DTI-7 launches 1st “FiestaKucha Cebu” to promote local creatives, expects 100K artists, visitors

CEBU CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Central Visayas launched on September 8 the 1^st “FiestaKutcha Cebu” as a regional initiative to celebrate the Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM) and promote local creatives in Cebu and other provinces in Central Visayas as well as in the various regions in the country.

“Fiesta + Kucha” is a blend of the Filipino tradition of 'fiestas' and the Japanese storytelling style known as 'pecha kucha’ and the launched marked the beginning of various events and activities showcasing creativity, artistic expression, and innovation. DTI-7 regional director Elena Arbon said, in her opening message at the event held at Waterfront Hotel Cebu.

“I am proud of the local creatives and artists here and we want them to feel that they have found a home here.  ‘FiestaKucha Cebu’ aims to benefit local creatives and artists, contributing to both economic and cultural development,” Arbon said.

She added that the event encompasses conferences, learning sessions, exhibitions, ‘makeathons’, and competitions, demonstrating DTI's commitment to nurturing the region's creative industries in collaboration with creative communities, groups, leaders, and champions.

According to DTI-7 that “FiestaKucha Cebu” marks the first event of DTI Philippines for the PCIM celebration, to be followed by events in Davao City and Baguio City.  The PCIM is an annual celebration declared under RA 11904, also known as the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA).

The month-long “FiestaKutcha” celebration focuses on cultural exchange, collaboration and support for emerging artists and creatives, creative entrepreneurship, and community engagement. DTI-7 expects about 100,000 to 200,000 artists, visitors, viewers, and enthusiasts to attend the diverse events and activities during the “FiestaKutcha Cebu” hosted at multiple locations throughout the festival.

Fireside chat, Pechacucha presentations and lineup of events for September

The project launch featured a fireside chat on “Growing a Creative Industry Ecosystem in the Region," with 2023 PCIM National Director and DTI Competitiveness Bureau Asst. Dir. Jo-Dann Darong with representatives from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), including board of trustees Pedro Delantar Jr. and Mario Panganiban with John Paul Chiongbian, Chair of the 2023 Cebu Business Months.

Darong encouraged local creatives to 'trust the process' and highlighted DTI's efforts to promote the country as the primary 'creative hub' in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) while the rest of the panelists commended this initiative as a huge first step to the development of the creatives in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

DTI-7 provincial directors of Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor told this writer that each province is currently mapping the local creatives, artists and competitive advantage narratives of each for the development of its local creative industry sector.

Dumaguete has the creative visual arts and most artists are now out as Apps developer on the business side of creative sector while Bohol is rich in culture and the performing arts but not so much on digital arts.

Siquijor is focusing on support of the tourism, development of its local film making and hopefully to come up with its digital film festival and to develop local writers that capture the authentic Siquijor narratives.

During the 'PechaKucha' segment, local creative champions showcased their activities and initiatives, presenting three slides with three minutes of commentary each.

Activities announced under the FiestaKucha Cebu lineup include the Cebu Art Book Fair, Tubô Cebu Art Fair, Cebu Game Dev by the Beach, Writer Series, September Fever Music Talks, 48-Hour Film Marathon, Prelude Philippines Dance Competition, Creative Islands Fair by Cebu Literary Festival, Sketcha Kucha, and the FiestaKucha Conference.

DTI 7 also aligned its programs under the FiestaKucha celebration with the launch of a One Town, One Product (OTOP Philippines) Hub in Ayala Center Cebu and a fabrication laboratory (Fablab) under its Shared Service Facilities (SSF) program in partnership with TESDA, both on September 26.

The FiestaKucha Cebu events and activities are orchestrated in collaboration with diverse communities, groups, leaders, and champions within the creative industries sector, each contributing their unique perspectives and expertise.

It is a September month-long celebration heralding the Creative Industries Month with events and activities that are an eclectic mix of conferences, immersive learning sessions, captivating exhibitions, mesmerizing performances, and spirited competitions.

Each of these engaging endeavors is meticulously designed to resonate with the multifaceted dimensions of creativity and innovation, amplifying the allure of the Creative Industries Month's resplendent festivities. (Photos: DTI7/MBCNewman)