Star Powerhouse

Sarah Escosora, Marte Aragon, and Bubot Manalang At an age when many people are expected to slow down, three senior citizens from Pasay City find themselves at the heart of the country’s cultural scene, reinvigorating their golden years through the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ special Front-of-House (CCP FOH) Apprenticeship Program, a simple apprenticeship program which becomes the start of a meaningful addition to their lives.  Through a partnership with the city’s Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in 2024, senior ushers Sarah Escosora, Marte Aragon and Bubot Manalang participated in the apprenticeship program which aims to open doors for older Filipinos to be an active member of the arts and culture community.  The ushering apprenticeship lasted for a month and included lectures, fieldwork, venue exposure trips, and first aid training. The seniors were immersed not only in audience management, but also in the values of culture, education, and service.  “Na...

GAWAD CCP PARA SA SINING 2024 Awards Night at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater last September 20, 2024 - Kiko Cabuena  The Cultural Center of the Philippines has officially opened public nominations for the prestigious Gawad CCP Para sa Sining 2026, the highest recognition bestowed by the CCP on Filipino artists, cultural workers, and organizations that have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and culture. The award honors individuals and groups in the fields of architecture, dance, film and broadcast arts, literature, music, theater, and visual arts who have consistently created outstanding works or developed distinct styles and techniques that helped shape and enrich their respective art forms in the country. Beyond artistic excellence, the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining also recognizes cultural workers and advocates whose efforts in research, curatorship, arts management, and cultural administration have strengthened and promoted Philippine culture...

  The Virgin Labfest (VLF) officially comes of age in its 21st edition, stripping down all pretense of innocence while showcasing the bold Filipino voice and spirit. As it nurtures emerging and established playwrights, directors, actors, and designers, it revels in the artistic and creative desires expressed through fearless storytelling.   Guided by the theme Hubo’t Hubad , this year’s VLF reflects on the many ways people reveal themselves. It invites audiences to engage with works that expose layers of identity, memory, and vulnerability.   Offering a deeper understanding of the human experience, the country’s theater festival of untried, untested, and unstaged one-act plays returns with 12 “virgin” scripts this June 3 to 28, 2026, at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater).   Unrestrained tales of the human experience   Featuring new works by eight “virgin” playwrights and four returning playwrights, VLFXXI: HUBO’T HUBAD elaborates on the unbri...

Embodying the spirit of interconnectedness this National Heritage Month, the CCP Channel curates a thoughtful selection of digital content that highlights the rich Philippine heritage. Aligned with this year’s theme, “ Roots and Horizons: Our Shared Heritage, Our Collective Future, ” symbolized by the banig (woven mat), the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ online streaming platform weaves together stories that bridge generations to shape national sensibility.  This May, the CCP Channel presents select films from the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, entries from Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, Virgin Labfest (VLF) one-act featured plays, and  CCP T(A)YONG Dalawa: Indak sa Saliw ng Pusong Umiibig instructional videos on folk and indigenous dances.   Dive into VLF, Gawad Alternatibo, and Cinemalaya through the CCP Channel Catch filmmaker Iar Arondaing’s Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma on the CCP Channel. This Cinemalaya 2018 entry...

  What is the most essential building block for the future of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in the visual arts? This question set the tone for the recent Philippine Arts Roundtable organized by the country’s premier cultural institution, bringing together a diverse group of experts to examine the current landscape and explore the future directions of Philippine contemporary art. The recent roundtable discussion brought together Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, contemporary visual artists and cultural practitioners; Isa Lorenzo, founder and co-director of Silverlens Galleries; Carlos Quijon Jr., art historian, critic, and curator currently serving as the C-MAP Fellow for Southeast and East Asia at the Museum of Modern Art in New York; Clarissa Chikiamco, curator at National Gallery Singapore and a PhD candidate at King’s College London; Dindin Araneta, co-founder of Art Fair Philippines and Director of the Benilde Center for Campus Exhibitions (CCE) at De La Salle–College of S...

  After ten years, the world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben) will return to Manila for a special concert on April 26 and 27, 2026, at 8:00 PM, in the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Celebrating the strong cultural ties between Austria and the Philippines, the concert will be held in anticipation of the 80th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries in 2026.   With a history spanning more than five centuries, the Vienna Boys Choir is regarded as one of the most distinguished choirs in the world. Known for their remarkable musicality, purity of tone, and rich tradition, the young singers perform a wide-ranging repertoire that includes classical masterpieces, sacred music, traditional Austrian works, and international favorites. The upcoming Manila concert will mark the choir’s long-awaited return to the Philippines since their last performance in the country a decade ago. The event promises an evening of exceptional music and cultural exchan...

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in partnership with the National Book Development Board (NBDB), brings the excellent collection of classic CCP titles to the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) this March 12 to 15, 2026, from 10 am to 8 pm, at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. Classic titles and collectibles up to 50% off Boasting discounts and promos exclusive only at the PBF, festival goers can enjoy up to 50% off of CCP books, merchandise, and collectibles, including the digital edition of the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art.  Restocks of bestsellers Mga Piling Dula mula sa Virgin Labfest IV , Natatauhan: Mga Dula ng Kababaihan , and Himig Himbing will be up for grabs at 20% off. Timeless Bundles worth Php700 and Php1,200 will be available at the CCP Shop in PBF. Attendees can also purchase Tuklas Sining, a limited edition coffee table book first published in 1991 that traces the roots of Filipino artistry, as well as Cinemalaya Film Festival catal...