I
AM ABOUT TO BORE YOU with this sooooo very late post but your kind indulgence
will be appreciated. I will understand though if you just skip it but I hope
this will not discourage you from reading future posts.
The last days of 2014 and the first
months of 2015 were excitingly chaotic that, except for some posts on my Facebook page,
I hardly had time to write. I was too busy bonding and having fun with my
daughters and our schedule was filled with beach and nature trips, family
get-togethers during Christmas, the New Year and my Dad’s birthday celebration
in January.
Of course, there was that important
wedding that we actively participated in and one of the reasons Canada-based
daughter Pee Ann was in town. No doubt, it was a very memorable event bringing
together childhood friends plus it was my first time to be a principal sponsor
…
And now, it’s quite
difficult to pick up where I left off but I don’t want the things I’ve already
written go to waste. They’re history but I still want it to see print. Okay I’m
weird that way …
Anyway, I started writing
this post towards the end of September and worked on it until the start of
December and it went like this --
LOOKS
LIKE THE RAIN didn’t sleep at all last night. And as I start a brand new day,
it continues to pour, seemingly luring me back to sleep.
I step outside and while drinking my
hot choco and watching the rain seated on my dad’s rocking chair, I was
inspired by the things I saw in my small garden and took pictures of them – the
fallen gumamela flower whose one-day
bloom has ended; a wet moth which I hope will get to fly again once its wings
become dry; a ringworm crawling into one of the broken pots; and, of course, my
plants looking refreshingly green after an all-night bath.
I make a collage of the
photos and post it on Facebook with
the caption: “Don’t mind the weather & have a happy wet Wednesday.”
Upon posting, I realized I forgot to
include my angels, a collection from way back, which found a home by the small
garden’s wall. There was also the white duck my brother Abe placed amidst the
plants since it was just collecting dust in my living room. This was a
Christmas present from friend Bertie; I don’t know though if he remembers
giving me one …
And now I ponder, what do
I write about when there’s nothing on my mind?
AN EYE FOR ART
Well, there’s one –
A group exhibit entitled Mata, held at Gallerie Astra, LRI Design
Plaza in Makati City last Thursday of October. It was likewise mounted in Cebu
City – at the Qube Gallery of Henry Hotel – first week of December.
The exhibit highlights the
ingenuity of 10 Filipino artists, including high school batchmate and US-based
Randy Ordonez [seen here with his one-year old grandson Marcos Daniel]. Their
works – using various media, including oil and acrylic on canvas, metal and
giclee – focused on how they perceive humanity in its difficult state as
exemplified by the Filipino people, exposed as they are to nature’s wrath.
In his two works both
Untitled, Randy used giclee – pronounced zhee-CLAY – which is considered
today’s new vibrant medium for art. They are produced from digital scans of
existing artwork. The result is a high-resolution and high-fidelity
reproduction which is virtually a “continuous tone” with “crisper details.”
As I have mentioned in a
previous post, Randy is into heirloom archival printing. He restores old
photos, scanned images or digital prints and print them either on canvas or
time art paper.
Other artists in the exhibit that I
met include Maxine Syjuco who used mixed media in her trilogy of some sort.
Entitled The Girl Who Cried Wolf, she
printed some pictures she has taken and painted on them. At least that’s how I
understood it and it was impressive. [I guess I should start learning how to
describe art …]
Zamboanga City-based Edwin
Jumalon displayed his paintings – Ruins and
Stilt – using oil on canvas. As the
titles suggest, his works illustrate the challenges of everyday life. I met his
wife Lorna and she had interesting stories about being married to an artist.
The nice thing about
gallery shows, as Yoko Ono, Japanese artist and John Lennon’s widow, once said,
is that without having to pay any money you can just go and see it.
And when you go during a launch,
which I did, there was food – my first time to taste fried Oreo – and I was
entertained with interestingly edifying performances by a group called Kaibuturan.
