Today, you must be embarking on a journey to organize everything in your life, as I have mentioned in my blog “New Year Or Not, Make That Change.” Go ahead and arrange everything, both the tangibles and the intangibles, in order for you to move freely towards the road to success. Here is a list of things to be done, but you can disregard the number and have your own order.
Eat healthy and be physically fit everyday. That includes drinking lots of fluids even if you are in good shape.
Breathe fresh air. Help yourself.
List down the tasks that need to be done. Make it visible and keep track of your to-dos. Have it all done on your target date or time. Remember the reason why you have that list: such that it would be accomplished.
Have your pen and paper, or your gadgets ready to list down every good idea that pops up in your head. Those thoughts can be gems which can be of help to others in need. Share it whenever you have the chance to do so.
Know your purpose for doing things, even if it’s for leisure or relaxation; even if it’s as big as changing the world. Keep that purpose in mind to understand the meaning of whatever you are doing.
Set aside some time to do nothing. You need to take a break once in a while by not doing anything. Welcome that perfect moment when you are like an empty jar allowing anything to fill you up, or like an empty battery that needs to be recharged.
Make use of social media to get in touch with family, friends, and acquaintances. Get to know some strangers. Social networking sites are like libraries where you learn many things from. There’s an enormous knowledge that can be culled by means of those electronic gadgets and the cyber world.
Don’t always depend on rules. Be creative. Make your own design, even in everyday living.
Discover your talent if you are not yet aware of it. Try doing things for the first time. Try to do things that no one has ever done. Try to do things that others have done but have your own way of doing it. Do these without being hard on yourself. You have to enjoy the process. Try, and do not limit yourself to what ifs.
Don’t be afraid to try new things or accept new ideas. Open all channels to improvement.
Fix yourself, even if you are not broken. Always be aware of how you present yourself to others, even among neighbors. While it is true that your life is your own business, you cannot deny the fact that society can be cruel to those who look vulnerable. Carry yourself well, show some confidence. And yes, don’t forget good hygiene.
When there’s a problem, find solutions as much as you can, as fast as you can. If you cannot find one after all the trying, when you have done everything that human power can do, take it easy and trust in God. Don’t be a slave of anxiety. That’s the secret to life— long life!
When you have worked hard, reward yourself with little pleasures that you have been dreaming about. It doesn’t have to be a mansion or a luxurious car. Maybe you have long wanted to eat somewhere, or have that beautiful slippers. It can be something cheap that you really wanted to have but haven’t got the chance to own one. When you finally get it,the feeling would be priceless.
Maximize the use of your senses at all times, much can be learnt this way. Keeping away from danger is a jackpot.
Never nurture ill feelings towards other people. Get to the root of it and resolve at once.
Be generous with good manners and right conduct. Guard your character. Study ethics and take it by heart.
Don’t aspire to be perfect. You will never be. No one will ever be.
Keep your important belongings in a safe place where you can easily take it in case of emergency like fire, flood, and other difficult situations.
Learn to love, to care, to give, to help. Understand the importance of living with other people. Consider the feelings of others.
Don’t fail to celebrate happiness. Remember that life is not a bed of roses but of all kinds of beautiful and fragrant flowers.
New Year is always a perfect time for improvements, but is not exclusively so.
Once again, it’s that first day of the year: 0101 or New Year’s Day. After indulging into the household’s menu of the day, I am back to my writing desk to scribble a few lines that would make my hobby a little worthwhile not only for me but for my readers who probably need inspiration to make a brand new start.
ORGANIZING, that would be the first keyword if we want to change for the better. It is a word that applies to a wide range of subjects in our lives. Making the bed, organizing the home to the most minute detail, keeping a schedule of to-dos, to-buys, to visits, et cetera. Now that the year has just started, have you organized your calendar of events to remind you of the tasks to be done?
When you organize, you also have to THROW AWAY everything unnecessary. Not merely things but even relationships that have been holding you back from achieving your dreams to improve your life and the lives of those you truly love.
