"Tumaka" in Silay City

Just after its premier during the Karay-a Arts Festival 3, we got an invitation to perform "Tumaka" in Silay City. The occasion was Padayon One Visayas!; we were to be part of the cultural night sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. So off we went, this time with even fewer actors! (You know how it is to be a travelling troupe, and the expenses it entails.)

For this edition, we added a scene. That's after the suggestion by Cecile Locsin Nava, who watched the performance in San Jose. She would like to see a scene to show how Maria was swept by Tumaka's charm. We devised this scene overnight, just before we left San Jose for the 3AM trip to Iloilo. We wanted it to be a quiet love scene, with only Tumaka speaking, offering her something to eat (first, a banana which she refused), but Maria just kept looking at him until the last part where she tells Tumaka she is hungry and would love to eat anything. Tumaka offered her balinghoy (cassava root), which of course, is a phallic symbol.

Perico Pikoy (played by moi!), as usual stole the show, with his balletics and eclectic dance movements. So perhaps, I shall give the role to someone else next time. That would give me more chances to watch the play entirely so we could keep improving it to perfection.

We performed at the century-old mansion Balay Negrense, with no less than Governor Sally Perez of Antique, Mayor Oti Montelibano of Silay, Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento of Calbayog City and some of Silay and Bacolod's culturati in the audience. The play was well received by the elite audience, despite it's risque material. We believe the play will get more genuine appreciation, as it did during the KAF3 at the EBJ Freedom Park, from the general public (read: masa audience), when we tour it to the towns. I hope we could get enough support to tour the play.

Hiraya's new play

Hiraya Theater Company premieres its new play at the closing ceremony of Karay-a Arts Festival 3 at the EBJ Freedom Park on Sunday, 25 October at 7:00 PM.

The play "Ang pagtaban ni Tumaka kay Maria Katsila" is based on a Pandanon legend about an Ati tribal chief in Mt. Mab-o who outwits the Spanish governor by running away with the taxes collected from Ibajay and the governor's wife Maria. The play follows a series of zany encounters as the the Spaniard tries to get back with his wife, until he succumbs to heart attack and public humiliation. I used folk and traditional music to enhance the mood, starting with a komposo to introduce the central character. Period music in Spanish from Guillermo Gomez Rivera's CD "Nostalgia Filipina" proved especially useful to connect the scenes. "Flor Filipina" (track 8) was interpreted in the love scene/dance number between Tumaka and Maria, while "Mariposa Bella" (track 9), the predecessor of "Paru-parong Bukid" was interpreted with Ati dances and shouts at the finale, while the Ati scenes were identified with "Abaw tiyo Andoy, inum tuba laloy."

The play stars Mclaurence Saligumba as Tumaka, Jean Matias as Maria, and Richard Salameda as Governor Puentes, supported by the Hiraya ensemble.

KAF 3

Despite low budget and all, the Karay-a Arts Festival 3 will finally push through on October 23-25.. This year's edition looks like a theater festival with student theater groups participating. Teatro San Antonio of St. Anthony's College is staging my "Pagtimalus ni Kapinangan" with Cyruss Matencio directing; Maskara Theater Ensemble of University of St. La Salle has Dennis Teodosio's "Pobreng Alindanaw"; and Kanlaon Theater Guild has Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero's classic "Away Basketbol" (Basketball Fight). Meanwhile, Hiraya Theater Company will open the festival with the komedya "Ang Kapid" on October 23rd, and closes it with it's new production "Ang pagtaban ni Tumaka kay Maria Katsila on October 25th.

Hiraya's new production is so much fun to do despite lack of actors. I get to act too, as a parrot, and my costume is exciting.

Also joining the festival are Polytechnic State College of Antique's Teatro Antiqueño and PSCA Chorale, Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico Caballero, and the indigenous peoples organizations of Antique.

Walang himala

Bago pumanaw si Cory Aquino ay nag-quarantore pa sa EDSA Shrine. Ito ay 40 oras na padasal para humingi ng himala. Pero bago pa man natapos ang 40 oras ay namatay si Cory. Walang himalang nangyari.

Baka ang mensahe para sa mga Filipino ay hindi na kailangan ng himala. Minsan nang nabiyayaan ng himala ang ating bansa, noong EDSA 1986 Revolution. Naging simbolo ng spiritwalidad si Cory Aquino, at mahal na mahal siya ng simbahang Katolika. Mga pari at madre ang kakampi niya sa EDSA. Ngayon ay kailangan nating lutasin ang ating mga problema sa sariling tiyaga, kayod, at tamang pag-iisip. Hindi na si Tita Cory ang magdadala ng himala sa atin.

Noong natapos ang administrasyon ni Cory, maraming kritiko ang nagsabi na wala ring nagawa si Cory bilang presidente. Mababang marka ang binigay sa kanya. (Mukhang walang nakakaalala nito, at hindi nabanggit sa lahat ng mga programa ng ABS-CBN). Wala rin daw nangyari sa Pilipinas. Pero ngayon - bago pa man siya pumanaw - halos lahat ay nagsasabing siya ang pinakamabuting presidente pagkatapos ni Marcos.

Naalala ko ang huling speech ni Cory bilang presidente, sinabi niyang "let history be the judge..." at mukhang natutunan na rin ng sambayanan ang kabutihang dala ni Cory Aquino. Habang nanonood sa telebisyon, hindi maiiwasang maiyak, hindi dahil sa lungkot, kundi sa tuwa na biglang nagkakaisa muli ang mga Filipino sa pagluluksa para kay Cory. Nakakaantig ng damdamin ang mga eksena sa Ayala kahapon habang dumadaan ang kabaong ni Cory. Biglang bumalik ang mga eksena noong 1983 nang pinaslang si Ninoy. Napakaraming tao. Lahat ay halos naluluha-luha habang nagwawagayway ng dilaw na bandila o ng Laban sign. (Pero hindi ba ito rin ang karamihan na bumoto kay Erap at kay Gloria?) Ang pagpanaw ni Cory Aquino ay isa lamang wake up call para sa ating mga Filipino para muling usisain kung saan na patungo ang demokrasyong pinaglaban natin noong 1986. Kaya bayani pa rin si Cory, at hindi siya nagkulang hanggang sa katapusan ng kanyang buhay.

Pero hindi ko rin maiwasang isipin na isa sa mga bunga ng pagkapresidente ni Cory ay ang pagsikat ni Kris Aquino. Walang naniwalang may talento si Kristeta noong nagsisimula pa lang siya sa showbiz. Pero anak siya ng presidente kaya kailangang gawan ng paraan ni Mother Lily. Ipinareha pa siya kay Richard Gomez noon sa "Ang Sosyal at ang Siga," at pati ang komedyanteng Rene Requestias ay pinatulan niya. Nagpaka-cheap pa si Kris sa Fido Dida. Minsa'y tinawag pa siyang The Fallen Star dahil nahulog o nadulas siya sa entablado sa isang palabas sa Cubao. Pero dahil sa kanyang pagsisikap at determinasyon, at katatagan sa gitna ng napakaraming hamon sa kanya (e.g. Philip Salvador, Joey Marquez, Robin Padilla) isa na siya sa pinakamalalaking bituin ng ABS-CBN. At halata namang may impluwensiya sa istasyon.

Ngayon full-coverage ang binibigay ng network sa luksa para kay Cory. At napaka-star-studded ng necrological service para kay Cory sa Miyerkules. Kakanta si Lea Salonga, Jose Mari Chan, Jed Madela, Zsazsa Padilla, etc. At yan ay dahil kay Kris Aquino, na kasamahan sa pinakamalaking TV network. Hindi ba ilang beses na iiyak-iyak si Kristeta sa mga programa niya para magpasalamat sa mga suporta sa kanilang pamilya habang nasa ospital si Cory? Hindi ba gusto mong yakapin si Kris nang tanggapin niya ang pakikiramay ni Imelda Marcos? (Oh, sadyang nagkabuklod-buklod ang mga Filipino!), at palakpakan nang tanggihan niya ang pakikiramay ni Gloria? Kaya hindi malayong ang lahat ng atensiyon at pagmamahal na binibigay ngayon ng buong bansa kay Cory ay kalahati galing sa tunay na paggalang sa dating pangulo at sa kanyang nagawa para sa bayan, at kalahati dahil sa imahen at dramang nabuo ng media (in this case ABS-CBN) sa pamagitan ni Kris Aquino. Nakikita din natin kung sino at ano talaga ang malakas na impluwensya sa madla.

