Tales of Datu Lubay

5th KARAY-A ARTS FESTIVAL

2011-10-07T00:52:00.000-07:00

Events at the 5th Karay-a Arts Festival (KAF5)

October 21
9:00 AM - Opening of Arts Fair and Cultural Caravan. Featured artworks from the Datu Lubay Collection by Fernando Catague, Heber Bartolome, Ronald Dayon, Edmund Bacia, Fernando Kabigting, Alan Cabalfin, Jerome Malic, Nunelucio Alvarado, etc. Venue: Datu Lubay Center

10:00 AM - Lecture on "Antique in the (he)art of J. Elizalde Navarro" Venue: Datu Lubay Center

3:00 PM - DAGYA: A celebration of Karay-a songs and dances at by Hiraya Theater Company, at Gaisano Grand Mall of Antique. Guest of Honor is former governor Salvacion Zaldivar Perez.

October 22
8:00 - 12:00 AM - On-the-Spot Art Contest. Open to Elementary students. Venue: Datu Lubay Center

1:00 - 5:00 PM - Contemporary dance workshop. Guest trainer courtesy of the Committee on Dance of the National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA). Open to high school and college students and out-of-school youth. (Workshop extends until October 23, 8:00 - 12:00 AM, and the showcase will be presented at the Luwalaybay. Venue: Datu Lubay Center

6:00 PM - One Night Only Nightmarket and Street Party at Ricarze Street. Featuring guest performers and Blitzkrieg Band. Sponsored by San Miguel Beer.

October 23
8:00 - 12:oo AM - Contemporary Dance Workshop. Venue: Datu Lubay Center

5:00 PM - LUWALAYBAY. Featuring Rubie Rizza Estaris, Hiraya Theater Company, St. Anthony's College, Teatro Antiqueño of the University of Antique, PPSA Performing Group, Datu Lubay Center students, etc.

KAF5 is sponsored by the Antique Provincial Historical & Cultural Council, Datu Lubay Center, Inc., the National Commission on Culture & the Arts, Inday Sally Zaldivar Perez, Susana Marketing, The Pinnacle Suites & Functions, Greenwich, Gaisano Grand Mall, Esprutingkle Water, San Miguel Beer, Buenavista Cable TV, Paul & Davids Batchoy, Mil & Ernie's, Rose Furniture, Bill & Bryan's, and more. For sponsorships please call 036-5408731.

Simple elegance wins over studied performance

2011-09-12T23:19:00.000-07:00

We all rooted for Shamcey Supsup today.

But when I saw Miss Angola in Top 16, I felt right away she would win. How she emphasized her neck and shoulders with that high chignon, befitted the crown.

Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup was the perfect candidate. All of us badingerzies are unabashed in forecasting a Miss Philippines crown. We thought she would do better than last year’s Venus Raj, who finished fourth runner up after a major-major interview disaster, because Shamcey is an honor student at the University of the Philippines and an architecture bar topper. She did, indeed, by placing third, yet far away from the coveted Miss U crown.

Shamcey’s final interview was a winner, by beauty pageant standards. Asked if she would change her religion for love, she answered she wouldn’t because her first love is God, and if he loves her, he would also love her god. I heard all the Miss U fans in the country say, “This is it!”

The Philippine Miss U experiment this year did not succeed. What went wrong?

There was a time when the country would send gorgeous faces and alluring bodies, who failed to bring home the crown. And we thought our candidates lacked height, so we looked for Filipinas taller than 5’6” plus six-inch heels. We thought our mestiza candidates paled beside the Caucasian beauties, while Latinas were heating up, so we searched for the kayumanggi and sent Miriam Quiambao and Venus Raj. They both placed in Top 5, with Miriam almost clinching the crown. Learning from history, our winning formula seemed to have been the wit of Gloria Diaz (1969), the physique of Margie Moran (1973), and the color of Desiree Verdadero.

Shamcey Supsup, despite a rather quirky family name, epitomized all that. Yet we failed again. Her witty answer only proved that Best in Interview still do not count in Miss Universe. Neither does a sizzling stage strategy. Shamcey was overflowing with confidence on stage. Her style was the “tsunami walk,” the latest in beauty contest parlance, and she was poised for the kill. Miss Philippines contestants, I heard, are trained in a beauty queen school in Venezuela. By the way, did anyone notice how artificial Miss Venuezuela looked that evening? I suddenly remembered Venezuelan Minorka Mercado of 1994. That kind of studied elegance on stage.

Towering Miss China failed because of her scanty answer to the question about public nudity. Miss Brazil was of course a hometown victory, as we would recall Charlene Gonzales in 1994 – a privilege given to pageant hosts, I guess. But she was very vivacious, egging her fans to keep applauding her every time she was called. Miss Ukraine, who placed first runner up, was forgettable in that generic yet willowy white gown.

But Miss Angola Leila Lopes did not sashay on stage. She appeared clutching her gown’s hem while descending the ramps, releasing it only when she reaches the stage, much like a queen descending from her carriage, a wisp of a cloud trailing behind her. She gave a rather lengthy answer and hit overtime, trailing with an unfinished advice “We must respect each other…,” and took the crown, proving that there is still a lot of grace, charm, and elegance in unassuming confidence and spontaneity.

But of course, there were judges, and we could only guess what politics, preferences, prejudices, and parameters of beauty they have. This is what I like about Miss Universe. For instance, Miss USA did not count in this year. I am very happy every time USA loses in its own game. Like, there is hope for the rest of us. Miss Philippines is the only Asian; China, which has become quite visible in the pageant lately, may not count anymore since they are getting to be a superpower. Miss Universe transcends geographies. Most finalists were Latinas, as usual. France, which we all thought of as the fashion capital turned in the worst gown in the finals, while how come Australia, Philippines and Miss Universe 2010 had the identical concepts of a gown? This year, an obscure country like Angola takes center stage.

Perhaps next year, Miss Philippines should try a different strategy. Meanwhile, congratulations, Shamcey! You did us proud. @

Forgotten poem found

2011-06-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

I rummaged through my baul last night and found "3ng," a literary and art folio created by Sid Hildawa+ in 1995. The folio included such big names in Philippine art and literature as Bencab, now National Artist, Doctolero, Butch Payawal Reyes, Hermisanto, Ricky de Ungria, Gemino Abad, Vim Nadera, J. Neil Garcia, Robert Alejandro, Jerome Malic, Lourd de Veyra, et al. and, of course, Alex C. Delos Santos!

My contribution is the first issue of ADS, a one-page newsletter I used to publish back then, when zines were not yet proliferating. I think I am one of those who pioneered on literary zines. I am struck by a poem in English that I wrote and forgot. "Beyond Rangoon" is an impressionist poem after watching the film. This is a rare one since I have stopped writing poetry in English. It is not even included in my first poetry collection Mga Kanta ni Datu Lubay (2003). Just for keeping tab, I am publishing it here again:

BEYOND RANGOON

Scene: Burmese refugees cross

the river border to Thailand

No way to bid goodbye now.

Death is the river of peace

That claims husbands and friends

Not spared from brother's bullets.

Not only hearts are wounded,

But the land.

She cannot take so much

Of the blood of her sons.

Guns aren't the best tools

For tilling; fear not the best seed.

She could only yield clenched fists

And flags of anger, red to the grain.

Even words can bend rifles:

Fathers can teach soldiers

Not to kill their brothers.

Freedom is a broken bridge away.

No use looking back.

There is victory in fleeing

A country where birds

Know only the chill of cages.

Rubie Rizza: The gem of original Kinaray-a music

2011-03-17T03:23:00.000-07:00

This article appeared in fittopost.yahoo.ph and Vera Files in January 2011.

The best female artist at the recently concluded first Ilonggo Music Awards in Iloilo City is not an Ilonggo but a Karay-a. Singer and composer Rubie Rizza comes from neighboring Antique province, but her song “Ti ano karon?” (So what?) won the votes from the Ilonggos, making her the true diva of original Kinaray-a music (OKM). “Ti ano karon” is, undoubtedly, her first hit single.

It took more than two years for her song to break into the airwaves. It was first heard at the 5^th Original Kinaray-a Music (OKM) Awards in San Jose, Antique in 2007, when it won the top prize. It surely levelled up Kinaray-a music from mainly ditties and ballads that local composers have been dishing out. It is perhaps the first Kinaray-a jazz.

“Ti ano karon” is a song about a woman who may not have the looks, but has the heart and the brains, and if these are not enough to attract men, she simply doesn’t care. The first stanza is a candid admission: “Bukut ako it gwapa, medyo may arikis, dapa akun irong, lawas ko daw tiwis” (I am not pretty, I have scabs, my nose is flat, my body is thin), yet there is enough humor and confidence in the voice that cries beauty is not only skin deep.

In reality, the song belies what the singer really is. Rubie Rizza was crowned Lin-ay kang Antique (Miss Antique) in 2005, despite her insecurity with her physical attributes. “I was too thin and flat-chested,” she described herself. But thanks to her singing and vivacious personality, she stood out among the finalists that year, despite appearing like a Las Vegas showgirl during the festival costume parade.

As a Lin-ay kang Antique, she went on a trip to Thailand. More than shopping in Bangkok’s night markets, she cherished the opportunity to share Antique’s culture and original Kinaray-a music to students at Srinakharinwirot University. Her stint as co-host in a regional television show prior to the beauty contest helped her hone her performing skills. The students there thought she was a star in the Philippines, which she is in her own right.

At the Rainforest World Music festival in Sarawak, Borneo in 2009, Rubie Rizza volunteered to perform during one of the open mike side events and chanted in Kinaray-a. That is the kind of spirit she has when it comes to performing. “I think my friends and I were the only Karay-a in that event. There were many people of different nationalities. It was my way of making people from other countries hear Kinaray-a,” she explained. She believes Kinaray-a music is sophisticated enough to be heard around the world.

That’s why she devoted to writing her own songs. So she wouldn’t simply be known as a pretty songbird; she wants to write songs that have something to say. They may be funny, but they hit some vein. Right now, her next project is to come up with her own album. She has written a couple more songs, and plans to do covers of some of the best Kinaray-a love songs, including that perennial folksong “Lumabay-labay nga daw aso” (Ephemeral as smoke), which appears to be her favorite of the Karay-a folksongs. She learned and mastered the song for one planned but unfortunately never-materialized trip to the United States, supposedly to be an ambassador of goodwill to the Antiqueños there – a responsibility that comes with being a Lin-ay kang Antique. She considers that one occasion of lining-up at the US Embassy, applying for a Visa, and not getting approved as one of her life’s little jokes.

Aside from writing her songs and singing, she juggles between her day and night jobs. By day, she is Mrs Rubie Rizza Estaris-Villavert, youngest bank manager in the province of Antique. By night, if three-year old son Kiv doesn’t miss her much, she does guest relations for the bistro she runs with husband Mark. Her distinctive touch in the interior, the menu list, service, and events, has made Café Amistoso one of the night spots to be in San Jose, Antique.

It takes a great sense of humor and confidence to be singer, beauty queen, wife, banker, mother, composer, and businesswoman – roles that Rubie Rizza has taken on so well, so far.

The multi-media art of Alan Cabalfin

2011-03-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

This piece appeared in fittopost.yahoo.ph and Vera Files in January 2011. Image by Eman Lerona.

Sometimes, his house along Canillas Street in Leon town of Iloilo overflows with students from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, or with members of the historical council from Antique. It is an old two-storey wooden house that he himself had remodelled, with the assistance of a neighborhood handyman. The entrance was reinforced with concrete inlaid with shards of ceramics from the artist’s workshop, and the flooring is a mosaic of colourful tiles

salvaged from a bargain hardware store in Iloilo City. His humble house is a showroom of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and an assortment of his collections. It has practically become this small town’s tourist attraction.

Alan Cabalfin is an artist of mixed persuasions. Although originally breaking into the Iloilo art scene as a watercolorist, he became well-known as a ceramic artist, having apprenticed under Nelfa Querubin who used to have a pottery workshop in Miag-ao, Iloilo, and after training in ceramic art at Tokoname, Aichi, Japan in 1995. His sculptural works were then exhibited in galleries in Iloilo, Manila, and Dumaguete. He joined many group exhibits and festivals exhibiting his works.

Cabalfin’s passion for pottery was translated into cinema when he made his first short film after attending a Mowelfund Film Institute film-making workshop in 2000. His short film “Dihon” (Mold), which was set in the Querubin work shop in Miag-ao, earned a string of recognitions from the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Gawad Urian (Urian Awards), and the Film Academy of the Philippines awards in the short films and student categories. Recognition for this little film was topped by a First Prize in the Kodak Cinematographers Competition, making “Dihon” the country’s official entry to the Kodak Worldwide Student Program Cinematographers Competition in Sydney, Australia.

His love affair with film led him to work with several film projects: as production designer in Nick Deocampo’s “Mother Ignacia,” and as art director in Jonar Pueblo’s Ilonggo film “Dagyang.” He also directed the “Samayaay” video for the Iloilo National High School Special Program for the Arts. But Cabalfin’s multiple talents was not left unnoticed by those he was able to work with. Soon, he found himself designing galleries for exhibitions and museums and doing sets for stage productions. He was asked to design the RVM Historical Museum and later the Heritage Hall in Quezon City, the Lourdes College Museum in Cagayan de Oro, the Evelio B. Javier Gallery and the Museo Antiqueño in San Jose, Antique, and the Guimaras Provincial Museum and Monument in Jordan, Guimaras. His practical yet highly creative and versatile stage designs using textiles were well appreciated by directors who asked him to design sets for ballet, sarswela, and even beauty pageants!

As art director for Miss Dinagyang and Lin-ay kang Antique for several years, Cabalfin’s touch was seen in drapes and painted sceneries that complement the various segments of the pageant, much like imitating the patadyong (locally women textile from Panay). Cabalfin is well aware of the distinct weaving traditions in both Antique and Iloilo, that his production designs may well be a homage to these well-kept traditions.

As an artist, Cabalfin sees all these works not as mere money-making ventures. He believes that something must go back to the community where art belongs. While working as art director for the Museo Antiqueño in April 2007, where he did some terracotta dioramas, he was able to interact with the potters of Sibalom, where he sourced his clay. Seeing the traditional pottery-making in Bari, he volunteered to conduct workshops and lectures which helped the potters produce other designs aside from the functional banga (water jar), kuron (round bottomed-pot), and sig-ang (stove). Now, the potters dish out animal figurines, candle and lamp holders, which are easily picked up by garden enthusiasts at local trade shows. Six months later, he came back to the Museo Antiqueño for his the exhibition “Bag-o nga Daan,” his first pottery exhibit since his last in 1996.

When Cabalfin was invited to exhibit at the Philippine Center in New York last year, he decided to bring to the Big Apple something of Panay. His solo exhibition that ran from July 12-23, 2010 at the lobby of the Philippine Center was titled “Binanog: Panay Bukidnon on the Rise.” Binanog is the dance of the Panay Bukidnon, imitating the movements of the banog bird. The exhibition featured his paintings and ceramics that capture the delicate motifs of the Panay Bukidnon embroidery called panubok and the energetic movements of the binanog dance. One particular painting is a triptych called “Binanog sa Siyudad,” (Binanog in the City) showing three binanog dancers, each against the backdrop of urban skyline, identifiably Iloilo City, Hongkong, and New York.

