PRESS STATEMENT BY MR. CHRIS B. MILLADO, VICE PRESIDENT AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES
12 August 2011
FIRST ALLOW ME TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING.
IN BEHALF OF THE OFFICERS AND STAFF OF THE CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON SOME ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD OR MISINTERPRETED.
FIRSTLY, LET ME RESTATE IN MY OWN WORDS THE VISION AND MISSION OF THE CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES:
THE VISION OF THE CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES IS TO MAKE ART MATTER TO THE LIFE OF EVERY FILIPINO. AND WE AIM TO DO THIS BY CREATING, PRODUCING, AND PRESENTING CULTURAL EXPERIENCES FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND AROUND THE WORLD – ONSITE, OFFSITE AND ONLINE. WE ALSO AIM TO SHOWCASE THE BEST EXAMPLES OF PHILIPPINE AESTHETICS AND EDUCATE THE FUTURE ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES FOR ARTS AND CULTURE.
I JOINED THE CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES AS AN ARTIST AND MANAGER IN 1986 RIGHT AFTER THE PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION. AND I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN NURTURED IN AN ATMOSPHERE THAT ENCOURAGED THE BLOSSOMING OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. I AM DOUBLY PROUD TO REPRESENT MANY TALENTED, EXCELLENT, COMMITTED (AND MAY I ADD - UNDERPAID AND OVERWORKED) ARTISTS AND ARTIST MANAGERS IN CCP.
EVEN AMONG US IN THE ART WORLD, MANY WERE OFFENDED WHEN WE FIRST VIEWED POLITEISMO. BUT IT SERVED AS AN AWAKENING. IT ROUSED OUR SENSES, CHALLENGED US TO TAKE A DEEPER LOOK, WOKE US UP TO A LESS INNOCENT WORLD: WHAT IS THE ARTIST TRYING TO SAY? WHY AM I REACTING THIS WAY? SHOULD I BE ANGRY? OR SHOULD I BE MORE INTROSPECTIVE? SHOULD I JUDGE THE ART WORK FOR WHAT I SEE ON THE SURFACE OR SHOULD I TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS DOING TO AFFECT ME? THIS IS THE EXPERIENCE OF ART.
A LOT OF US AGREE THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF KULO COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AND INDEED, THIS HAS SERVED TO GIVE US A LESSON THAT WILL GUIDE US IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WE CANNOT IGNORE THE IMPORTANT FACT THAT IT HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGE TO ENGAGE OTHERS, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF CHANGE.
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