Star Powerhouse

F rom left: Libertine Dela Cruz (CCP Cultural Content Department Officer-in-Charge), CCP VP-Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan, PNU Vice President for Academics Dr. Marilyn Balagtas, CCP Chairman Jaime Laya, CCP Vice Chair Margie Moran-Floirendo, Nelson Caliguia Jr. (director of Lola Basyang animated film), Benjie Marasigan Jr., Dr. Christine Bellen-Ang (Children’s book writer and playwright), and PNU Vice President for Finance and Management Dr. Lordinio Vergara. (Photo by Orly Daquipil)     THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) harnesses the power of storytelling to raise social awareness and advocate for environmental preservation with the launch of Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang: Ang Mahiwagang Bantay ng Bundok Arayat .  It is a captivating animated short film that transports viewers into the enchanting world of Filipino folktales while emphasizing the importance of protecting the Philippine natural heritage.  Featuring the iconic Filipino character Lola Basy...

  Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr takes music lovers on a journey of imagination with the third installment of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO)’s 40th concert season, slated on December 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. With his 1972 French violin by Eugene Guinot and Rene Morel (given by Standard Insurance), Saraza Jr. will captivate with his exceptional skill and artistry on the violin as he effortlessly meets the virtuosic demands of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto op.47, D minor. One of the most challenging in the repertoire in the classic music scene, Sibelius concerto premiered in 1904, with violin teacher Victor Novàček as soloist. With lukewarm reception during its premiere, Sibelius rewrote the concerto in 1905, with Berlin concertmaster Karl Halir playing the revised piece. Music history has revealed that the concerto was initially created for violinist Willy Burmester, who was then the concertmaster in Helsingfors. After Sibeli...

S PYC-Tolosa-Spain-2024-A  Andrea O. Veneracion Sing Philippines Youth Choir with choirmaster and conductor Mark Anthony Carpio face the audience at the Tolosa Choral Competition in Spain.   THE Andrea O. Veneracion Sing Philippines Youth Choir, under the leadership of choirmaster and conductor Mark Anthony Carpio, secured an impressive fourth-place finish in both the Polyphony and Folklore categories at the prestigious 55th Tolosako Abesbatza Lehiaketa (Tolosa Choral Competition) held last October 31, 2024, at the historic Leidor Aretoa in Tolosa, Basque, Spain.   Competing against 16 countries from around the world, the SPYC captivated the audience with their rendition of a diverse repertoire, including folk songs and classical and popular choral works. Their performance was met with loud applause and accolades from an international audience.   This competition marks another significant milestone for the AOV Sing Philippines Youth Choir, adding to their list of int...

  Since the rehabilitation of its Main Building began in 2023, the Cultural Center of the Philippines has remained committed to making its CCP 21st Century Art Museum (21AM) Collection accessible to all, regardless of background or resources. The Center has successfully advanced this mission by democratizing the arts, showcasing its visual arts and ethnographic collections in public spaces and community-focused exhibits. A prime example is Kwentong Kahoy , an exhibit that highlights the diverse forms of art created with wood, demonstrating its adaptability and rich cultural significance. The third and newest collaborative project between CCP and Arthaland, Kwentong Kahoy removes traditional barriers to art access, allowing people to engage with and appreciate the cultural value of woodwork. Such initiatives promote inclusivity, celebrate local craftsmanship, and ensure diverse voices are represented, making art a shared and accessible experience for everyone. Highlighting the wond...

  A controversial figure in post-World War II British politics gets the spotlight for the latest installment of t he Cultural Center of the Philippines’ National Theater Live (CCP NTL). Premiering on November 26, 6PM, at Greenbelt 3, Cinema 1, an epic new Welsh fantasia on the life of labor politician Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan is set to take audiences back in time to witness his legacy. From campaigning at the coalfield to leading the battle to create the British National Health Service (NHS), Bevan is often referred to as the politician with the greatest influence on United Kingdom without ever being Prime Minister.  Multi-award-winning stage and screen actor Michael Sheen stars in ‘Nye’, a surreal and spectacular journey through the life and story of the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state. Confronted with death, Bevan’s deepest memories lead him on a mind-bending journey of recollections and hallucinations; from childhood to mining underground, Parliament and fights with ...

  The Cultural Center of the Philippines presents CCP Himig Hiraya: Mga Awit mula sa Tula ni Rio Alma, featuring literary works of National Artist Virgilio Almario, on November 10, 2024, 4PM at the Corazon Aquino Hall, St. Scholastica’s College. A fusion of literature and performance art, CCP Himig Hiraya features Professor Greg Zuniega playing original music as accompaniment to the eighth poems by the National Artist.  Prof. Zuniega will be accompanied by flutist Billy Joel Del Rosario, violinist Sim Zuniega, with soprano singers Ginger Karganilla, Nicole Pugeda, and Yvette Parcon, as well as tenors Etienne Quiminales, Isaac Iglesias, and Vincente Sy.  Marcuz Bracia and Ralph Onrubia will do a spoken word performance of Rio Alma's works.  Discussions on Alma’s poems will follow, led by literary artists Abner E. Dormiendo, Clarissa Villasin Militante, John Iremil Teodoro, Jazmin B. Llana, Mikka Ann V. Cabangon, Nikka Osorio Abeleda, Paul A. Castillo, and Susan Severi...

  For most audiences, the magic happens on the stage with performers dancing and singing amid the beautiful set, light design, and sound orchestration. Onstage, excitement is palpable. But the real action happens backstage. Amid the chaos, someone steps up to meticulously plant every element of the show, perfectly aligning them with the creative vision – someone called the production manager.  Productions have managers who oversee intricate logistics, manage collaborator relationships, create a working rehearsal schedule and timetable, and adapt to last-minute changes. Contrary to the prevailing misconception that there is no career in arts, production management is a path that is omnipresent in every industry.  For Sandie Javier and Monique Sengco, production management wasn’t initially on their radars. Both now work at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Production Management and Services Division, but their journeys had twists and turns. Sengco was studying to...

 The Cultural Center of the Philippines, in partnership with the BenCab Museum, launches two new exhibitions: Visions on Paper and Chronicles in Ink: Philippine Printmaking through the Decades , opening at the BenCab Museum’s Sepia Gallery and Gallery Indigo, respectively. These exhibitions will be on view until September 2024. Both traveling exhibitions aim to showcase significant works by Filipino visual artists from the CCP 21st Century Art Museum (21AM) Collection. Organized by the CCP Visual Arts and Museum Division with support from the BenCab Museum, this exhibition program is part of the CCP’s ongoing effort to make its collection accessible to a wider audience while the CCP Main Theater Building undergoes rehabilitation. Visions on Paper , exhibited at the BenCab Museum’s Sepia Gallery, presents selected works by National Artists of the Philippines. Exploring quieter forms of abstraction, portraiture, and rhythmic composition, the exhibition highlights the artists’ creati...

  No dream is too big when you have the courage to pursue it. For UK-based classical soprano Lizzie Bett Estrada, her dreams can move mountains and people—in more places than one. "My parents can sing. We are a typical family who enjoys karaoke," laughed Estrada. "I started joining choirs in elementary school because I enjoyed singing with people, and then I began to discover more about my voice and its capabilities." Estrada is one of the scholars of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ International Scholarship Program, which aims to provide financial support to exceptional learners who have achieved outstanding academic and artistic excellence in their respective art forms and have been accepted to higher educational institutions outside the Philippines. Estrada’s love for singing brought her to the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), where she graduated with Highest Honors and an Outstanding Student Award in the field of music. The Laguna-born music a...