National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo grew up surrounded by the collective arts. One could easily assume from this tidbit that his creative upbringing must have been the impetus behind the man's stature today as head of the national agency in charge of the conservation and promotion of the Philippines' historical and cultural heritage.

'My father was a conductor and a violinist, so very early on, we were often exposed to good music. And then my mother was also very encouraging regarding the arts. She would always surround us with books and artworks, and we would often visit museums and attend concerts and ballet performances,' Manalo recalled in this interview with The Sunday Times Magazine.