Tareptepan Arts and Music Fest in Baler

MANILA, Philippines - A summit for artistic exchange to promote tradition and innovation in arts is being spearheaded by former Sen. Edgardo Angara and maestro Ryan Cayabyab.

Billed as Tareptepan Arts and Music Festival, the summit will be held from June 28 to 29 in Baler, Aurora. It is being envisioned to be an annual event to also showcase the skills of Baler’s local artists as well as inspire the youth to continue engaging in the arts.

The festival name was culled from the local word tareptep which means ripples that are created with the slightest touch of fingers upon contact on water. The concept encapsulates the festival where the local artists are bound to create their ripples and let their arts radiate for all the world to see.

At the two-day festival, Cayabyab will facilitate the following workshops: Elements Presentation and Workshop (open to young singer-songwriters ages 18 to 35. Those who will pass the auditions will be brought to Dumaguete for free to join a five-day camp); Akapella Open Presentation and Workshop (open to choirs and chorale enthusiasts who will also get on-the-spot diagnostics and workshops from the maestro); and Philpop Presentation and Workshop (a presentation of Philpop Musicfest Foundation and workshop on songwriting open to all songwriters of all ages).

A paper cut art and visual arts workshop will be facilitated by Sinag de Leon, while painting workshops will be headlined by the Dimadimalangat artists in the same occasion. A food fair and exhibit will also form part of the overall program showcasing the best that Baler and the province of Aurora has to offer.

Each night is capped by a cultural presentation and a concert event featuring artists from Baler and Manila, including Blue Island, Naomi Aoki, June Marieezy, Himig Malaya, Indio I, Lawiswis Kawayan, Blackmoon, Cosmic Love, Flippin’ Soul Stompers and Sinosikat. The concerts are to be held at the Bahia Pavilion open area. Overall stage production is by Curve Entertainment.

The festival is being sponsored by Smart Infinity, San Miguel Corp., Zest-O, Oishi, Metrobank Foundation, Inc., Philippine Art Awards, Boysen, Sonia Trading, Costa Pacifica, Genesis Transport and Coca Cola Corp.