In fields of battle, deliriously fighting, Others give you their lives, without doubt, without regret; Where there’s cypress, laurel or lily, On a plank or open field, in combat or cruel martyrdom, If the home or country asks, it's all the same--it matters not.
The UP Oblation is an iconic symbol of the iskolar ng bayan depicting a man with arms outstreched, chest protruding forward in an act of offering himself to the nation.
Made by Professor Guillermo Tolentino, the statue was made as an interpretation of the above stanza from Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios which talks about the ultimate sacrifice for one’s country.
The model used by Tolentino was Anastacio Caedo, his then apprentice, Contrary to urban legend that it was Fernando Poe Sr who stood naked for the sculptor. Caedo would soon become a professor in the University, taking with him skills he acquired from his mentor.
Originally, the statue was completely naked, but, as morality was prevaling at that time, it was modified by former U.P. President Jorge Bocobo with the addition of a fig leaf to cover the genitals.
The Oblation found fronting the University is in fact a bronze replica as the original was moved to the UP Main Library, supposedly the original location of the College of Fine Arts where the sculptor taught.
Today, more replicas stand in the different campuses of UP across the Islands. The Oblation in its long history has become the centerpiece of many UP-related symbology and emblems.
MOTHER AND CHILD Rey Paz Contreras
Rubbish Art: A Scavenger Hunt to Aesthetic-ness
By Maria Espie Vidal
MOTHER and CHILD—this is a sculpture made by world renowned Rey Paz Contreras. At a glance, one can say it is made out of an expensive type of wood—at a glance!
Mr. Contreras is a prominent Filipino sculptor working with urban refuse and environmental materials as artistic media. He currently has his studio near the railroad tracks in Tondo, Manila, where he conducts his community-based art training to promote a socially-responsive 'people's art' that has developed into the Daambakal Sculptors Collective. Contreras' pioneered the use of travieza or hardwood railroad tracks during the late 70s. (www.wikipedia.org)
Mostly his works are inspired by the indigenous Filipino culture and creates visual forms of contemporary images that explore a distinct Filipino aesthetics. This is evident in this sculpture of Mother and Child.
This sculpture is a picture of a native mother holding her child in her arms.
She is wearing an Igorot-like “tapis” which Contreras made out of little pieces of wood. There is also a small basket tied to her waist.
The child is made to be wrapped in cloth but it is not an attachment like the mother’s tapis. It is carved.
In spite the lack of details, it is a complete package in itself. The love of the mother to the child was still clearly shown in the following: first, the tightness of embrace of the mother. She wraps her arms around her baby to secure him/her by giving support to the chest and knees. Also, this may symbolize protection.
Another symbolism for protection is the baby being fully clothed.
If one may notice, the baby also is tilted to the left side of the mother’s chest. This may symbolize the mother’s love that she wanted the baby to be literally close to her heart.
Nevertheless, Contreras' significant contribution to the development of contemporary Filipino/Philippine art has been recognized by various art organizations and cultural institutions since the early 1990s. He has conducted sculptural training workshop in the regions and has been invited to exhibit in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Cuba, Brazil, Australia and the US.
ECSTASY OF ST. THERESE Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini
Fusion of Art and Religion
By Melanie Datu
“I saw an angel close by me, on my left side in bodily form. This I am not accustomed to see unless very rarely. Though I have visions of angels frequently, yet I see them only by an intellectual vision, such as I have spoken of before. It was our Lord's will that in this vision I should see the angel in this wise. He was not large, but small of stature, and most beautiful - his face burning, as if he were one of the highest angels, who seem to be all of fire: they must be those whom we call Cherubim…I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron's point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it, even a large one. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of his goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying.” –The Vision as described By St. Therese of Avila
For those who are young in mind, this sculpture made by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini can be a little offensive. But for those who can understand the mix of religious and erotic imagery, as seen in this sculpture, one will immediately understand that Bernini’s aim was to portray a religious experience characterized by an intense bodily reaction to spiritual enlightenment in a language of ecstasy used by many mystics.