It was an absorbing experience because their music was something I was hearing
for the first time. Their instruments which they let me try make sounds of
nature like the rainstick and the bungkaka,
both from Palawan. They also have a Japanese harp played by a guy named
Pag-ibig.
CULTURAL ENCOUNTER
There was even a bonus
because in the hall nearby – the Art Pavillion – was an ongoing exhibit called TRILOGY A Filipino Heritage Create Preserve
Restore.
It was like going back in
time and getting a quick glimpse of yesterday’s Philippines. Intricate works
from Betis, Pampanga and Intramuros; and, of course, my beloved Vigan in Ilocos
Sur were on display.
Based on the literature framed on
the walls, the trilogy was an invitation for everybody to participate in the
work of creating, preserving and restoring our heritage to be passed on to
future generations.
First in the trilogy is Betis: A Craftsman Creates Tradition. It
featured elaborate crafts from Betis, Pampanga, including a haunting Cristo; and a bursting bald man, both
made of polychromed wood; and a vintage chair. The craftsman is Willy Layug of
Betis Galeria.
Intramuros:
Manila’s Phoenix showcased some restored built heritage found in
this walled city in Manila, among them what looks like a park bench with fancy
tiles, a wooden mural and columns, also made of wood.
Built heritage is defined
as “everything constructed 50 years ago and earlier that are reminders of who
we are and what we have achieved as a people.”
Through the creation of the
Intramuros Administration (IA) in 1979, damaged sections of the historic walls
have been restored. In the forefront of this restoration is Escuella Taller de
Filipinas Foundation, Inc., a school that teaches trades within the
construction industry, specifically those in the restoration of built heritage
sites in the Philippines. It was established through a grant from the Agencia
Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional Para el Desarrollo (AECID) and the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Its local partners include the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and IA.
Completing the trilogy is Vigan: A People’s Heritage. The
international acclaim it has achieved indicates how it has been successfully
preserved.
In 2004, the Center for
the Conservation of Cultural Property and Environments in the Tropics of the
University of Santo Tomas (UST) collaborated with the government of Vigan
towards this objective. Since then, many traditional crafts have been rescued
from decline, and awareness in local culture has been created among its citizens.
Vigan’s corner was poorly lit maybe
because the Art Pavillion has closed for the day and so I wasn’t able to take
some pictures. Let me just talk about Vigan’s latest accomplishment and that is being declared one of the New7Wonder Cities of the World. From 14 semifinalists, Vigan emerged on Top Seven, together with Beirut in Lebanon; Doha, Qatar; Durban, South Africa; Havana, Cuba; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and La Paz, Bolivia.
The final result was posted on Vigan for New7Wonders Cities’ Facebook page. Their illustration photo was the Vigan Plaza overlooking the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, also known as the Vigan Cathedral.
Other cities in the circle of seven are Tagaytay, Quezon, Laoag, Tanauan in Batangas, Davao, and Balanga.
Now this is refreshing news in the midst of politicians and entities pocketing taxpayers’ money.
Let me share some personal shots of Vigan taken the last time I was there a couple of years back with friends/fellow event planners Charity, Lea and Apple – the Vigan Cathedral with its bell tower; a park bench – I love park benches! – along Calle Crisologo; and our photo with the iconic calesa, also along the Calle.
The following is focused on the Christmas season,
which is sooooo history. Still, I don’t want to delete it – and I’d like to
believe that the meaning of Christmas is timeless [palusot ba?]
– and so here goes –
BEAUTIFUL BELENs
Going back to LRI Design Plaza, there was this beautiful Belen at the Art Pavilion. Just like any
Belen or manger, it depicted the
Nativity but in the simplest form and in a Pinoy setting.
I don’t know what it is made of,
there wasn’t any caption somewhere but it meaningfully conveyed the spirit of
Christmas. It’s about that Little Baby born in humility -- as that poem goes
with “no crib for a bed …” – to save the world.