Coming home from that New York exhibition, Cabalfin, hastily prepared another painting exhibit called “Binanog sa Siyudad” for the Karay-a Arts Festival held at Gaisano Grand Mall of Antique on October 22-23. He was so filled with inspiration. “I think that in my next projects, I will consciously try to show not only my art, but my culture as well,” he said. @

Macrame

2011-03-03T03:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I got a surprise SMS from Laurence Tapican, a young poetry enthusiast (and I suspect he writes poetry, too) from Aklan. He requested for a copy of my poem "Macrame," which was published in Homelife in 2001, and won second place in the annual poetry competition initiated by its literary editor Leo Deriada. Laurence said he has been wanting to read it since he was in first year high school, and now he is a college sophomore. Today is Laurence's birthday, and I want to give this gift to him (not a very happy poem, though). I admire Laurence's zeal for poetry, and I wish there were more young people like him interested in poetry.

Macrame

There is no sadder art:

I make each knot

As though a sorrowful mystery

Recited on Holy Week:

A beadless rosary rolled

Between my fingers

Blistered and pained

Like remembrances of false loops

And entanglements.

How am I to weave

This twine of strength

To decorate my bare walls?

I think of many patterns,

But when knotted

They make a thousand little nooses

To hold the necks of my desires.

This art of tying is a grave thing.

It shortens the string.

When I reach the end of my rope,

I make one final knot

And I am ready to

Hang.

Vaun, 8

2011-02-24T00:03:00.000-08:00

This is the companion piece to "Vaun, 21", which I posted two days ago. This was published in MGA KANTA NI DATU LUBAY, 2003.

You asked me what circumcision was,

And I told you the doctor cuts the foreskin.

You frowned and said it hurts,

And looked at me, waiting for confirmation.

Of course, it hurts. It's painful

Like all manner of cutting.

It was painful for a tree when you cut

Its branches with that sword you fashioned

Out of bamboo sticks.

It was the pain you felt when you cut your finger

With Nanay's kitchen knife, trying to sharpen

The tip of an arrown with which to shoot

Lola's santol. You cried, didn't you?

Though not exactly the same way I cried

Looking at Tatay on his deathbed

That first morning of May.

You looked at me, wondering.

Because it was painful too.

Something was being cut, being lost.

But that pain we could bear.

And you asked me why boys needed

To be circumcised. I don't know.

I did not ask Tatay when he took me

To the hospital for this ritual men imposed

Upon themselves. I am sure he wouldn't hve

Known the answer. They say it is for us

To stay clean, though it's only the tip of us

That's trimmed. (I don't really believe this,

Because once we expose our heads, the more

We become impure.)

They say it makes us a man. Maybe

It is for boys to feel the pain of becoming men.

So when time comes when we lose our fathers,

We could bear the pain.

It is like sticking up our necks, all right.

Now that Tatay's gone,

You are not only my brother,

But also my son.

Ang gusto ko sa lalaki

2011-02-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

Bukut bahul anang ulo, nga kaangay kang lobo

Kon kang mga pagdayaw ginahuyupan ko;

Malabug anang pisi, bukut lang anang pisot,

Para may panghigot sa gamo nga mapudyot.

Kamaan maghibi sa kasubu kag kabudlay,

Bagnas ang pagharakhak kon kami ‘gakalipay.

Nagabato sa sipal, bisan sa sunloganay,

Kag ginabaton man ako, pananglit magkulang;

Malapad kag matibsol anang braso kag dughan,

Nga daw nagalinog kon kami ang mag-kuwan;

Dungan kami magsalum kon sa mga problema,

Dungan man nga magbutwa, ‘galagas kang ginhawa.

Dungan kami magturog, dayon nga magahandum

Kang pagbagtik kang asin sa mga dughan namun.

Vaun, 21

2011-02-21T23:18:00.000-08:00

Wara run ikaw it mga pamangkot

Tungud naubos mo run ka pakut

Ang mga sabat sa imong hunahuna.

Sa imong pagsulud sa departure area

Daw may naghapon nga kaluya,

Angay kang nagaisarahanun nga maya.

Malupad ikaw nga dara gid lang

Ang mga hopya nga bilin ni Nanay,

Kag ang kaugan kang mga tinaga

Kang amun pagpalangga.

Ayhan kon sarang lang ibaruron

Namun sa imong maleta

Ang mga hakus kag haruk

Nga nagkulang sa imong paghamtung

Agud ipabatyag kanimo

Nga ang atun nga pagburugto

Indi makilala sa atun dugo,

Kundi sa atun pag-irimaway

Sa nagarinapta nga balay:

Si Neneng mo sa California,

Si Cheche rugto sa Florida,

Si Inday rugto sa Malaysia,

Si Nenet sa Saudi Arabia.

Ayhan rugto sa Amerika

Makita mo ang kanimo gin-aman,

Hay rugto man nagahulat si Nanay

Nga nagatipon kang panimalay

Paagi sa cellphone, Forex

Kag balikbayan box,

Facebook, email kag text.

Mangin lubos ang pag-iririmaw

Sa atun pagbulag kadya nga adlaw.

Layaw para kay Datu Lubay

2010-02-22T21:05:00.001-08:00

Now it can be told because I have received the confirmation letter from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. I got a grant to translate six of my stories into Filipino. The six are:

1. Alot (Haircut). This is about coming home and finding out that everyone you knew has gone, except for your barber. An unexpected haircut becomes a metaphor for cutting off your relationship/s.

2. Ang Sastre (The Tailor). The village tailor dies, and everyone was waiting for his only son so they could bury him. But the whole village could only whisper their shock when the son arrives as a woman in red dress, with a bouquet of black paper roses.

3. Abyan (Friend). Three friends tell their own tale of a friendship that they didn't notice was falling apart.

4. Gugma sa Bangkok (Love in Bangkok). Exploring the labyrinth of a bath house in Bangkok, a traveler falls in love with a stranger, a Bangkok boy who buys him red roses from a Suan Plu market. No one has ever done that for him before.

5. Library. The school library opens. There is a program, with guests from the capital town. The school children perform for them, but only the teachers and guests are let inside the library for the reception. The excited school children peer from the wooden windows.

6. Imelda. Imelda buries her husband, who left her nothing but a small plot for vegetables. In the evening and she lies down on the bamboo floor, she listens to the chicken in their coop, and feels for the first time a sense of joy and freedom.

These stories shall be published next year in a bilingual edition. Stories 1-4 have been published in my book "Agi, agi may putay sa dahi" while stories 5 & 6 are new. Am excited to finish Binirayan 2010 and start on the translation.

"Tumaka" in Silay City

2009-11-10T23:11:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-03T18:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-04T19:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-21T03:26:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-20T00:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-15T01:47:00.001-07:00

Binirayan 2009 opens today

2009-04-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-04-12T00:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-11T23:53:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-28T05:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-11T06:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-01-29T23:24:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-12T18:15:00.000-08:00

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.

Wanted: Articles for Anthology of Kinaray-a Writing 2009

2008-12-10T17:07:00.000-08:00

Hiraya Media Arts through Datu Lubay Center, Inc. is publishing an anthology of Kinaray-a writing in 2009. Contributions are welcome. Please observe the following guidelines:

1. All articles (poems, stories, essays, drama) must be written in Kinaray-a.
2. Selected articles shall be translated into English by the editor/translator of the issue.
3. Articles must be encoded in Microsoft word or compatible application, without any special lay-out (0nly flush left, single space), and shall be attached to email as document. No RTF please.
4. Include a cover letter stating your interest to be included in the anthology and a short bio-note about you (3-5 sentences only).
5. Email all contributions to datulubay@yahoo.com on or before June 30, 2009.
6. The budget for this publication covers printing only. No royalty shall be given to authors. Contributors shall be paid with two complimentary copies of the book.
7. The individual authors retain the copyright of their own work.
8. By contributing articles, it is assumed that the contributor agrees with these guidelines, and gives permission to Datu Lubay Center, Inc. to publish their work.

Please inform other Kinaray-a writers.

5th OKM Awards, higher level na

2008-12-09T23:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Sammy Rubido for giving me a CD of the 5th OKM Awards finalists. Wara takun nakalantaw kang actual performances kang mga finalists, kasi naman the awards night was held in far away Bugasong. Well, mga one hour drive man lang, but my car is still in the talyer, so I had nothing to drive. Drive me crazy na lang. Tried hard to convince Poks to bring her carurang, pero wiz feel kang murat magrampa sa Bugaysong hay wa man driver, and her chubby daughter Mariela wara't mabantay.

In other words, nagahinulsul gid ako tulad nga wiz ko witness ang 5th OKM, especially nga nag-winalou si Love Estaris for her song "Ti ano karon." Listen na lang me sa CD nga givsung ni Sammy Rubs.

Jongga ang song ni Love, in the tradition of Cabaret and Hey Big Spender. It's about a chaka girl nga nagarationalize kang anang pagka-chaka. Shades of Betty La Fea. Sureness, it's not Love's persona coz super-jutiful si Rubbie Rizza Estaris, Lin-ay kang Antique 2005. But for her to take on the persona and be the voice of the homely is unselfishness. May feminist voice sa kanta ni Love, so that indi matrivialize as just another Liza Minelli/Shirley Bassey wannabee. In a pop music tradition nga puro love song kang panganduhoy kon bukut over the top romantisismo about the Maragtas, matawag ta nga novelty ang kanta ni Love Estaris. Dugangan pa nga super performer si Love, ti bukut makatiringala nga madaug na ang top prize this year. Congrats, Love.

Ang second cut sa CD - "Wara" ni Noel Tabotabo stars out in a Sting-ish beat, and I suspect amo gid ang model ni Noel. On second thought, daw si Billy Joel man. Something between rock and jazz. Rock ang beat pero gina-jazz up ni Noel. hahaha. Amo gid man ang signature ni Noel, who's been into composing and music for the longest time I remember. I got him as my musical director for "Hiniraya" in 2002, pero wara nagsipot sa performance hay nagbata si misis na. Trademark na man dya. hehehe. Anyway, Noel's music is something he alone could sing. Amo ria wara nagapopular ang anang music. If I remember right he also won first prize in the 3rd OKM. Si Love Estaris ang interpreter na. Small world.

The second prize winner, "Ikaw nadura tungud kanakun" is by Marte Jun Granada, who Jun Teneso told me is still a student. This is a love duet, and quite mushy. A song about lost love, the lyrics are prosaic and corny, but the music is good enough. It gives enough material for the local singers.

The other songs in the album are forgettable. There's Edison Otañez's "Daw Hangin", which is a far cry from his earlier music, plus the rather trying hard singing style he puts on. He won third for this. It's easy to accept. Edison is OKM's first champion, when we started the competition in 2003. He lost in the second, and that was quite an issue. But as one local composer said in his one-time popular OKM, "Pa-tyempo tyempo lang" (sing that 100x).

There's another song I would tend to like - "San-o" (track 9), which comes in the tradition of Pinoy rock. Am not a big rock music fan, but this one hits me good enough. It's by Filbert Paunon (music) and Thelmo Fano (lyrics).

I think the 5th OKM is in a higher level now. Kauna, most of the music is about Kinaray-a, kag Maragtas, ek-ek beng. Mga romantisismo nga mabudlay huksun sa Karay-a artists. Pero tulad, thanks to new music artists like Love Estaris, and old timers like Noel, who are experimenting, and trying to put new elements in OKM.

We must congratulate Paranubliun Antique, for sustaining OKM Awards, which has now become an annual event to look out for.

Si Bitoy sa "Larawan"

2008-11-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

Nasa third year hayskul pa lang ako nang napanood ko ang dulang "Larawan," na pinalabas sa ngayon ay dilapidated nang Little Theater sa UP Visayas sa Molo, Iloilo City. Ito yata ang pinakaunang professionally produced play na napanood ko. Ang opening scene nito ay ang monolog ni Bitoy Camacho na siyang pinakaintroduksyon ng dula.

Pagkatapos kong napanood iyon ay sinabi ko sa sarili kong gusto ko ring mag-artista sa entablado. Dito yata nagsimula ang pagkagulo ng isip ko kung anong karera ang gusto ko at anong kurso ang kunin ko sa kolehiyo. Ilang beses kong binasa ang iskrip ng larawan, at read aloud ko ang mga linya ni Bitoy. Well, for some time, naging artista ako sa mangilan-ngilang dula, pero never bilang si Bitoy. Ngayon 42 na ako.

Kagabi ko lang nakilala iyong Bitoy Camacho na pumukaw ng aking pag-ibig sa entablado. Si Dennis Marasigan pala iyon. Kung hindi pa kami nag-chikahan ni Dennis pagkatapos ng nakakapagod na 2-day workshop sa Orchid Gardens, hindi ko pa nalaman.

Napag-usapan tuloy namin ni Dennis ang Antique ayon sa naalala niya noong 1983. Nagside-trip sila sa Antique noon, bago ang palabas ng "Larawan" sa Iloilo. Si Behn Cervantes, na siyang direktor ay konsultant ng dulang "Hantik-i" ni Bernie Salcedo. Cast ako sa dulang iyon. Isa sa mga direktor si Susan Macabuag, na kaibigan ni Behn Cervantes. Kaya nainvolve si Behn sa produksiyong iyon. Kaya nagside-trip ang cast ng "Larawan" sa Antique, at nag-judge ng beauty contest sina Susan Valdes, Barbara Perez, Rez Cortes, atbp.

Sabi ni Dennis, napakalayo ng nilakbay nila mula Iloilo noon. Lubak-lubak ang daan. May stop over pa daw sa bundok, bago ang pagbaba sa mga bayan ng Antique. Well, two hours na lang ngayon ang biyahe, aspaltado na ang daan except sa mga nasira ng bagyo; baka sa Tiolas ang stop-over. May scenic view ito ng dagat.

Binirayan Festival noon, at say ni Dennis first time daw siyang nakakita ng street-dancing. Baka ang sinasabi niya ay Ati-ati, dahil may kumpetisyon noon ng ati-ati. Doon daw sila pinatulog sa ospital, na nakapagtataka dahil kokonti ang tao doon. Baka sa payward sila pinatulog. Ang karamihan sa charity ward. Ang mga may pera sa Antique sa Iloilo nagpapagamot. Pero kakaibang strategy ito ng hosting guests for Binirayan. Ganito pala noon. Kasi nga wala pang mga hotel sa Antique noon. May Rizalitos Hotel, pero baka nagtipid lang talaga si Gov. Ike Zaldivar noon. Ngayon, malaki ang ginagastos ng Binirayan Foundation para sa mga VIP tuwing Binirayan. Bakit nga pala hindi gawin muli ito. Province naman ang may-ari ng ospital, bakit hindi gamitin ang mga bakanteng private rooms para sa ibang guests? Suggest ko nga.

