Following its mandate to nurture the next generation of artists and audiences who appreciate and support artistic and cultural work, the Cultural Center of the Philippines brings engaging artistic and cultural experiences to every kanto of the country through its Kanto Kultura program.
A banner project of the CCP Board of Trustees, Kanto Kultura seeks to encourage Filipino talents to create artistic content that showcases innovation and creativity. Launched in February 2021, the next phase of the program will kick off on May 19, 7pm, at the Plaza Independencia Lipa Stage in the town of Lipa, Batangas.
“The first edition” of Kanto Kultura will feature performances by viocalist Jobry Cimafranca, singing group Acapellago, and other local talents from Lipa. It will be hosted by ‘Suntok sa Buwan’ actress Charm Aranton.
Prior to the concert, there will be a Flores de Mayo at 4:30 pm, and a mass at 5:30 pm. There will also be baraptasan (a melding of the words balagtasan and rap), Sublian (a traditional dance of Batangas) performance, hip hop dance, and buskers, among others.
In partnership with the local government unit of Lipa, Batangas, the Kanto Kultura: #EatPRayLoveLipa is free and open to the public.
Visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) for more information. Check the official CCP and Facebook page and follow CCP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates on its various programs and shows.
After its successful metamorphosis on its recently concluded 38th concert season, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra turns gold.
Established in 1973, the country’s leading orchestra looks back at its humble beginnings through its PPO 50th ANNIVERSARY GALA, slated on May 12, 8pm, at the Metropolitan Theater, the temporary home of the PPO while the CCP Main Building is undergoing rehabilitation.
For this milestone, the CCP resident orchestra recreates in part its very first concert, which happened on May 15, 1973. That debut concert of the orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Luis C. Valencia, its first music director, with Julian Quirit as concertmaster.
In the 1973 concert, the PPO performed Alfredo S. Buenaventura’s Bathaluman and National Artist Lucrecia Kasilag’s Divertissement for Piano and Orchestra. The late National Artist was the president and artistic director of the center back then.
Made possible through the auspices of the former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos, the concert also featured Manuel de Falla’s Noches en los Jardines de España and G. Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, with guest performer pianist Benjamin Tupas.
Initially intended to accompany performing artists at the CCP Theater when the orchestra was founded in 1973, the PPO had been reorganized in 1979, with Prof. Oscar C. Yatco at the helm. Three years later, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra was born with a new vision – to be ranked among the best in the world. From then on, the PPO has grown to become the country’s leading orchestra.
Under the baton of Maestro Rodel Colmenar, the PPO will once again relive the first concert, performing Buenaventura and Kasilag masterpieces, with young pianist Aidan Ezra Baracol as guest performer.
Known as the founder and music director of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), Rodel Colmenar has further proven his great skills and passion for music on international platforms and has collaborated with several outstanding local and foreign classical artists. As a conductor, he is significantly involved in the Kurt Masur Conducting Workshop in Detmold, Germany, and in the masterclasses of French conductor Jean Sebastian Bereau and Italian conductor Pierro Gamba.
Young virtuoso Baracol is currently a Grade 12 scholar at the Philippine High School for the Arts. He has won 16 local and international piano competitions over the last three years, notably the Junior Piano category of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA). He is currently a scholar of the CCP.
Critically-acclaimed Filipino tenor Arthur Espiritu will perform Salut! Demeure e Chaste et Pure! from Faust (Charles Gounod), Che gelida manina from La Boheme (Giacomo Puccini), and Kundiman ng Langit (Augusto Espino).
Renowned for his impressive vocals and great presence on stage, Espiritu has performed in various operas, concerts, and recitals across the United States and other countries, showcasing his versatility and range as a performer. He has performed in the CCP opera production of Lucia di Lammermoor in 2020.
The anniversary concert will culminate with a must-watch performance of renowned pianist Dr. Raul Sunico, playing G. Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue under the baton of PPO resident conductor Herminigildo Ranera.
A former CCP president, Sunico has brought home several awards in piano competitions held abroad including a silver medal in the 1979 Viotti International Piano Competition in Vercelli, Italy. He has also given solo recitals in Canada, Mexico, France, the United States, and Australia, among other countries. The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines Awardee for Music in 1986, he has recorded around 50 compact discs, including his piano transcriptions of Filipino folk songs and kundimans, concertos by Grieg, Saint-Saens, Ravel, and Lucino Sacramento; solo classical pieces; popular American songs set to piano; chamber and duo piano music, and original compositions.
