Arts & Culture (06/15/22)

Virgin Labfest 2022 premieres this weekend

AFTER two years of online performances, the 17th Virgin Labfest (VLF) — the theater festival of untried, untested, and unstaged plays — returns to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Tanghalang Huseng Batute from June 16 to 26. It will be followed by an online screening of the plays from June 30 to July 10 at ticket2me.net. The 12 featured plays are divided into four sets with performances scheduled at 2 and 7 p.m. The plays under Set A: Life is Full of Surprises (June 16 and 25) are: Walang Bago sa Dulang Ito by Eljay Castro Deldoc, Mga Balo by Maki dela Rosa, and Bituing Marikit by Bibeth Orteza. Under Set B: Life is Strange Fiction (June 17 and 26), the plays are: Absurdo Events Day by BJ Crisostomo, Liberation by Jerry O’Hara, and Nay May Dala Akong Pansit by Juan Ekis. Set C: School of Life (June 18 and 23) features Unica Hijas by Mikaela Regis, Punks Not Dead by Andrew Clete, and Student’s Handbook by Anthony Kim Vergara. Set D: Life Choices (June 19 and 24) features Fermata by Dustin Celestino, Huling Haraya Nina Ischia at Emeteria by Ryan Machado, and Bienvenuta al lido De Venecia by George Vail Kabristante. The Playwright’s Fair with VLF artistic director Rody Vera, and the CCP Intertextual Division will be held on June 17, 18, 24, and 25, 5 p.m. at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde, with online streaming at the CCP and VLF Facebook pages. The Writing Fellowship Program showcase, under the mentorship of playwright Glenn Mas and directed by Dennis Marasigan, is scheduled for June 26, 5 p.m., at the CCP Promenade. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/thevirginlabfest.

Tela Pilipinas Exhibit at Gateway Mall

IN LINE with the Independence Day celebration, Araneta City and the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) opened the 2022 Tela Pilipinas Exhibit at the Gateway Mall Activity Area to showcase the developments in natural textile fiber-based yarns and products. On are Pinoy-made outfits made using DOST-PTRI’s yarns, fabrics, and technologies as output of the institute’s research and development programs. This exhibit demonstrates the applicability and of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics as material to dress the Filipinos. The 2022 Tela Pilipinas Exhibit is open for public viewing at the Gateway Mall until June 17.

Independence Day exhibit at the Shang

THE ART Circle Gallery, Galerie Raphael, and Artologist have joined an ongoing Independence Day exhibit at the Shangri-La Plaza’s Grand Atrium, which runs until June 18. Art Circle Gallery presents the exhibit “Tangkilikin Ang Sariling Atin” featuring Otep Bañez, Jef Albea, Ramon Cajipe,  and Glenn Cagandahan. Galerie Raphael’s exhibit is Kalayaan: Isang Parangal to Sinag, which brings together works by 25 artists to showcase the various aspects of freedom in the Philippines. They include National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Juvenal Sanso, Gary Custodio, Raul Isidro, Mikel Parial, and Camille Ver. Artologist presents Obra with 13 participating artists including Mark Albea, Dennis Francisco, Ram Mallari, and Sam Penaso.

Valerie Teng holds 1st solo show at ARTablado

VALERIE Teng, who quit her day job to focus on her passion for painting, is having her first solo show at Robinsons Land’s ARTablado at Robinsons Galleria. Her exhibit, “Secret Garden: An Inspirational Walk-Through,” runs from June 16 to 30. ARTablado, which is a portmanteau of “art” and “entablado” is part of Robinsons Land’s efforts to showcase Philippine art and bring Filipino artists to the center stage. A graduate of Fine Arts with a major in Advertising from The College of the Holy Spirit, Teng grew up in a household of talented family members who encouraged her creativity. Her exhibit focuses on the peace and tranquility of nature, depicted through simple and clean lines matched with soft and soothing palettes in her canvases. ARTablado is at Level 3, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Quezon City.

Father and daughter exhibit at ArtistSpace

BOTH self-taught artists, Ed Uygongco and Jo Uygongco are presenting a father-and-daughter exhibition entitled “Equilibrium”. It will be on view from June 16 to 29 at the Ayala Museum’s  ArtistSpace. As the term implies, Equilibrium is a balancing of forces, a struggle between the two modes of visual expression – representation and abstraction — the yin-and-yang, as it were, of artmaking. The Uygongcos both favor the water-based mediums of aquarelle and acrylic.