Ang mga stars naman daw ay pinatulog sa Binirayan Guest House. May swimming pool sa likod nito, at one time daw na nagsuswiming sila, nagulat na lang sila sa dami ng nagsulputang mga taong nanonood sa kanila. Bigla daw naconscious si Susan Valdez na nakaswim suit at nagsa-sunbathing. Naglaro daw sila ng kuning-kuning na water hockey at di nagtagal may mga fans na silang nag-cheer at napalakpakan.

May pinuntahan daw silang party sa Hamtic, by the beach. It turned out reunion party ng mga Pacificador iyon. At ang feeling naman nila, dahil family affair at outsider sila, para silang mga circus animals na dinala doon for show and for free lunch. hahaha. Ganyan talaga ang strategy para makatipid. Ibig sabihin, in good terms pa ang mga Zaldivar at mga Pacificador noon. Governor si Ike Zaldivar, assemblyman si Turing Pacificador at nasa iisang partidong KBL lang sila. Nung 1984, nagbago ang lahat ng ito, dahil sa Pangpang massacre. Namatay ang mga paryente ni Zaldivar, suspek naman nito si Pacificador. Kaya may alam din si Dennis sa politika sa Antique.

Kinse anyos pa lang ako noon nang napanood ko si Dennis Marasigan sa dulang "Larawan." Kaya kami nakapanood dahil treat iyon sa amin ni Gov. Ike Zaldivar pagkatapos ng pagtatanghal ng "Hantik-i" sa Binirayan. Nagsponsor din siguro siya dun, bilang kapalit ng pagpunta ng mga artista sa Binirayan Festival. Star-studded pala ang Binirayan 1983.

Walang wala sa "Walang Kawala"

2008-11-23T05:58:00.000-08:00

Nang pinanood ko ang "Walang Kawala" sa Robinson's Ermita noong November 20, sasampu lang kaming bakla sa loob ng sinehan. Bakit kaya ganung isang mega treat sa mga bading ito. Imagine Polo Ravales at Joseph Bitangcol na naglalaplapan, hindi lamang sa isang eksena, kundi mga tatlo o apat pa. Hanggang sa katapusan, kahit in the throes of death na si Polo, sabay sabing "mahal na mahal kita" kay Joseph, ay may kissing scene pa. Sinong bakla ang hindi mag-eenjoy dito?

May frontal nudity pa ang aktor na gumanap na macho dancer na kaibigan ni Waldo (Joseph Bitangcol). Baka ito na nga ang longest frontal nudity sa history ng gay films na napalabas sa sinehan dito sa Pinas. (Somebody make a study.)

Indie daw itong pelikula ni Joel Lamangan, pero mainstream na mainstream ang finish nito. Walang bago o experimental dito. Hindi naman bago ang pelikulang may temang bakla o may hubaran di ba? Ano na ba ang working definition ng indie film? Anyway indie or not, mag-eenjoy pa rin ang bakla sa pelikulang ito.

Love story ito nina Joaquin (Polo Ravales), isang mangingisda, at Waldo na isang high school graduate. Saan may mangingisdang sing gwapo ni Polo? Pupuntahan ko. Ang asawa niya'y dalawang taong nagtrabaho sa Dubai. Nagkadebelopan sila ng kapitbahay na bagets. Mukhang si Waldo ang dead na dead kay Joaquin. Di ba naman lahat tayo'y nag-ilusyong may gwapong binatilyong magkagusto sa atin? Syempre tigang na tigang ang asawa ni Joaquin nang umuwi galing Dubai; titigasan naman ang mga heterong lalaki sa mga eksenang kangkangan dito. Mukhang may gustong lamangan si Lamangan sa paggawa ng mga eksenang ito? Scorpio Nights ba ang naiisip niya? Kaya lang wala nang bago dito. Bongga't kaka-L din ang eksenang kangkangan sa opening scene ng Lalaki sa Parola, I recall, at mas lyrical iyon.

Nang nalaman ni Waldo na nabuntis ang asawa ni Joaquin, naimbyerna siya kaya naglayas. At dito nagsimula ang paghahanap ni Joaquin sa kanyang trulab. Metapora din ito sa kanyang paghahanap ng sarili at pagtanggap ng kanyang sekswalidad. Ang problema, talagang napariwara si Waldo at napunta sa mga kamay ng salbaheng pulis na si Rufo (Emilio Garcia). Kapangalan pa niya ang ex kong may pagkasalbahe nga't nambubugbog pa. Teka, alam ba ni Joel ang kwento ng buhay ko?

Anyway, ipinaglaban nina Joaquin at Waldo ang kanilang pagmamahalan, nakatakas nga sila sa tulong ng traidor na si Beng (Jean Garcia), ang battered wife ni Rufo na sadyang piniling magiging alila ng kasamaan ng asawa. Siya yata ang embodiment ng baklang masokista. In the end, nabaril ni Rufo si Joaquin, nakatakas wi Waldo na siyang nagsumbong ng child-trafficking operations ng sadistang silahis na pulis.

Para magkaroon ng layers at texture ng mga pangyayari sa ating lipunan itong halos imposibleng kwento ng dalawang napakagwapong batang bading, ipinasok ni Lamangan ang mga reportage tungkol sa mga nawawalang tao dahil sa political harrassment na mas nakakatakot kung tawaging desaparecidos. Mukhang hang-over pa ito ni Lamangan sa kangyang pagiging aktor at direktor sa Peta. At para may relevance pa, ay pinilit pa ang isyu ng child-trafficking. May suspetsa akong feeling talaga ni Joel Lamangan ay siya na ang pumalit kay Lino Brocka.

Litaw na litaw din ang mga artifice ng direktor/scriptwriter. Halimbawa, para magkaroon ng lyrical ek-ek ang pelikula, hobby daw ng asawa ni Rufo ang pag-aalaga ng mga isda sa akwaryum. Ito pala ang objective correlative kuning sa mga batang kinikidnap ni Rufo at ibinibenta sa Intsik ng 25T kada ulo. Dahil nga naman gasgas na ang mga ibong kinukulong sa hawla, isda naman ngayon. Pero keri na rin. Metaporikal nga.

Sina Joaquin at Waldo bilang mga bakla ay biktima ng mga mapang-aping institusyon ng lipunan, halimbawa ng batas, kustombre at tradisyon, at ng realidad ng kahirapan. Biktima din sila ng kapwang naapi pero ayaw labanan ang umaapi sa kanila, katulad ng mga baklang tinatanggap na lang na sila'y pagtawanan, gawing gatasan, o alipin ng kanilang lalaki, at walang balak na labanan ito (symbolized by the Beng character).

Mas gusto ko naman ang paggamit ng basketbol bilang metapor kay Waldo. Ganito; ang eksena: kinakabayo ng asawa niyang napakalibog si Joaquin pero walang gana ang lola mo dahil nga iniisip ang naglayas na si Waldo.

Asawa: May problema ba? Wala ka yatang gana.... (to that effect)
Joaquin: (Hindi magsasalita. Camera cuts to Waldo's orang basketball sa sofa.)

Cut to: Morning the next day, galit na galit ang girl dahil nalamang malangsa ang jowa. Like a woman scorned pinalayas niya (na lalayas naman talaga dahil hahanapin si Waldo). Pagbalik niya sa loob ng bahay, nakita ang basketbol. Kinuha ito at tinapon sa dingding. Tinamaan ang kanilang wedding picture; basag ang picture frame. O diva!

Kakael din ang eksenang nakahiga ang lasing na si Waldo, nakabrips lang. Hinipo-hipo ng nagnanasang si Paolo Rivero (ang gumanap ng bading na nag-take home sa bagets from the gay bar) ang notes nito. Utog na utog po ako dun! Ilang seconds yun, at makikitang humuhulma ang notes ni Joseph Bitangcol. (Balita daw sa pagka Dakota Harrison niya! Naospital daw ang isang teen star na kakangs niya?). Mapapanood din ang buong dance number ng mga macho dancer sa gay bar, at ang finale ay nakadipang si Tolits, labas ang bird, na kahit hindi pa matigas ay mahaba na.

Kaya alam ko na kung bakit kokonti ang mga vaklang nanonood sa sinehan. Am sure binabantayan ang DVD nito at panonorin in the confines of their bedroom, dahil mas siguradong mag-eenjoy sila. Am sure kikita sa DVD sales ang nag-iindie-indihang pelikulang ito.

Love is death is love

2008-11-17T20:24:00.000-08:00

Hindi pala simpleng love story na pa-cute itong "My Only U" ng Star Cinema, starring Toni Gonzaga at Vhong Navarro. Well, pa-cute pa rin siya, pero may redeeming value naman. Kasi kakaiba. Kasi, imbes na about love ito, about death pala.

At iyon lang ang bago dito. Karamihan sa pelikulang Pinoy na love story ay happy ending. Kasi naman, dapat maging masaya tayo. Kung kamatayan naman sa ending, yung tipong tragedy, tipong "Hihintayin kita sa langit...." na tipong "Wuthering Heights." E kasi naman adaptation nga pala iyun. Ano ba? Have I seen enough of Pinoy movies to say this?

Well, going back kay mareng Toni at pareng Vhong.... Or kay Manding Cathy Garcia Molina na director nila (kasi nga director's hand talaga ang makikita natin dito, si Toni at Vhong nagpa-cute lang talaga), ang bago sa ginawa nila ay to treat the subject of death in a light, although not necessarily flippant manner. Hindi common sa ating mga Pinoy ito, diva? Kasi pag death na iiyak na lahat, gurahab na si Vangie Labalan, dadapa pa sa kabaong, with super tears, etc. May iyakan din sina Toni at Vhong, pero lalo silang nagiging maganda at gwapo dito.

Ganito kasi ang storya: May taning na daw ang buhay ni iyay Toni. In-love naman si Vhong sa kanya, kaya gagawin niya ang lahat para lumigaya si Toni habang nasa mundong ibabaw pa. Kung pwede pang i-delay ang appointment kay Kamatayan, gagawin niya. It turns out false alarm itetch kasi maling lab results ang naibigay ng lab (siguro mas maganda ang pelikulang tungkol sa mga pabayang laboratory at hospital). Ang trulili pala si Vhong ang dying. Nang malaman ni Toni, nagpakasal na sila para masaya. On the way to their honeymoon, nadisgrasya sila. So magkasama na sila ever after sa kabilang buhay. Morbid, diva?

Pero hindi. Kakatuwa siya. Hindi mo pag-iisipang malungkot ang mamatayan ng minamahal. Baka nga maging uso pa ang lovers na magpapakamatay to prove that their love is till death together forever. To see death in this way, fresh yun in the context of Pinoy cinema, of course. Marealize natin, na kung mahal natin ang isang tao, dapat tanggapin natin na hindi forever ito, dahil sooner or later, mahihiwalay din tayo sa kanya or sa kanila kung marami tayong mahal. Kaya ang importante talaga ay magmahalan habang buhay pa kayo pareho. Paligayahin mo ang love mo, kasi pag tsugi na ang isa sa inyo, iba na iyon. At hindi tayo matatakot na mawala ang taong mahal natin, kasi minahal na nga natin, walang nasayang na sandali. Pero kung gusto mo talagang kasama pa rin siya, mamatay ka na rin. May pagka-existentialist ang worldview nito. Huwag na lang nating pag-usapan ang existensialism. Di ko keri ngayon.

Kwelang-kwela ang mga eksena dito, pero para sa akin halos "conceit" na ng direktor ang paggawa nito. Marami kasing pinaglalaruan lang talaga for its own sake kasi kwela. Halimbawa, ang eksenang naglalaro ng taguan-pung ang buong neighborhood pagdating ni Vhong. Masaya yun, pero kebs? Oo, kunwari mis en scene yun sa condition ng mag-irog, at sinusuport ang ideyang tatay ni Toni (Dennis Padilla) na bulag pa ang "nakakita" ng pagmamahal ni Vhong kay Toni, pero ang buong neighborhood ba naman nagtataguan sa oras na dapat nagtatrabaho ang mga tao para may kita sila, noh!. Iyung ideya na si Benjie Paras ay multong sinugo para sunduin si Toni/Vhong ay ilang beses nang ginawa ng Hollywood (sa Brad Pitt movie ba?). Kwela din ito. Iyung eksenang nagmumuni-muni si Vhong throughout the seasons was witty, pero homage kaya sa Crouching Tiger ek-ek vang yun, o sa Kill Bill? Lalo na yung snow effect. Kung sa bagay kahit poster pa lang na sinampay sina Vhong at Toni mukhang fresh idea, pero naalala ko ang isang painting ni Frida Kahlo na ganito. Wala namang kinalaman ito sa pelikula. Magandang poster lang talaga. Suspetsa ko din na may pinagkunan ang ending nito. Maganda lang ang last scene dahil Pinoy na Pinoy: puting jeepney ang sumundo sa mga kaluluwa.

Bilang pelikulang Pinoy, siyempre kailangan kumpletos rekados para sa masang mag-eenjoy nito. Sina Kitkat at Empoy ay magbabatokan palagi habang nagpapalitan ng punchline, katulad ng ginagawa ni Pogo at Togo, or Dolphy at Panchito. Si Arlene Mulach ang pumalit kay Ike Lozada. At si Janus del Prado bilang Nyork ang ngongo na katawa-tawa. Mga sidekick lang sila, kasama ng buong cast na nakatira sa compound na kasali sa mga production numbers.

Kaenjoy-enjoy naman talaga ang pelikulang ito. Naiyak ako sa discovery ni Toni. Pag naiyak ako sa isang pelikula, alam kong maganda ito. Pero 3 stars lang ito.

D'end na ang "Iisa pa lamang"

2008-11-12T20:25:00.000-08:00

So kaka naman kasi kung kelan pa last week na ng melodramang "Iisa pa lamang" ng ABS-CBN, na swak na swak talaga sa lifestory ko (char!), saka naman nag-Muscovado at Adobo festival sa Silay City at nagpatawag ng writeshop si Gardy Labad sa Bohol. Kaya imbes na manood ako ng last week episode ay nakikidinner kami kay Tita Inday sa Sugarland Hotel (na masarap naman, at totoo po, wiz char!) sa Bacolod, o nakikichica kay Cecile Locsin Nava at nakikinig sa Humanities 101 lecture niya sa bahay niya (ipinagluto kasi kami ng masarap na pasta at salad, na chika niya'y ginamit niyang ingredients ang kung anik-anik lang ang na nakita niya sa ref niya kasi bumaha sa Bacolod that day na dumaan si Typhoon Quinta). Nang nasa Bohol naman kami'y nagpipreview ng dula ng isang theater collective sa Maribojoc at nagmimiting hanggang maduling sa antok at pagod. Bernadette talaga, dahil pagdating sa hotel namin, halos matatapos na ang "Kahit Isang Saglit."

Pero nung Byernes, last night na ng "Iisa pa lamang" sinadya kong umalis sa miting para abutan ang last episode ng melodrama ni Claudine Barreto. Iyun yung eksenang naghahanduraw na lang siya ng nakaraan, saka naman dumating si Rafael. Bumitiw pala si Rafael from being congressman at para mamuhay nang payapa, habang hinahanap si Catherine. Nang magkita na sila isang gabi ng kapaskuhan, ganito ang dayalog nila:

Rafael: Sa wakas, maligaya ako't nahanap din kita.
Catherine: Ako rin, nahanap ko na ang sarili ko.