A multi-awarded performer, Ranera was a three-time prize winner of the NAMCYA in 1982 and 1983 as a performer in Trombone, Baritone, and Tuba (Chamber Music) categories. He was a prize-winner of the 1983 League of Filipino Composers Competition for Young Composers and collaborated with his mentor, Fr. Manuel P. Maramba, O.S.B. for various CCP productions. Ranera is the founder of the Philippine Band Association (PHILBANDA), a board member of the Asia-Pacific Band Directors Association, and the adviser of the Band Conductors League of the Philippines.
Coinciding with the gala concert, the CCP and PPO partnered with Widescope Entertainment to launch “Serenata,” the seven-track album consisting of well-loved Philippine folk songs and melodies from various regions of the country, on Spotify.
Originally released in 2014, the album includes: Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampangan), Sarung Banggi (Bicolano), Ti Ayat Ti Maysa Nga Ubing (Ilocano), Sampaguita (Original Spanish “La Flor de Manila”), Malinac lay labi (Pangasinense), No Te Vayas De Zamboanga (Chavacano), and Walay Angay (Ilonggo).
National Artist Ryan Cayabyab gave a fresh interpretation to the seven well-loved folk songs, without compromising their traditional musical characteristics and making them multi-layered compositions.
The decision to release Serenata in Spotify is in line with the CCP’s continuous efforts to awaken the consciousness of Filipinos to Philippine cultural heritage, and encourage the development and enhance public interest and appreciation of arts in various fields.
Tickets to the PPO 50th Anniversary Concert are available at the CCP Box Office, located at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Vicente Sotto Street, from Tuesday to Friday, from 9a.m. to 6pm. You can also get tickets at the TicketWorld via www.ticketworld.com.ph. Ticket prices are: Php 3,000.00 (Loge Premium and Orchestra Center Premium), Php 1,500.00 (Orchestra Left and Right), and Php 800.00 (Balcony Center, Right, and Left).
For other ticket details and inquiries, contact the CCP Marketing Department at salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph. Visit the CCP website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph. Follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates.
As the Virgin Labfest (VLF) turns 18, it celebrates this milestone with 12 new plays from both veteran and upcoming playwrights. From June 7 to 25, 2023, the festival will take place at its brand-new home, the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater). With the theme “Hitik,” the 18th VLF promises to overflow with new and exciting collaborations between veteran and virgin directors, designers, and actors.
A Diverse Lineup of Plays
Following the theme “Hitik,” the festival is filled to the brim with new and exciting collaborations with veteran and virgin directors, designers and actors. VLF 18 opens the curtains with four thematic sets of new one-act plays – Adulting 101 (Set A), REBELasyon (Set B), Y.O.LO. (Set C) and Muwang (Set D). We also bring back one set of revisited plays (Hinog / Set E), and two sets of staged readings.
Set A: Adulting 101 features: “O” by Raymund Barcelon, to be directed by Missy Maramara; “Regine: The Fairy Gaymother” by Chuck D. Smith collaborating with director Mark Daniel Dalacat, and “10 To Midnight” by playwright Juliene Mendoza and director Sarah Facuri.
Set B: REBELasyon is composed of “Ang Awit ng Dalagang Marmol” by playwright Andrew Estacio and director Nazer Salcedo; “Dominador Gonzales: National Artist” by playwright Dingdong Novenario and director George De Jesus; and “Tuloy Ang Palabas” by playwright Layeta Bucoy and director Tuxqs Rutaquio.
Set C: Y.O.L.O. brings to the stage “Room 209” by playwright Zheg Arban to be directed by Delphine Buencamino; “Hukay” by playwright Ophalain Margaux Serrano and director Melvin Lee; and “Mga Halimaw Rin Kami” by playwright Jules Pamisa and director Tat Soriano.
Plays in Set D: Muwang are: “Hawaii, Here We Come!” by playwright Shenn Apilado, directed by Mark Mirando; “O’Donnell” by playwright Jerry O’Hara and director Issa Manalo Lopez; and “Ang Tuyom” by playwright Marjay Manalastas and director Gio Potes.
