Who is
Charles P. Celdran? Few may know him by the name Charles but for those who've
taken his tours and watched his performance arts, he is more well-known by the
name Carlos Celdran, probably the country’s best tour guide.
When he was
14 years-old, Carlos began making cartoons for the now defunct newspaper Business
Day. After a year
of studying Visual Communications at UP-Diliman, Carlos transferred to the Rhode
Island School of Design, majored in Painting, but later discovered his allergic
reactions to paint. So he shifted to Performance Art instead. He went on to win
the Yvonne Force art award and graduated with honors in 1996.
Carlos
founded and co-founded many organizations including Walang Pamagat Performance Art
Company where he served as artistic director. Walang Pamagat has already
performed in Rhode Island School of Design, the CCP, the Bronx Museum of Art,
AS220, and in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.
He also
founded a company that provides walking tours of Manila called Walk this Way.
In his tours, Carlos is the
director, producer and actor where he stages an elaborate theatrical
performance while he brings his tourists around Manila.
His Intramuros
tours called If These Walls Could Talk provide a half-day walking tour of the
Walled City in Manila, with Carlos in full Spanish illustrado regalia. The
Living la Vida Imelda, on the other hand, provides an interesting glimpse into
Imelda Marcos’ life through her long-standing legacy, the Cultural Center of
the Philippines.
Being a
cultural activist, Carlos Celdran is often asked by media men of the local and
international scene to comment on things regarding Philippine society and culture.
He was quoted in magazines such as Time Magazine, Forbes, and The Huffington
Post. In 2010 he was included in the list of “Names You Need to Know in 2011”
by Forbes Magazine. He was also featured on the British culinary show, Planet
Food for an episode featuring the unique cuisine of Manila.
MIBF is
organized by Primetrade Asia, Inc. in partnership with the Book Development
Association of the Philippines (BDAP), Asian Catholic Communicators, Inc.
(ACCI), Overseas Publishers Representatives Association of the Philippines
(OPRAP), and Philippine Booksellers Association, Inc. (PBAI). For details, call
896-0661 or 896-0682, or e-mail bookfair@primetradeasia.com.