MO_Space opens two shows

MO_Space is opening two exhibits on June 18 — at the Main Gallery will be Mark Salvatus’ “Active Shadows” while at Gallery 2, it will be “Welcome to the Dog Show” featuring works by Francis Commeyne. Both shows will run until July 17. The title “Active Shadows” quotes a passage from George Steiner’s (2009) reflection on the books he did not write, referring to them as intimate companions of his published works. He surmised that they are more than a gap or a void but “active shadows.” Salvatus’ artistic practice is shaped by an intimate reworking and transformation of objects and forms, a process akin to the resonance intimated by the phrase active shadows. His materials, whether from his family archive, his collection of Mount Banahaw paraphernalia, found objects, or those bought from flea shops, meander across time and occupy various sites. For his 4th solo show, “Welcome to the Dog Show,” Commeyne produces a series of sculptures and mixed media assemblages of carved wood and found objects depicting the commonplace sausage as comically emblematic of expressing one’s concerns of survival. The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the 3rd level, MOs Design, B2 Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

National Museum screens Esoterika: Maynila 

THE NATIONAL Museum of the Philippines will screen Esoterika: Maynila, a film by Elwood Perez, from June 13 to 17 at the National Museum of Fine Arts Auditorium. Viewers will have the chance to meet director Elwood Perez at the final screening session on June 17. Register for free at https://bit.ly/NMPfilmshowing. 

Filipinas Heritage Library holds a writing workshop

THE AYALA Museum and the Filipinas Heritage Library present WRITING HEARTBREAK: A Workshop With Jhoanna Lynn Cruz on June 25 and July 2, 2-5 p.m., online via Zoom. There are limited slots. The focus of the workshop is how heartbreak can also be an opening, a chance to right the pain, heal, and revisit the terms of self-making. The workshop will be run by an award-winning writer who, after her marriage fell apart, told her story in a book-length memoir. The workshop is P3,500 (and comes with a free book, Abi Nako, or So I Thought). A discounted rate of P3,150 will be given to students, seniors, PWDs, ARC, AGC, and Ayala Museum Virtual Members. The workshop is open to intermediate writers aged 16 and above. Participants from ages 16-17 may be admitted after signing a waiver regarding potentially sensitive content. Participants must prepare a paper, pen/pencil, laptop/tablet and technical requirements are Zoom, and internet connection, a laptop/tablet/smartphone, and a prop or set-up of camera overhead to see the work. A recommended text (in PDF) will be provided for the attendees to read after registration.

Manila Symphony Orchestra holds online concert

THE AYALA Museum and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) will hold a special online concert, MusiKayumanggi: A Century of Filipino Music, on July 2, 6:30 p.m., via Zoom. The MSO will perform Filipino classics expressed in various orchestral and chamber arrangements, including “Lahing Kayumanggi” by Lucio San Pedro, “Kalesa” by Hernani Cuenco, and “Hahanapin Ko” by Jose Mari Chan. Tickets are at P1,200 for regular passes, and P960 for Ayala Museum Members. To purchase tickets, visit ayalamuseum.org/events/rhc-musikayumanggi. For event inquiries, e-mail events@ayalamuseum.org.

Trumpets brings back musical Joseph, the Dreamer

TRUMPETS, INC.’s popular musical Joseph the Dreamer returns onstage on July 15 to 31, at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC, Taguig City. The production tells the Biblical story of Joseph, who brought the Israelites out of Egypt. Written by Freddie Santos, it is based on Cam Floria’s cantata entitled Dreamer: What Really Happened to Joseph. This production is a re-imagined version directed by Paolo Valenciano, featuring updated musical arrangements by Myke Salomon as well as an updated script. For tickets, visit https://bit.ly/JTD2022. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/trumpetsinc

Barefoot Theater stages Mula Sa Buwan

THE BAREFOOT Theatre Collaborative presents Mula sa Buwan, a musical reimagining of Cyrano de Bergerac, on Aug. 26 to Sept. 11 at the new Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati. Directed by Pat Valera, with music and lyrics by William Elvin Manzano, the musical stars Myke Salomon as Cyrano, Gab Pangilinan as Roxane, and Markki Stroem as Christian. Book tickets at ticketworld.com.ph or mulasabuwan.com/tickets. For more information, visit mulasabuwan.com.