Three plays from the 2022 edition of the theater festival will be revisited in Set E: Hinog, comprised of “Nay May Dala Akong Pansit” by playwright Juan Ekis and director Karl Jingco; “Punks Not Dead” by playwright Andrew Bonifacio Clete and director Roobak Valle and “Fermata” by playwright Dustin Celestino and director Antonette Go-Yadao.
After three years, the staged readings make a comeback this year, featuring the back-to-basics reading performances of selected scripts from the VLF18 submissions. For Staged Reading Set 1, “My Lover’s Presscon” by playwright Ross Manicad and director Katreen Dela Cruz back-to-back with “Kamay Ng Orasan” by playwright Marc Noesis Marquez and director Eljay Castro Deldoc.
Set 2 of Staged Readings features “Sino Ang Pumatay Kay Mr. Masangkay?” by playwright U Z. Eliserio and director Rolando T. Inocencio, and “TBT: Takbo, Batang Tondo” from playwright Mikaella Yoj B. Sanchez and director Chic San Agustin.
More Than Just Plays
Aside from the Staged Readings, the festival will also host Theater Talks featuring speakers on topics of interest to theater actors, practitioners, and enthusiasts. Plus, a Playwrights’ Fair will be held, where both young and veteran playwrights will share their experiences and writing journeys. The Staged Readings, Theater Talks, and Playwrights’ Fair will take place at the VLF Lounge at the TIG Basement, and these events are free to the public.
The Dynamic Duo Behind the Scenes
Under the leadership of festival directors Tess Jamias and Marco Viaña, theater fans can expect brave new works that showcase Filipino sensibilities and creativity. Established in 2005, VLF is a collaborative project of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, The Writer’s Bloc, and Tanghalang Pilipino.
Join the Celebration
For tickets and other inquiries, contact the CCP Box Office at salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph. Stay updated by following the official CCP, VLF, Writer’s Bloc, and Tanghalang Pilipino social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok. Don’t miss the chance to be part of the exciting new chapter of the Virgin Labfest!
RE-introducing Bayang Barrios, the Katutubong D.I.V.A. — Driven, Inspired, Victorious, and Authentic — through her first solo concert at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (Black Box Theater) on May 6, 2023 at 7:30pm.
Joining Bayang on stage will be legends Joey Ayala, Gary Granada, Lolita Carbon, Cooky Chua and Poppert Bernadas, friends and collaborators over three decades in show business. The anniversary concert, BAYANG BARRIOS Katutubong DIVA, will be directed by Floy Quintos.
Bayang Barrios is the exquisite voice on the songs “Malayo Man, Malapit din,” “Bagong Umaga,” “Pag Nanalo ang Ginebra,” and Encantadia’s theme song. Bayang is a multi-awarded singer and songwriter who’s been in the industry for 35 years. She’s also a teacher, mother, theater artist, designer, and peace advocate. She has a band named Naliyagan, and is married to another award-winning musician-producer, Mike Villegas.
She is a proud Manobo from Agusan del Sur, but she once downplayed her ethnic origins.
She had in fact turned her back on her indigenous roots after the trauma of discrimination in childhood. She studied hard, became a teacher, and rarely mentioned her native background.
Then in Davao, she met a songwriter and performer who celebrated native cultures in his music – Joey Ayala.
She joined Ayala’s iconic band Ang Bagong Lumad, which pioneered in giving native themes and music a contemporary beat and vibe. For nearly 20 years, they traveled the country and the world introducing indigenous music, instruments, and dance to mainstream audiences, especially youths hungry for a deeper connection to their Filipino identity.
When Bayang went solo, she continued her journey of celebrating her native origins, and began a chapter in her life of standing up for indigenous rights and other causes close to her heart.
Looking back on a storied career, she says her proudest moments were winning the Metropop Music Festival in 2003 for her song “Malayo Man, Malapit Din” and receiving the Lorenzo Ruiz Award for Music by the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 1997, where she was personally awarded by the late Cardinal Jaime Sin for her song “Bayang Makulay.”
The widespread awareness and acceptance today of indigenous cultures can be credited partly to the courageous efforts of artists like Bayang, who have sought to make native roots a badge of honor.
