Home

Perry Escaño Embraces the Dark Side as ‘Adolfo’

August 15, 2009



Florante at Laura, the thirty second season offering of Gantimpala Theater packed the crowds at the AFP Theater on its first week run and now, the second week of performances unfold, and it shows extend until the last weekend of August.

Francisco Balagtas’ most enduring awit, presented as a komedya, the theater form popular during time of Balagtas, is under the direction of Soxie Topacio.

One of the most talked about characters in this play adaptation by the late Rene Villanueva is Adolfo, the Albanian monarch obsessed with power and lust, and whose main objective in life is to destroy his mortal enemy, Florante.

Portraying the antagonist Adolfo is Perry Escaño, one of the junior members of Gantimpala Theater’s Actors’ Company.

“The biggest challenge that Adolfo poses is the fact that we are totally opposite personality wise, though, I’m not saying that I am a good boy. However, I am not as bad as the role I portray,” says Perry.

“Playing this part is like living another life,” Escaño adds. “I need to create this person who is wily. At first, he acts the as meek and gentle as a lamb card. People do not suspect the vitriol boiling deep inside him. He is consumed with hatred. He is obsessed with power. In the end, when he becomes really demented, all hell breaks lose. He is not bothered when he resorted to violence just to fulfill his ambitions.”

How did you prepare for the role? “Personally, I did not watch the former actors who have done the part previously so that I give it a fresh take,” he replies. “I watched a lot of movies specifically Cape Fear with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in The Devil’s Advocate. I also take by heart all the notes given by my director.”

“It’s emotionally and physically taxing,” adds Escaño. “Adolfo is ruthless and I really have to summon, embrace all my dark side and be comfortable with it.”

Bringing the awit to life on stage is Soxie Topacio. He has worked with direk Soxie in movies and in plays and Escaño admits that direk Soxie is one of his favorites.

“I don’t want to pull director Soxie’s legs but he is one of the best directors that we have right now,” reveals Perry. “He is much disciplined. As an actor, I always look forward to work with him because I know that I will learn much. When he explains a scene to you, it is always very thorough. He expects that you give your one-hundred percent and with that thought, you cannot afford to be mediocre. You really have to strive and give your best.”

Aside from doing theater, Escaño is also visible in television having the privilege to work with both networks. He also juggles with mainstream and independent film projects as well As a matter of fact, Perry is cited as one of the top twenty independent film actors.

Why does he keep on coming back to theater? “As an actor, it is important that you continue to learn and in theater, it gives you so many opportunities to learn. And your learning does not only come from the script that you read, but from your directors, co-actors down to the technical people and the staff.”

He continues, “Another reason why I love the theater is the fact that every play gives you the chance to be abreast with so many personal, cultural and societal issues. In this awit by Balagtas, it talks about friendship, love for family and country, peace and religion. In this production, the audiences, most especially the students, can see that peace between two warring groups, the Christians and Moors, can be achieved. Peace and harmony is attainable when our hearts and minds are open to forgive, help other people, and communicate. At the end of the day, we all face the same problems. We all laugh and cry, we dance and jump, we get hurt, we love and we are just all human beings.“

“We hope that people continue to support Gantimpala Theater and all our plays. We are here to give you excellent productions. We assure you that after watching Florante at Laura, this is an experience that they will never forget, this is Filipino theater at its best,” concludes Perry Escaño.

Gantimpala Theater’s Florante at Laura performances are on August 14 and 15, 10am/2pm, AFP Theater in Quezon City and its final weekend on August 28 and 29, 10am/2pm, SM Southmall, Las Piñas City.

For information, bookings and ticket reservations, please call 899-5745, 896-3503, 474-5198. Or, visit:gantimpalathe ater.multiply. com
Posted by philippinearts at 11:16 pm | permalink | Add comment

Visual Arts Exhibition by Filipino Artists in Hong Kong

The 4th Philippines Arts Festival 2009- Kulay, Kultura, Kalawili (Color, Culture and Harmony) Visual Arts Exhibition by Filipino Artists

http://www.hkcultur alcentre. gov.hk/en/ exhibition/ exhibition. html

Opening Reception: 13 August 2009, Thursday
Time: 6-10 p.m.

Exhibition dates: 13-29 August 2009, Thursday-Saturday
Time: 9 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Presenter: Philippine Arts and Cultural Society (Hong Kong) and the Consulate General of the
Philippines in Hong Kong

Introduction: 16 Filipino artists and their creative friends living and working in Hong Kong are showing a
multi-varied portfolio of artworks at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Exhibition Gallery bringing
their respective aesthetic and creative messages directly to Hong Kong.

Website: http://kkkexhibit. haraya.info/

Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Main Gallery
10 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Hong_Kong_ Cultural_ Centre

Posted by philippinearts at 11:13 pm | permalink | Add comment

PITIK BULAG: Letra at Liwanag

THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM

Museum of Art and National Artist Virgilio Almario

cordially invite you to the 

PITIK BULAG: Letra at Liwanag

A Celebration of Contemporary Filipino Art and Poetry

 Opening Reception

On Tuesday, 25 August 2009

6:00 in the evening

 

 

GSIS Museum of Art

Diosdado Macapagal Avenue

Pasay City

 

The exhibition will be on view until December 5, 2009.

