Nina's posts with tag: ateneo
|  | It had been an annual "tradition" of mine to go to Ateneo at least three times a year: during my birthday, during Holy Week, and during Christmastime. This year had found me going back to my second home at least once every week--or once a month, at the very least.
I can't explain the immense sense of peace and serenity I encounter every time I'm there. I say "encounter" because it feels to me that there's someone invisible I go to meet every time I head to the old hills of Loyola. It's like going home to one's birthplace, or to the home of a really, really good friend who gives you the bestest hugs when you need them most.
During my last trip there, I finally go to do what I've been wanting to do since February: hang around Impy Pilapil's playful installation art pieces and take photos for my own pleasure.
This was, and always will be, my very own playground. |
*So proud to be blue* - N ON THE MEANING OF AN ATENEO EDUCATION
by Agustin Martin G. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
When my daughter had the chance to finish high school in New York, we agonized about it: I more than her. Her agony centered around the need to moderate her desire to embark on this adventure because she knew it would break my heart. My agony had two thorns. Firstly, I didn’t want her to go because in all our lives, we had never spent more than 2 days apart from each other. Secondly, there was the irony of her studying in the United States. As a nationalist academic and development worker, I always believed that one’s spirit had to be formed with one’s people—among their myths and their sufferings—in order to understand who one is, what one’s responsibilities are and to whom one’s heart belongs. I know to the sophisticated global citizen I would sound archaic and provincial, but I still believe that before our spirit can embrace the world it must be rooted in a home we love. But I knew that the idea of giving up this opportunity was breaking her up inside because, as she said, she might spend the rest of her life wondering what if, so I let her go. She left with the promise that she would come back for college because I still believe that the university years are formative. But we all know how those promises go. Two years in the glitter of a new world could weaken the bindings of promises made in times of great emotions. It has been a year and we are now completely at peace with her decision to leave.
All that I have said is a prelude to why I am writing this piece. I am writing this to explain why I believe her formation in the Ateneo would still be the best for my daughter. I want to clarify to everyone else who raise their eyebrows at me, what I mean when I say that I believe an education here is superior to any ivy league education. Many of my colleagues who know that my daughter has a chance to study in an American university cannot understand why I would prefer that she study here. One of them even exclaimed: “You would prefer that she study here even if she had a chance to study in Harvard!” with a you-are-so ridiculous tone. And to me the answer was “Yes, of course, you’re so ridiculous.” And the reason is simply this: she may get a superior technical education in some top ranking university abroad but only in the Philippines will she have a superior education in being a Filipino for Filipinos. My daughter wants to be a writer and recently she has had a chance to attend a prestigious workshop in an American university best known as a center for writing. And I was witness to how because of that opportunity, her writing skills have advanced light years from when she left. I have no doubt that if she studied creative writing in one of the US universities known for it, her skills would be strengthened even more. But what would she write about? A great writer is as much about her skill as it is about her great insight. If you have the skill but not the immersion in the profound re a l i t i e s t h a t h ave formed yo u r s o u l , w h a t i s t h e re t o w r i t e about? And who would she write for? A truly great writer is one whose passion is fueled by the need to speak for her people, especially the mute. And to even begin to want to speak for them, you have to be grounded in their misery. One’s people are never generic: they take concrete form in the faces that resonate in your heart. I think an education in her own country would prepare her to face the faces that resonate in her heart and perhaps an Ateneo education could awaken the passion to respond to those faces. I know that many complain that Ateneans lead a very sheltered life in this campus. In an infinite number of ways that is ridiculously true. In the end, the Ateneo is the Ateneo: a separate world from the world of the margins. But what most people