SI LANCE, ANG HESUS NG AKING BUHAY, AT ANG SENAKULONG "MARTIR SA GOLGOTA"...

Lahat ng nangyayari sa mundong ito ay tunay namang may KADAHILANAN.

Kung bakit kung minsan, hindi natutuloy ang mga naka-plano nang mga bagay.

Kung bakit kung minsan, kailangang may mawala para malaman mong 'yung bagong darating, 'yun pala ang mas nararapat.

Kamakailan lamang, sa buhay ng ACTOR-SINGER na si Lance Raymundo, nangyari 'yung mga bagay na naka-iskedyul na sana, pero naatraso pa ang mga kaganapan.

KAYA NAMAN, may dahilan nga siguro kung bakit nangyari iyon.

Na, siguro, gusto pa rin ng ating Poong Hesukristo na si Lance Raymundo ang muling gumanap bilang si HESUS sa dulang MARTIR SA GOLGOTA ng Tanghalang Sta. Ana.

Na siguro uli, dahil sa nagampanan ni Lance ng makatarungan ang papel ni Hesus na ating Panginoon, sobrang natuwa ang Nasa Itaas, at gumawa Siya ng mga pangyayari para mabalam ang isang pelikulang nakatakda na sanang i-shoot ni Lance sa buwan na ito ng Marso.  (O, baka naman naka-karma lang 'yung direktor na nakatakda sanang magdirek ng pelikula? Hay, nagtatanong lang po. Question mark po iyan.---r.s.*)

Anupaman, talagang may dahilan ang bawat pangyayari, ang bawat bagay.

Maski nga ang paglaglag ng mga dahon sa isang puno, may dahilan iyon.

At tanging Diyos lamang ang nakakaalam.


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Hiling na lang namin sa mga taga-Tanghalang Sta. Ana, huwag naman sana silang ganu'n ka-suplado sa isang manunulat na bisita ng aktor na si Lance Raymundo.

Dahil maski ba si Lance ang may bisita dito, karapatan din nilang bigyan ito ng upuan kapag naroon na sa Plaza Hugo para saksihan ang pagsasanay nila, o dili kaya, huwag tatalikuran kapag kumakausap ng isang supladang STAFF nila.

Tahimik lang naman 'yung manunulat at uupo lang sa isang sulok. Pagkadaka'y lalapit lang kay Lance para kapanayamin ito, pagkatapos ay aalis na. Ganu'n lang. Pero huwag naman sana siyang tatalikuran na lang basta.



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Sabi nga ng contest sa Eat Bulaga na "Huwag Kang Judgemental", hindi mo basta-basta maidya-judge ang isang tao based lamang sa kasuotan niya, histura, asal, o impresyon. Baka nagkakamali ka.

Maso-sorpresa ka, hindi pala 'yung tao na 'yun ang nakikita mo sa kanya.

Dahil baka hindi mo rin alam, si HESUS na pala iyon na nagpapanggap lamang sa katawan ng ibang tao o nilalang.

Sapagkat si Hesus Ng Aking Buhay, ni kailanman ay hindi ako hinusgahan.

Ni kailanman ay hindi ako nilait.

Ni kailanman ay hindi ako tinalikuran.



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Salamat at may Tanghalang Sta. Ana pa rin na taon-taong pinapairal ang kaganapan ng buhay at mga sakripisyo ni Kristo ng ating Panginoon taon-taon sa masang Pinoy sa Plaza Hugo venue nila, at maging sa mga sosyal na tao sa Greenfield District venue naman nila.

Ang kanilang pagtatanghal ay LIBRE, walang bayad. Lahat ay inuukol lamang nila sa Panginoon.

Hindi nila pinagkakakitaan ang kanilang mababang gawain ng pagtatanghal, alang-alang sa Panginoon.

Pero sa kalidad ng Senakulong "Martir Sa Golgota", ang mga dulang tulad nito ang may karapatang itanghal sa Cultural Center of the Philippines. O kaya ma-nominate sa mga award-giving bodies na tulad ng ALIW awards o BroadWayWorld awards at maging ng L.E.A.F. awards. Dapat masaksihan ng mga taong nasa likod ng mga award-giving bodies na iyon ang kagalingan ni Lance sa pagganap bilang Hesus at ang napakagandang direksyon ni Lou Veloso sa Senakulong "Martir Sa Golgota".