Her upcoming concert Katutubong DIVA is her first as a solo artist, but only the latest version of Bayang Barrios as an influencer of pop culture and avatar of native pride.
Produced by Manila Media Inc, Bayang Barrios: Katutubong DIVA will be held at the CCP Black Box Theater on May 6.
Tickets are available at TicketWorld. For other inquiries, please contact Manila Media Inc at +632-83511483 or +63977-1154586.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) will celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2023, with a series of public art installations in collaboration with several visual artists to be held at various locations in the CCP Complex starting April 20, 2023. The conceptual installations will showcase a diverse array of natural, indigenous, and found objects and materials transformed into public art, with the aim of promoting public consciousness about environmental issues.
For this year, one solo and one group of visual artists will exhibit their artworks: “Tanod-Lupa” (Nature Guardians) by Abdulmari “Toym” De Leon-Imao, a multimedia artist in both classical and contemporary styles; and “Surogpon Kita” by Kintab Artists Group, Inc., a Bicol-based non-profit group of visual artists, writers, musicians, and other creative talents, dedicated to expressing diverse identities through their unique artworks.
In “Tanod-Lupa” (Nature Guardians) by De Leon-Imao, various illuminated Philippine mythical creatures will be showcased. The installation incorporates elements of Philippine folklore’s mythical creatures and uses illuminated lanterns to enhance their otherworldliness in the installation site. The designs draw inspiration from pre-colonial patterns and iconography to portray these creatures as essential parts of the natural ecosystem rather than just evil or demonic. The figurative lanterns, made of welded steel, fibers, and fiberglass, are larger than life and internally illuminated by LED lights. The whimsical design ensures that the creatures do not appear frightening or stereotypical. The public can view the installation at the CCP Liwasang Kalikasan beginning April 20, 2023. In September, the reinvented “panolong” of Maranao Torogan houses of the south will also be displayed. The “panolong” is an architectural element representing the “naga”- a serpent or dragon protecting the perimeter of the nobleman’s Torogan house. The “panolong” also visually elevates the Torogan above the ground, showing that the structure is unique and has an essential status in society.
Meanwhile, the Earth Day theme “Invest in our planet” is reflected in this year’s installation of Kintab Artists Group, Inc., (KAGI)’s “Surogpon Kita” (We are Connected). The installation features papier-mâché masks and assemblages made from natural and indigenous materials sourced from local artisans in the province of Bicol. These materials, such as abaca ropes, coco coir, palaspas, cogon grass, and local vines known as balagon, highlight the importance of connectivity and self-identification with our planet in an organic and grounded manner. KAGI advocates for taking action as stewards of the earth, emphasizing the need for protection and cultivation of our planet’s resources.
During the launch of “Surogpon Kita,” a performance art, entitled “Harmony” is also slated to run. Seven performance artists will use the SUROGPON KITA installation by Kintab Artists Group Inc. as inspiration for engaging with passers-by through creative physical conversations. Each artist will draw on their personal experiences to unpredictably respond to the expansive structure made of indigenous materials, particularly bamboo. Bamboo has been suggested as a symbolic material representing unity in diversity, promoting brotherhood and harmony within the installation art. The theme of the performance art group, inspired by the British archaic word “ANON” in KAWAYANON, conveys the idea of being present in the moment, fostering connection and promoting the concept of “being connected” as members of one human family. “Surogpon Kita” can be viewed until May 28, 2023.
The CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media will also showcase curated selection of films that pay tribute to the lives of patriotic Filipino environmentalists and earth warriors, including those from the distant future with the installation of CCP Cinema Under the Stars and CCP Arthouse Cinema. Catch these Gawad Alternatibo films for free: “Himig Himbing,” “Balitok” by She Andes, and “Walang Hanggang Buhay ni Leonardo Co” by Nannette Matilac on April 20, 2023 at 3:00 pm at CCP Liwasang Kalikasan. The documentary “Balitok” portrays the economic survival strategies of the Kalanguya and Kankana-ey indigenous tribes in Nueva Vizcaya, who engage in artisanal or small-scale mining. The film follows the perspectives of Ongan, a 13-year-old small-scale miner, and Mona, an artisanal miner with decades of experience in the industry. It provides insights into the laborious mining processes and can serve as a case study on the state of small-scale mining in the Philippines. Meanwhile, in “Walang Hanggang Buhay ni Leonardo Co,” the documentary, narrated by the late ethnobotanist Leonardo Co’s daughter and only child, offers a unique perspective on human rights and environmental activism. It sheds light on the tragic event of the government’s shooting of Leonardo Co, which sparked a national tragedy and impacted the realms of human rights and environmental campaigning.
