Call for Papers to the 6th Asian Translation Traditions Conference

Asia has been the site of the migration of peoples, texts, and cultures since pre-modern times. These flows have came largely from the “mother” civilizations of the Arabic, Indian, and Chinese peoples and, in the modern and the transmaritime periods, from the West. Yet the movements have also come from “within.” Intra-regionally, people and texts have navigated on the borderless seascapes of Asia; and within borders, especially in Southeast Asia, center and periphery have been defined in terms of river and hill cultures. In recent times, flows have been transmedial. The paradox of Asia, as of other regions, is that it is both bordered and borderless. It is, but it is not still. It is a reality in translation.

Given this context, the conference focuses on the translation of texts (but also their mistranslations or untranslatability, Rafael 2013), the migrations and diffusions of texts, and the discourses on translation and translational exchange in Asia. It will include “real” translations between discrete cultures and different semiotic systems (as classified by Roman Jacobson in 1959), but its larger rubric is cultural translation, in the sense that Clifford (1986, 1988) used it, encompassing the development of multiple and multilayered identities in the crossing or transgressing of borders in both physical and conceptual spaces.

The rationale for the ATT series is to challenge the Eurocentric emphasis of Translation Studies, which is largely due to the “unavailability of reliable data and systematic analysis of translation activities in non-European cultures” (Hung and Wakabayashi 2005). The ATT series was initiated by Professor Eva Hung of Hong Kong in 2002. A small but successful workshop was held in London that same year, followed by well-attended international conferences in India, Turkey, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. It is hoped that ATT6 will lead to theorizing on translation and developing methodologies on translation arising from the specific historical and contemporary contexts of Asia.

Topics for Papers
These could include, but need not be limited, to the topics below:
Migration as translation; translation as migration
Texts and translations on or by Overseas Contract Workers
Representations/Translations of Asian cultures
Inter- and intra-regional (dis)connections within Asia
Religion and translation
East-West interactions
South Asian connections/diffusions
Southeast Asian connections/diffusions
East Asian connections/diffusions
West Asian connections/diffusions
Arabic connections/diffusions
Translating indigenous cultures
Oralities and translation
Translation and vernacular cultures
Transmodal crossings/transgressions
Translation and creative writing
Translation and performativity
Translation and ritual
Translation and publishing
Pedagogy and translation
Travel and translation
Translation/transglossia
Gender (in)translation
Translation and popular culture, e.g. telenovelas, pop music.

Length of Papers

20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for discussion

Submission of Abstracts

Please e-mail abstracts in English of no more than 250 words to Aileen O. Salonga at asiantranslation6@up.edu.ph on or before April 30, 2014. Abstracts should be in Word format and should be sent as an attachment. The following information should be included in the body of your email:
author’s full name
author’s e-mail address and postal address
institutional affiliation and address
phone number (home); phone number (office)

Participants will have the option to submit a second version of their abstract in a language other than English. The presentation itself will be in English, but both versions of the abstract will appear in the collection of abstracts distributed to participants.

Abstracts will be reviewed jointly by the Organizing Committee at the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Steering Committee of the Asian Translation Traditions Conference Series.

Notification of Acceptance of Abstracts

Authors will be notified of the acceptance of their abstracts on or before May 31, 2014

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49th Anniversary Sale at UP Press

The University of the Philippines Press (UP Press) will be holding a month-long sale in celebration of its 49th founding anniversary. All UP Press titles, including bestsellers and new releases, will be sold at a 20 percent discount. Consigned titles from various university presses and publishers will also be sold at a 5 percent discount. The book sale will run from March 03 to 31, 2014.

The UP Press Bookstore is open to the public and has a main branch in UP Diliman. The main branch is open from Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The other branches are in UP Cebu, UP Baguio, and UP Mindanao.

For inquiries, please call the UP Press Bookstore (UP Diliman) at +63 (2) 928 4391 local 112 or the UP Press Marketing office at +63 (2) 926 6642. You may also like “University of the Philippines Press” on Facebook for details.

