February is arts month / Spotlight on Betsy, JoeCon / Rod Smith presents concert

Vilma Labrador and Cecile Guidote Alvarez, NCCA chairperson and executive director, respectively, have labored long and hard readying the February arts festival. The press conference presaged how lively indeed the month will be with the Ati-Atihan, a higante, kalesas, a tranvia stalling traffic on the way to Barbara’s Restaurant where a mini-arts festival presented a Spanish-influenced dance, folk dances (following the stylization of Leonor Orosa Goquingco), the kundiman, Na-saan ka Irog, ethnic and contemporary songs with 2009 World Champion Ralph Salazar rendering the latter.

The spirited and dynamic Cecile said that the arts unify and educate, fight poverty and corruption, and bring peace. Just how the Philippines rates in the arts may be gleaned from the fact that it has been chosen the ASEAN cultural capital for 2010-2011.

As such, our country will host the best artists from ASEAN countries in Ani ng Sining as the Arts Festival enters its 19th year. Local groups will entertain various sectors in Manila and the provinces with Sayaw Pinoy, Tanghal, musicals, and films. The tours, Cecile adds, “aim to raise awareness and to discover artists whose talents are left untapped owing to the lack of venues.”

CCP resident companies and more than a thousand performers will present “Pasinaya 2010” on Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Roxas Boulevard. CCP invites all.

Tribute to JoeCon

Last Thursday, the Foundation for Lay Education on Heart Diseases honored chairman Jose S. Concepcion with Imelda O. Cojuangco’s presentation of “How to Remain Young at Heart” which aimed to teach heart care through the musical drama. Music was by Jeremiah Calisang; lyrics and libretto by Dr. Adolfo Bellosillo who incredibly finds time to write these. Featured were mezzo soprano Jai Sabas Aracama, tenors Calisang and Ervin Lumauag, the UP Concert Chorus and the Philippine Ballet Theater. The brilliant US-based cardiologist Dr. Alejandro R. Prieto, guest of honor, gave a lecture.

Spanish cello duo

Instituto Cervantes will present cellists Marta Roma and Iñaki Etxepare who will recite the poems of Miguel Hernandez while performing on their instruments. The blending of music and poetry will be on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.

Betsy, co-artists donate works

It was from celebrated artist Betsy Westendorp that I learned about RSI (Restoring Sight International) which Dr. Felipe Tolentino heads as president and Dr Roland Houle as chairman. Dr. Tolentino disclosed that 40,000 in the country need surgery for cataract. What are its principal causes? Lack of nutrition and too much sunlight.

Surgeons headed by Drs. Tolentino and Houle will operate on people with cataract. To raise the needed funds, Betsy, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Merit, National Artist Ben Cab, Valeria Cavestany, Duddley Diaz, Ramon Diaz and Impy Pilapil have donated paintings. The exhibition and sale of these will be on Feb. 3, 6 p.m., at the Turf Room of the Manila Polo Club, and will be curated by Silvana Diaz.

Aussie didgeridoo music

Personable Australian Ambassador Rod Smith — he towers at six feet four inches (or more) — had the press listening to didgeridoo virtuoso and composer William Barton who described his music as ethnic European and ethnic Australian. Mr. Smith said the music is part of Australia’s vibrant and rich mix of migrant cultures. From the aboriginal didgeridoo — a tree trunk made hallow by termites — emanates music centered on the elements of Earth, Wind, Water and Fire; it evokes sounds of the wild, of the forest and its animals. At the fascinating and unique concert, it was played alternately with an electric guitar and accompanied by the classic Orava string quartet made of young siblings — violinists Daniel and Sylvia, and cellist Karol Kowalik, and violist Thomas Chawner.

“Celebrate Australia 2010” includes a glass exhibit of works by eight renowned glass artists at the Ayala Museum from Jan. 27 to Feb. 26.

To Nomer Son: I know the plot of Rigoletto. In fact, I have been listening to records of it, e.g., the quartet Bella Figlia dell’Amore since I was a child. The duet is between the hunchback and his daughter Gilda. The rest of the concert duets were romantic.