Portrait of the Filipina as herself
http://news.inq7.net/lifestyle/index.php?index=2&story_id=76539
By Augusto Villalon
Inquirer
ON MOTHER’S DAY LAST week, it was very appropriate—and a wonderful surprise—to discover the “Filipina” exhibition at Rockwell’s Power Plant Mall. Originally launched in February 2006 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the exhibit is back in public for a limited time.
The photo exhibition is the perfect tribute to Filipinas and their contribution to nation-building.
Two women are responsible for the exhibition: Deanna Ongpin-Recto as curator and Isa Lorenzo as photographer.
The stunning tribute to the Filipino woman is a collection of large-sized portraits of 30 outstanding Filipinas. The powerful images portray the exceptional qualities of each subject that qualify her as an important role model for other Filipinas.
Among the achievers are Corazon Aquino, Estefania Aldaba Lim, Daisy Hontiveros Avellana, Virginia Oteyza de Guia, Nena del Rosario Villanueva, Lourdes Reyes Montinola, Maria Isabel Ongpin, Sr. Fidela Maamo, Fe and Honorata Muyot, Gloria Romero, Armida Ponce-Enrile Siguion-Reyna and Haydee Yora—women who represent the arts, education, social work, civil society, politics.
Photographed in the 1940-1950s classic studio-photography style, figures appear in black and white against a uniform white backdrop. Individual personalities are revealed as faces starkly stand out, minus elaborate costumes or props. The portraits bring out humanity and warmth usually not seen in the subjects’ public personas.
“All my life, I have been fascinated by the Filipina, how she holds power within our societal system, how they manage this power by quietly taking pivotal roles, and how they use this power to eventually come into their own,” says Lorenzo.
She continues, “The result of their individual journeys is what I am interested in: strong, timeless Filipinas with a humanity that transcends history and legacy.”
Pintahan at Musikahan sa Reposo
On May 26-28, Grupo Reposo members once again fete their Makati street which has gained the reputation for being the location of Manila’s best furniture and craft shops, art galleries and restaurants anchored around the LRI Building and the Alliance Française.
The annual festival kicks off on May 26 with 30 visual artists leading groups to paint murals on the walls along the street.
On May 27, the festival is in full swing. On the closed street (from Jupiter to Kalayaan Avenue) will be an outdoor street fair, an arts-and-crafts bazaar, where mimes will roam the street, and where a carousel will be set up.
Go to the activity tent where artists will be available to sketch portraits for a fee and demonstrations in theater and dance will be held.
At the LRI Building Pavilion will be a lecture series on the environment, arts and heritage given by experts. In the evenings of May 27-28 will be concerts of classical, ethnic, modern Filipino jazz, a capella choirs and local bands.
This is one of the few street festivals in Manila that celebrate neighborhood pride, a fitting way to end the summer for city residents looking to renew their bond to the city.
Heritage watch
Driving through Villasis, Pangasinan, last week, we noticed that the heritage Villasis municipio had been torn down. A new construction was underway to replace it. Would there have been a way to either save the old building or incorporate it into the new structure somehow? With the replacement of the old municipio, a major part of Villasis history has vanished.
E-mail the author at pride.place@gmail.com
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