 

Featuring the works of Artists: Leonardo Aguinaldo, Virgilio Aviado, Manuel Baldemor, Elmer Borlongan, Salvador Ching, Charlie Co, Fil Dela Cruz, Edgar Fernandez, Jose John Santos III, Steve Santos and Poets : Teo Antonio, Rebecca Añonuevo, Roberto Añonuevo, Mesandel Arquelles, Romulo Baquiran Jr, Michael Coroza, Jerry Gracio, Vim Nadera, Fidel Rillo, Edgar Samar, Marne Kilates & National Artist Virgilio Almario

 

 

R.S.V.P. Leslie / Mayette (GSIS Museum) Tel. No. 479-3588 / 859-0395

Cellphone: 0929-171-4091   Email: museum@gsis. gov.ph

Posted by philippinearts at 11:07 pm | permalink | Add comment

The Pandayang Lino Brocka Political Film and New Media Festival

The Pandayang Lino Brocka Political Film and New Media Festival
moves on to the communities and workplaces.
 
The community and workplaces film showings of the film fest hopes to bring the works
to a bigger audience and back to the very subjects from whom they were inspired–the common Filipino people.
 
Communities:
August 9 - Barangay Bagumbuhay, Quezon City
August 15 - Barangay Old Balara, Quezon City
August 16 - Barangay Veteran’s, Quezon City
August 20 - Navotas Fishport Complex
August 22 - Barangay Central, Quezon City
August 25 - Malate, Manila
 
Workplaces:
August 13 - Triumph International workers union office
August 14 - Advan workers union office
August 18 - NHA/DENR CUE Office
August 25 - Courage Partylist NCR Convention
August 28 - DOLE employees union
 
Community film showings are open to all, participating filmmakers are especially invited.
Film showings in the workplaces are open to the employees/workers, with a possible program for mass criticism after the screenings. This effort remains true to the festival’s objective and very title pandayan, where truthful, relevant and artistic works are inspired, cultivated and/or produced from the needs, welfare or the voices of the people.
 
Groups, schools and communities interested to bring the Pandayang Lino Brocka to their area in the coming months should contact Tudla Productions. For inquiries, call Tudla Productions at 345-8804 and 0922-8975766.
Posted by philippinearts at 11:04 pm | permalink | Add comment

Compromising the National Artist Awards


By Behn Cervantes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:43:00 08/14/2009

Filed Under: Awards and Prizes, Conflicts (general)

MANILA, Philippines—The highest honor given to our deserving artists is the National Artist award, conceived over two decades ago by then First Lady Imelda Marcos.

The award was prestigious and highly respected because the artists cited were undoubtedly deserving of the accolade. It’s the ultimate honor this nation can bestow upon an artist for his/her body of work.

Hardly was there a hint of politics at play as Mrs. Marcos was properly advised. To prevent politics from having an undue hand in this particular award, a selection process and research committees were set up. In the beginning, it was Mrs. Marcos and her advisers who selected artists who were obvious cultural icons.

Selection process

With time, it became vital that an unbiased selection process be set up. The responsibility was given to the Cultural Center of Philippines’ Board of Trustees. However, in due time, the National Commission of Culture and the Arts was included.

As a member of the CCP board, I saw inherent problems. To begin with, the NCCA has more voting members than the CCP Board of Trustees. Furthermore, the National Artist Award Law allows the President to add names other than those cited by the Selection Committee, so we persuaded those close to the Palace to advise the President not to include names that did not pass the selection process, since past “dagdag National Artists” were received negatively by the artistic community.

Prerogative

Not too long ago, I pleaded with a Palace official to convince the President not to include a name unworthy of the National Artist Award. I recommended that the President could bestow a Presidential Award upon that person, instead, since that was her prerogative.

I would have expected Cecile Guidote-Alvarez to do as much as the cultural adviser of President Arroyo. So, imagine the shock when Ms Alvarez was declared the National Artist for Theater when she had not even been nominated, and did not go through the selection process she was a significant part of (as the head of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts).

Topping it all was the inclusion of Carlo J. Caparas, a film director best known for gory massacre films. Is he in the same class as Gerry de Leon, Lamberto Avellana, Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal or Eddie Romero?

To our shock, Dr. Ramon Santos, whom we chose as National Artist for Music, was taken off the list. He had been highly recommended by his peers for his talent, body of work and creative integrity.

The dagdag-bawas insults all Filipino artists. It’s an audacious act that turns the National Artist Award into a political achievement rather than an artistic accomplishment.

 PR: wait…  I: wait…  L: wait…  LD: wait…  I: wait… wait…  Rank: wait…  Traffic: wait…  Price: wait…  CY: wait…  I: wait…  YCat: wait…  I: wait…  Top: wait…  I: wait…  L: wait…  C: wait…
Posted by philippinearts at 10:58 pm | permalink | Add comment

"PasyoNasyon" Kasibulan 20th Anniversary Exhibit

May 6, 2009

  
 

“PasyoNasyon”
Kasibulan 20th Anniversary Exhibit

The project “PasyoNasyon” descends from lessons conceived, learned and acquired in a cultural sense from WOMAN as (MYTHICAL) HERO:BABAYE- BABAYLAN- BAGANIHAN, a major KASIBULAN peoject concluded last July 2008 sponsored by NCCA.

PASYONASYON is an attempt to concretize and materialize concepts and ideas that revolve around the cultural history of the Philippines as seen through oral traditions (such as pasyon, babaylan, rituals, etc.) as such traditions are carried forth by women as
primary figures of these rituals.

