Life is a Canvas

my early morning visitor with my unfinished painting at the background…

I woke up at seven in the morning today.  As usual I have to do my early morning ritual before taking my breakfast- a short thanksgiving prayer for the new day and for the new life. Praised be to God! I’m still alive.  To wake up in the morning is already a miracle.  We don’t know what happens next.  Michael Jackson died at 50.  And Charice Pepengco’s showdown with the King of Pop will never be realized.  It would have been a chance for the pop icon to pay his debts and for the Filipino singer to go to the next level of fame after her appearances in Oprah and Celine Dion’s concert.  These were the thoughts that wandered in my mind the night before my tired body gave me signals to rest.

Today is a new day; a new beginning.  Time to move on and finish everything I started.  I don’t wanna die with so many unfinished works.  My canvas is still dull.  I have been working on this subject for weeks but couldn’t put the final form and color on it.  If writers have experienced “writer’s block” maybe I am experiencing a “painter’s or artist’s block”.  Whatever you call it, I am struggling to finish my “St. Francis of Assisi”.  I know there’s something lacking on my composition but couldn’t figure it out.  Mother Teresa and St. Francis are my heroes.  I am done with “Mother Teresa” and I am satisfied with the result.  But “St. Francis” really gave me a headache.  I want my work to depict my subject as accurately as possible.  St. Francis of Assisi is the Catholic Church’s Patron Saint of Ecology.  A man of faith who has a profound love for God’s creatures-big and small.  He lived in utmost simplicity yet created an extraordinary impact to humankind.  Who has forgotten his famous lines: “Brother Sun, Sister Moon“? and his prayer of peace:

“Lord, make me an Instrument of your Peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not

So much seek to be consoled, as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

To top of it all, St. Francis is known to have been blessed with an extraordinary gift.  He could communicate to birds and other untamed animals.  His simplicity, faith, prayerfulness, love of God and nature are the things I’d like to portray in my canvas.  For days, I have been staring on my canvas thinking of some elements to add in the composition.  And this early morning, while still sitting on my bed, my eyes were fixated on my unfinished painting.  Suddenly, I noticed a “colorful thing” at the leg of the old wooden chair in front of my canvas.  I moved towards it and my heart rejoiced to see the strange visitor.  “Good, morning! Welcome to my room!”, said I to the lovely butterfly who had just got out from its shelter.  For days that I have been sitting on this chair, I never imagined that a worm would, one day, crawl into my room and found its refuge into the same old wooden chair I used while painting.  The newly opened cocoon was still there and the young butterfly remained in its position probably still too weak to explore the world.  As I watched the marvelous little creature, questions beclouded my curious mind:

“How did the catterpillar get into my room?”

“There are many houses on our street and five rooms in our house.  Why did the larva pick my room?”

“Among the many things inside my room, why did this larva choose the chair in front of my canvas as its refuge?”

“Does St. Francis want me to include this beautiful insect in my unfinished painting?”

“Is this a coincidence or a miracle?”

After hours of taking pictures and staring at the wonderful creature, it started to move slowly.  Then flapped its beautiful wings and flew out of my room.  “Wait a minute, can I take a last shot?” I said, trying to stop the lovely butterfly but it didn’t work.  The insect had gained its strength and was already excited to see the world.

The occurrence gave me the idea of making my unfinished work simple yet colorful like the lovely butterfly.  And whether it’s a miracle or not, I don’t want to forget this experience because it’s likely that I’ll never have again. 

My friend is worried. His credit card is eating him whole. The reason: expensive gifts and dates for his sweetheart. I bet many of us were into this situation before. Guys who love to show off just to impress their loved ones. But I learned my lessons. Expensive gifts and dates are not everything. While money is important, it should not keep you and your partner from taking a romantic time together. Whether you have just found your dream partner or you have been together for a century, I’d like to share these tips on how to keep that flame burning without emptying your pockets.

Think of something wonderful yet cost-efficient gifts. Showering her with expensive jewelries and treating her to classy restaurants in the first few months of your relationship would surely give you a headache (unless you are as rich as Warren Buffett or Bill Gates). It would be difficult to keep up once your lady is used to this experiences.

Rent a DVD of a recent movie that you missed seeing in the theater. Buy some fried chicken or a pizza and veg out in front of the TV.

On special occasions, customized gifts are great! You don’t have to be a Michelangelo in order to give her an amazing gift you’ve made. Cards are the things of the past. How about giving her a mix of songs she loves and burn it on a CD? You can also put her picture and your greetings on the label. It’s personal, luxurious and functional!

When was the last time you have visited a zoo or a historical park? Pack a basket of canned drinks and junk food and head off to where you can stroll amidst the chimps and historical memorabilia.

Find a home development near you and go to their open house. Usually, they have fully furnished model units that you can explore. Fantasize about how your future home will look!

Go to a five-star hotel and ask to be toured in the bridal suite. Then find a comfy seat in the lobby and order coffee or tea. Most hotel lobbies have live music in the evening.

