ccp press releases...

ARTIST MUSICIAN VINTY LAVA HOLDS 1ST SOLO EXHIBIT AT THE CCP

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) presents the first solo exhibition of artist and musician Vinty Lava. Entitled Yellow Green Sound Town,the exhibit opens on October 7, 6 p.m. at the CCP’s Bulwagang Fernando Amorsolo (Small Gallery).

In Yellow Green Sound Town, Vinty Lava’s fictive reimagining of plot characters is spawned from the repository of music used for his videos. He investigates the evocative power of sound to entwine locations with notes, seasons to rhythm, and people to the encompassing musical tone. His video installations simulate the fictional world he wants his viewers to immerse in. Inversely, some of the images he uses are amalgamations of the two-dimensional characters he introduces in his paintings. This allows him to retain the subliminal dimension of music and provides the audience with the participatory role of interpreting the images and sound independently.

Lava will also be giving an artist talk on 19 October, Wednesday, 4pm, at the CCP’s MKP Hall. Yellow Green Sound Town will be on view until 20 November 2016. Exhibit viewing hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-6pm. For more information, contact the Visual Arts & Museum Division, Production & Exhibition Department at landlines (632) 8321125 local 1504/1505, or (632) 8323702, mobile (0917) 6033809, email ccp.exhibits@gmail.com, or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph. ####

PPO YOUTH CONCERT AT CCP

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura, holds a youth concert on September 29, 2016 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) at 1:00 pm. Soloist is violinist Dino Akira Decena and Posh Debelos is the narrator.

Program includes Franz von Suppe’s “Light Cavalry Overture”, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nacht Musik”, Felix Mendelssohn’s “Violine Concerto in e minor”, Leroy Anderson’s “Bugler's Holiday” and “Syncopated Clock”, and Aram Khachaturian’s “Waltz, Romance, Galop” from "Masquerade suite".

For more information, call the PPO Office at 832-1125 loc. 1609/1613.

CCP OUTREACH BRINGS “PANAGHABI” TO VISAYAS

AFTER its successful community tours and exchanges in Luzon and Mindanao last 2014-2015, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Outreach Program under the Cultural Exchange Department (CED) brings to Visayas a Mindanao collaborative production entitled “PANAGHABI: Weaving Mindanao’s Triumphs in Life” from September 30 to October 6, 2016 as part of its 2016 Ugnayan sa Sining Program.

Written and directed by Hobart Savior, Panaghabi showcases mythical and some mortal women, whose stories bestow the qualities of strength and fertility, sources, givers and takers of lives, mothers, nurturers of nature, and weavers of dreams, faiths, traditions and celebrations.  These women are Fu Dalu (T’boli), Mebuyan (Bagobo), Matabagka (Bukidnon), Potri Rainalaut (Meranao), Maguindanao and Subanen women.

Bayang Barrios plays the dream weaver.  She strings the present from the past and weaves the tapestry of a well-dreamt future.

The strings are played by the RMMC Teatro Ambahanon of General Santos City.

The local nuances of tone, timbre, sound, rhythm, melody, beat and harmony will be played by theMebuyan of Davao.

The Helobung Community Dance Troupe (Tboli’s of Lake Sebu) will perform their T’nalak Ritual Dance and Madal Tahaw in vignettes.

Kabpapagariya Ensemble of MSU-General Santos City will perform the Maguindanao’s Hope and Subanen vignette and the RMMC Teatro Ambahanon will perform distilled and deconstructed images of Potri Rainalaut and Matabagka.

Movement improvisations shall be played by select artists to include Felimon Blanco, Sunnie Noel and Jonaid Adam of the Sining Kambayoka Ensemble.

The Visayas outreach tour is made possible with the partnership and support of the Holy Name University Tagbilaran City, Province of Bohol, Central Philippine University (CPU) Iloilo City, Dinagyang Foundation, Department of Tourism (DOT) Region VI, Iloilo City Tourism & Development Office, Iloilo National High School and the National Commission for Culture & the Arts.  The performances will be held on October 1-2 at the Bohol Cultural Center (4pm & 6pm) and on October 5 (3:30pm & 7pm) at the CPU Rose Memorial Hall.

