The artist and cultural worker responsible for the beautiful lighting of the Malacañang Palace Goldenberg Mansion and Laperal Mansion has just taken his oath of office as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Monino Duque, who has worked as a lighting designer since a year after he acquired his communication arts degree from Ateneo de Manila University, has been responsible for many lighting projects at the CCP and other cultural venues all over the country for the last 40 years. He has also directed many theatrical presentations, concerts and festival extravaganzas in various parts of the country.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Monino, a dear friend, and he gladly shared his journey as a lighting designer, one of the few who have made their mark in this highly specialized aspect of theater work.

CCP's 32nd employee

Daily Tribune (DT): Tell us how you were appointed as CCP Board trustee.

Monino Duque (MD): It all started last year when someone asked me if I could help the CCP by accepting to be on the board. Initially, I wasn't too sure. But out of my deep friendship and respect for the lady who asked, a stalwart in Philippine arts, I said yes. It took time before I would receive my appointment. For a year, I got involved in various projects, including the lighting of Malacañang Palace and its heritage houses. I believe that I was asked to join the board was the number of years that I spent in the CCP.

DT: When did you join the CCP and how many years did you stay there?

MD: I joined in 1972 as the 32nd employee of a very small organization. The CCP then, for all the 25 years that I stayed, had maybe a thousand performances. So we had performances, activities and events almost every other day.