Explore different worlds with Chinese cinema at the 14th Spring Film Festival

Celebrate the Year of the Rat with Chinese films and more at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall this January 19 to 26, 2020. Leading the festivities is the 14th Spring Film Festival with its lineup of 6 Chinese contemporary films to be screened for free at the Shang's Red Carpet.

Explore the different worlds through  Chinese cinema, from the historical, mythical, and even the musical, with this year's lineup that includes the sequel of the legendary tale The Monkey King 2/西遊記之孫悟空三打白骨精, the superhero parody Jian Bing Man/煎餅侠, the historical epic The Great Wall/长城, the sci-fi thriller Battle of Memories/记忆大师, the music filled high school comedy Our Shining Days/ 闪光少女, and the animated feature Little Door Gods/小门神.

Marjorie Manabat
Director of the Ricardo Leong
Center for Chinese Studies

Apart from the film screenings, other events and attractions are lined up like the Confucius Institute Painting Exhibit which will be on view throughout the festival. Usher in the Year of the Rat on January 25 with Chinese music courtesy of the Philippine Cultural College Chinese Orchestra and a Wu Shu and Lion Dance by the Northern Rizal Yorkiin School starting at 2:00 PM. Dip your brushes and learn from the masters at the Painting Workshop by the Art Association of the Philippines led by its President, Master Fidel Sarmiento and Vice President Roger Santos happening on January 26, 2020, 2:00 PM.

Here are more information about the films to be screened at the 14th Spring Film Festival.

The Monkey King 2/西遊記之孫悟空三打白骨精

Director: Cheang Pou-Soi

Cast: Aaron Kwok, Li Gong, Shaofeng Feng, Shenyang Xiao, Him Law, Fei Xiang, Kelly Chen

When a travelling monk is stranded in a wasteland, The Monkey King must escort him across the land to retrieve sacred scriptures and protect him from an evil demon.

Jian Bing Man/煎餅侠

Director: Da Peng

Cast: Da Peng, Mabel Yuan, Liu Yan

A story of a disgraced actor struggling to find a way back to the top, finding the meaning of true friends on the way.

The Great Wall/长城

Director: Zhang Yimou

Cast: Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau

In ancient China, a group of European mercenaries encounters a secret army that maintains and defends the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures.

Battle of Memories/记忆大师

Director: Leste Chen

Cast: Huang Bo, Xu Jinglei, Duan Yihong, Yang Zishan, Ann Hsu

After undergoing a procedure to erase his memories, a successful author begins having unexplained recollections relating to a series of unsolved murders.

Our Shining Days/ 闪光少女

Director: Wang Ran

Cast: Lulu Xu, Yuchang Peng

A youth inspirational film, about how a group of high school students try to revive Chinese orchestra ensemble. They face many challenges along the way to compete nationally, including a rivalry with the more popular Western orchestra club.

Little Door Gods/小门神

Director: Gary Wang

There's a crisis in the Chinese Spirit World -- humans don't believe in gods anymore! A Door God, facing unemployment, ventures into the human world to prove his worth, leading to unexpected encounters and transformations for humans and spirits alike.

Here is the schedule for the 14th Spring Film Festival.

January 19, 2020

3:00 PM Our Shining Days

5:10 PM Little Door Gods

7:30 PM The Monkey King 2

January 20, 2020

2:55 PM The Great Wall

5:10 PM Jiang Bing Man

7:30 PM The Monkey King 2

January 21, 2020

3:00 PM Little Door Gods

5:20 PM Our Shining Days

7:30 PM Battle of Memories

January 22, 2020

2:45 PM Jiang Bing Man

5:00 PM The Monkey King 2

7:30 PM Our Shining Days

January 23, 2020

2:50 PM Our Shining Days

5:00 PM Battle of Memories

7:30 PM Little Door Gods

January 24, 2020

2:45 PM The Monkey King 2

5:15 PM The Great Wall

7:30 PM Jiang Bing Man

January 25, 2020

2:40 PM Battle of Memories

5:10 PM Little Door Gods

7:30 PM Our Shining Days

January 26, 2020

3:00 PM Our Shining Days

5:10 PM Little Door Gods

7:30 PM The Monkey King 2

The 14th Spring Film Festival is presented by Ateneo de Manila University’s Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines, the Shangri-La Plaza and Red Carpet Cinema with the cooperation of Film Development Council of the Philippines, Ateneo Celadon, ChinoyTV, and Credit Suisse.

