World Bazaar gives the gift of Pasig River rehabilitation

In its 9^th year, the Worlbex Services International, through the World Bazaar Festival 2009, will give the gift of Pasig River rehabilitation to Filipinos via an initiative called Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig. The project which aims to rehabilitate the moribund 17-kilometer river system, top-bills a partnership between Worldbex Services International and ABS-CBN Network.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that World Bazaar is a place where Filipinos can get the best gifts for their family and friends. And this is why it’s considered as the grandest and most attended of all Christmas bazaars,” notes Joseph Ang, Founding Chairman of Worldbex Services International. “But this year, we’ve decided to give something back—now we’re the ones giving Filipinos a gift for Christmas.”

Part of the proceeds and net of costs of this year’s World Bazaar Festival will go Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig. So from December 4-16 at the World Trade Center Manila, participants in the largest Christmas bazaar in the country will not only get the best holiday finds with the over 600,000 booths, they’ll also get the chance to help clean the Pasig River.

“Full rehabilitation of the Pasig River is a tall order but we have to start somewhere. One can can always look to the experience of the Seine, Thames, Hudson and Danube waterways,” says Ang. He notes how these also went through a long and tedious process of resuscitation before becoming the ‘grand rivers’ they are today. “I’m very confident that there’s hope for the Pasig River yet.”

Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig is the most comprehensive and ambitious effort to clean Pasig River to date. It has charted a seven-year campaign to tackle pollution, help relocate informal settlers, provide livelihood opportunities and launch a major information campaign. They also envision the implementation of a 10-meter easement to pave the way for the execution of its projects. The plan has identified vacant lots and blighted areas which, when cleared, are prime sites for urban renewal projects. There will also be 10 parks along the 27-km stretch of the Pasig, four more bridges, a ferry system and parallel modes of transportation.

For more information, SMS/call Mr. Mike Bayonito or Carlos Polangcos at Mobile #s: +639228354735/ +639189424303 or call through landline #s: (632) 5343615, 5341332, 5341334, 5316350, 5316374.

World Bazaar Festival (Dec 4-16,2009)

WORLD BAZAAR FESTIVAL

December 4 -16, 2009

World Trade Center, Metro Manila

 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

LOBBY

Dec. 4-16                     Children’s Joy Rondalla

STAGE AREA

Dec. 4 (Friday)

12:30 – 1:30 PM          Meet and Greet with the Kapamilya Stars

2:00 – 3:00 PM            Meet and Greet Eldar the Wizard and get a chance to win Enchanted    Kingdom prizes

6:00 -10:00 PM            Organization of Bar Professionals: Manila Flair Open ‘09

Dec. 5 (Saturday)

1:00 - 2:00 PM            Zoobic Safari’s Animal Show

2:30 - 3:00 PM            Mc Donald’s Character Appearance

3:00 – 5:30 PM           Supervoice Music & Theater Foundation: a Christmas Adventure

6:00 – 8:00 PM           ABS- CBN : May Bukas Pa Pamaskong Handog

8:15 – 9:15 PM           Westfield Kindlers and Crooners

9:30 – 10:30 PM         UP Singing Ambassadors

Dec. 6 (Sunday)

1:00 – 2:00 PM            Zoobic Safari’s Animal Show

2:30 – 3:00 PM            Mc Donald’s Character Appearance

3:00 – 5:30 PM            Supervoice Music & Theater Foundation: a Christmas Adventure

6:00 – 8:00 PM            ABS- CBN: Kapamilya Christmas Treat

8:15 – 10:15 PM          Halili Cruz School of Ballet presents “An evening of Ballet”

Dec. 7 (Monday)

6:00 - 9:00 PM            A Christmas Jamming with the Pop – Singing / Stage Workshop for Kids

Dec. 8 (Tuesday)

6:00 – 7:00 PM            Bigkas Pilipinas

7:00 – 8:00 PM            Ilonggo Artist

8:00 – 9:00 PM            The Satellites

Dec. 9 (Wednesday)

6:00 – 7:00 PM            Telay Robles

7:00 – 8:00 PM            Dakila Collective

8:00 – 9:00 PM            Sigwada Experiment

9:00 – 10:00 PM          Emakholet

Dec. 10 (Thursday)

