http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com The Arts of the Philippines. A Website in Honor of Philippine Arts, Antiquities and Culture. info@artesdelasfilipinas.com en http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=58Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:04:43 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=58The art of making the pabalat or pastillas wrappers has transformed in recent years from being a local, folk tradition into a popular art. Besides adding flair to the sweet pastillas de leche made from fresh carabao’s milk, the pabalat has also become a compelling icon/symbol of the people’s creativity, not only of the town of San Miguel but the entire province of Bulacan. Bulacan fiestas are not complete without the elaborate papercut designs often used as decoration, table centerpiece, and souvenirs. The pastillas wrapped in pabalat have also become popular gifts during birthdays, weddings, and other occasions and pasalubong among local tourists and balikbayans.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=55Thu, 22 May 2008 18:48:01 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=55Prof. Pedro Abraham, Jr., or Sir Edru to his students, is a known figure in the University of the Philippines. He was the founder of the Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi, the Resident Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble of the College of Arts and Letters in UP Diliman). Kontra-Gapi also has a meaning on its own: kontra (against) gapi (to shackle) means to be against the restriction of stereotypes and of Westernization. In 1996, the Kontra-GaPi was awarded the U.P. Diliman Chancellor’s signal plaque for Outstanding Achievement in the Performing Artshttp://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=54Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:05:38 -0800http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=54Do you ever include your personal experiences in your works? I do sometimes. I can’t recall which ones but I know I’ve done a series of works that are biographical in nature. Your paintings had some air of adultery in them… Well, the problem with paintings is people tend to overanalyze them. Is there a certain painting that has given you satisfaction? Oh yes! I don’t remember the title but it’s in my mind, it’s a small work and red in color. There is a garden and there are just two figures. They are kissing, embracing, very representative of what I call my intuitive phase. It’s no longer mine. It’s an old work and I missed it. Do you ever repeat your subject? Definitely. Not the same compositions but same subjects. How do you do that? Definitely in the way of composition… but the idea is there. Like I got tired of doing harlequins, when I started doing that I thought it was always just paying homage to Picasso.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=53Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:44:28 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=53The works of Marcel Antonio belong to an expressive and non-literary tradition of storytelling. He began his career in 1983 while still a sophomore in the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts. He was talented and his art had a sense of magical realism, brimming with quirky contemporary mythologies through a feminine point of view. Much later, he very much impressed his professors and others with whom he came into contact.Through the years, Marcel Antonio’s career soared high and his works became deeply embedded in the viewer’s collective consciousness. Now at age 41, Marcel Antonio in this interview talks about his beginnings, his art, his progress and development as a young artist of note, and a preview of his very personal life.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=52Sat, 02 Jun 2007 10:19:59 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=52Amidst the concrete jungle in the middle of the city of Caloocan, amongst the smog of pollution, stands the dignified figure of Andres Bonifacio—national hero, Founder of the Katipunan, Father of the Filipino Nation, the great plebeian who spearheaded the Filipino revolution against the Spaniards. The Bonifacio Monument is mute, but Bonifacio’s eyes made of bronze were shouting, reminding us for a moment to stop from the gray and frenzied hurly-burly of city life, and reflect on the greatness of the "Supremo." Andres Bonifacio (b. 30 November 1863, d. 10 May 1897), was a self-taught orphan who became a theater actor and an employee of two international companies in Manila.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=51Wed, 30 May 2007 19:53:09 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=51Vic Salta is a legendary art collector in the seventies who opened Artistree gallery in Shangri la Plaza to make first-rate works of art available to learned collectors. He chose not to deal with ordinary pieces and decided instead to carry paintings by the Old and Modern Masters in Philippine art whose provenance were from prominent families in the country. He went to great lengths to get hold of many great masterpieces to give his clients choice works high in aesthetic and commercial value. In this interview, he talked about the journey he took prior to his rise in becoming a formidable art dealer in the country and his unique experiences in dealing artists.