O parang ganun. Ang nangyari pala, natsugi si Diether Ocampo/Miguel dahil nabaril nga ni Isadora, kaya siya ang naging donor ng puso ni Catherine. In short puso ni Miguel ang tumitibok sa ilalim ng voluptuous boobs ni Catherine. Ang ending, si Miguel at Rafael pala ang tuluyang magmamahalan. Cheng!

Subverted na kabadingan pala ang "Iisa pa lamang." Hindi natahimik itong mga taong naghahabulan at naghahanap ng kanilang puwang sa buhay at pag-ibig dahil hindi pala puso ni Catherine ang pinag-aagawan, naghahanap lang ng paraan kung paanong ang puso nina Miguel at Rafael ang mapag-isa. Diva?

May kumbensiyong ganito sa mga sinaunang epiko ng Panay. May mga karakter na hindi matsutsugi dahil ang kanilang mga puso'y nakatago sa kung saan-saan. Si Saragnayan itinago ang puso sa baboy damo. May isa din na itinago ang kasingkasing sa isang isda. Kailang mahanap muna ang baboy damo o isda bago masakop sila. Siyempre subliminal lahat ito. Kaya pala hindi magkatuloy-tuloyan sina Miguel at Catherine at Rafael at Catherine dahil hindi sila ang nasa equation (using their hearts as the variable x, of course!). Dahil Miguel = Rafael pala ang tamang equation. Jongga diva mga sisters?

Medium lang talaga si Catherine dito para maisakatuparan ang kabaklaang umiiral sa dalawang bidang lalaki. Kaya naman baklang-bakla ang postura ni Catherine sa bawat eksena. Alalahanin yung dayalog niya sa swimming pool habang naka-diamong necklace pa. At ang wardrobe niya throughout ay pangrampa talaga. Hitsura ng bading na kaka-out lang.

Kaek-ekan ko lang ang reading na itetch. Mas masaya kasi. Pero kung maging kumbensiyonal tayo sa pagbabasa, napaka-Katoliko ng moralidad na pinaiiral ng "Iisa pa lamang." Lahat ng mga tauhan ay simbolo ng mga karakter sa pasyon ni Hesus. Syempre si Catherine ang simbolo ng Birheng Maria/Katoliko, na kailangang tanggapin lahat ang sakripisyo dahil may kasulhayang naghihintay sa ending. At ang pangakong kasulhayan na katumbas ng salvation ay isang napakabait at gwapong lalaki - si Rafael/Gabby (na sa tunay na buhay ay napakaraming babae, diva?). Si Miguel ay si Hudas Escariote. Ipinagbili niya ang kanyang pagmamahal kay Catherine at ipinalit kay Scarlet, pero sa huli siya ay sising-sisi at kailangan niyang mamatay. Kinakatawan niya ang Hubris. Hindi siya maaring maging hero dito dahil isa siyang weakling, pushover, tinutulak-tulak ng kanyang madir na si Isadora. Si Isadora naman ang kumakatawan kay Satanas, ang archnemesis ng kabutihang kinakatawan ni Catherine. Kaya siya pinasabog, hindi na nakahintay na makarating sa mga kamay ng Hustisya, because she doesn't deserve it at all. Napakasama niya para hintayin pa ng hustisya. Si Scarlet/Angelica Panganiban naman si Magdalena. Maldita siya at masama, pero nagkaroon ng redemption dahil sa pagsisisi at pagbago ng landas.

Buti na lang at natapos na ito. Mababawasan ang kinababaliwan kong mga teleserye sa gabi. Kung bakit kasi isiningit pa ang Pinoy Fear Factor e. Sana "Kahit Isang Saglit" na pagkatapos ng "Betty La Fea," para mas maaga akong matutulog.

Pakwela ng "Dyosa"

2008-11-11T18:48:00.000-08:00

Some weeks ago, sinikap kong sumulat ng isang nagkukunwaring seryosong essay tungkol sa fantaseryeng "Dyosa" ng ABS-CBN. Ang tesis kuning ay ang filipinisasyon ng mito ayon sa mga karakter dito. Kasi nga nandiyan si Sinukuan, Bernardo Carpio, Magayon, na mga karakter sa mitong Pampango at Bicol, pati ang pag-angkin ng mga karakter sa mitong Griyego, tulad nina Bacchus, Adonis, Diana, Mars, etc. Nag-imbento din ito ng mga bagong karakter tulad nina Amang Suga, Salaminsim, Barracuda, throw in Bruhita na minsan ay funny naman.

Hindi ko natapos ang essay na yon, dahil nga super naman sumingit ang ibang trabaho, pero OK na rin dahil nitong huli ay halatang chinuchurva na lang ng mga writers ang iskrip nito. Feel mo bang enter the dragon ang karakter ni PS o Pearly Shell na ginawa ng komedyanteng si Chockoleit. Cross-over ito mula sa mas naunang fantaseryeng "Marina" na hindi ko naman nasundan.

Sa episode ngayong linggo, kailangang buhayin muli ang nag-sleeping byuting si Barracuda/Kulas na under the spell ni Diana. Ang tanging nakakaalam ng solusyon, ayon kay Tandang Menela, ang pinakagurang na kataw o sirena, ay si PS na nakatira sa Atlantis. Kakatuwa ang pag-uusap nitong mga karakters sa ilalim ng dagat dahil ang communication nila ay sa pamagitan ng mind-reading. Hindi bumubuka ang kanilang mga labi (syempre dahil malulunod sila), kundi naririnig lang natin ang kanilang mga thoughts. Sana nilagyan na lang nila ng clouds angay sa komiks; komiks naman ang materyal nila, kundi may inter-media pa.

Anyways, kagabi si Mars ang nagvolunteer na humanap kay PS. Bakit kaya nakashorts pa si Zanjoe? Bakit di nalang nakatrunks? Ang pangit yata tingnan ang maluwag na shorts na lumulutang-lutang. Pula pa, parang ang cheap tingnan. Alam mo yong pumunta sa swimming party na walang dalang proper attire kaya napilitang mag-rent dun sa resort? Parang ganun si Zanjoe Marudo sa episode na ito. May kulintas pa siyang mga sigay, kaya para siyang sasayaw ng Pearly Shells. Pero yung sigay necklace pala ay GPRS at camera para makikita ng mga kataw ang eksena nila ni PS.

Itong si PS daw ang pinakamatalinong nilalang sa balat ng kamatis at alam niya ang kasagutan sa lahat ng tanong. Kaya lang may ex-deal palagi, at minsan ay buhay ang katumbas. O, exciting di ba. So, nang magkita sila ni Mars, e syempre, kinilig ang baklitang PS sa kamachohan ni Zanjoe. Ang kapalit sa sagot ay isang halik, na naging dalawa pa. Matanggap mo bang kahalikan ni Zanjoe si Chockoleit? Di ba dapat ako yun? So, nalusotan ni Zanjoe ang hamon dahil nakapikit ang kilig na kilig na PS na wisnowang na kalansay pala ang kahalikan niya. May word of honor naman ang syoke, at ang magic words daw para mabuhay muli sa Baraccuda ay: "Mini-mini my ni Moe." Syeeeet!

Samantala si Adonis naman ay im na im dahil hindi siya makapunta sa ilalim ng dagat. Weakness kasi ng Kasamiang ito ang waterlily. Nagpagawa siya ng orasyon sa aliping si Bruhita, at at orasyon ay: "Minikaniko ni Monico ang minica ni Monica." Syeeet na malagkit. E siyempre bulol si Sam Milby kaya di niya keri.

By now, knows na natin na pinaglalaruan na lang ng writers ang "Dyosa" para mapalawid ito. wala nang nangyayari kundi mga kalokohan ng karakters. Ito ay para mabibili pa ang mga merchandise ng Dyosa na kalalabas lang sa merkado. Nagdalawang isip akong bumili ng dolls ng Dyosa Cielo at Dyosa Agua noong nasa Bacolod ako. Mukhang cheap material kasi ang ginagamit, hindi Mattel. At gusto ko pati Dyosa Tierra ay kasama. Pag-iisipan ko pang mabuti kung babagay ba ang mga manikang ito sa koleksyon ni Datu Lubay.

Meanwhile, nag-eenjoy pa rin akong manood ng pakwela ng "Dyosa."

Anti-hero at komersiyalismo

2008-10-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

Mukhang masyado nang kumplikado ang plot ng "Kahit Isang Saglit." Wala nang patutunguhan. Nalaman na natin na si Eunice pala ay ni-rape ni Anthony Mondragon, kaya junanak pala ni Anthony si Garrie.

Nalaman na ni Rocky na tatay ni Garrie ang lalaking nagpapanggap na Mr. Mendes. Alam na rin nating si Gen. Anthony Mondragon ang suporter ng drug syndicate, pero nangingibabaw pa rin ang respeto ni Rocky sa ninong niya.

Para matanggal ang duda ni Rocky sa tatay ng love niya, sinugo ni Ronaldo/Amihan si Mrs. Barbara Reyes na ituro ang libingan ng taong pumatay sa ama ni Rocky. (Ayan simula nang pumapasok ang mga minor karakter na napakasignificant pala ng kanilang mga aksiyon sa twist ng kwento; dito na tayo magsimulang magduda sa mga padihot ng iskrip.) Siyempre super emote si Rocky in front of the grave, at may I paputok pa siya ng baril to dramatize the buhos ng kanyang galit at emosyon. Syempre binanggit niya ang revelationg ito ni Barbara sa ninong niya, at syempre nagtaka naman si General kung anong kaetchosan ito dahil knows niya ang truth kung sinong pumatay sa fadir ni Rocky. Kaya sinugod naman niya si Barbara.

Meanwhile, pauwi na sa Malaysia sina Garrie at Ronaldo, at mamamatay na yata ang madir ng bidang girl. Syempre malaman ito ni General Mondragon at may I book siya ng tiket to Malaysia. Doon na kaya magkukrus ang landas nila ng kanyang arch nemesis na si Ronaldo Dimaandal?

Ibig sabihin nito ay mga scenic spots na naman ng Malaysia ang aasahang makita natin sa mga susunod na kabanata.

At ibig sabihin nito, ang tunay na conflict pala ay between Ronaldo Dimaandal at Anthony Mondragon na minsang nag-agawan sa pagmamahal ni Eunice. Sana man lang mas magandang aktres and pinili para gumanap sa kanya :-(

Ang kwento ni Rocky na isang kwentong paghahanap ng katotohanan (ang pumatay sa kanyang mga magulang) ang motif ay ginamit lamang para bumukas sa tunay na conflict. At syempre ang tunay na bida rito ay ang anti-hero na si Anthony Mondragon. Oo naman, kasi napakamajor aktors nina Christopher de Leon at Albert Martinez kung ikumpara kay Echo. Bottomline, ang tambalang Echo at Carmen Soo ay ginamit lamang para may marketing edge dahil mas bata sila. Hindi pa rin nakaligtas ang "Kahit Isang Saglit" sa komersiyalismo ng ABS-CBN.

Speaking of komersiyalismo, nakikita ba ninyo kung paano ginagamit an ABS-CBN ang mga teleserye para pasayahin ang kanilang mga sponsor? Tingnan ang bawat labas ng Biolink VCO lotion na ini-endorse ni Anne Curtis sa "Dyosa", at ang 4G, isang health and beauty product, na ini-endorse naman ni Bea Alonzo sa "I love Betty La Fea."

Minsang nakaupo si Josephine sa park at nagmumuni-muni sa mga pangyayari sa buhay niya, dumaan naman at tumigil sa likuran niya ang van na may ad ng Biolink, at for a moment, may bakground siya ng produktong ibinibenta niya. Dalawang beses na ring ipinakita na ginamit niya ang produkto - una, pagkatapos niyang maghugas ng mga pinggan, at pangalawa bilang intermission number niya sa trabaho sa opisina. Biglang dumaan ang bossing na si Maricar de Mesa na may kasamang tatlong kliyenteng lalaki, at napatigil sila dahil naamoy nila ang bango ng lotion ni Josephine. Hahahaha.

Sa 4G naman ay walang kawala ang iskrip dahil nga ad agency ang milieu ni Betty La Fea. Kliyente ng Ecomoda ang kumpanyang gumagawa ng 4G. Kaya magsu-shoot sila ng ad kasama si Bea Alonzo. At si Betty mismo ay umiinom ng 4G bago matulog. Ilang segundo ring babad na babad ang sample ng produkto, kung hindi pa ito overkill.

Kaya minsan halatang pinaglalaruan na lang ng production team ang mga teleserye, dahil siguro sa kawalan na ng materyal at kailangan pang pahabain ito. By now, wala nang magandang nangyayari sa "Dyosa" kundi maglaro ng lokohan ang mga bida. Pati skrip yata ay kanya-kanyang adlib na at pakwela.

Ang buong tema ng "Betty La Fea" ay tungkol sa komersiyalismo mismo: ang pagkahilig ni Betty sa ukay-ukay, ang trabaho sa ad agency, ang karakter ni Ruffa Guttierez, at ang challenge kay Armando for net profit of 150 million para manatili siyang presidente ng Ecomoda ay puro palatandaan ng komersiyalismo.

Isang gabing rumampa kami sa Greenbelt 5

2008-10-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Two days akong hindi makapanood ng TV sa gabi. Nasa Manila kasi ako. Kahapon rumampa kami nina my friend Marlene sa Greenbelt, kasama ang staff kong si Richard, at mga budding photogs na sina Sansan at Tintin Liao. May group show nga pala ang grupo nilang Diave Images sa Museo Antiqueno sa Oct 24-31, timing naman sa pagbukas ng 2nd Kinaray-a Arts Festival.

Anyways, masaya ang rampa namin sa Greenbelt 5, kahit mega-window shop lang kami ni Richard at sunod-sunod lang sa tatlong richie-richie friends. Dahil shuhalbas ang mga shops doon. Nagpramis kasi si Marlene na siya ang magpapa-dinner sa mamahaling resto. So, lafu kami sa Pia y Damaso sa Greenbelt 5. Gusto sana namin sa Felix, umaasang nandoon ang mga may-aring sina Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres. Pero wisnowang kami sa jografi ng mall, kaya di namin nakita kaagad. Wala pala ito sa loob, kundi sa side, kaharap ng Ayala Museum. Nasagap na lang namin nang tapos na kaming kumain.

