Gaze the stars and more as the European Union's Viva Europa goes techno

It is time to gaze the stars, score goals, bike to work, and more as the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, together with EU Member States' Embassies and Cultural Institutions, launch Viva Europa 2019, their annual summer cultural season.

This year's theme, Go Techno, is in line with the Copernicus Program, a monitoring system using satellites, that provides data and information useful in various fields like food security, deforestation, climate change, pollution, and natural disasters. A conference of the Copernicus Program was recently held last March.

Leading the line up of EU activities for Viva Europa 2019 is a stargazing activity and a session on stars and constellations, in cooperation with the Manila Astronomical Society, at the Skypark, SM Aura on May 10, 2019, 6:00 PM.

A football event, the Schuman Cup, will be held on May 4, 2019 at Ayala, Alabang. This one day football festival not only pits European diplomats against Filipino professionals in a friendly match, but also provides Filipino children from disadvantaged communities to learn more about football aka soccer. This event is also supported by the German Embassy.

After the success of previous bike tours in Palawan and Guimaras, it is time to pedal once again as the bike tour goes to Bohol on May 6 and 7, 2019. The VeloMai campaign will also be launched as the European Commission promotes the use of bikes to work to help the environment and promote a sustainable lifestyle.

Also returning this year is the Euro-Pinoy Concert on May 7, 2019 at The Ruins in Poblacion, Makati. Featured musicians this year are Czech guitarist and composer Lukáš Sommer, Spanish flamenco guitarist Alex Alcaraz, Filipino percussionist Jean Paul Zialcita, and Filipino-German DJ Marie Badkiss.

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen

This year also sees the eleventh edition of Lakbayin Natin ang EU happening on May 23 at the Museo Pambata. Story telling sessions, games, and various activities for children are lined up for this whole day of exploring and celebrating the EU. This event is also presented by the Embassies of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands, and the Philippine-Italian Association. 

On May 25-26, 2019, choirs from various parts of the country will compete at the 11th edition of Musica FEUROPA at the historic FEU Auditorium, Far Eastern University. This year will see the introduction of a new commissioned competition piece, El Vasto Mar, by acclaimed Filipino composer Saunder Choi.

Other cultural events by Member State Embassies and Cultural Institutions to look out for this year includes the Día del Libro, presented by the Instituto Cervantes, the cultural arm of the Embassy of Spain, happening on April 27, 2019 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati. The whole day affair devoted to books will be capped by Posporos, a concert featuring Vulk, a Basque punk band from Bilbao, Spain and The Late Isabel, an art rock band from the Philippines. This collaborative performance comes after a week long musical residence for these two independent bands that will be filmed for a later broadcast on Jack TV. The Posporos project is presented by the Embassy of Spain, Instituto Cervantes and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

The rerun of Baka Naman Hindi, translated from Georges Feydeau's French play La Puce à l'oreille/A Flea in Her Ear will be the 6th installment of Les Jeudis Culturels by the Embassy of France happening on April 25, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Adapted to Filipino by Virgilio “Beer” Flores, this play stars TV/film actors Ricky Davao, Rina Reyes, Lou Veloso, along with other veterans of the theater stage.

Various film screenings are also on the horizon like the return of Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now happening on April 23-26, 2019 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila at the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Aside from the nine films to be screened for free, a delegation from Italy, led by Goffredo Bettini, along with a few actors and film industry personalities, will also grace the festival. Moviemov is also presented by the Philippine-Italian Association, the Embassy of Italy, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Viva Europa 2019 team

The Goethe Institute presents Win Wenders: A Legacy of Art house Classics, a retrospective of German filmmaker Win Wenders. Nine of his films will be shown for free during the weekend from April 27-May 26, 2019 also at the Cinematheque Centre Manila at FDCP.

The Embassy of Spain offers Clásicos del cine espanol: 4 Spanish Masterpieces, a film screening series happening on May 3 & 10, 2019 at the Ateneo de Manila University.

The Czech Embassy, on the other hand, will show the film Angel of the Lord on June 1, 2019, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in observance of the International Day of Children.

With all these events for Viva Europa 2019 that feel as numerous as the stars in the sky, there is no more reason to be bored from lack of activities and things to do this summer. Read more about these upcoming events in detail in future blog entries.

French classical guitarist Gabriel Bianco to hold concert and masterclass

The Guitar Friends in partnership with the Philippine Women's University School of Music and the Alliance Française de Manille presents French guitarist Gabriel Bianco in concert on April 23, 2019, 6:30 PM at the Alliance Française de Manille.

The recital will also feature the PWU Guitar Quartet composed of Aaron Aguila, Benchito Cariño, Monching Carpio and Ivar Fojas.

Guitarist Gabriel Bianco

Bianco is the winner of the 2008 Guitar Foundation of America Competition, the most coveted prize in classical guitar.

On April 24, 2019, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, he will conduct a masterclass at the PWU School of Music. 

RAd's Playlist | Gabriel Bianco

In preparation for Gabriel Bianco's upcoming visit to the country, it is time to put his album, a live recording of his recital, for a spin.

This recording, released by Naxos, features guitar music by Franz Schubert, Johann Kaspar Mertz, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Nikita Koshkin performed in a recital by Bianco.

