CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

ART FLOOD: An Art Collectors’ Sale and Auction at Silverlens Gallery for the Benefit of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)

Acknowledging the profound impact of the recent typhoons, Silverlens Gallery would like to invite you to ART FLOOD, an art collectors’ sale of modern and contemporary pieces that will run from November 12-14, 1-8PM at Silverlens Gallery.

ART FLOOD seeks to display and sell modern and contemporary pieces at reasonable prices. Silverlens has chosen the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) as its beneficiary. In addition to helping rebuild the lives of displaced Metro Manila residents, ART FLOOD will also provide an opportunity to bring affordable art to new collectors.

Artwork by Gus Albor, Edgar Alegre, Ang Kiukok, Angelito Antonio, Janet Balbarona, Allan Ballisi, Renato Barja, Don Barranco, John Bautista, Jeho Bitancor, BenCab, Benjie Cabangis, Zean Cabangis, Benjie Torrado Cabrera, Ronald Caringal, Ernesto Carratala, Mariano Ching, Julius Clar, Daniel Coquilla, Louie Cordero, Jigger Cruz, Marina Cruz, Jon Cuyson, Dalena, Don Dalmacio, Joselito Dayono, RM de Leon, Cajipe Endaya, Kiko Escora, Noel El Farol, Alfredo Esquillo, Gilda Cordero Fernando, Dina Gadia, Marciano Galang, Genodepa, Joe Geraldo, Michael Gonzalez, Waling Waling Gorospe, Guerrero Habulan, Mia Herbosa, Riel Hilario, Eugene Jarque, Geraldine Javier, Amihan Jumalon, Erwin Leaño, Gilberto Magpantay, Lotsu Manes, Joven Mansit, Lito Mayo, Kat Medina, Benjamin Mendoza, Mintio, Edsel Mosloso, Leeroy New, Justin Nuyda, Jonathan Olazo, Jayson Oliveria, Renato Ong, Jim Orencio, Bernardo Pacquing, Mikel Parrial, Gary Ross Pastrana, Brenda Praico, Cid Reyes, Rene Robles, Reynaldo Rodriguez, Elmer Roslin, Stanley Ruiz, Susan Stair, Jose Tence Ruiz, Juni Salvador, Rodolfo Samonte, Jaypee Samson, Carlo Saavedra, Popo San Pascual, Art Sanchez, Emmanuel Santos, Gromyko Semper, Yasmin Sison, Gerardo Tan, Wire Tuazon, Mac Valdezco, Trek Valdizno, Mark Valenzuela, Roy Veneracion, Chris Villanueva, Alvin Villaruel, Francisco Pellicer Viri, Wawi Navarroza, Costantino Zicarelli, and a growing roster of new and established artists' work will be available at ART FLOOD.

In solidarity with Silverlens, Galleria Duemila, blanc, and Art Informal will also be selling pieces from their individual gallery collections.

For more information on the event please contact Cathy Paras-Lara
at communications@silverlensphoto.com or 816-0044.



ART FLOOD AUCTION GUIDELINES

1. Registration for paddles begins on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 1PM and ends on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 5 PM. There is a security deposit of Php 1,000.00 per paddle that must be paid upon registration and can be collected upon return of the paddle. Sign in as a bidder by filling out your name and complete contact information on the bidder sheet located at the Registration Table.

2. The auction begins at 6 pm on Nov. 14, 2009. Bidding may be done in person, through a representative in the room, or by bids placed with Silverlens auctioneer by phone (816-0044) or email (isa@silverlensphoto.com). Deadline for auctioneer bids is 5 pm Nov. 14, 2009. The auctioneer for ART FLOOD is Mr. Carlos Celdran.

3. The pieces for auction are on Silverlens’ website at www.silverlensphoto.com and will be exhibited at SLab (Silverlens Lab) throughout ART FLOOD. On the night of the auction, auction pieces will no longer be on display but will instead be projected for bidders to see.

4. The initial bid shall not be less than the starting bid shown on the bidding registration list and as announced by the auctioneer. Each succeeding bid must equal or exceed the required increment as shown on the auction list and as announced by the auctioneer. Increment bids are as follows within the price ranges:

PhP 15,000 – P 30,000 : P2,000 increments

PhP 30,000 – PhP 50,000: P 3,000 increments

PhP 50,000 – 100,000: P 5,000.00 increments

PhP100,000 – 150,000: P 10,000 increments

5. The winning bidder will be notified and acknowledged in person on the night of the auction itself at Silverlens Gallery by the auctioneer. If the bidder is not present, the bidder will be notified immediately via telephone.

