ILOILO City – This southern city is vying to be the country’s arts capital. Supportive of the artistic community, the city government under Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has given birth to the Iloilo Arts Festival which is now on its second year.
“Arts matter. Aside from its intrinsic worth, it creates better communities to live in, transforms the way places look, and also changes the way people think, see and act,” said Treñas.
Desiring to bring the arts closer to the public and support local artists despite the raging coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the city government launched the first Iloilo Arts Festival in 2021.
Facilitated by Iloilo City’s first lady Rosalie Treñas, the Iloilo Arts Festival aims not only to showcase the masterpieces of local artists but also encourage budding artists to hone their skills and explore creative industries.
‘SOUL OF THE CITY’
“We want to see more artistic Ilonggos make their passion their profession by giving them a platform to enhance their creativity and artistry,” Mayor Treñas said.
The city mayor, himself a lover of the arts, said this has long been his dream for the city.
“Arts stimulate the creative economy. It attracts and retains talent, trade and investment,” said Treñas.
He also sees Iloilo City becoming more attractive to tourists and visitors if the local artistic community flourishes.
“Arts connect communities to the world and vice versa,” said Treñas.
“Ang arts amo ni ang soul sang aton syudad. We always say Iloilo is the Queen City of the South but we cannot be such if we do not strengthen the soul of Iloilo City, and we can only do that if we support the arts,” Treñas explained.
‘FUTURE IS IN THE ARTS’
Even children who are the future of Iloilo City, he stressed, should be exposed to the arts.
“Through the arts, they will develop self-confidence, hone their problem-solving skills, learn the value of perseverance, and acquire focus,” said Treñas.
Children, too, will value the importance of collaboration, appreciate constructive feedback and develop personal accountability,” added the city’s chief executive.
These and more, said Treñas, are why the arts matter to Iloilo City’s present and future.
Treñas, together with his wife, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and SM City Iloilo assistant mall manager Darrel John Defensor recently launched the second Iloilo Arts Festival in line with the “Adlaw sang Ciudad de Iloilo” celebration at the SM City Iloilo main mall events center.
It was done in collaboration with Artivism, United Architects of the Philippines, Eksena, CineMapadayon, CreativeBox Photography, Dance Fusion, PCD School of Performing Arts, Molo Mansion, and SM City Iloilo.
FULL SUPPORT
During the launching, Treñas announced that the city government is allotting a minimum of P2 million annually for year-long arts events to be organized by Iloilo City Local Culture and Arts Council (ICLCAC) and private partners.
Treñas also plans to make the whole Ker and Co. Building across city hall a gallery for Ilonggo artists’ creative outputs.
“They will be curated. There will be a memorandum of agreement with the arts groups. The city government will continue to use Ker Building for meetings and conferences but we will coexist with the arts and artists,” said Treñas.
The city government has been tapping Iloilo’s arts community since 2020, the city government to beautify the metro. Artists were tasked to transform streets and walls into vibrant and Instragrammable public murals.
Treñas cited the support of the private sector.
“Nakit-an ko diri sa aton syudad, if there is something that we can be proud of, it is the very strong PPP (public-private partnership). Ara ang academe, ang business sector nagabinuligay para ma-achieve naton ang aton commitments,” Treñas said.
Renowned Ilonggo artist and local arts council’s director Ed Defensor recalled the time when the city government, especially Treñas, showed support to the artistic community when there were only a few artists yet starting up as a group.
“He was one of those very early who supported us. Wala pa sing nagabakal sang art sadto, wala pa sing naga-patronize. Sya gid ang una-una nga nag-patronize sang amon mga arts… I am very grateful to him. Asta subong ang iya pagsuporta sa amon,” Defensor said./PN
