 |
| (Image Source: Rolling Stone Philippines/Wikimedia Commons/Julan Nueva) |
On October 31, 2025 in observance of World Cities Day 2025, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced the designation of 58 cities as the newest members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). These cities were recognized for their dedication to harnessing creativity as a powerful force for sustainable urban development — strengthening local economies, fostering innovation, and enhancing community resilience.
With these new additions, the UCCN now spans 408 cities across more than 100 countries, reinforcing its position as a leading global platform for cultural exchange and creative collaboration. For the first time, the Network has introduced a new field- Architecture joining the existing seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music. “By welcoming 58 new cities, we are strengthening a Network where creativity supports local initiatives, attracts investments, and promotes social cohesion,” said Azoulay. Among the newly designated members are Quezon City (Film) and Dumaguete City (Literature) from the Philippines, joining a distinguished roster that spans continents — from Kyiv (Music) and Kuala Lumpur (Design) to New Orleans (Music) and São Paulo (Film). Each city brings its unique creative strengths to the Network, from literary engagement to design innovation and film production. The 2025 cohort also includes Abuja (Literature), recognized for its dynamic literary infrastructure and initiatives such as the Creative Writers Empowerment Workshop and the Literacy by Radio program. These projects underscore the city’s commitment to promoting literacy, empowering writers, and nurturing a thriving reading culture.
The Philippine metropolis joins a global network of 26 Cities of Film spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas comprising of Bradford in the United Kingdom, Sydney, Busan, Galway, Rome, Bristol, Mumbai, São Paulo, Wellington, and Giza in Egypt among others. The recognition arrives as the Philippine metropolis embraces its identity as QC Film City during this year’s QCinema International Film Festival. The city had previously declared itself as the heart of Philippine cinema, adopting the QC Film City theme for the festival. “QC Film City is now a name that will forever be etched in the legacy of every filmmaker, artist, and storyteller who has shaped our city’s vibrant film heritage. From the golden era of Sampaguita Pictures and the brilliance of icons like Lino Brocka, Dolphy, Nora Aunor and Fernando Poe Jr., to the new generation of creators bringing our stories to life today – this recognition honors each and every one of them,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. This designation positions the Philippines' City of Stars to strengthen labor protections through the Eddie Garcia Law, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for film workers. The city also plans to develop sustainable talent programs and pursue global recognition for Filipino filmmakers. Spearheading the city’s application since 2023, the Quezon City Film Commission is rolling out three major initiatives: QC Screen Academy, a public training hub offering skills development across film development, production, distribution and marketing; Global Producers Exchange, a platform connecting producers from Southeast Asia and other UNESCO Creative Cities for collaboration; and the Southeast Asia Film Summit, an annual gathering of industry leaders, film commissions and policymakers to discuss regulations, incentives and financing.
 |
| (Image Source: Rolling Stone Philippines/Dumaguete City Official Website) |
Quezon City Film Commission (QCFC) Executive Director and former Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño-Seguerra credited Mayor Belmonte's “unwavering vision” for the milestone, stating, “This achievement is the culmination of years of collaboration, vision, and belief in the power of storytelling to shape our collective identity. Her leadership has shown that creativity is not an afterthought of governance, but its very soul.” Diño emphasized that the designation represents “a call to deepen our commitment to creative governance and cultural sustainability”, adding that the city is “ready to take on this responsibility, to open our doors to collaboration, and to continue building a city where stories thrive and creativity empowers every citizen”. Belmonte underscored that while the recognition marks a significant achievement, “the work starts again tomorrow,” with initiatives continuing to spotlight local film workers and provide quality film access to residents. Dumaguete, on the other hand, becomes the second Southeast Asian city to be designated a UNESCO Creative City of Literature following Jakarta in 2021. This designation honors its history as the birthplace of some of the country’s most acclaimed storytellers such as Lakambini Sitoy and Cesar Jalandoni Amigo. The city has also maintained a plethora of workshops and programs to uplift the written word and support local creatives including the Silliman University National Writers Workshop, Asia's longest-running writers' workshop founded by National Artist Edith L. Tiempo and her husband K. Edilberto Tiempo; the Silliman University Library’s holding of about 100,000 books; and the annual Dumaguete Literary Festival. In a statement celebrating the announcement, the Dumaguete Literary Festival stated, “We join the ranks of the world’s most creative destinations and make history as one of the first cities in the Philippines to be recognized under this designation. This milestone celebrates the city’s long literary legacy, from the Silliman Writers Workshop to generations of authors, poets, and storytellers who’ve made Dumaguete a city of stories.”
The journey of the two cities towards their UCCN designation was made possible by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in collaboration with the Office of Congressman Christopher de Venecia and Philippine National Commission for UNESCO (Unacom), with the support of their respective local government units. Quezon City and Dumaguete City now join other Philippine cities that were previously designated as UNESCO Creative Cities which include Baguio City (Crafts and Folk Art, designated in 2017), Cebu City (Design, designated in 2019) and Iloilo City (Gastronomy, designated in 2023). Since its inception in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network has championed human-centred urban living, showcasing how culture and the creative industries can drive inclusive and sustainable development. The Network encourages cities to leverage their creative assets to foster innovation, cultural participation, and social well-being. In 2025, this mission takes on renewed significance following the success of MONDIACULT 2025 where countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to culture-led sustainable development. The newly designated cities will contribute to UNESCO’s vision of culture as a global public good, ensuring creativity remains at the heart of urban progress worldwide. For the full list of the newest members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, visit www.unesco.gov.ph.
