Here is one Malacañang appointee who will surely make a breeze, appeasing Palace critics and placating the intrigue-laden art and culture community.

Prominent and multi-awarded stage, television, and film director Arsenio “Nick” J. Lizaso was sworn in last Friday as member of the board of trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita administered the oath of office to the acclaimed director in ceremonies held at Malacañang.

Those in the know consider the Lizaso appointment a breather of sorts.

Late last year, there were tumultuous public demonstrations against the Palace nominees in the National Artists Awards. And what made the protest more unpleasant was the fact that the demonstrators were artists, writers, and intellectuals, many of them National Artist awardees themselves.

Lizaso does not only possess outstanding credentials in his artistic field, but is also an educator, trainer, and lecturer. He was president of the Directors Guild of the Philippines and organized the first Film Academy Awards in 1983.

The filmmaker is currently vice president of the Theater Education and Training Committee of the International Theater Institute-UNESCO. He is a member of the executive committee of the International University Theater Association, a unique forum where teachers, practitioners, creators, scholars and theorists from 50 member countries discuss and share common concerns in the field of theater and the performing arts.

In September last year, Lizaso was the only Asian-member of the jury in the Sixth International Student Theater Festival held in Belarus, where he also conducted a workshop on voice performance.

Lizaso teaches at La Consolacion College where he is executive director of the school’s Center for Theater Education and Training. Upon invitation, he conducts workshops in theater and digital filmmaking in various cities of the country. He had one in Tagum City two weeks ago.

Incidentally, there is a bit of human interest in the Lizaso appointment in the CCP board. You see, one theater in the complex is named after his uncle – Jose Corazon de Jesus Sr., nationally known for his penname “Joseng Batute” – poet laureate, man of letters, literary genius, and a quintessential son of Bulacan.

LIVELIHOOD ADVANCEMENT FOR FISHERFOLKS. Here is one business- opportunity and beneficial government program that is boosting the livelihood of marginalized fisherfolks in coastal communities – the Integrated Services for Livelihood Advancement of the Fisherfolks (ISLA).

The program’s objective is to enhance fish farming as a viable and sustainable business by setting up a common marketing facility.

ISLA is a collaborative effort of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Here, fisherfolks’ organizations are provided with resources for the establishment of a common auction market. Fishing materials and equipment, training for alternative livelihood projects and entrepreneurship, and seminars for strengthening their organizations are given the target beneficiaries.

ISLA is a component of the Accelerated Hunger –Mitigation Program, a social services program of President Gloria Arroyo. Thousands of fishermen and their organizations are widely benefitting from the livelihood agenda.