Friday, March 29, 2024

Circle

‘Salakot at Sumbalilo’: Painting the past

FOR SOME, it might take hours of extensive narration to describe what life in the country was like before the arrival of modern technology and its revolutionary impact to the society. But by looking at the paintings of Thomasian Noli Vicedo, it would only take minutes.

In his second one-man exhibit titled Salakot at Sumbalilo last November 14 at The Podium, Vicedo gives his audience a feel of the old rural life with his paintings depicting Filipino townsfolk going about with their daily business.

The particular theme is inspired by the painter’s childhood years in Alfonso, Cavite during the 1960s, when he farmed with his grandparents. The exhibit was made with the intention of preserving these memories.

Filipinizing Korean soap operas: Does it really work?

The “Koreanovelas,” as soap opera from South Korea are known in the Philippines, seem to have gained a spot in the Filipinos’ hearts (and local primetime TV), with quirky and addictive shows like Endless Love, Full House, My Girl and Princess Hours. In fact, these foreign hits have become so popular that television stations are banking on remakes of Only You and Stairway to Heaven to be their current meal tickets. But can the features that define these drama series survive in the Filipino setting?

ONLY YOU: Kitchen drama

The original series was first shown in the Philippines through ABS-CBN and it quickly gained a following.

Coffee and ice cream: Delectable Duo

SENIORS from the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management paid homage to two of man’s most loved delights — coffee and ice cream.

Held last September 16 at the Palasyo de Maynila in Roxas Boulevard, Fahrenheit: Degrees of Euphoric Temptations featured entrepreneurs who made it big in the local coffee and ice cream industries such as Pacita Juan of the Philippine Coffee Board and Gilbert Jose of Creamline Ice Cream. They tackled everything about coffee and ice cream, from the food’s history to possible business opportunities here and abroad.

Quite fittingly, the image used for the event was fire and ice, which symbolized the two contrasting temperatures of coffee and ice cream.

Aside from a free-tasting of different kinds of coffee and ice cream and a demo on how to make ice cream with liquid nitrogen (by Chef Johann Santos of Zenses Neo-Shanghai Cuisine), another highlight of the event was a photo exhibit by UST students.

‘Glee’: Not another ‘High School Musical’

Care for an encore of High School Musical?

Teen-oriented television station JackTV recently held an event at the RCBC Plaza last September 10 to officially kick-off their newest prime time series, Glee.

The show, which airs every Monday at 8 p.m., tackles high school life and the struggles one faces in finding a group to fit in. Unlike High School Musical, Glee appeals to viewers with its realistic situations and focus on character development.

The story revolves around a teacher who tries to relive his glory days in high school by reforming the defunct glee club, which currently is a cesspool for losers. In an effort to boost the club’s image and membership, the teacher blackmails a football jock with a beautiful singing voice into joining the club. Along the way, the club faces several challenges which test each member’s resolve to survive the harsh environment of high school.

‘Bola ni Totoy’ is a near-miss

THE CAMPUS was abuzz over Bola ni Totoy, the latest play-cum-variety show by Mediartrix, staged at the Albertus Magnus Auditorium last September 22 and 23. But did the show deliver?

Directed by Khristofferson Yusi and Gladys Pagdato, and written by Cherry Mae Poblete, Bola tackled the consequences of bad decision-making by blunder-prone college guy Amber.

In the story, he finds a talking Magic 8 Ball which can make all the hard choices for him. In time, his dependence on the ball leads him to Alexa, his would-be college sweetheart, but this comes not without consequences. Ambert will discover the dark side of letting others choose for him.

The play’s saving grace was probably its humor, partly due to the odd characters, from the ostentatiously obese socialite Fatty, to Pillow, a closet homosexual flirting with his male buddies.

CFAD prof wins award

A VETERAN sculptor now teaching in UST has bagged the prestigious Metrobank Prize for Achievement in Sculpture during the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence competition last September 9.

Glass sculptor Noell El Farol, who teaches at the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD), won the award, which recognizes the excellence of mid-career sculptors.

El Farol teaches Materials and Graphics at the CFAD. He previously taught the same subject at the University of the Philippines. Aside from sculpting, El Farol is also known as an installation artist, printmaker, and painter. His works have been recognized outside the country.