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Opo, si Lance muli ang gaganap na HESUS sa taong ito.

Siya muli ang ginusto, ang pinili, ang inatasan.

Dahil wala na nga sigurong makakaganap pa ng isang SAKTONG KRISTO para sa isang dula kundi si LANCE lamang


at,




MAGPAKAILANMAN.






(sinulat ni robert manuguid silverio)
ILAN SA MGA LARAWAN AY KUHA NI: WILSON FERNANDEZ

The Philippines to host 13th World Congress of IUTA in August 2020

 THE International University Theater Association (IUTA) will hold its 13th World Congress on August 25-29, 2020 in Manila, according to Cultural Center of the Philippines President Arsenio “Nick” J. Lizaso. 

This was officially confirmed in a letter addressed to Lizaso by Vito Minoia, the current IUTA President.  On August 16-20, 2018 at Moscow, Russia during the 12th World Congress of IUTA, members of the IUTA Executive Committee unanimously voted to hold the next world congress of IUTA in the Philippines. 

The theme of the said Congress is “The University Theater as a Social and Cultural Agent.” 

Students and educators of local colleges and universities as well as 350 delegates from IUTA’s member network of theater associations from 1,500 universities located around the world are expected to attend the event in Manila.  IUTA Philippine Center is accepting applicants from university affiliated organizations, experts and practitioners.  Registration is also open for interested observers.

The IUTA World Congress is held every two years. 

The IUTA was established at the Université de Liège in Belgium in 1994 with the goal of developing and promoting recognized post-secondary activity in theatre training, creation, research and theoretical and practical research at the university level or higher studies, throughout the world. IUTA has members in over fifty (50) countries.

The most recent was held in Moscow in September of 2018 which Lizaso attended and was subsequently elected by Execom members to serve as IUTA Vice-President for a term of two years. 

Aside from Moscow, 11 other cities have hosted IUTA World Congresses, which include Caldas in Colombia, Minsk in Belarus, Urbino in Italy, Olympia in Greece, Quebec in Canada, Liege in Belgium, Pueblo in Mexico, Dakar in Senegal, Krakow in Poland, Leicester in England and other cities.

Lizaso, who is also Executive Director of IUTA Philippine Center said the Philippines is privileged to have this event as it is a first for the ASEAN region.

Application for presentation of papers, demonstrations, workshops and performance at the 13th World Congress are also being accepted.

Deadline for submission is on March 15, 2020.

For more details, inquire through the IUTA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IUTAPHL, via email (iutaphilippinecenter@gmail.com) or telephone (028) 8832-1125 loc. 1101.

RENOWNED PIANIST RAUL SUNICO REPLACES RYU GOTO AS PPO GUEST SOLOIST FOR ITS CONCERT SERIES

DR. Raul Sunico, a renowned pianist, replaces Japanese violinist Ryu Goto as the featured guest soloist for the PPO Concert Series VII, slated on March 13, 2020, 8pm, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

Due to the travel restrictions brought by the covid-19 outbreak, Mr. Goto has decided to postpone all his performances in Asia.

“We are happy to inform you that Dr. Raul Sunico has accepted the invitation of Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura to perform in place of the esteemed violinist.  We are very grateful to Dr. Sunico for accepting despite the short notice,” shared PPO orchestra director Eugene A. De Los Santos, DMA.

Dr. Sunico will be performing Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F Major with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Fukumura.

The former CCP president graduated from the University of the Philippines with the degrees of Bachelor of Music (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and Master of Statistics.

A scholarship grant from former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos through the auspices of the Young Artists Foundation of the Philippines enabled him to finish his Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School of Music and attained his doctorate degree in Piano Performances from the New York University.  He was also conferred a Doctor of Humanities degree (honoris causa) by the Far Eastern University in 2005.

Sunico first attracted attention when he won the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists’ Auditions performing the Liszt Concerto No. 1 conducted by Dr. Herbert Zipper.  He had performed with notable conductors including Enrique Batiz, Pierro Gamba, Garyth Nair, Helen Quach, Redentor Romero, Luis Valencia, Oscar Yatco, Ruggiero Barbieri, Sergio Esmilla, Eugene Castillo, and Herminigildo Ranera.

