“Tabing Ilog,” the acclaimed and popular Kapamilya teen television series in the 1990s, returns as a musical theater production from March 7 to April 26, 2020 at the ABS-CBN Dolphy Theater, ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City.

How does Tabing Ilog, the musical, capture the contemporary Filipino teen culture?

People behind the musical said the present version portrays relevant issues to Filipino millennials and Gen Z, while taking into consideration the memories and experience of Filipino teen-agers who were fans of the TV series in the 1990s.

So expect Tabing Ilog, the musical, to discuss the fears and frustrations, the hopes and hyperventilations, and problems and predicaments of Filipino millennials and Gen Z.

Among the crucial ingredients which propelled the success of the 1990s Tabing Ilog was its heartfelt discussion of teen issues such as parent-children conflicts, alcohol problems, teen-age pregnancy, and discovering their bodies and sexualities.

The original Tabing Ilog featured John Lloyd Cruz, Jodi Sta. Maria, Paula Paralejo, Paolo Contis, Desiree Del Valle, Patrick Garcia, Baron Geisler, and Kaye Abad.

The musical showcases Star Hunt talents and theater actors, such as Kiara Takahashi, Abi Kassem and theater actress Gab Pangilinan, Sky Quizon, Hanie Jarar, and theater actor Ian Pangilinan, Batit Espiritu, and Emjay Savilla.

Also members of the cast are Jem Macatuno, Gian Wang, Gabby Sarmiento, Argel Saycon, Star Hunt alumni Ellyson de Dios, theater actor Vino Malabot, Abby Trinidad, Belle Delos Reyes, Mia Canton, Lou Yanong, Missy Quino, and theater actress Teetin Villanueva, Shawntel Cruz and theater actresses Krystal Kane and Justine Narciso, Art Guma, Ian Hermogenes, and theater actor Franco Ramos, Brei Binuya, Star Hunt and Theater actor Noel Comia, and Lie Reposposa.

Seasoned theater and veteran film actors Jojit Lorenzo, Paolo O’Hara, Agot Isidro, and Joann Co join the cast, too.

Tabing Ilog, the musical, artistic team members are from institutions such as the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Ticket prices range from PhP 1,000, PhP 1,200, PhP 1,500 and PhP 2,500. Tickets are available online via KTX. The production is also open to showbuyers. For inquiries, please contact 0977.836.0315. ##

#TabingIlogTheMusical #StarHunt #TabingIlog

The Aug. 25-29, 2020 International University Theater Association (IUTA)13th World Congress in Manila has been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, officials said.

An official statement is to be released.

The International University Theater Association (IUTA) holds its 13^th World Congress on Aug. 25-29, 2020 in Manila, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) President Arsenio J. Lizaso said on Thursday / March 5, 2020.

The Manila event of IUTA was officially confirmed in a letter addressed to Lizaso by IUTA President Vito Minoia. 

On Aug. 16-20, 2018 in Moscow during the 12^th 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 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 50 countries.

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 13^th World Congress are also being accepted.

Deadline for submission is on March 15, 2020.

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

#IUTA #IUTAPhilippineCenter #CCP

The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cultural Section of the Embassy of Iran in the Philippines present the “Iranian Women’s Film Festival” from March 4 to 7, 2020, at the CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde.

On top of the screenings, a photo exhibit on “Women in Iran” will also be mounted.

On March 4, 4 pm, a free photography seminar by Sahar Hassanzadeh, of the “Women In Iran” photo exhibit, is scheduled.

CCP Film Society cardholders must RSVP at <ccp.fbnmd@gmail.com> and arrive earlier than 2:45 pm, otherwise, their slots will be given to the walk-in audience.

For walk-ins, registration is in front of the Tanghalang Manuel Conde theater and starts 30 minutes before the screening.

#CCP #EmbassyOfIranInThePH #IranianWomen’sFilmFestival #WomenInIran

The UP Film Institute holds its 2^nd “SineMaestra,” women’s masterclasses on March 7, 14, and 28 to mark the Women’s Month.

The five sessions of masterclasses discuss various aspects of the film scene like planning, shooting, and promoting films.