In fairness, jongga naman ang Pia y Damaso. Maliit lang at cozy, friendly ang staff. Wala masyadong utaw that night. Huwebes kasi. May dalawang girlalus lang sa kabilang table, at kaming lima sa isang sulok. For starters, umorder kami ng Tubig ni Maria, a refreshing drink of cucumber juice with a slice of orange. Inofer ng weyterlu ang bago sa menu - crisp pork rolls in basil sauce - na lumpia lang namanm, pero winner ang basil sauce. Tinikman din namin ang Lang-lang soup out of curiosity lang naman. Sabi sa menu it's a Binondo favorite, kumbinasyon ng tatlong klaseng noodles - lomi, canton, at sotanghon yata. Medyo maalat ito para sa akin, pero type naman ni Tintin. Sumunod ang Pasta with juicy tinapa, na siyang winner! sa lahat. Ako ang umubos ng order, pagkatapos nilang tumikim. Busog na ako at masaya sa kinain namin pagkatapos ng pasta na yun. May I lagok na lang ng Tubig ni Maria na refill ng refill naman ng weyterlu. Ask ko nga kung may Pawis ni Jose din sila.

Pero hindi pa dumating ang main course namin. Umorder pa si Sansan ng callos, at yung inorder kong Pork in mango juice and spinach rice. Parehong wagi ang mga ito. Lalo na kay Richard na mahilig sa taba ng baboy. Pero bakit ako pa rin ang tumapos nun? Walang bago diyan dahil gourmand kuning ang lola niyo. Masaya ang kwentuhan namin in Kinaray-a, super kalog naman kasi si Marlene.

Imagine, nung rumarampa pa lang kami papunta sa Pia y Damaso, nakasalubong namin si Henry Sy. Syempre wiz ko knows ang tycoon na ito, pero si Marlene mahilig magbasa ng mga who's who, kaya namukhaan niya ang Mr. Sy. Naka-polo barong na blue, at sunod-sunod ng isang julalay na girlalu. Si Marlene naman sobrang enthusiastic yata at smile ever sa bilyonaryo, at dahil mukhang milyonarya naman si amega kahit low-profile lang, pretend naman si Henry na kilala niya at smile sa amin. Nataranta tuloy kami, dahil baka lumapit to strike a conversation. Paano mo ba chichikahin ang No. 1 richest man ng Pinas, ayon sa Forbes Magazine? Di ko keri so may I walk faster kami. Si Henry naman kinakatok ng fingers niya his head, na parang digging deep in the recesses of his rich brain kung saan niya nakilala ang girlalung kasama ko. Lumingon pa siya once with a smile, bago tuluyang nag-walk away from us. Ganun pala ang totoong mayaman, hindi suplado. Sa mind ko naman, baka hindi siya yun, pero sa newspaper today, nandun ang litrato ni Henry Sy, at siya nga yun, naka-blue polo barong din. Dun yata kinuha ang fotong iyon sa Greenbelt kahapon.

For dessert, tinikman namin ang Sisa's Dementia. Pinagtulong-tulongan namin itong isang slice ng uber sa namit na chocolate cake. Di na kami umorder ng iba dahil may balak pa kaming mag-coffee at dessert somewhere else. Si Sansan may date pa with former kaklase sa San Lo.

Dun sa Greenbelt 5, chinek din namin ang shop ni Rafe, at isang Italyanong shop na may napakagandang gown. Buy si Sansan ng shusang sa Bleach Catastrophe, isang avant garde shop ng local designers daw; si Marlene baysung ng blouse sa Promod, na Frenchy Dy naman, at si Tintin happy na with a blouse from Zara. Kami naman ni Richard, masayan nang makasinghot ng amoy ng Greenbelt 5. Dahil pinagkakasya lang namin ang perdiem na bigay ng opisina. Nagnight-cap kami sa Seattle's Best, at doon ako nag-confess tungkol sa break-up namin ng boyfriend kong Thai doon mismo sa coffee shop na yun. Wala nang sakit sa dibdib ko habang kinukwento ko sa kanila, kaya alam kong tapos na ako sa kabanatang iyon. Baka nga gawa-gawa ko lang ang kwentong iyon.

Kaya nga pala kami nasa Manila, at kaya di ko mapanood ang Kahit Isang Saglit mamayang gabi ay dahil magtitinda kami ng mga bandi at bukayo sa lobby ng Cuneta Astrodome. May benefit concert kasi ang mga OKM artists ng Antique, at dahil tipon-tipon ito ng mga kasimanwang Antiqueno, baka type nilang bumili ng mga produkto galing sa Antique. Ako naman isisingit ko lang ang mga libro ko sa pagbebenta. Ces't la vie.

Mahal kita, mahal mo siya

2008-10-13T20:31:00.001-07:00

Ito pala ang leit motif ng "Kahit Isang Saglit" ng ABS-CBN. Ang lahat ng major karakter ay nagmamahal pero hindi bumabalik ang pagmamahal sa kanila, kaya ang pinaka-dillema ng telenovelang ito ay "may pupuntahan kaya itong pagmamahalan nina Rocky at Garrie?"

Kasi ganito: Si Anthony Mondragon (Boyet de Leon) ay nagmahal kay Eunice Hangli (Malaysian actress na hindi ko matandaan ang name), pero ang mahal ni Eunice at nakatuloyan ay si Rolando Dimaandal/Amihan (Albert Martinez). Anak nila si Garrie (Carmen Soo).

Ang asawa ni Gen. Mondragon (Isabel Rivas, di ko matandaan ang name ng karakter niya), ay nagmamahal sa kanya ng todo-todo, pero di feel ni Boyet dahil forever siyang umiibig kay Eunice. Ngayon ang kanilang anak na si Alona (Christine Reyes) ay head over heels tinamaan kay Rocky. Poor girl, kapatid lang ang turing sa kanya ng hunk na ito, dahil ang supermegafirstlove niya ay si Garrie.

Malupit din mag-isip ng komplikadong plot ang mga writers, devah. Kaya exciting at gabi-gabi akong nanonood. To make matters really convoluted, si Rocky ay isang PDEA agent dahil gusto niyang bigyan ng katuturan ang kamatayan ng fadir niya (Noni Buencamino) na isang pulis, napatay dahil sa pagtutugis ng mga druglords. Ngayon may lead siya para madakip ang bigtime drug syndicate, na kinasasangkotan naman ni Amihan na fadir ng kanyang pinakamamahal.

In tonight's episode, ipakikila ni Garrie si Rocky sa kanyang amay. Mikikilala kaya ni Rocky ang tinutugis niyang kriminal, dahil nagpa-aesthetic surgery na ito, natanggal na ang balat sa mukha? Ano ang gagawin ni Rocky kung malaman niyang ang taong tinutugis niya ay beloved amay pala ng babaeng palangga niya to death? O devah, exciting?

Paanong di ka meexcite, e in last nights episode, pinilit ni Boyet de Leon na ninong ni Rocky - si Jericho pala ito, in case di niyo pa nasundan - si Jericho na huwag na muling saktan si Alona pagkatapos nitong lumaklak ng mga pills. Torn na torn si Echo dahil naging pamilya ni niya sina Boyet mula nang naulila siya. Pipiliin ba niya ang pamilya over pag-ibig?

Kaya mas gusto ko itong "Kahit Isang Saglit" dahil mas matalino naman ang pagkasulat at exciting ang mga karakters. At pakyut ng pakyut si Echo at si Carmen Soo. Sana ginawa na lang nilang pelikula ito, para dalawang oras lang.

Di katulad ng "Iisa pa Lamang" na lahat na yata ng sangkap para sa melodrama ay isinahog na. Kakaiba din ang charm nito para sa akin. Megawatch din ako, pero I don't mind standing up to make me a cup of tea habang nagdadayalog si Scarlet at Catherine. Ang problema naman naman sa "Iisa pa Lamang" ay lahat ng karakter may lihim at lahat gustong may sikreto; lahat ng karakter gustong maghiganti. Lahat nang karakter ay over-dressed. Well, ang dalawang bidang babae at mga staff ni congressman Rafael Torralba na lahat naka-coat and tie sa opisina. At ano naman itong headress nina Scarlet at Catherine? Buti na lang wala nang kapa si Laurice Guillen. Si Cherry Pie Picache naman, dinadaan na lang sa galing umarte at hindi sa damit. Si Melissa Ricks, napakaganda ng mukha pero kala mo naman si anhing Julie Vega kung umemote.At ang guwapo ni Matt Evans dito, buti na lang pingupit ang Afro niyang buhok.

Charisse Pimpengco, world class Pinoy (nga ba?)

2008-10-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

Am sure proud tayong lahat kay Charisse Pimpengco, at saludo tayo sa galing niyang kumanta. Recently ay kasali uli siya sa concert na kasama si Rod Stewart at maraming big names sa global music industry, sa isang kaek-ekang nagtitipon ang halos lahat nga ating hinahangaan. Naki-sing-along na siya kay Celine Dione at Andrea Boccelli, nag-guest kay Oprah, at siya ang biggest singing sensation from the great Pinoy republic ngayon. Bow!

Kaya lang, sana naman kung sino man ang handler niya, o adviser kaya, sana gamitin niya ang mga okasyong ito para makakanta rin ng Filipino song, nang marinig naman ng madlang pipol all over the world kung ano ang musikang Pinoy, kulturang Pinoy. Kasi, as it is, puro na lang kanta ni Celine o Mariah ang kinakanta niya, na napakagaling nga naman, at mangiyak-ngiyak ako kung mapanood siya sa TV (O baka kaya ako naiiyak dahil sayang ang pagkakataon). Ang ending, napakagaling niyang copycat. Ayaw naman nating makilalang world-class na copycat, devah. Mas may kabuluhang ipagmamalaki ang suportahan natin si Charisse kung dinadala din niya ang sariling atin to the world. Yan ang truliling essence ng being a world-class Pinoy performer.

Mabuhay!

Kakatuwa ang jografi ng "Kahit isang saglit"

2008-09-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

Lately, feel ko nang manood ng mga teleserye. Siguro pag matanda ka na, gusto mo na lang maupo sa gabi. Nagsimula ang pagkaaliw ko sa "Iisa pa lamang", hindi lang dahil kanta ng buhay ko yan, kundi dahil napagkagwapo ni Diether Ocampo. Gwapo din si Gabby, pero matanda na siya at bagay lang sa role niya. Pero, ang pagsabayin sila ni Diether, medyo pilit.

Anyway, bakit tayo napunta diyan? A, kung paano nga pala ako nahilig sa teleserye. Dati hindi mo ako mapilit manood niyan. Pero pag nakita mo si Claudine na nakalubog sa swimming pool with diamond jewelry, at may I comment si Angelica Panganiban a.k.a. Scarlet ng, "magsusuwiming ka lang, nakadiamond ka pa" at sasagot si Claudine ng "Siempre, because diamonds are forever, tulad ko." Hindi ba naman mapupukaw ang kabaklaan mo?

Kaya every night na akong nanonood ng teleserye ng ABS. kasi malabo ang GMA sa TV namin e. hehehe. Nung nag-start ang Dyosa, I had more reason to stay home in the evening after Deal or No deal. tuloy-tuloy na. Enter pa si Betty La Fea. So funny talaga. so babaw na me. At nang nagsimula na ang Kahit Isang Saglit ni Jericho, I advised Eduard not to call me until after 10.30 PM kasi busy na ako.

Kakatuwa din ang sense ng jografi ng Kahit isang saglit. Am sure aliw manood ng mga eksenang kinunan sa Malaysia, lalo pa at nag-open ang teleserye sa Citrawarna Malaysia parade sa Putra Jaya, at palaging nasa background ang Petronas Towers. Yun lang, akala ng mga gumagawa nito, wiznowang ang mga nanonood ng teleserye tungkol sa mga lugar sa Malaysia. May rendezvouz ba naman sina Rocky at Garrie sa bridge sa Putra Jaya, e napakalayo nito sa KL. Naglalakad lang si Garrie mula sa office nila, na mukhang malapit sa Petronas, yung tipong Makati ng KL, tapos maya-maya lang nasa Petaling Street na siya na siyang Chinatown street sa KL. Aba napakalayo lakarin nun. Tiyak nahabol na siya ng mga goons ng lola niya sa layo ng nilakad niya.

Kung sabagay, talagang magaling mag-promote ng Malaysia ang Malaysian partner ng ABS; may shoot pa nga sa Cameroon Highlands. Kaya exciting din makita kung paano ipupromote ng ABS ang Pilipinas. Sa mga trailers may eksena pa sa Banawe rice terraces. Sana naman magamit ng mabuti ang teleseryeng ito para maakit ang mga Malaysians na mamasyal din sa Pilipinas.

Kagabi maganda ang eksena. Sabi ng iskrip pupunta sa Pinas si Garrie; nakabook na sila ng mama niya sa eroplano. Pero para matakasan niya ang goons ng lola niyang pagkasama-samang umarte, magbarko na lang daw siya. Wala yatang barko from Western Malaysia to Philippines no?

Anyway, next scene na lang nasa pier na siya, at may bangka papuntang Pinas. Nasa Borneo/Sabah side na siya, na kung tingnan sa mapa e napakalayo from KL at may malawak na dagat na humihiwa ng West Malaysia at ng Sabah. So, sumakay na siya ng parang batel, yung tipong sasakyan mo from Caticlan to Boracay. Ganun nga siguro yon kalapit. May magandang vinta pa nga sa shot. Scenic talaga. At ilang oras na lang, dumaong na siya sa Pinas.

May katangahan din talaga si Garrie. May university degree pa naman at matagal na niyang pangarap ang pumunta sa Manila para hanapin ang papa niya. May mapa pa nga siyang tinatagu-tago sa bedside niya, tapos di pala niya pinag-aralan ang jografi nga Pinas. So, imbes sa Manila, sa Mindanao siya nakarating. Pero OK lang dahil may operation sina Rocky doon. Napakaswerte ni Garrie dahil dumating siya, nandoon sina Rocky pero may kabarilan na mga kalaban ng PDEA. Exciting ang barilan, in fairness. Naging suspect si Garrie ngayon dahil kasabayan niya sa boat si Governor na may koneksyon sa drug syndicate. In the end, maswerte talaga si Garrie dahil dadalhin siya ng PDEA sa Manila.

Pero cute si Jericho at may chemistry sila ni Carmen Soo. Kaya panonoorin ko pa rin itong teleseryeng ito. Kakainis lang ang akting ni Christopher de Leon. Noon pa nakakainis na yun, pero di ko ma-gets bakit marami silang eksena ng tumandang Isabel Rivas at Christine Reyes. At kagabi ko na-gets kung bakit hina-hype ng ABS ang suicide attempt ni Christine dahil sa lalaki kuno, yun pala nasa script ang maglasing siya dahil umiimbig kay Rocky. Ibang klase talaga kumonstrak ng ating pag-iisip ang media.

Hahaha.

My doll collection

2008-09-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

Check out my doll collection at my new blogsite monyekako.blogspot.com or just click the link somewhere in this page. I have posted some of the dolls in my collection (partial only), and will try to gather all the lovely things in a grand photo shoot, so you can see them. I am in need of another aparador to house them all.

Andut nagahibi ako kon maglantaw kang “Wowowee”

2008-09-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Ang gwapo-gwapo mo talaga Willie!

Singgit kang mal-am nga ungab,
Puti ang buhok sa tinuig nga panabon
Kang utang kag baraydan.
Ginbaligya na ang anang kaserola
Agud makapila kag makapasadya
Sa nagairigma nga may sarang
Magbutang kang bugas kag sardinas
Sa andang mga pinggan nga pingas.