The text above shows how St. Therese’s heart was pierced by an angel with a golden arrow. How is it possible for an artist to turn this powerful text into an image? Such a complex set of emotions is hard enough to be described in text, how can it be demonstrated in a piece of marble? Between the years 1645 and 1652, Bernini managed to do this with a great skill, and created one of the most dramatic sculptures in history. The point in which we see the two figures, the angel and the saint, is not only the climax of the story but also the very middle of the action.
Saint Theresa, the focal point of the Cornaro Chapel of the church Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome, is a soft white marble statue surrounded by a polychromatic marble architectural framing. Bernini was the first sculptor to realize the dramatic potential of light in a sculptural complex as noticed in the sun's rays, coming from an unseen source, illuminating the swooning saint and the smiling angel about to pierce her heart with a golden arrow. Not only did Bernini pioneered the use of light in sculptural complex, Bernini’s depiction of St .Therese also met the unrestrained quality of baroque art and its refusal to limit itself to firmly defined spatial settings.
If anything, The Transverberation of St. Therese is considered to be the hallmark of Baroque and Bernini as the genius of Baroque.
Balikbayan is a celebrity-oriented travel program that features known TV personalities, movie stars, singers, and even news reporters as tour guides in their hometowns. Hosted by Drew Arellano, it can be caught at 10 p.m. every Friday on QTV-11.
The process of the whole thing goes by inviting a particular celebrity to tour Balikbayan in his/her hometown, sharing every bit of memories in every corner they turn to. Thus, the show does not only give benefit to the viewers who gets to see the wonders of the places featured, but also to the celebrity himself who gets to travel back home and show the country “who he was before stardom”.
Since it is a reality TV show, everything appears to be spontaneous. No scripts were used, and the actors they pick (except the host) vary every week. The set, the clothing, and props all appear to be natural. The camera placement and movement are expected to be not too perfect and organized since there are no exact timings for each scene. Lighting and special effects are usually not paid much attention to, since the main concepts of the show are the featured places and celebrities.
Once in a while, music is plugged in to add more emotion to the featured celebrity’s memories. Also, the division of parts of the show gets to be organized when the host narrates the sequence of events. Editing is remarkable, that it would seem to the viewers that Balikbayan is really inviting them to witness the uniqueness of the city at hand. There may be neither lessons nor issues to be disseminated to the viewers; the only evident goal of the show is to introduce its audience to places where their favorite stars grew up.
The peculiarity of this reality TV show has placed it on the hall of nominees for Best Travel Show in the 21st PMPC Star Awards for Television. Drew Arellano, being an excellent host, was also a nominee for Best Travel Show Host. Among the show’s most acknowledged episodes featured celebrities Nina, Ricky Reyes, Rhian Ramos, and Howie Severino. So far, the show is getting positive feedbacks, and may be ready for show-off with other leading travel shows.
The UAAP Cheerdance Competition
By Mico Letargo
The University Athletics Association of the Philippines will never be complete without this annual contest featuring the eight pep squads and dance troupes of the respective schools. Since its inception in 1995, the UAAP Cheerdance Competition has grown from just a mere dance-off into a grand showdown of skill, creativity, and school spirit.
With the excitement around the event only second to that of Ateneo – La Salle matches, the competition showcases another rivalry that could possibly eclipse that of the Blue and Green. I talk of no other than the bitter enmity between UST and UP, specifically between the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (SDT) and the UP Pep Squad.
Bagging the first three titles from 1995 – 1997, the Salinggawi made its name as a solid contender for the title. However, in 1998, the Espana-based squad sat out the competition and let the FEU Pep Squad claim the trophy. The following year, 1999, saw the beginnings of the rivalry as UST fell behind as runner-up to champion UP.
The following years, the league saw the UP Pep Squad match the grandslam of the Salinggawi, claiming the ’99-’01 trophies. In 2002, however, apparently done with licking its wounds and learning from its losses, the SDT got back in perfect shape and snatched away UP’s would-be fourth title with the battle cry “The REAL Champions are Back.”
This began the era UST’s unprecedented five consecutive years of lording it over the other competitors while at the same time putting benchmark after benchmark with their yearly performances.
