February is National Arts Month. And every February, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) holds its annual "Pasinaya Open House Festival" event. This year is our first time to attend.
As usual, it was my hubby Pepe who had planned for us to attend the fun event. Since he is the most artistically inclined in the family, he had really wanted us to go there. So off we went to the CCP last February 4, a Saturday. The event featured free art workshops. For only ₱50.00, one was entitled to attend different venues within the CCP to attend 30-minute workshops in dance, music, and other arts-related classes. My hubby's intention was to make our children fall in love with the arts. =) =)
It was just my second visit to the CCP. The first was was last August when I watched the documentary "Yaman" which featured my husband. It was also Krystal and Mómay's second time to visit. Their first was last October when their dad encouraged them to try it out in a casting call/open audition for the 2016 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and Competition.
When we got there early in the morning, there was already a long queue which we really didn't expect. We realized that the event was going to be a big hit. At least, we knew right there and then that there are still several arts and culture lovers in Filipinas. =)
Since we have a two-year-old toddler with us, we did not spend too much time falling in line. The organizers were considerate enough to let us through immediately. Thank you so much, CCP! =) =)
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| Can you spot us? ☺ |
Since we have a two-year-old toddler with us, we did not spend too much time falling in line. The organizers were considerate enough to let us through immediately. Thank you so much, CCP! =) =)
Our first stop was the Baby Ballet workshop which we intended for Junífera Clarita. It was held inside the Bulwagang Francisca Reyes-Aquino. Unfortunately, she didn't want to join the ballet no matter how hard we tried to encourage her. She got too shy. But we understood because it was her first time to join a group of total strangers. And she was also the youngest in class. Anyway, she got to watch the ballet workshop, and it's a good exposure for her.
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| Junífera Clarita on her father's lap with Juanito seated beside them as they observe Teacher Ela's ballet class for babies. |
After the workshop, I got to meet the teacher, Ela Rodríguez of Ballet Philippines. She shared to me that it's normal for four-year-old children to not dance the first time they join dance classes like ballet. Some even cry. But Junífera Clarita didn't cry nor did she throw any tantrum. Teacher Ela was surprised when I told her that Junífera Clarita is just two-years old! She thought our baby girl was much older.
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| With Teacher Ela after the ballet workshop for toddlers. |
Teacher Ela's ballet class was very interesting and fun to watch. The kids who joined the workshop appeared to already know the basics of ballet, but they still learned some new moves for only less than an hour. I'm now thinking of enrolling Junífera Clarita in one of her classes. Why not? If only I had extra time coz my four other kids go to school.
For our next stop, hubby and our three boys split ways. Daddy Pepe attended the session for percussion instruments at the Silañgan Hall which was facilitated by Tusa Montes while Mómay, Jefe, and Juanito attended the "Arts Expression for Peace" facilitated by stage actor and TV personality Abner "Kuya Art" Delina, Jr. and the multi-arts group Black Canvas inside the Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining.
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| Tusa teaching techniques in playing percussion instruments. |
All the seats inside the Silañgan Hall were already occupied when we arrived, so we just stayed at the back. My hubby Pepe was once a musician. He used to play the guitar and have organized a few rock bands in the past. In fact, he was once the musical director of our alma mater's theater group, Tinik ng Teatro. I remember one performance of theirs. He and the members of his musical group were able to play an ethnic production number using only junk materials, and he was the percussionist using a large plastic bottle!
My hubby didn't finish the percussion workshop because we had to wait for our three boys from their own workshop under Kuya Art. We were not allowed to peek inside the room during the session, but we were allowed to take photos afterwards. Our three boys came out of the workshop with much excitement on their faces. And as I write this blogpost while reviewing the handouts provided by the CCP staff, I found out that certain workshops have age limits. For example, the Arts Expression for Peace has an age limit from six to twelve years old. I checked the age limit for the Baby Ballet: it's three to five years old! No wonder Teacher Ela was surprised when I told her Junífera Clarita's age, hehehe!
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| Juanito, Jefe, and Mómay right across Kuya Art (photo courtesy of Black Canvas). |
The last workshop was for Krystal. Since she loved dancing, she chose "Just Dance Hiphop" facilitated by Priscilla de la Cruz who is also from Ballet Philippines. The queue for this workshop was the longest because most of the participants were millennials, and many millennials love to dance. Unfortunately, Krystal did not make it. The dance workshop had limited participants. Actually, the number of participants is limited only up to forty, but since so many had wanted to join, the organizers allowed more to join. Those who were not picked were allowed to watch behind the participants, so at least we still had the chance "to groove" a little bit with them, hehehe! Oh, it was just me who was grooving, not Krystal, hahaha! Dont you worry, mi hija. You dance better, and so by just watching the workshop from the outside, I knew that you were still able learn and you enjoyed!
Since Krystal had a dental appointment in the afternoon, we were not able to attend the other workshops. We left by lunchtime, but not without taking pictures of ourselves in front of CCP's well-known façade.
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| Click here for the complete photo album! |
On our way to Krystal's dentist, I remember something that she told me when we were still at the CCP, that she wanted to go there every week if possible. Wow! For the lover of arts, that's something that's expected of them to say. So for you guys who love the arts, you have a special place that you can call your second home. And for those who are not that fond of the arts or who are just starting to appreciate it, feel free to visit the CCP. Every corner of the CCP is filled with art.
Before I end this, I want to share something funny: towards the end of one video clip, I accidentally referred to the CCP as "PICC" (Philippine International Convention Center), hahaha! It's because they both sound the same and are at the same site. Anyway, thanks to our late President Ferdinand Marcos (may he rest in peace) who established the CCP, our arts and culture has a patron and a home where they continue to live and inspire. ☺
Let's teach our youngsters to appreciate culture and the arts. Let's expose them to this wonderful world instead of bringing them to malls. Let's go back again and again to the Cultural Center of the Philippines! =) =)
—Yeyette—
DID YOU KNOW? The Tagálog word "Pasinaya" means "debut" or "inauguration" in English. ☺