PASYONASYON will showcase wearable art in various art forms and media. It will serve as the converging point of different art practitioners from diverse art disciplines (dance, music, visual and digital arts, performance art and literature) to come up with provocative images, sounds, performances, and choreography that will be stringed in an
exhibit at the CCP Main Gallery from May 14 to June 21

Host: KASIBULAN
Type: Music/Arts - Exhibit
Start Time: Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 6:00pm
End Time: Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 6:00pm
Location: Bulawagang Juan Luna [Main Gallery] Cultural Center of the Philippines
Street: Roxas Blvd.
City/Town: Pasay City, Philippines
e-mail:pasyonasyon@yahoo.com

Participating Artists:
Aba Lluch Dalena | AJ Tolentino | AK Domingo | Amihan Jumalon | Baidy Mendoza | Brenda Fajardo | Cecil De Leon-Laya | Ceej Gomera | Christine Sioco | Claire Zapata | Con Cabrera | Cynthia Alexander | Daphne Aguilar | Dina Gadia | Edda Amonoy | Elaine Lopez-Clemente | Esther Garcia | Gigi Alfonso | Irma Lacorte | Jana Jumalon-Alano | Jane Ebarle | Jen Viola | Katrina Ann Tan | Kiri Lluch Dalena | Lia Torralba | Lita Maderazo | Lorna Fernandez | Lot Arboleda-Lee | Maan de Loyola | Marge Garcia | Maria Villanueva | Mayuko S. Kobayashi | Milk Mendoza | Mimi Tecson | Mona Dela Cruz-Gaston | Nadya Melina David | Nina Libatique | Paz Abad Santos | Racquel de Loyola | Rosel Valenzuela | Serena Borras | Teya Tan | Yvette Malahay-Kim | Zenaida Xavier

Posted by philippinearts at 3:02 pm | permalink | Add comment

National Arts Month

January 30, 2009

NCCA Ready for the National Arts Month-

Philippine International Arts Festival 2009

 

            For 18 years now, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has been organizing the National Arts Month (NAM) in the month of February with a series of festivities and activities mounted throughout the country celebrating Filipino artistry and promoting the arts and the artists. For 2009, the celebration takes a leap by going international under the name Philippine International Arts Festival (PIAF).

 

            It will feature the talents and performances of the many artists and arts groups in the seven arts on whose trainings, competitions, and creative expressions it has invested the past year or so. More than a way of looking back at past accomplishments, the festival will be a celebration of the fruits of the creative efforts for the past year and a looking forward to a richer, more fertile ground in the coming years for the evolution of artistic modes of expression available to the Filipino creative imagination.

 

            The National Arts Month started with Presidential Proclamation No. 683 in 1991. Now, the NCCA, led by its Chairman, DepEd Usec. Dr. Vilma Labrador and Executive Director and PA on Culture Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, through the NAM Artistic Committee headed by Prof. Ricardo de Ungria, Commissioner of the NCCA-Subcommission on the Arts (SCA), is taking the celebration to the next level by calling National Arts Month the Philippine International Arts Festival (PIAF) for next year.

 

            Selected artists from different countries are expected to join in the different PIAF events through the PIAF Artistic Committee in coordination with the Philippine International Theatre Institute (ITI) through its Sec. General Malou Jacob, also concurrent NCCA Deputy Executive Director.

 

            All over the country, different arts and culture groups as well as local governments will hold events for the PIAF with funding and support from the NCCA. With the theme “Ani ng Sining,” the PIAF has evolved from Manila-centered activities to a truly national event with key activities in all three major island groups, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, involving hundreds of artists from different disciplines of arts and reaching thousands of people from all walks of life and all over the world.   

           

            Some of the highlights to look forward to in the PIAF on February 2009 are;

·        The Ani ng Sining Launching. PIAF Ani ng Sining will formally open in two venues: Sining Gising of NBN 4 and Concert at the Park (6pm) with delayed telecast in NBN 4. Philippine International Arts Festival will also simultaneously be launched in major sites in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.  (Contact Person:  Ms. Shirley Halili-Cruz – Head, NCCA National Committee on Dance) 

 

·        PA(ng)LABAS. The project is a composite of a traveling exhibition, lecture-forum, and a film showing which will examine both the medium of film and the form and style of architecture as they relate to the development of film media, architecture and urban landscape. The title Pa(ng)labas is doubly coded to encompass both the concepts of projected moving image (palabas) and the exteriority of architecture (panglabas) to establish a sense of place. It will happen on February 10, 2009 (4pm) with an opening and symposium at the Forefront Gallery and Aldaba Hall University Theater, University of the Philippines - Diliman; and from February 17 to 21, 2009, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). (Contact Person:  Arch. Gerard Lico, PhD – Vice-Head, NCCA National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts)

 

·        Walai-Vernacular Architecture of Mindanao. This is an architectural drawing and photography exhibit of the vernacular houses of Mindanao culled from the Walai Pangampong project, complemented with a lecture series, selected ritual dances and craft works associated with house building and construction, and a model replica of selected indigenous structure. It is slated from February 6-13 at General Santos City and Feb. 20-28 at the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City.  (Contact Person:  Arch. Michael Ang)

 

·        Sinerehiyon. This is a showcase of nascent cinema from the regions. From the highlands in and around Baguio to the heart of Bicolandia that is Naga City; across the thriving Visayas cities of Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo; and through Mindanao between Cagayan de Oro and Davao, a new generation of artists is telling stories of their own cultures and people in cinematic form. This will be from February 18 to 22 at the CCP. (Contact Person:  Mr. Teddy Co – Vice Head, NCCA National Committee on Cinema)

 

·        Sayaw Pinoy. This touring dance concert brings together different dance forms and features local dance troupes of the host cities and municipalities performing back-to-back with the different professional dance companies in the country. This will from February 6 to 9 for the Visayas and NCR regions; from February 13 to 16 for Mindanao; and February 20 to 23        for Luzon. (Contact Person:  Ms. Shirley Halili-Cruz – Head, NCCA National Committee on Dance) 

 

·        Tanghal! The 3rd National University Theater Festival. Hosted by Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba, the event will feature university-based theatre groups from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and NCR in cooperation with the Lusong Luzon Arts and Culture Network. It will happen from February  10 to 14, 2009 at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba.  (Contact Person:  Mr. Eduard Perez, Vice-Head, NCCA National Committee on Dramatic Arts)

 