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=50Tue, 15 May 2007 22:47:26 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=5027th April 1995—I was 11 years old when I visited the National Museum -- the repository of our cultural, natural and historical heritage. I remembered the majesty of climbing those steps and walking past the Neo-classical Roman columns until I was inside the Old Congress Building. Today, if the Metropolitan Museum’s identifying piece is the painting Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas Al Populacho by Felix Resurrecion Hidaldo and the GSIS Museum its Parisian Life by the painter Juan Luna, the National Museum’s, El Spoliarium, Luna’s most famous piece. Many people come to the museum just for this painting. But another less-popular but quite significant piece is the manunngula jar.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=49Sat, 07 Apr 2007 23:23:42 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=49The most respected and most experienced among gallery owners in the Philippines, Evita Sarenas has earned the reputation for launching the careers of many young and promising artists in the Philippines. She started specializing in the works of the Modern Masters in the early eighties and was the recognized gallery to sell Ang Kiukok’s works. Her sharp eye, perseverance, and passion have helped many connoisseurs develop a strategy and encourage a well-informed and sophisticated approach to acquisitions. In this interview, Evita Sarenas gives an insight of her early beginnings as a student of Fine Arts to stumbling a job of managing a gallery in 1983 and becoming the Philippines’ most sought gallery of modern and contemporary art.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=48Sat, 03 Feb 2007 04:10:19 -0800http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=48Italian-born beauty Silvanna Ancelloti-Diaz has spent the last thirty-two years in the Philippines promoting and exhibiting the works of the country’s blue-chip and contemporary artists. After settling in Manila following a long stay in New York, she tried her hands on organizing exhibitions for Miladay gallery, together with pilot-artist Lino Severino, and eventually moved on to open her own gallery. On December 5, 1975, three years after the Martial Law, Diaz opened Gallerie Duemila in Vermida building in Makati City. Duemila, in Italian, means twentieth century contemporary modern art. In a country that cherishes its past, Gallerie Duemila has truly become an unlikely landmark. She introduced modern art to Filipino and foreign collectors and has brought our local artists to international fame and recognition. She also holds the distinction of running the oldest gallery in existence in the country. In this interview, Silvanna Diaz talks about her experiences, roles and responsibilities as founder and artistic director of Gallerie Duemila.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=47Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:00:38 -0800http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=47Emmanuel Garibay was born on November 23, 1962 in Kidapawan, North Cotabato by a father who worked as a pastor in a Methodist church and a mother who worked in the city engineer’s office. His family moved to Davao city where he spent a secure and happy childhood. In 1968, then only six, Garibay’s mother provided the earliest significant encouragement for his artistic talent. His work even as a young boy showed a grasp of human character, particularly of soldiers. "Young boys are always fascinated with men in uniform," he says. "I then went to a phase of doodling robots, tanks, and make-believe characters." He recalls with great relish as a child growing in Davao that he was taken in by the awe of owning a bicycle. The bicycle spelled freedom and fun that took him around the neighborhood and the lakes with his friends. The young Garibay would always set off on his bicycle and pedalled up the drive with his friends to explore new places and meet new people. "I love Davao," he muses, describing it as "charming and wild in so many senses of the word."http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=46Fri, 22 Dec 2006 23:45:07 -0800http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=46The most respected and most experienced among gallery owners in the Philippines, Evita Sarenas has earned the reputation for launching the careers of many young and promising artists in the Philippines. She started specializing in the works of the Modern Masters in the early eighties and was the recognized gallery to sell Ang Kiukok’s works. Her sharp eye, perseverance, and passion have helped many connoisseurs focus develop a strategy and encourage a well-informed and sophisticated approach to acquisitions. In this interview, Evita Sarenas gives an insight of her early beginnings as a student of Fine Arts to stumbling a job of managing a gallery in 1983 and becoming the Philippines’ most sought gallery of modern and contemporary art.