Oh behave! (MISS-behaving exhibit)

Does misbehaving represent a manner of acting poorly or just an act too strong to be accepted? When is a person misbehaving? What set of rules make behavior appropriate?

Entitled MISS-BEHAVING, 20-year-old Bunch Garcia and Con Cabrera, 27, portray a powerful union and the harmony of opposites, an attempt to break the stereotypical. The exhibition represents the collaboration of two female visual artists to create an even greater chronicle engraving the world around them.

Garcia's new series of works in oil displays a perplex attention in redefining lust, passion, love and beauty as well. Her work puts focus on the women in history who revealed themselves before the world and whether or not they chose the acceptable way to do so is left for the argument of many.

While Cabrera's works depict the courage, persons told to be misbehaving, exude. The fighters which struggle are against the real enemies rather than the labels people put on them. Her images are both representations and realities. Narrating a story told through whispers, she explores media out of her comfort zone.

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MISS-behaving
Bunch Garcia & Con Cabrera
Lunduyan Art Gallery, 88-B Kamuning Road, Quezon City

Exhibit Opens October 4, 6PM
With performance art & poetry reading

MISS-behaving runs until October 22.

fight or flight

I love my country. Even if there are many unpleasant things about it. Especially now.

The more I read history, the more I find out about political and extrajudicial killings in my country, the more I am inclined to want to use whatever skills I have (in art and in my particular field in social science) to help bring about justice for the victims.

Tads, a classmate and friend of mine who died two months ago in a mountaineering accident (during a very bad typhoon), was supposed to be part of the forensic team that would help identify the victims (buried in remote areas) of the killings. Other than being a great mountaineer who can read the terrain and help set up camp, he was also a great anthropologist in the making. As part of the team he was going to be our visual guy, the one who took photos and sketched out faces to be identified. He was to be our forensic artist. Now that he's gone we're one powerhouse less.

Today I saw a small exhibit on the death of one of our country's heroes, Ninoy Aquino. I felt myself clenching my fists, at everything that caused it, and I remembered all the injustices not only in my country, but in the rest of the world. This was the social me talking. And I felt like doing something.

That experience today made me seriously contemplate (finally) being part of that forensic team. While I may not be able to take Tads' place as the visual expert, I can however take (okay) photographs. I can sleep anywhere. I'm not finicky about food. I can carry a conversation well. I ask. I'm not afraid of dead bodies and skeletal remains. No, I am not afraid. And neither should you be.

The ones we should fear are alive: those holding the guns, those who are capable of ruthless murder using whatever means, and the people who deny justice to those who deserve it.

So I say FIGHT.

kahihiyan

(Dahil napahiya ako kanina. Hindi ko na ikukwento kung paano. Isinulat ko na lang ito pang-release. Aaaaarrggghhhh!!!)


PERIODICALS

Kasi di mo binasa ang directions sa exam. Bagsak ka na nga, ginawa ka pang bad example ng teacher mo. Na crush mo. Pero siyempre di niya alam. Siya lang ang hindi nakakaalam. Limampu kayo sa klase. Tsismosa ang kalahati. Pagdating ng lunch ay sikat ka na sa buong eskwelahan.

Syempre iniiisip mo lang ito. Imposible namang kilala ka nilang lahat.

Eh bakit may mga humahagikgik pagpasok mo sa cubicle sa CR ng elementary?

Dahil sa elementary side ka pa nag-CR, na-late ka tuloy sa klase mo ng ala una.

Nakasimangot si ma'am.

"Don't sit down anymore Miss _____, you may take your place in front of the class for your practical exam. I will give you a minute to compose yourself before your declamation."

Lahat ng dugong inipon mo sa mukha mo simula nu'ng umaga, simula nu'ng malaman mong maling-mali ang ginawa mo sa exam ni sir, na-flush lahat papunta sa talampakan mo. Matagal kang hindi humihinga. Oo nga pala, ngayon 'yun...

"Miss _____? We're waiting."

Nakataas ang kilay at nakangiti ang kaklase mong galit sa 'yo. Galit siya sa 'yo dahil...bakit nga ba? Dahil kapitbahay mo 'yung crush niya at lagi kayong nagkakasabay sa umaga?

