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.

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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.