ART 2 D RESCUE (October 19, 2009)

Yesterday marked the 20th year of the Filipino Chaplaincy in France.

UNICEF artist Manuel Baldemor was commissioned to do a study of a mural for the Basilica of St. Therese de Lisieux in Normandy.

His Philippine People Power of 1986, enlarged to a 3x5-meter mosaic, was installed last Sunday, too, coinciding with other celebrations:(1) Mission Sunday; (2) the first anniversary of the beatification of Louie and Zelie Martin, parents of the beloved Saint Thérèse; (3) the 12th year of her proclamation as Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II. There was a holy mass for the Filipino community followed by a presentation in the courtyard of the basilica, which is the second most famous religious shrine and pilgrimage site in France next to Lourdes. Philippine Ambassador to France, H.E. Jose Zaide, presented last May 7 the Baldemor paintings and archetype to the ecclesiastical authorities in Lisieux headed by Monsignor Bernard Lagoutte.

About 300 miles away from his father, another Baldemor, Marvin the eldest, is back after his successful solo exhibit Migration Of My Vision last April 17 in Donegal.

Now, with The NorthWest Artists Group, he is part of Shifting Fields slated to welcome you on the autumnal Irish evening of October 24 to its venue in Collooney, Sligo -- Marktree Castle -- set in 300 acres of stunning landscape and exquisite gardens built since the 16th century.

In his invite, Marvin, our pamangkin sa pinsan, wrote: “While staying as a guest Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848 wrote her most famous hymn All Things Bright And Beautiful, having been deeply moved by her beautiful surroundings. William Butler Yeats also stayed as a guest here when the castle was still a private residence. In the recent past, Markree was popular as an artistic retreat, so against this background of artistry, it is only fitting that the castle should stage the first of what is hoped to be an annual series of art exhibitions featuring the most preeminent artists in and around Yeats country.”

To be opened by Niall O Donnell, the moving spirit behind the Cristeph Gallery, one of the oldest galleries there, the show encompasses over 50 original works by professional artists like Stephen Bennett, Brigid Birney, Lisa Bond, Morgan Ferriter, Marina Hamilton, Geoff Kilpatrick, Maria Noonan-McDermott, Carmel O Callaghan, Cormac O Leary, Thomas Sheridan and Heidi Wickham are featured.

On October 22, Marvin -- whose wife is also a nurse in Ireland for almost seven years -- will be sponsoring a tea party together with the rest of the Filipino community in Letterkenny County Donegal via a cultural gig, on-the-spot painting and e-auction, among others, for the benefit of Sagip Kalinga!

In Manila, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, on October 25, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., there will be a fund-raiser called SAGIP SINING: ART 2 D RESCUE !

Together with Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, we will host the opening ceremonies at 9:30a.m. via Bahay, Bata, Bagyo then our long Sunday will be divided into 12 see-all-you-can-give-what-you-can shows of 30 minutes each in every nook and cranny of the 40 year-old CCP!

Ticket price for this cause-oriented “Pasinaya” will start from P20 for such world-class acts as Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Ensembles' SerenAID, Ballet Philippines' Tambol at Padyak, Philstage's Musical Theater Excerpts, or folksingers' Dangal ng Pilipino where “bluetoothan” and burning of compact discs are allowed until around 5 p.m. with visual artists' Anak ng Typhoon auction and filmmakers' Indie Ondoy which they are planning to re-screen in malls.

By 6 p.m., classical musicians' Salva Vida at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino and comedians' Comic Relief at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo will solicit donations starting from P500 for a two-hour show.

Rockers' Rock Med Philippines will also accept medicines and medical aids during their concert at the CCP Front Ramp until 12 midnight.

CCP Department Manager Chris Millado reminded us: “All day there will be opencam policy with free Wifi at the Little Theater lobby to encourage up-to-date postings to spread our charity virus!”

We, from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) and Linangan sa Imahen Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) will read poems and do Balagtasan through what Hermie Beltran would dub as Dilang-anghel alternately with Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines at the Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining. Invited to perform are poets and fictionists G.P. Abrajano, Teo Antonio, Mike Coroza, Dako Cutab, Lourd de Veyra, Raul Funilas, Vivian Limpin, Marne Kilates, Siege Malvar, Edgar Samar, Alvin Yapan, to name a few – who mostly suffered from Storm Signal #1 in Metro Manila that ironically brought worst flood ever recorded in history!

Talking about therapy.

After the Ondoy onslaught, while the two Baldemors were out of the country, we asked their youngest, now Mailah Balde, how was everything in their Pasig residence.

The said University of Santo Tomas' Painting Department chairperson, texted back: "Okey naman kami kaso wala na lahat! Ang tubig lampas sa bubong ng kotse. Pinasok din ang bahay nina Mommy. Lahat ng gamit namin sira. Karamihan ng paintings ni Daddy nasira."

By that, she meant the man behind all SM Supermalls GreenBags' new designs, who was quoted, during its last January 16 launch, as saying: “Personally, I’ve seen how our environment has deteriorated over the years. I really think it’s about time that people start taking better care of their surroundings.”

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