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By Rome C. Jorge, Lifestyle Editor
Cecile Guidote Alvarez, executive director of the National
Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), said she believes the
arts and culture could be used to fight corruption and overcome the
mindset of poverty.
In an exclusive roundtable discussion with The
Manila Times on Monday, Alvarez cited efforts of the commission,
such as those that highlight what is uniquely Filipino to gain a
niche in the global marketplace.
“Even overseas, people want what is truly
ours,” she said.
She recounted how she brought 17 indigenous
people in full authentic regalia to the United Nations to perform
The Agony, Death and Resurrection of the Forest. “People wanted to
buy all that they wore on the spot. That’s how interesting our
products are. We need help with the marketing.”
She cited collaborations between recipients of
the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Awardees (Gamaba)—the equivalent
of the National Artists Awards for indigenous artists—and Filipino
couture and handicrafts retailer Tesoro’s in promoting indigenous
textiles and crafts. The deal provides an equitable distribution of
profit for indigenous communities and guarantees the quality and
authenticity of their work.
Alvarez added that such handicraft stores
provide indigenous artisans direct access to urban upscale markets.
“They lose out to the middleman,” she explained. She said micro-
financing is being made available for indigenous entrepreneurs and
artisans.
She emphasizes the role of government in
sponsoring arts and does not believe this erodes artistic freedom or
the right to dissent. A stalwart of the anti-dictatorship movement
who exiled herself for 13 years to the US during the martial law
era, Alvarez was once a strong critic of the centralization of
artistic development in a few elite institutions. As founder of
Philippine Educational Theater Association, Alvarez credits grants
she received abroad for propping up her troupe of exiled political
dissenters.
Cultural care-giving
Now as head of the commission, Alvarez
spearheads “cultural care-giving” for provinces and Filipino
overseas communities.
Many regional fiestas have been made more
artistic and authentic with the help of folkloric dancers, classical
choreographers, stage and costume designers, anthropologists and
cultural workers made available by the commission to fiesta
organizers. Gone are the days of fiestas seeing nothing more than
girls gyrating to “Ocho-Ocho” and “Spaghetti Pataas. “ “It
can’t be just beauty contests. They also have to pay tribute to
the community’s most honest citizen,” she said.
She added that the commission partners with
local government units to foster pride of heritage and of habitat
and to “use culture as the binding element for good governance.”
The commission has tapped the United Architects
of the Philippines to educate and provide guidelines for local
governments. This is to stop the waste of taxpayers’ money on
tacky candy-colored streetlights, garish monuments and other
eyesores.
“It’s all about the local governments,”
she said, adding that provinces such as Bohol, Pampanga and Agusan
have seen a revival after people took pride in rehabilitated
historical sites and traditions.
“What we’re trying to do is to contaminate
people with these cultural positives,” she said.
She also revealed that Church officials have
also begun to accept the commission’s assistance in educating
priests in the need to preserve artifacts in the church’s care.
Many priceless relics and architectural landmarks have disappeared,
been sold off, discarded, painted or plastered over by priests
through ignorance or corruption. She also noted the need to archive
such relics.
Media campaign
The commission continues to promote arts through
its award-winning radio show Balintataw, as well as on print and
other media. Recent events included an anti-corruption
cartoon-drawing contest, which cartoonist Bladimir Usi of The Times
won.
From comics to fiestas, the National Commission
on Culture and the Arts’ role in uplifting Filipino consciousness
and artistry is as pervasive as it is essential.
When she finishes at the commission, Guidote
said she wants to be remembered using culture and the arts as “a
force for education and social transformation.”
She added that she believes that arts and
culture “help people develop a heart
of compassion, and with that, greed will
disappear.”
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