Dissinea Writes

Cycle

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:01:00 +0000

Four years. Time certainly goes by so very, very fast. When I wasn't looking, life stepped in, and turned me right around.

I don't know why, or how it is I've come to be the woman I am today, but I don't regret anything. And tonight -- at the crux of all that is coming to pass -- I remember.

Happy Anniversary, Team 6.

THE LOWTECHS nominated for 'Best Breakthrough Act' for #Junksounds Awards 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:54:00 +0000

The Lowtechs have been nominated for 'Best Breakthrough Act' for #Junksounds Awards 2009! Get to vote for them at

http://sites.junkonline.net/junksounds/category07.php

The Junksounds Awards is the first regional music awards of its kind. Launched in 2008, the awards gives Junk readers an opportunity to show their appreciation to some of the most talented music makers in South East Asia that have been making a huge impact in music. Cast your votes for your favourite acts from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines NOW!

Go to sites.junkonline.net/junksounds and start voting NOW. Voting closes on 30 NOVEMBER 2009.

George the Spider, and Letting Go

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:01:00 +0000

I'm sitting here at CaBo and catching up with one of my friends. I haven't spent time with him (not like this) in months. Dennis used to be my housemate, back when I was still figuring out exactly what it was I wanted to do with my 28th year on this crazy ball of earth we call home. There is a lot that has happened, to him, and to me, since we last talked.

Some of what we are discussing surprises me, but I have to say, not much has changed. He's still as steadfast as ever in his convictions. He's still as adorable as ever. He still listens to me with such focus that I feel like I'm really being heard. And yes, he's still the same incurable romantic he always was.

I guess I was always a tad more cynical when it came to the delicate matters of the heart. Not that I ever held back once I felt the emotions running amok through my all too fragile system. Often, this meant that I left myself more vulnerable to heartache more than I would have liked.

I do not have any regrets. Let me make that perfectly clear. Everything that has happened to me, happened because I allowed it. I would be a fool to regret anything now. I would only end up blaming myself. Besides, what's done is done. The lessons have been laid out before me. Now it's all a matter of choosing whether or not I allow the learning to take root. And I do.

I am reminded that I am now 28. They say that every 7 years, one goes through a transition. If that bit is to be believed, then this is a transition year for me. The year when I'm supposed to be undergoing some serious "heart work" and all that jazz. So many things have transpired over the past few months that I guess I do believe something is changing in me.

It is a good change. That much is apparent.

Dennis was telling me about this large house spider he had trapped in a jar during holy week. He named it George. He watched Spider Man with the jar beside him. I can't help but grin at that. Finally, when he decided to set the spider loose, it cowered at the bottom of the jar, perhaps unused to the possibility of freedom being offered to it. Sabi ni Dennis, "O, George, may mga letting go issues ka pala".

In a way I feel like that spider. I see a large gaping hole in front of me and I haven't yet grasped that all I have to do is walk out.

Now, I see. I see where I'm headed. And I can take those first steps to finally letting go: of the hang-ups, the fear, the remnants of a life that is no longer familiar to me. And knowing that, I am happy.

Hello George. I'm Jenny. Welcome to the world. It's not such a bad place to be. :)

Standing In Line at the Bank...

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:36:00 +0000

...and noticing that I'm getting pretty pensive. I remember "The Invitation" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. When I first read it, it really resonated with how I was as a person, at that particular moment. I had been feeling lost. In truth, I had been spinning out of control with such blinding speed, that just thinking about it today scares me.

For some reason, whenever things
are shifting in my life, whenever some form of transformation is occurring, I come across the poem again.

The next time I read the piece, it was after my graduation from OCCI's ALC program. That time the piece took on an entirely different meaning to me. It spoke to me of hope and strength. It mirrored me.

The next time the words popped into my life unexpectedly was last year during my ugly, messy break-up. That time, the words spoke to me of all I had wanted to create in my relationships.

I have come across the piece yet again, and of all places, here at the very bank where it feels like I've spent the last decade waiting my turn. I caught a glimpse of the first verse on a piece of paper sticking out from a book in the hands of the woman standing in front of me.

I am reminded of where I am today. I am reminded that I am in a good place. I am also reminded of caution. Whatever this is an omen of, whether it be good or bad, I know everything is ultimately my choice. Diving in now and taking chances. There is no room for fear in me now.

I'm Baaaaaaack!

