After releasing a statement calling to stop the Lumad killings in Mindanao, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), through the leadership of Chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. and OIC Executive Director Adelina Suemith, undertakes another program for the indigenous people, this time in partnership with the ABS CBN News Channel.

In celebration of Indigenous Month this coming October, NCCA is set to launch Dayaw, a six-part documentary series on Philippine culture, traditions and indigenous industries. Dayaw is aimed highlighting and uplifting the culture of the indigenous peoples all over the country.

“Preserving the country’s culture and heritage has always been part of the mission of ABS CBN News,” said managing director Regina Reyes during the MOA signing.

“Dayaw is dedicated to educating and inspiring audiences in the protection, and preservation of the cultural and artistic treasures of our country. By documenting our cultural identity, Dayaw will link the past to the present and allow us to find a way to shape the future,” Reyes added.

Through Dayaw, she hopes to bridge the gap between indigenous communities and today’s society.

Sen. Loren Legarda, one of the many personalities who strongly advocate for the indigenous people, will host the program.

“We are happy that Senator Legarda will host this series,” said Reyes noting Legarda’s legacy as a Kapamilya and fellow advocate for indigenous people. Legarda’s track record in promoting indigenous culture is unmatched, as she remains one of the strongest lobbyers
for IP rights and issues in the legislative arena.

In his message, de Leon noted the best practices and characteristics that Filipinos have.
Our strengths as people, he said, is through our ability to connect and the sense of kapwa that makes us participatory when it comes to taking on national issues.

He also noted that the numerous tangible and intangible heritage and indigenous skills featured in the series are “our best bet to shine in this world.”

“We have so much to offer [to the world],” de Leon added.

Dayaw will feature various traditional arts, tangible and intangible heritage from across the archipelago. It is set to premier on October 1 as part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to preserve and promote Filipino culture and arts. The show will be aired every Thursday, 6 p.m. on ANC.

For more information, call Anne Cabrera, TV/Media Coordinator/Information Officer of the NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office through 0920-9514916, 527-5529 or 527-2192 local 207. Visit ncca.paio@gmail.com.

Rosalinda L. Orosa

The Oxford dictionary defines: “magnetism” as the ability to engage or charm people. The music of internationally awarded Jeffrey Ching fits the definition to the fullest measure.

For the CCP concert, his erudite, scholarly and highly complex program notes were doubtless beyond the average ken. Therefore, I shall describe the concert in layman’s language, hopefully without risking the composer’s displeasure.

Only such exceptional and seasoned artists as Fil-Spanish soprano Andion Fernandez (Ching’s wife), Brazilian cellist Matias Oliveira Pinto and Japanese pianist Kiai Nara could have interpreted the atonal “Celestial-Infernal Grand Nuptial Rites” to the composer’s gratification.

Andion sang unconnected top notes in brief intervals sustaining them with marvelous power, superb control and resonance. At times, she plucked the strings of the cello, waved the bow or struck temple blocks.

Matias’ tones were masterfully robust or soft; occasionally, he plucked the strings; once, he vigorously and defiantly waved his bow in the air, and beat the cello. Kiai, standing throughout, her back to the audience, challengingly plucked or struck the piano strings with two percussion mallets. All artists merely followed what the score specified, their impeccable collaboration apparent.

Titled “Fusion” the concert fused the artists’ talents qualifying Jeffrey’s introductory statements that his compositions would be distinctly exotic, unique, arrantly unconventional music.

Although Ching beforehand said his arrangements of Schumann and Wagner would be more traditional, the romantic lyricism of Schumann and the shimmering glow of Wagner were diminished.

Yet, only a genius like Ching, whose inherent talent was nurtured in the universities of Harvard, Cambridge and London, could have “shocked us out of our comfort zones”, to use his own words. The fusion of diverse sources—ancient music (particularly Chinese), European neo-classic, classic, romantic and Euro-American contemporary produced a tremendously dramatic and magnetic effect that beguiled, bewitched and bewildered, the transcendental, mystifying music leaving the spiritually oriented in a trance. Two encores ensued after the resounding ovation: a romantic song—Schumann’s Widmung, if memory serves me right and another unorthodox piece.

Meanwhile, Ballet Manila opened its recent concert with Luzviminda Fernandez reading Lola Basyang’s tales offstage to her grandchildren. Soon, a grand-daughter, Missy Macuja Elizalde, introduces the first tale by dancing charmingly onstage, as she will do for the other two “kuwentos.”

Severino Reyes’ stories, told in ballet form with touches of folk and Oriental dances (Chinese and Indian), transport the viewers to a fairyland of magic and illusion enhanced by fanciful costumes, spectacular stage sets and décor. As excellent soloists, the ballerinas were fluidly graceful, their extensions remarkably high; the danseurs soared or turned seamlessly, and lent their partners firm support. The outstanding performance of both the principals and vast ensembles was typical of BM headed by artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde whose incomparable dancing was sorely missed.

The story-lines of Osias Barroso’s “Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon” to Mon Faustino’s musical arrangement, and of Tony Fabella’s “Ang Mahiwagang Byulin” to Cayabyab’s music, were very clearly delineated. In the former, Brian Williams was magnificent as the arrogant King implacably objecting to the Bird Prince (Elpidio Magat/Rudy de Dios) as his daughter’s suitor. The beautiful Katherine Barkman, the Princess, brilliantly interrupted her role with regal elegance. Even as she turns into a bird, her father watches unmoved as the lovers fly to the Bird Kingdom. (This feat, and many others devised by BM, remain unmatched.)

How delightfully amusing was Fabella’s choreography! Rodrigo (Gerardo Francisco) works to the bone for Ahab (Michael Divinagracia) who refuses to pay him his salary. The hilarious miming and brisk dancing of servant and master, and of the disciplined, cohesive ensemble, drew hearty laughter.

Choreographed by Lisa, Barroso, Ernest Mandap and Francisco, “Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya” was intriguing in its intricate unfolding, enlivened by three enchanted kingdoms and a frightfully large, long snake—these enriching the search for Pedro (Alvin Snatos), the brother of the three Maryas represented by strikingly skilled Joan Emery Sia, Abigail Oliveiro and Violet Hong.

At concert’s end, the huge assemblage—what an incredible sight onstage!—bade the audience a rousing farewell.

Once again, Lisa’s Ballet Manila brought ballet to the people.

Cecile Licad plays on October 2
Top international pianist Cecile Licad will perform on October 2, 7pm, at a benefit Francisfest concert in Santuario de San Antonio Forbes which is celebrating its 40th (Ruby) anniversary.

The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under Gerard Salonga will assist Cecile. Amelita
Guevara is Francisfest chairman.

KATRINA STUART SANTIAGO

It does not seem like the best time to build an organization for music from scratch.

After all, music organizations such as the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) and Filipino Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (FILSCAP) are besieged by questions from musicians and composers with regards their functions and their value given the critical needs of cultural workers.

Of course in that sense, it might be the best time to build a musikeros organization from scratch, one that will do things differently and therefore prove that there are many ways to function as an organization for and by musikeros, in the context of nation.

LAPIS and relevance
LAPIS is League for Authors of Public Interest Songs, a group better known for the personalities that have been doing LAPIS gigs: Gary Granada, Tres Marias (Cooky Chua, Bayang Barrios and Lolita Carbon), and Chikoy Pura, who are founding board members.

“I’d like to imagine LAPIS advocating public interest over or perhaps even against private interest,” Granada says.

On LAPIS’s Facebook Page the organization gives you every reason to believe that music and musikeros can actually change the world, cutting across issues that are relevant to us: poverty and inequality, human rights and gender justice, full employment and decent work, environmental sustainability and food sovereignty, democracy and good governance, peace and security.

Yes, big words that makes you want to sign up for it. Asked why it sounded less grim and determined and more calm and collected, Granada responds: “Cool, I suppose comes with the territory. Kasi lalo na sa musicians, ang daming overlapping mindsets and inclinations.
On one hand firm to stand for ‘common good politics’ on the other hand walang basagan ng trip!”

Ah, also: there’s a sense of humor, and a whole lot of self-reflexivity.
Two things existing musikero organizations might learn from LAPIS.

Standing for nation, creativity
Despite the different mindsets, there are issues that the members of LAPIS all agree on, including but not limited to the big words of change that it mentions on its Facebook Page.
Of course any organization has its pitfalls, if not loopholes, where “representation” becomes problematic—because how to represent such diversity?

Tres Marias (Cooky Chua, Bayang Barrios and Lolita Carbon), Gary Granada, and Chikoy Pura, the founding members of LAPIS PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK

Granada says: “I’d probably say we afford each other a wide enough berth for all traditions of creative expression, yet also seek some firm commitment over more compelling subjects. Parang yes we have a myriad of preferences: sa damit, ulam, even music. But there is no debate din naman pagdating sa public need for clean water or access to education.”

