The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII conducted an online webinar entitled, “A Culture that Heals: NCCA-RDC VIII Webinar on Filipino Values and Culture in the Time of Pandemic” via Zoom on 24 March 2021.

The webinar highlighted the crucial role played by Filipino culture and values in helping communities cope with the social, mental, and economic effects of the pandemic.

Former NCCA Chairperson Prof. Felipe M. De Leon, Jr. talked about Filipino culture being a culture of healing underscoring how our values, which revolve around valuing social relationships, help in fighting the social, economic, mental, and emotional difficulties brought by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Prof. Arvin Manuel Villalon, team leader of NCCA’s national survey of Filipino values, discussed the results of their study which sought to determine the different values upheld across the Philippines, and provided insights on how these could help in policy making and program/project implementation at the national and local levels.

Over 300 participants from different colleges universities, and high schools along with representatives from regional line agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, and other private organizations in the region joined the webinar which was conducted through Zoom and livestreamed on Facebook.

In his closing message, RDC VIII-Social Development Committee (SDC) Co-Chairperson and Private Sector Representative for Labor Atty. Miguel T. Tezon hoped that the high turnout for the webinar was evident of the support of regional stakeholders for the RDC VIII and underscored the need for this continued support in implementing meaningful change in the region.

“We all know how important collective efforts are in making significant change in our society… Let us continue nurturing positive values, preserving culture, channeling creativity, and helping one another as we altogether survive these tough times and face the future with a shared national identity as a Filipino.”

Banking on the role that culture and values play in the people’s response to the pandemic, the webinar is just one of many conducted by the NCCA in collaboration with the RDCs across the country.

Article and Photos by:  Knulp Aseo