February is known all over the world as Love Month. However, the second month of the year has a more substantial meaning in the Philippines, as it is also National Arts Month.
The celebration of National Arts Month started in 1991, and has since grown into one of the most-awaited cultural events in the country. The month-long celebration, also know as the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF), has this year adopted the theme “Tradisyon at Inobasyon” (Tradition and Innovation). The various workshops, exhibitions, forums and performances all over the country are expected to advance creativity in the arts.
The 2012 PAF is expected to be a grand celebration, being the first major activity related to the National Commission for Culture and the Art’s (NCCA) 25th anniversary. With different activities slated in different parts of the country, 2012 PAF is indeed a national celebration.
The government, through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Department of Education, enjoins all students to take part in the 2012 PAF. With students being busy, however, they may not have the chance to attend the activities. Those who have time to spare may not be able to attend either, as there may not be any official activities in your locality. This should not keep you and your kids from celebrating National Arts Month, though.
Whether your kids are in grade one or in fourth year high school, there’s something you could do with them to celebrate National Arts Month. Following are some tips which you could try with your kids. My husband and I have done some of these with our kids and the results were indeed better than we had expected.
| Visual Arts |
Fret not if you couldn’t go to Antipolo. Anytime this month, you may visit a museum, art gallery or photo exhibit in your place. If you are inspired enough by what you see in these, grab those art brushes, acrylic paint tubes, and watercolor pencils, and get ready to paint. Ran out of drawing paper or canvas? You can offer your face to your little artists! When my son was younger, he loved painting on his dad’s face (pic). They had hours of fun and memorable bonding moments which, up to now, bring a smile to my son’s face (who is now 11 years old) every time he sees their picture. If you’re not ready for a face painting session, you may suggest to your little artists to use their own skin as canvas, just like what my daughter often does (video)!
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| Cinema |
What do you think about shooting your own “indie” film? Put each family member’s camera phone to use by having everyone film a five- to seven-minute clip revolving around a certain topic related to the Arts Month theme. (My kids already have a collection of their own “indie” films which they personally shoot.) Download these to your computer and get your own family film festival going. We usually hold our family film festival on Fridays, where they are allowed to stay up late and eat as much popcorn as they can!
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| Dance |
You need not follow Filipino dancers as they tour the country for Sayaw Pinoy 2012. You could simply research on a folk, classical or modern dance which your family could learn and perform together. Look for videos of different groups performing this dance, and pick out the best moves you could incorporate into your own version of the dance.
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| Literature |
Why not hold your own little literary festival? Gather your children’s closest friends and neighbors after class one Friday afternoon, and ask them to research on literary gems from different regions. Discuss these early the next day, and ask them to prepare an outline of something they wish to write. Spend the rest of the day writing, illustrating, and presenting each participant’s literary masterpiece! We haven’t tried this activity with our kids’ friends yet, but we have already done a similar activity with our kids and we were able to come up with good stories.
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| Theater |
What’s the next best thing to witnessing performances by the country’s best university and college-based theater groups as they go barnstorming this month? Watching their performances on video. Get a feel for Tanghal 2012 by looking up videos such as this on Youtube. Your kids may also ask their grandparents to tell them about the moro-moro or komedya.
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| Music |
Can’t personally go to the Gong and Bamboo Music Festival? Set up your own “can do music ensemble” using empty tin cans, old pots and pans, and plastic containers. Bring out those bamboo musical instruments you’ve been keeping inside the cabinet, and start your jamming session.
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| Architecture |
You think architecture is a subject beyond your reach? Think again! You don’t have to be too technical. Take your children for a walk around the village and ask them to look for outstanding/striking features of houses, buildings and other structures you pass by. With this, you hit three birds with one stone -- you analyze some structures, spend time together, and get some exercise.
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Following are the activities and venues for PAF 2012. Want to know more about them? Just click on the links.
So, are you ready to celebrate National Arts Month with your kids? Go ahead, do it your way!