MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray led the opening ceremony of National Arts Month within the historic walls of Intramuros on February 3, 2025.
She continues her work as an ambassador for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). This is her 6th year on the post.
“I’m so incredibly honored to be continuing as Arts Ambassador for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for the 6th year,” she said.
She assumed the ambassadorship more than a month into her reign in 2019, following her title as the country’s fourth Miss Universe.
“It is [such] a pleasure to continue to lend my voice and platform in sharing the diverse and vibrancy of Filipino arts and culture as Arts Ambassador,” said Gray.
“Arts and Culture not only encapsulate our stories and traditions as a nation, but the act of creating and coming together to enjoy art feeds the soul,” she added.
This year’s theme, “Ani Ng Sining: Diwa at Damdamin”, centers on Bulacan’s Singkaban Festival, with the entire NCCA building decorated with bamboo ornaments.
“With this year’s theme, ‘Diwa at Damdamin,’ I think it is really poignant to say that the creation process or pursuing creativity is something that feeds the soul, but also it inspires others to go under the same path, to be able to create other things, to be able to push what we thought is impossible,” said Gray.
She invited the public to join them and participate in the celebration of the National Art Month.
“Art inspires; art uplifts; art is something that we can leave behind. I hope that this Arts Month, you can join us in the many events that are happening around Metro Manila and many other provinces.”
Different performers were also featured in the event, including Manila City Band and Tondo Drumbeaters. Student performers from different universities also joined the parade, including those from Philippine Normal University, Philippine Polytechnic University, Lyceum University of the Philippines, Mapua University, and many more.
In 1991, through Presidential Proclamation 683, the late President Corazon Aquino declared February as National Arts Month.
