CREATE Philippines
- hub asean
- Apr 5
- 3 min read
CREATE Philippines is a flagship initiative and trade show platform specifically focused on promoting Philippine creative industries to both domestic and international markets.
Purpose: Serves as the country's first comprehensive trade event dedicated to creative services and content
Focus Areas: Animation, game development, film, photography, visual arts, advertising, communication design, and other creative sectors
Activities: (1) Business-matching sessions between Filipino creatives and potential clients/investors (2) Exhibitions showcasing Filipino creative talent and products (3) Conference elements with industry speakers and thought leaders (4) Workshops and masterclasses (5) Networking opportunities
CREATE Philippines was initially launched by CITEM around 2017 and has evolved as a platform to position the Philippines as a hub for creative content, services, and talent in the Asia-Pacific region. It aims to increase the global competitiveness of Philippine creative industries and facilitate export opportunities.
The event typically features curated exhibits, business-to-business matching, creative talks, and presentations from both established creative companies and emerging talents. The goal is to create commercial opportunities for Filipino creatives while promoting cultural identity and heritage through contemporary expressions.
The activities organized during Philippine Creative Industries Month are directly related to and influenced by the "Philippine Creative Industries Development Act" (Republic Act No. 11904) enacted in 2022. This law has significantly shaped how these creative industry initiatives are structured and implemented.
The relationship between the law and these activities includes:
(1) Legal Framework for Activities: The Act provides the legal foundation for many of the events and programs during Creative Industries Month. It officially recognizes creative industries as a vital economic sector deserving government support and promotion.
(2) Institutional Support: The law established the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC), which now plays a central role in organizing and supporting Creative Industries Month events, including CREATE Philippines.
(3) Policy Implementation Platform: Many forums and discussions during Creative Industries Month focus on implementing specific provisions of the Act, such as creative education, financing mechanisms, and intellectual property protection.
(4) Strategic Alignment: CREATE Philippines and other programs have been realigned to support the Act's nine strategic areas: advertising, film, animation, game development, design, performing arts, visual arts, literature, and cultural heritage.
(5) Resource Mobilization: The Act mandated the allocation of resources for creative industry development, which has enhanced the scale and scope of events during Creative Industries Month.
(6) Regional Inclusivity: Following the Act's emphasis on developing creative hubs across the country, Creative Industries Month now features more activities outside Metro Manila.
(7) Metrics and Assessment: The data mapping and research presentations during the month often use the Act's specified metrics for measuring the growth and impact of creative industries.
(8) International Positioning: CREATE Philippines has been strengthened as a platform for international business matching, aligning with the Act's goal of positioning the Philippines as a creative economy leader in ASEAN.
The Act essentially provided a more structured and comprehensive approach to supporting the creative economy, allowing events like CREATE Philippines to evolve from being primarily promotional activities to becoming strategic platforms for implementing national creative economy policy.
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