A Day of Art: Nostalgia and Hero Worship

In July, while school was out and the weather cooperated, Zoe and I went to UP Diliman to visit two museums that had very interesting exhibits. Before heading to Vargas Museum and the Bulwagan ng Dangal, we dropped by the College of Fine Arts (CFA) and met up with Sir Totet "DJ" De Jesus. He initiated us into the CFA's gallery where works of alumni were on exhibit. Furthermore, he gave ua a tour of the entire college including the new building. More on this in future posts.

We headed to the Bulwagan ng Dangal where Toym Imao's art installations were on exhibit.

It. was. AWESOME.

Mixing Japanese robot heroes, Voltes V and Mazinger Z, with Philippine heroes and the infamy of Ferdinand Marcos and wife Imelda, Imao's work is like an eat all you can buffet. Scan the entire table and pick what to eat. His huge installations can overwhelm the senses.  But if taken in by bits and pieces, looking at and examining the tiny parts that make up the whole, his art prompts the viewer to look at relationships big and small. The message is not at all lost in his art installations. It magnifies the personal experiences of looking up at our heroes and being tricked or fooled by another. Super Robot + Super Reboot challenges us to examine our definitions of heroes and the beliefs we hold true at a time when villains are clothed in capes or robotic powers.

After an hour spent at Bulwagan, we went to Vargas for CANVAS' Tumba-Tumba: Children's Museum of Philippine Art.

With it's press release, I was expecting a Museo Pambata feel. Bright. In the now. Safe for kids. It was the exact opposite. A few game boards and interactive art activities did not convince me that the exhibit is for children. It celebrates childhood memories and the nostalgia it brings. The art is amazing, that's for sure. But I found it appealing to an adult's sensibilities of bygone years.

At the end of the day, kids art or not, it was what our souls needed.

Alternative Class Days: Paper Art/Paper Sculptures Day 1

Earlier today we had the amazing Liza Flores as our workshop facilitator in one of our Alternative Class Days workshops, Paper Art and Paper Sculptures. She gave a short talk on her art, how she got interested with paper as a medium for her art and showed everyone samples of her works. From visual arts to advertising, Liza Flores has grown tremendously as an artist. What she set out to do illustrating books using paper cutouts and paper art has transformed into paper sculptures used in advertising, installation art and set backgrounds for arts and culture shows.

What truly impressed me about Liza Flores is her love for her art. Her work ethic is admirable. One can be talented and skilled at his or her chosen art or profession, but, it is another thing to show a sincere passion to work with others and to share one's knowledge. I hope that her brand of professionalism rubs off on our high school students who, they may admit this or not, are looking for adult role models to look up to and emulate.

I am still on cloud nine as I write this. Our students made wonderful paper art today. Even our teachers joined in the fun and had their creative juices running!

Here is the art project, which Liza demonstrated to our students.

Begin with the basic: a tree

Add leaves. Be brave to use different kinds of paper!

Experiment. Move the paper around until you get it right.

Liza Flores and I collaborated on a children's picture book, Dear Nanay, which was published in 2014 by Lampara. Read her interview in the blog: Filipino Illustrator Interview: Liza Flores. 

The FALAKASTALAS Forum 2017 at the Philippine Normal Univeristy

My professor in college, Prof. Ruth Alido, is now the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the Philippine Normal University (PNU). When I received her invitation to be a panelist in the annual Panayam (dubbed as FALAKASTALAS), I said yes. How can I say no to my Alma Mater and to Prof. ALido who introduced me to Nick Joaquin, Paz Marquez Benitez, Estrella Alfon and Ninotchaka Rosca. What made this speaking engagement equally meaningful is that, I gave the little knowledge I know about language learning through library services to students of education majoring in Literature, Language (English and Filipino), Music, Speech and the Arts.

L-R: Sir Joel, Ka Heber, Prof. Alido, Zarah G., Sir Noel and Bebang Siy

I hope that this little knowledge multiplies having interacted with 500 PNU students!

That day of the forum was World Read Aloud Day. So, I began with a read aloud of the book, Library Mouse (Kirk, Scholastic). I had to read the book since the audience choose to. I have a copy of the e-book, but the PNU students prefer seeing a live read aloud session. Another highlight of the morning of the was my tandem telling of Juan and the Rice Pot with Jude, a music education major. I told the story in Filipino. Jude told it in his mother tongue, Cebuano.

It was an enjoyable session and I did learn and gather insights from the rest of the panelists.