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=45Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:53:20 -0800http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=45The book is about Marcosian Architecture. The author started each chapter with quotes from different scholars as an introduction to his discussions. The book is very much influenced by Michel Foucault’s discourse on power and knowledge. Lico says that Marcos regime recognized the nexus of architecture and society, its potential for influencing the community, and wielded this weapon to promote the aesthetics of power in the built form. The book seeks to contribute to theoretical work on the relationship between architecture and power. It documents some of the socio-historical dimensions of the Marcos regime’s major architectural accomplishments which include the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts Theater, PHILCITE, Philippine International Convention Center, Philippine Trade Pavillons, Tahanang Pilipino (Coconut Palace), and the Manila Film Center. Through this book, Lico hopes to generate awareness of the unrecognized power of architecture.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=44Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:48:22 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=44“I love my job because it challenges my person,” says artist and art restorer, June Dalisay. “It’s a relationship between myself and the object infront of me. I have always wanted to become a doctor but we could not afford it back then so to me my job challenges my skills in handling tools. It gives me so much joy and pride after seeing what I have done with the object restored.” The practice of scientific art conservation is a fairly young field of knowledge in the Philippines, despite the large amount and variety of great artworks requiring restoration and conservation. To meet this need, Art Conservation and Restoration Specialists, Inc. (ACES) was organized and incorporated in 2000 by a group of scientific conservators which include Amelita Guillermo, Louella Revilla, Roberto Balarbar, Willie Estonanto, Larry Cruz, Raymundo Esguerra, and June Dalisay. June Dalisay talks about her job and the skills, knowledge, and abilities required. She provides insights on some of the art objects she has restored and the great deal of enjoyment out of restoring them. She also informs collectors of the preservation of artworks, their protection from future damage, and the importance of creation, understanding, and maintenance of material culture.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=43Wed, 16 Aug 2006 18:50:20 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=43Have you heard of the Guinness World Records? The Philippines had been included in the Guinness Book of Records as the Biggest Pair of Shoes the city of Marikina ever had been made out of leather and these shoes have been exhibited around the country for people to see. This year, the OTSAA (On The Spot Artists’ Association, Incorporation) is presently attempting to break the Guinness World Records for the longest painting on a continuous canvas. Around 300 participants participated and each participant was allowed a portion (approximately 1 meter) of the canvas to paint. OTSAA was first launched on April 22, 2006 at SM Fairview. I was part of the first batch of artists to participate. Aside from professional artists, OTSAA had been actively inviting even children at least 10 years of age to participate. This event is a contribution to commemorate the mid-decade celebration of the 2001-2010 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=42Fri, 11 Aug 2006 22:57:43 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=42There is something beguiling about painting new and spectacular flora. They infiltrate our reception of images and they carry particular poignancy. The sweetness of a nightingale and the tranquility of white orchids create an airy ambience displaying a shared sensibility: tender, delicate, sensual, graceful, almost reflecting nature’s simple perfection. The works of up and coming artist, Joven Ignacio, contribute a visual poetry of their own. The Malaguena (2004), with magnolia flowers and a woman that lie beneath the leaves strike a sweet note of bashfulness. The Palawan Peacock (2003) parades the artist’s ability to capture the aura and personality of the colorful peacock and bashful orchids --this piece is a moment captured in the bird’s life.Either from external circumstances or personal choice, Ignacio’s oeuvre is devoted exclusively to floral and fauna. His subjects are skillfully executed that it is difficult to believe that they reflect anything other than the artist’s visual imagination.