For more information, contact the CCP Cultural Exchange Department at 832-1125 locals 1708-1709.

lance raymundo, jobert sucaldito, adriana agacaoili, gerald santos and michael pangilinan gives all-out support for "full force: unite, ignite for 40"!

lance raymundo

michael pangilinan

gerald santos

adriana agcaoili

jobert sucaldito

Si Lance Raymundo ay naging malaking bahagi ng Gantimpala Theater Foundation nu'ng lumabas siya sa play na "Romeo & Juliet" (na nagkaroon ng more than 70 performances) at naging katambal niya dito si Adriana Agacaoili....

Si Jobert Sucaldito ay naging very active sa Gantimpala last year nu'ng gumanap ang alaga niyang si Michael Pangilinan sa "Kanser@35: The Musical" bilang si Crisostomo Ibarra.

Si Gerald Santos ay lumabas na Dr. Jose Rizal sa huling play na idinirek ng yumaong si Tony Espejo- ang play na "Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal?"....

Lahat sila, napamahal na sa Gantimpala Theater Foundation. At lahat rin sila, magbibigay ng all-out support sa darating na benefit show ng Gantimpla Theater Foundation sa The Library music bar- na pinamagatang "FULL FORCE: UNITE, IGNITE FOR 40".

Ang kikitain ng nasabing benefit show ay ilalaan sa mga future projects ng GTF (Gantimpala Theater Foundation) at tutulungan din nila si direk Soxie Topacio (na naging malaking kaparte rin ng Gantimpala) sa pagpapagaling nito ngayon sa kanyang karamdaman.

Magkakaroon ng tatlong shows sa The Library para sa nabanggit na event- Oct. 5, Oct. 12 and Oct. 19 sa ganap na ika-pito ng gabi.

Sina Lance at Adriana ay magkakaroon ng isang segment na kung saan ay sila ang magiging hosts. Aawit rin sila pareho.

Si Gerald Santos ay nangakong aawit sa dalawang shows- sa Oct. 5 and Oct. 12....

At siyempre, pahuhuli ba naman sina Jobert at Michael? Si Michael, siyempre, aawit din. At si Jobert, magkakaroon din ng isang segment na siya ay magho-host.

Bale reunion na rin ito ng lahat ng Gantimpala theater artists magmula pa nuong ito'y buksan 40 years ago. Magkakaroon rin sila ng very special tribute to direk Tony Espejo (r.i.p.) na siyang naging Founder ng very prestigious na theater group na ito.

May mga audio visuals presentation or A.V.P.'s na tinatawag culminating the achievements and legacy of GTF.

Excitting, di ba? Kaya makisali na. Makinood at muling damhin ang kahalagaan ng performing arts sa ating bansa!!!


(sinulat ni robert silverio)

RUN AND CHASE AFTER THE LIVING COLD (a rave review for the film- "ang babaeng humayo")

Horacia (what a familiar name!---r.s.*) was a woman that Fate has twisted. A woman who suffered much and loved greatly. A soul, so strong enough not to be curved by the wind or swallowed by the many storms and hurricanes... A spirit unforgotten, undefeated.... and unbroken.

Horacia was the only woman left standing, and in the film "Ang Babaeng Humayo", she's the all-woman there, and her story was uniquely told in captivating words, picturesque scenery, subtle emotions, fits of angers, prolonged artistry and frame-like stills.

It dwelt more on the moment she left the prison and embraced anew her past. But what could be more saddening was the fact that the only man she loved was already dead when she came back to a town in which they bore their two kids. What could be more painful to discover that there was already no life there, and her son missing. How could she ever start again?

The only thing left was her daughter. But she didn't bring her along anymore to her new and more profound journey. It was a quest. It was a voyage. TO RUN AND CHASE AFTER THE LIVING COLD.

The coldness of this new rebirth did not eat her up. She needed to do something. She needed to seek some answers. And she wanted JUSTICE.

But somehow, her goodness overlapped everything- more so, her most evil plan of killing the man who was the cause of her life's twisted Fate. She was saved by her own angels whom she did help along the way. Because after much surveillance and careful planning, she was stopped by the series of events that went along the way. She saw the goodness of the people around her.