Hindi na kailangan pa ng himala. Matagal nang sinabi ni Nora Aunor: Walang himala! Nasa puso natin ang himala!

National Artists 2009 anomaly

On Wednesday night the National Artists for 2009 was officially announced on television, and I was shocked to learn that there are seven awardees. Early last month we attended the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) General Assembly at the Manila Pavillion, and we learned that the NCCA and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)-led body for the selection of National Artists have officially submitted only four names to Malacañang for the Presidents confirmation. How come there are seven?

The original four names, according to insider source, are Federico Alcuaz (visual arts), Manuel Urbano a.k.a. Manuel Conde (film), Lazaro Franciso (literature), and Ramon Santos (music). The additional awardees are Cecile Guidote-Alvarez (theater), Francisco Mañosa (architecture), Carlo J. Caparas (film and visual arts), and Pitoy Moreno (fashion design).

While we don't question the inclusion of Alvarez, Mañosa, Moreno, and (OK let's give it to him for his work as komiks writer and illustrator, but never as filmmaker) Caparas, we wonder how the addition happened. And how come Ramon Santos was dropped from the list?

Malacañang issued a statement the day after that the President's role is purely ministerial, approving only what NCCA and CCP recommended. If this were true, somebody tampered with the official recommendation before it reached the President. There is something anomalous in the selection, and both NCCA/CCP and the Office of the President have a lot of explaining to do to keep the integrity of the National Artist awards.

Mamma Mia! de Valderrama

I've heard that there's a roadshow going around Antique since April. That's good. There's always a surfeit of talents in the province. But I was surprised that the roadshow was "Mamma Mia!" the musical. Mader naman.

I had the chance to watch the roadshow at San Pedro on Saturday, June 27. It was the bisperas kang bisperas. It was threatening to rain, but I forced myself because the boss instructed me to watch it and recommend if it be shown in San Jose. The producer, no other than Mayor Joyce Roquero of Valderrama, has been asking the Gov to sponsor a show in San Jose. OK. Fine.
Let me start with the givens: The show in San Pedro was at the bandstand, which was too small a stage for a performance, much more a musical. I was told the Aglipay Church has booked the wider covered multi-purpose gym, so Mamma Mia! had to settle for the alternative venue, despite impending rain. Thank god it did not rain that night. I guess the promoters were also surprised with the change in venue, and were not ready to provide seats for audience, so the audience stayed under the benches, a far 50 strides from the stage. We were viewing the play from a 45-degree angle, because that was the only availabe bench when we arrived. Worse, another PA system was blaring from the covered gym.

We were told the show starts at 7:00 PM; we arrived late at almost 8:00 PM but we waited until 8:15 to start. There was an emcee who introduced the show, stressing the following points: 1. The play features Panubason Artists - these are talented young people from Valderrama and elsewhere in the province. They were selected from a crop of winners and contestants of Valderrama town's Search for Singing Idols early this year; 2. The play is sponsored by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes and The League of Municipalities - Antique chapter (of which Mayor Roquero is chair); 3. This production is the first and only in the Philippines, as no other producers have done it so successfully; 4. That the actors are singing live and not lip-synching, contrary to previous impressions when the musical was performed in other towns.

The production is Mamma Mia!, which is actually a 10-year old musical that started at the West End in London in 1999. Like any successful production, it soon had its version in Broadway, in Australia, Tokyo, Thailand, and many other cities around the world. It was such a hit that a movie version was made, starring Merryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, and a book version was also written. I wonder if which of these versions the Valderrama production is following. I also wonder if they got rights to produce the musical, or if they are aware that they need to pay royalties to produce the play, because if they didn't they are criminally liable under the intellectual property laws.

I had the feeling that the production took from the the movie version. Someone wrote the script that sounded like a declamation piece, as all the actors sounded like declaimers on stage, and the actors were trained to perform the musical pieces by listening to the music and imitating it including accent. In fairness to the actors, they were good singers. I cannot say the same in the acting department. For one, Marte Jun Granada, who plays Sky, needs to learn to tango to make that love scene with Sophie visually appealing. The girl playing Donna sings exceptionally well, but she is so small, she is overshadowed her Dynamos. And why were all the girls similar ly made-up and coiffed with hair extensions. All of them are too pretty, as if we were watching a beauty search. From our vantage point, it was sometimes difficult to identify Sofie from Donna, or from her friends. Especially that stage blocking was quite unobserved.

I think the production needs 1. a director who knows how to direct; 2. a choreographer; a musical director; 4. a stage and production designer. At the very least the last should have been present to avoid orange, red and fuschia costumes against a red curtain backdrop, or several unneccesary scene changes, unwanted blackouts, and obtrusive sets. The narration is extraneous, too.

Well, for what it was worth, I would give it to the talents who sang well, and performed relatively well as directed. I just wished that the creative team behind it thought out the staging, costumes and sets. An authentic 70's retro glam look, could have been interesting.
My recommendation for the Gov: If only for the talented young Antiqueños in the cast, it is worth showing. The music of ABBA is classic and entertaining. But I feel uneasy about public officials supporting foreign materials when local is wanting and needing support. I also fear that the talents are misguided, and the public misinformed. As a roadshow around the province, Mamma Mia! simply misrepresents both the borrowed material and local culture.

Hiraya's new komedya

Hiraya Theater Company premieres its new komedya billed "Ang Kapid" at the EBJ Freedom Park at 8:00 PM on May 28, to open the National Heritage Fiesta in Antique. The three-ay festival culminates the month long National Heritage Month celebration.

The new komedya "Ang Kapid" takes the first act from Hamtic's "Lucibar Filomeno" presented during the Komedya Antiquena 2007. The second act was written entirely by Alex C. Delos Santos, who also directs the play. Original music is by Bimbo Muyuela, choreography of batalla by Mclaurence Saligumba, choreography of gallarda by Alex C. Delos Santos. Technical direction and stage management by Janice Matias, production management by Richard Magbanua.

Actors include Mclaurence Saligumba as Portivillar, Jaylord Bantolo as Lucibar, Richard Salameda as Haring Cesar, Leda Tongcua Samar as Reyna Judith, Jean Matias as Pastora Jacobina, Jayro Oriel as Leandro, Ronel Guangco as Arturo, Jan Fredrick Nietes as soldado, and Lozel Lacbanes and Aljean Manalo as dama.

Hiraya Theater Company's first komedya "Kasanag batok sa sugal" had a national premiere on February 15 last year, during the National Komedya Fiesta at UP Diliman. It has also performed excerpts at the National Broadcasting Network's Sining Gising program. The same komedya was also brought to Cebu for the One Visayas Arts Fair at the Cebu International Convention Center, Mandaue City.

Hiraya's other productions include "Fray Botod" and "Kahon". The theater company represented Antique at the International Theater Week and MDG Summit at Intramuros in March 2008.

"Ang Kapid" is Hiraya's entry to the Komedya Antiquena 2009. It is supported by Binirayan Foundation, Inc., Antique Provincial Historical and Cultural Council, Cindy's, Piedra Restaurant, Arjee's Restaubar, Christine's Grill & Resto, Bread and Butter, Chowking, Paul & David's Batchoy, The Pinnacle Suites & Functions, Balay Lokal, and Datu Lubay Center.

New resto in San Jose

Last night wiz magawa ang mga beauty namin ni Weng, kaya pagkatapos ng rehearsal ko ng komedya sa plasa, napagtripan naming magdinner sa bagong bukas na Dah-bah Resto sa Gobierno Street. Curious lang kami kung ano ang mahihita namin sa resto na ito at kay tapang-tapang tumapat sa classy Piedra Restaurant, at tumabi sa isang chipangels na videokebar.

Sa pangalan pa lang na Dah-bah (ganyan po talaga ang ispeling), may ka-OAhan na ang restong ito. Plus the fact na more than one year in the making ito, gamit ng indigenous materials pa. Talagang pinagtiyagaan ang disenyo nito. Mga Hunyo last year pa sinimulan ang paggawa nito, pero May 8, 2009 na nang nagbukas. This better be good, sabi namin ni Weng. Sa signage pa lang ay talagang malaki ang investment ng may-ari dito. Kailangan ng dalawang kongketong poste na bricks-finished para kumarga sa napakalaking panaflex na hugis daba o isang malaking palayok. Obviously dito nanggaling ang maarteng pangalang Dah-bah.