Performatura Festival 2019: Coching, komiks, and more

The initial plan was to spend a whole day on the second day of the Performatura Festival 2019, devoted to Francsico V. Coching, National Artist for Visual Arts. But a combination of factors, including the intense heat and even the upcoming elections, left me arriving in the afternoon and making the most of what the festival had to offer.

Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School
Radio Broadcasting Group

I made sure to catch the performance of students from Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School Radio Broadcasting Group in a reading of Coching's Lapu-Lapu. The promising voice talents of these students, ranging from Grade 8-12, made their video viral online. And this gave them an opportunity to fly to the capital to be part of the festival. A couple of the group's youngest members (Grade 8) weren't able to join the trip but that didn't hamper the group much even as each member had to act out multiple characters throughout the reading.

Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School
Radio Broadcasting Group

I admit that my listening skills were put to the test (with all the multiple characters that I lost track of) and it had me wishing to see Coching's illustrations that accompanied the text that was read. It also made me wonder if this rather romanticized vision, along with the film by National Artist Lamberto Avellana that was also shown that afternoon, of Lapu-Lapu, who is considered as the first Filipino hero led to the current prevalent (and disputed) image of him as the muscular warrior in a loincloth brandishing a sword.

Speaking of Lapu-Lapu, a copy of the collection and more titles from Coching was available at the Coching table at the mini-komiks convention at the Main Theater Lobby. I was also able to browse a few titles from local creators and publishers. They later on presented their more recent and upcoming komiks at the book launch that wrapped up the second day.

El Indio

Ang Barbaro

Pedro Penduko

As I tried to make the most out of my time, I did the unthinkable and had a Coching themed tattoo done. I also had a photo taken by Estela Vadal, the most unusual photo booth that included a random poetry below every photo printout that it dispensed.

I have been missing the comics scene since I devoted myself more to the classical music/arts and culture scene almost a decade ago. And the Coching day at the Performatura Festival 2019 was probably the world telling me to awaken the comics enthusiast in me that has been hibernating.

Ballet Philippines' Tales of the Manuvu: relevant tales 40 years after

Alice Reyes and the cast of Tales of the Manuvu

Despite a busy schedule, I managed to squeeze in some time to catch Ballet Philippines wrap up its 49th season with the closing performance of the Tales of the Manuvu. The ballet not only had me humming the tunes and songs from the show but also left me with a renewed sense of awareness of the work's message that has remained relevant even after 40 years since its premiere.

Choreographed by Alice Reyes, BP's Artistic Director and National Artist for Dance, Tales is a dance retelling of the folk tales of the Manobo Tribe of Mindanao, with libretto by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera and a rock soundtrack by Dero Pedero.

Tales of the Manuvu cast takes a bow

The dancing was energetic, full of life and vitality with more emphasis on the company as a whole. While the choreography was corps heavy, there were still a handful of dancers who had the spotlight on them like AL Abraham as Manama, Earl John Arisola as Ogassi, Ronelson Yadao as First Man, and Stephanie Santiago as First Woman.

Lighting design by Katsch Catoy and production design by Loy Arcenas made me feel bad that dance productions are no longer part of the PhilStage Gawad Buhay! Awards since I believe that their works here are actually frontrunners for 2019.

The cast at the meet and greet

As for the vocalists, Reuben Laurente, with the dual singing role of Manama and First Man, was pristine and effortless. Nar Cabico is always a character, so the mischievous and scheming Ogassi was a natural fit. And Aicelle Santos' all too brief part singing First Woman just made me want to see her more in the future. The UP Concert Chorus added more vocals to the mix but I felt that they could've used a better mic setup for a more rousing choral feel. Providing live accompaniment was The Radioactive Sago Project, with their ranks fortified by other musicians who dubbed themselves as The Manuvers. Music director Francis de Veyra gave updated arrangements to Pedero's music complete with a cheeky and sneaky Astro riff insertion at an early interlude which is very much a Radioactive Sago Project thing to do. 

At times, especially during the uptempo parts, the music sounded dated and the band could only do so much in making it sound current and/or timeless. This only made wonder how radical Tales of the Manuvu was, with the folk tales combined with the contemporary rock music of its time, when it first premiered more than 40 years ago. Noong Unang Panahon, on the other hand, gave me goosebumps upon realizing how timely and more pressing the lyrics of that song has become four decades since.

Chichester Psalms

Preceding the Tales were a trio of short, intimate pieces choreographed by BP’s own company members and another Alice Reyes opus. In Gia Gequinto's  Sun Down, Katrene San Miguel had a commanding presence on stage even by her lonesome. A quartet of males, including two en pointe, were featured in Erl Sorilla's The Weight on Our Toes that explored gender fluidity set to one of Chopin's Nocturnes. A touching tribute to mothers and the sacrifices they make was showcased in Ronelson Yadao's Mama. Live music by pianist Kyle Ledamo, flutist Agustina Alcantara, and mezzo soprano Jai Sabas accompanied these dances.

Capping the first half was Alice Reyes' choreography to Chichester Psalms. Set to Leonard Bernstein’s music, this work had an attracting/repelling magnetic effect on me as the dancers featured clean lines and very symmetrical formations juxtaposed with 20th century dissonances of the music.

With the ending of its 49th season, the countdown begins for Ballet Philippines milestone golden anniversary season featuring more restagings of Alice Reyes' works and more.