The Iloilo Summer Arts Festival 2020 was launched last
December 11, 2019 and guests were treated to an opening teaser musical treat by
the Iloilo River at the Esplanade Park, the same venue where some events of the
festival will be held.
The committee chairman, First Lady Mrs Rosalie Treñas,
welcomed all the guests and discussed the difficulty in launching a very big
city-wide event. She also emphasized that “the success of the event will happen
due to everyone’s cooperation,” from the
LGU to the private sector, such as the MICE Alliance, corporations and foundations,
and the general Iloilo populace who will be attending and patronizing the
artists’ works and shows.
The Festival aims to promote the arts and culture of the
Ilonggo people to both locals and tourists alike. It also is part of the vision of Iloilo City
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to make Iloilo the arts capital of the
Philippines. The Festival will mainly
feature Ilonggo artists and all forms of art from visual arts, to music, dance,
film, theatre, literature, aside from culinary arts, horticulture, and culture
in living museum.
During the launching program, committee members and artists
PG Zoluaga and Miguel Antonio Davao both performed, with Zoluaga playing his
guitar and singing his original composition SUBA while Davao accompanied him on
violin. It was an apt song to play by
the river.
Committee member Leny Ledesma presented the various art
forms, activities, and venues for the month-long celebration of the ISAF from
April to May, which will pose a very exciting and dynamic festival from the
beginning.
Line-up of activities include workshops for artists with
renowned Singapore Biennale artistic director and curator Patrick Flores; workshops
for students and the public with senior artists in schools with Special Arts
Program on Arts Month in February; the first La Via Dolorosa (the Passion,
Death, and Resurrection of Christ) in dance during Holy week; and art exhibits.
For the first time, Ilonggo families will share their art
collections that will be exhibited for a month at ILOMOCA, an art fair for old
and new collectors alike with a wall presenting affordable art aside from the
real art exhibitions of the artists.
There will also be musical concerts. Mrs. Trenas mentioned
the Sen. Franklin Drilon will be bringing in the Philippine Philharmonic
Orchestra to play on April 27, aside from theatre performances or zarzuelas at
the parks.
These activities all coincide with the theme of the event
for 2020 which is: Ibalik ang Pag-bunag, Pag-tukib, kag ang Kapagsik sang Tali-Ambong sang
Iloilo (Rebirth, Rediscover, and
Revitalize the Arts of Iloilo) because the Renaissance in arts and culture is
happening right now with the support of the LGU. It can be seen in the murals being done all
over the city.
As per Miss Ledesma, “launching the arts festival is for the
future generation of Iloilo wherein knowledge, creativity, and innovation will
be encouraged through this project. It
is not exclusive or elitist but will be inclusive as most venues will be
public. Anyone and everyone can see and
appreciate art.”
The venues and activities will be mounted in different areas
all over the city –Esplanade; heritage parks such as Libertad Plaza, Jaro
Plaza, Molo Plaza, and Sunburst park; and our malls. Truly something Ilonggos and
guests can look forward to.
This is an ambitious project of the Ilonggo artists together
with the First Lady, and its success rests on collaboration, on linkages, and
cooperation of all Ilonggos from the artists to the public. The Committee encouraged their guests during
the presscon to help spread the word so that interested visitors can already
book their tickets going to Iloilo as there will be events every weekend to
look forward to in April.
Committee members were as follows: Advisors are renowned
artists Manny Garibay and Ed Defensor, with the Mrs. Treñas as the chairperson,
together with members Raisa Treñas, Rose Arenas, Leny Ledesma; from
the academe Melanie Padilla and Elisa Baliao; from Megaworld Jennifer Palmares-Fong and ILOMOCA’s Allyn
Canja; Music heads PG Zoluaga and Miguel Antonio Davao, Daniella Caro for film,
Eric Divinagracia for theatre, Annie Sartorio for dance; and Chef Tibong
Jardeleza for culinary arts.
The message in the end of this festival is that it is time
to show the world the Ilonggo’s arts and culture which is very unique, most of
the firsts were here in Iloilo as per the academe in the committee. It will
show that there is more to Iloilo than just food.
We also have very rich and diverse arts and are united as
one, and we can show what we are really all about. We must be proud of our heritage and what we
can offer to the world.
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