TAN-OK TI KAILOKUAN (July 20, 2009)

The Pride of Ilocandia, Dr. Paul Zafaralla's English translation of Eliseo Bragado Contillo's Tan-ok ti Kailokuan, the biography of Dr. Godofredo S. Reyes, is supposed to be published soon.

However, Dr. Reyes could not wait for the said book about him, foreworded by Juan S.P. Hidalgo Jr., a former editor of Liwayway, and edited by Cles Rambaud, editor of Bannawag, the best-selling weekly Iloko magazine, where he used to contribute.

The Poet Laureate of Ilocandia -- who excelled in Bucanegan or the extemporaneous verbal joust in Iluko -- died from a “lingering illness” on July 5 at the age of 91.

A businessman, mayor, governor, congressman, educator, and founder/president/chairman of the board of St. Mary's College in his hometown in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur -- Dr. Reyes practised medicine in Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and Nueva Ecija after served as the battalion surgeon of the 66th Infantry that fought in Northern Luzon during World War II.

During the wake, his 84-year old physician-wife who is first president of the University of Northern Philippines -- Dra. Dedicacion Agatep-Reyes -- vowed to continue her husband's legacy in promoting "veteranism": "In any manner, please feel free to tell me if there's anything I can do to support your endeavors in serving our veterans well."

Though wheelchair-bound, Dr. Reyes tried to attend the signing of the $787 billion US economic stimulus bill, including $198 million in benefits for Filipino World War II veterans like him.

He urged everyone to "wait for a little while longer."

Who said that doctors are patient too?

To this day, after 60 years, we are still looking forward to witness the United States government removing the provision in the Rescission Act of 1946 which declared that “the services rendered by Filipino veterans under the American flag are not considered as active service in the U.S. Armed Forces.”

U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney, in her speech during the celebration last February, admitted that it was the right time to honor not only a great friendship: “But the men and women whose heroism allowed everybody as free people, able to choose our own destiny.” She promised to Dr. Reyes and the rest: “Teams will be sent to 15 different sites to process the claims of U.S. veterans in order to reach all the veterans in the country for free. If you are not well, don't risk your life coming to us. We'll find you and come to you. The U.S. Veterans Affairs Office has processed around 2,000 claims. We give out $8 million a month in the Philippines to World War II veterans, and the lump sum in the stimulus package is an additional benefit.”

Sad to say, Dr. Reyes would not be here anymore to see such place as Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Fast Track Center or the temporary processing centers in provinces as well as the time when PV AO will coordinate with the regional offices of the foreign affairs department and local government officials.

He was laid to rest two days ago.

But his name is as immortal as, say, Carlos Angeles, Manuel Arguilla, Gregorio Brillantes, Pedro Bucaneg, Carlos Bulosan, Isabelo de los Reyes, Leona Florentino, Francisco Sionil Jose, Salvador P. Lopez, Jose Ma. Sison, and even Ferdinand Marcos whom Dr. Reyes included in the roster of great Ilokano writers of GUMIL Filipinas – Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Filipinas – or the Ilokano Writers Association of the Philippines, which he presided for 13 years.

Last June 20, during the U.P. General Alumni Faculty Homecoming and Reunion, Dr. Reyes (AA’38; MD’43) was one of the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards together with Prof. Araceli T. Baviera (AA’38; LLB’54cl), Carolina Gozon-Jimenez (BSBA’59), Dr. Florence Macagba-Tadiar (AA’54; MD’59; MPH’77; MHA’83), Atty. Ismael A. Mathay, Jr. (AA’51; BSBA’52), Dr. Serafin D. Quiason (AB’52c;) Justice Emilio A. Gancayco (LLB’47), who delivered the acceptance speech, on their behalf.

In 1988, Dr. Reyes was given the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas for Iluko poetry, alongside with National Artists Francisco Arcellana (Fiction in English), Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (Drama in English), and Edith L. Tiempo (Poetry and Fiction in English). Other winners then were Liwayway A. Arceo (Filipino Fiction), Teo S. Baylen (Filipino Poetry), Genoveva Edroza-Matute (Filipino Fiction), Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil (Essay in English), Ramon L. Muzones (Hiligaynon Fiction), and Edilberto K. Tiempo (Fiction in English).
Now, it will be the turn of his translator, Dr. Zafaralla, to be recognized.

Again, the awarding ceremonies will coincide with the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) Convention to be held on the last Saturday of next month, August 29, at 3 p.m., at the GSIS Museo ng Sining, GSIS Main Office, Financial Center, Reclamation Area in Pasay City.

Based on this year's theme Literacy from Literature, the 35th UMPIL Convention will have the PAMBANSANG SEMINAR SA EDUKASYONG BATAY SA PANITIKAN that will highlight in the morning at 8 its guest of honor in National Artist, former Dean Virgilio Almario, with other such expects on literature-based education and cultural literacy index as U.P. Open University's Dr. Theresa de Villa who was the U.P. Integrated School's former principal; De La Salle University and Far Eastern University's Dr. Isagani Cruz who was a former Department of Education Undersecretary; and International Institute for Film and Arts's Dennis Marasigan who was the Tanghalang Pilipino's former artistic director.

Seminar fee is P1,000 inclusive of lunch, two snacks, copies of lectures, and certificate of participation. Commission on Higher Education chairperson Dr. Emmanuel Angeles helped us with a CHED Memorandum while we wait for a Department of Education Memo from Sec. Jesli Lapus. For details, please call us at # 922-1830 or email us at mb.malay@gmail.com or visit our website umpil.org.

