What happened to Tumblr?

Ever since this morning, Tumblr has been "fixing" their "database clusters." In the twitterverse where angry and pissed off teens, avid micro-bloggers like myself, and those who regularly get their "sexy man fix," from the said site are giving their own theories as to why Tumblr is on a 9-hour silence.

We call this the black screen of death, the most hated page on earth, and the biggest lie since "I have read the terms and conditions." We're all wondering when Tumblr will return, or if it will (rumors are spreading that it might be a dead site -- which is weird, because it is one of the most popular sites on the internet). As for me and my friends who blog about socio-political/socio-cultural and historical topics, we're just wondering when we can write.

I have to admit, Blogger is a lonely site and one of these days this will move back to Tumblr too. However with this sudden Tumblr Tantrum, I do wonder about the future of rapid reposting. Well, that's all for now. I am still thinking of a topic to talk about, and who to talk about it with. I'll see you, my readers, soon!

Top 25 Things to do in the Philippines

Taken from Tumblr.com:


1. Go white water rafting in Cagayan de Oro.
2. Visit Batanes.
3. See Mt. Mayon up close.
4. Swim with the whale sharks in Donsol.
5. Climb Mt. Pulag and be awed by its sea of clouds.
6. Dive, swim and explore Palawan’s underground river.
7. Hike and let the view of Mt. Pinatubo crater take your breath away.
8. Party in your bikini in Boracay.
9. Surf’s up! Choose your wave—La Union, Zambales or Real, Quezon.
10. Missed out on the pristine beauty of Boracay 15 years ago? Visit Malapascua, Cebu.
11. Dive and see the rich marine life of Anilao, Batangas.
12. Travel back in time—go to Vigan.
13. Let Bohol wow you with its many offerings—the Chocolate Hills, the tarsier, the Loboc River Cruise, old churches and the beach.
14. Go high! Drive to the Mountain Province of Sagada. Check out the caves, the hanging coffins and enjoy the laidback lifestyle.
15. Grab a Viaje del Sol map, visit Ugu Binyan’s pottery studio, eat at Kusina Salud and unwind at Casa San Pablo.
16. Spend an entire week up north. Take a road trip from Manila to Vigan, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Aparri and Isabela!
17. Try wakeboarding in Camsur.
18. Check out Malate, Old Manila and all their secret spots.
19. There are many reasons to love Davao. Kublai’s artworks, its proximity to the beach, the tasty pastil and juicy suha. And did I mention that it’s a smoke-free city?
20. Spend a weekend roughing it in Anawangin and Capones in Zambales.
21. Check out our colorful fiestas and document them with your camera. Ati-atihan, Dinagyang, Masskara, Sinulog, Higantes, Panagbenga and more.
22. Pick your own strawberries at the Strawberry Fields in La Trinidad, Benguet.
23. Go to Pampanga for sisig.
24. If it’s too hot in Manila, grab a few friends and take a quick trip to Tagaytay.
25. Enjoy a food trip in Iloilo. You’ll never go hungry in this city.


Seriously I am printing this out  and making this my permanent to do list! You should too!

Myta and Margot on Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Initiatives

This week I was inspired to write about how cultural heritage preservation can be one kind of climate change initiative. The idea is not new, but it has long been ignored by many Filipinos who wish to modernize without responding to the cultural asset of the Philippines, particularly tangible heritage. Tangible heritage can be divided into several kinds of heritage materials, such as visual arts (painting, sculpture, etc.), crafts and architecture. On the other hand intangible heritage are kinds of heritage that cannot be touched, but can be perceived by other senses like dance, music and customs.

One such kind of architectural heritage that I find beautiful but ignored is the Bahay na Bato, or house of stone. It was developed during the Spanish period in the Philippines; the first stone houses were built around the 18th century up until the early 20th century, when condominiums and apartments became popular. Many of these kinds of houses still stand today, but are in terrible condition or are even near condemnation. These structures must be preserved, not only because of their historical importance, but also because this kind of house, because it uses natural products, can be a factor in adapting climate change in the Philippines.

Note: To have made this more fun to write about, I wanted to get comments from my friends over at Tumblr.com and so it's not just me who's putting in ideas and comments into this blog but also my friends. This week, my co-writer is Margot Manalo because she was the only one who replied. For Tumblr.com users reading my blog, if you want to follow us, just look for "The Stuff We Slurp" and "Oh No I'm in My 30's" to read some awesome stuff. We just might follow you back!

