Nat’l Arts Month culminates with dual events in Cavite

KAWIT, Cavite – Kawit's two museums under the National Historical Commission of the Philippines’ (NHCP) Cavite Cluster culminated the month-long observance of National Arts Month with dual events on Wednesday.

NHCP's Cavite Cluster is composed of the  Museo ng Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio, also known as Bonifacio Trial House (BTH) in Maragondon, Museo ni Baldomero Aguinaldo (MBA); and Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo (MEA), which are both located in Kawit.

Cluster Head and MEA’s curator Haidee Paulette Bedruz said that the featured activities catered to a variety of art enthusiasts from grade school to high school, as well as humanities students, history teachers and the general public.

Leading the list is MBA in Kawit’s Binakayan Village which offered  review of the letters written by Baldomero Aguinaldo, dubbed as “Dear Baldomero” at 10:00 a.m. with NHCP History Researcher Eufemio Agbayani Jr. serving as reviewer, said Bedruz.

The activity, meant for Grades 5 to 6 and Junior High School students, revealed Baldomero’s thoughts and opinions on the course of the Philippine Revolution.

The event also served as the launching activity of Baldomero Aguinaldo’s sesquicentennial.

On the other hand, MEA launched “Illuminating Artistry: The Arts and Advocacy of Taal’s Heritage Hero” featuring well-renowned sculptor Architect Ramon Orlina at 1:00 p.m.

Bedruz said that in this activity, “Orlina made History teachers, as well as Humanities and Arts students aware and appreciate his advocacy in preserving the heritage of  Taal.”

She said Orlina’s artistry “inspired people on the role of local heroes who can actively play in saving heritage for future generations.”

An architect by profession who hails from Taal, Batangas, Orlina is the country’s first glass sculptor.

He goes beyond his artistry as he openly criticizes the renovations and modifications of the oldest church in Asia, the Taal Basilica.

Another activity, supposedly for Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon named  “Aba, Abaniko!” an art and craftsmanship workshop scheduled at 2 p.m. was postponed to a later schedule.

Arts Month is celebrated every February and NHCP has scheduled various activities.

This year’s theme “Ani ng Sining, Alab ng Sining” (Harvest of the Arts, Flame of Art), emphasizes the bounty of artistic endeavors in the Philippines and the passion of Filipino artists and cultural workers.  (PNA)