Successful, pain-free cancer treatment at Fuda Cancer Hospital

Successful, pain-free cancer treatment
By Walter Ang
July 14, 2009
Manila Bulletin

Nestor Bonifacio is inspired these days to spread the word about a hospital in China that can help people with cancer. This picture of active excitement is a complete turnaround from just earlier this year when this 69 year old was depressed and suicidal.

A retired engineering director for shipping company American President Lines, Nestor had been living in San Francisco, California for close to forty years with his wife Hermie when he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in 2007.

He underwent a series of treatments but all to no avail. In 2008, his brother Domingo learned of Fuda Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou, China (just across Hong Kong) which specializes in cancer treatment using modern methods. The hospital has a track record of 70% survival rate for patients with terminal cancer.

Nestor's seven siblings and a host of nephews, nieces and grandchildren encouraged him to go. For them, it made sense for him to go to Fuda Hospital since all the doctors in the US had told Nestor that his only option was to undergo conventional radiation and chemotherapy with just a 5% survival rate.

No choice
"I refused to go," says Nestor. "I had negative assumptions about China. How can China have better technology than the US when the US spends millions of dollars each year on cancer research and development?"

By late 2008, Nestor started turning into a recluse. "I was depressed, anxious and paranoid. I didn't have the energy and frame of mind to watch TV, listen to the radio, read newspapers or answer phone calls and emails. I dismissed visitors. I had no appetite and couldn't sleep. I had severe leg pain and stayed in bed almost all day with my eyes closed most of the time. I had lost hope, I had stopped praying," he says.

In early 2009, the cancer spread to his bones and caused a hip fracture. "By then, I was left with no choice. After eight months of begging by my family, I finally relented and went to Fuda Hospital," he says. Nestor arrived on May 4, 2009 and was greeted at the airport by a hospital representative. He was led to a "fully-furnished room that looked and felt like a condo unit" that was big enough to accommodate family members. "It had internet, flat-screen TV, a large bathroom, the works!" he says.

Treatments
Nestor received cryotherapy where small cryoprobes are inserted in and around the tumors in his prostate through small punctures in the skin. The probes create extreme cold temperatures to kill the tumor. The dead tumor is left in place, allowing it to releases antigens that stimulate the body into creating antibodies to fight the cancer. "This method is faster, more effective, and less painful as opposed to the conventional radical surgery where the body is cut wide open to remove the tumors or, sometimes, even the entire organ involved," says Nestor.

Brachytherapy, a form of radiation treatment that uses "seeds" filled with low-dose iodine 125, was also given to Nestor. Unlike conventional radiation treatments that expose other parts of the body to radiation aside from the tumor site, brachytherapy is more specific and concentrated since the seeds are placed very close to the tumor.

To help his body regain its strength and his immune system to regain its ability to fight disease, Nestor was given immunotherapy. Usually, a patient's blood cells and stem cells (immature cells that grow into blood cells) are destroyed by anticancer drugs or radiation. This treatment takes some of the patient's own blood and cultures it to harvest stem cells. The harvested stem cells are then infused back into the patient to help increase immune function. This provides a "systemic" approach to healing the body to complement the "localized" approach of targeting the tumor.

Even though Nestor also received acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines, he says, "I realized that Fuda Hospital does not offer `alternative treatments' for cancer since most of the treatments I received were actually developed in Western countries and most of the doctors there have trained in US or European schools and are widely published in respected medical journals," he says. "I consider it as an `alternative hospital' that cancer patients can go to if their current hospitals do not offer these latest treatments."

Hope
After just a 27-day treatment plan, Nestor no longer has prostate cancer. While he continues to receive treatment for the cancer in his bones, he is happy and pain-free. "I feel very much well now and alive, ready to live a new life but with a mission to be a living testimonial to other cancer patients, especially those who have already lost hope, like I once did."

He has temporarily relocated to Manila and is keen on letting more Filipinos know about the hospital that helped him get better. "People can email me at nbonifacio@pabell.net if they want to talk to me about my experience. They will be surprised at how low the costs of that hospital are! What's more, you only pay for treatment, they don't charge professional fees for the doctors," he says.

