Bayani ng Sining in Celebration of National Heroes Day 2014

A Seminar for the students of the Philippine High School for the Arts in connection with the National Heroes Day will be held today August 25, 2014 at the National Arts Center in Los Baños, Laguna. Historian Xiao Chua will be one of the guests. Dr. Vim Nadera, school director initiated the event.

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KIDS THREE 21 at the UP Film Center in Celebration of 2014 Down Syndrome Consciousness Month

Rowena Ulayan, Universal Kids Film Festival Founder

A small social and special gathering of old time friends with very special guests was held on February 6, 2014 at Bernal Gallery, UP Film Center through the initiative of Rowena “Weng” Ulayan-Martinez, founder of the Universal Kids Film Festival in Turkey. KIDS THREE 21-international version was premiered here with PELITULA KAY MAYPAG-ASA.

KIDS.. was first shown last November 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey. Opposite in nature and content — the former is a film on Trisomy 21; the latter, a film on Andres Bonifacio that shows the Philippine High School for the Arts student’s insights on the hero and the activities they readied in celebration of his 150th Birth Anniversary. Both films are timely  since in the Philippines, the National Arts Month and the Down Syndrome Consciousness Month are both being celebrated in February. 2014 is also the Sesquicentennial Year of Bonifacio.

Weng Ulayan welcomes the guests

Weng gave the opening remarks with tone of nostalgia followed by my introduction of the above docus. Present were the featured resource persons in KIDS: Dr. Carmencita Padilla, geneticist and Eleanor Dominguez, nutritionist-dietician. Both saw the film for the first time.

KIDS THREE  21 shown in celebration of 2014 Down Syndrome Month features
Dr. Carmencita Padilla, top geneticist in the Philippines

PELITULA KAY MAYPAG-ASA, a film I made in collaboration with Vim Nadera, director, Philippine High School for the Arts; shown in Celebration of National Arts Month and the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of Andres Bonifacio

KIDS THREE 21 gives an overview on Trisomy 21 or what Down Syndrome is, the maternal risks involved, the plight of parents, and the realities of having a Child with Down Syndrome. A segment focuses on the importance of nutrition awareness and intervention – an element oftentimes neglected because of the conventional stress and attention given to physical and occupational therapies and special education. The film was made possible because of Eleanor Dominguez, then M.A. student of the UP Sped Area. There are two versions of the film: the thesis version which is about 13 minutes longer than the copy shown last February 6.

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Reunion photo with Direk Tikoy Aguiluz; our last film was Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story/ photo courtesy of Janus

Other special guests were my colleague, producer-director Tikoy Aguiluz, co-founder of the UP Film Center [with Ms. Virgie Moreno]; balikbayan Ed Tamondong, one of the center’s original staff cameraman; CHED Legal Counsel Head Atty. Carmencita Yadao-Sison and her husband, Atty. Roberto Sison who described KIDS.. as “a film that introduces and comprehensively treats the subject of Down Syndrome…Opened my eyes on this ‘accident of nature’ that happens to one out of 800 births worldwide. With the current population of 100 million Filipinos, that’s a lot!”

Weng’s friends who joined us were Romanlito Austria, UP Fine Arts Professor and former head of the Graduate Studies at the UPFA, Princess Nemenzo, UP professor and wife of former UP President, Fides Bagasao, UN International Consultant for Urban Poor and Human Settlements, Cora Despabiladeras, book writer for children, Ephraim Despabiladeras of USAID, Kuya Bogie, lead character of the TV program for children, “Batibot”, Avic Ilagan, filmmaker, Marili  and Boni Fernandez, Eliza  Quiambao and Ben Agunod.

Weng and Belen

Of course, the affair wouldn’t be complete without longtime friends, UP KAL Professor and former Chair of the UP Department of Theater Arts and Speech Communication Dr. Belen Calingacion, writers Roshan Jose, Rochit Tañedo and Corito Llamas, artist Alma Quinto, environmentalist Minnie Crouse and writer-filmmaker Janus Victoria, now with Channel 7. Joseph Lena, the KID’s cameraman, formerly with ANC Channel recorded the event.

[R-L]: Castillejos Mayor Jose Angelo Dominguez and Mom Evelyn, Vice-President of Metro-Manila College; Fides Bagasao, UN Consultant for Urban Poor and Princess Nemenzo, UP Professor; [Extreme right behind: Ed Tamondong

And in support of Eleanor’s effort, her husband, Castillejos [Zambales] Mayor Jose Angelo Dominguez with Mom Evelyn, Vice-President of Metro-Manila College, and her friend, Clarisse de Leon, a daughter of Angat, Bulacan Mayor and the town’s municipal administrator also attended the event.