Pagkapark pa lang namin ay binati na kami ng isang murat na nakahotpants, at munti ko nang mabangga ang isang malaking clock gawa sa chrome, na korteng manibela ng barko. Seaman ang may-ari? Zigzag shape pa ang pintuang gawa sa kahoy. Ang flooring ay hindi kawayan kundi spliced na puno ng isang klase ng bungang sa bundok lang nakukuha. Ang interior walls ay puro bagakay, at pati ang shade ng lights ay pinag-isipan ding gawa sa kawayan. Ang mga bar stools ay complementary din sa interior, puro hardwood ang tables. Kaya lang monoblock ang chairs. In fairness, kulay tan din to blend with the walls. Kailangan lang palitan ang Chinese-inspired frame na mukhang binili sa naglalako ng pahulogan on weekends. Am sure mas babagay ang mga framed na larawan ng mga prutas o kaya pagkaing Pinoy, o eksena sa baryo. Kung kayang bumili ng Amorsolo mas bongga, pero kahit imitation o print na lang.

May mga tatlong tables na okupado na, isang long table na parang family affair sa right side pagpasok, may isang group ng mga utaw led by isang chub na later nakasalubong ko from the restroom ay barangay kapitan pala ng Tigmamale. Chika naman kami ng lola. Sa kabilang side ay may dalawang mamang nakasando, at mukhang kilala pa ako nung isa, so may I smile naman aketch. Sa gitna na lang kami umupo ni Weng, kasama ang anak niyang si Miko. Yung isang waiter ay kilala pa ako dahil estudyante ko pala dati sa St. Anthony's College. Lumapit ang isang girl para ipakita ang menu, na sinulat sa dalawang pirasong bond paper. Handwritten talaga. Hind pa daw natapos ang kanilang menu list. OK.

So ask ako ng specialty of the house. Wisnowang pa yung waitress so may I ask pa sa kitchen. Crispy pata daw, sabi pagbalik niya. Tinginan na lang kami ng mahadera kong kasama. Di ba Crispy Pata naman ang specialty ng halos lahat na inuman? Mother, wiz yata resto ito. Beerhouse yata. So check uli sa menu. We settled for steamed tilapia, pinakbet. Pinalitan ko ang unang choice na sinagang na spare ribs to sotanghon guisado.

Yung sotanghon guisado malabsa, at lasang sesame oil; nahaluan pa ng luya. Aksidente lang siguro sa kitchen. Sinabi ko yun sa waiterlu, na dali-dali namang pumasok sa kitchen. OK lang, nakain ko na ang kalahati bago ko nakagat ang luya. I like luya naman, pero never sa sotanghon. Yung steamed tilapia is smothered with mayonnaise. Siguro sa Valderrama bongga ang mayonnaise. Pero tilapia ang gusto naming kainin hindi mayonnaise. Pinahiga pa ito sa bed of shredded repolyo kaya may ka-cheapan ang dating, plus sa melaware na pinggang puti. It didn't help at all. Ang medyo winner lang ang pinakbet na nakalagay sa buong kalabasa. Bongga naman ito. Hindi palayok kundi kalabasa. We hoped lang na masustain nila ang supply ng kalabasang may ganung size. Paano kung tag-ulan na at wala nang kalabasa sa San Remigio o Valderrama - the vegie baskets of Antique? Pero ang lasa ng pinakbet ay puro ginamos. Ang verdict: kariderya ang napasukan namin.

Rooms for improvement: kung seryosong wholesome, family place resto ang drama nitech, pakipalitan naman ang song selection sa napakaloud na speakers. Dambuhalang speakers pa ang ginamit, lola. May sound system din yata sala. Medyo maingay na disco tune ang tugtog kaya nagrequest kami ng mellow music. Aba, sinalang ba naman si Josh Groban na ngumangawngaw ng "To Where You Are." Feeling ko tuloy necrological service ang napuntahan. Suggest ko maghanap sila ng CD ng mga guitar Visayan folksongs, para babagay sa ambience. Yun ay kung totoong restoran ang gusto nila at hindi beerhouse. Kailangan ding i-train ang waiterlu na huwag ngumuya ng kung anu-anong pinulot sa kitchen habang nagsi-serve ng food. Buti na lang may kagwapuhan siya. Palitan din ng mas mamahaling ceiling fans. Yung mga plastic na made in China ay di na iikot pag-uminit na ang makina.

Plus points: Malinis ang CR, may lababo for hand-washing (kaya convinced akong resto talaga sila).

Ang ending, walang kwenta ang dinner namin. Buti na lang marami kaming topics for discussion ni Weng. At cheap lang ang dinner. May sukli pa ang 500 na binayad namin. Pinatake-out ko yung kalabasa.

New EBJ Freedom Park

EBJ Freedom Park in San Jose, Antique gets a facelift with the addition of the children's playground, and a walkway lined with more benches.

The park is filled with children and park-goers every afternoon. It looks like San Jose is getting a more active civic life, which is good. I hope park-going does not stop with the opening of Gaisano Grand Mall in June. There is a plan to build a civic center for senior citizens. That is a great idea.

The landscape of EBJ Freedom Park has changed a lot from how it looked like in the 70's when we were kids. There used to be a huge Mango tree in middle, where the EBJ statue is now. People are happy that the swing, seesaw and monkey bars are back in colorful versions, and the cluster of slides are always full of children.

It is also worth mentioning that the streets around EBJ Freedom Park are filled with new establishments, like Mang Inasal in what used to be the old Chinese school, and the new RCBC and RML Manokan in the new building in what used to be old Coca-Cola bodega, where my classmate Joan Montinola lived.

The park was our only playground then. We lived along Carretas Street, now Governor Villavert Street, and all the kids in the neighborhood gather at the park after school. I remember my playmates Mark Pe, Franklin Pe, the Marquilleros - Joe Rey, Gemma, Sonia, Micmic Pe, Pokwang, the Granadas, and many others.

Joey Ayala at EBJ Freedom Park

Joey Ayala performs at the Saduk Stage of EBJ Freedom Park, San Jose, Antique on April 26 to open the three-day highlights of the Binirayan Festival. Governor Sally Perez, despite exhaustion from the long walk from Malandog to EBJ Freedom Park for the torch parade, stayed on until the concert was over. She even bought a CD and went backstage after the concert for Joey's autograph and photo ops. Joey has a new fan in Inday Sally.

Lori Ocario, first Ati Lin-ay kang Antique candidate

Si Lori Ocario, 17 from Tina, Hamtic is the first Ati candidate of Lin-ay kang Antique. She was candidate number one of LKA 2009. Lori is a student of Advance Central College. There was a second Ati candidate who represented Igbanos, Tobias Fornier - Michelle Ocario. But Lori was the first to register, so that makes her - technically - the first candidate. Throughout the pageant, Lori was relatively more popular than Michelle, perhaps because of her darker skin, curly hair, and sharper features. During the welcome dinner for the candidates hosted by Alex and Marlene at the Pinnacle Suites on April 19, Lori got the attention of the guests by sharing her thoughts about ladderized education offered by her school and for her candid after-dinner speech. At the talent competition on April 22, Lori was among the judges' top choices for her funny monologue. She was a natural performer. I was expecting Lori to be in the top five, if only for sympathy votes for the judges, but she came in ninth of the ten candidates. You could guess who came in tenth. Is Antique ready for a Lin-ay from the indigenous peoples?

Mga kwento sa likod ng Mr. Antique 2009

Despite the incessant rain that night of the pageant on April 18, patuloy sa pagrampa ang 13 candidates ng Mr. Antique. Si Rihanna naman ang favorite ng mga judges dahil pinapayongan lang sila. Pero kahit si Governor Sally Perez ay tumigil hanggang natapos ang kalahati ng talent competition. Tuwang-tuwa siya sa mga ipinakita ng mga kandidato.

Pero as usual, dahil nga kontes ito at hindi natin hawak ang taste ng mga judges, marami ring tanong kung bakit si ganito ang nanalo at hindi si kuwan. Labas na kaming organizers diyan dahil wala naman kaming pinipili. Love namin lahat ng mga candidates dahil puro mabait at walang ni isang pasaway sa kanila. Unanimous kami sa pagsabing we had better candidates this year.

