Philippine Opera Company opens Silliman University’s 50th cultural season

TO MARK ITS golden anniversary and its 50th cultural season, the Silliman University Cultural Affairs Committee presents the Philippine Opera Company’s (POC) “Ang Bagong Harana” on June 29-30 at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium in Dumaguete City.

“Ang Bagong Harana,” directed by acclaimed playwright Floy Quintos, takes off from the success of the Philippine Opera Company’s musical review “Harana,” which showcased the best of Filipino music.

This time, the show’s emphasis is on the Filipino’s relationship to history, faith, nature and nationhood, and according to POC producer Karla Gutierrez, is “no longer bound to the usual divisions of lowland, Cordillera, Muslim, folk and colonial experiences.” The show will have a special participation of the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.

Gala tickets for both shows are available at P200, P300 and P500, with season passes honored on the June 29th gala program. Theater passes for the June 29 matinee show are also available.

The Cultural Affairs Committee (CAC) was founded in 1962 under the chairmanship of Miriam G. Palmore. It was formed to be the cultural arm of the university, but has since become one of the primary movers of culture in Negros Oriental.

In 1975, the Luce became the CAC’s permanent home and performance space.

The 50th anniversary season will celebrate Silliman’s contributions to the world of arts—including the National Writers Workshop founded by Edilberto Tiempo and National Artist for Literature Edith Tiempo; the Men’s Glee Club founded by Albert Louis Faurot; Kwerdas and the Silliman Univer- sity Campus Choristers founded by Priscilla Magdamo-Abraham (the latter co-founded with Emmy Luague and Ruth Imperial-Pfeiffer); the Silliman Young Singers and the Luce Choral Society founded by Isabel Dimaya Vista; the Silliman Dance Troupe (now the Kahayag Dance Company) founded by Lucy Jumawan-Sauer and Shona Mactavish; Musika Sacra founded by Elmo Makil; the Portal Players founded by Amiel Y. Leonardia. Another notable alumnus is National Artist for Film Eddie Romero.

The roster of shows in June include concerts and performances by Ballet Philippines, Octava Choral Society, the Loboc Children’s Choir, Peta, the Kabayao Family Quintet, Symphony Sin Arco.

The Cultural Affairs Committee is currently headed by Diomar Abrio.

All tickets and season passes for Luce Auditorium shows are available for sale at the College of Performing and Visual Arts Building, and at the theater lobby before the show begins. For ticket reservations and other inquiries, call (035) 4224365 or 0917-5133312 (Ian Rosales Casocot/CAC).