Tag: November 21, 2014

Perhaps it is not new for the writer to hear of the word "inspiration," and for the young wannabe writers such as I, the inspiration is what fuelled and drove our writing no matter when, no matter where.

AWARD-WINNING novelist Lualhati Bautista published in 1988 her novel ‘Gapô (at isang puting Pilipino, sa mundo ng mga Amerikanong kulay brown), about the Filipino-American Michael Taylor, Jr. who lived in Olongapo City during the height of the presence of US military bases in the Philippines.

In a time when it was trite for locals to ogle at American products and for women to look for American husbands, Michael Taylor, Jr.–albeit being the white-skinned half-Filipino that he is–seemed to be the only one to scrutinize and critique the omnipresence and exploitations of Americans in the country.

For the past three years here in UST, I saw myself grow as an artist. I accepted the challenges that I came face to face with. One was breaking through the conservativeness UST has framed me with. Art students in UST have always been treated unfairly and belittled because the institution insists on keeping us boxed within the trivialities of our field. Don’t get me wrong, I am proud of being a Thomasian and a Catholic but we have to look at the bigger picture: Art in UST is not a priority.

AMID rising criminality in Metro Manila and across the country, the death penalty is again being revived in Congress.

Statistics from the Philippine National Police showed there was a 17 percent increase in crime incidence from January to May 2014 at 289,198 cases, from last year’s 245,347.

Index crimes, or crimes which are “serious in nature and occur with sufficient frequency,” have recorded a 19 percent increase so far this year. Index crimes include murder, homicide, and rape.

“These past years, without a death penalty, we have become a virtual wild. Criminals have more fun in the Philippines,” minority Senator Vicente Sotto III said in a privilege speech last Sept. 24.

IF PASSION were a crime, Retired Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, would be guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Before she entered law school, Gutierrez, the first UST alumna to earn a seat in the Supreme Court, was immensely passionate about the euphony that transpires when she interprets notes and plays the keys.

“Initially, I did not want to become a lawyer. My dream was to finish my Bachelor of Music in piano at St. Bridget’s College and to give a recital accompanied by a full orchestra,” she said.

But she was forced to change her career path when her father told her to enroll in law school. That started her humble years in the Faculty of Civil Law.

FOUR young Thomasian entrepreneurs have come up with an artful recipe to turn a typical café business into a city’s first.

Like a freshly brewed coffee and a pastry that just got out of the oven, Caffera Café, which opened just this September, is a fledgling business that is just starting to make its name in the coffee blending and pastry making industry at the heart of Quezon City’s self-branded food trip stopover, Maginhawa Street.

HERALDED as the annual convergence of modern and contemporary art movements in the Philippines, ManilArt fair bridged the gap between the regional and the international art scenes with this year’s edition that carried the theme, “Crossing Borders,” at the SMX Convention Center of SM Aura, Taguig City, last Oct. 16 to 19.

The sixth edition saw several exhibits and events featuring Thomasian artists. Easily one of the important highlights was the launch of two books from the UST Publishing House in which visual artist and UST graduate Wilfredo Offemaria, Jr. played a prominent part.

Indigenous weaves and textiles from Luzon and Mindanao made a style statement at the 60th Manila Furnishings and Apparel Manufacturers' Exchange (Fame) held last Oct. 16 to 19 in Pasay City.

Maco Custodio, an Industrial Design graduate of the College of Fine Arts and Design, showcased Filipino craftsmanship in his MACO by Maco Custodio shoe collection, which featured different ethnic pattern finishes.

“I wanted to show the Pinoy identity to the world,” Custodio shared. “Majority of my shoes’ components were locally sourced, but we aren’t just manufacturers, we design too."

DUBBED as the “launch pad of Filipino fashion,” the bi-annual Philippine Fashion Week (PHFW) brought together prolific designers and new talents to showcase their Spring/Summer 2015 collections at the SMX Convention Center last Oct. 24 to 26.

Included in the lineup was famed designer and College of Fine Arts and Design graduate Jerome Salaya Ang. The new collection, of the Interior Design alumnus, is entitled “Girl in the Water: A Siren’s Lullabye,” which created a fusion of athletic wear and couture. Ang had an ocean-themed roster with the use of wavy patterns, neutral water-like prints mixed with neon colors, unconventional cuts, and mermaid silhouettes.

Kuwento ng Posporo:

Magkakasama sa isang maliit na kahon ang mga posporo kung saan masaya silang namumuhay at nangakong hindi maghihiwalay. Isang araw, bumukas ang kahon at isa isang kinukuha ang mga posporo sabay isasara muli ang kanilang tahanan. Hindi nila alam kung ano ang ginagawa sa iba nilang kasama. Hindi na ito nakakabalik kaya’t binalot sila ng takot. Nang muling bumukas ang kahon, nahulog ang isang posporo sa lupa. Nakita niyang kinuha ng isang tao ang kanyang kasama, kiniskis at saka nagliyab ang apoy. Ginamit ito para masindihan ang kandila. Lumiwanag ang buong paligid, nakita niya ang kakaibang mundo. Pinulot siya ng tao at ibinalik muli sa kahon. Natuwa ang kanyang mga kasama sa kanyang pagbabalik ngunit may halong takot dahil untiunti silang nababawasan. “Alam ko na ang nakatadhana para sa atin” ang sabi niya. “Huwag tayong matakot dahil nakatakda tayong magbigay ng liwanag.” Namangha ang mga posporo sa kanyang sinabi. “Hindi natin ito mapipigilan, sapagkat ito ang ating kapalaran.”