TEXT SUPPORT:
Three golfers -- Jesus, Moses, and an old man – get to the 18th tee. It is all tied. All three have the same score. Jesus' second shot goes into the water and lands on a rock. He walks on the water out to the ball and hits it within a foot of the hole. Moses' second shot also goes into the water and sinks. He parts the water and then hits his ball within a foot of the hole. The old man also hits his second shot into the water, but it lands on a waterlily. A frog comes out of the water and takes the ball. Just then a bird swoops down and grabs the frog and carries, with the ball, right over the 18th hole where the frog drops the ball right into the cup. Moses turns to Jesus and says: “You know, I really hate playing with your Dad.”

CONSIDER THIS:
This is God. Tonight, I will be handling all of your problems for you. I do not need your help so sleep well. I love you. P.S. And remember, if life happens to deliver a situation that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it yourself. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (Something For God To Do) Box. I will get to it in my time. All situations will be resolved, but in my time, not yours. Once the matter is placed in the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all wonderful things that are present in your life now.

TIM IS IN TOWN (July 13, 2009)

Six years ago, there was this major conference called Sangandaan 2003 which was meant to commemorate, culturally that is, all the arts and media, whether Filipino or American or Filipino-American, born out of the love-hate relationship between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America from 1899 to 2002.

It was held here on July 6-30, 2003, jointly sponsored by the University of the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the San Francisco State University, in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Historical Institute, the National Library, the National Museum, the Metropolitan Museum, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University, and the City College of San Francisco.Indeed, it was more than just a feast for the eye since, aside from visual art and photo exhibits, there were theatre productions, dance performances, concerts, filmand broadcast series, literary, and even culinary events.

And it was not confined to the so-called imperial Manila only because we had Drs. Nicanor Tiongson, Helen Toribio, Priscelina Patajo-Legasto, and Cynthia Banzon-Bautista, among others, as organizers who are known for their social conscience and commitment. It was no surprise if it had an outreach component in Baguio, Dagupan, Pampanga, Los Banos, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Bohol, and Davao.Anyway, their main aim was to confront, understand, and come to terms with the fact of American colonization in order to hasten the processes of decolonization andnation-building in the Philippines, on the one hand; and the creation of a strong identity and galvanization of all Filipino-Americans into a dynamic force in the United States, on the other.As one of the paper readers, we were obliged to examine both Filipino and Filipino-American cultures , explore these legacies of colonization, and, at the end of the day, empower ourselves as persons and as citizens of nations sharing cultural identities.

Well, we thought we had everything in our heart and mind since we were able to finish Abadillismo: Alejandro G. Abadilla's Filipinization of Free Verse as a Rebellion against American Occupation – not on “Filipino” time -- with audio-visual presentation and all.

But, before the said international conference, the annexation of our country, for us, was just a toss up between Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base.

The Americanization of anything Filipino was limited to nothing else but our ever-reliable jeepney.Eddie Mesa and all the Elvis Presleys of the Philippines were good enough to stand for the Filipino imitation, rejection, assimilation or transformation of elements from American culture during and after the American colonial period.

Ilocanos in Hawaii, we believed, can represent the Filipino diaspora and the expression of rights of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the U.S. in the last century.

Plus, the continuing definition and affirmation of Filipino cultural identities,here and abroad, were simply symbolized by each and every dancer or human kinetics major from U.P. or Philippine High School for the Arts, for instance, migrating to Hongkong and other parts of the world in the name of Mickey Mouse and other mascots in Disneyland.

Until we met Tim Tomlinson.

There was this David Bowie or Gary Oldman deadringer, depending on your generation, who offered me a seat beside him in a bus on 9 July 2003 from the Philippine Social Science Center.

Instantaneously, since he was who shared with us our common anti-Bush denominator, we did not notice that we got inside the Jesuit campus in Katipunan quite quickly for a dinner with the rest of the Sangandaan participants .

Funny how time flew when he told us that he was into literature, too.

All of a sudden, it occurred to us that he was the guy Dr. Tiongson was referring to when he mentioned someone who would love to conduct a fiction workshop – free of charge!

Within a week, we were able to form a group of teachers and students from everywhere who jampacked our ICW office simply to find out the need for creating a rich first draft.

Beforehand, we were aware that he is a founding member and president of New York Writers Workshop.

But, eventually, we discovered during his short stay that he would not be an M.F.A. holder from Columbia University for nothing!

Of course, he has been teaching workshops since 1991 at various institutions including New York Writers Workshop, the Writer's Voice, Webster University, Cha-am, Thailand, and the Media Development Authority, Singapore.

A fictionist and a poet, Tim's fiction has appeared in many venues, including The Missouri Review, The Gettysburg Review, Libido, Hampton Shorts, Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art, and The North American Review. Recent stories can be found online at Pif and Del Sol Review while his haikus have been published in Black Bough, Modern Haiku, Parnassus Literary Journal, Potpourri, and Time Haiku. His articles on travel, scuba diving, and the arts have appeared in The New York Times, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, Musician, Downtown Express and Spa Magazine.
He consults with television and screenwriters for the Media Development Authority in Singapore. He is fiction editor of the webzine ducts.org.
Teaching at New York University courses on writing and contemporary culture, Tim is the co-author of The New York Writers Workshop Portable MFA: A Guide to the Craft of Writing (Writer's Digest, May 2006).

Now, Tim Tomlinson is back.

With his Filipina wife, Deedle Rodriguez. Once more, he would like to give a workshop. Gratis et amore. For poets, this time. He will impart to us the importance of short poetry at Rock Drilon's Mag:Net Gallery along Katipunan on July 27 at 2 p.m. In his latest email, while he is in Cebu, he told us the title of his workshop:

“I'm calling it Finders, Keepers: Poetry Workshop. The idea comes from something Raymond Carver used to say in workshops -- when he heard something he liked, he'd say, "that's a keeper." This one will help poets find a few things, with hopefully a keeper or two among them. I'm enjoying a collection by Rio Alma -- finding inspiration and ideas, and one or two moves I'm going to have to steal. We'll see if I discover any keepers for the reading.”

