Key stakeholders rally behind creative council push in Catanduanes
Arts and CultureThe creative scene in Catanduanes just got a major jolt. Key government officials, private sector leaders, and cultural advocates converged on May 5 at the ARDCI Skydeck for the first organizational meeting of the Catanduanes Creative Development Council (CCDC)—a bold step aligned with the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (RA 11904). This isn’t just another meeting. It’s the island’s official kickoff into the ₱1.72-trillion creative economy, which—according to the Philippine Statistics Authority—accounted for 7.1% of the country’s GDP in 2023. RA 11904 aims to protect Filipino creativity, grow homegrown talents, and professionalize the country's creative sectors—from performance to tech, heritage to design. At the table: soon-to-be ex-officio and regular members of the council, handpicked from local government offices, national agencies, and Catanduanes’ budding creative industries. Think: audiovisual media, interactive platforms, creative services, publishing, performance, design, cultural sites, and indigenous expressions—a full spectrum of imagination turned livelihood. Representing Catanduanes State University (CatSU) were Dir. Santos G. Sorra Jr. of the Center for Culture and Arts and Dir. Francis B. Tatel of the Center for Catandungan Heritage—both bringing institutional muscle to the culture table. But this wasn’t just about titles. Attendees rolled up sleeves to sketch initial plans for creative programs and projects that could fuel tourism, unlock investments, and finally give Catandunganon artists the spotlight they’ve long deserved. The CCDC is now set to become the island’s creative nerve center—an idea factory, a support hub, and a rallying point for anyone who believes culture is currency. And if the day’s turnout is any sign, Catanduanes is more than ready to make its creative mark.
