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.

CCP receives multiple awards for its resiliency during pandemic and creative innovations

When the country bore the brunt of the pandemic in 2020, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) ensured to the public that it could still fulfill its mandate to promote and preserve the best of Filipino arts and culture. Back on March 13, 2020, the CCP complied with the decision of shutting down all its public venues and postponed all productions and events indefinitely due to the precautions the country had to make. However, despite these restrictions, CCP found their way to thrive through the online platforms. This was the start of the transition of online performances for the Center.

For years, the Center has embarked on digitizing its archives. It proved to be quite a pioneering and progressive project because it became a lifeline for the center’s artistic endeavors. As directed by the Philippine government, CCP functioned on a skeleton workforce, with restricted access for employees and cultural workers. With the theaters closed, the CCP couldn’t produce any shows; hence, limited livelihood for the artists.

The CCP Board of Trustees calibrated the response to the pandemic affecting the creative industry and implemented the Innovation Grants Program which provided financial support to seven art and culture organizations so they could create and produce new works in various art disciplines and distribute these new contents using online technology, blended, and hybrid technologies.

The new programming brought to “online stages” different shows such as virtual pocket concerts of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, dubbed Music for Healing: PPO in Quarantine, Virgin Labfest’s online edition using Zoom and Facebook Live, and Cinemalaya screening short films in competition in Vimeo.

“These interventions and responses proved that arts could not be curtailed. Even a pandemic can’t stop people from engaging in arts. In fact, art is what sustained them throughout the most challenging time in this era,” said CCP president ad interim Michelle Nikki Junia.

No matter what the obstacles, CCP remains committed to its mandate, and these efforts earned recognition from inaugural The Living Laurels Awards, organized by the Malaya Business Insights.

Living Laurels 2024 Pandemic Resilience Award

The CCP recently received The Pandemic Resilience Award for “its outstanding contributions to the lifestyle industry and reaffirms their steadfast dedication to excellence in lifestyle endeavors.” The award recognizes the organizations or individuals who adapted and thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Despite the challenges we might face in the near future, whether it is pandemic, natural disasters, and man-made situations, including budget cuts, the CCP will continue to champion a thriving local creative industry that respects tradition, spurs innovation, increases social awareness, and enriches the Philippine national brand,” said Junia.

Living Laurels 2024
Arts Visionary & Local Artisan Showcase Award

The CCP also received The Arts Visionary and Local Artisan Showcase Award for one of its most-anticipated festivals, the Virgin Labfest. The award was given to organizations that promote emerging local artists and craftsmen who have created outstanding and notable pieces.

Twenty years since it was launched, the VLF serves as a laboratory and experimental stage for untried, unstaged, and untested one-act plays written by up-and-coming playwrights from different regions.

“From putting the spotlight on Filipino playwrights, VLF also becomes a safe space for directors, actors, stage managers, and technical crew who come together to bring ‘virgin’ one-act plays to audiences. From a one-week run, it grew to a three-week festival featuring 12 new plays and 3 revisited plays. Together with the Writers’ Bloc and CCP resident theater company Tanghalang Pilipino, we are proud of how far the VLF has come. Many of the playwrights who have been featured in VLF have become some of our country’s better-known playwrights, and award winners,” shared CCP artistic director Dennis N. Marasigan.

The Living Laurels Awards also recognized other organizations in different categories such as Digital Transformation Excellence Award, Sustainable Lifestyle Champion Award, Mental Health and Wellness Advocate, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award, Innovative Health and Fitness Solutions Award, Hybrid Work-Life Integration Awards, Creative Culinary Excellence Award, Jake Macasaet Legacy Award, Joy Delos Reyes Community Impact Award, Pocholo Romualdez Media Excellence Award, and Che Francisco PR Excellence Award.

Metrobank Foundation Inc.'s Partner in Empowerment,
Advocacy and Commitment to Excellence (PEACE) Awars

CCP also received recognition from the Metrobank Foundation Inc. for being a Partner in Empowerment, Advocacy and Commitment to Excellence (PEACE). This award is presented every five years to recognize partners that have collaborated impactfully with MBFI in its mission of uplifting the lives of the most vulnerable and underserved sectors in Philippine society.