Introduction


The bahay na bato is a form of Philippine architecture dating back to the 18th century. Its main influence is the bahay kubo, which has a "steep roof, elevated quarters, post-and-lintel construction, and maximized ventilation." These characteristics are seen in the bahay na bato. Because the Philippines is frequently visited by earthquakes, the bahay na bato has "wooden legs," and "a stone skirt" around those legs make the house more earthquake-resistant. To quote the Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia on Art (Volume 3):

The wooden frame gives it both flexibility and stability, while the one-storey high-stone wall is likely to collapse.

At the same time, the bahay na bato is a structure that shows Filipino genius in using the creative process to adapt different influences to make it really Filipino.

The bahay na bato represents the apex in the development of indigenous Filipino architecture, because it expands the prototypal structure of the ethnic house from a one-room dwelling to a multi-roomed house of grand scale while preserving the basic features, and because it adapts Western architectural influences to form a synthesis of native and immigrant art. The bahay na bato is a product of economic progress and cultural adaptation, and as such is a symbol of the affluent Westernized Filipino. It stands as a reminder of the social situation in which it evolved, a situation which has not significantly changed even with the introduction of democracy, public education, and free enterprise. (p. 25)

However, ever since the 1930s when condominiums and apartments were on the rise, building these houses and even seeing them became quite uncommon. We still see these houses, but not in their once-wonderful forms filled with history, culture and warmth. Some of these houses are either abandoned by their owners, or have been rented by several families with lower incomes.

Nonetheless the evolution of the bahay na bato is still ongoing, albeit slowly and minimally because of tastes and trends in housing. Now with the plight of climate change and global warming, I believe that it might be a good time to revive this building method because of its notable principles of natural ventilation (with the big windows and use of natural materials) and spaciousness (many families can fit in the house!). In the next section we will analyze the pros and cons of building a bahay na bato.

Commentaries by Myta and Margot


Margot says: It's a very "fabulous idea" since "it is an art in itself... and its relevance to adapting to climate change makes it more appealing... but economically speaking, it's not something the masses (who could afford to build their own homes. Come to think of it, it's so hard to afford your own land nowadays) who would catch on to and with modern twists; it's going to be hard to be faithful to the original (you know, electricity, consideration of security, etc.)

The bahay na bato, in truth, was a house for the very affluent illustrados and peninsulares. Even today, if we are to build the bahay na bato, it will cost an arm and a leg of several people. "But hey, if one could afford it, why not... it could never come close to cold towering condominiums."

However the common Filipino man only wishes to have a roof on top of his head, regardless of design, as housing is an issue in highly urbanized areas in the Philippines, and it will take some lobbying and some convincing to make this happen. Life in the 17-19th centuries were extremely different from the 20th-21st centuries.

Myta says: "Housing is a major issue because of mass migration towards big cities in pursuit of greener pastures... the most ideal thing would be to have the government subsidize housing projects for lower economic classes..." wanting to build a bahay na bato may sound ridiculously elitist (Margot will counter me later on that) but "in the long run having houses like these in different parts of the metropolis can inspire people to make their own houses" like those with proper awareness programs on green architecture and basic classes on how beneficial thinking about the long run is. "It does not have to be as grand as the" original "bahay na bato, but it has has to be practical."

Note: Just this evening I realized that my own house is a practical and modern adaptation to the bahay na bato because it has a garden, an azotea of sorts, a living room which is connected to the dining room and the kitchen. These three rooms I mentioned are on the ground floor. We actually have something like a basement where we store things, but it is connected to the garage through a hallway, pretty much like a zaguan. However the bedrooms are upstairs, but that's the main difference. The walls are tall, and the house is generally spacious. There are big windows with screens to let the air and natural sunlight in.


The biggest hurdle I thought of was that "Filipinos will worry about having" no "roof on top of their heads" and so there won't be any room for proper discourse. Another solution can actually be to ask Gawad Kalinga or Habitat for Humanity to, instead of painting houses with bright unsightly colors, develop a compound of houses that look like several bahay na bato stuck together. Start with two families, then three, then five, until the compound is filled up. Then other NGOs who are education-oriented can teach kids and even parents the proper ways of caring for the house, climate change initiatives, and how (if they need jobs) being a good cultural person and steward of the earth can actually help them find jobs as carpenters, sculptors, and the like.