Sunico won the silver medal in the 1979 Viotti International Piano Competition in Vercelli, Italy, was a finalist in the 1979 Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, Italy and received the Henry Cowell Prize in the 1980 University of Maryland International Piano Competition in the United States.  He has also served on the juries of the Bergen Philharmonic Competition in New Jersey, Isidor Bajic Memorial Piano Competition in Novi Sad, Serbia; Piyabhand Sanitwongse Piano Competition in Bangkok, Thailand; the Manila Symphony Competition, the Jeffrey Ching Piano Competition and the Piano Teachers Guild of the Philippines Competition in Manila.

A TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines) Awardee for Music in 1986, Sunico has been conferred a 1996 PAMANA Presidential Award for Overseas Filipinos, and received the 1995 Ceres Alabado Award for Children’s Books, among his other distinguished accolades.  He was also conferred the Commendatore Award (Order of the Star of Italy) by the President of the Republic of Italy in April 2017.

VIOLINIST RYU GOTO CANCELS PERFORMANCE WITH PPO DUE TO COVID-19

violinist ryu goto

 THE Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra regretfully announces that Japanese violinist Ryu Goto will not be performing with the CCP resident orchestra company for its March 13 series concert.

Due to the corona virus outbreak, Mr. Goto has decided to postpone all his performances in Asia.  According to his manager, Ms. Setsu Goto, they received an announcement from their government to cancel events that draw big crowds such as parties, gatherings and concerts.

As of this announcement, Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura, the PPO music director, is currently looking for a replacement for the featured guest soloist for this March series concert.

“We will inform you of the changes as soon as we get confirmation from Maestro Fukumura and the soloist,” said PPO orchestra director Eugene De Los Santos DMA.

For tickets and other inquiries, contact CCP Sales and Promotions at 8832-3706 or email ccpsalesandpromo@gmail.com.

ARTS FOR WOMEN, BY WOMEN AT THE CCP

TRUE to its mission of promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion, the Cultural Center of the Philippines celebrates the Women’s Month the whole month of March with a series of art exhibits, film screenings and other events.  Everyone is invited to join the different activities.

Be inspired by the women playwrights and theater practitioners at the FESTIVAL OF PLAYS BY WOMEN, a three-day event where women share their stories of empowerment through theater, dramatic readings and talks, slated on March 6 to 8, 2020.  A flagship program of the CCP Gender and Development (GAD) Committee, in partnership with in partnership with Women Playwrights International-Philippines (WPIP), there will be a forum in the morning, Reading of Women’s Plays in the afternoon, and featured performances in the evening.

Meanwhile, the CCP Arthouse Cinema, a program under the Film, Broadcast and New Media Department, holds an IRANIAN WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL, focusing on the plight of Iranian women, on March 4 to 7, 2020.  All screenings will be at Tanghalang Manuel Conde.

The festival kicks off with “SEASON OF NARGES” by Negar Azarbayjani (2017) on March 4, 6pm.  The film centers on Gisoo, Aylar and Narges, three Iranian women whose life stories intertwined.  The dramatic film details the problem of the lack of organ donors in Iran.  Dedicated to a young Iranian actress who died early and donated her organs to the people who needed it, many of the supporting actors have undergone organ transplant after experiencing accidents.

Catch “FIVE STAR” by Mahshid Afsharzadeh (2014) on March 5, 5pm.  In the film, a shy, reserved woman named Maryam becomes a cleaner in an upscale hotel where her mother works in order to pay for her university’s tuition.  While working in this new environment, she soon realizes that every aspect of her work is rife with politics and hidden agendas.  The cleaners are desperate to keep their own jobs while management is unforgiving of even the smallest errors.  With no other option, Maryam must learn to adapt to this environment. But will her naivety lead her into trouble?

The cinematic fever continues with “LEILA” by Dariush Mehrjui (1997) on March 6, 5pm.  The film follows married couple Leila (played by Leila Hatami) and Reza (played by Ali Mosaffa) who find out that the wife is unable to conceive.  Initially, they ignore Reza's mother's (Jamileh Sheikhi) insistence that he must take a second wife who can bear children.  Determined to be a devoted Muslim spouse, Leila eventually becomes convinced that her mother-in-law is right and urges her husband to consider the idea.  Reza reluctantly agrees to begin interviewing prospective brides, and their marriage soon deteriorates.

