Mugna Villanueva Arts and Music Fest

The annual celebration of National Arts Month started with the signing of Presidential Proclamation 683, in 1991, declaring February as National Arts Month. Over the years, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, as well as private and government agencies, has been organizing events and activities to highlight the artistic brilliance of the Filipinos. – from the NCCA webpage

Mugna Villanueva Arts and Music Festival last February 10, 2018 was held at the Kaadlawan Grounds in the Municipality of the Villanueva. A whole day activity of colors and festivity was featured during the celebration. It started with an inter school painting contest where 26 student participated the competition. Talented young student artists painted pictures that depicted the progressive town of Villanueva with its creative constituents on canvass, and indeed the result of the artworks on acrylic medium was superb and beautiful for such young individuals. In the afternoon was an art symposium where teachers and educators were updated on the latest trends of contemporary Philippines art movement. After that a series of activities that treat the crowd for an art experience; first stop was a free face painting and free henna tattoo was given to a long line of Villanuevanhon, then there’s a freedom wall where everyone was free to express their thoughts on a wall. There’s also a lot of statues of superheroes and cartoon characters that was exhibited in the area courtesy of South Side Customz, and a live human statues that gets the crowd coming for selfies

plus a craft bazaar where arts and crafts were being displayed. In the evening a concert and talent show was being staged, fire dancers from Apoi CdO did some great fire maneuvering dance and also human beatboxers who have won Mindanao recognition as Champion of the Mindanao beatbox battle of 2016 showcased their beatbox abilities to the crowd. Local performing group from Villanueva the Bongloy Performing Arts Guild did a wonderful ethno cultural dance presentations and a poetry reading by Ms. Adeva Esparaggo of Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan de Oro (NAGMAC) shared some beautiful word play. Dhassig Band an ethno fusion band from Cagayan de Oro launch their EP album entitled Tagumpay during the event and the Kagay Reggae Band played ska and reggae to entertain the crowd till midnight.

The event was organized by the Local Government of Villanueva to celebrate with the whole country for the Arts Month spirit. It is one way of encouraging the community of Villanueva to pursue creative excellence and one day can become a champion in the field of arts in the whole country. Villanueva is one of the fastest growing municipality in the country in terms of industries, so local talents is not behind in its development. Mayor Jennie Uy of Villanueva aims to support further endeavor that leans on creative activities for she herself is a poet.