The National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) heeded the recommendations from various artists in the provinces to open drop-off points in several places for the Quincentennial Art Competition. 23 museums and offices across the country joined forces in easing the burden of the visual artists in shipping their entries. Over two million pesos are at stake for winning artists in four categories. Details, guidelines, and forms are accessible through https://nqc.gov.ph/en/quincentennial-art-competition.
The quarantine owing to COVID-19 pandemic affected immensely the mobility of the artists as well as the forwarding services. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) immediately opened as drop-off points its nine museums. These are the Museo ni Juan at Antonio Luna in Badoc, Ilocos Norte; Museum of Philippine Social History in Angeles City; Museo ng Republikang 1899 in Barasoain Church, Malolos; Museo ni Jose Rizal in Calamba; Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit; Museo ni Miguel Malvar in Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Museo sa Ilalim ng Lupa ng Nagcarlan in Laguna; Museo ni Jess Robredo in Naga City; and Museum of Philippine Economic History in Iloilo City. The NHCP Central Office in Ermita, Manila remains a drop-off point.
National Museum of the Philippines’ satellite branches in Vigan, Tagbilaran, Zamboanga City, and Butuan are now accepting entries to the competition. The Department of Tourism Region 8 Office in Tacloban and the Department of Education Region 12 Office in Koronadal joined the league.
Several local government unit-run museums responded to the call of the visual artists: Cagayan Museum and Historical Research Center of the Provincial Government of Cagayan in Tuguegarao, City Museum of Cagayan de Oro of the Cagayan de Oro City Government, and Museo Davaoeño of the Davao City Government. Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City Government’s assisted Cebu City Government’s Cultural and Historical Affairs Office (CHAO) in collecting entries within Lapu-Lapu City and Cordoba, City. CHAO is an original drop-off site for the rest of Cebu province and nearby provinces.
Private institutions enthusiastically opened their doors to interested artists in their localities: Dal-Luyon Café in San Juan, La Union and The Negros Museum in Bacolod.
Museums and galleries remain closed due to implementation of community quarantine across the country. Strict health protocols will be observed by the drop-off points. NQC requests the participating artists to contact first the point persons in the drop-off points before visiting. Contact details are also in the link provided above.
In 2021, the country will commemorate the Philippine part in the achievement of science and humankind in circumnavigating the planet for the first time. Central in this commemoration is the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan on 27 April 2021. These and more are collectively known as the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines by virtue of Executive Order No. 103 (2020). Know more about the event at www.nqc.gov.ph or follow the Facebook page @nqc2021.
