Our wholehearted gratitude goes to BP’s donors whose ceaseless support makes it possible for us to keep on dancing. Ballet Philippines is honored to share their stories. May they not only enkindle hope but moreover embolden others to open their hearts and keep ballet alive.
Ballet Philippines President Kathleen Liechtenstein receives the FWN100 Award 2023 Award for the strides she’s taken in business, manufacturing and contribution to the arts
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Rosalind Wee’s life reads like a remarkable fairytale. She started out as a math teacher at Xavier School, but would eventually become a high-powered entrepreneur, a thriving film actress, a patron to the arts, and the matriarch of a large family.
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The Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Chairman, Jaime C. Laya, shares how an illustrious career in finance and public service was made more joyful by the arts.
Jaime C. Laya has had a storied career. Today, he sits on the board of numerous companies and NGOs, including Philtrust Bank, where is Vice Chairman. In July of 2022, he was chosen as Chairman of the Cultural Central of the Philippines (CCP).
READ FULL STORYAs with any creative endeavor, it takes endless work days, vision, passion, and purpse to come up with brilliant output. Mega Magazine’s Editor-In-Chief, Peewee Isidro, lets us in on the secrets that bind the glossy pages of the country’s leading fashion magazine.
For MEGA Editor-in-Chief Peewee Isidro, fashion has always been a huge part of her life. “I was constantly bombarded with unique points of view, individuality, and personal style, so it was a natural progression that I ended up working in fashion.” She began her working life with brief stints in production and media, but Peewee was quick to try something new. “With the help of my friend, I tried out publishing.”
READ FULL STORYLala Ventura, Channel Head for the Metro Channel
Lala Ventura describes the undeniable perks of her job and the challenges she has faced as a woman in the broadcasting industry.
Lala Ventura is the Channel Head for the Metro Channel. Since launching in April of 2018, the now top-ranking lifestyle network on cable has enjoyed a loyal audience of discerning men and women. Its programs, which cover a wide range of lifestyle topics–from food, travel, home, design and special features–do more than entertain. The Metro Channel has earned its place in the homes of many viewers as it continues to inspire others to seek a life well lived.
In this Success Stories feature, she tells Ballet Philippines how heading a lifestyle channel presented itself unexpectedly. Lala intimates that although she had initially pursued a career in the hospitality industry, her first foray in television worked out rather seamlessly. She is the very picture of the adage: “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Join us as we sit down with Metro Channel’s very own superwoman, Lala Ventura.
Did you always know that you would one day lead a lifestyle channel/network?
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine leading a lifestyle channel. However, I’ve always enjoyed dining out and entertaining at home, traveling and discovering new things to do and places to visit. I was always on the look-out for what’s new and lifestyle shows have always been my preference over other genres.
Lala Ventura at the ABS CBN Ball.
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Mary Jane Tan-Ong with Rosalina Tan
Pili Ani CEO and Pili Ani Founder
Join this inspiring conversation with the mother-daughter duo behind the premium-quality, artisanal, cruelty-free, all-Filipino beauty brand, Pili Ani.
Rosalina Tan, founder, shares the story of how her desire to assist the grassroots Pili fruit farmer from Sorsogon, Bicol was the beginning of her Pili oil discovery. Her daughter, CEO Mary Jane Tan-Ong, joins in to recount how showcasing this brand, and its home-grown ingredients, to the global market started out, not for profit, but from her mother’s desire to help.
Arsenio ‘Nick’ Lizaso, Chairman of the NCCA and President of the CCP, recounts that first and foremost, he’s an artist. A passion that he has never been able to run away from. Not just theater, film, and television, where his name is most known, but music, dance, literature and visual arts as well.
Lizaso comes from a long line of actors and artists on both sides of his family and with a prestigious family tree such as this, he has carried these genes through his career as an actor to director and even a producer in all media from theatre , television and film and then back again.
He describes his life as a continuous performance and invites the audience to join him in his ultimate goal of bringing the arts to the people. His advocacy as an artist is closing the gap that separates elite performances from everyday people. That special magical moment that happens between the audience and the performer must be made available to people from all walks of life.
Dr. Lourdes R. Montinola carries the torch her father lit 93 years ago and since she took the helm in 1989, the number of campuses have grown from two to nine. With a long list of noteworthy awards, the campuses continue to flourish while Dr. Montinola keeps her father’s vision of providing students the opportunity to appreciate and explore the arts, side by side with academics. It was in 1928 when Dr. Nicanor Reyes founded Far Eastern University with the help of educators from the Department of Economics in the University of the Philippines. Today the institution is known for its holistic and well-rounded education through Academics, Athletics and the Arts.
One of Philippine Fashion’s pillars, Patis Tesoro has spent 50 years of dedication, artistry, and passion as a premier expert in Filipiniana. Her work has resulted in the conservation and revival of Filipino arts and crafts. She is a Renaissance woman who loves to constantly create beautiful things while living in beauty amidst the clean air and surroundings of San Pablo, Laguna—a lifestyle she has chosen, to honor her dream of one day living in a less stressful atmosphere. She continues to dream and envisions her current home in Laguna to someday be an institute of the arts where artists may hone their skills and future artists may be inspired. Patis shares that she is happy and would like to share happiness with family and friends that brings on creativity and peace. She shares, “Welcome to my world, do not say goodbye and I hope you will also enjoy something that will make you happy. With this, Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas, Peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Guido Group of Companies' William Guido, CEO of Globaltronics and Chairman of PARC (Performing Arts and Recreation Center) Foundation, invites donors, partners, and sponsors to work together for a fundraising project by PARC Foundation called Project TEMPO (Transition To An Engaging Program Online). Through this initiative, a total of 300 scholars will be provided with voluntary teachers and staff, monetary allowance, internet connection, equipment, and other necessities for a smooth transition to this online program. Amidst these challenging times, William offers a message of hope to never stop learning and dreaming. He encourages us to work together as one to be stronger in spirit and says, "With God's guidance let us embrace the next normal in a better way." It was his late son Wilmer's vision to create an arts center for our underprivileged and struggling local artists. Through the PARC Foundation, William keeps the dream, passion, and memory of his son Wilmer alive and burning bright. Would you like to help support our young and underprivileged artists?
You may reach out to PARC Foundation at
https://www.theparcfoundation.ph/
or follow them on Facebook /parcph and Instagram @parcph.
You can also send an email to [email protected] or call (02) 8350-6356.
While Dee Zobel is known as a philanthropist and Chairwoman of the Enrique Zobel Foundation in honor of her late husband Don Enrique Zobel who is the foundation’s founder, not everyone is aware of her dedication to Ballet Philippines. In this self-filmed video it is so apparent that a quiet worker such as Dee who has helped transform countless lives through education, nutrition, and community enrichment likewise has a heart that belongs to the arts, as shown by her tireless support to further BP’s cause to keep ballet alive! Here, she shares with us the new programs of the foundation, highlighting the SIGLA Crunchies as a means to continue the fight against malnutrition.
To learn more about the Enrique Zobel Foundation, please refer to the information below:
Website:
www.enriquezobelfoundation.org
Email: [email protected]
Mobile Number: (+63)917-577-7046
A visual artist and architect, he is known as one of the Philippines’ bright young stars in the industry.
Calma challenges himself to cross scales and media, his work spanning bespoke private homes to public installations that have been called young, edgy and nothing short of impressive.