First it was the Spaniards , followed by the Japanese, and the Americans. They all colonized this beautiful Pearl of the Orient Seas-the Philippines! To all Filipinos around the world, Happy Independence Day!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

When artists gather to discuss matters pertaining to the arts, expect a spectrum of ideas from different angles to emerge. This, I always observe every time I join an art-related meeting. Yesterday was a classic example. Artists from various disciplines met to discuss about a certain project. A representative from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts facilitated the said gathering. The meeting started with a prayer followed by a brief introduction about Art in Mindanao by Mr. Cris Rollo, NCCA’s representative. He stressed the importance of collective effort in order to enliven the local art scene and the artists’ role in their community. He also mentioned about issues that seemed to be overlooked by Mindanao artists. Issues about Peace and why Davao Art seems to be different from Manila or Cebu in terms of distinctiveness. With this, a senior visual artist suggested that Mindanao artists should agree to create only artworks that have a touch of Mindanao. In short, produce artworks that bear the unique characteristic of the region.

Their points created a stream of opinions from the listeners. I, myself, shared my own view as an artist and as a resident of Davao for more than a decade. Because Davao is the only city in Mindanao that has Fine Arts Schools and the center of trade and commerce in the region, Davao Art becomes the point of scrutiny when you talk about art in Mindanao as a whole. As to the observation why Davao artists seem to evade the “peace” issue in their artworks, I think it is because Davao City is relatively peaceful despite the unsolved killings of suspected drug-pushers and other law-breakers in the city. I know a lot of human rights advocates out there would not agree with me on this. But this is another debatable and hot issue that I don’t want to elaborate more on this post. Maybe someday.

As to the suggestion that Mindanao artists should only create artworks that have Mindanao touch is a dangerous proposition, I may say. It is only good for those who have “regionalistic” mindset. Art is infinite. It has no boundaries. It is free-flowing and reflects its creator’s soul. A fine work of art breaks the usual barriers such as race, gender, religion or political affiliations (like the controversial Nude Statue in Davao City). So why limit it to regional concept and style? I would certainly join in art collaboration for a positive cause or goal but to limit my art-making in a regional scope would make me stagnant. Gone are the days when you would visit Davao galleries and being greeted with the usual paintings with cliché regional topics such as the Philippine Eagle, Flowers, Mt. Apo and the lonely faces of Ethnic Tribes. Even my student who belongs to an indigenous tribe surprised me one day when he showed me his studies for his thesis. Just like the many artists who came from far-flung and depressed areas, I was expecting him to present the conservative approach, topic, and the usual ethnic lines and shapes in presenting his ideas. But I was wrong. When asked, he simply said: “I’m tired and sick of those repetitions I see around. I want something new, something fresh and unusual.”

The world is getting smaller and Davao Art… to go regional or global?

“You paint not what you see but what you want is there.”- Pablo Picasso

Class: Insecta.  Order: Coleoptera.  Family: Lampyridae.  Life span: About one to three weeks.  Its common name: Firefly.  They are actually beetles, not flies.  Also known as lightning bug. According to ENCARTA, offspring females lay eggs that hatch into larvae, metamorphose into pupae which grow into adults.  Fireflies are winged nocturnal beetles.  The size up to 2.5 centimeter in length only.  They eat at night.  Immature fireflies or larvae consume snails and worms (got no way of knowing how they do it).  Most adult fireflies, however, eat only, pollen or nectar or do not eat at all. What a diet! Their unique characteristic is that, they produce intermittent light from luminescent chemicals in its abdominal organs.  This chemical is called luciferin.  Firefly flashes when oxygen, breathed in through the abdominal tracheae, is allowed to combine with luciferin under the catalytic effect of the enzyme luciferase.  This reaction creates light with almost no energy lost as heat.  Some species can generate both green and red light.  Male fireflies attract females by sending out specific flash patterns of light.

I wish I have this unique characteristic of fireflies. Imagine Michael sending out his own flashes of light while ten or twenty gorgeous and sexy ladies flirting around him.:-)  Dream on, you’ll say.

Taking a documentary work in a remote island of Surigao del Sur, got this wonderful encounter with God’s amazing creatures one cold summer night.  “There’s a wellspring over there, just a few meters away”, said Manang Inday, mother of Jun, our guide. “Few meters away” means quite a walk for city dwellers.  I knew it. Been taking documentaries in far-flung areas before.  I knew how countryside folks measure distance.

Flashlight was nowhere to be found so I got my cellphone instead to light my way to the wellspring.  The silence was deafening.  Crickets and other night creepy-creatures conversation ricochet around.  Worn-out over the whole day work, I wanted to take a rest but my body commanded me to take a fresh bath to get rid of such a sticky feeling.  As I walked, I remember how the mother and son tried to accompany me to the wellspring but I refused.  I thought it was too much.  In a remote island like this, everyone is so kind and hospitable. And so is nature.  The coconut trees swayed their leaves like a multitude of people waving their hands to their handsome guest.

After few minutes, I reached my destination. I took off everything I wear and let the cold water refresh my whole body. “SPLAAAASSSSHH!!! Whew! I love it!” said I to me.

My evening ritual was over.  I was own my way back to Manang Inday’s hut when I saw tiny flashes of light flying around.  In just few seconds, formed a breathtaking rhythm of lights as they multiplied their numbers.  Enchanted, I sat on a rock beneath a tree and watched them flickering as they fly around.  The sight put me in wonderland for a while forgetting my real state. Couldn’t explain the joy staring at the boisterous tiny winged creatures as they swirled around me.  I envied them.  They seemed to be stress and problem-free.  When was the last time I saw these amazing creatures?  Twenty years?  Maybe.

Fireflies are usually seen in shaded areas.  They were plenty in our province before.  But they are gone now.  People cut down the trees in our place, destroying their habitat.  As a kid, I used to wonder about these unique beetles.  Where they came from? How and why they were able to send flashes of light.  Nobody cared to deal with my curiosity, anyway.  Guess they didn’t have any idea too.

Fireflies know not about the complexities of life. They don’t examine their lives as we do.  They just fly and flicker in the night.  They are in harmony with nature.  They live a simple life yet full of wonders.  Beautiful.  Amazing.  Inspiring.  Unfortunately, they are very fragile and have a very short life span.  As I watched them, questions flashed in my mind:

Why is life so short?  Why do some good things never last for long?

I sat there still and I pondered. Not minding the mosquitoes that took advantage of the situation as I took pleasure observing the fireflies.

They just kept on flying and flickering, and sending out flashes of light-  some red, some green, some white, some yellow.

And they never know why…

Living Art Festival is a series of art exhibition that aims to celebrate ocean month with a thematic focus on creative diversity-bridging the islands, bonding with the oceans.  Artists from different groups participated in the said event.  The show is sponsored by the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA), Department of Tourism Region II, and the Save Davao Gulf Foundation. Living Art Festival runs until May 24, 2009 at Museo Dabawenyo, Davao City.

me and my entry entitled “Summer Day in Samal Island”

a busy week..

After the impressive victory of Manny Pacquiao over Ricky Hatton, another disgusting issue that goes with Pacman’s latest fight is Martin Nievera’s rendition of the Philippine National Anthem. For years of following Manny Pacquiao fights, I’ve seen a lot of Filipino singers do their own way of singing the Philippine National Anthem.  To be honest, I’m tired and sick of these performers distorting the national anthem.  Why change the tune?

The morning news on TV showed the Head of the Philippine Historical Institute explaining about the correct and proper way of singing the national hymn.  I was shocked, however, to hear the promising young broadcaster praised Martin Nievera’s rendition of the song despite the explanation of PHI head how Martin Nievera diverted from the original tune.  He did it like a “chopsuey”.  The only thing correct is the middle part.  The intro and the last part diverted from the original musical arrangement of Julian Felipe.

In a phone interview, Nievera pretended to be surprised why his attention was called by the Philippine Historical Institute.   He even refused to apologize because for him, he did it well and no less than Manny Pacquiao requested him to sing the national hymn.  Well, what can you expect from a bigheaded performer like Martin Nievera?  While he is no doubt, one of the best singers in the country, that does not give him the authority to sing the song the way he likes.  The Philippine law prohibits this (Republic Act 8491).  The national anthem represents the nation and the whole Filipino people and should be sung appropriately.  I don’t think he and the other Filipino singers who had been given the opportunity to sing the national hymn didn’t know the exact tune of the song.  If they really don’t know, shame on them!

Nievera and other Filipino artists must have used the so-called “creative licence” just as they did in some familiar old songs.  They did it to be noticed.  To be different.  To show their own style and taste.  But is it applicable all the time? Are we also allowed to make any version of the Philippine Flag as long as we put the three stars and a sun on it and display it publicly, or present this new version along with the flags of the world?  The answer is obvious.  Just as in every rule there is always an exception.

The most awaited fight of the year dubbed as “The Battle of the East and West” finally come into conclusion.  The Hitman from Manchester fell into the floor three times trying to weather the storm created by Pacman.  It was an easy fight for the Filipino Hall of Famer and World’s Best Pound for Pound Fighter. Manny Pacquiao started with a right hook and ended the fight with his deadly left hook.  The Englishman was surprised, shocked, and speechless in just two rounds.  I waited for Ricky Hatton’s words after the fight but he and his camp didn’t  say any word.  Maybe they were ashamed to say anything after the embarrassing defeat.

Before the fight, Ricky Hatton’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather, Sr. and the old Dundee talked too much. They even belittled Pacquiao’s coaching staff and gave their exaggerated predictions in favor of the Hitman.  Undoubtedly, they miscalculated and underestimated Freddie Roach coaching ability and Manny Pacquiao’s speed, power, and flexibility on the ring. Mayweather’s game plan was so clear: to freeze Pacquiao on the corner by all means (even with dirty tactics) and bombard him with power punches. But Pacquiao could easily adjust and give his opponent a dose of his own medicine.  The result: a semi-unconscious Hatton flat on the floor.

Too much has been said but in sports like boxing the old adage still holds true-action speaks louder than words.

Now, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., Angelo Dundee, and so-called boxing “experts” who quacked against Pacquaio before the said fight, ready to eat your words?