If not for Hollanda (the gay transvestite whom she rescued from a group gang rape) who suddenly appeared on her doorway, all-wounded and bloodied, she could have gone too far of shooting the man who made her go into prison. But Hollanda took her time as she nursed him and bonded with him in a drinking spree.

After a day or two, she discovered that the man she was planning to kill had already died. Shot by a gay transvestite. And that gay transvestite who shot the man was Hollanda.

And it was Hollanda's own way of thanking the woman who had helped her much. The only woman who was kind enough to care for a stranger like him.

The Woman Who Left had sought her justice, after all.

Superbly directed, edited, photographed and written by no less than Lav Diaz, the film was so memorable to cherish, penetrating deep within your muscles and any intellect of your choice. Yet, the movie has a SOUL. A kind of a woman's soul that would rock you further in a cradle until you fell asleep. A motherly soul who'd do everything for her family and for her friends.

Diaz certainly knew the psyche of a woman. And how amazing to feel, that a straight man like him could present a more "justifiable" character of a LGBT person. A more gentle way of looking at gay transvestites and their hearts. Thanks, Lav, for picturing "us" in a more honest and kinder way.

Diaz' style in film making could outrun the boundaries of time itself. His camera did not move in many of the solid scenes in the film "Ang Babeng Humayo". But the entities moved, cried, reached-out from within you. This was an approach that's so hard to deliver, and yet again, Diaz accomplished it.

Ms. Charo Santos-Concio as Horacia and later on, Renata in the film, was so genuine- her acting like a 24-karat-gold. But we loved her more in her tomboyish scenes and surveillance schemes- she did it so well that you'd feel you're almost there among her, participating in those dark streets of a seemingly eternal wait.

Her eyes could still speak, just like those eyes in her very first film "Itim" (her launching film in a not-so-forgotten-era). Amidst her Golden years, the sourness was much felt. And she tasted like a sweet wine hidden for centuries in a vault of forever. A true actress headed for more in the prime of her years.

The cast ensemble of this film did not act. It was THEM. Oh, my. It's the kind of style we've been wanting for a long time.


************************   ************************   ************************

People come and go. Places far and wide. Feelings kept and feelings opened....

But the most important thing is, a man had done his BEST. His very best!

Seeing actor John Lloyd Cruz in this magnifying and almost unending film was like seeing the boundaries of TIME and SPACE.

We never knew that John Lloyd could act that way and feel that way. For a staright person to feel a gay character, internalize it and project it properly with such a meaty angst and delicate concerns- WOW. John Lloyd was that kind of actor, indeed.

A thirst was quenched. Of seeing an actor portrayed a role so bravely and so greatly...

ONE could be

ONE

again....


JUST LIKE FOREVER.



(as the words were written by ROBERT MANUGUID SILVERIO)

john lloyd: eternal

charo: redeeming

lav: a wonder

"Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tag-araw": a mastery, a perfection from director carlitos siguion-reyna...

Four lovers switching partners under the spell of a bumbling imp, a fairy king and queen at war, a fascist ruler and his Amazon queen, an amateur play staged by workers including a weaver transformed into an ass—just your daily news stuff in a world gone mad: Tanghalang Pilipino's PANGARAP SA ISANG GABI NG GITNANG TAG-ARAW (A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM) by William Shakespeare. Three weekends (Fri-Sun) on Sept 30-Oct 16, CCP Tanghalang Batute.

Original English text blended with the Filipino translation by Rolando Tinio. Direction by Carlos Siguion-Reyna. Dramaturgy by Rodolfo Vera. Set Design by Toym Imao, Costume Design by James Reyes. Lighting Design by John Batalla. Sound and music by TJ Ramos.

Starring Audie Gemora, Liesl Batucan, Jackielou Blanco, Skyzx Labastilla, Teroy Guzman, Richard Cunanan, Jonathan Tad Tadioan, Lhorvie Ann Melendres Nuevo, JV Ibesate, Antonette Go, Marco Viaña, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Aldo Vencilao, Doray Dayao, Tope Kliatchko, Paw Castillo and the new Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company scholars (Ybes Bagadiong, Joshua Martin Tayco, Monique Nellas, Blanche Buhia, Eunice Pacia).