SineMaestra is open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

The featured speakers are:

Teresa Barrozo (Film Music Masterclass / 9 am -12 nn / March 7 / UPFI Videotheque)

Teresa Barrozo is a film music composer. She is the winner for Best Aural Design for the film “Birdshot” by Mikhail Red at the Filipino Arts and Cinema International (Facine24) in San Francisco, USA and the winner of the Best Original Soundtrack for the film “Kinatay” directed by Brillante Mendoza at the 42nd Sitges International Film Festival 2009 in Spain. She also earned recognition for scoring films such as “10,000 Hours” directed by Joyce Bernal at the 39th Metro Manila Film Festival and “Ka Oryang” directed by Sari Lluch Dalena at the CinemaOne Originals Film Festival 2011.

Tey Clamor (Cinematography Masterclass / 2 pm – 5 pm / March 7 / UPFI Videotheque)

Tey Clamor is a cinematographer who received her BA in Film from the UP Film Institute and has participated in the Berlinale Talent Campus, Germany in 2006. She received her first break as a Director of Photography in 2015 with the film “Sleepless” and since then completed 18 local feature films including recent films “Tayo Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon,” “Metamorphosis,” “Isa Pa With Feelings,” and “Babae at Baril.” Her first international nomination came in 2018 for the film “Maestra” (Teacher) in the Philadelphia Independent Film Awards.

Marielle Hizon (Production Design Masterclass / 2 pm – 5 pm / March 14 / UPFI Film Studio)

Marielle Hizon is a freelance production designer and actress. She won production design awards for “Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon” (2018) at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, “Blue Bustamante” (2013) at the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival, “Baconaua” (2017) at the Young Critics Circle, and “Lila” (2016) for Sinag Maynila Film Festival.

Angeli Bayani (Acting Masterclass / 9 am – 12 nn / March 28 / UPFI Cine Adarna)

Angeli Bayani is best known for starring in Philippine art-house and independent films notably those by Lav Diaz: “Melancholia” (2008) and “Norte, the End of History” (2013) for which she won the 2014 Gawad Urian Award for Best Actress. She also appeared in the Camera d’Or-winning Singaporean film “Ilo Ilo” (2013) by Anthony Chen.

Irene Villamor (Directing Masterclass / 2 pm – 5 pm / March 28 / UPFI Cine Adarna)

Irene Villamor is a director and assistant director known for “Camp Sawi” (2016), “Meet Me in St. Gallen” (2018), “Sid & Aya (Not A Love Story)” (2018), “Ulan” (2019) and, most recently, “On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets” (2020). Her films earned her nomination for best screenplay and best direction from various award-giving bodies such us Asian Academy Creative Awards, FAMAS Awards, FAP Awards, Gawad Urian Awards, and Star Awards for Movies.

Interested participants may register through this link: https://bit.ly/39taxvD

Confirmation and payment details will be sent once the registration process is complete.

A certificate of completion will be awarded to those who will participate in all five masterclasses.

Early bird rate is at Php 500/head per masterclass.

For walk-ins, we will be charging Php 1,000/head per masterclass.

PWD and Senior Citizen discounts will be honored. 

#UPFIWorkshops #UPFI #SineMaestra #TeresaBarrozo #TeyClamor #MarielleHizon #AngeliBayani #IreneVillamor

American and Filipino military forces have completed a two-month joint/combined exchange training (JCET) in Palawan aimed at developing counterterrorism tactics and skills, the US Embassy in the Philippines announced on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Conducted from January to February this year, the US Embassy said that US Army Special Operations Forces and elite contingents of the Philippine 18^th Special Forces Company conducted joint training that covered a variety of counterterrorism subjects and exercises.

“Training not only focused on tactical skills, but also stressed the importance of local community support and outreach as part of a holistic counterterrorism strategy,” the embassy said.

Each JCET is funded by the US Department of Defense (DOD), and on average costs an estimated PHP 5,000,000 ($100,000). 

Last year, DOD sponsored seven US-Philippine JCET events, with costs exceeding PHP 50,000,000 ($1,000,000).

“With the knowledge and experience gained from training shoulder-to-shoulder, the US and Philippine troops continue to hone their counterterrorism tactics and skills. The joint training also helps to strengthen the long-standing bond between US and Philippine military forces,” the embassy said.

The US, as a long-standing friend, partner, and ally of the Philippines, continues to provide support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines through a variety of trainings, it said. ##

#USEmbassyInThePH #JCET #USArmySpecialOperationsForces #Philippine18^thSpecialForcesCompany

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in partnership with the Women Playwrights International-Philippines (WPIP), holds a three-day Festival of Plays by Women from March 6 to 8, 2020. 

