Cultured Weekend: Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, National Museum

A weekend immersed in music and culture can never go astray.

Timeless Classics, New Beginnings

Friday night. The crew: Enzo, Rose, Kath, Jeff. As always, the metro traffic was merciless.

We reached the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) with just 15 minutes to spare before “Timeless Classics, New Beginnings,” a program by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), directed by Olivier Ochanine.

For years, I’ve yearned to experience a full orchestra live. Perhaps my fondness for classical music and exceptional orchestras stems from my high school days learning the violin. Watching the PPO live was a dream come true.

The national orchestra graced us with P.I. Tchaikovsky’s “March Slave”, J. Haydn’s “Symphony No. 88 in G,” and D. Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 10.”

The PPO’s performance was utterly mesmerizing. The music flowed seamlessly—thrilling and evocative. The second movement of D. Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 10” particularly captivated me. Its intense rhythm was almost compelling enough to provoke impulsive actions. Such is the potency of classical music: it inspires, resonates, and overpowers.

For a mere P300, we had the privilege of witnessing the nation’s iconic orchestra, led by the illustrious Ochanine. An experience everyone should savor at least once.

Philippine National Museum on a Sunday

Our cultural escapade continued with a visit to the Philippine National Museum on Sunday.

We got there around 3:00 PM. What’s incredible about the National Museum is that there’s no entrance fee. Reconnecting with our nation’s history, art, and culture comes without a price tag.

I last visited the museum during my elementary days. Two observations struck me: the tasteful renovations and the expanded collections.

Time constraints prevented us from exploring all the galleries—the museum shuts its doors at 5:00 PM. But a return visit is on the horizon.

After two hours at the museum, our appetites demanded attention. Being in Manila’s heart, we chose Binondo. Our #cultured weekend culminated with a hearty dinner at Wai-Ying, a famed Chinese eatery in Binondo.

If you’re itching for a weekend getaway that deviates from the usual—malls, beaches, cinemas, bazaars, expos—consider delving into underrated gems like the CCP and National Museum. It’s refreshing to immerse oneself in culture now and then.

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Philippine National Museum schedule:

http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Visit/Visit.html

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra 34th Concert Season schedule:

http://culturalcenter.gov.ph/press-room/ppo-34th-concert-season-2016-2017-opens-in-september-2/