Sunday, August 21, 2005

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

The Cultural Center of the Philippines
Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Its a full month of activities at the CCP. Among the performances being offered this season are: a post-modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, a recital of the latest trends in opera, a concert of traditional dances by
Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company and a new ballet inspired by the works of National Artist for Painting, Ang Kiukok. Italian art house films are also being shown at their film center, and visual arts exhibitions include: works by 2003 CCP Thirteen Artists Awardee, Dennis Gonzales, and performance, video, installations, sets and props by Jevijoe Vitug. There is definitely something for everyone at the CCP and one need not worry about language barriers either. The CCP Tanghalang Pilipino Theatre Co. installs a supertitling system every now and then for their shows (I dont think Romeo and Juliet uses it though since the plot is universally understood) while the other performances offered are more visual and musical in nature. And apres your culturally pretentious moment amidst Leandro Locsins glamorous modernist architecture, I highly recommend walking across the street to Grappas (the great Italian restaurant from Makati has just opened across from the CCP) for a view of the yachts in Manila Bay, carpaccio and a cocktail. Log on to their schedule here or catch my CCP Walking tour at 1:00pm on Friday, Sept.9 to learn more about the CCP and their programs.
A very 1970s toned shot of the CCP taken on August 19, 2005. Note the lack of electric wires and cleanliness of landscape.