“We dedicate these awards to the people who worked hard and diligently during the most turbulent time in recent years, and for the Filipino people who have supported the CCP through the years,” concluded Junia during one of the award ceremonies.

For updates on CCP’s events and productions, follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram and Tiktok. You can also watch CCP digital contents on the CCP YouTube Channel.

Purple Power: CCP celebrates National Women's Month with facade lighting

CCP Main Building
Photo ©Rodel Valiente

The Cultural Center of the Philippines lights up the Tanghalang Pambasan (CCP Main Building), the Bamboo Pavilion at Liwasang Kalikhasan, and the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater) in purple to celebrate the National Women’s Month this March.

Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez
Photo ©Rodel Valiente

Designed by Camille Balistoy and Jericho Pagana, executed by the Production Design and Technical Services Division under the Production and Exhibition Department, the façade lighting is the leading art institution’s way of recognizing the Filipino women’s contribution to nation-building and putting the spotlight on their accomplishments.

Liwasang Kalikasan
Photo ©Rodel Valiente

Through its various programs and projects, the CCP advocates women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Pasinaya Feature: Art Advances in Tagum City Despite the Calamity

Children, artists, and other participating groups together at an evacuation center
in Barangay San Miguel

True to its theme "Sulong", Pasinaya: The CCP Open House Festival forged ahead and pushed through with its regional edition in Tagum City on February 3 to 6, 2024 despite the heavy rains and floods that hit the Davao region in recent times.

Everyone gathers at the Opening Program of Pasinaya sa Tagum City
held at the Tagum City Historical and Cultural Center

With safety as the top priority, CCP Pasinaya 2024 gathered more than 300 artists, performing groups, production staff, and Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) representatives from Luzon, National Capital Region, Visayas and Mindanao and continued with its four-day festival programming.

Audiences watch a performance at an evacuation center
in the Municipality of Dujali, Davao del Norte

While the three venues, namely, Tagum City Historical & Cultural Center, City Hall Atrium, and Meditation Center, became inaccessible to the public, the production managers and organizers decided to bring the festival and various performances to flood victims at the four evacuation centers in Barangay San Miguel, Bingkungan, Cuambogan and Mangkilam, including the Tagum City Cathedral.

Crowds watch a group perform at an evacuation center in Barangay Bingkungan

Audiences admire the performance of a group at an evacuation center
in Barangay Bingkungan

Although most of the activities and shows did not push through, the warm response and smiles of the evacuees made the CCP Pasinaya in Tagum even more meaningful.

CCP's cultural exchange and outreach continue through its Ugnayan sa Sining Visayas
collab production "Hinablon" in the Municipality of Asuncion, Davao del Norte

The regional performing groups under the CCP Ugnayan sa Sining Visayas and Mindanao presented their original performances of Hinablon: Threads of Visayan Creativity and Bunnal: Breaking New Grounds for Mindanao for Davaoeños in the municipalities of Asuncion and Dujali, Davao de Oro on February 6. The various art forms of dance, music, drama, and visual arts including the KSS collaborative mural paintings under beam posts of the Tagum City flyover served as inspiration and call to the Tagumeños, Davaoeños and the public on the importance of intense conservation of nature and propagation of art and culture.

Audiences watch a performance at an evacuation center
in the Municipality of Asuncion, Davao de Oro

CCP extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the artists and performing groups who participated in the first Mindanao edition of CCP Pasinaya in Tagum City. The Kaisa sa Sining visual artists from Luzon included: Marlin Lopez (Nueva Vizcaya), Brendale A. Tadeo (Zambales), Tristan Bamba (Mauban, Quezon), Carlo Dimaano (Laguna), Johnley Mayorga (Marinduque), Salvador Ching, facilitator (Bulacan), Roen Capule, facilitator (Bulacan), Jonathan Carpio, facilitator (Bulacan).

