Artists call for more gov’t focus on RP culture in Good Friday rally GMANews.TV Former National Artist awardees and various writers staged on Good Friday a rally in Manila to appeal for more government attention to Filipino culture and the arts. The group of artists, led by Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and the Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas (UMPIL), presented a “seven-point agenda" for candidates in the May polls to bring back the state’s support for the arts. “It is necessary to formulate a national policy that fully recognizes and gives due importance to culture as the core and foundation of government political and economic policy," said National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, also known by his pseudonym Rio Alma, and convenor of the artists’ group. The group’s “seven-point agenda" included the creation of a separate Department of Culture, the promotion of the Filipino language, and greater funding for the preservation of the country’s cul...