6:00 – 7:00 PM            Bigkas Pilipinas

7:00 – 8:00 PM            Dakila Collective

8:00 – 9:00 PM            Story to tell

Dec. 11 (Friday)

6:00 – 9:00 PM            Zoobic Safari’s Animal Show

9:15 – 11:00 PM          Christmas Jamming with the Pops – Singing / Stage Workshop for kids

Dec.12 (Saturday)           

1:00 – 2:00 PM            Zoobic Safari’s Animal Show

2:30 – 3:00 PM            Mc Donald’s Character Appearance

3:00 – 5:30 PM            Supervoice Music & Theater Foundation: A Christmas Adventure

6:00 – 8:00 PM            ABS- CBN: Tambayan Live!

8:15 – 9:15 PM            Ivory Music and Video: YM & Dagtang Lason

9:15 – 10:15 PM          Gayle Dizon and Layag

10:15 – 11:15 PM        Soulnation

Dec. 13 (Sunday)

1:00 – 2:00 PM            Zoobic Safari’s Animal Show

2:30 – 3:00 PM            Mc Donald’s Character Appearance

3:10 – 5:15 PM            Meet and Greet Eldar the Wizard and get a chance to win Enchanted    Kingdom prizes

6:00 – 8:00 PM            ABS- CBN News and Current Affairs: Boto Mo, Patrol Mo! – A journalism workshops and registrations

8:15 – 9:15 PM            Ivory Music and Video: YM & Dagtang Lason

9:30 – 10:30 PM          Westfield Kindlers and Crooners

Dec. 14 (Monday)

6:00 – 7:00 PM            Telay Robles

7:00 – 8:00 PM            Ivory Music and Video: Paolo Santos

8:15 – 9:15 PM            Lifestyle Music

Dec. 15 (Tuesday)

5:00 - 6:00 PM            Bigkas Pilipinas

6:00 – 7:00 PM            Dakila Collective

7:15 – 8:15 PM            Ivory Music and Video: Paolo Santos

8:15 – 9:15 PM            Virlanie Foundation Kids Choir

Dec. 16(Wednesday)

5:00 - 6:00 PM             Bigkas Pilipinas

6:00 – 7:00 PM            Dakila Collective

8:00 – 9:00 PM            Gayle Dizon and Layag

WORLD BAZAAR FESTIVAL

December 4 -16, 2009

World Trade Center Metro Manila

 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

PLAYLAND AREA

FREE DAILY WORKSHOP FOR KIDS

• Daily coloring activities for kids
• On the spot Drawing, Painting and Craft Making by Ms. Precy Brady

ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY                        (2:00PM onwards)

Dec. 4              Craft Stick Christmas Star

Dec. 5              Holiday Water Bangle

Dec. 6              Li’l Hands Glittery Christmas Box

Dec. 7              Christmas Candy Wreath

Dec. 8              Pop up Parcel Card

Dec. 9              Crayola Christmas Coloring Pages

Dec. 10            Paper Santa Ornament

Dec. 11            Poinsettia Painting

Dec. 12            Christmas Throw Pillow Case

Dec. 13            Holiday Glass Painting

Dec. 14            Li’l Hands Clay Art Christmas Tree

Dec. 15            Christmas Lantern

Dec. 16            Candy Cane Ornaments

Other fun activities:

• Face and Tattoo Painting by Joanna Mae Brady
• Nail Art for Kids
• Fun Time coloring and painting
• Creative Christmas Boxes
• Watercolor painting
• Coloring with Li’l Hands Coloring Pens
• Create and decorate Christmas Trees
• Christmas Bags and Pouches to paint and decorate
• Paint, Bead and decorate

Related article: World Bazaar gives the gift of Pasig River rehabilitation.

I dread to be confined in the hospital again!

Magkapanabay lagi ang ganitong magkaibang-uri

Ng awit sa daigdig, ang isa'y papuri, ang isa'y pananangis,

Ang isa'y pagsilang, ang isa'y kamatayan,

Ang isa'y ligalig, ang isa'y pananalig.

Ngunit sa mga sumasaksi sa atin ay sino ba ang makaaalam

Kung ang pagkaway sa isa't isa ay pagsalubong

O pamamaalam.

                           - REBECCA AÑONUEVO, "Paglalakbay"

It's been a week since my last post. I still have a lot of pending blogs to make. I've been suffering from terrible cough for 2 weeks now. I have tried different kinds of treatment and medicines but nothing could make me feel well. Yesterday, I had fever again, that made me really weak.

Since 2005 until last year, I got stuck in the hospital for 3 times already due to stress and my white blood cells went way below the normal. I never imagined that it could make me lose my life. Doctors would say that the symptoms of dengue is the same as what I have experienced. Stress and lack of sleep can really kill me!

August 31, 2005. I was seriously ill of very high fever. It was Course Card Distribution day of De La Salle University where I was teaching. You won't believe how I bore the pain of commuting from our house to the school just to give my grades to my students. I was very dizzy, I had cold & cough and high fever. I won't forget that awful day. I should've stayed at home and informed our secretary about it. But it had worsen my situation.

On September 30, 2008, I was confined in the hospital again due to the same reasons. The only difference is that I was labouring on my painting that was to be submitted for a competition. I had sleepless nights trying to finish it just to hit the deadline. I regretted not taking any vitamins during that tiring week that caused my body to give up. Staying in the hospital, I was bothered thinking of my pending application in a university as a Coordinator for its Marketing arm. There were 3 of us as strong shortlisted candidates for the position. And they would choose only 1 or 2 from us. Because of my situation, they said that they couldn't wait for me. Eventually, I lost the opportunity.

December 25, 2007. Right after watching Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo, a Filipino movie included in the Metro Manila Film Fest, my body felt an unusual warmness and I had never expected that it was already the start of my long journey of illness. That whole week, I got seriously ill. My condition did not improve for a week already. I still had very high fever. It was Christmas season and I had no choice but to get stuck in bed, sleeping, resting and eating is all I could do. Until I decided to be confined in the hospital on December 30 because I feared that my life was about to end. I stayed in the hospital until January 4, 2008. Now, it's Christmas season once again and I don't want that experience to be back again, and wish it will never be.

I don't want to be hospitalized again. Who would ever want to? Not only does it empty your wallet, there are so many things you cannot do, while your body suffers from total weakness. I dread to be confined in the hospital again!

For those who have checked on my blogs and for those who have been my constant followers, just stay on and I'll be updating my site with more interesting blogs, exciting features, etc very soon.

Richard Quan rallies for "Ded Na Si Lolo" for the Oscars

Last November 2009, Ded na si Lolo or Grandfather is Dead (international title), was being viewed at key cinemas in Los Angeles, USA. As expected, audiences who have watched the comedy-drama by Soxie Topacio, are laughing and crying at the same time, amazed with the delicate balance of high strung madcap scenes and dramatic moments, and are amused on how the Filipinos oddball manner of deal with the death of a loved one.

Grandfather is Dead is the Philippines’ bet in the annual race for the foreign-language film category of the Oscars. Produced by APT Entertainment and the Directors Guild of the Philippines, many are optimistic that Topacio’s opus that tells the story of Bobet (BJ Forbes), a young boy who observes the many superstitious rituals followed by his family in the six days following the death of his grandfather.

Other stars in the film are Roderick Paulate, Elizabeth Oropesa, Gina Alajar, Manilyn Reynes, Dick Israel, Ranier Castillo and Richard Quan. “Direk Soxie is the main reason why I accepted the project,” said Richard. In the film, he played Kiko, father of Bobet, and husband to Charing (Reynes).

  

Richard beamed, “This independent film was the biggest grossing and the longest in terms of commercial run. I think people loved it so much because of the story. One can easily identify with all the many characters and the circumstances they were in. When you view it inside the movie house, the good vibe immediately grows in you, and you are not aware that together with the rest of the audiences, you laugh, and then you cry, only to laugh again, you come out of the movie house feeing re-charged and thankful of the many eccentricities of the Filipino family.”