In reality though, owning a bahay na bato is expensive to maintain if the budget is low. However I keep thinking about the long run: spacious houses promote proper human health and development as well as contribute to the adaptation to climate change. And this idea is still a distant reality because of the myriad of issues in our country.

Margot says: People will worry about breakfast tomorrow morning before lunch (figuratively speaking). "To have at least an elitist, idealistic dream is free. It may not be for everyone; it's a tall order but it's a start that may lead to something big... We can never tell... maybe one day, somewhere over the rainbow, Filipinos will have rows and rows of beautiful houses line a modern residential street because by then we had just achieved 'moving on' from our relationship with 'third world country.'"

To quote directly:

Now, low-cost housing, as the name suggests, equals to inferior materials. I know, how sadly short term. As i pondered on it, has anyone else noticed how that + a countless generation of Filipinos have this vicious cycle of always pinning their hopes on the next in line? How many times and from whose faces have we heard the variation of the words “naasa ako na ang anak/apo/apo sa tuhod ko ang aanhon sa atin sa hirap” - the very same mouth from where that was heard is the same body toiling for that piece of a dream and a hope that whatever they had started, it would keep evolving for the better, generation to generation. 

Note: What Margot is saying here is that Filipinos unconsciously experience what the Buddhists and Hindus call "samsara," or that vicious cycle which is hard to get out of. The whole idea of having a home has so many philosophical implications and gets very complicated in the end. 

On the subtopic of the spaciousness of the house leading to quality health, one example is Villar's housing projects. "While his intention was good, look at how his housing empire created a trend for a housing community of small proportions..." Just like cigarettes, we tend to sell things individually instead of in bulk, or in big packages because for some reason we think that we will earn more if we sell products in small proportions. I don't really understand that concept, but somehow to many managers, it actually works.

This leads to people thinking that small houses are homes, which can sow some unfortunate results.

Conclusion


The bahay na bato, which is a product of the Filipino innovative mind, has come a long way in terms of evolution, dating from pre-Hispanic to the dawn of a new century. It is a reminder that we are connected to the earth, and that, no matter how much we are shaken by the earthquakes that plague our lives, we remain intact and strong. It is also a reminder that we are artistic, innovative (sorry for using the word in the same paragraph) and show a strong love for community and proper human health. It is not only an abode of the wealthy, but for those who really know how to live -- practical, and family oriented.

Unfortunately today, because of so many socio-ethical and environmental problems, as well as the rise of small housing projects and small condo units, the values of community, health and innovation are not given priority. The image of the bahay na bato to the Filipino simply remains a house during the Spanish occupation, and no longer a standing reminder of our identity.

This is why I am pushing for the realization of this project of creating a compound of bahay na bato -- at least an adaptation of it. Acquiring money is so hard to these days, and we must adapt to the times, both financially and environmentally. The bahay na bato respects the principles of natural ventilation and social development. Political will is strongly required in the realization of this idea, as well as private foundations who strongly believe in education people about climate change initiatives. This must be a Metro-wide effort (to make it national would be something near impossible to do because not all cultures in the Philippines have bahay na bato) and educating children about this must be the responsibility of parents and academic institutions. For a better Manila... I think this will work.

But that's just me, of course.

Amy Tan on Creativity | TED.com

 While I'm writing (and failing miserably) an essay for my Socio-Anthropology class, I chanced upon a video of Amy Tan talking about the creative process. I enjoyed this talk and she inspired me to keep asking and look for answers. The answers though are not absolute, but whatever I find will help in the 'enlightenment' of mankind.

Now that's creative.

Marian Procession in Intramuros

From Philippine Daily Inquirer

This year the procession will take place Dec. 5, 4 p.m., at Intramuros. Eighty-four carrozas bearing the different titles of the Blessed Virgin are expected to join. Both venerated images and those belonging to families will take the route set out by the Intramuros Administration headed by administrator José Capistrano.

This year’s hermanas mayores are Cecilia Manalo, Nellie Bengzon and Thelma Gana. Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles will officiate in the Concelebrated “hermana mass” on Dec. 5, 2 p.m., at Manila Cathedral.

