Talking about tuki off the shore

A week has passed since the spark of the controversial butanding picture posted in some of the frequently visited social networking websites. Yes, you remember it right. It was a picture of a young lady happily trying to get on a whale shark. The photograph received numerous hits and shares; it went viral. There was an outrage from the community of animal lovers and wildlife protection organizations as well as those who uphold ethical practices. Criticisms and harsh comments were posted all over the web within days that we have even made it to the international scene.

The photo was said to have been taken in the town of Boljoon, a municipality  in southern Cebu. It is very near Oslob, which has become famous for the presence of butandings. Although officials from both places deny where the picture was taken, I’m pretty sure it was somewhere at the south of Cebu. The girl in the picture, as well as her family, defended that they didn’t know it was wrong to touch the whale shark. But it pretty much seemed more than a touch to me. They thought it was alright as long as the animals would not be harmed.

These whale sharks are called Tuki in our own dialect, also knowno as butanding in the Filipino language with the scientific name of Rhincodon typus. They are known to be the largest fish in the world yet their population is on a decline. The Tuki is a slow swimmer with markings on its skin and a big mouth. It feeds on planktons and microscopic organisms.

Despite it being an enormous creature in the sea, they are not to be afraid of. In fact, they are very friendly, especially to humans. A testimony of which can be seen from the picture that have been circling on the internet. They are like dolphins who respond to human liking and frolic. A smile or a laugh may mean a lot to them. However, they too, are susceptive to stress and fear.

Nothing in this life is free. Same as every indication of friendliness has its boundaries and limitations. These poor creatures enjoy the food given to them by people who shove cameras up their noses. Like them, we can be friendly because we have the capacity to but sometimes it’s better to draw the line between being just friends and being with those who abuse. These poor creatures can’t say a thing. They would have been feeling worse if they knew that tourists pay the locals P300 pesos just to see them swim near the coast, as if they owned them.

We blame ignorance for what has happened. "A lot of people either don't know or they don't care. And that's a problem," stressed Lory Tan, vice president and CEO of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the Philippines according to a news report. The tuki is protected the under RA 9147, an act for the conservation and protection of Wildlife Resources and Habitats where it is illegal to maltreat or kill this endangered species. According to the WWF, three rules were violated as shown in that photo of a girl circulating in social networking sites: One, the use of flash in taking pictures; two, the touching of the whale sharks; and three, riding on them. I bet you didn’t know that. There you go, lack of information that leads to ignorance.

I’m sure by now there are government offices trying to come up with an efficient manner on regulating those who want view the tuki. It is just sad that, just like the way we treat any other incident, the improvement comes after the disaster. It’s never too late I guess.

**Published in the Freeman newspaper on April 10, 2012

Banner Statements

In our everyday walk, we encounter people of prominence. We find them on newspapers, see them on television and hear them talk over the radio. For Julius Sagrado, these personalities made an impact in his life. Yet, it is up for you to decide whether or not they have wronged you.

            Last March 27, 2012, Sagrado debuted his first solo art exhibit which he entitled Paskin. This is a Cebuano word which means banner or billboard. This exhibit is his entry point to being a professional artist and his exit to his student life in the University of the Philippines (UP) as his thesis into finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Studio Arts.

Julius Sagrado speaks about Paskin

            This thesis however, is unlike no other. Sagrado together with his classmate Ebenezar Morrok, made their theses in our own Cebuano language. Mentor and Fine Arts professor Raymund Fernandez was proud to have his own students use their native tongue in writing their research paper. “Dili naman gani ko maka antigo og Bisaya, kay anad man kog English sa eskwelahan. (I can’t even speak Cebuano fluently because English is used in the academe),” Fernandez said noting that his students made him realize the beauty of this language.

            According to Sagrado, Paskin was guided by different kinds of observers from the society. These images are parts of our community that we always see due to good news or a controversy. But the artist leaves the decision to the viewers whether or not to judge these images on the good side. He wanted to bring back the importance of the banner or karatola which brings the public information.

Boxing Champ is his "Kampilan"

            The titles of his paintings on canvass are the objects that fascinated him during his childhood that remain in his memory until now that somehow relate to the prominent person. For instance Manny Pacquiao’s image was titled as Kampilan; Former President Gloria’s as Tugnaw; and Chief Justice Renato Corona’s as Tabon.

            According to Humanities Professor Ligaya Rabago – Visaya, Paskin is an exhibit that “needs a viewer who is very critical about society, particularly the Philippine society.” Because of the prominence of the people in these paintings, one needs to scrutinize properly their role in our society today.

            Sagrado used subtle colors on the subject such as grey, lavender and beige which he blended very carefully to create a slightly distorted image. For the background, he used bright pastel colors to let the subject stand out. He said that this is a pop art technique which he learned from the artist which made this movement famous, Andy Warhol.

             The set of paintings were not done with ordinary paint. Sagrado integrated his love for printing t-shirts on the canvass by using silk screen techniques. He also used galvanized iron roof, automotive paint and newspapers to create a single image. Talk about the diversity in medium!

His Favorite in his set entitled "Bol"

            When asked of his favorite work in his set, he pointed to his own rendition of the former president Erap Estrada. “Ang slogan ni Erap kay Erap para sa mahirap. Daghan man daw siya’g nabuhat pero para nako wala gyud kaayo. (Erap’s slogan was Erap para sa mahirap. They said he did a lot of things for our country but for me, there was none). He also explained that out of the eight paintings, Erap’s face was the one closest to the real Erap. It was also unique because it was not a rectangular canvass but a circular one, a rare in paintings.

            Vienne Fortalejo, a product design major in the same university, said that the paintings look simple at first glance. “However, the process is hard that due to the different layers of paint used it becomes real to me and I guess to the rest of the viewers as well,” she added.

Who says she's only in the Senate?

**Published in the Sun.Star Newspaper last April 3, 2012

            

Simple as it may seem, all that Sagrado wants is to raise the banner higher for people to see the reality amidst the controversies going on. 

It's Holy Week, not something else

When this generation was a bit younger, the days of the lent used to speak for its true meaning – repentance, prayers, fasting and the like. I used to remember the times when we would wake up early, bring a plastic bag or two, and scout for binignit ingredients at the marketplace. If not this, the old-fashioned biko with latik was always an option.  These were the replacement for the usual meal any family would have, as opposed to the meat ban for the week. We would stay at home, have a quiet time and reflect on our sins.

This year and the previous years may have been a bit different. Instead of bringing children to the different churches, they are brought to the beach or the park. Families spread out their best table cloth on the ground weighted by the food that is enough for everyone to share. The sound of laughter, loud shouts and even out of context songs are heard from every direction. No more the atmosphere of solemn days to reflect, not even the sound of prayers from next door. There are promotions of places to go for the holy days, not minding the cost as long as it offers fun and relaxation.

With the rise of commercial establishments and nature getaways, holy week has now been equated with relaxation. This is due to the lure of capitalism at its peak coated with a “you’ll have a great time” packaging. Who could say no to merrymaking? This makes it harder for us to remember why a couple of days were turned into national holidays.

For the holy week, a couple of our own local traditions include the visitation of the different churches and following the station of the cross. Other denominations prefer an alternative custom with the common denominator of sacrifice. And sacrifice is the total opposite of relax. The decadence on the value of this week by the Filipino families has been dropping to an alarming rate that the children of today no longer know what penetensiya or what puasa mean.

This is generation Y, the digital age. This is the era where everything is done in a click thus, fast paced. Does this excuse this generation of reflection and a quiet moment? According to a study by AC Nielsen, 60% of Filipino youths do not own a bible. Check their smart phones; they might have a bible app in it. Then again, what makes you think they would? When all they care about are the social networking sites that make them feel safe and belonged. Wow, so much for being the only catholic country in Asia.

There has a wide gap between the generations, a lack of discipline and proper training; the latter having failed to pass the baton to the next. This has caused the apathy among the youth of today. What could have been an avenue for strengthening ties, culture, tradition and religion has been exchanged with a lie of luxury. Now that all these facilities are readily available (noting that they are open on these holidays), they eradicate the essence of the holy week.

It’s time to change gears and return to the true meaning of the lent. Confess, pray, and meditate on the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do your part in bringing back this season’s essence to the next generation. If you are a parent or an elder, introduce the children to these practices that may have been outdated. It’s never too late to refresh once in a while in the presence of God. While a day in the beach may be fun, let us not forget the reason why it was made a holiday. For this reason, it was labeled as holy week and not as it’s-time-for-the-beach week.

**Published in the Freeman newspaper on April 3, 2011

Her World: ART

Graphic design is a very appealing field among the youth these days. It has become so easy to make logos, posters and images with the use of technology. One Filipina, who made it to an art institute in the United Staes, also fell in love with graphic design.

Vina Mariel Canete, who is known simply as "Mayet" among her friends, moved to the United States in 2010, just before her high school graduation in the Philippines. Even when she was still in high school, she already loved art, often doodling on any paper she can get hold of.

"I really wanted to be an artist," she said. After finishing high school earlier than a regular American student would in New Jersey, and with honors to boot, she opted to follow her dream.

"I applied at an art institute. Almost every state has it," she narrated. That was when she got accepted at the Art Insititute of Philadelphia (AIPH), a well-known art institute with a scholarship grant from the state.

"There are lots of art degree programs but I fell in love with graphic design," she added. 

The institute had class offerings in fashion design, industrial design, painting and product design. "I chose graphic design because it's very challenging and the art industry is heading there, where technology is. Graphic design is quite impossible without the use of technology." 

AIPH was her school of choice because someone she considers her role model, Puerto Rican graphic artist Erica Borrero, went to the same institute.

Borrero is now an artist in Atlantic City, the equivalent of Las Vegas on the other side of the coast. Vina said working in Atlantic City is something very big for a graphic artist, and she wants to do the same someday.

Going to an art institute was an overwhelming experience for Vina. Coping with the assignments and plates was not a problem for her. "I'd look at my classmates and they are all stressed out but I'm happily doing our tasks! Maybe it's because I love what I'm doing, that's really important," she said.

She also noted that it's probably because of her training here in the Philippines. Vina went to Cebu Normal University for three and a half years. 

Her struggles include being away form home and the language. "People here have a different kind of sland, and I'm not used to that," she said.

Luckily, she didn't get any racist comments from her fellow students. On the contrary, she is given positive comments because of her being Asian. "But I don't mind, it boosts my spirits. I'm a proud Filipina here," she said.

AIPH has been a big help to Vina, never mind if they go to school all-year round for 12 semesters and finishing the degree in three years.

Aside from art programs, the institute also offers an intern program for students like her to be able to work as interns in different design companies that have made names in the world of art.

Vina believes in following your own heart and what you really want.

The physical distance between her and her homeland may be hard on her part but the Philippines has been her inspiration in finishing graphic design in a prestigious institute.

With her roots, values and culture intact, Vina can very well soar with her art. Truly, a Filipina artist worth emulating!

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu paper, February 20, 2012

The year that was....

Ah, we've come to the last day of the year. So much has happened for the past months. I had my best and my worst. Let's take a look at my 2011.




JANUARY
After seven years of courtship, they got married. I got to be a bridesmaid together with my two best friends. Walking down the aisle was a piece of cake. But watching our mentor and motherly friend take every step closer to her groom, tears fell to our eyes.













FEBRUARY
Cheered and screamed for a classmate to win. Supported her campaign and I swear to God she should have made it. Congratulations, she was still our Miss UP Cebu.





MARCH
Experienced my first ever recognition for college. One of my firsts in UP. This certificate is all my hard work.

APRIL
Summeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer! Enrolled myself in voice lessons and had a part time job teaching kids violin at a local music school. Had fun with friends, first and ONLY free summer for my college life. Did I mention that I survived a year in UP? Well, you bet I did!

MAY
Recitals were everywhere left and right. There was my own recital and the recital of my students.










JUNE
Classes resume and I was busy as ever. Elected as the Vice-Chairperson for external affairs meant taking care of CAMS. It was tedious and heartbreaking, yet fun.  Here's a photo of me and the first years with Rachelle Dangin from ABS-CBN.

JULY
My first time to be in a benefit gala. I didn't just eat, but performed and was the photographer of the night. I owe so much to my CMLC family. It was on that night that I felt so close to my students and to my mentors. This picture over here is me with Mr. Anthony Saligue before he left for Europe. One of my mentors in playing the violin.




AUGUST

I am just proud of Pinoy Talent! One of the concerts I have attended this year is "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy", a thanksgiving performance of the Mandaune Children's Youth and Children's choir and the Asian Troubadours. Here's Kuya Jake Gacang, one of my friends in the music industry. He is now a show violinist, touring the world. :)









SEPTEMBER
Turned legal! Finally an adult. But in this world today, 18 is still too young for living a life on our own. Still, I'm thankful for the many things that I have happened to me in my childhood. I didn't have a debut. So what? I was with the people I love. Its another chapter in my life to start.

OCTOBER
Sembreak = fun. Of those days where I just want to spend time with my girls, fall off a huge stuffed toy animal and laugh while getting up. Priceless memories.








NOVEMBER
Changed my hair color. Yes, from black to red brown. And no, I didn't convert myself into a badjiao. I just felt like I needed to change my look. I cut my hair short, didn't style it and dyed it. A big leap for untouched hair.










DECEMBER
I was able to get inside the Cebu Cultural Center and see the Cebu Symphony Orchestra! It was a hell of a night. Don't get me started on the place, it's full of you-know-whats government scandals.






Well, what a year. What's there to look forward? 2012, can you hear me? Let's go!

Orchestrating Symphony

Who would have thought our own place would house an orchestra just like what we see in movies? For the past decades, Cebu has been an avenue for the culture and the arts to flourish in a way that it has placed itself on the map for a lot of things.

From 7 to 87

 In the field of music, we have so much innate talent within us that Rey Abellana together with his other colleagues formed the Cebu Symphony Orchestra or CSO.

Cebu used to have big orchestras like the Peace Philharmonic Philippines (PPP) and the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) which disbanded themselves because of unstable support and the need of the members to transfer for studies in their personal choice of instrument. Yet, some institutions offered music lessons to those interested.

It took Rey Abellana, a former member of the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra; Francis Balo, a member of the same orchestra; Marc Hamlet Mercado from PPP; Professor Roberto Del Rosario, a renowned conductor and arranger;  and Renato Kintanar to build an 87 member orchestra.

                

“At first there were only 7 members who joined the practices every week,” says Abellana. “Yet, week after week, more Cebuano instrumentalists joined and committed themselves to the orchestra.” He said that the members are those who used to play for PPP and the CYSO. There are also some who used to be on-call members of the said group and advanced music students.

                

They started during March of this year bringing the original name of Cebu Classical Orchestra. The group later decided to change its name to Cebu Symphonic Orchestra during the month of July.

                

According to Leigh Cellano, who used to be the concert master of a certain junior youth ensemble says that being part of an orchestra is such a dream come true. “It was such an honor when  sir Rey said I could still join the group,” Cellano narrates. “It is hard to manage and build an orchestra but those men (Abellana and colleagues) were able to make it!” he added noting his inspiration to music.

                

For Marie Yntel Beltran, a classical singer and violinist, being part of CSO is a privilege for her. “I’m working with professional musicians and they are helping me to become a better violinist.” She also said that there are new pieces to learn and appreciate.

                 

Abellana said CSO’s goal is to develop local talents in music. They are trying to have a high standard that in a few years time, they will reach the same level as those musicians in Manila. As of now CSO is still starting as they will have their debut concert next month at the Cebu Cultural Center, Lahug.

                

“Cebu will definitely be expecting two to three major concerts in a year from us,” says Abellana. As a group they would want to showcase their type of music in a way that they would be able to bring back the appreciation of classical music.

                

As of now, CSO is being supported by various businessmen , the Cebu City government and the Cebu Provincial government. They practice once a week every Sunday in the halls of the City Hall.

               
In no time, this musical group composed of violins, clarinets, oboes, and more will be the pride of Cebu. Maybe it’s time for us Cebuanos to support our own talent by appreciating the type of music they are playing. Like CSO member Daniel Go wants to put it, “It made me love classical music again.” Maybe we can too, and believe in the talent of Cebuanos.

**Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 27, 2011

Singing Carols

I have never forgotten what it was like to sing in front of an unknown doorstep. Hand in hand with my best friends, we were aiming for big coins like the 5s and the 10s. As we stood in front, we would stun ourselves and take time to study the residents' personality then sing. Oftentimes we weren't allowed to finish our songs, probably because we've ruined their peaceful evening. There are some of course, who loved our songs and compliment us for the mini-blending we've come up with our little voices. The best part was the end of the night. We'd gather outside our porch and pour all the coins (and sometimes bills!) we've collected. After the final count, we'd divide them according to our number while my mom and dad brings out hot chocolate and pastries.

As I grew old, the excitement for caroling faded away. We were grown ups, busy with school and coping up with life. I still got to be invited by some of the people who knew my inclination for music. They'd sometimes request for my violin to be brought along,  I didn't mind. It wasn't more of a choice, just a duty to fulfill so they could reach the desired amount of money. The residents this time were different. They'd often give us a cold shoulder whenever the white envelope was handed to them. The thought of solicitation during the season of the Christmas scared them but the stakes were high, bringing the name of an association. There was no excitement at the end of the night, no thrill, no fancies, just plain singing.

Today, I'm confronted with little children who happily sing in front of our house. Some make singing carols a living, while others do it for the spirit of Christmas. I used to imagine what it was like a decade ago. My coins make up for those who sing with a heart, not for those who come back to our house night after night. Dear children, Merry Christmas. Giving it is, as the Lord gave. This is not a job, it's for the hearts of the people to be open. I hope you know the message of the songs, and not think its oh what far it is to wide on a wane horse open sleigh, hey. Happy Holidays!