There are people who cannot keep up with new year’s resolutions. To them I say, any day or any time can be a clean slate, as long as you are determined to make a change. There is no particular time or season to take off for a new beginning.
c. Queen Sroges Rochelle S. San Jose 2014 (photos by JJ Guia)
The international community has been celebrating International Museum Day for 37 years now. May 18th of every year is the day that has been declared by the ICOM or International Council of Museums for this purpose. This year, the theme is “MUSEUM COLLECTIONS MAKE CONNECTIONS,” and the Philippines, through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) joined this annual celebration by sponsoring activities in eight key areas around the country. For the Southern Luzon Leg, it was held in Lopez, Quezon.
ATTENDEES:
There was a total of 50 from Quezon, 22 from other Southern Luzon provinces, and 3 from Metro Manila who attended the two-day event on 28-29 May 2014 at Kainang Pinoy (KP) Hotel and Restaurant along Maharlika Highway, right beside the historic Talolong River. They were, along with the guests and speakers:
Alvarez, Abegail Michaella V.
Arella, Rosario R.
Argente, Ariel L.
Argente, Conchita L.
Argente, Ricardo C.
Ariola, Jess Andre D.
Avila, Lourdes B.
Azumbrado, Amado L.
Barros, Teresita U.
Bataanon, Filomena D.
Boquiren, Laya R.
Boquiren, Rowena R.
Breboneria, Roque
Capucion, Georgina N.
Caranday, Zosimo B.
Carrillo, Elsie L.
Cedena, Dante
Cleope, Angelita C.
Cleope, Lyka Althea C.
Comintan, Glenda A.
Comintan, Howard A.
Comintan, Ligaya A.
De Roma, Anacleta Rizza S.
Dimaculangan, Celso T.
Esguerra, Nescy A.
Ferreras, Benilda V.
Flavier, Precilla A.
Flores, Eva L.
Flores, Siony
Galang, Honey Lee
Galve, Vicente
Gaza, Teresita A.
Gelicame, Cecille T.
Guia, Anjelico S.
Hapitana, Consorcia C.
Juanillo, Raymund
Klow, Jordan
Llagas, Roxanne
Loreto, Milagros, Z.
Lozano, Crisanto
Malabana, Alyssa Jane S.
Malabanan, Gilberto R.
Mendoza, Luningning R.
Merjudio, Adrien A.
Nadera, Vim
Natividad, Norma C.
Noceda, Lalaine R.
Nunez, Laurice Alliah V.
Olivarez, Jocelyn T.
Olivarez, Justin B.
Ololos, Ching
Padit, Lily
Perez, Edna O.
Quirino, Cory
Ramos, Dave
Relova, Bernardo Jr.
Requiron, Nila L.
Reynales, Analuz E.
Rili, Pauline R.
Rodriguez, Joselito
Rojas, Ret. Col. Severina A.
Salazar, Dina E.
San Jose, Queen Sroges Rochelle S.
San Jose, Maria Gemma S.
San Ramon, Sharlene M.
Sante, Marivic L.
Sazon, Clarence May
Suguitan, Guillermo R.
Suguitan, Marietta A.
Taba, Andy C.
Tibayan, Emil
Villafuerte, JV
Villanueva, Raquel O.
Villasanta, Julianito
Villaverde, Sharon A.
Photos of Lopez by JJ Guia were presented before the seminar started. Photo shows Gemma San Jose telling the participants, “We will start the program in five minutes.”
First day started on 28 May (Wednesday) at 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. with the arrival and registration of participants, followed by the Opening Program. Present were representatives from Tanauan City and Enrique Zobel Museums in Batangas; Pila and Santa Rosa Museums in Laguna; Museo De La Salle from Cavite; Gintong Yaman ng Quezon Museum in Lucena, and South Sea Pearl Museum in Palawan. Host was the Local Government Unit of Lopez through Arella-Suguitan Museum.
The delegates were welcomed by the Municipal Mayor, Isaias B. Ubana II, Ph.D., represented by Gilberto Malabanan.
THE STORYTELLING EXPERIENCE: A WORKSHOP on the ART and CRAFT of STORYTELLING was not delivered as the speaker, BODJIE PASCUA, was no longer available on the re-scheduled date. He was sure to arrive on the first schedule on 12-14 May but it was postponed.
