Unique Town Features Highlighted in Arts Month

Cebu commemorates the Arts and Culture Month every February.

This year, the celebration began with a ribbon cutting at the Museo Sugbo by unveiling a photo exhibition of different municipalities and cities in the province, emphasizing their distinctive features.

Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Miguel Antonio Magpale, the committee chair of Cebu Arts and Culture, is joined by PB Member Arleigh Sitoy and Tourism Department Head Grace Paulino at the ribbon cutting ceremony on February 9.

“Kagahapon Hinumduman, Inobasyon Karon, Ugmad sa Kaugmaun” (Reminiscing Yesterday, Innovating Today, Developing for Tomorrow) is this year’s theme for Arts and Culture Month in Cebu.

This aims to recognize the different unique characteristics of municipalities and cities of Cebu Province through their history, culture and arts to depict the collective Cebuano identity.

“The celebration of the Arts and Culture Month is a simple celebration to remind us who we were, what we are now, and what we will be, as a Cebuano and as a Filipino,” Magpale said.

“The photo exhibit reminds us of the natural resources that we have, shows how gifted our province is, how talented and creative we are when it comes to food, arts, building structures, how we lived before, and how we are living now,” he added.

The month-long celebration is divided into three events according to the theme to deliberately give emphasis on the localities’ festivals, tradition and delicacies.

Kagahapon Hinumduman refers to reminiscing the past by showing old images and photographs that would trigger stories of “Remember when,,,?”

Inobasyon Karon emphasizes advancement and innovation through activities that features a fusion of traditions and contemporary practices. Activities include cultural dance competition with a twist, culinary arts competition and Bisrock Band Exposition.

Ugmad sa Kagahapon points to the mergjng of the old and the present times, to prompt the people to ponder and envision what Cebu will be in the future.

On the culmination day, a 50-Year Time Capsule Ceremony will take place on the grounds of the Provincial Capitol to be done by elected government officials who will write in a paper their visions of the future of Cebu and placed it inside a capsule and bury it on the ground.

The ceremony will be followed by a Gala Night as well as the awarding of winners in the dance competition, historical play, singing competition and band expo.

www.cebu.gov.ph