don’t understand about the Ateneo, is that the Ateneo is not just about the majors or the specific programs. It is about a spirit that pervades among its best people. When I was young, I was ready to quit the Church because I was convinced that there were no intelligent and just Catholics. And then I came to the Ateneo where I met Catholics who strove to serve the margins because of their love of God. And because they loved God’s people, they strove for excellence. That realization astounded me and kept me in the Church and in Ateneo. If anything, Filipino Jesuit education just means to teach people that the love of God means nothing but to love the people who suffer forgotten in the margins, and that we strive for excellence in what we do to serve them best: otherwise excellence and the love of God is empty. What else does faith mean? What else grounds excellence? What else measures the good of a life but that? And if you take Ateneo education seriously enough, and if you are open to its opportunities enough, it will lead you to that realization and it will lead you to your first opening to the faces that you will have to serve. At its core, Ateneo education is an apprenticeship in the work of being a Filipino for others. This is only a slogan so long as one misses out on the living examples of alumni, scholars, administrators, maintenance and staff who show us the way to realizing the truth of an Ateneo education. Open your eyes to those who serve radically and they will radically educate your heart. And if one is open enough one can see that such people dwell in this school because there is a spirit in this school that cradles them and supports their vocation. It is intangible, but it is a spirit that guides the best of us. Some people feel that we are an elite school that cultivates an elite rationality. Radioactive Sago’s brilliant third album is entitled “… Ang Daming Nagugutom Sa Mundo Fashionista Ka Pa Rin.” In one gig, Lord de Vera was plugging their album and he said “Bilhin ninyo ang aming album ‘… Ang Daming Nagugutom Sa Mundo Atenista Ka Pa Rin.’” I could understand his sentiments exactly. Just listen to conversations in the pocket garden where people complain about the heat, their slow laptops and their old school phones and anyone who knows anything about the hardships in our country will easily agree with Lord. But then, if you think about it, although some of our graduates are oblivious to the suffering around them and even if some of them do reinforce structures that exploit the suffering, there is that core of Ateneans touched by the spirit of this school who choose to genuinely build communities founded on justice, to found enterprises that serve true needs, to lawyer for the oppressed, and to doctor for the poor. Many innovations of justice building in our country arise because of their apprenticeships in the magis of our service. We just don’t hear about these things because they don’t find their way into our tarpaulins. But the spirit is there and it is the spirit that defines us more than basketball championships or the number of CEOs we produce. Somehow, because of our formation, Ateneans still tend to be idealistic about service. And so I say “Dahil ang daming nagugutom sa mundo kailangan mong seryosohin ang pagka- Atenista.” This is why, my dear fellow parents, I think an Ateneo education is more valuable for my daughter than a Cornell or Harvard or Princeton education: because here, we learn to be excellent for something important—our people and our Filipino humanity.
Dr. Rodriguez is currently an Assistant Professor of the Philosophy Department of the Loyola Schools. His daughter, Leal, is a freshman in the Ateneo majoring in AB Humanities. Edited version of “To my colleagues: On the meaning of an Ateneo education” by Agustin Martin G. Rodriguez, Ph.D. Chalk Marks. The Guidon. Volume LXXV. Number 6.
| Category: | Music | | Genre: | Miscellaneous | | Artist: | Ateneo Musicians Pool |
This was one of the BEST musical events I have EVER attended!!! The students beat many of the professional producers, musicians, and event organizers we've come into contact with.
Will post a link to the show--plus a more proper review--very, very soon!
AMP 2008, you guys made us proud to come home to the music!Ü
Link: http://teamrp.multiply.com/videoIt was a night to remember: people marching, horns blaring, drums booming, (and, occasionally, the rain pouring), candles burning, musicians performing. But more than the usual concert, what made it even more meaningful was that people went there to show that THEY CARE, and they stayed even in spite of the rain and the "cowboy setup."
By the end of the four-hour event, it was clear that a glimmer of hope still remains for the Philippines. Everyone left re-energized and raring to make a difference.
