Int'l Theater Institute elects Phl one of 19 members / Gerodias, Espiritu to sing

The following is a report on the 33rd International Theatre Institute Congress’ general assembly in China.

At the 33rd International Theatre Institute Congress in a general assembly representing the theatre community in 100 countries, the Philippines through Cecille Guidote-Alvarez was elected in its 19-member executive council.

PETA founder, Guidote-Alvarez, is the youngest Filipina Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Public Service in the Arts, a UN Human Rights Day Awardee for Cultural Innovation and a UNESCO Artist for Peace Awardee. She has also been elected president of the ITI Committee for Cultural Identity and Development. At the closing ceremony, besides the Chinese ITI Center receiving thunderous applause for hosting the 33rd Congress, with the theme “Empowering Performing Arts, A Journey to ‘Xiqu’ (The Chinese Musical Theatre Tradition)”, the Philippine ITI Center was singled out with a commendation.

The Philippine ITI Center’s Dr. Vilma Labrador, chairman, and Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, president, were honored with a special citation each for Excellence and Appreciation for “its pursuing humanistic and artistic educational goals of the ITI”. The ITI was especially cited for convening the Asian Regional Theatre Council to initiate an Asian Performing Arts Award. It also acknowledged the Philippine Center for having successfully initiated the visit of UNESCO Director General Bokova who inaugurated the Philippine ITI Earthsavers as the 6th in the world, honored as UNESCO DREAM Center with the Creativity-Cultural Diversity Dialogue among Legislative and Executive leaders, NGO and media representatives which the director general presided.

The Earthsavers DREAM Methodology of Development, Rehabilitation and Education through Arts, Media, Science, Sports is profiled in the UNESCO website as a global model that reaches out with cultural caregiving to vulnerable groups. These include refugee centers for victims of armed conflict and environmental disasters, the differently-abled, the persons in difficult circumstances, in prison and drug rehabilitation centers and hospitals, the sick, especially children, indigenous communities, people suffering trauma, centers of abused women and children as well as responding to the needs of those in diaspora. The Philippine ITI Center is also credited for expanding the Communications Committee with a video modeling of broadcast theatre complement to publications made possible in part by PAGCOR.

Besides Alvarez, the Philippine delegation exceptionally encapsulized a wide-range of artistic talents with social commitment to the country. Elected as vice-president for the ITI Festival Committee was Dr. Labrador and Prof. Nick Lizaso for Educational Theatre. Also elected into the varied committees were Fray Paolo Casurao and Fray Robert in the Monodrama Committee and Playwrights Forum, Frank Rivera and Lutgardo Labad in the Music Theatre Committee, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Gigi Velarde-David for Dance Committee, Wally Tuyan was a participant in the New Theatre Project. Dr. Isagani Cruz, secretary general of Philippine ITI is involved in the Dramatic Theatre Committee now renamed Artist Forum. In the Communications are CJ Andaluz of Pixel Media Arts and KWF Chairman Jose Laderas Santos who has pushed for comics as a genre of illustrated theatre.

The Philippine delegation likewise visited the ancestral village where former President Corazon Aquino had planted a tree and most recently her son President Benigno Aquino III also planted his own tree. Together with the village chairman and the Consul General Abello Angelito Cruz, a special edition report on the 33rd ITI Congress was broadcast on the TeleRadyo version of DZRH Radio Balintataw on October 3-5, 9 to 9:30 p.m.

Lauda concerts

The Lauda concert series, marking the inauguration of the Corazon C. Aquino Hall of St. Scholastica College, is a tribute to SSC alumnae and friends who made the building possible. The first concert last Oct. 2 featured duo-pianists Della Gamboa Besa and Ana Maria Gregorio, the second last Oct. 9 featured violinist Joseph Brian Cimafranca, violinist Rey Casey Concepcion and cellist Giancarlo Gonzales; the third on Oct. 16 will feature violinist Regina Medina and pianist Mary Anne Espina. All concerts are for 4 p.m.

Charity auction

On Oct. 20 at 5 p.m., a charity auction of 100 religious items will be held at the Parish Center of the Santuario de San Antonio, Makati. Proceeds will go to the renovation of the Parish Center and to its outreach programs. John Silva will be the auctioneer.

Joey Soriano, president of the Parish Council has already raised P11.5 million on his own but the auction still has to raise P3.5 million to fully achieve the Parish Center’s objectives.

Committee members are Letty Syquia, Marrot Moreno, Lita Ascalon, Jun Alvendia, Lucille Villanueva, Milette Ocampo, Mike Limpe, Carina Lebron (vice-chairman), Maritess Pineda, Margie M. Florendo, Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier, Mariano Olbes and Kit Roxas.

Casa y Jardin Bazaar

The CWC’s Casa y Jardin Bazaar will be on Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Intercon ballroom.

R. Gerodias, A. Espiritu to sing

Leading singers Rachelle Gerodias, soprano, La Scala tenor Arthur Espiritu, baritone Andrew Fernando and tenor Lemuel de la Cruz will render operatic arias, popular classics and Broadway songs tonight at 8 at the CCP main theater. Tenor George Yang will be the special guest artist.