Ay, pa-kiss naman Kuya Willie!

Pangabay ni misis nga bungisngis,
Nagaibok-ibok sa anang katambuk,
Nagaralabaw pa ang bulbol sa iruk.
Siyam ang andang kabataan,
Sara lang nakalapak sa eskwelahan
Kag ang iban mga klasmit na
Sa tambayan kag tong-itan.
Si mister nagapamasada lang
Pero indi bale, pabugal na pa
Basta kuno iririmaw sanda
Sa hirap at ginhawa.

Maraming salamat po Kuya Willie!

Matagsing ang limug kang bata
Sa anang kakunyag, hay may sanglibo
Tana nga manggad, para sa anang
Pagtambling kag pasikad-sikad,
Pagtindug sa anang mga palad.
Wara tana nagaeskwela
Hay ilo molo-molo sa pamilya
Gani sa una gid nga pamangkot:
“Kung kaldero ay pot,
Ano naman ang erpat?”
Wara na masabat, nagngisi-ngisi
Dara pangalot kang alap-apun
Na nga lubut.

Ang nakasabat nagatiyabaw,
Ang tanan nagahinugyaw
Nga daw mga kalag
Sa TV namun nga malus-aw,
Kag ako tana nagahiribiun
Samtang pirit nga nagakadlaw.

2nd KARAY-A ARTS FESTIVAL

2008-09-15T23:11:00.001-07:00

Thai foodie

2008-08-28T20:01:00.001-07:00

Our recent trip to Thailand was a real treat to the foodie in me. Our host, Dr. Maria Laosunthara and the staff of the International Relations Department of Srinakharinwirot University saw that we get a sampling of Thai food by taking us to some of the best restaurants around the Sukhumvit area, where the university is, like Baan Kanitha and Wanakarm, and international franchise S&P, that has a branch along Chao Phraya river. In photo are the shrimp cakes in sweet-sour sauce by Wanakarm (right), and S&P's version of the famous pad Thai noodles.

We also had lunch in a riverside restaurant at Ratchaburi province. The food there was more local and inexpensive compared to those in Bangkok. Our best bet was the crisp fried fish that was bigger than the plate and deep fried squid rings.

But the best food experience was at Chang Mai, when we enrolled in a cooking course at Baan Thai, a homestyle cooking school featured in Lonely Planet. There were six of us in that afternoon class, a couple from UK, a swimwear model on vacation from the US, a college graduate from the Netherlands, and the Philippines was represented by UP graduate and beauty queen Marnelli Sales and myself. Our teacher was a young chef named Boom, which according to her is Thai for "dimples."

World's best tom yam by me, of course

We agreed to cook tom yam, fried cashew with chicken, Panaeng curry with pork, and green curry with chicken. To save on time, we skipped the marketing part of the class and agreed instead to prepare our own green curry paste. Preparing the curry is an experience with herbs and spices, not to mention the laborious method of pounding the ingredients into paste.

From left, my version of Panaeng curry with pork, green curry with chicken, and fried cashew with chicken and young corn

We voted our official most popular food in Chang Mai the Kao ob saparod or pineapple fried rice with shrimp served at our hotel's restaurant. The Kao pad thai with crabs is generously topped with thumb-sized crab meat.

Pineapple fried rice by Huen Luang Prabang restaurant at Chang Mai

My new book

2008-08-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

My latest book UGSAD KANG KINARAY-A (The Rise of Kinaray-a) will be off the press next month. It shall be my second entirely Kinaray-a book, after AGI, AGI MAY PUTAY SA DAHI. This is part of my Kinaray-a for the Karay-a book project, because I believe that for the Karay-a to show his/her emancipation from colonial consciousness he/she must seek and produce knowledge in his/her native tongue.

The cover shows me reciting poetry during the Antique Arts Festival 1999 in Casa Madrangca. Thanks to Hermie Beltran for this beautiful shot, capturing the full moon screened by blossoming madre de cacao trees. And see me a hundred pounds ago. I had reservations about using this picture for the cover (True!), but the portrait of a young poet howling to the full moon his poems is such a romantic and apt metaphor to the struggle of Kinaray-a literature. So, to hell with modesty.

UGSAD KANG KINARAY-A is the Kinaray-a and expanded version of THE RISE OF KINARAY-A published in 2003. The book will be available for orders online at www.bookoto.com. Orders within the Philippines may be made through email at datulubay@yahoo.com.

Thailand again

2008-08-14T02:04:00.000-07:00

Am leaving for Thailand (again!) next week. We will be there for 10 days. This time we are going to Chang Mai, and that's what makes this trip exciting. But before that we have some work to do in Bangkok, like meeting students at Srinakharinwirot University. I was told the university's International Affairs office has lined up a full program for us in four days. Whew. Exciting. And I heard we will be watching the Jo Louis theater (seen that before) and the Siam Niramat (this is new). So, maybe this would be another exciting trip.
I haven't posted most pics from my Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand sojourn in May, with Ed. Been very busy, or lazy. Will try to make up for it when I get back.
Meanwhile, am seeing the final proof of my book "Ugsad kang Kinaray-a" this weekend, before we leave, and I hope this comes off the press in September, or October at the most. I have to move on and work on the next project, you see.
Ciao.

Beers of Asia

2008-08-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

Am not a beer drinker, but in our recent trip to the Angkor temples, Eduard and I tried these beers. Angkor is Cambodian, of course. Beer Chang is Thai and is quite an icon. My friend Poks got Beer Chang singlets (sando for us Pinoys) at Chatuchak in our recent visit. Thailand has another brand called Singha. We ordered them at a restaurant in Chang Mai. Tiger is Malaysian or (Singaporean?) - anyway we tried Tiger in Penang during our vacation there in 2006. While in Patpong, Bangkok, we went to a gay pub and ordered San Miguel Light for me, and Pale Pilsen for Ed. The winner is... San Miguel Light, of course. Oh, there's another we tried in Penang, its in a green bottle called Sin To or something, it's Chinese, though. I saw it at a 7-11 in Manila too. Notice the Cambodian tuktuk in the background.

My new stories

2008-08-04T23:34:00.001-07:00

I think I am in my most productive this time. I am in the middle of finalizing my fourth book "Ugsad kang Kinaray-a", to be launched in October, and I have written four stories in a span of two weeks. I need two or three more to complete another collection of stories. Yehey!

I finished "Library", which I started writing in July 2007. I stopped halfway through it, because I did not know where the story is leading to. Last month I saw the unfinished story and decided to finish it. Right there.

Then one night I could not sleep. I opened my notebook and started typing anything. Then I remembered a story idea that a friend gave me three years ago. This is how "Trip-trip" got written. it's meant to be a short, a quickie, because it really is. But I don't want it to be a simple soft-porn story. It's actually about how young people now are ready to get what they want, and willing to pay for it too.

Another night, I could not sleep because I was hungry. So I ate. It was past midnight. Then I recalled Scarlet O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind." (As god is my witness, I shall never go hungry again!) So, after eating, I got my notebook again and started typing. I didn't finish the story because I felt really sleepy, but in the morning, I did not report to work. After breakfast, I said I will finish it. Before lunch, I had a story called "Gutum."

So I went to work, and while going over my folders in the computer, I discovered I have an unfinished story called "Imelda." I have managed to write a monologue to begin it, and a synopsis, too. That helped me a lot in recalling what I wanted to do. It was an idea I had after visiting Tibiao. I saw how people are very hardworking, and I thought I would write about it. It is about a woman who lost all her children and husband, but never loses the zest for living.

I have two more stories in file - "Tamawo" and "Sag-ub". These are actually the first stories I have written, but I did not include it in "Agi, agi may putay sa dahi" collection because they don't belong. Actually, the first story I wrote was "Flores de Mayo" published in Hiligaynon Magazine, like twenty years ago. I wonder if I could still find a copy of it.

So my next collection would include these, and the two or three more I am going to write. I hope I don't lose this momentum.

Biggest kropek

2008-07-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

We bought a bag of kropeks at the restaurant (was that in Tay Nin, Vietnam) where we had our stopover for breakfast on the way to Cambodia. The kropeks are made of of tapioca flour and had a sweetish flavor, a little sticky when it melts in your mouth. They're big enough to cover your face, as Eduard is showing. We have spent all our dongs, and we did not want to spend our dollars, so we pooled our our coins to buy this bag of giant-sized kropeks. We had fun munching them between dozes on the bus to Cambodia.

Gugma sa bath house

2008-07-20T22:53:00.000-07:00

Ah Loong: How long do you think does it take to fall in love?
Orked: A minute. How long did it take you to fall in love with me?
Ah Loong: Much less than that.

Ah Loong kag Orked, sa “Sepet”, sangka pelikula nga Malay

Sangka misuk lang

Naluyag ako sa imo haron

Nga nagapatupung

Sa dingding nga nainas run

Sa bag-id kang ginatos

ka mga ginamingaw nga likod.

Sangka kuhit lang

Ang akun panit nagsirit

Nga magdukut sa imo panit;

Ang atun mga tudlo

Nanultol sa dulum,

Lamang nga magharkanay

Ang atun mga kibul sa palad.

Sangka tikang

Paagto sa makitid nga langit

Kang atun paghingalit,

Sangka tukis

kang tualya nga nagaputos

Kang atun mga kalag,

Bisan rugya lang

Kon makahigugma kita,

Bisan kulang sa tinion.

Isipun run lang natun

Kar-on, paghalin rugya

Kon pira ka tikang

Ang masunod nga gugma.

Sa pagkaluya, kaluya.

Hello, Mr. Antique 2008

2008-04-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

Jude Tumogdan, Mr. Antique 2008

Twenty-year old Jude Tumogdan is the first Mr. Antique. Jude is a high school graduate and a dancer of Fleet Finders. He has represented his school in Mr. Step - Antique 2007, and won first runner-up in Mr. PYAP 2008 (Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines), representing the municipality of San Jose. He is from Buhang, Hamtic.

Jrnel Vido, 1st runner up

Jrnel Vido, 20 won first runner-up. He is a senior student in criminology at the Polytechnic State College of Antique. He is also Mr. Criminology. He is from Piape, Hamtic.

June Dioso, 2nd runner-up

June Dioso, 18 is a junior Criminology student at the Polytechnic State College of Antique. He is from San Jose.

Jerome Mark Ortega, Mr. Photogenic

Eighteen year-old Jerome is the youngest of the candidates. He is the Mr. Advance Central College.

The pageant was held at the CAP Auditorium in San Jose, Antique on April 18. Fourteen candidates competed in four categories: sarong, jeanswear, formalwear, and swimwear. The winners won cash prizes and gift certificates and a ceramic trophy by artist Alan Cabalfin.

Inday Sally dolls

2008-04-10T03:34:00.000-07:00

Binirayan Foundation, Inc. has come out with Limited Edition Inday Sally dolls by Precious Moments. Designed after Antique's popular lady governor Salvacion Zaldivar Perez, Inday Sally is a collectible doll wearing an authentic pili patadyong woven by the women of Bagtasun, Bugasong, Antique, and a kimona, the traditional costume in many islands in the Visayas.

The weaving tradition in Antique, according to the Maragtas, is believed to have been introduced by Datu Lubay, a minor chieftain under Datu Sumakwel, the chief of Hantik. This living heritage, handed down from generation to generation, continues to strive in this rural community in Central Antique despite years of modernization.

Each doll comes in a kraft box, with a certificate of authentication by Samuel L. Butcher, maker of Precious Moments. The accessories include a delicately woven abaca hat, and imitation pearl necklace, earings, and bracelet.

For orders, visit the Binirayan Foundation, Inc. website http://www.binirayanfoundation.org, or call 036-5407343 (Philippines)

Mr. Antique 2008

2008-04-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

It's Binirayan time!

2008-03-31T18:42:00.000-07:00

Buri hat from Cadahug, Lauaan, Antique

At about this time of the year, our office is bustling with activity and every available space is littered with posters, brochures, costumes, souvenirs, knick-knacks, event proposals, etc. It means only one thing: It's Binirayan time!

Binirayan Festival 2008 is here again. It will officially open on April 13, with the showcases of young theater artists from Bacolod, Iloilo, Capiz, and Antique. The regional Kampo Kabataan 2008, a summer theater arts camp to be held at Madrangca, San Jose closes on that day, giving the Binirayan launch a regional flavor. The EBJ Freedom Park will witness presentations by these young performers, ending with a party with the San Jose's S.O.S. (Satisfy Our Soul) band. Guests of honor are Governor Sally Perez and National Youth Commissioner Raul Dominic I. Badilla.

Other activities in Binirayan are the Cultural Caravan in Barbaza on April 16, Search for Mr. Antique 2008 on April 18, Senior Citizens Night in Patnongon on April 19, Lin-ay kang Antique Talents Night in Bugasong on April 20, Children's Festival in Hamtic on April 21, Komedya Valderrama at EBJ Freedom Park on April 22, Lin-ay kang Antique prejudging in Pandan on April 23, Pasundayag Expo & Food Fest opening on April 24, and the three-day highlights on the 25th to 27th.

April 25
Biray kang Barangay from Pantalan to Malandog Beach

Lin-ay kang Antique press presentation
Torch Parade from Malandog to San Jose
Bugal kang Antique Awards
Fireworks Display

April 26
Binirayan Confab at The Pinnacle Suites
Dog Show by Antique Kennel Club
Search for Lin-ay kang Antique 2008 Coronation Night

April 27
Parada kang Lahi
Malay-Ati Competition
LGU & Employees Fashion Show
Fireworks Display

Visit Antique in Binirayan. For inquiries, email birayfest@yahoo.com.ph, or call 036-5407343 or 09275830174. Kruhay!

Goodbye, Sid

2008-03-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

Sid Gomez Hildawa, 1962 - 2008

I woke up at 4:00 a.m. today, and found two text messages bearing the same sad news. One from Roel Hoang Manipon, the other an unknown number. Our friend Sid Hildawa is dead.

I could not go back to sleep. It's two more hours before my regular walking schedule, so I tried to pass the news to other friends.

Sid was an architect, painter, and poet. I have always admired his dedication to art. Last week, I learned from Elvert Bañares that he was sick. I tried to contact him but he could not be reached. He must be at the hospital, recuperating. But today I got the news he has passed away. I learned from another blog he died of typhoid and dengue.

My first encounter with Sid Hildawa was at his exhibit at the old Ayala Museum many, many years back. I did not know him. He did not know me. His show was just right after the Tiananmen massacre, and his works looked to me like enlarged graphing paper painted over thinly by white, so that one could barely see the drawings underneath.

His second show that I went to was the ode to Mona Lisa at the CCP. It was his statement on the duplicity of art offered by the xerox technology, so that even Da Vinci's obra is no longer safe from reproduction/modification. To a probinsiyano like me getting an introduction to Manila's post-modernism, the huge artwork looked like a giant gift-wrapper. I would learn later that Sid had been given a 13 artists award.

As artist, Sid was indeed way ahead of me, or of the many.