Three days before, there will be the Triduum of Masses, Dec. 1-3, 11:30 a.m., also at Manila Cathedral.

Venerated images expected to join the procession are Our Lady of Piat from Piat, Cagayan; Our Lady of Soledad de Porta Vaga, Our Lady of Caysasay, Ina Poon Bato, Our Lady of La Naval, and Our Lady of Manaoag.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Cofradia, is the centerpiece of the procession.

After the procession, Our Lady of Piat will be brought to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Leveriza, Malate. 

I'm posting this for promotional reasons.

I won't be able to attend this one because of transportation and financial issues, otherwise it would be my first Marian Procession. Central to Filipino culture are celebrations, and we celebrate many ideas, people and events. Every day is a celebration, as we are a people who celebrate the everyday. I hope that my readers, local and foreign, would be able to go to this yearly procession, if not for religious reasons then for celebratory reasons.

I'm looking forward to my friend's blog as he will attend the procession.

Mang Inasal: It's Filipino

Every Filipino has already heard of Mang Inasal. But to my foreign readers, what is this about? Is it a curse? Of course not. Is it a legend? No, but it is legendary!

So what is it? It's an eating establishment in the Philippines, known for its excellent grilled chicken and BBQ. They also serve pork sisig and bangus sisig (finely chopped pork or fish bits in a sizzling plate, served with lots of pepper and soy sauce, occasionally with egg), Filipino soups and desserts. If you want to make money out if it, you can have a franchise. In a way it's like the American fast food giant, McDonald's. However Mang Inasal does not look like a fast food chain. In a way it is -- with its branches in many places around the country, low prices and the fast service -- but the food is still cooked, not mass produced. Seriously, customers still have to wait for the food to be served.

But really, what is Mang Inasal, and why is it so popular?

Cultural Differences in Terms of Preparation
Let's divide the name into two:

• Mang: short for 'manong,' which means 'sir' in Tagalog (there are many other ways to say 'sir' in Filipino. The Tagalog term is widely accepted in different Filipino languages). It's the same in Iloilo, where the Inasal originally came from.
• Inasal: from my experience, it means 'roast,' or sometimes 'grilled.' It is a variation of the Argentinian way of cooking, but it's called asado over there. We also use the word for some pork dishes, but not for grilling. Our asado is sweet. I'm not sure but I think the word inasal comes from asado.

Apparently, the way of cooking is Spanish-esque. It's a bit of Spanish but 100% Filipino because it is fused with other native ways of preparing the food. Why? For example, in South American countries like Argentina and Uruguay, their version of Inasal consists of adding many vegetables, sometimes tossed in a salad. However we share a common tradition of serving grilled food with alcohol, and both variations can be spicy.

But in reality, the Visayan way of roasting is different, so it is safe to say that it is no longer Spanish because of the way we cook it, and that this variation is also very different from its South American counterparts. The sauce, for instance, is sweet and sour (soy sauce with a bit of sugar and calamansi). We don't normally serve with a vegetable salad, but with pickled papayas and carrots on the side. We actually marinate our roasted food -- unlike the South American way of preparation (according to the Wikipedia article on Asado, they don't marinate the meat but instead put salt). We also eat it with rice wrapped in a small banana leaf. I'm not sure if countries in South America do it like that, too.

A friend of mine wrote his comment on my Facebook wall regarding the preparation. Being a native from Iloilo, where the popular inasal came from, my friend wrote in detail the way of preparation, and how inasal is different. He writes:

... This way of roasting has also been incorporated certain native practices like the steaming of chicken wrapped in leaves, boiled with herbs, and barely seasoned. Old and trusted aids in Iloilo's/ Bacolod's "old" families for instance know that no chicken will do and prove so/as tasty as the "native" (Bisaya) variety that the preparation is quite elaborate. The chicken before roasted is first immersed in water until such time that the steaming process is permissible. Like siopao, steaming the chicken with fragrant herbs ensures that the taste remains flavorful. Contrary to popular practice, marinating the chicken in soy sauce or in a special marinade doesn't make the inasal special. the taste lies in the preparation of the chicken itself. (Pe, 2010)

 He also talked about the different ways of roasting in the Visayan Islands.

