Beautiful "Ploning"

Perhaps the most beautiful Filipino film of 2008, "Ploning" opened in Philippine cinemas with the calm of Cuyo Island in Palawan during the summer. Hardly anyone noticed its opening. But for the fortunate ones who were able to see the film, it was a moment to behold and to be proud, for here at last is a Filipino film that does not wallow in self-pity and masochistic self-flagellation, nor mires itself in the social-realism of third-world cinema that is saturated with slum, grime and crime.

In many respects "Ploning" defies conventions in Philippine cinema by not resorting to melodrama or theatrics. There are no villains here of the vicious kind, no love-interest for the leading lady, no distracting musical score. Here is only cinematic artistry--from first-rate acting to cinematography that captures Philippine setting and sunlight so magnificently as an Amorsolo painting.

"Ploning" is a return to the barrio, to the good, old values of the country folks. It is a glimpse into the lives of people still connected to their community, neighbors, family and friends. Gentleness and kindness thrive here, as if time stood still in order to be seen, perhaps confronted, so that today's generation of Filipinos would know that they were once generous and full of heart for their fellowmen.

Yet, for all its seemingly ideal setting--in a seaside community yet to suffer from the assault of modernity--"Ploning" does not cater to escapism, nor does it cater to idealism. Simply, it is about the pains of everyday life and all the meaningful and beautiful little pieces that can be had from living through it.

Like the calm waters of the Cuyo seas, the lives of the characters ripple with tensions and suppressed emotions. Beneath their strong countenance are their losses, frustrations, anguish and hopes that are so palpable one cannot help but be crushed as the story begins to rush towards a most poignant end.

Lea Salonga in Seoul, June 16

(Lea's poster and information leaflets for her concert in Seoul. Photos grabbed from Seoul Arts Center website).

While every Filipino was busy with life in the Philippines, the country's international star Lea Salonga held a successful concert in Seoul, Korea last June 16. It was attended by approximately 2,000 people. Below is an article written on the concert by Cathy Garcia, a Filipino writer for The Korea Times.

Seoul, South Korea - International Filipino star Lea Salonga received standing ovations from a wildly appreciative Korean audience during her first solo concert here, Monday evening.

Salonga performed 22 Disney and Broadway songs during the two-and-a-half hour concert at the packed Seoul Arts Center. She is the first Filipino to perform in Korea’s foremost complex center dedicated to arts and culture.

In an interview before the concert, Salonga said she wasn’t sure how many people would attend.

"I have no idea how many people would actually come to the concert. If we’re going to be able to fill up the concert or if there will be only 10 people,” she said.

"My attitude is, if there are 10 people there, these are the 10 people who really want to see you. So you do you best for them no matter what,” she added.

Salonga didn’t have to worry about the attendance because more than 2,000 people, mostly Koreans, attended her first solo concert here.

Wearing a deep brown pantsuit, Salonga started the show with a stirring performance of “Go The Distance” from the Disney animated film “Hercules.”

She sang songs like “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King,” “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid” and “Reflection” from “Mulan.”

Since the song “A Whole New World” from the animated film “Aladdin,” is a duet, Salonga picked a Korean man from the audience to sing with her.

For the second part of the show, Salonga appeared on stage wearing a long blue gown and performed Broadway hits like “On My Own” and “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables”; “Nothing” from “A Chorus Line” and “Something’s Coming” from “The West Side Story.”

The Korean audience was very appreciative of Salonga’s performance, enthusiastically cheering and clapping after every song.

Salonga gave a heartfelt rendition of “I’d Give My Life For You” from “Miss Saigon.” She told the audience that since she gave birth to her daughter Nicole in 2006, she had a stronger feel for the song’s lyrics.

After her final song “Everybody Says Don’t” from “Anyone Can Whistle,” the audience gave thunderous applause and a standing ovation for Salonga.

Three encores

The exuberant response from the Korean crowd obviously surprised Salonga so much, that she returned not just for one encore, but three encores.

Salonga was also surprised to learn her wedding song “Two Words” is popular among her Korean fans. The song was not originally on her program, but was a last-minute addition due to her fans’ special request.

When she came out for the third time, Salonga laughingly said, “We ran out of songs.” She gave the audience a repeat performance of “Everybody Says Don’t.”

After the show, around a hundred Korean fans and handful of Filipinos lined up to get Salonga’s autograph.

Chung-ah Lee, a 22-year old student, said she was a big fan of Salonga’s after listening to her songs in Disney films “Aladdin” and “Mulan.”

(Lea's concert poster in Korean).

"I had goose bumps while listening to her sing ‘Reflection’ and ‘A Whole New World.’ Her voice was so clear and strong. She is very pretty. I hope she comes back soon,” Lee said, after the concert.

There were only a few Filipinos in the audience, including Philippine Ambassador to Korea Luis Cruz and embassy staff.

Alfonso Delgado, a Filipino accountant, said Salonga’s performance blew everyone away.
“The highlight for me was when she sang the song from ‘Miss Saigon.’ Her story about having a child made the song more personal. Her performance was a real showstopper,” Delgado said.

Concert organizers said ticket sales for Salonga’s concert were quite good for an artist who has not released an album in Korea. Tickets ranged from 30,000 won (P1,275) to 180,000 won (P7,650).

Her brother Gerard was also the concert’s musical director and conductor. The all-Korean Mostly Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied Salonga’s performance.

Also performing with the orchestra were Joey Quirino on piano, Robert Dennis De Guzman on guitar, Joji Magadia on bass and Jorge San Jose on drums.