Later, same day, same place, as part of our monthly O.M.G., or Open Mic Gig, National Artist Virgilio Almario will launch the compact disc of his poetry entitled Tigre sa Zoo featuring G.P. Abrajano, Rebecca Añonuevo, 7 p.m.,Teo Antonio, Michael Coroza, Njel de Mesa, Oshin Kitane, Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Victor Nierva, Jovy Peregrino, Frank Rivera, Iona Santos, and other surprise guests.

For details, please visit http://magnetcafekatipunan.multiply.com nd http://magnethighstreet.multiply.com/ or http://magnetgalleries.com/map.php.

TEXT SUPPORT:
Monkeys and girls are the same. They always fight over a banana. Rats and boys are the same. They are searching for new holes.

CONSIDER THIS:
Every ticktock of a clock corresponds to an action. When it ticks, something is done and when it tocks, I hope you do not regret happened in the ticks because no matter how hard you try, you can never bring back the time and actions done.

TELLERS OF TALL TALES (July 06, 2009)

When the 1901 Philippine Commission was selecting for us our National Hero, the initial winner by a unanimous vote was Marcelo Hilario Del Pilar.
The said patron saint of Filipino journalist -- who founded Diarong Tagalog in 1882 and edited La Solidaridad which he co-published in 1889 -- lost to Jose Rizal.

All because he died -- on the fourth of July in 1896 – in a pathetic fashion?
Compared to the latter's dramatic death by firing squad, his was due to tubercolosis!

Now, nevertheless, this poet hailed for his parodies is immortalized, for the sixth time, not by his alma mater, University of Santo Tomas where he finished law in 1880, but by another national, the University of the Philippines through its College of Mass Communication.

His ideas and ideals inspired them to give the annual award that honors a Filipino media practitioner whose professional integrity and commitment to public service are reflected in his or her exemplary achievements in print, film, radio, television or the new media.

Named after his most famous penname, the UP Gawad Plaridel for this year will be awarded to the independent filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik for his outstanding contributions to filmmaking via some of his classics like Mababangong Bangungot [Perfumed Nightmare] (1977), Turumba (1981), Sinong Lumikha ng Yoyo? Sinong Lumikha ng Moon Buggy? (1982), Why is Yellow Middle of Rainbow? (1994), Japanese Summers of a Filipino Fundoshi (1996), among others.

The artist formerly known as Eric de Guia, this self-taught cineaste – who is a former U.P. Student Council president -- has a Master in Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business before serving as a researcher for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris from 1968 to 1972.

A recipient of the Berlin Film Festival International Critics Award (1977), Mannheim Film Festival Top Cash Award (1981), to name a few -- Kidlat Tahimik joins past UP Gawad Plaridel awardees Eugenia Duran-Apostol (2004, Print Journalism), Vilma Santos (2005, Film), the late Fidela “Tiya Dely” Magpayo (2006, Radio), Cecilia “Cheche” Lazaro (2007, Television) and Pachico A. Seares (2008, Community Journalism).The awarding ceremonies is scheduled on July 10, 1:30 pm, at the Cine Adarna of the UP Film Institute where UP Pres. Emerlinda Roman, Chancellor Sergio Cao, and CMC Dean Roland Tolentino and other officials will hand his trophy sculpted by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

Double-gifted, indeed, is our Philippine indie cinema lately since Kidlat Tahimik, its Father, also won the Natatanging Gawad Urian Lifetime Achievement Award last year while its Grandfather, Manuel Conde is reportedly one of the latest National Artist for Film.

Same day, at 8pm, you can watch Philippine Ballet Theatre's interpretation of the Maranao epic, Darangen ni Bantugen at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Up to July 12, at 3pm, the PBT will be dancing a full-length production of the pre-Islamic epic that tells the story of the Maranao people and the odyssey of their local mythical hero, Bantugen.

Even before the ballet’s premiere in May 2008, Darangen ni Bantugen has been declared by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity. This time, the epic, portrayed in classical dance form, is choreographed by Gener Caringal and Ronilo Jaynario, with music by Jesse Lucas and set and costume design by National Artist Salvador Bernal. PBT is offering a 50% discount on ticket sales for students. If you have any questions, and if you want to avail of the said offer, you may contact the PBT Office at 09178422392. On Saturday, July 11, start your day as early as 8 a.m., by joining students, teachers, others for a storytelling workshop with South African writer/artist/storyteller Gcina Mhlophe. Ms. Mhlophe will share her views on what makes a good storyteller. Make it an opportunity to learn or, perhaps, earn from your untapped skills and talent. Workshop fee of P300 includes a workshop kit, snack and coffee, tea or juice. For details, kindly contact Maricel Montero or Liza Lim or Charlot Cachuela at 523-1797/98, 536-0595 or email liza_patience@yahoo.com. This special event is held in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa.

Eventually, at around 3 p.m., in celebration of the 7th birthday of our angel, Awit, artist/inventor Paz Abad Santos will inaugurate her interactive gallery for expressive arts therapy – which we baptized as “Arterapi” -- at the TILAMSIK NG SINING at 119 Scout Limbaga and Scout Ybardolaza Streets.

Tita Ching, as she is fondly called, is part of a one-of-a-kind exhibit entitled Draped in Silk that opened last July 1 at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, Ayala corner Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenues in Makati City.

