February 3, 2018 - My second visit to the Cultural Center of the Philippines is probably the highlight of my February. The building was grand, held together with glamorous staircases, walls coated in soulful paintings, and corners enhanced with pieces of art. People swarm from one place to another to take a photo of the beautiful interior. For a moment, the scenario seemed like any other visit to the CCP—except, it was not.
A group of people in dance clothes—mostly tights—occupied the wide lobby in front of the main entrance. Hours later, it would be replaced with performers in National Costume rendering a beautiful traditional Folk dance. Upstairs, visitors lined outside a huge hall for a workshop on playing Kulintang. While on the other hall, a workshop on Basic Stop Motion Animation is ongoing. Booths of creatives from different fields of art flocked in the lobby beneath the staircase—the so-called “Arts Market.” Some endorsed their group’s art, while some caught people’s attention with their hand-woven accessories, and locally-published books on sale.
So much is happening all at the same time. It was the third of February 2018, and it marked the start of an open house festival that is Pasinaya 2018. Aside from granting passes in all of CCP’s art exhibits, the event also catered performances and workshop opportunities from different fields of art, such as, Dance, Music, Theater, Ballet, Film, Visual Arts, Literature, and Variety. Not bad for a 300 PHP VIP ticket. The catch is, activities of different fields might coincide. The pretty brochure, containing the timetable of activities, handed out to us during entrance turned out very handy.
Our first activity was centered on the recently approved national writing system of the Philippines: Baybayin. As it was entitled “Baybayin Henna Tattoo,” my expectation was simply that of a tattoo session, and nothing more. It turned out that there will be a brief lesson about Baybayin, as well—something I don’t look forward to, since I already studied Baybayin way back. I thought our first activity would be a bore. Luckily, our speaker was captivating. Other than the pens and papers, she used her body to dance to us each Baybayin character—yes, she incorporated the characters into a dance. It was a completely different approach from what I normally encounter of Baybayin.
I liked this activity a lot. We were so clueless, and so excited, back then. (Oh, but aren’t we all are?) How are we supposed to do art by pulling a string?
At first, it was a mess. The conductors of the workshop finally told us their little secret, and there we are, able to make anything but art. We got the hang of it eventually. What I loved about the practice was the element of surprise; I chose the colors, I positioned the string, I pulled the string, and yet, when I uncover the paper, what I see is beyond my expectations. I don’t know if it’s just my lack of imagination, though. Lol
Killing time before our next planned activity, we crashed into a room packed with elementary students. It was a symposium on Ethnic Instruments in the Philippines. I remember a randomly-picked student was asked to play an ethnic instrument, in front, with the supervision of the conductor. To our surprise, he played so well for a first-timer. He didn’t sound like a beginner at all.
These are from a piece called “Walking Still” by Rene Aquitania. My general feel of this exhibit is that of childhood, and going home.
Also, interesting medium, right?
Karilyo Shadowlab. We were so nervous, at first; we thought we are going to do some kind of acting workshop. Lollll. Actually, it was a play of shadows—just like what we do as kids when electricity’s out, and a small candle is the house’s only source of light.
Isn’t it fascinating how something so mundane in your life is a passion to somebody else’s? And as they talk to you about it, you suddenly begin to see how special that “mundane” thing is.
I’m always, always fascinated with old photos portraying life as it is.
This was my most favorite activity of all—A printmaking workshop. Relief, Intaglio, and Monotype were the three types of print-making that were introduced to us that day.
Relief printing works like stamping. The non-receding surfaces of the plate are also the surfaces that will be printed on the paper. Intaglio is the opposite. Recessed surfaces of the plate receive the ink and will, then, be printed to the paper. Unlike the aforementioned methods, Monotype printing applies the ink to the surface of the plate before making the design. Afterward, the plate will be pressed to the paper like usual.
A hands-on activity followed, and we have to choose one; we chose Intaglio. For Intaglio, a printing plate and a carving tool were provided to the participants; these will serve as the paper and pencil respectively. The deeper the carve in the plate, the stronger the color, and vice versa. After finishing out the designs, the teacher covered each of our plates with ink, and wiped the excess. Finally, for the final act, the plate was compressed on damp paper using a heavy roller. The print was successfully transferred, and we let them dry.
In this very technologically-advanced generation, processes as intricate as these are probably considered too time-consuming.
You can do it with one click anyway.
But I swear, experiencing the complexity of it all, process by process, step by step, flaws included, was worth the time. It makes the art so much easier to appreciate.
That was our final activity for the day.
Or so I thought.
At 4 pm, after attending Pasinaya, we went to Intramuros—Manila’s walled city. It was my first time, and it feels surreal. We were able to visit a lot of museums because, to our luck, it was a day of free access to the museums of Intramuros.
Casa Manila Museum
Jesuit Mission House. Freshly-painted walls that need second coating, dirty glass windows, and floors, and artwork nameplates with no matching artworks. Not at its best that day, but that was how it looked the first time that I saw the Jesuit Mission House. It was a newly-built museum, but since it’s free-access-to-all-museums-in-Intramuros day, visitors were allowed to take a peek. Despite its not being ready for the public, it instantly became my favorite museum. The pieces inside were thought-provoking, sentimental, and haunting.
I was low on battery, so I only have a few photos of the museum. This is a photo of one of the most powerful pieces that I’ve ever seen—a collection of helmets from soldiers. It is such a small and simple piece, yet it already tells so much.
See, all of them were worn out, some even had bullet holes, and some had their signatures and their brief declarations of faith. I wonder what happened to their owners. This is just one of the beautiful pieces inside the Mission House. I won’t talk much. See for yourself.
Morning of February 3rd, I checked my phone half asleep, on the verge of canceling my plans for the day (yet again)—so glad I didn’t. It turned out February 3, 2018 was going to be a nice day.
Side note: This is a very late post. I’m trying to improve my photography nowadays, and I just realized I don’t like--more of, hate--most of my shots here (but I’ll keep them anyway ‘cause I need visuals for this post)
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, 2018 OR I was so excited to watch our group perform, because I missed them so much, that I accidentally snapped this photo. (for some reason my header only shows the top part but yes, this is that picture)
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. #pasinaya2018 #music #latepost #orchestra #pusuanangsining #vscocam #snapseed (at Cultural Center of the Philippines)
This is my third time of attending PASINAYA but the first time that I am not with my theatre mates. It feels a bit strange and sad. I first walked and ran the halls and galleries of CCP with them, the shadow of the past years is still there lurking at every corner.
But this year was different. I went with my college best friends [wish Raquel was there too]. The experience is surreal. We danced to the beat of our excitement. We cried feeling the characters’ sorrows. We laughed in harmony with the rest of the crowd. We breathe the air of arts and culture.
The moments we had, they are gold. I wouldn’t trade it for any jewel in the world.
First time attending Pasinaya. Nakakatuwa na makita na karamihan sa mga pumunta ay kabataan. Isa lamang itong patunay na marami parin sa ating mga kabataan ang tumatangkilik sa magandang cultura, musika at sining ng Pilipinas. #latepost #music #culture #arts #pasinaya2018 #vscocam #snapseed (at Cultural Center of the Philippines)
Despacito... Performed by Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. They made it classy! #pasinaya2018 #pusuanangsining #music #orchestra #popmusic (at Cultural Center of the Philippines)