Pero ito ang aking opinyon: Hindi ko bet ang nanalo dahil may mali sa hugis ng ulo niya. Sa unang labas pa lang mukhang sea urchin ang ulo niya, nakakontak lens pa, at super eye-liner. I think may pustiso. Matangkad nga siya, maganda naman ang build, mukhang disiplinado, at nakatsamba siya sa Q&A. Sa totoo lang muntik na siyang hindi nakapasok sa top 5. Tie sila ng candidate number 6 (Ralph Flores) na matangkad din at maganda ang body proportion (skinny talaga ang in ngayon). Pero nang pinabreak ang tie, 4-2 ang vote ni number 13 (Manuel Jorilla). Mukha namang poised to win si 13 dahil kapanalo na ng isang pageant somewhere. Siya din uli ang piniling magrepresent ng Antique sa Mr. PYAP 2009 na gaganapin sa Antique National School sa April 24.

Yung first runner up naman na candidate number 10 (Charlie Balsomo) ay super face nga pero kulang sa height. Ang siste pa, ewan kung sino ang nagtrain sa kanya, napakarami niyang kakornihang ginawa sa stage. May pabow-bow pa, may paupo-upo, at ang hindi ma-take ng maraming bading sa crowd, may pasandok-sandok siya sa pool at binuhosan ang body niya. May ka-cheapan lang. Kung bakit siya ang nanalo, dahil short-listing ang proseso ng bawat judge (pinapili bawat judge ng 5 bet niya sa bawat category), at sa huli ay interview portion. Kung maganda-ganda lang ang sagot niya, at mas magaling ang pronunciation niya, siguro siya nga nagwagi.

Mas bet naming mga vading si Number 5 (Ralph Eduard Camaya). Naka-skinhead siya at malinis siyang tingnan. OK lang ang body proportion; hindi nga lang matangkad. Baka hindi lang siya masyadong napansin dahil wiz siya join sa talent competition, gayong dancer naman siya sa isang local group. Wagi siyang Mr. Photogenic at 2nd runner up, kaya dalawa ang tropeyo niya. Balanse na ang kanyang barbel dahil may kabigatan ang winning trofi na gawa ni Alan Cabalfin.

Maganda ang height at moreno si candidate 2 (June Dioso), na dating sumali na at nanalong 2nd runner up nung 2008. Mas gumanda pa nga ang katawan niya ngayon, altho mas kumapal ang balbon. Medyo may konting sira nga lang ang ngipin niya ngayon na pwede pang i-laser, kung seryoso siyang maging modelo. Pero baka nagsawa na rin ang judges sa kanya dahil recycled beauty siya, but the fact na nakapasok uli siya sa top 5 ay bongga na rin.

Si number 11 (McLaurence Saligumba) ang pinakadark horse, at kahit artista ko siya ay hindi ko inasahang pumasok siya sa top 5. Hapi na rin ako sa kanya. Kahit si Gov Perez ay napansin siya. Siguro bentaha talaga ang may alam sa teatro dahil marunong mag-cut ng space at magprojek. Yun nga lang 4th runner up lang siya dahil sadyang kulang sa height si Macmac. Cute lang talaga. At maputi siya. At medyo naglalenga filipina sa interview.

Isa pang bet ko pero hindi man lang pumasok sa top 5 ay si Marte Jun Granada. Batang-bata pa siya, pero supertalented. Siya naman ang napiling Mr. Binirayan o Best in Talent. Sing and dance ang bagets, at napaganda ng dimple. Gusto ko rin ang pagka-moreno niya, kaya lang baka batang-bata pa nga para manalo. Pwede pa siyang magpa-buff at sumali next year.

Sa talent department naman ay obvious namang winner si Marte. Yung iba naman nagpakita din ng galing; in fairness walang nakakahiya sa kanilang mga numbers. Kahit si Number 3 na nag-Ifugao costume at hindi nag-undie para mukhang authentic ay nagkaimpress ng mga matrona. Makinis naman ang behind niya. Yun lang, halatang isang bading na wiznowang sa totoong tribal dance ang nagkoryo. May mga movements pa siyang pambabae, at at headress ay halatang hiram sa Miss Gay. Pero seryoso naman si Ralph sa ginawa niya, at kahit nagpeek-a-boo daw ang notes ay keri pa rin. Hindi ko nakita yun, pero dalawang production assistants ang nagsabi na sight daw talaga nila ang pinakatago-tagong junior ni Raphy.

Magaling ding kumanta si Jeeven Casabuena (number 9 yata), pero talbog talaga ang sing and dance ni Marte. Hindi ko pa rin maisip kung bakit nag-tie pa sina Marte at Manuel sa Talent. Gayong original composition ang kay Marte at magaling ang execution, ang kay Manuel naman ay pang-videokeng rendition ng "One in a Million You."

As usual, in any talent competition may mga OA talaga. Katulad ng napakahabang dance ni Elvin (forgettable naman), at performance ni Jrnel (infairness marunong naman siyang mag-dance. Halata lang yung pilit na pa-Antiqueño flavor para punuan ang kakulangan ng skill at mastery.

All in all, successful naman ang Mr. Antique 2009. At palagay ko mas maraming sasali sa 2010. Wish naming organizers na makabuo ito ng magandang image at tangkilikin ng marami. Maganda ang sabi ni Gov Sally sa speech niya bago siya umiskyerda: Wish daw niya na ang mga kandidato ng Mr. Antique ay magsilbing magandang modelo sa mga kabataan, na pagsikapang gumaling ang talento, at hindi maging pasaway sa bayan. Sana nga.

Mr. Antique 2009 winners

Mr. Antique 2009 (L-R) McLaurence Saligumba (Barbaza) - 4th runner up, Charlie Balsomo (Belison) - 1st runner up, Manuel Jorilla (Hamtic) - MR. ANTIQUE 2009, Ralph Eduard Camaya (Lauaan) - 2nd runner up & Mr. Photogenic, June Dioso (San Jose) - 3rd runner up. MR. BINIRAYAN 2009 (Mr. Talent) is Marte June Granada, who sang and danced to his original composition.

Mr. Antique 2009

Binirayan 2009 opens today

Binirayan Festival 2009 opens today at 4:00 PM with a ritual ceremony at Malandog Historical Marker. The ritual is patterned after that for building a new house, modified partially for 30-minute program. The ceremony shall end with the performance of Tribu Salog of Malandog, followed by a motorcade to EBJ Freedom Park, where Governor Perez and Vice Governor Cadiao shall dedicate the newly built children's playground. The affair shall be children's party-themed, with clowns and magicians, ice cream, popcorn, balloons and lootbags for kids.

Guest of honor in today's ceremony is Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City, whose mother is from Bugasong, Antique. Kruhay!

Tayo na pa rin ba sa Antipolo?

29 Marso 2009.

Maaga pa akong umalis sa Malate nang linggong iyon. Maluwag pa ang LRT. Maluwag din ang MRT. Relatively walang tao sa Crossing, where I should take the ride to Antipolo. Napakatagal na noong last trip ko sa Antipolo. Nalulungkot nga ako, dahil dati pumupunta ako sa Antipolo para bisitahin ang love ko. Familiar ako sa eksenang ito.

Pero nitong trip ay iisa lang ang objective ko: mamili ng folk toys. Sabi kasi ni Mara Montelibano, sa Antipolo na lang ngayon makakabili ng mga tradisyunal na laruan. Naalala ko tuwing pupunta ako noon may mga taka, palayok, at nakabili pa ako nga ahas na gawa sa pinagdugtong-dugtong na kawayan.

Kay tagal mapuno ng van sa Crossing. Dadalawa pa lang ang pasahero nang sumakay ako. Nakaidlip pa yata ako. Pero mabilis din ang biyahe. Malawak na pala ang Ortigas Extension patungong Cainta. Ibang-iba na rin ang view. Hindi ko na halos nakilala ang De Castro at Junction. Pamilyar sa akin ang mga lugar na ito. Natira ako noon sa Cainta, sa Taytay, sa De Castro sa Pasig. Dahil sa love. Hay naku'ng love yun.