Instead of doing a set of rules and limitations, instead of demanding of members and members-to-be to do certain things, or be certain things, LAPIS operates on an amount of freedom, if not a whole lot of common sense, respecting individual creativities and then daring to engage in discussions about nation relative to what it is they do as musicians.

“I think sufficiently evolved naman kahit yung mga mas bata sa LAPIS to navigate without compromising their core informed convictions. At may practical use yung pakinggan yung iba if also to gauge your own ‘caliber.’ ‘Dang kasi di mo rin matakasan yung art, may aspect ng delivery,” Granada explains. “Minsan matalas ka nga ngunit ‘di ‘sing proficient nung mga tingin mo na purol. At the same time, maganda na rin mapakinggan lahat para masuri kung alin nga ba may integrity para paghalawan ng hamon.”

Standing for the Lumad
The challenge of course is in the diversity as well of issues that we face as nation, the kind that demands of our artists to take a stand for what is right and just.

LAPIS, independent as it is, can actually take government to task over the Lumad murders.

In early September, news broke about the death of three Lumad leaders in Surigao del Sur, after soldiers of the 36th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IBPA) and the paramilitary group Magahat-Bagani Force occupied ALCADEV—an alternative school in Sitio-Han-ayan.

Members of the community were threatened, and three of its leaders and educators were killed: Executive Director of the ALCADEV Emerito Samarca, Chairperson of the MAPASU or Persevering Struggle for the Next Generation Dionel Campos, and member of MAPASU Bello Sinzo. The community evacuated, fearing for their lives.

LAPIS is the first artist organization to do a fundraiser for the Lumads now in evacuation centers. LAPIS is one it taking government to task for the Lumad killings.

It seems that too is a lesson that LAPIS teaches. It is easy to declare your stand for or against an issue, buts what of keeping one’s eyes on those who continue to suffer in the midst of debates, those who remain traumatized by continued neglect as we wait for the slow slow wheels of justice to turn?

“LAPIS Para Sa Lumad” happens on September 30, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at My Brothers Mustache in Scout Tuazon, Quezon City. Tickets are at P1,000, which comes with dinner and a drink. And well, it comes with music from LAPIS and Joey Ayala.

The music itself is worth it of course. But the cause, well, it’s the best way to spend your P1,000.

CARLA BIANCA V. RAVANES

ON a regular, average day, it is not uncommon for people to say out loud or think in their heads, “I really need to get away from the city.” The city, though highly amusing and entertaining at times, can be extremely limiting in terms of breathing space. No matter how much we enjoy our lives, we reach a point where we just need a break and somewhere to escape to.

Thankfully, VConsunji Inc., Stephen Ku, and Slater Young fulfills this dream through the Busay Sky House. Nestled in the beautiful mountains of uptown Cebu, Busay Sky House brings together smart and stylish while not being far away from metro giving everyone a chance to having the family or vacation home of their dreams.

The exclusive mountain top development boasts of Sky Houses, a visual once only seen on creative Pinterest boards as conceptualized and developed by real estate heavy weight Victor Consunji along with friends Stephen Ku and Slater Young and Architect Juan Serina of H1 Architecture. The literal sky house of our dreams is actually a unique modern Cliffside home that takes advantage of the beautiful view of Cebu City.

The sky houses feel like the tree houses of our childhood daydreams, floating above the cliff side, above tree top canopies with views that can leave anyone breathless. But more than just being strikingly beautiful, it’s meant to be a home. Consunji said, “We are primary home developers. This means no matter what the design or the location, our utmost interest is to create a lasting home for our home owners. A home that is big enough for their family, well built with premium finishes, organized and expandable to grow with their future needs. A home, whose design is lasting and adaptable, and architecturally forward looking to be as timeless as possible.”

The Sky Houses are conveniently located in Busay Hilands, which is the right combination of desirable factors such as the view and the terrain and is the right mix of convenience and lifestyle. It’s being in the Metro without actually being in it, it gives you that needed space in between where you have to be and where you want to be, a place that gives you the solitude, fresh air, and privacy that you need.

For more information, visit www.vconsunji.net/busay.html.

* * *

www.carlabiancaravanes.com

FINAL call to all cooks and chefs all over the Philippines. Submit your best Lady’s Choice mayonnaise-infused recipe until October 31 and get the chance to win P100, 000 and a TV feature for your winning dish and your food establishment.

Lady’s Choice’s first-ever Real Chef Challenge dares chefs and cooks across the country to whip up recipes with the use of mayonnaise that fits any of the competitions’ category: Hot Signature Dish or Salad and Sandwich Combo.

Recipe entries can be submitted online via www.ufs.com/realchef. The top 24 finalists will face each other in a grand taste-testing event to be attended by diners and culinary experts on November 25.

For more information, visit www.UFS.com/realchef.

CALLING all aspiring playwrights, if you’ve got “hope-full” stories to tell—be it stories about Filipino resiliency or positivism despite challenging situations—now’s the perfect time to pen them as Pioneer, an established life and non-life insurance company in the Philippines, launches a nationwide playwright competition for college students.

Entries must be in a one-act play form, written in English, Filipino, or Taglish. Deadline for submission of scripts is on November 6. The winning entry will receive a P25, 000 cash prize plus insurance coverage from Pioneer and will be announced on December 14.
For complete contest details, visit www.storieslab.ph.

Aunor and 12 others honored at Gawad CCP Para sa Sining awards night

GAWAD CCP Para sa Sining, Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) highest award given every three years, culminated on September 17 honoring individuals or institutions, which have “consistently produced outstanding works and enriched the development of their art form”

The awardees of the Gawad para sa Sining 2015 PHoto by Abby Palmones

Leading the roster of awardees is movie legend Nora Aunor for her contribution to film and broadcast arts. The honor is another addition to the many awards the 62-year-old actress has received this year.

In April, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2nd ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards held at the Borneo Convention Center in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Then in May, she took home the Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film for her acclaimed performance in Perci Intalan’s Dementia at the St. Tropez International Film Festival in France.

In her acceptance speech, Aunor dedicated the award to her brother, Eddie Boy who just passed away in July, her family, her co-performers and fans—all of whom gave their understanding no matter what.

She also expressed, “Masasabi ko ito ang pinakatamang desisyon na nagawa ko sa buhay ko. Ang desisyon na umarte at maglingkod sa aking mga kababayan bilang artista [I can say that this is the best decision that I ever made in my life. The decision to act and serve my fellowmen as an artist].”

This decision, she also admitted, gave her many headaches and painful experiences but it also brought joy and success.

Other awardees
Also honored at the event were other awardees like Ricky Lee for Literature for being a champion in using Filipino in fiction since the 1960s and screenplay writing since 1980s.

Lee, who wrote the film Himala, one of the greatest achievements of Aunor, also wrote other classics like Moral, Karnal and Salome. Two of his short stories Huwag, Huwag Mong Kukuwentuhan ang Batang si Wei-fung and Servando Magdamag won first prices at the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature for two consecutive years, 1970 and 1971.

Meanwhile, Armida Siguion-Reyna, who is also a noted film actress and film producer, was also honored for her contribution to both the musical theater and the film industry.

Her television program Aawitan Kita, for which she has produced, hosted and sang was aired for three decades. Her son, Director Carlos Siguion Reyna, read the acceptance speech on her behalf.

One of the most applauded acceptance speech was that of Fides Cuyugan-Asensio for Music. A professor emerita at the University of the Philippines’ College of Music Voice and Music Theater/Dance Department, Asensio earned an Artis’s Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and has appeared extensively in various international performance tours. Considered an icon in the development of opera and musical theater in the country, she continues to promote young classical singers throught the Music Theater Foundation of the Philippines, the non-profit organization she has established. Cuyugan has also appeared in the films Oro, Plata, Mata and Aparisyon.

Tony Mabesa, on the other hand, was awarded for theater category. A professor emeritus at the College of Arts and Letters Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts, Mabesa is the founding artistic director of Dulaang UP. He was trained at the University of California in Los Angeles and the University of Hawaii. He has directed over 130 stage productions.

For dance, Denisa Reyes shone with her impressive line of choreographic works that won critical recognition in the international dance scene. Her works focus on Asian contemporary dance presenting current local issues through dance expressions.

Paulo Alcazaren’s architectural designs are not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally sensitive. An architecture graduate at the University of the Philippines, his works and that of his company, Paulo G. Alcazaren and Associates, have adeptly integrated verdure in the urban setting.

Roberto Chavet, the first curator of the Cultural Center of the Philippines was awarded for Visual Arts category. He is credited with having introduced conceptual art into the Philippine art scene. An architecture graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, he initiated the Thirteen Artists Award in 1970 when he served as the founding Museum Director of the CCP.

An award-winning literary writer Leoncio Deriada was given recognition for having encouraged and trained young writers in West Visayas and produced prize winners for writing in Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and Aklanon besides English and Filipino. A Palanca Hall of Fame awardee himself, he writes in English, Filipino and Hiligaynon.

Meanwhile, Ben Farrales took his imagination to the next level and brought indigenous designs and materials into dazzling creations. His patterns are based on Muslim culture, taking the malong fashion in other parts of the world like Canada, Los Angeles and New York through an exhibit called “Maranaw.” He was awarded for Fashion Design category.

Basilio Esteban Villaruz was awarded for Heritage Preservation. He holds the distinction of establishing and sustaining the 34-year old program of the University of the Philippines College of Music and the UP Dance Company. He is recognized nationally and internationally and respected in the field of dance.

Talaandig School of Living Tradition, awarded for cultural advocacy, is a haven for pre-school children who learn reading, writing and arithmetic together with traditional Talaandig values and mythologies, dance techniques and music. The knowledge on the Talaandig people including their roots and identity are disseminated in the form of entertainment such as storytelling, chanting, music and instrument playing.

Another recognized organization is the Missionary Society of St Columbus as the Tanging Parangal/Heritage Conservation awardee. Since their arrival in the Philippine s in 1929, the Missionary Society of St. Columbus has been housed in the Malate Church, also known as Nuestra Senora de los Remedios and has continued to cater to the Malate area’s ecclesiastical needs. They have gone beyond their spiritual service to the congregation by also taking care of the church they called “home.”

IN the early 1960s, stainless steel was the least utilized form of metal in the Philippines.
But then newly married couple Ren and Felici Silayan thought otherwise. Sensing something special in the smooth and shiny alloy, they started a small venture fabricating stainless steel while building a strong foundation for their family.

With beginnings in a garage in Potrero, Malabon, this business is now recognized all over the country as Allied Metals Inc. This year marks the company’s 50th anniversary.

Paying a visit to the company’s head office in Cubao, Quezon City, The Sunday Times Magazine sat down with the Silayans who recalled the golden journey that made them pioneers of the stainless steel industry in the Philippines.

From lovers to entrepreneurs

As Allied Metals enters a new frontier in its 50th year, founders Ren and Felici Silayan assure that nothing will change in the terms of the company’s high quality service, as well as strong leadership

According to Ren Silayan, who is chairman emeritus, the history of Allied Metals started the moment he married his better half, and decided to “roll the dice” for their future. He bravely quit his job as consultant for Phinma Properties and built a business from scratch with the support of his wife Felici.

“I had to collapse everything. You have to go on your own even if you have no money,” recounted Ren, who graduated from Chemical Engineering at the University of the Philippines (UP).

On the other hand, Felici graduated from Speech and Drama—also at UP—who readily quit her budding career as a teacher to help out her husband. Then and now, she never felt what she did was a sacrifice for she saw the move as an opportunity to learn something new.

“When we got married, we both decided to stop working [at our respective jobs] and become entrepreneurs,” Felici recalled. “And when you’re an entrepreneur, you don’t have anything. You really start with zero. So you also have to learn everything [to grow the business].”

Though full of optimism, the couple reached a deadlock on the question of capital.

To ask from their parents was apparently out of the question. As Ren believed, “Tama na yong binigay sa’yo ng magulang mo na edukasyon [It should be enough that your parents sent you to school].”

Ever the bullish one, Ren leased the only property they had as a couple and in return, received a five-year advanced payment from their tenant. Effectively, the amount became the seed money for Allied Metals.

Potential in stainless steel
But why of all possible ventures go into stainless steel?

According to Ren Silayan, who is chairman emeritus, the history of Allied Metals started the moment he married his better half, and decided to ‘roll the dice’ for their future

“When you go on your own without money, you start thinking ‘What is a business that you can start small but with good horizons?’” Ren asked The Sunday Times Magazine in return. “The answer is that you have to have something that other businessmen never had.”

He explained, “Stainless steel was not a common metal here in the Philippines back then, and with that knowledge, I delayed competition in the early days of our business.”

Ren first encountered the now prized metal when he worked in a shipment company that carried stainless steel. Felici ventured that the reason why it was barely used in the Philippines was because many had thought stainless steel was hard to work with.

“It is the only metal that cannot be painted, thus its flaws cannot be hidden if any,” she related.

Thankfully, Ren’s college degree afforded him some understanding of the metal, and from there he discovered that the true potential of stainless steel lies in its use for professional and industrial kitchens.

“Back then, professional kitchens were either made from marble or ceramic,” he continued. “Eventually we were able to show how stainless steel is better suited for such kitchens, and more importantly, cheaper, and we were able to establish an industry.”

As added trivia, Felici shared that when Allied Metals was incorporated in 1965, they were the first stainless steel fabricator printed in the “Yellow Pages” telephone directory—proof that while there are so many other companies in the same trade today, theirs was the first in Philippine history.

The husband and wife also credited Allied Metal’s key partners for the growth of the company, who trusted them early on in their venture, with Gabino Mendoza as their very first investor, followed by Bartolome Silayan, Ramon Kabigting, Pablo Silva, Ambrosio Makalintal, and Tony Mercado.

Early days and clients

To this day, the company remains to be the first choice of almost all international brand hotels in Manila PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLIED METALS

Just like every start-up company, Allied Metals has many interesting stories from its early days. One such memory is when the Silayans set up their very first headquarters at the garage of Ren’s family home in Potrero, Malabon.

As the last of five siblings to get married, Ren’s ancestral home only had her mother and sister left living in the 2,000-square meter property. They even only occupied the second flood, which meant there was so much space just waiting for use.

He recalled, “Because we couldn’t buy a property for the business, I asked my family if I could use the garage for free and in return, I would clean the yard, pay for the telephone and the electricity bills, and even be their security guard.”

Striking a deal, Ren and Felici went full blast into operations within the area of a two-car garage. They started with only a few sheets of stainless steel, small welding and bending equipments, and a staff of four people.

Allied Metal’s first international client is another memorable story. They landed InterContinental Hotel in Makati City in just their fourth or fifth year in business.

According to Ren, the hotel’s foreign representative, an Australian, went to inspect their
“headquarters” after going into contract with Allied Metals. As the executive—an expert in industrial kitchens—looked around the garage, he wondered where the large equipments were to fulfill the hotel’s requirements.

Ever driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Ren assured the client that would import a press break, inert cast welding machines, and sheers for cutting, among other such apparatus in order to produce a topnotch stainless steel kitchen.

When the client noted the lone worker bending stainless steel under a tamarind tree beside the garage, Ren proudly replied, “Now that’s what you can’t buy; a person’s skill.”

He continued, “We then started discussing the plans and I was able to deliver the hotel’s requirements since I had already learned everything about the specifications of international standards. So throughout the contract, whenever he asked me to do something, I just told him, ‘If you like it, then most definitely I can do it’.”

They sealed the deal with a handshake, and as soon as the Australian gave a 50-percent down payment, the Silayans imported all the equipment they needed for their first biggest account.

Delivering every promise he made, word of mouth and the quality work of Allied Metals landed the company contract after contract, and to this very day, they remain to be the first choice of almost all international brand hotels in Manila. In fact, their most recent and ongoing projects are within the three hotels of the new City of Dreams, namely Crown, Hyatt Manila, and Nobu.

Moreover, Allied Metals also services fast food chains with fast food giant Jollibee as one of its loyal clients.

“We’ve been making all their kitchens since their first restaurant,” informed Ren.
The company has also penetrated the stainless steel needs of hospitals, financial institutions, pharmaceuticals, resorts and clubs, educational institutions, and other commercial establishments.

Passing on the torch
After running the company for five decades, Ren and Felici are now currently enjoying their retirement. They have passed on the management of their beloved company to a new breed of leaders with their fresh ideas and broader horizons.

They are Kenneth Silayan Go, who is company president, and John Echauz, chairman of the board. According to Ren, John, his son in law, leans toward the “practical side” in making decisions, while his nephew Kenneth, is an expert in the “financial side.”

“I think they make a good combination. Bilib ako sa kanila [I have confidence in them],” he noted.

Asked about the involvement of their own children in Allied Metals, Ren simply replied, “They are stock owners but they are not interested [to run it]. I never forced them to take over.”

Backing up his husband, Felici added, “Nothing good ever results from imposing something on your children. They are all different, and they had different things they wanted to do. So we allowed them to pursue their dreams.”

The couple has a son who is a web developer, and a daughter who is a nutritionist.

Giving back
As Allied Metals enters a new frontier with new leaders in its 50th year, the Silayans assured their clients that nothing will change in terms of quality and leadership.

“It will remain a fully Filipino-owned company, or as I like to describe it, indigenous to the Philippines,” Ren reiterated.

“Some people want to list in the Stock Exchange. But if we do that, we will lose control. Everybody there will be watching you,” Felici added.

“There will be more pressure; it’s not easy to run a company as it is, what more if somebody will always see something wrong in what you are doing?” Ren reasoned.

True enough, without the help of foreign and outside investors in the last five decades, the Silayans were able to grow Allied Metals into a multi-million company, which is now situated on a one-hectare property in Bulacan.

“It’s not a garage anymore! It’s so much bigger,” laughed Ren. “You will be proud of this plant.”

More importantly, in the midst of all this success, Allied Metals continues to ensure the company “takes care” of its people.

“Even if our people earn regularly, their money is just enough say when their wives have a
Caesarean birth, or someone in their family needs to undergo operation. And where will they go for help but to us?” the chairman emeritus related.

Understanding their people, many of whom have worked for Allied Metals for 30 years already, is what assures the Silayans of loyal and hardworking employees.

“Oftentimes, we don’t even expect them to pay us back because you should never do that when you choose to help others,” said Felici.

Strong relationship
For Ren and Felici Silayan, their success is not only in building Allied Metals but more importantly, in the solid relationship they formed in the last 50 years.

Jokingly, Felici said their secret both in business and in marriage is this: “At Allied Metals, he’s the boss. Whatever decision he makes, I just follow. But at home, I am the boss.”

Complementing his ever-supportive wife, Ren said, “In the beginning, she didn’t know anything about running a business. She just boosted my moral and was always behind me. But today, she is so good at managing the company, and sometimes she’s even better than me.”

Now that they have chosen to slow down and enjoy retirement, the Silayans find themselves traveling the world to enjoy the fruits of their hard work.

“For you to travel, you need time, money and energy. So I told him, while we still have both, let’s do it and travel more,” ended Felici.

“People who have recently lost someone have a certain look, recognizable maybe only to those who had seen that look on their own faces. I have noticed it on my face and I notice it on others. The look is one of extreme vulnerability, nakedness, openness . . . Those people who have lost someone look naked because they think themselves invisible.”—Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking

how are losses measured on a face?

the last time i was a friend of Sadness
it slapped my face with such force
the welts it left seem imprinted for life,
the pain that passed a reminder that
life follows loss after loss after
still another loss

the scarred, the widowed, the benumbed
heart wears layers of protective gauze,
the sort i’ve seen in pictures of women
with lotus feet.

the wounds inside oft rise,
making their selves visible
on the thinning hair of white,
on the grooves of the forehead,
in the unsparkled eyes,
on the downturned lips,
in that auto-generated
response of “i’m okay”
to every “but how ARE you, dear?”

the lie of surface wellness becomes
necessary for we who must in
our day to day survive life’s jokes/
riddles/curve balls/ironies

the sun
won’t touch
the coldness
the soul
decides to keep
after years
of love

Northern indigenous peoples at opening ceremony for Dayaw 2014

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the prime government agency for arts and culture headed by its chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. and OIC-executive director Adelina Suemith, is now gearing up for “Dayaw 2015: The Indigenous Peoples Festival,” touted to be the biggest gathering of Philippine indigenous peoples (IPs).

Organized by NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts (SCCTA), Dayaw is annually held in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples’ Month observed every October. It showcases the different indigenous groups of the country, and an enriching and interesting array of activities including performances, rituals, forums, traditional cuisine demos, traditional games, arts and crafts exhibit and cultural exchanges among others. It also aims to highlight the importance and richness of indigenous cultures, to discuss issues indigenous peoples face today and facilitate interactions with other indigenous peoples. It also aims to mine traditional knowledge as well as draw inspiration and insight from indigenous ways of life to find solutions for modern problems.

With this year’s theme “Katutubong Kaalaman para sa Kalikasan at Kapayapaan” (Indigenous knowledge for environment and peace), Dayaw 2015 is slated from October 15 to 17, in Angeles City and San Fernando, Pampanga, focusing on traditional and local knowledge on environment protection and advocacy for peace while sharing the uniqueness of each cultural community in the Philippines.

Weaving demonstration as part of last year’s program in Bacolod City

On October 15, Dayaw will open at the Bayanihan Park, where the IPs representatives will gather in their traditional wears for a spectacular parade. They will be joined by Pampanga’s government officials as well as students, drumming up awareness on the different IP groups of the country and their rich heritage.

An exhibit of traditional clothing and Manlilikha ng Bayan crafts will be staged at SM City Clark accompanied by pocket workshops. IP delegates will also conduct traditional games demonstrations at the mall’s Event Center. Capping the opening day is a public performance at the Plaza Anghel of Angeles City, and everyone is encouraged to watch.

The following days will be full of activities such as an IP summit in San Fernando where about 100 IP delegates will discuss various concerns including IP rights, environmental issues, and promotion of peace and unity.

The IP delegates will also conduct outreach performances in schools, including the Holy Angel University, City College of Angeles, City College of Mabalacat, Angeles University Foundation and Systems Plus College Foundation. They will showcase their traditional dances, songs/chants, games and cuisines. Then they will go to different places in Pampanga for cultural exchanges and performances with the local communities in Lubao, Santa Rita, Macabebe, Arayat, Porac and San Fernando.

The NCCA will also showcase the winning entries of its Tri-Regional Weaving Design Competition, ready-to-wear clothes and school uniforms inspired by traditional textiles and patterns, during a dinner hosted by the provincial government on October 16 in San Fernando.

Closing the festival is a ceremony and the recognition of cultural masters, particularly the masters for the NCCA’s Schools of Living Traditions, at the Plaza Anghel.

For the 2015 Dayaw in Pampanga, NCCA teams up with SM Malls and the provincial government of Pampanga headed by Gov. Lilia Pineda.

In celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and the International Youth Day, the Katutubo Exchange Philippines led by its founder and president Dr. Edwin Antonio organized and conducted the third Katutubo Exchange in Metro Manila in August.

Themed “Katutubong kabataan para sa kalinangan at kalikasan” (Indigenous youth for heritage and the environment), the youth exchange program promoted traditional arts and the indigenous cultures of the country. It did so by inviting indigenous peoples groups to hold performance tours and lectures and at the same time providing the participants learning opportunities with art workshops, museum tours, home stay program, institutional visits and courtesy calls to heads of government agencies.

“I consider this seven-day program a powerful tool in harnessing the potentials of the indigenous children and youth by giving them opportunities and exposures. It is also a way for them to learn and appreciate each other’s differences in culture, eventually fostering respect and mutual understanding,” Antonio shared.

This year, 30 indigenous youths with their respective adult leaders from different ethnic groups of the Philippines were chosen to participate in this year’s exchange program. They were Arlee Jilles Tiboldec, Ariel Ricardo, Leanne Hailey Aquiapao, Shania Mae Ventura, Paulo Busoy, Oscar Pil-es and Muller Bato, who are Ibaloy from Benguet; Bryan Sannadan, Joy Marie Purugganan and Erosbon Layugan-Sabedo, who are Tingguian from Abra; George David, Bernido Baclay, Joy Flores, Monica Vigilia and Sammy Paanan, who are Ayta of Zambales; Reychel Mae Lastrella, Denver Jhon Ontoy and Wılson Lastrılla, who are Panay Bukidnon from Iloilo; Kenneth Rudolf Onlos, Ralph Justine Castillon, Jessel Kıtt Dansıgan and Shiela Mae Castillon, who are Mansaka from Davao Del Norte; and Casper Lumbos, Alexander Tim, Aizel Praise Lacna, Renna Grace Ayao and Helen Lumbos, who are B’laan from Sarangani.

To kick off the program, the participants had a briefing and a lecture about foreign service at the Department of Foreign Affairs and climate change at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

While in the city, they were fostered by families of Maria Victoria Langit, Florinda Vaflor, Conchita Santos, Ivy Theresa Sanchez, Joydespe Cullano and Shiera Rivera for a two-day home stay.

Furthermore, the katutubo participants underwent workshops in baybayin writing at the Museum of the Filipino People, ballet at the Ballet Manila, deaf sign language and drawing at the Tehno Arts Camp, yukata wearing at the Japanese embassy, and culinary and hotel management at Saint Peter Velle Technical Training Center while they visited National Museum, Malacañan Museum and the GSIS Museum.

Rosalinda L. Orosa

Amidst dazzling, almost blinding light effects onstage, Tanya Diaz, Leah Patricio, Nino Alejandro, Timmy Pavino, Rachelle Gerodias and Byeong In Park at center stage, belted out the Beatles’ song “Let it Be” as they stood on an elevated platform.

Soon, the platform was broken into single panels, with one or two singers performing on each. As they rendered the remaining Broadway and West End ditties, Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT) dancers, magnificently performed a series of pas de deux’s, a pas de trois, ensemble dancing by young ballerinas and danseurs—hence the program title “Dancing in One Voice”.

To solve the perennial problem of divided attention, the audience watched the dancers as it listened to the singers.

Dance styles ranged from classic (with ballerinas en pointes), to modern classic, to modern dance with acrobatic touches, to fast and furious free-wheeling movements that combined ballet and modern dance, the latter interpreted by young ballerinas in fetching, colorful costumes, and young danseurs. Behind the stylized mixture of choreography and song was artistic director Ronilo Jaynario. Anatoly Panasyukov, formerly of Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet, has honed the dancers’ technical capabilities for years, the results ranging from excellent to brilliant, to skilled to highly competent—typical of PBT’s uncompromising standards.

Celebrated soprano Rachelle Gerodias and outstanding Korean Park Byeong In were performing for the first time after their union as man and wife. They interpreted a duet in the classic, fluid operatic manner that drastically contrasted with the lustiest belting out by the aforementioned powerhouse pop singers.

The ballerinas were Lobreza Pimentel, Ma. Regina Mabitang, Joanna Galeste, Rofel Artaiz, Irene Abrogena, Marie Desembrana,and Gladys Baybayan. The danseurs were Peter Lloyd San Juan, Mark Pineda, Adrian Ocampo, Matthew Davo, Jimmy Lumba, Julafer Fegarido and Crimson Guirjem.

PBT chairman Tricia Cepeda Sison and president Sylvia Lichauco de Leon gave welcome remarks prior to the immensely delightful, successfully innovative concert.

Sunico’s endless feats

Raul Sunico

My reviews of Raul Sunico’s past piano concerts repeatedly use such adjectives as virtuosic, amazing, astonishing, and refers to his unprecedented feats: e,g., his rendition of Rachmaninoff’s four concertos in a single evening without scores, his performance of three Tchaikowsky concertos—all these works culled from Sunico’s incredible repertorie of 25 concertos. Further, they prove his phenomenal memory, singular technical skill and artistry.

His latest feat was interpreting Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 3, accompanied by the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra on its 15th anniversary, under conductor Josefino “Chino” Toledo.

The daunting concerto consisted of thunderous chordal passages, arpeggios, runs, glissandos, the most complex fingerings, one hand over the other, all consistently in the swiftest tempo. Sunico remained poised and unfazed throughout the challenging piece, his rich tonal hues alternately brilliant or subdued as demanded by the dissonant, atonal harmonies and discords. How deafeningly powerful were the climaxes!

The keenly perceptive Toledo sustained a racy, spirited dialogue with the pianist.

In Carnival Overture by Glazunov, Toledo hewed closely to its traditional style in contrast to the more dramatic, bravura manner of Mussorgsky, Prokofiev and Stravinsky, while keeping tempo brisk and martial.

In Kasilag’s Philippine Scenes, Toledo eloquently and engagingly recreated the ethnic and indigenous through certain native instruments, exotic rhythms and melodies.

The concert ended with Chabrier’s Joyeux Marche, with Toledo reflecting its cheery, delightful air.

MMCO Foundation chairman Boysie Villavicencio was justifiably proud of the concert’s distinct success.

Chino, a Paganini?
If virtuoso violinist Joaquin “Chino” Gutierrez, as guest artist of German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski, had played no more than the opening and closing pieces, the concert would have been thoroughly impressive. The first, the unaccompanied Chaconne by the great musical genius Bach, was long, arduous, daunting: the second was Ravel’s dazzling, awesome Tzigane with its stirring cadenza. The rendition of both works led to the query: Is Chino a future Paganini?

The other selections also enthralled and magnetized listeners: Beethoven’s Rondo-Allegro from his Sonata in D Major; Kabayao’s deeply touching La Deportacion on Rizal’s exile in Dapitan; Elgar’s delightfully whimsical piece appropriately titled La Capricieuse. For masterfully and faithfully delineating the style and content of each piece, Chino garnered the lustiest applause ever given a violinist and a standing ovation. To these he responded with an unaccompanied Kreisler work and Bayan Ko.

Eminent pianist Greg Zuniega marvelously complemented every single note Chino played.

KATRINA STUART SANTIAGO

When you see a stage inspired by the Rubik’s Cube and a strange divider that carries tiny flags of Spain, Japan and the Philippines, you realize quickly enough that the play you’re about to see just might deliver on the promise of its title. After all, it is called Chuva Choo Choo, The Mr. Kupido Musicale (written and directed by George de Jesus, featuring the songs of Vehnee Saturno).

I’ve never laughed so hard in any play or musical in a very long time.

Beyond camp
It would be easy to dismiss the laughter to be borne of the campiness and gayness that this production works with, given Nenita (Ross Pesigan) who is gay sidekick of the lead characters Dina (Joanna Ampil) and Darla (Morissette Amon), and given the fact that the two leads would end up working in a gay comedy bar, pretending to be cross-dressers.
It is of course a story that’s familiar. Yet, this is the thing you realize about adaptations: done well, with very succinct and specific references to local culture, as only we might know it, these adaptations become ours.

This narrative creates its own independence from whatever text it was adapted from because of perfect timing from a cast of a few, and a truly Pinoy sense of humor. The latter is the gift of Chuva Choo Choo, as it brings together everything from wit to puns, the campy to the absurd, all the time working with the self-deprecation that material like this requires.

Lest it is unclear: this was kabaduyan unhinged, unquestioned, unexpurgated, but also inexplicably brought to the point of extreme hilarity. Lest one missed it: there were the costumes and the headpieces, the stagehands who lived in the “cabinets” that the set provided (and who became macho dancers when needed), the choreography and blocking with kumot and dream weddings.

The intertext of music and comedy
This musical was the best way to handle the Saturno songs that remain familiar, which cut across English and Filipino, and across different generations. From ballads of courtship (i.e., Martin Nievera’s “Be My Lady,” Ariel Rivera’s “Sana Kahit Minsan,” Randy Santiago’s, “Para Sa ‘Yo”) to songs of undying love (Sarah Geronimo’s “Forever’s Not Enough,” Donna Cruz’s “Only Me And You”), from sad love songs (Ella Mae Saison’s “Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye” and “Til My Heartaches End,” Jessa Zaragoza’s “Bakit Pa?”) to serious songs about nation (“Isang Lahi”), from Chuva Choo Choo circa Jolina Magdangal as a Christmas tree to Mr. Kupido circa Rachel Alejandro as pa-cute teenstar. Chuva Choo Choo is a veritable songbook that will have you singing along to new arrangements of songs that you realize you still have memorized despite the years.

Obviously, the more familiar you are with these songs, the funnier this musical will be for you. After all, it is intertextuality that De Jesus works with. You hear any of the songs this musical uses from the Saturno songbook and you can’t help but go back to images of say, a young Donna Cruz, or a young Sarah Geronimo. You can’t help but see Ariel Rivera’s debonair swagger, or Randy Santiago’s shades.

Here though, those images are interwoven with really fantastic singing and deliberate­—if not pulled-to-the-extreme—hamon acting, making the songs and the singing integral to the comedy. It helped of course that this whole cast seemed to have gotten into this mode on the weekend that I saw them, and were already totally into it, with nary a discomfort.

A cast of thousands!
Or just a cast of nine. But it was certainly enough to fill that stage with more characters than one can handle.

There were the two leading men who fit-the-bill of good looking and good singing that they will throw you back to the Pinoy balladeer circa 1990s. Zandro (Edward Benosa) and Tonton (Jojo Riguerra) did the self-conscious hamon acting, the looking to the kawalan, the ampogi-ko swagger to the point of comedy. There were a few missed opportunities for Riguerra, but one forgives him because . . . ampogi nga kase niya.

But it was an achievement in itself that these two men survived that stage that was wont to be swallowed alive by kabaklaan—and I do mean that with all love for the federasyon. Of the four on that stage—Lani (Ron Alfonso), Regine (Jay Marquez), Nenita (Ross Pesigan), and ZsaZsa (Juliene Mendoza)—the latter would keep that stage from falling apart with the sheer weight of bakla chatter and punchlines. ZsaZsa is the kind bakla we rarely see on stage, more controlled and kind, less noise and spectacle, and Mendoza was up for the challenge of becoming voice of reason. It was also the best I’ve seen him on stage.

And then there were the women here—all three of them—who played multiple roles.
Morissette’s return to the theater stage reveals how the years off it have allowed for that voice to grow stronger and more confident, as she’s lost the newbie shyness that she had circa Camp Rock. Whatever Morissette missed in terms of acting was balanced out by Ampil, who was a joy to watch on stage, as she dealt with this off-beat role with aplomb and irony that cut across everything from the look in her eyes to the uncertainty in her step. Ampil’s voice was also the one that would carry this production through its more difficult song numbers.

And then there was Via Antonio, who did seven (count that!) minor roles, each time doing a caricature that is so familiar it would elicit laughter even before she spoke. Antonio’s timing was perfect and dependable, her movements succinct and specific for each character she needed to play. She was the surprise star of this show.

But it was Saturno’s music that one leaves the theater with, and a week since, I’ve still got many of those songs on loop in my head.
And in my heart.

* * *

Chuva Choo Choo (The Mr. Kupido Musical) had a limited run in September 2015 and will be restaged in early 2016. It was written and directed by George de Jesus, with music by Vehnee Saturno, set design by Tuxqs Rutaquio, costumes by John Abul and Carlo Pagunaling, choreography by PJ Rebullida.

CARLA BIANCA V. RAVANES

I’d like to believe that my dad is  a walking fountain of well-meaning wisdom. As strong and as silent as he is, my dad doesn’t hold back from giving advices to those around him, he feels that this is his mission in life, to share what he has learned as much as he can to those younger than he is.

As his daughter, these words of wisdom are often dispensed during our morning car rides while my brother and I tutor him on The Weeknd and other new artists (he hates listening to what he describes as ‘old people’ music).

One of my personal favorites is when my dad reminds me to be grateful for all the things going right in my life whenever life takes a bad turn. My dad is not a man who takes whining lightly.

For one thing, he survived so many things growing up and for me to complain about mundane things frustrates him to the core. Ironically so, my dad has taught me to “man up” and pushed me to see how I can help make the world a better place instead of constantly asking, “what’s in it for me.” For him, life is not perfect but there’s always something to be thankful for and somebody to help.

This is the reason why I got overly excited when Absolute Distilled Drinking Water invited me to visit Dr. Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila. As many of you know, Fabella Hospital is known to take in mothers who do not have the means to give birth. September is a rather busy month for them since this is the month that produces as much as 70 babies a day. Fabella, while recognized by the World Health Organization as the model maternity, still needs all the help it can get in order to ensure that every mother who goes to them for help is attended to. Absolute wanted to make sure that the hydration of the mothers and babies are well taken care of by giving away tons of bottled water. Truly, a little goes a long way.

The team was briefed prior to visiting the maternity ward. We knew that sometimes up to four mothers, along with their babies, share two beds and this has become such a common occurrence that people are no longer surprised, but I was. I must admit that in the weeks leading up to my visit to Fabella, I have been consumed by situations that I shouldn’t have even wasted my time on.

And suddenly, in the sea of mothers who were just trying to ensure that their newborn babies were taken care of even if it meant surviving in a cramped and rather hot room (Fabella is doing a great job in taking care of the mothers although maybe a little more help would be great, can someone give them air-conditioning already), I realized just how selfish I was. These mothers, who were sweating while breastfeeding their babies, were actually smiling, as if oblivious to the plight of their lives. Most of them didn’t know where to get their next meals or where to get the milk to feed their babies and yet, they smiled. It was as if they didn’t have any care in the world. They didn’t ask why life was like that; they just knew that at the end of the day, they will be okay. They trusted in the goodness of life and it made me wonder why I had such a hard time believing it.

It is often said that we help in order to make the lives of those less fortunate around us better but in truth, in helping them, we truly help ourselves.

My dad was right, if we learn to look beyond ourselves and life’s petty problems (most of them we created ourselves), there truly is a lot to be thankful for.
And this is what keeps us going even on our worst days.

* * *

www.carlabiancaravanes.com

(From left) Telus International Philippines’ Vice President for Brand, Marketing and Culture Warren Tait, Hands on Manila Board of Trustees Lizette Cojuangco and Gina Aboitiz officially turn over the refurbished two-classroom kindergarten building at Tenement Elementary School

The youth and education sector of Taguig City got a major boost when volunteers from a private company cleaned up and refurbished a two-classroom kindergarten building at Tenement Elementary School.

No less than 2,000 volunteers from Telus International Philippines (TIP), leading outsourcing services provider, joined the outreach program to the Tenement, which is the second most populated elementary school in the city with a population of over 9,000 preschool to grade six students.

The kick-off event began with a blessing of the building that was conducted by Rev. Fr. Mark Emman Hao Sese, the community parish priest. Local government officials, school faculty, kindergarten students, parents, representatives from Hands on Manila, as well as members of TIP’s leadership team attended.

Prior to the revamp, the school’s kindergarten students had to contend with congested and run-down classrooms due to lack of funds. With this new building now fully functional, the children will start enjoying a new environment that is conducive to learning.

Tenement Elementary School Principal Geronima Garcia shared her gratitude for TIP’s generous efforts, “On behalf of the teachers, parents and pupils, we thank you for donation your time to refurbish our two-classroom kindergarten building. We are very happy. This will help augment the number of classrooms in this school. There will be eight sections with a total of 320 pupils who will occupy these rooms,” she said.

Hands on Manila Board Trustee Gina Aboitiz also expressed her delight with a few encouraging words. “Today is a Thanksgiving Day. We have made over two kindergarten classrooms at Tenement Elementary School. This day wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Telus and all their volunteers. I would like to highlight the importance of a good relationship with Telus that has made Hands on Manila a trusted foundation partner. To the students, we hope in the future you will be the one to help your school,
your community,” she said.

Besides refurbishing, the classrooms are also made more colorful with mural paintings

The newly constructed facility was actually the highlight of TIP’s annual Days of Giving when more than 2,000 TIP team members volunteered to clean up and refurbish Tenement Elementary School.

This was implemented in partnership with Hands on Manila for the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela program. Brigada Eskwela is a school cleanup program that engages stakeholders to donate their time, effort, and resources to ensure public school facilities are ready for the next school year.

TIP strongly believes that the organization’s service and contributions to the community should not stop at TDOG, as it believes in a sustainable corporate social responsibility program.

Co-founder and CEO of Teach for the Philippines Clarissa Delgado with Corporate Affairs Director for Coca-Cola Femsa Asia Division Juan Dominguez

‘Coordinates for Life’ goes into second year

In 2013, Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines partnered with Teach for the Philippines to introduce Coordinates for Life, its flagship education program in the Philippines.

Coordinates for Life is a series of training modules for children and young adults to develop and strengthen their decision making skills, as well as decrease their vulnerability when faced with difficult situations. The modules address issues like healthy lifestyles, bullying, and culture of lawfulness, among others.

The program also provides training support for parents, teachers and mentors through lectures and workshops so they can be better equipped to participate more actively in the child’s holistic development as they go through various stages in life.

Ohne Lopez, Nico Fos, and Jerlyn Rabaca are fellows from Teach for the Philippines who facilitate the Coordinates for Life

It is designed around 16 life skills such as assertiveness, empathy, understanding consequences, peer pressure, and anger and stress management. Besides imparting decision-making skills, Coordinates for Life also aims to promote better communication and self-awareness.

“For the first year of our partnership with Teach for the Philippines, we focused our efforts on customizing the workshops and educational materials so that it applies to the Philippine context, since this was a program that was developed in Mexico and primarily implemented in Latin America,” said Juan Dominguez, Corporate Affairs director for Coca-Cola Femsa Asia Division.

“We spent a lot of time conducting intensive knowledge transfer workshops for Teach for the Philippines led by DEHYCO, a leading Human Development and Organizational Change company in Mexico,” added Dominguez.

Kristoff Diaz is a product of the Coordinates of Life Program

In the same year of its launch, Coordinates for Life was rolled out to 15 public schools in Metro Manila. Then, the program was received by 2,178 elementary students and 304 parents and teachers.

“We’ve had very promising results during our pilot year,” said Clarissa Delgado, CEO for Teach for the Philippines.

Feedback from the parents and teachers show that some of the most disruptive and undisciplined students have exhibited positive improvements in their behavior and attitude in the first year after the implementation of the workshops. There has also been an improvement in the students’ performance in school and in their relationships with their family and peers. Parents also expressed appreciation for the workshops as a safe place for them to share their concerns and to receive feedback and advice from other parents.

Because of the positive reception from the students and teaching community for Coordinates for Life, Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines and Teach for the Philippines have renewed their partnership in order to expand the program’s reach to more Filipino students.

“We have seen the potential impact of Coordinates for Life and are excited to bring this to even more schools and more Filipino communities,” said Dominguez.

Marivel Beranguel and her daughter Roxanne, who is a participant of the program

“It is believed that with the right skills and values, students can create a better life for themselves and those around them. As the fellows of Teach for the Philippines grow in number, so will the opportunities for more schools to benefit from the Coordinates for Life program,” said Delgado. “On our second year of implementation, we are expanding geographically with two schools in Mindanao,” added Delgado.

Coca-Cola Philippines will be investing another P10 million over the next two years for its Coordinates for Life program.

Although Cory Quirino was never allowed by her father to join beauty pageants, she was fated to take part in such contests for she now manages Miss World-Philippines

When Socorro Alicia “Cory” Rastrollo Quirino enters the room, it is impossible not to notice her. Attractive, graceful and fashionable as ever, it comes as no surprise that she is often mistaken for a former beauty queen.

The error is quite understandable, for indeed, the still popular singleton has everything an aspiring beauty queen can ever hope for: a towering height, a sleek figure, glorious skin, fabulous features, as well as confidence, grace and passion in everything she does.

“Ms. Cory,” as she is called by most, or “Tita Cory” to those close to her, confirmed with The Sunday Times Magazine that she has neither held a beauty title, nor joined a beauty contest in her life.

“My father never allowed me. He’s very strict,” Quirino said nonchalantly. Her father is Tommy Quirino, son of late president Elpidio Quirino.

So instead of making a name for her looks as a beauty queen, the young and stunning Cory chose to establish herself as a triple media threat.

Quirino first came into mainstream consciousness when she started a TV hosting stint on the popular 80’s late-night talk show, Oh No, It’s Johnny! featuring Johnny Litton.

Producers quickly spotted her potential for broadcasting so that she just as soon had her own show titled, Citiline. A well-received weekly travel and fitness show on ABS-CBN, it ran for an impressive 12 years, and re-titled twice as the Cory Quirino Show and The Good Life with Cory Quirino.

Taking her advocacy for health and fitness a step further, Quirino the penned several books, namely, Forever Young: Cory Quirino’s Guide to Beauty & Fitness, Forever Young: Cory Quirino’s Guide to Beauty and Wellness, and Kabataan Habambuhay: Ang Gabay ni Cory Quirino tungo sa Kagandahan at Kalusugan. Of course, not to be forgotten is her very personal chronicle of her infamous abduction during a location shoot for Citiline, aptly titled, Waiting For The Light.

Eventually conquering radio to make up her tri-media exposure, Quirino best known these days for her program Ma-Beauty Po Naman on AM station dzBB, where she personally delivers the tips she had published in her books, as well as her new discoveries in beauty and wellness.

This year’s official Miss World Philippines candidates will compete on October 18 at The Theater, Solaire Resort & Casino PHOTO COURTESY OF MISS WORLD PHILIPPINES

‘Worldly’ quests
Despite dutifully obeying her father’s wishes to elude beauty contests, one particular pageant managed to pin Cory Quirino down in 2011. This is the UK-based Miss World Organization, which offered the media personality its Philippine franchise.

“I never thought of managing a beauty pageant—this was never in my plans at all,” she exclaimed at the end of her fourth media presentation as head of Miss World Philippines on September 29 at Solaire Resorts and Casino. “It was just an offer given to me by the Miss World Organization in London, and they actually had to convince me to try it out even just for a year.”

The Miss World Philippines franchise was previously managed by the groups behind Miss Republic of the Philippines from 1966 to 1976; the Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization through Mutya ng Pilipinas from 1977 to 1991; and by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. through the Binibining Pilipinas from 1992 to 2010. Quirino established CQ Global Quest as the entity in charge of Miss World Philippines.

“I told the Miss World Organization back then that I didn’t do pageants, and honestly, I found it ironic that for someone who wasn’t allowed by her father to join a pageant to be asked to manage a pageant.’”

But perhaps Quirino is fated to take part in beauty contests one way or another, and with the persistence of the Miss World Organization, she agreed to handle the franchise for a year. The deal was that if the London office was not happy with her, or she with the project and its demands, they would part ways.

“They agreed but still said, ‘You’re the right woman for the job and we have no regrets offering the license to you. We are confident you will not return it to us’,” Quirino recalled laughingly.

And so, the year and its first pageant came and went, and like the London office predicted, the partnership became more than just a success.

“[For] the first year, our expectations were high because we felt very challenged. We wanted to break the record of all the other license holders of Miss World in the Philippines, and we did!”

In 2011, Miss World Philippines Gwendoline Ruais snatched the First Princess (first runner up) title in the pageant’s grand finals in England—a feat only previously won by Evangeline Pascual in Miss World 1973.

“We thought the turn out was very encouraging, so I told myself, I know that I only gave it one year, and we already won first runner up. And then again, I thought, ‘But first runner up isn’t good enough.’ I vowed that in 2012, we would go for the crown.”

Though Miss World Philippines 2012 Queneerich Rehman failed to equal Ruais’ performance the previous year (she placed eighth in the Miss World pageant in China), Quirino was undaunted.

“I thought that wasn’t so bad either, so I said we’ll try harder,” Quirino added. And try harder CQ Global Quest and the Philippines’ candidate did as Megan Lynne Young finally won the 2013 Miss World crown in Bali, Indonesia—the very first time for the country to land the title since the pageant began in 1951.

Rising pressure
With Megan Young’s historic win, Cory Quirino knew she had to go on with the task of finding, training and inspiring the next Miss World champion from the Philippines.

“Naturally the pressure became greater and expectations were higher, not just from within the Philippines but also from pageant experts worldwide, after we set the bar so high with Megan. We could do no less than send someone who is the total package that Megan was to us in 2013,” Quirino explained.

They found her in model/TV host Valerie Weigmann in 2014, who still managed a ninth place performance at the London finals.

“I was pretty confident with Valerie to land in the Top 10 but we ended up in the Top 25. I realized then as a new license holder that pageants really are unpredictable. We just never know how the judges will think and decide on during the pageant and at the very last minute. It’s just something you cannot control,” Quirino good-naturedly admitted.

Still, as she finds herself in the thick of organizing Miss World Philippines for the fifth year in a row, she is still motivated to find and develop the country’s next winner.

To be clear, Quirino explained that it is not just the high and the challenge of fielding a winning candidate that has kept her going in her latest calling in life. And though it may sound like a beauty pageant answer, it is Miss World’s true purpose that inspires her to go on.

“We’re not doing this for personal gain or satisfaction—it goes beyond that. The minute our candidate is announced as the winner of Miss World, you immediately contribute in your own way to tourism promotions for your country,” she stated. “You see, when they announced ‘And Miss World 2013 is the Philippines,’ there were one billion people watching Megan win worldwide. So we did our bit for country with that.”

Mommy Cory
Having chosen the single life, it also seems that running Miss World Philippines has roused the maternal instinct in the beautiful and accomplished Cory Quirino.

The Sunday Times Magazine, while waiting for this one-on-one interview Miss World Philippines 2015 presentation, witnessed how CQ Golden Quest’s big boss looked out for the ladies under her care.

Immediately after the swimsuit segment, Quirino instructed a pageant coordinator to make sure the girls got back into their t-shirts and jeans, adding, “I don’t want them to be exposed like this.”

Her protectiveness, as The Sunday Times Magazine also learned from Miss World Philippines’ past winners is only one of the qualities they and batches of candidates love about their “Tita Cory.”

Gwendoline Ruais, Miss World Philippines 2011 and Miss World 2011 First Princess, shared, “She [Quirino] is like a mother to Miss World Philippines winners; all the candidates are her daughters so she is really involved in training us and she takes care of us. We truly feel loved.”

Miss World Philippines 2013 Valerie Weighmann added that Quirino is a mentor in the truest sense of the word.

“She was there from the start; she would always help us even as contestants. She would be there if you have questions, and you can just text or call her. She’s really helpful, and she listens to us,” she explained.

Weighmann continued, “If she sees us, for example, wearing red lipstick, she would say, ‘I think mas bagay sa iyo ang pink, try mo (I think pink suits you better, try it).’ She gives suggestions with a positive take so you’ll be really happy at the receiving end, and that you Miss Cory with you and behind you.”

Desire to serve
While it may seem that what Quirino has chosen to do at this point in her life is the complete opposite of her grandfather’s legacy as a public servant president of the Philippines, the doting granddaughter maintains that she has inherited the desire to serve.

“You inherit the name, you inherit the legacy, and you also inherit the built-in desire, that’s in your DNA, to serve,” she stated when asked if her famous family name entails pressure in her life’s purpose.

“That’s how I see this pageant too because it really serves a higher purpose—to put the name of the Philippines out there, in the consciousness of every person in this world. It is an invitation to come visit our beautiful country. This is really our higher mandate.”

She admitted, “Being a Quirino, it’s a legacy—you live it, you walk it, and you have to prove it.”

Would she rather be called “Senator Cory” rather than “Tita Cory” someday?

“I’m always thinking about it,” she said about her rumored senatorial bid. “I have to think about it because—you know—it’s hard [to go into politics]!”

Most probably Cory Quirino’s bid for any government position will not happen in the coming national elections. For, with preparations for the grand coronation night of Miss World Philippines on October 18, how can she possibly file her candidacy this month?
“I guess I have more time to think it over,” she ended with a teasing a smile.

The 2015 Miss World Philippines grand coronation night will take place at The Theater at Solaire, with a live telecast over GMA Network.

Moreno’s top priorities are healthcare, education and housing

ON his 17th year as a public servant of the Philippine capital, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno is still relentless in pursuing his dreams for his beloved city. And yet he senses that fate may be leading him toward doing more for country and the betterment of the Filipino.

“I was born in Tondo, Manila and I know every part of this city. Name a street here and I can tell you how to get there. I will be forever thankful to all Manileños who entrusted me with 17 years of fruitful service, but life has many surprises and I believe that whatever happens in the future, I will always do whatever would be good for all,” he related to The Sunday Times Magazine in an exclusive interview.

Moreno has several offers from political parties to run for the Senate, but as of this writing, he confessed that he is still in the process of discerning his plans for the 2016 elections.

A classic
Isko Moreno’s life story is a classic tale of a poor man’s rise to success. As most everyone knows, he was a basurero (scavenger) as a child, whose good looks later landed him a career in show business. Eventually, he found his calling in public service, and has since risen to the second highest elected position of Manila City.

“I know how it is to be poor so I know the needs of the people. It is for this reason that my mission has always been to alleviate the lives of the poor people in Manila,” said the Vice Mayor.

Born on October 24, 1974 in Parola, Tondo to Joaquin Domagoso of Antique and Rosario Moreno of Samar, the young Francisco (the Vice Mayor’s real name) witnessed how his parents worked hard as a stevedore in Manila North Harbor and a laundry woman in their neighborhood respectively to make ends meet. Growing up in a shanty community where eating three times a day was considered a luxury, Moreno helped his family survive poverty by becoming a basusero himself, while studying at the Rosauro Almario Elementary School.

The vice mayor took an Executive Education Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University

Even as he grew up taking on odd jobs to augment his parents’ meager earnings, Moreno firmly believed that the only way to better his family’s situation is through education. Thus, he never stopped schooling, even if he had to spend his free time as a pedicab driver just so he completed high school.

His immediate plan after graduation was to enroll at the Philippine Maritime Institute to become a seaman, but he was discovered by a talent scout, which led him to become a popular showbiz celebrity.

And, as he started to make a better life for himself and his family through his acting career, Moreno realized that he was finally in a position to help the sad plight of his neighbors in Tondo. It was then he decided to run for the city council at the age of 23, making history as the youngest elected city councilor in Manila City.

With a good track record backing him, he was reelected in 2001 as No. 1 councilor in the city, and again landed as one of the topnotchers in his final term in 2004.

Top priorities
Moreno’s stint as a three-term councilor for nine years speaks for itself. He authored and sponsored pro-poor or-dinances and resolutions especially in concerns like housing, health and education.

“Like I said, I know how it feels to live in a squatter area because I used to live there, so as soon as I was elected as councilor, housing became one of my top priorities. There were many ordinances that the council and I passed in the succeeding years with regard to helping homeless Manileños,” related Moreno.

Nevertheless, he admitted that in his first term as councilor in the first district of Manila, he was still shocked over the magnitude of problems around him. Among these concerns is the lack of access to health and medical services for the less fortunate.

Moreno also spearheaded ISCOM, which aims to make people from all walks of life computerliterate

“When a poor person becomes sick, he is doubly deprived. One, he can’t work and therefore he has nothing to eat for the day. Since he is poor, he will be dependent on whatever free health benefits that the government can give him, so I decided to lead a health campaign with the city council,” Moreno said.

He started off with initiating a “healthy and fit campaign” at the city council, followed by weekly medical missions in depressed areas. To address the high cost of medicines, he established the Botika ni Isko, a mini-pharmacy right at the city hall where prescription drugs and vitamins are given for free. Other projects under his health care initia-tives include the annual summer Operation Libreng Tule (free circumcision), Oplan Katarata (free cataract opera-tion), and Oplan Kagat Aso (an free anti-rabies immunization activity for pet dogs).

“Another successful health project of Manila is the construction of the Sta. Ana Hospital. As the presiding officer of the city council at that time, we passed measures that would help the city government realize the building of hospitals. This also led to the construction of public school buildings that would cater to poor but deserving students from Manila by providing them with free education,” Moreno continued.

Aware of the importance of education to liberate people from poverty, Moreno launched ISCOM, which aims to make people from all walks of life computer-literate. Starting out with just one Computer Learning Center in 1999, ISCOM has expanded to seven locations to cater to the growing number of Manileños. In partnership with well-meaning friends, the Iskolar ng Bayan program also continues to provide scholarships to poor but deserving stu-dents. The Lakbay Alalay Program, on the other hand, benefits students who cannot afford to participate in educa-tional tours and experiences.

Moreno further initiated the PEP or Promoting English Proficiency program through the assistance of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. To date, 10 computer speech laboratories have been established in Ton-do High School, Moreno’s alma mater, providing training and refresher courses to both members of its faculty and students.

The big leap
In 2007, Moreno took a big leap when he was elected as the youngest vice mayor of Manila at age 32. He went on to win his re-election bid in 2010 garnering an overwhelming 73.43 percent of votes, as well as this, his third and final term in office.

An inspiration to his peers, he was elected president of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines in 2011 and was unanimously reelected as national president in 2014.

As vice mayor, Moreno continued his meaningful projects for Manila with the support of the city council. Since 2007, his Trabaho Para sa Manileño program has conducted some 20 local and overseas job fairs, which resulted in thousands of job generated.

To address the need to make daily living easier, the Asenso Manileño program was also launched with services like “Murang Karne at Pagkain,” free legal services, free haircut, and libreng tubig among others.

In February 2008, due of the alarming rise in fire incidents, Moreno worked to purchase a an engine firetruck to allow for quicker responses to save lives and property. Based in Tondo, the Kaagapay Engine Firetruck is managed by volunteer fire fighters who are always ready to respond to different emergencies.

Education as an equalizer
Despite his busy schedule as a councilor, Moreno managed to pursue and finish a college education, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Management degree at the International Academy of Management Economics. He also took up crash courses in local legislation and finance at the University of the Philippines, and enrolled at the Arellano College of Law. He was on his way to third year Law Proper when he decided to go full time as vice mayor.

Even as he put his law study on hold, he made time to take short courses to equip himself with more knowledge on how to be the best public servant he can be.

“Then came the chance to take a short course in Harvard and I grabbed it,” he said explaining that it was an Execu-tive Education Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University.

He was also part of the International Visitors Leadership Program, sponsored by the US Department of State in Washington DC in 2010.

“I was nominated and chosen by the US State of Department for this program. We were 13 from all over the world and I was the only Filipino lucky to be chosen. I was sent to Washington and other states like Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Seattle. We studied programs about effectivity and efficiency in governance, and also transparency in office,” Moreno enumerated.

He was also accepted at the Oxford University for The Oxford Strategic Leadership Program, and was conferred a doctorate degree for Community Development by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Inspiring indeed, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno’s life is proof that poverty should never be a hindrance to succeed, and more significantly, to desire to help others. As he always says, education is the key—the great equalizer that can bring people from all walks of life on equal footing.

Now that Moreno is faced with another challenge in his political career, he is certain that whatever decision or path he decides to take, it will be for the good of many.

“I believe there’s only one characteristic that a public servant should possess to be able to be an effective leader—compassion for his constituents. That will lead him to do whatever it takes to truly be of service,” concluded Moreno.

It is what we have absently forgotten,
that we still abide in a strange gyroscope
of happenstance of giving and taking,
of coming and going, visions and revisions.

Or there simply is nothing to remember
from the darkness whence we came except
the pain of pushing or pulling out of a hole
into a yet more fearsome cave of struggle.

Is it dread then that is left in our satchels?
This journey has neither maps nor diviners
to guard against a free fall into an abyss
of irreducible gloom and cold desert silence.

Is this dome of midnight stars also a strum
for a quiet waking into a space of loneliness?
Or are these spaces our own echo chambers
where ripples of our calls are heard by others?

Somewhere a wing roils the air that the other
breathes. Somewhere the tremulous murmur
of a prayer is answered. Somewhere an old
question is asked: Am I my brother’s keeper?

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), through its Plan/Project Formulation and Programming Division, is now calling on entries for the biennial NCCA Writers’ Prize.

The award is open to all Filipino writers, of legal age, except to the officers and members of the NCCA Secretariat and the incumbent Executive Council Members of the NCCA Committee on Literary Arts.

NCCA Writers’ Award serves as an opportunity to have a direct hand in the development of Filipino literature. It is handed out every two years to encourage the continuing development of a pluralistic culture by the people themselves through literature.

For 2015, five eligible writers will be chosen to create their respective works in categories identified by NCCA: Poetry in the Kankana-ey language, Essay in Meranao, Novel in Riconanda, Short Story in Kapampangan, and Drama in Kinaray-a.

Each writer will be given a writing grant amounting to two hundred fifty thousand pesos (250,000.00 Php) to assist the winner during the writing stage. The award is valid for one year whithin which he will be freed from his regular workload and be given ample time to complete the manuscript for said writing projects.

The last batch of NCCA Writers’ Awardees for 2013 were Ariel Tabag for Novel in the Ilokano language, Joselito Delos Reyes for Short Story in Filipino, Hope Sabanpan-Yu for Essay in Cebuano, Rafael Banzuela, Jr. for Poetry in Bikolano and Jeremy Alexandre Evardone for Drama in Waray language. They received the award during the 2014 Taboan Literary Festival in Subic.

Interested applicants may acquire forms from the NCCA PPFPD Office or download them at the NCCAWebsite (ncca.gov.ph). For complete details, call 527-2192 loc 503.