Erehwon Center for the Arts started 2024 gilded in gold.  The prestigious award-giving body, Philippine Leaf Awards, conferred two Golden Leaf Presidential Awards to Erehwon Center for the Arts, one to its founder, Rafael Benitez, for his contributions to arts and culture, and another to its Chief Cultural Director, Anton Juan, for his outstanding…

Erehwon Center for the Arts introduces its group of classical singers, known as the Erehwon Cantabile, indicative of their smooth and melodious singing style.  They are all highly experienced, formally trained classical singers with diverse experiences performing in operas, concerts, and musicals.  They have gained awards and other recognition for their achievements.   They are…

Forecasts of stormy weather could not stop the cast and production crew of “Huwag Mo Kaming Hawakan,” an adaptation of Jose Rizal’s classic novel, “Noli Me Tangere,” from staging the show with full dedication.   Neither could a smattering of rains stop an enthusiastic audience from trooping in to watch the theater play at the Erehwon…

PHILIPPINE LEAF AWARDS. In the acceptance speech said on behalf of Rafael Benitez, Erehwon Art Foundation president Jesus Varela said, “Erehwon started as an art center with the sky as its roof, and its grounds in a poor inner community… This award strengthens our resolve to continue as a people’s art center, accessible to people…

His play has remained relevant for the past 46 years, and continues to reverberate daring responses to issues of the times. “Pagsambang Bayan” has become one of the most restaged shows in the Philippines today. The playright is Boni Ilagan, whose works as scriptwriter and librettist for theater, film, television, and radio, have been multi-awarded…

National Artist Series:  Carlos “Botong” Francisco This is the first of a series of coffee table books being produced by Erehwon Artworld Corporation to honor National Artists.  This book features Carlos V. Francisco, affectionately nicknamed “Botong.”  It narrates his life and features many of his greatest works.  He has been well regarded as a genius…

Erehwon founder Raffy Benitez (center) is flanked by film maker Fritz Silorio and director/scriptwriter Bonifacio Ilagan (both behind), and on the right by veteran actress Ruby Ruiz, and Prince Red Casiple as the young Jose Rizal. Erehwon Center for the Arts’ production of “Young Rizal and the Secret of the Light” copped the Festival Director…

Erehwon Center for the Arts filmmaker Fritz Silorio has submitted erehwonfilms.com short film, “Ang Batang Rizal at ang Lihim ng Liwanag” (Young Rizal and the Secret of the Light) at the International Film Festival in Manhattan.  This is the first short film produced by erehwonfilms.com and is available to the public through Erehwon’s youtube channel. …

Joey Ayala is a Filipino singer, songwriter and former chairman of the music committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. His music combines the sounds of Filipino ethnic instruments with modern pop music.  He entertained guests with his original songs at a special event at Erehwon Center for the Arts’ Behn Cervantes…

  The Cultural Center of the Philippines and Erehwon Center for the Arts presented “BAYAN BAYANAN: Letters from Home,” a musical based on the classic play of Bienvenido M. Noriega, Jr. It was shown at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines through a “venue grant.” The production enjoyed the special…