The City of Dumaguete will launch a series of events that will provide the creative sector opportunities to level up their skills and talents while opening up new markets at the international level.
Nimfa Virtucio, provincial director of the Department of Trade & Industry in Negros Oriental, said Monday the initiative is a collaboration spearheaded by the city government, their agency, and Beetzee Inc., the leading creatives company based here.
“We are blessed that Dumaguete was granted a P1.2 million funding from the DTI national office as part of its Malikhaing Pinoy program for the City’s Lunsod Lunsad initiative, specifically for the creative industry,” Virtucio said.
Chamberlain Guevarra, Beetzee’s CEO, said activities in the coming weeks will provide training, competition, and connection of creatives here to other creatives, noting the countless untapped potentials of artists, musicians, and many others in this sector.
The Lunsod Lunsad is divided into three major events which will begin on Nov. 16.
These are the Artistic Leap Initiative, the Creative Konnect Expo, and Beetzee Best Songwriter Season 3: Band Camp Featuring Willfreedo.
“These events celebrate and uplift creative talents from Dumaguete and across the Philippines, showcasing the incredible potential of our artistic community,” Guevarra said.
The ALI workshops from Nov. 16-17 will feature experts in photography, videography, and graphic design.
Creative Connect, meanwhile, is a three-day expo with live performances set from Nov. 22-24, and will feature Dumaguete’s artists and groups.
The Lunsod Lunsad program will conclude with the Beetzee Best Songwriter Season 3: Band Camp from Dec. 13-15.
Guevarra said the three-day music event will feature songwriting talents across the Philippines, and is open to participants nationwide.
It will feature Willfreedo, a renowned band from Visayas and Mindanao, who will mentor the participating bands and perform on the final night.
All the events will be held in different venues in Dumaguete.
The call for participants is ongoing.
Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo said the City government is fully supporting the events as program proponents target to make Dumaguete the next creative hub in Asia by 2030. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
