The University of the Philippines Baguio Summer Arts Extension Program (UPBSAEP) recently conducted a series of arts and literature seminars for young community members and students of the municipality of Binalonan, Pangasinan.
In an effort to revitalize the municipality by creating a vibrant, active and involved community, Binalonan embarked on the repositioning of its arts, culture and heritage sector. A part of this strategy is the formation and inauguration of the 1st Binalonan Arts Festival last April 2018, which was conceptualized as a monthlong arts and culture celebration.
Spearheaded by Municipal Mayor Ramon Guico III and the Binalonan Tourism office, the activities consisted of exhibits from local artists, a community mural painting, concerts, among other community-oriented activities. The workshops were conducted at the municipality Rock Garden tent which is at the center of the town’s culture and activity hub.
UP Baguio has made its presence felt in communities in the north through the UPBSAEP. According to Mayor Guico, “It would be an honor and great opportunity for the municipality to collaborate with one of the most notable leading institutions that actively support culture and arts.”
Having recently won the U.P. Gawad Pangulo Award for Public Service, the UPBSAEP team embarked on more activities to reinforce its mission of extension in Binalonan. The team members were willing to share their skills and expertise with the residents.
All hands were on deck in Binalonan with the following UPB faculty and alumni and students pitching in: Prof. Junley Lazaga for basic poetry writing for students; Prof. Roland Rabang for creative non-fiction and feature writing; Prof. Jandy Carvajal for painting; Prof. James Beltran for basic digital photography; Fine Arts student Kim Lopez for character design; Fine Arts alumni Royce Garcia and Micah Hilotin for painting and soil painting respectively.
Two art-based community activities which was part of the month-long festival were also spearheaded by UPB Fine Arts alumni; the Pinarsua Art Exhibit, of which the main installation was masterfully crafted by Kyle Solar and the community mural project which was supervised and conceptualized by Silvino Dulnuan.
Participants ranged from students to adults with a group of even younger members attending several of the arts seminars. The workshops had many participants, with Prof. Rabang’s creative non-fiction lectures gaining the most number of attendees which had to be held in a larger venue at the University of Eastern Pangasinan, which cosponsored the event.
The two-day workshop concluded with a presentation of the participants works, which consisted of exhibits and poetry readings. The municipality plans to further extend its links with UPB not only by making the Binalonan Summer Arts Festival an annual event for the municipality, but to further extend its offerings to cover pedagogical trainings and workshops, theater, song, and dance. A long-lasting partnership between Binalonan and UP Baguio was the highlight of the event.
The experience was definitely enlightening. Knowing that the reputation of the Baguio Summer Arts Extension Program is gaining prominence after more than 30 years of service, makes one not only feel pride, but a continued sense of purpose. Forging community relationships thru selfless service is one of the main objectives of the program. But this wouldn’t have been made possible without the efforts of our faculty, alumni, and students who continue to to embody UP Baguio’s culture of sharing their skills and expertise to communities in the north.
Article By IO JULARBAL
Reference: https://www.upb.edu.ph/images/2018_Ti_Similla/May_2018.pdf