These five organizations have launched various philanthropic programs and projects that aim to enrich, preserve, and cultivate the country’s arts and culture scene.
The arts and culture scene of any country plays a vital role in nation-building. They are, after all, forms of self-expression and heritage that make up the identity of a people or community. The Philippines, in particular, is an archipelago that’s brimming with creativity, talent, and art forms that deserve to be recognized, preserved, and most importantly, championed for future generations. Luckily, a number of organizations have spent years dedicated to doing just that, assisting artists across a variety of disciplines through philanthropic programs and projects that aim to enrich the creative landscape of the country.
If you’re searching for organizations to follow and support, here are five whose philanthropic efforts continue to yield a more vibrant arts and culture scene:
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Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has long been one of the country’s most active and prolific organizations when it comes to promoting the Philippine arts. In fact, many of the country’s exceptional creative talents found a second home in the organization, starting their successful careers within its walls.
From special training programs to public platforms that provide more exposure for emerging talents, the CCP’s commitment to the local arts and culture scene is evident in everything it has been doing over the past 55 years.
A more specific example of its efforts is the CCP International Scholarship program, which helps talented young artists across different disciplines by providing them with broader, international opportunities to develop their craft. Its most recent scholars are four music practitioners who are currently honing their skills in prestigious universities abroad.
The organization also provides resources and space for its resident companies to thrive. These include Tanghalang Pilipino, Philippine Ballet Theatre, Ballet Philippines, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Philippine Madrigal Singers, and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.
Metrobank Foundation, Inc.
For more than 40 years, the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) has been funding and launching programs for the visual arts as the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group. Its founder, Dr. George Ty Siao Kia, was an appreciator of the arts himself, and wanted to create a platform that would uplift Filipino creativity.
Among its flagship programs is the Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE). The visual arts and design program began in 1984 (formerly known as the Metrobank National Painting Competition and Young Painters’ Annual), with the aim of recognizing the talent and hard work of young Filipino artists and promoting Philippine art culture.
To date, nearly 500 artists have launched their careers and honed their skills through MADE. Its yearly competition not only provides cash incentives to support their work, but also residency and scholarship opportunities. Many of these artists have become prominent figures in their respective disciplines. They include Elmer Borlongan, Yeo Kaa, Mark Justiniani, Jan Leeroy New, and Alfredo Esquillo, to name a few.
MADE also hosts workshops, an artistic development program, partnerships, and community outreach programs to further nurture the crafts of Filipino artists so they can continue building on the nation’s rich cultural heritage. In doing so, the foundation stays true to its tagline “Excel. Engage. Empower.”
Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.
The Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI) is a non-stock, not-for-profit membership and volunteer organization that works to preserve and promote the country’s artistic and cultural heritage. It provides funding support for a variety of special projects for museums across the country, including the renovation of the National Museum of Natural History.
MFPI does all of this through special fundraising programs and events, including conducting lectures and cultural study tours in the Philippines, as well as holding the highly-anticipated MaArte fairs. It was also the pioneering body of the Art in the Park fair from 2007 to 2013 (which is now handled by Philippine Art Events).
MFPI’s other notable projects include supporting the printing of significant cultural books like Habi: A Journey Through Philippine Handwoven Textile, Making Museums Work: A Zero-In Handbook, and Printing of Rara: Art and Tradition of Mat Weaving in the Philippines by Elmer I. Nocheseda. The organization also contributed to the restoration of Juan Luna’s “La Bulaqueña” work housed at the National Museum, as well as the donation of Tagbanua and Maranao antique artifacts to the National Museum of Anthropology.
PHINMA Foundation, Inc.
The PHINMA Corporation began in 1956, when its founders Ambassador Ramon V. Del Rosario Sr., Don Filemon C. Rodriguez, and Ernesto Escaler were spurred to create an organization that would help in nation-building through competitive and well-managed business enterprises. In 1986, the PHINMA Foundation, Inc. (PFI) was born from this endeavor, helping projects that align with the PHINMA group’s businesses, as well as its focus on education, the arts, and health.
The foundation supports like-minded organizations that share its mission in bettering the lives of Filipinos. This includes providing financial assistance to various sectors like the culture and arts. The foundation provides grants to artists and art institutions that preserve Filipino identity and heritage. Some groups that have benefited from PFI’s endowments include Ballet Philippines and the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). On top of its grants and sponsorships, the PFI also gives scholarships to students across a wide range of disciplines to further their livelihood opportunities.
Ayala Foundation, Inc.
Founded in 1961 by Colonel Joseph McMicking and Mercedes Zobel-McMicking, the Ayala Foundation, Inc. has been one of the country’s oldest, pioneering corporate foundations. As the social development arm of the Ayala group of companies, it “envisions communities where people are creative, productive, self-reliant, and proud to be Filipino,” as it writes in its website.
Their programs span a multitude of sectors, including community development, corporate citizenship and volunteerism, leadership development, and of course, arts and culture.
Under its arts and culture projects is the Ayala Museum—one of the most prominent private museums in the country, which has shared Philippine history, art, and heritage to a wide audience. There’s also the Filipinas Heritage Library, a beautiful space that archives significant contemporary and rare books about the country, and continues to be a leading research hub for students, scholars, and the general public.
As part of its leadership development, its CENTEX program has also helped the arts and culture scene by providing underserved students with quality education, allowing them to thrive in artistic fields like the visual arts, dance, and music.
Banner photo from the Ayala Foundation website.
