In Mindanao, particularly in Tagum City, Davao del Norte; San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; and General Santos City, South Cotabato/Marbel, fostering cultural awareness and expanding public engagement in the arts requires a strong network of collaboration between local communities.

For Mindanaoan cultural workers and artists Jun Jamero, Lolito Pontillas and Leonardo Cariño, building connections and linkages is just as vital as the creative processes themselves. This is where the Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) program, an initiative by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), plays a crucial role.

Launched in 2014 through its Cultural Exchange Department (CED), the CCP Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) program seeks to strengthen collaboration and foster deeper connections among regional educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local government units across the country. The program’s network works collectively to promote artistic excellence, preserve Philippine heritage, and facilitate meaningful cultural exchanges among diverse stakeholders.

“The CCP is the only cultural agency with a deeply rooted program dedicated to engaging and empowering local communities for four and a half decades. Through the CCP KSS, LGUs, NGOs, and academic institutions are able to collaborate and work together,” said Jun Jamero, executive director of the Musikahan sa Tagum Foundation Inc.

As one of the pioneering members of the CCP KSS, the Musikahan sa Tagum Foundation Inc. has developed innovative programs that have helped transform Tagum City into a thriving cultural hub. One of the most anticipated events in the city, the Musikahan sa Tagum Festival, was born from this partnership.

During the tenure of then mayor Rey T. Uy, the city leveraged arts and culture to create livelihood and employment opportunities for local residents. Through this collaboration, they also launched the RTU Music Makers, a special program that provides free music classes to the public. Participants have the chance to learn musical instruments and take voice lessons, further enriching the community’s cultural landscape. Eventually, the public program expanded; people from neighboring areas took part, and many of them eventually became active participants of the festival.

In 2024, Tagum City served as one of the satellite venues for the Pasinaya: The CCP Open House Festival, the largest multi-arts festival in the country — a milestone that Jamero hopes to replicate in 2025.