A Collaborative Mural painting by KSS visual artists on a beam post
under the Tagum City flyover

Kaisa sa Sining visual artists pose with one of the collaborative mural paintings
on a beam post under the Tagum City flyover

Visual artists from Visayas who also joined were Lloyd Develos (Roxas City, Capiz), Brent Naranja (Murcia, Negros Occidental), Engelbert G. Ramirez (Himamaylan City), Efraim Alfaras (Iloilo City). The Mindanao visual artists were Sarsalem Malekysu (General Santos City), Xyla Sumalinog (Tagum City), Ejay Que Doronio (Tagum City), Reymart Ursabia (Tagum City), Ruben Langamen (Tagum City), Lestine Sarillana (Tagum City), Maegz Ordoña (Tagum City), Jamedith Abuan (Tagum City).

Kids and adults watch a performance at an evacuation center
in Barangay San Miguel

The following performing groups from Luzon also participated: Ari Tau Folkloric Society (Nueva Vizcaya), Bataeno Lahing Magigiting Vocal Ensemble (Bataan High School for the Arts), Likhang Sining Dance Company (Batangas City), Pundaquit Virtuosi (Zambales).

A group performs before audiences at an evacuation center
in Barangay Bingkungan

RMMC Sinag-Laya enthralls audiences at an evacuation center
in Barangay Bingkungan

Four groups from the Visayas joined as well, namely the Iloilo National High School (Iloilo City), Leyte Dance Theater (Tacloban City), Kasing Sining (Bohol), Kultura De Artes (Himamaylan City), Mandaue Children & Youth Chorus (Mandaue, Cebu).

The University of Mindanao Chorale performs at the Tagum City Cathedral

There were a number of performing groups from Mindanao - AORNHS Rondalla (Maco, Davao de Oro), Kathara Dance Theater Collective (Davao City), Kaliwat Performing Arts Collective (Davao City), University of Mindanao Chorale (Davao City), RMMC Sinag Laya (General Santos City), RMMC Teatro Ambahanon (General Santos City), Mindanao Hiphop Collective (General Santos City), MSU Tambuli Cultural Dance Troupe (Tawi Tawi), MSU Sining Kambayoka Ensemble (Marawi City), MSU Sining Kandidilimudan Ensemble (Maguindanao), Mandayanayaw (Tagum City).

Kids interact with members of a performing group at an evacuation center
in Barangay Cuambogan

The CCP Cultural Exchange Department (CED), in collaboration with the Tagum City local government, the Tourism and Cultural Office, the Musikahan sa Tagum Foundation, and the Tagum City Council of Women Foundation, managed all the activities for the KSS general assembly and CCP Pasinaya in Tagum City and neighboring communities. The CCP sends its appreciation to all volunteers and production-technical staff from Tagum, Ozamiz, Iligan, General Santos, and Agusan del Sur.

CCP Outreach Program Feature: CCP Continues to widen its stage in the regions

CCP President Ad Interim Michelle Nikki Junia 

The main building may remain asleep, but the shows must go on.

For CCP President Michelle Nikki Junia, the people do not need to go to Manila to experience world-class productions and training because the Cultural Center of the Philippines endeavors to bring the best of Philippine culture and arts closer to all Filipino people in the regions.

The CCP Office of the President's Outreach Program has its calendar full of concerts featuring the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, and Kabataang Guitarista, with select guest performers. While the CCP Main Building remains closed due to the ongoing rehabilitation, CCP intensifies its outreach programs and events, reaching as far as Tawi-Tawi, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon in the south, and Nueva Ecija in the north.

Herminigildo Ranera and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra 

“Our outreach programs help us connect with our kababayan in the regions, and also learn what are the cultural and artistic needs of the locals. In this way, the CCP can expand its artistic programming to address the gaps and needs," said Junia during the media briefing held in Iloilo City.

Junia stated how the outreach activities help discover the type of support a region needs and create cultural exchanges and artistic collaborations among artists from different localities.

For many years, the leading institution for the culture and arts has been widening the stage for Filipino artists and audiences. She observed that some existing musicians from the far regions have limited access to proper training and mentors, and this is where the CCP comes in by providing free, convenient, and accessible masterclasses in every town and province the PPO sets foot on.

CCP President Ad Interim Michelle Nikki Junia 

"The outreach events are not just about performances. Take, for example, the PPO outreach concert in Iloilo. We incorporate educational components such as masterclasses by the PPO’s resident conductor, Maestro Herminigildo Ranera. We also have concerts where the members of the orchestra teach interested young Filipinos about musical instruments. This is our way to educate the public about the value of classical music,” said Junia.

