Reconstruction of the main building of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) continues, but the CCP faces a full year of programs and projects in Metro Manila and the regions. Building rehabilitation is “right on target” and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Popular programs will be “reloaded,” and activities expanded. A flagship project will be a Baragtasan, a traditional poetical joust, to honor Balagtasan king Balagtas (Francisco Baltazar) on his centennial.

These were some of the highlights of the CCP Institutional press conference, held recently at the Liwasang Kalikasan Bamboo Pavilion, CCP Complex. The main speaker was CCP interim president Michelle Nikki Junia; other presentations were made by vice chair Margarita Moran-Floirendo and artistic director Dennis Marasigan.

“It might seem that the rehabilitation has been slow but we are actually right on target,” Junia said. “We saw the damage, the cracks, the deterioration. Repairing these is a very tedious process; you should hear our engineers when they explain the process in detail.”

The video showed the extent of the damage, with the construction workers going about their task. There was a ceiling demolition, retro filling MEPFS (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and firefighting system) installation, waterproofing of the roof deck and enlargement of the structural coulomb (units of electrical charge).

“The aim is structural integrity for the next 50 years,” she said. “The completion as of now is 30 percent. We expect full completion by the end of 2025. Definitely, by 2026 we will be opening our doors and welcoming everybody to the CCP main building.”

Forging ahead

She added, “Despite the rehabilitation, the CCP forges ahead with a full year of programs and projects. Our work doesn’t stop, in fact our work has doubled, even tripled because we are spreading our reach outside the CCP Complex and into the regions. We have had outreach programs in the past 40 years, and these will be expanded.”

In her remarks, Moran-Floirendo said, “This year we look forward to new programs such as ‘Kanto Kultura,’ evocative of street art in any of its forms; music, broadcast and film, literature, theater, dance and visual arts. The first iteration of ‘Kanto Kultura’ will be Baragtasan, a modern take on the Balagtasan, in celebration of Francisco Baltazar. The Baragtasan will feature literary jousting in Filipino, Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Ilocano.”

Cultural numbers were rendered by A-list theater artists Sheila Valderrama and Arman Ferrer and soprano Margarita Roco. The latter sang an aria from the upcoming opera “Karnal” (based on the iconic film by the late National Artist for Film Marilou Diaz-Abaya). Roco was accompanied on the piano by the opera’s composer, no less, Joel Balsamo.

In a presentation bristling with impressive statistics, Marasigan outlined the artistic programming for the year.

He said: “For 2024, we are targeting to produce 765 events, ranging from performances and screenings, to exhibits and workshops, onsite, off-site and online. We hope to reach over 200,000 onsite viewers and engage over 6,000 artists. For our workshops we hope they can benefit 16,000 participants.”

Expanding to regions

Festivals, concerts and presentations from the resident companies will continue, with expanded reach to the regions. These include the Pasinaya (excerpts from CCP shows, celebrated in a big way in Metro Manila and Iloilo City), Virgin Labfest, Cinemalaya, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Bayanihan, Philippine Madrigal Singers, Teatro Pilipino, Ballet Philippines and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.

Count also the film programs, The Met Live on HD, National Theater Live, Cine Icons (traveling series with National Artists), Cinema under the Stars, Lakbay Sine, “Out of the Box” concerts, and Triple Threats, theater performances featuring three A-list talents.

Marasigan said art as therapy will continue, along with the Children’s Biennale, and art education will be reinforced. “Teachers are multipliers,” he added. “They teach students to become artistic practitioners themselves.” Workers’ productions will be brought to marginalized areas, and digital access will be assured for those who cannot go to the CCP in Metro Manila.

A special project is the National Performing Companies, with applications now ongoing in search of the best national performing companies in Dance, Theater, Orchestra, Choral, and Indigenous Performing Ensemble.

Kanto Kultura will focus on the Baragtasan competition and festival. The finals will be held at the Rizal Park Amphitheater in Ermita, Manila. The grand prize for the winner P300,000.

The artistic director said, “This year we are intensifying our presence in the regions, creating new partners with LGUs and cultural organizations, collaborating with as many artists as we can, and producing shows in alternative performing spaces and venues across the country.” –CONTRIBUTED INQ