Love isn’t the only thing we celebrate in February. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) officially opened the celebration of the National Arts Month 2025 on Monday, Feb. 3, in Intramuros with a colourful parade featuring the seven types of art in the NCCA building and then a guided tour of the recently Museo de Intramuros.
Continuing her advocacy for the arts, Arts Ambassador and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray graced the festivities. The event was spearheaded by the NCCA Executive Director Eric B. Zerrudo and the Subcommission on the Arts Commissioner Arvin Manuel Villalon.
Students from Lyceum of the Philippines, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, and other universities in Manila also joined the parade, with stunning performances by the Manila City Band, Tondo Drumbeaters, and PNU Kislap Sining.
Included in the lineup were student-muses representing the seven types of art, namely, Arkitektura (Architecture), Pelikula (Film), Sining Pandulaan (Theatre), Sining Biswal (Visual Art), Musika (Music), Sining Pampanitikan (Literary Art), and Sayaw (Dance).
Just in time for the evening, The Metropolitan Theater joined in the festivities, with singkaban laid in its facade and colorful LED lights ignited in celebration.
This year’s theme is “Ani ng Sining, Diwa at Damdamin”, urging people, artists, and spectators to reflect on local materials and resources, and highlight Filipino traditions in the artworks.