| Peso Rate | Weather | Philippines Time |
 |
Intersections Representations And Exoticism
- Hits: 5550
- Category: Culture And Arts
Reconfiguring the Historiography of Philippine Art Deco Architectures (By Edson Cabalfin)
Much has been written about the origins, development and forms of Art Deco architecture in Europe and America, though much has still to be researched on the development of Art Deco outside Europe. This paper considers the development of Art Deco architecture outside Europe and America as having "discourses" of its own, by which we mean having their own issues, themes and dynamics situated within a distinctive political, cultural and social context (Edgar and Sedgwick 1999, 116-119).
Following the recent developments in theorizing architectural historiography, postcolonial theory informs the understanding of history by a heightened awareness of the inherent politics within architecture (Bozdogan 1999, 207). Architecture is understood here as a socio-cultural phenomenon rather than as a static and inert "object" that can be studied only in terms of its formalistic characteristics. Art deco may be then understood as a site of power relations through which a continual dynamics of domination and subjugation, inclusion and exclusion as well as resistance and empowerment are being played out.
Disinterring Philippine Art And Culture
- Hits: 2988
- Category: Culture And Arts
(By Bienvenido Lumbera)
Manila has always been the city to which Filipino artists are ever loyal, for its history is the history of the Filipino people itself. In its dim beginnings it was the Muslim settlement that Spanish conquistadors, spreading out from Cebu, made their base for colonizing the whole Luzon. Later it was the port where galleons stocked with treasured Oriental goods started their long voyage to Acapulco in Mexico. By then it had emerged as the capital city from which Church and State made their combined will prevail over all the islands that had been claimed for the Spanish Crown. Late in the nineteenth century, Manila was the site of Bagumbayan where Spain executed an accomplished young native who had dared to dream of equality and justice, imbuing his countrymen through his essays, poems and two novels, with his vision of a people standing proudly among the free peoples of Europe. And it was also here that the Revolution, led by a fiery youth of plebeian birth, finally asserted the right of Filipinos to rule themselves and chart their own destiny as a Republic, the first in Asia to break away from colonizers.
The United States, after the Treaty of Paris had ignobly delivered the Republic into its hands, further strengthened Manila's position as primate city from which power and wealth radiated to the rest of the archipelago. Manila was established as the seat of government. Education, finance, trading and industry, the Center to which everybody seeking power and influence turned to be able to participate in "national development." Thus, it was inevitable that the arts in the Center would provide the examples that would-be artists in the rest of the country would try to emulate. At the Center, artists were in direct touch with new directions and developments coming from the West, and they proved to be most adept at keeping up with foreign artists in following trends and adapting what was then touted as international standards. Up until the latter part of the second half of the 20th century, standards of excellence and relevance in artistic creativity were set by Manila.
Pagsulong Sa Ortograpiyang Filipino
- Hits: 33789
- Category: Culture And Arts
Bilang Salamin ng Kasaysayan at Kulturang Pambansa (By Mario I. Miclat Ph.D.)
May sariling katangian, na hiwalay sa pag-unlad ng kultura, ang wika. Samot-sari ang pagkikilanlan ng kultura ng isang bayan-ang kaisipan, kaugalian, kasanayan, at sining ng sambayanan-mga katangiang nilinang sa mahabang panahon. Bagaman sinasalamin, inaagapayanan, o tinutuhog pa nga at pinag-uugnay-ugnay ng wika ang iba't ibang salik ng kalinangan, may sinusunod itong sariling batas ng pag-unlad. Halimbawa, anuman ang maging katangian ng lipunang Filipino-mala-komyunal sa panahon ng mga baranggay; may mahigpit na herarkiya sa panahon ng kolonyalismong Espanyol, Amerikano at Hapon; o ultra-demokratiko sa kasalukuyang panahon-naroroon at naroroon pa rin ang katangian ng mga panlaping "mag," "um," "in," at "an."
Kaya nga ba may hiwalay na larang ng pag-aaral tungkol sa wika, ang lingguwistika. Maraming aspekto ang gawang pag-unawa, pagpapayaman, at siyentipikasyon ng wika. Una, ang pagsasatitik nito mula sa basta sinasalita patungong isinusulat na simbolo ng komunikasyon. Ikalawa, ang kodipikasyon nito sa mapanghahawakan kahima't hindi mahigpit na gramatika-mula sa pagbibigay kahulugan sa mga pinakamalilit na morpema, panlapi at mga salita, pati pagbusisi sa iba't ibang paraan ng pagbubuo ng kahulugan ng mas malalaki nitong bahagi (tinatawag na semantika); hanggang sa pagbubuo ng mga parirala at pangungusap (na sintaktika naman ang tawag); o pag-aaral sa mga morpema at sa komposisyon ng mga ito (morpolohiya); pag-aaral ng mga espesipikong tunog at mga kombinasyon nito (ponolohiya); o ang katanggap-tanggap na sistema ng pagsulat (ortograpiya). At ikatlo, ang paggamit dito sa iba't ibang larangan ng kaalaman at disiplinang akademiko tulad ng siyensiya, teknolohiya, matematika, batas, pilosopiya, teolohiya, politika, at humanidades.
Philippine Architecture Then And Now
- Hits: 6031
- Category: Culture And Arts
(By Augusto Villalon)
The Filipinas Heritage Library recently organized the photography competition "Noon at Ngayon" (Then and Now) on the evolution of Philippine architecture.
Each entry served as a historical witness that compared past and existing conditions of architectural landmarks in the country.
The former Manila Electric Company generating plant located in what was suburban Makati totally gave way to the new Power Plant Mall. All traces of the old plant were replaced with the bland architecture of what today is one of the most luxurious malls in Manila.
Juan Arellano, one of the founding fathers of architecture in the Philippines, completed the Manila Post Office in 1926. The structure was heavily bombed by American shelling against the Japanese during the "Liberation" of Manila in 1945. The structure was completely rebuilt after World War II.
An Open Letter To The Members Of The Manila
- Hits: 6364
- Category: Culture And Arts
(By Carla M. Pacis)
This year's National Book Awards has once again been a major disappointment for those of us involved in the creation of children's and young adult books. This year, the members of the Manila Critics Circle have proven that the desire to encourage, support and uplift writing for children and young adults is not enough if it is not accompanied by a true understanding and appreciation of the unique requirements and structures of one of the largest sectors of the international book industry. Children's and Young Adult literature is not to be treated dismissively or cavalierly as a kid brother or sister. It requires the same due diligence true judges give to any creative or intellectual work.
The winner for the Children's Book category was Sabrina's Cookbook Diary which was published in 2002 and therefore should have won in 2003. However, according to the critics, they had overlooked this book. (Last year, the Manila Critics Circle did not deem any of children's book published in 2002 worthy of an award. Only two, Carancal by Rene Villanueva and Og Uhog by Christine Bellen were nominated out of more than twenty books published that year.) They went on to say, that of the children's books published last year, none deserved to even be nominated. To add insult to injury, they said that maybe this was a sign that the industry needed to improve.