NCCA marks National Heritage Month Heritage concert, Kristo exhibits to highlight celebration in Cebu

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will highlight the country’s cultural heritage as it celebrates National Heritage Month.
With the theme “Heritage: New Fruits, Ancient Roots,” NCCA is set to stage the 2nd Taoid Heritage Concert on May 23 at the Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu.
The first concert outside Manila, Taoid Heritage Concert will feature singer-songwriter Joey Ayala, singing priest Fr. Jonas Mejares, The Voice of the Philippines’ runner-up Morisette Amon, the NCCA Rondalla, and the choral group 450 Voices, together with Cebu artists and performers.
In celebration of the 450th anniversary of Kaplag or the finding of the image of Sto. Niño in Cebu and the National Heritage Month, NCCA will also bring “Art & Soul: 10 Years of Kristo Manila and the Kristo Niño in Cebu City,” an exhibition of artworks depicting Christ’s Passion and various images inspired by the Santo Niño. The exhibition will run from May 16 to 30 at the SM City Cebu Art Center.
The concept of the exhibit displays the melding of art and religion. John Delan Robillos, vice head of the NCCA National Committee on Art Galleries, said “Religious heritage cannot be separated from historic heritage. That’s what we’re doing for Art & Soul.”
Rev. Fr. Harold Rentoria, NCCA Subcommission on Cultural Heritage head, said NCCA can only preserve and protect the culture and heritage in the country. However, the success of their project and initiative still lies in the Filipino people.
He also stressed that preservation shouldn’t be only done in the month of May and that preservation is not exclusive to experts.
“Preservation is a process. Preservation is not only the work of experts and of the old people. As a personal advocacy, I always invite the younger generation to actively participate in preservation so that the future generation can also enjoy the inheritance of our forefathers,” Rentoria said. /Silliman University Intern Kateleen Marie C. Ogabang