UP Art Studies on CCP's 'Kulo'

Statement on the Closure of the “Kulo” Exhibit at the CCP

by the Department of Art Studies, UP Diliman, 13 August 2011

No to Closure, No to Censorship!

Image via WikipediaWe, faculty members of the Department of Art Studies, University of the Philippines in Diliman, urge the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to reopen the exhibition “Kulo” featuring 32 works from artists who contributed to the curatorial concept of revolutionary ferment in contemporary Philippine society as inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal’s life and ideals.

While there are contending interpretations of an image presented by art, the ethical course of action is to process the contentions and that is what art ensures: a process of communicative action. The closure of an exhibition only achieved the closure of democratic, informed and thoughtful engagement.

While freedom of expression and artistic license are not absolute and must be guided with reflexivity, accountability and responsibility on the part of makers of art, the freedom is fundamental, and inalienable. The work in question is art, and while it is a site of struggle over meanings and definitions, it is protected as expression in a free society. It may violate and offend community and common standards of morality, but it would be more productive for us to bring the discussion in a well-informed manner, to study and discuss our own responses and in the process, gain new knowledge and insights, and hone our visual competencies and literacy. Why for instance do images have the power to offend and provoke an excess of emotion and action?

Now, without the artworks to look at and experience in actuality, and without benefit of proper framing and venue, such informed and engaged discussions cannot take place and so many important ideas are consequently repressed. We sadly observe that the issue has been reduced to the level of polemics, grandstanding and shouting matches over the more vital meaning of art and what role artists play in contemporary times.

The CCP should protect its mandate, reclaim and maintain its autonomy. It must take the lead, not only in guarding artistic freedom but also in ensuring a safe haven where artists as public intellectuals have the freedom to exhibit. We educators will rally behind a cultural institution that will provide the venue and platform for artists, educators, policymakers, students of art and the “public” – by no means homogenous – to come together and raise and address issues in an atmosphere conducive to forming a community of critical audiences of art.

Re-open the exhibition!

Defend the freedom of expression!

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• Controversial Art Exhibit Is Shut Down in the Philippines (nytimes.com)
• Philippines Shuts Art Show Deemed Offensive (huffingtonpost.com)

UP MassCom on PNOY's Year 1

END HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS; STOP THE KILLING OF JOURNALISTS

Statement of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication on the first year of the Aquino Presidency, July 25, 2011

BENIGNO AQUINO III became President a year ago on the wings of Filipino hopes for change, and their loathing for one of the most unpopular Presidents in Philippine history. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s legitimacy was seriously in question, and to stay in power she practically encouraged human rights violations through such acts as applauding the work of the notorious General Palparan. She also systematically harassed the independent press, and by the force of that example emboldened the killers of journalists and media workers. Before her term ended corruption had metastasized throughout the entire government and political system; human rights violations had escalated to a level unheard of since the Marcos dictatorship; and the Ampatuan Massacre—the worst attack in history on journalists, the free press and democracy itself—had happened in the Maguindanao turf of one of her warlord allies.

Mr. Aquino was elected on a promise to end poverty by ending corruption. But in the first months of his term he also pledged an end to human rights violations and the killing of journalists, while assuring the press community that, unlike his predecessor, he would defend press freedom rather than undermine it.

But a scant month and a half in office, in August 2010, in apparent ignorance of the self-regulatory regime in the media, Mr. Aquino threatened to file criminal charges against some of the journalists who were in violation of the ethics of their profession during the coverage of the August 23 hostage taking incident, while refusing to take any action against his friends in government who were primarily responsible for its bloody conclusion. In the ensuing months Mr. Aquino kept up his criticism of the press, accusing them at one point of irresponsible behavior, while, in a call reminiscent of Joseph Estrada, he urged the business community to advertise only in “responsible” media organizations.

Initially assuring the press and the public as a whole of his support for a Freedom of Information (FOI) act, Mr. Aquino did not include among his priority bills the Tanada FOI bill that had been filed in the 14^th Congress. His communications group subsequently proposed a bill that, among other reprehensible provisions, would bestow on an Information Commission the power to hold anyone in contempt and to declare any information on government matters temporarily or permanently exempt from public disclosure.

In response to the objections of various media groups, the Aquino administration drafted a second version, in which the only change was to make government officials and employees who violate the provisions of the proposed law subject to criminal rather than administrative sanctions. The other provisions to which there are serious objections have been retained. As a result, any FOI bill passed during this administration is likely to restrict rather than enhance public and media access to information.