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=41Thu, 13 Jul 2006 18:50:49 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=41The two hundred and sixty-three pages of the coffee table book, “Philippine Ancestral Houses,” is a richly illustrated history and analysis of the bahay na bato - - how it came about, where, when, and how it did. It explains its architectural evolution and why particular architectural ideas occurred. There are several other authors who have discussed the same subject: (Gilda Cordero-Fernando (1978), Felice Sta.Maria (1983) but a reader could easily gain a strong understanding of the fascinating and challenging subject from Zialcita and Tinio’s book, which describes Philippine “bahay na bato” architecture in twelve chronological chapters. Zialcita and Tinio successfully provided a framework of a Filipino architecture and it guides the reader to evaluate the influence of its foreign ancestry (Baroque, Gothic, Spanish Renaissance, French, Italian), the environment, and the materials available during those times. It also provided the readers the basis for understanding the never-ending search for an authentic Philippine architectural style.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=40Sun, 02 Jul 2006 04:51:08 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=40The town of Taal, Batangas had a long tradition of hand embroidery since the turn of the century. Its intricate, well-embossed hand embroidery made it increasingly a refined art of society. It boasts of its highly callado (a kind of filigree work wherein yarn in painstakingly pulled off from the cloth) as one of the finest in the world. Pina and jusi are the traditional fabrics used by the bordadoras. Pina is a soft, fine, flexible, and durable off-white fabric about two to four inches in length. It is derived from the finest mature leaves of the red Spanish variety of pineapple. During the Spanish period, pina was the most expensive and highly sought fabric worn for barong Tagalog by the illustrados on very rare special occasions It is a very delicate material, too difficult and expensive to embroider. Jusi (the Chinese term for raw silk), on the other hand, is a lightweight, flimsy, and ecru colored fabric regarded by the bordadoras as the best material for embroidery.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=39Sat, 24 Jun 2006 06:59:45 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=39Last Feburary 4, 2006, the Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) celebrated its seventieth anniversary with the theme, "Excellence and Service Towards a Transformed Society." The ICA Alumnae Association in partnership with the Parent Auxiliary of Batch 2005, are pleased to present a limited edition of collectibles from renowned artists to support the Grant-In Aid Program of ICA and the Search for Most Outstanding Teachers Award. This endeavor is an essential component in the academic environment to encourage both students and faculty to foster high quality eductaion.National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon, National Artist for Visual Arts Arturo Luz, Anita Magsaysay-Ho and Ramon Orlina are among the kind-hearted artists who have committed to support the fund-raising efforts of the Alumnae Association and the Parent Auxiliary of ICA.National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva created limited edition display the special bond between mother and child at play. of beautiful sculptural pieces of Mother and Child casted in bronze that display the special bond between mother and child.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=37Wed, 14 Jun 2006 03:14:23 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=37The Hapao bul-ul is normally carved in a standing position. Its knees are slightly flexed with its hands resting on the kneecaps. Each year, for about a century now, the bul-ul’s real life family-- the Bumatang’s of Magoc, Hungduan, sponsors a village festival in honor of the bul-uls as well as the appeasement of it. The family was convinced that unless it gave the annual party which involves the butchering, roasting, and dispensing of several pigs, sickness would strike the household. This is an old and strictly followed tradition the family observed.Another Hapao example is the binakle, which has imparted to these bul-ul their distinctive white-blotched surface. This is a religious observance they follow once a year at harvest time in some parts of Ifugao.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=36Tue, 13 Jun 2006 03:34:31 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=36During the Spanish era which covers a period of 300 years, important events happened in Balayan, Batangas. It was in 1575 that the Agustinian missionaries arrived in Balayan, Batangas. After three years, 1578, Balayan was officially founded as a municipality by Fr. Esteban Ortiz and Fr. Juan de Poras. It was recognized under the Spanish Crown from a region already known as Balayan created by Datu Balensuela in 1394 and inherited by Datu Kumintang on or before 1521. From 1570 to 1578, Balayan was also known as Kumintang. The coastal towns of what is now Nasugbu, Lian, and Calatagan together with Tuy which was the former pilot barrios of Balayan were founded in the later part of 1578. In 1578, the formal evangelization of the town was started by the Agustinian missionaries followed by the Franciscan missionaries under Fray Juan de Placencia.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=35Thu, 25 May 2006 17:53:36 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=35I just realized that I have been teaching for almost eight years now. In the beginning, I thought it would be easy as I promise myself that I would only be teaching for five years. I was wrong, I never thought I would stay this long. The hardest thing for me to do was letting go of my students. Before I entered this teaching career, my professor told me that teaching needs dedication and sacrifices. He was right. My life was turned up-side-down. I dedicated more of my time teaching art than painting an artwork--a passion that I love. Every year students come and go and each class is different from the other. For all the times I have spent time with them, I always learn something new. In school, I handled one of the hardest subjects: Thesis, but I enjoyed it. But last semester, I never thought that it would change my life again. The Painting Batch of 2006 was one of the most difficult classes I had handled. They were all enthusiastic, ingenious, ground-breaking, daring, and forthright. They did not limit themselves with paint but indulged themselves by playing with other media. Some artists I met told once that "Sometimes rules cannot be broken but can be bent." This batch proved it to be true.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=34Tue, 09 May 2006 18:34:33 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=34Landscape artists invariably have a love of their environment and this is clearly seen in the works of young artist, Adler Llagas. The rolling hills and mountains of Rizal and Laguna figure largely in his works. The yellow rice fields and the mountains are his favorite subjects as his childhood memories are full of details that chime again and again with these imageries that is almost like a story found in fairy tale books. "Ang palayan ang aming naging palaruan, (The rice fields became our playground.)" he begins. Born on June 12, 1977 as the son of a poor farmer living in a small village alongside the rice fields in Baras, Rizal, the young Adler grew up in a rather huge family with nine other siblings. He was the ninth child and fifth son of Delfin and Caridad, whom Llagas describes as "the most hardworking and persevering people I know." Llagas recalls that his family was in tremendous financial difficulties that they were all asked to help in the field and become farmers at their young age. "Di kami katulad ng ibang bata, kailangan kaming tumulong sa magulang para magsurvive. Mahirap ang buhay namin sa bukid talaga, (We were not like other kids. We need to help our parents in order to survive. Our life in the farm was difficult.)" he said.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=33Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:58:50 -0800http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=33The beauty that one can exalt in seeing the seemingly never-ending terracing of rice fields, remarkable long-stretching successive lines of rice paddies hand-contoured in several edges of Cordillera mountain is really a historical dictate in our conscience and to the minds of our foreign visitors and a part of this monumental achievement by our brother Ifugao there is another cultural identity that exhibits their greatness – this is the Ifugao Bul-ul sculpture. These sculptural objects considered as an indigenous kind that deserves the right to be marked intrinsically important for the Ifugao’s cultural existence. If history told that rice terraces belong to the essential nature or constitution of an Ifugao living it is by the same degree, that Bul-ul sculpture be acknowledged as an integral part of this festive agriculture drama. Rice agriculture in ifugao mountainous area of fertile land is the primary reason for their physical survival. This fact in anyway obliges the Ifugao people to invent a preventive or defensive instrument to protect their environs and its agricultural produce. This dream by the Ifugao gave raise to a tangible image that will magically bring the assurance of protecting their primary source of living from any physical or natural adversaries.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=32Fri, 24 Mar 2006 21:22:08 -0800http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=32Film actor, scriptwriter, and visual artist, Raul Arellano gives voice to the tumultuous emotions of many artists troubled by the war and the deeper feelings that remain with us all throughout life. From lovers intertwined to naked bodies of a family to a man in bondage, Arellano’s works reflect the different aspects of who he really is. His willingness to break new grounds is his most precious gift. Incorporating his own ideas and experiences has given him a work that is uniquely his own. Now based in Los Angeles, California, he is starting to make his mark with works that certainly do not pass unnoticed but the gaze and soul of those who stop to observe them. Nearly all of his works are open to multiple meanings and rich in specific messages. Each work is open to the personal reflection of the viewer who is being pulled to give a voice and meaning to each individual creation.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=31Thu, 02 Feb 2006 22:46:28 -0800http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=31She is truly mystical. Of herself she declares, “I am as old as the hills and as young as the clouds, and somebody said, as the mist.” Baidy Rico Mendoza fashions her clay people out of disparate things—it may be from a passage from the Scriptures, a word, an interesting face, a place she’s seen, or even a remembered snippet of conversation. With quick, deft fingers, she patiently molds each piece into shape, even as she adjusts to its plastic possibilities, smoothing and investing each inch of the clay with thought and care. All these years of working with the medium has taught her that a tiny air bubble carelessly left in the clay is enough to cause damage to the piece once it is fired in the kiln. All this experience, too, of working with the materials and tools, as well as the temporal demands of her art, has given her a philosophical view of life, and imbued her with an ageless wisdom borne out of being constantly in touch with her instinctive nature. Baidy Mendoza is spiritual even as her philosophies on life and art are also deeply rooted in nature—literally embedded in the red soil where she derives her creativity.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=30Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:10:41 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=30Fabian de la Rosa (May 5, 1869- December 14, 1937) was the brightest name in Philippine painting after Luna and certainly the leading master of genre in the first quarter of the century. Particularly noted for being an outstanding painter of women’s portraits, alongside Juan Luna and his nephews, Pablo and Fernando Amorsolo. Fabian Cueto de la Rosa was born on May 5, 1869 in Paco, Manila, the second child of Marcos de la Rosa and Gregoria Cueto. He had apprenticed with his aunt, Mariana de la Rosa, and later with Simon Flores for his first art lessons. Prior to receiving any formal academic training in the arts, he painted La Perla de Lucban, his first known masterpiece and oldest existing work, at the age of twenty-two. In 1893, he enrolled in Escuela Superior de Pintura, Grabado y Escultura under the directorship of Don Lorenzo Rocha (1837-1898). He left the Academy and frequented studios of simple unknown painter in Quiapo and Sta. Cruz to look for new ways to forge his ideas. Later on, he also received lessons from Lorenzo Guerrero and Miguel Zaragoza.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=29Tue, 25 Oct 2005 20:58:07 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=29Austria started his teaching career in the University of Sto. Tomas in 1969. Students who knew Austria when he was still a professor describe their experience with Austria, “Takot kami ma-late sa klase ni Sir Austria. Very strict si Sir. Kaya pasok kami talaga ng maaga sa 7 AM class nya. (We’re scared to be late in Austria’s class. He was very strict so we make it a point to be early in his 7 AM class.) Sometimes, we’d even test his punctuality by looking out the window to see if he’ll beat the clock and be in our 7AM class. Then 3 minutes before the clock ticks at 7, makikita na namin sya (we would see him) clad in all the way blue outfit --blue polo shirt, blue pants, even blue socks arriving with his very famous neon orange Beetle car. Then we’d all go to our seats and get ready for his class,” Austria’s students recall.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=27Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:45:21 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=27“BALAYAN, the name of an old town and of vast province Batangas in 1581, which has been figured out here as the center of the ancient country Mai-I, is probably derived from Bai or bai i.e house…the tagalog term “bai” for the Batangas area was replaced by the Visayan people under the leadership of Datu Balensucla and Datu Dumagsil in the middle of the 13th century, as told in tradition or in the Maragtas. The old province of Batangas from Balayan to the far eastern region in Laguna including part of Camarines Norte was the most prosperous and civilized area in the Philippines. When the Spaniards first came, Nasugbu, Balayan, Batangas, Taal, Cavite, Bacoor, Pasig, Marikina, Cainta, Nagcarlan, Lilio, Pilar, Bai, Pangil, Majayjay, Paracale, etc. were the first towns and centers of commerce and industries in the island.”http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=26Fri, 10 Jun 2005 03:42:40 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=26Filled with beautiful memories and happy moments, Antonio Austria’s house in Bonifacio street in San Juan is an expression of his diverse fascination – from antique bottles varying in different shapes and sizes to old santos and capiz windows adorned with colorful antique glass to memorabilia and some of his original works, Austria’s house has something just about for everyone. A few distance from the historical Santuario del Santo Cristo church and the Dominican College, his house and studio is a light-filled space surrounded with canvases waiting for him to complete. Inside his den are antique chests where he keeps his books and newspaper clippings and in which rare pieces of gin antique bottles are found. This is the place he has called home for the last sixty-eight years. Meeting Antonio Austria for the first time is truly an unforgettable experience. Everything you needed to know about him was in his face.The eyes were warm. The mouth loved to wrestle all at oncehttp://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=25Mon, 16 May 2005 19:40:38 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=25A former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of the Philippines, currently Professor of Community Development, consultant, trainor, gender equality advocate, and head of various civic organizations, Amaryllis Torres or Amar takes all these roles in stride and embraces them with a grace that only a few could manage. But among the many roles she has had in her life, the one that she is proudest of is her being a mother to four highly successful children and a grandmother to six adorable grandchildren. Now leading a quiet and simple life with her ever growing family, Torres welcomes me into a house filled with kids, art, color, and creativity. In the idyllic surroundings she fashioned for her children and grandchildren to enjoy, it is easy to understand how even mundane activities can be such a pleasure. Amar has created for them an environment that truly reflects her love for the arts and simple things that she collected through all her different roles in life.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=24Fri, 13 May 2005 03:07:49 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=24Just recently, I was trying too hard to identify a place with unique features that is not only worthy of admiring but also considered artistic. Then I asked myself, “What place has not been much written but holds of great significance?” I was bothered, staring blankly at nothing until my father offered me this-- “Why bother go far? Try considering the San Sebastian Church.” Then I asked him, “What’s with it?” My father then replied, “Well, It’s just sad that many people didn’t know that the San Sebastian Church is the only Gothic church ever built in the Philippines - or perhaps, in the whole of Asia.If only for that, it is worth visiting.” I got excited by the idea of writing about this historical landmark and before any books can be used for my reference I asked my father to share his knowledge of San Sebastian.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=23Thu, 28 Apr 2005 22:33:19 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=23In spite of the glare and blare of the demanding city life lies a moment wherein the only thing you can't help but do, is to breath in the scent of May. One such example is the Flores de Mayo, also known as Flowers of May, held in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Every afternoon in May, people within the community gather together in their Church to offer their prayers, as well as their exotic assortment of flowers to the Blessed Mother. These flowers are collected together for the numerous festivities all together known as the "Flores de Mayo". Generally, parishes end the celebration in a procession to the church where the Evening Mass will be held. This procession is also known as the "Santacruzan", loosely translated as Festival of the Holy Cross.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=22Wed, 20 Apr 2005 21:12:25 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=22The Season of Festivals is celebrated on the merry month of May. One extravagant festival that everyone is excited to see is the Pahiyas Festival in Quezon Province, which is celebrated on the 15th of May. Quezon, formerly known as Tayabas, is the second largest province in the Southern Tagalog region. The Pahiyas festival is simultaneously celebrated in the towns of Tayabas and Sariaya. Nevertheless, people go to Lucban because of its extravagant preparations which by tradition started during the 16th century as a way of thanksgiving for the people’s bountiful harvest. The Pahiyas festival transforms the small towns of Quezon province from ordinary to exquisite sight. Originally a pagan harvest festival, it is now commemorated in honor of San Isidro Labrador – the patron saint of farmers, peasants, laborers used to be a farmer in Madrid. According to legend, white oxen magically plowed his fields whenever he went to church.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=21Mon, 18 Apr 2005 01:04:56 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=21Born on June 5, 1951 in Tondo, Manila, he was the third of seven children of Luis Ko and Rosalina Ho. A year after he was born, the family moved from Binondo to Caloocan where his mother ran a sari-sari store. Ko began showing an interest in art when he was just three years old, sketching with crayons and filling up the walls and doors of his mother’s store with chalk drawings. It was when he turned nine that Ko began a more realistic approach to art and, in 1963, his artworks began to be displayed at the school lobby. During this year, he also entered a United Nations art competition and won first place during the 1964 Caloocan Foundation Day celebration with ‘Belen’, made of plaster of Paris, wood, and paper. Ko enrolled at FEU for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and studied impressionism and plein-air painting under Ibarra de la Rosa, while at the same time playing guitar in a roving band. He won awards in FEATI’s annual student exhibitions and eventually obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=20Sun, 17 Apr 2005 19:54:45 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=20Have you ever seen giants? Do you have the slightest idea how they looked like? Our parents read to us fairy tale stories when we were young and occasionally see them in movie theaters. But to tell you the truth, I have seen the giants or the higantes. I never actually believed they existed in real life but I realized that they do when I came to visit a town in Angono. Let me tell you the story. It was a sunny afternoon when my family and I came across Balaw-Balaw, a gallery-restaurant that offers exotic foods for the adventurous diners. Owned by the late Lakeshore artist Perdigon Vocalan, this restaurant is becoming popular among foreign and local tourists alike. Diners can wander in the gallery while waiting for their food to be served. Upon entering the restaurant, you will see the “Mag-anak,”-- the family of higantes that consist of the father, mother, and child, looking closely at the people passing by. As I remember, I asked him regarding the higantes. He told me about the annual festival of Angono -- the Higante Festival in honor of St. Clement, the patron saint of the fishermen. This festival is celebrated on the 23rd of November.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=17Fri, 15 Apr 2005 02:30:19 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=17http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=8Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:54:38 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=8Patrick Syling was never taught to appreciate art as a young boy. As a Chinese-Filipino growing in the busy town of Binondo, he was trained early on to help in the family business and art was not something you would expect his family to discuss. It was only when he was a grade school student in Ateneo where the basic techniques in charcoal, watercolor, and oil were introduced to him by still life painter, Araceli Dans. Syling recalls that Dans cultivated a love of art among her students which made him look forward to attending each session of art class. In high school, his love for arts grew even more as art teachers, Pandy Aviado and Brenda Fajardo, encouraged his artistry and started his life long journey to art appreciation. Continuing his studies abroad, Syling came home after completing his MBA degree in Santa Clara University in California to focus on his family’s business and start a family.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=7Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:52:53 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=7“Hindi lahat nakukuha sa experience. Kung saan ka masaya at kung ano ang gusto mong ipakita sa tao, nasa sa iyo yon. On my side, hindi pa ako nakakarating sa Baguio o Sagada pero tuwang-tuwa ako i-paint ang mga ethnic tribes natin. Nagreresearch ako. Lahat na ata ng library napuntahan ko para magbasa ng tungkol sa kanila. Pero ang rinerelyan ko talaga ay ang imahinasyon. Malayo ang puede mong marating sa imahinasyon. Isang pikit lang ng mata, marami kang puedeng makita .” (Not everything can be gained from experience. Whatever makes you happy and whatever you want to show to people, it's up to you. I have never been to places like Baguio or Sagada but I find happiness painting the ethnic tribes of the Philippines.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=6Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:51:19 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=6Beautiful flowers of scarlet red adorn her from head to toe. Big, round, expressive dark eyes govern her proud head and a red stiff tail enhances her powerful back. A small horse; my first taka toy I received from my father. A work of art and a loving gift from a Paetenian. Paete, Laguna is one of the Philippines’ last remaining artistic strongholds and may be accessed either by passing through the picturesque zigzag of the Eastern Rizal route or through the long stretch of the South Luzon Expressway. The town is known for two things: fine woodcarvers and the golden sweet fruit of lanzones. Paete, Laguna is one of the Philippines’ last remaining artistic strongholds and may be accessed either by passing through the picturesque zigzag of the Eastern Rizal route or through the long stretch of the South Luzon Expressway. The town is known for two things: fine woodcarvers and the golden sweet fruit of lanzones.http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=5Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:49:40 -0700http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=5I interviewed Reggie Quimbo over the phone a few days before this conversation. When we met in his residence, he took me to the two-floored space, which serves both as his family’s ancestral house and his daily retreat. Reggie’s dimly lit and airy garret resembles a gallery with its pristine white walls and ceiling spotlights. The white walls create a subtle but eye-catching backdrop in his space. His pieces are huge, almost murals. They are carefully enhanced by the location in which they are placed. Looking closely at his pieces, they don’t come out as very powerful but looking at them from a distance, his pieces serve as artifacts that are displayed on fixed sites that make them very significant.