Art, in its many forms, can shed light on truth, courage — NCCA

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said on Tuesday that the arts can be an instrument to bring out the truth in various issues.

Lordinio Vergara, commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) Subcommission on the Arts, noted that the theme for the National Arts Month is “Katotohanan at Giting.”

The NCCA official noted that various forms of art can serve as an expression of truth and encourage collaboration.

“Dati ang pagkamit lang natin ng kalayaan ay nagagamit natin sa maaring dahas, maaring sa pakikidigma. Pero malaking bagay na ngayon na ang isang tinta ng pluma, ang isang painting ay nagsasabi ng katotohanan, nagsasabi ng mga gawain, yung shared experience ba?” he told “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.”

(Before, our pursuit of freedom might have been used through violence or warfare. But it is a significant thing now that a single ink from a pen, or a single painting, tells the truth and recounts our actions, that shared experience, right?)

“Kasi kapag nagsama-sama ang mga taong kumanta, kapag nagsama-sama ang mga taong sumayaw, tumitibay yung shared experience natin para mailahad natin kung ano ang katotohanan at giting na mayroon tayo,” Vergara added.

(Because when people come together to sing, when people come together to dance, our shared experience is strengthened so that we can reveal the truth and the valor that we possess.)

Further, the NCCA official said that artists are also keeping up with the digital age through media arts.

“Ang technology kasi ay isang mabisang paraan. Mayroon tayong tinatawag na media arts na kailangan nating sumabay din dahil ito ay isang mabisang paraan ng mga komunikasyon ngayon.

(Technology is an effective method. We have what we call media arts, and we need to keep up with it because it is an effective way of communication today.)

“Alam natin na sa ganyang pagtakbo at bilis, marami rin tayong nae-encounter na mga suliranin ng fake news. So mas minamaigi natin maipakita  na sa pamamagitan ng sining, mayroon tayong katotohanan na naipapahatid sa mga tao,” he added.

(We know that with that kind of pace and speed [of technology], we also encounter many problems with fake news. So, we are making an effort to show that through art, we have a truth that we can deliver to the people.)

The NCCA had scheduled several events in celebration of the National Arts Month.

Among them is the “FriDates”, a weekly platform for artists and cultural workers to showcase their creativity through performances, exhibitions, and workshops. There were also art fairs earlier held in various spots. — BAP, GMA Integrated News