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:18:00 +0000

Just posted on the Blurring the Distance. blog I share with Shoil. Do drop by and leave your mark somewhere. :D

The Baguio We Know

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:01:00 +0000

Anvil Publishing, Inc. and National Bookstore

cordially invite you to the launching of

The Baguio We Know

edited by

GRACE CELESTE T. SUBIDO

Contributors

Cecile Afable

Pia Arboleda

Arnold Molina Azurin

Tita Lacambra-Ayala

Nonnette C. Bennett

Karla P. Delgado

Merci Javier-Dulawan

Priscilla Supnet Macansantos

Martin Masadao

Baboo Mondoñedo

Padmapani L. Perez

Dinggot Conde-Prieto

Scott Magkachi Saboy

Enrico Miguel Subido

Rolando B. Tolentino

Anna Christie V. Torres

September 2, 2009 at 6 p.m.

National Bookstore

SM Baguio

Just because it's been a while since my last post.

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:56:00 +0000

Baguio is blanketed by rain this afternoon. It is nice to just be home. Still working, yes. But working from home makes it feel like I'm not really working.

There is a project I'm focused on now. It is exactly the kind of project I've been waiting for. I am excited about it. Salamat Ferdie. I hope I'll still be in Manila when you have your screening. I'm already 90% sure I'll be there naman, so it's all good.

Now that the housewarming is done (posting pictures soon) and we're all pretty settled into the house, I am starving for something creative to sink my teeth into. When Shoil gets home I will corner her so we can talk about the exhibit. Oh, boy. This is turning out to be one hell of a year. Longer posts when I'm less swamped. I promise. :)

Blurring the Distance.

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:29:00 +0000

Shoil and I have a new blog. Do drop by and leave your mark somewhere. Click Here.

Because Jenny just needs to ramble on for a few minutes to clear her head.

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:21:00 +0000

Home. I have caught up on sleep (somewhat). I think the only reason I woke up after only 4 hours of sleep was, I was having really strange dreams that scared the crap out of me. I've been up since 7, writing, working on the tarps etc. I can't seem to shake the images though, so I thought I'd take a break and write them down. My attempt at exorcising the demons (so to speak).

One: We had just arrived home. None of the lights were working downstairs for some reason, so Ivan went to go look for candles. I fished out a crumpled pack of cigarettes from my back pocket and started groping for a lighter in the semi-darkness. I couldn't find one in the house, so I decided to look out on the balcony on the off chance that I had left one there. I pushed the sliding door half-open and stepped out into nothing. All of a sudden I felt that I was falling, nothing but the sound of rushing air all around me. Gahd!

Two: There was a field. For some reason I couldn't tell if the field was by a lake or some body of water. Whenever I tried to turn my head and look at the "water" it would always move somewhere else. I kept looking, and looking, trying to get a glimpse of it. I was already so sure that it existed, that I wasn't going mad, because I'd seen the sunlight glinting off its edges. I turned my head. Left. Right. I spun around. I looked down. The water had already passed my chin. Let me just say, I don't know how to swim. I never learned how. I'm still deathly afraid of drowning. This one woke me up. No, this one made a fist, and punched me in the gut. Maybe I'm just tired from the trip.

***

Shoil and I spent a lot of time talking this weekend. We really did have a lot of catching up to do. She told me about all the things that have been happening, about her family. I talked about work, writing, the state of things.

She took lots of photographs. I did a lot of writing. We spent some time writing together (which was really nice). We talked about the projects we would like work on together aside from the exhibit in November. There seems like so much we want to do, and that's good as far as I'm concerned. It will keep our thoughts on actually doing, and getting things done. I know we're both really bummed out by certain things that have been happening in our personal lives, but the projects and the thought of working together just about makes up for all of that.

I felt rather helpless, and stupid when she started crying yesterday. Sandy even shot me a really nasty look because she thought I'd been the one to make her cry. "Not me! Not me!" I mouthed. So I took her out for a walk while we were waiting for our transportation. We sat on a bench and talked some more. We talked about home: our ideas surrounding the word, our paradigms around the whole concept. We talked about feeling lost and scared and about how the world seems so vast and unwelcoming at times. She told me a lot of the things she'd been thinking over in her life. I told her about my uncertainties too.

I wrote her a poem. It was very quickly scribbled, and just as quickly revised and edited. We were about to leave na kasi, and I didn't want to leave without giving her something tangible, something she can look at and handle. Something to help remind her about how we all at A.I. love her immensely. How I love her immensely.

On the way to the bus station, I told her: I feel a bit foolish for asking this, but can you email me a copy of that poem, for my files lang? Sigh. Buti na lang what I said just made her smile. She'll be emailing me the poem some time today. Sana ma-post ko siya bukas.

I know she hears it from me a lot. It's really true though. I do feel like I'm missing a limb when she's away. Sure, I sound selfish. I am. I'd love to have her back in Baguio, close by. But until that happens, I may have found a way to make the distance a little more bearable. Bagong project. Super top secret for now. I'll have to set it up first. Have already talked to Shoil about it and she's excited. So am I.

***

Love is the distance, you are the journey. See, how the road longs for sleep.

