In 2020, when the news about the spread of the virus from China hit the newsstand, the Cultural Center of the Philippines felt it prudent to cancel one of its biggest festivals, the Pasinaya Open House Festival.
With 25,000 attendees on average for its three-day event, the art institution put a premium on the safety of the artists, the production staff, and the audiences.
In 2021 and 2022, with the battle cry “Tuloy ang Palabas,” the Center held online editions of the festival. While there was nothing like live performances and face-to-face interactions, I would say the Pasinaya online editions were a success.
The largest multi-arts festival in the country organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines returns bigger and better, slated on February 3 to 5 in various venues inside the CCP Complex, located along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
“This year, Pasinaya follows the theme ‘Piglas Sining.’ We are breaking away from the notion that the CCP is just the building. We are emphasizing that CCP can be anywhere,” said CCP artistic director Dennis N. Marasigan.
In 2023, CCP will be everywhere, especially when the institution partners with different performance venues around the metro and the regions.
For this year’s Pasinaya, the focus would be the outdoor venues such as the CCP Front Lawn, Liwasang Kalikasan (the forested area near MBC/Aliw Theater), Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez and its surrounding spaces, and the parade ground of Vicente Sotto Street.
Pasinaya retains its Palihan and Palabas components. Festival goers can try all the workshops in Palihan, while they can enjoy the performances in Palabas, happening on February 4 and 5.
New this year is the Pagtitipon, a gathering of the Kaisa Sa Sining partners on February 3. There are 59 regional partners from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the KSS network, with three new partners joining. A program of the Cultural Exchange Department, the KSS aims to further strengthen the CCP linkages and cooperations with local organizations in the different regions of the country.
The art market, now dubbed Palitan, will have its online pitching and on-site booth space for performing arts organizations with Philippine embassies and consulates, on the same days at the TIG.
Of course, one shouldn’t miss the museum tours or the Paseo Museo. Pasinaya partners with the National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Casa Manila, Museo de Intramuros, Fort Santiago, Museo Pambata, and Adamson University. This year, the CCP has four new partners—AIMS Museo Martimo, Manila City Hall Clock Tower Museum, PWU School of Finer Arts and Design, and GSIS Museum.
Aside from these components, what are the things you shouldn’t miss in this year’s Pasinaya?
If you are into Zumba and want to dance to the tune of the Pasinaya jingle, then head to the opening program on February 4.
If you are not a morning person like me, you can check out Saint Louis University’s annual Handog sa Baguio Lantern Parade, slated around 6:00 p.m. Since 2008, the lantern parade has served as the opening salvo for Baguio City’s holiday celebration. It showcases lanterns made by students, with festive performances.
Pasinaya continues its experience-all-you-can, pay-what-you-can scheme. For a suggested donation price of P50, participants may go in and out of the different CCP venues to attend the workshops or watch the different performances, shows, screenings, and other activities as they can.
Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., on February 4 to 5, at the Bukaneg side of the Front Lawn and at Vicente Sotto Street.
Through the Pasinaya, the CCP aims to provide a platform for artists and cultural groups to showcase their talents while nurturing the broadest public and creating new audiences through interactions and performances. Pasinaya is undoubtedly the biggest multi-arts festival in the country and is still getting bigger and better in its 18th year.
Follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for the latest updates.