At 8:00 pm, watch “Ani,” a Cinemalaya film by Kim Zuñiga & Sandro Del Rosario. Set in the year 2050, in the Federal State of Bicol, “Ani” tells the story of a young boy who goes to live with his estranged grandfather on a farm after he recently lost his parents. When his grandfather falls ill and the crops on their farm start failing, the boy, named Mithi, sets out on a quest with his malfunctioning robot to find magical grains that he believes can save his grandfather’s life.
From April 20 to 30, 2023, the CCP main building will also light up with earth colors which the public may view from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
These are the questions that were explored in the touring exhibit of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, titled Woman: Thesis and Antithesis. Curated by Yuchengco Museum director Jeannie Javelosa, the exhibit featured artworks that highlight women as subject matter, and celebrated women artists amidst the evident gender divide in the field of visual arts in the Philippines. The exhibit was divided into two sections: the Women in Society collections displayed at the ground floor, and the Women Expressions exhibited at the third floor of Yuchengco Museum.
The Women in Society collection chronicled women’s various roles in society while stimulating the critical thinking of audiences of whether women are represented properly over time. Meanwhile, in the Women Expressions collection, arts have become an extension of women’s expressions on particular issues they face amidst the patriarchal society. Consisting of different feminist overtones, some artworks militantly advocate for shifts and changes in their roles as women and how they are perceived.
The exhibit is part of the CCP touring exhibit series and also marks its first collaboration with the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City.
“For the next three years, the CCP is going to be closed and we are delighted that we have friends just like the Yuchengco Museum with whom we can work so that the CCP can continue its activities in the performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, and the other elements of culture and the arts with which we deal,” said CCP chairperson Jaime C. Laya, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to CCP’s partner organizations in helping the 54-year-old institution continue its mission in the promotion and preservation of the Philippine arts and culture.
Yvonne Yuchengco, chairperson of the Yuchengco Museum, Inc, has been delighted to open its doors to CCP while its main building is undergoing rehabilitation. “The Yuchengco Museum is very happy to host this first of many succeeding exhibits, highlighting our culture, our country’s visual arts collection from the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The museum reached out to the CCP when it heard that it would be closed due to renovation. We have been working closely with the CCP team on how our collaboration can showcase the rich art pieces as some of them have been kept stored for some time,” shared chairperson Yuchengco.
The exhibit, in a way, raises the conversation on the prevailing issues on gender gaps among Filipino artists. “In the Philippines, we have 17 Filipino visual artists who were named and conferred the national artist awards, and all of them are male. While the other arts fields such as music, dance, theater, and film, have women national artists, visual arts have always been dominated by male artists. This showed that there has been a huge gender gap to be filled. We as a nation should do something with this gender gap. Woman: Thesis and Antithesis looks at this issue and hopes to start an enriching conversation on the gender divide,” shared CCP trustee Michelle Nikki Junia.
The exhibit runs until June 24, 2023, at the Yuchengco Museum located at the RCBC Plaza, corner Ayala Avenue and Senator Gil J. Puyat Avenue in Makati City. Visiting schedule is Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm.
Entrance fee for adults is Php100, with discounted price of Php50 for students, seniors and PWDs. Free admission days are April 29, May 20, and June 24, when there are public programs.
On April 29, 3pm, there will be an open dialogue on the history of the CCP Visual Arts Collection, as written in the 2018 publication Cultural Cache, and its current status as the CCP 21AM Collection.
Art educators will converse on how the image of the woman is portrayed by artists across different periods in Philippine art history and in different mediums. Using the works featured in the exhibition, guests will discuss common themes and depictions in relation to gender representation in art. The forum will happen on May 20, 3pm.
Selected Thirteen Artists Awards women recipients, who foreground woman and womanhood as subject matter, gather on June 24, 3pm, to talk about generational differences in art-making and expressions of the feminine.
