The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and The Guitar Friends are staging the First Philippine International Guitar Festival beginning Thursday at the CCP. The Guitar Friends is a group of guitar aficionados of varying levels of expertise who share a common bond, their love for the guitar. The director of the event is Maestro Jose H. Valdez who is ranked by the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts as one of the pioneers of classical guitar in the country.

The Festival will be graced by various performers, including renowned international artist Steve Lin, artistic/music director and conductor of The Children’s Orchestra Society Michael Dapap, Kasilag Guitar Quartet founding member Perfecto “Perf” de Castro, and respected guitarist Sixto “Butch” Roxas. Also performing are the Kasilag Guitar Trio, Tabs, UP Guitar Orchestra, Fundacion Centro Flamenco, and the winners of the Namcya 2009 Guitar Category competition.

The event will be highlighted by a concert performance of a Spanish guitar soloist to be brought in by Instituto Cervantes.

During the festival, master classes and lectures will be offered on topics such as “Building a Performing Career,” “Flamenco,” “A Guitarist’s Pain,” “Jazz Improvisation,” “Ensemble Playing,” and “Musicality, Intelligence and Technique.” The Festival will also feature booths and displays by guitar makers and manufacturers.

Filipinos are by nature lovers of music. This is evident in the presence of various musical instruments in almost all communities in the country.

Perhaps the most popular of the instruments is the guitar. It was used by our forefathers to while away the time during the planting season and to serenade a fair maiden. We now also take great pride in our own guitar makers who have joined the export market.

Let us support the First Philippine International Guitar Festival, a showcase of our people’s musical talent and ingenuity, and be proud of being Filipinos.