With a youth-focused vision, Kaye Tinga is ushering in a new era for the CCP that broadens arts accessibility
Kaye Tinga may have only just been president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in June 2024 but her vision is already clear: to bring art and culture to every single community in the Philippines.
“It’s not just for a particular sector, but to expand our audience because the audience is there,” she says. “Nowadays, we’re lucky with so much interest. Young people are so interested in music. On any given day, I can go to two things, a ballet, and then at night, a play. And there’s so much more.”
Under her presidency at the CCP, there has already been a K-drama and K-pop-themed concert, youth performances at the Goldenberg Mansion, and a performance of the Philippine Youth Symphonic Band at the National Arts Center on Mount Makiling.
Being president of the official cultural institution of a country is no small task. And while Tinga is just beginning her tenure, her directive so far seems to focus on the youth, giving support to a new generation of artists. Such a strategy lays the groundwork for the importance of nurturing emerging talents to reach and inspire a wider audience in the long term.
A renaissance woman
Tinga’s own work in the art world, philanthropy, and business sectors has been cultivated for many years, bringing a diverse yet balanced background to her new role in the CCP.
In the art community, she’s well-known for her W/17 warehouse on Chino Roces Ave., which showcases furniture and accessories, created in collaboration with artisans from Cebu, Cavite, Pampanga, and Dumaguete. Her involvement with art education also extends to MINT, the creative arts college, where she sits on the board.
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Tinga’s influence in the social sphere shows through her role as co-chair of the Red Charity Gala, an event that gives a platform to Filipino fashion designers while simultaneously pursuing philanthropic goals with fundraising for the Philippine Red Cross. Her connections reach both the public and private sectors, partly due to her marriage to Sigfrido “Freddie” Tinga, former congressman and mayor of Taguig, who now runs Global Electric Transport.
The CCP Young Music Scholars program
One of the most exciting initiatives under Tinga’s leadership is the CCP Young Music Scholars program, a longtime initiative that is now flourishing, with the first batch of young musicians being sent to study abroad in 37 years, specifically in the US and UK
Pianist Aidan Ezra Baracol and soprano Lizzie Bett Estrada are currently on full scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Meanwhile, flutist Mark Kennedy Rocas is finishing his master’s in flute performance at Bard College in New York, and violinist Adrian Nicolas Ong is pursuing his artist diploma at The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School.
To live and breathe in the culture of the Royal Academy in London or feel the creative energies in New York is an opportunity that the scholars cherish, as pursuing artistic careers can be a costly challenge.
While the scholarship program has traditionally been exclusive to Philippine High School for the Arts students, there are changes being made by the CCP to open up the scholarship to children from all schools, covering performing arts, dance, and even puppetry scholarships.
Part of their program is a commitment to return home and share their talents with others. In line with this, the four prodigies will perform in a free “Young People’s Concert” at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium, alongside the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra on July 27, 2024, Saturday at 5 p.m.
On these opportunities, soprano Estrada says, “Music is not selfish. As a scholar, as a Filipino, wherever I go, I am carrying the name of the Philippines and the CCP.”
Expect these precocious musicians to display their ingenuity. Baracol is set to present his original energetic piece called “The Smuggler.” There will also be traditional renditions of Habanera, a moving rendition of Giacomo Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro,” and a playful interpretation of “Leron Leron Sinta.”
The blend of classical and traditional Filipino music seems to reflect Tinga’s vision for a less intimidating, more inclusive perception of classical music. And beyond music programming, the CCP president is also addressing deeper structural changes.
On deeper structural changes
“There’s a perception that arts, culture, and especially classical music, is elitist,” Tinga notes. “But actually, it blossoms and opens your mind. You realize you don’t have to be highly educated, you don’t have to be wealthy, and you don’t have to have gone to school to appreciate it. It’s just natural appreciation.”
That appreciation extends even to the CCP’s architectural state. The building’s major renovations are expected to be completed by mid-2026, going beyond cosmetic changes to address structural issues—all the while respecting the building’s heritage status, with its brutalist design by Leandro Locsin. As Tinga hints at exciting changes for the building I joke, “Maybe also better parking and a nice cafe?”
“I don’t think anywhere in the country do we have a promenade like the CCP,” Tinga says. “So we hope to come up with something special for the theatergoers.”
At present, the CCP is using alternative venues like the Metropolitan Theater and Samsung Hall in Makati for performances, as plans to develop the area continue with the goal to better serve local theatergoers.
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While Tinga’s tenure as CCP president is still in the early stages, her vision for a more inclusive and youth-oriented landscape is already taking shape. Her quick, decisive leadership style is evident in her commitment to regular, diverse cultural events, sowing seeds that are expanding public appreciation and awareness of the arts.
With Tinga’s fresh perspective at the helm, the CCP is poised to break down barriers and democratize art to be more accessible. The initiatives, particularly the Young Music Scholars program, signal a transformative era for arts and culture in the country. By broadening opportunities for young talents, the CCP is cultivating a new generation of cultural ambassadors, who will carry the Philippines forward.
The free “Young People’s Concert” will be held on July 27, 2024, at 5 p.m. in the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium in Rizal Park Luneta, Manila.
Photography by JT Fernandez. Produced by Ria Prieto.