For more information on the exhibit, check out the official CCP and CCP Visual Arts and Museum Division Facebook accounts. Follow CCP social media accounts in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
While people seem to be familiar with the film’s most iconic line “Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao” because of numerous funny memes circulating the social media, not everyone – especially the young generation – has seen the classic film Himala in its entirety, a regrettable situation that the Cultural Center of the Philippines hopes to address through the Cine Icons.
A Congressional Initiative project under Rep. Christopher de Venecia, the CCP’s newest film program under its Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division, aims to recognize and showcase the cinematic masterpieces of newly-minted National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, Nora Aunor and Marilou Diaz-Abaya for greater awareness and appreciation of Philippine cinema among the Filipino public.
“Films have always played a significant role in shaping the cultural identity of the Philippines, capturing the country’s rich history, diverse traditions, and the Filipino way of life. They have been a medium of storytelling, educating, and entertaining audiences while providing a platform for artists to showcase their creativity.” said CCP president Margie Moran-Floirendo during the recent launch of the film program at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez.
The Cine Icons launch kicked off with the special screening of digitally remastered classic film Himala, a film written by Ricky Lee and starring Nora Aunor playing the titular role of Elsa, an orphan claiming to have visions of the Virgin Mary and abilities to heal people with a variety of ailments. As the film progresses, the rest of the residents of her isolated village find themselves questioning their own beliefs and values. As word of this phenomenon spreads, tourists, pilgrims, patients, and a documentary filmmaker all arrive on a quest to partake in the miracle.
ABS-CBN’s Sagip Pelikula facilitated the restoration of the award-winning movie, directed by National Artist Ishmael Bernal. The restoration project continuously makes Filipino cinematic classics accessible through various platforms for the viewing of today’s generation.
“Ang ABS-CBN Film Restoration ay 12 years na. Naug-umpisa iyan lahat nang ipalabas namin noong 2012 ang pelikulang Himala. Noong pinag-uusapan kung ano ang magandang umpisahan sa aming restoration project, walang ibang naging kasagutan kung hindi ang Himala dahil sa ganda ng pelikulang ito,” shared Sagip Pelikula head Leo Katigbak.
During the talkback after the film screening, students, fans, and film enthusiasts had a chance to engage in conversations with National Artist Lee who recounted behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes on the filming of Himala.
“May inire-revise ako, like yung monologue doon sa ending. May natapos ako noon na monologue na nasa ospital na. Pero nung binasa ko iyon sa set, nakita yung mga na-shoot na, parang hindi na maganda, so nag-observe ako sa set, tiningnan ko ‘yung may mga sakit na extra, tas sabi ko kakausapin sila ni Elsa, parang hindi bagay ‘yung nasulat ko. So nag-revise ako sa set, ang natira na lang mula sa original draft ay ‘yung ‘walang himala,’ lahat nabago. Then, ibinigay kay Ate Guy ‘yung draft ng na-revise ko at sinabihan siya na one take lang kasi 3,000 extras, eight cameras, five crowd directors, hindi natin pwede ulitin lahat iyon pag nag-stampede na. So, one take lang. And the next day, one take nga lang ang nangyari,” shared National Artist Lee.
The award-winning scriptwriter generously shared his thoughts on Philippine cinema, producing films, and writing scripts. He also gave pieces of advice to aspiring writers.
“Ang masasabi ko sa young and struggling writers, hindi masama ang salitang struggling. I don’t think that you should ever stop struggling. Fifty years na akong nagsusulat, and I am still struggling. It never stops. Huwag niyo ring ambisyunin na maging Ricky Lee o Doy Del Mundo o Pete Lacaba kasi nag-iisa kami. Kung gagawa kayo ng kagaya namin, kami na ang kukunin. Xerox copies na kayo. Pero kung gagawa kayo ng kwento na galing sa boses at karanasan ninyo, kayo ‘yun at walang kapareho sa buong mundo. Pagbutihin lang ninyo at tiyak na papanoorin ‘yan ng tao,” advised National Artist Lee.