New Room : Pick a Poem, Win a Photo

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:20:00 +0000

[Living room + view of the kitchen, newly painted.
You can still see the paint cans and rollers in the foreground.]

It's taken a while to get the house in order. Actually, we're all still trying to fix up what we can. Ivan's been amazing with all the painting he's been doing. I think we can all be proud of the way we're getting it together. I was the most stressed out by the move (worrywart that I am), but things are slowly falling into place and I can already picture the way we'll be working here, and laughing here: it's the kind of house that really invites creativity in, and that will be good for all of us.

I really hope this is the last move for me for a while. When I think about all the moving I've done over the past few years, I just have to wonder about how I managed to keep my sanity intact. But, that chapter of my life is coming to a close, and a new one is already beginning. My Nanay asked me a few days ago if I ever feel like I'm a nomad. I guess, I've felt that way for so long that it never occurred to me to think that I could be living any differently. This time around, I don't have to worry about living out of a suitcase, or about where I'll be spending this week, or the next. I'm home. Which brings me to the point of this post.

I got really excited about fixing up my room. I'm still pretty psyched about the whole thing. Our landlady let us paint, so we kind of went crazy with the colors. Ivan's room is red. I think the color he picked out is actually called "Blaze of Glory." So yeah, you can imagine how lovely and bright it is. Think Memoirs of a Geisha (which was Ivan's inspiration for his room). Abby's room is a beautiful soft shade of green. Our kitchen is now a muted orange color with blue cabinets. My room is Smoke Grey with the corners done in Steel Grey. I have red curtains up. I'm kind of going for a Dave McKean / Mirrormask type feel because I love all the little drawings that Helena had up in her room, and all the bizzarre creatures wandering around. I painted my door black, and I drew the whole map of Fish Street on it in white and silver. It's beautiful. I absolutely love it. I will be working on some canvases to hang along the top of the room, and a screen for the fluorescent light as it's a bit bright for my taste.

I do want to put some poetry up on the walls though, with the same silver ink i got. Thing is, I really can't choose a poem. I have so many favorites kasi. I was going to put up some of my own, but I think maybe not at this point. I'm still thinking it over. That's where you can help. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I'm very keen to get the room done before the end of this month. Feel free to post your suggestions here as comments. The person who suggests the poem I end up choosing to go on my wall will receive one of the photos I took for our Sagada/water exhibit for free, as a thank you token.

And so you don't have such a hard time choosing, here are a few photos of my room. Sorry about the quality of the photos. Was using my phone's camera.

[Smoke Grey walls, red curtains.]

[Black door with Fish Street mural.]

[And this wall, next to the door,
is where the poem will go.]

[Here's the photo you could win if your poem suggestion
is chosen. It's an 8x10 inch piece, already framed.]

Please feel free to post and repost this. I'm trying to get as much feedback as I can. Suggestions have to be in by June 21, 2009 (that's a Sunday) at 12 mn. I'll announce the winning suggestion on June 21. Please include your name and contact info.

Thanks everyone! Happy poem hunting. :)

The Art of Disappearing

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:54:00 +0000

I didn't know that Naomi Shihab Nye had any videos on youtube. So I was pleasantly surprised to find this:

The Art of Disappearing

by Naomi Shihab Nye

When they say Don’t I know you?
say no.

When they invite you to the party
remember what parties are like
before answering.
Someone telling you in a loud voice
they once wrote a poem.
Greasy sausage balls on a paper plate.
Then reply.

If they say We should get together
say why?

It’s not that you don’t love them anymore.
You’re trying to remember something
too important to forget.
Trees. The monastery bell at twilight.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished.

When someone recognizes you in a grocery store
nod briefly and become a cabbage.
When someone you haven’t seen in ten years
appears at the door,
don’t start singing him all your new songs.
You will never catch up.

Walk around feeling like a leaf.
Know you could tumble any second.
Then decide what to do with your time.

CubaoX ROXXX!!!

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Fri, 22 May 2009 03:33:00 +0000

KABUWANAN A-DOS:
ARTISTS FAIR
MAY 23, 2009
Saturday, 3pm onwards
CUBAO EXPO GROUNDS

Art Fair, Concert, Bands, Artists, Fashion Show, and so much more!! FREE ENTRANCE! FREE FUN!
SEE YOU THERE!!!!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

San Miguel Beer Pale Pilsen
Halo Cafe
Jam Alley Rehearsal Studio
The READING ROOM
Ad Infinitum, Baguio City
&
The Administration of Cubao Expo

CUBAO EXPO
(former Marikina Shoe Expo)
Gen. Romulo St., Araneta Center

GUYS, PLEASE HELP PROMOTE THIS FREE EVENT BY REPOSTING & SHARING WITH YOUR FRIENDS & CONTACTS THROUGH YOUR WEBSITES &/OR BLOGS, & BY TELLING & TEXTING EVERYONE YOU KNOW ABOUT IT.

