The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), through the Cultural Exchange Department (CED), brings the 2025 Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) Apprenticeship Program to Bacolod City from July 15 to 24, 2025.
Now in its seventh edition, the University of St. La Salle (USLS) will be the official venue of the program, specifically at the Gallaga Theater and the Coliseum. This year’s apprenticeship program welcomes 24 participants from 18 KSS organizations nationwide (eight from Luzon, eight from Visayas, and eight from Mindanao).
The hands-on training modules are designed to enhance the competence level and skills of regional cultural workers in technical theater (sound and lights), stage management, and production-tour management. The program will feature mentorship sessions focused on specific areas of arts and theater, accompanied by lectures, interactive sessions, demonstrations, case studies, and practical applications.
The roster of trainers, facilitators, and resource speakers is prominent in their respective fields, namely Arnelio Manzano, Joey Nombres, Renz Sevilla, and Chinggay Bernardo.
Three apprentices from the 2025 batch expressed their excitement and goals for their participation:
“It has been my longtime dream to participate in any program of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. I am very excited to participate in the CCP Kaisa sa Sining Apprenticeship Program, for I will surely gain skills in technical theater and production-stage management, which I intend to share with my students and the next generation of artists in my region. With very limited resources and equipment, it is challenging for us to even conduct or be part of this kind of training, so this is really a very good opportunity for regional practitioners,” said Ian Bello from Bicol University, Legaspi City.
“Through the CCP KSS Apprenticeship program, I hope to enhance the creative and technical capacities of the Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod Theater Company and inspire future educators and artists in the Bachelor of Culture and the Arts Education program, where I currently teach part-time drama classes. This apprenticeship will play a vital role in elevating the standards and professionalism of technical theater locally and make a significant impact on regional theater practices by elevating the practice and pedagogy of stage management and technical theater; establishing standardized practices and protocols that align with professional theater benchmarks, ensuring consistency and quality across productions; and cultivating a broader pool of skilled technical directors, stage managers, and production management professionals, who are essential to the growth and sustainability of theater arts in the region,” said Ricardo Salanap Jr. from Colegio San Agustin, Bacolod City.
“I believe the CCP KSS apprenticeship program will help me grow both as an artist and as a leader in theater productions. It will also help me build confidence and learn how to manage shows with more creativity. I am eager to share what I will learn from this program with my group, the Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG), and use my learnings to improve the way we present our cultural stories on stage in my community,” said Charisse E. Sarol from Hulma Iligan Creatives Initiatives, Iligan City.
The apprenticeship is one of the support programs that the CCP CED provides for its KSS network, which to date has 77 members nationwide, composed of local government units, educational institutions, and community-based organizations. In the past six years, a total of 164 apprentices from 84 local communities have completed the program and were trained-mentored on arts, production, stage and tour management, technical theater (lights and sounds), film and new media, visual arts, production design, venue operations, library and archives, video production, and cultural exchange.
The 2025 KSS apprenticeship program is being implemented in partnership with the University of St. La Salle Bacolod and the Negros Cultural Foundation.