I first met him at an NCCA meeting for the National Committee for Museums and Galleries (NCMG). That was around 1991 or 1992, when I was still with Nayong Pilipino. I admit (as I have admitted to him) I had a crush on him. He had a religious aura then. He was wearing a white shirt and looked like a seminarian. Precious Leaño introduced me to him, but I knew he would forget me just as soon as the meeting started.

In 1995, Sid and I met again at the 2nd Iligan National Writers Workshop. Our friendship started there. We worked out together at a nearby gym. At the workshop he became a hit with his "Wind)ow to the wind" poem. But in a trip to Marawi, all of us fellows discovered something about Sid. He snored. And how he snored. No wonder his roommate Roel Hoang Manipon preferred to stay out late at night to early morning in Iligan. Where we spent the night at Mindanao State University, no one wanted to sleep beside him. Good thing he had such good humor to accept all the ribbing.

After that workshop, Sid came up with a publication called "3ng" an anthology of poems and artworks in limited edition. We had to submit 30 copies of our work and he bound them. We had a launch at Penguin Cafe in Malate. Later, that same year (1996?) we would both find ourselves teaching part-time at the Philippine Women University. He taught painting; I taught Theater Arts.

Then he seriously pursued literature by taking an MFA in creative writing at DLSU. He would always text everyone whenever he had a poem published in Sunday Inquirer, Starweek, or any publication. He would invite everyone to a poetry reading he was in. He won his first Palanca with his play "Heartbreak Motel," and later for his poetry.

He visited me in Antique in 1999, when I organized the Antique Arts Festival. Came back again for Binirayan two years ago. He was here last year at about this time to monitor our museum project for the NCCA. Sid and I had nurtured a friendship that was genuine enough to bridge our distance from each other. Our text messages to each other were sparse, our meetings rarer, but we knew we have a friend in each other everytime we would meet and hug, or exchange news about each other in his office at the CCP.

This morning after I received the message from Roel and I couldn't go back to sleep, I took out the book "What the Water Said," which he gave me on September 3, 2004. He wrote on the frontispiece: "To Alex, from many waves ago till now, Sid." I used to kid him that the book's title must be "What the waiter said," referring to our private jokes about attractive waiters whenever we had a chance to go out for dinner together.

In "Cleaning" he wrote: "age is determined by one's/surrender to soil." But I am sure Sid did not surrender, because all his life he was defining his own space. In "God explains space to His angels" he said:

"....Space is the disposable
furniture of a mind
enmeshed in its own
metaphors, brandishing
a meter stick under
our immeasurable
sky.

You'll need wings."

By now I am sure Sid has his wings.

I will surely miss you, my friend.

An Orange Evening

2008-03-16T03:18:00.000-07:00

It was another of those long meetings, where you keep going back to the buffet for coffee. But this time it was in Bacolod. The evening was more than gratifying though.

After the meeting, we were invited to Manny Montelibano's exhibit at Orange Gallery, owned by one of Bacolod's pride Charlie Co. We were told Charlie himself would be there to entertain us. I met Charlie at the Philip Morris Art Awards last year; he gladly posed for my photo collection of local artists, which I show to my Humanities class. I also have a good collection of pics of his works - the Madonna series in the collection of Tita Inday Pefianco, who was herself a very gracious host to us when we visited Bacolod in October 2007.

But this was Manny's show, not Charlie's. Manny is a multi-media artist, and he sits in the Committee for Visual Arts, representing West Visayas. I sit in Cultural Education, and that was an inter-committee regional meeting, another innovation at the NCCA. That's how I got to his show.

The show was titled "Poasa" (Fast). The gallery facade greeted us with a cross made of incandescent bulbs and a smiley. Initially I wondered if we were being brought to the Victory Christian Fellowship prayer meeting. But I have been to the Orange Gallery before, so I was sure this was the place, at the second floor.

At the entrance we were greeted by the tarpauline poster showing the cross outside, so I was assured I was not lost. The second floor gallery was fully carpeted in red, with matching red curtains. The hall was a shower of "Dear God" letters written by kids on intermediate paper. The visual was stunning: white paper swaying on strings from the ceiling against a background of red. One had to go through the delicate maze of prayers, and that alone was a spiritual experience.

The upper gallery was a video installation. The main video showed the Santo Intierro, and devotees trying to reach the glass case, wiping ther white handkerchiefs as an expression of faith, but foregrounding the main video screen were smaller screens showing various scenes of gospel sharing by various religious sects. We didn't hear what they were saying, but they were very distracting. At first there seems to be no connection at all between the lower and upper galleries, except that the video screens were also predominantly red, and white paper were scattered on the floor. The upper gallery, however, was enveloped by darkness, unlike the lower's deep red.

Manny Montelibano's "Poasa" is a pun on the words Po, a Tagalog expression of respect or reverence, and Asa (hope). The artist challenges one's faith (prayers, Santo Intierro) against popular icons - the smiley, the preachers on TV, the cross as a Broadway marquee. The skeptic might ask, where do these prayers go? Who would read them? But the devout would not be bothered, because between them and their god, they know there is no difference between the white paper pads and the white handkerchiefs, for it is in their act of faith (writing the letter, wiping the Santo Intierro) that they are healed.

The better part of that evening was meeting Bacolod's artists Charlie Co and Dennis Ascalon. Both artists are exhibited at the Singapore Art Museum. In fact, SAM curator Joyce Toh flew in that day just to - according to Dennis - "check how we are doing." Also present that night aside from Manny, Charlie, and Dennis were Milton Dionzon, actor, artist, event organizer, etc., Aklanon writer and post-modernist/post-colonial critic John Barrios, and Florence-based Wena Diaz. Poet Ricky De Ungria was there ahead of us for dinner, but he left earlier.

Manny took us back to our hotel at past midnight. He was asking if we wanted to be anywhere else in Bacolod that night, but I thought his show and meeting so many creative people were enough to call a day.

(Photos from top to bottom: Charlie Co's Chinese Madonna (Inday Pefianco's Collection), Manny Montelibano's "Poasa", John Barrios reading through prayers; Milton Dionzon, Charlie Co, Singapore Art Museum curator Joyce Toh, Manny Montelibano, and Wena Diaz at the gallery for a funshot; Dennis Ascalon posing solo for my collection.)

Lola Masing musical

2008-03-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

A group of Japanese activists and theater artists are producing a musical on Lola Masing, the comfort woman from Antique. Rie Arima, lead actress, visited the Lola Masing Center for Culture and Peace at the Museo Antiqueño and other sites relevant to Lola Masing's life, including my ancestor's house along Gobierno Street, believed to have been used as a Japanese headquarter during the WWII.

Susan Macabuag of the Asia Women's Rights Center-Malaya Lolas, our partner in putting up the Lola Masing Center last year (hey, there's a story on this at the Inquirer of March 8, 2008), who accompanied Rie Arima in this trip to Antique, the Lola Masing musical will be a big production in Japan, with three separate productions in Tokyo and two other cities, and each production having a cast of hundreds! Lola Masing is a star in Japan, actually. It seems the Japanese activists are using the Lola Masing platform to advance their cause for charter change, so that the Japanese government would acknowledge war crimes. I'll have to get more details on this production, and I hope we get to see it too, even from DVD.

In photo is Rie Arima, who is playing Lola Masing. She dropped by my office, although we did not meet because I was in Manila at the time of her visit, and left for me a t-shirt of the Lola Masing musical. The sewing machine (Lola Masing was a seamstress), was used as the central metaphor, which brings in a lot of texture in the play: Lola Masing sewing together pieces of her life, as she tells her story as comfort woman, and ironically, the machine as the mechanical metaphor of invasion and oppression experienced by Lola Masing.

Thanks for the t-shirt, Rie. How flattering that you would think I would fit in an XS size! Will raffle this off to the staff on Christmas, if I don't shrink at all.

Massacre, assassination & gout

2008-03-05T02:35:00.000-08:00

Nine days in Manila (Quezon City and later Pasay, actually but they're all Manila to me) was an awful lot of time to be away from home. I attended the Komedya conference at the UP Diliman, and later moved to the Orchid Garden Suites along Vito Cruz for a three-day marathon planning meeting for the National Committee on Cultural Education.

But I will not talk here about the conference and the meetings. I would rather talk about the extra-curricular activities. They were much more fun.

Orosman at Zafira

At the UP Diliman, we had a chance to watch the hit dance-drama Orosman & Zafira by Dulaang UP. It was my second time to watch the play, so I knew more or less what to expect, and I was prepared to sit through more than two hours of excitment going on stage.

The first time I watched was on February 17, when I took some of my cast of the Komedya to an exposure of sorts. Afterall, we don't get to watch a play like this in Antique. Cris Villongco was playing Zafira then. On February 28, it was Maita Ponce. I must say the latter was the better actress. Or maybe because I was seated in the rear the first time I watched, that I could hardly feel Cris's intensity. The second time I was in the third row, giving me a good view of the actors. Or maybe I was more aware of Cris Villongco as the singer, so it was a different view altogether.

"Orosman and Zafira" is world-class Filipino production. The Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero stage, however, was quite small for such a spectacle. I wish they would have a rerun at the CCP or a bigger venue. Dexter Santos's choreography was so intense, without let up the moment the play opened until the climax. It was a very demanding play, that at some point I wished there was respite from all the movements and massacre. Or maybe that was the whole point of the play. Pinikpikan's live music added to the overpowering energy that filled the venue.

Evelio Javier at the CCP

I paid hard money to watch this play. I could have used my CCP connection, but I did not bother because I was to watch a musical on Evelio Javier. I did not regret it. Not that the musical was something to rave. It did not give me the kind of lift from "Orosman and Zafira". I was only too happy to hear Kinaray-a spoken by actors in the first part of the play, and Antique mentioned several times (of course!). If only for that, I could have gone home happy.

The play, which purports to be a rock musical (although 'musical' would be enough) was a parrallel play on two lives: governor Evelio Javier of Antique, who was assassinated at the provincial park in Antique on February 11, 1986, and the militant leader Edgar Jopson (Edjop), who was killed during a military raid in Davao on September 20, 1982.

There was no interface between Evelio and Edjop's lives, thus the device that the two met in heaven, or wherever assassinated political leaders go, engaged in a debate (rather small talk) on the opposite approaches they took as political leaders. The play also banked on the two's being Atenista as a unifying thread. The use of Jun Yango's character hovering around in all scenes also helped in stitching the two narratives, but this poetic character's production numbers however were wacky scene stealers, and undoubtedly took the limelight from both protagonists. His scenes as Ferdinand Marcos tied to a chandelier of dextrose, and as the trigger-happy general alluding to Fabian Ver were the most remembered.

Edjop's scenes were more visually exciting than Evelio's. The China sojourn scene, for example was very witty, not to mention the striking sea of red in the background, and the interrogation scene was hauntingly disturbing. But Evelio's scenes were rather contrived, except for that Kinaray-a scene about the sakadas and that scene where Evelio and Precious walk on benches, creating a very rustic scene in the imagination. I wished that the Binirayan scene was more "maximized" instead of the caricature with the white paper fans, which to me trivialized Evelio's brainchild. Enamored with the Binirayan as a kid, and having listened to Beloy's Binirayan speeches, I must say that the Binirayan says all of Evelio's vision.

As for the music, I am not very keen on the music of the Dawn to really say that it has captured the (musical) texture of both lives, except that when they sang "Salamat" my mind automatically volunteered San Miguel Beer.

Like all plays, though, we see only what their playwrights and directors have envisioned for us. "EJ" was a very entertaining play, but maybe a play on Evelio (and similarly on Edjop) is yet to be written and staged.

The Kite Runner

I had a bout with gout. Thanks to the hotel's airconditioning and the fatty foods (which I did not resist) served at conferences and meeting. So I had to ask my friend Insoy to join me at Robinsons Ermita. I wanted to have lunch at Penang Hill, because I felt a little nostalgic. Actually the choices were Secret Recipe, Old Spaghetti House, and Penang Hill. But I figured that Secret Recipe's to die for lamb stew would only make my pain twice unbearable, and Old Spaghetti House was Insoy's nostalgic place, and since I am footing the bill I must have the privilege to feed my nostalgia.

Penang Hill, of course, is none other than Bukit Bendera in Penang, where Eduard and I had a wonderful stroll in 2006. (Read my poem "Bukit Bendera" dedicated to him). It's also a restaurant serving Malay, Thai, and Asian fusion cuisine. We had Hainanese (Singapore) chicken (Insoy has a secret fixation with Singapore), Indian rice (we had a little argument on the spices), and oyster omelet (my favorite hawker's food at Chulia St.), which were very close to authentic. It had to be a long dinner, while waiting for the painkillers to take effect. The Penang Shake (cucumber with lemon) was also very refreshing.

After the late lunch-early dinner, I managed to amble down to Cinema 3 to watch "The Kite Runner." This Asian film capped that Asian dinner. It's about a boy who witnessed the rape of his best friend (who would later turn out to be his half brother), and faced his own guilt by pushing away the best friend. I think there are enough reviews of this film, and I suggest you read them. I like the film very much, if you ask me. But I will not waste my time reviewing it here.

After watching this film, I bought two bibingkas from Bibingka House (one salted egg - oh the gout - and one cheese), and went back to Orchid Garden Suites. I switched on the Asian Food Channel, and watched Riyusi Rusi (the feature was on Chang Mai), and another feature on Scandinavian food (roast breast of duck with artichokes and garlic mayonnaise). Yumyum.

I slept dreaming of home. The next day, the gout was gone.

(Photo credits: www.gibbscadiz.blogspot.com for Orosman & Zafira, Tanghalang Pilipino website for EJ, and wikipedia for The Kite Runner poster.)

More on Komedya Antiqueña

2008-02-23T18:35:00.001-08:00

The cast of the komedya "Kasanag batok sa sugal" (Light versus gambling) by Hiraya Theater Company: McLaurence Saligumba as Prinsipe Kuryente, Jean Matias as Prinsesa Bombilya, Jayro Oriel as Prinsipe Doble, Ralph Armonio as Tigwati, Felipe Alejo III as Haring Plantino, Mercycar Patiño sa Reyna Alabrea, Richard Salameda as Emperador Koredor, Phoebe Rose Buquing as Emperatiz Bangkera, Glenn Mark Rocapor, Lozel Lacbanes, and Kelvin Catipon as Konseheros, Julius Revaldo, Shiela Marie Villeta, Ryan Lista Pameroyan, and Randy Montero and Antonio Arnaiz as Soldado. The music was provided by Doming Moscoso band of San Pedro. Production management was by Richard Magbanua, stage management by Janice Matias, Mayet Cabrera, Mark, Mario Jr., and Minnard Arbozo were stage assistants.

I have to thank the komedya veterans who helped in creating the luwa, marcha, and fight scenes: Cora Cataluña of Barbaza, Gerry Baclagon of Lauaan, and Mario and Bicbic Patiño of Madrangca. Also the many komedyante I have interviewed in my research on the komedya, Kap Genaro Encarnacion, Rebecca Baña, Tita Edith Altar, the komedyante from Lauaan, Barbaza, and Igbalangao, Bugasong. Dr. Cecile Locsin Nava introduced me into this, when she asked me to help in her research on the korido.