Incidentally, CORY QUIRINO, who was with the Palawan delegates, told a real-life drama when she was abducted by kidnappers at the Quezon National Forest Park. She had the chance to meet the family of Archie Argente, the person who rescued her at that time, and committed to help his son as a gesture of gratitude.
The crowd was touched by the story and the Lopenzes felt proud of their kababayan for the noble deed done, although it happened several years ago.
At 3:00 p.m., a talk on MUSEUM COLLECTIONS as CONNECTIONS was given by Dr. VIM NADERA, Ph. D. He began with the question of why people collect, what some people collect, and what those collections meant to the collectors. Then he related to the collections in museums and how those collections make connections.
General Membership Meeting of SLAM was held and the new institutional members were introduced, Enrique Zobel Museum represented by Lito Rodriguez, and South Sea Pearl Museum of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan represented by Roque Breboneria, Jordan Klow, and Cory Quirino. They were warmly welcomed by the goup and everybody was looking forward to a growing membership under the administration of President and NCOM Representative Cecille Torrevillas Gelicame.
Second day was started early. SLAM members had a view of the local color by riding the “iskits” (motorized skates) along the railroad tracks in going to Matinik to watch the decades old tradition of fluvial procession in honor of its Patroness Nuestra Senora de Buen Viaje or Our Lady of Good Voyage.
The delegates experienced alighting from the iskits when necessary. There are unwritten mechanics or rules when there is “traffic.”
The fluvial procession was done when the group arrived, since high tide was early. Barangay folks had to go into the sea while the water was high. IMD participants just visited the chapel and had a brief boat ride.
When the group returned to the venue at 9:00 a.m., MARIETTA A. SUGUITAN, owner of Arella-Suguitan Museum, discussed MUSEUM COLLECTIONS and the COMMUNITY: MAGKAUGNAY.
This was followed by MUSEUM COLLECTIONS and SLAM as tackled by SLAM President CECILLE T. GELICAME of Museo De La Salle-Dasmarinas. Representatives from the institutional members of SLAM likewise discussed their unique practices as well.
After lunch, the next session was delivered by Prof. LAYA R. BOQUIREN, independent curator and faculty at University of Asia and the Pacific. She discussed HOW PRACTICES in ART and CULTURE GENERATE CHANGE. Finally, MUSEUM COLLECTIONS,
HISTORY, HERITAGE, and the ACADEME was discussed by Dr. ROWENA B. BOQUIREN, Ph. D., retired History Professor from UP Baguio.
By the end of the two-day affair, Tito Loreto, a visual artist from Lopez, donated his treasured art to Arella-Suguitan Museum by giving his 14×18 in. oil on felt paper entitled “Chastity” to Gemma Suguitan-San Jose.
Through his mother Milagros Z. Loreto, visual artist Tito Loreto donated his treasured art “Chastity” to the museum.
SLAM Members proceeded to the next venue for SLAM Dinner at the FLORES’ in Lucena City where hosts SIONY FLORES and Dr. MITZI F. PIAD, Ph.D. accommodated them. That capped the International Museum Day Celebration in the Southern Luzon Region. Indeed, “Museum collections make connections.”
Maytime is fiesta time in Quezon Province. There is the world-famous Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Agawan in Sariaya, Mayohan in Tayabas, and Arana at Baluarte Festival in Gumaca. May 15 particularly, has been celebrated as the Feast Day of San Isidro Labrador, Patron Saint of Farmers and thanksgiving for a good harvest.
This year, I want to share the photographs that I took in Gumaca, the mother town of Lopez. We also have local celebrations in some barangays to honor San Isidro but it’s not as festive as this one:
Coconuts, bananas and vegetables are major products of Gumaca.The sea produces fish and aquatic resources.Those leaves are from the tree called ‘paypay amo.”A chandelier of vegetables and fruits, those are “aranya.”Bountiful harvest from the farmBahay Kubo is a typical farm house. Around it are variety of plants that the household consumes everyday.These are all the fruits and veggies available in the locality.And yes, it’s a festival!Palay grains represent rice, which is a staple food.A riot of colors, indeed!Assemblage sculpture of fruits and vegetablesThere’s a competition of the best arch decoration.Farm productsThis one gives importance to water as well.More ‘chandeliers’I lost count of the number of entries. All beautiful.Bananas in this place are made into crunchy banana chips.I enjoyed the walking tour. I liked everything that I saw.I even felt blessed passing through the arch of bountiful harvest.