Following its mandate to nurture the next generation of young artists, the CCP president believes there are so many undiscovered talents in the regions and that the CCP president hopes to provide them with opportunities and equip them with skills through the various training and upskilling programs that the center offers.

Bringing these programs and concerts to the regions is only possible through good collaborations with provincial and local government units, as well as support from the executive and legislative branches of the government.

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in Iloilo City

"We are happy to have our Senators backing up our outreach programs. We are also grateful to our LGU partners. Our CCP network and community have been growing, thanks to these partnerships and support. We don’t want this to be just a short-term relationship. We want it to be a long-term, sustainable collaboration. We hope to gain more support from more and more government units. Our wish is to bring CCP programs to all the towns and provinces in our country, especially in the far-flung areas," said Junia.

The CCP Office of the President Outreach Program kicked off with a back-to-back concert of the PPO in Iloilo City, in celebration of the Dinagyang Festival, and in Roxas City, Capiz. The country’s premiere orchestra enchanted both the Iloilo and Roxas crowds with classical and contemporary music. Singers Gian Magdangal and Lara Maigue serenaded the audiences with well-loved Filipino music.

"We hope to see you at the next leg of our outreach concerts. We will be in Palawan for Prinsipeng Bahaghari performances, and Cavite for some classical concerts this February. I found fulfillment in seeing our fellow Filipinos, singing along, and enjoying the music. These are precious moments I shared with the artists performing, and with the audiences," shared Junia.

Audience members take a photo with CCP President Ad Interim Michelle Nikki Junia 

The CCP Outreach Concerts will be at Palawan (February 23), Carmona, Cavite (February 28), Silang, Cavite (March 22), Bukidnon (April 12), Tacloban and Calbayog (April 26 to 30), San Pedro, Laguna with Madrigal and Kabataang Gitarista (May 3), Binan, Laguna (May 25 to 27), Tawi-Tawi with Madrigal Singers (August 4), Cagayan de Oro through Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (August 15 to 19), Munoz, Nueva Ecija (December 9), and San Agustin Church in Manila (December 18).

For more updates, follow the CCP's official social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Himig Himbing lullabies at Pasinaya in Libya

The Cultural Center of the Philippines was not kidding when it said that it is keen on expanding the Pasinaya beyond the CCP Complex. And expand it did with the second edition of Pasinaya sa Libya 2024 happening this February 16, 2024 at the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli, Libya.

Presented by the CCP and the Philippine Embassy in Libya, Pasinaya sa Libya 2024 will be headlined by the screening of Himig Himbing: Mga Heleng Atin, a collection of music videos of folk and indigenous lullabies that have been recently recorded. A talkback with ethnomusicologist Sol Trinidad and musical director Krina Cayabyab is scheduled after the screening.

Pasinaya sa Libya 2024 will also feature an art exhibit with works by Ed Parrocha and other performances.

More details can be found at the press release reprinted below.

CCP PASINAYA BRINGS FILIPINO LULLABIES TO LIBYA

For two years now, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Embassy in Libya have partnered to celebrate the National Arts Month with the Pasinaya sa Libya, an abridged version of the largest multi-arts festival organized by the premiere arts institution in the Philippines. Through Pasinaya sa Libya, the Philippine Embassy aims to reintroduce Philippine arts and culture to the Filipino community in Libya, as well as promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. Pasinaya in Libya will be happening on February 16, 2024.

This year, CCP and the Philippine Embassy present “Himig Himbing: Mga Heleng Atin” music videos, featuring the modern interpretations of Philippine folk lullabies. A project by the CCP Arts Education Department, “Himig Himbing: Mga Heleng Atin” aims to reintroduce the Philippine indigenous lullabies to contemporary audiences and develop nurturers that are grounded in our Philippine songs and hele. Last year, selected Cinemalaya short films were screened during Pasinaya in Libya.

"We are happy to continue the partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Libya to keep the Philippines' arts and cultures alive in the hearts of our kababayans living outside their home country. I'm sure some grew up hearing these lullabies from your parents and guardians. If you are not familiar with these heles, this is a good opportunity to learn about our lullabies. We have so many heart-touching lullabies we should preserve and promote. We don't want the younger generation to not experience them. We don't want these lullabies to be forgotten," said CCP president ad interim Michelle Nikki Junia.

