9 Reasons You Should Not Miss The Pasinaya This Year

WHETHER you are quite new in the arts, a casual fan or an art aficionado, you will surely find something that will catch your attention at the Pasinaya 2019, the largest multi-arts festival in the country organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Now on its 15th year, the CCP Open House Festival follows the theme “Karapatan, Kalayaan, Kultura,” putting the spotlight on basic human rights, freedom and cultures and how they can help in community development and nation building.

Through the Pasinaya, the CCP aims to provide a platform for the artists to showcase their talents, nurture the public and create new audiences through interactions and performances. For the past years, the Pasinaya has become bigger and better, attracting more than 27,000 people, with approximately 75,000 audience viewership. Through the festival, CCP makes art matters in the life of every Filipino.

Here are the reasons why you should not miss the Pasinaya and should visit the CCP:

1. UPSIZED CELEBRATION

Since the festival has grown leaps and bounds, the CCP has decided to make the open house festival not just a weekend affair, and added another day. This year, the Pasinaya is slated from February 1 to 3, 2019.

2. MORE SHOWS, MORE FUN

With a see-all-you-can-and-pay-what-you-can scheme, you can watch unlimited shows as much as you want. More than 3,000 artists from different art fields such as music, theater, dance, spoken word, and visual arts are expected to participate.

Also, you can “experience-all-you-can, pay-what-you-can” at the Palihan on February 1. For a suggested donation price of P50, participants may go in and out of the different CCP venues to attend the 30-minute workshops in various art disciplines conducted by leading artists, resource persons and teachers. Registration starts at 6:30am, at the CCP Ramp and Little Theater lobby.

3. BEST OF THE REGIONS

The second day of the festival, February 2, is dedicated to performing groups and individuals from the different provinces of the Philippines. Expect the Palabas to showcases performances and cultural shows from Bulacan, Quezon, Boracay Laguna, Cavite, Tarlac, Batangas, Bicol, Rizal, Pangasinan and other provinces.

4. WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCES

CCP resident companies - Ballet Philippines, Philippine Ballet Theater, Philippine Madrigal Singers, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, Tanghalang Pilipino, UST Symphony Orchestra and National Music Competitions for Young Artists - will highlight their season's offerings on February 3.

5. GENDER MAINSTREAMING ACTIVITIES

There will be gender and development workshops and other activities promoting inclusivity and equality on February 1 such as: Writing About Women conducted by Katrina Stuart Santiago, Intro to Women's Dress in the Philippines conducted by Renee Angela Manay, "Senyas: A Deaf Awareness and Filipino Sign Language Workshop" with the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, Writing for Senior Citizens conducted by Imelda Morales, and All Rights, Kids! Exploring Rights through Theater facilitated by Abner Delina Jr.

6. A ZONE FOR LITTLE TOTS

Pasinaya will always be a family affair. Kids are always welcome here. Now, parents can bring their children and participate in the various activities, while their kids can have fun and participate in interactive arts activities at the Kids Zone.

7. FREE MUSEUM HOPPING

If you have never been to any museums in Manila, or planning to visit some, this is your chance. The CCP partners the Museum Foundation, whose museum members waive their entrance fee. There will be hop-on, hop-off shuttle vans that will go around the participating museums and galleries in Pasay and Manila for free.

Participating museums include: Casa Manila, Museo Pambata, National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Bahay Tsinoy, UP Manila Museum of A History of Ideas, 98B Collaboratory and Hub Make Lab, FDCP Cinematheque, Museo Marino, Galleria Duemilla, Avellana Art Gallery and NCCA Gallery, among others.

8. MARKET FOR THE ARTS

There will be an Art Market at the Little Theater Lobby where audiences can pre-register for the various summer art workshops that the center will be offering. Aside from that, there will be tiangge or flea market, offering handicrafts, artistic products and what have you, located at the South Parking. The Eskinita will also house food stalls when you need to fill your hungry tummy after satiating your artistic soul.

9. STREET PARADE

What is a festival without a street parade and street performances? The Pasinaya street parade will happen on February 3, along Pedro Bukaneg street of the CCP Complex. Be sure to get your camera ready because there will be tons of Instagram-worthy spots and scenes to bring out your artistic side and level up your social media game during the parade.