Photos by Jojo Mamangun.

For information and tickets, please call Tanghalang Pilipino Marketing Team at 8321125 local 1620 or 1621. Or Lorelei Celestino - 0908.894.1384 and Lay Copon - 0915.445.096
(reposted from Carlos Siguion Reyna)

CARLITOS: [ERFECTION IS HIS MASTER.

nakakapana-panabik na muling pagganap ni charo santos sa pelikula..., sa "ang babaeng humayo"!

cinema one executive ronald arguelles, john lloyd cruz, charo santos-concio, a female executive & direk lav diaz at 73rd venice international film fest

charo santos: overwhelming comeback

Mula pa nuong mapanood namin si Ms. Charo Santos, nuong fresh discovery pa lamang siya at ipinakilala sa pelikulang "Itim" ni Mike de Leon, isang tatak na TUNAY NA AKTRES na kaagad ang impresyong ibinigay niya sa lahat. Isang napakagandang panimula nuon para sa isang baguhang artista. Unang pelikula pa lamang niya iyon, AKTRES na agad ang bansag sa kanya. At isang Mike de Leon pa ang nag-direk.

Lumipas ang mga taon, mas lalo pa naming hinangaan si Charo Santos, sa mga pelikulang "Brutal", "Kakakabakaba Ka Ba?", "Kisapmata", "Hindi Mo Ako Kayang Tapakan", at iba pa. Pawang mga de-kalidad na pelikula, at masasabi mong ang panlasa ni Ms. Santos sa mga pelikulang gagawin niya ay KAKAIBA. With that, we could say na isa siyang hindi basta-bastang aktres at alagad ng sining.

After many years of hosting her TV show sa channel 2 na "Maalaala Mo Kaya?", finally, napapayag na rin si Ms. Santos na gumawa ng pelikula- an artistic break, far from her stressful hob as one of channel 2's executive heads. And we feel, it's high time for her to just that.

"Ang Babaeng Humayo" will have its opening day on Wednesday, September 28. At ito ang comeback film ni Ms. Charo Santos, sa direksyon ng napakagaling na si Lav Diaz. Kasama ni Ms. Santos sa pelikulang ito si John Lloyd cruz sa isang nakakagulat na papel!

Trailer pa lang ng pelikula, tumaas na ang balahibo namin. Napakaganda ng mga eksena sa trailer, and shot in very artistic "black & white" texture.

"ANG BABAENG HUMAYO" ay isang tunay na karagdagan sa pagka-artistiko ng bawat Pilipino. Panoorin!


(sinulat ni robert silverio)

lance raymundo in another land (a photo essay...)

LANCE RAYMUNDO IN ANOTHER LAND...

AN AURA OF INVISIBILITY AT YOUR HAND...

LIKE MAGIC, PURE MAGIC...

OF FEELINGS, THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS.


LANCE RAYMUNDO IN ANOTHER LAND...

TRAVEL FAR & WIDE

AND DESTINY'S AT YOUR HAND.


LANCE RAYMUNDO IN ANOTHER LAND...

HITS AND MISSES

SOMEONE STILL CARES...

WHEN YOU COME BACK.


(words by robert manuguid silverio, photos courtesy of mr. lance raymundo)

short q & a with direk joel lamangan, the artistic director of gantimpala theater foundation

direk joel: an untiring spirit for gantimpala theater foundation

(photo credits: MR. JOVITO BONITA, member of Gantimpala Theater Foundation)

ROBERT:  Direk Joel, what can you say about your forthcoming event at Gantimpala Theater Foundation entitled "Full Force: Unite, Ignite for Forty"?

JOEL: Maganda. I like it so much. The plan is good. It will revive former members of Gantimpala to be active again and do something for our theater group. Kaya excited talaga ako sa event na iyan. Sana, we can go on doing what we're doing. 

ROBERT: What will be your participation for this event, sir Joel?

JOEL: I will be one of the people who will talk on the program proper. I will give a very inspirational message to all our members. being the Artistic Director of Gantimpala, it's my duty to inspire and serve them. Na sana, umabot pa kami to the next 40 years, now that we have turned 40. I will talk to people on that event, personally talk to them one by one. I want to unite again all Gantimpala theater artists.

