Bago highlights local talents on National Arts Month

BACOLOD City – “Our aim is for these artistic endeavors to give recognition to our very own Bagonhon talents in the field of creative expression.”

Mayor Nicholas Yulo of Bago City, Negros Occidental stressed this point at the opening of the city’s celebration of the National Arts at the Bantayan Park on Monday, February 6.

Yulo said the city has prepared various artistic activities that are part of the seven art forms.

“In this month-long celebration of the arts, we also envisioned to highlight the word ‘galing’ which means excellence,” he said, referring to “an excellent form of art as an allusion to artistic excellence that underscores the capacity of the arts to heal, rebuild and restore in a post-pandemic setting.”

February was declared as the National Arts Month through Presidential Proclamation 683 Series of 1991.

“This is to celebrate artistic excellence and pay tribute to the uniqueness and diversity of the Filipino heritage and culture,” the mayor said.

In Bago, the city government kicked off this year’s celebration with the 3rd Kurit-Baylan, a supersized canvas painting competition, at the Bantayan Park riverfront.

Ten participants joined the competition dubbed “Art by the River” underscoring the importance of Bago River being considered as the “lifeblood” of Negros Occidental.

The Bago City Tourism Office said “Kurit-Baylan” is an initiative that brings hope, resiliency and creativity in the hearts of Bagonhons as they prepare themselves to embrace the brighter and colorful future.

The city continues to invest in programs that promote cultural development, artistry and ingenuity as it believes in the power of the Bagonhons, it added.

Barangay Ilijan’s Albert Magbanua won first place receiving P6,000 in cash prize.

JB Maridable of Barangay Caridad and Jullienne Castillo of Barangay Calumangan won second and third place receiving P5,000 and P4,500 in cash prizes, respectively.

The eight other participants who joined the competition each received P2,000 in consolation prizes.

The Kurit-Baylan competition also forms part of the city’s 57th Charter Anniversary Celebration this month.

Mayor Yulo, who led the awarding with Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, said that other artistic activities during the charter anniversary include the “Sugilanon sang mga Barangay” and Babaylan Festival Dance, among others.

“We look forward to holding these activities so that through it all, we will have a meaningful, creative and colorful National Arts Month to complement our Charter Anniversary celebration,” he added.

Meanwhile, also present during the opening rites were Councilors Marina Javellana – Yao, Maria Josefa Matti, Imelda Precion, Jake Patrick Torres, Maria Femmy Alvarez-Martir, Joseph Colmenares, Jobert Tagobader and Robert Javellana.