Pasinaya 2012: Celebrating the Throbbing Philippine Arts

Wouldn’t it be grander if we conclude the Philippine arts month in a festive mood? Pasinaya was all about that last 26th of February, 2012 in its seventh season. It brings Philippine artists all over the country in a celebration of music, dance, theater, visual, film, literary, workshops and a lot more—organized by none other than the Cultural Center of the Philippines. This year, with more than 100 activities related to arts and culture, thousands of students, families, individuals, local and even foreign tourists flocked the CCP Main Theatre (National Theater or Tanghalang Pambansa)—currently the largest arts gathering in the country (and I tell you, there were a lot of people…a lot!)

The experience itself was worth the generous P20 “donation,” as it covers the entire day with unlimited access to different activities.

My friend and I personally witnessed these: Performance of Dinagyang, folk dances at the ramp, the UP Kulintang Ensemble, watching Madz (which made me teary eyed), Bayanihan Group, relaxing at Harbour Square with some shows of folk dances, Arti Santa Rita and their Kapampangan songs, and the People’s Gala (which gave me the goose bumps as they featured my hometown Iloilo) together with Madz, and PPO. We’ve spent 12 hours, never left CCP until the end of the celebrations! To be honest, there are so many activities that you can’t have it all for a day. It’s indeed a “See All You Can” event.

Resident companies of CCP such as the Philippine Madrigal Singers (or “Madz”), the Bayanihan National Folk Dance Group, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tanghalang Pilipino, and a lot more offered their best acts for the visitors of CCP’s annual open house festival.

This is the only time where you can take photos and videos inside and outside of the CCP Theater and share it to the world!

You may also view the different Asian musical instruments and other Filipino cultural mementos inside Diwa: Buhay Ritwal at Sining at the CCP Musuem (I opted not to take photos inside despite the “open-cam” policy).

Since it was a whole day event, you got tons of options to watch for. Different cultures from different areas of the Philippines are everywhere. It was like Nayong Pilipino in the name of the arts. From Kristyano traditional, to the animistic indigenous peoples and all the way to our Moro brethren—it was a sight and sound to behold.

However for this year, CCP brought Iloilo’s most famous fiesta, the Dinagyang Festival, together with several Ilonggo arts groups, as this year features La Cultura Ilongga. To note Chris Millado, VP and artistic director of CCP, “It is the first time that Pasinaya has got in touch with the local government, hoping that it’ll be the start of tapping the regional local governments.”

Tribu Lunok of Iloilo City National High School performed six times the whole day, from the opening to the grand curtain call, treating visitors (and giving a glimpse) of Iloilo’s largest fiesta. Ramon Obusan’s Folkloric Group have shown Pasundayag sang Panay wherein they depicted the culture of Panay Island, from the epics. Other Ilonggo artists performed and awed their audiences with their moves and music. (Comment: Although it could have been more Ilonggo if they have also brought the National Living Treasure Nong Pedring Caballero and the Sulod Bukidnon people too, but it’s a good start.)

Tribu Lunok performing inside CCP’s Main Theater
The Philippine Madrigal Singers and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performing “Iloilo Ang Banwa Ko.”

And culminating the entire event is the People’s Gala, wherein Tanghalang Pilipino’s actors portrayed air force soldier in quest to find the meaning of art and travel the towns of Iloilo from Tiolas to the city (personally, we find it silly and funny since they didn’t went straight to the city, but instead made inland to Alimodian, Cabatuan and Santa Barbara!). The CCP’s resident companies once again performed, together with the Ilonggo artists, concluding unexpectedly with the performance of Tribu Lunok inside the Nicanor Abelardo Hall–where everybody was wooing and cheering with the beat of the drums. Celebrating art indeed!

Personally, I laud the CCP for this annual effort. It brought the idea that art is everywhere and important for nation-building and defining what it means to be a Filipino and a human being. Also, their acknowledgement of the power of social media (with their repetitive announcements of taking photos and videos and sharing it over the net) may bring a stronger consciousness to the public, showing that art brings color to the world—and Filipino artists can be great through any noble means.

[MORE PHOTOS OF PASINAYA 2012, CLICK HERE]

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