Arts across borders

The American Embassy took its turn focusing on the arts jointly with the International Visitors Program Alumni Foundation and the CCP. In his invitational letter, Cultural Affairs Officer Dr. Thomas J. Kral wrote that artists and art lovers would gather to advocate unity and peace in a program titled Arts across Borders.

In his speech, CCP President Nestor Jardin said: "In this simple gathering (at the CCP lobby), we hope to introspect and contemplate through music, dance, theater and poetry our common aspirations. As a leveling force, the arts could dissolve differences in pursuit of a common goal."

When I arrived, "Silence My Soul" by Francisco Feliciano was being intoned in the lobby which was then lit only by candles. A surprise and delight was the moving song rendition by Karen Kelly, US cultural attaché, of Keith Rutledge’s My Peace I Give You with concert pianist Greg Zuniega assisting. Later, Greg played F. Buencamino’s Mayon Concerto Fantasy, powerfully evoking the volcano’s various moods as also a devastating eruption.

Naim Solaiman bonded by chanting lines from the Koran which, basically, seemed no different from Christian beliefs. Ifugao chants (the Hudhod) were sung by AILMC mixed group to the compelling choreography by Ernest Hojilla, with Ruben Chua as movement annotator. The chanting was as eloquent as the dancing.

Ballet Philippines kids depicted children in time of war – playing, rollicking amidst its daunting risks. Representing American humor, The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss, dramatically read by Irma A. Marasigan, revolved around whether bread should be eaten with the buttered side up or down. Beneath the whimsy, the satire symbolized the pettiness and triviality of controversies among peoples and nations.

Luz Morete beautifully sang a mother’s dirge, a poem in English by Ophelia Dimalanta translated into Tagalog by Virgilio Almario. With grace and verve, Donna Miranda danced traditional flamenco to the guitar accompaniment of Perf de Castro; Christian Caragayan interpreted J. Pachelbel’s Canon in D Minor on the harp. Repeatedly applauded during performance was Atchek, an Indonesian game song rendered by the AILMC group. Dynamic, vigorous, innovative and closely coordinated movements made the song arresting, with the colors of the costumes heightening the dramatic synchronization.

Ballet Philippines kids – pliant, energetic and graceful – made a fitting close of Agnes Locsin’s enchanting choreography and Joey Ayala’s music, the young being the future caretakers of peace and unity. In sum, the fascinating program, conceptualized by Herbert Go, with Eric Cruz as production designer, showed the diverse influences on our culture from pre-Hispanic to Hispanic and American.

Meaningful speeches were given by filmmaker Laurice Guillen-Feleo and Justice Zenaida Elepaño. A merienda of regional dishes followed, with Chito Sobrepeña, VIP president, paying tribute to Dr. Kral and gifting him with a sculptured work by Impy Pilapil. Among US Embassy officials present were Ronald Post, public affairs officer, and Rebekah Dramé, assistant cultural attaché.