·        Taboan: Philippine Writers Festival. This will be a celebration of the word—written, painted, sung, or performed—and will assemble writers from all the regions and across generations who will interact with one another and with their audience on issues pertaining to their craft or the situation of writing in the country, or read from their new works. This will happen from February 11 to 13, 2009 at the UP Diliman, Ateneo de Manila and Cubao Expo. (Contact Person:  Prof. Ricky de Ungria – Head, Subcommission on the Arts / Head, NCCA National Committee on Literary Arts / NAM Festival Manager)

 

·        Organik Muzik. This is a series of four concerts showing the metamorphosis of elements of Philippine music from village roots to urban manifestations, from Cordillera traditions to Kadangyan’s world music, from Leyteño siday to Junior Kilat’s reggae Binisaya, from GAMABA Awardee Samaon Sulaiman’s virtuoso kutyapi-playing to the hard-driving neo-ethnic rock of Popong Landero, from flights of Balagtasan to the acid-jazz rants of Lourd de Veyra and Radioactive Sago. Musical innovator Joey Ayala weaves the journey towards a coherent whole. It will happen on February 7, 2009 at SM Baguio; February 15, 2009 at SM Cebu; February 22, 2009 at SM Davao; and February 28, 2009 at Magway, Marikina Shoe Expo in Cubao.  (Contact Person:  Mr. Joey Ayala – Head, NCCA National Committee on Music)

 

·        Philippine Visual Arts Fest ‘09.  It will be a convergence of selected various Filipino and International Artists from the different regions of the country. it will feature the talents and performances of the artists and groups in the visual arts whose trainings, competitions and creative expressions it has invested the past year or so. February 18-22, 2009 to be held at Robinson’s Place Ermita – Midtown and Robinson’s Place – Pioneer.  (Contact Person:  Mr. Egai Fernandez – Head, NCCA National Committee on Visual Arts / Mr. Ross Capili – Member, NCCA National Committee on Visual Arts)

 

            The 17 DepEd Regional Schools for the Arts will also gather for the 2nd Sining Pambansa in Baguio City and will have as keynote speaker the Secretary General of the International Theater Institute. Also, as part of the National Arts Month and in line with the Poverty Alleviation Program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Cultural
Caregiving Program of the commission, the NCCA will be tapping programs for artists  like the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NCCA and the Provincial government of Rizal headed by Gov. Jun Ynares for the Artists’ Housing Village in Angono, the launching of the newly-restored Metropolitan Theater, and the unveiling of the Urdaneta Park in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, in commemoration of Fray Andres de Urdaneta’s 500th  year.

           

            For details, please contact RENE NAPEÑAS, Head of the NCCA-Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) at cellphone number  0928-5081057 or VANESSA MARQUEZ, NAM Deputy Festival Manager at cellphone number 0918-6380412, or call (02) 527-5529 / 527-2192 loc. 508, 612 to 615, email at ncca.paio@gmail. com or public_affairs@ ncca.gov. ph or log on www.philippineartsf est.com  or www.ncca.gov. ph.

Posted by philippinearts at 8:21 pm | permalink | Add comment

Textile Symposium

January 20, 2009

   

Mabuhay!

Continuing on the success of the 1st ASEAN Traditional Textiles
Symposium held in Jakarta in December 2005, we are pleased to inform
you that a second symposium is planned in Manila, from 1 to 3 February
2009. The National Museum of the Philippines and the Museum Foundation
of the Philippines will host the forthcoming event with primary
funding from the ASEAN Foundation/Japan ASEAN Solidarity Fund and the
support of the Himpunan Wastraprema (Indonesia), the forum’s founding
organization.

The 2nd ASEAN Traditional Textiles Symposium theme, Habi: Sustaining
Traditional Textiles of the ASEAN, will discuss ways of promoting,
preserving, and keeping sustainable the many weaving and dyeing
methods deeply rooted in the cultures of ASEAN communities. Through
textiles, the symposium also wishes to draw attention to historical
and contemporaneous relatedness in Southeast Asia.

This invitation is a call to all textile enthusiasts. Papers by
outstanding academic specialists and demonstrations by expert weavers
from three continents will present on the art, aesthetics,
manufacture, and sustainability of Southeast Asian traditional textiles.

The symposium proper begins Sunday (February 1) and ends Tuesday
(February 3, 2009). It is followed by an optional two-day textile tour
to Iloilo, on the island of Panay in the Visayas (central Philippines)
on Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 5 February. Return to Manila from
Iloilo is on Friday morning, February 6, and subsequent departures to
respective home countries are on the same day.

Information on travel to and from Manila, accommodations, and meals
throughout the symposium period and the textile tour, should you wish
to join the latter, may be found on our website:
http://aseantextile s09.museumfounda tionph.org. We value your interest
in textiles and hope that you will join these exciting events. Please
contact the 2nd Symposium on Traditional Textiles Secretariat at your
earliest convenience with any queries and if you are able to come to
Manila.

With all best wishes,

Corazon S. Alvina, Co-chair, Second ASEAN Textile Symposium
Director, National Museum of the Philippines

Maria Isabel G. Ongpin, Co-chair, Second ASEAN Textile Symposium
Ex-Officio Director, Museum Foundation of the Philippines

Purissima (Petty) Benitez-Johannot, Convenor, Workshops & Lectures
2nd ASEAN Traditional Textiles Symposium 

Posted by philippinearts at 11:31 pm | permalink | Add comment

OBRA Website!

January 8, 2009

Get free items and services for being a ka-OBRA! By just being an active member of theOBRAwebsite, you will get points and exchange it to REWARDS!


So ano ang mga rewards? Artworks, valuable items, free services and iba pang kaARTehan galing sa komyunidad ng OBRA!


Lahat ng ito ay LIBRE! Also, invite your friends to be a ka-OBRA. Because the interesting part is you will get 10% commission for every points you invited to join theOBRAwebsite!

