Wherever I am, the world comes after me. It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it. Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist. "The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver
The UP Asian Center will hold The Asia Concert with the theme, “Rasa Asia” on 26 November 2023, Sunday, 7:00 PM (GMT+8) at the GT-Toyota Auditorium, Asian Center, UP Diliman. The event is open to the public. Tickets are priced at PhP 200 each, available for pre-order. Seating is first-come, first-served.
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
DR. TINA CLEMENTE Dr. Tina Clemente is Professor at the UP Asian Center. She obtained her Ph.D. in Economics at the School of Economics, University of the Philippines Diliman, and handles several China courses at the UP Asian Center, which offers a China specialization as part of its MA in Asian Studies program. She is the current Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Studies Journal. View her full profile.
DR. MCM SANTAMARIA Dr. Matthew CM. Santamaria is Professor and the Assistant to the Dean for Cultural Affairs at the UP Asian Center. He obtained his Doctor of Law in Political Science in Kyoto University. He handles courses in Asian Studies and Philippine Studies at the UP Asian Center. View his full profile.
KOREAN CULTURAL CENTER PERFORMANCE TEAM - NARA The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) opened its doors to the public on July 19, 2011, with the goal of expanding the understanding and appreciation of Korean culture, and promoting a more active people-to-people exchange between the Republic of Korea and the Philippines. It operates both under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) - Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines. The Center has been continuously coordinating with the Philippine art and culture sector, including government, non-government, and private organizations. Up until now, KCC has been providing a diverse range of programs: Korean language and culture classes, and specially curated exhibitions with the purpose of creating opportunities for more cultural exchange activities by both countries.
NOVO CONCERTANTE MANILA Novo Concertante Manila is a chamber choir from Quezon City, Philippines. It was originally formed as a recital choir, and it continues to reinvent itself to be “a choir with a purpose.” The choir received the “Ani ng Dangal” award four times from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in recognition of Novo’s achievements in international choral competitions. View their full profile.
DR. ARWIN Q. TAN Dr. Arwin Q. Tan is Associate Professor and the current Program Coordinator of the UP College of Music Extension Program. He obtained his Ph.D. in Music Studies Program at the University of the Philippines. He is one of the founding directors of the Philippine Choral Directors Association. He also was one of the seven (7) advisory board members of Choralspace, a newly founded international academy fo choral arts in Berlin, Germany in 2020. He was granted the UP Artist Award for the years 2013-2015 (Artist I) and 2016-2018 (Artist II). In 2015 and 2020, he received the International Publications Award from the OVPAA. View his full profile.
UP TUGTUGANG MUSIKA ASYATIKA (UP TUGMA) UP Tugtugang Musika Asyatika (UP TUGMA) is the premiere organization of Asian music student-performers in the country, affiliated with the UP College of Music Department of Musicology. Its main goals are: 1) to build and develop a more conscious audience base for Asian music and culture that has deep awareness of these traditions; and 2) to raise the banner of Philippine indigenous music to the global community. In line with these goals, the organization regularly conducts workshops, field works, and performance nights. The members of the organization studies and performs the Mindanao Kulintang Ensemble, the Cordillera Bamboo and Gong Ensemble, the Indonesian Gamelan, the Japanese Koto, the Chinese Sizhu and the Korean Samulnori.
JOELLE JACINTO & ELI JACINTO'S TEAM DANCE STUDIO TEAM Dance Studio was established in 1980 in Las Piñas by Eli Jacinto, who developed his own dance syllabus to accommodate Filipino bodies and temperament, focusing on producing strong, artistic dancers. As a seasoned choreographer, Jacinto is known for his experimentations in choreography, particularly in contemporizing indigenous forms, not only in ballet, but also in the Bagong Anyo fashion and culture events of the 1970s, and in the 2011 film Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa. His daughter, Joelle Jacinto, with whom he has worked with as his dancer and dramaturge, is a Ph.D. candidate at the university’s Tri-College program.
UP FILIPINIANA DANCE GROUP The UP Filipiniana Dance Group is one of the most acclaimed cultural performing groups in the country, showcasing the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage both in local and international venues. Composed of students from the University of the Philippines Diliman, the country’s premiere state university, the group performs a wide array of Philippine dances from the Cordillera region in the north to Muslim Mindanao in the south— and, in recent years, from works of contemporary choreographers.
UP CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES NOH AND BUNRAKU ENSEMBLE The UPCIS Noh Theater Ensemble is a performing group of the UP Center for International Studies (UPCIS) composed of students, alumni of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, as well as other professional artists who are practitioners of Noh. Trained by Noh Grand Master Umewaka Naohiko, shitekata of the Kanze School and retired professor of the Shizuoka University of Art and Culture until 2016, they are, currently, being mentored by Noh Grand master Umewaka Chozaemon, also a shitekata of the Kanze School and an Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder for Noh Theater. Since 2005, the UP CIS Noh Theater Ensemble has performed for UPCIS as well as for other organizations and institutions, locally and overseas. UP CIS Prof. Amparo Adelina C. Umali, III, Ph.D., is the ensemble's founding artistic director-adviser.
ABOUT THE CONCERT
The Asia Concert: Rasa Asia is the culmination of the Asian Center's 68th Founding Anniversary celebration. "Rasa" (meaning 'taste' in Bahasa Indonesia), which serves as the guiding principle for this year's concert, signifies not only the essence of taste in cuisine but also the spectrum of human emotions and expressions. Beyond a mere concert, "Rasa Asia" encapsulates the Asian Center's aim to initiate a sensory journey that engages the hearts and minds of the audience through a series of cultural performances. With this initiative, the Asian Center reaffirms its steadfast commitment to help create a society aware of and appreciative of its Asian and Filipino heritage in ways that promote Filipino identity and its relations with its Asian neighbors.
In this unique concert, the Asian Center endeavors to bring diverse cultures together through the shared language of music and dance. Thus, "Rasa Asia" embodies the Asian Center's vision by providing a platform for a wide range of musical genres and performance styles that transcends borders. The concert strives to create an experience that evokes emotions and connects people through a series of performances that express both tradition and innovation. Attendees are invited to savor not only the musical intricacies but also the emotional depth of each note and movement. Ultimately, "Rasa Asia" engages the senses in an exploration and celebration of Asia's rich cultural heritage that nourishes both the palate and the soul.
ABOUT THE ASIA CULTURE AWARD
A significant part of this celebration is the inaugural presentation of the Asia Culture Award—an award that seeks to honor visionary artists and public intellectuals who have showcased the rich culture of the Philippines and Asia on the national, regional, and global stages. This prestigious award stands as a testament to the remarkable endeavors of those who have dedicated their craft to bridging cultures, transcending borders, and capturing the essence of their Asian heritage. By presenting this award, the Asian Center not only celebrates its decades long journey but also embarks on a renewed chapter of advancing cultural exchange and the appreciation of the connection between culture, identity, and the world.
For inquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 8 981 8500 local 3580.
The Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The UP Asian Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. It also offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. As an area studies institution, the Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website. For other news and upcoming events at the Asian Center, click here.
