National Artist Virgilio Almario, Sen. Loren Legarda unite 24 artists

NATIONAL Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), the Office of Senator Legarda, the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA), and the Unyon ng Manunulat sa Pilipinas (Umpil), spearheaded a project to promote the National Heritage Month (NHM) celebration this May 2023 titled, “KislapDiwa: 12 Pagtatagpo ng Gunita sa Pamánang Pambansa” (Insights: 12 Interactions of Memory on National Heritage).

Kislap-Diwa is a project directed by Almario and Legarda that aims to heighten awareness of cultural heritage and history among writers and artists as cultural workers, helping them develop love and respect for Philippine culture among the people.

Kislap-Diwa involved artists and poets in a public display of awareness about Philippine ancient heritage, with 12 poets and 12 artists invited to a day-long visit to the National Museum of Anthropology and History on May 22, 2022 where they heard an introductory lecture about heritage, its significance to history, the extent of archeological diggings and discoveries, and its relevance to nation-building by Dr. Felipe M de Leon Jr.

The 24 participants were divided into 12 pairs of one artist and one poet each, who in turn discussed their assigned relic or heritage. Each pair focused on a pre-colonial piece in the museum and wrote a poem or paint about it. There was no restriction to what they expressed in poetry or painting.

The 12 artists were Kora Albano, Pandy Aviado, Manuel Baldemor, Salvador Ching, Fil Delacruz, Alfredo Esquillo, Egai Talusan Fernandez, Manny Garibay, Toym Imao, Mark Justiniani, Ces Lecaros and Eric Roca. Meanwhile, the 12 poets were Agatha Bagares, RR Cagalingan, Mike Coroza, Mikael De Lara, Vim Nadera, Aldrin Pentero, Nick Pichay, Noel del Prado, Fidel Rillo, Egay Samar, Joey Tabula and En Villasis.