Ayala Malls celebrates Bravo! Filipino

Showcasing the best of Filipino talents featuring the Ternocon III Exhibit and a special performance with Cecile Licad.

Text and images courtesy of Visions and Expressions
March 30, 2023

ABT Studio Company performing For What Is It All Worth by Hope Boykin - photo by Avery Brunkus

BRAVO! Filipino, a festival that celebrates local heritage and culture in the fields of arts, food, fashion, and style, was conceived by Ayala Chairman Emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala back in 2008. Believing that Filipinos have a wealth of untapped world-class talent, Bravo Filipino was formed to discover and honor emerging and seasoned artists within the country, garnering national support that will eventually aid their rise to international recognition.

This year, Ayala Malls is once again putting Pinoy talent at the forefront as BRAVO! Filipino makes a more resplendent and impactful comeback kickstarting with two must-see events: the Ternocon III Exhibit and a series of ballet shows featuring Cecile Licad with the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company.

Cecile Licad

“Filipinos are passionate, creative, innovative, resourceful. There are so many ways to describe local talent, and that’s why we initiated BRAVO! Filipino. It is an avenue to display our heritage and culture. It shows and communicates our history and our hopes, our present, and our future,” shares Ayala Malls President Christopher Maglanoc.

Rediscover what makes the country’s homegrown talents so exceptional. With the campaign launching in April, witness a truly BRAVO! Filipino moment at the country’s leading lifestyle mall.

An exhibit of the country’s national dress

View the winning and most iconic looks from Ternocon III on April 12 to 16 at Glorietta Activity Center, Glorietta Palm Drive Activity Center, Greenbelt Gallery, and the Ayala Museum Lobby. The event, which aims to showcase the Philippine national dress in contemporary society, headlines the works of all 13 contestants and the established designers that guided the finalists during the competition.

Find the works of all 13 contestants at Glorietta Activity Center, featuring Cheetah Rivera (Quezon City), Yssa Inumerable (Paranaque), Geom Hernandez (Batangas), and Dee Javier (Manila) from NCR; Amor Albano (Ilocos Norte), Glyn Alley Magtibay (Oriental Mindoro), Bon Hansen Reyes (Rizal), and Gabbie Sarenas (Rizal) from the larger region of Luzon; Bree Esplanada (Cebu), Karl Nadales (Iloilo), Al Rey Rosano (Negros Oriental), and Marc Carcillar (Iloilo) from Visayas; and Glady Rose Pantua (Zamboanga) from Mindanao.

Meanwhile, the works of designers Joey Samson and Hannah Adrias will be exhibited at the Glorietta Palm Drive Activity Center; while designer Dennis Lustico’s works will be at Greenbelt Gallery; and style-duo Chito Vijandre and Ricky Toledo’s works can be viewed at the Ayala Museum Lobby.

Showcasing world-class Pinoy talent

Internationally renowned institution American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Studio Company is once again taking the Philippine stage through a series of enthralling performances as part of a fundraising effort hosted by the Ayala Foundation, STEPS Dance Studio, and Ayala Malls. Considered one of the greatest dance companies in the world, ABT Studio Company strives to cultivate the growth of talented and enthusiastic individuals while expanding the reach of ballet to a broader audience. STEPS Dance Studio Founder Sofia Zobel Elizalde shared “We’re beyond grateful for ABT’s unwavering support in this noble cause. Art transcends beyond language and culture, and there are countless talented young individuals who deserve to refine their gifts. This show is a testament to our shared mission of nurturing and developing the next generation of artists.”

ABT Studio Company photo by João Menegussi

Returning to the Philippines to join the show is award-winning Filipina classical pianist, Cecile Licad. This will be her first live performance since the pandemic, making it a memorable experience not only for the audience but for the renowned artist as well, whom The New Yorker termed as “a pianist’s pianist”—a truly honorable title for the Filipino native. Also raising the Philippine flag are Filipino-American Prima Ballerina, ABT Jackie Onassis School Artistic Director, and ABT repetiteur Stella Abrera; and STEPS Dance Studio’s pride and one of ABT Studio Company dancers – Vince Pelegrin. “I’m ecstatic and proud to see one of my former students, Vince, up on the big stage as a performer of one of the most prestigious dance companies globally. He is a living manifestation of our company’s mission, and we’re excited to see where the future will take him.” mused Sofia Zobel Elizalde.

ABT Studio Company performing Seven Sonatas by Alexei Ratmansky, featuring Cy Doherty and SunMi Park. Photo by Erin Baiano.

The gala show will commence at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati on April 20th. To foster a wider and more diverse community of art enthusiasts, this will be followed by public shows and first performance outside of Metro Manila at Ayala Center Cebu and Ayala Malls Abreeza on April 22nd and 23rd respectively. Select students from Cebu and Davao will also have the opportunity to participate in a Masterclass led by Stella Abrera and the Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre Studio Company Sascha Radetsky.

Photos by Ternocon

This is just the beginning of Ayala Malls’ celebration of local talent. Expect more amazing experiences in collaboration with a new generation of Filipino innovators.

Experience BRAVO! Filipino at Ayala Malls. For more information, visit www.ayalamalls.com or head to @AyalaMalls360 on Facebook and @iloveayalamalls on Instagram.