DAVAO — Tagum City is set to launch its first-ever Creative Month celebration from September 24 to 26, 2026, at the City of Tagum Cultural Center on Rizal-Osmeña Street. The three-day event honors the city's artists, performers, designers, and creative practitioners across multiple disciplines.
A Celebration of Imagination and Talent
The inaugural Tagum City Creative Month brings together visual artists, musicians, designers, and performers from across the city. It serves as a platform to recognize the individuals who transform ideas into inspiration and creativity into meaningful experiences. The event underscores the city's commitment to nurturing its growing creative community.
Organizers have called on all creative artists and practitioners to participate, emphasizing that every voice deserves to be heard. The celebration aims to make a meaningful milestone for every creative mind in Tagum. It is designed as an inclusive space where imagination, talent, and passion converge.
Part of a Larger National Movement
The event aligns with the 2026 Philippine Creative Industries Month, observed every September under Republic Act No. 11904, the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Memorandum Circular No. 130 directing national agencies to support the celebration, while encouraging local governments and the private sector to participate.
This year's national theme, "We Are a Creative Nation," resonates with Tagum's local initiative. The Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 recognizes the promotion of culture and creative industries as a key strategy for building a distinctly Filipino brand. Tagum's Creative Month positions the city as an active contributor to this national vision.
Building on Tagum's Creative Momentum
Tagum has cultivated a vibrant creative ecosystem through years of sustained investment. The Musikahan sa Tagum Festival, now on its 23rd edition, has established the city as the "City of Harmony". It launched the Tagum City Children's Choir and the Tagum City Symphonic and Harmonic Orchestra as marks of its cultural journey.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines also brought its 2026 Kaisa sa Sining Apprenticeship Program to Tagum City from July 22 to 31, training 24 participants in technical theater and production management. The program, now in its eighth edition, partnered with the Musikahan sa Tagum Foundation and the Tagum City Tourism, Arts, and Culture Council. These initiatives demonstrate the city's growing reputation as a creative hub in Mindanao.
Creative Industries as Economic Drivers
Tagum City Tourism, Arts, and Culture Council President Alma L. Uy has emphasized that creativity is not only cultural expression but also an economic force that generates jobs and supports sustainable local growth. The Creative Month celebration reflects this understanding by providing a platform for artists to showcase their work and connect with broader audiences.
The event encourages participation from all creative disciplines—from visual arts and music to design and performance. By bringing together established and emerging talents, Tagum City Creative Month fosters collaboration and inspires the next generation of creative practitioners. It is a celebration of the city's artistic identity and a step toward a more vibrant creative economy.