SALI NA!

Posted by philippinearts at 10:35 am | permalink | Add comment

MENDIOLA UNDERGROUND WRITERS PROJECT (April 2009) MILITANTENG PAGGAWA NG MATERYAL, ISKRIPT

Exploring narrative scriptwriting using social, economic and political issues as foundations of a progressive and social based story
construction.

1. Pagbuo ng ideya sa isang Kuwento
2. Pagbuo ng premise Ng isang Kuwento
3. Paglikha ng Karakter
4. Pagbalangkas ng Istorya
5. Tamang paggamit ng Unit Development
6. Pagbubuo Ng Iskript

Makilahok sa kakaibang sistema ng pagsusulat. Kung nais nyong sumali,
magpadala ng e-mail sa address na ito : mendiola_undergroun d@yahoo.com

Mendiola Underground
“Militanteng Paggawa ng Kuwento at Iskript”
(Digital Movie Application : Outline)
2,500 / 4 Sessions/ Saturdays/ Venue : Antipolo ( Along Sumulong H-Way)

Posted by philippinearts at 10:31 am | permalink | Add comment

ROAM MAGAZINE OUT NOW!

August 21, 2008

A rip-roaring shout out to all kinds of travelers: the cheapskates, zillionaires, backpackers, adventure seekers, campers, lost, or
whatever you feel like calling yourselves! ROAM magazine has finally
landed our urban jungle! This magazine is for you!

October Eighty Publications proudly presents ROAM—the first and only
alternative traveling magazine in the Philippines. Hop on the crazy
world of fun, spontaneous, and adventurous traveling! Discover the
hidden, learn the alternative, and live the ambiguity.

In this premiere issue, we give you the wild slab of glorious Manila
we’ve all loved to hate, and hated to love. We revive the vintage and
feel the vibe of hippie Manila. We veer away from what’s pop and
grand; we drift, reroute, and experience Manila the ROAM way!

Revel our special features on the chronicled Intramuros, oddballs of
Cubao X, rave of the Manila nightlife, rekindled balut industry in
Pateros, and the legends of the Luneta photographers.

We’ve got a bevy of features on urban adventures, culture, food
trips, dream destinations, city tours, first aid, traveling in style,
and a lot more!

Come on, come on! Quit on slacking and start ROAMing!

ROAM magazine is available in the major bookstores and newsstands.

Hit us your comments, suggestions, and spankin’ violent reactions to
roam@octobereighty. com or ring us at 8935787 or 8939305.

Posted by philippinearts at 9:31 pm | permalink | comments[1]

Solo exhibit of photographs by Vivian N. Limpin

August 5, 2008

Women = Creating’Solo exhibit of photographs by Vivian N. Limpin
August 8, Friday, 8pm
Conspiracy Cafe, #59 Visayas Avenue, QC
Launch and screening of video created for Femlink (www.femlink. org)
With poetry readings by LIRA poets, and a UP Rep performance from the play Damas de Noche
To join the evening’s poetry contest, contact Bebang at 09193176708

Posted by philippinearts at 12:19 am | permalink | Add comment

‘Florante at Laura’ exhibition at 1/Of Gallery

July 22, 2008

Florante at Laura, an exhibition inspired by the epic poem of Francisco Baltazar (also known as Balagtas) of the same title, will be shown at 1/Of Gallery in Shops at Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, from July 20 to 31, 2008.

Celebrating the visual arts and literature, the exhibition features 22 figurative paintings inspired by different sections of the literary masterpiece and a sculptural introductory piece, all based on the edition edited by National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario.

The artworks, reflecting a variety of styles, were made by Mark Arcamo, Buen Calubayan, Caña, Salvador J. Ching, Convocar, Marc Cosico, Cris Cruz, Leonilo Doloricon, Egai Talusan Fernandez, Alfred Galvez, Juan Sajid Imao, Jon Jaylo, Jerome Malic, Wilfredo Offemaria Jr., Vincent Padilla, Jonathan Rañola, Laya Roman, Don Salubayba, Fernando Sena, Rex Tatlonghari, Roger “Rishab” Tibon, Inna Vitasa and Janice Liuson Young.

The exhibit was first staged during the Komedya Fiesta 2008 1st National Festival in February at the University of the Philippines Jorge B. Vargas Museum.

Meanwhile, the UP Diliman Chancellor’s Office, under Chancellor Sergio S. Cao, has just published a UP Centennial edition of Florante at Laura which will be available at 1/Of Gallery. The full-color, softbound book features a reconstruction of the Balagtas text by Almario, an English translation by poet Marne Kilates and all the artworks featured in the exhibition.

In the book’s introduction, Cao says that the UP Centennial edition of Florante at Laura is not only a tribute to its acclaimed author, but is also an offering meant to broaden the appreciation for a Filipino classic.

“Indeed, there is no better way to mark a university’s one hundred years of history in molding young minds than by honoring one of the country’s most enduring literary legacies. This book will certainly help us rediscover Balagtas. It is sure to deepen our interest in a celebrated masterpiece and make us realize how one man’s work can transcend the ages and inspire people of another lifetime,” notes Cao.

Almario, who is also the dean of the UP College of Arts and Letters, calls Balagtas the “First Filipino Poet”, claiming that the latter – through Florante at Laura – demonstrated a  poet’s power. For the first time, notes Almario, a poet dared to challenge his readers (in the exhortation “Sa Babasa Nito”) to carefully consider his written words because these would be of immense use to them. “In a way, Balagtas broke free from the shackles of colonialism and paved the way towards freedom for the likes of Rizal, Bonifacio and many generations of contemporary poets,” Almario points out.

            For more details, call 901-3152.

