ARTS & CULTURE IN

BOTOLAN:
COMMUNITY
PERSPECTIVE IN TIME
OF PANDEMIC
Presented by:
ROGELIO O. LADIERO
Department Head
Zambales National High School
 ABSTRACT
Festivals and gatherings dedicated to
the arts are gradually becoming forums for
people to share their opinions on broader
cultural, social, and political topics. In the
face of a pandemic, modernization and
globalization, debates often polarize into
those promoting reform and those seeking to
maintain "traditional" or "local" culture.
The arts and culture industry has been
in a perplexing condition since the outbreak
of the Coronavirus pandemic. While demand
for cultural and artistic content has grown
during the lockdown––and digital access has
become more important than ever before––
economic indicators forecast that the cultural
sector will be one of the most affected, and
one of the slowest to recover.
Beyond short-term initiatives such as surveys
or data collection aiming to provide artists and
intermediaries with financial and logistical
supports, both academics and practitioners
must engage in joined-up thinking on the
future of art consumption, especially from a
consumer’s perspective.
The discourse on cultural festivals from
the perspective of the community involved in
traditional and popular culture events like the
“Domorokdok” Festival in Botolan. There is
generally a high level of agreement about the
aims of cultural events and the cultural
content that is appropriate for them. In
particular, the importance of cultural events in
underpinning Botoleños identity is seen as
being important.
B However, native of this town tend to differ more in the meanings attached to concepts such as
O identity, with policy makers exhibiting a greater emphasis on economic and political issues, whereas
cultural producers are more concerned with social aspects of identity. However, the consensus on the
T social role of cultural events between the different individuals may be one explanation for the
relatively vibrant festival culture in Botolan.
O
L
A
N
B
E
F
O
R
E THE PANDEMIC
 BOTOLAN QUICK
FACTS
Date Established: 1819
Land Area: 79,124.0457 has.
Total Population: 69,847
No. of Households: 16, 314
No. of Barangays: 31
Dialects: Sambal, Ilokano, Tagalog,
English
Class of Municipality: 1st Class
Industries: Faming, Fishing, Mat & Basket
Weaving, Cottage Industries, Salt
Making, Linga Making, Bamboo &
Buho Products, Tourism
Religions: Roman Catholic, Aglipayan,
INC, Crusader, Mormon, Muslim &
Other Sect/Congregation
Natural Resources: Fishing Grounds,
Stretch of Timber Land, Expanse of
Arable Lands, Suitable for
Agriculture/Grazing, Big Deposit of
Talc, Sulphur, Asbestos Jade,
Pumice, Copper, Chromite,
Serpentine, Nickel, etc.
This is where
the budget of
Botolan being
spent

Source:
One Botolan
The Official Magazine
of Botolan, Zambales
January 2017-May
2018
Vol. 1, Issue No. 1

All throughout the world, the COVID-19 epidemic
has decimated communities via sickness, loss of
family and loved ones, physical isolation, emotional
trauma, and terror encountered by practically
everyone apprehensive about their bodily, mental,
and economic well-being.
The epidemic has had a substantial negative
economic impact, halting global tourism, travel,
hospitality, financial markets, live entertainment,
personal services, restaurants, and food value
chains, as well as related supply firms. As a result,
many people have been affected, particularly the
lowest-paid and self-employed, not to mention the
unemployed.
On March 15, 2020, President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte proclaimed the COVID-19 pandemic a
national emergency, triggering a series of
unprecedented institutional actions to halt the
disease's spread. Sanctions on public gatherings,
school and public space closures, nationwide
curfews on night movement, internal travel
restrictions, and the closing of boulevards were
among the measures enacted.
Concerned by the impact of the pandemic not only
on physical health now, but on the livelihoods of
creative industry practitioners in Botolan—especially
those cultural events, tours and tourism, general
cultural heritage work, gaming and other immersive
experiences, and more. Headed by our Municipal
Tourism Officer Genessy Detubio, took immediate
steps to mobilize a creative and cultural sector
response effort:
 with a view to understanding the impact (short,
medium, and long-term) of the pandemic.
 to anticipate sector emergencies and needs, as
well as to promote effective and evidence-based
interventions.
Below are some responses of the community when
asked – What are some intervention/s you have in
mind for our culture and arts to survive?
We shall continue to experience
intermittent limitations on movement
and travel, bans on gatherings and
the closure or near closure of borders,
based on outbreaks and repeat
outbreaks as they happen thereby
“This is a quote. Words
full of wisdom that
someone important said
and can make the reader
get inspired.”

—Someone Famous
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itle. P5
Book T
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Despite being red, Mars is Saturn is the ringed planet Venus has a beautiful
a cold place and a gas giant name, but it’s hot