MANILA, Philippines - Intramuros Administration celebrates its 32nd Foundation Week ongoing until April 15.
Established in 1979 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1616, the agency is the driving force in the restoration of the Walled City to its pre-war grandeur, and in promoting it as a cultural heritage site.
Marking the start of the festivities, the Intramuros Arts Festival opens at the Intramuros Visitors Center in Fort Santiago. The festival will showcase the works of Rosalinda Roman and Victor Sison in “Bahay Kubo and the Philippine Traditional Houses: Revisited,” a painting and “paintography” exhibit. Paintings depicting old Filipino houses will also be on display, to be mounted by the El Desvan Gallery.
“Intramuros Then and Now,” a photo exhibit by Ed Santiago and the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation Inc., will chronicle the long history of the Walled City.
Art enthusiasts will be coached in on-the-spot sketching by Al Perez and the Thursday Group from 2 to 5 p.m.
The Intramuros Arts Festival will be open to the public. Adding color to the day, the Banda ng Maynila will serenade the public, playing OPM favorites in a concert at Fort Santiago at 4:30 p.m.
Today, a Thanksgiving Mass, followed by the IA Sportsfest awarding ceremonies, will be held at Fort Santiago.
The public is invited to visit Intramuros on April 12 and enjoy free admission to Fort Santiago and Baluarte de San Diego (from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), as well as Casa Manila Museum (from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Tranvia, carruaje and calesa shuttles will also be offered for free, on a first-come, first-served basis.
On April 13, a Livelihood and Tourism Crafts Fair will be held at Plaza San Luis, corner Gen. Luna and Real Sts., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Gawad Kalinga and the Plaza San Luis tenants. Mananzan Handicrafts and Silahis Arts and Artifacts, homegrown arts and handicraft shops in Intramuros will also have special displays at their stores.
At 6 p.m., Intramuros Administration open two exhibits, “Sulyap: A Preview” and “Mula Sa Lumang Bahay,” at Casa Blanca.