Visiting
Intramuros, I’m reminded once again that its walls hide a vast classroom. Every
visit brings new insights. Early this week, I returned to cover the opening of
the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Gallery’s January
exhibition, Enero: Buwan ng Balaang Bata: Devotion to the Holy Child in the
Philippines. And once again, I left with fascinating new discoveries.
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| Sto Nino collections of various sizes and appearances |
Balaang
Bata Exhibit
The
exhibit gathers antique images of the Santo Niño from collectors Claude Tayag,
Francis Ong, Jayson Maceo, Jun Fulgencio, Anthony Agustin, and Oliver Obusan.
Together, these pieces offer visitors both devotional depth and compelling
backstories.
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| Collectors Jason Ong and Claude Tayag joins NCCA Chair and Executive Director Eric B. Zerrudo (middle) in opening the exhibit. |
In
his welcome message, NCCA Chair and Executive Director Eric B. Zerrudo described
the exhibition as a way of “beginning on the right foot” for 2026. “We hope to
establish the right network at this time,” he said, emphasizing collaboration
among collectors, institutions, and communities in preserving shared cultural
memory.
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| Each Santo Niño has its own story to tell |
“At
the end of the day, why do we collect? We collect to be able to share it back
to the community,” said collector Francis Ong. “We’re helping build the
narrative, the story, because this is the history of our people.”
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| Like its design and color and... |
“Galing ’yan sa mga bahay-bahay,” said collector Claude Tayag, referring to the
works he contributed to the exhibition. “Most of them are made by ordinary
farmers or fishermen.” The exhibition also features Tayag’s personal collection
of Santo Niño paintings, which he painted himself.
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| What region it came from |
January
is a month of devotion across the Philippines, marked by festivals such as the
Sinulog in Cebu, Dinagyang in Iloilo, and Ati-Atihan in Kalibo. The exhibit
reflects this widespread reverence, showing not only the many forms of the Holy
Child but also the regional nuances of devotion and artistry.
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| Admiring the watercolor paintings of the Sto Nino created by Claude Tayag |
From
conversations with Tayag and Ong, patterns emerge. Each island has distinct
materials and styles. Sculptures from Siquijor, for example, are notable for
their expressive faces. The Santo Niño of Bohol is typically carved from
hardwood and painted crimson. Panay’s versions, by contrast, are more
flamboyant, often made of lightwood and featuring medallions, a telltale marker
of origin.
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| Sto Nino collector Jason Ong |
Ong
showed us a small Santo Niño, just 13 inches tall (converted to 33 centimeters).
According to him, Cebuano scholar Tito Clodoveo Nacorda, explains that the size
symbolizes Christ’s life: 33 centimeters for 33 years. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Ong said. “The symbol, the scale, they tell the story of Christ’s life.”
3.jpg) |
| Two foreign tourists enjoying the display |
Tayag
shared how his personal collection began. In 1978, at 22, he came across a collection
of Santo Niño images being sold at Harrison Plaza. Inspired, he set aside 50
pesos a week, gradually cultivating a lifelong passion. As for his watercolor
paintings, Tayag says the process flows naturally: once inspiration strikes, a
painting takes only an hour or two to complete.
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| Claude Tayag in front of some of his watercolor creations |
The
exhibition, in this sense, is more than a collection of Santo Niños , it’s a
conversation starter that can retell stories across eras, region, and devotion,
capturing the many faces of a beloved figure and the communities that cherish
him.
Gearing
up for the National Arts Month
As
February nears, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) ushers
in National Arts Month 2026 under the theme “Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at
Giting.” The theme highlights the arts’ power to speak truth, inspire courage,
and foster peace and development. Anchored in the Philippine Development Plan
for Culture and the Arts and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals,
the celebration showcases how artistic expression mirrors Filipino realities
and aspirations. Across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, NCCA-led programs will
spotlight seven disciplines: Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Dramatic Arts,
Literature, Music, and Visual Arts, inviting inclusive participation
nationwide.
