While the vibrant programming of CCP Pasinaya: The Open House Festival draws crowds and headlines, what often goes unseen is the quiet but indispensable force that keeps it all running—the spirit of volunteerism. Behind the stages, galleries, and bustling crowds is a community of volunteers who freely give their time, energy, and skills to support its ambitious operations.
On Feb. 7 and 8, over 50 stage managers, with Rafa Lubigan as head stage manager, will oversee the operations of the country’s largest multi-arts festival across multiple venues. They are responsible for facilitating the smooth flow of performances by coordinating with artists, technical crews, and venue staff. They will be cueing performers, managing stage transitions, monitoring sound and lighting requirements, and addressing last-minute concerns during the live shows.
Working largely behind the scenes, these volunteer stage managers play a vital role in ensuring that CCP Pasinaya’s performances and workshops run efficiently and seamlessly.
Aside from the stage managers, there will also be about 200 volunteers from diverse backgrounds—students, artists, educators, and cultural workers—united by a shared passion for the arts and a desire to contribute to a meaningful national event.
These volunteers are assigned to assist performers, guide audiences, and manage venues and logistics. Some are also assigned to serve as tour guides for Paseo Museo, the hop-on, hop-off curated tour component of the festival. Others are tasked with video and photo documentation of the different activities across the various venues.
Adding to this culture of service, the participating artists and performing groups take part voluntarily. While some may raise concerns about artists not receiving performance fees, it is important to understand that CCP Pasinaya has long been designed as a platform for exposure rather than a commercial engagement. The festival functions as a marketing opportunity for performers and groups to showcase their work, offering audiences a patikim or preview of their upcoming productions, tours, and projects.
By providing a highly visible venue, built-in audiences—expecting over 50,000 attendees—and extensive media and public exposure, CCP Pasinaya allows artists to connect with new viewers and expand their reach. For many participants, the festival serves as a strategic opportunity to promote their work, build networks, and generate interest in future, ticketed performances.
Within this framework, participation in CCP Pasinaya is understood as voluntary, with the festival supporting artists through meals, performance spaces, and technical assistance. This model has remained central to the festival’s identity as an open, inclusive celebration of the arts, one that emphasizes access, collaboration, and community over commercial exchange.
The spirit of volunteerism also reflects the inclusive philosophy of CCP Pasinaya itself. True to its name, which means inauguration or teaser, the festival has always thrived on bayanihan and the belief that culture is best experienced when shared.
As CCP Pasinaya continues to grow each year, its reliance on volunteerism remains constant—a reminder that beyond the stages, lights, and applause, the festival is powered by ordinary individuals offering extraordinary dedication and generosity.
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With the theme “Paglikha sa Kinabukasan,” CCP Pasinaya aims to bring the festival closer to communities across the country, encourage wider participation, and inspire future generations to support Philippine arts and culture.
“Guided by this year’s theme, CCP Pasinaya seeks to go beyond presenting art. It aims to foster a culture of active artmaking where Filipinos, especially the youth, are not just spectators but co-creators in our creative landscape,” shared CCP artistic director and Pasinaya Festival director Dennis N. Marasigan.
For its 20th edition, CCP Pasinaya expands to Roxas City, Capiz, adds Rizal Park Luneta as a new venue partner, includes Calle Wright in Paseo Museo, and introduces a new component, Paligsahan.
On Feb. 7, Palihan offers a full day of hands-on workshops open to all. On February 8, Palabas features performances by more than 170 groups, including the National Performing Arts Companies, professional ensembles, and individual artists.
Paseo Museo partners with 17 museums and galleries in Metro Manila, with selected venues hosting special performances and workshops. It also launches a walking tour of the CCP Complex led by the Heritage Collective, with free shuttle services provided in partnership with the Museum Foundation of the Philippines.
The festival also includes Palitan, a business-to-business platform connecting performing groups with embassies, arts programmers, and other stakeholders, and Pamilihan, a marketplace featuring food, crafts, and local products.
Expected to draw over 50,000 attendees, CCP Pasinaya will be held simultaneously at the Circuit Performing Arts Theater, Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex, Rizal Park Luneta, and the Metropolitan Theater. Regional partners, Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Arts and Tagum City, also return.
CCP Pasinaya follows a “pay-what-you-can, workshop-all-you-can, watch-all-you-can” model. Registration is available online through the official CCP Facebook page.
