CITY OF MALOLOS – To further advance the province’s artistic and entrepreneurial spirit, various local creatives, leaders, and advocates convened in a forum to strengthen and champion the creative industry in Bulacan on Thursday (Sept. 4), at Nicanor Abelardo Auditorium here.
Themed “Pagyamanin ang Pamanang Sining: The Creative Industries Forum,” the event was conducted through the collaboration of the Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office (PCEDO), Provincial History Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office (PHACTO), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to celebrate the Philippine Creative Industries Month and the Singkaban Festival 2025.
The forum was graced by esteemed professionals in the industry to discuss and impart insightful knowledge to the attendees led by Aaron S. Galang of DTI Region III, Buenaventura Marcelino, Jr. of IPOPHL, Acting Provincial Director of TESDA Bulacan Neil G. Santioque, Jesse S. De Guzman of PCEDO, and Louella P. Talo of DTI Bulacan. The speakers tackled topics about the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act, business name registration, intellectual property rights, and cooperative opportunities.
In her speech, PHACTO OIC Department Head May Arlene Torres shared the importance of expression, emphasizing its power to be a blessing not only to the artists but also to people around them in spite of the connotation that there is no money in arts.
“Naalala ko tuloy may commercial before, sinabi na ayaw kong magdoktor, gusto kong mag-fine arts. Ibig sabihin po, gano’n ang pagtingin ng mga magulang o sa lipunan na ang sining ay hindi po something na makakatulong sa kabuhayan. Pero hindi dapat pinipigilan ang pagpapahayag po ng ating mga alagad ng sining dahil ang sining po ay maaaring maging daan para tayo po ay maging pagpapala at mapagpala sa ating komunidad,” she said.
Likewise, Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro, represented by Wynn Rhose Cruz, encouraged Bulakenyos to continuously join and support programs that enrich the province’s cultural heritage and history.
“Magpatuloy tayong makilahok sa programa at proyektong nakatuon sa pagpapaunlad sa pamanang sining at ipagmalaki ang kasaysayan at kagalingan natin kanino man,” Cruz said.
Moreover, PCEDO Department Head Atty. Jayric Amil invited Bulakenyo artists and creatives to explore the world of cooperatives and shared the success of the first artists’ cooperative in the country.
“Explore din po natin ang pagiging isang kooperatiba, dahil isa po ito sa magpapalakas at magpapatatag sa ating samahan bilang mga artist at creatives. Isa po sa successful na cooperative na binubuo po ng mga artist ay ang Red Root Artists Cooperative. Sila po ay samahan ng iba-iba pong artists, nagsama-sama po sila bilang kooperatiba kaya sana po ay gawin natin silang model para magkaroon din po tayo dito sa Bulacan ng isang artists cooperative,” he said. (UnliNews Online)