Nestor notes that the hospital is well-versed in treating international patients. "There were patients from Denmark, England, and Holland. It has a full-time Patient Services staff dedicated to translation, visa and embassy services, and travel services. All medical documents, prescriptions, invoices, and discharge papers are written in English," he says. "And the food actually tastes good!" he adds with a laugh.

Fuda Hospital's president, Dr. Kecheng Xu will conduct a seminar on cancer cure technologies at Vivere Hotel, Alabang on July 14, 2009, 1:30-5:00pm. Entrance is free but slots are limited, email msaunga@gmail.com to confirm.

Also published online:
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/210700/successful-painfree-cancer-treatment

Fuda hospital website re-post:
http://www.fudahospital.com/alb_asp_new/show_info.asp?typename=News&typename2=newspaper&typename3=none&article_showid=1268

Accessible, customized vacations available at The Farm

Accessible, customized vacations available at The Farm
By Walter Ang
July 6, 2009
Manila Bulletin

The Farm at San Benito is opening its doors to more Filipinos via new packages and rates. In the past few years, The Farm has gained somewhat of a notorious reputation as an expensive vacation destination and a place that only loony vegans and colonic-addicts go to. The new management of this tropical spa resort is on a mission to change these negative perceptions.

A former coconut and coffee plantation located at the foothills of Mount Malarayat, Lipa City, Batangas, The Farm is a 48-hectare resort filled with gardens, ponds, rivers, lagoons, and waterfalls. Less than two hours' drive from Manila, it is a wonderful escape for the body, heart, and soul.

Yes, the resort's coffee enema and colon hydrotherapy services (one of its defining features) are still available, but The Farm assures everyone that absolutely no one is required to partake of these services when they visit. With that piece of information promptly out of the way, Filipinos may be more open to the opportunities that The Farm can offer for a nice vacation.

Aside from the new accessible rates being developed, the notion of choosing only what you want out of its many amenities and services is the latest innovation that The Farm offers. While packages have always been available, everyone is encouraged to call up their Manila office to customize a vacation that suits their personal needs or budgets. From day trips to long-term stays, with options to include or skip amenities like the spa services and transfers from their Manila office, the power of choice is given to the customer.

Lush
For harried ubran-dwellers, The Farm's lush surroundings, peppered with tropical flowers and ferns, can provide a much-needed retreat to calm the nerves. It is, after all, not the party-ready shores of Boracay. The Farm is definitely more for people seeking a more quiet environment.

The layout incorporates outdoor "private areas" throughout the resort meant for meditation, reading, or just a plain relaxing nap. An "ampitheater" facing one of the lagoons is the venue for daily yoga sessions. Four separate pools and a network of walking and jogging paths gives people a chance to clear their heads while communing with nature. More physically inclined guests can partake of classes ranging from belly dancing to martial arts.
The Farm's spa has an infinity pool with a view of Mount Malarayat and private massage pavilions, each within their own enclosed gardens. There is veritable menu of massages, scrubs, and special treatments using only natural products like fresh coconut milk, virgin coconut oil, coconut fiber, coffee, and cocoa.

The resort has different kinds of suites and villas using traditional and contemporary Southeast Asia designs. The Palmera suites have open-air shower rooms and private backyards while the Sulu Terrace suites are elevated structures (think bahay kubo) that feature an outdoor sleeping area under the house, complete with cushions and pillows.

Till the end of September, spending a day at The Farm will cost only P4,800 per person, inclusive of meals, a walking tour of the resort, a massage, and use of the facilities such as the pools and library. Suites that regularly start at P7,000 will be on discount for the next few months to as low as P3,500 for single occupancy and only P4,200 for double occupancy.

Detox
The two major streams bounding the resort provide a source of "natural healing water with uncommon purity" that is used in the preparation of the resort's food. The Farm's restaurant features organic vegan cuisine made from fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds.

