Big arts festival set on Feb. 6

MANILA, Philippines –  Pasinaya 2011, the biggest one-day multi-arts festival in the country, opens National Arts Month festivities on Sunday, Feb. 6, from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening. The public can choose from over 120 performances from the nation’s best performing arts groups at a “pay what you can, see all you can” scheme.

More than 2,000 artists from dance, music, theater, visual arts, literature and cinema will be taking part in the festivities to be led by the resident companies of the Cultural Center of the Philippines – Ballet Philippines, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the UST Symphony Orchestra, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Tanghalang Pilipino, Bayanihan Philippines, Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, Philippine Ballet Theater and the winners of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists.

In a whole day of preview performances, the highlight will be a tribute to national hero and artist Jose Rizal at the People’s Gala in the evening to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary. A 1,000-voice choir will perform Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios which was set to music by Ryan Cayabyab. Among the featured choirs are award winners Imusicapella, Tarlac State University, Our Lady of Fatima University Chorale, Hiyas ng Pilipinas Children’s Choir, Sta. Teresita Parish Chorale, Woodrose Chorale and the Quezon City Performing Arts Dev’t Foundation, Inc. (QCPADFI) Choir.

Every venue at the CCP will be used – theaters, lobbies, hallways, promenade areas, the alley beside the Production Design Center – and these will be “zoned” according to the genres of music, theater, dance, film, literature, visual arts, children and family, variety and the artists’ market.

The event also features crash workshops (“Learn How to Sing in 15 Minutes” with the Madrigal Singers), activities for children and families (Instrument Petting Zoo with the UST Symphony; Storytelling), an artists’ market (Sining Butingting: Artistic Knicknacks), multimedia exhibits (NET25 television programs about the CCP) and an opening parade. 50 percent discount coupons to selected upcoming shows at the CCP will be offered during the day.

More than 6,000 people are expected to attend. A limited number of priority passes will be on sale for P100 each. For more information, visit the CCP website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph  or call the Performing Arts Department at 832-1125 local 1600 – 1607.