Arts and Culture – Page 9 – ellen tordesillas

SC orders freeze in National Artists awards

Published by Ellen on August 25, 2009

Update: NCCA head: National Artist a done deal

by Evangeline de Vera
Malaya

The Supreme Court yesterday enjoined Malacañang from bestowing the 2009 Order of National Artists on four personalities, including director and producer Carlo J. Caparas.

“The Court saw the urgency to issue the status quo order and stop the conferment of the awards. It has the same affect as a temporary restraining order,” said spokesman Jose Midas Marquez.

Marquez said the status quo order will remain until the Court has resolved the petition of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines which sought to disqualify four new national artists for not passing the screening and selection process.

Composer dropped by Arroyo from National Artist Awards underwent surgery

Published by Ellen on August 13, 2009

Update on Dr. Ramon P. Santos, National Artist Nominee

Extremely delicate 11-hour surgery of Dr. Ramon P. Santos is over. He is still in the recovery room in the Philippine Heart Center. His family members appeal for your prayers. Supporters are seeking more volunteers to donate Type O blood. Donations to help cover the cost of hospitalization, operation and medicines will be truly appreciated. Money may be sent through his daughter Waya (contact 09178438432). Or perhaps through the Office of Chair Emily Abrera, Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Members of the artists community who denounce Gloria Arroyo’s denigration of the National Artist Awards dub what she did as “Dagdag-Bawas” in reference to her rigging of the 2004 elections with the help of then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

The name that she removed from the original list of four was that of Ramon Santos, described by fellow artists as “excellent musician and mentor of musicians.”

Santos, 68, underwent surgery yesterday at the Philippine Heart Center for aneurysm.

Family friend Anna Leah Sarabia said Santos experienced severe headache the other day and the CT scan revealed something very serious. Her daughter’s text message to friends said, “I just talked to the doctor. May intramural hematoma si Dad. Mas rare daw yun sa aneurysm. Namumuo ang blood sa ‘wall’ ng ugat o heart.

Ramon Santos, National Artist nominee dropped by Arroyo, at the ICU

Published by Ellen on August 12, 2009

Got a text from Anna Leah Sarabia that Ramon Santos, the National Artist for music nominee who was dropped by Gloria Arroyo, is at the intensive care unit of the Phillippine Heart Center.

He suffered severe headache last night so he went to the doctor. Initial findings point to aneurysm. He is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

Anna forwarded this text from Waya, daughter of Santos: “I just talked to the doctor. may intramural hematoma si Dad. mas rare daw yun sa aneurysm. Namumuo ang blood sa ‘wall’ ng ugat o heart. As of now, hoping he may not need an operation but they are preparing for noon surgery tomorrow.”

It’s the process, stupid

Published by Ellen on August 11, 2009

Juana Change as Cecile Alvarez:

Carlo Caparas and Cecile Alvarez just don’t get it.

There is a process in the nomination for the National Artist Award. A series of eliminations is conducted until the best of the best are chosen for the prestigious award given every three years.

National Artists Awards ‘buried’

Published by Ellen on August 8, 2009

Several National Artists on Friday joined the “necrological service” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and “funeral march” to the National Commission on Culture…

Babuyan na talaga

Published by Ellen on August 1, 2009

Wala na talagang natirang delikadesa itong si Gloria Arroyo at ang kanyang mga kampon.

Sa kanilang mga kilos, para silang nagpa-panic na malapit na ang kanilang katapusan at kailangan mahakot nila ang kaya nilang mahakot. Astang magnanakaw at mapagsamantala.

Itong paglagay kay Lani Mercado sa San Miguel Corporation kung saan ang isang direktor para pangangalagaan ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ay tumataggnap na hindi bababa sa P1 milyon bawat miting.

Furor over Arroyo’s debasement of National Artists Award

Published by Ellen on July 31, 2009

Update: F. Sionil Jose, Arturo Luz, Bienvenido Lumbera, Virgilio Almario, Bancab will lead artists and community in a Necrological Service and Funeral march for the National Artists Awards on Friday, Aug. 7, 2 pm at CCP.

Last Wednesday, Malacañang released the names of the latest batch of National Artists, the most prestigious award for Filipino artists. They are:

Cecile Guidote-Alvarez (Theater)
Manuel Urbano aka Manuel Conde (Film and Broadcast Arts)
Magno Jose “Carlo” Caparas (Visual Arts and Film)
Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (Visual Arts, Painting)
Lazaro Francisco (Literature)
Francisco Mañosa (Architecture)
Jose “Pitoy” Moreno (Fashion)

The Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) issued the following statement:

Moribund, decadent politics behind this year’s selection of National Artists

The Concerned Artists of the Philippines joins much of the Filipino arts and cultural community in expressing indignation over the unprecedented brazen use by the Arroyo regime of the National Artists awards for its moribund, decadent politics.

A night of Japanese Harmony

Published by Ellen on July 19, 2009

When the poignant sound of “Amazing Grace” in violin and flute wafted through the darkened Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino theater at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, I knew we were going to have an unforgettable evening.

When the lights were on, Risa Kataoka performed John Newton’s inspiring song in koto, a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument.

Kataoka was a member of the J-Classics quartet who were flown in by the Japanese government as part of the celebration of Philippine-Japan friendship this month. The three others were violinist Ayako Ishikawa, flutist Takako Hagiwara and pianist Susumu Aoyagi.

Imelda turns 80 in style

Published by Ellen on July 3, 2009

Click here for Larry Leviste’s account of the Imeldific celebration.

I had two interesting coverages yesterday. One was the National Day reception at the US Embassy and the other was Imelda Marcos 80th birthday bash at Hotel Sofitel.

My cellphone battery gave way and here’s the few photos I got.

Mrs. Marcos,in a bright pink terno and bedecked with jewelry, had a special guest, Dewi Sukarno, the controversial former First Lady of Indonesia.

Writing songs with my friend Michael

Published by Ellen on June 28, 2009

This, so far, is the best tribute I’ve read about Michael Jackson. It appeared in The Huffington Post .

by Gotham Chopra

When I was in my second year of college living on campus (at Columbia in NYC) with 4 suite mates, every time the phone rang, there was a race to answer it. Everyone wanted to be the guy to hear the “hello” on the other side just in case it was my friend Michael Jackson calling.

Most of those days, Michael was holed up on top of the Four Seasons, roughly 60 blocks away from where I lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan just near Harlem. I’d happily drift downtown, gain clearance from security downstairs who knew I was allowed free access to Michael’s suite, take the elevator all the way up and start ordering room service and watch movies on Mike’s tab.

Eventually, Michael and I would get down to work. He was working on a new album and asked me to help him write lyrics for songs. It was an informal relationship – I’d wander downtown with a backpack full of dictionaries, and thesauri, and rhyming books. Michael would hum songs and talk about what he wanted to say with the song and we’d try and marry our skillsets and come up with something. We came up with great stuff. Michael swore me to secrecy those days. I happily complied.

Category: Arts and Culture