Long and winding road pala at uphill battle ang daan patungong Antipolo. Naalala ko na nga. Nagturo ako noon sa Assumption Antipolo, halos 20 years ago. May magandang park ng mga estatwa sa nagsasangang daan papasok sa bayan at papuntang Tanay, Rizal. Ibang-iba na rin ang J.P. Rizal St. na tinutumbok ang shrine ng Our Lady of Good Voyage. Naalala ko rin noon, pumunta kami ng ex ko sa simbahang ito para sa blessing ng brand new kotse ng ex niya. Hay, love talaga.

Napakaraming tao sa Antipolo. Pero puro kasuy lang ang tinda. Wiz ang mga toys na inaasahan ko. Puro mga balloons lang na made in China. May nagtitinda ng palayok na kinulayan ng orange, pero 150 pesos naman. Taray. Kala siguro ng tindera balikbayan ako na willing to pay an arm and a leg for a palayok. Di niya alam 20 pesos ang isang set niyan sa Bari, Sibalom. And I could paint it better pa. Binagtas ko ang Oliveros St. papuntang palengke. Walang mga laruan na hanap ko. Pinatulan ko na lang ang pekeng Barbie na dinamitan ng ginantsilyong gown. Kung dito ginantsilyo ito, bongga. Pero kung made in China din, ewan ko na lang kung ano ang future ng local toys industry. Nakabili na ako ng pekeng Barbie na may ginantsilyong damit sa Divisoria. Tatlo isandaan ang bentahan doon. Sa Antipolo 80 pesos na. Bumili na lang ako ng lalaking manika, para may Ken ang tatlong chipanggang Barbie ko.

Habang kinukulit ako ng isang baklita para bumili ng kasuy niya, nasalubong ko ang mamang may lakong daga na gawa sa foam at may rollers sa ilalim, may hinihilang sinulid para tumakbo-takbo ang foam rodent na may polkadots. Binili ko ang tatlo, at takang-taka ang vaklush kung bakit mas type ko ang mga daga kaysa kasuy niya. Nagpumilit pa rin siya. Pasalubong ko daw sa love ko. Wala akong love ngayon, sabi ko. E di sa family. Hindi nila type ang kasuy. Chos!

Nilapitan ako ng aleng bungal na nagtitinda ng balloons. Sir, bili niyo din ako ng balloon, sabi niya. Ay, di ko type ang balloon, say ko. E, bakit yung daga niya binili niyo? E kasi, ginawa lang niya, yung balloon mo made in China. Spongebob ba naman ang hugis ng balloon.

Pabalik na ako sa sakayan pabalik sa Megamall nang nadaan ako sa flowershop na may tindang maliliit na basket. Bumili ako ng isa, at may nakita pa akong takang kalabaw na mukhang pusa. Bagay ito sa daga. Baka daw sa Mayo pa may magtitinda ng mga taka. Galing pa ito ng Paete. Ok lang dahil nakabili na ako nito sa Paete. Yung isang nagtitinda ng mga plastik na laruan, di alam ang taka. Ano ba iyon, tanong niya. Tinitigan ko siya sa mata: Hindi ka tagarito, ano? Tagarito, pagsisinungaling niya. Hindi ako naniwala. Mas matanda pa siya sa akin. E bakit hindi mo alam ang taka? Saka niya inaming ang mister lang niya ang tagarito. Tanungin mo si mister mo mamaya, sabi ko. May tinda din siyang palayok, kaya binilhan ko na lang. Binigay niya ng 45 isang set. Kumuha ako ng orange.

Pagkatapos noon, sumakay na ako ng van. Masaya na rin ako sa pinimili ko, pero may halong lungkot dahil wala na ang ibang laruang gawa sa taka, sa kahoy, kawayan o lata. Wala na kahit turumpo. Wala na kahit tirador man lamang. At ang iba, ni hindi alam kung ano ang taka. Puro kasuy na lang at santong gawa sa resin ang tinda sa Antipolo. May isang tindera pa na pinipilit akong kahoy daw ang santo niya. tiningnan ko ang kamay, nakikita ko pa ang linya ng mold na ginamit. Sinungaling ka, sabi ko sabay pakyut.

Yung isang tindera naman, may papier mache na kasuy na display. Alam kong dekorasyon lang iyon sa mga kiosko nila. Pero dahil kitang-kitang interesado ako, sabi 400 daw ang isa. Mahal naman, sabi ko. E kasi sir, wala nang gumagawa niyan dito, patay na, sabi niya. Aba talagang wala, sabi ko, dahil sa Paete binibili iyan. Tig-25 pesos iyan sa shop ni Lino Dalay sa Paete, at di lang kasuy, may mangga, makopa, atis, kalabasa at kung anu-ano pa.

May sinulat akong tula noon tungkol sa Linggo sa Antipolo. Napablis sa Diyaryo Filipino, at muli sa Sunday Inquirer. Di ko lang makita ang kopya ko ng "Mga Kanta ni Datu Lubay" ngayon. Mas dumami lang ang tindera sa Antipolo ngayon, pero ganoon pa rin ang pakay ng mga pilgrims na pumupunta doon. Manalangin at bumili ng kasuy. Ako lang yata ang sumadya noong Linggong iyon para maghanap ng laruan.

Joey Ayala at Binirayan 2009

Joey Ayala opens the three-day highlight of Binirayan 2009 on April 26. Joey Ayala comes to Antique with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Malacanang to Malate

27 Marso 2009. Mahabang araw ito.

Ang hirap palang pumasok sa Malacanang. Sobra ang security. Dapat lang naman. Doon kaya nakatira ang presidente, at marami sigurong gustong tumira sa kanya. Jok lang.

Anyway, may awarding doon ang NCCA, at pinilit ako ni Gov Perez na umatend. Para siguro may papalakpak din sa kanya. Isa siya sa mga awardees for being culture and arts friendly local executive. First time kong pumasok sa Malacanang, kaya excited din ako. At dahil di ko alam kung saan ang seremonya, sinikap kong pumunta nang maaga. Napaaga naman yata masyado. 7.30 AM pa lang, nandun na ang lola niyo, nakabarong pa naman akez.

Well, dahil sobrang aga ko, witness ko kung paano mang-award si Madam Cecile Alvarez dahil di pa pwedeng magpapasok ang mga guardia civil. 9:00 AM pa naman daw ang affair. Wiz nowang naman itong mga sekyu na siyempre pag may affair, more ang dapat asikasuhin before everyone arrives noh. So, ginamit ni Madam Alvarez ang kanyang mouth para takutin silang mga sekyu. In short, she had her way.

Skip na lang natin the gory details, kung paano pinapasok ang sangkaterbang mga performers na wala sa guest list. Aba, di rin pala pwede ang nakamaong at rubber shoes. Tama lang ang desisyon ko na mag-barong ng habing Bagtasun.

Well, star-studded pala ang awarding na yun. Wa si GMA, bagay na disappointed ng konti si Gov Perez. Si Secretary Eduardo Ermita lang kasi ang naggivsung ng mga awards. Maliban sa mga local execs - 20 sila, kaya ang tawag ay Culture 20, mga pinunong malakas ang suporta sa culture and arts program, lalo na sa Kalahi Cultural Caregiving ng NCCA - awardees din ang mga nagniningningang bituin ng sining ng ating bansa. To name some: architect Bobby Manosa, directors Tony Mabesa at Tony Espejo, critic Rosalinda Orosa, sculptor Ramon Orlina, Ed Castrillo, anthropologist Antoon Postma, Mabuhay Singers, German Moreno, at Dolphy. Awardee din si Gov. Vilma Santos ng Batangas, pero wiz appear si Star for All Seasons. Kung nandun siya, baka mas magulo ang event na iyon.

Napakabigat ng tropeyong ginawa ni Pambansang Alagad ng Sining Abdulmari Imao. Aba, sumakit ang left arm ko sa kabitbit nun para kay Gov, kahit mga 20 minutes lang akong julalay kay Lola Gov. Buti na lang gusto niya siya ang mag-uwi nun sa Antique. Kung hindi kakandunging ko pa iyon sa eroplano.

