Pop concert, cultural shows, lantern lighting among ASEAN50 highlights

The ceremonial landmark lighting of lanterns in the capitals of the ASEAN member states and cities of the Philippines will be held at 7p.m. (Photo by Jirka Matousek/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

MANILA, Aug 7 — Pop music stars from the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be holding a concert as part of the organization’s 50th founding anniversary late Tuesday afternoon at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex along Roxas Boulevard.

National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Head of International Office Mary Anne Luis said the ASEAN pop stars’ program will be preceded by a grand parade from Rizal Park to the CCP grounds from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The ceremonial landmark lighting of lanterns in the capitals of the ASEAN member states and cities of the Philippines will be held at 7p.m.

Around 17 cities and municipalities across the country will participate in simultaneous celebrations.

For her part, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Musical Director Maribel Legarda said traditional and contemporary performances will be presented through both spoken words and other performances.

More than 500 contingents from the Department of Education (DepEd) will be part of the street dancers who will present regional dances.

“We are trying to put up a show where we celebrate all the aspects of the art. We’re fortunate to have 10 ASEAN pop stars with us. Music is a wonderful platform for sharing our different cultures in the ASEAN,” Legarda said in a press briefing Monday at the ASEAN International Media Center in Conrad Hotel.

The 10 pop stars from each ASEAN member country will be led by Christian Bautista of the Philippines. Other singers include Afiq Wafi of Brunei, Kong Sothearith of Cambodia, Mia Ismi Halida of Indonesia, Lotchana Anoulack of Laos, Dhiya Suhaiti Binti Abdul Ghani of Malaysia, Eint Chit of Myanmar, Aisyah Azis of Singapore, Nathinka Iamthamai of Thailand and Hai Nam Le of Vietnam.

“For the Philippines being a host, we are just doing our best to communicate; have friendly and healthy dialogues with each other. Whatever we need to talk abou,t this is a venue where we can move together as one,” Bautista said.

“We have become closer with one another as representatives of our countries. It’s such a great thing as it shows that we can still be friends despite language differences. We do this through keeping up with each other through social media and using Google Translate,” according to Singaporean pop singer Aisyah Aziz.

The ASEAN stars will also hold a pop concert at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) Amphitheater in Taguig City Tuesday evening from 7 p.m. until midnight.

Some of the local artists who will join the concert are Franco, 6 Cycle Mind, Itchyworms, Up Dharma Down and will be hosted by Venus Raj.

Shuttle vans will be available to people who are interested to watch the BGC concert from the CCP grounds.

“The BGC event is really intended for the millennials so that they could also be aware of what is happening,” Luis added.