The PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances
THE PHILIPPINE Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) starts its next series of online concerts called The PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances with the first to be streamed on July 23, 8 p.m., through the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ website. The program for the July 23 concert focuses on Indie and Alternative music, and features pop songs performed by the orchestra’s classical musicians. They are: the Eraserheads’ “With a Smile” performed by Ayesa Cruz (violin) and Madeline Jane Banta (Harp); Up Dharma Down’s “Tadhana” performed by Ma. Angelica Uson (violin) and Herrick Ortiz (cello); Wolfgang’s “Halik ni Hujdas” interpreted by Giancarlo Gonzales (cello); The Dawn’s “Salamat” performed by violinists Christian Tan and Jose Carlo Tuazon, Rey Casey Concepcion (viola), Giuseppe Andre Diestro (cello), and Vincent Dela Cruz (contrabass); and Eric Yaptangco’s “Harana” played by the PPO’s brass and percussion section with Abner Cruz (electric bass). The program can be viewed on the PPO Facebook page and the CCP YouTube channel.
Cats for adoption at Robinsons Magnolia
ROBINSONS Magnolia will host “Barrio FURRiesta, MEOWsaya!,” a pet adoption event on July 24 that will feature 14 cats that are ready for adoption plus a fair of pet items, accessories and affordable pet services. All the cats are rescued puspins. A pet parade around the mall will officially start the event, followed by a series of interviews for prospective pet parents at 3 p.m. Pre-registration is encouraged — visit tinyurl.com/BarrioAdoption. The Barrio FURRiesta event will also offer low-cost anti-rabies vaccination and microchipping. On sale will be a variety of pet merchandise from Pawssion Project and its partners merchants. Pet parents and adopter candidates can win special raffle prizes by participating in the pet adoption event and purchasing items from the Pawssion Project booth and partner merchants. Gifts await first 30 new Happy Pets Club members. This is the second pet adoption project of Robinsons Malls Happy Pets Club, through its The Gift of Furever Home CSR program, and in partnership with Pawssion Project.
PWDs’ products, services showcased in online bazaar
IN CELEBRATION of National Disability Week, newly established social enterprise Precious Works of Differently Abled Enterprise (PWDe) will put the spotlight on the talents and skills of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) through an online bazaar on Lazada starting July 21. The online bazaar features products made and services to be provided by deaf people, people with Autism and Down syndrome, physically disabled people, and other PWDs including food products (French macarons, no-bake cheesecakes, Korean samgyupsal sets, buko pandan, macaroni); craft and gift items (paintings, customized flower and basket arrangements, table runners, saori weaves, drawstring pouches, T-shirts); and services like encoding, cleaning, sign language classes, graphic design, and photography. Avail of these products and services by visiting the dedicated page for the bazaar on the Lazada website or app Precious Works of Differently Abled Enterprise.
Philbanda marks 10th year with virtual concert
THE CULTURAL Center of the Philippines (CCP) teams up with the Philippine Band Association (Philbanda) in bringing the latter’s decade-long celebration to the virtual screen through a concert billed as PERFECT 10 on July 24, 6 p.m., on the Facebook page of the CCP Office of the President. Featuring the 60-piece Philbanda Wind Orchestra, PERFECT 10 highlights a decade of symphonic performances from the country’s sole professional wind orchestra. This special virtual concert will also be graced by the Philippine Baton Twirling Association, and will be hosted by OPM artist Ice Seguerra. Herminigildo Ranera of the UST Conservatory of Music is the current conductor of the Philbanda Wind Orchestra. Young talents from Metro Manila and local participants from different regions will also showcase their talents in the premiere performance of Mr. Ranera’s “New Normal Concert March,” a rare opportunity for local musicians to perform alongside professional groups via virtual platforms. For updates and more information, follow the CCP Office of the President on Facebook.
