The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) recently opened an exhibit featuring national artists and recipients of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, an award given to artists who contributed to the country’s cultural heritage, at the Ayala Capitol Central Mall in Bacolod City.

Dr. Ma. Cecilia Locsin-Nava, author of “History and Society in the Novels of Ramon Muzones,” served as guest of honor for the opening. Her efforts in translating his works were attributed to his inclusion in the National Artist for Literature lineup for 2018.

“Muzones broke the decades-old string of national artists for literature,” she explained. “[They] wrote in English, while Muzones wrote in Hiligaynon.”

Joining Locsin-Nava during the ribbon-cutting were Guadalupe Alcala, wife of the late national artist for visual arts Larry Alcala; Provincial Tourism Office Cheryl Decena; April Love Wee; Negros Museum Executive Director Tanya Lopez; Alex Delos Santos of Antique’s Teatro San Antonio; and August Melody Andong of the National Economic and Development Authority-Region VI.

The exhibit runs until March 25./WDJ