Following the appointments of Jimmy Bondoc and RJ Jacinto, Freddie Aguilar could be the third musician in the government under the Duterte presidency.
The veteran singer and songwriter has confirmed that the President’s camp has asked him to head the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCAA), ABS-CBN News reports.
Duterte’s executive assistant Christopher “Bong” Go, offered Aguilar the position after he requested the President to create a separate department of culture and the arts.
“Tinawagan ako ni Bong Go at sabi sa akin, ‘Sir Freddie, hangga’t wala pa po iyong department of culture and the arts na hinihingi po ninyo sa presidente ay puwede po bang kayo po muna ang mamahala sa NCCA?” Aguilar said.
(“Bong Go called me and said ‘Sir Freddie, since we haven’t created the department of culture and the arts yet, could you head the NCCA?”)
Aguilar accepted the offer, but an official announcement has yet to be made.
“Napakalaking departamento pala noon, pero wala tayong nababalitanaang major na ginawa nila para sa kultura at sining natin.” Aguilar said about the official arts council of the Philippines. “Mula noong panahon ni Marcos, hanggang ngayon”
(“It’s such a huge department, but we haven’t heard of a major project that made an impact on our culture, from the time of Marcos until the present”)
Aguilar explained that he wants to see a “cultural revolution” in the country. He aims to revive the kind of Filipino art that isn’t tainted by foreign influences.
The “Anak” hitmaker is one of Duterte’s favorite local singers. He praised how Aguilar expresses his love for the country through his songs.
“That guy is a nationalist,” Duterte said in an earlier press conference. “His love of country shows in the way he uses his songs, which are always about corruption and what ails this country: the social injustice.”
The current NCCA chairperson is Felipe de Leon Jr.
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