Other artists featured are Ambie Abano, Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Marina Cruz, Araceli Dans, Steve de Leon, Dopy Doplon, Margarita Fores, Danilo Franco, Jeannie Goulbourn, Katrina Goulbourn-Feist, Dan Lichauco, Tats Rejante-Manahan, Maxine Syjuco, Michelline Syjuco, George Tapan, Patis Tesoro, Wig Tysmas, Ann Wizer, and Tesoro's Philippine Handicrafts. Subtitled The Journey of the Manton de Manila, it narrates the story of a 16th century precious cargo, of Chinese silk embroidery, and of a maritime trade between Asia and Europe. Its curator, artist Jeannie Javelosa, cannot help but wax historic: “The Philippines, then a Spanish colony, was a port of call for galleons that sailed to and from Mexico. One of the many coveted merchandise brought by these galleons were embroidered silk shawls from China, which were to become known as the Manton de Manila. The dainty and bright embroidery of these Chinese-made shawls captured the imagination of Spanish from all walks of life, and adapted as part of their fashion and costumes for dance and music. The exhibit explores the many anecdotes surrounding these captivating shawls, including the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade and the manton's influences on Philippine embroidery traditions. In contrast, artists and designers from various creative fields showcase contemporary works inspired by the manton -- from illustrations, painting, and photography to couture, installations, and décor. It runs until December 29.”

If you prefer telliing tales that are read, you may submit to Patubas: An Anthology of West Visayan Literature your poetry, short fiction, non-fiction, drama (preferably one-act), excerpts from longer works like novels and full-length plays and screenplays, with translations for non-English or Filipino pieces. You are encouraged to submit three to five short pieces or one to two longer pieces (excluding translations for non-English/Filipino pieces) to allow the editor as well as the project coordinators to decide which pieces to include in the anthology. Submissions should also be accompanied by a 150-200-word narrative description of the author as well as a picture. Ten years after the release of Patubas, published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and edited by Palanca Hall of Famer, Dr. Leoncio Deriada, the Capiz Council for Culture and the Arts (CCCA) headed by Bryan Mari Argos, through its literary division, Yanggaw Capiz Writers' Group (YCWG), headed by Marcel Milliam will accept all submissions which should be in .doc or .rtf format and should be sent as an email attachment to patubas2@ gmail.com not later than July 15. Only submissions sent via email will be entertained.

TEXT SUPPORT:
If the bird of knowledge is the owl
if the bird of freedom is the dove
and the bird of strength is the eagle --
what is the bird of birth control?
Swallow

CONSIDER THIS:
Destiny belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and have the courage to pursue it. Do not stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done.

A HERITAGE OF SHORTNESS (June 29, 2009)

We felt we shortchanged ourselves when we fell short of beating the deadline for a short conference. Organized by the Tate Modern Public Programmes, The London Consortium and the Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies, School of Advanced Study at the University of London, it is open to anybody -- or somebody like DJ Spooky, Sadie Plant, Tom Shakespeare, Clare Wigfall or Steven Connor -- who is ready, willing, and capable of presenting or performing about spatial or temporal shortness for up to seven minutes. Shortly, we are haunted by our short abstract of less than 200 words that we failed to submit on time. To this day, we can do nothing but shake our head now that we can easily shortlist everything short under the sun. Last week – when Prof. Randy David of the University of the Philippines declared that he would seriously consider running against Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should she seek a seat in the House representing the second district of their home province of Pampanga in 2010 in a battle dubbed as David vs. Goliath -- inspired us so much since so many short things took place in so short a time. We could have written more than such text messages we got last Fathers' Day as “Life is too short. Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Laugh when you can. Apologize when you should. Let go of what you cannot change. Love deeply and something will change it. You are only hurting yourself with your bitterness. For your own sake.” Or about punch lines as cruel as “What a coincidence that Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died on the same day. One had a lot of fun with Majors, while the other had a lot of fun with minors.”

Or about such aphorisms as “Kapag nasa katri na, tiyakin kung may hayden camera.”

Or about short attention spans of the youth, for example, during Philippine Online Chronicles Presents: Pilipinas 2.0 last June 25 when different individuals and organizations that advocate for and propel change in Philippine society gathered together at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila auditorium.

Or about music samples of a Martin Nievera challenging the Republic Act No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, whose Chapter II, Section 37, states that the rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.

Or about ephemeral relationships as that of that Democrat who made a pitstop at an Argentinian strip club to get a lap dance from Andrea Rincon or that Republican who gave everything up for a hot sex with a hot babe from Buenos Aires.

Or about quick-fire recipes to, say, the 7th Doreen Fernandez Food Writing Contest under this year's topic on biskwit.

Or about orgasms caused by a short imaginary cable car ride from either Caticlan to Boracay or from Dolores to Mt. Banahaw.

Or about nanophilology in tanaga or dalit or diona, for instance, instead of haiku that has been taught in schools for years as if part of our prehispanic literary past.