After the screenings, there will be a talkback with ethnomusicologist Sol Trinidad, whose research became the basis of the project, and musical director Krina Cayabyab, who did the modern musical arrangements of the featured lullabies. They will share their knowledge on Philippine lullabies, and explain the importance of preserving these Filipino lullabies.

Aside from the film screening, there are other events everyone can participate in. An art exhibit opens at 10am which will feature works of Ed Parrocha, followed by a series of performances at 2pm.

For its 2024 edition, the CCP Pasinaya attracted and drew over 50,632 audience count, with 44,115 from the CCP Complex and partner museums, 1232 in Circuit Makati, 656 in Iloilo City, and 4629 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. This was the first time that the CCP Pasinaya went beyond the complex and into the regions. The management hopes to bring CCP Pasinaya to every regions in the country, and even in other countries where there are Filipino communities.

Interested participants may register here: https://bit.ly/PasinayaSaLibya2024. Follow the official CCP social media pages on Facebook, X, Instagram and Tiktok for more updates.

CCP unveils 2024 programs, updates main building rehabilitation progress

Engr. Ponterras, VP for Finance and Administration Jay Gaite,
CCP President Ad Interim Michelle Nikki Junia,
CCP Vice Chairman Margie Moran-Floirendo,
and CCP Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan

A little over a year has passed since the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Main Building closed its doors for a major rehabilitation projected to last for three years. Since then, various locations have served as venues for programs of the CCP and its resident companies.

As of January 2024, the rehabilitation is at 30% completion, which is right on track and expected to speed up in tine for the expected reopening of the CCP Main Building by 2026.

The CCP programs didn't slow down last year and this year is no exception. A general overview of the 2024 performance calendar was bared at the recent CCP Institutional Press Conference held at the Liwasang Kalikhasan’s Bamboo Pavilion, a newly erected structure that was the venue for last year's Simbang Gabi.

Headlining the 2024 calendar are the festivals namely Pasinaya (that just happened over the weekend), Virgin Labfest, Cinemalaya, and the returning Children's Biennale. As of now, the venue for Cinemalaya is still under negotiation.

Shiela Valderrama-Martinez and Arman Ferrer

Another flagship project for this year is the Baraptasan happening on April 6, 2024, the centennial of the first ever balagtasan. This Kanto Kultura project will be held at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium.

Reloaded for 2024 are Triple Threats featuring Leading Ladies, the Met Opera Live in HD, CCP Cine Icons, CCP Out of the Box, and CCP National Theatre Live. Announced to be headlining her own Triple Threats concert is Shiela Valderrama-Martinez. An opera adaptation of Karnal by Jed Balsamo (music) and Dennis Marasigan (libretto) will have its world premiere as part of the CCP Out of the Box series. Last year's breakout hit, the CCP National Theatre Live, has already recouped its investment with a handful of screenings still remaining in its inaugural season.

The CCP's resident companies namely Ballet Philippines, Bayanihan The National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines, National Music Competitions for Young Artists, Philippine Ballet Theatre, Philippine Madrigal Singers, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, and Tanghalang Pilipino, still have their respective seasons/performances lined up this year.

Margarita Roco

Outreach activities, digital access, and arts education programs will also continue.

More details can be read in the press release below.

CCP FORGES AHEAD IN 2024 WITH EXPANDED FESTIVALS, RELOADED PROGRAMS AMID ONGOING REHABILITATION OF MAIN BUILDING

Even with the on-going rehabilitation of its Main Building, the Cultural Center of the Philippines forges ahead and moves forward this 2024 with more relevant artistic programming that reinforces arts education and appreciation among the publics and embodies values of katotohanan (truth), kagandahan (beauty) and kabutihan (goodness).

“This year, the CCP heralds another year of firsts and of good old reliable programming, celebrating and advancing the unique creativity of our people and culture,” said CCP vice-chair Margie Moran-Floirendo during the CCP Institutional Press Conference held recently at the Liwasang Kalikhasan’s Bamboo Pavilion.