The output is cleverly disguised as "regular" food, such as their "scrambled eggs" made from corn and cashew nuts. The menu is extensive, from crackers (made from coconut meat) and breads to chutneys, curries, pastries, pasta dishes, and even ice cream. The Farm strives to serve food in its raw, "live" state because they believe that heating food over a certain temperature destroys or lessens its enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.
There is also an herb garden where afternoon is tea is served. Fresh herbs like mint and lemongrass are picked from the garden and steeped on-the-spot for the guests. Admittedly, the food takes some getting used to, but if guests only plan to stay the day or a weekend, they can consider it as a short adventure in expanding their palates. Guests who plan or need to stay longer will no doubt benefit from the "fresh" food.

The combination of fresh air, proximity to nature, spaces for solitude, spa treatments, and healthy food are all part of The Farm's overarching desire to help its guests come to a sense of balance and healing, no matter what state of health they're in.

Filipinos who are relatively healthy can go for some solitude and relaxation while those with more serious medical conditions can (still) take advantage of consulting with the resort's staff doctors and even getting medically-guided programs tailored for their needs, whether wellness maintenance, detoxification, or recovery is the objective.

Maldita's Emelda Teng does it her way

Doing it your way
By Walter Ang
July-August 2009 issue
Asian Dragon Magazine

When it comes to taking risks in life and business, Emelda Teng tells Walter Ang that there's absolutely nothing wrong with
Doing it your way

Emelda Teng's entrepreneurial streak was sparked in the third grade. When she asked for a toy, her mother Maria Tinquico simply replied, "You like it? Okay, you have to earn money so you can buy it."

Emelda started selling candies to her classmates and teachers. "By the time I was in high school and college, I was selling denim garments," she says. Growing up around her father Carlos Yung's textile business in Binondo, Emelda was exposed to the ins and outs of sales transactions and had easy access to inventory.

Nevertheless, she took a little detour before establishing her name (quite literally) in the garments industry. The third of four children, Emelda took up advertising at the University of Santo Tomas. Together with husband Eric Teng, she then parlayed her selling skills to open the P99 Store in Tutuban Mall in the early 90s.

Luck and timing played a part in that first venture of selling knick knacks and gift items, and was to become constant companions in the couple's business efforts. "I was told of a vacancy in the mall," says Emelda. "But I only had until the end of the day to claim it. I rushed home and my husband decided right there and then to get it."

The store's novel concept became successful enough that when the couple inquired at another mall for space availability, they didn't face the usual red tape and stringent selection process. "They told us that they'd been looking for a way to contact us for the longest time! Apparently, our store had become popular with the market," she says. Other malls soon sought them out.

Sassy
Emboldened by their success, the couple decided to leap into the garment retail business with their own brand, Maldita. "We wanted to create a line of women's corporate wear that was edgier than what was available at the time. The brand conveys the concept of `power dressing' and `dressing to impress.' It's not as soft and feminine as other brands. Maldita is a little more aggressive," explains Emelda.

There are no direct English translations for maldita, but a close word would be "sassy." "It's a play on my name," says Emelda. "And also, every woman we know is a maldita," Eric laughs. Despite some negative cultural connotations with the word, the couple took a risk and ran with it.

"We were happy because the brand was accepted from day one," Emelda notes. "Even though the brand primarily targets 18-25 year olds, there was a family composed of a grandmother, her daughter and her granddaughter who came to our store and each bought something. In fact, out of the three, the grandmother ended up buying the sexiest outfit, a cocktail dress with a plunging neckline!"

Another big risk they took was to use Ara Mina, then a very popular sexy actress, in their billboard. "We wanted to prove to people that you can look sexy with your clothes on," says Emelda. "That billboard was put up in 2003 and until now, people still come up to us to say how much impact it had. The funny thing is, it's mostly men who remember that billboard, but the women always remember our clothes."

Their way
The couple exudes an almost rebellious vein in the way they've gone against accepted norms in the garments industry. However, they point out that they're merely doing things their way. "We like doing our own thing. We don't want to copy what other people are doing because it will end up being half-baked. We don't want to pretend, we only try to do things that we understand or know. We don't mind being a smaller competitor compared to the industry giants, as long as we enjoy what we're doing," says Emelda.

