IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL ARTS MONTH: 2nd pagkarahay art festival launched

DUE to the pandemic, the 2nd Pagkarahay Art Festival has been postponed last year. However, as we slowly adapt to the new normal, the delayed art fest was redesigned to comply with the standard health protocols and will be finally launching again this March in celebration of the National Arts Month last February.

With the theme, “Pagkarahay: Isip, Lawas, Kalag (Healing: Mind, Body & Soul)”, The Local Government Unit of Minalabac with the Kintab Artists Group Inc., in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Pagkarahay II Art Festival will be held on March 6-12,2021 through series of webinars in Zoom and live streaming on the official Facebook pages of LGU Minalabac and Kintab Artist Group.

The week-long event aims to continue, maintain and foster the spirit of belongingness among artists in and out of Bicol Region despite the difficulties brought by the pandemic. It will serve as an avenue for interaction among local and visiting artists from neighboring countries, academe, students and the community to discuss the current trends in arts and social issues as well as embrace, preserve, promote and develop indigenous Philippine art and associate it to contemporary art world and in the educational communities.

The 1st PagkarahayArt Camp and Festival happened in 2018 at Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA- Pili Campus) which was realized through Artletics Inc. with the collaborative efforts of all the participating sponsors, partners and artists with Kintab Artist Group Inc. The event initiated the engagement of artists and the community to be active agents of rebirth, healing and transformation. Thus, reuniting all artists, the academe and community for one purpose: to heal.

Pagkarahay is a Bicol word which means healing. This term is alluded to the art and art production as an act of healing earth, rejuvenating oneself and returning to wholeness. It also alludes to the foundation of actions of awakening, rebirth and healing for the earth, community and individual. It was from that allusion the Pagkarahay Art Festival came to be.

Since the foundation of the Kintab Artist Group in 2013, they conducted several art exhibits, workshops and cultural tours every arts month in which they invited local artists and even Manila-based artists to participate in their events to meet and create a network of artists. The Pagkarahay Art Festival is one of their biggest events to date. With the pandemic currently limiting physical activities and recreations, the Kintab Artists Group faced difficulties in the implementation of the 2nd PagkarahayArt fest.

Gaining the support of NCCA and the LGU of Minalabac, the 2nd Pagkarahay Art Fest will finally become a reality with the Painting Competition being one of its main highlights. All of the entries will be created with any of the following medium: Acrylic paint or Oil paint and mounted on a 24” by 18” artist’s canvas in a portrait orientation and should reflect the theme of the competition. It will be open to all Bicolano-based Visual Artists ages 18 years old and above and Bicolano Senior High School students who are currently enrolled this academic year. Thus, the winning entries will be receiving a cash price, trophy (a collaborative sculpture trophy made by award winning sculptors Cris Fragata & Harold Gomez) and certificate.

The painting competition and arrival of participating artists for art installation and murals from different art groups in Bicol would be marking the beginning of the 2nd Pagkarahay Art Fest on March 5, 2021 followed by a series of workshops, talks, discussions and culminating activities in the succeeding days. The event will be concluding through a concert on the evening of March 12,2021.

On March 6,2021, 8:00 a.m. there will be a rigaton- motorcade, opening ritual by Edwin Bong dela Torre, Welcome address by Hon. Mayor Christopher Lizardo, a talk on Climate Crisis, Need for Immediate Action which will be discussed by Mr. Cesar Carlito R. Baclagon of 36o.Org. then followed by an Art Installation Workshop of Mr. Leslie de Chavez.

There will also be a Vlogger workshop by Soul Searching Soul Content Creator, Ms. Apple Allison and Wifci Loves Earth & Wikimedia Commons workshop by Mr. Irvin P. Sto. Tomas on March 7, 2021.

Also, the talks on Culture of Poverty & Healing for Community Change by Ms. Evita Jimenez Tuazon and The Art of Organic Urban Gardening by Ms. Hilda Cleofe will be on March 8, 2021. The entries for the painting competition will also be judged on the same day.

For March 9, 2021, there will be a Song Writing Workshop by Mr. Roberto D. Balingit (Bobby “wuds” Balingit) and Sound Art workshop by Mr. Miletone E. Araneta in the morning and a Puppetry workshop by Mr. Jun de la Pena and a Creative Writing Workshop/Script Writing workshop by Ms. Riza Zuniga in the afternoon.

The GuritAki Painting Workshop by Ms. Lea Zoraina S. Lim and a Painting Demo on Oil painting by Mr. Fernando Sena, Father of Philippine Art will be the main highlights on March 10,2021.

A Theatre Acting workshop by Ms. Eilyn Nidea, a talk on Becoming a Better Dancer: Integrating Cosplay and Fashion on Dancing by Dr. Ma. Teresa B. Consulta -Francisco and a lecture on Art and Culture: How Local Culture Influences Creativity and An Appreciation will be discussed by Mr. Dennis Gonzaga on March 11,2021.

On the last day of the art fest, March 12, 2021, there will be an Art Installation Tour and Performance Art by Mr. Jay Mesa. Moreover, renowned Bikolano Historian Mr Danilo Gerona will have a lecture on the History of Minalabac, and Review on An installations then followed by a discussion on How do Artists See their Role in Cu/tura Formation by Mr. Emmanuel Garibay. Thus, the opening of the art exhibit and awarding for the culminating activity, we can also anticipate a virtual presentation of art performances from Mr. Winston Hernandez, Ms. Maria Victoria Munoz, Mr. Herminigildo Pineda, Ms. Jean Paul Zialcita, Mr. Samuel Penaso and Ms. Jezir N. Lascuna, Nicolas Aca and a film showing and talk by Ms. Jenn Romano and Ms. Maje Papin.

Furthermore, the group was able to gather up for the Pagkarahay Art Fest Concert which included a line-up of local bands and artists: Allan Brito, Christian Lelis, Justin Borja, Zero Punishment, BNB, Punk, The Chopping Board, MKII (Victor Andrada) and XTRM Band, to serenade us until the closing of the art fest.

As all artists unite for the biggest art festival of the year, The Kintab Artists Group is looking forward for its success and the undying support for this promising event in the province and the entire Bicol region which could jumpstart a spontaneous chain in hosting art fests in the future that can continuously fuel the fire of the art culture in the region.

Prior this event, the Kintab Artists Group is already eyeing a possible 3rd Pagkarahay Art Fest later this year on July 2021 at Naga Ecological Park in San Felipe if all goes well.