To the surprise of many, and expectations of a few, the UP Pep Squad put a halt to the rampaging Salinggawi and claimed the 2007 title with their rock inspired routine and trademark all-male pyramids and tosses.
This coming 2008, with the University of the Philippines hosting the UAAP, and the UST coming off from a bitter loss, the expectations and predictions are sure to be abound for another historic chapter in the duel of the two schools in the Cheerdance Competiton this coming September.
Grey's Anatomy
By Ayesa Lubag
Seattle Grace Hospital has been the focal point of interns and doctors that have hit the success of the television series Grey's Anatomy. The writers, directors, producers, and editors have established its main objective which is to show the different tasks inside a hospital and the relationship of people inside.
With dozens of TV shows aired, a production must have strong characters for it to be good. Meredith Gray, the narrator, is a driven and opinionated woman who happened to have slept with a neurosurgeon without any idea that he was her supervisor. Another character, Cristina is strong willed and competitive but such identity didn't become a hinder for her to share beautiful friendship with another woman.
The feeling of unity along with its main theme is seen. This applies to the setting, color, and wardrobes. Amidst the hectic day of any doctor like Grey on her scrubs, the place has been a harbor of secrets that gets hold of every character's life in the series. With this one truth that doctors and nurses have been observed to be sleeping with each other, it has been part of a single visual frame that will entice, weaken or confuse the meaning to the audience. The hospital is a small world that will cause to intrigue a lot. Each episode should be uncovered so that nothing will be detracted from the central idea.
The Philippine independent film industry has slowly etched its way into the artistic sensibilities of many Filipinos.
With its realist approach to filmmaking, “indie movies” provide relief for moviegoers who have grown weary of the fantasy-driven films of mainstream cinema.
While it is practically wrong to say that the indie scene revived Philippine cinema (big production movies, such as the recently released My Big Love, continue to rake in the big bucks), it is but logical to conclude that indie movies introduce diversity and critical filmmaking to Philippine cinema.
Independent films unofficially went mainstream with the success of the 2006 movie, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros.
Aureaus Solito’s film about a 12-year old gay who is torn between his devotion to his family and his infatuation with a handsome cop not only garnered several awards and nominations from both local and foreign award-giving bodies, but it also fared well enough in the box office to be part of the Filipino popular culture (nearly everybody who has ever been to a movie house knows who Maximo Oliveros is).
With a measly budget of less than a million pesos, the film relied heavily on the story and its unflinching realism.
Solito made most of the meager resources that he had and what he ended up was a gripping and painfully familiar picture of the Filipino masses.
Michiko Yamamoto’s screenplay could have been powerful enough to have propelled the movie into a level greater than it had already attained but disappointing acting had prevented the movie’s ascension into perfection.
JR Valentin disappoints with his lackluster performance as the handsome cop, Victor. He fails to express any believable emotion through his dialogue.
Although newcomer Nathan Lopez impressed most of Maximo’s audience, his tempered performance still disappoints. His acting was one of those “almost-there-but-not-quite” cases which frustrate some to no end.
Nevertheless, Maximo, with its good musical score, editing and cinematography is still a milestone in independent filmmaking.
Scent of a Woman
By Monica Eunice Santiago
Tango: "If you make a mistake, you just tango on."
When you come to experience an extremely boring and gimmick-less Friday midnight and you’ve had three cups of coffee for the past 12 hours, that may be a great opportunity for you to discover that you are missing a marvelous old film dated 16 years back in your poor life.
Initially, you may feel like changing the disc, especially if you have this “impression” about films shot in a “country-style” setting. And with its music that gives this “emotional mood”, you might think it is just some dramatic crap that wouldn’t make you laugh. But then comes the younger Chris O'Donell, looking like a huggable kid with a double chin. And later on, the Al Pacino, whose first few lines will convince you that you should stay with these two characters for the next two hours or so.
One way or another, each of us needs a break. And in the award-winning movie Scent of a Woman, Thanksgiving weekend is the chance for visually impaired military man, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade to travel and woo women.
The film, being a drama, comprises neither of special effects nor any sort of animation. A remake of 1974 Italian film Scent of a Woman, it mirrors the culture of Italy during such period. It was also very effective in entertaining and educating viewers, being an awardee of Golden Globe Awards.