Cine Icons had a soft launch on February 17, 2023, at the PUP Theater, featuring National Artist Diaz-Abaya’s Brutal, also written by National Artist Lee. The event was made possible in partnership with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
Catch Cine Icons in Baguio City on March 29, 6pm, at the Balanghay ni Ikeng, located at Ili-Likha Artists’ Wateringhole, along Assumption Road. In collaboration with Montanosa Film Festival, Cinemarehiyon, and ABS CBN Film RestorATION, the new CCP film program will have a back-to-back screening of “Moral,” a film directed by National Artist Diaz-Abaya and written by National Artist Lee, and National Artist Kidlat Tahimik’s “Orbit 50: Letters to my Three Sons.” Join the post-screening talkback with the two living National Artists.
Follow the official CCP social media accounts in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok for the screening schedule announcements and latest updates on the center’s shows and productions.
Papet Pasyon 2023, a kid-friendly puppet show on the Passion of Christ, will be held for at the historic Metropolitan Theater (MET) on Friday, March 31, 2023. Admission is free.
The hour-long production was written by the late Philippine National Artist for Theater Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, also known as the Grand Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theater. It is directed by her daughter Prof. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, former College of Arts and Letters Dean of the University of the Philippines Diliman.
First mounted at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 1985, it introduces the events in the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in a manner that can be easily understood by the young audience.
To make it children-friendly, it utilizes Pinoy-looking puppets specially designed by visual artists Bernadette Solina-Wolf and Maurice Carvajal and carved by globally-known local artisans from Paete, Laguna. Some of the original puppets are still being used to this day.
Papet Pasyon was first written when the late award-winning playwright and puppeteer missed her chance to watch a live Passion play in Germany. It has since become an act of devotion as well as an advocacy to foster the Filipino puppetry tradition.
“Puppetry is an effective instrument of storytelling,” visual artist and Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas senior puppeteer and puppet maker Carlito Camahalan Amalla stated.
Amalla, who has been with the organization for approximately 20 years under the tutelage of Lapeña-Bonifacio, likewise reiterated the important role of the art form in teaching Filipino art and heritage.
“As Filipinos, our culture is our soul. It fosters nation-building and unity among the community,” added the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Design Foundation educator.
Amalla likewise highlighted the diverse initiatives of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, a theater group which the award-winning playwright founded in 1977. They awaken the children to the wonders and richness of Philippine and Asian folktales and tradition through puppetry. Their outreach includes puppetry workshops and programs in different communities across the Philippines.
“Teaching puppetry helps foster critical thinking and encourage creative solutions among children,” he expounded. “It is also a form of therapy and healing.”
Produced by Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, Papet Pasyon is free and open to the public. It is scheduled on Friday, March 31, 2023 with shows at 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.
It will likewise be available via livestream on Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, 8 p.m. via Teatrong Mulat’s Facebook page.
The Metropolitan Theater is located in Plaza Lawton along Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita Manila. To reserve tickets, visit The Metropolitan Theater Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/METphOfficial.
Join the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival and vie for the Grand Prize in the biennial choral competition slated on July 20 to 23, 2023, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati.
Interested choral groups may submit their application, addressed to the Festival Director, Mr. Joey Vargas, via mail at the Artist Training Division, Arts Education Department, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City 1300 Philippines. Or email the requirements to secretariat@aovchoralfestph.com. The deadline for submission of application is on June 01, 2023.
The application must include: fully accomplished application form; audio/video recording of two (2) to three (3) songs of different genres, recorded within the last six (6) months prior to application; recent profile and photo of the choir taken within the last six (6) months prior to application; and recent profile and photo of the conductor taken within the last six (6) months prior to application.
To be submitted after notice of the choir’s acceptance: repertoire per category; five (5) clear copies of each of the music scores (to be returned after the competition); permit for the use of original/photocopied original scores; and registration fee – USD 300 for non-Filipino choirs, and Php 10,000 for Filipino choirs.
The participating choirs will compete in various categories: Folk Song, Equal Voices, and Mixed Choir. They can participate in any or all the categories as long as each competing choir fulfills the necessary requirements for each category.
Two winners from this competition will be chosen to participate in the Asia Choral Grand Prix.
Produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the choral competition is named after National Artist Andrea O. Veneracion, founder of the world-renowned choir recognized as the first in the world to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice in 1997 and in 2007.
