What it means to write honestly today

By Noel Galon de Leon

This year’s theme for National Arts Month, Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting, immediately invites reflection, as it speaks not only to artistic practice but also to how we live, think, and engage with society. The theme feels urgent, intimate, and challenging, reminding us that art is never detached from the world and that creativity carries responsibility—a call that resonates deeply with writers, artists, educators, and cultural workers alike.

The pairing of katotohanan and giting is powerful because these two ideas are deeply connected in Filipino experience and history. Truth without courage often remains hidden, while courage without truth can easily become noise or performance. In the context of creative writing, these words remind us that what we produce on the page should be anchored in honest inquiry and moral strength. Writing becomes meaningful when it is rooted in both sincerity and bravery.

Personally, I see this theme as a reminder to Filipino artists that our work should always be grounded in a conscious search for truth. This truth may be personal, historical, social, or emotional, but it must be pursued with integrity. At the same time, giting calls on us to face discomfort, criticism, and even risk. Without courage, truth remains incomplete and art becomes decorative rather than transformative.

According to the KWF Diksiyonaryo, the word katotohanan refers to that which is real, factual, and aligned with what truly exists or has occurred. It is not merely opinion, rumor, or popularity, but something tested by reason, evidence, and lived experience. In writing, katotohanan demands discipline, research, listening, and humility. It asks the writer to resist distortion even when distortion is easier or more rewarding.

Katotohanan is also deeply ethical, because it involves responsibility to others. When writers shape narratives, they shape how readers understand people, places, and events. In a country like the Philippines, where history has often been revised or silenced, truth telling through art becomes an act of justice. Every poem, essay, or article has the power to clarify or confuse, to reveal or conceal.

Meanwhile, the word giting is commonly understood as bravery, valor, or moral courage. It is not limited to physical heroism but includes the willingness to stand firm in one’s convictions. In the arts, giting means daring to speak when silence is safer and asking questions when obedience is expected. It is the courage to remain principled even when popularity or profit is at stake.

Giting becomes especially relevant in creative spaces where conformity is often rewarded. Many artists are pressured to follow trends, echo dominant voices, or avoid sensitive issues. True courage in art lies in resisting these pressures and choosing honesty over comfort. This kind of bravery is quiet, persistent, and deeply human.

Today, katotohanan and giting are more important than ever because social media often blurs the line between reality and performance. Viral content, algorithms, and influencer culture can distort what we value and believe. Popularity is frequently mistaken for credibility, and noise is confused with impact. In this environment, artists must work harder to protect truth and meaning.

We see how being labeled as brave or influential is sometimes based solely on visibility rather than substance. Courage is reduced to provocation, and truth is reduced to opinion. This weakens public discourse and damages our collective understanding. Artists, especially writers, have a role in slowing things down and restoring depth.

National Arts Month in the Philippines was established to recognize the vital role of the arts in nation building and cultural identity. It provides a space to celebrate creativity while also reflecting on its social purpose. Beyond performances and exhibits, Arts Month should encourage critical thinking about why art matters. It is not just a celebration but also a call to responsibility.

In a country like the Philippines, Arts Month is essential because art has always been intertwined with resistance, memory, and survival. From precolonial chants to protest literature, Filipino art has carried stories that were excluded from official records. Celebrating the arts means honoring these voices and ensuring they continue to be heard. It also means protecting artistic freedom.

Art helps Filipinos understand who we are and where we come from. It connects generations and communities across language, class, and region. Without sustained support for the arts, we risk losing not only skills but also wisdom. Arts Month reminds us that culture is not optional but foundational.

In Western Visayas, particularly in Iloilo City, celebrating Arts Month has a special significance. The region is rich in literary traditions, theater, music, and visual arts that often remain outside the national spotlight. Hiligaynon literature, regional festivals, and traditional forms deserve sustained attention and respect. Arts Month offers a chance to center these voices.

Focusing on regional artists allows us to challenge Manila-centric narratives in Philippine culture. It reminds us that creativity thrives in communities, not only in capitals. Local stories from Iloilo reflect realities that are both specific and universal. When these stories are valued, cultural diversity is strengthened rather than erased.

Traditional and indigenous art forms in the region are often marginalized in mainstream platforms. Yet they carry histories of labor, migration, faith, and resilience. Celebrating Arts Month locally is a way of preserving these traditions while allowing them to evolve. It also affirms that progress does not require cultural amnesia.

Arts Month becomes meaningful when it is internalized, especially by artists themselves. It should not be limited to events or publicity but embraced as a mindset. For artists, this period is an opportunity to reflect on purpose, ethics, and direction. It is a reminder of why we chose to create in the first place.

Young artists, in particular, need to understand that art is not only about skill or self expression. It is also about rights, responsibilities, and social context. Knowing one’s rights as an artist empowers creative freedom and critical engagement. When artists can speak, question, and critique freely, truth and courage naturally emerge.

Artistic freedom allows deeper understanding of katotohanan because it encourages inquiry rather than obedience. Courage allows that inquiry to be expressed publicly and clearly. Together, these values strengthen democracy and cultural life. Suppressing artists ultimately suppresses collective understanding.

Writers play a crucial role in this process, whether they are journalists, essayists, poets, or fiction writers. The pen remains a powerful tool for investigation, documentation, and imagination. Writing can uncover hidden realities and challenge comfortable lies. This is why truth must always guide the act of writing.

For journalists, truth is a professional and ethical obligation grounded in verification and accountability. For creative writers, truth may take symbolic or narrative forms, but it remains essential. Fiction and poetry can reveal emotional and social truths that statistics cannot capture. Both forms require integrity.

When writers abandon truth, language becomes empty and manipulative. This is dangerous in a society already overwhelmed by misinformation. Writers must resist the temptation to sensationalize or oversimplify. Courage lies in choosing depth over speed.

Social media intensifies these challenges by rewarding immediacy rather than reflection. Reality is filtered, edited, and often distorted for engagement. Artists cannot simply consume and reproduce this noise. They must intervene thoughtfully.

Arts Month invites us to respond creatively and critically to this environment. It asks writers to use language as a tool for understanding rather than distraction. Writing can slow down perception and restore nuance. This is one way art serves the public good.

In Iloilo and beyond, using our pens and voices during Arts Month is a form of participation in cultural life. It is an act of care for our communities and histories. Through storytelling, critique, and imagination, we make sense of a complex world. This labor matters.

Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting reminds us that creativity flourishes when anchored in honesty and courage. As Filipino artists and writers, our task is not only to create but to stand for something. By leaning on truth and practicing courage, we ensure that art remains relevant, humane, and transformative.