Art 2 Art honors cultural icons this month

MANILA, Philippines - This month, Art 2 Art pays tribute to Filipino icons whose names and works have become bywords in Philippine culture. Host and prima ballerina Lisa Macuja, who leads the discussion about these personalities, says, “We also want to highlight in our program artists whose masterpieces we are so familiar with, but perhaps don’t know that much about as persons.”

Aired nationwide every Sunday, 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., on DZRH (666 khz on the AM band), Art 2 Art can be viewed simultaneously on Cablelink cable TV’s Channel 9 and accessed on the Internet through the website http://dzrh.tripod.com.

Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Art 2 Art features the following episodes in its cultural icons series:

Today’s episode will feature Francisco Baltazar, also known as Balagtas. Multi-awarded poet and educator Michael Coroza delves into the background and the social milieu Balagtas grew up in, resulting in signature works like Florante at Laura and Orosman at Zafira that bear themes relevant to this day. Coroza also notes how Balagtas’ works can better be appreciated by the young generation and clears up misconceptions about the literary form called the balagtasan that is often attributed to the 18th century poet.

On Aug. 14, the episode will be on Juan Luna. Prof. Michael Charleston Chua, VP of the Philippine Historical Association and a Juan Luna enthusiast, relates anecdotes about the hero, including his best-known work, the Spoliarium; Luna’s “other” life as a seafarer; and his friendship with national hero Jose Rizal whom he included in several of his paintings. Chua also shares the story behind the controversial purchase of Luna’s painting, The Parisian Life, and the interesting interpretations that have been attached to it.

On Aug. 21, it will be on Constancio de Guzman. Music critic and professor Antonio Hila discusses the man who rendered music to Bayan Ko, a poem originally written by Jose Corazon de Jesus in 1929 and which would become the unofficial anthem of protest rallies in the ’80s. Beyond that trademark hymn, says Hila, De Guzman produced many compositions, among them Ang Tangi Kong Pag-Ibig and Maalaala Mo Kaya, that led him to be called the Dean of Filipino Movie Composers and Musical Directors.

On Aug. 28, Art 2 Art caps the month with a tribute to a National Artist, a monthly feature of the program since it began airing in 2007.

For details, e-mail [email protected] or check out the Facebook account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on Art 2 Art episodes and Ballet Manila performances.