For inquiries, visit the AOV website (https://aovchoralfestph.com) or email secretariat@. Follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok for latest updates.
To celebrate Earth Month, ENCANTADA goes on stage once again! A collaboration with Joey Ayala for music, Al Santos for the libretto, and National Artist Salvador Bernal for production design, ENCANTADAfeatures the artists of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Professional Artist Support Program and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP). Itis a showcase of Locsin’s Neo-Ethnic Dance Style as she masterfully utilizes it to explore Filipino folklore, history, and culture, while at the same time bringing awareness to the consequences of man’s destruction of nature.
“Agnes Locsin’s ‘ENCANTADA’ is not just dance for the sake of dancing, but in truth it stands on solid research where Philippine history, folk religion, traditions, and practices are painted into the creation of the whole. Adding to that, this showcases the uniqueness of her movements which she herself conceived in creating her own dance genre – the neo-ethnic style. Thematically, she touches on women’s issues and most especially, the destruction of the environment; issues that are relevant to this day, 31 years after she conceived this masterpiece. It’s well worth a re-staging as well as a re-watching. Its a learning curve for the younger generation”, shares Tats Manahan, President of ARDP.
Recognized as the pioneer of the neo-ethnic style of dance, Agnes Locsin is a brilliant force in the Philippine dance scene which garnered her the title of National Artist for Dance. Together with contemporary Filipino music composer, Joey Ayala, and award-winning playwright, Al Santos, they premiered ENCANTADAin February of 1992.
Drawing inspiration from Philippine tribal dances, practices, beliefs, and stories, Locsin reworked and reinterpreted these into the framework of existing classical ballet and modern dance techniques, resulting in a unique dance form suited for the Filipino’s physical frame, temperament, and culture.
Agnes Locsin says in her book, Philippine Neo-Ethnic Choreography, “Each of the dances was explained to the dancers because they needed to understand all that they were doing. Along with the motivations, precision was also required for those sequences requiring unison in dancing.”
This Neo-Ethnic dance style coupled with Joey Ayala’s rhythmic contemporary Filipino music, Al Santos’ riveting Libretto, and National Artist Salvador Bernal’s remarkable Production Design, brought the story of ENCANTADAto life.
Presented by the Metropolitan Theater, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Carmen D. Locsin Foundation, the production was last staged in 2011 to critical acclaim, garnering 10 Gawad Buhay Awards, including Best Modern Dance Production, Best Choreography, Best Musical Composition, Best Production Design, and Best Lighting Design by John Neil Batalla who returns to light the 2023 Production.
Other citations include Georgette Sanchez-Vargas for Female Lead Performance and Carissa Adea for Female Featured Performance. Both of them will reprise their award-winning roles for the current 2023 production.
Also joining the cast is Kris-Belle Paclibar-Mamangun, a highly acclaimed Filipino Dancer and former member of Cirque du Soleil, who will be alternating the role of Babaylan with Carissa Adea.
ENCANTADA featuring artists of CCP’s Professional Artist Support Program and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines runs from April 14-15, 2023 at the Samsung Theater and April 21-22 at the Metropolitan Theater, with evening shows at 7:30 PM and matinees at 2:00 PM. All evening shows will have live music performed by Joey Ayala and Ang Bagong Lumad with the Philippine’s World Music Siren, Bayang Barrios.
Show Schedule:
April 14, 2023 | Friday | 7:30 PM | Samsung Performing Arts Theater*
April 15, 2023 | Saturday | 2:00 PM | Samsung Performing Arts Theater
April 15, 2023 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Samsung Performing Arts Theater*
*With live music performed by Joey Ayala and Ang Bagong Lumad with Bayang Barrios.
Future Shows:
Alice Reyes’ RAMAHARI
Sept. 15-16, 22-23, 2023
CARMEN AND OTHER SPIRITS, a mixed bill featuring Alice Reyes’ CARMEN and new works by young Filipino choreographers
Oct. 20-21, 27-28, 2023
PUSO NG PASKO, the celebration of Paskong Pinoy
Dec. 1-2, 22, 2023
Subscribe to ARDP’s 2023 Dance Season and celebrate the best of Filipino artistry and talent! For season subscriptions and ticket reservations, email ardancephilippinesinc@gmail.com. For more information, check @ARDancePh on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