Magandang okasyon din iyon para makitang muli ang mga kaibigan at makakilala ng mga bagong kasamahang manggagawang pangkultura. Si kaibigang Frank Rivera ang emsi, kasama ni Madam Cecile. Nandun din si Yuan Moro, na matagal ko nang hindi nakita. Moro na lang daw siya ngayon. Baka ayaw ng Yuan kasi currency yata yan, at hindi siya mukhang pera. Pormal ko ring nakilala si Mars Cavestany na naglalagi sa Australia. Matagal ko nang naririnig ang kanyang pangalan pero hindi ko pa na-meet. Kaibigan pala sila ni Rey Importante, na taga-Antique din. Nandun din si Rey, at siya pala ang supplier ng mga electrical equipment para sa mga teatro at music halls. Naka-chika ko din habang naghihintay ng simula ng programa si Carla Pambid, na Culture and Arts Officer ng Marikina City, at chika ever kami ni Paeng Pacheco, ang father of finger painting sa bansa. Inimbitahan pa kami sa studio niya sa Morong. Makapag-aral nga ng finger painting. Nandun din si Al Tesoro ng Capiz. Awardee din si Governor Tangco.

Pinakabatang awardee ang batang si Hamsa, 8 anyos lang, pero bongga nang pintor. Nakabenta na ng painting na 60,000 dollars sa auction sa Hongkong. Naluha-luha ang lola niyo habang inaaward siya.

Nagutom ako sa awarding na yun dahil wiz breakfast pa ang lola niyo, napakatagal ng awarding, at hindi rin ako nakakain kahit may lafu pagkatapos. Kasi nga nakipagsosyalan pa sa mga ka-chika ni Inday Sally. Ang ending, marami kaming iimbitahan para sa Binirayan 2009 sa Abril. Life talaga.

From there, tuloy kami sa Clamshell 1 sa Intramuros at dun na nag-lunch. Mapilit kasi si Mars e. Nagkita kami ni Joey Nombres dun. From Clamshell 1, sumirit kami sa UP Diliman for another meeting. Busy talaga noh. Dun kami sa Chocolate Kisses nagkape kasama ni Alan Cabalfin. Later, nagshow-up si Christine Muyco, nagbeso-beso lang kami sa Art Circle Gallery dahil hinahabol pa niyang magsumite ng grades niya. At habang naghihintay ng taxi, swerte namang bumaba si Margot Viola ng jeep. Kaya nagyakapan kaming dalawang maglola. Kay tagal na nga since Teatro Metropolitano days pa, nung ginagawa naming tambayan ang bahay nila ni Heber Bartolome sa Cubao.

Nung gabi na, nagwokawoka kami sa Malate, at nakasalubong namin sina Roel Hoang Manipon at Rey Napenas. Small world talaga. Pupunta si Roel sa Antique para sa Binirayan. Nangako siya. Masayang makitang muli ang mga kaibigan. Matagal mang nawala, dalisay pa rin ang mga yakapan at kamustahan. Sadyang ganyan ang mga totong kaibigan. Nakalimutan ko palang sabihing bago kami gumala sa Malate, nag-chat pa kami nina Ritchie Pagunsan at Peter Solis Nery na parehong nasa US.

Natapos ang araw na ito sa panonood ng concert ni Bamboo sa Roxas Boulevard. Masaya ang araw na ito. Mag-aalas tres na ng umaga nang dalawin ako ng antok.

Crazy Sked: First Quarter 2009

Lokis-lokis talaga ang sked ko since January. Nagsimula ang lahat sa mga marathon meetings sa Cebu para sa katatapos lang na One Visayas Arts Fair sa Cebu International Convention Center noong Marso 1-8. Tatlong beses akong fly sa Cebu, dalawang beses tumawid ng dagat to Bacolod for these meetings. Pero feel ko na rin dahil may I visit sa Aviary ang lola niyo, at magaling magmasahe si Owl at Eagle. Friendly din ang mga taga-Bacolod kaya hapi si iyay.

Enter pa itong February Arts Month. Dalawang exhibits pa ang ginawa namin - yung traveling exhibit on Evelio B. Javier, at yung tribute kay Edsel H. Moscoso. Kaloka talaga. Buti na lang yung meeting sa Bacolod, kasama na ang hiram ng paintings kay Donya Lyn Gamboa. May limang sketches pala ang manding niyo ng Mosocoso, kasama na ang portrait ng anak niyang si Toto Jack. Dati palang tambayan ni Edsel ang Bacolod, mga circa 1975 yun, baka dun siya nakapagtinda ng maraming paintings sa mga rich and famous ng Sugarlandia. Anyways, ginawa namin itong dalawang exhibit kasabay ng rehearsals ng komedyang dinidirek ko para sa pasundayag ng Antique sa One Visayas. Mabuti na lang remount na lang itong komedya at mabilis pumik-ap ang mga artista, kahit medyo hindi kagalingan ng iba. Keri na rin. Magaling naman kasi ang bida kong si MacLaurence Saligumba. Komedya actor naman kasi sa barangay nila sa San Antonio, Barbaza.

Nagitigil ang rehearsal dahil attend pa ang byuti ko ng 2nd National Children's Museum Conference sa Talisay, Negros Occidental noong Feb 19-21. Bunga nito, pursigido na akong gawin ang aking Balay ni Datu Lubay bilang isang children's museum. Ewan ko lang kung paano ito maging interactive, dahil maliit lang ang space at lumang bahay na iyon, pero may paraan diyan, am sure. Maraming akong natutuhan sa conference na iyon, pero ang highlight ay ang dalawang eyeballs. Hahahaha. Charing lang. Ang highlight talaga ay iyung visit namin sa Sagay Children's Museum, at ang out-of-conference visit sa bahay ni Bambu Tonogbanua. Yes, the popular Christmas Village in Bacolod. Pero hindi lang pala Christmas Village ang pride na Bambu. Mistulang museum ang art gallery na rin ang place niya, sa dami ng art collections ng lola. Ang favorite ko dun ang mga woodcarvings na mega-folk art ang drama. Wish ko ding bumili noon, pramis ko pagbalik ko sa Bacolod ay para pumunta lang sa iskultor at bumili noon. Visit din pala kami sa The Ruins, pero yun lang yun. Bago kami umuwi, inikot muna kami ni Donya Lyn G. Bumisita kami sa Tana Dikang Museum sa Talisay, sa Shell Chapel sa Sta. Clara, San Sebastian Church, at Negros Showroom. Siempre pa may I buy kami ng mga kung anik-anik na pasalubong. Ang best buy ko yung mga ceramics na nakita namin along the road sa Talisay. Mga overruns yata yun. OA naman talaga ako pag nakakita ng bargain na mga ganyan. Naubos ang datung ko, buti na lang nanlibre si Lyn G sa isang Japanese resto for lunch, at hinatid pa ako sa pier.

Pagbalik ko sa Antique after the conference, tutok na naman sa One Visayas. Rehearse ng komedya, arrange ng mga flights ng mga superstar ng OKM, tickets ng mga artista, plano ng exhibit namin sa Antique Pavillion. Naisipan ko ba naman dalhin ang mural ni J. Elizalde Navarro na super laki naman, wala ka porter ang bumuhat sa pier sa Iloilo. Arts fair kasi iyon, at ayoko namang magdala ng tarpulin lang. Orig artworks ang dinala namin. Dalawang paintings pa ni Edsel Moscoso, magagandang patadyong, tatlong manekin ng komedya costume, at isang kimona patadyong ensemble, para ipakita din ang folk arts ng Antique.

Hindi naman nahuli ang Antique Pavilion, in fairness, pero winner sa One Visayas ang Capiz sa ganda ng kanilang pavillion at dami ng sinalian. Halos lahat ng araw may performances sila. Bongga talaga si mama Al Tesoro. Paano naman si Mar Roxas ang Guest of Honor sa opening no. Yung ibang pavilions nga lang, puro tourist destination at puro tarpulin ang display. Yung Negros naman, si Leandro Locsin ang kanilang centerpiece. Yung Bohol, may magandang diorama na ginawa daw ng mga fine arts students, bilang centerpiece, at super tarp ng mga old churches nila, winner na rin. Ang Cebu, napakaelegante ng pavillion, centerpiece ang sofa na kung hindi ako nagkamali ay Kenneth Cobonpue. Winner naman ang mga pinamili ko: mga colorful banig from Samar, baskets from Biliran, wood carving from Leyte, at shells. Lafu kami ng lafu ng barbeque with pinuso. Hindi ko na ikukuwento yung night out namin sa The Navigator. Boring yun. Bumili din ako ng mga Sto. Nino sa Basilica, at binigay sa staff ko.

