Art & Culture (02/12/20)

Discussing Intramuros

INSTITUTO CERVANTES, with the collaboration of the Embassy of Spain and the Intramuros Administration, presents “Intramuros, the Underrated Jewel,” a round-table discussion in which various Spanish and Filipino experts on fortifications will tackle the challenges of conservation of the walled city. The forum will be held on Feb. 18, 2 p.m., at the Intramuros branch of Instituto Cervantes, located at Plaza San Luis Complex, Real St., Intramuros. The walled City of Manila is a cultural icon with historical significance for the Filipinos. Destroyed during the Second World War, the city has risen from its ruins, with the Philippine government entrusting the preservation of the historical site to the Intramuros Administration, whose mandate is to ensure that the general appearance of Intramuros shall conform to Philippine-Spanish architecture of the 16^th to the 19^th century. Various Spanish experts on fortifications of this period — Alfredo J. Morales, Ignacio J. López Hernández, Manuel Gámez Casado, and Pedro Luengo — and Intramuros Administrator Guiller B. Asido, will discuss the exceptional historical worth, as well as explore the challenges of proper conservation and highlight the significance of Intramuros, whose design mostly corresponds to the 18^th-century, and is a remarkable case in the international historical heritage scene. The round-table discussion will be moderated by Dr. Javier Galván, Director of Instituto Cervantes de Manila. The round-table at Instituto Cervantes is open to the public. Admission is free. For details, visit Instituto Cervantes’ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila, or call 8526-1482.

León Gallery ACC auction

THE Asian Cultural Council Philippines (ACCP) Foundation opens its 20^th anniversary celebration this year with the ACC Art Auction on Feb. 22 at León Gallery. Among the highlights of the auction is a 1930 Fabian Dela Rosa painting in oil Dos Hermanas (Two Sisters), a gift of the artist to Rafael Palma, journalist, patriot, and President of the University of the Philippines, and Ang Kiukok’s 2001 oil piece Still Life (Window Series). Other works by modern and contemporary masters such as Hidalgo, Manansala, Malang, Bencab, Sanso, Lao Lianben and National Artist and first ACC Grantee for visual arts José Joya, are also featured as part of the more than 150 pieces that are up for bidding. Also included are items of historical significance, antiques, furniture pieces and objets d’art. The ACC Art Auction 2020 is the 6^th collaboration of ACCP and León Gallery. The ACC Art Auction starts 2 p.m. on Feb. 22 at León Gallery, G/F Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City, with a special preview week exhibit opening on Feb. 15. For details, visit www.leon-gallery.com.

Call for painters, sculptors

THE Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) has launched the 36^th edition of its excellence recognition program for the visual arts, the Metrobank Art & Design Excellence or MADE. The MADE Painting Recognition Program is open to all Filipino painters aged 18- to 35-years-old who have not staged a solo exhibition. The MADE Sculpture Recognition Program, on the other hand, is open to all professional and amateur Filipino sculptors who have not won in any Sculpture competitions of MADE in the past. The deadline for submission of entries is on/or before May 8. Interested participants may register online through bit.ly/MADE2020_paintingform and bit.ly/MADE2020_sculptureform. Two grand awardees for the Painting Recognition Program and one grand awardee for the Sculpture Recognition Program will be chosen. They will each receive P500,000, plus the “Mula” glass trophy designed by visual artist and MADE awardee Noel El Farrol. The grand awardees will be recognized during Metrobank’s 57^th anniversary in September and will also become members of the MADE-Network of Winners (MADE-NOW), the alumni organization of past MADE awardees which implements pay-it-forward projects that benefit marginalized sectors. Meanwhile, Art MADE Public — art exhibits, lectures, and workshops — will run from Feb. 1 to April 10 at various venues around the country: S’ Maison, Pasay City (Feb. 1-7); Gallery Orange, Bacolod City (Feb. 15-21); SM Angono, Rizal (March 19-25), and SM Lanang Premier, Davao (April 3-10). For details, contact Badet Macaraig at (02) 8898-8094; e-mail: therese.macaraig@metrobank.com.ph; or visit MADE Facebook page @MADECompetition.

Pangilinan is Gloria Estefan

GAB PANGILINAN has been chosen to play Gloria Estefan in Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group’s upcoming production of the Broadway and West End hit musical On Your Feet! Estefan herself approved the casting of Gab after viewing her audition videos which were sent to her by Bobby Garcia, director of the production. On Your Feet! is the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, and features their greatest hits like “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Live For Loving You,” “Conga,” and many more. On Your Feet! will run at the Circuit Performing Arts Theater, Makati from Nov. 13 to Dec. 6.