Look forward to October as the Instituto Cervantes together with the Embassy of Spain once again present Fiesta, the month-long Spanish Festival for Culture and the Arts. The Instituto Cervantes is a public, non-profit institution founded by the Spanish government in 1991 to promote and teach the Spanish language and spread the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. It strives to provide Filipinos with an understanding of Spanish culture and a broader view of the Hispanic world. Fiesta... is meant to commemorate Spain’s National Holiday, which is celebrated on October 12. This year’s edition promises to be a truly exceptional affair, with a variety of cultural events, live performances, Spanish movies, culinary delights, art and photography exhibits, all featuring the best of Spain’s very own artists.
DANCE... Sara Baras is not just Spain’s hottest Flamenco dancer, she is contemporary flamenco’s most famous star. Known for her ability to work her audiences into a frenzy with her powerful, passionate dances and unbelievably fast footwork, Sara Baras is set to perform at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Sueños (Dreams), her acclaimed traditional flamenco show that made box office history on October 11.
PHOTOGRAPHY... Ongoing until October 31 Manila will be treated to A Travelling Exhibit of 150 years of Photography in Spain. This large exhibition places Spain in a leading position in the area of international photography.
The Instituto Cervantes also presents Manila, Fin de siglo, a photographic exhibit showing, for the first time, 90 unedited photographs taken in Manila from 1893 to 1897. The scenes, shot by an anonymous photographer with an evident mastery of the craft, make for a set of valuable graphic documents of the past.
In conjunction with these exhibits, the Instituto is launching the Manila, My Manila Photo Contest. The contest is open to all photographers, professionals or amateurs. The theme "Manila, My Manila" is taken from the words of the celebrated National Artist Nick Joaquin. This competition embraces all photographs whose subject is Manila, in all of its expressions, taken from any location within the boundaries of Metro Matula, from January 2005 to the present.
ART... The literary world is celebrating the 4th centenary of the first edition of Don Quijote de la Mancha this year. To join this commemoration, we have chosen Don Quijote as the theme for the 10th Lekas y Figuras this year. The winning entries will be displayed in an exhibit for the month of October
More than two hundred participants came to the first Paint a Nook of Intramuros: Pintura rápida on-the-spot painting contest last year. This overwhelming response only deserves a repeat affair. Open to all artists, wannabes and professionals alike! Puerta Real Gardens Intramuros, Manila, October 15.
GASTRONOMY... In collaboration with Hyatt Regency Hotel, Instituto Cervantes invites you to enjoy the most authentic Spapish cuisine prepared by a Spanish master chef at the Spanish Food Festival.
THEATER... Dulaang UP turns to Spanish drama with Antonio Munoz Molina’s Sepharad, a 20th century story that draws on the Sephardic diaspora, the Holocaust, and Stalin’s purges. On Stage, Greenbelt 1, 7:30 pm, October 25. Meanwhile, Repertory Philippines and Instituto Cervantes bring you the premiere of the musical drama Man of La Mancha. 7:30 pm, Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium RCBC Plaza, October 21.
MUSIC... Armando Orbon, a celebrated classical guitarist from Spain, and jazz pianist Isaac Turienzo will be playing in Manila with a repertoire by Latin-American composers such as Granados, Tarrega, Ariel Ramirez, A. Lauro, Albeniz, Falla and J. Rodrigo, among others, in a night of music entitled Between Two Shores. They’ll be performing at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, 7:30 pm, October 8.
FILM... Prepare for another set of the best and most recent Spanish and Latin American films to fill this year’s Pelikula, IVth Spanish Film Festival in Manila and Cebu. The series includes Oscar winners for Best Foreign Film, Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside) by Alejandro Amenabar and Todo sabre mi madre (All About My Mother) by Pedro Almodovar. Moviegoers will have the chance to vote for the best film and win a plane ticket to Spain. The festival is ongoing until October 16 at the Greenbelt 1 Cinemas.
VERBENA... A verbena is a popular Madrid festival, with dancing and fair attractions. Catch it here in Manila and find out why the Spanish are famous for their sizzling fiestas. A combination of music, food and fireworks make for a magical Spanish night! Join the party at the Puerta Real Gardens, Intramuros, on October 15.
(For more information about Fiesta 2005, call Instituto Cervantes at tel. nos. 526-1482 to 85 or visit its website: http://manila.cervantes.es.)
