Focus on Spanish at IC, Cultural diversity at CCP

The Instituto Cervantes headed by director Jose R. Rodriguez has sent out the following announcement relating to Dia del Espanol activities scheduled for today, June 20, to which the public is invited.

Your favorite word. This is a video contest wherein people will upload videos in eldiae.es explaining their favorite words. The public will vote on which among their uploaded words are their favorite. The one whose word gets the most votes will win a prize. Submit a video and get a free henna tattoo of your favorite Spanish word.

The word that lasts. (From 10 a.m.) There will be creatively designed walls on which everyone can write his thoughts — in Spanish, of course. The first 50 participants will get free Instituto Cervantes shirts. Come at 10 a.m. for a good chance to get one.

Painting words. (From 10 a.m.) This is a colorful way of learning Spanish words which children will enjoy. The free coloring activity is sponsored by Faber Castell.

Interactive words. (From 10 a.m.) This will involve giant word games like Scrabble, Word Hunt and Magnetic poetry.

Rain of words. (11 a.m.) A canon will be shooting out words along with a shower of balloons and confetti and free Instituto Cervantes T-shirts. This will be featured on the main Spanish TV news program, Telediario.

Eating words. (From 11 a.m.) Gastronomic games will feature edible Spanish words made by Barcelo Café from La Consolacion College.

Living words. (11:30 a.m.) This is an entertaining showcase of inter-school talents wherein contestants will choose their favorite Spanish word and express its meaning through a performance, whether in song, dance, or any front act. The grand prize is P5,000.

Words and music. (12:30 p.m.) Silly People’s Improve Theatre  (S.P.I.T.) will entertain guests with smart humor while musicians play on the loft.

A 10% discount will be given students who enroll for Spanish courses on El Dia de Español.

Cultural Diversity

To re-discover our heritage and experience the harmonies that can be created amidst cultural diversity, the Cartwheel Foundation, Inc. and the CCP will present “Reconnecting with Our Roots: A Cultural Exchange” — a musical concert celebrating cultural dialogue without barriers — on June 21, 6 p.m. at the CCP Little Theater. An exhibit will be opened for viewing at 3 p.m. before the show.

“Reconnecting with Our Roots” aims to enable indigenous youth to know and appreciate their unique culture and identity, and to express themselves through music and art. The program includes an inventive exchange workshop between indigenous communities, and Cartwheel’s partner, Cultures in Harmony (formerly Music for the People), an American group composed of young, classically-trained musicians who foster cross-cultural dialogue through the universal language of music.

Established in 1999, Cartwheel Foundation works with people all over the country providing them access to education relevant and culturally appropriate to their realities.

Every year since 2007, Cultures in Harmony comes to the Philippines to conduct the exchange workshops with one indigenous community, delving into various pressing local and universal issues such as identity, tradition and modernity. The workshop also produces original compositions through the collaboration of the indigenous community and Cultures in Harmony.

Together, Filipino indigenous tribes, American classical musicians and Metro Manila young musicians will create “the melody of self-determination, cultural dialogue and peace.” Theirs will be the continuing story of revisiting roots and bridging cultures with performances by the Tala-Andig Tribe of Miarayon, Bukidnon, the Umajam Tribe of Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, the Ichananaw Tribe of Tinglayan, Kalinga, Cultures in Harmony, St. Scholastica’s College School of Music, and Philippine Research for Developing Instrumental Soloists (Predis).

Floy Quintos directs the program.