Role of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
- Republic Act No. 7365, Section 12, designates the NCCA as the agency responsible for conserving and promoting the nation’s cultural and historical heritage.
Purpose of Declaring National Heritage Month
- To cultivate public consciousness, respect, and love for Filipino cultural history.
- To secure material support for the protection of both tangible and intangible heritage.
Promotion of Public Awareness and Participation
- Emphasizes strengthening awareness of cultural heritage sites, structures, and landscapes.
- Encourages people’s active participation in preservation through diverse cultural activities such as:
- Performing arts at heritage sites
- Visual art and fashion exhibits
- Thematic culinary events
- Folk food fairs
- Design retrospectives and competitions
- Media and literary events
- Homage to living traditions and intangible heritage
Inclusion of Multicultural Traditions
- Recognizes the importance of promoting and celebrating the multicultural traditions of:
- Indigenous peoples
- Muslim communities
- Filipino-Chinese communities
Significance of the Month of May
- Traditionally known as the month when most fiestas, festivals, and indigenous activities occur across the Philippines.
- Symbolically chosen to emphasize participation in preserving both tangible and intangible heritage.
Declaration and Government Directives
- The President officially declares May of every year as National Heritage Month.
- All government agencies are enjoined to undertake activities aligned with the proclamation’s spirit.
- The NCCA is tasked as the lead agency to carry out activities during the National Heritage Month.
Legal Authority and Implementation
- The proclamation is issued under the President’s constitutional powers.
- Affixed with the seal of the Republic of the Philippines and signed by the President and Executive Secretary to formalize it.