The Cultural Center of the Philippines celebrates Filipino Christmas traditions with Puso ng Pasko as it lights up the CCP Main Theater on 2 December (8 p.m.), and 3 and 4 December (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.).
The first all-Filipino Christmas ballet captures the spirit of the Pinoy pasko as Lolo Val, now living abroad in California, recalls to his young granddaughter Angelita, the magical Christmases of his youth in Tres Reyes with his barkada.
This production, conceptualized by Ronelson Yadao, features beloved scenes of the Simbang Gabi, eating bibingka and puto bumbong, plazas decorated with big parols, and beautiful Christmas decorations. It also features different fiestas across the Philippine islands in celebration of regional festivities.
Yadao, Alice Reyes Dance Philippines' artistic director, works with talented collaborators to bring this Filipino Christmas story to life. Joining him in choreographing are Erl Sorilla, John Ababon, AL Abraham, Dan Dayo, Bonnie Guerrero, and Lester Reguindin, who are in the company's roster of young and acclaimed choreographers, each having a distinct style of movements that somehow wonderfully compliments each moment in the story.
Yadao is a dance artist with 16 years of professional experience in dance theaters in Asia, the Unites States, Canada, and Europe. Among his works as a choreographer are Sama-Sama, with the music of Cayabyab, as well as Ang Kabaligtaran ng Gunaw, a dance film produced by the CCP with music and film direction by Jerold Tarrog. In 2020, he became a grantee, choreographer, and modern dance ballet master of the CCP Professional Dance Support Program. His 2019 piece, Maupay, is the latest addition to the collection of dances in Visayan Suite of Dances.
Behind this talented array of choreographers are collaborators whose significant contributions give life to the story and choreography. These include National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes as mentor and artistic consultant and National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab for his musical arrangements of timeless Filipino Christmas songs, performed and recorded by the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Miguel Master Chorale.
Included on the list of collaborators are Eric Cruz (production design), Barbara Tan-Tiongco (lighting design), Dennis Maristany (Costume Consultant), and Eljay Castro Deldoc, who worked with Yadao on the script and story as co-librettist with inputs from filmmaker Carlos Siguion-Reyna for the filmed scenes.
Joining the cast is acclaimed theater actor Audie Gemora, who will be taking on the role of Lolo Val.
As the Cultural Center of the Philippines prepares to shut its doors for renovation, these performances will be one of the last to be staged in the CCP Main Theater. Tickets are available through CCP Box Office (tel. no. 8832-3704), Bonnie Guerrero (Viber: 0915-4122152), and TicketWorld (+63917-5506997, +6399-99545922)