The festival culminates with “PAINTING POOL” by Maziar Miri (2013) on March 7, 5pm.  It is the story of Maryam (Negar Javaherian) and Reza (Shahab Hosseini) who try to do their best in life but are often met with several obstacles due to being mentally challenged.  Their son Soheil was born without any defects and initially does not realize how his parents differ from other adults until he begins to grow older.  This leads to complications when his teachers request that his mother come to school for a parent-teacher conference, as Soheil is afraid that his parents will humiliate him.  As a result, Soheil spends more and more time with Amirali, his teacher's son, and eventually moves in with them after his father loses his job.

Iranian Women's Film Festival also features an exhibit, titled “Women In Iran,” followed by a talk on photo exhibit by Sahar Hassanzadeh.  The photo exhibit opens on March 4, at 4pm.

The CCP Main Gallery presents a major retrospective exhibition, titled “ALLEGORIES AND REALITIES Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi: In Retrospect,” exploring the thematic contexts and modes of art practice that woman artist Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi has pursued for more than five decades.  The exhibit runs until May 24, 2020.  Likewise, the said exhibit will have guided tours on Thursdays (March 12 and 26 at 2pm) and Saturdays (March 7, 14, 28 at 2pm) at the Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery).

In line with this, the Visual Arts Department will hold a Roundtable Discussion of Women Printmakers on March 4, 3pm, at the Bulwagang Juan Luna (CCP Main Gallery).  Featured artists are: Ambie Abano, Ivi Avellana-Cosio, Yas Doctor, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Ofelia Gelvenzon-Tequi, and Henrielle Pagkaliwangan.

There will also be a crystal-making workshop, to be conducted by artist Samantha Feleo on March 21, 3pm, at the MKP Hall.  Feleo has a solo exhibit, titled “The Horizon of Expectations,” at the Bulwagang Victorio Edades (Small Gallery), on display until March 22, 2020.

Ongoing until March 15 is the exhibit TERNOCON 2020 PORTRAITURE AND THE PHILIPPINE TERNO: Commissioned Paintings of Filipinas by Rafael del Casal shown at the Pasilyo Vicente Manansala (2F Hallway Gallery).

More than just an art institution, the CCP has been creating and facilitating platforms that pursue gender and development, diversity and inclusion. Through its CCP Gender and Development (GAD) Committee, the center follows the implementation of gender mainstreaming advocated by the Philippine government.  It is concerned with women as well as with the social construction of gender and the assignment of specific roles, responsibilities and expectations to women and men.  

A BLOGGER'S LIFE

Kadalasan ay nararamdaman ko na ang panginginig ng mga daliri ko at pagdaing ng mga kamay ko na tila bagang nais nang sumuko sa pagsusulat. Pero dahil sa paniniwala kong naririyan pa rin ang mga kaibigan ko sa showbiz na nagbibigay sa akin ng inspirasyon, hindi pa rin ako tumitigil sa pagba-blog at sa pagsusulat. Maski ba kadalasan, napupulaan na ako ng mga kapwa ko manunulat at mga kasamahan sa entertainment writing, dahil daw, laging papuri na lang ang sinusulat ko, at hindi na raw ako nagiging objective sa mga panulat ko. May misyon pa rin daw ako bilang isang manunulat, at dapat ko pa rin daw na gampanan iyon.

Ang SWORDSHINES10.BLOGSPOT.COM po, gaya ng mababasa ninyo sa aking Blogger's Profile, ay isang JOURNEY, together with my friends in the entertainment field. Iyan po ang description ko sa aking blog site. Therefore, it is a Personal Blog Site, and it's not a corporate blog site. Isa itong paglalakbay at pagpupursigeng mas bigyan pa ng mga karagdagang dimensyon ang mundo ng Entertainment.

Sa paglalayon o kagustuhan kong maging maganda ang mga presentasyon ko sa mga sinusulat ko, hindi ko tinanggap ang alok ng iba na bigyan ng ADVERTISEMENTS ang blog ko. Dahil ang blog site ko po ay nagmula buhat sa isang paru-parong puti na lumipad ng lumipad sa aking mukha, balikat at katawan sa isang malinaw at saktong pangyayari. Doon nagmula ang ideya kong gumawa ng isang blog site para sa mga artista't celebrities na nakakasama ko sa showbiz. Ang tunay na inspirasyon kong masasabi talaga, ay sa isang ANGHEL na hindi ko na lamang babanggitin ang pangalan niya. Siya ang aking comfort, siya din ang aking kaligayahan.

