PGC launches CACWA 2021, continues to discover Cagayano artists and writers

True to its goal in continuously nurturing, promoting, and sustaining young Cagayanos’ talents and artistry, the Provincial Government of Cagayan launches the 3rd Cagayan Art and Creative Writing Awards 2021.

The Cagayan Art and Creative Writing Awards or CACWA was first launched in 2018 as one of the highlights of the Aggao Nac Cagayan celebration. It aims to highlight the rich culture, heritage and treasures of Cagayan through art creations and written literature.

According to Atty. Mabel Villarica-Mamba, the first lady of the province of Cagayan and the proponent of the awards, these events also seek to promote local pride among Cagayanos.

“Cagayano artists and writers are talented. Many of them have won awards outside of the province and the country. The CACWA intends to honor our very own. We want our fellow Cagayanos to be proud of who we are and what we are as a people,” she said.

Last year, despite the pandemic, the events (art competition and short story writing competition) of CACWA pushed through-

“Culture and the arts should not take a backseat during a pandemic. While we understand that the safety, protection and survival of everyone should be our primary concern, it cannot be denied that we also have more time for creativity while most of us stay at home. We hope that CACWA will inspire our artists and writers to express themselves better even during these times of uncertainty,” Atty. Villarica-Mamba emphasized.

Last year’s CACWA saw the overwhelming participation of young writers and artists in the two contested events. Atty. Villarica-Mamba said that CACWA 2020 had a good number of entries during the 2nd CACWA. “We are hoping to have more this year — from the stable of established writers and artists, as well as from the younger generation,” she said.

The winners for the short story writing last year were: For Junior High School Category- Vdel Mica B. Estanol of Shining Light Academy, Sanchez Mira (1st place); Josefa Camille Bulan Cauilan of Cagayan National High School, Tuguegarao City (2nd place); and Carl Joshua G. Tanguilan of Cagayan National High School, Tuguegarao City (3rd place). For Senior High School Category- Micah Joyce Salinagan Guillermo of Gonzaga National High School (1stplace), Marybeth G. Danipog of St. Paul University Philippines, Tuguegarao City (2nd place); and Mark Angelo Soriano Mabatan of SPUP, Tuguegarao City (3rd place).

Meanwhile the five equal winners of last year’s art competition were Harvey G. Gonzales, Walden P. Tabaog, Mario C. Uy, Jamia Vanessa T. Purisima, and Mark Ashley Josh A. Palursa.

This year will be another exciting year for our young writers and artists as CACWA 2021 launches new categories in both events.

“We originally designed the Creative Writing component of the CACWA for Junior and Senior High School students. However, we received numerous requests to include the College students as well. This year, we will have three categories: Junior HS, Senior HS and College. As for the Cagayan Art Awards, we will have a new category: Photography,” revealed Atty. Villarica-Mamba.

This year’s short story writing will have the theme: “Cagayan River: Looking at our past, nurturing the present, and looking forward to the future."

“The Cagayan River is the boon and bane of our province. It is like a vein where our lifeblood traverses. Since the time of our forefathers, it was used as a source of livelihood and as a major thoroughfare to travel from one town to another. We have also seen the destruction it can cause due to the heavy siltation at present. However, with the Cagayan River Restoration Program of the provincial government, we see a lot of hope that it will no longer be a bane but a boon for the province and its people,” Atty. Villarica-Mamba said.

Meanwhile, PGC plans to sustain the CACWA through different plans, projects and platforms. “During the most recent CACWA, we have observed that there were more young artists that joined and won. We hope that we can provide workshops and exhibits for them, even online, so they can continue to hone their craft. We also want to help them promote and market their works so that the time will come when Cagayano artists and their works will be the most sought after in our country and the world.”

Winners of the art competition and short story writing competition will receive cash prizes and plaques. ((ALM/PIA/MIA BAQUIRAN, PLGU-Cagayan))

 

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)