Speaking of shortness, too, the National Book Development Board (NBDB), Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), Vibal Foundation, and the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP) are allowing your short poetry to take Part 2 of Tulaan sa Tren readership promotion campaign. The NBDB will accept original, unpublished poems with the theme Journeys/Paglalakbay. Entries may be in English, Filipino, or any of the regional languages (with English or Tagalog translation if written in a regional language) and should be up to 200 words long. Only one (1) poem per author will be accepted. The Board of Judges will select three (3) winners each for the English and Filipino categories. For each category, the Grand Prize winner will receive P5,000.00, second prize winner will receive P3,000.00, and third prize winner will receive P2,000.00. Winning entries will be posted in LRT trains alongside the works of established Filipino poets and will be published in a compilation of Tulaan sa Tren 2 poems. The NBDB shall share copyright with the authors for their winning poems for purposes of broadcast and/or publication in the NBDB’s readership campaigns. Entries must be submitted along with the Official Entry Form. The author’s name and address must only appear in the Official Entry Form and must not appear on the entry. Entries may be e-mailed to tulaansatren@nbdb.gov.phThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or sent postmarked no later than July 22, 2009 to: Office of the Executive Director National Book Development Board 2/F NPO Bldg. EDSA cor. NIA Northside Road Diliman, Quezon City. Tulagalag, another mobile poetry project, was recently launched by KM64 in cooperation with Artists' Arrest. It is open to all anti-Constituent Assembly and anti- Charter Change masterpieces written and designed on 12"x12" illustration board. Collaborative artwork and poetry can also be submitted in any medium or language. Even experiments are welcomed.

Award-winning works will be exhibited at the pink fence along Commonwealth Avenue during the Pres. Arroyo's State of the Nation address slated on July 27 but postposed due to the threat of influenza AH1N1.Today, you can submit your entries at Mag:net Katipunan, from 7pm to 9pm and tomorrow at the Conspiracy Garden Cafe, from 6pm to 9pm. Or you can text your poems # 09278313273 or # 09322743366 or email them at kilometer64@gmail.com. For details, please visit their websites www.km64.wordpress.com and www.kilometer64.multiply.com. Yesterday, by the way, Dr. Luzviminda Kwong, Philippine Society of Oncology Inc. president and Dr. Gil Vicente, their 2009 Midyear Convention chair, fulfilled their dream of coming up with a Cancer Book for the Layman at the Megatrade Hall 1, Megamall in Mandaluyong City. Being artists in their own right, they both allowed arts to get in the way treating their patients. So it is not surprising to find out that they included an on-the-sport painting contest for kids 12 years old and below as well as photo competition which they opened to all amateurs and professionals camera bugs who can tackle the theme : Compassion and Cancer. The entire Sunday was full of raffle draws and booth exhibits on nutrition, allergies, skin problems, hair concerns, oral hygiene and the like. Not to mention, free consultation or second opinion with specialists in their project called Pasilip Ka, an endoscopic exam of the upper airway!

The long and short of it, through the arts we can, as the King of Pop sings it, heal the world!

TEXT SUPPORT:
To help attract more people back to the fold of the Church, Hugh Hefner will publish a new magazine called PRAYBOY.
While Bob Guccione will publish... REPENTHOUSE.

CONSIDER THIS:
Be with people who know your worth. You don't need too many people to be happy. Just a few real ones who appreciate you for who you are.

LIFE BEGINS ANEW (June 22, 2009)

The Cultural Center of the Philippines's life begins anew.

At 40.

While its principal patron, former First Lady Imelda Marcos is in the thick of the fight for $390 million cache of jewellery confiscated from her 23 years ago, CCP never looked back since its formal inauguration on September 8, 1969 – three years after it was created by former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos via Executive Order No.30.

Just this week, alone, mirrors how CCP has been tireless and true to its commitment in promoting and preserving arts and culture we can consider Filipino.

More so, how it evolves from, say, its Royal Danish past to its rehabilitated, decentralized, and expanded present under the leadership of its incumbent president and artistic director in former Ballet Philippines dancer, Nestor Jardin, who won the 2008 John D. Rockefeller Award as "a cultural leader of rare energy, commitment, and vision who has set an extraordinary example both regionally and internationally."

Yesterday saw the CCP sponsoring with Cartwheel Foundation, Inc. at its Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino a Floy Quintos-directed concert called Reconnecting with our Roots: A Cultural Exchange celebrating the identity, tradition, and modernity of Tala-Andig of Miarayon, Bukidnon, the Umajam of Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, the Ichananaw of Tinglayan, Kalinga, Cultures in Harmony, St. Scholastica’s College School of Music and Philippine Research for Developing Instrumental Soloists (PREDIS) with Cultures in Harmony – a group of classically trained American musicians – that had been conducting exchange workshops with our tribal communities annually since 2007.

Today is devoted to the recital of Tanghalang Pilipino and Philippine High School for the Arts' one-two punch in Pragress and Dong-ao, twin adaptations of Francisco Sionil Jose's masterpieces, before it will be staged around the country to highlight what good governance is all about.

Tomorrow, Virgin Labfest will once more stage unpublished and unproduced plays from playwrights -- both emerging and established -- in a two-week fiesta full of trainings, talkings, and toastings for the launch of the all the scripts collected in one book entitled like the greatest hits of a balding balladeer – after five years --"Best of the Virgin Labfest."

Visual Literary, and Media Arts co-head Herminio Beltran Jr. through her angels, Betty Uy-Regala and Ester Eban, reserved Wednesdays for poets who did the opening salvo of CCP's Brave New Works: Breaking Boundaries project – focusing on the Spoken Word, Theater, Dance, Visual Arts, and Music-- until July 26, the last day of Cinemalaya Cinco.

Or is it until August 16 during the closing of the 13 Artists Awards and Exhibition of works of Buen Calubayan, Don Djerassi Dalmacio, Kawayan de Guia, Racquel de Loyola, Christina Dy, Patricia Eustaquio, Winner Jumalon, Raya Martin, Iggy Rodriguez, Don M. Salubayba, Jaypee Samson, Pamela Yan-Santos, and MM Yu?

Two weeks ago, on June 10, while the almost everybody was in Makati to kick some Con Ass – Wordjam kicked off with its initial offering entitled Bukambibig under the direction of Njel de Mesa.