For 2024, it will be business as usual with CCP’s biggest project to date – the rehabilitation of the iconic Main Building. In 2023, the CCP announced the closure of its Main Building to give way to rehabilitation.

REHABILITATING THE CCP MAIN BUILDING

The rehabilitation has been underway since January 2023. The rehabilitation project emanated from the building audit the CCP did from 2018 to 2019. The findings from the audit necessitated that the 55-year-old building needed more than its usual maintenance.

What the audit findings saw were the apparent wear and tear due to the building’s old age. But the deterioration seems much worse beneath the surface, although the foundation of the building remains strong.

“As we all know, CCP is the work of our National Artist Leandro Locsin. We can’t just overhaul the whole building. It has been a delicate balancing act of preserving the design and modernizing the building to keep up with the time,” said CCP president ad interim Michelle Nikki Junia.

Repairing the damages is a very tedious process. Because these structural works redefine the structural integrity of the building for the next 50 years, the construction has been very meticulous.

For the Phase One of the rehabilitation, the CCP engineers, the construction firm and hired consultants have been doing structural retrofitting following the 2015 building code standards while adopting sustainable options.

The Phase One centers on modernizing structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical features. Phase Two will simultaneously happen with Phase One, once the structural works are done. Phase Two focuses on mechanical and technical capacities of the theaters.

As of January 2024, the rehabilitation is about 30 per cent completion. With all the consultants already onboard, the CCP expects that the work would speed up.

“We project full completion by 2025. The Main Building and its theaters will definitely open by 2026, welcoming everyone to its theaters with new productions and programs befitting the call of the time,” said Junia.

CONTINUING TO BRING THE BEST PERFORMANCES TO THE PUBLICS

Despite the rehabilitation work on the Tanghalang Pambansa, the CCP forges ahead with a full-year of artistic programs and projects, led by its artistic director Dennis Marasigan.

“For 2024, we are targeting to produce 765 events, ranging from performances, screenings, exhibits and workshops both onsite, off-site, and online. We hope to reach over 200,000 onsite viewers, and engage over 6000 artists. For our workshops, we hope they can benefit 16,000 participants,” shared Marasigan.

Well-loved festivals such as CCP Pasinaya, Virgin Labfest, Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will continue to provide unique artistic and cultural experiences, with expanded reach to the regions. Expect captivating seasons from the resident companies such as Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Philippine Ballet Theater, Bayanihan The National Dance Company, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Ballet Philippines, and Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, among others.

Popular film programs such as CCP’s The Met Live in HD, National Theater Live, Cine Icons, Cinema Under the Stars and Lakbay Sine will give unique cinematic experience and truthful storytelling. The CCP Out-of-the-Box Series continues with its second edition, while Triple Threats returns with Leading Ladies concerts.

After two years, the CCP Children’s Biennale with its colorful and edu-tainment offerings for children aimed to open their eyes to the diversity of Philippine arts, indigenous cultures, and natural environment. The children’s festival aims to develop their curiosity at no charge through interactive art installations, educational film and play screenings, creative workshops, children’s book fairs, and other activities.

CCP BOT-initiated program Kanto Kultura takes flight once again with Baraptasan, a modern take on the Balagtasan, in celebration of the centenary of Francisco Balagtas Baltazar. The Baraptasan will feature literary jousting in Filipino, Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Ilokano. Kanto Kultural aims to bring arts in any of its forms to different kanto all over the country.

“CCP is not just about performances and shows. We are proud of our arts education programs that nurture the next generation of artists and the audiences who will support their work through training, exposure and audience development activities,” said Marasigan.

This year, the CCP celebrates 45 years of bringing outreach programs to the regions and to the world. Through exchange programs with various organizations and institutions, the CCP provides glimpses of the Philippine cultures and becomes conduit for cultural exchanges across the regions and to different countries.

“This year, we are intensifying our presence in the regions, creating new partners with LGUs and cultural organizations, collaborating with as many artists as we can, and producing shows in alternative performing spaces and venues across the country,” said Marasigan.