As you can see, there are
only three characters – no shepherds and their flock or the usual animals in a
stable or even the Three Wise Men bearing gifts. But the message is complete, just like the
manger the boys of Cottolengo Filipino molded during one of their activity
classes. I got one during a visit at the said shelter for physically and
mentally challenged kids in Montalban, Rizal – and blessed by Fr. Estefan of
the Sons of Divine Providence, the order of priests running the place, and put
it on top of our living room table.
This is our only Christmas
decoration aside from the usual Christmas Angel in the veranda that twinkles
and blinks.
Expectedly, malls and
churches I’ve visited have theirs more elaborate but also as beautiful. As
usual, it makes me wish I was a better photographer to do justice to their
beauty.
Such belens are at the Rockwell Power Plant Mall in Makati; the St.
Peter Shrine along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City; and at the Queen of
Angels Chapel inside Riverbanks Center in Marikina City.
FIT FRIDAYS
Still at the Riverbanks, the tiangges have mushroomed around the place facing Marikina River.
Carnival rides have also been set up in time for the mall-wide ChristmasSaya. Late afternoons of
Fridays and sometimes Thursdays and Saturdays, usually find me walking/jogging
by the riverside.
Of course, I prefer the
“just me and the river” but the stalls and the carnival rides give a festive
atmosphere. When I walk/jog, there are students practicing their dance moves or
declamation pieces as well as young couples whispering sweet nothings – wow,
how 70s! – and senior citizens shooting the breeze …
There was also one instance when
actor Vic “Bossing” Sotto and child star Ryzza Mae shot some scenes by the
river for a movie.
On the overall, the place
is perfect for my afternoon exercise. The view is fantastic even if sometimes
the river gives out some unpleasant smell. Other times, nature gives amazing
surprises – like a colorful rainbow or a radiant sunset.
TOO MUCH TV
Working on just one project and MOD magazine coming out with its Head Start issue, I had plenty of time to just hang around the
house and I became preoccupied with what’s on television. Really preoccupied
that some of my days were defined by what was showing.
While making arrangements with
representatives of prospective venues for a Muslim wedding – our newest client
– my television droned on. In between household and social (?) chores, some
gardening and composing this post, the people on TV kept me company.
I was both petrified and fascinated
with James Spader as Raymond Reddington, the main character in AXN’s The Blacklist -- “Allies today, enemies tomorrow, all because of
man’s fickle-mindedness …” – and Viola Davis as lawyer and Law professor
Annalise Keating in Sony Channel’s How To Get Away With Murder -- “The
question I’m most often asked as a defense attorney is whether I can tell if my
client is innocent or guilty. And my answer is always the same: I don’t care.”
I was simply overwhelmed
by the way Kerry Washington delineated the role of Olivia Pope in Scandal, as a former Communications
Director at the White House and now heading her own crisis management
firm.
And I was utterly amused
with the women cast of Jane The Virgin,
notably Gina Rodriguez as Jane; Andrea Navedo as her mom Xiomara; and Ivonne
Coll, her grandmother. Both shows are on Sony
Channel.
Gina has some resemblance to Pinoy Big Brother winner Melai
Cantiveros, and that makes her doubly funny to me.
And while watching Madam Secretary – Tea Leoni plays the
title role of Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord so convincingly [photo from www.theplotbunnies.com] – I wished I
was part of her staff, specifically Daisy, her press coordinator played
by Patina Miller; or Matt, her speechwriter played by Geoffrey Arend. I enjoy watching them discuss, deliberate,
strategize and even fall in love in the course of doing their duties.
[Lower photo from tvgcdn.net shows a scene from the TV series with Matt, Daisy
and Nadine, chief of staff, played by Bebe Neuwirth.]