We, together with our Balagtasan partners in rhyme Teo Antonio and Mike Coroza, hosted the said trip back to the future of orature with Khavn de la Cruz, Angelo Suarez, and Radioactive Sago Project's Lourd de Veyra and Jay Gapasin. Poetry groups like Linangan ng Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) was represented by Ony Carcamo, Francisco Montesena, Enrique Villasis while Neo-Angono Artists Collective had Philip Anorico, Richard Gappi, Marlon “Nunong” Olinares, and Raul “Tata” Funilas whose 8.5-foot Pres. Ramon Magsaysay sculpture was unveiled recently at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Inc. in Quezon City. On June 24, it will be protest poets' turn through Angal at Atungal, showcasing National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera with Heber Bartolome, Axel Pinpin, Jesus Manuel Santiago, and members of the Kilometer 64 Poetry Collective and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP). It will be directed by Bonifacio Ilagan and be hosted by Mario Miclat and Ruby Alcantara. Next month, on July 1 to be exact, is alloted to the Karinyo of Mykel Andrada, J. Neil Garcia, Rhandee Garlitos, Nerisa del Carmen Guevara, Sharon Pangilinan, Roselle Pineda, Aida Santos, Anna Leah Sarabia, Roland Tolentino, and other lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender poet-performers with Ed Cabagnot as the event host.

While Music Underkunstruktion: Hearing The Future Symphonic on July 15 is the red-letter day for musicians, the moment for dancers is Wi-fi Body Independent Contemporary Dance Festival 4: The Evolving Body!

Festival director Paul Morales, associate director Angel Lawenko Baguilat, and World Dance Alliance-Philippines president Basilio Villaruz, to name a few, have collaborated for this dance-o-rama with the CCP, Contemporary Dance Network Philippines (CDNP), National Commission for Culture and the Arts, U.P. Dance Company, Japan Foundation Manila, and STEPS Dance Studio.

“From June 25 to July 5, aside from the gala of the contemporary dance panorama, we have activities like IndepenDance, New Choreographers Competition, 2nd Step, In Focus, Emerging Talent Showcase, Uncensored bodies, Photo exhibit: The Dancing Body, Plenary: Contemporary Dance Network Philippine contemporary Dance Workshops, among others,” founding director and 2001 Alab ng Haraya Awardee Myra Beltran announced.

“On June 27, at 8 piyem, New Wave will feature me with Raul Alcoseba, Robbie Hayden, and Christine Santillan,” a leading choreographer/dancer/teacher Nory Bereber added, “not to mention the world premiere of my new pieces called To Whom It May Concern as well as the workshop I will conduct on June 28 at 1 piyem. ” For his Mama Mila, created for the closing gala on July 5, he will dance with Mica Bernas, Gerlin Francisco, and Elena Laniog who was with him during their heydays in Iloilo National High School's Dagyaw Theater and Dance Company that represented the country since 1990 in various international dance festivals in Japan, Thailand, Spain, Egypt, France, Spain, Germany, Rome, United States, Canada, and Portugal. His claim to fame, aside from being the principal dancer during opening and closing Ceremonies of 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar – he is personal dance instructor of lookalike: BB Gandang Hari!

O di ba mas maganda kung may arts sa buhay mo?

To catch them all, please call CCP Marketing Dept. 8321125 local 1801 to 1808 0r 8323681/ CCP Box Office 8323704 www.culturalcenter.gov.ph. Tickets available at all Ticketworld outlets 8919999.

TEXT SUPPORT:
AN award-winning ad by Durex condom: “To all those who use our conmpetitors' products: HAPPY FATHERS DAY!”

CONSIDER THIS:
Study shows that Swine Flu Virus is acquired through air. Ecologists say that the best way to clean the air is by rain. We Filipinos wonder why rain in summer. Now we know. God truly loves us.

HUDHUD HI ALMARIO (June 15, 2009)

Last June 7, National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, also known as the poet Rio Alma, gave a free lecture on Reklamasyon sa Pambansang Gunita before the aspiring fellows of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA) at the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) New Building in University of the Philippines in Diliman.

It was just a week after he retired as CAL dean and received with open arms his successor in singer/choir conductor Dr. Elena Mirano from the Arts Studies Department.

Now, Rio Alma is back with vengeance and a 183-page book entitled Huling Hudhud Ng Sanlibong Pagbabalik at Paglimot Para sa Filipinas Kong Mahal (2009) published by C&E Publishing Inc.!

Within its 81/2 ” x 11” frame, his triptych fits perfectly not only his tribute to heroism!
First to Aliguyon, as Rio Alma's First Voice.

A representation of our precolonial past or what Rio Alma would consider as Sinauna't taal na kamulatan, Aliguyon becomes Almario, or vice versa, strategizing for both his vision and mission:
WHAT: LOST (AS IN NAWAWALA/NALIGAW/NALUBOG)
WHO: THE FILIPINO SOUL
WHERE: IN THE NEW CIVILIZATION
WHEN: THREE CENTURIES
WHY: ENTAGLED IN THE LIFE OF SAINTS AND PRINCES
HOW: VIA HUDHUD

Hudhud is more than just a song with 200 stories divided into 40 episodes.

As an outstanding Southeast Asian Cultural Piece, it was declared by the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on May 18, 2001, six years after UNESCO included our Ifugao rice terraces in the World Heritage List in 1995.

Rio Alma is one with hudhud scholars like Prof. Ruby Rosa Ayalde Jimenez who wrote in her article Malayyo Ngayawan-Beyer’s Hudhud Tagtagen ad Namugong: A Narrative of Its Makings in De La Salle University's Ideya: Journal of the Humanities : “But, unless Filipinos themselves appreciate its worth, not only in preserving Ifugao ethnicity,but also in building our national identity, efforts to document it, are flawed, tarnished, and pointless.”

