Sara highlights art’s role in children’s growth during Higantes Festival

In celebration of this year’s Higantes Festival, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Sunday stressed the importance of art in honing the children’s development.

In her speech, Duterte lauded the municipality of Angono—known as the Art Capital of the Philippines—for portraying art through the Higantes Festival as a “powerful tool that could help the growth and development of our children.”

Citing published articles, she said that art benefits children with its impact on their early childhood education and the development of their creativity, skills, and talents, among others.

“Mahalaga ang pagdiriwang na ito dahil ipinapakita nito na ang sining ay isang makapangyarihang symbolo na makatutulong sa pagkakaisa at pag-unlad ng ating mga kabataan,” she said in a Facebook post.

(This celebration is important because it shows that art is a powerful symbol that can contribute to the unity and development of our youth.)

Duterte also pointed out how residents of Angono continue to ensure that the historical significance of the Higantes Festival is not forgotten even amid the pandemic.

“Through these colorful and gigantic papier-mâché puppets, our forebears expressed their deep-seated yearning for freedom that planted the seeds and the call for change,” she said.

“Your celebration is a reminder of how art — as it flows through our history, our culture, our traditions, and our life — binds us together as a people with a common pursuit of a stronger nation,” she added.

Sunday's celebration marks the first time Angono celebrated Higantes Festival again after two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Giant "higantes" paraded on the municipality's streets on Sunday morning.

LOOK: Matapos ang 2 taon, muling ipinagdiwang sa Angono, Rizal ang Higantes Festival @dzbb pic.twitter.com/Oa5dHL8eAs

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) November 20, 2022

Among the "higantes" are those resembling VP Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

WATCH: Tampok sa Higantes Festival ng Angono, Rizal ang 'Higante' nina Pangulong Bongbong Marcos at VP Sara Duterte @dzbb pic.twitter.com/iAwHCi2d09

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) November 20, 2022

LOOK: Mga 'Higante' nina Pangulong Bongbong Marcos at VP Sara Duterte, tampok sa Higantes Festival ng Angono, Rizal @dzbb pic.twitter.com/GTMdGhqjRp

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) November 20, 2022

 —KG, GMA Integrated News