By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is set to transform Manila and key regional sites in the country into a massive, interconnected arts hub as it stages Pasinaya Open House Festival 2026 on Feb. 7 to 8, with simultaneous activities across multiple venues nationwide and even abroad.
In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview Friday, CCP Production Manager Nikki Torres said Pasinaya 2026 will be held in 24 venues across Metro Manila, with parallel activities in Iloilo, Capiz, Tagum, Davao del Norte and abroad at the Philippine Embassy in Jordan.
Growing beyond its original scope of being a marketing tool, she said the festival, with the theme “Paglikha sa Kinabukasan,” has grown into a multi-arts festival.
“Ang Pasinaya ay isang panimula, isang preview ng lahat ng mapapanood natin sa sining at kultura (Pasinaya is an introduction, a preview of everything we can expect to see in art and culture) throughout the year,” she said.
“Nagsimula po siya bilang isang marketing tool, pero lumawak na po at isa po itong paraan na ma-expose natin ang ating mga kababayan sa performing arts, lahat ng arts actually including this year mayroon din kaming culinary arts sa Pilipinas (It started as a marketing tool, but it has expanded and has become a way for us to expose our fellow citizens to the performing arts, all arts actually, including culinary arts in the Philippines for this year),” she added.
Torres stressed that affordability remains central to Pasinaya with its “pay-what-you-can, see-all-you-can, learn-all-you-can” concept.
She said that once registered, an individual may visit all the venues and access all activities, workshops and shows.
“Napakadaming palabas, pero kung magkano – pay-what-you-can – kung ano lang po ang mababayad ninyo, kung 50 pesos walang problema (There are so many shows, but the price is pay-what-you-can – whatever you can afford, if it’s 50 pesos, that’s no problem),” she said,
Torres noted that event on Feb. 7 will focus on workshops, while performances, from orchestral concerts and folk dance to poetry readings and new media presentations will be staged on Feb. 8.
Among the noted participants who will conduct workshops are the Madrigal Singers, while national artist Ricky Lee will hold lectures.
“In total po kasi there are 174 groups all over the country. Sa Manila, 144 groups ang magtatanghal at magtuturo (In Manila, 144 groups will perform and conduct workshops),” she said.
Activities are divided into performances (Palabas), workshops (Palihan), arts and crafts markets (Pamilihan), museum tours (Paseo Museo), artist-producer exchanges (Palitan), and public competitions (Paligsahan) in CCP venues, partner galleries and museums.
Other NCR venues include Circuit Makati, Aliw Theater, Rizal Park – Luneta and Metropolitan Theater.
For more information and pre-registration, interested individuals may go to the CCP Facebook page or its website: https://culturalcenter.gov.ph/ (PNA)
