Lights show marks CCP’s 50th year

THE façade and the front lawn of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) were lit up on Sept. 26 with the official opening of the lights-and-sounds installation called Sinag: Festival of Radiance.

Sinag was among the events marking the 50th anniversary of the CCP this month, which included the holding of the Media International Performing Arts Summit (MIPAS), a grand anniversary concert, and the mounting of a commemorative marker.

The lanterns in the lights and sound show feature the craftsmanship of the Kapampangan lantern-makers of Quiman Trading, led by its proprietor Arvin B. Quiwa, and designs by multimedia artist Abdulmari “Toym” Imao, Jr.

On the front lawn is a 48 x 22.5 foot sundial featuring Mindanao motifs. On the main building’s façade are a series of 24 x 62 foot lanterns featuring baybayin script which spell out the words “Kabutihan” (Goodness), “Kagandahan” (Beauty), and “Katotohanan” (Truth). Also part of the installation are 47 star-shaped lanterns along Bukaneg and Vicente Sotto Sts.

The 10-minute light-and-sound show is set to a song titled “Pagdiwang sa Ginintuang Pagsilang,” written by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera with orchestration by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab.

“It’s [about] elevating the light show into a form of art. This light show is really in response to celebrating the 50th [anniversary] of the CCP and the structure which is an iconic structure which also turned 50 years old,” the CCP’s Artistic Director and Vice-President Chris Millado told BusinessWorld, shortly after the program.

Strategically positioned on one side of the CCP Front Lawn, the sundial is calibrated to tell time during the day. During a press trip to the Quiwa Trading workshop in Pampanga in August, Mr. Imao noted that the sundial was chosen to symbolize the “passage of time” and milestones of the CCP.

“It is in the shape of a panulong or Maranao ornament found in houses in Mindanao,” Mr. Millado told BusinessWorld. A ponolong is a wing-like ornamental piece that serves to decorate the torogan houses of Maranao noblemen.

In the evening, visitors can ride seven stationary bikes connected to the sundial which generate patterns of light depending on their pedaling speed.

Special performances, alongside the light-and-sound shows, will be scheduled monthly, said Mr. Millado.

The CCP is set to launch 50th anniversary commemorative postage stamps this month. Mr. Millado also hinted that a video mapping installation around the complex is among the upcoming projects for the anniversary’s closing celebration next year.

Sinag: Festival of Radiance’s light-and-shound show will have performances every hour from 6 to 9 p.m. daily until Jan. 5, 2020. On days when there are events at the Main Theater, there will be shows at 6 and 7 p.m. only. There will be no shows on Mondays and during inclement weather. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman