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.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Marian Procession in Intramuros
From Philippine Daily Inquirer
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.
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.
Friday, November 26, 2010
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:
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:
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!
I just finished my order of chicken inasal for PhP49, and I must say it is delicious!
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.
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!
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| 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
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| Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature Image from here |
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
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!
Let us be reminded that in order to attain peace and justice, we must be willing to sacrifice. My warmest greetings to you all!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
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.
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.
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.
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