President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday assured the Filipino artists of a “nurturing environment” where they can realize their full potential.
During the 16th Ani ng Dangal Awards at the Metropolitan Theater in the City of Manila, Marcos vowed that his administration will take the lead in honing the artists’ crafts.
“Those who act, dance, paint, sing, perform, sculpt, play, build also serve the flag because every time they step into the limelight, a powerful spotlight also shines on our country. Every applause that you draw from the audience wherever in the world is also an adulation for the land of your birth which is rich in artistry,” Marcos said.
“So, please act on your dreams, believe in your talent, dare to break ground, tear down the walls that cage your creativity, hone your craft. Rest assured, your government in the Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) will create a nurturing environment that will see your talent fully and finally bloom,” he added.
Marcos also lauded the Filipino artists for their “luminous performances here and abroad, showcasing the best that our country can offer”.
He urged them to continue to “create, innovate, [and] excel,” as their essential works add to the country’s “gross national happiness.”
“It is time that you are honored by your own, in your homeland, to which you have given so much pride and joy. More than that, you are sources of inspiration, to fellow artists who view them as an example in careers yet to be carved, or to their fellowmen, whose spirits, amidst the business of living, are roused by your performances,” Marcos said.
Marcos said it no longer came as a surprise that there is an “oversupply” of nominees for the 2024 Ani ng Dangal Awards considering that the country’s artists are working hard to earn recognition for their talents.
“In a country dense with talents, where there are more singers per square kilometer than anywhere else in the world, this should no longer come as a surprise. Where the arts and crafts, and the traditional arts and crafts are beginning to once again be recognized then we should not be surprised,” he said.
Marcos said this year’s awardees have an “extensive portfolio which cannot be abridged in just a few sentences”.
He underscored the importance of government support given that Filipino artists defining the country’s culture is creating a “national consciousness”.
“I am therefore delighted to join the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in conferring the prestigious Ani ng Dangal award to Filipino artists who have made the world their stage,” Marcos said.
Marcos led the conferment of the Ani ng Dangal Awards on 26 Filipino talents who have earned various international awards in the categories of Architecture and the Allied Arts, Cinema, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Literary Arts, Music and Visual Arts.
Spearheaded by the NCCA, the Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) is an annual event that highlights the conclusion of the National Arts Month by giving recognition to Filipino artists who have achieved significant international success and earned accolades in their respective fields in the past year.
Now on its 16th edition, the NCCA honors one awardee from Architecture, seven awardees from Cinema, one awardee from the Literary Arts, nine awardees from Dance, six awardees from Music, and two awardees from the Visual Arts.
Established in 2009 as part of the National Arts Month celebration, the Ani ng Dangal is an award given by the NCCA to Filipino artists, art groups and cultural workers who garnered international awards or citations in the fields of dance, music, theater, visual arts, film, broadcast arts, literature, architecture and allied arts. (PNA)
