SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second R egular Session
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S E N A T E
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In tro d u ced  by S enator LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING PHILIPPINE PARTICIPATION IN THE 
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS OF THE VENICE BIENNALE
E xplanatory Note
With the inception of the 1895 International Art Exhibition in Venice, the 
Venice Ai t Bit-nnale rem ains the oldest and m ost prestigious international 
contem porary art exhibition. Now on its 57th edition, Biennale Arte is held 
every other year since 1985. The first Biennale was opened on April 30, 1895 
by the King and Queen of Italy, Umberto I and M argherita di Savoia.
In the following years, exhibitions and festivals for the other arts were 
established: Biennale M usica in 1930 (International Festival of Contem porary 
Music), Biennale Teatro in 1934 (International Theater Festival), and the Venice 
Film Festival in 1934 (Venice International Film Festival).
The first Pliilippine participation in the Venice Biennale was in 1964 during the 
32Iu1 Venice Art Biennale through the initiatives of the Art Association of the 
Philippines, v'here the works of painter Jose Joya and sculptor Napoleon 
Abueva were exhibited. In 2015, the Philippines returned to the Venice 
Biennale and participated in the 56th International Art Exhibition. After a 51- 
year hiatus, the Philippines showcased an exhibition curated by Dr. Patrick 
Flores titled Tie A String Around the World, featuring the works of Jose Tence 
Ruiz, Manny M ontelibano and National Artists Manuel Conde and Carlos 
“Botong” Francisco.
In 2016, the Philippines’ first participation in the International Architecture 
Exhibition was m arked by the exhibition curated by Andy Locsin, Jr. and 
Architects S udarshan Khadka, Jr. and Ju a n  Paolo dela Cruz, titled Muhon: 
Traces of an Adolescent City. In 2017, the Philippine Pavilion in the 57th 
International Art Exhibition is represented by the exhibition titled The Spectre 
of Companson curated by Joselina Cruz and which featured artists Lani 
Maestro and Manuel Ocampo.
Country participation is formalized through a letter invitation from the 
President of the Fondazione la Biennale di Venezia, the arts organization that


operates and adm inisters the biennale, addressed to the National Commission 
for Culture and the Arts, the highest cultural agency of the country.
This bill seeks to institutionalize the country’s participation yearly in the 
international exhibitions of the Venice Biennale. To carry out the m andate 
under this Act, the Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale Coordinating Committee 
(PAVB-CC) is hereby created, to be lodged in the NCCA.
Recognizing the im portant role of the arts in fostering patriotism  and 
nationalism , and the vital role of culture and the arts in democratic and 
inclusive nation-building, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
loren^legttrda^
Senator


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
)
S E N A T E
Senate Bill No. 10V J4
T H E
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BY:
In tro d u ced  By SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING 
PHILIPPINE 
PARTICIPATION 
IN 
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS OF THE VENICE BIENNALE
THE
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Be in enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assem bled:
SECTION 1. S h o rt Title. -  This Act shall be known as the 
“Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale Act of 2017.”
SECTION 2. D eclaratio n  o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared policy 
of the state to:
a) Recognize the im portant role of the arts in fostering patriotism  
and 
nationalism  
and 
promoting 
hum an 
liberation 
and 
development;
b) Recognize the vital role of culture and the arts in democratic, 
pluralistic and inclusive nation-building;
c) N urture, promote and sustain Filipino cultural and artistic 
diversity th at m irrors and shapes Philippine economic, social 
and political life;
d) Advance art as a form of expression and understanding and a 
force for achieving creative breakthroughs;
e) Evolve, promote and conserve Filipino national art and culture 
that m irrors and shapes Philippine economic, social and 
political life; and,
f) Promote and dissem inate to the greatest num ber of people the 
talent and ingenuity of our artists.
SECTION 3. P h ilip p in e P a rtic ip a tio n  in  th e  In te rn a tio n a l 
E x h ib itio n s o f th e  Venice B iennale. -  The country shall endeavor to 
participate yearly in the international exhibitions of the Venice Biennale 
held in Venice, Italy.


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SECTION 4. Philippine A rts in V enice B iennale C oordinating 
C om m ittee. -  The Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale Coordinating 
Committee (PAVB-CC) is hereby created to oversee the country’s 
participation every year in the Venice Biennale exhibitions in Venice, 
Italy. It shall act as coordinator and com m issioner for the Philippine 
Pavilion in the Biennale exhibitions, and lead in the following activities:
(a) Manage the selection process for curatorial proposals;
(b) Coordinate the timely installation of the Philippine Pavilion in 
Venice and of the homecoming exhibition; and
(c) Such other activities that may be necessary for the execution of 
its m andate.
The PAVB-CC shall be lodged in the National Commission for 
C ulture and the Arts (NCCA). The D epartm ent of Foreign Affairs shall 
provide adm inistrative support through its foreign posts.
SECTION 5. H om ecom ing -  All Philippine Pavilion exhibitions 
shall be installed and m ounted in appropriate government facilities and 
exhibition spaces for at least one year for the viewing and appreciation of 
the general public.
SECTION 6. A p p ro p riatio n  -  Im plem entation of this Act in its 
initial year shall be funded through the annual appropriations of the 
NCCA. Thereafter, funding shall be provided for in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.
SECTION 7. Im p lem enting R ules a n d  R eg u latio n s -  Within sixty 
(60) days from the date of effectivity of this Act, the NCCA shall formulate 
the rules and regulations for the proper im plem entation of this Act.
SECTION 8. S e p a ra b ility  C lause -  If any provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by 
such declaration shall rem ain in full force and effect.
SECTION 9. 
R ep ealing 
C lause -  All laws, executive and 
adm inistrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the 
foregoing provisions are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 10. E ffectivity C lause -  This Act shall take effect fifteen 
(15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) 
new spapers of general circulation.
Approved,