This activity was just a spur of the moment decision. (Thank you ABC for bringing it to my attention!) But when we got there, I know I was very happy that we were all there to experience this unique cornucopia of the arts!
From the CCP website
"Dubbed as the biggest one day multi-arts festival in the country, PASINAYA 2011 opens the National Arts Month festivities with a harvest of performing arts productions. On Sunday, February 6, from 8 in the morning to 7 in the evening, the public can choose from over 120 performances from the nation’s different performing arts groups at a “See all you can, Pay what you can” scheme.
Every possible venue at the CCP will be used –theaters, lobbies, hallways, promenade areas, the alley beside the Production Design Center, and will be “zoned” according to the genres of music, theater, dance, film, literature, visual arts, children and family, variety and the artists' market. "
When we were in the CCP, the atmosphere was so happy and festive. So many people! I enjoyed the vibe of all these art lovers there. This was proof positive that the love of the arts among Filipinos in these difficult times is definitely not dead. When you look at the schedule of activities, you cannot help but be overwhelmed in deciding on what to do first. All of this was for a minimum donation of P20 per person only.
We arrived at around 11am already. There were dance presentations in the lobby fronting the Main Theater that attracted the kids' attention. However, my first priority was to visit the (Musical)Instrument Petting Zoo organized and presented by the UST Symphony Orchestra. We missed the lecture part when we got to the venue which was on the fourth floor. My kids enjoyed learning and trying out the drums, marimba, tuba, bassoon, French horn and the viola.
After late lunch at the Army Navy Burger place, we went to line up for the concert of the a String Ensemble, I think this was from the UP Orchestra, but I am not sure because I did not hear them introduced. This was held at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater). The musicians were all very young and talented. I posted a short video HERE.
My must-see of the day was a concert called "All for Love" featuring the Philippine Madrigal Singers at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater). The line was so long, and we narrowly got in. There were those who queued in the wrong line whose tempers flared when they were denied entrance. There were simply too many people who wanted to see the Madz, and why not? Their acapella numbers were simply fantastic, and with a sense of humor, too. I posted videosHERE and HERE.
Our family split up after that, while my wife and boys went to the Kids Zone in the CCP Library, I went with my daughter who wanted to catch a play. Well, so with hundreds more people. We waited for almost an hour it felt before we finally got into the Teatro Huseng Batute (Studio Theater). We did not even know what play we were getting into anymore. Luckily, it was a preview of the noted zarzuela"Walang Sugat" as presented by Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, Inc. It was only an excerpt of three of the songs but we got the gist of the story. My daughter liked the funny banter between Julia's mom and Miguel's dad. An excerpt of a love duet by the protagonists Julia and Temyong is postedHERE.
After the play, we then met up with the my wife and boys at the CCP Library for some Storytellingcare of the very lively Alitaptap Storytellers. They told two stories for the kids. One solo, one in tandem. The kids found the whole activity very funny.
This whole day has been very good exposure for my kids in the arts, specifically in Filipino music, dance and literature. Now that we know that the Pasinaya exists, we will surely be checking this special every year here on in. This will be our yearly family tradition. But next time I will probably go for the P100 donation per person to get priority fast lanes to save time and to surely get into performances we like.
An album with our pictures in this whole day activity is posted HERE.
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