TIAF@15

 Tam-awan Village holds 15th edition of annual int'l arts festival

 By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), together with the Chanum Foundation and the City of Baguio, has formally opened the 15th edition of the annual Tam-awan International Arts Festival (TIAF). The three-day affair is guided by the theme, "The Curation Journey: Living Galleries, Telling Stories."

"To curate initially means to select in order to present or to hide - to keep or put away. A curator is also an artist as he creates a context and provide nuance. Curators are the wind beneath each artist's wing; as every exhibit has its own story. Some artists even curate their exhibits.

"Artists hold up a mirror to society. They detect that something is amiss and they articulate the need for reform. Sometimes, just the act of reflection creates the change," intimated arts, heritage, and culture advocate Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

This edition's theme underscores the role of curator as a bridge between artist, audience, and context; in guiding narratives, shaping dialogue, and uncovering hidden connections. It reflects Tam-awan's commitment to evolving curatorial practices that are responsive, inclusive, and rooted in place.

"The TIAF has served as a living canvas of art communities. This October, we also celebrate the Museums & Galleries Month, in collaboration with the City of Muntinlupa, as well as concurrently celebrating the Indigenous Peoples Month with the Dayaw Festival in Western Visayas," shared Renee Talavera, head of NCCA's project management division, during the opening ceremonies and "Kapihan sa Baguio" session held at the village's Ugnayan Gallery premises.

"Public art and imprint is a process, and Kublai Milan is celebrated as monument maker with his art showcased in sprawling spaces. As curator, it is my task to bridge the collection, the artist, and the audience - so I give justice to the artworks as an overseer. The artist's message should be clear and put them across to spectators of the pieces. However, artists need to understand that some of their pieces do not fit into the idea of the curation," shared Jeff Bangot, curator of the Lawig Diwa Mindanao Art.

Situated in Baguio City, Tam-awan Village is a living arts village that blends indigenous Cordilleran architecture, creative residency, and public access to art. The village was initiated by Chanum Foundation, currently headed by Jordan Mang-osan, with the goal of making arts and culture accessible to a broad public following while fostering connections among artists, communities, and the environment.

"We also need to.acknowledge the role of government in supporting artists. 2025 is vibrant with artists mobilization, resulting in lots of interaction. We also see the resiliency of artists, especially with recent disasters like the 6.9 earthquake in the Cebu, and the very recent 7.6 quake that shook Davao Oriental. Arts festival create a center of ecology in meeting art, where art is juxtaposed, and where many roles benefit," intoned Dennis Montera, head of the national committe for culture and the arts.

"Artists can petition the DOLE and DSWD for livelihood funds to procure paints and canvas and help them in their creative pursuits. Here in the festival, we also observe the "silent night" code where amplified sound is simply turned off by 10 pm but the discussions still continue," quipped Leandro Tabilog, spokesperson for the Office of the City Mayor of Baguio.

The 15th Tam-awan International Arts Festival will culminate on Sunday, October 12th in Baguio City. Ninety eight organizations and over 700 artists took part in this year's edition. This early, organizers are looking forward to a bigger turnout next year.