UNESCO Announces New Creative Cities

UNESCO revealed the addition of 58 new members to its Creative Cities Network on October 31.
The network recognizes cities that advocate creativity as a crucial factor for sustainable urban development.

Among the new entrants, Quezon City in the National Capital Region and Dumaguete City in the Visayas stand out.

As of now, the Philippines boasts five cities recognized by UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, including Baguio City for Crafts and Folk Art (2017), Cebu City for Design (2019), and Iloilo City for Gastronomy (2023).

An Acknowledgment of Efforts

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) congratulated these new additions, calling them a reflection of the country’s drive towards sustainable urban progress.
DOT officials stated:

“Dumaguete and Quezon City have joined the esteemed global roster of creativity-driven urban cities, further affirming the country’s dedication to sustainable urban growth.”

Quezon City, recognized as a Creative City of Film, is home to the largest film studios and broadcasting networks in the Philippines. The city also hosts the annual QCinema International Film Festival.
This UNESCO recognition elevates Quezon City’s status as the heart of Philippine cinema.

Meanwhile, Dumaguete City, with its rich literary tradition and active community of writers, has garnered recognition as a Creative City of Literature.
Dumaguete is affiliated with Silliman University, which conducts the National Writers Workshop, one of Asia’s oldest and most prestigious creative writing programs.

Additionally, it joins nine other cities celebrated for their literary contributions, including Aberystwyth (Wales), Abuja (Nigeria), and Gdańsk (Poland).