... In Cebu it (roasting) is normally done in a furnace of coal laid in a pit-like platform whereas in Iloilo and Negros it is normally in metal stands or rotisseries. (Pe, 2010)

Because of our Asian and European mix of cultures, we come up with this kind of way of roasting. Now, isn't that something to be proud about?

Using this cross-cultural comparison, we can say that Inasal is Filipino. Those who don't say so must research and experience other foods before making a rash judgment. That is a sign of colonial mentality, a point-of-view which we should prevent having.

Mang Inasal and Globalization
To answer the question if Mang Inasal is an answer to McDonaldization, the phenomenon of mass producing food for a fast-paced society, it sort of is. With its branches and cheap prices, Mang Inasal is not a fine-dining restaurant -- it is an eating establishment for the hungry and busy Filipino who's sick and tired of burgers and fries (I honestly admit that I get sick of McDo's twister fries and chocolate sundae). But Mang Inasal still respects the fact that food needs to be carefully planned and cooked for the customer, instead of dumping the food in a deep frying machine or replacing the actual food with artificial products. It is as if we are called to be both efficient and respect the preparation of cooking inasal. If this is the answer to globalization, then I won't mind spending lunch hours at Mang Inasal.

Plugging in!
So, to my foreign readers, the next time you're in the Philippines and want to eat something Filipino but you don't have time to wait for it to be cooked, look for Mang Inasal. They also serve American food with an obvious Filipino taste. They also have delivery services (minimum of P200 + 10% service charge). Call them at 733-1111. You may also log on to http://manginasal.com/ for their menu, or like them in Facebook. At the same time I'll be happy to eat with you!

What customers can order in Mang Inasal. Image from HERE

I just finished my order of chicken inasal for PhP49, and I must say it is delicious!

Meeting Doctor Lumbera

Bienvenido Lumbera,
National Artist for Literature
Image from here

Poet, critic, and one of the leading fountainheads of Filipino contemporary literature, film and cultural studies, Doctor Bienvenido Lumbera makes his mark in Philippine history by providing thought-provoking questions and insights on Filipino life and society. I was glad to officially meet with him yesterday; a chance to meet, greet and share one's humanity with a striking person such as a national artist does not happen every day. If only my purpose for visiting was not academic (I had to interview him for my thesis), I would have asked more questions on heritage preservation and topics on neocolonialism.

I left Ateneo around two in the afternoon. It was hot enough to complain about it, and complain I did. I was glad that it was not hot in the area where he lives. The drive going to his house was very pleasant; getting lost did not seem so dreary as getting lost in Makati Central Business District. After driving around in circles and asking for directions, I finally found the entrance to his village, and made my way to his house.

Like Doctor Lumbera himself, his house is charming and seems to hold so many stories, both about the Philippines and about the man who lives in the house. There were several cats and dogs going around, or lazily sitting on rattan chairs by the entrance. Everything felt in harmony.

I had to wait for a while for Doctor Lumbera as he had an errand to do, so to keep myself busy I played with his grandchild and his dogs while watching TV. When he arrived, he apologized for being late. What is an hour-long wait for a chance to meet someone like him? As I've mentioned before, it is not every day that we meet people who dare to question Philippine society and actually take the initiative to find answers and fight for national identity. Doctor Lumbera smiled and shook my hand. I handed him a plastic bag full of atis fruits, and I was delighted to know that he loves eating them. The next moment I met his wife, Cynthia N. Lumbera. He led me to his second house, which is connected to the main house, and a scruffy puppy greeted me with excitement.

The dog would not leave me alone, but it was a welcoming sight. Everything around Doctor Lumbera seemed to welcome me, a visitor in a wise man's abode. I felt at ease despite the nervousness -- this was still the national artist whose poems accompanied me growing up. He opened the the capiz windows by the door, and the afternoon sunlight rushed to enter and illuminate the living room. A bit of sun reflected on his glasses as he sat down to my right. The dog suddenly went off and played with his food bowl.

Doctor Lumbera first asked me a series of questions: what my course is about, why my topic is on European film vs. American film in the Philippine context, and how my mother was (they're good friends). I answered his questions, and shyly told him if it would be all right if we can make the interview as casual as possible. I was very nervous: I was interviewing a national artist for crying out loud! I was really hoping that he won't think of my questions as simple, dull, or even dumb. But there was no time to ponder on such minute details. I started asking him his thoughts about the decline and the future of European film distribution and exhibition in the Philippines.

