This week, the Philippine Educational Theater Association holds the Festival of Windows which, aside from showcasing theater performances, hopes to highlight the role of the theater and the arts in development, communications and advocacy.
It also seeks to shed light on challenges and solutions for PETA’s advocacies, such as Children’s Rights, Women, Gender, Health and Sexuality, Youth and the millennials, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction, and Human Rights.
“It will explain how theater, especially for a country like ours, doesn’t have to be just dancing and singing. It can take on a deeper meaning in the life of a country. Theater can be such a learning medium,” said PETA President Cecilia B. Garrucho in an interview with Interaksyon.
Aside from showcasing the best advocacy plays of PETA and its partner, the Festival of Windows also includes keynote presentations, performance lectures, workshops, informative huddles, art exhibitions, pocket performances, and chillout sessions. It gathers over 120 performers, 40 experts and speakers, and hundreds of homegrown and international artists.
Among the highlights of the festival’s first day on Wednesday was the Philpop Mini Boot Camp, where participants underwent a workshop on songwriting for the environment conducted by no less than esteemed singer-songwriter Noel Cabangon. Several huddles on building creative communities were conducted, as well as performances of “Damgo, a Night to Keep Dreamin’, Mangarap sa Gitna ng Sobrang Init” by Dagway Sigmahanon,a theater group from Sigma, Capiz; and PETA’s “Padayon.”
Speakers, facilitators and performers from other countries have also been invited to contribute to the festival.
Among them are Thailand’s Wandering Moon and Crescent Moon, and Cambodia’s Phare Ponleau Selpak. Crescent Moon will share a performance of “Wawa, the Rice Child” while Wandering Moon will facilitate a puppetry workshop.
Actor Bart Guingona will facilitate a discussion on HIV/AIDs Adcocacy and Theater, while contemporary artist Leeroy New will talk about Public Art in Public Spaces.
Other homegrown attractions include performances of “Florante at Laura,” “Don Q,” “Aaah Bakus,” and PETA’s musical, “Game of Trolls.”
Festival day passes are available at P1,000 (P800 for students) while access to the five-day event is priced at P4,500. The PETA Festival of Windows runs until Sunday, October 29, at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. Visit www.petafestivalofwindows.com for schedules and more info.
