Cinemalaya 7 preps & CCP tour

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the Cultural Center of the Philippines aka CCP.

CCP is dubbed as the "premiere institution for culture and the arts, embodying the highest standards of excellence and the service responsive to the Filipino and the world."

Sweet, isn't it?

My penchant for the culture and the arts has started since I-honestly-don't-know-when. It's not a characteristic that I was born with nor it is a trait that I was coerced to accept. Like a fluid, it just naturally flows.

Fortunately, I've been having the privilege to attend events at the CCP since college, and some of them were free. Thanks to my former professor, and now friend, who handed us the passes for free! From concerts to plays, I made it sure that I was there to see them for myself. For me, there's always something fascinating about the arts. And last July 12, I paid the place a visit. (As if...)

*again, sorry for the blurry and grainy pictures

Cinemalaya and all of its lights. Preparations for the biggest and most-awaited independent film festival in the Philippines has started. People in the CCP are evidently looking forward to its July 14 opening.

Once there, I proceeded to the Manuel Conde Hall aka the Dream Theater for the Cinemalaya orientation. It's an intimate venue to have a film screening, with just a 100-seating capacity. There were probably around 50 of us in the room who were paying attention to a woman who was delving into the details of the most-awaited independent film festival in the country today. After what seem to be a brief introduction, a man named Mark, gave us a tour. Needless to say (and yet I'm saying it), I am thrilled.

No echo, oh oh oh. The CCP Little Theater is aka the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino named after  the Filipino playwright and dramatist, who had written Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas.  It has a seating capacity of 421 guests. While there, Mark emphasized that the theater had great room acoustics, and that sound waves would not reverberate in the room. Hence, no echo will be heard. Also, he said that an electric water pump has to be constantly turned on and maintained to make sure that water is kept out since the place was already below sea level. 

The Contrast. As opposed to the Little Theater, a person can hear an echo in this area backstage.

The Main Theater aka Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo facade.  

The Main theater can accommodate 1,823 guests. It has four levels: Orchestra, Boxes, Balcony I, and Balcony II.  Internationally-known plays like Peter Pan and Cats, among others, were also staged in this theater.

A splendid artwork displayed in the Silangan Hall. The place is not always open to the public. Oftentimes, only VIP and notable guests can  use the hall. But during Cinemalaya, the room is utilized.

A wonderful panoramic view of the Manila Bay and Harbour Square can be seen through the Silangan Hall windows.

Trivia: The three chandeliers represent the Philippines' Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao islands. The biggest one is located in the middle. Why? Because former First Lady Imelda Marcos was from the Visayas region. Now that's interesting.

Rakizta si Rizal. A stunning and symbolic mural adjacent to the Main theater illustrated Jose Rizal, the country's national hero, as the  role model for the youth today.

Now that CCP tour, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, would have cost me P280.00. 

But because we were coordinators for the upcoming Cinemalaya 7, it was given to us for free.

See you at CCP and I look forward to meet you at the Cinemalaya! :)