Controversial photo of art ambassadors did not come from us – NCCA 

A controversial photo depicting art ambassadors of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts did not come from the council, despite it being posted on the Facebook page of the Philippine Arts Festival, an NCCA project.

 

Rene Napenas, head of the NCCA's public affairs and information office, said they have no idea where the picture came from.

He added the ambassadors in the photo were appointed individually and at different times.

 

He said they were chosen as celebrity spokespersons, and were not meant to represent a specific art form. Napenas added that these appointments did not mean other highly-regarded individuals from these fields were “passed over”.

 

The ambassadors, appointed to an unpaid position, were picked for their “star power” to help promote NCCA events.

The NCCA ambassadors featured in the photo are:

• Philippine Arts Festival: Boy Abunda
• Dance: Leyte Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez
• Music: Sarah Geronimo
• Architecture & Allied Arts: Shamcey Supsup
• Heritage: Ogie Alcasid
• Culture: Piolo Pascual
• Youth Ambassador for Philippine Arts Festival: DingDong Dantes
• Dayaw (An event highlighting Filipino indigenous cultures): Venus Raj
• Taoid (NCCA's National Heritage Month): Jericho Rosales

Despite the ambassadors being appointed months--even years--before the Facebook post was made, hundreds of netizens decried the promotion.

 

Among those disappointed by the post was Olivier Ochanine, music director and chief conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. 

 

In a message to GMA News Online, he said many of people were better qualified to promote music, but they were not as popular as the chosen celebrity for the position.

 

“A music ambassador for the NCCA should be someone who is involved in several types of music and knows a lot about Filipino music history,” he said.

 

Ochanine said, however, that “it seems that the priority may have shifted toward very popular figures so that the 'masa' can be drawn in... [It is] an interesting approach, of course. Just not sure if it is the healthiest.”

 

At least two commenters quoted Felipe de Leon, the NCCA's chairman, from a piece he posted on the government commission's website.

 

“Without meaningful participation in artistic creativity, the Filipino masses will simply gravitate towards cheap entertainment and gross physical pleasures, as one can clearly see in the mindless and tasteless noontime television shows in our midst,” de Leon was quoted as saying.

 

PAF had a similar response to critics.

 

“The ambassadors were chosen for their ability to encourage people, particularly the youth and the masses who are not aware of various art forms or are not into the arts, to participate in the activities related to said art forms,” PAF wrote in the comments section.

 

PAF also made clear that NCCA committee members, along with relevant artists, accompany these ambassadors to activities they attend.

 

“We hear you all, and we'll do something about this. Rest assured that your comments will not go in vain. The Philippine Arts Festival is for the people and we, the PAF Secretariat, will make sure that your suggestions and reactions will be heard by the committees,” PAF said. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News