Aside from bahay kubo or nipa hut, ‘bayanihan,’ the willingness to help without anything in return, is also featured here.This lantern looks good.Tribute to the carabao that helps the farmer.The vegetable vendorFarm implements
This fastfood chain joined the locals in the celebration.Indigenized logo made of anahaw fans.
Aside from the archs, carts were also decorated with local products:
The Municipal Hall has its own decoration at the entrance.
What is fiesta without giants joining the parade?
And marching band, though they were taking rest when I saw them:
Gumaca is an old town. That is a fortress in the background.
It has one of the well-preserved churches in the Philippines…
The annual arana at baluarte festival is already getting famous. By looking at the decorations, one can only thank God the Creator for all the blessings!
I will write about my place before fifty
about my life after fifty
But on my birthday I will rest
that day alone
I will give to myself.
Good day, friends. Sending my love to everyone.
Kaklase, that’s the Filipino term for classmate. Kaeskwela liteally means schoolmate. But in our town, in my time, kaeskwela meant classmate. This is not a lesson on linguistics, though. I just woke up today thinking that I should write something about the camaraderie among those who spent some parts of their lives together either as classmates, batchmates, or schoolmates and that special bond that stays forever which can fall under the classification of friendship that lasts a lifetime.
Recently, I attended the birthday celebration of my classmates in high school: yes, three of them. This coming weekend, I am going to meet my blockmates in college. Why? What for? I can only speak for myself, but keeping the friendship aflame with my contemporaries with whom I shared schooldays even how long ago it had been, gives me a feeling of completeness. It reunites me with my youthful years. There’s a need that being with them fills in the deepest part of my heart and I love that feeling. I may not be able to explain it well but it is special.
Graduation from high school marks the beginning of going separate ways. Classmates go on all directions to start working for their future. Get-together on semestral breaks would always be exciting and fun. Those were times for endless kumustahan catching up with the latest about one another. Then come reunions after ten, twenty, thirty years and so on. Looking back now, no friendship can be more special than with those you had the chance to go to school with, and keeping the bond tight even after you have explored the world and achieved a lot, or whatever trials in life you have gone through. You will always be that simple kaeskwela and it wouldn’t matter who has got more laurels nor thicker wallets. The purpose is never to boast nor seek sympathy but to have fun and feel the youthful glow that you all share and only your group will understand.That’s what one feels during those times. And if you love memories, if you want to stay in touch with these special group of people, you would nurture the friendship and treasure it.
There lies one of the secrets to a happy life. For anyone who searches for the fountain of youth, being with former classmates will certainly make you forever young. Kaeskwela bond is magic.
Last Thursday, I attended the Bloggers’ Hour for the Philippine Arts Festival 2014 at the NCCA…
I was one of the early birds, second to arrive at the ICOM Room.
While waiting for the others, I used the precious time to remember past celebrations of Ani ng Sining, now popularly known as Philippine Arts Festival (PAF).
PAF or ANI NG SINING (HARVEST OF THE ARTS) was strange to me before 2001. When I was asked by the Provincial Government of Laguna through Laguna History, Arts, and Cultural Office (LAHACO) to coordinate the event which was to be held in Pila at the time when I was elected Chair of PCCA (local counterpart of NCCA), that was the first time that I learned about it. In the 2007 Ani ng Sining, I received a Plaque of Recognition from the Provincial Government of Laguna for the very successful Cultural Exchange Program that the town of Lopez, Quezon (where I was working at that time) had with Lagunense youth leaders. Every February is actually a festival of the arts or NATIONAL ARTS MONTH by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 683 of 1991. This nationwide celebration is spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
2008 was special. Upon submission of necessary requirements, I received a grant for the town of Lopez. With the theme “Art in Public Spaces,” students, enthusiasts, and local artists had a real treat to the delight of the crowd. It was also a rare chance for Lopez Culture, Arts, and Tourism Council (LCATC) which is now called Lopez Heritage Conservation and Historical Society (LHCHS) to meet NCCA’s Resource Person for Cultural Caregiving, Frank Rivera. It had been an unforgettable “first harvest” of Lopenze art. After that big event, schools in our town had their own celebrations. I was Guest Speaker in the 2011 Ani ng Sining in Don Emilio Salumbides Elementary School (DESES). In the year 2012, I attended the opening at the Rizal Park (Luneta), joining other dance artists under Prof. Larry Gabao and the first ever Southern Luzon Arts Festival hosted by the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB).
