Second CMMA award for Art 2 Art

MANILA, Philippines - For the second consecutive year, Art 2 Art hosted by Lisa Macuja and aired over dzRH every Sunday, 3:30 to 4 p.m. bagged the Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA) as Best Educational Radio Program. The award was handed out last Oct. 13 at the 32nd CMMA ceremonies, held this year at the UST Medicine Auditorium and which had the theme “New Media at the Service of the Word.”

“When we started this program, our mission was to bring art and culture closer to people by interviewing the country’s most accomplished artists. We are overjoyed that our efforts have been recognized by the CMMA and it encourages us to continue our advocacy of raising art awareness through Art 2 Art,” said Macuja.

Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Art 2 Art is now on its fourth year and has become a Sunday afternoon habit for many listeners nationwide who tune in for their weekly dose of “usapang sining at kultura para sa lahat.” Using an infotainment format, it showcases Macuja talking to personalities from music, theater, dance, literature, visual arts, film, music and allied fields.

One of the radio program’s features is a monthly tribute to one of the country’s national artists, the stellar examples of individuals who have attained the highest honors in the arts, most of whom came from humble beginnings. Among the national artists who have sat down for interviews with Macuja are Virgilio Almario, Bienvenido Lumbera, Napoleon Abueva, Eddie Romero and Salvador Bernal.

“In hearing the struggles that the artists have faced and overcome, we hope that the listeners, especially the youth, are able to appreciate the passion that goes into the artists’ work and are themselves inspired to consider careers in the arts,” said Macuja.

Since premiering on the airwaves in 2007, Art 2 Art has also been accessible on the Internet through the website http://dzrh.tripod.com. It has since expanded to include a cable-TV version via RHTV that is aired simultaneously with the radio program.

Apart from last year’s CMMA as Best Educational Program on Radio, Art 2 Art also won a CMMA Special Citation in the same category in 2008 and has been a finalist for best cultural program in the KBP Golden Dove Awards.

Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila and CMMA honorary chairman, commended the 2010 awardees and finalists for promoting “goodness, truth, justice and peace through their works.” He added: “It is our hope that by recognizing once more the men and women of the mass media... the CMMA will inspire still many others to continue to uphold Christian values in the exercise of their profession.”