Posted by philippinearts at 6:39 pm | permalink | Add comment

Happy Mondays Poetry Nights XXII @ mag:net cafe Katips

July 20, 2008

Happy Mondays Poetry Nights XXII @ mag:net cafe Katips Start:     
    Jul 21, ‘08 7:00p
Location:      
mag:net cafe katipunan

featured readers for the 32nd installment of the Happy Mondays Poetry Nights @ mag:net cafe Katipunan are as follows:

1. Emong De Borja
2. Kris Lacaba
3. Waps San Diego
4. Karen Capco
5. Enuh Iglesias
6. Marie La Viña
7. Adam David
8. Pocholo Goitia
9. Mia Tijam
10. Drey Teran
11. Jonar Sabilano
12. Keith Cortez
13. Chingbee Cruz
14. Khavn Dela Cruz
15. Angelo Suarez

plus other guest poets and regulars. please bring your stuff for the open mic.

rakenrol begins at 10pm with the music of (dyandyararannn! )

Carnival
Taggu Ndios
Chongkeys
Dissent

FREE ADMISSION the whole evening. This Happy Mondays installment with be hosted by Gabe Mercado.

Catch Happy Mondays every 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.  Mag:Net Katipunan is located at  335 Agcor Building, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City (in front of Miriam College.) For details or inquiries, visit http://happymondays poetry.multiply. com/  or 929-31-91 or email magnetgalleries@ gmail.com or bien@bannedmoviespilipinas.com

Posted by philippinearts at 10:20 pm | permalink | Add comment

East Asia Congress Photo Contest- "The Coast, The Ocean, My Community"

PEMSEA and HP Philippines presentthe East Asia Congress 2009 Regional Photo Contest. The Contest theme is “The
Coast, The Ocean, My Community,” which can be photographs that demonstrate local
actions/implementat ion and good practices in sustainable coastal and ocean
protection, development and management. The Contest aims to generate awareness
on local and national ocean-, coastal-, environment- related initiatives of each
country and increase participation of the communities with these
activities.

The Contest has three categories:
Youth, Hobbyist and Professional. One grand prizewinner will be chosen from each
category who will each receive an HP F4185 Printer and a complimentary
registration to attend the EAS Congress 2009 with airfare and accommodation. .
Winning entries will be published in the 2010 PEMSEA Calendar together with
other entries.

The contest is open to nationals of
the East Asian region. Photos must be high-quality prints or digital files and
can be in color or black & white. There is no limit on the number of entries
an entrant can send in. Entries must include the entrant’s name, contact
details, and the date and location of the
photograph.

Entries may either be submitted
online through http://www.pemsea. org/eascongress, or sent
to:

The EAS Congress 2009
Secretariat
P.O. Box
2502 Quezon City 1165
Philippines
Telephone: +63 (2)
9292992
Fax: +63 (2) 9269712
Email: congress@pemsea. org

Deadline: All entries must be
received by 31 December 2008.

For more information, please visit
www.pemsea.org/ eascongress

Your support and participation will
make the EAS Congress 2009 Regional Photo Contest a successful event - have fun
and click away!

Warm
regards,

The EAS Congress 2009
Secretariat

Details of the contest can be downloaded here: http://www.pemsea. org/eascongress/ section-support- files/contest_ form.pd

Posted by philippinearts at 10:15 pm | permalink | comments[1]

AGIMAT - a Website for Filipino Artists

July 15, 2008

The Philippines takes pride in its enormously talented and artistic people. Artists in the Philippines are everywhere; they also excel in
their fields of existence but only few are known to the general
public. There are those who are marketed by big studios and media
networks and there are also independent artists who despite being new
to the scene possess great talent and potential. Mainstream or
independent, these artists lack the support that would showcase their
talent and works to the broad general public here and abroad through
the new media – the internet.

Even the well known Filipino talents have limited information both in
the internet and printed publications, one need to search intensely
to find the information that you need. Overwhelmed by the talents
that surround us, Anino Design with the help of DAKILA - Philippine
Collective for Modern Heroism started to create an advocacy project
that will support, market and promote the talents and art works of
Filipinos.

For the past 3 years, the “Agimat Project” focused on freely helping
independent artists (indie musicians, indie filmmakers, indie visual
artists, etc.) promote their works online. On our 3rd Anniversary, we
would broaden our reach to all kinds of artists, either mainstream or
independent artists in the different fields of art.

“Agimat: Sining at Kulturang Pinoy” pledges to create a rich content
artist’s database and ultimate resource material for artist
information.

The “Agimat Project” envisions educating Filipinos on our rich
cultural heritage and introducing them to the bountiful Filipinos
artists of the new millennium. Thus, “Agimat Project” shall provide a
rich content artist’s database and make it as the ultimate resource
material for artist information.

Ushering a new phase in the development of Filipino art and culture,
the Agimat Project dubbed as Agimat: Sining at Kulturang Pinoy
Website will be launched on July 31, 2008, Thursday at the Access
Point Bar, Scout Borromeo, Quezon City.

The Launch will kick off with a press conference of Anino Design, its
partner organizations for the project and artists supporting the
initiative. The Launch will also feature various artistic
performances. At the same time, the Launch will also serve as a fund
raising campaign for the medical needs of talented musician and well-
loved colleague, Susan Fernandez, who is battling cancer. Another
highlight of the launch will be the showing of the 46-artist
collaborative anthem Kaya Mong Maging DAKILA music video.

A computer will be set up during the event to store portfolios,
images and works that artists may submit for their database
information.

Thus, we call on ALL FILIPINO ARTISTS to submit their profile, their
band or artist organization’ s profile, pictures or sample works so
that we could include it in the database.

Agimat shall be the Filipino artists’ talisman to usher them to
greater heights into making Filipino artistry and talent known not
only to the international scene but also, more importantly to the
Filipino people.