Pianist Mariel Ilusorio hosts new classical concert series in Makati

A new, monthly classical concert music series, Sunshine Classics to be hosted by pianist Mariel Ilusorio, is set to launch this year at the Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center, Jupiter Street, Makati. On January 29, 2020, 2:00 PM, the series debuts with 20 Fingers, One Piano, with pianists Mariel Ilusorio and Chi-Ying Hung performing a four-hand piano program consisting of music by Gabriel Faure, Johannes Brahms, Astor Piazzolla, and Filipino Folk tunes arranged by Agot Espino.

Mariel Ilusorio graduated from the Juilliard School Pre-College, the Oberlin College of Music, and the State Academy of Music in Hannover Germany. After living overseas for twenty-six years (USA, Germany, South Africa), she returned to the Philippines in 2014 to continue her work as a performer and teacher.

Chi-Ying Hung received her Bachelor, Master's and Doctorate degrees at Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Solomon Mikowsky, Fiorella Canin and Alexander Feder. She has given performances as soloist, in chamber music, as well as soloist with orchestras in the United States, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Italy, Cuba and the Philippines. Dr Hung has given piano lessons, adjudicated and coached chamber music in music festivals in Franschhoek (South Africa), NAMCYA (Philippines), HK School Music Festival, Manila International Piano Masterclasses Festival, and Opus Festival. She is invited to join the faculty members to give lessons in Burgos International Music Festival, Spain in the summer of 2020.

The monthly, hour long concert series will be held every last Wednesday of the month at 2:00 PM at the Sunshine Place's roof deck. Subsequent performances will feature violinist Jeanne Marquez and cellist Justin Vincent Talusan with an all-Beethoven program happening on February 26, 2020 in celebration of the famed composer's 250th birth year. Flutist Nico Dioemda and pianist Dingdong Fiel will take to the stage on March 25, 2020 while Viva Voce members Ann Migallos and Marvin Bautista perform on April 29, 2020. Guitar music courtesy of Duo Manila and Kabataang Gitarista will be featured on May 27, 2020. Music couple Mariel Ilusorio (piano) and Juan Muñoz (violin) will lead the ensemble in a performance of Antonín Dvořák's Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, Op. 81, B.155 on June 24, 2020.

The Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center is a venue for adults to live actively, through engaging in recreational classes and age-appropriate physical training programs. It’s the venue to be entertained, socialize, and reflect. It’s a place of happiness and wellness for one’s mind, body and soul. 

Sunshine Classics is made possible by 98.7 DZFE, Clark Freeport Trading Resources, Inc., and individual sponsors led by Conchitina Bernardo. For tickets, contact Mariel Ilusorio at either (0917) 709-2255 or marielilusorio@hotmail.com. 

A thoughtfully woven program in PPO's tribute to Hector Berlioz

Violist Rey Casey Concepcion, conductor Michaël Cousteau,
and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra paid tribute to French conductor Hector Berlioz in the occasion of the French composer's 150th death anniversary through a concert led by guest conductor Michaël Cousteau.

Conductor Michaël Cousteau and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Embassy of France, and Stores Specialists, Inc, the concert featured a thoughtfully woven program consisting of music by Berlioz and some of his contemporaries.

French Ambassador Nicolas Galey, soprano Rachelle Gerodias, conductor Michaël
Cousteau, violist Rey Casey Concepcion, baritone Byeong-In Park,
and CCP Board Member Baltazar Endriga

Right off the bat, Berlioz presence was felt with his orchestration of the French National anthem performed by the PPO (that included three timpanists) and sung by real life couple Rachelle Gerodias and Byeong-In Park.

