Art for all, all for art

EDITORS of the landmark encyclopedia during the grand launch, which was well attended.

More than 20 years after the first edition was published, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has launched the second edition of the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, the most comprehensive resource on the country’s culture, the arts and rich heritage.

The 12-volume work is edited by Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, who also edited the inaugural edition published in 1994.

The new encyclopedia includes “Peoples of the Philippines” with three volumes and edited by Dr. Rosario Cruz-Lucero, “Architecture” by Rene B. Javellana, SJ., “Visual Arts” by Dr. Cecilia de la Paz, “Film” by Dr. Clodualdo del Mundo, “Music” by Dr. Jose S. Buenconsejo, “Dance” by Basilio Esteban Villaruz, “Theater” by Dr. Apolonio B.Chua, “Broadcast Arts” by Dr. Elizabeth Enriquez (Radio) and Dr. Eulalio Guieb III (Television), and “Literature” (two volumes) by Dr. Jonathan Chua.

Assisting Dr. Tiongson is general managing editor Rosalie Matilac.

This 2017 edition was launched in November last year in a jam-packed CCP main lobby with guests witnessing superb performances by CCP artists who sang a medley of iconic Filipino songs — “Rock, Baby, Rock,’ “Annie Batungbakal,” “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo,” “Habang May Buhay,” “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” “Halik” and “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika.”

More than 500 scholars, researchers and writers were involved in the four-year project, which will also have an online version that will be regularly be updated to cope with the fast-changing arts and culture scene in the country.

THE encyclopedia has 12 volumes and tackles different art fields and disciplines. Each volume is subdivided into historical essays, forms and types, aspects of production, major works, biographies and profiles of organizations.

An addition to the recent edition is the broadcast arts volume and a section on heritage areas in the architecture volume, an important undertaking especially now that the country faces a number of heritage conservation issues.

Another important addition is the involvement in the research and writing of scholars from the various ethnolinguistic groups in the country so that the art forms are given the proper context, explained Tiongson during the launch.

He added the encyclopedia is all-encompassing, inclusive and pushes for a more holistic approach into what is Philippine art.

Tiongson said Philippine culture should be defined by artists from all regions and all sectors of the society.

With more than 5,000 old and new entries and in full color, the encyclopedia is not just an A to Z guide on Philippine arts and culture, but an indispensable, significant sourcebook chronicling events and multifarious facets of the rich Filipino cultural and creative identity.

For other details, contact the CCP Sales and Promotions Office at 832-3706.