The Xavier Arts Festival, Panaghupong 18, opened on February 4—just a day before Tropical Storm Basyang made landfall in Mindanao—underscoring how cultural work continues even as communities brace for disruption.
Now in its 18th year, the month-long festival is organized by Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan (XU) through the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA) in celebration of National Arts Month.
This year’s theme, “Ani ng Sining, Katotohanan, at Giting,” frames the arts as both a reflection of truth and an act of courage amid social and national challenges.
Daytime opening activities featured HIGAYON, an art exhibit by Circulo de Arte showcasing works by local student artists at the Fr. Francisco R. Demetrio, SJ Gallery of Museo de Oro.
Performances by the Xavier Cultural Dance Troupe, Xavier Philharmonia, and the XU Glee Club followed, highlighting the university’s range of artistic expressions.
The festival’s opening highlight came in the evening with “Mananap ni Frankenstein,” a Cebuano adaptation of Nick Dear’s screenplay based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, produced by Dulaang Atenista.
XCCA Director Hobart P. Savior described the play as a central feature of Panaghupong 18, emphasizing the role of theater in shaping social understanding.
“One of the best expressions of culture is the arts,” Savior said. “The efforts that we’re doing here lead people to understand their way of life, the world, and how they respond to the challenges our country faces.”
Savior added that literature and theater expose audiences to complex moral questions.
“You are confronted with these realities and asked to understand them using your own moral judgment,” he said. “You see how your conscience is being challenged.”
Dulaang Atenista Artistic Director Jesus Christopher F. Salon echoed this view, describing art as central to human experience. “Art, poetry—this is what life is for. This is what we are alive for: to share and to create,” Salon said.
Students and theater enthusiasts filled the XU Little Theater, responding with moments of laughter, silence, and reflection as the performance unfolded—an experience that contrasted sharply with the fast-paced, screen-driven consumption of culture today.
Ryan James M. Estavas, production manager of Mananap ni Frankenstein, said preparations for the play began last year.
“We started with planning, casting, and technical work over several months,” Estavas said. “This January was the final push.”
However, heavy rains on February 5 and 6 forced the cancellation of at least two scheduled performances, a reminder of how environmental realities continue to affect cultural events.
Despite these disruptions, XU’s arts calendar remains full throughout February and into the first week of March as part of the National Arts Month celebration.
Updates and schedules are available on the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts’ official social media pages.
