Bravofilipino | Catriona Gray Marks Seven Years as NCCA Ambassador for the Arts as National Arts Month 2026 Unfolds | Manila, Philippines — Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray continues her remarkable seven-year journey as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Ambassador for the Arts, reaffirming her long-standing commitment to championing Philippine arts and culture as the country celebrates National Arts Month (NAM) 2026.
Observed every February under Presidential Proclamation No. 683, National Arts Month highlights the richness and diversity of Filipino creativity through programs spearheaded by the NCCA. This year’s celebration carries the theme “Ani ng Sining, Katotohanan at Giting,” emphasizing the arts as a harvest of creativity, truth, and courage—values deeply embedded in the Filipino identity.
At the heart of this vision is Gray, whose advocacy has grown into one of the most sustained cultural partnerships between a public figure and a government cultural agency in recent years.
Photo credit: Teddy Pelaez
2020: The Beginning of a Cultural Advocacy
Gray’s formal journey as NCCA Ambassador for the Arts began in 2020, when she joined the Commission’s efforts to promote and preserve Philippine arts. That year, she stood alongside fellow artists KZ Tandingan and Julie Anne San Jose, who were named NCCA Ambassadors for Music, collectively representing diverse artistic disciplines.
“My love for our arts and culture was not something I was born into due to my mixed heritage. It was something that was grown, learned, and embodied,” Gray shared during her first year as ambassador.
Her appointment marked the start of a long-term commitment to celebrating Filipino creativity—one that would continue through changing social and cultural landscapes.
2021–2022: Advocacy Amid a Pandemic
Despite the limitations brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gray remained an active cultural advocate in 2021 and 2022, adapting her engagement to digital platforms and alternative formats. During this period, she lent her voice and presence to various NCCA initiatives, helping sustain public interest in Philippine arts during a time of restricted gatherings.
Her appearances included KULTURA 101 with Catriona, The Grand Reveal of the Metropolitan Theater, Padayon: The NCCA Hour—where she became one of the program’s most viewed guests—and the Philippine Quincentennial Commemorations, reinforcing the role of culture in national resilience.
2023–2024: Reconnecting Communities Through the Arts
As live events gradually returned in 2023, Gray’s engagement expanded alongside the revival of in-person cultural activities. She supported major NCCA-led initiatives, including the NAM 2023 opening celebrations, helping bring Filipino arts back into shared physical spaces.
In 2024, her advocacy focused on accessibility and participation. She championed programs such as the Sayaw Pinoy Touring Performances and Workshops and the Sayaw Pinoy National TikTok Dance Challenge, initiatives that showcased regional talent and encouraged creative collaboration across communities, both local and global.
Throughout this period, Gray consistently highlighted the arts as a vessel of shared history and identity, encouraging public participation while supporting local artists and traditions.
2025: Advocacy with Purpose and Presence
Gray remained a prominent figure during National Arts Month 2025, gracing the opening ceremony held on February 3 in Intramuros. The event featured a Singkaban-inspired façade and a cultural parade participated in by students and cultural groups.
In her address, Gray underscored the transformative power of creativity. “The creation process feeds the soul, but it also inspires others to push what we think is possible. Art inspires, art uplifts,” she said.
A Seven-Year Legacy into NAM 2026
From 2020 to the present, Catriona Gray’s role as NCCA Ambassador for the Arts reflects continuity, credibility, and a deep commitment to Filipino culture. As National Arts Month 2026 opens, her seven-year ambassadorship stands as a testament to the enduring power of the arts to inspire truth, courage, and creativity.
Her continued partnership with the NCCA reinforces a shared responsibility—to cultivate public appreciation for Philippine arts and ensure that culture remains a living, evolving force for present and future generations.
