PCIM

 NCCA celebrates Creative Industries Month in Western Visayas

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) celebrated the Philippine Creative Industries Month in the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo in Western Visayas. The three-day affair saw sessions on weaving, mask making, cooking demonstrations, literary discussions, sketching, and tattooing; as speakers pointed out the culture of Filipino creativity and the respect for artistic rights. This intangible right, and its physical manifestations, are expressly provided for in Section 13, Article 14 of the 1987 Constitution on Arts and Culture.

Simply dubbed "The Future is Creative," resource persons threshed out the intellectual property rights inherent in creative industries. Culture and commerce conjoin together to result in a creative economy. Republic Act 11904 provides for the promotion and support of these creative industries.

"This is Western Visayas' contribution to the celebration of Creative Industries Month. Occidental Negros, for instance, is the home of artists and artisans even before the Creative Industries Law was drafted. RA 11904 is the landmark law that intends to grow our creative economy. Although it is an evolving concept, it accounts for 7.3% of our gross domestic product (GDP); close to the agriculture sector (8.6%), but higher than tourism (6.2%). The law has only been approved last year, but it was filed as early as 2008 by Sen. Manny Villar," informed Rep. Francisco Benitez, vice-chairman of the special committee on Creative Industries at the House of Representatives, during a lecture-forum at the University of St. La Salle gymnasium in Bacolod City.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPOPhil), which is one of several pertinent agencies protecting the creative industries, has seven bureaus that takes care of specific actions. These include patents, trademarks, utility models, industrial design, geographical indicators, as well as layout designs for integrated circuits, among others.

In Iloilo, the Avanceña-Camiña balay nga bato, presented two of its well-loved food options in a cooking demo. Joe Glenn Lucio told the spectators that in preparing 'Pork Binuog,' slices of lean pork meat were simply salted then slowly roasted for three hours in slow fire. Ladylyn Sumagaysay, on the other hand, prepared tsokolate from tablea harvested from the Avanceña-Camina Spring Bloom agrifarm in Guimaras and Pavia towns, while using a baterol from a guava tree as, she attests that, it gives off a better texture and taste when compared to others made from other tree trunks. The tsokolate espresso she prepared was paired off with Ibus sa Isla, a delectable suman variety.

Minviluz S. Camiña, a fourth generation descendant of the Avanceña-Camiña clan, invited the audience at the demo to taste the two delicacies. Their beautifully preserved house that was turned into a museum and gourmet kitchen was given a historical marker by the National Museum. The Camiña Bahay na Bato has become a tourist destination in Iloilo's Arevalo district to this day.

Workshops, demos, and lectures filled the 3-day conference in both cities of Bacolod and Iloilo. The Negros Museum, on closing day, rolled out the "Perya ng Sining, Bukal ng Galing" workshop sessions. Mars Cuenca and Eric Berondo showed visitors how the "Masskara" festival mask is being made - from molding to painting/coloring - using recycled paper, fiber glass, and Terra Cotta.

Joanna Remos, a Marketing major at the University of St. La Salle, took portrait sketches while Jojo Jumayao deftly drew body art designs at the henna tattoo station.

The Creative Industries Bill is starting to take shape now. But during its readings and deliberations, it was the office of Rep. Toff Venecia, as chairman of the Congressional committee, which heard marathon debate and discussions that made the lawmakers understand the extent and scope of the new law.

The celebration of the Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM) also coincides with the celebration of the Film Industry Month in the country every month of September.