Pinoy Zines

Bebang Siy shared, showed and told stories about self publishing and Zines, pamphlet like reading materials of a story or stories produced using a photocopying machine. In this day and age, writing and literature are taking a movement towards mass readership. Think Wattpad, Amazon self publishing platforms and yes, Zines. If librarians pay attention enough on Zines, we can bring our readers closer to resources that will inspire them to create their own stories. Sir Noel Taylo of CCP's Tanghalang Pilipino emphasized the importance of research when creating art with different peoples and communities. Ka Heber Bartolome remains to be a force to reckon with. Here is a man who has seen the rise and fall of leaders and the changing of the guards. His love for country is still very muc evident in his music.

I wish I could have stayed the rest of the day at PNU to visit old haunts, friends and the library. But, work awaited in Binan. So, there is reason for me to go back.

My 2016 In Retrospect: My Life as A Storyteller

One of the amazing things that happened to me last year was the recognition and appreciation I received from peers in the culture and the arts. Museo Pambata included my work and the advocacy I do on literacy development and reading in the Paglaki Ko Room: Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista. I owe it to Museo Pambata since they gave me the opportunity to be a storyteller. I started out as a volunteer storyteller in their afternoon storytelling sessions back in the 90s. Padayon!

Here is a bit of history about the building of the Paglaki Ko Room told in blog links:

Letter of Invitation: Paglaki ko, gusto ko maging kuwentista - It was in August 2015 when I got the letter from Museo Pambata. Of course, I was shocked first. Then, elated. The reality that I am old hit me last.

The Ang Paglaki Ko Room in Museo Pambata - The Kuwentista Room is part of the Ang Paglaki Ko Exhibit that showcases the writing, illustrating and telling of stories to children and the young at heart. Visit the room in Museo Pambata! It is an interactive room where kids can actually write, draw, listen and view recorded videos of storytellers. It is so cool!

Kuwentista Room Launching Day - Here's how we celebrated the launching of the Kuwentista Room. All storytellers featured in the exhibit told stories, live!

There was a time when I thought of giving up on telling stories. But, Philip Pullman reminded me that stories and storytelling are the things we need most in the world.

Looking for Andoy

2013 marks the sesquicentennial of Andres Bonifacio officially on November 30, 2013. The Official Gazette has a slew of links for researches and readers young and old alike who wish to know more about events and activities on Bonifacio's 150th year.

The Presidential Museum and Library has an article on the iconic Bonifacio portraits through the years and down to the commemorative stamps and the ten peso coin we use as legal tender. This, somehow, satisfies my question on the artists who rendered his images that I'm familiar with from a history textbook by Teodoro Agoncillo. Thanks to this article, I am moved to look at more Bonifacio sightings in every day life. Will my own conclusion of an under-rated Bonifacio change as I try to look for Bonifacio icons and images this 2013? This is a journey worth taking.

For starters, I have posted a 2013 planner with Bonifacio on the cover last October 2012. This I bought last year during the sale at the UP Diliman Press. Sometime last month, having lunch with a friend at a restaurant that serves Mediteranian food,  I found this photo of Bonifacio in the menu --

The chili sauce that the restaurant serves is named after Bonifacio. Note that the sauce is triple Xtra hot. What else will I find in the course of a year? My journey to look for Andoy begins.

Simpleng Buhay, Simpleng Kulay

Ruben "Totet" de Jesus will be having a one-man exhibit of pen and paper artworks on 23 July 2010 at the Filipinas Heritage Library. It's a loaded July!

Dear Librarian: Reply on Baking at the National Library

This month's Dear Librarian guest blogger is Ms. Anne Rosette G. Crelencia of the National Library of the Philippines (NLP). Ms. Crelencia is the section head of the NLP's Rarebooks and Manuscript Collection. Since NLP is an institutional member of the PBBY, Ms. Crelencia is the institution's representative to the PBBY board. She lends her opinion for this month's Dear Librarian post.

TO BUILD OR NOT TO BUILD
Anne Rosette G. Crelencia

Whenever I get orders from my superiors to write something, be it answers to research queries and requests, project proposals, business letters, and articles for the newsletters, most frequently those are accomplished in no time. But this time it’s different. Weeks passed by quickly without writing an answer to the challenge posted for our organization.

I am tasked to write an answer to a very big challenge posted not only for the managers of the National Library of the Philippines but also to the latest leaders in the government who are to run the country in the following six years. I have managed to resolve complaints and requests about our library’s services and collections from clients through e-mail and phone calls, but to manage a challenge as big as acquiring or renovating or transferring the current National Library of the Philippines building to a one is something else.