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| National Arts Month poster |
National
Arts Month 2026 opens on February 1 at Luneta Park in Manila, where the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts will stage a symbolic,
performance-driven launch centered on this year’s theme.
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| The NCCA and the Intramuros Management signed a memorandum of agreement to collaborate in promoting Philippines arts and culture more |
At
the heart of the program is the lampara, this year’s central emblem,
representing light, truth, and resolve. Through a ceremonial passing of the
lamp, the opening traces the journey of Philippine art from its roots and
institutions to the public, and onward to the next generation. Rituals,
regional traditions, music, dance, contemporary performance, fashion, and
spoken word converge to reflect indigenous heritage alongside modern creative
expression. Participating groups include the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, UST
Singers, Guiguiteno Dance Troupe, Echague tribal performers, the Philippine
Ballet Theater, and LGBT community artist Monica Amanda Gana. A Parada ng mga
Sining will bring the seven art forms to life through costume and procession.
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| Miss Universe Catriona Gray poses with young cultural performers |
In
Luzon, National Arts Month moves to Los Baños, Laguna, from February 18 to 20,
in partnership with ARTIST, Inc., focusing on Dramatic Arts and Architecture
and Allied Arts. Workshops and discussions at the ART Center will open the
program, followed by a collaborative theater production at the University of
the Philippines Los Baños’ D.L. Umali Hall. The regional leg emphasizes
community engagement, drawing together artists, students, professionals, and
the academe. A weaving performance underscores the interconnectedness of
architecture and its allied disciplines in shaping everyday spaces and communal
life.
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| In her six year role as NCCA Arts Ambassador, Gray has traveled all over the country to help promote and document local culture |
The
Visayas celebration unfolds in Palo, Leyte, under the subtheme “Pag-uswag han
Tawo ngan Kalibungan” (Climate Justice), highlighting the link between human
development and environmental sustainability. Activities began earlier, on
January 12, with a Climate Justice Symposium attended by around 150
participants from various sectors. The discussions and workshops helped shape
programs leading to the official regional celebration on February 18.
In
Mindanao, National Arts Month spans two cities. In Butuan City, activities run
across multiple dates in February under the theme “Lawig Mindanaw: Kalinaw ug
Kahigayunan” (Peace and Access). Featured events include Bagani Hong Lawod, a
theater production by Balangay Repertory Theater, and POSITIVITY 6, an
exhibition exploring belonging and equality through Butuanon and Caraganon
artists’ perspectives. Dance, music, and film showcases further anchor the
program. In Davao City, celebrations from February 20 to 21 focus on peace and
access, culminating in a multimedia performance shaped by local choreographers,
visual artists, filmmakers, and Special Program for the Arts students.
Throughout
the month, the NCCA will also host ART FriDates, weekly performances and
workshops every Friday at the Blackbox Theater, Likhang Pilipino Complex,
CITEM, World Trade Center, in Pasay,
featuring artists from six local and provincial government units: Angono, Rizal
on February 6, Province of Bulacan on February 13, Biñan, Laguna on February
20, Quezon Province on February 27, and City of Muntinlupa on March 6.
Admission is free. As February unfolds, the commission invites the public to
engage with a nationwide celebration of Filipino creativity, heritage, and
shared identity.
Catriona
Gray Makes a Case for the Future of Philippine Arts
Catriona
Gray, the 2018 Miss Universe and the current Arts Ambassador of the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts, spoke with conviction shaped by seven
years of taking on the role. In a three-and-a-half-minute address, she
reflected on the challenges of making art in a metrics-driven world, arguing
that its true impact is not measured in likes or shares, but in the moments
that move people.
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| 2018 Miss Universe and NCCA Arts Ambassador Catriona Gray |
Gray
urged artists to value collaboration and mentorship, and to cultivate spaces
that elevate creators, inspire audiences, and carry local art onto the global
stage—an aim that resonates as National Arts Month approaches. “There are so
many forms of art,” she said, “and this year’s more collaborative approach
opens our minds to new experiences and ideas.”
