RP SINGERS, DANCERS TO CONQUER LISBON EXPO '98
Manila, April 28, 1998 - East meets West in a showcase of Oriental mysticism and continental elan at the World Expo '98 to be held in Lisbon, Portugal for four months starting May 22 until Sept. 30.
With "The Oceans, A Heritage for the Future" as a them, the event commemorates the 500th year anniversary of Portuguese navigator, Vasco de Gama, who braved the high seas to bind the new and old worlds. A total of 25 million people are expected to visit the Expo grounds.
Capitalizing on the diplomatic and cultural mileage which this monumental global event will bring and as part of the Philippine Centennial celebrations, the Cultural Center of the Philippines is presenting its best performers in the fields of dance, theater, choral music, in addition to exhibits, food fairs, cultural animations and street parades during the event.
Carrying the theme "Mabuhay Philippines -- the pearl of the Orient,"-- a whirl of activities lies ahead in the 756 square meters total area of the Philippines Pavilion. Located in the South Zone International Area II, the Philippines shares the cluster with Peru, Chile, Mexico, Angola, and Guinnea Bissau.
Performances will be held in various venues like the Anfiteatro Na Doca, Promenade, Palco Movel and the Jules Verne Auditorium, a 1000 capacity auditorium with a traditional proscenium lay-out. Several Philippine groups will perform there.
The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group will regale visitors with a colorful showcase called "Water, Fire and Life," composed of traditional rituals, folk dances and music exploring the roles of fire and water among the lives of ethnic Filipinos. Likewise, the group performs in "An Evening of Philippine Dance," a six-part program consisting of colorful dances and legends from the tribal highlands to thee Christian lowlands, and the exotic Muslim dances from the south.
"Encantada," a neo-ethnic dance drama choreographed by Agnes Locsin with music by folk alternative composer Joey Ayala, will be presented by Ballet Philippines. The piece, which incorporates folklore and ancient rites of tribal classics and pop tunes using bamboo and narra- crafted instruments.
A professional youth dance theater company, Dagyaw will perform "Hinilawod," an epic of magnificent proportion revolving around the travails of three brothers against evil.
Other performers are the Folkloric Filipino Dance Company of New York which will present "Pilipinas, Ang Bayan Ko," vignettes of short dance dramas on the Filipino culture; the Philippine Jazz Ensemble and Leyte's Kalipayan Dance Company.
The main event is "Mabuhay Philippines" -- the Philippine Centennial Gala" which brings together all the participating groups in an evening of song, dance and theater. For the first time, Europeans will be treated to a rare performance focusing on the various foreign influences on the Philippines and how perfectly they blend with the Pilipino culture as it is now.
The decision to participate in the World Expo '98 Lisbon pursues the continuing thrust of the Cultural Center of the Philippines to make the arts a viable industry while promoting authentic Filipino opportunities for local performers.
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