Pero ngayon ko lang naisip, may iba pala akong dapat na sundin pa, mga patakaran na dapat pairalin. Dahil sa una, ang akala ko, dahil ako ang taga-LIKHA ng aking blog site, ako na ang masusunod sa lahat. Na sarili ko ang BOSS ko. Pero hindi pala.

Dahil sa ang KATOTOHANAN sa lahat ng ito, hindi po mabubuhay ang aking blog site kung wala ang mga KAIBIGAN ko na iyon sa showbiz. Kumbaga, sa kanila ako kumukuha ng GASOLINA para tumakbo at umandar ang mga pangangailangan ko to sustain my blog site. Dahil nga, ayokong magkaroon ng ADS ang aking blog, at dahil mas gusto kong maging personal lamang ang IDENTITY ng aking humble blog site.

Pero tao lamang ako. May mga pangyayaring nasasaktan din ako dahil sa mga maling interpretasyon ng iba sa mga bagay-bagay. Ganu'npaman, humihingi pa rin ako ng paumanhin ngayon sa kanila. May mga nasaktan ako, may mga nasagasaan, may mga nadampian ng aking mga pagkakamali.

Kung minsan kasi, dahil sa mariin ang pagkakatitig ko sa kanila, gusto kong mas pagbutihin pa nila ang paghanga ko sa kani-kanilang mga kakayahan. At gusto ko rin linawin na hindi siguro ako talaga 'yung taong NAKITA nila, maaaring naging MALI nga ang pagkakatingin nila o sa ibang anggulo nila nakita ang malilinis kong intensyon.

Pero dito sa huling pagkakataon na naganap sa buhay ko bilang isang blogger, ipinakita sa akin ng isang ANGHEL na ako nga ang nagkamali. Dahil siguro sa sobrang taas ng expectations ko sa galing nila sa pagganap nu'ng isang beses na napanood ko sila sa Cuneta Astrodome, mas nanaginip akong MAS gagaling pa sila sa susunod nilang pagtatanghal. Marahil, doon nga talaga ako nagkamali. Hindi nila na-"fill-in" ang napakagrande kong expectations sa kanila. At dala ng aking pagkadismaya, nakapagsulat ako ng hindi maganda. PARA SA KANILANG APAT, humihingi po ako ng paumanhin.

Sinabihan na ako nu'ng aktor na bida sa dulang iyon, na iyon daw ang mas magandang bersyon ng dula nila, pero hindi ako nakinig sa kanya. Iba kasi ang panlasa ko, marahil. Mas humahanga na ako ngayon sa mga dulang may SOPHISTICATION at may texture. 'Yung makaluma at darker ang dating. Hindi 'yung kumikinang ang mga sets sa entablado. Dahil natatabunan nu'n ang kakaibang galaw at galing mga artistang nagsisipag-ganap.

Nuong kabataan ko, at a time na nasa TASK FORCE P.R. pa ako g yumaong direktor na si Joey Gosiengfiao (R.I.P.) noon sa Regal Films, kasabay nu'n na isa din ako sa directly-assigned na magazine writer sa mga pelikula ng Seiko Films at direktang nakakausap ko ang prodyuser na si Robbie Tan, aside from being one among the regular invited movie press sa tuwing may mga bagong pelikula noon ang Viva Films at ang Star Cinema- binibigyan nila ako ng leeway sa mga anggulo na dapat na maisulat- NEGATIVE man ito o HINDI. Dahil sa lawak ng mga experiences naming mga entertainment writers, mas alam na namin kung ano ang mas ikasisikat ng mga artista- mapa-telebisyon man o pelikula.

Ang intensyon lamang naming manunulat ay iisa: Na mas paingayin, mas mapansin, mas makilala ang mga artistang sinulat namin. Dahil naniniwala kami: "Good or bad publicity is still publicity."