This year, CCP will roll out the National Performing Companies (NPAC). Applications are now on-going to find the best national performing companies in Dance, Theater, Orchestra, Choral, and Indigenous Performing Ensemble. The NPAC program is a massive boost to the creative industry by conferring national status and providing significant funding to deserving non-government performing arts companies.

Indeed, CCP will have a tighter, busier artistic calendar, with more and more production that would provide livelihood to artists, cultural workers, and technical crews, which in turn would help the creative industry and lead to national development, while keeping the creative spirit of the Filipino alive.

Pasinaya 2024 expands with Circuit Makati, FDCP Iloilo as new venues

The Cultural Center of the Philippines' Main Building might be out of commission for the Pasinaya: The CCP Open House Festival for the second consecutive year, but it doesn't mean that there is less to explore.

In fact, Circuit Makati's Power Mac Spotlight Blackbox Theater and Activity Center as well as The Film Development Council of the Philippines' Cinematheque in Iloilo have joined the Pasinaya as new venues.

Additional details about the new venues and more information can be ready below.

CIRCUIT MAKATI AND FDCP CINEMATHEQUES JOIN CCP PASINAYA 2024

Supporting Filipino artists and cultural groups since 2005, Pasinaya: The CCP Open House Festival gets bigger and better for its 20th year with additional venues in Tagum, Davao Del Norte, Iloilo City, Circuit Makati and the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) Cinematheque Centre in Iloilo joining this year’s edition.

“This new development just came in. After the Pasinaya in 2023, Tagum City offered to host a version of our multi-arts festival. We thought it was a good way to expand our reach and engage our kababayan from Davao del Norte and neighboring MIndanaoan provinces and towns,” shared CCP president Michelle Nikki Junia.

Thanks to the Cultural Outreach Department, through its Kaisa sa Sining program, the partnership pushed through.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Iloilo City joined the festival This was the fruit of the partnership with the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Arts (ILOMOCA), which hosted one of CCP touring exhibits featuring the 21AM Collection.

And while the CCP has been busy organizing the whole festival in January 2024, Circuit Makati and FDCP Iloilo got on board and shared their interest to be part of the country’s largest multi-arts festival this year.

“This is definitely a welcome development. We welcome all partnerships so that we can engage as many artists as we can, and reach more and more audiences. We hope this will eventually develop progressively where we can have Pasinaya in different regions, in various performing spaces throughout the country,” said CCP artistic director Dennis Marasigan.

This year, Pasinaya will be simultaneously held at the CCP Complex, 14 museum and gallery partners around Metro Manila, FDCP Cinematheque in Manila and Iloilo, the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Arts in Iloilo City, and Tagum City, Davao del Norte on February 3 and 4, 2024. Pasinaya activities in Circuit Makati (Power Mac Spotlight Blackbox Theater and Activity Center) will be held on February 4.

Since 2005, the Pasinaya has become a safe space for artists and cultural groups to showcase their talents while being a nurturing platform for art education and appreciation for the audiences through hundreds of free shows, workshops, and other activities in music, theater, dance, visual arts, film, and literature to choose from.

With its experience-all-you-can, pay-what-you-can scheme, participants may go in and out of the different CCP venues to join 30-minute workshops in various art disciplines conducted by leading artists, resource persons, and teachers, or watch as many shows, screenings, and activities as they can.

In 2023, audience counts reached 37,888 – 12,055 participated in 43 Palihan workshops, 24,482 watched 101 Palabas shows (58 at the CCP Complex, and 43 in partner museums/galleries), and 1,236 enjoyed the Paseo Museo tours in 13 museums and galleries. Total donations amounted to Php 253,514.

With the added venues inside and outside the capital city, the CCP foresees increasing its last year’s audience count of 37,888 significantly. Following the theme “Sulong,” Pasinaya has certainly been making big moves, and it will keep on moving forward in the next 20 years and beyond.

Follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok for the latest updates on CCP Pasinaya: Sulong.

Pasinaya Feature: Art as Food for the Soul

Pasinaya 2023 Technical Crew

For veteran stage managers Renz Sevilla, Ching Danseco, Roldan Espino, and Richard Eusebio, working on the stage management of Pasinaya: The CCP Open House Festival does not only bring joy to their lives, but it satisfies their soul and sustains it as well.