Sadly, no representative from Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines — the film’s target audience — joined Dr. Padilla because of other priorities. Nevertheless, the latter’s presence, as one of its founding members made the occasion complete. She entertained the questions re the matter. [See the photos below]:

Geneticist Dr. Carmencita Padilla answers the questions from the audience

Q & A with Dr. Padilla

Featured geneticist answers the question

The audience listens to Dr. Padilla

Audience attentive to Dr. Padilla

The event ended with the sumptuous Turkish cuisine prepared by no less than Weng Ulayan-Tuzcuoglu who is leaving the country today, February 9.

TURKISH CUISINE MENU

Entree White cheese rolls, Green and black olives with red pepper, Sarma (spiced rice wrapped in grape leaves), Dolma (stuffed tomatoes and eggplants), Pita bread with hummus, Kisir Salad (bulgur and red lentils)

Main Dish: Green beans with ground beef, Buttered Chicken, Pilav (buttered rice with peas), Borek (Turkish Pie stuffed with potato & minced meat), Pasta (with Olive oil, white cheese mint and hazel nuts)

Dessert: Turkish Delight, Irmik Tatlisi (Semolina), Dried Fruits, Çorek (twisted cookies with sesame seeds). Pishmaniye

Drinks: Ihlamur Tea (Linden Tea), Kushburnu Tea (Rosehip Tea)

PERYA NI ANDRES_Ngayon Na!!!

PERYA NI ANDRES, PERA NI ANDRES

            The Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), in cooperation with Museo Pambata, celebrates Andres Bonifacio’s 150^th birth anniversary through a one-day fiesta dubbed Perya ni Andres, today Nov.30 from 2pm onwards at Museo Pambata, Roxas Blvd., corner South Drive, Manila.

            It will be in honor of the Supremo’s enduring contributions to our colorful history, culture, and the arts. PHSA believes that through a perya, people from all walks of life will relive the works, ideals, and life led by the Great Plebeian.

            The event will feature eight arts booths conceptualized by Gerry Leonardo that represent the eight provinces where members of the Katipunan hailed from. Each tent will have its own exciting and educational activities. There will be roleta, beto-beto, pabunot, crafts booth, tessellation, memory games, and other perya fun prepared by PHSA students, academic and non-academic staff directed by Victor Emmanuel Flor and his team.

            This collective and collaraborative effort will be opened by three National Artists

— Virgilio Almario, Francisco Sionil Jose, and Bienvenido Lumbera — who will share their thoughts on who the real Andres Bonifacio is. It will be followed by PHSA kids’ showcase through rituals, singing,  dancing, stage play and reading, shadow play, painting exhibit, among others.

            A compact disc recording of Katipunan-related songs was produced under the supervision of Radioactive Sago’s Francis de Veyra. Three stories about Andoy, Oryang, and others will eventually be shown after a series of animation workshop was specially conducted by Teta Tulay, Hazel Joy Gutierrez and Inshallah Montero. A video documentary entitled “PeliTula kay Maypag-asa” by Mirana Medina and Vim Nadera about Bonifacio featuring the PHSA students will be premiered on this historic event.

            Proceeds from Perya ni Andres will be collected for Pondong PHSA as “Pera ni Andres” to  support young art scholars and their families who are effected by the recent earthquake and storm. Parents, Teachers, and Staff Council (PTSC) and PHSA alumni are expected to play significant roles too. For details, please get in touch with Ms. Lyza Amat via amatlyza1998@gmail.com or by calling or texting Ms. Shirley de Quiroz at 0906317-0903.

Busy, Buzy, Bc for the Film Showing

Bussssssssssssssssssssssy preparing for tomorrow’s showing of my film, A MI PATRIA / TO MY MOTHERLAND / INANG-BAYAN — 5 Selected Poems of Dr. Rizal [Philippine National Hero] interpreted for the first time in Filipino Sign Language with spoken language versions in Spanish and Filipino.

Venue: UP Film Center, 3 pm. The Film Center used to be my “home” having worked there for over 10 years as researcher, artist, lecturer and one of the film workshop facilitators before the Institute of Mass Comm took over.

Guest Speakers:

1) Mr. JOSE RIZAL LOPEZ [88 yrs. old], first generation grandson of Gen. Paciano Rizal, older brother of Dr. Jose Rizal

2) Dr. RICARDO NOLASCO, former Director, Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino; Professor, Department of Linguistics, UP College of Arts and Letters

3) Dr. VIM NADERA, former Director, UP Institute of Creative Writing Center; Professor, Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, UP CAL. He is one of my consultants for A MI.. The other consultant is Dr. Marie Therese Bustos of UP College of Education Sped Area.

Rizal for the Deaf by Angelo Garcia in MB

I would like to say that A MI PATRIA though primarily made for the Deaf eventually ended up to serve the interests of ALL Filipinos. The spoken language versions [in English, Spanish and Filipino] are meant for the BLIND, all HEARING PERSONS, STUDENTS of RIZAL COURSE, even RIZAL SCHOLARS and the LITERATI. A mi’s audience turned out to be universal when I pursued making the spoken language versions. However, all of them have the FSL version intercut or simultaneously spliced with the spoken versions. My reason? For all viewers [except the Blind], to be exposed to the beauty of Filipino Sign Language [FSL]; for them to know that FSL exists. The film is an advocacy for the use and official recognition of FSL by the Philippine government. By using FSL to translate the poems of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, it has become the Deaf sector’s most significant contribution to the voluminous works on Dr. Rizal. It is afterall, a film on Rizal made 100 years after the first film on him were made in 1912. Above all else, the film is meant to show that “DEAF CAN.”

Very early this morning before 1 am,  I received a text message from Vim Nadera informing me about something in p. I-1 of Manila Bulletin. I found it quite surprising to receive a message at that time. What could he be referring to, I thought. Then I remembered the journalist who interviewed me during the showing of my film A MI PATRIA. However, I knew that MB’s sped section, or matters on sped education and activities are scheduled by the newspaper on Mondays. I was right when I checked Manila Bulletin’s online news; the article “Rizal for the deaf” was published yesterday. [To read, click rizal-deaf]

Since I got the information today at 1am, I wasn’t able to get hold of the MB publication yesterday. Anyway, after having read the article, I just want to reiterate – that from the time I studied sign language, Filipino Sign Language specifically, and from the time I came to know and uphold the cultural perspective or view that the Deaf is a cultural-linguistic minority group, I have stopped using the word HEARING IMPAIRED [HI] to address Deaf individuals. I never mentioned that in Mr. Garcia’s interview with me, neither in my introductory talk before the screening of A mi… DEAF is the proper term to use if one believes in the cultural, not the medical view of deafness. So, calling on Mr. Garcia, if not the editor of MB — [this is the second time that MB “imposed” on using the word HEARING IMPAIRED by changing the word from Deaf to Hearing Impaired. In Vim Nadera’s interview with me, the editor changed the word DEAF to Hearing Impaired.] If the editor is the same as last year — then he should know that there’s a difference between DEAF and HI. I think he should watch my docu SILENT ODYSSEY for him to understand better our Deaf Filipino brothers and sisters — how they should be called and want to be treated].

Showing Today A MI PATRIA – A Tribute to Dr. Jose Rizal

I’ll be presenting today the Sesquicentennial Editions of A MI PATRIA [Rizal’s Poetry in Film] translated into four languages: Filipino Sign Language, English, Filipino and Spanish. I would like to thank all those who supported, helped and participated in the realization of the project meant for Deaf Filipinos as well as the Blind to help them in appreciating Rizal’s work. However, responses of the hearing persons are equally positive re appreciation on the other hand, of the Filipino Sign Language used to interpret Rizal’s nationalistic poems.

A mi Patria Features:
FSL DEAF INTERPRETERS:
ALDRIN GABRIEL, MARK STEVEN GASPAR, JORELLE FAYTAREN  and ROMALITO MALLARI, With Dulaang Tahimik & Silent Steps Members:
Lynn Cappal, Catherine Joy Patriarca, Maria Elena Lozada, Graceren Pearl Santiago, Emmary Glor Batain, Janile Bustamante, Patrick Silver Padao, Joanna Canuto, Christina Betito, Melvin Jason Sibay, Relvic Joseph Taray

POEM READERS: English / Filipino
BELEN CALINGACION, PhD, APOLONIO CHUA, PhD, CRISANTA FLORES, PhD
REX FLORES, VIM NADERA, PhD, ROSELLE PINEDA, JANNETTE PINZON

POEM READERS: Spanish
BELEN TANGCO, PhD, FERNANDO RAMOS, ANNA MARIE YGLOPAZ, BEATRIZ TARDIO-ALVAREZ, PhD, WYSTAN DE LA PENA

POEM TRANSLATORS: Spanish to Filipino / English
ANDRES BONIFACIO, National Artist NICK JOAQUIN, National Artist VIRGILIO ALMARIO, National Artist GUILLERMO TOLENTINO
ENCARNACION ALZONA, ISIDRO ESCARE ABETO

Production Staff:
Direction, Editing, Research, Concept & Treatment: Miranamedina
Camera: Dennis Balan (Deaf), Rem Vocalan
Choreography: Myra Medrana (Deaf)
Production Design: Rex Flores
Music: Diego JM, Roselle Pineda, Divine Leano
Sound: Bert De Santos
Make-up: Nelson Demetillo
Asst. Director / Production Manager:  Cathy Genovia
Production Assistants: Jojo Sia, Jr., Tom Salvador
Editing & Technical Assistant: Ritwic Bhunjun, Fiona Borres
Writer [Introduction]: Janus Victoria
Voice [Intro Narration]: George Castro
Interpreters: Febe and Jun Sevilla
FSL Consultants: Raphy Domingo (Deaf), Myra Medrana (Deaf)
Hearing Consultants: Vim Nadera, PhD., Marie Therese A.P. Bustos, PhD.