Bongga talaga ang Cebu pag naghost ng event. Flowing ang wine and food galore sa mga pa-cocktails at dinner. Nakipag-chickahan pa ang lola niyo kay Gov. Gwen Garcia, na sobrang bait at maganda, super fairness. Hindi ko lang mahangpan kung bakit aliw na aliw ang mga Cebuano sa streetdancing. Gabi-gabi may streetdancing. Sa opening sobrang sandosenang streetdancing, na sa totoo lang, pagkatapos ng ikalima ay hikab nang hikab na aketch. Kung hindi lang nakaupo ako sa pinakaharap sa grandstand at makikita ni Governor ko kung umalis ako, ay naku. Buti na lang yung sa bandang dulo na performers magaganda. Winner para sa akin ang Pakol Festival ng Negros Oriental, yung saging motif. Second yung Palawod Festival, na tinalo ang Capiz sa pagka-seafood galore. Third na nga ang festival ng Siquijor na sobrang ganda sa visuals, pero kailangang pa ng konting tightening kung baga. Yun ay kung ako ang judge. Wala namang contest yun, inaliw ko lang ang sarili ko sa pagkunwaring judge daw kami ng mga friendships from Iloilo and Capiz.

Marso 5-6, iniwan ko muna ang Cebu at fly ako to Manila para sa Ambagan Wika conference sa UP Diliman. Bongga talaga sa UP dahil sa ordinaryong araw mo makasalubong mo ang mga artist at manunulat na mababasa mo lamang sa mga diyaryo, magasin, etc. Nagkakape kami ni kaibigang John Barrios at may I rampa na lang si Pandy Aviado. Umapir si kaibigang Vim Nadera na siya palang nagbigay ng pangalan ko sa komite kaya napasok ako sa kumperensiyang iyon. Nung araw na yun, halos lahat ng mga guro sa CAL ay nandun, yun pala nung hapon pagkatapos ng sesyon ay may book launching si Pambansang Alagad ng Sining Rio Alma at may parangal para sa kanya dahil magreretiro na siya bilang dekano ng CAL. Kaya nagkita-kita kami doon nina Frank Rivera at Art Cassanova, na parehong kaibigan ni Rio. Nakichika din sa amin ang makatang Teo Antonio. Nandun din si Bien Lumbera na isa pang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining. Binati ko si Nic Tiongson na dating boss sa Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas, nakibeso kay Jing Hidalgo. Nasiplatan ko rin si Jimmy Abad. Pero hindi na ako tumagal para sa party ni Rio, dahil pagod na ako at may last-minute dagdag-bawas pang ginawa para sa papel na babasahin kinabukasan.

Kasama kong bumasa ng mga papel sa Ambagan-Wika sina Rober Anonuevo na nagsalita para sa Tagalog, John Barrios (Hiligaynon), Abdon Balde Jr. (Bicol) - kalog pala itong si Jun, masarap kakwentuhan, Albina Pecson Fernandez (Kapampangan). Ako naman para sa Kinaray-a. Yung iba hindi ko masyadong naalala ang mga pangalan, kasi hindi naman kami nagkaroon ng pagkakataong magkasabay sa coffeebreak o sa tanghalian. Pero maganda ang kumprensiyang iyon. Sana ay masundan pa, at bibilis ang pagyabong ng Filipino bilang pambansang wika.

Bago ako bumalik sa Cebu, dumaan ako ng NCCA at sa Silahis Gallery, at hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong bumili ng lakub, mula sa Maranao. Matagal ko nang gustong magkaroon nito sa aking koleksiyon. Kaya bitbit ko pa ang dalawang putol ng kawayang may makulay na disenyo hanggang sa Cebu.

At yun po ang aking ulat, kung paano ako namuhay nitong first quarter. Hindi pa ito magtatapos. Siguradong mas marami akong gagawin sa susunod na buwan dahil Binirayan season na sa Antique. Kaya kung may dapat akong gawin para sa inyo at hindi ko pa nagawa, kayo na ang bahalang magpasensiya sa akin. Tatapusin ko pa ang powerpoint ko para bukas. Vavoo.

Winner lafu sa Tarlac City

Nasa Tarlac City ako ngayon, sa La Maja Rica Hotel. Bongga ang food dito. Katatapos lang naming kumain. Kung magawi kayo dito, try the kinilaw. It's a winner. Masarap din ang lengua, super tender, almost melt in your mouth, with generous slivers of sausage. Medyo bitin lang ang serving nito. Kung sa bagay, good for one lang siguro ang serving na yon, but we shared it. Apat pa naman kaming kumain. Isa pang inorder namin ay stuffed squid, na masarap din, pero hindi naman ako mahilig sa squid, unless it's home-cooked na super black pa with its tinta, adobo style. I also ordered Sisig Kapampangan, because it's the closest I could get to local cuisine here. But this one is your regular sisig. Jo ordered the paella, which is generous enough, hindi namin naubos. This is not authentic paella, pero keri na, with lots of sahog. Maganda din ang band na tumutugtog. At one poinSorrt, nagtatalo kami when I insisted na kaboses ng singer na girl si Astrud Gilberto. When we checked, CD na pala ang tumutugtog dahil natapos na ang first set ng band. Ganun ka close to the orig ang boses nila.

Ngayon, kung nagtataka kayo kung bakit ako narito, e I have been living in Cebu for a week, itanong niyo kay lola Jo Clemente. Aba, pinilit ba namang ako ang ispiker sa Cultural Resources and Heritage Management nila dito. Feel ko na rin. Bukas pa ang simula ng seminar na ito. Meanwhile, mega-surf na lang ako tonight, at wi-fi ever ang lahat ng rooms dito. In fairness, maganda itong hotel. Gusto ko ang name, at gwapo ang mga bellboy at waiters. Hmmm. Sori na lang at hindi ko nabringaling ang camera ko. These past weeks wiz na ako hilig mag-clik-clik, gaya ng dati. Ewan ko ba. Dami ko pa namang lamyerda these past weeks. Sa next item ko na lang ikukwento. Keri na kahit wiz fotos ha.

Edsel H Moscoso (1952-2008)

Antiqueño artist "Totong" Edsel Moscoso died of leukemia on December 21, 2008. He was a great loss not only to the artists, but also to the Antiqueño community. He was a Bugal kang Antique awardee, 1993.

I was first introduced to him at Piedra Restaurant in 2003, when my first book THE RISE OF KINARAY-A. He had been asking around for a copy. He would drop by everytime he was in town.

I took this picture of him in his house in Madrangca in April 2007. It was Binirayan festival, and he invited me and Cecile Locsin Nava to have lunch with him. In August 28, I prepared an opening ritual for his 42nd solo exhibition at the Ayala Museum. He was very enthusiastic about telling me his next would be in Switzerland. No one expected that following exhibit at the UN in Geneva would be his last. His nephew Chad told me he came home from Switzerland very sick.

I wrote about that Ayala Museum show in Kinaray-a, and published it in the souvenir program of the 1st Karay-a Arts Festival in October 2007. Totong was very happy when I gave him a copy. It was the first time he was written about in Kinaray-a.

The last time we saw each other was during the Komedya Fiesta at the University of the Philippines on February 15, 2008. He insisted on paying for the muscovado I bought for him. But those were really from Marlene Liao. He told me he was so inspired by the komedya I directed he wanted to make a komedya series.

He did not show up in Binirayan 2008. He was preparing for his Geneva show. At the 2nd Karay-a Arts Festival in October 2008, somebody told me he was there, sitting under the shade of EBJ Park's very old pine trees. He was wearing a cap, and obviously did not want to be recognized, said my source. He was already very sick at that time.

Edsel was one great artist who was very proud about his roots. On February 11, we will open an exhibit of Edsel's works at the Museo Antiqueño. I went as far as Silay City to borrow his nude sketches from Lyn Gamboa. And as for my own tribute to him, I translated into English that article about his 42nd show "Antiqueños, Homage to my Kasimanwas" at the Ayala Museum.

Totong’s Tribute to Antiqueños

On August 28 to September 10, 2007 perhaps every Antiqueño who have visited Greenbelt Park at Makati has seen the ubiquitous poster boldly titled “Antiqueños.” And perhaps, they have – just as I had – felt a little nostalgic or teary-eyed with joy and pride, and restrained the urge to shout and jump for joy amidst the rush of cosmopolitans going to and from work or the malls. To find “Antiqueños” in the posh and upmarket mall complex in Makati City is almost unthinkable.