Last year, 2013, we had the 2nd Harvest. Thanks to sponsors like Lopez Quezon International (LQI), LHCHS, Arella-Suguitan Museum, Queen’s Gems, Mr. & Mrs. Chris Manza, SCA Lopez, PNU Quezon, PUP Lopez, LNCHS through Ms Sarah Manza and Ms. Marivic Sante, Prof. Crispulo Alarde, Julianito ‘Boy’ Villasanta, Ms. Adrien Merjudio, the Office of the Municipal Mayor for the use of plaza; and many others who helped in any way. Artists were given a chance to showcase their talents and the general public were able to appreciate art in various forms. Third harvest for Lopez, Quezon would be on 8-10 February 2014. Again, there are several activities lined up for this special occasion.
In the national scene, the biggest festival of the arts is coming this January 31st until March 3rd. And that’s why we were invited.
In the words of NCCA Chair Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr., “Bloggers are potent force of influencing people; ideas extending reach for the young and the media in a more intimate way. Marami kayong naisusulat dyan na hindi nagagawa sa other media. ” As delicious lunch was served, so the program started.
PAF Media Director and Head of Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) Rene Napeñas introduced each one of us (as NCCA’s Blogger Friends) and the NCCA personnel present.We were welcomed by OIC-Executive director Adelina M. Suemith.Vanessa Nicolas, PAF Festival Manager, briefly discussed Ani ng Dangal Awards which usually culminates the event. She also explained that this year’s theme also focuses on “Arts for Healing,” how the arts community will respond to what happened in the Visayas. There would also be dance with book drive.NCCA Chair Felipe De Leon, Jr.
This year’s theme “Art on the Edge” was extensively discussed by the NCCA Chair. He gave the following explanations: (1) indigenous: art that is new but not really, because it is on the periphery “We glamorize art from Paris and London. In the social hierarchy, we view the Manileño on top of the triangle, followed by city dwellers, the poblacion, bukid, then the bundok settlers. What is indigenous is on the lowest level but our identity is based on them. That social hierarchy must be reversed.” (2) cutting edge: technology or cyber art; or new forms like glass, crystal, resin(3) contemporary: traditional art used in a new way or given a new kind of presentation; something old but given a new dress; with new techniques and materials “A fashion show with T’nalak, T’boli jewelry. A backpack out of traditional cloth. In the 70s, Ryan Cayabyab used singkil in contemporary jazz.” (4) different artists from different arts should collaborate in one performance or production. “We would like to integrate art. Not just interactive but combining painting with dance that harness talents and specialties. Fashion show with music and textile art. Like the sculpture with tubes and liquid that produce music. In Paraguay, a cultural worker used scrap to create musical instruments and the urban poor were taught how to use it.”
He mentioned that installation art is a new phenomenon in the Philippines but mixed media is really a Filipino medium. “Though installation art is new to us, it is actually indigenous. Filipinos don’t like narrow specialization. Angelito Baldemor for one, mixes sculpture and painting. Filipino medium is multimedia. Traditional Filipinos do not separate one art to another. We don’t fragment the arts into seven arts. That is not Filipino. That is western. But we allowed this due to the western influence in the country.” “In sagayan, a healing ritual with visual arts, prayer, and music played by kulintang, the dancers are healers. They are warriors in beautiful vestments that attract evil spirits. Brooch is used to drive away “usog.” “In tarek dance of Palawan, their architecture is musical instrument. They make sure wind chime sound well. Bamboo floors produce sounds. Bamboo stairs have distinguishing sounds, too.