This formula apparently works well for them since they now own thirty Maldita stores, including a 350-square meter flagship store in the Mall of Asia. A far cry from using Eric's old bedroom as their office and his father's bedroom as their stockroom with only a staff of four.

Emelda leads Maldita as president, handling operations and finance, while Eric, who took up business management in UST, handles the marketing for the different brands. They've steered the growth of their company not just in the quantity of their outlets but also into new brands like Diego, a counterpart for young men, and Black Sheep, for girls 16-22. "We're preparing our newest brand `o.u. Little Maldita' for young girls and we've just opened our couture shoe store, Gaupo, at Greenbelt 5," says Emelda.

She notes that while there've been bumps along the way, one should never stop aiming for the win. "We've had errors, we've had to close down some stores, but that's how you learn," she says. "Never stop learning. It's important that you keep reinventing. Don't do something that's been done before."

Robert Young makes shoes for Betsy Johnson, Miu Miu, Bergdorf Goodman

Robert Young makes shoes for Betsy Johnson, Miu Miu, Bergdorf Goodman
By Walter Ang
July-August 2009 issue
Asian Dragon Magazine

To avoid being shipped off to Mindanao to work for his father's lumber business, Robert Young took a job at a garment trading firm in Manila that imported apparel from Hong Kong.

After being exposed to the ins and outs of the industry, he eventually founded Contex International Manila, a company that exports Philippine made garments and shoes to foreign clients.

"Garments flourished like anything in the 70s and early 80s. In the late 80s, the demand went down and we shifted to footwear," says Young. He initially sold casual shoes for school and office use until hitting on a winner: flip flops with wooden soles. "It was called the kontiki sandal and we sold half a million pairs. It became very hot in Hawaii."

Footwear became the name of the game. The Philippines became known for its stylized bakya, chunky wooden clogs with intricately designed (usually carved) heels. The bakyas for export were not the usual utilitarian clogs that grandmothers wear to the market, but highly designed pieces. Shells and faux crystals are usual embellishments while one of the more elaborate carvings in the sole include a miniature three dimensional bahay kubo.

"People would take a look at the shoes I was exporting and ask 'Who will buy these crazy looking shoes?'" he laughs. "I would always answer, 'Remember, these designs aren't for you.'"

He notes that foreign markets do not perceive our footwear the same way we do. "They value it as being handcrafted. For them, it's one of a kind. There is a sense of personalization involved. Not everyone has these kinds of shoes," he says.

Young has leveraged this insight and now sells to companies such as Betsy Johnson
Miu Miu, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. "The designs are usually from their end and we manufacture using either imported or locally sourced materials. We have the heels and soles carved in Paete and Biñan, Laguna. It's really high quality, skilled work," he says.

Young became involved in the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (at one time becoming president), a group of local buyers that provide export liaison for representative offices of foreign companies here in Manila. The group used to rely heavily on imported raw materials such as leather, shoe laces and shoe lining.

However, due to consistent and constant negative encounters with customs, such as red tape resulting in late release of raw materials, there has been a shift to using indigenous materials. "We now use whatever is available locally, like satin, velvet and abaca for textiles. It's also our way of helping the country," he says.

The third of seven children of Chinese father Ben Young and Bulakeña mother Valeriana Mercado, Young took up economics in San Beda College and, therefore, has a keen sense of the factors involved in the export industry.

Garments are the second largest export of the Philippines next to electronics, which begs the question why the industry receives so little government support. "Not only do we have to deal with customs problems, we also have utility costs that are ridiculous. Our electricity costs are either the highest or second highest in Asia! Not to mention that we have a crazy political climate that creates apprehension on the side of the foreign buyers. The government really should do its homework," he says.

Young's decades worth of work with foreign buyers from America, Europe and Asia has given him a perspective on work ethic and methods that are vastly different from the way things are done here. "The international arena is very apolitical. The professionalism is really at a level that we have not yet reached," he says.

