Culture crash

Three hundred performances, 5,000 artists, 13 venues, 12 hours of roughly 32-degree heat, and one massive complex spelled out the astounding numbers game of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ recently concluded Pasinaya Festival 2012. No, it hadn’t crossed our social radar the way Laneway did, or Avicii, or the latest cover of Rogue magazine. But statistics alone spoke of the incredible success and reception of the ”largest multi-arts festival” to ever hit the country.

De La Salle College of Saint Benilde’s Coro San Benildo clocks in a last minute rehearsal before they take to the stage Photo by CALVIN CHENG

Last year’s Pasinaya enjoyed a 12,000-strong attendance. They saw an even greater turnout this year. From aficionados to the average Curious George, audiences took to the halls of the CCP, permeating themselves from the illustrious Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, to the more modest Tanghalang Huseng Batute and Bulwagang Amado Hernandez, to the even more modest and fluorescent-lit CCP Library for up-to-the-minute performances by artists and performing arts groups from all over the country. I literally had to do a Diner Dash around the massive CCP complex to catch as much of the whole-day festival as I could. “I am but one man, with two eyes” — probably the thought running through everyone’s minds that day. But with a measly sum of P20 for an all-access pass to CCP, seriously, how can you go wrong?

Jasmine Pia Dames performs a crowd-pleasing contemporary dance Photo by SHANICE GARCIA

The Cultural Center of the Philippines, a government-owned and controlled corporation tasked to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the country via Ferdinand Marcos’ Executive Order No. 30, showcased everything from poetic and aural readings by Lourd de Verya, to whole-day screenings of cinematic shorts at the Dream Theater, to excerpts of buzz-worthy shows from Virgin Labfest’s Kafatiran, Sipat Lawin Ensemble’s Battalia Royale, PETA’s William, and Tanghalang Pilipino’s Bombita.

To quote CCP artistic director Chris Millado in a previous interview for The STAR, these activities had been part and parcel of the their efforts to reach out to more communities, provide the four walls for savory Pinoy talent, and appropriate a freer and more welcoming CCP.

Hanapbuhay, a Cinemalay 2011 short was shown at the CCP Dream Theater

Standouts in this year’s Pasinaya included NAMCYA winners Monica Amanda Gana and Jasmine Pia Dames who gave rousing performances in the contemporary dance category at the CCP Main Theater, Samantha Lee’s Agos which bagged first place at the 23rd Gawad CCP para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, Debut — a haunting Cinemalaya short by Pamela Reyes which literally sent chills up and down my spine, Iloilo Prima Galaw’s The Dog Eaters, and the Lipa Actors Company’s Ang Luha ni Kumintang which had forward-thinking direction and choreography by Lui Nario, reminiscent of theater luminary Dexter Santos’ revolutionary work.

Sipat Lawin Ensemble performs excerpts from their critically-acclaimed Battalia Royale Photo by SHANICE GARCIA

If last Sunday was any indication of the sleeping giant’s growing affluence in the burgeoning arts and culture scene, then we can probably expect more participants, more excitement, and more things to come for Pasinaya 2013.

PUP’s Dulaang Suhayfil performs Sa Piling Ng Mga Bituin Photo by CALVIN CHENG