SALAMAT PO, & SEE YOU THERE!!!

Saturday Painting Session

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Mon, 11 May 2009 02:21:00 +0000

Saturday -- Another painting session with some of the Aquarelle members. Thank you so much to Tita Toottee for the use of her lovely greenhouse! There were only 5 of us present this weekend because of the rain, but it was wonderful all the same.

[Norman Chow, demonstrating flowers.
Painting without pencilling in first.]

[Starting by wetting patches of the paper
where paint will be applied.]

[Adding color to the center of the wet spots.]

[Working on the background.]

[Adding detail.]

[My first painting that day.
Sabi ni Kuya Norman, no pencils!
Blocking in the colors.]

[Background work.]

[Detailing.]

[Norman Chow and Merci Dulawan.]

[Tita Babeth working on her flowers.]

[Babeth Lolarga, Norman Chow,
Norman's son Chino, Merci Dulawan.]

[Tita Merci. Lovely "mini" painting. :D ]

[My second painting on the bottom.
Wasn't able to document because I got distracted. Hehe.]

[Pointers from Norman.]

[More detail to the background.]

[Closer shot of second painting.
Kuya Norman's right.
I've been using a lot of blue lately. :) ]

BWG Art Writing Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:02:00 +0000

BWG Art Writing Workshop

All year round Baguio City and her environs positively vibrate with the energies of the art world. It can be said that there is no shortage of creativity in our mountains. All this artistic productivity ought to be documented, not only for posterity, but also in order to nurture and enhance the engagement of local communities with art.

Thus the Baguio Writers Group (BWG) and the Bencab Art Foundation are pleased to offer a writing workshop on art theory and criticism. Our esteemed resource persons are Lito Zulueta, editor of the Arts and Culture sub-section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, known art and film critic, and UST faculty member; and Yason Banal, internationally-acclaimed young artist, columnist for the Philippine Star, and faculty member of the U.P. Film Institute.

The workshop will be held at the Bencab Museum on May 23 and 24, from 9AM - 5PM. The workshop will be comprised of a series of lectures and writing exercises.

Registration fee is a bargain at P1200, inclusive of: two day workshop and entrance to Bencab Museum, lunch and snacks by Cafe Sabel, reading materials.

The workshop is open to 20 participants. Please contact us for inquiries or reservations at baguiowriters@gmail.com or 09083612844. Pre-registration is required for confirmation of your reservation. See you!

We are going to give out two fellowships to the BWG Art Writing workshop for young writers of Cordilleran roots. Interested individuals must submit an essay on an art venue or art piece they have seen in Baguio. Based on these write ups, two deserving fellows will be selected and given full scholarships to the workshop.

Essays should be accompanied by a short biodata with contact details. The essay should be no more than one-page, no less than 400 words.

Deadline for submission of essays: 9PM, May 15, 2009. Essays may be sent to baguiowriters@gmail.com or hard copies may be left at the Cafe by the Ruins, and Cafe Sabel, addressed to Padma L. Perez.

The fellowships will be given out of the BWG's WORD4WORD Fund, created through the generosity of the people who donated books to the BWG sale, and also through the 'ganas' of those who bought them.

[Re-posted from Padma's blog]

Aquarelle: Painting Session Documentation

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Sun, 03 May 2009 07:27:00 +0000

Yesterday I attended a painting session with some of the Baguio Aquarelle Society members, and friends. It's interesting to me, the way a group's dynamic lends a different quality to the way I approach conceptualization. By that I mean, the ideas I come up with as far as the "overall theme" of the painting are radically opposite to the ones I come up with when I'm working at home alone. I tend to pick up on the snippets of conversation around me and start visualizing things that I wouldn't think to attempt when I work on my pieces in my living room. The same thing happens when I'm writing outside, and among other people. Just something I've been thinking of a lot lately.

It was so much fun! I got to work some more on portraiture (which I've been meaning to do for a while), and I now have several ideas for the illustrations I'm to do for "The Pasha" for Sandy. I'll be working on the studies this coming week. It was a much needed break from all the coding I've been doing the past few days. And even though I've been up for more than 24 hours now, I realize that I do feel revitalized and ready to start the next week of work. And now I can sleep. :D

[Babeth Lolarga, Norman Chow]

[Starting off with a pencil sketch on
watercolor paper.]

[Kimi Fernandez, Norman Chow, Fara Manuel]

[Toottee Pacis, Norman Chow]

[Detailing the face.]

[Fine tuning details, starting on the background.]

[Stripes!]

[Adding texture to the sweater.]

[Tita Babeth's studies.]

[Taking a break. Toottee's greenhouse.]

[Drying before working on the background.]

