The National Arts Month of the Philippines, College Students of St. Paul University Manila, and Celebrating Art in Community

Art festivals play a crucial role in youth education, offering a dynamic platform for creativity, cultural exposure, and critical thinking. This study examines how first-year college students at St. Paul University Manila engage with National Arts Month (NAM) and the extent to which it influences their appreciation of Filipino culture. A qualitative approach was employed, using a seven-item mixed open- and closed-ended survey distributed via Google Forms. With a 57% retrieval rate from 43 out of 75 students, findings indicate that 55% of respondents are unaware of NAM. Those informed primarily received information from the university’s Facebook group chat (49%) and social media (44%), while only 22% learned from traditional media and personal interactions. Notably, no respondent gained awareness through government sources. The study underscores the need for broader promotional efforts to enhance youth engagement with NAM, fostering cultural literacy, self-expression, and lifelong appreciation for the arts.