"If you're not ready today Miss ____, I can give you another chance tomorrow, however I will deduct twenty points from your total score."

Nag-math ka agad. One hundred minus twenty. Eighty na ang pinakamataas na pwede mong makuha. Pwede na 'yun. Kung makaka-one hundred ka.

"Ma'am I will recite today ma'am, can I go later?" Nagbabakasakali ka.

"Minus ten."

Bakit naman kasi napakamalas mo ngayon. "Okay ma'am, later ma'am." Balik sa upuan. Mabigat ang pakiramdam mo, dahil siguro sa limampung pares ng matang nakatingin sa 'yo.

Hinalungkat mo ang bag mo. May sinulat ka na dati, sa library, habang hinihintay mong mag-alas singko. Hanggang alas singko kasi ang klase ni sir sa fourth year. Katapat lang ng library ang faculty room. Baka dumaan si sir, masulyapan mo man lang ay ayos na, pabaon na 'yun pauwi.

Nandun, nakaipit sa notebook. Tungkol sa kalayaan at kakayanan ng bawat tao na mamili ng sariling hinaharap. Binasa mo nang mabilis. Samantala, nagde-declaim na ang kaklase mong kulang na lang ay ipasampal ka sa ate niyang muse ng liga. Magaling siya. Tunog stateside. May dimples sa pisngi. At sinunod niya ang directions sa exam ni sir.

Hindi mo na kailangang i-memorize ang sinulat mo. Alam mo na lahat ito. Naririnig mong tumitibok ang puso mo. Lumulundag ka sa bawat tawag ng teacher sa susunod na magre-recite.

"Miss ______, are you ready now? Let me remind you that you have already earned demerits for not being prepared. I gave you this assignment one month ago."

"Yes ma'am." Tayo. Lakad sa harap. Hingang malalim. Lunok.

"When I was five years old, my mother died. My father said to me..."

KRIIIIIIING!!! End of period.

"Please continue, Miss _______. We can extend a few minutes. Class, please listen to your classmate."

Nawala ka na sa buwelo. Naghahanda na para sa susunod na subject ang mga kaklase mo. "M-my father he said, anak, your mother is died, but he--she will forever be..." May mga nagtatawanan na sa likod.

"Class, quiet! Pay attention!"

May kumatok sa pinto. Sumilip sa loob. Si sir!

"Excuse me madam, may I have a word?" Ang gwapo-gwapo talaga niya. Matangkad, makapal ang kilay at pilikmata, moreno, at mukhang madalas mag-toothbrush. Laging mabango. Di ka na nakapagsalita.

Tinignan ka niya. nagdugtong ang dalawang napakagwapong kilay, pero wala siyang sinabi.

Tumayo si ma'am. "Excuse me class, I have to discuss something with Mr. ____ here. Miss _____, we will have to continue tomorrow. We have no more time." Eh bakit siya nakangiti?

Tumili ang klase nu'ng lumabas si ma'am. "Ang sweet-sweet naman ni sir no, sinundo talaga si mam sa classroom..." "Sinagot na ba ni mam si sir?" "Oo naman, magka-holding hands nga sila pauwi kagabi, nag-date muna sa Chowking, nakita namin!"

Hindi ka na nila pinapansin. Balik sa upuan.

Dalawang oras na lang, uwian na.

Hindi ka na muna magla-library.

Bukas na lang ulit.

This is how a Holga sees Sigwada Gallery.

Visit the Sigwada Gallery at #1921 Oroquieta Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila. For reservations and more information, contact Cecile Pagaduan at 0917-8075659 or 743-5873. You can also send an e-mail to cil_pagaduan@yahoo.com.

Ganito magbigay ng masamang balita

KUMIRIRING ang telepono nang madaling araw....

"Hello, Master Carlos? Si Arnaldo po ito, 'yung katiwala niyo sa bahay-bakasyunan niyo."

"O, Mr. Arnaldo, ikaw pala. Ano't napatawag ka? May problema ba?"

"Um, napatawag lang po ako para abisuhan kayo na namatay ang alaga niyong parrot."

"'Yung parrot kong si Pikoy, patay? 'Yung nanalo sa bird show?"

"Opo, Master Carlos, 'yun na nga po."

"Putris ... sayang! Ang laki pa naman ng nagastos ko sa ibong 'yon. Hay, buhay! Teka, ano nga ba ang ikinamatay niya?"

"E, kumain po kasi ng bulok na karne...."

"Bulok na karne? At sino namang salbaheng tao ang nagpakain sa kanya ng bulok na karne?"

"W-Wala po. Nanginain po siya ng karne ng isang patay na kabayo."

"Patay na kabayo? Anong patay na kabayo, Mr Arnaldo?"

"E, 'yun pung mga thoroughbred horses niyo, Sir. Namatay po kasi lahat sila sa pagod, kahihila ng kariton ng tubig."

"Nasisiraan ka na ba ng bait? Anong kariton ng tubbbiiiiggggg?"

"'Yun pong pinampatay namin ng sunog."

"Diyos ko po! Anong sunog naman 'yang pinagsasasabi mo?"

"'Yun pong halos tumupok sa bahay niyo.... Tumumba po 'yung isang nakasinding kandila, tapos nagliyab 'yung kurtina at mabilis na kumalat ang apoy...."

"Ano? Puuut.... E, may kuryente naman diyan sa bahay-bakasyunan, a. Para saan 'yung kandila?"

"Para sa burol po."

"Ano? Kaninong burol?"

"Sa nanay n'yo po, Sir. Bigla kasi siya dumating dito nu'ng isang gabi, walang kaabi-abiso. Lampas hatinggabi na. Akala ko po magnanakaw. Binaril ko."

the rats' birdhouse

last week i transferred my rats to a bigger cage (thanks ma&pa!), since they were growing so fast. yesterday after MOA i dropped by our friendly neighborhood petshop and bought fish food for my goldies and a birdhouse for the rats. they've outgrown boxes and would rather have something..stable. hahaha. it was supposed to be for Dublin (the light-colored one), but Gypsy as usual beat her to it. i'll just buy another and paint the houses cutely. :)

this weekend

i attended the soft opening of SIGWADA GALLERY. i'll be writing about that in a bit.

sunday. i went with susa to the manila international book fair at the sm mall of asia. i showed her my mom's book on IMCI (buy it, wannabe nurses, BUY IT!) published by C & E. lotsa lotsa books, but sadly--and susa and i both agreed--the prices of some books were still too high. while she looked over at the psychology shelves, i busied myself with anthropology and culture, until i ventured over to some 'international' pub houses, and got myself a book that cost (blimey) eight pounds (times seventy pesos as the discount price). it is a book on NUMBERS.

yeah yeah, i hate math. but i love facts (useful or not), and numbers, words, events, whatever. numbers have stories. like, for example, this bit on my birthday number FOUR: lots of famous fours like the Four Horsemen, the Fab Four, 4/4 time, four apostles, Journalism is the Fourth Estate, among other stuff i'm too lazy to rave about just now. anyway. made my point, i bought a book about numbers (Arcturus Publishing--"arch to arcturus, head on to orion," says that constellation reminder/memory device).

before i met up with susa i was itching to buy a new notebook and a pen with which to make lists. every now and then i would have the impulse to scribble something, and susa was kind enough to heed my whining. she accompanied me to the stationery section (this was still in sm san lazaro, before lunch at Jonas and the reunion with Ting--TING!!!--who was so detached from everything he didn't know what happened to Tads). new notebook, yey! i proceeded to do my 'me time' and so i made lists on music i like, my favorite films, shows, songs, things in the world, what i want to achieve by the time i'm thirty, pet peeves, the autograph book stuff. it was fun, really. now i can revive my friendster profile. hahaha.

the best part of the day? hot chocolate at chocolat.

sample list, just to give you an idea:

*THIS IS SO ME! (random, i think i listed down some 100 words/phrases here)*

• taking photos
• old houses
• greens
• water
• heights
• rain
• white cotton shirts
• secret compartments
• flowers...in a pot
• strawberry ice cream
• constellations
• carrots
• Quiapo
• parks
• genealogy
• letters
• pets
• fun facts
• champorado
• malong
• photographs
• notebooks
• maps
• rollercoasters
• knots

et cetera. as for the 'stuff to be accomplished by the time i'm thirty', well, it was pretty difficult writing them down. secret muna. hahaha. okay, i included the "doing Ph.D." here as well as "Batanes" and "Cook well" so it's very...flexible. :) anyway. i like lists. and word associations.

susa called me a geek when i said i could enumerate the 22 bones in the human skull (22 is susa's birth day number, we were browsing my new book). no i said, it's something we all learned in physical anthropology. "you're still a geek," she said. sige na, geek na kung geek. i have pet rats too.

walang pakialaman

due to insistent unpopular demand. old photos! walang tanungan ng timbang!