[The greenhouse. So lovely! :D]

[Background, first layer.]

[Background, second layer.
At this point the painting is almost finished,
but it's time to pack up and go home.
Will add more texture to the background
and definition to the sweater.]

[Tita Babeth and Norman outside
Toottee's studio.]

Taking a Break

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:38:00 +0000

...from writing for a couple of minutes. Zoilo's over tonight, watching "Once" as I finish up my work for today. I could hardly believe it when he said he hadn't seen it. So of course, I insisted that he watch. It's finishing up now. I can hear the first few strains of "Falling Slowly" as I go over links.

I think the music has started to invade my focus a little. All I can think about is picking up my guitar. Back to it in a bit.

Strange Fire. Resurrection.

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:38:00 +0000

In between working myself crazy, and making plans for AI, I seem to have gotten a sudden burst of inspiration for Strange Fire. Could it be, it's now making its way back from the dead? We'll know by tonight. Keeping my fingers crossed. Crossing my eyes too if that will help. Heh!

THE LAST 2 GIANT GARAGE SALES OF THE SUMMER IN CUBAO EXPO!!!

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:14:00 +0000

[Re-posting this for Sandy]

CUBAO EXPO'S
GIANT GARAGE SALES:
MAY 2 & MAY 16, 2009
Saturdays, 8am-6pm
CUBAO EXPO ENTRANCE SIDE

JOINER'S FEE: P350
(TENTS OR TABLES NOT INCLUDED, ONLY THE SPACE!
SELLER'S SPACE IS THE SIZE OF 1 PARKING SLOT,
IN A DIAGONAL SLANT FROM THE WALKWAY.
THE PARKING LINES WILL DELINEATE THE SPACE.
CHECK OUT CUBAO EXPO YOURSELF
TO SEE WHAT WE MEAN!)

1. FIRST PAID, FIRST RESERVED.
2. MODES OF PAYMENT:
= GCASH TO 0917-5222100 (ACCOUNT OF BENJAMIN S. BELTRAN, PROJ. 4 QC), PLEASE ADD P10 FOR REMITTANCE PURPOSES
= CASH PAYMENT TO The READING ROOM, DURING STORE HOURS
3. ONLY 11 SELLING SLOTS AVAILABLE
4. WE DON'T PROVIDE TABLES OR CHAIRS OR TENTS, BUT YOU CAN ASK MS. ANNIE (THE ADMIN. SECRETARY OF CUBAO EXPO) PERSONALLY DURING OFFICE HOURS FOR AVAILABILITY OF THE SAME IF SHE HAS ANY TO PROVIDE
5. NO SELLING OF FOOD OR DRINK PRODUCTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6. NO SELLING OF BRAND-NEW PRODUCTS, THIS IS NOT A BAZAAR!!!!

The READING ROOM
will be having a
GRAND INVENTORY SALE
on the same dates.
Our organizers, bags, clothes,
t-shirts, accessories, stationery
and all other products
(except for consigned items!)
will be sold at 50% to 75% off!

SEE YOU ALL THERE!!!

CLICK HERE FOR THE MAP TO CUBAO EXPO.

P.S.
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD BY REPOSTING THIS, GUYS.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE HELP!!!

House.

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:46:00 +0000

There used to be a poem entitled "House" in this space, which had to be taken down because it has now undergone some major...er...reconstruction.

Procrastination.

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:13:00 +0000

I've emailed my poems for the Baguio anthology. I have no idea now why I felt the trepidation I did at the thought of submitting. Ad Infinitum is doing me a world of good. The work keeps me busy, and because I'm busy I have less time to spend dwelling on fear. The crippling, senseless kind. Thank goodness for that.

Which makes me think about the other things I'm putting on hold. Hmmm.... Time to take stock. Rethink. Reorganize.

Because I'm home. And sick. And tired of staring at the ceiling.

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:37:00 +0000

Sandy has me doing one 10 to 12 line poem a day. And because I'm sick, and have nothing else to do, I'm posting this before I go collapse on the sofa.

The city wakes up
to the sounds of
the morning.
White cloud whispers.
Window creak and
the opening
and closing
of yet another day.
Routine hangs
on filaments of rain.

April 17, 2009
[10:34 a.m.]

The weather is actually quite lovely. But then again, I've always been rather partial to blustery days. Nice weather for ducks. :P

WORD FOR WORD book sale!

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:37:00 +0000

The

invites you to the 1st

WORD FOR WORD!
book sale

Pre-loved books at bargain prices!

Donated from the shelves of avid readers and book connoisseurs, the collection is bound to please the word-hungry! Great finds await you!

March 22, 2009
10 A.M. onwards

at the dap-ay of

Proceeds from WORD FOR WORD will go towards the BWG’s literary workshops!

Our aim: to enable writers and teachers in the Cordilleras to teach, critique, and encourage young talents.

Our dream: literary workshops held by new writers and teachers in their own languages and hometowns and their work published in the vernacular.

We will continue to accept book donations as we plan to make WORD FOR WORD a regular event on the Baguio calendar. See you!

The Baguio Writers Group is a non-stock, non-profit organization. We exist to celebrate Cordilleran literature and to nurture the souls of Cordilleran writers.

For inquiries, email baguiowriters@gmail.com
or text/call 0908 361 2844

Gary Granada vs. GMA Kapuso

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:22:00 +0000

http://soundcloud.com/dosomethingworthwhile/gary-granada-vs-gma-kapuso

This is outrageous! As a composer and writer, I am horrified that things like this are allowed to happen. No matter how you look at it, it's blatantly apparent that this was an act of stealing.

***

(Below is the transcript of Gary Granada's podcast, re-posted from rllqph.wordpress.com)

Magandang araw po, ang pangalan ko po ay Gary Granada. Ako po ay isang song writer o composer at ang hanap-buhay ko ay gumawa ng mga jingles.

Kung kaya ako ay kinomisyon ng GMA Kapuso Foundation na gumawa ng jingle para sa kampanyang Tripid Handog Edukasyon ng Proctor and Gamble. Gaya ng nakasanayan sa advertising industry binigyan nila ako ng lyrics, which I’m supposed to set to music, na dapat ang haba ay sixty seconds. Eto po yung binigay nila:

Kung may lapis kaya kong isulat ang aking mga pangarap
Kung may krayola kaya kong iguhit ang aking kinabukasan
Sa handog edukasyon mga gamit pampaaralan aking makakamtan
Sa tulong mo edukasyon ko tuloy-tuloy na magagampan
Ang aking pagpupursigi hindi masasayang dahil nandiyan ka
katulong ko sa bawat hakbang

Tapos may voice over, tapos kanta ulit.

Sa handog edukasyon magandang kinabukasan aking makakamtan.

Obviously kailangang ayusin o i-edit ito para tumugma duon sa music. Ang proseso ay ganito. Anumang revisions na gawin ko ay dapat may approval ng client. And after several revisions, ito na yung huli kong sinubmit na study.

Kung may lapis kaya kong isulat ang pangarap
Kung may krayola kaya kong iguhit ang bukas
Sa handog edukasyon mga gamit pampaaralan aking makakamtan
Sa tulong mo pag-aaral ko magagampanan
Ang pagpupunyagi di masasayang

Sa Tripid Handog Edukasyon at GMA Kapuso Foundation, kaya mo ring tumulong. Sa bawat tripid na bibilhin mo, makakatulong kang magbigay ng school supplies sa isang bata.

Sa handog edukasyon magandang kinabukasan
Aking makakamtan

Hanapin ang tripid sa mga brands na ito.

Mangyari ito ay hindi pumasa at pinagawa na lang sa ibang composer. At ito naman yung lumabas na brinoadcast sa GMA network.

Kung may lapis kaya kong isulat ang pangarap
Kung may krayola kaya kong iguhit ang bukas
Sa handog edukasyon mga gamit pampaaralan
aking makakamtan
Sa tulong mo pag-aaral ko magagampan
Ang pagpupunyagi di masasayang

Sa Tripid Handog Edukasyon at GMA Kapuso Foundation, kaya mo ring tumulong. Sa bawat tripid na bibilhin mo, makakatulong kang magbigay ng school supplies sa isang bata.

Sa handog edukasyon magandang kinabukasan
Aking makakamtan…

Hanapin ang tripid sa mga brands na ito.

Obviously, ginamit nila yung edited lyrics batay sa pagkasukat ko. Pero hindi lang po yun ang isyu. Bukod sa lyrics, ginamit din nilang tuntungan ang musical structure na ginawa ko. At ipapaliwanag ko sa inyo kung paano.

Ang musicial composition ay may tatlong basic elements.

Una, ay yung tono. Halimbawa, sa A-B-C-D-E-F-G, ang tono ay, DO-DO-SOL-SOL-LA-LA-SOL. Ngayon, kung gagawa ka ng kantang, ABCDEFG na ganito, A-B-C-D-E-F-G, o, SO-LA-TI-DO-TI-LA-SOL. Hindi mo ngayon yun completely original na creation dahil sinakyan mo lang ang pinagpaguran ng iba. At nagiging madaling gawin, precisely because, sinukat na yung piyesa nung gumawa nung original.

Ang ikalawang element ay tinatawag na balor ng mga nota. Halimbawa, ang mga nota ng DO-DO-SOL-SOL-LA-LA-SOL, ay anim na magkasunod na quarter notes at isang half note. Iba po yun kaysa halimbawa apat na magkasunod na eight notes, isang dotted quarter note, isang eight note ulit at isang half note na ganito naman, DO-DO-SOL-SOL-LA-LA-SOL.

And finally ang ikatlong element ng musical composition ay ang harmonic logic. Sa lay persons term ay yun yun kung saan dumadaan ang chords at kung kailan lumilipat. Halimbawa, ang A-B-C-D-E-F-G, ay C papuntang F tapos balik sa C. Hindi magwo-work yung ilalagay mo yung F sa huli. A-B-C-D-E-F-G. Hindi rin magwowork kung, sa A dumaan papuntang D minor, halimbawa, A-B-D-C-E-F-G, pero pwede yung daanan na yun kung ang kantang yun ay, “He– answers prayers”.

At para patunayan ko sa inyo na ginawa nilang tuntungan yung aking komposisyon, kakantahin ko yung jingle sa tono na pinagawa nila sa iba, kasabay nung minus one na study na ginawa ko.

Kung may lapis kaya kong isulat ang pangarap
Kung may krayola kaya kong iguhit ang bukas
Sa handog edukasyon mga gamit pampaaralan
aking makakamtan
Sa tulong mo pag-aaral ko magagampanan
Ang pagpupunyagi di masasayang

Sa Tripid Handog Edukasyon at GMA Kapuso Foundation, kaya mo ring tumulong. Sa bawat tripid na bibilhin mo, makakatulong kang magbigay ng school supplies sa isang bata.

Sa handog edukasyon

mga gamit pampaaralan

aking makakamtan…

Hanapin ang tripid sa mga brands na ito.

Think about it, yung mga parteng may kanta ay mga mga kantang twenty eight na bara yun. Yung probability na magkaruon na magkahawig mula umpisa hanggang dulo ay ganito. Sa bawat bara you have theoritically dozens of possible combinations. Sabihin na lang nating dalawang possibilities na lang per bar. That would be two times two times twenty seven times mong i-multiply.

The chances of that coincidence would be one in one hundred thirty four million two hundred seventeen thousand seven hundred twenty eight. At those odds, I think our dog has a better chance of becoming president of god-forsaken country, since they are throwing it to the dogs anyway.

Nagsumbong ako sa FILSCAP, yun po yung Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Nagpadala ito ng sulat sa GMA, tinanong namin kung bakit di nila ginawa yung friendly reminder namin, na kung ipagawa nila sa iba, ang ibigay nila sa gagawa ay yung original nilang lyrics at h’wag gamitin ang ginawa kong study.

At kung napansin ninyong hindi gaanong maganda ang quality ng audio nung jingle na brinodcast nila, ay kasi ni record ko lang yun galing sa TV mismo. Paano kasi, mahigit isang buwan na akong nag re request kahit mp3 man lang nun for reference ay di man lang ako binigyan. Nabanggit din yun sa sulat ng FILSCAP, di man lang sinagot. Napaka-arogante.

Sa halip, ang sagot ng GMA, ay wala akong claim dahil yun daw ginawa ko ay collective effort namin. Siguro parang ganito, halika upo tayo at mag compose tayo collectively. Kung ganun, eh di ibig sabihin pala, kung paano sinukat yung lyrics at music para magkasya sa isang minuto ay collective naming ginawa yun. Yung paano pagtugmahin yung mga letra sa mga nota ay collective naming ginawa yun. Yun kung saan dalhin ang daloy ng harmony ay collective naming ginawa yun. At kung ganun na nga, marami naman palang mga tao sa GMA that can collectively compose. Bakit pa nila ako kinuha? Sa tinagal-tagal ko sa trabahong ito, nuon ko lang maranasan na mag compose collectively.

Maalala ko yung short meeting namin na yun eh, mahaba kasi yung lyrics kaya kailangan pang paiksiin. Halimbawa yung, aking kinabukasan, sabi ko, ok ba sa inyo kung gawin ko na lang bukas, aking kinabukasan, pito, pitong syllables, bukas, dalawa lang. Tatango-tango naman yung iba. Ganun pala mag compose collectively.

Ang hindi nila naiintidihan, kaya ko sinuggest yung bukas kasi concious ako na pasok yun duon sa melody na naiisip ko. At kaya nga naging madali na lang gawan ng ibang tono ng iba, kasi finormat ko na yung original lyrics mo, na magiging singable at musical. Hindi na lang yun prose, poetry o freeverse. Ginawa ko nang musical yung metro, bigkas at sukat ng copy mo. Kaya nga ang tawag sa inyo ay copywriter, at ang tawag sa akin ay composer. Kasi, babalen-balentungin mo man yang utak mo ng isang milyung beses, hindi mo ma-compose yung lyrics na yun ng ganun.

And you have the ordacity to tell me that my composition is our collective effort. In fairness to you, you have a very imaginative mind. Baka sabihin ngayon ng mga fans ko, sir, I have a collection of your collective compositions.

Seriously, yun pong mag compose ng kanta hindi naman siguro yun basta-basta gawin na lang ng kahit sino. Mas lalo na yung mag compose ka ng exactly sixty seconds na kanta. Pero ang natutuhan ko sa loob ng thirty years, minaliit ng GMA network duon din sa sagot na sulat na pirmado ni Atty. Dick Perez na kanilang abugado. Nakalagay po duon.

These changes we’re not made by Mr. Granada alone. One word from Mr. Granada or even three, assuming without admitting, that all changes were made by Mr. Granada does not make the piece his own.

Para akong sinabihan na, aangkinin mo ito eh wala ka namang ginawa liban na palitan ang isang salita.

It did not thirty days to finish that composition. It took me thirty years to hone the skill required to create that composition. Ngayon ipamumukha mo sa akin na ginawa ko lang ay palitan ko ang isang salita. At may nalalaman pa itong mga abugadong ito, na assuming without admitting.

Unang-una po, liwanagin ko lang. Hinding-hindi ko inaangkin yung nilabas nila sa TV. Frankly, ayoko yung mga tono na ganun. Bakit ko naman aangkinin yun? In fact, dahil ayaw ko yung kinalabasan, naiinis pa lalo tuloy na isiping may kinalaman pala ako duon.

Ganun pa man, ang sinasabi ko, hindi sila makakagawa nun, kung hindi nila sinamantala ang aking ginawa. Again, ang kini-claim ko, hindi sila makakagawa nun, hindi man ako nagagandahan duon, o gandang-ganda man sila duon. Hindi nila magagawa yun kung hindi nila sinamantala ang study na gawa ko.

And if we will just let GMA Kapuso Foundation and Proctor and Gamble get away with it, that is like applauding their arrogance and condoning stealing. And to think that GMA as publisher, sits in the board of FILSCAP which protects the writes of composers and lyricist. At may mga anti-piracy anti-piracy ka pa minsang kampanyang napapalabas sa GMA.

Kung hahayaan natin ito, what is now stopping anyone from commissioning artists in general to make studies only to reject them, make easily done modifications out of their hard work and pass them of as entirely new creation all together?

Ninakawan mo na yung mangagawa sa pinagpaguran niya, dinuro-duro mo pa na wala siyang claim dahil wala naman siyang ginawang significant.

Ha… *sigh*

Which makes me wonder? Saan napunta ngayon yung puso sa GMA Kapuso Founcation?

Kung sa tingin po ninyo ay tama lang na ipaglaban ito, malaking tulong kung makakagawa kayo ng statements of support. Mahalaga rin na makakalap ng mga opinyon ng mga dalubhasa kung kayo ay nasa literature department o creative writing center ng iyong university o college of music, your expert opinion will help a lot.

Kung kayo ay composer, lyricist, writer o artists in general. Please send us your comments. Kung kayo ay abugado na dalubhasa sa mga ganitong bagay at sa tingin ninyo ay lehitimong grievance ito, please send us your views.

Paki email lamang po sa garygranada@yahoo.com.Thank you very much for your time.

Baguio Pay Laeng

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:14:00 +0000

A Watercolor Exhibit
by the Baguio Aquarelle Society

Roland Bay-an, Jennifer Patricia Cariño, Norman Chow,
Mercy Javier Dulawan, Babeth Lolarga, Baboo Mondoñedo,
Tootee Chanco Pacis, Patric Palasi

Opening: February 08, 2009
at the Ramon Ozaeta Wing
of The Baguio Country Club
Sunday, 4:00 pm

Exhibit will run until March 08, 2009

See you there! :D

Join Scriptwriting Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (dissinea) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:01:00 +0000

Martin Masadao, freelance production designer for stage, film, and tv, who has written, directed, and mounted six plays at the University of the Philippines Baguio, will conduct a scriptwriting workshop for one-act plays or film and TV.

Sponsored by the Baguio Writers Group (BWG), the workshop will be held for two consecutive weekends--Jan, 24, 25, 31 and Feb. 1 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Venue will be at a room at UP Baguio.

The workshop "echoes" exercises from modules in different workshops Martin attended, including Ricky Lee's scriptwriting workshop and Writers' Bloc under Rody Vera.

The workshop will accept a minimum of five participants and a maximum of 15 participants, first come, first served.

Participants may send their story-lines to Masadao not later than Jan. 22 at this email address: masadao@gmail.com, cc: lotusbearer@yahoo.com .

Participants must bring their own favorite writing materials (paper, pens, notebooks, laptops). For reservations, contact BWG president Padma Perez at 0908-361-2844. Martin's photo by LUCKY BESA

[Reposted from http://brooksidebaby.blogspot.com]