Baguio honors former NCCA chair Arsenio ‘Nick’ Lizaso

On behalf of the city government, Mayor Benjamin Magalong presented a plaque of recognition to acclaimed theater and movie director and actor Arsenio ‘Nick’ Lizaso for his “invaluable contributions to the city’s creative and art community in his official capacity as Chair of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)”.

A former president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Lizaso was honored during flag-raising rites at City Hall on August 16.

Reading the Creative Baguio City Council citation, the Mayor conveyed the Summer Capital’s gratitude for his contributions in revitalizing its creative economy and rejuvenating the culture and arts sectors.

“Mr. Lizaso has been a staunch pillar of support to Baguio’s creative endeavors encouraging us to be better than our best,” the Mayor stressed.

He pointed out that what Baguio is today “is beyond doubt the result of positive engagements the renowned film mentor has endeavored.”

In his response, Maestro Lizaso humbly expressed his gratitude to the city’s recognition, recalling how vital Baguio is to the national effort of bringing culture and the arts to the grassroots.

“I thank Baguio, where I made my first film; where I brought the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra to the 2019 ‘An Enchanting Baguio Christmas’; and where I held numerous mentoring efforts for local artists, especially  film-makers to scale up their works,” he said.

Some of the notable city projects he contributed to include the UNESCO research study on the thematic indicators of Culture as part of UNESCO’s sustainability goals for 2030; a pilot project of UNESCO in cooperation with NCCA and Baguio; and the city’s Cultural Mapping Project.

Lizaso also assisted in the P15 million grant for the Diplomat Hotel conservation management plan and design for a high school  for the arts for the Cordillera Region and Region 1; and the all-out NCCA support to the Montañosa Film Festival. – Gaby B. Keith