Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Kaisa Sa Sining (KSS) Luzon Network announces the recipients of the 1st Hiyas Award, the third regional awards implemented by the KSS. The first was the Mindanao Gador Award in 2020 and the Visayas Ksslap Award in 2021. This year is the time for the KSS Luzon network to recognize its exceptional individuals and organizations who have contributed immensely to the flourishing of arts and culture in the region.
The fourteen (14) awardees are Alfonso Coke Bolipata (Zambales/music and cultural administration); Mark Anthony Carpio (Bulacan/music); Kristian Cordero (Naga/literature and film); Maria Whang Od Oggay (Kalinga/Indigenous Art); Al Perez (Hagonoy/Visual Art); Felicito Sacdalan (Angat/Music); Armando Sta. Ana (Bulacan/theater); Peter De Vera (Pampanga/dance and cultural administration); Arts Research and Training Institute in Southern Tagalog (Laguna); Baao Children and Youth Choir (Camarines Sur/Music); Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc. (Bulacan/theater and cultural administration); Lakan Sining ng Bulakan (Bulacan/visual arts); Manunubli ng Sinala (Indigenous Art/Batangas); and Mauban Historico Cultural and Arts Council (Mauban-Quezon/cultural administration).
The Kaisa sa Sining Regional Arts Centers is a partnership program of the CCP through its Cultural Exchange Department (CED) that was launched in 2014 and is aimed at strengthening further the CCP’s linkages and cooperation with regional educational institutions, non-government organizations and local government units in order to broaden public participation in the arts, promote and showcase artistic excellence and facilitate a vibrant collaboration between and among communities. In the past seven years, the cooperation and exchanges between and among CCP and the KSS network have become more dynamic. To date, the KSS network has already grown to a total of 59 organizations in 54 areas/communities in the regions: 23 in Luzon, 19 in Visayas and 17 in Mindanao.
The Hiyas Award aims to give recognition to deserving individuals and/or organizations in Luzon who have exemplified commendable work and services in cultural and artistic endeavors, and have been in the forefront of the research, development, preservation, education and promotion of arts and culture in Mindanao for at least fifteen (15) years or more. The general criteria indicate that an awardee must have made exceptional accomplishments in creative work, leadership, resource management, education, artist support, audience development, community service, solidarity and partnership.
The 23 members of CCP KSS Luzon network are: St. Paul University-Tuguegarao; Province of Nueva Vizcaya; St. Louis University-Baguio City; St. Louis College-San Fernando, La Union; Bataan High School for the Arts; Casa San Miguel-Zambales; Province of Pangasinan; Science City of Muñoz-Nueva Ecija; City College of Angeles-Pampanga; City of Pampanga; Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc.-Malolos, Province of Bulacan; Municipality of Guiguinto-Bulacan; Arts Research and Training Institute in Southern Tagalog-Laguna; City of Biñan-Laguna; City of Batangas; De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Cavite; Municipality of Mauban-Quezon; Municipality of Sampaloc-Quezon; Marinduque State College; Diverse Initiatives for Bicolano Artists-Naga; Sorsogon Community Based Theater Guild; UST Legaspi-Albay; and the Province of Palawan.
