The Philippines Participate in World Listening Day 2018 Celebrations
“The final question will be: is the soundscape of the world an indeterminate composition over which we have no control, or are we its composers and performers, responsible for giving it form and beauty?”
― R. Murray Schafer, Father of Acoustic Ecology
[QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA] World Listening Day is an international community event held annually, every July 18 (birthday of R. Murray Schafer), all over the world. Dozens of organizations and thousands of people from six continents have participated in World Listening Day since its inception in 2010 to celebrate the power of sound in shaping our society and to promote active listening.
This year’s theme is FUTURE LISTENING, created by Filipino sound artist Teresa Barrozo. The theme proposes the idea of sound as a personal and universal envisioning of a future and of listening as a tool to create a transformed world. Participants are encouraged to examine their hopes, dreams, ambitions, and fears for the future of their community, society, or self and reflect on the question, “What does your future sound like?”
This July 18, the Philippines join World Listening Day 2018 celebrations happening globally, with an online album launch and public performances at Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. The event is presented by female-focused art+technology platform HERESY and is organized in partnership with Aréte, with the support of the Japan Foundation Asia Center and Japan Foundation Manila.
The WLD 2018 PH main event features a lecture performance by Japanese sound artist Yuko Nexus 6 and a site-specific performance by voice artist Ami Yamasaki. Final act will be an ensemble performance by Teresa Barrozo, Franchesca Casauay, Joee Mejias, and Pauline Vicencio-Despi, together with the two Japanese artists, performing a piece that was collectively developed and devised for the show. Open house is at 6:00 PM, and program starts at 7:00 PM sharp at at Areté’s Suthira B. Zalamea Lobby.
On the same day, a digital album of tracks reflecting on the theme of FUTURE LISTENING will also be launched online as well played back at the venue. Individuals invited to contribute come from diverse fields such architecture, graphic design, film, ethnomusicology, information technology, theater, curatorial studies, academia, education, and poetry. Online album artists are, in alphabetical order: Datu Arellano, Arbi Barbarona, Kabaitan Bautista, Nerisa del Carmen Guevarra, Joon Guillen, Marie Jamora, Moira Lang, Ness Roque-Lumbres, Christine Muyco, Jema Pamintuan, Nick Payumo, Sherad Anthony Sanchez, and Dayang Yraola.
WLD 2018 PH partner events also include listening workshops facilitated by the organizers, on July 14, for the scholars of Casa San Miguel Foundation, a center for the arts in San Antonio, Zambales, which gives back to the community by providing free musical training to the children of its farmers and fisherfolk. Presentation by the workshop participants and facilitators will take place on July 15 at the Casa San Miguel Theater as well as a special performance by Ami Yamasaki and the students.
On July 19, Yuko Nexus 6 and the WLD 2018 PH team will facilitate a soundwalk around UP Diliman Campus at 2:00 PM. Participants map out the campus’s soundscape using basic recording apps, followed by a discussion and potluck picnic where attendees share feedback and food with each other.
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World Listening Day 2018 PH is organized and produced by the WLD 2018 PH team and HERESY, in partnership with CASA San Miguel and Areté. This event is made possible through the support of Japan Foundation Asia Center and Japan Foundation Manila. It is part of the global community activities organized in celebration of World Listening Day.
For more info about the local activities, visit http://bit.ly/WLD2018PH or e-mail worldlisteningday2018ph@gmail.com
To know more about the annual global initiative, visit www.worldlisteningproject.org
#WorldListeningDay2018 #WLD2018 #WLD2018PH #FutureListening