“Through time, magiging panata ‘yan. You have to be here because you have to pay back for all the good things na binigay [sa amin] ng Sentro,” said seasoned stage manager and designer Sevilla, who works as a carpenter and farmer when he’s not doing production work.

Eusebio, who was also a former folk dancer, currently works in a cruise ship but always makes sure to volunteer in Pasinaya every time he comes home.

Espino, meanwhile, finds joy in working in Pasinaya. A full-time fireman, he started his Pasinaya journey in 2017 and never stopped since then. He also does stage work in various CCP events through the years. “Basta bukal sa puso mo at masaya ka sa ginagawa mo, ipagpatuloy mo lang.”

Pasinaya 2023 Opening Ceremony

Danseco reminisced of how they volunteered to do Pasinaya, with just shirts as payment. “Walang bayad noon – t-shirt lang. Ngayon, kahit kaunti meron na kaming natatanggap. Pero hindi pera ‘yung naging driving force para sumali kami sa Pasinaya. Kasi it’s food for the soul of the stage manager,” enthused Danseco who is a former folk dancer.

As Sevilla and his fellow veteran stage managers saw this as a stepping stone for their credentials to flourish, they did not mind the lack of monetary compensation.

“Sa simula, pumasok kami ng Pasinaya for the experience, for the feel kung ano bang nangyayari sa Pasinaya. As years go by, gaya ng pag dumating ka na sa ganitong edad, having served years working in Pasinaya, magkakaroon ka na ng sense of devotion,” said Sevilla.

As stage managers, they handle more or less everything. May it be in the creative or technical department, they oversee sets, props, lights, and sound; while calling all technical cues during performances. With the many hats they wear, the challenges they face as stage managers only serve to keep their passion for their work burning.

Video Editor Ian Wong, Deputy Festival Director Ariel Yonzon, and the production crew

“Hindi mo mararamdaman ‘yung pagod, talagang mag-eenjoy ka kahit na kulang ka sa tulog at pagod,” said Espino.

Danseco sees this as an eye-opener for the young volunteers. “It’s an experience, yes, but it is also a huge challenge and a huge responsibility, lalo na dahil marami kang hawak na performing groups,” he said.

In 2023, there was a grand total of 150 shows which featured more than 3,000 artists from different art fields. As an open house festival, Pasinaya welcomes people from all walks of life to foster art appreciation not only through countless performances, screenings, and other art activities, but also through 30-minute workshops in various art disciplines conducted by leading artists, resource persons, and teachers.

“Para ka na ring nag-aral in two days,” said Sevilla, who encourages future Pasinaya attendees to watch all the shows and join all the workshops they can. “Ang dami mong matututunan, ang dami mong mae-experience, ang dami mong inspiration na makukuha out of the things you see in Pasinaya.”

Stage Manager Ching Danseco

Since 2005, the Pasinaya has become a safe space for artists and cultural groups to showcase their talents while being a nurturing platform for art education and appreciation for the audiences through interactions and performances.

Pasinaya boasts of over a hundred free shows, workshops, and other activities in music, theater, dance, visual arts, film, and literature to choose from. It is also widely known to pool hundreds of volunteer artists, stagehands, technical crew, and other cultural workers to make the entire festival possible.

This year, for the first time ever, the country’s biggest multi-arts festival will go beyond the capital city and spread its wings to Visayas and Mindanao on February 3 and 4, 2024.

“It’s a great opportunity for a family to gather together kasi hindi lang siya nagka-cater sa bata, sa matanda, o sa magulang – lahat kina-cater niya,” said Danseco.

Stage Manager Renz Sevilla

Eusebio hopes for more young volunteers to try stage management since the vocation also champions the Philippines and its cultures. “Kailangang marami pa tayong maproduce na stage managers – hindi para mag-abroad, kundi para mabigyan natin ng daan ang local artists natin para umunlad.”

Following the theme “Sulong,” the country’s largest multi-arts festival returns on a grander scale with more artistic and cultural offerings in its 20th year. Pasinaya will simultaneously happen at the CCP Complex and its partner museums, the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Arts in Iloilo City, and Tagum City, Davao del Norte on February 3 and 4, 2024, moving forward to promote art as food for everyone’s soul.