outstanding service

VIEWING PARTY SET FOR “VALOR” ON CENTER THEATRE GROUP DIGITAL STAGE NOVEMBER 1 AT 5PM PACIFIC

Free Event Features Screening of Fran de Leon’s Adapted Play and Live Q and A with de Leon and FilAM ARTS Director of Programming

Center Theatre Group’s Education and Community Partnerships Department announced a special viewing party for “Valor,” on Sunday, November 1 at 5 pm Pacifi c. Hosted by Center Theatre Group Director of Community Partnerships Jesus A. Reyes, Fran de Leon’s exploration of hidden history which is launched by a tour of Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown will be screened followed by a live Q and A with de Leon and and FilAM ARTS Director of Programming Giselle “G” Töngi-Walters, moderated by Education and Community Partnerships Administrative Assistant Aurora Ilog. Presented in partnership with FilAM ARTS, the viewing party will be free to the public but reservations are required. For reservations and additional information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/ live-watch-valor-by-fran-de-leontickets-126004658325.

Fran de Leon’s “Valor” started as a short movement piece about the Filipino-American Veterans of World War II and was set to be further developed as part of Center Theatre Group’s Library Reading Series. When the pandemic halted the reading, de Leon adapted her piece once more to a short form video that would be part of Center Theatre Group’s new Community Stories program. In this video short, Fran de Leon shares elements of her creative process and research materials. From historical markers to her mother’s personal accounts to finding untold family stories, “Valor” shines a light on an integral yet seldom talked about chapter of American history.

As part of Center Theatre Group Education and Community Partnerships’ Community Stories Series, “Valor” is also available to stream on demand beginning November 6, 2020 at CenterTheatreGroup. org/Community. The series is made up of brief pieces created by artists including Anthony Aguilar, Luis Alfaro, Diana Burbano, Juan E. Carrillo, D’Lo Srijaerajah, Forrest Hartl, Judy Soo Hoo, Manuel J. Marron, Julie Taiwo Oni, Marisol L. Torres and Vilma Villela and meant to be shared online. The fi rst season of Community Stories will feature approximately 50 new works that have begun being released. New work will continue to premiere at CenterTheatreGroup.org/Community through March of 2021.

“For the past seven years Center Theatre Group has been partnering with local theatre companies, artists and libraries to provide access to theatre to community members from Boyle Heights through the free Library Play Readings series,” said Reyes. “With the pandemic forcing the closure of libraries and theatres, the reading series has been reimagined into Community Stories hosted on Center Theatre Group’s newly created Digital Stage. ‘Valor’ by Fran de Leon Viewing Party for “Valor” – 2 has been adapted from a play into a short video, providing greater access to the artist’s story and in the process making a new partnership with FilAM ARTS. While we may be waiting to return to libraries and theatres we are not waiting to create and share interesting stories.”

Center Theatre Group’s Community Workshops and Library Play Readings are made possible by a generous grant from the California Arts Council. Additional funding is provided by the Friars Charitable Foundation. Center Theatre Group’s Education and Community Partnerships programs are made possible in part by Bank of America. Generous funding is also provided by The Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, JP Morgan Chase & Co, The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and The Edward A. and Ai O. Shay Family Foundation.

Center Theatre Group’s Digital Stage is presented by American Express. As presenting sponsor of The Digital Stage, American Express Card Members enjoy special opportunities on the Digital Stage, including: presales and early access for limited-release premium events, invitations to private pre- or post-show meet and greets and access to exclusive content curated especially for Card Members.

Bank of America is Center Theatre Group’s 2020/2021 Season Sponsor, including Digital Stage programming. For more than 20 years, Bank of America has partnered with Center Theatre Group to provide innovative Education and Community Partnerships programs as well as present worldclass productions at the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum. Their generous support now extends online to the Digital Stage.

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading nonprofi t theatre company, which, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, Managing Director / CEO Meghan Pressman and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker, programs seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2100-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the nation’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics and circumstance to serve Los Angeles.

Center Theatre Group’s newest venue, the Digital Stage, features a collection of new audio and video series including Live from the KDT, Theatrical

Experiences, The Forum and Audio Adven-

tures. Center Theatre Group partners with artists and arts organizations from around the world to produce, present and create streaming theatrical content. Many off erings are provided free to the public, with a larger catalogue of videos provided free of charge to Center Theatre Group season ticket subscribers and supporters. Certain programs require an individual streaming fee. The Digital Stage also houses Center Theatre Group’s ever-expanding library of education, community outreach and Art Goes On videos. For more information, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org/DigitalStage.

UN group recognizes DepEd for ‘outstanding service’

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) has recognized the Department of Education (DepEd) for its outstanding service in continuously educating young people about the UN and supporting its various programs and projects.

The UNAP presented the General Carlos P. Romulo (CPR) award to the DepEd on its 73rd-anniversary celebration last October 24 and in line with the 75th founding anniversary of the UN.

“Under her (Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones) leadership, DepEd had been the most successful, actively participating in several youth day celebrations. We are very optimistic that with the presence of the UN, and at the same time, local representatives of the education and Congress, we can forge ahead and create new innovative ways that can bridge the gap,” UNAP President Amelia Reyes said in a press release issued on Thursday.

Reyes said this way, “the sustainable development of mothering the earth, mothering the church, mothering individuals can bring back a more cohesive integrated as well as collaborative eff orts in bringing about this entire concern of world peace.”

Briones was thankful for the award, noting the UN’s support for DepEd’s initiatives towards learning continuity.

“It is an honor to me now as Secretary of the Department of Education to receive this award named in honor of perhaps one of the greatest Filipinos ever produced by our country. Whether personally or institutionally, the United Nations has always been part of my life worth, my professional commitments, and as it is in the lives of many of our distinguished leaders and personalities in the country,” she said in her message.

Briones said UN organizations have strongly supported the continuity of education and have provided the country with global studies on the dangers and threats of stopping the process of education.

She cited the active participation of DepEd in UN programs that tackle population issues and trends; HIV/AIDS awareness, protection, and prevention; the harmful and deadly eff ects of tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke; and matters concerning drugs.

According to UNAP, the CPR award is presented to organizations or individuals who have made Filipinos proud in their diverse achievements, personally and professionally, and have contributed to world peace and development.

During the awarding, education partners shared signifi cant updates on education and its relevance to the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health crisis.

Rep. Roman Romulo, chair of the House of Representatives’ committee on basic education, said they have spearheaded the passage of laws that would strengthen the character of the country’s youth.

“One of these is Republic Act No. 11476, the Good Manners and Right Conduct and Values Education Act,” Romulo said. “Through these measures, the basic tenets of good manners and right conduct such as caring for oneself, having concern for others, upholding respect to people, upholding discipline order, and cultivating honesty, obedience, and above all, love for country will be rein-

DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones

forced to our youth.”

He added that as “Gen. Romulo continues to serve as an inspiration to many of us, let us continue to talk about his life and writings to the Filipino youth.”