Cathy Rose A. Garcia, GMANews.TV

The University of the Philippines at 100

(The UP Oblation. Photo grabbed from J. Dalisay's blog).

One hundred years ago today, June 18, 1908, the University of the Philippines (UP) was founded. It was perhaps, and still is, the best gift to a country that has always been hungry for knowledge. From the day of its founding to the present, the UP remains the premier institution of higher learning in the Philippines. It is in fact the flag bearer of Philippine education. Many of the most notable personalities of the country trace their roots to this university, among them are Presidents, scientists, senators, educators, diplomats and national artists. No person can be so proud as not to belong (or want to belong) to this institution that has produced the most eminent intellectuals and public figures.

Yet for all its glories and accomplishments, the UP has also been criticized for having nurtured the most "subversive" of minds and even those considered to be the most corrupt. The founders of the many radical political and social groups have studied here, and many powerful politicians accused of graft and corruption trace their education here as well. Some carry this case to the extreme, arguing that the Philippines would perhaps be better off without the brainy people of this university. After all, if the country is run mostly by the smart ones from the UP, why is it in so miserable a condition?

But think of the Philippines without the UP. For all its faults and deficiences, it is undeniable that this institution has done more than any other in helping the country achieve its goals for a better future. A large chunk of the country's scientific research outputs are from the UP; the most esteemed and influential scholarly journals and publications are from here as well. All these have helped push the Philippine agenda for development in more ways than one.

Perhaps it is worth noting that it is the UP alumni themselves who are the most critical of the university. This is not surprising given its strong tradition of intellectual freedom. The UP is a university that respects and adheres to the philosophy of diversity of opinions. In fact, it is known that when you pose a question in class, you get a hundred different opinions and arguments in return. Such dynamism is undoubtedly proof of the university's strong intellectual base, and this will surely continue to be its bedrock of strength in the next 100 years.

UP, ang galing mo!

Let Me Brood

I sit all day brooding. If I could make a fortune out of it, I would already be a billionaire. But since I couldn't, the least I could wish is for brooding to be cool and fashionable. Yes, even without the wealth of this world, I could at least be desirable, the object of every silly girl's affection who think that because I look vulnerable I would make for a fine friend, or a sweetheart maybe. Or perhaps because they think I couldn't hurt them more than I could hurt myself. Oh, yes, I'm the handsome poster boy of loneliness on every adoring girl's bedroom walls. I'm so pretty it hurts.

I see myself in pictures brooding, in monochrome, beside the sea, with the sunset as backdrop, or wading waist-deep in a pond, in the jungle, or a stream maybe, or framed by a window of a dilapidated bus somewhere in Manchuria, or leaning against a worn-down lighthouse, perhaps contemplating the meanness of the world, or my own.

I'm lonely, and everyone sees it in my eyes. I stare far into the distance, and my eyes reflect my thoughts, some think my soul. It's an old soul they see. No, he's just a boy. What could this old soul or boy be thinking? No one knows. For no one understands. The brooding beauty is burdened, for he has to carry the weight of the ugly world.

To brood is to work. It's a difficult job. Or a mission. Brooders convey the bleakness of the ordinary. They aspire for a kinder world and hope for the kindness of strangers. They open the eyes of people, inspire them to sympathy and affection, even protection. They plea for your heart and your soul. They plea for your own salvation. So let me brood.

(Brooding beauties, from top to bottom: River Phoenix, James Dean, and Winona Ryder).

Discovering the ASEAN

For all the campaigns aimed at promoting awareness of the ASEAN, ordinary Filipinos still remain largely unaware of their neighboring countries. The Philippines with its colonial heritage still leans heavily towards the West. This Western bias is reflected in every aspect of Philippine society and can never be missed in the content of the country's mass media. When in the Philippines, hardly can you escape the heavy influence of the West, from the silver screen to the airwaves. You would think this were Europe or America--especially America--in Asia.

Important moves have been made to address this lack of awareness about the ASEAN. Social studies textbooks tackle the ASEAN as a regional organization, cultural and educational exchanges are being done, athletic competitions are being held, etc. Still, these are not enough. Compared to the knowledge ASEAN peoples have of more prosperous East Asian countries like Japan and Korea, their knowledge of fellow Southeast Asians is miniscule. The economic status of these prosperous countries could be the main reason for their long outward reach. It appears that as a country becomes prosperous it attracts more attention, consequently drawing interests to its popular culture. Take the case of Japan's cuisine, manga, and Hello Kitty, or even Korea's hallyu that has swept much of Asia. Even China and Chinese culture are starting to appear hot again owing to its rising economy and its hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games.

While working for the big economic boom, ASEAN countries could give more focus on cultural exchanges to foster more knowledge about member countries. A good starting point is through a liberal exchange of artists to showcase their talents within ASEAN. Southeast Asian movies could be shown in theaters in the region, singers could hold concerts in any city, writers can do book-signing in any place they choose, etc.

The benefits of such a program would be enormous: It could facilitate and hasten the opportunities for understanding better than what textbooks can do. This is because the power of actual contact and interaction with other people is much more immediate and lasting. The truth is, until the people themselves comprising the ASEAN take interest in each other's cultures and peoples, the hope for a working regional grouping would still have a long way to go.

So who are the personalities that can jumpstart the ASEAN fever? Let the Southeast Asians decide.

Stars from and for ASEAN (from top to bottom): Lea Salonga (Filipino), Vanessa Mae (Malaysian), Witwisit "Pchy" Hiranyawongkul (Thai).