MALit students celebrate 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 through artistic presentation showcasing the arts, culture, and literary genres.

In celebration of 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, first-year Master of Arts in Literature (MALit) students expressed their understanding and appreciation of literature as cultural art through spoken poetry, storytelling, dramatic performances, and literary and cultural exhibits. This celebration was held on February 28, 2026, at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Building, USeP Obrero Campus.

𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐡𝐨: “𝐒𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬,” the event , highlighted literature’s role in reflecting national memory, fostering global dialogue, and honoring Indigenous identity. The students presented their ekphrastic poetry inspired by a mural of 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬 at 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥, portraying two Indigenous women wearing traditional woven garments and accessories that symbolize their cultural identity while reflecting themes of history, knowledge, and the struggles faced by marginalized communities. Oclos, is a ‘street artist with a fine arts degree,’ known for his murals centered on social issues, particularly those under the eyes of the oppressors. Through poetry, the students lend a voice to the voiceless—speaking for them, with them, and through them with conviction and empathy that are deeply felt by the audience.

The said event was opened with warmth and festivity attended by 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐘𝐮 who led the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially commence the event along with the CAS Associate Dean 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐂. 𝐏𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨, who delivered the welcome remarks. 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐳, 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐭. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀. 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐨, and 𝐃𝐫. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐚 were present as well. The MALit students exceeded expectations by also showing creativity, spectacle, and thought-provoking presentations that left the audience in awe and sparked engaging discussions.

The celebration featured a wide range of performances and exhibits that highlighted both classical and indigenous literary traditions. Among the dramatics presentations were 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑨𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒚’𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒄𝒉 (𝑫𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒔) from 𝑱𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒖𝒔 𝑪𝒂𝒆𝒔𝒂𝒓 and 𝑯𝒂𝒎𝒍𝒆𝒕’𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒒𝒖𝒚 from 𝑯𝒂𝒎𝒍𝒆𝒕 by 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒎 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒆 alongside 𝑺𝒊𝒌𝒍𝒐 𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏, performed by 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬, 𝐅𝐮 𝐕𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐭𝐚, 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐭𝐚, and 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐨 𝐉𝐫. 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐓. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐨 also showcased her own well-composed poetry.

An Indigenous Cultural Exhibit titled: 𝐇𝐚𝐛’𝐢𝐝: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 was presented by 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐦, 𝐋𝐲𝐳𝐡𝐚 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐚, 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳, 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞, 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐄𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐒𝐞ñ𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬, and 𝐋𝐮𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐜𝐚, emphasizing the intricate traditions of the Maranao community that are interwoven with their cultural identity. The exhibit also featured cultural artifacts and indigenous textile artistry from the 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 – 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨, presented by 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐀𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐚, as well as a 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐛𝐨-𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐰𝐚 by 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐚, 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐥, and 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐞𝐳𝐚𝐧.

In the visual arts category, 𝐉𝐚𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐨’s sculpture “𝐇𝐲𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝,” presented by 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬 demonstrated innovative artistic expression grounded in the socio-cultural issue of the mixing of heritage amongst the Mindanao people. 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨 also proudly introduced her soil panting, “Andig.” The celebration concluded with a remarkable storytelling performance of “𝐀𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐚,” a Mandaya folklore, brought to life by 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐬, 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐚, and 𝐑𝐡𝐞𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐮𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧, further underscoring the richness of Mindanao’s oral traditions.

𝐃𝐫. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐚 concluded the program by congratulating the students for their outstanding performances and delivering an inspiring message emphasizing that literature is an art form that actively engages with and addresses societal issues. The MALit students commemorated the 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 by showcasing diverse performances and creative works that honored the plurality of literary voices from Mindanao and beyond. The celebration served not only as an appreciation of global and local artists but also as a reminder that literature mirrors lived experiences, cultural complexities, and traditions that shape one’s cultural identity. It is more than just a celebration, the event became a testament that literature remains not only as an artistic expression but serves as a catalyst for social change.