A night of art, music, and sweater weather at Tagaytay Art Beat

My friend Queenie and I crammed inside a van on a Saturday afternoon. We were on our way to Tagaytay for this mini music and arts festival called Tagaytay Art Beat organized by Museo Orlina and DocDef Productions.

Halfway through the trip, I wondered why I bothered going all the way to Tagaytay for something I could experience in Manila. But anyway, we were almost there. No turning back.

Museo Orlina was already jam-packed when we arrived. One of the event organizers, Ningning Orlina, estimated that the crowd that night reached 1,200. They were expecting at least 200 people to attend the event. But tickets were already sold out a few days before September 19.

I walked around and checked out the works of featured talented artists while Fools and Foes played at the venue’s amphitheater. The exhibitors were Archie Geotina, Ayka Go, Erica Ng, Ivana Tyler, Jason Sto. Domingo, Jessica de Leon, Ku Romillo, Lee Caces, Lyka Orhel, Miggy Antonio, Monica Castillo, Rae Toledo, and Tammy dela Fuente. It was an impressive collection of paper art, screws on wood, 3D printing, and a cactus “sitting on” a miniature chair.

On the second and third floors, it was globally acclaimed glass sculptor Ramon Orlina’s turn to impress. Orlina is known to transform glass and turn it into beautiful, thought-provoking works of art. I looked at his creations and wondered how he made such fragile material to conform to his ideas, to the movement of his hands. At that moment, I knew my travel was worth it.

On the musical side, Tagaytay Art Beat had a promising line up of every type of music. Performers included festival favorites Autotelic, Bullet Dumas, Farewell Fair Weather, and The Ransom Collective; singer-songwriters Anj Florendo, Paolo Mallari, Niki Colet and Reese Lansangan; crooners Jensen and the Flips, Sud, Miles Experience, and Banna Harbera; and up and coming indie acts Austin, Dayaw, Fools and Foes, and Tom’s Story.

Queenie and I found a spot at the amphitheater during Bullet Dumas’ set. While he was singing about ninunos, I knew I was having a good time. I felt a bit cold, and hoped Tagaytay Art Beat will bother me again next year.  Manila really cannot replicate this kind of atmosphere. — BM, GMA News