UP Sining na Naglilingkod sa Bayan (UP SINAGBAYAN)

UP SINAGBAYAN is part of a nationwide grassroots youth-oriented cultural formation of young artists and cultural workers committed to the advancement of the people through culture and the arts. It firmly adheres to art as an agent and one of the powerful weapons for social development. It’s members are community-based and university-based youth who integrate with the basic sectors and marginalized groups in the urban and rural areas.

Its mother chapter, Sinagbayan National was established in 2000 from alternative artists who frequented Tumbang Preso Cafe. The idea of bringing the performances to the communities was conceived as the artists’ contribution to the brewing people’s clamor for good governance. Having based themselves in the communities and expanded their membership to regions, universities, and having embraced people’s arts and literature as a long-term struggle, Sinagbayan has been formally established.

As a chapter, UP Sinagbayan was established in the University of the Philippines in 2005. The organization conducts cultural productions such as plays, poetry reading, concerts, exhibits and the like both in the theater halls and in the streets, community plazas, picket lines, and rural communities. It also conducts workshops on the various disciplines to encourage scholars on cultural service. The organization has an education program on various issues to raise the awareness of its members and the communities where they are integrated. The education program is also focused on harnessing the talents and upgrading the skills of its members and volunteers.

UP Sinagbayan also reaches out to the international community by building relations and solidarity with other foreign organizations, institutions and individuals involved in the promotion of arts and culture for nation building and social change. Lastly, it has a volunteer program that trains students on production, facilitating workshops, organizing communities, and other lines of work.

Among UP Sinagbayan’s major productions were REPLEKSYON sa ELEKSYON, a community production involving the local youth in several communities in UP Diliman (2004) ; Ang Mga Lorena which tackled human rights issues particularly the disappearance of two university students in 2008; kLickVAW 2010 (a photo contest, roving exhibit and concert to campaign women’s issues especially Violence Against Women); UAVE, a dance musicale production in 2009 tackling the issues of the education system in the Philippines (staged at Aldaba Theatre).

One of UP Sinagbayan’s major contribution is the institutionalization of a youth art camp held yearly. This is Lakbay Sining or Art Journey. Its an annual summer art workshop in communities where the youth learn the basics of art, its role in community development. For the students who participate, this becomes their integration with the different sectors of the country. The first Lakbay Sining was organized by UP Sinagbayan in Brgy. Ticulio, Talim Islands, Binangonan Rizal. While the most recent one was held in Brgy. Mapalacsio, Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City.