To help the country's ailing garment export scene, Young is now also involved with the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines Foundation. "This is an independent entity that deals mostly with generating funding for promotions for the industry. We are currently in discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry to organize a `Filipino Market Week' that is envisioned to showcase the best of Philippine apparel and footwear to American buyers," he says.

For Young, the game plan is simple. "China's already beaten us out of the basic goods market, so let's concentrate on high end products," he says. "We just need the right item with the right pricing. We can definitely carve a big chunk out of a niche market."

Lantus is low-cost diabetes medication for low-income Filipinos

Low-cost diabetes medication for low-income Filipinos
By Walter Ang
June 30, 2009
Manila Bulletin

A new program that aims to deliver diabetes medication at a lower cost to low-income Filipinos was launched by pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis with the Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation (ISDF) of the University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC).

Titled "Innovation for Life," the program created by Sanofi-Aventis specifically for patients in developing countries to allow increased access to Lantus, an injectible insulin glargine medication that helps control blood sugar levels in the body. The Philippines is the first country in the world where the program will be implemented.

Diabetes is one of the ten leading causes of death for millions of Filipinos. Estimates reveal that by 2025, about eight percent of the total Philippine population will be afflicted by the disease. Globally, diabetes is estimated to be the cause of six percent of deaths, amounting to 3.8 million lives lost every year.

Diabetes is characterized by increased blood sugar levels and is associated with long term health complications such as damage and failure of the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. Diabetes occurs either when insulin (which controls sugar levels in the body) is not adequately produced by the pancreas or when the body cannot properly use insulin.

Lantus is injected only once a day as it releases insulin into the body over 24 hours. In the initial stages of Innovation for Life, the lowered-price Lantus vials will be made available to the patients of ISDF. Established in 1989, the foundation is the country's first research institute devoted to the study of diabetes mellitus and improvement of its treatment. Located in Marikina, it averages a hundred patients every Saturday.

Dr. Ricardo Fernando, ISDF founder, said, "We're happy that Sanofi-Aventis understands the difficulties and cost burden that patients face when coping with diabetes. Through the program, ISDF can help ensure that the greatest number of patients who are in need can now have access to diabetes health care."

Dr. Benedict Blayney, Sanofi-Aventis Asia Pacific Medical Affairs Vice President, noted that since diabetes is a life-long disease, the program is envisioned to provide low-cost medication to its recipients "for as long as they need it." The company projects that thousands of low-income patients will benefit from the program. After ISDF, Innovation for Life may possibly be implemented in government and military hospitals.

Also published online:
http://mb.com.ph/articles/208324/lowcost-diabetes-medication-lowincome-filipinos

The Medical City's live broadcasted spinal surgeries highlight medical convention

Live broadcasted spinal surgeries highlight medical convention 
By Walter Ang
June 30, 2009
Manila Bulletin

Spinal surgical procedures were performed simultaneously in The Medical City (TMC)'s operating rooms for this year's Operative Course in Spinal Surgery and broadcast live via streaming video to at least 150 Filipino and foreign participating orthopedic and spinal surgeons.

The procedures performed were used as teaching demonstrations of different techniques in spinal surgery involved in the treatment of traumatic, degenerative, infectious, neo-plastic spinal ailments, and spinal deformities. Co-organized by the Asia Pacific Orthopedic Association (APOA) and the Philippine Spine Society (PSS), the convention was moderated by a panel of the best spinal surgeons in the Asia Pacific region.

"This convention showcases TMC's world-class facilities and demonstrates our medical and technological expertise in providing advanced surgical solutions in handling complex orthopedic and spinal surgical procedures," said TMC Department of Orthopedics Chair Dr. Rafael Claudio.

TMC's orthopedic department has a complement of more than fifty consultants in seven subspecialties related to spine problems. The cameras used to broadcast the operations for this convention have the capability to be used in operations that need to be broadcasted abroad in case procedures may need the inputs of international doctors.

