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The USA Center for Culture and the Arts

By Wein P. Gadian

Independence Day, SM City, 2003

Samba ng Bayan, 2nd runner-up, Kasadyahan 2004

Man's existence is greatly influenced by culture and arts. These two different entities that co-exist with each other is one of the greatest phenomena of our times. From the visual arts, architecture, music, dance and literature–all an anthology of the past reflected in the present and future. Its continuous evolution (culture and arts) from one belief to another, from simplicity to complexity requires not only man’s knowledge but also his understanding. Although lots of books with or without photos/illustrations were written about it – it is still important to study, to promote, to develop and even to educate others about it. In Iloilo, this paradigm brought one prestigious university, the University of San Agustin (USA) in creating the University of San Agustin’s Center for Culture and the Arts (USACCA).

In a Nutshell

Noche de Gala, the Philippines-Spain Friendship Day Velada, CAP Auditorium, 2005

Literature Hiligayna, Philippines - Spain Friendship Day Opening Ceremony, Museo-Iloilo, 2005

USACCA is a center that coordinates a consortium of organizations, departments and units of the university that promote culture and the arts. Also it articulates an archetype of convergence by providing a venue for the merging of art disciplines on music, dance, theatre arts and visual arts. It also strengthens artists collaboration, cultural workers and the forging of partnerships among students, faculty and alumni and administration of the school as well as the community. The USACCA also plans to realize this model through varied programs covering arts, extension, publication, documentation and archiving, museum management, heritage promotion, arts and culture studies, arts in the curriculum, training and education and audience development.

USACCA is also impelled by the university's thrust of promoting Filipino heritage. Part of its advocacy is to conserve and popularize Western Visayas and Philippine culture and the arts. These are on its program of activities which include the staging of plays, musicals, concerts and other cultural presentations. It also holds visual arts exhibits, conducts lecture-workshops in the arts, management of arts festivals in the University as well in the local community. Resource persons are both alumni and all those who are expert on the field e.g. theatre workshops by Peque Gallaga, Poetry and Creative Writing by Leoncio Deriada and others.

USACCA with the USA Office of Co-curricular Activities conducts of the University’s literary-musical contests and assist students in off-campus cultural competitions e.g. Troubadours' competitions. It also provides artistic technical support to the productions of the University’s resident companies in the performing arts – USA Band, USA Choir and Troubadours, USA Little Theater and Kawilihan–USA.

The Activities

Lecture of Film Appreciation with Peque Gallaga, 9th Arts Festival, USA Conference Room, 2002

USACCA's significance in the arts has been proven in its almost three years of existence. From its establishment (school year 2002-2003) under the administration of Rev. Fr. Manuel Vergara, OSA and its coordinator Mr. Eric Divinagracia, it has maintained ties with leading cultural institutions including Museo-Iloilo, Department of Tourism, Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commision for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through its various projects. These productions have been staged not only within the walls of the campus but have gone to all the provinces of Western Visayas, Cebu, Dumaguete, Laguna and Manila.

USACCA's productions (in campus and off campus) has truly brought in the Ilonggo heritage through arts. It has invited various experts in the field to help mold more artists in their craft. Also trained aspiring artists in discipline and practicing their skills. Among its many in campus productions are: Confessions of Three(August 2002 & 2003), Sining San Agustin during the University Day Centennial Veladas (July 2004 & 2005) and SAMBAyanan on the Patron Saint's Day Velada (August 2005). Confessions of Three is an original of USA and a new pop musical. All of which has been well applauded and appreciated by audience from different walks of life. Its in campus exhibits includes the: USA Arts Festival Exhibits (2002 to present), Homecoming: The Jose Dureza Art Exhibit (July 12, 2004). It has also conducted lectures about Arts Festival lectures since 2002 up to the present. Recently it has taken part in one of a kind celebration, Fil-Hispanic Friendship 2005 with a lecture on Spanish Influence on Philippine Architecture (June 29, 2005). It was delivered by Dr. Javier Galvante from the Instituto de Cervantes, Manila (A prestigious Spanish school). The lectures presented are all research based and were also publish in SANAG, the school's literary folio.

USACCA's artists are not only limited in their performance within the university. Most of its well applauded productions were done out of the school. These off campus productions were also bests works of Augustinians. These includes the:Belasyon, a new Ilonggo Musical (February 2005) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila. This USA original is also an entry to Dayon!, a festival of university and community theatre groups in Western Visayas. The Dagway sang Binalaybay (October 2003) and also an entry to Pasundayag sang Western Visayas in the WOW Philippines 2004 at Intramuros, Manila. During the Philippine-Spain Friendship Week, 2005 at CAP Auditorium, USACCA was also responsible for bringing the Noche de Gala, were Augustinian artists performed for the city's elite, tourists, dignitaries and Iloilo residents. It's also involved in the annual celebration of Kasadyahan 2004 where it won 2nd runner up in its production, Samba ng Bayan.

USACCA's off-campus exhibits has also inspired many Ilonggos especially in the: Palimpsesto at Museo Iloilo. Palimpsesto is a contemporary art exhibit and performance of Spanish and Hiligaynon literature featuring six award – winning Ilonggos and a program on written works in the native Language and in Spanish (June 29, 2005). The Hinabol nga Pagtu-o (July 2004, Museo Iloilo), an ethno-iconographic representation of St.Augustine as a Visayan. It also featured the works of Rev. Fr. Dominador Besares, OSA, the poems of John Iremil Teaodoro and the hablon collection of Eric de los Santos. The 100 Artworks in SM City, Iloilo and in celebration of the USA Centennial Art Exhibit (July 10, 2004).

USACCA has also joined in various festivals and events like Duag Teatrokon: The Western Visays Theatre Festival and Conference (2004). An NCCA Arts Month grantee which featured nine plays from 5 provinces of Western Visayas. The festival were all in original works by local writers and performed by 15 performing/theatre groups. Other Festivals are: USA Arts Festival (every November), ILOPRISAA 2004 and WV PRISAA 2005 meet and the Spanish Film Festival 2005 at the institution during the Fil-Hispanic Friendship week. The Spanish Film festival featured four award winning films of Spain. These are: El abuelo, En la ciudad sin limites, La niña de tus ojos and Sin verguenza.USACCA's upcoming activities are:USA Arts Festival (November 14-18), Broadway Street (February 15-16), Troubadours Farewell Performance to Korea (November 7), summer workshops and more. USA Arts Fest will be a series of activities including visual arts, performing arts, literature and the like. The Broadway Street are excerpts from popular Broadway musicals. With the USACCA more minds are trained in discipline, appreciation and development in the culture and the arts. It has not only marked a significance to Ilonggo culture and arts but also uplifted it. In the future it will bring more productions that would encouraged more Ilonggos in their craft. USACCA office is at the University of San Agustin and continues its cause in providing venue for amateur and trained artists in the different art disciplines: visual arts, performing arts, dance, literary and the like. It also encourages the Augustinians, its alumni and those who are besting in the craft to share and help in promoting the Ilonggo and Philippine Arts and Culture as well as its literature.