Almost four months since its successful debut, the highly acclaimed local play ‘Higit sa Pag-ibig, The Musical’ produced by The Dawani Project and Sining Banwa, finally got its invite from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to perform and make their national debut during the Pasinaya Festival on February 3-4, 2024.
In a Facebook post shared by Andrea Karlsan Zapanta, one of the production managers and head of the marketing and promotions of the team, she delightfully shared that the musical received two standing invitations from CCP to join Pasinaya Festival to perform a 15-30 minutes excerpt of the musical at the Makati Circuit Black Box.
In an interview with BicoldotPH, Zapanta shared that it was one of their goals to be recognized and be given a chance to perform at the CCP, but to finally receive their first invite, they had to weigh their decisions and refuse as performing at the metro costs a huge amount of financial support.
“We’d need funding just to get all of our cast and prod to travel and stay at the metro. So initially, we elbowed the idea thinking were busy preparing for our Naga run din naman. We didn’t want to get our hopes up since we lack the resources to push this,” Zapanta said.
But upon receiving their second invite thru the play’s director, Sari Saysay, they admittedly felt the need to accept the invite leading to the play’s imminent national debut.
“If given the chance to showcase parts of the musical at the Pasinaya, we’d be able to finally raise more recognition and awareness that we have this kind of production made and done by homegrown Bicolnons. Riding the traction of the project will pave the way for future arts programs and initiative in the province/region. At least that’s what we are aiming for,” Zapanta added.
Pasinaya Festival is an annual multi-arts festival in the country organized by the CCP every February to give local and cultural artists a platform to showcase their artistry on a bigger audience and expand the public’s participation through art workshops and performances.
Support HSP
In view of the short notice, the Dawani Project and Sining Banwa is looking for all means of support that would sustain and help the group’s needs in order to make and perform at the said festival.
The Dawani Project and Sining Banwa is currently raising for resources to help with their transportation to travel back and forth to Metro Manila, meals and accommodation during their stay in the Metro.
Individuals who wishes to provide assistance may reach directly to the musical’s director, Director Sari Saysay or production manager, Rollymie Bonilla.
“We’re not anywhere near the needed funding or requirement so, as of the moment, we’re just really testing the waters. But if even the chance, it would be promising to bring the relatable stories of laughter and tears, despite having to do just snippets of it,” Zapanta hopefully shared.
Aside from its anticipated national debut, Higit sa Pag-ibig, The Musical will also make its way to Naga City for its Naga shows at the Unibersidad de Santa Isabel on February 23-25.
Tickets are available at ticket.higitsapagibig.com I Ken Oliver Balde