SU CAC, professors awarded by CCP as prime movers of culture in the Visayas
The Silliman University (SU) Culture and Arts Council (CAC); SU professors Diomar C. Abrio and Ian Fermin Rosales Casocot; and Dr. Elizabeth Susan Dimaya Vista-Suarez, SU College of Performing and Visual Arts dean, were named by the Cultural Center of the Philippines as among the 2021 Kaisa Sa Sining (KSS) awardees for the Visayas Region.
“This is truly a wonderful birthday gift for Silliman’s 120th Founders Day,” said Abrio, SU’s cultural officer, when he was officially informed of the results of the 1st KSSLAP (Kaisa Ini sa Sining, Lunsay nga Artistang Pilipino) Awards for the Visayas Region last July 29, 2021.
The KSSLAP Awards is a recognition for outstanding artists, cultural workers, and organizations.
CAC is recognized for the impressive annual calendar of cultural events which included concerts by the country’s leading groups and international performing artists; workshops in music and other art forms; and for making the Luce Auditorium, the center of culture and arts in Southern Philippines.
Dr. Suarez is the awardee for Music as she has been among the country’s most productive music educators with her passion to sustain the role of SU as the country’s pioneer in choral music education. She authored books in music teaching and shared the philosophy behind every pedagogy, led several choral groups to outstanding performances and conducted workshops for public school teachers and other educators, and has been helping communities in the preservation of their music tradition.
Prof. Casocot is recognized for his outstanding work in Creative Writing as well as his tireless efforts in promoting Philippine Literature to young readers, and for his achievements in cultural management which helped much in Dumaguete’s active presence in the global culture radar through his creative social media posts.
The community theater group YATTA (Youth Advocates Through Theater Arts) is also among the KSS awardees from Dumaguete City. YATTA is chosen from among the theater organizations in the Visayas region for playing an active role in building awareness of social issues through performances and workshops in local communities and for their participation in international festivals.
The 2021 awardees in the Visayas also include: Theater director Lutgardo Labad of Bohol, culture administrator Alphonsus Tesoro of Capiz, community cultural worker Marilyn Gamboa of Negros Occidental and Hiligaynon poet and short story writer Dr. Jesus C. Insilada of Iloilo. To be awarded posthumously are film director Peque Gallaga of Bacolod and dance director Jess de Paz of Tacloban. The other organizational awardees are the Calbayog City Arts and Culture Office of Samar and the Negros Cultural Foundation in Negros Occidental.
The CCP KSS Visayas Network announced that due to the present quarantine and travel restrictions, the KSSLAP Awards Ceremonies will be held virtually this August 24-27, 2021 and will be aired via the CCP Facebook page in September.
(story by Moses Joshua B. Atega)