As I am holding an oath as a researcher to not divulge any answer my interviewee gives, I will not discuss in detail what we talked about. However, I must say that he answered each question with experiential knowledge, talking about the history of the decline of European film distribution as if it only happened last week, and citing political ideologies as to why European film distribution decline in the Philippines. And that captivated me. This man knew film history, and knew it well. He was answering my questions based on his life, his experiences and the experience of others. Books and essays can only answer so much; Doctor Lumbera knew beyond the books.

The interview was about to end, but I wanted to ask so much more questions outside my thesis topic. However I was afraid of the traffic going home, and that I might be taking too much of his time already. I look forward to the next time we meet. I have to prepare a series of questions to ask him... questions about heritage preservation issues and cultural studies.

Meeting and talking to Doctor Lumbera is definitely an experience I will never forget, as a gem like him is so rare these days. While my thesis topic and my purpose for visiting him are not directly related to heritage preservation, Doctor Lumbera is still an icon in culture: he is both creative and courage, and inspires to restlessly search for a clear path in being Filipino and what it is to be a global citizen. I hope to see more of him in my peers, and in myself as well -- we who are the present and future of the state and society, the protectors, promoters and preservers of the Filipino way in the rapidly globalizing world.

Some Changes

Hi All,

I'm not changing blogs or anything, but I'm replacing the name and URL of The Golden Pearls. I met with a reader of my old blog, which was inconveniently deleted by some annoying stranger, Creativity and Courage in Culture. I wrote about the same things -- the problems of heritage preservation, national identity and cultural awareness -- until early October of this year. Now it is a site where I re-blog pictures that explain my life in general or how I feel at the moment.

Now, this reader told me that she enjoyed reading my blogs and that it makes her feel safer in the twenty-first century, now that the younger generation is now becoming more enthusiastic about heritage preservation (we're a small group, but a minority can always change things). She asked me what happened to my blog, and I merely told her the reason and I directed her to The Golden Pearls.

She advised me to switch it to the old title because that's how I branded myself.

And so I am. I was known as Creativity and Courage and I'll stick to that title.

As of the upcoming blogs, I won't have much to write on yet, since I haven't been immersing myself in culture except in school. But when I get the chance I'll write as much as I can.

Much love,
Myta H. Santiago

Eid Al-Adha: The Feast of Sacrifice [blurb]

Many warm greetings to my Muslim brothers and sisters as they celebrate Eid Al-Adha today.

Let us be reminded that in order to attain peace and justice, we must be willing to sacrifice. My warmest greetings to you all!

Viral Series by Briccio Santos

If you check my personal ranting space blog, Crumpled Chronicles, you'd notice that I've been stuck at home for the past few days doing my thesis proposal on a very complicated topic, because no one has ever really done it before, and yet the answer is so obvious, but I just want people to know that there is such thing as European film. Thankfully, my mom has been able to bring me out of the house for the past couple of days. The other day we watched Megamind and bought some cosmetics, and last night she brought me to an art gallery opening by Briccio Santos in White Wall gallery in Makati.

For those who read my article about film archiving in the Philippines, Chairman Briccio Santos of the Film Development Council of the Philippines is also the Briccio Santos, contemporary abstract/surreal mixed media artist. You can say that he is a varied artist with an eye for both concept and reality, and meshes it all in his art. Unfortunately I wasn't able to interview him about his thoughts on his works last night, but I was able to take pictures.

 My mom looking at a piece from "The Viral Series".

My mom and I both like this piece. For my mom, it "switches her on," but for me, it gives me an idea I cannot put into words.

My favorite piece from "The Viral Series".

Among those who were present in the gallery opening are Doy Del Mundo, Boots Anson Roa and Impy Pilapil.

It's really nice to see some art once in a while, and this makes up for the CUT2010 photography exhibit I missed a few weeks back because of some misunderstanding between me and my mom.

Pio Valenzuela: Remembering Him, because No One Really Remembers Him

Tomorrow's Halloween, but more importantly, it's the time when Filipinos go to their family graves and pay respects to those who have gone ahead of us. Work is cancelled for a few days so that families living in bigger cities can go home to their respective provinces to visit the dead and also visit the living. Not too many people know this, but, the season we call Undas is a season to celebrate life and the unknown. I think that's why we still opt to celebrate Halloween... not only because it was introduced to us by our colonizers, but also because this is a reminder that we must celebrate the dead as we celebrate life.