6. All sales are final. All art purchased must be paid in full on Saturday, Nov. 14 by Philippine Peso, check, VISA, Mastercard or bank transfer if paying from abroad.

Silverlens Bank Details:
 UnionBank of the Philippines, Pasong Tamo Extension Branch
, Priscilla 100 Building, 2297 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City, Philippines
 Bank Code/Swift: UBPHPHMM; Account Number: 023-10-1-00626-0
 Beneficiary Name: Silverlens Inc.
 Intermediary Bank Details (for friends abroad):
Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank
Bank Code/Swift: SCBLUS33



The winning bidder must leave with the artwork purchased on Saturday, Nov. 14. Arrangements can be made for shipping purchased art (for bidders abroad). Winning bidders based abroad will be notified by Silverlens Gallery to confirm shipping arrangements after a successful bid. Shipping and delivery costs are for the account of the buyer.

Photo above: "Monsters in the Orchestra 2" by Alfred Esquillo.

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

JOIN! JOIN! JOIN!

PAGING ALL VIDEO AND FILM FOLK...

Want to win U$10,000.00?

Ok. Now that I have your attention, check out this project from the Asian Development Bank with a surprisingly cool-hip factor to it. A competition called "My View."

From their site: LOG ON HERE:

"My View is a climate change video competition.

You make a 1 to 5 minute digital film about climate change in Asia & the Pacific, and we’ll get the world to watch it.

Your film can be in any digital video format – you can even use your mobile phone. We accept films in any genre, including but not limited to animation, documentary, drama, experimental, art, testimonial, etc.

Videos can be in any language, though contestants are strongly encouraged to include subtitles and a full length script in English, in order to facilitate public outreach and the contest process.

Spring into action and make your own change!"

Join. Go. Hurry.

TAMA NA...

ANG LABO NIYONG LAHAT*...

Wow man. You print an negative article about the Philippines, people complain. So you print a positive article, and people STILL complain. Whatever. It seems more than apparent that there is no common agreement about what image we Filipinos should project upon the world.

So if I must be the only one living in some delusional bubble where it's all deliriously happy Filipinos spontaneously dancing in a parking lot in Makati sometime in the late 1970's doing choreography highly inspired by Jesus Christ Superstar set to music highly inspired by the BeeGees, then so be it. It's a world that I'd rather live in. Pffft. Blebo. Che kayong lahat with extra rice.

To paraphrase future Philippine National Artist for Literature, Miss Melanie Marquez, "I'm cutting us some slacks."

The Philippines is alright by me.

Thank you Chuva for the link.

*You are all so.. blurred.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...

I received this in the email today. I'm printing this as my own way of balancing recent reports on our "hopelessness" and "misery". It's from an Australian national who also happens to be upset about our one dimensional image in international media. I just wonder who the German "journalist" who he mentioned in the article might be...

Viewing The Philippines In A Different Light

by Scott Allford

October 18, 2009

If you live outside of the Philippines and you watch or read the news you may feel very justified in believing that the Philippines is a very dangerous country, savaged by typhoons, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and terrorist attacks. You may also be assured in your belief that it is a poor country with images of children picking through garbage, slums, and corruption scandals broadcast in most international news reports. I am not going to deny that these things are true, however, they are not all that the country contains. Not every person in the Philippines is poor, a terrorist or a victim of terror. In fact other countries around the world suffer from these same problems yet they do not become iconic images of those nations.

The Common View of the Philippines

A few months ago I was at a roof-top birthday party in Makati filled with socialites and expats. Whilst there I was introduced to a German ‘journalist’, and my friend asked him why the Philippines is portrayed in such a negative light in the foreign media. His response was in two parts; Firstly because in his experience he could not sell stories about the Philippines in Germany if they were not about poverty, violence or corruption. Secondly, he said that because there is so much poverty, violence, and corruption, there is nothing else to report on. After saying this, he sipped his glass of red wine and was whisked away into a group of Filipino socialites.

Perhaps the red wine was ‘poor’ in taste, or the fact that that particular roof-top was one of the few in Makati which doesn’t have a swimming pool made him focus on the poverty in the Philippines, or maybe the sounds of merrymaking were ‘violent’ on his ears. I think that it was none of these things. Germany, a developed country, has slums. But if the focus can be moved away from the poverty in the developed countries and put on some islands way out in the Pacific Ocean, then people in developed countries can feel a little bit better.

