Tag: November 10, 2012

MARK Nester Mendoza had often felt luck was never on his side. But despite growing up in a broken family and a spine injury that led to a mild paralysis, the graduating UST Legal Management student had always remained optimistic.

All that is behind him now. Mendoza has received a Fulbright scholarship in the United States, the only undergraduate among this year’s crop.

The feat seemed unthinkable not too long ago in 2009 when an accident injured his spine and caused a mild paralysis. He had to take a leave of absence for one semester.

But the unfortunate incident never killed his fighting spirit.

THE SANTO Domingo Church was declared a National Cultural Treasure last Oct. 4, coinciding with the enthronement of the image of Our Lady of La Naval that marked the start of the annual feast of the rosary.

Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, O.P., archivist of the Philippine Dominican Province, said the church is the first National Cultural Treasure in Quezon City and the 72nd to be declared as such.

“Isa [ang National Cultural Treasure] sa mga pinakamahalagang lugar, in the national scope, in terms of uniqueness and structures of church. A certain institution signifies Filipino identity,” Sigaya said in a press conference at the Philippine Dominican Center for Institutional Studies-Institute of Preaching last Oct. 1.

THE JOURNALIST who was allegedly killed for his fight against illegal mining in Palawan was named a “UST Modern Day Martyr” by the Faculty of Theology in the annual UST Martyrs’ week last Sept. 24 to 26.

Gerardo Valeriano Ortega, also known as “Doc Gerry” or “Ka Gerry,” died last Jan. 24 after a gunman shot him at the back of his head. This was around 10:30 a.m. when he finished broadcasting in his morning show “Ramatak” for DWAR Radyo Mo Nationwide’s Palawan station. He was preparing for a flight to Manila to promote the “Ten Million Signatures” campaign against mining.

Gerry had great love for his countrymen especially for the Palaweños, said Michaella Ortega, his oldest daughter, in a talk on “real martyrdom” at the UST Martyrs’ Hall last Sept. 26.

ARTWORKS on paper were featured in an exhibit titled Papelismo: Artwork in Paper at the Crucible Gallery of SM Megamall from Sept. 4 to 16.

The five-man exhibit was led by Thomasian artists Arnel Mirasol, Benjie Torrado Cabrera and former Varsitarian artist Pinggot Zulueta.

Zulueta, known for his thought-provoking editorial cartoons in the ‘80’s, displayed a large collection of ink-on-paper drawings. Several of these editorial cartoons tackle political matters, some of which are the numerous coup attempts against the Cory Aquino administration, the exile of former president Ferdinand Marcos, and the major role of the Church in the political affairs because of Cardinal Jaime Sin.

TWO THOMASIANS were named to the Thirteen Artists Award (TAA) 2012 held at the Pasilyo Juan Luna (Main Gallery Hallway) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines last Oct. 18.

Fine Arts alumni Mark Salvatus and Constantino Zicarelli joined Joey Cobcobo, Marina Cruz, Riel Hilario, Robert Langenegger, Michael Muñoz, Wawi Navarroza, Jan Leeroy New, Kaloy Olavides, Renan Ortiz, Rodel Tapaya, and Kiri Lluch Dalera in the yearly roster of contemporary artists.

A group exhibit featuring the new batch is running until Feb. 24 next year, curated by Lena Cobangbang. Winners received each a trophy designed by sculptor Gary Ross Pastrana.

IN LINE with the celebration of the birth centenaries of UST’s two prized artists, an exhibit was launched to pay tribute to National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco and Ricarte Puruganan—two of the “Thirteen Moderns” who paved the way for Modernism in the country.

Titled Botong and Puruganan: A Double Centennial Tribute, the exhibit opened at the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences Main Gallery last Sept. 18 and will run until Nov. 24.

The exhibit highlighted murals, paintings, and sketches of Francisco and Puruganan mounted on white panel boards that emphasize Filipino culture and history. Their various styles show deviation from the conservative style exemplified by Fernando Amorsolo’s works.

THE international documentary, “Give Up Tomorrow,” is a rousing indictment of the Philippine justice system that must be seen by everyone. Originally shown in the Tribeca Film Festival, the festival organized by Hollywood actor Robert De Niro, the movie questions the conviction and sentencing to life imprisonment of 19-year-old Cebuano-Spaniard Francisco Juan “Paco” Larrañaga in connection with the gruesome 1997 murders of sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong in Cebu, despite overwhelming evidence in favor of Larrañaga.

FOLK motifs in bright colors highlighting the buoyant Filipino spirit were the subject of Alexander “Aljo” Pingol’s exhibit, Buhay Pinoy at Galerie Joaquin in Podium in Ortigas Aug. 25 to Sept. 3.

Drawing from his childhood memories, Pingol depicted Filipino life with optimism and vibrancy. An Advertising Arts alumnus of UST, he is strongly influenced by Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso. He described his work as “folk motifs brushed in naïf style in the light of spiritual guidance.”

But rejecting the agnosticism of most modern art, Pingol said his art is a product of his strong faith in God. He sought his work to be a poetic expression of moral values, wanting his viewers to see his work as a visual extension of the Bible.

Filipino contemporary art was celebrated at Manilart 2012: Asia’s Hottest Contemporary Art Fair at the SMX Convention Center, Oct. 2 to 6.

Artists’ participation was much bigger and more diverse than the previous years. The fair saw 46 participating galleries that carried over 400 artists and 1,400 artworks. Lectures, art demonstrations, workshops, as well as a jeepney art auction, in which the Philippine transport icon was presented in different artistic representations, were held.

DIRECTOR Brillante Mendoza weaves another poignant film in the ethno-drama, “Thy Womb,” the comeback for one of the undisputed gems of the Philippine cinema, Nora Aunor.

The film tells the story of Shaleha (Aunor), an infertile mid-wife, who tries desperately to find for his husband, Bangas-An (Bembol Roco), another wife with whom he could sire a child.

Shaleha goes all over the island of Tawi-tawi, one of the five main Muslim provinces in the country, seeking a fair deal in exchange for a wife for his husband. She goes around asking for financial assistance and making money through weaving.