February 2026 Celebrates National Arts Month

Here’s how families can celebrate National Arts Month 2026 in the Philippines!

While Valentine’s often overshadows other celebrations, February—for the Philippines in particular—celebrates National Arts Month every year. More Filipinos have risen to the global stage. Whether it’s in music in the form of P-Pop, acting and performing, arts and crafts, all these bear generations of mastering one’s craft that have been passed down from parent to child.

And for National Arts Month 2026, the theme for this year is Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting.

Don’t we just do this every Buwan ng Wika?

That’s the thing: Buwan ng Wika, if directly translated into English, is actually a whole month celebration for the Filipino languages. Plus, it was originally supposed to only be a week-long celebration in 1954. But Buwan ng Wika was later extended to a month by President Fidel V. Ramos via Proclamation 1041 to honor Manuel L. Quezon’s birthday.

It’s also not specifically for the Philippine visual arts. It’s why the National Arts Month has a presidential declaration to formalize it—one signed into law by the late President Corazon C. Aquino on January 28, 1991.

However, as many of us are taught in school, language helps culture progress. It creates concepts that eventually turn into art. Stories, poems, and lyrics inspire dance, theater performances, and paintings. National Arts Month celebrates the diversity of the Filipino experience, which family serves as the core.

How Families Can Celebrate National Arts Month

Usually, the one hosting events for National Arts Month is the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). From exhibits, workshops, and even live performances, they partner with several institutions and local government units (LGUs) to hold these events.

Source: National Commission for Culture and the Arts

Even without attending the events, however, we can find ways to celebrate it at home or in everyday life. Adding a few OPMs to our Spotify playlists, sharing YouTube videos of Filipino performers—both big-time and small-time, and even adding their dance routines as part of a daily workout are just some of the ways we can help Filipino artists.

And when our kids see us do that, they connect with our Filipinos across the archipelago and maybe the globe. Their artworks tell a story that not even AI can reproduce.

Common Misconceptions About Art As A Field

As it is National Arts Month 2026 and the normalization of AI as part of life, talks of ethical uses in AI are something families need at the dinner table.

People often describe art as a field of passion. When emotions and inspiration hit, off to the canvas we go! What many don’t mention is the discipline needed to complete the work. The research, especially if we’re tackling a new topic. Figuring out which media to use since sticking to one can be boring. Because when the wells of emotion run dry, what else will drive a person to complete an artwork?

AI Art: Where Does One Draw The Line?

When people first discovered that AI could generate art, it became an avenue for unexpressed emotions. People’s wildest concepts could be achieved with simple words. “A family picture drawn in Studio Ghibli style,” “a song by (insert random musician here) but in a different genre”—AI twisted a particular premise: anyone could create art.

Of course, artists who have spent years mastering their craft met AI’s developments with disdain. Rightfully so, many of them have built their fortune and fame by pushing their creativity to the limit. So to see some random person on the internet generate something they spent years on is like spitting at their hard work. And for our many kids who try to make a living as artists after years of working in soul-sucking corporate environments, AI generation just made that dream farther away.

It’s why people differentiate “generate” from “create.” In a casual conversation, generate means to produce something without emotional nuance. Create, on the other hand, is full of emotion.

Then, there are also those who use AI’s generative powers for more blatant, unethical use.

Overestimating AI

Many overestimate AI as a tool. What should have been used to just reduce the time spent on the harder aspects of creating art, many now believe can replace the entire creative process.

For many families who are small-time business owners, using AI to generate social media ads and art is a cost-cutting technique that helps their business survive. With the ever-growing inflation, even affording a small-time artist with a certain amount of revisions can be difficult. Whether it becomes short-term or long-term becomes the question.

On the other hand, many artists find themselves jobless and “out of commission” because of the whole idea of “AI replacing the generative process.” AIs have subscription fees that are half or even one-fourth the price they charge. Nothing annoys an artist who has spent years refining their craft more than the words, “I can just make AI do it for me.” Or, “make AI do it for you.”

Yes, it may sound like a matter of pride. But some have lost job opportunities because of how amazed or silaw some are by AI.

Understanding What It Means To Be AI-Assisted

Technologists have often stated, “You won’t be replaced by AI. You’ll be replaced by someone who knows how to use it.“

So, what else can artists do but try? Mathematicians once scoffed and scowled at people relying on computers and calculators to achieve their level of computation and analysis, and now have become best friends with the gadgets. The same applies to artists; some artists who have accepted the presence of AI may feel they have struck the moral gold mine by being AI-assisted.

Especially in the field of digital art and for those who are graphic designers and multimedia artists, AI is a godsend, especially for shading, surgical adjustments, and last-minute client changes. Ever wonder why most digital artists wear glasses? It’s because they often spend hours staring at the screen, undoing and redoing a shading or whatnot. After all, they can spot the imperfection even a mile away, and it can be so, so annoying.

So before we chide our kids with “kakakompyuter mo yan,” do know that their “computer use” may have a lot to do with their work.

To Express Courage and Truth in Art

In a highly technological world, it’s why the Philippines’ National Arts Month 2026 theme: Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting now makes a lot more sense.

Truth. Courage. A lot of Filipino families struggle to find that as individuals. Until a group declares that particular thought acceptable, they will prefer to lie and hide to keep the peace.

But art offers both a metaphorical shield and sword. Because it’s subject to interpretation, artists can say, “IYKYK.” They can express themselves without being explicit. Call it passive-aggressive, but hey, in a family culture that prioritizes image and peace, art is one of the few outlets anyone can express their frustrations.

So, for the 2026 celebration of National Arts Month, acknowledge the courage it took for these artists to express their truth. A family visit to their exhibit does wonders.

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