Dingdong defends NCCA appointment

The post as seen on the PAF Facebook page

Dingdong Dantes has reacted to the controversy relating to a Facebook post naming him as one of National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Goodwill Ambassadors along with other celebrities.

The list was posted on Nov. 3 on the Facebook page of the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF), an NCCA project, which drew mixed reactions from netizens.

The post said the ambassadors “are expected to advocate and stir everyone’s interest in our culture and the arts scene with many fun-filled, exciting, and educational activities particularly in the coming month-long Philippine Arts Festival in February 2014.”

Though some deemed the list “ideal” if “perfect,” insisting that the popularity given to a celebrity could help a lot in boosting awareness on NCCA projects, some derided it for being “populist” and “self-serving.”

It didn’t help that Rene Napenas, head of the NCCA’s public affairs and information office, denied having a hand on the post in an interview with GMA News.

If anything, he admitted that the list, which, aside from Dantes, who was named ambassador for youth, also includes Boy Abunda (Philippine Arts Festival), Leyte Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez (Dance), Sarah Geronimo (Music), Shamcey Supsup (Architecture & Allied Arts), Ogie Alcasid (Heritage), Piolo Pascual (Culture), Venus Raj (Dayaw: An event highlighting Filipino indigenous cultures), and Jericho Rosales (Taoid (NCCA’s National Heritage Month)), is accurate. He noted however that they were chosen as celebrity spokespersons or endorsers and were not meant to represent a specific art form.

Dingdong Dantes

Dantes defended himself as with other personalities on the list via a text message to PEP.

“We are all ambassadors of who we are and what we represent,” he said.

“Like for me, I am proud to represent my family name, my country, my industry, my network, and the youth.

“Whether I am cited, recognized, patronized or not, I will continue to strive to represent and be a better version of myself.

“In this case, it does not mean that we are the best at what we do.

“I humbly think that no one can ever be best without the help of one another.

“In this situation, in our beloved rich culture, I hope for us to all just help each other in enriching what I believe is a very precious wealth of our country.

“Salamat po sa NCCA sa tiwala at sa pagpupursiging maiangat ang antas ng ating Kultura, sa kabila ng makabagong panahon.

“Ako’y nakikiisa sa inyong hangarin na patuloy na manaig ang KADAKILAAN ng Agham sa ating mahal na Bayan.”

Note that Dantes was appointed NCCA ambassador for youth way back in 2009.

Meanwhile, the PAF submitted this statement on the same Facebook page in reaction to critics.

“We hear you all, and we’ll do something about this. Rest assured that your comments will not go in vain. The Philippine Arts Festival is for the people and we, the PAF Secretariat, will make sure that your suggestions and reactions will be heard by the committees,” it said.

Dingdong defends NCCA appointment

Source: Mb.com.ph (November 09, 2013 at 03:04PM)

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