How do you feel now that the film is Oscar bound? ”Heaven!” Richard exclaimed. “We did not expect that it will go this far, when somebody told me about it, I thought it was, you know, a joke, then I got a confirmation that it is for real and that it was deemed meritorious by members of the Film Academy. When we were shooting it, we just wanted to share to the people the wonderful growing up story of Direk Soxie and his quaint observations of his family’s practices during the wake of his grand dad. That was all he wants, so this recognition is really big for all of us.”

“I hope the Oscar people give us a shot, I know the foreign film category is a very competitive field,” Quan said. “However, I am very optimistic that members of the Academy will find our small film appealing and full of heart.”

  

Ded na si Lolo/Grandfather is Dead, will be shown again in local theaters starting December 2, 2009.

Win Big Prizes in 7-11's Panalo'tto Promo

Save your receipts and have a lot of fun with the winning Panalo’tto promo from 7-11, as every 50-peso purchase entitles you to a lotto entry you can match or combine to win up to Php7 million in prizes! The lotto ticket also entitles customers to freebies or discounts indicated on the printout, so everyone walks away a winner.

The popular convenience store kicks off this exciting promo to make their customers' Christmas merrier, and what’s more, they’ve pledged to donate a sum of money to ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. for every top prize winner. Winning combinations will be announced every Wednesday, which will be posted in all 7-Eleven stores and at 7-Eleven website.

Match number combinations announced online or in stores to win. Three out of five numbers nets you Php5,000, while four out of five clinches a cool Php10,000. The lucky customer who manages five out of five will walk home richer by Php500,00 while ABS-CBN Foundation gets support for their charitable work.

Go for the win and have fun by collecting receipts and buying your favorite products at any 7-Eleven store this holiday season. You just may have a handful of lucky numbers.

Ika-21 Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video

THE 21st CCP INDEPENDENT FILM AND VIDEO COMPETITION

8 to 11 December 2009

CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theatre)

08 DECEMBER/TUESDAY

7:30 PM Opening Ceremonies

with the World Premiere of Erik Matti's The Arrival

CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theatre)

(Invitational)

09 DECEMBER/WEDNESDAY

01:00PM SHORT FEATURE (Program 1) - total runtime 1:55 

Ang Bakasyon ni Can-can

Ang Pulang Mithi

April Fools

Araw ng Pighati

At Ng Anak

Ba't `Man

Babae Ako

Barya at Lata

Choice

03:30PM DOCUMENTARY (Program 1) - total runtime 1:58 

Amang

Ehbon

Kapetayo

Kapit sa Patalim

Kuya

Mga Bata ni Rajah Sulayman

Motorsiklo

Mundong Walang Saplot

06:00PM SHORT FEATURE (Program 2) - total runtime 1:45 

Ang Pagbabalik ni Ondoy

Budhi

Flip Flops

Gilit

Hinagpis

Kinulayang Kiti (hand-painted feathers)

Linya

08:30PM ANIMATION (Program 1) - total runtime 2:29 

Ang Pinakamagandang Luha sa Balat ng Lupa 

Appointment 

Balot Penoy 

Box 

Buradol 

Café Sanctuario 

Cidie, Ang Munting Sisiw 

Clownes 

Croc & Roo 

Doodler's Ink 

Dream Undie 

Eliza 

Field Trip 

Frogile 

Horoscope 

Irog Ko 

10 DECEMBER/THURSDAY

10:00AM SHORT FEATURE (Program 3) - total runtime 1:50 

Homesick

Huling Himig

Immigrant

KAROLER

Kibo

01:00PM DOCUMENTARY (Program 2) - total runtime 1:56 

Persistence of Vision: Kidlat Tahimik

Putol

REFLECTIONS BEYOND THE RIVER OF DREAMS

Single Mommies

Windmills: The Case study of Bangui Windmills

03:30PM SHORT FEATURE (Program 4) - total runtime 1:58 

JT O.01

Little

Magna

Panaginip

Pangitain

Ploning Adin Ka Ren

Regalo

Usok Banto

06:00PM EXPERIMENTAL - total runtime 2:01 

Ang Bayan Kong Payapa

Ang Ebolusyon ni Kasalanan

Ang Romansa ni Tinyente Gimo and Marya Labo

Biyahilo

Masidhing Kagalakan

Mirrors

NYKTO

PAGBURNAYAN (Jar Factory)

Ponkan

Seven Months

Sining ng Aning

Violent Itlogs

08:30PM SHORT FEATURE (Program 6) - total runtime 2:44 

Batang Japan

11 DECEMBER/FRIDAY

10:00AM DOCUMENTARY (Program 3) - total runtime 1:36 

Sunday Lunch

Tawilis: Palaot sa Mailap na Huli

This is Where Your Taxes Go

03:30PM SHORT FEATURE (Program 5) - total runtime 2:03 

Luna Lucis (Moonlight)

RIVER OF DREAMS

Salot

Sepulturero

Touch Me Not (16mm)

U-Turn

Yzabelle

06:00PM ANIMATION (Program 2) - total runtime 2:24 

Last Hope 

Lipad Lito Lipad 

Lukso 

Marco and the Thief 

Maskara 

Meceans 

Parusa ni Juan 

Perang Kengkoy 

Robotica 

Salamin 

Supah Emo 

Sweet Revenge 

The Grandfather' s Clock 

Wanted Teddy 

07:30PM AWARDS NIGHT

Free Admission!

For more information, please call CCP Media Arts at (632) 832 1125 local 1704 & 1705.

HBC's Tatak Exclusibo Sale (Nov 30-Dec 8, 2009)

In their commitment to bring beauty to all, top beauty, health, and personal care retailer HBC brings to every Filipino wonderful treats with their value-for-money, quality products. With their value-for-money, top-class beauty products, HBC brings to the market brands which are not only at par with imported, high-quality cosmetics but are also proudly Filipino. These products were specially borne out of HBC’s sensitivity to the Filipino market’s needs.

“We always take into account that our products are well-suited to our target market,” says Allue Ang Hortaleza, the company’s product development head and chief of staff. “As a Filipino company, we make sure that each line we develop takes into consideration our market’s unique traits – like Filipino skin having more moisture."

And apart from this HBC Tatak Exclusibo sale, the personal care retail company conceptualizes a lot of innovative promotions for their customers – such as their well-received Barangay Beauty Invasions, which give free make-over sessions to different towns here in the country, as well as the HBC Derma Council, where customers can get professional skincare advice from a group of skincare experts.

This is the time to get the products that we need for beauty & hygiene that HBC is offering its loyal customers BIG discounts. The much-awaited annual sale, HBC Tatak Exclusibo Sale is happening from November 30 to December 8, 2009. I have bought a lot of HBC products already and the discounts are unbelievable. Visit your nearest HBC branch now!

HBC is the leading innovative world-class retailer of health, beauty, personal and home care products and services with the best value. HBC has 200 branches nationwide. Call customer service at Tel. No: (632) 984-5555 loc. 228 or visit the website www.hbc.com.ph for more information. 

The world launches the new Friendster on December 4, 2009

Brace yourself as Friendster makes a totally new facelift as it launches the new Friendster worldwide on December 4, 2009 (Friday) with the slogan, "Connecting Smiles."

I still remember how I got hooked to Friendster in 2003 just to get connected with my friends and relatives around the globe. I must say that Friendster was an addiction as the internet bandwagon and social networking site such as Friendster invaded the silent and boring lives of Filipinos. I couldn't imagine that Friendster has changed the way we look at online friendship and connection.

You will be surprised with the many changes that the people behind the new Friendster have concocted for our pleasure and entertainment. There will be a lot of freedom in the way you want your account page to look. You can customize the template theme with the new ccs upload feature, games to play, unlimited photos to upload, commenting capabilities, sharing various stuffs with your friends, etc. Friendster has never been this fun!

The new Friendster logo will now be in color green, written like a long rope making up all the letters of the word with the smiley at the end.

For those who never had a Friendster account yet, this is your chance to experience an exciting way to connect with your friends online. Go check out your account now or go to http://www.friendster.com to set up your very own Friendster account.

Photos were lifted from Rochelle Sy Chua's website.

Worldwide Screening of 10 Tactics

Be one of the first to see it in the world. 10 Tactics for turning information into action is a film that includes stories from 25 rights advocates around the world who have successfully used information and digital technologies to create positive change in the world.

Over 20 screenings in 16 different countries are taking place. In Metro Manila, this will happen on Friday, December 4, 2009 at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Makati City (in front of Greenbelt 1) at 7-9 pm.

For more information, visit: http://www.informationactivism.org

Other December 2009 screenings:


LONDON, UK
December 4, 7:00pm
Frontline Club
13 Norfolk Place
London, W2 1QJ

Tactical Tech co-founders Marek Tuzynski and Stephanie Hankey will present '10 Tactics for turning information into action' at this event. After the screening there'll be a panel discussion on the use of social media for advocacy. The discussion will be chaired by the director of the Information Program at the Open Society Institute (OSI), Darius Cuplinskas. Panelists include co-founder of Farmsubsidy, Jack Thurston, who also appears in '10 tactics' and Sammer Padania from WITNESS.

The film will be screened in English. Tickets cost £8 Earlybird/Concessions, £10 Full Price. All attendees will be given a complimentary copy of the ‘10 tactics’ pack. Find further details and book tickets for this event at Frontline.


NAIROBI, KENYA
December 4
United Nations Office Nairobi

The Social Development Network (SODNET) is hosting a screening of 10 tactics for turning information into action as part of their Infonet Programme. The screening will be held at the United Nations Office Nairobi (UNON) in partnership with UN Habitat. Along with the screening, there will be a round-table discussion on info-activism. Mikel Maron from Open Streetmaps and John Kipchumbah from SODNET, who both appear in the 10 tactics film, will be speaking at this event.

The film will be screened in English. To find out more about this event, contact Philip Thigo: pthigo[at]sodnet.or.ke.


UPINGTON, SOUTH AFRICA
December 7
Popular Media Mindblast
The screening forms part of a week-long celebration of community and alternative media hosted by AIDC and NCRF. The film will be screened in English. For more information contact Mark Weinberg mark[at]aidc.org.za


TBILISI, GEORGIA 
December 9, 5:00pm
10 Chovelidze str
Tbilisi, Georgia
See Open Street Map for exact location.

The film will be screened in English with Georgian subtitles. For more information about this event please contact Ana Keshelashvili atanna[at]osgf.ge.


SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
December 10, 5:00pm
Amnesty International Australia
Action Centre
1/79 Myrtle Street
Chippendale 2007
NSW Australia
See Google map for exact location.

The film will be screened in English. After the film, there will be a discussion on digital activism. Everyone who attends will be given a complimentary copy of the '10 tactics' pack. Find out more about this event here. Contact: James Fehon


SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
December 11
Laboratório Brasileiro de Cultura Digital
Rua Vitorino Carmilo
459 – Barra Funda – São Paulo
See this Google map for exact location.

The film will be screened in English with Portuguese subtitles and will be followed by a discussion. For more information about this event contact Aline Rabelo alinerabelo.lab[at]gmail.com or pixel pixel[at]vjpixel.net/t: +55 11 3662 0507.


BEIRUT, LEBANON
December 12
At the Second Arab Bloggers Meeting: Social Arab Web 2.0

This event is being organised by 
The Heinrich Böll Foundation and Global Voices Online.

The film will be screened in English with Arabic subtitles. For more information and the address, contact rayyan[at]boell-ameo.org.


NEW JERSEY, USA
December 14, 1:00pm
Bloomfield College Library
Media Center, lower level
467 Franklin St
Bloomfield
New Jersey 07003 USA

The film will be screened in English. For further information about this event contact Barbara M. Isacson barbara_isacson[at]bloomfield.edu/t: (973)748-9000 ext. 370


RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
December 16, 6:30pm
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Auditorium of the Center for Research on Philosophy and Social Sciences (CFCH)
Av. Pasteur, 250 - Praia Vermelha
Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP 22290-902 BRAZIL

The film will be screened with Brazilian Portugese subtitles. To find out more about this event contact Prof. Renzo Taddei:(e) renzo.taddei[at]eco.ufrj.br/(t): +55 21 3873-5066.


MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY
December 17, 7:00pm
Blanes 884
esquina Lauro Muller
Montevideo
Uruguay

The film will be screened in English with Spanish subtitles. To find out more about this event contact Gabriela Rodrigue gabelula[at]gmail.com


BANJARMARSIN, INDONESIA
December 20, 2:00pm
Sekretariat Kompas Borneo Unlam, Gedung UKM
Universitas Lambung Mangkurat Jl.
Hasan Basry, Kayutangi Banjarmasin
Kalimantan Selatan Indonesia

The film will be screened in English with Bahasa Indonesia subtitles. For more information about this event please contact ethoyz[at]gmail.com


BERLIN, GERMANY
January 19, 7:30pm
newthinking store
Tucholskystr. 48
10117 Berlin

This event is hosted by newthinking store. The film will be screened in English. For more information contact andrea.goetzke[at]newthinking.de


OTHER SCREENINGS IN DECEMBER
New York, USA
Tasmania, Australia
Bangalore, India
Chennai, India
Delhi, India
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Buenos Aries, Argentina
Lagos, Nigeria
Cape Town, South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Lomè, Togo
Manilla, Philippines
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Details coming soon.

Find out how to organise your own screening here.

Telling Modern Time: The Life and Art of Botong FRANCISCO Coching

This landmark exhibition traces the discourse between the high art of painting and the low media of komiks and graphic design in the works of Botong Francisco and Francisco Coching. It offers an intelligent account of the complex and often ambivalent relationship between art and popular culture, which signaled the emergence of Philippine modernity.

From the hectic postwar years to the advent of Martial Law, Botong Francisco and Francisco Coching articulated the visual sensibility of their era. Botong transformed sly notebook caricatures and design sketches into sprawling murals. Coching delved into abstruse historical sources and the widely circulated Tagalog novels of his time to create stirring narratives of Filipino heroism and nationhood in his komiks. Together they forged an iconography of the folk and the popular, the mass and the national, in kindred registers.

Telling Modern Time: The Life and Art of Botong Francisco Coching, on view at the National Museum of the Filipino People from 11 December 2009 to 11 January 2010 and curated by Patrick D. Flores, will feature approximately 100 works by Botong and Coching, spanning a fascinating range of material, including komiks excerpts, murals, prints, sketches, and memorabilia.

The exhibition is accompanied by a limited-edition numbered box set, available only at the opening night. The box set includes the exhibit catalogue of Telling Modern Time as well as the hardbound editions of the books The Life and Art of Botong Francisco and The Life and Art of Francisco Coching, both edited by Patrick D. Flores.

A short film on the shared artistic sensibilities of Botong and Coching featuring interviews with family members and the contributors of the books will also be premiered during the event.

Experience Germany with Weihnachtsmarkt 2009

The sparkle of Christmas lights. The delicious aroma of sausages and cookies. The uplifting voices from a choir singing Stille Nacht (Silent Night). 
  

While not immediately obvious, Filipino and German cultures surprisingly find the perfect meeting point during the season of Christmas. The Philippines has the longest period of Christmas merriment, starting Christmas countdown as early as September, while Germany prides itself with quite a magical and festive Christmas celebration born from centuries of heritage and tradition. As a nation, both countries share the same kind of fondness for Christmas. 

 

Christmas in Germany is not complete without a Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market). It has never been organized here – so far. This year, the holiday season takes a new twist as the first German Christmas Market in the Philippines will be held. Dubbed “Weihnachtsmarkt 2009”, the special event will be celebrated in Manila on December 4 at the Ateneo High School (ITC-Field) and in Cebu on December 12 to 13 at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu.

 

Weihnachtsmarkt aims to share German Christmas traditions, as well as familiarize Filipinos with German language and culture. Throughout the day, a variety of activities will take place: choral singing competitions, raffle draws, movie screening, cooking demos, games, trivia and photo contests, and more! A scholarship in Germany awaits a lucky winner. In Manila, a concert will feature the bands Kjwan and The Out of Body Special, while a choral competition will be the highlight in the Cebu leg, with choirs from different high schools and universities rendering their version of German Christmas carols.  