Check out the videos and see what I mean Ü
| Start: | Jan 14, '08 4:30p | | End: | Jan 18, '08 | | Location: | Loyola Heights campus, Quezon City |
Link To those of you who missed the fun at Blue Christmas 2007, here's a sneak peek at the events of the day. There were about 850 kids from different areas in Quezon City, and it seemed like there were just as many volunteers trying to rein the kids in and make sure that everyone was having a good time! It was amazing to see how much support the event now has. Aside from the students and the Ateneo community (represented by Fr. Ben Nebres, SJ, and Mr. Hector Guballa, Ateneo's Director for Development) so many other folks came to pitch in! There were so many sponsors giving away everything from food and drinks to games and loot bags (which were lovingly prepared by the Baseball and Softball teams, courtesy of Ateneo alum Mr. Jimmy General), and there was even an inflatable playground--which, of course, made us want to join in, too! Even Korina Sanchez and her team from Rated K were there to do a segment on the event. (Which, by the way, should be showing tonight, December 9.) Paul and the kids of Bahaghari had just as much fun, and you could tell from the audience's reactions that a drum-beating ensemble (using recycled instruments) was something new to them. At the end of the day, it was a fun and memorable day, made even sweeter with memories of the first few Blue Christmases--when all there was were some passionate hearts... and the dream to serve. ** Thanks to Blus Christmas Head, Steph Lim, for accommodating us, and thanks to Retcher Ching for these great photos. **
23 November 2007 Dear friends and batchmates, Homecoming season is just around the corner, and below is a preview of what's in store for this year's Grand Alumni Homecoming. In two years, we will be celebrating OUR own batch's 10th year reunion AND the 150th year of the Ateneo. It's a big celebration that calls for major merrymaking, so please do keep posted for more announcements from us! In the meantime, we'd like to hear from YOU! Since it's been a while since we left school, we'd like to know where everyone is now and what you're all up to. Please send an email with the following details to Niña Terol (nina[dot]terol[at]gmail[dot ]com) or Eirene Aguila (saxei[at]yahoo[dot]com) and pass this email on to your friends outside this egroup as well. The more classmates we're able to reach, the more fun the next two years is going to be! (Tip: You can also search for us at Multiply or Facebook!)
---
FULL NAME: (Last, First, Middle--if married, please hyphenate your last name)
COURSE:
PERMANENT EMAIL ADDRESS:
MOBILE:
MAILING ADDRESS:
CURRENT COMPANY:
OFFICIAL DESIGNATION:
BIRTHDAY:
--
Thanks! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
=) Yours truly,
Nines & Eirene
Ateneo Alumni Association
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jun Dalandan < edebulgado@alumni.ateneo.net> 23 November 2007 Dear Fellow Alumni: We are pleased to furnish you the Grand Ateneo Alumni Homecoming Day schedule and table reservations procedures as furnished by the principal host, HS82. December 8, 2007 Homecoming Day Schedule
Flying the highest high!
Ang sarap maging Atenista!
3:00pm- Registration at the Ateneo High School Promenade
3:30pm- Parade and Pass-In-Review, Bellarmine Field
4:00pm- Wreath Laying at the Ateneo Heroes Memorial Marker, Sacred Heart Hill
4:30pm- Mass at the Church of the Gesu
5:45pm- Procession to the HS grounds
6:00pm- Registration, Dinner & Fellowship at the HS Covered Courts
7:00pm- Program Proper starts Entrance, Reservation, and Food Service details: 1. Entrance ticket only: P200/head 2. Food arrangements: Either or both A and B.
A. Dinner Reservations (optional): P400/head - menu to be released soon.
B. There will also be food and beverage stalls at the HS covered courts selling food and drinks to serve those with no dinner reservation. 3. Table Reservations - P2,000/table (10 seats to a table)
note 1: Includes 10 + 1 free ticket = 11 total entrance tickets
note 2: Table reservations do not include dinner. 4. Waiter service reservations: P550 per waiter from 6pm to 1am. Contact Details: HS82, the principal host, is requesting each batch to consolidate reservations and reserve as a batch so that batch seating arrangements can be made as much as possible. When making reservations, please include your name and contact details and your batch. When consolidating your batchmates' reservations, please include their full names as well as the names of family members. All reservations should be forwarded to: Beth Nunez, secretariat for HS82
tel. 561-9494 (DL)
cell: 0928/500-3986
email: bbkyrelle@yahoo.com or goblueahs82@yahoo.com
and kindly cc OUD&AR at: jmanglallan@ateneo.edu Special promo packages: 1. For every table reservation which will seat 10 persons, you will receive 1 free entrance ticket.
2. For every 3 tables, with dinner reservations for 30 persons, you will have 1 free waiter service.
3. For every 10 dinner tickets bought, you will have 10 FREE beers.
Please settle payments on or before December 1, 2007 to avail of any of these special promo packages. You may pay for your tickets and pick them up during office hours at the Office of University Development & Alumni Relations (OUD&AR), Rm 213 Xavier Hall. tel. 426-6081 or 82, c/o Jeng Manglallan. Please make checks payable to "True Blue '82 Inc." Registration Details: Registration information will now be written on the backside of the entrance ticket. We ask that you fill it out and drop the ticket inside the drop-boxes provided. You will be included in the raffle and eligible to win a prize. Name tags will not be given. Thank you. For and on behalf of
The HS82 HC Org Committee Jun Dalandan
Director for Alumni Relations
Ateneo de Manila University
| Start: | Dec 1, '07 08:30a | | End: | Dec 21, '07 6:00p | | Location: | Bellarmine Field, Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Heights campus |
A day when Ateneans open their gates to the streetchildren of Katipunan and neighboring areas, for fun, games, workshops, food, and a whole lot of lovin'. Now, THIS is what Christmas is really all about.Ü
Dear friends, I was just able to get in touch with the folks organizing Blue Christmas this year, and they're asking for our help to locate tent suppliers and snack donors. Most of the festivities will be held in Bellarmine Field in Ateneo, which is this large outdoor area that will really require a lot of tents for it to be secured in case of rain. If you guys know of anyone who supplies large tents for outdoor events, then please PM me so I can inform the Blue Christmas organizing committee. They're also looking for snack donors to feed 800 children their morning snack on that day. Cash is also good, but I'm sure the guys would also appreciate getting their snack donations ready to be given away already. I can still remember how my place was turned into his huge snack-packing center back when I was Blue Christmas head. We were preparing around the same number of loot bags and goodies for the kids... it really felt like Santa's workshop there! Hahaha... For a preview of what Blue Christmas is all about, please click here. Thank you in advance, and happy holidays!
Those of you who attended the Ateneo from 1995 onwards may remember an annual event called Blue Christmas, where the school opens its gates to the streetchildren of Katipunan for a day of fun, games, friendship, and solidarity. I was a Blue Christmas volunteer in 1996--the same year I joined the Central Board (the University Student Council, or what is now known as the Sanggunian), the same year I met an idealistic guy named Paul who wanted to break down the walls of apathy and expose Ateneans to the problems that lay just outside their doorstep. At first I found it odd that this guy was so PASSIONATE about the streetchildren and their plight, but once I joined Blue Christmas, I understood (A BIT of) what it was all about. The next year, after Paul graduated, I was fortunate enough to have been chosen as Blue Christmas's co-head (with my batchmate, Paolo Palma). I immersed myself in the program and what it entailed, but what I understood was STILL only the tip of the iceberg. A dozen years and many fateful encounters later, the meaning of Blue Christmas is VERY MUCH ALIVE in my life. Not only am I building a life with this same idealistic guy who dared to open Ateneo's gates to let the streetchildren in (and, now, shares our goodies with the pedicab drivers on our street, and tries to uplift the lives of his barangay folks in Paranaque); I am also a witness to his work and to everything that he had been harping on as early as a dozen years ago. Money, fame, and power mean nothing if they are to be used only for selfish reasons--we were given all these gifts and resources to be able to make a difference for humankind. We Ateneans were molded to be "men and women for others"--of what use is our Ateneo education if we could not be true servant-leaders? Twelve years later, there is still sooooo much that both Paul and I want to achieve, but--looking back at this video and reflecting on what it means for the community at large--I'd have to say that we were off to a pretty good start. I share this clip to you guys with soooo much love and pride--for Paul, for the Ateneo community who supported us back then and still support us now, for the children who give us hope every day, and for every human being who dreams of making a difference in the world. * * * Here is Paul's original message to family and friends regarding this video: 12 YEARS AGO, DURING SCHOOL COUNCIL DAYS, I HAD AN IDEA TO BRING THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY AND APATHY PAST THE DOORSTEP OF ATENEO, AND RIGHT SMACK IN OUR "HOUSE" SO MY FELLOWS COULD NOT TURN OR LOOK AWAY FROM THE PROBLEM OF SOCIETY ANYMORE JUST PAST THE PEARLY GATES... ATENEO...ATENISTA...MAN FOR OTHERS DAW DAPAT DIBA!? KRAKATOOM! THE BLUE X-MAS PROJECT WAS BORN. WE SHOOK THINGS UP. MAY MGA NAKINIG AT NANIWALA, AND 12 YEARS LATER, MAY MGA NAKIKINIG PA RIN AT NANINIWALA SA MGA ADHIKAIN NG PROGRAMA NG NAPAGPAPATULOY NITO. PAGPALAIN SILA. ALAY KO SA KAPWA... ALAY NA NAMIN SA BANSA... ALAY NATIN SA MUNDO... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gotRVK5zM_A JOIN US ON NOV. 26, 2007, AS THE ATENEO GROUNDS BECOME AN OPEN GIGANTIC PLAYGROUND FOR THE KIDS AND FAMILIES WE SEE EVERYDAY BUT NOT ALWAYS NOTICE... any manner of sopport, participation and involvement will only be welcome. RISE ABOVE, FIGHT APATHY, MAKE SOMEBODY HAPPY FOR A DAY, IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT... IT'S ALL IT CAN TAKE TO CHANGE LIVES... BE WELL. PAGPALAIN KAYO AT ANG ATING BANSA. PUGAY! PAUL ZIALCITA * * * This year's Blue Christmas will be held on Saturday, 1 December 2007 (not November 26 as written in his message), from 830AM to 6PM, at the Ateneo de Manila Loyola Heights campus. Please keep posted for more blue updates!
| Start: | Nov 24, '07 7:00p | | End: | Nov 24, '07 10:00p | | Location: | Mezze, Greenbelt 3 |
From Paul Z: Hi, batchmates! Final na. Nov 24, Mezze in Greenbelt 3. Exclusive 7 to 10PM. Php500 each for drinks, pica-pica, [and, of course, live entertainment by your very own batchmates]. Please pass the word, find friends, and see you there! Animo Ateneo!
I attended a mind-opening event two Thursdays ago, and was so inspired by it that I decided to write an article about it. (I pitched it to a leading daily, but so far have not gotten a response yet.) I hope you wouldn't mind spreading the word to other open-minded, creative, and innovative individuals so that we can all begin to ask The Question that will drive Filipino ingenuity. For more questions about the WhyNot? Forum, please email whynotforum@gmail.com or call (0928) 5055713. And, yes, I am doing this as a volunteer and supporter, because I believe in what this movement is all about.Ü Thanks in advance for your support! Nines/Niña Terol P.S. If you wish to publish this in your publication or blog, please feel free to do so; just give us a heads-up so we'll know. Thanks again! ---- FILIPINOS DARED TO ASK: WHY NOT? By Niña Terol It was an ordinary Thursday night, and yet Warehouse 135, the hip warehouse-turned-club on Yakal Street in Makati, was filled to capacity. Only it wasn't filled with clubgoers and party scenesters—it was filled with young professionals, creative minds, thinkers, and dreamers who all dared to ask a question that would set the tone for the entire evening's talks: Why not? The WhyNot? Forum, according to founders Mark Ruiz and Bam Aquino, is a "smorgasbord of great, brave ideas—an open-source innovation soup that will hopefully inspire other Filipinos all over to connect adjunct thoughts, take impactful action, and weave together new breakthrough ideas." Inspired by the TEDTalks of the United States (www.ted.com), it is based on the simple idea of gathering some of the best minds in the country to share their respective ideas for 15 minutes each. By asking The Question and challenging outmoded assumptions, it is hoped that WhyNot? Forum will spark a thought revolution that will encourage people to "think new thoughts, share big dreams, do brave things." Seven Great Minds, One Big Question The first WhyNot? Forum, held on September 27, gathered a group of leaders, achievers, doers, and dreamers from diverse fields. There was Dondi Gomez, the "Marketing Maverick," who is the youngest-ever Managing Director of Unilever Philippines at age 35; Gang Badoy, the irrepressible and bubbly lady behind RockEd Philippines, tagged the "Alternative Educator"; Professor Jay Bernardo of the Asian Institute of Management, the "Rainmaker" and "Entrepreneurship Guru" who owns the distinction of being the first-ever Filipino to have been named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) by the Junior Chamber International; "Technologist" Dr. Greg Tangonan, who teaches Innovation and Technology at the Ateneo de Manila University and has garnered 49 patents and numerous awards for his inventive work; Brian Tenorio, the creative genius behind the designer shoe label Tenorio Manila; Quark Henares, the "Filmmaker-on-the-Edge" who directed his first feature film at age 21; and Fr. Ted Gonzales, SJ of the Center for Family Ministries (CEFAM), labeled the "Dreamer Priest." Even the creative forces running the event are achievers themselves: Ruiz and Aquino are part of the visionary group behind Hapinoy, an aggregated value network built around sari-sari stores, microfinancing institutions, and key partners in industry and civil society; event documenter Ditsi Carolino is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker ( Minsan Lang Sila Bata, Bunso, Riles); and guest performer Radioactivesago Project is a groundbreaking musical act that fuses jazz, funk, and spoken-word poetry in discussing a variety of social issues. Supporting the project from behind the scenes are industry giant Smart Communications, Web and multimedia company Softrigger Interactive, and Young Public Servants (YPS), a group of young, dynamic individuals focused on promoting "Good Governance and Democratic Citizenship among the youth." In opening the forum, Ruiz asked the audience, "What does the world think of when they think of the Philippines? ... Maybe the WhyNot? Forum can be our megaphone to the rest of the world [to showcase the ingenuity and the innovative spirit driving us Filipinos]... Why not?" Of challenges, opportunities, irritants, rock, beauty, passion, and baboy Gomez, in defining "maverick marketing" in the experience of Unilever Philippines' groundbreaking campaigns for Rexona, challenged the audience to adopt a non-conformist stance when it came to developing and presenting their ideas. "Great marketing gives people a taste of what could be... It provides imagination and courage to hope and to dream." He cites the worldwide success of the out-of-the-box campaigns First Day Funk and its follow-up, First Day High, which set record sales figures, won for Unilever Philippines numerous global awards, and established Rexona as the market leader in deodorants. Dr. Greg Tangonan, for his part, discussed the worldwide movement marking the early 2000s the "Decade of the Mind Initiative." He shared experiments in mind control, mind mapping, "out of body experiences" in the virtual world, and other brain experiments. He ultimately asked: "[If brain activity could be measured,] could the Filipino concepts of hiya (shame) or pakikiramay (empathy) also be measured? Can this be our contribution to the 'Decade of the Mind Initiative?' Why not?" When it was Gang Badoy's turn to speak, a technical glitch disabled her from using her Powerpoint presentation, but she masterfully held her own and gave the crowd an entertaining and engaging talk about the experiences that led her to found, and therefore commit herself to, RockEd, an alternative education movement that seeks to get young people involved in social issues through music. "We don't have to unite to progress," she challenges. "Even if we don't get along, as long as we get the job done, it's okay." True to her signature style, Badoy brought along a group of musicians to drive home her point and entertain her audience. Radioactivesago Project rendered the thought-provoking intermission number, singing their hit songs "Gin Pomelo" and " Gusto Ko ng Baboy (I Like Pig)," among others. The next speaker, Fr. Ted Gonzales of CEFAM, seemed to have been struck by Sago's quirky lyrics, often quoting them in his talk about integrity, passion, and "[embracing] the inner movements of your heart." "Hindi tayo mga baboy (We are not pigs)," he asserted. Fr. Gonzales was the obvious crowd-drawer in the room, as many of the audience members were "graduates" of his hit retreats Life Directions, Agimat, and On Fire. During designer Brian Tenorio's 15 minutes, the audience was transformed into an intimate group that listened closely to his ideas on love, luxe, lust, and beauty. Ironically, this shoe meister, who has gained fame for his beautiful and bewitching creations, maintained that it's not what you wear or the details that you place on yourself that matter as much as what's going on around you. "Beauty is not oppressive," he states. "Beauty unifies... It should allow growth. Beauty should allow love." Unfortunately, the natural beauty around us is constantly being threatened by natural and man-made disasters. Mr. Ramon Isberto, Head of Public Affairs at Smart Communications, disclosed a groundbreaking project meant to help local communities around the country prepare for storms. "The Philippines has the highest number of Category 5 typhoons in the world," he reveals. "Why not be prepared for it?" Likewise, entrepreneurship guru and AIM professor Jay Bernardo encouraged budding entrepreneurs to develop business ideas by seeking solutions to "irritants" around them. Citing the Chinese word and symbols for the word "crisis," he urged his listeners to "look at the opportunity before looking at the dangers... because once you see the opportunities, you will no longer see the dangers." Quark Henares might not have been a student of Prof. Bernardo, but he exemplified the attitude of risk-taking in his talk about the experiences that brought him to the forefront of the filmmaking world. From the psychologically disturbing movie that he saw at age 11 (David Lynch's Eraserhead), to his "Eureka moment" after watching the cult classic Pulp Fiction, to making the movie that bombed at the box office but was praised by his idol, Quentin Tarantino ( Keka), Henares' candid insights proved to the audience that some rewards can simply never be equated to fame or fortune. Why not more? Although this event is only the first of what promises to be a long-running series of thought-provoking discussions, it seems to be coming in at the right time. Regardless of their inclinations, educational backgrounds, or lifestyles, Filipinos simply have become tired of turning to the government (or to the streets) for answers to society's nagging questions; they are now looking to themselves to develop long-term solutions to problems that have unfolded over several generations. Indeed, the world is teeming with opportunities. Prof. Bernardo cites the "kanto boys" whom people look down upon during ordinary days, but who become reliable comrades and trusted allies in times of calamity, pushing cars and shuttling pedestrians over flooded waters for a small fee that anyone would be willing to pay. Anyone can achieve great things; anyone can make a difference. It only takes one simple question, and the guts to embrace the answers. The next WhyNot? Forum will be held in November 2007. For more details, email whynotforum@gmail.com, call (0928) 5055713, or SMS 'whynot' to 2948. All videos from the WhyNot? Forum will be posted on www.whynotforum.com and may be viewed free of charge.
This was a performance that Paul did with David Endriga and the Echaves Brothers for the graduation of Spanish (and French and German) minors at the Ateneo de Manila University, held on March 26. It's a long video because it features three parts: Paul's Kali Drum intro; the Martinete, an intense, percussive song; and the Bolerias, a lighter, more melodic piece.
It was a great homecoming of sorts for me as well, because I had missed my own Spanish graduation eight (yes, eight!) years ago. It was great to see el Señor Prado and la Señora Aquino still looking as young as they were 10 years ago! Going back to school and witnessing this reminded me of the passion that I have for everything Spanish (the language, the food, the culture, the men... hahaha!) and encouraged me to revive my language studies.
Again, it's not a great video per se, but pay attention to the music and the dance na lang. My documentary skills are, indeed, a work in progress... 28032007(001).3gp (13.7 MB)
Link: http://www.paolody.com/qwerty.movI finally got to see QWERTY, the much talked-about short film by Paolo Dy (Ateneo batch 1999!) that's featured on Steven Spielberg's On The Lot.
I'm no critic, but I can say with all honesty (and not just because he's a fellow Ateneo alum, and a batchmate at that) that it's a well-crafted story, a visual and literary work of art. The storytelling is succinct, the acting understated but just right. I loved the fact that the film's actors are some of my thespian idols, and that... Wait, I'm getting a hold of myself.
Out of the film's 394 ratings on On the Lot, QWERTY's average rating is FIVE STARS. Is it really THAT good? You decide.
Here's what the On the Lot website says about the film:
A mentally-afflicted young man named Benny is accused of murdering Professor Chavez, his longtime benefactor. Chavez’ lawyer, Dan Ortega, is called in to figure out what really happened. The answer lies in Benny’s mad obsession with the professor’s old typewriter, on which he types relentlessly, day and night.
PRODUCTION NOTE: No special post effects were used in the final scenes.
* * *
| Start: | Mar 8, '07 6:00p | | End: | Mar 8, '07 9:00p | | Location: | Blue Room, Ateneo Rockwell Campus |
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