Next to Dr. Jose Rizal, or his Second Voice, that would best stand for the Konstelasyon ng mga kaisipang liberal at demokratiko.

Beyond his being the first and only Filipino and Asian among the great Spanish and Latin American writers anthologized in the The Oxford Companion to Spanish Literature (1978), Rizal is elevated by Rio Alma into the god-like level through his songs of praise -- “Ngayong Sabado sa Banaue” (p. 20), “Portada ng Puerto Princesa” (p. 30), “Pagdalaw sa Dambanang Lapu-lapu” (p. 40), “Eden Nature Park” (p. 51), “Ang Hawla ni Alex” (p. 62), “Tatlong Dambana sa Batac” (p. 71), “Panonood sa Sinulog” (p. 81), “Paghahanap kay Julia Campbell” (p. 94), “Umaga sa Malolos” (p. 105), “Isang Resolusyong Pangkagipitan” (p. 121), “Cagsaua, Pagkaraan ni ‘Reming’” (p. 133), “Gallera Ivatan” (p. 144), “Intramuros ng mga Lungsod” (p.152), hanggang “Sa Kanto ng Claveria at San Pedro” (p. 165).

Last but not least to his secret Third Voice.

To this day, it is for Rio Alma to know and for us to find out who -- on Rizal's 148th birthday to be celebrated via the launch his Huling Hudhud Ng Sanlibong Pagbabalik at Paglimot Para sa Filipinas Kong Mahal (2009) with no less than the U.P. President, Dr. Emerlinda Roman, as the guest of honor, and Grace Nono, as the featured artist.

Together with the book is another book Ang Hudhud ni Rio Alma: Panunuring Pampanitikan edited by Romulo Baquiran Jr. with criticisms by himself, Roberto Anonuevo, Niles Breis, Michael Coroza, and yours truly.

As early as 1 p.m. they will offer a seminar called Mga Epiko at Mga Katutubong Tula sa Filipinas conducted by Rio Alma himself, all under one roof, at the C&E Publishing Inc. Information and Resource Center at 1616 Quezon Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City!

Speaking of offerings, the Creative Entertainment Guild in cooperation with Tourism Office of Quezon Province gives its event of the season dubbed Modelo de Turismo on June 21. 6 p.m., at the Queen Margarette Hotel in Lucena City featuring the collections of top designers like Patis Tesoro, Randy Ortiz, Rholand Roxas, Matche Matienzo, Christopher Quejano, to name a few. “Modelo de Turismo,” celebrity manager Arnold Vegrafiya said, “ is a cultural antidote to the poison created by the negated publicity caused by political, economic, and social problems the province is facing.No wonder it gains full support from Ever Bilena, Tesda, Globe, Pillar Plants & Antiques, Holistic Gym, Placenta, Bench, and MardioNadera Photography, among others.” “The show promotes not only Tagalog but Filipino heritage, in general,” added Hon. Alona Obispo, Board Member and tourism,culture and arts committee chairperson, “by highlighting the natural resources God gave to the longest province in the country.” Modelo de Turismo is produced by Gerry Canales and organized and directed by Ferdie Nadera for the benefit of tourism in the province.

TEXT SUPPORT:
In 2007, Year of the Chicken, bird flu pandemic devastated parts of Asia. In 2008, Year of the Horse, equine influenxa decimated Australian racing. In 2009, Year of the Pig, swine flu has killed of pigs around the globe. It might get worse next year. What could possibly go wrong during the Year of the Cock?

CONSIDER THIS:
The way others treat you when you are there is something to be considered. But the way they respect you when you are not around is much more important.

TAYO NA SA MAKILING (June 08, 2009)

Again, all roads led to the Philippine High School for the Arts last May 19-22.
Gifted tweeners and teenagers, all 119 of them, were invited to take part but 99 sent back their Reply Form.

By May 18, only 73 were physically present in the biggest arts event in Mt. Makiling, Laguna.

Twelve are creative writers, eight are ballet dancers, sixteen are folk dancers, eleven are musicians, nine are theater artists, and seventeen are visual artists from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

For four days, they lived the life of reality television contestants.

“No, this is not Bahay ni Tata,” PHSA Director Fernando “Nanding” Josef explained, “but Tayo na sa Makiling or the second phase of adjudication activities for PHSA scholarship hopefuls after more than a 100 participants were screened during the 2009 Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars (ANSYAS) held in sixteen Regional Audition Centers (RAC).”

It is a first.

In PHSA history, it is only recently that it is able to offer unique type of training program facilitated by PHSA’s resident teachers like Cecilia Martinez (Psychoeducational), Victor Ursabia (Classical Ballet), Emma Izon (Filipino Language), Marza Palentino (English Language), Ernestina de Guzman (Theater Arts), Frances Niduaza (Music), Karla Diño (Music ), Gerardo Leonardo (Visual Arts), Marc Vincent Cosico (Visual Arts), Robert Stephen Biadoma (Philippine Folk Dance), and Victor Flor (Philippine Folk Dance), to name a few.

We, as guest artist/educator, conducted workshops, or should we say playshops, in poetry and prose that were graded!

Aside from further assessing skills (or proficiency in at least three literary genres; excellent command of English and Filipino; wide vocabulary), their motivation (or the enthusiasm, focus, and perseverance) as well as creativity (or expressiveness, originality, fluency, and flexibility) were measured through such writing.

There were sessions, too, on time management, study and library skills, dormitory living, nature walks, and talks on such topics as Psychology of Artistically Gifted Filipino Children by Dr Erlinda Camara.

