Home to signature events that cater to all, Makati City once again hosted the celebration of the Dia Del Libro or International Book Day on April 22 at Ayala Triangle Gardens.
The event was filled with a series of activities that kept the guests entertained from morning till night, beginning with the inauguration of the traveling exhibit featuring 53 life-size photographic print reproductions of masterpieces from The Prado Museum in Madrid. The collection included works from the masters of the 12th to 19th centuries such as Rembrandt, Botticelli, Rubens, and Van Dyck.
The exhibit, which has been shown in cities around the world, is the first stop in an inspiring roadshow across the Philippines called El Museo del Prado en Filipinas (The Prado on Philippine Streets). A project of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and The Prado, this endeavor is being carried out by the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines and the Instituto Cervantes de Manila.
The opening of The Book Stop Project – a pop-up library where visitors can borrow or exchange books – followed.
In addition, guests were provided with various forms of entertainment as well as a lively performance from the Manila Symphony Orchestra.
Ayala Triangle Gardens, which sits at the heart of the business district, is now a haven of arts and culture, bringing art closer to people as the month-long celebration is open to public — from the corporate set to residents to passersby, its accessibility makes it easier for them to appreciate paintings that have been passed on for decades. The traveling exhibit and The Book Stop Project will be at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati until May 22.
Until May 21, visitors of The Book Stop Project are in for a treat as they will have activities every weekend.
From May 20 to 21, there will be a Spanish Cultural Night, featuring a Spanish Poetry Night and a screening of a Spanish literary film. There will also be a Japanese Cultural Night, featuring origami (paper folding), shodo (calligraphy), and Kamishibai, the Japanese form of storytelling.
Instituto Cervantes de Manila and Ayala Land Inc. have a long history of collaborating to deepen Filipinos’ love and appreciation of the high arts. It aims to capture the rich history and culture of Spain, to which Filipinos have a deep affinity.
For more information about the city that makes it happen, visit www.makeitmakati.com or like and follow Make It Makati on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