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National Rondalla Workshop at the Cultural Center of the Philippines

The Cultural Center of the Philippines announces that it shall be holding the CCP National Rondalla Workshop on April 8-12, 2014 (Tuesday to Saturday) from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at various venues of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Workshop is open to rondalla groups all over the country who have been in existence for at least two (2) years and who wish to further hone their skills in rondalla technique and performance.

The workshop modules include sectional rehearsals per rondalla instrument, note reading sessions, individual rondalla ensemble cliniquing sessions, conducting sessions for conductors, and plenary sessions wherein all the participants gather together to learn a common piece.

Rondalla ensembles who have the complete rondalla instruments which include the banduria, octavina/laud, guitar and bass may apply for the Workshop. A minimum of six participants will be accepted for the Workshop. This will culminate in a performance at the Tangahalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 4:00 PM.

For more information, please contact the CCP Artist Training Division at 832-1125 loc. 1604/1605 or email ccp.artist.training@gmail.com

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Cinemalaya 2014 Now Accepting Entries for the Short Feature Category

Entries to the Short Feature Category of the 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition are now being accepted.

Interested participants must submit the following materials on or before February 28, 2014, Friday, 6:00 pm to the Media Arts Division of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Roxas Blvd., Pasay City:

The final work in DVD format, labeled with the title, production company address and contact numbers, production date, director’s name and running time

The duly completed application form
Synopsis in Filipino or English
A brief résumé/biodata and two recent 2×2 photos of the filmmaker(s).

All entries must be submitted in a long brown envelope properly labelled with proponent’s name, title and contact details.

The 10 best short features will be announced on April 8, 2014. The 10 short feature films will be screened during the 2014 Cinemalaya Festival from August 1 – 10 at the CCP and other festival venues chosen by Cinemalaya. The best short feature will receive a prize of P100,000.00 and the Balanghai trophy during the Cinemalaya Awards Night on August 10, 2014 at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

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Launch of Bato-Balani Publication

Ten years after Rodel Tapaya’s first solo exhibition, 2014 becomes a celebration of his artistic career thus far. “Bato-balani”, his ongoing exhibition at the Ateneo Art Gallery features his latest visual explorations on folk narratives and the enigmatic power that emanates from the local anting-anting.

The Ateneo Art Gallery is launching the exhibition catalogue this coming Saturday, 22 February 2014, 4:30 PM at Art Fair Philippines, Booth C, 6th floor of The Link, Parkway Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City. Featuring the essays of Dr. Alice G. Guillermo, Dr. Fernando Zialcita and Heinz-Norbert Jocks, it includes a catalogue of the artworks featured in the Ateneo Art Gallery show. The publication was made possible through the generous assistance of ARNDT.

“Bato-balani”, the exhibition runs until 30 April, 2014 at the Temporary Exhibitions Wing, Ateneo Art Gallery.

Educational guides for grade school, high school and college students are available for download from the museum website ateneoartgallery.org.

Museum hours are: Monday– Friday 8AM– 7.30PM; Saturday 8AM– 6PM. Closed on Sundays and holidays. For more information, please contact Thea Garing, Exhibitions Coordinator at +632 426-6488 or via email at dgaring@ateneo.edu

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PCW Launches Film Making Contest for 2014 Women’s Month

College students across the country may now get the chance to showcase their artistry and creativity as the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) launched a film making contest in line with the upcoming Women's Month Celebration.

The short film-making contest, which runs from January 10 to February 21, aims to raise public awareness on women's issues, particularly the vital role of women in disaster response, media, peace building, politics and governance, and reproductive health.

Entries must depict current issues and challenges being faced by women in the aforementioned categories and must highlight the rights and roles of women in responding to these issues as provided under the Magna Carta of Women (R.A. 9710).

Interested teams may join in all five categories.

Video entries must be all original and should have not been previously published, recorded or released.

For the complete contest mechanics, you may visit PCW website (http://bit.ly/1dLhK64).

Should you have questions regarding the contest, you may contact Information Resource Management Division (IRMD) at 735-1654 local 131or 735-8509 or email irmd@pcw.gov.ph. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/philippine.commissiononwomen.

