Advocating Heritage - Cultural Appropriation and Appreciation in the Arts: A Heritage Month Webinar Series

 By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 439, the month of May in the Philippines is declared as National Heritage Month.  The celebration aims to create among the Filipino people a consciousness, respect, and love for the legacies of the nation’s cultural history. This year’s theme, “Victory and Humanity: Upholding Filipino Heritage and Identity” comes  in solidarity with the commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan (27 April 2021) and the 500th anniversary of the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world (16 March – 28 October 2021).

The theme presses on the significance of strengthening public awareness and exploring initiatives on advocating for the conservation and promotion of Philippine cultural heritage and the Filipino identity in this time of crisis.

In line with this, Ang Panublion Museum of Roxas City, together with Center for Heritage and Indigenous Cultures of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, will be joining forces, in partnership with Capiz State University, to spread awareness on cultural appropriation.  There is a need to protect indigenous knowledge and culture from misrepresentation. 

A three-day webinar series, titled, “ADVOCATING HERITAGE:  Cultural Appropriation and Appreciation in the Arts” will be held on May 3 – 5, 2021, 2:00PM via Zoom.  The webinars will feature distinguished Ilonggo scholars and artists in music, visual arts, literary, film, and history, who will speak about their work from the perspective of culturally sensitive artistic outputs.  The resource speakers are:

May 3, 2021

• Clement Camposano – Chancellor, University of the Philippines Visayas
• Jose Taton, Jr. - Assistant Professor, University of the Philippines Visayas

 May 4, 2021

• Kevin Piamonte - Associate Professor / Filmmaker, University of the Philippines Visayas
• Marika Constantino - Artist / Curator, Kantina Artist Space 

May 5, 2021

• Ma. Rosalie Zerrudo - Assistant Professor, University of San Agustin
• Cristian Tablazon – Numina Nuda / PHSA

Palanca Award winning author and civil servant Dr. Bryan Mari Argos, environmentalist and cultural advocate Dr. Harold O. Buenvenida, and linguistics professor Dr. Hazel D. Joaquin will sit at the panel of reactors. Christian George F. Acevedo, librarian and heritage advocate will moderate the three-day webinar-series.  

Students, teachers, cultural workers and advocates are invited to join in this webinar services. Registration is FREE.  To register, click this link.