Kalugtan Arts Guild, with support coming from the Municipal Government of El Nido, is preparing for the celebration of the 6th Kalugtan Arts Festival on April 28 – May 1, 2010. The word “kalugtan” came from the Cuyuno word “lugta” for earth. This means that the said festivity advocates preservation of Mother Earth. This is why it always begins with the celebration of the Earth Day.
This year, the organizers opted for the Crown Of Thorns [COT] collection rather than the usual coastal clean up for the eco-care activity during the Earth Day celebration. There is an ongoing COT outbreak in El Nido, so the organizers decided to help the local divers annihilate the coral-eating starfish. Non-divers will do eco-care at Pasimbahan Cave, an archaeological site in Bgy. Maligaya, by removing graffiti from the cave walls.
After the Earth Day celebration, there will be workshops in different art disciplines. There are facilitators coming from Manila, Leyte and Puerto Princesa: Mimi Villareal for Basic Dance Workshop, Tomas Agulto for Poetry, Carol Bello for Voice Lessons, Frances Mendoza for Basic Painting, Mideo Cruz for Advance Painting, Mario Lubrico for Terra Cotta Sculpture, Mary Jane Alejo for Songwriting, Ronalisa Co for Creative Writing and Mike Garcia for Videography.
On April 29, Tomas Agulto, a three-time “Makata Ng Taon” awardee and last year’s recipient of “Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas” will discuss “Philippine Literature” during an art forum at Balay Tubay Bistro asta Galeri. On April 30, Dr. Victor Paz, Dean of the University of the Philippines – Archaeological Studies Program [UP-ASP], will discuss “Cosmology” at the same venue.
At the end of the workshops, the participants will exhibit their output at the Municipal Covered Court. They will also perform what they have learned from the four-day workshop during their graduation ceremony on May 1. On May 2, the organizers will offer the guest artists a time to relax at the islands of Matinloc, Pinagbuyutan and Vigan.
March 27, 2010
-Arvin L. Acosta