For inquiries, please call Rivac Gonzales at 927-0956, send an SMS to
0921-9600352, email info@agimat. net, or visit www.agimat.net. You may
also get in touch with DAKILA at 09054292539 or email
dakila.philippines@ yahoo.com

For donations and contributions to help Susan Fernandez for her
battle against cancer, you may also get in touch with DAKILA.

Admission to the Agimat Project Launch is free!

Posted by philippinearts at 9:32 pm | permalink | Add comment

Invitation to Una’s Unang Exhibit

July 14, 2008

UGNAYAN ng NAGKAKAISANG ARTISTA (UNA Cultural Alliance)

in cooperation with the

College of Arts and Letter Student Council

 invites you to UNA’s Relaunching Exhibit

 THE SUPERMARKET OF IDEALS

How to Package the Desires of Capital and Sell the Dramas of the State

 July 15-25, 2008

FC Galleria 1-2, UP Diliman, Quezon City

 Participating Organizations

SINAGBAYAN (Sining na Naglilingkod sa Bayan)

ASTERISK

Alay Sining

Artist’s Circle Fraternity and Sorority

SILIP (Sining at Lipunan)

Center for Nationalist Studies (CNS)

CONTEND (Congress of Teachers for National Democracy)

Posted by philippinearts at 1:12 am | permalink | Add comment

PHILIPPINE ART NOW - Book Launching

UNANG LETRA PUBLISHING, INC.cordially invites you to the launching of

PHILIPPINE ART NOW
 by MANUEL D. DULDULAO

Wednesday
JULY 23,2008
 6:00pm

ECCA
EXHIBITION CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
Ground Floor,Chateau Verde Business Center
Valle Verde I , Gate 2 , C-5 , Pasig City

SEE YOU !

Posted by philippinearts at 1:01 am | permalink | Add comment

Igan D’Bayan at The Crucible Gallery

July 12, 2008

Visual artist Igan D’Bayan mounts his third solo exhibit titled “Studies in Unnatural Histories,” which opens on July 15, Tuesday, 6 p.m., at The Crucible Gallery, fourth floor, SM Megamall A, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. The show is on view until Aug. 3. The goal of the artist is to capture a sense of “nostalgia for a past that never happened.” “Unnatural Histories” deals with the weird and idiosyncratic way Filipinos approach history, science and religion — a Pre-Apocalypse look at a Post-Colonial country. The show is about Philippine history as a quirky circus and about the ringleaders of the tormented.
For information, call Chari Elinzano or Inas Amoyo of Crucible Gallery at 635-6061.

Posted by philippinearts at 7:57 pm | permalink | Add comment

Komentaryo sa “Batang Langoy” Episode ng I-Witness

July 9, 2008

ni Rommel Delfin

(Purong opinyon lang ito ng nagsulat, matapos mapanood ang I-witness)

Ang midya ay nagsisilbing avenue ng mga bata para makamit ang oportunidad na makapag-express.  Nagiging lugar din ito para maipaabot ng mga bata ang kanilang mga hinaing sa mga kinauukulang tanggapan lalo na’t kung may kinakaharap silang mga lehitimong isyung pambatang may kaugnayan sa kanilang karapatan, o ang kawalan nito.  At dahil sa kapangyarihan ng midyang abutin ang atensyon ng pinakamalawak na bilang ng mamamayan sa isang bansa o lugar, otomatikong masasabing napakalaki ng tulong na naibibigay ng midya sa mga bata.

Kaya?

Kagyat na namuo sa isipan ko ang isang-katagang katanungang ito nang mapanood ko ang dokumentaryong “Batang Langoy” ng I-Witness na ilinabas nitong Hulyo 7 (Hulyo 8 ng madaling-araw) .

Bagamat nauunawaan kong ang layunin ng presentasyon ay maipakita ang nakalulungkot na kalagayan ng mga bata sa isang bayan ng Iloilo, hindi ko maiwasang magkamot ng ulo sa ilang mga butas na nasilip ko. (Ang dokumentaryo ay tungkol sa isang grupo ng mga bata sa isang isla sa Iloilo na nag-aaral sa isang paaralan sa mainland.  Hinahatid sila ng bangka sa umaga pero sa hapon, pag walang sundo, lumalangoy na lang sila pabalik sa kanilang isla na mahigit isang kilometro lang naman ang layo mula sa pampang ng mainland.)

1.       ‘Scripted’ na pagpapalangoy sa mga bata.  Sa set-up pa lang, halata na ang ‘scripted’ na pagpapalangoy sa mga bata.  Habang pinapanood ko ang bahaging lumangoy na ang mga bata pauwi, di ko maiwasang magtanong kung bakit naatim ng mga taga-GMA na palanguyin pa ang mga bata gayong pwede naman silang pasakayin.  Ang ganitong aksyon ay masasabing isang porma rin ng eksploytasyon.  Hindi rin naman nila pwedeng sabihin na pinasakay nila sa kanilang bangka ang mga bata pagkatapos nilang makakuha ng ilang shots, dahil wala silang explicit  claim ng ganito sa buong takbo ng dokumentaryo.  Ang ganitong porma ng presentasyon ay nauna nang ginawa ng lokal na tim ng GMA sa Iloilo City, kung saan ang naging narrator/presentor naman ay si Bb. Charlene Belvis.  Halos walang pinagka-iba ang presentasyon ng tim ni Jay Taruc.

