ILIGAN CITY (PIA) -- The forum, dubbed "Forging Iligan's Creative Future: A Forum on Becoming a Creative City," gathered various stakeholders from the city to brainstorm and discuss ideas for transforming the city into a recognized cultural hub in the Southern Philippines. 

"It is creativity that brings us together as a nation—not politics, not economics, not fragmentation of ideas—but creativity that will get us together. And getting together now will push the nation forward. And we will all live happily ever after,” said Steven Patrick Fernandez, the chief convenor of HULMA-Iligan Creatives Collective, during a forum aimed at elevating Iligan's creative industry.

Organized by the HULMA-Iligan Creatives Collective (a group of Iligan artists), the city government, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Lanao del Norte, the initiative aligns with the national government's commitment to advancing the creative industry through Republic Act No. 11904, also known as the "Philippine Creative Industries Development Act."

Following the forum, stakeholders from the city government, the Department of Education Division of Iligan City, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation of Iligan Inc., the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and media partners, among others, brainstormed ideas and formulated concrete strategies focused on policy changes or recommendations, infrastructure development, and support systems essential for the advancement of the creative sector in the city.

Highlighting the significance of creative industries, Fernandez underscored their role in driving economic growth and livelihood opportunities.  

“When we talk about imagination and creativity, Iligan is so rich, so why not transform this into an investment for us to be able to live decently? That is the whole point. Another point is consolidating all of these resources. For so long, we have been so fragmented, each going our way, and it is not very helpful as far as our region or even our nation is concerned. Politics, war, and culture have divided us. And there is something that puts us together, and that is art,” he said. 

Fernandez also emphasized the importance of five key components for the creative industry: incentive, infrastructure, institutionalization, innovation, and instruction. He underscored the need to bring together resources in the creative industry to enhance culture, beautify communities, foster connections, and drive economic growth, similar to the success of other countries like Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.

Meanwhile, City Administrator Darwin Manubag emphasized that the forum aligns with the city government's commitment to enhancing Iligan's creative industry. He also highlighted their strong support for the industry and initiated the formation of the Iligan Creative Industry Council last year.

“The goal is to harness the potential of Iligan as a creative destination, and as a creative city. That’s our goal. We already have several creative sectors working in the city,” he said.

Similar to Cebu, Baguio, and Iloilo, Iligan hopes to become a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City. Drawing inspiration from Iloilo's UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Baguio's Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, and Cebu's Creative City of Design, Iligan aims to be named a UNESCO Creative City for Folk Arts as it is home to renowned cultural groups like the Iligan Performing Arts Guild, the Octava Choral Society, the Kalimulan Cultural Dance Troupe, and various cultural groups in the communities.  

Manubag also expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort to raise awareness of Iligan's creative talent and stressed the need to strengthen collaboration to establish the city as a creative hub for culture and the arts nationwide. He also emphasized the significance of documenting Iligan's diverse cultural heritage, including its identity as a city of tri-people where Higaonons, Maranaos, and settlers live harmoniously. He said it is imperative to celebrate these cultural assets and implement initiatives to further enhance Iligan's cultural impact.

Moreover, Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Industry Chairperson and Councilor Marlene Young shared that there are numerous resolutions aimed at making Iligan the creative hub of the Southern Philippines. She also emphasized that this goal can be achieved through collective effort. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)