LEGAZPI CITY - In observance of the 10th National Arts Month in February, a multi-agency team in Bicol will conduct the Bicol Arts Festival 2003 from February 4 - 25 under the theme "Preserving the Environment, Empowering the Women, and Fostering Unity Through the Arts for World Peace."

Participating agencies include the Bicol University, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Local Government Units (LGUs), the Philippines National Police (PNP), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the National Council of Women of the Philippines (NCWDP), the CCAB and the ALCHAAC.

For the month-long celebration, varied activities are scheduled per day. The celebration will be ushered in by a Thanksgiving Mass followed by the opening program under the shade of the BU Centennial Tree at 8:30 in the morning of Tuesday, February 4 with the DILG, CCAB and DPWH as coordinators. This will be followed by a motorcade from the BU grounds to Daraga town down to Legazpi City and back to BU with CSC in-charge.

Sen. Loren Legarda-Leviste will be the special guest of the February 14 launching of the BU Luntiang Pilipinas and the ceremonial tree planting activity jointly sponsored by BU and DENR at the BU-DENR Forestry Institute Research. The activity will follow the Luntiang Pilipinas motorcade at 5:00 a.m. with CSC taking charge.

The Legazpi City government and the NCWP Legazpi City Council will spearheaded the city launching of the Luntiang Pilipinas project at the Kalayaan park in Barangay Gogon.

Students with oratorical prowess will have their day to showcase their talents in the Declamation Contest on February 5, for elementary division, and the Extemporaneous Speaking on February 12 for college division. Both will be conducted at the BU Little Theater at 1:00 p.m. on the dates set.

An oratoncal contest for college division with CHED in-charge at the BU Little Theater is scheduled on February 17 while DepEd will sponsor the Poetry Writing in Bicol contest high school division on February 19.

The BU-TCCS, on the other hand, will sponsor the stage play "Sino at Simeon" which will run from February 17 to 22.

An ecological conference is also set February 15 at 1:30 p.m. with NCWP and DENR as lead agencies at the Bichara Silver Screens Entertainment.

Other activities include the SCOP Regional Seminar Workshop on February 20-21 at the BU Amphitheater; the Bicol Heritage Singers choral concert at the Liberty Comniercial Center on February 23 sponsored by the DOT; and the DILG initiated Cultural Presentation at the Peñaranda Park, Old Albay District, evening of February 24.

The February 25 activity highlights will be the Festival Street Dancing Parade and the Closing Program at the Peñaranda Park with the CSC and DILG as coordinators respectively while the DOT takes care of the Recognition and Awards Night at the Hotel La Trinidad at 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Ramona B. Rafleses, BU President’s Assistant for Media Affairs, who is also the founder of the National Arts Month celebration in Bicol acts as the Regional Director for the February affair.

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