I'm not going to talk about Halloween though. There are too many articles, both positive and negative, regarding the existence of ghosts, demonology, as well as the latest Halloween costumes and recipes for the same kind of pumpkin soup. This article is about a man forgotten by both family and nation. This article is about Pio Valenzuela.

Pio Valenzuela was one of the leaders of the Katipunan and the first Filipino mayor of the city of Polo, Bulacan (now Valenzuela City). He died in 1956 and is currently buried in the Valenzuela cemetery. His grave is next to my family's, so every year I see his grave.

For the past 10 years or so, I have noticed that his grave is unkempt and apparently never visited. It's now surrounded by water, and it's hard going into that part because the path is also very muddy. Leaves are scattered everywhere, and people just pass by without even looking twice. There's a medium-sized sign that spells out his last name, but no one seems to care. It's a projection of how many Filipinos do not take pride in knowing their history.

If Undas is about celebrating life and death, why have we forgotten the life and death of this man?

A watery grave.

The sign is there, but who remembers?

I deem it ironic, really, that Valenzuela City does not honor the man who they named the city after. Isn't that disrespectful? I've already talked to Doctor Zialcita and Doctor Ocampo about this matter, and it will take some time and public awareness to get people to understand, appreciate and act on cleaning up his grave and celebrating his life. And I hope to see this in my lifetime.














*Click to enlarge images. © 2010 Myta Santiago.

---------------------

Speaking of remembering our heroes, Instituto Cervantes is celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of the South American independence this November by showing movies about the Chilean revolution. Take some time to watch how the Chileans fought for their freedom, and how their creativity and courage in the arts have made them well-known!

Click to enlarge. Images by Instituto Cervantes de Manila.

National Film Archive, much like saving a child

Read THIS first.

But if you don't want to, here's a brief outline.

• Briccio Santos just arrived from business-related trips in Pusan (South Korea) and Hanoi (Vietnam).
• His office's main priorities as the government arm of the film industry -- co-production and the national film archive -- all in the name of finally establishing a national/state cinema.

This is honestly a good start for Chairman Briccio as it is high time that we should establish one. There are so many films lost due to time and mismanagement, and I hope that the film industry can (finally!) work together to save our, as FDCP calls it, "cinematic gems."

However I have a feeling that the question among many people aware of this movement is, "which films should we preserve and reconstruct?" My personal view is this: why not preserve all while we still can?

I know, I know that many of films are not well-done, but in one way or another, a film despite its ratings and reviews still deserves to be preserved because -- admit it, Filipinos (or whoever reads my blog), at one point in our lives, we liked slapstick comedy and that brand of comedy made our childhood memorable to a certain extent (I still like Dolphy/Babalu comedy. Still cracks me up till now).

A film archive is not only an area to keep films and prolong their lives, as well as provide public access to people who want to study Asian Film or Philippine Film. A film archive, like all archives, preserves and reconstructs our emotions, our lifestyles and our way of life. Just because some films lately have not been so excellent doesn't mean we cannot just throw them away. It's sort of like aborting your unborn child who has Down Syndrome. Take responsibility; the film archive will always help out.

I just hope producers have this foresight of depositing their films and not storing them in some poorly air-conditioned warehouse, and I hope that the Film Development Council of the Philippines will hold true to their mandate -- but they must ask help and support from SOFIA and Mowelfund, and not just CCP and NCCA.

I look forward to the days ahead for Philippine cinema.

My question for now is will all filmmakers help out? I'm not a filmmaker (I'm the granddaughter of one, and I'm sure he's disappointed with me) but nonetheless I am passionate about film preservation and I do want to help out as much as I can.

Antonioni, Visconti, Fellini and Pasolini: Straddling Cinema and Literature

 In relation to my post last night about the 9th Italian Film Festival, the planning committee (The Embassy of Italy and the Philippine-Italian Association) has also put together a special lecture on Italian cinema and literature at 10:00 on October 20, 2010 at the Premiere Theater of Shang Cineplex. The lecture will be followed by a screening of "The Leopard" by Luchino Visconti.

