 Philippine Culture and Information
Official website on Philippine Culture and Information 
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PHILIPPINE CULTURE
Cultural Organizations in the PhilippinesINTRODUCTION
Cultural directions in the Philippines are generally coordinated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) created by Republic Act 7356 in 1992. It is an independent government body tasked to be the overall coordinating and national policy-making body for all culture and artistic endeavors of the country.
NCCA has four subcommissions, namely:
Complementing NCCA and its subcommissions are the following
national cultural agencies:
National Commission for Culture and the ArtsThe National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) was born in 1992 with the Presidential Commission on Culture and Arts as its predecessor-in-interest. It is an independent government body tasked to be the overall coordinating and national policy-making body for all culture and artistic endeavors of the country. It was first created by a presidential directive, Executive Order 118 penned by President Aquino in 1987 which created the Presidential Commission on Culture and Arts and was later institutionalized by a legislative act, Republic Act 7356 in 1992. The Bill was authored jointly by Senators Edgardo Angara, Heherson Alvarez, Leticia Ramos-Shahani and Congressman Carlos Padilla.
The Commission is governed by a Board of Commissioners composed of fifteen members, namely:
The presence of the different government cultural agencies and the non-government cultural and artistic institutions facilitates the coordinating function of the Commission. The Commission acts as a clearinghouse to check on duplications and overlapping of functions, programs and projects of the different cultural agencies concerned. Inherent to the NCCA organization is people empowerment dictated to it by the law which guarantees the participation of artists and cultural workers in its membership from all sectors. The private sector participation brings in expertise valuable to the Commission. Twenty-two national communities are grouped under four Subcommissions which act as the lifeblood of the NCCA structure. Believing in participative decision-making, plans, programs and projects emanate from the Commission's members who come from both the public and private sectors. These projects and programs are implemented by the national committees or its constituents after recommendation by the Subcommissions and approval by the Board of Commissioners. The Heads of the 22 national committees are elected from the grassroots level either on an individual capacity or as organizations. The Heads of the Subcommissions are elected by and from among the national committee heads. At the Board level, the Commission Chairman is elected from among the Board members. A democratic process of electing the leadership in the Commission is strictly observed, sparing the Commission from any political pressure. Generally, every Subcommission works to advocate and formulate policies essential to their fields, plan and implement projects, represent and address the needs of their respective sectors. The Subcommissions are also assigned specific functions to realize their goals in their respective art fields. Cultural Center of the Philippines
Designed by National Artist for Architecture, Leandro Locsin, the CCP majestically rises on a 21-hectare piece of reclaimed land along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. It is considered to be one of the most significant and beautiful landmarks of the Philippines.
CCP'S main objectives are:
CCP houses several venues for the performing arts as well as areas for both permanent and challenging exhibits. It serves as home for the country's premier performing arts groups such as the Ballet Philippines, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Tanghalang Pilipino and others. The CCP is located along Roxas Blvd., Manila with tel. no. 832-1125. National Historical Institute
The NHI continues to undertake historical studies, incorporating translation and publication works; acquire either by donation or purchase, the restoration, preservation and maintenance of historical sites, monuments, landmarks and shines, structures, relics and memorabilias of heroes and other eminent Filipinos, documents and other source materials; commemorate significant events and personages in Philippine history and safeguard the blazoning of the national government and its political divisions and instrumentalities. The National Historical Institute is located at: T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita Manila; Tel. No. 59-06-46. Aside from its offices, the NHI Building likewise houses its recently inaugurated Museum of Philippine History. The National MuseumThe National Museum is tasked with the preservation, conservation and protection of movable and immovable cultural properties for the safekeeping and for the enjoyment by present and future generations. To accomplish this, the National Museum offers publications, exhibitions, library services, seminar/workshops, and others. The National Museum has three major goals covering diverse fields of knowledge through various educational, scientific and cultural programs and projects. As an educational institution, the National Museum disseminates scientific and technical knowledge in more understandable and practical forms through lectures, exhibitions, interviews and publications for students and the general public. As a scientific organization, it conducts basic research programs combining integrated laboratory and field work in anthropology, archaeology, botany and zoology. It maintains reference collections on these disciplines to promote scientific studies in the Philippines. As a cultural center, the National Museum has taken the lead in the study and preservation of the nation's rich artistic, historic, and cultural heritage. The National Museum is situated at the Executive House along P. Burgos Drive, Manila with Tel. Nos. 527-12-15 / 527-12-42. Aside from housing its offices and permanent exhibits, the National Museum also offers publications and other item sold at its Museum Shop. The National LibraryThe National Library serves as the country's premier repository of printed and recorded materials which reflect the intellectual, literary and cultural heritage of the Philippines as well as the knowledge and wisdom of peoples elsewhere in the world. While acquiring and maintaining a comprehensive national collection of library resources, the National Library promotes access to these research and information materials and makes them available for the use of the present and future generations of Filipinos. The National Library aims to acquire and preserve all Filipiniana materials; provide national and international bibliographic services; organize, supervise and develop the public libraries and information centers throughout the country; and provide information, reference and research resources to the public. The National Library building is located along T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita Manila with Tel. Nos. 58-32-52/58-43-61. Commission on the Filipino LanguageThe Commission on the Filipino Language was created in August 1991 to work towards the development and enrichment of the Filipino language as the national language of the Philippines. It aims to further develop and enrich the Filipino language on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages and develop, propagate and preserve these languages. The CFL is responsible for designing and implementing sound language research and development programs, and to adopt measures to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and the language of instruction in the educational system nationwide. It is also drafts policies and guidelines for language use standardization even as it ensures the preservation of the different regional languages around the country. The Commission on the Filipino Languages may be found at the Watson Building near the Malacanang Palace in San Miguel, Manila with Tel. No. 731-1852. Records Management and Archives OfficeThe Records Management and Archives Office is the official repository of the nation's permanent records and records of archival and historical value. It is mandated to plan, develop and coordinate government wide programs, policies, rules and regulations governing the use, storage and disposition of current and non-current records as well as to render assistance to government agencies for the retrieval of vital documents. Tasked with preserving and safekeeping valuable old papers and publications no longer in constant use, the RMAO is responsible for providing a proper environment to ensure the physical integrity of old and fragile publications. The RMAO holds offices at the National Library with existing storage facilities along San Andres, Manila, Tel. No. is 56-33-43. |
The 
The National Historical Institute was created in 1972 to
integrate the diverse functions of various historical agencies. NHI is responsible for the conservation and preservation of the country's historical legacies. Its major thrusts encompass an ambitious cultural program on historical
studies, curatorial works, architectural conservation,
Philippine heraldry, historical information dissemination
activities, restoration and preservation of relics and
memorabilia of heroes and other renowned Filipinos.