What makes a solid foundation in formulating policies in government and elsewhere, creating and implementing projects about arts and culture especially in these times of the pandemic?
Fortified academic background on any of the art forms, rich experiences in the early artistic engagement of a person, orientation of a comprehensive and innovative aesthetics on a global sphere, entrepreneurship, public service in a state agency of arts and culture, sense of utilitarianism and foresight etc. are some of the factors that can make intelligent and practical policy-making guideposts.
In the realm of the home culture and the arts, there are many who can qualify to the job description. Indeed, the country doesn’t run out of artists and experienced artisans who can make a difference.
Nikki’s vision
One of them is singer, music educator and arts technocrat Michelle Junia who easily identifies and fits in herself in these cornerstones that illuminate her vision of a unified, well-defined and fairly carried out government policies and programs for the advancement of Philippine aesthetics.
In the recent virtual presscon by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) for the launch of “Kanto Kultura,” a series of online celebration of culture and the arts featuring Filipino artists, Michelle, also known as Nikki Junia, admitted that her past and present learning of theories and practices in music as an art form helped her designed the objectives and outcomes of the project with the collaboration of veteran artist and technocrat Dr. Jaime Laya, and young music artist Stanley Seludo.
Having joined the popular singing group 14K in her teens mentored by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab; Nikki travelled and performed in the world stage with renowned music artists.
She graduated cum laude with Bachelor of Music major in Voice from the UST Conservatory of Music; studied advance music lessons like “speech level singing” under international vocal coach Seth Riggs—the same teacher of acclaimed singers Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Prince, Natalie Cole etc.—in the US.
MusikGarten Manila
She built, taught ran and managed Musik Garten Manila, a music school; enrolled in post-graduate studies in educational management at the De La Salle University; appointed one of the Board of Trustees of the CCP; tested her resolve in adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nikki’s journey to policymaking space for the state of arts and culture has been very encouraging and solidifying as well her pursuits of relevant arts and culture beyond the national scope.
“The CCP Board isn’t only good at formulating policies. We can very well create policies that are needed because we know the life of an artist,” Junia quipped.
Kanto Kultura
As Chairperson of the Committee on Artistic Matters, Nikki at the moment has gained more momentum in carrying out the multidimensional aspects of “Kanto Kultura,” considered her brainchild with Laya and Seludo.
Echoing Nikki’s thoughts on CCP press briefs, “Kanto Kultura” seeks to encourage Filipino talents to create artistic content that showcase innovation and creativity.
It also aims to provide an avenue for different forms of artistic expression such as music, broadcast and film, literature, theater, dance and visual arts.
The “Kanto Kultura” series begins with the online music competition called “Kanto Canta” which showcases original Filipino musical works, new songs, new music that incorporate traditional musical instruments in order to create a “new Pinoy sound.”
K-pop phenomena
As a believer in the magic and influence of K-pop culture, Nikki hopes “Kanto Kultura” to discover the “Pinoy” sound that can establish the Filipino identity in the competitive market online. She believes that it somehow serves as a stepping stone in finding what can eventually match the K-pop phenomena.
The online band search is open to natural-born Filipinos who currently reside in the Philippines, 18 years old and above and with no existing professional and commercial entertainment contracts.
The submission period for the first quarter of “Kanto Canta” is from February 20 to March 20, 2021.
From all the entries, pre-qualifiers will be chosen and posted in “Kanto Kultura” official social media pages. The top 15 finalists will be chosen and awarded with the prizes worth Php150,000.00.
For more details, like and follow the project on Facebook, facebook.com/kantokultura or other social media pages, @kantokultura. You may also contact CCP at (02)8832-1125 local 1409/1800 or email (ccpkantokultura@gmail.com ).