Family pic, 2000something

Mama, Kuya Jon, Bianca, Reyna ng Buhay na Bato, Papa, Carla

Ninang Arlene's wedding, (ako ang maid of horror)

L-R: Mama, Bianca, Carla, & Maid of Horror

2005! college graduation with Papa (sige na, di ko na kamukha. magaling din siya sa math.)

SIGWADA GALLERY: a new art space in the heart of Manila

The soft opening will be on Saturday, September 13, 2008, 6PM onwards.

#1921 Oroquieta Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila (near the Tayuman LRT station)

For photos and more information, check out the Multiply site: http://sigwadagallery.multiply.com

Map here: http://sigwadagallery.multiply.com/photos/photo/6/1


Art is a new gust of wind, a SIGWADA
by Agnes Ochoa-Trinidad

The kind of people, their livelihood, interests and other activities lend a certain aura to a place, making it distinctively different from the rest. For instance, when you think of Makati, you instantly envisage tall buildings, expensive cars and people rushing to work. Likewise, with Baclaran you see streets lined with all sorts of merchandise and vendors and vendees intent on making a sale and getting their money’s worth.

As early as the 1950’s, a generation when people lived simpler and less complicated lives before the emergence of high technology cellular phones, iPods and personal computers, the unpretentious street of Oroquieta in Sta. Cruz, Manila was already closely identified with stores that sold religious items ranging from the ordinary wooden cross to the gemstone-festooned images. The price was not a matter of consideration.

Number 1921 Oroquieta Street was one such place that has seen the depredation of time. The Pagaduans saw the place’s potential, bought it and had it refurbished and slightly modernized without losing its old world ambiance. While residing on the second level, the lower level was turned into another religious store registered as Little Bethlehem for a number of years, until the owners decided to pull against the norm. Inspired by their son and nephew’s inclination towards the arts, they thought of putting up a venue that would showcase these two young men’s art pieces as well as those of other artists that they look up to and form part of their inner circle. They played and toyed with the idea of converting Little Bethlehem into a gallery especially geared towards young and budding artists from nearby schools of art within the University belt. This, after weeks of brain storming and deliberation, saw the birth of Sigwada Gallery.

Sigwada is an old Tagalog word that means the onslaught of sudden wind. The word sounded ideally right for the Pagaduans' vision of pushing young artists to reach the heights of their artistic excellence. Sigwada Gallery aims to welcome the new breed of artists as well as the more established ones into their abode. As it pushes young artists to their fullest potential, the Sigwada Gallery aims to serve also as a reminder of an established artist’s humble beginnings. This is what it is all about, feeling ones way back to the real meaning of the arts: the initial expression, the hesitant venture, the journey’s beginning and the continuing discovery, the fresh wind, the Sigwada. Then when their destiny is fulfilled, it is gratifying to look back to where it all began, the cradle of their art and inspiration at the heArt of Manila. The new gallery aims to bring to mind a sincere and original love for the arts. For an artwork is a person’s extension, his soul revealed in all vulnerability. It deserves a welcoming home that will take care of it like a member of the family.

Today, with the rigidity and exacting life that we live, going to galleries has offered a welcome respite. Looking at art pieces releases the tension and stress that co-exist with man’s sad plight. Being around and meeting people who love what they do will help bring back things into their right perspective.

The Sigwada Gallery is both for art makers and art lovers, waiting for your works to be placed on exhibit as they deserve, and inviting you to experience a taste of the old Manila in its new setting.

...

"But I'm sure there's something in a shade of gray
Or something in between,
And I can always change my name,
if that's what you mean"

September

ba de ya

wow