By IBARRA C. MATEO
THE Cultural Center of the Philippines, the country’s premier cultural institution, launched Wednesday an eight-month-long series of cultural events and educational forums to mark its 40th anniversary celebration.
“The CCP is the home of the most outstanding Filipino artists such as Cecile Licad, Lea Salonga, and Raul Sunico, to name a few. The CCP is the home of the most outstanding Filipino performing groups such as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Tanghalang Pilipino, Ballet Philippines, Bayanihan Dance Troupe, the Philippine Madrigals, to cite a few,” CCP President and Artistic Director Nestor O. Jardin told a large group of reporters and bloggers. “To mark our 40th year, when we celebrate, we will recall, rejoice, and renew.”
As if to showcase the avalanche of cultural surprises slated for the eight-month celebration, the CCP officers and staff mounted a rare press conference, giving reporters a peek of what performers go through before they stride to the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo stage, the main theater stage.
Before the press conference started, reporters were assembled at the “Green Room,” or the lounge beside the main stage, after which they were led inside the main theater stage and were seated. Normally, performers wait for their cues to mount the main theater stage at the “Green Room.” Reporters were initially puzzled upon entering the dimly lit main theater stage, where they do not usually venture.
CCP Public Relations Director Irene Rada said the press conference was the first to be held at the main theater and it was also precedent setting because bloggers were invited for the first time, giving notice that CCP is utilizing new media in its effort to reach out to wider, younger audience.
International musical theater artist Leo Tavarro Valdez descended to the main stage coming in from the back row seats while singing “Magsimula Ka,” his signature song that propelled him to national spotlight and eventually to international stage as The Engineer in the musical “Miss Saigon.”
On the other hand, soprano Camille Lopez-Molina sang Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro” on the left side of the main stage. Airdance’s Rhosam Prudenciano Jr. rendered contemporary dance number wearing a pair of tattered jeans. The performances broke normal theater performances conventions.
Chris Millado, performing arts department manager, said the CCP Pasinaya open-house festival on Feb. 1 officially starts the anniversary celebration, which coincides with the “National Arts Month.”
All events and performances were divided into four segments, with themes ranging from excellence of Filipino artists for February and March, cultural empowerment: flourishing of the arts in the region for April and May; brave new works: original Filipino creations for June and July; and for the final segment covering August and September, the theme will be remembering, celebrating, and eagerly anticipating the future.
Asked whether former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos was invited to the celebrations, Jardin said: “We have invited Mrs. Marcos. We’re giving her a tribute. We could not ignore the fact that CCP is her vision. It is incumbent upon us to pay her a special tribute featuring artists whom she had supported.”
The CCP was created in 1966 through Executive Order No. 30, with the purpose of promoting and preserving Filipino arts and culture. Then California Gov. Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy formally inaugurated the CCP on Sept. 8, 1969.
A new CCP logo done by graphic artist Dopy Doplon was unveiled. The new logo, which was inspired the old CCP logo, features a wave breaking into the shore and 40 small pebbles representing the 40 years of CCP.