Online kid’s puppet show tackles self-expression
THE FREE public interactive show Ang Red Dress ni Makisig, a 30-minute theatrical children-style hand-puppetry production, aids the youth about breaking gender norms while promoting innovative reading and storytelling. Set in the fictional Catacutan Elementary School, the play follows nine-year-old transfer student Makisig who decides to wear a bright red dress on his first day in class. The puppet show was directed by John Gamboa, and written by Jack Denzel Gaza, Arjay Rosales, and Gabby Serafico, all of whom are members of Sining LABinsiyam (SiLAB), a group of Filipino student-artists and thespians. It is produced in collaboration with the Quezon City Public Library and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Service Learning Team. Shows — to be livestreamed via Zoom and Facebook — are scheduled on July 23, 10 a.m.; July 24, 2 p.m.; and July 25 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information, visit the official Facebook pages of SiLAB (https://www.facebook.com/SiLAB119) or Benilde Theater Arts (https://www.facebook.com/benildetheaterarts)
Gavel&Block ‘Interiors’ auction
EXPLORE Salcedo Auctions’ virtual gallery to view the “Interiors” auction line-up which features a selection of original fine art, decor, and furniture by local and international artists and artisans. The auction is on July 24, 11 a.m. Proceeds from the sale, done in partnership with Hands on Manila, will go to supporting Advancement for Rural Kids’ (ARK) Feed Back program to secure food and provide health benefits to a community in Pililia, Rizal. For more information, visit https://salcedoauctions.com/auction/87/interiors.
Art in the Park returns online
AFTER two successful online art fairs, Art in the Park Online returns for a 15th anniversary special edition on July 25 to Aug. 1 at www.artinthepark.ph. The eight-day online fair will feature over 10,000 works of art from 62 galleries, four special exhibits, and a variety of special online activities. All works are priced at P70,000 and below for this special edition. Art in the Park Online 2021: Special Edition will continue to benefit the Museum Foundation of the Philippines in support of its projects and programs for the National Muse-um of the Philippines and its network. For more information, visit www.artinthepark.ph and follow www.facebook/artinthepark and @artintheparkph on Instagram.
Home items in Casa de Memoria’s auction
AT CASA de Memoria’s Tercero auction — now live online until July 31 — features many items to elevate the home, from paintings and chandeliers to furniture and more. Among the highlight lots at the auction are intricate lamps, some of which have been refreshed by Michelle Lao of Solano and chairs like a pair of 19th century Portuguese mahogany fauteuils upholstered with settees, and a pair of early 20th century Spanish barber’s armchair seats. To explore the auction pieces online, visit bit.ly/CasaDeMemoriaOnline. For more information, visit www.casadememoria.com, call 8253-3994, or e-mail hello@casadememoria.com.
Webinar spotlights gender, female, trans experiences in architecture
GENDER and diversity of voice in the local architecture scene, amid the growing population of female students pursuing the path, is spotlighted in a free public webinar headlined by female and transgender Filipina professionals. Artist-architects Micaela Benedicto and Isola Tong will discuss their design processes, as well as their respective key project samples and ongoing works that are an extension of their expertise and talent into visual arts and music. Benedicto, a practicing architect through MB Architecture Studio, places emphasis on the relationships between the unique user, the built space and the environment. She is also a visual artist, whose latest exhibition, Volume, is currently on view at Silverlens, and is part of the pop duo Outerhope, with releases under Terno Recordings, Number Line Records, and Shelflife Records. Ms. Tong’s art spans a variety of media portraying a divergence from anthropocentrism towards interconnected biologies. A cum laude graduate at the University of Santo Tomas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture, she is an incoming graduate student at University of California in Santa Cruz, California. Having studied and worked in Osaka, Japan for four years, she currently teaches architectural design, theory and history at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB). Hosted by the Social and Academic Guild for Architects (SAGA), the talk is scheduled on July 30, 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more information, visit the official Facebook page of SAGA at https://www.facebook.com/sagacsb.