DAVAO Region, home of the Philippine eagles, diverse cultural heritage, colorful textiles, artistic individuals, and the nation’s skillful artisans, bolsters its world-class image in terms of artistry and creativity as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in collaboration with its Davao regional office launched FiestaKucha Kadayawan 2023: Mugna! The 1st Davao Region Creative Innovation Summit on September 26 at the Philippine Women’s College (PWC) University Avenue, Davao City.
To showcase the artistic landscape of the region from visionaries, innovators, artists, and entrepreneurs from various creative sectors in the entire region, the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA) was enacted with DTI as the leading implementing agency.
PCIDA is a creation of an enabling environment, including affordable and dependable digital connectivity and strong copyright protection laws.
The PCIDA has various state supports for the creative industries namely: the Creative Industries Investment Priority Plan; R&D Innovative Support; Creative Instruction and Education; Local Culture and Arts Councils; Philippine Creative Network; Digitalization of the Creative Industries; Creative Industry Data and Information; One-Step Registration Center; Public-Private Partnerships; Access to Credit and Financial Instruments; The Creative Industry Development Fund; Philippine Creative Industries Month; Creative Voucher System; and Infrastructure Support.
During the event, 30-minute non-stop performances from different world-class talents of Dabawenyos were showcased, including the University of Mindanao (UM) Choral, Sining Sayon Dawet Cultural Ensemble, En Avant Dance Dou, singer-songwriter Popong Landero among others.
Aside from performances, roadmap presentations, competitions, workshops, talks or panel discussions, information and education campaigns (ICs), and other interactive activities were also launched.
In an open talk with DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, DTI-Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG), she emphasized the importance of creative industries as they drive regional economic growth.
“It is important that we focus our efforts in terms of developing the creative industries and using it as a driver, using it as imagery to drive the growth and development of our region,” she said.
“By promoting this industry, really, the impact is so huge in terms of the regional economy, and imagine how this would translate in terms of the growth of the entire country,” the official added.
FiestaKucha derives from a combined word of the Filipino tradition called “Fiesta" and the Japanese story-telling style coined as “PechaKucha”. PechaKucha is also a Japanese onomatopoeia for “chit-chat”.
Presenting behind its origin, Dir. Lilian G. Salonga, DTI-Competitiveness Bureau (CB) said that the term is not just to promote culture and arts but also to foster creative competitiveness for community development.
It promotes local culture and arts; encourages collaboration and networking support for emerging artists and creatives, fosters creative entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and innovation, and encourages community engagement and social interaction.
To recall, DTI had its FiestaKucha in Cebu City, Region 7, on September 7 and will end on the 30th, 2023.
Davao Region, on the other hand, is the only area in Mindanao to have hosted the FiestaKucha. DEF