"GINTONG BINHI" for MIMAROPA

Shown in photo are representatives from Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, and the six municipalities of Marinduque composed of artists, cultural workers, tourism officers and media people who participated in "Gintong Binhi", 1st Mimaropa Arts and Culture Forum held as part of the "Araw ng Marinduque" celebration.

Consuelo Zapata, Senior Culture and Arts Officer of CCP served as forum coordinator. Board member, Yolando Querubin, SP tourism committee chair, opened the program with his welcome message.


Aurea Lopez, independent art management practitioner and consultant from UP Diliman and Joseph Cristobal, of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)were the main speakers. Cristobal shared the experiences and management experience of Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, Inc. as a professional community theater organization. Lopez gave an overview of festival experiences and also synthesized the BKFI experience stressing how management is interconnected by various sub-systems such as environment, objectives, technology and structure. She provided emphasis on the objectives-setting phase, the planning-phase and implementation phase of arts and culture projects.

Participants clamored for more interactions, workshops, out-of-town activities and events that could be brought into their localities. An adhoc/technical working committee for Mimaropa Region IV-B was organized, composed of Eliseo Obligacion, Roselo Salvacion, AMparo Fatalla, Susan Arellano, Antonio Mangcucang II, Luis Sumajit, Jr. and Mat Gaytano.

The forum is expected to reinforce LGU, cultural organizations and NCCA partnership in arts and culture promotion in the region.

The event ended with a "Putong" ritual rendered by school teachers and employees of the Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz.

(Photos by Nikko Zapata)