The three components of the festival are: a forum in the morning, reading of women’s plays in the afternoon, and featured performances in the evening.

A “creators’ market” and interviews with renowned playwrights in various CCP venues with the theme “empowerment, diversity, and equality” are scheduled.

More than 20 speakers are expected to share their stories of empowerment through theater, dramatic readings, and talks, the CCP said. 

Among the speakers are Leticia Arbelo, an international theatre arts educator from Argentina; 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 on “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) will be held..

The goal of the festival is in line with the Philippine Development Plan so that the general public “will have greater awareness of our diverse culture and values,” the CCP said.

“There will be significant progress towards inculcating values for the common good, cultivating creativity, and strengthening culture sensitive governance and development,” the CCP said. 

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, it said.

This festival 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.

However, tickets for performances in the evening are priced at Php 200.

For details, please check: 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.

#CCP #GAD #Festival #Play #Poetry #WomensMonth

The CCP Met Opera in HD are special screenings of the latest operatic productions of the Metropolitan Opera in New York through high definition digital technology.

All screenings will be held at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1, at 6:30 pm.  Tickets are priced at Php 450. Season subscription will be Php 2,400 for six shows.

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 7^th season on Aug. 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.

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 PHOTOS

#CCP #Opera #CCPMetOperaInHD #MetOpera

By Ibarra C. Mateo

The Ballet Philippines announced on Tuesday / Feb. 18, 2020 that the lead singers for the 40^th year production of the landmark “Rama Hari” will be David Ezra, Gian Magdangal, Aicelle Santos, and Nar Cabico, with live accompaniment by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ballet Philippines described Rama Hari as “a classic tale of courage and love as Rama pursues his quest to rescue his wife Sita from Ravana and to reclaim the throne that rightfully belongs to him.” The production closes Ballet Philippines’ 50th season.

Five national artists are “collaborating” in the re-staging of Rama Hari which coincides with the Ballet Philippines’ 50^th year. They are: Alice Reyes, National Artist for Dance, Ryan Cayabyab, National Artist for Music, Bienvenido Lumbrera, National Artist for Literature, the late Salvador Bernal, National Artist for Theater Design, and the late Rolando Tinio, National Artist for Theater and Literature.

Rama, Hari runs March 20 – 29, 2020 at the CCP Main Theater.

Show dates and schedules are as follows:

March 20, 2020 | Friday | 8PM

March 21, 2020 | Saturday | 2PM & 7PM

March 22, 2020 | Sunday | 2PM

March 28, 2020 | Saturday | 2PM & 7PM

March 29, 2020 | Sunday | 2PM

You can also call 8551-1003, 09565379432 (Globe), 09212921282 (Smart) to subscribe. Choose reserve, and get the best seats before anyone else.

#BPRamaHari #BalletPhilippines #RamaHari #BP50onwards #Experienceballetph #Goldstandard #Dance #PhilippineCulture #ManilaArtScene #Ballet

National Artist for Dance Alice G. Reyes has been given a production grant by the Cultural Center of the Philippines to commemorate her first concert staged at the CCP on Feb. 21, 1970. Stay tuned for a celebration on Feb. 21, 2020 at the CCP.

#AliceReyes #Ballet #Dance #BalletPhilippines #BP #CCP #NationalArtist #NationalArtistForDance

The works of Bibeth Orteza and five other “virgin” playwrights have been selected from a pool of 290 submissions for the 16^th edition of the Virgin Labfest, the annual festival of untried, untested, unstaged, and unpublished theater works, which runs June 10 – 28, 2020, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The 2020 VLF virgins are: 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 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: “Lady Masters” by Rouchelle Dinglasan, “Bagahe” by Nicko de Guzman, and “Dominador Gonzales – National Artist” by Dingdong Novenario.

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.

Rody Vera, VLF founder and former festival director, and dramaturg Ina Azarcon Bolivar assisted in 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 kasama sa pagsulong at paglikha. I’m looking forward to the VLF as a collaborative development platform for untried, untested, and unstaged plays,” Aninoche said.

Co-presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, and the playwrights’ group Writer’s Bloc Inc., this year’s VLF is themed “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 http://www.culturalcenter.gov.ph for more information and promo.

#virginlabfest #vlf16 #vlf2020 #vlfrurok #CCPVirginLabfest #untrieduntestedunstaged