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Contemporary Art Tours with Art Fair Philippines 2014

The Museum Foundation of the Philippines Inc. teams up with Art Fair Philippines 2014 to broaden your exposure to Philippine contemporary art! A selection of daily tours, expertly managed and conducted by specialists, will run for the duration of the fair.

Daily, 20 to 23 February 2014
A Closer Look at Art Fair Philippines 2014

Walk through two levels of the fair with curator Lian Ladia, founder of the online art platform Planting Rice. A great way to deepen your appreciation for what our participating galleries have on view, and to get to know the different artists making their mark today.

When: Daily, 20 to 23 February 2014
Time: 10:15 am
Meeting point: Reception Desk, Art Fair Philippines 2014
Fee: Free

20 February 2014
In City and Country, Elmer Borlongan, 1992-2002 at The Ayala Museum

Take a guided tour of Ayala Museum’s blockbuster exhibit, mounted to coincide with Art Fair Philippines 2014.

In City and Country, Elmer Borlongan, 1992-2002 reviews the body of work of an artist seen as visual expressions of the fin de siècle anxieties of Philippine society. His paintings, regarded as both social realism and figurative expressionism, depict the relationship of the contemporary Filipino with his environment, from city to country. Over 40 paintings display portraits of survival and endurance.

When: Thursday, 20 February 2014
Time: 3:00 pm, Ticket/ Information desk, Ayala Museum lobby
Fee: Discounted museum entrance fee of PhP 125.00 upon presentation of your Art Fair Philippines 2014 ticket

21 February 2014
Due North: A Contemporary Art Tour of the Lopez Memorial Museum, Ateneo Art Gallery, and the Jorge B. Vargas Museum

The tour takes you through three of the most intrepid museums for contemporary art. The Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Ateneo Art Gallery are located inside the Quezon City campuses of two of our country’s top universities. At the Lopez Museum and Library, view how works by emerging artists interact with the museum’s extensive collection of art, historical documents, and memorabilia. Curator and conservator Ricky Francisco accompanies the group.

When: Friday, 21 February 2014
Meeting time: 9:00 am at The Raffles hotel lobby
Price: PhP 1, 500.00 (inclusive of transportation, museum entrance fees, and a sandwich meal)

9:30am Departure for the Lopez Museum to view Complicated, an exhibit featuring artists Leslie de Chavez, Mike Adrao, and Ea Torrado juxtaposed against works by Juan Luna, Felix Resureccion Hidalgo, BenCab and J. Elizalde Navarro

10:45am Proceed to the Ateneo Art Gallery for Bato Balani, the latest in a series of large-scale paintings, narratives on Filipino legends and myths, by Rodel Tapaya

12:15pm Continue to the Jorge B. Vargas Museum for a sandwich lunch in the museum’s terrace café and a guided tour of their current exhibits, Philippine Macho Academy by Eisa Jocson, A Fish Tale by Daniel dela Cruz, and the Vargas Permanent Collection

3:30pm ETA Makati City, at Art Fair Philippines 2014

22 February 2014
A Capital Idea: Contemporary Art in our capital city’s museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and the Cultural Center of the Philippines

Allow Rica Estrada of the Cultural Center of Philippines to bring you to the Metropolitan Museum of Manila for a taste for Philippine art overt the past century. The exhibit The Philippine Contemporary: To Scale the Past and the Possible curated by Dr. Patrick Flores surveys the art of the country from the academic schools of the turn of the 20th century to the artists exhibiting in the new millennium. Also on view, Abueva: The Power of Form, a retrospective featuring National Artist for Sculpture, Napoleon Abueva.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines turns its attention to an overlooked facet of Philippine art, the Mabini art movement. Once denigrated by art collectors as commercial and tourist art, it has now become a source of interest for artists and art historians.

When: Saturday, 22 February 2014
Meeting time: 9:00am, the Raffles hotel lobby
Fee: PhP 1, 200.00 (inclusive of transportation and museum entrance fees)

9:30am Departure for the Metropolitan Museum of Manila

11:30am Proceed to the Cultural Center of the Philippines

1:15pm ETA Makati City, Art Fair Philippines 2014

For bookings and information please call 4042685, 09493338211 (Elvie), 09278484680 (Mae).
Deadline for bookings is on Wednesday, 19 February 2014. Seats are limited.

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Senator Loren Legarda's Privilege Speech Bridging the Indigenous and the International in Philippine Art and Culture

History chronicles the attempts of individuals and institutions in recognizing the significance of art and culture from antiquity to contemporary times. Through private and public patronage, they signaled their unwavering commitment to honor their rich traditions and, simultaneously, understand their critical roles in society. As a result, massive temples and soaring cathedrals were built, palaces were turned into cabinets of curiosities and galleries, and ruins great and small were preserved to withstand the ravages of time. All in the name of art and culture.

The Philippines

This universal predilection to honor the past and chart the future through the material evidence of its peoples is also shared by many modern nation-states like the Philippines. Despite the vicissitudes of its existence from pre- to post-colonial days, our country immediately learned the relevance and benefit of supporting the arts and culture, which have the power to cultivate, strengthen and disseminate the value systems and beliefs of the Filipinos especially in a time of political, social and economic crisis.

In the past, various administrations inaugurated museums, sponsored artist exchange and education abroad programs, collected and commissioned artworks, and led the documentation and conservation of historic artifacts, monuments and sites. Through the rule of law-presidential proclamations, executive orders and other government policies-they advanced the cause of the arts and culture to develop and promote the nation. Indeed, our presidents came and went, but their state support serves as testament of profound appreciation and profitable investment.

Proclamation No. 683

In 1991, former President Corazon Aquino signed Proclamation No. 683, Declaring the Month of February of Every Year as National Arts Month, to establish continuity in terms of state patronage of the arts in all disciplines, including theater, dance, music, visual arts, architecture, literature and film. As a result, allied government agencies were enjoined to comply with this proclamation through a series of activities, which consequently attracted, engaged and educated local and foreign audience and viewers.

For more than two decades, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has successfully led our country through competitions, exhibitions, performances, conferences, lectures, workshops, screenings, sessions and tours during this month-long nationwide festival. As the primary agency of the Philippine government charged with the responsibility to preserve, develop and promote Philippine arts and culture, the NCCA creates diverse opportunities to celebrate the artistic excellence and creativity of the Filipinos in the seven arts.

Arts and Culture Advocacy

As this is the month of February, I have the privilege to share with you my personal and political advocacy for the arts and culture. In pursuit of the mandate of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, which I chair, I spearheaded several initiatives and programs that aimed to promote and protect the cultural diversity and sovereignty of our people through the powerful technology of exhibitions. With this technology, I am able to bridge the indigenous and the international realms of my advocacy.

Housed at the invigorated National Museum, Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles, for example, is the first permanent textile gallery in the country to present ethnic, ceremonial, and heirloom garments and tapestries woven from indigenous textiles using traditional looms, as well as more recent adaptations. Complementing these displayed artifacts in climate-controlled vitrines or worn by mannequins are the ancillary events of bringing members of these communities to demonstrate their weaving practices, as well as scholars to share their cutting-edge research through lectures and workshops.

Another permanent exhibition in a designated gallery at the National Museum is Baybayin: Ancient and Traditional Scripts of the Philippines, which explores our tangible heritage and vibrant ancient script still used by some indigenous communities in Mindoro and Palawan today. Realizing the urgency of preserving this unique writing system, I have filed a measure mandating government offices, departments and agencies to use Baybayin in their official logos.

Supporting these exhibitions are several bills that I filed in the Senate to create the Department of Culture, to preserve the country's folk arts through the National Museum's regional branches, to safeguard the cultural property rights of the indigenous communities, to guarantee equal employment opportunities to the members of the Indigenous Cultural Committee, to include ethnic origin in the national survey, and to prohibit discrimination based on ethnicity, race, religion or belief, language, disability or other status.

While my commitment to recognize the unparalleled contributions of those who make it possible for us to remember our roots remains steadfast, I am equally determined to promote Philippine contemporary art and culture at home and abroad. I believe that our indigenous communities who continue the tradition of our ancestors inspire and inform the current practices of the Filipino artists whose works also constitute our cultural legacy.

By showcasing the cultural capital of our nation through national and international exhibitions, we achieve these two primary objectives:

First, we foster the critical development of Philippine art and the professional growth of the Filipino artists within and outside the Philippines.

Second, we strengthen the role of the Philippines in the local and global community as a nation of and destination for contemporary art in the 21st century.

Towards the goal of transforming the Philippines into a responsive, collaborative and pioneering patron of the arts and culture, I vowed to continue my advocacy in building the bridge between the indigenous and international. Through exhibitions of the everyday and the epic, we have the opportunity to commemorate our ancestors and learn the lessons of the past and celebrate our contemporaries and pave the way for their bright future.

Challenge

In the spirit of the National Arts Month this February 2014 and my utmost belief that arts and culture are indispensable tools of national integration and international diplomacy, I invite you to join me in this bold and far-reaching endeavor to establish the necessary local and global links to better serve our nation and shepherd our people with pride, dignity, and honor.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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Legarda Bats for More Exhibitions to Showcase Philippine Art

In celebration of the National Arts Month, Senator Loren Legarda today said that the country should regularly showcase Philippine Art through exhibitions that will enrich the cultural awareness and attachment of Filipinos.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, said that showcasing Philippine art and culture through national and international exhibitions fosters the critical development of Philippine art and the professional growth of the Filipino artists within and outside the country, and strengthens the role of the Philippines in the local and global community as a nation of and destination for contemporary art in the 21st century.

"From indigenous to contemporary, the Philippines is rich in arts and artistic Filipinos. We have already spearheaded several initiatives and programs that aim to promote and protect the cultural diversity and sovereignty of our people through the powerful technology of exhibitions," she said in her privilege speech.

The Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles, the country's first permanent textile gallery, and the Baybayin: Ancient and Traditional Scripts of the Philippines, which are both housed at the National Museum, are among Legarda's initiatives.

"Supporting these exhibitions are several bills that I filed in the Senate to create the Department of Culture, to preserve the country's folk arts through the National Museum's regional branches, to safeguard the cultural property rights of the indigenous communities, to guarantee equal employment opportunities to the members of the Indigenous Cultural Committee, to include ethnic origin in the national survey, and to prohibit discrimination based on ethnicity, race, religion or belief, language, disability or other status," she said.

Legarda also said that she is equally determined to promote Philippine contemporary art and culture at home and abroad.

"I believe that our indigenous communities who continue the tradition of our ancestors inspire and inform the current practices of the Filipino artists whose works also constitute our cultural legacy. Through exhibitions of the everyday and the epic, we have the opportunity to commemorate our ancestors and learn the lessons of the past and celebrate our contemporaries and pave the way for their bright future," she stressed.

"In the spirit of the National Arts Month this February 2014 and my utmost belief that arts and culture are indispensable tools of national integration and international diplomacy, I invite you to join me in this bold and far-reaching endeavor to establish the necessary local and global links to better serve our nation and shepherd our people with pride, dignity, and honor," Legarda concluded.

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Special Solo Exhibit By BenCab

For this year’s Art Fair Philippines, National Artist BenCab has created a collection of free-standing sculptures that have been shaped in clay before being cast and finished in bronze, and bent metal wall-bound pieces. While he is better known for his works on paper and canvas, BenCab practiced sculpture on and off throughout his career and has taken courses as early as the 70s to hone the craft. The images in this series represent his legacy as a lyrical expressionist, drawing from concepts that have turned his images into icons. Pulsing beneath the surface are echoes of his past renderings of the nude body, as well as clothed figures that recall the graceful draping inspired by legendary dancer, Isadora Duncan, and a new character, “Man Thinking” which treads between expressiveness and quiet contemplation, reminiscent of another iconic “Thinker” cast in bronze.

Excerpted from Alice A. Sarmiento

For more information, visit www.artfairphilippines.com. Art Fair Philippines is co-presented by Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land Premiere, Alveo, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Telecom, and Swatch.

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Dr. Olivera Lecture Postponed Until Further Notice

It is with sincere apologies and a heavy heart that the Museum Foundation of the Philippines is postponing the Dr. Baldomero M. Olivera lecture which was set for Saturday, February 15, 2014 to a later date. This is due to its unforeseen conflict with the "World Wide Walk" of the Iglesia Ni Cristo taking place on the same day. Many streets and bridges in Manila which surround the National Museum will be closed from 6 AM to 6 PM, including parts of P. Burgos Street, Finance Road, T. M. Kalaw Street and Roxas Boulevard. The INC is expecting a million people to participate in their walkathon, effectively paralyzing traffic over a large area of the city. 

The Museum Foundation is now rescheduling the lecture and will send you an early notice of the new date.

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Call for Applications for UPFI Full-time Faculty

The UPFI is looking for applicants to fill the roster of full time faculty starting next school year AY 2014-2015.

As member of the full-time faculty, candidate will (among others):

1. Handle 12 units of courses per semester,
2. Be available for consultation for at least 10 hours per week,
3. Prepare and submit course syllabi for courses assigned,
4. Attend, participate, and cooperate in Institute and College committees, activities, meetings, and other fora,
5. Participate in college and institute research; extension work,
6. Do research and participate in research dissemination through local and international conferences,
7. Publish research and/or creative work in a refereed journal or publication,
8. Design, write, and teach new courses for the film program.

Candidate must:
1. Have MA degree (or higher) in Film and/or related disciplines;
2. Have 3-5 years experience in film/ media related work;
3. Have at least 3 years teaching experience;
4. Show evidence of teaching competency.

Preference will be given to candidates who have any or all of the following:
1. Published in a refereed academic journal;
2. Research paper presented in a local or international conference;
3. Creative Portfolio (works must be juried by a duly recognized body of peers)

Interested applicants must submit:
1. Letter of intent
2. Curriculum vitae (with picture)
3. Teaching portfolio (containing the following):

a. Statement of teaching philosophy and practice of teaching,
b. Teaching quality
c. Innovativeness,
d. Range of Teaching,
e. Continual self-improvement, and
f. Contributions to the cause of education.

4. Schedule of availability for demo teaching

Submit applications to the College of Mass Communications Admin office at Plaridel Hall, Ylanan St., UP Campus, Diliman, QC on or before February 14, 2011.

For inquiries: upfi.academics@gmail.com.

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UP Vargas Museum & CANVAS Present A Fish Tale by Daniel dela Cruz

The UP Vargas Museum and CANVAS present A Fish Tale, sculptures by Daniel dela Cruz at the 3F galleries of the museum.



Each year, CANVAS holds the Romeo Forbes Children’s Story Writing Competition, a unique contest that uses art as inspiration for a children’s story. This competition challenges writers to weave a story based on an artwork that children (and adults, too) might enjoy. When the winning story is chosen by CANVAS and a panel of judges, it in turn inspires more art in a series of works by the same artist that, scene-by-scene, brings the story to life. The result is a truly special and collaborative children’s storybook.

Becky Bravo’s magical undersea world emerged as the winner for this year. Her story hit a chord. The story takes you back to that period of the awkwardness in childhood, the need to fit in, the desire to find friends, and the dread and loneliness of being different. These concerns, so real to children (and adults, too) were approached with honesty, simplicity, and playfulness.

For Daniel, the challenge was formidable as this is CANVAS’s first children’s book to be illustrated using sculptures. Would he be able to do justice to Becky’s story, using his signature metal sculptures as tools? Or would he be limited by the medium that seemed to us far less suited to storybooks than pen and ink, watercolor, or oil paint? But his graceful and whimsical figures fit Becky’s words like hand in glove, and give her characters personality, identity, and even movement.

Daniel dela Cruz graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1991. In 2007, he returned to sculpture and mounted his first solo exhibition, Kandungan. In 2008, he won the coveted gold medal for the “Festival of Nativities” in Rome, Italy.

A Fish Tale storybook and exhibition will be launched on February 13, 5pm at the Vargas Museum. Exhibition runs until February 25.

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Tanghal to take center stage anew in February

“Tanghal,” one of the seven flagship programs during the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), will once again take center stage this February. PAF is part of the celebration of the National Arts Month every February.

Tanghal 2014 is a theater festival that aims to underscore the importance of the works and achievements of community and university-based theater groups.

The Ginhawa Theater Caravan will tour in regional venues on Feb. 9-23. In Bohol, the Kasing Sining Kumbuyahanay will be held on Feb. 22-27, while the Kasing Sining ASYA-UNESCO ITI on Feb. 24-27.

It will be led by Lutgardo Labad, head of the National Committee on Dramatic Arts of the NCCA's Subcommission on the Arts.

The Philippines celebrates NAM during February since the signing of Presidential Proclamation 683 in 1991. As the country’s main agency for the arts and culture, the NCCA, headed by its chairman, Felipe de Leon, Jr., leads in celebrating NAM with the Philippine Arts Festival.

For 2014, PAF has taken the theme "Art on the Edge,” highlighting the advancements achieved in different art forms, the innovations, the modern evolution of art, and the artistic creations in the peripheries.

Spearheaded by the NCCA’s Subcommission on the Arts, PAF consists of the flagship projects of the seven committees of the subcommission—architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theater, and the visual arts. It aims to highlight the artistic talent and brilliance of the Filipino people. Initially centering around the National Capital Region, PAF activities will be held all over the country in order to reach as many people as possible.

With private and government agencies as partners, PAF 2014 promises to be an exhilarating celebration of the arts with workshops, exhibitions, forums, performances, and many other events participated in by numerous artists.

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NCCA Prepares for a Grand Feast of the Arts at the Philippine Arts Festival 2014

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) goes full throttle in the preparation for a grand, national fete of the arts, designed to engage everybody in the edifying and enriching experience that art can bring.

The Philippines celebrates the National Arts Month (NAM) during February since the signing of Presidential Proclamation 683 in 1991. As the country's main agency for the arts and culture, the NCCA, headed by its chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr., leads in celebrating National Arts Month with the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF).

Spearheaded by the NCCA's Subcommission on the Arts, PAF comprises mainly the flagship projects of the seven committees of the subcommission--architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theater, and the visual arts. It aims to highlight the artistic talent and brilliance of the Filipino people. Initially centering around the National Capital Region, PAF activities will be held all over the country in order to reach as many people as possible.

With private and government agencies as partners, PAF 2014 promises to be an exhilarating celebration of the arts with workshops, exhibitions, forums, performances, and many other events participated in by numerous artists.

For 2014, PAF has taken the theme "Art on the Edge," highlighting the advancements achieved in different art forms, the innovations, the modern evolution of art, and the artistic creations in the peripheries.

The seven committees of the NCCA's Subcommission on the Arts have prepared a rich repertoire of activities and events.

The National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts, headed by architect Gerard Lico, will hold several exhibitions, conferences, lectures and competitions on Philippine architecture and allied arts, collectively called Archi[types/texts] 2014.

The National Committee on Cinema, headed by Dr. Miguel Rapatan, will hold Cinema Rehiyon 6 in Cagayan de Oro City on Feb. 19-22 with screenings and forums that focus on the film productions from the regions. Independent filmmakers from Baguio, Pampanga, Calabarzon, Naga, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga and others will showcase their latest films. Film curators, festival programmers, and film enthusiasts will also be in attendance.

The National Committee on Dance, headed by Shirley Halili-Cruz, will present Sayaw Pinoy, the longest-running NAM project with a full house audience in every performance. It will tour dance concerts showcasing the different dance forms (folk, ballet, hiphop, and contemporary) by various dance companies, performing back to back with upcoming dance groups. Now on its 11th year, Sayaw Pinoy will spread the beauty of dance in key areas all over the country. Sayaw Pinoy will underline the dance icons in the major venues of the event in the different cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Dance workshops and artists dialogues will be participated in by visiting and local dancers, choreographers, directors, and SPA teachers from the different regions.

The National Committee on Literary Arts, headed by Priscilla Macansantos, will mount the literary arts festival, Taboan 2014: Philippine Literary Arts Festival, to be held at the Subic Freeport Zone on February 24-26, 2014. Taboan 2014 will gather writers, teachers and students for forums, lectures, a book fair, literary readings, performances, arts and crafts exhibits, cultural tours, other satellite projects, and an awards ceremony for outstanding writers from the regions.

The National Committee on Music, headed by Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr., will stage the Taal-Tunugan, wherein a new musical ensemble will be trained and then toured using musical instruments they made themselves from scraps and other recycled materials. Â The Taal-Tunugan is aimed at resonating the sounds and or music found in different communities in the Philippines that utilize locally-crafted musical instruments.

The National Committee on Dramatic Arts, headed by Lutgardo Labad, will hold Tanghal 2014, a theater festival underscoring the works and achievements of community and university-based theater groups.

The National Committee on Visual Arts, headed by Nemesio Miranda, will hold the Philippine Visual Arts Festival (PVAF) in Tacloban, which will gather visual artists from all over the country for a lineup of activities including conferences, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, painting sessions, tours, and many others. This is will be held on Feb. 20-24.

Aside from these, there are other components of PAF. The opening ceremony, to be held in Roxas City, Capiz, on January 31, 2014, is not to be missed because it is a rousing start of the colorful celebration filled with performances and other activities that will afford attendees a foretaste of the seven arts and their sumptuous offerings.

Also of importance is the second Likha Asya festival and conference on community theater, creative industries and community-based tourism, a cross-cultural exchange of experiences and expertise in the creative industries and cultural tourism between Lihok Bisaya, a cultural association of seven community-based cultural groups in the Visayas region, and similar groups in Asia striving for sustainable livelihoods.

The Ani ng Dangal awarding ceremony honors Filipino artists who are recognized with top honors in international awards, competitions and festivals. It will be held on February 2, 2014, at the Newport Performing arts Theater in Resorts World Manila.

It may be the shortest month of the year, but expect February to be brimming with wonderful events with the Philippine Arts Festival.

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Enrollment in PETA's summer workshops now open

Enrollment in the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s annual summer workshops is now open, with courses on Children’s Theater, Teen Theater, Theater Arts, Basic Acting, Advanced Acting, and Creative Musical Theater.

The workshops are made for the participants to develop their skills and confidence through the arts by enrolling in PETA’s Summer Program which runs from April 7 to May 18, 2014.

Exclusive discounts are offered for early enrolees until February, for group enrolees, for students joining the workshops at least thrice, for BPI Jumpstart cardholders, and for members of Theater Actors Guild.

As one of the most leading training grounds for aspiring actors, PETA’s workshops have produced a number of seasoned artists today.

Each course incorporates the unique Integrated Theater Arts approach, which combines the five different disciplines in theater – creative drama, body movement and dance, creative sound and music, creative writing, and visual arts.

For enrolment inquiries and for further details, contact PETA at 09065564800, 725-6244 or email at petatheater@gmail.com.

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Swatch Presents: Rodel Tapaya

Swatch unveils a series of special exhibits for Art Fair Philippines 2014

In the imaginarium of Rodel Tapaya, mythology looms large. It evokes for him the lush imagery of the Philippine primeval, a forest of signs that are “taken for wonders” from the perspective of the equally perplexing present. Such a disposition is affirmed by studies in the archaeology of the region that trace concepts of ancestry to notions of ecology, specifically of plant life, and how it flourishes in rhizomes of relations. In the language of Bahasa Indonesia, the word alamat is address; in our lexicon, it is legend. In both senses of these meanings, address is irreducibly origin. And this is what the artist has been keen to probe in many of his excursions into the dense foliage of precedence: everything is before us in many ways.

Excerpted from Rodel Tapaya
By Dr. Patrick D. Flores

For more information, visit www.artfairphilippines.com. Art Fair Philippines is co-presented by Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land Premiere, Alveo, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Telecom, and Swatch.

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