Lahat na yata siguro ng mga panlalait nila sa pagkatao ko ay nabasa o naipahayag na nila ng mali sa sankaterbang mga tao magmula nu'ng maging VIRAL na ang pagsusulat ko. Pero lahat po iyon ay pinalampas ko lang, dahil alam ko, sa bandang huli, malalaman pa rin nila, MALINIS ANG INTENSYON KO.

THIS IS MY LIFE. THIS IS A BLOGGER'S LIFE.

Maaring magpahinga man ako ng sandali o ng matagal, bahala na. Pero bilang isang kaibigan, wala na sila sa buhay ko. Mananatili na lamang ang mga ala-ala, masama man iyon o hindi.

Sa Facebook ko, marami na akong na-blocked. At kapag nagawa ko na iyon, it only means, hindi na kita kaibigan. Dahil natuklasan ko, hindi mo pala ako ganap na nakita sa tunay na AKO. 

Magpapatuloy po ako sa personal na buhay ko. Maaaring tumigil ako pasumandali. Pero sabi nga nila, habang may buhay ay may pagasa.

Dahil makita man nila o hindi ang anghel na patuloy na nagi-inspire akin, wala na po akong pakialam sa sasabihin pa nila.

Habang ang mga bituin at ang buwan sa langit na nakikita ko kadalasan ngayon sa gitna ng gabi ay naroroon pa rin sa langit,



magmamahal pa rin ako ng magmamahal sa mga kaibigan ko sa showbiz.




MAGPAKAILANMAN.






(isang personal na sanaysay ni robert manuguid silverio)

SIX ‘VIRGINS’ TO LIFT CURTAINS AT VLF 16

SIX ‘Virgins’ playwrights made it to the 16th edition of the Virgin Labfest, the annual festival of untried, untested, unstaged and unpublished theater works, happening on June 10 to 28, 2020, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The VLF virgins who will make their debut in the upcoming theater festival include: Sorsogon-based writer Jobert Landeza who penned “Titser Kit”; Mark Norman Boquiren, with his “Mayang Bubot sa Tag-araw”; Floyd Tiogangco, with “Pilot Episode”; Daryl Pasion, with “Papaano Turuan Ang Babae Humawak ng Baril”; Luis Nario, with “Gin Bilog”; and film director Bibeth Orteza who is the only woman playwright, with “Bituing Marikit.”

Completing the final list are: Tyron Casumpang, with “Black Pink”; Anthony Kim Vergara, with “The Boy Boy and Friends Channel”; Juliene Mendoza, with “Multiverse”; Jay Crisostomo, with “Dapithapon”; Juan Ekis, with “‘Nay May Dala akong Pansit”; and Dustin Celestino, “Doggy.”  These six playwrights have participated in the previous editions of the festival.

For the Stage Readings, six works have been selected; three of which are written by “virgin” playwrights, namely “Jenny Li” by Buch Dacanay, “Matira ang Matibay” by Bernice Dacara, and “Mongoloida’s Casa de Pun” by Claro delos Reyes.  Other featured stage reading works are: “LadyMasters” by Rouchelle Dinglasan, “Bagahe” by Nicko de Guzman, and “Dominador Gonzales -- National Artist” by Dingdong Novernario.

VLF festival director JK Aninoche expressed his gratitude to all the writers who “have shared their visions and voices to us.”  The 12 finalists chosen for full-staging were selected from the 290 submitted entries.

VLF founder and former festival director Rody Vera and dramaturg Ina Azarcon Bolivar helped in selecting this year’s unique set of plays.

“I’m very excited on the richness of thought-making and breadth and depth of representation of human condition and contemporary life in this year’s edition of the VLF.  Masayang may mga kasana sa pagsulong at paglikha. I’m looking forward to the VLF as a collaborative development platform for untried, untested and unstaged plays,” shared Aninoche.

Co-presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, acclaimed theater company Tanghalang Pilipino and Manila-based playwrights' group Writer's Bloc Inc., this year’s VLF follows the theme “Rurok.”  Established in 2005, the VLF aims to provide Filipino playwrights a venue to present their unpublished, untried, untested and unstaged works to the theater-going public.

Follow VLF on Social Media, or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph for more information and promo.  Connect with us and use hashtags - #virginlabfest #vlf16 #vlf2020 #vlfrurok #CCPVirginLabfest #untrieduntestedunstaged

CCP to hold an all-women festival of plays in celebration of the 2020’s Women’s Month

 THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in partnership with Women Playwrights International-Philippines (WPIP) will hold a three-day event entitled Festival of Plays by Women on March 6 to 8, 2020. 