DLS-CSB to Interpret Rizal’s Poems in FSL

Below were some of the Deaf reactions after the screening of the film. [Source of the video and to see more photos during and after the screening click: http://deaf-e-news.blogspot.com/2012/06/mi-patria-june-19-2012.html%5D

RIZALPABETO Opened Yesternight at Manila Contemporary

RIZALPABETO exhibit opened yesterday night at 6pm. The exhibit features Vim Nadera’s poems and artworks by Elmer Borlongan about Rizal. It will be held at the Manila Contemporary, 2314 Pasong Tamo Ext. in Makati City. Rizalpabeto is a project of The Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development. Contact Tel 8447328 for more information.

The Legacy Lives on with Jose Rizal’s Descendants

From the Curator’s Notes, Zarah Escueta of the Rizal Shrine Fort Santiago, December 30, 2011:

A very successful launching of the first- ever translation of Ultimo Adios in Filipino Sign Language yesterday [Dec. 29].  Thanks to our guests who graced the occasion, DepED, neighbors in IA, NHCP family, Rizal Descendants, our speakers; Director De Larrazabal of De La Salle- CSB, Mr. Raffy [Raphy] Domingo of the Deaf Community, Prof. Vim Nadera, Poet of UP Diliman and Atty. Ramoncita Reyes a descendant of Saturnina Rizal- Hidalgo sister of Jose Rizal and most of all the woman behind this event,MS. MIRANA MEDINA an independent advocacy film maker who edited the controversial Director’s Cut of Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story, a Tikoy Aguiluz film.

Atty. Ramoncita Reyes, descendant of Saturnina Rizal, receives gift from Arch. Veronica Dado of NHCP; Curator Zarah Escueta on the extreme right

This success is dedicated to the legacy of our national hero, his descendants who continuously enrich the hearts and minds of the Filipino people through their endeavors in life be they a lawyer, a doctor, a writer or an artist; they surely give honor to their forefather who gave them honor first.  It is truly a legacy that lives on through Jose Rizal’s descendants and uninterruptedly advocating through his last literary work, Ultimo Adios. [legacy-lives-onwith-jose-rizals.html

Sound Mixing of A mi Patria / Inang-Bayan Done!

We finished today the final mixing of the Filipino Sign Language version of my omnibus film A mi Patria or Inang-Bayan. It’s a Poetry-in-Film consisting of five poems of Dr. Jose Rizal. Ultimo Adios in FSL is slated to be officially launched by the National Historical Commission in collaboration with NCCA and DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies next week at Fort Santiago. To close the program, I’ll be showing a sample of the spoken language version [multi-tract form] with Poet Vim Nadera as the reader, to be shown simultaneously with the interpretation in FSL of Aldrin Gabriel, with the subtitles in Spanish by Dr. Rizal. [Trilingual therefore]. Vim, our project consultant will read the version of Ultimo Adios [Huling Paalam / Pahimakas] by Andres Bonifacio. Unfortunately, because of small space at the Rizal Shrine, the showing is invitational…seats are limited to only 50 people I think. Many Deaf friends want to see the film…but…sa U.P. o sa CSB Theater  na lang tayo! Sana makakuha ako ng sponsor to take care of the venue and other expenses. The UP Dept. of Theater and Speech Communications headed by my friend, Belen Calingacion is willing to support its premiere showing. Except for one, the poem readers of the English and Filipino versions are all faculty members of the U.P. KAL.

ULTIMO ADIOS_Multilingual, Multitract Video Version

I am preparing for the sneak preview of ULTIMO ADIOS-the Multilingual version on December 29, 2011 as the last poem written by Dr. Jose Rizal was interpreted in Filipino Sign Language by Aldrin Gabriel [Deaf]; the Andres Bonifacio translation in Filipino was read in Filipino Language by Vim Nadera; and the subtitles were in Spanish, as it was written by Dr. Jose Rizal. Simultaneously, they will play; as such, it will be in multitrack form. Yesternight, the captions have already been placed. Today, I will finalize it. It is going to be a unique copy since it will only be for presentation purpose. The official output or what I need to submit to NCCA will have English subtitles.