MANILA, Philippines?The mind-numbing cliché ?Life begins at 40? is given a spin by people of the Cultural Center of the Philippines as it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Its slogan: ?Life begins again.?
Who would have thought this institution is now approaching middle age?as a few times in the recent past it was thought to be closing down, from financial if not moral collapse?
Conceived as ?the repository of the Filipino soul,? the architectural icon at Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City was courageously founded by First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos and superbly designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin. It opened in 1969 with an extravaganza that has since symbolized what it is perceived to stand for: lavish entertainment and budgetary profligacy (feeding the soul while emptying the pocket).
For its 40th anniversary, a new logo was designed by Francisco Duplon. The old CCP logo with the alibata motif in gray is connected by an undulating patch of red to a spiral of 40 gradating red circles (for ruby anniversary) with a circle of gold as central symbol.
This is imagistically interpreted thus: ?Taken from the rib of the CCP logo, this wave represents the flow of new life making its way through. As it breaks onto the shore, it reveals pebbles that serve as stepping-stones for nurturing the arts and culture of Filipinos. As time gradually passes, these stones transform into a rock that empowers artists to create works that inspire. They [red circles]?all 40 of them?represent the years of CCP and how through time it has become a boulder [gold circle], the foundation that continues to support and promote excellence in the arts in our country.?
The symbolic elements are well-chosen, as the iconic structure sprawls on reclaimed area just a stone?s throw away from Manila Bay.
Cultural empowerment
To whet the appetite of patrons and casual visitors, the best of the CCP visual-arts collection will be exhibited in its galleries and hallways from February to March.
?When you say art, automatic, stage, painting?hindi nakikita ibang involvement,? says Eva Salvador, cultural resource and communication services manager. ?Ano ba kinalaman ng art sa corruption? Ano kinalaman sa economy??
So, for the anniversary programming, the focus is on cultural empowerment. Salvador conceives the activities for the second quarter as ?arts transforming lives, communities, places, whether through therapy, empowerment, social consciousness.?
In April, the Summer Arts Workshop will be relaunched, focusing on advanced or specialized training in all CCP venues, with special training in the regions.
On April 22, CCP and its partner organizations will commemorate Earth Day for the fourth time, with venues ranging from the CCP grounds to the Little Theater, exhibit halls, Main Theater lobby. While last year its celebration focused on the element of earth, this year is on water.
?Look, there is something wrong with our environment,? says Salvador. ?How can we transform it??
They?re inviting Aliwan to help in the program, specifically through a national street-dance congress and showdown. Billed as ?A Performance and Congress on the Street-Dancing Phenomenon in the Philippines,? this is an activity of the Aliwan Street-Dancing Competition on April 23-25.
Performances will be at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) on April 26 at dusk. The congress will be held on April 27 in the Little Theater and four other venues for breakup groups.
Salvador believes street-dancing is an artistic community expression that?s very effective to transform the community. (Though, of course, we can hear some scoff: Art ba ?yan?)
Grandiose overture
On May 8-10, a National Arts Congress will be held for the first time, at the National Arts Center in Makiling. Attending artists, cultural workers and managers are expected to ?come up with concrete strategies for Arts for Transformation.?
At around this time, the performance of National Artist
F. Sionil José?s play ?Pragres,? on the ills of society during the post-martial-law years, will be toured in educational institutions.
Still in the works is a project with the Korean government through Unicef, which is either an exhibition or a performance of artistic children with disabilities.
For the third quarter, Ariel Yonzon, theater operations manager, will be up for a series of galas. In charge of theater space, the Production Design Center, and in running the venues, with 44 crew members under him, he is out to show off all the theatrical tricks at his disposal.
The anniversary gala at Main Theater on Sept. 8 has been conceptualized as both society gala and explosive concerto, to be directed by Monino Duque.
For the big event, from morning till night, music and magic will dominate the place. The building?s façade will be one giant screen where images of events, performances, artists and people through 40 years of the CCP will be projected.
Inside the building, video screens on every corner will showcase ?the whole breadth of performances and events the CCP has been host to.? The hallways and galleries will be filled with thousands of cultural bric-à-brac, memorabilia, books, CDs, artworks.
?Bubulabugin ng lights and sounds ang audience,? Yonzon promises. ?But all these are just an overture, a warm-up.?
Grand performance
The institutional gala itself will comprise three movements?the first setting the tone (rendition of a Brahms piece by five orchestras conducted by Oscar Yatco); the second adding layers of complexity (the orchestras joined by soloists and chorales performing Ryan Cayabyab?s Misa); and finally ending with a bang, as the audience is brought to its feet in tribute to the CCP (popular singers and dancers performing contemporary pieces, then hundreds of goblets distributed for the thanksgiving toast).
On Sept. 11, there will be a softer gala at the Main Theater, to be directed by Alex Cortes.
On Sept. 16, an internal gala at the Main Theater will be handled by Yonzon. Billed as ?Pasasalamat Tangkilik at Pagkilala,? this is for the CCP employees, alumni, benefactors, resident companies, with a sit-down dinner at either the Silangan Hall or the Main Theater lobby.
On Sept. 17-Oct. 31, a multimedia and multisensory exhibition called ?Daloy? at Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) will chronicle the development of CCP as a cultural institution. It will feature full-screen videos, 50 printed panels, voice-sensored boxes, interactive kiosks of hands-on educational activities.
The grand anniversary is made grander still as the 13 Artists and the National Artists will be conferred on the same year.
Salvador says 5 percent of our gross national product comes from creative activities, that is, from the arts community. It is the role of the CCP to help raise that stake?by working for artistic excellence, professionalizing the arts, and using the arts for social transformation.
?If we can go 8 percent, why go to Alaska?? says Salvador. ?Why go abroad to see Manny Pacquiao or Charice Pempengco perform??
