The Philippines’ arts, language, and publishing agencies will begin celebrating April as National Literature Month this year with the traditional “Pasyon” and competitions aimed at promoting and preserving the country’s literary and musical heritage.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF, or Commission on the Filipino Language), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), and other government agencies announced this during a press conference at NCCA’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, on March 14.