Art 2 Art episodes this month

MANILA, Philippines - Art 2 Art, 2009 Catholic Mass Media awardee for Best Educational Program on Radio, continues to bring “usapang sining at kultura para sa lahat” this month as host-prima ballerina Lisa Macuja interviews personalities from various art disciplines.

Aired nationwide Sundays, 3:30 to 4 p.m., on dzRH, Art 2 Art can be viewed simultaneously on Cablelink’s Channel 9 and accessed via dzrh.tripod.com.

Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Art 2 Art features the following episodes:

     Today, Oct. 3 — Classical pianist Ingrid Sala Santamaria shares how she is discovering the wonders of the Internet, having posted over 200 of her performances there which have gotten feedback worldwide. A passionate music educator, Santamaria spearheaded a 10-year Music Development Program that resulted in the Cebu Youth Symphony, now known as the Peace Philharmonic Philippines. Since 2000, she has undertaken an outreach educational program series with maestro Reynaldo Reyes that has featured them in over 400 concerts in the Philippines and key cities abroad.

Oct. 10 — Ryan Palad, manager of the GSIS Museo ng Sining, invites listeners to visit the museum which offers a wealth of artworks for viewing. The collection includes Juan Luna’s The Parisian Life, which is said to have gained “rock-star status” because of the many people who have come to see it. Palad recalls the controversy behind the painting’s acquisition and explains why the Luna masterpiece is particularly significant. He also talks about the GSIS Art Competition and how it has served as a venue for exposure for the country’s budding artists.

Oct. 17 — Stage actor and director Michael Williams relates his experiences as part of the pioneering group of Filipinos featured in the musical Miss Saigon in the late ‘80s. Coming back to the Philippines, he continued with his career by appearing in numerous stage productions. He has since established Theater Down South and has found a welcoming audience in the southern part of Metro Manila.

Oct. 24 — Author Abdon “Jun” Balde talks about his career shift from being an engineer of over three decades to a full-fledged writer. Since making the transition in 1999, Jun has never looked back. He is known as the oldest first-time winner of a Palanca Award (at age 57) and has notched other honors including two National Book Awards and the 2009 Southeast Asian Writer Award. Currently the chairman of Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas, Balde — who writes poetry, essays and novels — handles simultaneous projects to meet his goal of publishing one book per year.

Oct. 31 – To cap the month, Art 2 Art pays tribute to a national artist, as it has every last Sunday of the month for the past three years. The show presents National Artists as positive role models who have devoted their lives to the advancement of art and culture.