The Philippine Online Chronicles

VISUAL ARTS

Picasso in Manila

Filipinos may now see Pablo Picasso’s copper etchings at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

Starting Nov. 10, hundreds of said prints have been on display for both art enthusiasts and Filipino artists such as Abdul Imao and Napoleon Abueva.

“Suite Vollard,” a collection of prints in vellum paper (760 x 500 millimeters) and Montval paper (445 x 340 mm), is owned by Fundacion MAPFRE.

Metropolitan vice chair Corazon Alvina said the exhibit was clinched by accident when the Fundacion Santiago failed to bring in a promised collection. As an alternative, the group offered to bring in Picasso’s artworks.

“It was fortunate that they told me this over the phone, so they couldn’t see that I was jumping up and down,” Alvina said. “Just the experience of being in the presence of the works of one of the greatest artists of all time and the sheer enjoyment is enough."

Fundacion Santiago President Pedro Roxas said they hope that the exhibit will bring Picasso’s work closer to the Filipino people.

“Suite Vollard” is named after Parisian art dealer Ambroise Vollard who commissioned the collection from Picasso.

Global Art winners

More than 200 students competed in the Global Art National Competition’s third year. Asked to interpret the theme “My World, My Future,” the winners will represent the Philippines in the upcoming Global Art International Art Competition.

Five-year-old Kaithlyn Chua, nine-year-old Nico Gabriel Santiago and Anne Kristine Galio won in their respective age categories (4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12 years old).

Global Art students are thought to develop art skills, patience and discipline.

BOOKS

Ateneo Press Christmas Book Sale

The Ateneo Press Bookshop will have a Christmas sale from Nov. 15 to Dec. 14, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. All titles will be discounted by to 10 50 percent. Those interested may reserve copied by calling 426-5984 or sending a message to unipress@admu.edu.ph.

Titles may be found in www.ateneopress.org.

Rolando Tolentino’s birthday book launch

University of the Philippines (UP) College of Mass Communication (CMC) Dean Rolando Tolentino will be launching two new books on his birthday Nov. 18. To be held at the UP CMC Auditorium at 3 p.m., the program will showcase “Almanak ng Isang Aktibista” and “Kathang Isip: Mga Kuwentong Fantastiko.”

His books “Mondo Marcos,” “Tahong/talong, Laglag panty/brief, Gitnang uring fantasya at material na kahirapan: political na kritisismo ng kulturang popular” and “Pagbaklas/pag-aklas/pagbagtas: political na kritisismong pampanitikan” will also be relaunched.

The books will be available for sale at the UP CMC book sale from Nov. 17 12 a.m. to Nov. 18 5:30 p.m.

UP Writers Workshop

Interested applicants may still send in submissions for The Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing’s UP National Writers Workshop. Deadline for applications has been moved to Nov. 29

Submission guidelines:

QUALIFICATIONS – To qualify, applicants (1) must be writers in English or Filipino; (2) must have attended at least one creative writing workshop (national/regional, including the UP National Writers Workshops), or earned a degree in Creative Writing/Malikhaing Pagsulat, or won at least one national/international literary award; (3) must have published at least three poems or two short stories or two pieces of creative nonfiction in reputable collections or anthologies, journals, magazines (including campus publications), or refereed Internet web magazines, or have had a play staged. Writers who have been fellows at any of the UP National Writers Workshops are eligible. Some of these qualifications may be waived in exceptionally meritorious cases, with the unanimous concurrence of the UP ICW Fellows, Associates, and Advisers.

REQUIREMENTS – Applicants must submit (1) five copies plus digital file (12 points, double-spaced, 8 x 11) of one original unpublished manuscript (short story, poem, creative nonfiction, play, or novel) to be discussed during the workshop – this manuscript should not have been submitted to a publishing house or any other workshop, and should form at least 20% of a book project in progress; (2) five copies plus digital file (12 points, double-spaced, 8 x 11) of an essay on "What I write, how, and why?" in relation to the work in progress. This essay will be the basis for a 20-minute presentation that the fellow is expected to do during the workshop; (3) photocopies of the applicant’s published work, including publication details; and (4) application form (available at the UP ICW office in UP Diliman and on the ICW-maintained website http://www.panitikan.com.ph).

Only writers who go through the complete application process will be considered for fellowship.

Fellows must be present for the full duration of the weeklong workshop.

All fellows are entitled to a modest stipend, free hotel accommodation, and free transportation from UP Diliman to Baguio City and back.

MUSIC

Imprisoned Artists

Musician-writer Ericson Acosta is among the three finalists of the 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize.

Acosta, who was arrested on Feb. 13, 2011 by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on trumped-up charges of illegal possession of explosives, came out with the album “Prison Sessions,” a compilation of his old compositions, amid being detained at the Calbayog City sub-provincial jail.

He also maintains an online journal Jailhouse Blog.

THEATER

Ballet Philippines does a classic

After staging numerous contemporary productions, Ballet Philippines is now attempting a classic “Sleeping Beauty.”

Award-winning ballerina Candice Adea said they decided to show versatility – having tried both contemporary and classical ballet - and at the same time to generate income.

Ballet Philippines artistic director Paul Morales admitted that classical ballet is more popular with the Filipino audience. On the other hand, “the classical technique is really good training. It’s a bigger challenge. So, we will continue to do both classical and contemporary ballet. This is an international trend,” he said.

“The Sleeping Beauty” will be staged from Dec. 2 to 11 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the accompanying music of Peter Ylyich Tchaikovsky will be played by the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

Interestingly, Adea and her twin sister Carissa will take turns playing Princess Aurora while Prince Desire will be played by Nabuo Fujima from Japan.

Asian Little Mermaid

Meanwhile, the Philippine staging of “The Little Mermaid” will have a modern touch as costume designer Eric Pineda incorporates both period and contemporary designs from the West and the East.

While the human characters’ clothes remained faithful to the era of “Little Mermaid,” somewhere between “late Napoleonic and early Victorian Europe,” the mermaids and other sea creatures will be reinvented with Asian flair.

Sea witch Ursula will have flame-like Harajuku hair while the others have Japanese Samurai vests or Thai headdresses.

Still, they had to ask permission from Disney which required that they approve each piece, reinvented but still identifiable.

“The Little Mermaid” is produced by Atlantis Productions and directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga. Erik Santos and Rachel Ann Go will play the lead roles as Prince Eric and Ariel. The play will premiere on Nov. 18 and will run until Dec. 11 at the Meralco Theater.