Claudio added that Filipinos living abroad and foreign patients who seek orthopedic treatment can come to TMC to avail of orthopedic and spinal surgical procedures that are at par with the world's best but at competitive costs. The convention organizers said international magazines have reported that the cost of spinal surgeries done in Manila can cost up to 80% less than procedures done abroad.

PSS president Dr. Antonio Sison said, "The convention was aimed at significantly adding to the knowledge of the participating surgeons and contributing to the capabilities of Filipino surgeons and to the actual field of spinal surgery in the Philippines." The convention included speakers from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and India.

TMC is a tertiary care hospital with over forty years experience and serves 40,000 in-patients and 380,000 out-patients annually. It has over 1,000 physicians who are established experts in their various fields of specialization. TMC is accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the world's most prestigious accrediting body for international health care organizations.

Bikers raise awareness for the fight against cervical cancer

Bikers raise awareness for the fight against cervical cancer
By Walter Ang
June 16, 2009
Manila Bulletin

More than forty bikers completed a 500 kilometer tour that started in Alabang, Muntinlupa City and ended in Camarines Sur to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cervical cancer. The tour, titled "The Tour of Hope 2009: XXX Dare to Be Bold!" is on its second year and was able to raise over half a million pesos. All proceeds benefit the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program (Cecap).

Pledges were gathered for every kilometer ridden by bikers that included volunteers from David's Salon (the Philippine's first all-women multi-sport team), Polo Tri, and Candon. Noted personalities included interior designer Tessa Prieto-Valdez and husband-and-wife sports enthusiasts Ernie and Geena Lopez, who is a champion wakeboarder. The first Tour of Hope in the Philippines was held last year with a route that started in Vigan and ended in Subic with more than P300,000 raised.

Cervical cancer is the second most common women's cancer worldwide, with 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths reported each year. Over 80% of cases occur in developing countries like the Philippines where it is ranked as the second most common cancer afflicting Filipino women. Every two minutes, one woman dies of cervical cancer around the world. In the Philippines, ten women die every day of this disease.

Cecap brings together health organizations, both in the government and private sectors, and other concerned local and international groups, in a concerted effort to eradicate cervical cancer. Cecap uses a comprehensive approach in combating this disease: advocating proper education about prevention through healthy living and providing quality cervical cancer services such as research, vaccination, counseling, screening, and treatment.

The tour aims to let more women know that cervical cancer is actually preventable through vaccination and treatable if diagnosed early. To this end, Cecap doctors conducted lay lectures at all the tour stops, namely, Tagaytay, Lipa, Lucena, Daet, Camarines Norte, Naga, and Camarines Sur. This year scored over 1,000 total attendees to its lectures.

Cecap advocates vaccination against cervical cancer. Studies have shown that one of the causes of cervical cancer are certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Vaccination options are available like GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix vaccine which provides at least six and a half years' worth of protection for women against the two most common cancer-causing HPV strains (HPV types 16 and 18) and twelve other cancer-causing HPV strains. HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for over 70 percent of cervical cancer cases in Asia Pacific.

Oncologist-gynecologist Dr. Cecilia Ladines-Llave, Cecap director and UP-PGH Cancer Institute chair, stressed that a woman who is not screened for cervical cancer is five times at risk for developing this disease.

Part of Cecap's efforts also goes toward supervising cervical cancer screenings throughout the Philippines by using the "Single Visit Approach." This method combines counseling, screening and treatment in just one visit to the doctor and is geared towards women from rural areas that may not have ready access to healthcare.

Unlike women living in urban areas who have more access to cervical cancer screening tests such as Pap smears, this method uses vinegar to detect precancerous lesions on the cervix. If necessary, treatment can be done by freezing the lesions (using a liquid coolant like carbon dioxide), effectively eliminating the abnormality and preventing possible progression to cancer.

