FOR the first time in its 15-year history, Cinemalaya is opening with a four-hour-and-thirty-minute film come August 2 at the CCP Main Theater. Lav Diaz's “Ang Hupa (The Halt)” is the the center of this bold move for the most anticipated film festival in the country. 

This screening is a homecoming of sort for Diaz's “Ang Hupa” after making its world premiere at the prestigious Directors' Fortnight, the non-competition section of Cannes Film Festival, in France early this year. 

The film is set in the year 2034 AD.  Southeast Asia has been in the dark for the last three years, literally, because the sun hasn’t shone as a result of massive volcanic eruptions at the Celebes Sea in 2031. Madmen control countries, communities, enclaves and bubble cities. Cataclysmic epidemics razed over the continent.  Millions have died and millions have left. 
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SINCE its very first staging in Paris in June 1982, Fête de la Musique has become an international phenomenon that continues to promote music through a free-for-all event in more than 700 cities in 120 countries every year.
 
In the Philippines, Fête de la Musique is celebrating its 25th year of showcasing the best of the best in the local music scene, while providing a cross cultural experience between the Filipino and French people thereby forging friendships and building a community.
 
Opening this June 21 and then continuing on June 28 and 29, Fête de la Musique continues its tradition of producing several main stages across Metro Manila and in six other cities all over the country. With the addition of over 50 pocket stages, Fete offers once more a variety of music styles and genres.
 
Filled with new, exciting and meaningful events for everyone, watch out for these at #FetePH25: 

THE Cultural Center of the Philippines and Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. announce the finalists for the Short Film Category of the 2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

From 168 submitted entries, the selection committee, composed of Nick Deocampo, Teddy Co, Milo Sogueco, Alvin Yapan and Law Fajardo, narrowed down the list and confirmed the 10 finalists.

The 10 finalists are:

• “‘Wag Mo Kong Kausapin” by Josef Gacutan
• “Disconnection Notice” by Glenn Lowell Averia
• “Gatilyo”by Harold Lance Pialda
• “Heist School” by Julius Renomeron Jr.
• “Hele ng Maharlika” (Lullaby of the Free) by Norvin de los Santos
• “Kontrolado ni Girly Ang Buhay Niya” by Gilb Baldoza
• “Sa Among Agwat” (In Between Spaces) by Don Senoc
• “Sa Gabing Tanging Liwanag ay Paniniwala” by Francis Amir Guillermo
• “Shoemaker” by Sheron Dayoc
• “Tembong” (Connecting) by Shaira Advincula.

 
Now on its 15th year, the 2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will happen from August 2 to 11 at CCP in Pasay City.

IN this year’s celebration of Women's Month, the Cultural Center of the Philippines will showcase the creativity and talent of women playwrights.

From March 15 to 16, the CCP, in cooperation with Women Playwrights International-Philippines, will host READATHON: Dramatic Reading of Plays by Women 2019 at the Silangan Hall, Cultural Center of the Philippines, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

​“Takot kami dati sa mga Unat.”

This was an overheard statement from an Aeta from an upland community in Limay, Bataan during a group’s Christmas outreach. The elderly woman was referring to lowlanders or Filipinos outside their tribe. Unat is a Filipino word that means someone with straight hair, that differentiate them from Aetas who have curly hair. 

We can’t blame these Aetas, or any other indigenous tribes in the country, for harboring fear toward their fellow Filipinos who have periodically abused and displaced them in the past and even to this day.

A lot has changed, many indigenous peoples (IPs) are now more accepting of us and our ways. Still, it remains our obligation to show these marginalized and underprivileged tribes that they can trust us, and that they can rely on us.
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This can be done by reaching out to them more and by uplifting their lives through our own little yet creative ways big or small, and through random acts of kindness whenever possible. 

ALIN NISA was among the 720,000 Rohingya who fled persecution and violence in Myanmar last year. When her village was attacked, she and her family was forced to escape in the dead of the night at 3 a.m.
 
They had nothing but the clothes on their back. With her husband, mother-in-law and two young children, she crossed mountains and rivers. Along the journey, they walked across water-logged paddy fields, in torrential rain, sometimes through the night.
 
After a perilous journey of 10 days and 102 kilometers, they arrived at the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh. 

Now safe in Bangladesh, the family has built a shelter, using plastic sheeting and bamboo - all provided by  the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). They also received a cooking kit, mats and blankets.

FOR two weekends of October, audiences near and far Bonifacio Global City in Taguig were treated to the Filipino musical talent spanning all genres and decades.

​Over a hundred solo artists, bands and icons played in celebration of original Pilipino music at this extraordinary festival co-curated by Moy Ortiz, Noel Ferrer and new National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab. 

Here are some of the performances we caught at the Maybank Theater of the BGC Arts Center: 
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FOR their significant contribution to the development of Philippine arts and culture, seven Filipinos were bestowed the highest honor given to our artists.

Visual artist Lauro “Larry” Alcala, theater advocate Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio, music master Raymund “Ryan” Cayabyab, filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, architect Francisco Mañosa, and literary writers Resil Mojares and Ramon Muzones were conferred as National Artists by President Rodrigo Duterte last October 24 at Rizal Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace.

Know more about these exemplary individuals: 
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​“THEY’RE heavy!”
 
This was the rejection I received as an outdoor enthusiast and aspiring mountaineer when I once suggested to include potatoes in a soup dish for a dinner at camp.

But had I known by then how potatoes could provide enough nutrition to pump up the hike’s next leg, I would have insisted—like Princess Sarah always does for her “patatas.”

IN Japan, Japanese women both young and old would be seen wearing the kimono whether casually on the streets or formally on occasions. This, a millennia after its invention.

The “prototype” kimono was first worn as early as the 8th century during the Heian period (794-1192). By the 18th century during the Meiji period (1868-1912), the kimono we knew today came to be.
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Meanwhile in the Philippines, the equivalent terno, a beautifully silhouetted gown featuring the iconic butterfly sleeves, can only be seen on stages of beauty pageants orfashion shows. In recent times, during the State of Nation Address. This even if it is much younger traditional dress.