R.A.11726  HONORS NATIONAL ARTISTS

THE works of two Dagupeños heralded as national artists, will have a permanent haven in their birthplace, through the creation of the Edades and Bernal Cultural Center and Museum.

This, after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on April 29 H.B. Bill B08133 authored principally by Fourth District Rep. Christopher De Venecia, now known as Republic Act No. 11726, that mandates the establishment of the Edades and Bernal Cultural Center and Museum in Dagupan City.

Victorio C. Edades, from Barangay Bolosan, was the acclaimed “Father of Modern Philippine Painting” while Salvador “Badong” Bernal, from Barangay Pantal, was hailed as the “Father of Theater Design” in the Philippines.

Both were declared National Artists— Edades in 1976 for Painting, and Bernal in 2003 for Theater and Design in 2003.

Specifically, RA. 11726 decrees “the establishment of a cultural center and museum in Dagupan City, to be known as the Edades and Bernal Cutural Center and Museum, in honor of the city’s distinguished national artists, with the general purpose and objective of presenting and promoting cultures and the arts as well as creative industries in the community.”

And, that the museum “shall be a collaboration between the city government of Dagupan and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) with its concerned affiliated cultural agencies and pertinent academic and private sector partners, and members of governance, organization, operations and development to be provided for by the mutual agreement between the parties, to be executed and published within one year from the effectivity of this Act.”

De Venecia said his bill was a way of honoring Edades and Bernal, both were from the 4th District, and the passage of the law, “galvanizes the policy of the State to preserve the works of our national artists and acknowledges their significance in the nation’s cultural heritage.”
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“Also, to be able to continue their legacies is to allow new generations to be able to do what they did and providing them an avenue to be able to do that. It’s really more to honor the national artists but it’s not limiting what can be displayed on these museums,” he said. (Eva Visepras)

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