I remember growing up in Australia, taking garbage out to the dump after cleaning up the garden. I would see Aboriginals picking through the garbage for food. Yet that has never been an iconic image of Australia. I went to ‘water villages’ in Malaysia and Brunei and thought how similar they look to slums in Manila. Yet ‘water villages’ are tourist attractions and the slums here are not. I lived in South Korea a few hundred kilometres away from the DMZ, with jets and helicopters flying overhead all the time it felt like a war zone. In the spring I would have 40 tanks facing in the direction of my apartment. Yet South Korea is generally not viewed or branded as a dangerous country. And South Korea has slums too. Perhaps the time will come when people outside the Philippines will come to realize that the branded image of the Philippines portrayed in the media is only a small piece of the full picture of this country.

A Different View

Since the Philippines was settled by people 30,000 years ago, this country has blossomed into a mix of over 180 indigenous ethnic groups, over half of which also represent unique linguistic groups. This array of cultures, languages and cultural artifacts cannot be matched by most nations of the world. From the Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, and Visayans to the Binukid, Moros, Ati, Igorot, and the T’boli, just to name a few. These cultures are rich, strong and proud and in most cases the people that make up these cultures are very friendly and welcoming to outsiders. On a trip to Sagada I was welcomed into a very warm and friendly Kankanaey family. T hey showed us around Sagada and told us stories of Kankanaey cultural practices. They even taught me how to wear a traditional bahag (a hand-loomed loin cloth or G-string).

Neighbouring Sagada is Ifugao, with vast rice terraces that shape the mountains of the region. The oldest rice terraces are 6,000 years old, which is 1,000 years older than the oldest pyramid in Egypt. If put end to end the rice terraces dwarf the Great Wall of China, and the rice terraces were not made by using slave labor like most other ancient wonders of the world.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage site. But they are not alone. The Philippines have numerous UNESCO world heritage sites including the Baroque churches of San Agustin Church in Manila, Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, and Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo. There is also the beautiful and historic town of Vigan in Ilocos Sur. Furthermore, there are the natural UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

Lastly, the Philippines consists of 7,107 beautiful islands. These islands contain remote beaches and amazing rock formations as well as other natural wonders like the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, the perfectly conical Mt. Mayon volcano or the stunning Bacuit Bay in El Nido, Palwan. B ut also on these islands is a range of biodiversity not seen in most other places on the planet. In Romblon, Sibuyan Island is known as the Galapagos of Asia as it contains such a diverse range of species which can be found nowhere else on the planet. If you get off these islands and dive into the cool blue-turquoise waters of the Philippines, you may also see some of the richest biodiversity in the world’s seas. The Verde Island Passage has been named as the ‘centre of the centre’ of marine biodiversity in the world. It has over 300 species of corals as well as vast numbers of fish that you will not find anywhere else.

With all that this country has to offer, I am baffled as to why it has been branded in such a negative way by the international media. However, I think that more and more people are starting to discover that there is a different side to the Philippines to the one they have been bombarded with for the past few decades. Those who come to the Philippines to seek out the beauty of this country will not be disappointed. However, first time travelers to the Philippines should beware, just like me and many other foreigners, this amazing country may compel you to stay quite a bit longer than you initially planned.

Scott M. Allford

has lived and worked in Australia and South Korea and has traveled extensively throughout Asia - Mongolia, China, Tibet, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and Japan – fell in love with the Philippines and decided to allocate at least two years to comprehensively cover the country.

BOO! BOO! BOO!

DOUCHE OF THE MONTH: THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER AND RICHARD HALLORAN

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to present to you perhaps this year's worst article about the Philippines - both in content and it the way it was written. It's an article that is pointlessly denigrating, badly researched, badly written, and badly classified as the local news in the Honolulu Advertiser. Who the hell is this fart Richard Halloran? Why does he think we are in East Asia? Why won't he name the sources of some of his 'quotes'? And why was he given a damn Pulitzer Prize*? Wha? So please, tell me what you think. Click on the article HERE.

And while you are at it, tell him and the Honolulu Advertiser as well.

oranhall@hawaii.rr.com and @honadv

*And seriously, his Pulitzer doesn't say much. Look up another Pulitzer Prize winner named Walter Duranty (above)...

TOUR DATES! TOUR RATES!

2009 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Please note all starting times. They differ.

Scroll down for all other tours...

Email celdrantours@hotmail.com

or text 0920 9092021 to confirm reservations.

SHOULD YOU NOT FIND TOUR DATES THAT FIT YOUR SCHEDULE, PLEASE NOTIFY ME THREE (3) WEEKS IN ADVANCE, AND I CAN OPEN UP A PUBLIC TOUR ON YOUR PREFERRED DATE AT THE REGULAR TOUR RATE.

NOTE: NO TOURS ON MONDAYS.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED TOUR DESCRIPTIONS...

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK! Deluxe Tour

Scroll down for schedule of Intramuros REGULAR,

Imelda, and Quiapo tours.

Includes San Agustin Museum, Fort Santiago, Calesa Ride, Plaza San Luis

Note: Tour has slightly mature content. (3 hours)

Recommended for ages eight (8) years above

Php1000.00 - Adult

Php500.00 - Student

Dates:
Scroll down for other tours and dates.
October 20 - Tuesday - 9:00am
October 25 - Sunday - CANCELED
October 29 - Thursday - 3:00pm
November 8 - Sunday - 9:00am
November 15 - Sunday - 3:00pm
November 29 - Sunday - 9:00am
December 2 - Wednesday - 9:00am
December 13 - Sunday - 9:00am
December 15 - Tuesday - 2:30pm
December 17 - Thursday - 2:30pm
December 20 - Sunday - 2:30pm
December 23 - Wednesday - 9:00am
December 27 - Sunday - 9:00am
Decmeber 29 - Tuesday - 2:30pm
December 30 - Wednesday - 2:30pm

All tours begin at Fort Santiago and end at San Agustin Museum Parking Lot.

(Scroll down for the regular Intramuros Tour

and all other tours)

Fort Santiago

Santa Clara Street

Intramuros

(632) 5271572

Plaza San Luis

Calle Real del Palacio (Gen. Luna Street)

Intramuros

(632) 5274084

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK!

Intramuros Regular Walking Tour

Includes: Manila Cathedral, Walk on Walls, San Agustin Museum, Plaza San Luis

Note: Tour has slightly mature content (2 hours)

Recommended for ages eight (8) above

Php900.00 - Adult

Php450.00 - Student

Dates:
October 21- Wednesday - 9:30am
October 24 - Saturday - CANCELED
October 27 - Tuesday - 9:00am
October 30 - Friday - 3:00pm
November 2 - Monday - 2:30pm
November 3 - Tuesday - 9:00am
November 7 - Saturday - 9:00am
November 13 - Friday - 3:00pm
November 14 - Saturday - 9:00am
November 20 - Friday - 3:00pm
November 18 - Wednesday - 9:00am
November 21 - Saturday - 9:00am
November 22 - Sunday - 3:00pm
November 25 -Wednesday - 9:00am
November 26 - Thursday - 3:00pm
November 27 - Friday - 3:00pm
November 28 - Saturday - 9:00am
December 1 -Tuesday -2:30pm
December 4 - Friday - 3:00pm
December 5 - Saturday - 9:00am
December 9 -Wednesday - 9:00am
December 11 - 2:30pm - 2:30pm
December 12 - Saturday - 9:00am
December 22 - Tuesday - 2:30pm
December 26 - Saturday - 9:00am
December 28 - Monday - 2:30 pm

All Tours Begin at Manila Cathedral and end at San Agustin Church.

Manila Cathedral

Plaza Roma

Intramuros, Manila

San Agustin Church and Museum

Calles Gen Luna and Real

Manila 1002 Philippines

(632) 5274060

And Have Lunch or Dinner at La Cocina De Tita Moning

after the tour.

Log on here for information!

LIVING LA VIDA IMELDA!

Walking Tour of the Cultural Center of the Philippines

Tour of the National Theater, Philippine International Convention Center, and CCP grounds.

Note: Tour has slightly adult content (3 hours)

Recommended for ages 14 above.

Php840.00 adults

Php420.00 students

Dates:

October 24 - Saturday - CANCELLED
November 7 - Saturday - 2:30pm
November 21 - Saturday - 2:30pm
November 28 - Saturday - 2:30pm
December 5 - Saturday - 2:30pm
December 13 - Sunday - 2:30pm
December 16 - Wednesday - 2:30pm
December 23 - Wednesday - 2:30pm

All tours begin at the CCP Little Theatre Lobby GIFT SHOP

The Cultural Center of the Philippines

Roxas Boulevard corner P. Ocampo (Vito Cruz)

Malate

(632) 832 1125

DOWNTOWN EXPRESS!

A Stroll through Binondo and Quiapo

Note: Recommended for all ages.

Php850.00 - Adults

Php400.00 - Students

Additional fees:

Dates:

October 22 - Thursday - (CANCELLED)
November 5 - Thursday - 3:00pm
December 3 - Thursday - 2:30pm
December 10 - Thursday - 2:30pm
December 12 - Saturday - 2:30pm
December 26 - Saturday - 2:30pm

All tours begin at Binondo Church and end at Quiapo Church.

Binondo Church

Quentin Paredes Street at Plaza Calderon de la Barca

Binondo

(632) 2424850

DO-IT-YOURSELF TOUR!

EVANGELISTA QUE LINDA!

Window shopping through the flea markets of one of Manila's emerging neighborhoods of cool: Bangkal, Makati

FREE

Dates:

ANYTIME EXCEPT SUNDAYS

Fat Michael's is located at 1354 Gen Lacuna St. Bangkal Makati.

(turn right at Makati Apartelle from southbound lane of South Super Hiway before the Magallanes Interchange).

Call Fat Michael's Place Tel.8442638 or 8431953 for directions to

their restaurant and for the free map. Ask for Jude Mancuyas

I highly recommend their food. Simple slow fare. Not a greasy spoon at all.

TOURS! TOURS! TOURS!

NOTE: NO TOURS ON MONDAYS

(MY APOLOGIES)

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK!

Walking Tour of Historic Intramuros

Almost four years running now, its the most popular tour in the selection and a definite must for beginners in Philippine History. Take a leisurely afternoon walk around a selection of Intramuros' most stunning structures and take in a humorous analysis of Philippine art, culture, and society from Pre-Hispanic Manila until the present. A small snack is provided of course...Ironically irreverent yet informative.

Itinerary:
Fort Santiago (Deluxe Tour Only)
San Agustin Church and Museum

Intramuros Wall Tour
Plaza San Luis

Casa Manila (optional)

LIVING LA VIDA IMELDA!
Architectural tour of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex as seen through the life and aspirations of Imelda Romualdez Marcos

It's a tour all about the Philippines in the 1970’s and the tumultous era of Martial Law, bell-bottom jeans, and Miss Universe. Its a little bit disco, a little bit New Society, and completely Imeldific. So come take a trippy trip through National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsins finest buildings as we analyze one of the most controversial periods in Philippine history as seen through the life and ambitions of the lady who defined it, Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

Itinerary:
The Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Philippine International Convention Center

CCP Complex Grounds

Sofitel Hotel (optional)

DOWNTOWN EXPRESS HALO HALO TOUR!
A Carriage ride Through Binondo, Escolta Quiapo.

Rediscover the Heart and Soul of Manila on this real "Halo-Halo" Tour, a real mix of everything Check out the charms of one of the city's oldest districts and take in history lessons about the multicultural melange that is Manila. This tour will visit three historic Catholic Churches, two art deco districts, and a museum. We will also visit traditional chinese pastry shops, two open air markets, and a bizaare herbalist/pagan bazaar. It's a really fun walk and ride on a horse drawn carriage Much of the area's mid-20th century architectural legacy remains and its still the cheapest place in Manila to buy shoes, hardware, appliances, clothes, sex gadgets, jewelery, pearls, beauty queen tiaras, voodoo potions, flowers, handicrafts, videos, electronics, and of course, salvation. Wear practical shoes. There is an option to ride the Pasig River Ferry back to Makati at the end of the tour.

Itinerary:
Plaza Calderon dela Barca (Plaza Ruiz)
Binondo Church
Carvajal Street Market
Santo Christo de Longos Holy Site
Ongpin Street/Escolta Street
Escolta Street Museum
Carriedo Fountain and Santa Cruz Church
Evangelista Herbalist Market
Villalobos Street (Quinta Market)


ROCK OUT!
Rediscover the Rock
(The Overnight tour to the Island of Corregidor)
Log onto all Information here: CLICK

DO IT YOURSELF (DIY) TOUR:
EVANGELISTA QUE LINDA!
Afternoon tea and window shopping through
the flea markets of Evangelista Street in Bangkal, Makati

Check out the flea market paradise of Bangkal: Makati's mecca for shoppers looking for that fabulous find. Bring a bunch of friends and let's go scour for old records, retro furniture, vintage fashions, and whatever funky things might be lurking within it's rows and rows of second-hand shops. Lots of wooden mid-20th century architecture and a cute little market adds to the charm of the neighborhood. It is recommended to start and end the tour at Fat Michael's Place, a cute little homegrown neighborhood bistro. Maps of the neighborhood are available at Fat Michael's. Price: Free.

Places to visit:
Fat Michaels Restaurant
Evangelista Street
Apolinario Street
Hison Street
Call/text Jude Mancuyas at Fat Michael's Place for directions and to obtain a map of the neighborhood.
Tel: 8431953 or 8442638
Cell: 0917 4078528

ALL TOURS ARE IN ENGLISH

*Please note that itineraries may change at last minutes notice due to weather or accessibility. Please ALWAYS confirm your attendence.
No email or text to confirm. No reservations.