After two glorious weekends of celebrating the Muses in Manolo Fortich’s version of the Garden of Eden, the first edition of Tanghalan sa KampoJuan celebrates its grand finale with the Pangatlong Tanghalan this Saturday, May 25 featuring its eclectic mix of the culinary, visual and performance arts with artists from around the region.
The evening aperitif will be served by Melbourne-educated and trained culinary enthusiast Jont Cabrera demonstrating his culinary chops in blending Filipino and classical Italian cooking. From L’antipasto to mains and dessert, this will be an exciting culinary adventure featuring local ingredients in Italian cuisine.
This gastronomic feast will be followed by another feast for the senses with the Sustainable Design exhibit of Chris Gomez, a multidisciplinary creative and advocate showcasing his artworks and artistry through paintings, furniture, fashion and accessories.
Chris is a multi-awarded artist and designer whose accolades include the 2014 Look of Style Awards by the British Council; Grand Prize (Water based Category) in the 2012 Metrobank Art and Design Excellence awards and finalist in the 2011 National Philippine Art Awards. He also became a finalist at the China ASEAN Youth Artwork Creativity Contest in 2008 at Nanning, China before finally bagging the Award of Excellence in 2016.
Not the least, the evening and three weekend series will be capped by the celestial choral music of the Youth for Culture and Arts Project (YCAP) community choir, led by Ms Mercibelle Barroso Abejuela.
This Bukidnon-based chorale has performed in major cities in Europe, USA and Asia. A consistent grand slam winner in the Mindanao Association of State Tertiary School Chorale competitions, YCAP will perform a repertoire across many genres: ethnic/lumad, OPM/Original Pilipino Music, pop and classical.
Last weekend’s Pangalawang Tanghalan featured French-trained Chef Maricar Urbano, Oro Teatro Bulawanon’s (OTB) premier performance of AngPaglaya, an original play by Maia Fortich Poblete and Bex Espino, and two dance suites by the celebrated Liceo Folkloric Dance Troupe under Artistic Director Roger E. Odron.
Chef Maricar was mentored by Celebrity French Chef Herve’ Frerardand and vividly underscored the balance between the science and artistry of the culinary arts with her solid technique, balanced flavor, creativity and presentation.
She prepared a 5-course meal straight out of her Don Narciso Restaurant in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.
Oro Teatro Bulawanon (OTB) Founder and Director Maia Fortich Poblete counted Chef Maricar’s amuse bouche Current State as the perfect starter along with Mocktail Drunken Nights and the Pesto-flavored Gail & Gaby.
This was followed by her When September Ends salad with mushroom carpaccio, microgreens, and pickled mooli. Her entrée Under Pressure consisted of sous vide fish with pineapple-corn salsa, a trio of mashed tuber, and smokey atsal sauce. And for the digestif, there was her Bittersweet Symphony with a classic combination of tablea cake, local ice cream (from La Favorita), and rose crumbs. Thanks to Maia for the heads up!
Oro Teatro Bulawanon’s premier presentation of Maia’s play “AngPaglaya” proved community theatre is alive and kicking with Kagay-anon talents JC Salon, Christy Aboniawan, Leslie Encong-Yap, Kale “Bom” Ramos, Nicolas Salcedo, Mikay Abella, Maria Therese Palma, Allyza Buslon, Katleen Obsioma, Kent Irvin, and Zilpha Ybañez. The stage management was a family affair with Jean Jacques Agbon assisted by daughters Kendra and Nicky.
Nico Salcedo used paper bags to create the forest backdrop with a nod to KampoJuan’s sustainability theme, while the costumes were created and styled by Kent Irvin, who also doubled with Nicolas for the players’ makeup.
“AngPaglaya” was co-written by Maia Poblete with Bex Espino, and successfully showcased the talents of Kagay-anons, particularly the youth, as majority of the cast members were senior high school students.
Liceo Folkloric Dance Troupe closed the Pangalawang Tanghalan with its award winning dance performances featuring two dance suites from the indigenous peoples of Northern Mindanao.
“The Bukidnon Suites featured the Dugso, Pimintok, Binaylan, Pig-agawan, Palaspas and Mangangayaw, while the Maranao Suites featured exotic dances as homage to the Sultan with very strong Indo-Malayan and Arabic influences including the Pangalay, Kapa Malong-malong, Kazilimut, Kuntao, Pag-apir andSingkil,” said artistic director Roger E. Odron.
The troupe has been a catalyst in promoting the diverse cultures of Mindanao in the Philippines and abroad, representing the country with pride in the ASEAN Dance Festival Exposition in Brunei, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Today, it continues to share the wealth of Mindanao through its various road shows, and its captivating performances around the country and the world.
For those who want to come earlier, you are welcome to enjoy Kampo Juan, named in honor of Dr. Juan Acosta – the patriarch of a patrician family who successfully navigated a career in politics, environment and scientific research.
His wife Socorro served as mayor and representative of Bukidnon’s first district, while son Neric is one of the country’s leading environmentalists and daughterMalou has just earned a new mandate as steward of the same district her Nanay Coring used to serve.
The Heritage House itself is worth the visit, and there are adventure sports galore also the young and young at heart can while away the time while waiting for the evening’s show.
For those who want to immerse themselves in either one or all of these lifetime experiences, please contact Laclac Bongcawel at 09551539105 or email tanghalan.kampjuan@gmail.com. You can also buy your tickets at Nanay Choleng's Muron kiosk at the ground floor of Ayala Centrio mall or at Kampo Juan Resort, Bgy. Dicklum, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Tickets are priced at P1,500/person. You can also follow the events through the Instagram account:"tanghalansakampj",
