March 1, Araw ng Dabaw, happens to be the birth anniversary of the late Davao-born National Artist for Visual Arts, Ang Kiukok. This could’ve been a double celebration of sorts, but not every Dabawenyo recognizes Ang Kiukok.
Given that today’s generation is caught with pop culture and Facebook, ask them who Ang Kiukok is, they might reply with: Koreano na nga artista? Dili, tisoy na nga aktor pareho ni Enchong.||| |||buy champix online with |||
Basin negosyante nga Insik o operator sa sabong.
There are efforts in every Araw ng Dabaw festivity to highlight Davao’s history and prominent personalities, but somehow the attention of the city and the public is more on the pomp, pageant, parade and pop culture in this event.
Don’t we know that there are two National Artists with roots from Davao? Aside from Ang Kiukok, there is dancer-choreographer Agnes Locsin, National Artist for Dance. Somehow, there is little that the general public knows about these artists and their contribution to the arts. Even the Davao Chinese community has little efforts to acknowledge Ang Kiukok.
Perhaps it is a general perception that artists are outliers, and at times even branded as elitist. But this is where the need for education to bridge people, and especially from Davao, to the importance of art and culture as a mirror of our society.
Ang Kiukok’s life and art reflected the times and struggles of the Filipino people. His life was also a struggle to break stereotypes and become an artist of relevance. Born to a Chinese family in Davao, the only son with five sisters, Ang was expected to take over the family sari-sari store business, as this was the usual generational thing with Chinoys.||| |||buy biaxin online with |||