This event will have three components: the Forum in the morning, Reading of Women’s Plays in the afternoon, and featured performances in the evening. There are also a creators’ market and interviews with renowned playwrights at various venues in CCP with the theme Empowerment, Diversity and Equality.

Join us as we celebrate women’s month with inspiring women playwrights and theater practitioners. Over 20 speakers are expected to share their stories of empowerment through theater, dramatic readings and talks.  Among these speakers are Leticia Arbelo, an International Theatre Arts Educator from Argentina; Dr. Elena Pernia, Vice President for Public Affairs of University of the Philippines and a member of Philippine National Commission for UNESCO; Dr. Jazmin B. Llana, Dean of College of Liberal Arts from De La Salle University; Achiro P. Olwochi, an international playwright and theatre artist from Uganda; Rosemary Johns, another international playwright from Australia; Bebot Rodil, Faculty of MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology; Dessa Quesada-Palm, member of Silliman University Culture and Arts Council and Vice President of WPI Philippines; Liza Magtoto, a well-known playwright from Metro Manila; Dr. Glecy Cruz Atienza, a professor and playwright from Metro Manila; Jehanne Mutin, a playwright from Marawi City; Elsa Martinez Coscolluela, a playwright from Bacolod City; Luna Sicat-Cleto, a professor and a Board Member of WPI Philippines; August Melody Andong, President of WPI Philippines; and Malou Jacob, playwright and founder/president of WPI Philippines.

Panel discussions will be held on topics such as: Katarungan at Pagkapantay-pantay ng Kababaihan, Katarungan at Pagkapantay-pantay sa Dulaan (Justice and Equality in Women and in Theater); Mandudulang Babae, Mandudulang Bagani' (Female and Warrior Playwrights) and Katangi-tanging Babae, Katangi-tanging Katha (Exceptional Women and Story).

The goal of the festival is also in line with the Philippine Development Plan so that the general public “will have greater awareness of our diverse culture and values.  There will be significant progress towards inculcating values for the common good, cultivating creativity, and strengthening culture sensitive governance and development.”  The project also seeks to inspire women to write, visualize their own stories and energize them to believe in their own talent in writing, producing and acting.

This event is the flagship project of the CCP’s Gender and Development (GAD) Committee for 2020.  True to the Center’s mission of promoting diversity and inclusion, the entrance to the fora, dramatic reading of stage plays and the creators’ market are free and open to the public.

Tickets for performances in the evening will be charged for Php200.

For details, check the https://festivalofplaysbywomen2020atccp.wordpress.com/ or follow the CCP Intertextual Division Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CCPIntertextualDivision or call 8551-5959 or 0919-3175708, you can also send an email to ccpintertextualdivision@gmail.com.

'AIDA' OPENS CCP MET OPERA IN HD SEASON 7

 ITALIAN composer Giuseppe Verdi's Aida opens the seventh season of the CCP Met Opera in HD, special screenings of the latest operatic productions of the Metropolitan Opera in New York through high definition digital technology, on March 10, 2020.

Set in ancient Egypt, the four-act drama brings to life the love triangle between a warrior, an Ethiopian slave and a princess.  Warrior Radamès falls in love with Aida, the Ethiopian slave of Princess Amneris, the king’s daughter. Unbeknownst, the princess has feelings for the warrior.  When the three meet, Amneris jealously senses Radames' feelings for Aida.  An opera about imperial duty and forbidden love, sung in Italian.

Music by Giuseppe Verdi, with libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, soprano Anna Netrebko sings Aida, going toe-to-toe with mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili as Amneris and tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko as Radamès. Maestro Nicola Luisotti takes the podium.

Composer Camille Saint-Saëns's operatic take on the classic story of Samson and Delilah takes the cinema stage on April 21, 2020.  Biblical epic Samson et Dalila stars tenor Roberto Alagna as the heroic Samson who ultimately falls victim to the seductive power of Dalila, portrayed by mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča.  Bass-baritone Laurent Naouri sings the sinister High Priest of Dagon.  Completing the cast are baritone Elchin Azizov as the Philistine king Abimélech and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy as the Old Hebrew.

