The city government will initiate the creation of an alliance of UNESCO Creative Cities in the Philippines during the Ibag-iw Creative Festival in November to strengthen collaboration among cities and maximize creativity as a driver of sustainable economic development.
City Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo said the city has invited the country’s four other UNESCO Creative Cities to participate in the initiative as part of the festival’s opening weekend activities.
“What we would like to initiate is the creation of the UNESCO Creative Cities Alliance Philippines to provide a platform for the participating cities to exchange ideas, develop joint initiatives and promote their respective creative industries,” Mapalo said.
The participating cities represent different creative fields. Baguio is recognized as a Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art, Cebu City as a Creative City for Design, Iloilo City for Gastronomy, Quezon City for Film, and Baguio’s Dumaguete City for Literature.
Mapalo said the three-day gathering will include conferences, visits to local creative establishments and discussions on possible collaborative programs that will draw on the strengths and expertise of each city.
A memorandum of understanding will also be signed with the four other cities.
“We will come together as creative cities and brainstorm on collaborative programs that can be done together with the different strengths of these creative cities. We aim to maximize and harness creativity as a driver for sustainable economy,” he said.
The initiative is being pursued in partnership with the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, the national body that coordinates with UNESCO. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