In music, we want medley. In food, sinigang; where there is soup, vegetables and meat. Halo-halo lahat. Gusto ng Filipino, andoon lahat ng medium to bring people together. Anything multiple, especially sacred, attracts people to one another, like in the Black Nazarene. Filipinos are fond of multiplicity. We don’t want those that separate people. Number one value of the Filipino is connectivity. We’re number one in social networking at 93.9% followed by Israel and Turkey. Out of 136 countries, Filipinos feel most loved. Out of 150 countries, Filipinos are most expressive, emotional. The more expressive you are, the more you attract. Performing arts is the most expressive in the arts. The first winner of X-Factor was Filipino because of expression. Madrigal Singers were the first choral group to win the European Grand Prix. We excel in anything that brings people together because we love to connect. We have the most techniques for bringing people together— ngiti, pabaon (sa kainan),balato. In the Philippines, hardly anybody is alone. Malls in the Philippines are likewise multiple. There is hardware, cinema, offices, church, hospital, recreation.
Prof. Jun de Leon is also the Head of Subcommittee on the Arts at the NCCA. He told the crowd about the planned new creations for next year. “Every year we’ll be happy to have new harvests. Architects should offer new designs that are typhoon and earthquake resistant. That project would be opened by the Philippines to the world. We plan to have an international competition for architecture design using the balangay as symbol of Filipino greatness. We are not Malay. We’re older. Peopling of Malaysia and Indonesia came from the Philippines. We had reached as far as Madagascar. Balangay is the symbol of Filipino identity par excellence.
Asked which type of art is most challenging to promote, Prof. de Leon replied, “Architecture and literature. A videoke of national artists reading poems… We never had literature na babasahin. Poetry to us is meant to be recited. To ‘read silently’ is very American. Experiential is for the Filipino. Babaylans were performers. Filipino is the exact opposite of solitary. In architecture, we don’t even know what’s Filipino about Filipino architecture. Filipinos were living in crowded places until hamletting into the plaza complex, so we used stone for bahay kubo (bahay na bato) instead of nipa. Maranao torogan is most beautiful. Maranao torogan and the Metropolitan Theater are examples of architecture that are very Filipino.
Philippine Arts Festival 2014 will formally open on 31 January in Roxas, Capiz.
Calendar of Activities for the PAF will be released soon, but bloggers who were present in the Blogger’s Hour were invited to three events: (1) ANI NG SINING SA LRT on 20 January 2014, 8:00 a.m. in D. Jose and 10:00 a.m. in Cubao stations. In lieu of the regular press conference, there will be flash mob, hiphop, ballet, Filipiniana dancers, musicians, painters, poetry readers, theater artists, etc. (2) ANI NG DANGAL on 02 February 2014 at the Newport Performing Arts Theaterin Resorts World Manila, and (3) TABOAN on 24 February 2014 in Subic, Zambales.
I liked the food served by Mabuhay Restop. Billy de Jesus invited us to try the different services they offer.We were given the 2014 NCCA Calendar, “Espasyo,” Journal of Philippine Architecture and Allied Arts, and “Why We Are Hungry” by F. Sionil Jose.
After the event, I visited the NCCA Gallery to see Andres Bonifacio’s Tinubuang Lupa by Alwin Reamillo. It’s been there since 06 December 2013 and will only be on exhibit until 20 January 2014.
There’s a lot of things I learnt. I saw familiar faces like blogger friends Ronnie Bernardo and Pepe Alas, and met new ones. Now I’m looking forward to the 2014 Philippine Arts Festival, as well as the one that we are going to have in our hometown. I expect to see art expressions that are boundless, out of the box with unlimited possibilities, high impact, fearless, maybe dangerous, art to the max— on the edge!
Learning is lifelong, and I want to share my learning with you. It doesn’t have to be academic but it can be in any form that is honest, out of real experiences, even dreams and aspirations where any reader can reflect and learn something from. Should you want to share yours, let me know! It would be exciting if this blog can be interactive. Happy reading! Or shall I say, Happy learning?
lifelong learning 