Darko Tresnjak, the Tony Award–winning director of "A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder," made his debut directing the new Met production of the opera in 20 years.  Sir Mark Elder conducts.

Catch Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata, a tale about a Parisian courtesan who sacrifices all for love, on May 12, 2020.  In his first Live in HD appearance as the Met’s Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Music Director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Michael Mayer’s richly textured new production, featuring a dazzling 18th-century setting that changes with the seasons.

Soprano Diana Damrau plays the tragic heroine, Violetta, and tenor Juan Diego Flórez returns to the Met for the first time in five seasons to sing Alfredo, Violetta’s hapless lover.  Baritone Quinn Kelsey is Alfredo’s father, Germont, who destroys their love.

Georges Bizet's Carmen is the fourth installment of the Opera in HD season, slated on June 23, 2020.  Set among the Romani people in Seville, Carmen is a gritty tragedy starring the most famous of all operatic vixens.

Mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine is opera’s ultimate seductress, opposite tenor Roberto Alagna.  Soprano Aleksandra Kurzak sings Micaëla, alongside bass Alexander Vinogradov as the swaggering bullfighter Escamillo.  Louis Langrée conducts Sir Richard Eyre’s lively production.

Come July 21, 2020, CCP Met Opera in HD presents Gaetano Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment, an operatic comedy that mixes hilarious complications with virtuoso slapstick and wonderful singing.  Libretto by Georges Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François Bayard, it follows Marie, the feisty tomboy raised by a regiment of French soldiers.

Bel canto stars Pretty Yende and Javier Camarena team up for a feast of vocal fireworks on the stage, while baritone Maurizio Muraro is Sergeant Sulplice, with mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe as the outlandish Marquise of Berkenfield.  Enrique Mazzola conducts.

Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmelites closes the seventh season on August 25, 2020.  The Met’s Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads an accomplished ensemble in Poulenc’s devastating modern masterpiece of faith and martyrdom.  Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard is the young Blanche de La Force, opposite Met legend Karita Mattila as the First Prioress.

The CCP Met Opera in HD series is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the New York Metropolitan

 Opera and the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation Inc., in cooperation with the Ayala Malls Cinemas.

All screenings will be held at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1, at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are priced at Php450.  Season subscription will be Php2,400 for six shows.  For more information, call the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media Division at 8832-1125, local 1702 & 1705.  Or visit the CCP social media accounts and website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).

For subscription and ticket reservations, contact CCP Sales and Promotions at 8832-3706 or email ccpsalesandpromo@gmail.  You may also inquire at Greenbelt 3 Cinemas Customer Service Nos. 7757-3861 / 62.

CCP ARTHOUSE CINEMA'S EUROPELIKULA PRESENT 'DIAMANTINO'

 FOR its second offering this year, Europelikula, a monthly showcase of festival films from European Union member  countries jointly curated by CCP and the EU Delegation, will screen "Diamantino" by Gabriel Abrantes aand Daniel Schmidt on February 29, 5pm, at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde.

The film tells about the world’s premiere soccer star, named Diamantino, who loses his special touch and ends his career in disgrace.  Searching for a new purpose, the international soccer icon sets on a delirious odyssey where he confronts neo-fascism, the refugee crisis, genetic modification, and the hunt for the source of genius.

Europelikula aims to foster cultural exchange, specifically through film, between Europe and the Philippines.  It is a new section under the CCP Arthouse Cinema, a program by the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media Division which aims to promote appreciation among “newbies” and cineastes.

The CCP ArtHouse Cinema provides free screenings of indie films, award-winning Filipino animation, documentaries and themed sections, accompanied by talkbacks with directors, actors, and critics.  Other sections include Cinemulat, Pelicoolab: Gawad Alternatibo Specials, Cinemalaya Flashback Fridays, and World Cinema Series.

Starting February 29, Europelikula will be giving out freebies for early birds. CCP Film Society cardholders must RVSP to ccp.fbnmd@gmail.com and arrive earlier than 2:45pm, or their slots will be given to walk-in audience. For walk-ins, registration is in front of the theater, and starts 30 minutes before screening.

For more information, call the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media Division at 8832-1125, local 1702 & 1705.  Or visit the CCP Facebook accounts and website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph)