Quezon City, Dumaguete named UNESCO Creative Cities for Film, Literature

The Philippines now has five UNESCO Creative Cities

Two Philippine cities, Quezon City and Dumaguete, made history as they become part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network, or UCCN.

Quezon City was recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Film, while Dumaguete was hailed a UNESCO Creative City of Literature—the first designations in their respective fields in the country. They’re also the first cities in Southeast Asia to be designated as Creative Cities of Film and Literature, alongside Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam and Jakarta in Indonesia, respectively.

The two Philippine cities were among 58 new members of the UCCN announced last Oct. 31, the World Cities Day celebration.

There are now five Philippine cities in the UCCN, the others being Baguio (Crafts and Folk Art, 2017), Cebu (Design, 2019), and Iloilo (Gastronomy, 2023).

On its website, UNESCO said the new UCCN members this year were recognized “for their commitment to championing creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development; these cities bring their proven expertise in building resilient and vibrant communities to the Network.”

The Department of Tourism (DOT) noted that Quezon City is home to the country’s biggest film studios, broadcasting networks, and the annual QCinema International Film Festival, “strengthening its position as the country’s film capital and the ‘heart of Philippine cinema.'”

Dumaguete, it said, is “recognized for its long-standing literary heritage and vibrant community of writers and readers,” being home to Silliman University, which hosts the annual National Writers Workshop—the oldest creative writing workshop in Asia that has produced generations of acclaimed Filipino authors.

‘New era for Philippine cinema’

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte called the recognition a “new era for Philippine cinema,” as it “provides Quezon City the opportunity to strengthen its film industry by enforcing worker protection policies such as the Eddie Garcia Law to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions; developing sustainable talent and professionalization programs to uplift the local film workforce; and pursuing global recognition for Filipino filmmakers.”

“QC Film City is now a name that will forever be etched in the legacy of every filmmaker, artist, and storyteller who has shaped our city’s vibrant film heritage,” Belmonte added. “From the golden era of Sampaguita Pictures and the brilliance of icons like Lino Brocka, Dolphy, Nora Aunor, and Fernando Poe Jr., to the new generation of creators bringing our stories to life today—this recognition honors each and every one of them.”

She also dedicated the city’s new title to “the workers behind the screen and the QCitizens who deserve access to quality films.”

‘A veritable City of Stories’

Dumaguete Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbarria, for his part, called Dumaguete a “veritable City of Stories” and a “confluence of creative narratives which shaped its cultural identity.”

He enumerated the city’s accomplishments, including the Sandurot Festival; the Silliman University, its BA Creative Writing program being the first of its kind in the country, and its creative writing workshop; and the Sands & Coral, one of the country’s oldest literary folios. He also cited local writers bagging several literary awards, including the Palanca, and having National Artists Edith Tiempo (literature) and Eddie Romero (film).

“No other Philippine city of its comparable size can boast this claim,” he said. “Today, Dumaguete’s literary tradition is enriched with new initiatives by grassroots creatives, including Buglas Writers Guild (creative writers), Pinspired (storytellers through design), Beetzee and Lutas Film Festival (filmmakers), Youth Advocates Through Theatre Arts (theatre artists), Belltower Project (musicians), and others.”

“We celebrate this designation, a huge achievement for the City of Dumaguete. We will work hard to maintain this distinction and truly make Dumaguete a City of Literature to be proud of,” Sagarbarria added.

Launched in 2004

The UCCN was launched in 2004. According to its website, it “aims to strengthen cooperation with and among cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor of sustainable development as regards economic, social, cultural, and environmental aspects.”

Cities that join the network, it noted, “acknowledge their commitment to sharing best practices, developing partnerships that promote creativity and the cultural industries, strengthening participation in cultural life, and integrating culture in urban development plans.”

The UCCN’s eight creative fields include architecture, crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music.

To date, there are 408 UCCN members from over 100 countries.

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