The Bacolod Arts and Culture Council held its first official meeting at the Bacolod City Government Center recently, gathering key stakeholders from the local government, cultural organizations, and the private sector to discuss initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting the city’s rich heritage, a press release from the Bacolod City Tourism Office said.
Attended by key stakeholders, including local government officials, cultural representatives, and sectoral leaders, the meeting focused on significant agenda items that will shape Bacolod’s cultural landscape.
Presiding over the discussions was Bacolod Councilor Jason Villarosa, chairperson of the SP Committee on Tourism, and vice chairman of the Bacolod Culture and Arts Council.
Among the key agenda items discussed were the cultural property inventory of Bacolod City, cultural programs and activities, and cultural mapping.
Mel Antoniano, tourism officer I, presented an initiative to document and safeguard Bacolod’s cultural properties, ensuring their preservation for future generations, while Meneil Poquiz, tourism officer I, provided updates on upcoming cultural events and initiatives designed to promote artistic expression and community engagement.
Drin Espartero, secretary of the Panay-Guimaras Cultural Mapping Team, led discussions on mapping Bacolod’s cultural assets, which will serve as a valuable tool for heritage conservation and policy planning.
Earth Hour Workshop on Sustainable Storytelling for Bacolod S.U.P.E.R. City Architectural Heritage and Cultural Tourism was also included in the agenda.
The proposal was presented by Ma. Teresa Manalili, chief tourism operations officer, along with Architect Antonio Cris Laino, II UAP, an Eco-Infra for Tourism consultant, emphasizing the integration of sustainability in cultural storytelling and heritage preservation.
The meeting was attended by notable figures in Bacolod’s arts and culture sector, namely, Charlie Co, artist and co-founder of Orange Project; Candy Nagrama, exhibitions director at Orange Project; Rheign Garcia Distrito, performing arts coordinator, representative from Theater UNO-R; Lanie Campillianos – CSA-B representative; Wirly Amy Mamar- BCC Sports and Cultural coordinator; Chrysee Samillano, representative from the Art Association of Bacolod-Negros; Sherwynn Cadiñaza, Sherryann Quivis, and Michelle Mabelle Tupaz Corteza, visual artists from Negrense Artist Circle Inc.;
Doreen Dofitas, artistic director of Bayle Negrense Folkloric Dance Company; Rodjhun Navarro, vice president for Research, Innovations, and Linkages at LCC-B and representative from Architecture; Ricardo Salanap Jr., NCCA representative; Gloven Gerogalin, representative from Negros Museum; and Pinky Pamela Guanzon, Division Education Program Supervisor – Social Studies.
An open forum allowed attendees to raise concerns and propose additional cultural initiatives. The council reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a thriving creative community, supporting local artists, and positioning Bacolod as a premier cultural destination.
The Bacolod Arts and Culture Council continues to push forward initiatives that celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage, ensuring the arts remain a vital part of Bacolod’s identity and tourism landscape.*
