Cecile Alvarez is the only Filipino awardee in La MaMa’s ‘Remake A World Gala’ in New York

For her work as global citizen that spans more than half-a-century, Cecile Guidote-Alvarez is among the seven outstanding honorees — the only Southeast Asian — at the Remake a World Gala on November 10 at La MaMa Theatre in New York City.

Guidote-Alvarez is being honored “for her work as founder of the Philippine Educational Theater Association, and her lifetime commitment of ‘cultural care giving’ by providing free arts training to street children, the disabled, and Indigenous youth.”

It was also cited how she continues her advocacies as she serves as president of the Global Social Change Network of International Theatre Institute and director of the EarthSavers Dreams Ensemble that was honored as UNESCO Artist for Peace.

At 78, Guidote-Alvarez has conquered cancer and COVID-19, not once but twice.

When she lost her husband, former Senator Heherson Alvarez, in the early days of the pandemic, she continues to dedicate herself in the pursuit of a free and just society, with special focus on the arts and climate change.

Among her advocacies is to help leaders in the Philippines and abroad achieve the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), adopted by UN member countries whose leaders agreed that by 2030, extreme poverty — currently measured as those living on less than $1.25 or P73.34 a day — should be eradicated for all people everywhere.

In September this year, Guidote-Alvarez presented to UNESCO in Paris the successful holding of the Manila SDGs ResiliArt Earthsaving events as the country’s techno arts modelling for lifelong learning to assist our country’s fulfillment of the UN 2030 SDGs agenda.

Guidote Alvarez is director of the Earthsavers Dream Ensemble, which has been consistently honored as a UNESCO Artist for Peace since the award was given in 2003 . Much like the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and UNESCO Champion of Sports, the Artists for Peace are "internationally-renowned personalities who use their influence, charisma and prestige to help promote UNESCO’s message and programmes." Shirley Bassey, Celine Dion, among other celebrity artists, remain on the list.

As PETA founder, Guidote-Alvarez was given the 1972 Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Asian Award for Public Service. She was only 28 years then and still holds the record of being the youngest RM laureate.

Nowadays, she serves as president of the International Theater Institute-Social Change Network.

Being honored at the Remake a World Gala is another feather on her cap.

The Remake a World Gala is a celebration of La MaMa's global community: the artists and audiences who have long been part of its “One World Vision.”

Along with Alvarez, the Belarus Free Theater, Richard Lanier from the United States, Colombia’s Alvaro Restrepo, Beka Vuco from The Balkans, Duk Hyung Yoo from South Korea, Serhiy Zhadan from Ukraine also received recognition this year. 

La MaMa artistic director Mia Yoo said, “Artists are welcomed at La MaMa and lovingly encouraged to experiment. As we have grown over the years, risk-taking and diversity have remained key cultural values.”

La MaMa marks its 61st Anniversary Season this year as a creative home for experimental artists.

Founded in 1961 by theatre legend Ellen Stewart, La MaMa is the only original Off-Off-Broadway venue still in operation. She established La MaMa as a “haven for underrepresented artists to experiment with new work, without the pressures of commercial success.”

To date, La MaMa has supported more than 5,000 productions, featuring 150,000 artists from 70 nations.

Among the artists nurtured at La MaMa include Diane Lane, Bette Midler, Sam Shepard, Philip Glass, Harvey Feirstein, the Blue Man Group, Ping Chong, Tisa Chang, André De Shields, Olympia Dukakis, Tom Eyen, Richard Foreman, Taylor Mac, Meredith Monk, Tom O’Horgan, Estelle Parsons, David and Amy Sedaris, Elizabeth Swados, Julie Taymor and Robert Wilson.

With 88,000 square feet of dedicated art space in the East Village, La MaMa is a historical cornerstone and modern hub for experimental theatre across disciplines and boundaries. — LA, GMA News