At the end of the day, the main aim of Tayo na sa Makiling is to identify the most eligible aspirants who are entitled to full Special Secondary Education scholarship for the School Year 2009-2010 which includes, free dormitory accommodation, free meals, and a monthly stipend.
On the other hand, those who will not qualify will be placed in the Waitlist Category as probable replacements for those who will eventually decide not to accept the scholarship award.

And for the parents and legal guardians accompanying the participants – a separate orientation on School Mandate, Scholarship Agreement, Manual for Scholars, Academic Support and Behavior Management Programs, Foster Care and Family Programs, and other support mechanisms was be given.

As Advisory Council member, we approved as early as July 2008 of the ANSYAS team’s plan that would allow PHSA scholarship applicants to have their artistic ability screened preliminarily by alternative means via submission of a DVD/VCD of performances or portfolio of works while the usual means of auditioning live at a RAC remains unchanged.

However, feeling the need to have an event that would gather all applicants shortlisted from both means for more individualized and in-depth assessments, Mr. Wong, the ANSYAS head, volunteered his vision: “There should be an array of fun-filled learning experiences, art workshops, educational tour, psychoeducational assessment, and physical acculturation sessions, all aimed at introducing the young artists to life amidst the forest of Mt. Makiling and to living in a boarding school away from families and the bustles of city life.”

Thus, Tayo na sa Makiling was conceived in November 2008.

Eventually, after fulfilling the historic PHSA's dream project, Mr. Josef has this say: “On the one hand, it has given the participants the opportunity to get acquainted with other children who, like them, are inclined towards the arts and have dreams of becoming a PHSA scholar someday. On the other hand, the parents of applicants have come to know the culture of the school face-to-face, enabling them to make informed decision on the impending separation between them and their child who has the chance to make it to the roster of PHSA scholars. On the part of the PHSA teachers, Tayo na sa Makiling has afforded them the occasion to get acquainted with would-be scholars of the school up close and personal and choose the ones most artistically talented, psychologically fit, and internally driven to pursue art as a course of study in high school on the strength of the assessment results.”

Last May 22, after a halfday of discussions and debates, not necessarily heated, the registrar revealed its most-awaited secret.

Below are the names of 35 new scholars of the PHSA for School Year 2009-2010.

Astronomo Ziv Crisanto Guysayco Memorial Elementary School Music-Guitar
Barliso Ana Lalaine Heneral Pio del Pilar Elem School Ballet
Bas Christine Angela Maramag Central Elementary School Theater Arts
Buhia Blanche Louise Philippine Normal University Theater Arts
Cantos Gerard Thomas Elizabeth Seton-South Music-Trumpet
Caro Corinne Laguna Bel Air School Visual Arts
Castardo Janene Marie Calumpang Central Elementary School Music-Voice
Conarco Crishelle Dianne Magugpo Pilot Imelda Elementary School Visual Arts
De Guzman Nicko Lourdes School of Quezon City Creative Writing
Del Pilar Zyrha Mae Leyte Normal University-Integrated Lab School Folkdance
Diolazo Justin Ray Dagupan City National High School Folkdance
Dones Andrea Paula Padre Burgos Elementary School Folkdance
Espinosa Jason Baclaran Elementary School Unit II Folkdance
Ganayo Rosseadelle Judee Liceo de Los Baños Creative Writing
Ilagan Dessa Rizalina Miriam College Grade School Theater Arts
Lazaro Maolen St Theresa's College Visual Arts
Ledamo Klyde Francis Bontoc SPED Center Music-Piano
Mendoza Gabriel Art Olangapo City National High School Music-Violin
Mortel Pia Adelie Marikina Catholic School Music-Voice
Navarro Hiraya Milagros Communty of Learners Foundation Creative Writing
Rellon Suzie Dawn Tagum City National High School Folkdance
Renomeron Antoine Karl Tacloban Angelicum Learning Center Visual Arts
Roldan Isaac Ernest Shiloh Learning Center Music-Violin
Salas John Jacob Sagnap Elementary School Theater Arts
Serafin Joshua Education and Training Center School-I Theater Arts
Soroño Abigail Joyce Learning Links Academy Visual Arts
Tangalin Eira Joanne Escuela de Sto. Rosario Ballet
Timogan Frejaneh Bukidnon National High School Visual Arts
Togonon Friane Jade Dadiangas West Central Elem Sch Creative Writing
Tordesillas Jessica Ellice Learning Links Academy Creative Writing
Trance Mary Dianne San Joaquin Elementary School Ballet
Valentino Krystle Dianne Musicnoz United Methodist Church Learning Ctr Theater Arts
Vibar Kysar Von Musicnoz North Central School Folkdance
Vidal Joma Mekira Leen Cabanatuan East Central School Ballet
Zerrudo Anton Ludwig Concepcion Holy Cross College Music-Guitar

From that mystical mountain, watch out for them bringing back the slippery glory of Philippine arts and culture in the same of league with this year's National Artists namely Federico Alcuaz (visual arts); Manuel Conde (cinema); Lazaro Francisco (literature); and Ramon Santos (music) to be honored on June 11 at the Malacanang Palace and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

TEXT SUPPORT:
Friends are contributing funds for the chemotherapy of our dear friend, singer Susan Fernandez, who is stricken with cancer. You may also text get-well messages to her at #0917-4043484. For donations, please send to Acccount Name: SUSAN F. MAGNO. Savings Account No.186-3-186-15062-8, Metrobank Kalayaan Branch.

CONSIDER THIS:
A good person is like a lighthouse, it does not ring bells nor fire guns to call attention.
It simply shines.