The cinematography was very remarkable - with the correct placement and movement of the camera, the lighting that seems to be always sunny yet exuding this “nostalgic” feeling, and the classic color, it may seem to the viewer that he is actually part of the story. The clothing of the characters was effective in showing what kind of roles they portray. The pace of the story was neither fast nor slow – it was dramatic, and a bit poetic in a way that you have to comprehend their actions. The twist of events was unexpected, intensifying the feeling of suspense among the viewers.
The interplay of the two opposite characters was also very remarkable. Both portrayals were very realistic, and the conflict only appears as you go along – you can’t just make a wild guess because of the sudden twist of events.
Charlie, an unprivileged hardworking student who won a scholarship in a private school, scans the bulletin board in one of the institution's hallways one day, sees a job and knew he needed it. Next thing he knew, he was being ill-manneredly spoken to by the apparently blind and retired kernel named Frank. Charlie realizes he doesn't want the job but then he pitied the begging kernel's family who were badly in need of a vacation...big problem, nobody's going to look after the grumpy blind man. And so he took the job.
What Charlie didn't see coming is that they're flying to New York City on his first day of work, and take note, first class. Also, staying in a five-star hotel, and eating in a restaurant serving $24 hamburger never crossed his mind. Not to mention, being driven by a limo in a city where bicycle is but a word.
Eventually, Charlie learns about the bitterness of Frank. Although he speaks ill-manneredly, Charlie believed he isn't at all a bad man.
Frank never ran out of words of wisdom hidden beneath his shitty language. He also seems to have never run out of passion for women, his profession, and life. As a matter of fact, he even taught a completely beautiful stranger how to tango.
Everything was fine, and relationship between the two characters is getting deeper everyday. That is until unexpected events occur and a twist of characters emerges.
"You screwed up, so what?" Charlie said. "Everybody does."
P.S. I Love You
By Jessica Bajet
Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) is beautiful, smart and married to the love of her life- a passionate, funny and impetuous Irishman named Gerry (Gerard Butler). So when Gerry’s life was taken by an illness, it takes the life out of Holly. The only one who can help her is the only one who is no longer there. Nobody knows holly better than Gerry. So it’s a good thing he planned ahead.
Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her, no only through her grief but in rediscovering herself. Te first message arrives on Holly’s 30th birthday in the form of a cake and, to her utter shock, a tape recording from Gerry, who proceeds to order her to get out and “celebrate herself.” In the weeks and months that follow, more letters from Gerry are delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off the same way: p.s. I love you.
Holly’s mother (Kathy Bates) and best friends, Denise (Lisa Kudrow) and Sharon (Gina Gershon), begin to worry that Gerry’s letters are keeping Holly tied to the past, but in fact, each letter is pushing her further into a new future.
With Gerry’s words as her guide, Holly embarks on a touching, exciting and often hilarious journey of rediscovery in a story about marriage, friendship, and how a love so strong can turn the finality of death into a new beginning for life.
On the 26th of December 2007, Warner Brothers Cinema released a romantic comedy film starring Million dollar baby star Hillary Swank and 300 star Gerard Butler. The film was directed by Richard LaGravenese.
As the elements of film are concerned, P.S. I love you was able to capture the captivating approach of film fundamentals. Its story focuses on a certain subject treated romantically and gives importance to past and future depiction of the events. The well-weaved plot and script helped the story to accomplish coherence.
The film’s overall pace and rhythm must be credited to Richard LaGravenese, the director. His collaboration with the rest of the film designers achieved an appropriate and interesting visualization of the plot plus the very romantic soundtrack which added to the surprisingly no-expense-spared package of the film.
We movie-goers pre-test our taste buds by taking a closer look on trailers or posters advertising the next picture. We get captivated by photos and captured clips which are all the subject being taken cared of by cinematographers. The photo itself of P.S I love you poster melted down the hearts of the young and those who are in dire inspiration for love: with the concoction of the naturalness of romantic performance of the lead actors, the film had been of great success.
The share of romantic juices on depicting the actor’s oneness in their characters, heartfelt script lines, and close to reality highlights of the film paved its way to success.
