, generally there is no distinction between "art" and "craft," being not as highly individualized creations in our part of the world. Thus, a definition of what "Baguio folk art and crafts" can be seen in this light. So it's not necessarily ethnicity that counts in this case. And speaking of distinction - one should rather be made between "folk art" and "pop art," the latter of which media has been peddling as representative of "Baguio culture." Pop culture forms have yet to be "assimilated into the sensibility & value system of the people" (Lumbera), hence cannot fall within the scope of "Baguio Folk Art and Crafts".
Carolyn Weygan joined the loop and said “when Honolulu was chosen as one of the 100 resilient cities, the organization was not quite in place either. That did not prevent stakeholders from having productive conversations and dialogues. The creation of an office of resiliency and sustainability was even put on the ballot which was another layer of time delay. Now, the city has the office but continues to struggle with budget allocation. That did not stop the appointed chief of resiliency officer from harnessing talents and technology. It is a long process but a community had goodwill to help focus on productive action."
I also believe that working hands are better than talking heads. I say so especially if those hands transforms simple ideas into something functional, pleases the eyes and make life more bearable with interesting crafts and innovative creations.
If given the option to choose between a television news anchor and that of a craftsman and designer, I would definitely go for the later because I want to create something with my bare ambidextrous hands.
The City Government should involve artists in the formation of Local Arts and Culture Council and not pick representatives from the existing structures at the city hall. There are various organizations like the Arts Foundation of the Cordillera, the Baguio Arts Guild, the Pasakalye group of artists and other music and theater based groups. Those of us attached with the sub committees of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) like Dr. Priscila Supnet Macansantos and Chit Asignacion I am sure are willing to lend our hands in whatever creative undertaking that the city will embark on. Amidst all the talks and speculations about the LCAC, I commented that artists, craftsmen and artisans can serve as the backbone of that arts council. In reply to a cynical post, I replied, "let us not nurture negativity ta agbalin tau a fishbone instead of a backbone."