The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) hosted the opening ceremony for National Arts Month (NAM) 2025 on Feb. 3, 2025, at its office in Intramuros, Manila.
The event, which began at 8 a.m., unveiled the NCCA building’s new façade inspired by Bulacan’s Singkaban Festival.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, the NCCA’s Arts and Culture Ambassador, joined the celebration. NCCA officials, including Chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo, Executive Director Eric B. Zerrudo, Deputy Executive Directors Marichu Tellano and Bernan Joseph Corpuz, and representatives from the Subcommission on the Arts, cultural agencies, and the Intramuros Administration, also attended.
Students, performers, and special guests gathered outside the NCCA office on General Luna Street to participate in the festivities.
The ceremony was followed by a parade around Intramuros, featuring a marching band and street performers. The parade passed through Muralla Street, nearby schools and universities, and the historic Manila Cathedral.
The event culminated at the Museo de Intramuros courtyard, where attendees were treated to snacks and a free museum tour, courtesy of the Intramuros Administration.
The Philippines observes National Arts Month every February under Presidential Proclamation 683, signed in 1991 by President Corazon C. Aquino.
This year’s theme, “Ani ng Sining: Diwa at Damdamin” (Harvest of the Arts: Soul and Passion), highlights the spirit and passion driving Filipino creativity.
The celebration was spearheaded by the NCCA’s Subcommission on the Arts (SCA), led by Commissioner Arvin Manuel Villalon, and seven national committees, including:
- Architecture and Allied Arts, chaired by Cathe Desiree S. Nadal.
- Cinema, chaired by Mahar Sulayman “Butch” L. Ibañez.
- Dance, chaired by Dr. Lordinio A. Vergara.
- Dramatic Arts, chaired by Eduardo P. Perez.
- Literary Arts, chaired by Niles Jordan D. Breis.
- Music, chaired by Arwin Q. Tan.
- Visual Arts, chaired by Dr. Dennis E. Montera.
NCCA Chairman Manalo and Executive Director Zerrudo encouraged Filipinos to honor the transformative power of the arts and celebrate the brilliance of Filipino artists.
The NCCA invites everyone to join the festivities and participate in the month-long celebration showcasing the richness of Filipino arts and culture.