This komedya is a product of my research since 2003. After writing several papers on the komedya in Antique, I have gotten to direct one, infusing all the insights I have from the research, and using my own directorial and artistic vision. I have always been fascinated by the komedya, since I witnessed Genaro Encarnacion's rehearsals at the public plaza in the 70's, although I had no idea that I would direct one later.

After working on Exaltaction Combong's "Light versus gambling" I would like to create a komedya of my own. Hopefully I would find the time to write this, perhaps after my long overdue book "Ugsad kang Kinaray-a" is off the press.

Meanwhile, I am participating in the first International Komedya Conference at UP Diliman on February 27-29. Our paper is titled "Faith, Land, and Life in San Antonio," a study on the sustainability of the komedya in San Antonio, Barbaza. I share authorship with co-researcher Richard Magbanua.

The photos here are from our last performance at Belison National School on February 22, 2008.

Hiraya Theater Company's "Komedya batok sa sugal" is open for sponsorship and tour performances. Contact Binirayan Foundation, Inc. at 036-5407343.

Super emote

2008-02-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

When am bored and have nothing to do I play with my digicam. This is one take I really like. A portrait of me, who else. I put off the light in my room and partly open the bathroom door to let some dramatic lighting in. Of course I had to override the flash, and set the camera to self-portrait mode. Sometimes I think I could be a great photographer. Wish I had more money to buy a better camera. Or maybe a better face and body, so I could model, then I would have more money, then I could buy that camera, then I could take better pictures of me. Damn. Wish I could write better.

Pandan's delicacy

2008-02-20T01:51:00.001-08:00

Rex Zaldivar served us this dish of "uson" stewed in coconut milk and soured with iba (tag. kamyas) in his cozy house in Pandan. Uson is like lobster, but a thinner version. It was my first and only time to eat uson. I hope it wouldn't be the last.

The other delicacy from Pandan is the binabak - steamed river shrimps and young coconut wrapped in leaves. Lately, however, the binabak I tasted was overpowering with ginger. I wish they cut down on the ginger, so the dish has a very subtle and delicate sweetish flavor. That's how I remember the first binabak I tasted in 1986.

Pandan is a three to four-hour drive from San Jose, Antique, closer when coming from Caticlan/Boracay. The best places to visit are Malumpati Cold Spring and Bugang River. Also, the hat and bag-makers of Sto. Rosario is worth a trip. Drop by the house that sells smoked chorizo and embotido along the road to Mag-aba.There's a small sign by the fence.

Driving south from Pandan, pass by a house that sells authentic German sausages and bread, owned by a couple named Hell (think German, not English). The little signboard is hardly noticeable, so drive slow along Idio. Be friendly with the German and his Antiqueña wife. If they like you, they might show you their kitchen and smokehouse, piggery and chicken coop. A kilo costs from 250 - 400 Php. Their vienna sausage is great, and the schweinfleish, liver sausage, and beer sausage too.

Missed Valentine 2008

2008-02-19T23:13:00.000-08:00

I don't know what triggered it, or who's big idea it was. We were aboard Negros Navigation's M/V San Paolo to Manila, and I tell you it was the longest trip ever on a boat - all of unbelievably 36 hours, like transportation in this part of the world has never budged an inch. Yes, we took the slow boat to China, as Susan Macabuag would say, but we had the wackiest Valentine's Day. I and the cast of the komedya.

I was lulling myself to boredom in the Admiral Class cabin NN gave me, when my production assistant Mayet texted me to rush to their part of the ship. I thought one of the guys fell off the boat or something. When I entered the bar, which was turned into temporary cabin for the cast and crew of the komedya as part of NN's sponsorship, I saw that five of the hunks - Ralph, Macmac, Richard, Glenn Mark, and Julius - have turned into hotbabes.

So, we had the Search for Miss Valentine 2008. Macmac had the grandest time, even showing part of his butt in a really short dress. Julius showed them how to pole dance. Petite but muscular Glenn Mark was Marla Jr. in a red strap. Ralph was willowy and demur, his bulge showing under the sheer bandanna; and Richard was all chubby and cuddly.

This was how we survived that long trip on San Paolo. I swore never to take a boat again to Manila! But with these guys onboard, I might have second thoughts, of course.

Mila's buns

2008-02-19T22:34:00.000-08:00

My sister Mila is the cook in the family. Now living in Penang, Malaysia, she can cook Filipino, Malay and Thai dishes, not counting what she improvises depending on what she's got in her fridge. The last time we visited her, she was gaga over baking breads in her newly bought breadmaker. It's the size and look of a microwave, but does wonders. Here are some of her homemade breads: penny roll with sesame seeds, buns filled with tuna or cheese topped with almonds, rolls with cheese and beef sausages (always with beef in her home, aww!), and the pandesal. I had to download the pandesal recipe as she is kind of dense with the internet, though.
The kids' (Shine, Ice, Mirza, and Vaun too!) favorite was her version of pandeleche loaded with butter. The butter settles down during the baking, so you get a buttery bottom bun.

She sent my mother the same breadmaking machine. Of course, it is gathering dust at home now, and the maid uses it to keep left-over food she doesn't want stored in the fridge. My mother has no aptitude for baking at all, and I hardly have time to read the manual either. So, the breadmaker has to wait for her next visit.

Meanwhile, I must revive my butterscotch baking skills. I used to bake deliciously chewy butterscotch before I got so much work. I always believe we ought to have some other talent , just in case. The pics here I took with my digital cam, thinking I could also be a food photographer. But they do look good, don't they? Yummy.

Penang food trip

2008-02-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

This one is long overdue. My family went to Penang, Malaysia for a month last year, and I wanted to do this feature on Penang food. But organizing the 1st Karay-a Arts Festival took most of my time in June to October 2007; I never got to write that food article. Until I sorted my pics folder and found these. It's never too late to share them here.

Nasi goreng ikan (small photo) - No big deal but fried rice with dried fish, and bits of vegetables thrown in, topped with fried egg. Staple among Malays. My sister Mila's favorite. Variants are nasi goreng ayam (chicken) or paprik (spicy veggies). I prefer the paprik, which I suppose is of Thai origin. I saw something like it in a Thai restaurant menu.

Penang laksa (big photo) - This is a Peranakan dish. My sister always coaxed me to try it. Tried twice but never liked it. First time I was alone at the Komtar food center and cannot make up my mind on what to have for lunch; the second time at the food stall in Bukit Bendera. It's white noodles, like oversized spaghetti, in a soup of mysterious concoction. I suspect it's got ginamus (shrimp paste), which they call belacan in Malay. And snips of herbs, dashes of spices. It must be an acquired taste.

Nasi lemak is, I think, the Malay national food. It is rice cooked in coconut milk, paired with fried ikan bilis (dilis), egg (boiled or fried) roasted peanuts, and slivers of cucumber. In most times a dish of chicken, beef or fish (ikan goreng) in sambal sauce is also served. At the KL Bird Park cafe, I ordered this with beef rendang. The simplest nasi lemak can be bought for as cheap as one ringgit from stalls at a kampung (village), and gets more pricey at fast foods and classy restaurants. They also serve this in pre-packed containers at Air Asia, costing 12 ringgits. I had to try it to compare with what I tasted at a nasi kandar in Penang.

Food in Penang is really something to explore. The Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences give a foodie a lot to try out. At Restoran Daun Pisang near the Indian street, I tasted my first authentic Indian curried food, mango chutney, and lassi drink. Best of all, we ate with bare hands on banana leaves. It's so like home.

The Kapitan fast food along Kapitan Keling street near the mosque is also famous. I stopped by there one rainy afternoon for curry lamb chops and roti. There's also a restaurant called something like Yasmin along Penang Road, right beside Sam's Batik House, great to shop for clothes. Spice and Rice along 1 Green Hall St. is a fine dining restaurant with authentic northern and southern Indian menu. Eduard and I had a quiet lunch there during our vacation in 2006.

The most popular and cheap places when going out in Penang are the nasi kandar, serving usually Malay and Indian food, the Chinese dimsum and kopitiam, and the hawkers at night markets. The nasi kandar is the Malay version of our "turo-turo." Some of these are serve yourself affairs, and the charges depend on how much food you scoop up on your plate. The cashier simply knows how much to charge.

At the hawkers that musroom along Chulia St., Eduard and I tried oysters omelet and nasi goreng cooked right before us by a Chinese cook. The noodle houses abound, and one can get all kinds, with soup or without. There's one shop we went to that gave us the best Hainanese chicken rice, but I declare it was only second to that I had in a restaurant near the Singapore Art Museum. Well, it's also called Singapore chicken, afterall.

First timers in Penang must try the teh tarik (silent k, please), satay (simply barbeque to us) in peanut sauce. In one stop over during a trip to KL, my brother in law Ramli brought me to this satay place and gave me what seemed like a satay fiesta! I tried all kinds: goat meat, chicken, beef, liver, lamb, etc.

Secret Recipe, which is the most successful Malaysian foodchain brand, serves the best lamb stew, a real winner. Now, I am drooling. Good thing they opened branches in Manila, but the lamb costs twice as much. Their cakes are divine too. There's one at Robinson's Ermita.

This fish dish in the last picture is not Malay though, but Thai. We ordered this at Siam Cafe, another of my sister's favorites. It is fish tomyam actually but maybe a variant of Malay influence because the tomyam we had during a Thai wedding reception at Ang Thong province, was in clear soup but very very hot.

Now, I remember I have lots of photos of northeastern Thai food taken in Mahasarakham in 2006. The friends I met at the conference there, in fact, gave me an authentic Thai dinner for my 39th birthday. Wonder where I stored the files.

Mararison Island (Mis)adventure

2008-02-18T23:55:00.000-08:00

The name itself spells adventure. "Mararison" comes from the Kinaray-a "malalison," meaning disobedient. According to legend, a young girl named Mara fell in love with a stranger. Despite her parents' objections to the man, she eloped with him one night. The lovers were out at sea when a storm came. And you know what happens to disobient children. The next day, the villagers found an beautiful island, which they named after Mara, the malalison.

Mararison Island off Culasi, Antique is 10 minutes by outrigger boat from the public market in Culasi. The island is good for trekking or simply lazing under the sun. Villagers are very friendly. There are no accomodation facilities there, but you can talk to the barangay captain to use the village hall, which they have turned into classrooms by day. Electricity is available only at 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, during which time you don't expect the locals out because they are glued to their TV sets or videoke.

The more adventurous can camp out. Last time we went there, we slept on the stage by the basketball court with the fishermen. They are very friendly. Invite them for a drink of Tanduay or Emperador brandy, and you get company all night. In the morning, watch out by the beach for fresh catch. The fishermen usually take them to Culasi. We got a kilo of squid for only 50 pesos!

You can go around the island in two hours, or hire a boat to take you around or snorkel. The side facing the South China Sea is a good campsite. There are two islets, and the locals say there is a cave in one of them. We were not prepared to check it out then.

How to go to Antique: From Manila, one can fly in to Iloilo and take the two-hour ride to San Jose, three to four hours to Culasi; or take the ro-ro (Dimple Star or Gasat Express) from Pasay. The bus passes by Culasi town from Caticlan.

Komedya Antiqueña in Manila

2008-02-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

Wow, we did not expect to have a big crowd on February 15 at the UP Amphitheater. Good thing the rest of UP chose our komedya over the other grander komedya versus Gloria at Makati. And we were happy to have some of UP's literati in the audience.

Tony Mabesa sat right in the center aisle, and he was enjoying himself. This would be confirmed later by a call from Dulaang UP's Manny Casalan, who happily informed us that Tony Mabesa was delighted with the komedya from Antique.

Fides Cuyugan came rather early to have a chat with Governor Sally Perez. Quoted from her text to Governor Perez the next day: "Congratulations dear Governor. What a treat you gave us!...Kudos and cheers to you for making it all happen! And of course, the director. Alex, right? It was almost Mozartian in execution.... Loved it!"

What exactly "Mozartian" meant, it sounds good, and coming from Fides Cuyugan, who remembers me, I am thrilled.

Writer and director Henry Tejero, who was responsible for bringing Fides, also texted me the next day: "We thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Fides and I were shuttled back to a wondrous time in our childhood. She, 70 years ago in Bicol when Bikol theater was a gilded realm; and me, 50 years ago when Ilonggo theater cast a golden afterglow. I must congratulate you for bringing glitter back into our hearts."

Such nice words. Thank you.

I know our komedya was well-liked for its provincial polish. But it was heart-warming to find kids, who did not understand Kinaray-a, earnestly listening to the luwa, getting thrilled with the batalya and the galyarda. And later, clambering up the stage to give flowers they picked from the hedges to Jean and Mercycar, who played princess and queen respectively. They also lost no time asking for photo ops, which their parents gladly obliged them.

Of course, we must thank the Antiqueños who came to watch and relive the happy days of the komedya in Antique: Governor Sally Perez, Edsel Moscoso, Popo Lotilla, Jairus Paguntalan, Susan Macabuag, Darlene Joy Posadas, Jun Sabug, Yul Quanico, Dong Elio, Manny Casalan, Tita Carina and family, Junjun Combong, Tita Mimi Gayatin, Arjee and Candy, Albert Paala, and the UP-based students who later text me they watched and enjoyed. Sr. Deanna, even called up while on a train in Bangkok, just to make her presence felt.

More than anything, I am happy for the actors, many of them first-timers, who had their day on stage at UP. They are the real stars of the komedya. So, when Cecile Guidote-Alvarez invited us to guest in her show Sining Gising at PTV4, we were so eager to say yes. Komedya Antiqueña has not only made its national premier at UP, it was also shown on national television. There is nothing more we could ask for.

Hiraya Theater Company at Komedya Fiesta 2008

2008-02-11T22:02:00.000-08:00

Hiraya Theater Company will have its national premier of the komedya "Kasanag batok sa sugal" (Light vs. Gambling) at the UP Amphitheater, Diliman, Quezon City on February 15. The komedya written by Exaltacion V. Combong (1908-2000) in 1962 gets a new take with additional scenes, revised dialogue in Kinaray-a, and a minimalist yet eclectic production design.

As director, I wanted to create komedya that is fast-paced and witty for an audience hooked on MTV. Thus, this one runs only an hour, and designed to look like a perya or karnabal. Scholar Dr. Cecile Locsin-Nava who was around for the final rehearsals on February 11 at the EBJ Freedom Park in San Jose, Antique, said the dramatic structure has become more compact, and is indeed meant for the young audience, who may have seen their first komedya. She also liked the fight scene, which is the highlight of the komedya. Thanks to fight consultants Gerry Baclagon of Lauaan and Mario Patiño of Madrangca.

After the performance at the UP Amphitheater on February 15, the komedya will have performances in Antique, starting in Tibiao to open it's Maninihon Festival on February 22. Other performances shall be on April 12 for the Kampo Kabataan 2008, and on April 22 for Binirayan Festival. For more infor, contact Binirayan Foundation, Inc. 036-5407343 or 09275830174.