The thing is, I had a hard time identifying if it is really the building that calls for change just so we can say that our library is no decade behind the Library of Alexandria or is it just the way the structure is being handled. I mean, even a nipa hut has lots of possibilities to be something else other than being the plain and simple shelter for s small family. I believe change is never confined to physical developments but it’s about setting priorities.

With the very little budget allotted for our national library and the public libraries attached to it, it is tough to prioritize the architecture of libraries than the acquisition of good quality materials for library patrons’ use. However, this does not mean that initiative towards development of architectural structure of libraries in the country should be hindered by the lack of budget. A good proposal coupled with diligent plan of action to implement development might do the talking. That always depend on the priorities set by leaders in government, I guess.

I have seen beautiful and sophisticated libraries in other countries such as Singapore and Germany. We are no doubt too much behind them, but then again, that does not mean these countries are not experiencing difficulties in terms of working conditions and library collections and services just because they have the most sophisticated or modern buildings and resources. They do have their own dilemma just like us.

What exactly am I saying? I would like to believe proposals for a new library building has been initiated several times by the present and past library managers, only that nothing yet happened. But despite government’s inattentiveness to the requests, the National Library of the Philippines continued to persevere in performing its role in the society. It is challenging to meet the changing needs of library users in this age of technological advancement with very ample budget, but the staff who dedicated their craft and even lives in the name of service to the public is more valuable than any amount of money for the improvement of the library is available.

Perhaps a little more effort to open the eyes of our leaders in government on the value of books and libraries in the country is needed to be established first before anything else. I am dreaming of a national library flooded by people not because of the great architecture but because it is filled with resources where vast amount of knowledge and information can be acquired any time.

Tomorrow, June 30, 2010, we will officially have the new President of the Republic of the Philippines. Just as the whole nation anticipates for a great change in the current status of the society, I am as well crossing my fingers that somehow the President will make a difference in the field of libraries and education in the country.

For now, as I cannot just wait for the president to act on our needs as a government, education, culture and research institute, I will continue to do the best I can to serve the public with utmost diligence and integrity even if the fading architecture and facilities of the building remained unnoticed. National Library of the Philippines will be the priority in time…

Hindi Ka Nag-Iisa

This video will definitely strengthen Noynoy Aquino's presidential bid.



“HINDI KA NAG IISA”
Composed by: Ogie Alcasid
Sung by: Regine Velasquez

Sasamahan ka namin
Kahit paligid ay madilim
Iilawan ang daan tungo sa magandang kinabukasan.
Ika’y mamuno,kami ay susunod
pagkakaisa’y ating itaguyod
ang Pilipinas ay naghihintay
handa kaming kumilos,handang umalalay.

Hindi ka nag-iisa
sa paggising ng bayan
kami ay kasama,hindi ka mag-iisa.
Isasapuso ang dangal ng ating bayan
Sa tulong at biyaya ng maykapal

Magkakapit bisig,tayo…
ituloy natin laban ni Ninoy at Cory,
Nang bawa’t mamamayan
pagmamahal natin sa bayan
‘wag na nating itago, ‘di tayo susuko

Hindi ka nag-iisa
Sa paggising ng bayan
kami ay kasama,hindi ka mag-iisa
isasa puso ang dangal ng ating bayan

Sa tulong at biyaya ng maykapal
Magkakapit bisig,tayo…
Sama-sama bawat Filipino
Mula noon,ngayon at kailan pa man
hindi ka nag iisa……

Launching of Crucible-KUTING Art Stories for Children

The launching of the Crucible-KUTING Art Stories for Children series will be held on November 17, 2009, 3-5pm at the Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati Avenue, Makati City. Yas Ortiga's "Tito Arturo Makes Robot Monsters", Gigi Yia's "Laughter on the Wall" and Bong Oris' "Looking Out For Heroes" are the first three books of the series.

See you ate the launch!

Carlo J. Caparas on ANC's Media In Focus

I've posted this episode of Media In Focus where Carlo J. Caparas defends himself. Mr. Caparas is a talented man, but, compared to Lino Brocka and Ismael Bernal, he isn't "there" yet. Not quite. And it did not help that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo used her "prerogative" to proclaim him as National Artist.



I love it that Butch Dalisay spoke in Tagalog. Alex Tioseco, obviously a greenhorn but a promising film critic, is so privileged to be on the show.



I pity Mr. Caparas for being in the midst of this scam. It is sad to see how corruption has taken Philippine arts and culture by the neck. Our Filipino artists have gone to the streets. It is a season to be strong and steadfast.