El Farol began exhibiting his works in 1978 and has since done 13 solo and more than 50 group exhibitions.

UST art mentors do art

TIME for the mentors to shine.

Faculty members of the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) showcased their individual strengths as artists in a group exhibit at the UST Museum last August 25.

An on-and-off tradition, Sikad, CFAD! featured a variety of artworks which ranged from intricate paintings to sharp photography.

CFAD Dean Cynthia Loza said the exhibit served as a special “bonding moment for the faculty members.”

“This is to show the camaraderie between our professors. We are trying to revive and bring out the closeness of the faculty members in order to ensure a productive academic year,” she told the Varsitarian.

She said the opportunity for the mentors to showcase their works to the University audience would also help in their development as artists.

Ang ‘Medisining’ ni Toribio Herrera

MALIBAN kay Jose Rizal at iba pang mga tanyag na Tomasino, isang alumnus din ang nagpatunay na hindi suntok sa buwan ang maging parehong dalubhasa ang dalawang nagtutunggaling disiplina––agham at sining––pagkatapos niyang maipamalas ang galing sa medisina at pagpipinta.

Ngunit hindi man lang nasilayan ni Dr. Toribio Herrera (1888-1968) ang pagbibigay-pugay sa kanya noong Hunyo 24 sa Government Service Insurance System Museum of Art, kung saan isinapubliko sa ikalawang pagkakataon ang kayang mga obra maestro sa isang exhibit na pinamagatang “Medisining: The Art of Toribio Herrera.”

Unang ipinakita ang mga gawa ni Herrera noong 1972, apat na taon matapos siyang pumanaw.

Ayon kay Mary Ann Venturina-Bulanadi, ang co-curator ng exhibit at propesor sa College of Fine Arts and Design sa Unibersidad, isa sa mga misyon ng exhibit ay ang maipakilala si Toribio Herrera sa kasalukuyang henerasyon.

Tahimik, subalit malalim

NITONG nakaraang Hulyo 30 hanggang Agosto 27, sa ikatlong pagkakataon, itinanghal muli ang International Silent Film Festival dito sa Maynila, kung saan tampok ang limang lumang pelikula.

Isa sa mga pelikulang ipinalabas ay ang La Aldea Maldita o Ang Isinumpang Bayan, na nagmula pa sa Espanya at dinala ng Instituto Cervantes. Kinunan ang pelikulang ito noong taong 1930 kung kailan hindi pa kayang pagsamahin sa pelikula ang boses ng mga artista, at kinakailangan pang basahin ang dialogo bilang talababa.

Ngunit ang kakaiba sa panonood ng La Aldea ay sinabayan ito ng nakagaganang tugtugin mula sa bandang Affinity ni Johnny Alegre. Sa loob ng sinehan ay nandoon mismo ang banda na tumutugtog ng kung ano ang akma para sa ipinapalabas na eksena.

 Ang La Aldea Maldita ay tungkol sa maliit na bayan ng Kastila na tinamaan ng sakuna kaya nangamatay ang lahat ng pananim at nagutom ang mga naninirahan dito.

Pinagsamang vision ng Suarelli brothers

SA KABILA ng kanilang mga malaking pinagkaiba, nakapagpasagawa ang mga Tomasinong sina Angelo Suarez at Costantino Zicarelli ng isang eksibit na naglalayong palawakin ang angkop na paksa ng pagkakaiba sa The Suarelli Brothers Have Nothing To Do With Each Other, na itinanghal sa blanc compound, Shaw Boulevard mula Agosto 1 hanggang 21.

Sa kanilang pinaka-unang two-man show, nilayon nina Suarez at Zicarelli sa The Suarelli Brothers—isang pangalan mula sa kanilang pinaghalong apelyido—na tuklasin ang magiging bunga kapag ipinagsama ang dalawang bagay na walang kinalaman sa isa’t isa at kung ano ang magiging epekto nito sa mga manonood.

Gamit ang teknikong juxtaposition, nabigyan ng mga artista ng aktibidad at buhay ang naturang eksibit.

“Sa pagtatabi nila, nagkakaroon ng interaksyon—o nagtatalo, para mas nakaka-angkop—ang mga gawa namin,” sabi ni Suarez, na nagtapos ng kursong Literature noong 2005.

LATEST CIRCLE