The 24th PLDT-DPC Directory Cover Visual Art National Competition:
A Tribute to President Cory Aquino
February 3, 2010, The National Museum
Good afternoon. We thank PLDT-DPC for giving us the opportunity to address the artists’ community, specifically, the young artists, who are with us here today.
The role of the arts in the development of Philippine society has been as important as the discourse of the economy and of politics. As a nation rich in culture and the arts, one has to look into the paintings, literary writings and performances of its artists to discover its lush history.
Art has provided the fiber to its people when society’s structures begin to crumble. The Filipino, whenever he is in dilemma, has always gone back to its cultural roots, has expressed its joys and sufferings, its triumphs and failures, through our mothers’ lullabies, through the stories of our fathers, through the canvas, music and dance of our forefathers.
Clearly, the arts is even more pivotal now as we move to a mode of reform in every aspect of social life. Art has to vibrantly color once again the hope of nation, to beautifully paint the values that we have seemingly forgotten, to recreate sceneries of development, to draw the true soul of the Filipino, full of strength, of perseverance and of faith.
It is just fitting that the theme for this year’s competition is about the late President Cory Aquino. She has provided us an example of the individual, who was able to redefine herself for a dream larger than hers, a dream that was not hers, yet was able to embrace it and live it. Truly, she embodied that the Filipino is worth living for.
Last week, Tita Cory’s first birthday after her passing, the foundation launched the second phase of the iamninoy movement. Let us watch the AVP.
We now invite you to join us in this movement of heroism and sacrifice, of spirituality and love, of self-transformation and leadership. As the youth have embraced heroism through fashion in the shirts and the other merchandise, we aim for a deeper engagement and involvement as we live out such values.
Currently, we have iamninoy-iamcory runners,
iamninoy-iamcory cyclists,
iamninoy-iamcory bloggers
iamninoy-iamcory youth organizations from the Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, La Consolacion College, and in the other schools as far as Tarlac and Cebu who have joined our movement.
And now, we invite you to be our iamninoy-iamcory artists.
Together, let us use your talents to paint a better future for us, to recreate a nation of heroes, to redefine the Filipino identity. May Cory Aquino’s spirit of sacrifice live among us. Thank you very much.