Kung gagawa rin lang naman sila ng “presentasyon” sana eh yun yung opening nila.  Inabangan sana nila sa gitna ng dagat ang mga bata na lumalangoy, dun sila nanguha ng shots at pagkalapit ng mga bata sa kanilang bangka eh saka nila pinasakay at sabay na silang umuwi sa lugar ng mga bata para pormal na makipag-usap sa mga tao sa kanila, at sa mga magulang ng mga bata, at pormal na umpisahan ang kanilang pananaliksik para sa kanilang dokumentaryo.  Magiging katanggap-tanggap pa ang ganito dahil masasabing lehitimo ang mga kuha, at ang mga aksyon ng mga bata, at kung gayo’y hindi ‘scripted’ na kuha lamang(bagamat totoo namang ginagawa ito ng mga bata, tinatawag ko pa ring scripted ang shots na nakuha nila Taruc dahil wala na sa katangiang “natural/normal” (in a sense na regular itong ginagawa ng mga bata kung walang sundo)).  Mapapangibabawan na ito ng ideya na, lumangoy ang mga bata nung hapong iyon dahil kukunan sila ng video ng tim ni Taruc(at ni Belvis noon).

2.       Ang claim ng narrator (Taruc) na “… agad kaming naki-angkas…”  Ang mga katagang ito ay namutawi sa bibig ni Taruc nung ipinapakita na niya sa mga manonood na may nasalubong na masamang kalagayan ng panahon ang mga bata sa kanilang “paglangoy” pauwi.  Pinasakay nila ang mga bata.  Mabuti. Pero.

Ang claim ni Taruc na “kami” ay hindi nasuportahan ng mga kasunod nilang video clips.  Matapos niyang banggitin ang mga naturang kataga, makikita sa mga susunod na clip si Taruc (sa pampang na) na nakasuot ng jacket at may back-pack pang naka-suknong sa kanyang likod na walang indikasyon ng pagkabasang dulot ng paglangoy sa dagat.

Bakit may lumabas na “kami”?  Dahil ba sa nagawang sumabay ni Taruc sa mga gawain ng kanyang mga unang subject sa mga una niyang dokumentaryo eh, papalabasin nila sa “Batang Langoy” na sumabay ding lumangoy si Taruc?

Napakalaking paglabag ito sa etika ng pamamahayag.  Masasabi ngang isa itong attempt na makapanloko.  At sa kalibre ni Taruc, imposible ring sabihing di niya napansin ang error na yun.

3.       Hinggil sa “health and welfare” ng mga bata.  Kung ang pagpapabaya ng mga magulang ng mga bata na palanguyin silang mag-isa pabalik, kahit pa may dahilan sila (wala silang bangkang pag-aaari na magagamit), ay napakalaking paglabag na sa karapatan ng mga bata sa kalusugan at sa ligtas na pamumuhay, paano pa kaya ang pagpapalangoy ng mga taga-GMA sa mga ito para lang makakuha ng materyal na gagamitin sa dokumentaryo( kaya ko nasabing “pinalangoy” ng GMA ang mga bata, kahit pa walang ganitong lantad na panghihikayat mula sa panig ng tim ni Taruc, kasi, present ang motibo, swak din ang oras sa paglangoy ng mga bata, ibig sabihin sa punto de bista ng mga bata, alam na nilang lalangoy sila dahil kukunan sila.  Kapansin-pansin din na sa araw ng shoot, hindi sinundo ang mga bata ng kanilang magulang, samantalang ang natural na gagawin ng mga magulang, para kahit papaano e mapagtakpan ang kanilang kapabayaan sa harap ng kamera, e susunduin ang mga bata at iiiwas sila sa kamera dahil silang mga magulang din naman ang mapapahiya.) ?  Kahit pa sabihing may medical tim na nakaantabay o sasakyang naka-antabay, kwestyunable pa rin para sa akin ang naging porma ng tim ni Taruc sa pagkalap ng mga kakailanganin niyang materyal para sa naturang dokumentaryo. 

4.       Objective ng dokumentaryo.  Bitin ang dokumentaryo, lalo na sa bahagi ng paghahanap na ng solusyon sa  naipresenta nilang kalagayan ng mga bata.  Nabigo ang dokumentaryong katukin ang mga nararapat na tanggapan para mapabilis ang solusyong kinakailangan ng kanilang subject.  Sa puntong ito(sa punto de bista ng mga manonood), di na masyadong mahalaga ang behind the scene na pangakong suporta ng tim ni Taruc o ng GMA mismo sa mga pamilya ng bata.  Ang importante ay kung ano ang nakikita ng manonood na direksyon ng naturang presentasyon.  (After all, ang dokumentaryo e ginawa para sa mga manonood, para abutin ang mga manonood, para engganyuhin ang mga manonood na makibahagi at maging bahagi.)  Kung pamilyar kayo sa mga dokumentaryo ni Michael Moore (Bowling with Columbine, Sicko atbpa), ganun ang kanyang ginagawa.

Nabigo ang tim ni Taruc na maipakita sa publiko (viewers) kung ano ang kongkreto at pangmatagalang sagot ng mga pambansang tanggapan ng pamahalaan sa kalagayan ng mga bata.  Ang tangi nilang nainterbyu ay ang mga guro at ang tagapamahala ng pamahalaang bayan na halos wala namang nai-sugest na maganda at posibleng solusyon.  Hindi ko rin tuloy maiwasang mag-isip na baka may tinatarget lang na emosyon ang presentasyon ni Taruc.  Kung kaninong emosyon, hindi na rin nasabi ng kanyang dokumentaryo.

Dahil sa tumitinding krisis, tila baga tumitindi na rin ang komersyalisasyon ng dati nang komersyalisadong midya.  Naway hindi magamit ang mga bata para lang sa mga gawaing profiteering ng iilang nakikinabang, na maaaring magresulta sa pagkabaluktot ng mga balita o ng mga tagapag-balita.

Sana’y di na ito maulit pang muli.

 (3:09am)

Posted by philippinearts at 6:54 pm | permalink | Add comment
Page: 1 2