The venue will be designed and decorated in a similar fashion as the German Christmas Markets. Weihnachtsmarkt will also showcase a merry mix of booths selling German delicacies such as freshly baked Stollen and ginger bread, sizzling sausages grilled over charcoal fire, hearty stews with Wiener Würstchen, and other sumptuous goodies.

 

Weihnachtsmarkt is brought to the Philippines by the initiative Schools: Partners for the Future (PASCH) and the Goethe-Institut Manila.

  

The goal of the PASCH initiative is to establish a worldwide network of the top schools of different countries, aiming to awaken young people's interest in the Gerrman language and modern-day German culture.  Furthermore, PASCH endeavors to help in creating a first-rate learning and teaching environment conducive to learning German, to prepare young people for the opportunity to study in Germany, and to promote intercultural dialogue between decision-makers of the future generation. Schools: Partners for the Future is coordinated by the Federal Foreign Office and implemented in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut, the Central Agency for Schools Abroad, the Educational Exchange Service and the German Academic Exchange Service.   

Students, professionals, enthusiasts of the German culture, and the general public are invited to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of Weihnachtsmarkt2009. For the full event program and further information, please visit German Cultural Center Manila or call the Goethe-Institut at (632) 840. 5723 or 840.5724.  

"New Works" by Jose Ibay at Whitewall Gallery

A commercial photographer turned into painting only in the last few years.

Though consistently awarded for his advertising photography in the Philippine Advertising Congress and the Creative Guild of the Philippines since the mid-1980s, he has put up three one-man shows. And now at his late 60's, Jose Ibay is marking his distinctive style on his 4th solo exhibition.

Started as an art director, his industry partner, Lia Velasco, encouraged him to start painting. Jose took advertising and worked as a commercial photographer. He presented his works to most galleries but none of them accepted. 

"Before, my style is clean and precise -- as what it does in advertising." But later on, he thought of changing his own style and creating something different. He describes his style as rugged, rough and textured.

The artist considers "Eye Naku" as one of his strongest paintings since the beginning of his career as a painter, referring to the Tagalog term ‘hay naku!’ He believes that, “branding is important.” That’s why he decided to put his name back on track – making Joey to Jose – giving the mature audience a more reputable image in the industry. Jose describes his work as, “bulag, aperture….seryoso.” 

From clean strokes and perfecting the way one illustrates paintings, he tried grumpy, rugged strokes to isolate him from the rest of the norm-painters in this generation. He adds, “Dapat alam nila (artists) yung target nila, kung paiba-iba ang direksyon sa style, dapat panindigan nila ang isa from the start pa lang…”

His 4th solo exhibition entitled NEW WORKS, will feature mostly portraits – including three of today’s high-profiled personalities – Boy Abunda, BB Gandanghari and Tessa Prieto-Valdes. Opening reception is on December 8, 2009, 6PM at Whitewall Gallery, 7476 Bagtikan Street, San Antonio Village, Makati. Exhibit runs until December 17, 2009.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

JOSE IBAY

Finished a Degree in Fine Arts major in Advertising

University of Santo Tomas, Manila, 1971

1972-1982 – Artist/photographer – Grant Advertising, manila

1982-1986 – Photographer/ Art Director – J. Walter Thompson Phils., Inc., Manila

1986-1988 – Photographer/Partner – Zapshot Advertising Photography, Makati City

1988 to Present – President, Photography/Lighting Director- Lightmoves Photo/Design, Inc., Makati city

Advertising photographer, he is a consistent awardee in the Philippine Advertising Congress and Creative Guild of the Philippines since 1986 up to the present.

2004 - 1st one man show, “About Face”, Galerie Astra, Reposo Makati City

2002 Group Show – 55th AAP Annual Art Competition 2002 – GSIS Museo ng Sining, Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., MM

2003 NGONIAN – Magayon Art Gallery, Legaspi City

2006 Korpus Group – Galerie Astra, Reposo Makati City

2007 Korpus II – Galerie Astra, Reposo Makati City

2008 Marikina Group – Galerie Astra, Reposo Makati City

2007 “Jammin” Rocked Age Icons - Collaborations w/ 48 artists, Metro Politan Museum Roxas Blvd. together with Galerie Astra Reposo Makati City