The program started with Wagner's Prelude from Tristan und Isolde WWV 90. This piece is usually followed by the Liebestodt but in this evening, it surprisingly segued to Berlioz' Harold en Italie, Op.16 H. 68 instead that had me double checking the souvenir program to see if there hadn't been any mistake. The entrances and exit of violist Rey Casey Concepcion throughout the piece provided a bit of theatricality in the performance which is quite melancholic and relaxed as opposed to the explosive concerto. But Concepcion still delivered a display of technical virtuosity with his encore of Capriccio in C minor, Op. 55 'Hommage à Paganini' by Henri Vieuxtemps.

The second half of the concert consisted of Berlioz' Scène d'amour from Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17, H. 79 and Franz Liszt's Les préludes, S. 97. It was not easy listening to these pieces which aren't really my cup of tea. And being program music, it would've helped greatly knowing the context of the pieces. But I was later told Cousteau had a lecture at the Les Jeudis Culturels the night before explaining the musical connection between these pieces. It made me regret not attending the lecture so that I would've had a greater understanding and appreciation of the PPO's performance in this concert.

Ballet Manila's Giselle: A major step "On pointé" towards rebuilding

The cast of Ballet Manila's Giselle

After a massive fire gutted Star City, completely destroying Star Theater and damaging Aliw Theater that has housed Ballet Manila's performances for years, the remainder of company's 24th season was put in major doubt. But the company's CEO and Co-Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde's determined resolve to rise from the ashes, her dancers' desire to perform no matter what, coupled with the arts community rallying behind Ballet Manila, the impossible was made possible.

Eventually staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines through a venue grant with backdrops, sets, props and fog machine lent by Ballet Philippines and the Manila Symphony Orchestra led by Alexander Vikulov offering a discount on their services, Ballet Manila's staging of Giselle pushed through with a one night performance at the CCP's Main Theater.

Looking back as 2019 starts to wind down, this has got to be one of the key moments in the arts and culture scene of the year or possibly even this decade.

To say that the company gave an inspired performance would be a complete understatement. Dancing the titular role of Giselle was principal Joan Sia who already did the part at the very same venue for Dance MNL a little over three years before. Being the veteran in the role, she took charge and danced as if everything depended on her which is no small feat for a character who was supposed to be naive, vulnerable, and frail.

Elpidio Magat's Albrecht provided more than just ample support for Sia's Giselle. His acting gave the audience an avenue to channel their grief. And his brisés towards the end of Act II had power and excitement that further heightened the sense of urgency as his death at the hands of the willis was becoming more imminent.

Conductor Alexander Vikulov, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and Ballet Manila

The confident pairing of Nicole Barroso and Joshua Enciso at the Peasant Pas de deux showed why Ballet Manila's future is secure.

Akari Ida as Myrtha embodied coldness in character as she executed her steps without fail. And Mark Sumaylo take on Hilarion made me feel sorry for him as someone who always had Giselle's best interest at heart only having to meet a tragic end while the deceptive Albrecht lived to see another day.

The corps were more mature and showed improvement in leaps and bounds compared to how they were at Chopiniana from their Deux 23rd season ender earlier this year. Every time the audience showered applause to the corps whenever they were spot on, it felt like it was not just an applause for an exceptional performance, but also an applause to show their assurance, a way of communicating to the entire Ballet Manila company that the arts community have their back, that they will not be alone as they rebuild and rise from the ashes. It was one of the moments that makes an impact for life even if one was just a member of the audience.

As always, having Alexander Vikulov lead the Manila Symphony Orchestra means that one can just sit back and be immersed with the ballet without worrying that the tempo and dynamics aren't suited or tailor made to whoever is dancing on stage.

Present on that night were dancers from the Philippine Ballet Theatre who led the loudest cheers from the audience, officials from Ballet Philippines, members of the diplomatic corps, personalities from various arts and culture organizations, and even people who one would never imagine bumping into at the ballet.

The coming year will not be easy for Ballet Manila. But the way they showed their strength as a company with their recent staging of Giselle, one cannot help but feel optimistic that they will eventually rise once again.