ROBERT: What can you say po, sir, about the late Tony Espejo who was the man behind Gantimpala?

JOEL: Tony Espejo is Tony Espejo. Siya ang ang nag-umpisa ng gantimpala Theater Foundation. I have witnessed all his hardships and great efforts to make Gantimpala one of the leading theater groups. No one can duplicate him.

ROBERT: Hindi ka po ba nahihirapan ngayon to continue what the late Tony Espejo left as a legacy of Gantimpala? It seems to be a great task handling and being the artistic director of this very prestigious theater group.

JOEL: All I can say is, be brave. I need to be brave. Pinangatawanan ko na ito. Itutuloy-tuloy ko na. But I am not someone who  walks with the same shoes as someone's... I am me. I have my own style. I have my own identity. I just hope, gantimpala will find its own place this time. Kaya bago na, iba na. Lalo na ang mundo ngayon ng teatro, there are more competitions coming-in. But I am confident enough that we will find our place under the sun.

ROBERT: Many are saying that the theater world now is coming fully alive and kicking, and I think Gantimpala will be able to soar higher this time, sir.

JOEL: Naisip ko din iyan. masigla nga ang mundo ngayon ng teatro. That's why I can not say no when people kept on giving me some needed moral support to save gantimpala. But the thing is, I can not be very secure this time. We need to be careful about everything. We need good marketing people to further help us with our plays.

ROBERT: In the final end, ano po talaga ang layunin ng Gantimpala? Ang malinis nitong instensyon para sa lahat?

JOEL: Ang gusto lang namin ay makapag-develop ng new playwrights. Yan ang adhikain noon ng the late Tony Espejo at itutuloy-tuloy ko 'yan. We will never get tired developing new theater artists. Dedikasyon na namin iyan sa Sining. Yan basically ang tunay na layunin ng Gantimpala Theater Foundation.

ROBERT: Maraming salamat po, direk.

JOEL: Maraming salamat din, Robert.

---- end of interview -----

LOYALIST REDUX: THE REVIEW

When a thirty-minute play managed to squeezed-in within your very soul three different dimensions of your senses, the result was truly satisfying.

It challenged your INTELLECT.

It titillated your FUNNY BONES.

And it revealed hidden EMOTIONS of love and anger.

You got ENTERTAINED, sculpted further your INTELLECT, and played-in with different set of your EMOTIONS.

It's like like watching a 3-D film, we could say.

The play was entitled LOYALIST REDUX, the first play in the first three sets of mini-plays in the currently-running NEVER AGAIN: VOICES OF MARTIAL LAW stage performances for the benefit of Bantayog Ng Mga Bayani, and produced by Ladies Who Launch.

The series of plays will run for four weekends, and yesterday (September 22), we managed to watch the very first play included in that event. "Loyalist Redux", written and directed by Kanakan Balintagos.

Alongside with the "3-D" effect, the play Loyalist Redux was greatly acted upon by the two lone characters of the play. The loyalist mom (performed so genuinely by Ms. Pinky Amador) and the artist-"yellow" son (performed by the very refreshing Kalil Almonte). 

Ms. Amador's stage movements and feminine clarity was so wonderful to look at on stage. She didn't simply spoke and delivered lines of emotions, but she moved, moved, moved.... along with the rhythm of the play. It's an accomplishment she didn't realize she was able to achieve.

While Kalil, as crisp as a Potato Chip, was smart in deliverance. His voice sounded well and good and his character of a young, idealistic 'leftist' artist was captivating to feel.

In between video clips of a certain Madame and her son and her husband, you'd laugh at the caricature of thoughts and wrong-doings they did for a country, but at the same time, you'd sympathize with the loyalty of one woman who loved them. Somehow, "both sides" were presented.

The direction of Kanakan Balintagos was endearing, pure, sublime. There's a "motherly" touch in it, and you'd feel caressed by the "hand that rocks the cradle" along the way.

Although the play was "subversive" in concept, it was the director's naturalness and dedication to the beauty of Art that made it one memorable play...


THAT WOULD LAST-

FOREVER.


(as written by robert manuguid silverio)

kanakan: "seeker of truth"

pinky: transforming

kalil: crisp and clear