“Antiqueños: Homage to my Kasimanwas” was the 42nd solo exhibit by Antiqueño painter Edsel Moscoso. Born and raised in Bugasong, Moscoso made a name for himself among art collectors in Manila and abroad. This turned out to be his second to the last exhibit; his last was in Switzerland before he came home very ill. Paying homage to his fellow Antiqueños in his 42nd exhibit was a very significant step for Moscoso. It was the first time in his entire career as painter that he announced in his exhibition that he is an Antiqueño, and that his paintings are images of Antiqueños.

Edsel Moscoso was a big name among collectors and art critics. He shows were much written about in newspapers and magazines, but none mentioned about Antique. His paintings were regarded as Filipino, but never Antiqueño. National Artist Nick Joaquin in his column in Manila standard wrote of Moscoso’s paintings: “(they) tell no story – except that eternal story of born, live, love, work, suffer and die – but they do make a point of retelling that story as the story of how the Filipino is born, lives, loves, works, suffers, and dies.”

The brochure for the “Antiqueños” exhibit says: “Moscoso’s art identifies with the Filipino rural community. He spent part of his life in the simplicity of the rural environment.” I wonder if this was a conscious effort to generalize, or if the writer was not at all aware that the “rural environment” that mapped Moscoso’s imagination as artist were the mountains, valleys and seas of Antique, and the Antiqueño fisherfolks, peasants, and vendors. In short, as artist Edsel Moscoso was first appropriated by the Filipino, before he was possessed by the Antiqueño. In other words, he was first discovered by the nation, before he was owned by the province. Or perhaps, it was Moscoso who first saw the nation, before zeroing in on his hometown.

In “Antiqueños: Homage to my Kasimanwas” Moscoso comes full circle. It a journey of an Antiqueño as an artist. The artist had come home, and he was warmly welcomed by the Antiqueños. The exhibit opening on August 28, 2007 was attended no less by Senator Loren Legarda, who traces her roots to Antique, and Governor Sally Zaldivar Perez and her entourage of Antiqueño supporters and friends.

Moscoso, well-remembered by his family and friends as Totong Edsel, was born on January 30, 1952 in Bugasong as the sixth child of Dr. Julito A. Moscoso and Remedios Atillo Hermoso. He started drawing before he went to school at Bugasong Elementary School, and finished Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines. In 1975, he was chosen as one of the 13 Outstanding Young Artists of the Art Association of the Philippines, and he participated in various group exhibits before he had his first solo show at the Kilusang Gallery, followed up with another at the Galeria Buglas in Bacolod City.

In the 80s, Moscoso ventured into holding exhibitions abroad, like San Francisco, Italy, Beijing, Moscow, Sweden, Germany, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, among others, which gave him renown as an international artist. In 1986 he studied at the Center for the Study of Medieval Art and Culture through a scholarship from the Italian Government. He finished summa cum laude at the Pontifico Instituto di Archeologia Christiana in Rome.

Moscoso’s career as an artist is a long list of solo exhibits all around the globe. He kept coming and going if only to show off his canvasses of the ordinary folks – sakadas, peasants, fisherfolks, farmers, vendors, salt-makers – little people in varied poses of daily living, carrying their burden of baskets, sugar canes, fishnets, sacks of rice. They are pictures of simple yet industrious and hardy folks, of peasant women framed by halos, evoking divinity in their earthiness. Perhaps these are the images that enchant Moscoso’s collectors. He called his paintings “manscapes.”

At the dawn of the new millennium, Moscoso went home to Antique and built his house atop the rocks of Madrangca Beach in San Jose. His dream house facing the sea gave him a view of Madrangca’s picturesque sunset, and perhaps it was this that convinced him to stay in Antique. His house was his sanctuary, and he filled it with his art collection from the different places he had been to. He wanted to make this as a creative space to become home to artists and writers who wanted to get inspiration for their works.
In his 42nd solo exhibit, just after an exhibition in Seoul, Korea, and before a scheduled exhibition in Switzerland, Moscoso proudly announce, after a long journey around the globe, that the people clothed in gold – as Nick Joaquin had it: the golden Moscosos – are Antiqueños. It was the greatest honor Moscoso gave to Antique and her people.

My personal crusades

Most have new year resolutions. I don't. Because I don't believe in New Year anymore. The cycle of life just keeps on. Days turn to nights to days to nights. My argument is very simple: If many celebrate new year on after December 31, and the Chinese have theirs in February or some later date, the Buddhists (Thais) have their Songkran in April, there are three new years, not counting the less publicized cultures, all over the world. So what's the big deal? Why can't we just sleep tight on December 31 and wake up to a new day as we do all the time.

Time is relative. Einstein already showed us that, and recently news came out that scientists almost agree with him because they couldn't disprove him. In fact, my thinking is if we junk the Gregorian calendar, we might be able to explain climate change. We don't have to wonder why the chill came rather late this year, and the storms, and El Niño, La Niña, etc. The world, being matter, simply consumes itself or being consumed. But that's not saying we do not conserve Earth's resources!

Am not about to write on Climate Change or refute the Gregorian calendar, though. I just said I don't have NY resolutions. But I have personal crusades. These I (try hard) to do every day, because there is no new year, didn't I say?

1. Buy only local fruits.

I don't buy oranges, apples, grapes, pears, kiwi, etc. because they are imported. We don't help our economy by doing so. But I eat them if somebody gave me. Sayang naman. I just don't want to shell out my own money on them. I would buy papaya, pomelo, rambutan, mangosteen, kaymito - my number one fave fruit now, kasuy, pinya, mangga of course, chico, banana because they are local, from Davao, Guimaras, Aklan. I always ask vendors where the fruits come from. And I always buy from the fruit peddler doing the rounds of our village. The papaya looks freshly picked from her backyard.

When I have guests, I try to serve these fruits, especially those in season. Atis for example is abundant in September, and I grow one in my yard. Sometimes the bats and birds get them before I do. I don't mind. Knowing that there are bats around are a good sign that the ecosystem is still sound. Seeing different species of birds perched on our pomelo tree is a joy. We must plant fruit trees around our houses. Especially citrus variety, because the butterflies love to lay their eggs in their leaves. The birds pick the catterpillars and other insects, they pick the fruits, scatter the seeds, etc., so life goes on.

2. Take care of our money.

I don't exactly mean investing and using them in business. Keeping our money clean and uncrumpled is one way we who don't have much of them could do to help our economy. Many people fold the bills like origami, some crumple them. Galit ba sila sa pera. Countries that have better economies have clean and crisp bills. Walang langsa ng isda. So keep bills well in your wallets, or press them.

Keep loose change (barya) to pay tricycle and jeepney drivers. Don't give them the bills, because they are the number one origami artists. Jeepney drivers roll bills like tobacco.

If possible use the big denominations coins (10s and 5s) to pay the fishmonger. So our bills don't grow scales and smell like fish.

If you work as cashier, keep the torn and old bills in your money box, do not circulate them. They must be deposited or exchange for new ones at the bank.

Do not write your cellphone numbers on the paper bill. You don't get good friends that way. It's a venue for date rape and other unexpected crimes. Ikaw rin. Besides you're not that desperate.

Science of the Mind teaches us to love money. It doesn't only mean to love to work for money. It means loving and caring for the physical money - the bill and coins. Take care of them, keep them clean, uncrumpled. They will love coming back to you. Here, loving money means using them well. Do not use them for corruption, or corrupting yourself. Use it for right living and living right.

3. Send greeting cards.

There is no better alternative to nicely drawn greeting cards. Not the e-cards nor SMS greetings. It is always a delight to receive something from the postman, that's not your water or electric bill, subscriptions or credit card mailers. This is the only way we could keep humane in the digital global village. Hallmark must support me on this.

4. Buy from the peddlers around your village.

Padit sells dila-dila, bitsukoy, buchi, bingka that she cooks herself. Milo sells palutaw, dulse saging, banana cue every afternoon. They are women from our village. People like them should be supported so they keep these traditional foods. And I tell Padit to use banana leaves to wrap the dila-dila. I don't buy if she uses plastic bags. In the same way, I buy vegetables from this teenage boy who sees himself through night school, and fish from the women who live along the shore. They would help the fishermen haul in the fish and peddle their share to buy their rice or for their children's baon. They also save us from going to the market often.