2021 was Awesome!
The pandemic never gave us a break. In normal times, we would use time to prepare for work, take breakfast, and drive to work. But now, we cut off dressing up and move straight to the PC even in our house wear to start work. We rode the crests, survived, won.
Creativity matched generosity; to our communities our sharing became even more prolific. Three repertory productions beamed through social media in various world events: Sita, Tales From Mindanao, and SugaTula.
The NCCA-supported Hulmahan Program engaged hundreds counting over 50 webinar and lecture sessions spread over eight months. Playwriting, dramaturgy, and performance skills of 16 playwright-dramaturges, over 50 participants in theater and dance workshops, and theory classes were mentored by some of Philippine’s leading theater makers and dance artists. All these, further strengthening our international networks.
Basic performance training produced new dance productions in a recital last July after a month of training. In October, TranSCRIPT, the playwrighting workshop, produced eight one-act plays, developed in collaboration with apprenticing dramaturges. We broadcast a music video “Ea” composed and produced by our music ensemble (composer Meshaq Dangel, choreography Kenn Velasquez) shot on location.
#backlog: The Myths of our Lives, a postmodern narrative previewed in December testing responses of a select audience before its world premiere in the February 2022 National Arts Month. In their final stages of composition, a film documentary chronicling the Tales From Mindanao creative process and its transcreation sets its premiere also during the Arts Month with duyogAgus, the IPAG Music album of original compositions from its musicals. (Grant: CCP Cultural Exchange)
Performance pedagogy and an institutionalized process are documented in two books Directing on the Fringes and Performance Level (prefaced by eminent Aubrey Mellor) launched last February.
Our pedagogy engaged major Philippine universities, among these U.P. Diliman, St. Benilde, Liceo U, Don Mariano Marcos (La Union), and the MSU-IIT as we spread our presence. Knowledge portals opened by way of various keynote lectures in international confabs, the iconic UP Writers Workshop (giving tribute to National Artist Amelia Lapena Bonifacio), and as Visiting Professor of Cultural Studies of four other Philippine state universities.
Still, the MSU-IIT Center for Culture and the Arts, a paradigm-shifting institution I founded in 2016, continues with its courses and programs, a slow but steady stream of graduate students completing their degrees hopefully changing mindsets in the academe.
With substance comes the intent to remold values and influence mindsets. This has always been the course of the Humanities, where the best works of Mankind are emulated.2022 will come as we equip ourselves with more dynamic deliveries.
Even as Odette and deaths have continued their deluge, we balance ourselves amidst the roaring crests!
The Divine Powers will always guide our company! 2022 — Year of the Water Tiger — will roar loud!
#inspiringipag #inspiring2022 #roar2022
(Photo credits: Bryan Lindio, Ronald Salazar, Hermie Dico, Archibald Pacana, IPAG)
Integrated Performing Arts Guild
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