Of course, I didn’t miss
any of the reruns of CSI – including
Miami and New York – and Gang Related on
FoxCrime. And so with the new series
of Hawaii Five-O and NCIS-Los Angeles on AXN; Arrow (“with great
power comes great abs,” Felicity played by Emily Bett Rickards thinking out
loud about Oliver Queen aka Arrow played by Stephen Amell); The Flash (“some people are worth being
crazy for,” says Barry Allen aka The Flash regarding his long-time crush;
playing him is Grant Gustin; and Suits on
JackTV; Night Shift on Sony Channel;
and Body of Proof on FoxCrime.
And then there’s ABS-CBN’s
new soap, Dream Dad, featuring a
different kind of love team, starring Zanjoe Marudo, as Baste, a hot
bachelor/veterinarian/rich kid; and Jana Agoncillo, as a five-year old orphan
with a positive outlook on life. How they get into each other’s lives is truly
unique and they are sooooo cute together.
Except Neri Naig, who
plays Baste’s girlfriend – she doesn’t seem fit for the role – I love everybody
in the show including Ariel Ureta and Gloria Diaz as Baste’s parents, Ketchup
Eusebio as his best friend; and Beauty Gonzales, his executive assistant.
And I love the general atmosphere of
family and the way they greet each other at Baste’s company with Magandang buhay! Reminds me of my former
company, F. Jacinto Group, Inc., where our credo starts with “we are one big
family genuinely concerned for the welfare of each other …”
BINAY OVERLOAD
Since I was in front of
the television most of the time, I also chanced upon an episode of Boy Abunda’s
Bottomline on ABS-CBN. He had a group
of political and social analysts for guests.
Mon Casiple said “presidency is
destiny” and thinks Congresswoman Lennie Robredo, former DILG (Department of
Interior & Local Government) Secretary Jessie’s widow, would make a good
president.
He likewise commented that
Senate hearings are more like in aid of election. Current “actors,” he said,
include presidential wannabes, Allan Peter Cayetano and Sonny Trillanes.
Atty. Harry Roque, activist lawyer,
of the UP (University of the Philippines) College of Law, talked of a
millennial generation. He also said that current events should not center on
politics but good governance. He added, “daming
ingay wala namang nakukulong.”
Clarita Carlos of the UP
Department of Political Science, suggested that Vice President Jejomar Binay
should attend the Senate hearings and face the music.
After discussions on
various issues including VP Binay, Tito Boy
asked the trio one final question: If the elections were held today, who would
you vote for? Their answer was unanimous: Binay.
Their reasons are likewise the same:
He has been organized since he announced his presidential bid, he has been
campaigning in many many forms [which perhaps inspired the following Facebook post], and he has a complete
machinery, a good track record.
Anyway, the difference
between a politician and a statesman is a politician thinks about the next
election while the statesman thinks about the next generation.
These were the words of
former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton but she could have been referring
to Filipino politicians. In this side of the world, politicians are always in a
running mode, fixated on elections. They have been ticking their calendars as
soon as President Noynoy Aquino aka P-Noy, took office three years ago. They
can’t wait for him to step down.
THANKFUL TIMES
When ABS-CBN aired its
Christmas station ID, I was in front of the TV set.
… Dahil
ngayo’ng Pasko
Ang blessings ko’y kayo
Thank you, thank you,
Ang babait
ninyo …
Surely you’ve heard these
lyrics before but don’t you find them cute? And sung yet by equally cute
performers – the winners of The Voice
Kids – champion Lyca Gairanod and runners-up Darren Espanto, Juan Karlos
Labajo and Darlene Vibares.
thevoicekids
ABS-CBNnews.com says that the
station ID highlights every Filipino’s innate sense of gratitude. The music
video shows that even famous people have their own important people to thank.
The network likewise set up
makeshift stages where people can air their own thank you’s and it was widely
accepted.
I used to have this
Gratitude Journal but I stopped when my hard drive where I was storing it
crashed. Of course, that didn’t stop me from being thankful for what I have and
more importantly, who I have in my life.