Meanwhile, the killing of political activists and journalists has continued, with over 25 extrajudicial killings recorded in the first six months since Mr. Aquino came to power, while the killing of seven journalists during the past year constitutes a record to equal that of 2006, when seven journalists were also killed for their work. The killings are taking place in the context of raids, arrests and other harassments against mass organizations that have since resumed after a brief hiatus. Our very own Film student Maricon Montajes remains in jail in Batangas since June 2010.

That Mr. Aquino, among other failures, has not stopped human rights violations and the killing of journalists is due to his adoption of a supposedly new counter-insurgency policy, the aimless drift of his administration, the corrosive factionalism among his officials, his inability to control the military, and his unwillingness to even attempt the dismantling of private armies.

And yet a year is more than enough preparation for Mr. Aquino to begin to put an end to human rights violations and the killing of journalists. He can start by dismantling the private armies that in over a hundred places in the Philippines were behind or were involved in the killing of journalists. He can also seriously examine the wisdom of the “new” counter-insurgency policy that his administration is implementing. Of equal urgency is his making civilian control of the military a reality, as a necessary first step in stopping both human rights violations as well as the killing of journalists, in both of which military men have been involved as perpetrators, torturers, gunmen and co-conspirators.

COLLEGE EXECUTIVE BOARD: Dr. Roland B. Tolentino, Dean; Prof. Luis V. Teodoro, Former CMC Dean; Dr. Lourdes M. Portus, Chair, Communication Research Department; Dr. Jose R. Lacson, Jr., Chair, Graduate Studies Department

FACULTY: Dr. Elizabeth L. Enriquez; Daphne-Tatiana Canlas; Prof. Jane O. Vinculado; Prof. Victor C. Avecilla; Dr. Perlita Manalili; Dr. Florinda D.F. Mateo; Prof. Aleth A. Gayosa; Ms. Roxanne Girlie Cipriano; Prof. Juno Paruñgao; Prof. Joni Gutierrez III; Prof. Shirley P. Evidente; Prof. Patrick F. Campos; Prof. Yason Banal; Mr. Cenon O. Palomares; Prof. Danilo A. Arao, Asst. Vice President for Public Affairs, UP System; Ms. Kristine Mangunay

LECTURERS: Ms. Marinela M. Aseron, Ms. Twink Macaraig

STAFF: Gina A. Villegas, Clarissa S. Concepcion, Irene Balucos, Fernando B. Borjal, Jamela Tolentino, Irene I. Verona, Ani Beldia, Mary Jane Gomez, Dolores Basilan, Mineli Rosette Quejado, Lucenio Martin Lauzon, Nawruz Paguidopon, Teodora Sobrepeña, Michelle Ortiz, Placida Sodoy, William Pedrosa, Roberto Damasco, Manuel Cortez, Alex NP Tamayo, Thess Reamon, Marianita P. Cinco

STUDENTS: Norman Riego, CMC Student Council Chair, Plus 200 students

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Madzmerized

February is arts month, or so a billboard reminded at an LRT station I pass through en route to office. It’s also Pasinaya’s month – CCP’s one-day festival where for a suggested minimum contribution of 20 pesos, one could preview the resident companies’ 2011 offerings. Other performance groups get to show their stuff in different spaces of CCP as well. For resident companies, they have Abelardo, the Main Theater.

This year, BFF Eon and I availed of Fast Pass, a 100-peso “priority access” to the theaters, the main benefit of which was not having to invest much patience and perseverance in the long queues at the Main Theater. Each resident company’s preview show runs for less than an hour; after every performance, the audience will have to leave the theater and line up at the side entrances again for the next show.

Last year Eon and I, while waiting in line for the preview of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, we chatted with one of the ushers who controlled the north side entrance of the Main Theater. The crowd, she said, was always thickest and hardest to control for the Madrigal Singers, superstar resident company. This year was no different – though, IMHO overall I think the attendance to this year’s Pasinaya was much, much more. Or I’m just older and tired.

Before the Madz, sometime in the middle of the day, I was already feeling weary and regretful for sacrificing peace, quiet and all-around laziness of Sunday for culture’s version of Midnight Madness Sale. Indeed I thought, Pasinaya has discounted value after factoring in mobs of youngsters only probably there to comply with some school requirement like reaction papers. But I’m not sure if Eon shares the same sentiment – in between gyroscopic head oscillations, he confessed that one thing he hated about Pasinaya was the bounty of boyhoods, one after another, kept on leaving him heartbroken. I forgot what I promised myself after last year’s Pasinaya – not to attend this ever again.

After seeing the Madz, I forgot all weariness and regret. A few minutes of seeing them in their calm, composed madrigal seating, listening to their voices both distinct and harmonious, and feeling the emotions conveyed by their pieces dissolved all madness of the crowd that went with us for that preview. Music does soothe the beast in men. I never thought much of the song “How Did You Know” until the Madz performed it: I realized how the song when sung should feel, and I had a tearful. Drama queen Eon was in varying degrees of modest sniffling and bawling. Even that nameless girl seated across the aisle, whom I sneered at earlier for making lipstick and mascara performance art, just wasted her day’s worth of cosmetics.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers are certainly worth much, much more than the 100 pesos I paid. I thought – and eventually tweeted – that each song they sung was worth 100 pesos. The earlier disappointments were even absolved – an orchestra that needed more symphony, ballet that needed more ensemble, a musical that felt like a Palawan 2 curtain call. As in last years, thank goodness for the Madz, the one-day chaos of Pasinaya 2011 was in the end worth the effort.

ACPI's fifth with Toei's 25th

Posted by sillypepperchillie at UP Film Institute mailing list, 2011-02-04; image is screen capture of ACPI website. In an earlier post on the mailing list (2011-02-02), poster-making contest for the 2012 festival was announced, details HERE.

Animahenasyon 2011 is now accepting entries

The Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) is calling all budding and professional animators from across the country to participate and submit their animated works to Animahenasyon 2011: 5th Philippine Animation Festival, as it formally opens and accepts entries to this year's festival. Entry forms may be downloaded from the ACPI website. The deadline for submission of entries is on September 15.

Animahenasyon 2011 is held in conjunction with Toei Animation Philippines, Inc.'s 25th anniversary, and co-presented by Eastwood City where the festival will be held from November 22 to 25.

In an effort to build an audience, awareness and development of original contents, ACPI puts together its flagship project through an annual animation festival called Animahenasyon that showcases original animated works of both aspiring and professional animators in the country through a competition.

The festival is composed of the professional and the student/amateur divisions that will have different running time categories: 1 to 5 minutes; 6 to 20 minutes, 21 to 60 minutes, and the full-animated feature (more than 60 minutes). There are also categories for music video, title sequence, public information, demo reel, and TV series. There will also be animated works in exhibition (full-length, special citation, and past Animahenasyon winners).

Animahenasyon serves as a venue for Filipino animators to present their world-class ideas, and opens doors of opportunities for them to meet with and be inspired by the finest names in the industry. It also aims to create greater awareness of the Philippine animation industry and its contributions to the global entertainment business, while tapping locally produced content for promotion in animation markets here and abroad.

ACPI's vision is to make Philippines as the prime provider of animation and content creation services to the global marketplace. On the other hand, ACPI's mission is to be the center of excellence for animation and content creation services through building more efficient and effective collaborative business practices that will elevate the country's economy and culture.

As an organized body, ACPI aims to promote the Filipino talent both locally and internationally. With the cooperation of its members as well as the Philippine government, it is envisioned that the member studios and schools will be considered competitive both creatively and technologically.

ACPI is a non-stock and non-profit organization whose member companies specialize mainly in, but not limited to, 2D, Flash or 3D animation. It aims to promote the animation industry globally with the intention of creating an identity for the Philippines to be considered amongst the preferred countries that service the animation industry.

For more information about Animahenasyon 2011, please call 483-9501, 817-2727 local 108 or email the secretariat, or visit Animahenasyon.

My Remington "steals"

Before year 2010 ended, my Facebook network was abuzz with this Filipino indie horror-comedy film "Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington." No updates I'm aware of so far (or more likely, my usual busyness prevented me from following through). I first learned of the film from Mell Navarro. Then Cholo Laurel made a Wall post on the FabGays Facebook group. For some shameless audience luring (to this blog), above pic of Mart Escudero, title lead was "borrowed" from Remington's "own" Facebook account. Here are some more links:

• Youtube Channel: Remington The Movie
• Facebook Page: Zombadings, Patayin sa Shokot si Remington
• Facebook Profile: Ako Si Remington

Finally, the official trailer below.

Divas carry!

A theatrical event that got members of the FabGays Facebook group talking is PETA's "Care Divas" a musical comedy about Filipino gay men who work overseas as caregivers, who also do diva impersonations at night. (I hope to see it, fingers crossed both hands.) From the FabGays' discussions, I gathered that some of the actors actually went around interviewing actual (repatriated?) OFW caregivers to prepare for their roles. Pic above was uploaded on FabGays' album. Here are some links:

• Care Divas' Facebook Event Page 
• PETA's 43rd Season Line-up 

A promotional performance was also featured in "Mornings at ANC" show on TV, Youtube video of that segment below.