RSVP through Marissa Ronquillo at filital2@yahoo.com or through Jigs at 6332227.

Nature, The Human Genius and The Fight to Stay Alive

Image from tamang trip

One day I'm bound to take a trip to North Luzon just to visit the Banaue Rice Terraces. I have never set foot in this area. I consider it sacred; a land containing centuries of, not only crops, but also a vast amount of wisdom and history... a wisdom and history which we all should endeavor to protect and conserve.

This mindset was once the key to sustaining the terraces. The Ifugao ethnic group we know today created this marvelous site with their bear hands two thousand years ago and generations sought out to preserve it because, well, this was and is their land that gives them life and values. The creation of the Banaue Rice Terraces was not a simple plan to grow crops, but a masterpiece, an interpretation of the human genius and man's ability to balance nature with his values. Truly a sight to appreciate, the Banaue Rice Terrarces is also a sight to protect.

This wonder is still alive, however with increasing human activity, increasing population and increasing human consumption, the terraces are losing ground -- literally. Modernization is creeping into the area and the youth who are supposed to take care of this heritage site are losing interest in taking care of it. The elders still acknowledge their duty to the Rice Terraces but they can only do so much. At the same time the present water crisis and much stronger typhoons might further endanger the life of the terraces. While the local government knows these threats and rally the people to protect their life and land, I believe we should also do our part in helping them. Private citizens and the national government must work hand-in-hand to protect the Banaue Rice Terraces, as well as other heritage sites, not because of how much money we can make, but because of how many generations will thank us if we do.

One day, I believe, a Filipino will travel to Banaue and sit down on a high peak, marveling at the sight before him. That young traveler will not exist if we do not recognize the value nature as the key for maintaining our way of life and inspiring the human genius.

9th Italian Film Festival in Manila

This blog will also highlight some of the upcoming events that might interest [future] readers, because promotion leads to preservation!

Now, presenting to you all... The 9th Annual Italian Film Festival in Manila! From October 20 to 26, 2010 at Cinema 4 of the Shang Cineplex in Shangri-La Mall EDSA, film enthusiasts and lovers of Italian culture and society can watch contemporary Italian films. This year highlights Italy's thriller and comedy cinematic gems to (probably) celebrate Halloween, but even more celebrate the great mysteries of human life through fear and laughter. Admission is free, but seats are at a first-come, first-served basis. Click on the image below to view the schedule.

The 9th Italian Film Festival is brought to you by the Italian Embassy in the Philippines and the Philippine-Italian Association, in collaboration with Shangri-La Plaza, Shang Cineplex, TreviFoundations Philippines, Fiori di M, Cibo di M, Yo Card, and Spot.Ph

A Call to Return to Culture

From Ben's Blog: Building non-profits

The Philippines is home to more than 90 million people, more than half of which are either too poor to go to school or don't get quality education. On the other side of the fence are those who either are bound to leave the country, pursue a career for other personal purposes, or simply do not know what to do. There is no one really to blame about this phenomenon, but it is happening. We have lost our love for our country and would rather manage a smaller group: ourselves, our family, our friends. I admire this loyalty, but sometimes, we must return to the community of which we have been born out of.

The Philippines is lost in translation. What was once the Pearl of the Orient is now another developing country. Historically, we were as rich as any European country because of the Galleon Trade, but today we are scraping our knees on the rocky ground, looking for some sort of gem that we can regard as treasure. Not too many people know this, or even feel this suffering. We are content and blind. We have lost not only our love, but also our glory.

So what is our mission now? Many a politician disregard this statement, but it is true. We must return to the community as a cultural peoples whose history is as rich and beautiful as any other. We have something to be proud about, and that is the Filipino spirit. Too long have we overlooked the power within us... but to reclaim it is a daunting task, but possible enough. We have to answer that call to return to cultural reform. We must remember our pride as Filipinos who revolted for freedom in both revolutionary and peaceful manners. We must remember that Filipinos are geniuses in the arts, and that our ability to adapt artistically is a rare and unique gift.

We must remember that culture will never escape us, for it is us... it is the stuff that makes this country the Philippines. And this is my mission: To remind everyone that culture is calling us. We must respond and creatively and courageously destroy that mediocre status quo of blind consumerism. We are better than this; we are Filipinos.