71/365: Pasinaya 2014–Cultural Center of the Philippines

12th of March

Let me take a break for the “All About Me Week” to make way to this important post that I wish to share with everybody!

The PASINAYA 2014 now on it’s 10th Year!



This is a one-day open house festival held annually at the CCP, the Pasinaya is the biggest multi arts festival in the Philippines featuring the participation of thousands of artists and hundreds of artistic and cultural groups.  It offers to the public a unique “Pay what you can, See all you can” donation scheme the opportunity to enjoy a sneak preview of the CCP Performance Season.

Here are some of the lively giant dioramas displayed at the open field fronting the Cultural center of the Philippines that most park-goers are enjoying with.












To fully enjoy this event be there at the CCP on March 16.  It begins with an early morning pre-show at 7:30AM with the Marine and Bugle Team heralding the festivities and will be followed by the official opening ceremonies and street parade.

The Phantom of the Opera in Manila

Here’s another huge reason to say “It’s more fun in the Philippines”! Not only Hollywood’s hottest actors, actresses and musical artists are flooding Manila, Philippines but something bigger is coming!

After 25 years since the production opened on Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mega-musical “The Phantom of the Opera is coming to Manila!


It will  run at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ main theater from  August 25 (Saturday) to October 14, 2012 (Sunday).  Tickets go on sale to general public starting May 1. For Infinity (Powered by Smart) subscribers and Citibank cardholders, pre-selling of tickets is from March 19 to April 30, 2012.

According to the press statement, this production is as good as the London’s West End or Broadway version, boasting around 130 cast, crew, and orchestra members, great set designs, visual effects and more than 230 stunning costumes by international designer, the late Maria Björnson . The production contains some of Webber’s most popular songs, including “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Think of Me,” “All I Ask of You,” and “Music of the Night.”

The Phantom of the Opera is based on the French Novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.  It tells the story of a mysterious existence of a disfigured musical genius’ known as “The Phantom”, and his love for the beautiful and talented soprano, Christine Daaé.

The Phantom of the Opera has won more than 60 major theater awards, including seven Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards. Worldwide, the musical has grossed over $5.6 billion, and has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries, and played to more than 130 million people.

It also has enjoyed huge success throughout the Asia-Pacific region, having experienced sold-out seasons in cities such as Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, and Seoul. The Philippine premier is from the power tie up of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Frances Lumen, Smart, and Citibank Philippines

For tickets, call Ticketworld (632) 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

For a detailed history of The Phantom of the Opera click here and the Manila production here. Image is from Google images.