‘Thank you’ is a very important
phrase. And practicing “an attitude of gratitude” will definitely make your
life happier. This attitude brings out acceptance and humility as we go through
our everyday life and interact with the people who come and go into our life.
Author William Arthur Ward captured
my thoughts better when he said: “Gratitude can transform common days into
thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities to
blessings.”
CRAZY COUNTDOWNS
Wow, I’ve reached this far
and I’ve said too much. Did I really say I don’t have anything to write about
and that there’s nothing on my mind?
There is this quote which says
people wait all week for Friday, all year for summer, all life for
happiness. Now I remember what has been occupying my mind –
countdowns. You see, I don’t wait, I count the days and I enthusiastically look
forward and anticipate good times, fun moments.
In the case of happiness,
I look forward to it each day. I don’t wait for it to happen and I’m not a hard
person to please. I have Frank Sinatra’s thoughts on this which was shared on Facebook:
And I like to share John
Lennon’s quote as well, from Facebook too:
Anyway, Pee Ann is coming
home for the holidays and to attend her best friend Aiza’s wedding to long-time
boyfriend Martin January 16th. She is Maid of Honor; daughter Ghiselle,
Bridesmaid; and I am a Principal Sponsor.
The three of us
will wear gowns and we’ve been going to CellineClothing, a shop at the
Bellitudo, the Lifestyle Strip, along White Plains Avenue in Quezon City, for
our fittings. The shop is owned, as the name suggests, by Celline Bautista, who
happens to be the sister-in-law of Pee Ann’s college friend, Bau/Joann.
I was Maid of Honor in my sister
Patty’s wedding and I wore this yellow gown with a matching hat. I was very
uncomfortable. I hope that this time around it’ll be different …
Friend Milen was saying that this
could be an ice breaker, meaning there may be a wedding soon with my girls.
Well, that would be nice ...
TICK-TOCK
And because I continued to
be glued to the boob tube, there were exciting countdowns, too.
ABS-CBN’s much–loved morning soap, Be Careful With My Heart, is finally
airing its last episode on November 28th, and a countdown in the
form of vignettes of memorable scenes from the soap is held for its last 45
days.
Below photo shows Richard Yap and
Jodi Santamaria – Sir Chief and Maya – announcing the soap’s end. Following
photos are two of my favorite moments – their New Year celebration where they
had matching polka dotted clothes; and of course, the wedding, which was posted on Richard Yap (Sir Chief)’s Facebook page.
There was also a Global Kapit-Bisig Day shown live – including
on TFC (The Filipino Channel) – as the soap’s farewell broadcast after their
last episode.
The country’s Christiandom
likewise has its own countdown to the papal visit with the much-awaited coming
to the Philippines of Pope Francis this coming January 15th.
***
And this was when my
not-so-busy/almost bum lifestyle took an interesting turn. As it came to pass,
Pee Ann has arrived second week of December and preparations for the wedding
went in full blast and as I mentioned at the start of this post, we became
caught up in the celebration of the season of seasons and the New Year, among many other family events.
Obviously, it became impossible to finish this post.
Thank you so much if you have reached
this part. I’m trying to put this post to bed in our new home sweet home amid
the usual clutter of moving in.
All too suddenly, summer
is upon us once more and the temperature seems to rise each day. Pee Ann and
boyfriend Alex have gone back to Canada to resume work. They left the same day
Pope Francis ended his four-day visit to the Philippines.
I’m
not complaining but I have yet to really get back to my normal life.
Transferring houses could be overwhelming and all this sorting of the family’s
memorabilia could be a bit saddening because some have to go. I even feel bad
that we had to dispose of some old appliances … Always the Drama Queen.
But
no worries because surely my daughters and I – together with family and friends
– will continue to make new memories.
Let
me end this late post with a timeless quote – also shared on Facebook –
