New component 'Palaro', expanded reach at CCP's Pasinaya 2025

The Cultural Center of the Philippines just announced that Palaro is newest component of Pasinaya 2025, the country's largest multi-arts event happening on February 1-2, 2025 at the CCP Complex and various venues nationwide.

The introduction of Palaro, featuring the final output of the CCP Game and Comics Development Grant awardees, solidify video games and comics' undeniable contribution to national culture. The component will let participants try live gameplay demos, join tournaments, and explore the developer's final products that showcase Philippine heroes, mythology, landmarks and more.

Adopting the theme CCP Pasinaya 2025 Open House Festival: Para sa Lahat!, this year's edition, its 19th overall, now expands to Clark, Pampanga in collaboration with Clark Development Corporation, Batangas Province, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, and Sorsogon City, Bicol. Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA), Iloilo and Tagum City, Davao del Norte with the Musikahan sa Tagum Foundation, Inc. both return as Pasinaya venues through the partnership with CCP's Kaisa sa Sining. In Metro Manila, the CCP Complex will be joined by Circuit Makati, The Metropolitan Theater, Intramuros, Aliw Theater and various partner museums and galleries.

As usual, Pasinaya 2025 will have the See-All-You-Can, Workshop-All-You-Can, Network-all-You-Can, Pay-What-You-Can scheme to experience not only what the CCP has in store for 2025 but also a whole lot more.

Reprinted below is the press release for Pasinaya 2025.

CCP Pasinaya 2025 Open House Festival expands its two-day program nationwide

The Philippines' largest multi-arts event, the CCP Pasinaya Open House Festival, returns bigger and better than ever, featuring an exciting new component and an expanded audience reach. The festival will take place on February 1 and 2, 2025 at various venues nationwide under the theme “CCP Pasinaya 2025 Open House Festival: Para sa Lahat!,” in its 19th edition.

This year, CCP Pasinaya will serve as the vibrant launch event for the National Arts Month 2025 celebration, setting the stage for a month-long tribute to the Philippines' rich cultural heritage and artistic excellence.

In partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), this year's National Arts Month aims to engage audiences from all walks of life, inviting them to explore, support, and celebrate the dynamic and flourishing arts scene across the country.

With the country's leading cultural institutions collaborating, CCP Pasinaya will not only showcase Filipino artists but also foster a deeper appreciation for how the arts shape the nation's identity and cultural landscape, unite communities, inspire creativity, and preserve its rich traditions.

The festival also extends its reach to new regional partner sites, including Clark (Pampanga) collaborating with Clark Development Corporation, Batangas Province (Batangas), Himamaylan (Negros Occidental), and Sorsogon City (Bicol). It also makes a highly anticipated return to Iloilo City headed by the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) and Tagum City (Davao del Norte) with the Musikahan sa Tagum Foundation, Inc. This is in partnership with the networks of the CCP Kaisa sa Sining.

In Metro Manila, the CCP Pasinaya will unfold across multiple venues such as Circuit Makati, The Metropolitan Theater, Intramuros, Aliw Theater and various partner museums and galleries, offering a vibrant celebration of Filipino arts and culture.

“The CCP Pasinaya has always been a celebration of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Philippines. As we mark its 19th edition, we are excited to expand the festival’s reach and bring more inclusive, accessible, and engaging experiences to audiences across the country. With new regional partners and innovative components like the Palaro, Pasinaya 2025 promises to be a grander, more vibrant showcase of Filipino artistry for all to enjoy,” said CCP President Kaye C. Tinga.

Favorite components – Palihan, Palabas, Paseo Museo, Palitan, Pagtitipon, and Pamilihan – bring together a diverse mix of art groups and individual artists from across the Philippines. They offer over 200 performances, workshops, and activities showcasing the best of music, theater, dance, visual arts, films, and literature.

In Palihan, the public can participate in workshops of various art disciplines conducted by leading artists, resource persons, and experts. Palabas is all about performances featuring the CCP resident companies such as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bayanihan National Dance Company, the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, and the Madrigal Singers, along with professional, amateur, and community-based artists and arts organizations.

Meanwhile, Palitan is an arts market where pre-registered participants can pitch their productions and other contents to prospective producers from here and abroad; while CCP Kaisa sa Sining regional network members converge in Pagtitipon. Paseo Museo gives audiences a hop-on, hop-off tour of the partner museums and galleries in Manila and Pasay cities.

A new highlight of this year’s Pasinaya is Palaro, which features the final output of the CCP Game and Comics Development Grant awardees that showcase Philippine mythology, simulation with iconic Filipino heroes, exploration of Philippine landmarks, puzzles, and story-driven adventure. This component lets participants experience live gameplay demos, participate in exciting tournaments, and explore the developers' innovative creations up close.

“The addition of Palaro to this year’s CCP Pasinaya is a groundbreaking step in celebrating the intersection of art, technology, and creativity. By featuring the innovative works of the CCP Game Development grantees, we are highlighting the immense talent and potential of our Filipino creators in the gaming industry by providing them a platform to showcase their craft. Palaro offers a fresh and exciting experience for our audience, making CCP Pasinaya 2025 even more dynamic and inclusive. Truly it is Para Sa Lahat,” said CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Dennis N. Marasigan.

With its See-All-You-Can, Workshop-All-You-Can, Network-all-You-Can, Pay-What-You-Can scheme, the CCP Pasinaya anticipates an audience of over 50,000. In 2024, the festival attracted approximately 45,347 audienceship in six venues in Manila, Iloilo and Tagum. It collaborated with 26 embassies, partnered with 17 museums and galleries, featured 142 performing groups and artists, and 44 Pamilihan vendors.

Established in 2005, the CCP Pasinaya was conceived as a launch event to the National Arts Month celebration. It was originally created as CCP’s marketing tool to provide previews for its upcoming productions and programming for the year. Through the years, the festival has grown bigger and become a venue for art appreciation and education, networking, and collaborations.

For more details on Pasinaya and other CCP events, check out the CCP website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph and its official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.