Nayong Pilipino pushes for safe space for LGBTQIA+

THE NAYONG Pilipino Foundation (NPF) partnered with the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) and LGBTQIA+ community to gather insights on creating a safer physical and cultural space inclusive for everyone. A roundtable discussion dubbed “Umpukan sa Nayon” on June 10, held at the National Library of the Philippines, became an avenue for the foundation to gather insights on gender sensitivity while also raising awareness of the complex history with the LGBTQIA+ community. The ideas gathered during the discussion will serve as a guide in creating the Nayong Pilipino Cultural and Creative Hub in the Entertainment City in Parañaque. Among the speakers during the discussion were Dondy Ramos, assistant professor of History from the University of the Philippines, Alvin Cloyd Dakis, a trainer for gender sensitivity, Amber Quiban, a transgender woman from Cordilleras, and a UP Diliman student, and Daniele Guevarra of Philippine Normal University Katalonan. Assistant Professor Ramos talked about the roles of the LGBTQIA+ community during the pre-Hispanic period. The full live stream can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/nayongpilipinoofficial/videos/586759242769590

Gawad Yamang Isip awards given

THE GAWAD Yamang Isip (GYI) Awards 2022 were held by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on June 6, and highlighted the importance of raising intellectual property (IP) awareness. The winners were National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, writer Jose “Butch” Y. Dalisay, Jr., and National Artist for Dance Alice G. Reyes, all GYI awardees under the Performing Arts and Literature category; Dr. Cecilia Nelia C. Maramba-Lazarte, dubbed the “Mother of Philippine Herbal Medicine,” in the Science and Technology category; and multi-awarded wrap fashion artist Dita Sandico in the Industrial Design category. The annual GYI is the country’s most prestigious IP awards. It is conferred to Filipino individuals and institutions that have helped improve Filipinos’ quality of life through innovation and creativity while promoting the importance of IP. The awarding was held as part of IPOPHL’s celebration of its 25th anniversary. Aside from the six individual GYI awardees, IPOPHL also awarded Gandang Kalikasan, Inc., the company behind the pro-environment brand Human Nature, for the Business category, and the Samar State University-Technology Business Incubator Local Alliance of Marine-based Businesses and Food Technology for the new and special IP Management Award. IPOPHL also honored more than 100 partners in the academe, government and private sector, as well as the most prolific IP users, through special citations.

KWF is now accepting entries for essay contest

THE KOMISYON sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) is now accepting entries for the Sanaysay ng Taon 2022, a yearly contest of original work. The competition is open to everyone except KWF officials and their relatives. The theme for this year is “Filipino and Indigenous Languages: Research and Discovery Tools.” The essays must be written in Filipino, original, unpublished and not translated from another language. They also must be at least 15 pages but not more than 30 pages long. In addition to research, the way it is written must adhere to the KWF Manwal sa Masinop na Pagsulat. For details on the requirements, text or call 0928-844-1349 or e-mail timpalak.gawad@kwf.gov.ph. Entries will be accepted until 5 p.m. on June 20. Entries must be sent to Lupon sa Sanaysay ng Taon Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2nd floor of the Watson Bldg., 1610 J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila.

Exhibition proposals sought

THE NATIONAL Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is accepting exhibition proposals for the 2023 NCCA Gallery and Exhibition Program from June 15 to Aug. 15. Every year, the NCCA opens its Call for Exhibition Proposals to the public to give opportunity for Filipino artists from different backgrounds, different affiliations, and different regions to showcase their work to a wider audience without compromising their creative vision. Proposals may be accomplished in Filipino and English by any Filipino citizen or any group or institution based in the Philippines. Proposals from foreign institutions or groups should be coursed through the NCCA International Affairs Office. All exhibition proposals shall be submitted through the Google Forms link (https://bit.ly/2023NCCAGalleryProposal) and will be accepted only when the proper supporting documents are submitted. Applicants will be notified of the result of the screening through an official communication that will be released around October.

Anthology of translated work of fiction released

PENGUIN Random House SEA has released an anthology of translated work of fiction, Born and Bred in Myanmar. By Moe Moe Inya, the book is about the life and struggles of rural-dwelling youths in Myanmar who, at an early age, had to work to supplement the household income or work alongside their parents to support their family. Moe Moe Inya wrote her first novel, Pyauk-thaw-lann-hmar san-ta-war in 1972 and received the National Literature Award for it in 1974. She also received short novel awards in 1980, 1982 and 1986 for the novel and short novel collections. Her books have been translated into English, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese.