Category: Arts and Culture

Kinaray-a writing contest

Published by Ellen on June 13, 2019

For those who have roots in Antique or those from the Visayas who can write in Kinaray-a, this should be of interest to you.

Dungug Kinaray-a Inc. is now accepting entries for this year’s Padya Dungug Kinaray-a.

Kinaray-a is the language spoken mostly in West Visayas. It is the language in the province of Antique.

Dungug Kinaray-a Inc. is a non-profit organization composed of Kinaray-a writers, scholars, and advocates ( I am a member) for the preservation and promotion of the Kinaray-a language and literature.

https://www.facebook.com/ArtForcesPH/videos/2320303771625545/UzpfSTEyNjg4NTI4NzI6MTAyMTY3MTMyNTU1NjQ5NjU/?jazoest=26510012112251113121115981037810475537910410581877010953107721199097120111691146787107871107148736874561228299815865100119857656876611868122879945501114887103668354551151135476531181059951528057100495557955457661024881

Enjoying a vibrant sharing in social media are video statements of artists urging the public to vote in the May 2019 elections. Some go one step further and specify “Vote Straight Opposition in May 2019.”

The artists who have uploaded their video statements cut across political colors and age. They say they belong to The Art Forces of the Philippines.

They include heavy weights National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera (Literature) and Ben Cab (Visual Arts). There the voices of the young:Adrienne Vergara, Juan Miguel Severo, Marco Morales.

Dungug Kinaray-a

Published by Ellen on January 9, 2018

San Jose Mayor Elmer Untaran congratulates Julbert R. Paloma, first prize winner in Short Story category and second prize winner for Poetry as Ritchie Pagunsan (left), one of the primemovers of Dungug Kinaray-a and Fr. Danny Tabuyan (behind the podium), chair of 2017 Kinaray-a writing contest, look on.

Whenever I tell people that I’m from Antique, the next question I usually get is “Where is that?”

I have developed a standard answer to that: It’s in Western Visayas, one of the four provinces that comprise the island of Panay : Aklan, Antique, Capiz Iloilo.

I do that in order that I would be spared the next question which usually is, “Is that, in Aklan? Or In Iloilo?”

Then I get asked, what’s the dialect there, Ilonggo? I say, Kinaray-a.

Cinemalaya 2016: showcase of Filipino talent, substance and relevance

Published by Ellen on August 14, 2016

Mostly young crowd at CCP for Cinemalaya 2016

I hope the movies shown in the recent Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival would be shown in commercial theaters more widely later.

I was able to watch only two: “Kusina” starring Judy Ann Santos under the direction of David Corpuz and Cenon Palomares and “Pamilya Ordinaryo” by Eduardo Roy, Jr.

(“Pamilya Ordinaryo” won the best fim, best director, and best actress awards)

I missed “Toto” by John Paul Su; “Tuos” by Roderick Cabrido starring Nora Aunor; “Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli” by Gil M. Portes; “Dagsin” by Renato Ignacio Magadia, Jr. and many more.

French film festival, a delightful respite from the toxic political exercise

Published by Ellen on May 26, 2016

2016 Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Jaclyn Jose hugs Director Brillante Mendoza upon receiving award. Daughte Andi Eigenmann looks on

Martin Macalintal, audiovisual attaché at the French Embassy in Manila, might as well have taped his answer to the question, “Will Ma’ Rosa be shown during this year’s festival?”

That was the question everybody asked Macalintal at last Wednesday’s press preview of the 21st Film Festival held at My Cinema in Greenbelt 3 in Makati.

Macalintal’s answer: “We are working it out.”

But for sure Jaclyn Jose, the best actress awardee at the recent Cannes Film Festival for her gripping performance as a mother who found herself caught in the web of police corruption after she was caught dealing with illegal drugs to support her family, will grace the red carpet that will be rolled out on June 8 at the Bonifacio High Street Central to mark the start of the weeklong festival.

Jose is the first Filipina to have won the award in the prestigious festival.

Standing ovation for Rossini’s La Cenerentola in Manila

Published by Ellen on August 16, 2015

Spellbinding performance of tenor Arthur Espiritu as Prince Ramiro with the all-male choir, Aleron. Photo by Anna Leah Sarabia.

By Pablo A. Tariman, VERA Files

Rossini’s La Cenerentola made its Philippine debut Saturday night (August 15, 2015) at the Meralco Theater with a cheering crowd who loved opera’s retelling of Cinderella with another twist: no overbearing stepmother, no missing golden slippers.

Instead we are treated to a tale of the bracelet which ultimately sealed the love of the prince and the commoner.

For one, there were no sets and elaborate costumes.

Mounted in concert form, the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Darrell Ang shared the stage with the cast namely Arthur Espiritu (Don Ramiro), Karin Mushegain (Angelina as Cinderella), Noel Azcona (Don Magnifico), Byeong-in-Park (Dandini), Ronnie Abarquez (|Alindoro), Myramae Meneses (Clorinda) along with the Aleron All-Male choir.

Rossini’s La Cenerentola stirs anticipation

Published by Ellen on August 12, 2015

: Maestro Darrell Ang, Cenerentola herself (Karin Mushegain) and tenor Arthur Espiritu field questions from the press.

By Elizabeth Lolarga, VERA Files

Photos by Anna Leah Sarabia

THE cast and music directors of La Cenerentola promise not to change a thing that Gioachino Rossini had written in his opera. Well, maybe skip parts or let the voice of the storyteller take over but to change to make it easier for the human voice? No way, if Maestro Darrell Ang can help it.

Even young mezzo soprano Karin Mushegain, playing the title role of oppressed stepsister Angelina (a.k.a. Cenerentola) and who done the part more than 30 times in various opera houses abroad, said, “For the Manila audience, I wouldn’t change a thing: the glory of Rossini’s music in all its splendour must be revealed, layer by layer, note by note!”

Written when Rossini was in his mid-20s, La Cenerentola has a million notes and tongue-twisting lyrics. It presents a challenge to any seasoned classical musician, including instrumentalists.

The story of two unreceived notices: 2. Dennis Garcia of The Hotdog

Published by Ellen on June 30, 2015

The Hotdog's Manila , used by Resorts World without permission from creator. — The Hotdog’s Manila , used by Resorts World without permission from creator.

I have been following another case that involved a failed delivery of a letter.

The issue is about copyright, an artist’s protection for his or her creations.

Dennis Garcia of the much-loved Hotdog band wrote that over a week ago, his group was about to close a lucrative deal with a reputable casino group and it involved the use of iconic “Manila”, the song that he and his brother,Rene,created.

Adding Sweet-ness to PETA’s Rak of Aegis

Published by Ellen on June 18, 2015

By Vic Altiche

No stranger to the stage, Sweet Plantado-Tiongson of the premier vocal group, The Company, joins the Barangay Venizia of the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA)-Rak of Aegis as Kapitana Mary Jane. Having been immersed in the performing arts industry for 22 years, she fits right in with the talented cast of Rak of Aegis.

Known for her resonating vocals and commanding stage presence, Sweet has proven to be an ultimate performer having worked on and off stage for a number of prestigious theater companies such as TRUMPETS, 9Works Theatricals, and Tanghalang Pilipino where she started her theatrical career.

Aside from her impressive acting and musical theater credits, Sweet is also a revered voice coach and musical theater teacher having passed on her skills to the students of the University of Asia and the Pacific and currently, the Meridian International College (MINT) in McKinley.

Movies Filipinos can relate to in French Film Festival

Published by Ellen on June 7, 2015

In the movie “La Famille Bélier,” which is one of the featured movies in the ongoing 20th French Film Festival, there’s an election campaign because the father of the main character was running against the incumbent mayor.

Filipinos, who loves election campaigns, should be able to identify with the movie especially when the mayor was trying to look down on his opponent who was a deaf dairy farmer.

The mayor condescendingly asked Paula, the farmer’s 16-year old daughter who can hear and speak, if they really think anyone will vote for a deaf person for mayor. The young girl replied: “Well, they did vote for an asshole.”

That was a good one.