In commemoration of the National Arts Month, spearheaded by the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through Presidential Proclamation 683, the Youth Arts Zone (YAZ) 2023 enjoins young student-artists to utilize their talent and skills, creativity and imagination to respond to today’s pressing issues.

Now dubbed as YAZ, the revamped 18th Lasallian Arts Month rekindles the spirit of physically building and celebrating art with the community, two years since the pandemic shifted the world into virtual spaces and digital platforms.

Themed Kabataang Manlilikha: Para sa Kalikasan, Kasaysayan, at Katotohanan, the month-long series of events encourage the youth to transform their imagination and artistry to proactive responses to initiate change.

Led by the Culture and Arts Unit of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the 2000s aesthetic-inspired installment commences with flash mob performances. Art installations across three campuses, including an interactive life-sized puzzle board, provide a glimpse of the activities to come.

Empowered with the goal to champion shadowplay as a Filipino art form, the Karilyo Visual Arts Team spearheads an immersive pocket performance inspired by the classic crafts television shows. Entitled Kanto Guhit ni Kapitan Katapan, it follows the journey of a sock puppet superhero in search for a side kick to help him save Mother Earth.

The program includes a series of tutorials on the fundamentals of shadow play. Workshops on sustainable art-making will be conducted. There will likewise be talks on the rich tradition of the discipline and its significant contributions and impact in shaping the society.

The Young People Power, one of the highlights of the annual YAZ, sets the stage for online showcases and digital artworks from the college’s growing roster of homegrown talents. The pieces, which were conceptualized and produced amid the height of the pandemic, depict the power of the youth in upholding the truth.

The highly anticipated Art Jam features the internationally lauded and award-winning artist groups Coro San Benildo, Dulaang Filipino and Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company. The exhilarating line-up likewise includes diverse creative performances, from spoken poetry and literary presentations to solo and band numbers and dance productions, supported by the Cultural Promotions Team and Stage Production Operations Team.

For more information about Benilde’s community of student-artists, visit BCAU on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/cultureandarts.benilde ), Twitter (https://twitter.com/CSB_CAU ), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/csb_cau/ ), or YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/ARTISHERE_OCA).