Cecap is a program of the Cancer Institute Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization that supports the Cancer Institute of the Philippine General Hospital. A major proponent of the tour is Bravehearts, a multi-sectoral coalition led by CIF. To help raise awareness, Bravehearts publishes a monthly journal and conducts lectures. Bravehearts is currently supported by a growing number of women, including prominent personalities such as Sen. Loren Legarda, Rina Jimenez David, Ellen Tordesillas, Atty.Gaby Concepcion, and Suzi Entrata.

Also published online:
http://mb.com.ph/articles/207053/bikers-raise-awareness-fight-against-cervical-cancer

Filipinos win online Martha Graham dance video contest

Pinoys win online Martha Graham dance video contest
By Walter Ang
June 8, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Paul Morales and Myra Beltran recently won third place in the "Clytemnestra ReMash Challenge" organized by the Martha Graham Dance Company. The worldwide contest involved downloading any out of five solos featured in Graham's 1958 masterwork, Clytemnestra, and "in any way imaginable, create a radically re-conceived, re-mashed short video." The video clips available online were from the company's 2008 production of the 50th anniversary of Graham's work based on the Trojan War.

The pair submitted a black-and-white entry titled "Clytemnestra-Manila '58," described as "a cinematic adaptation that delves into the motives and pre-meditation of a woman on the verge of committing a heinous crime ? in a Manila closer to Graham's time." The video (which can be viewed at www.clytemnestraproject.com) was shot, directed and edited by Morales with Beltran as the dancer.

Morales is Artistic Director of Airdance and Beltran is Artistic Director of Dance Forum. Beltran found out about the contest through her sister Ida, former Ballet Philippines executive director, who's now based in Canada. "I thought it would be interesting for me to go into Graham's choreographic mind, to get to be in her skin somewhat. I thought that would be very useful to me as a choreographer at this point where I already view things differently," she says.

Process
Beltran had purchased a video projector last year and has since been exploring dance on video or dancing with video. "My questions to myself as an artist, with the virtual world [being] so much the reality of people these days, is: where is the body in technology? Do the performing arts, the live performing body, still have a validity when everyone is virtual? I have been trying to insert myself and my art in all of this and trying to understand it," she says.

Morales, on the other hand, had just finished directing the film "Concerto." "We were into experimenting with video and dance, it seemed logical to enter the contest. But we did it more as a lark, just for fun and to try out my new camera, a Nikon D90 DSLR," he says.

Their use of resources and time management were characteristically Pinoy, done with whatever was on hand with a sense of humor. The video was shot one day before the deadline in Beltran's home with no lighting equipment and with her driver playing the role of Clytemnestra's husband. "He was slightly freaked out in the murder scene because I was using a real knife," Beltran laughs. "The shoot was spontaneous, light, and creative. It had an incredible and indomitable spirit behind it."

Craft
The pair note, however, that the process was done with craft. Both worked under certain parameters. "We wanted to create a Philippine presence in the competition. We were not making any pretensions about where we are coming from and what resources we had. We both have a reverence for Ms. Martha and her work and her influence," says Beltran. "Paul is a filmmaker and this is his great advantage, that he is both a dance and film artist. We could do a contemporary reading of Graham's work that was adjusted for the camera's eye."

Morales adds: "We came up with the idea to re-shoot our entry in a 'cinematic' way. It was a bit contrary to the idea of the remash since most of the other entries used the original footage of the dances, but we went with the idea anyway. In that sense it was really a pleasant surprise to win."

Both dancer/choreographers are advocates of contemporary dance and acknowledge Graham's strong influence in this form. "Graham created a modern dance technique which had wide dissemination and was taught in most places," says Beltran.

Both were former dancers of Ballet Philippines and were exposed to Graham's techniques through their teachers. Beltran trained under Norman Walker while Morales trained under Agnes Locsin. "Graham was also a strong influence on Ballet Philippines founder Alice Reyes' work," says Morales.

Morales is the festival director of this year's Wifi Body Festival (the only annual contemporary dance festival in the country) and this recent victory serves to further push his efforts in the use of video in dance. "We always showed dance films in the past festivals, but this year, we have a dance film competition. We believe that the future of dance includes film in a big way, either as an element in live work, as an end product you can easily and readily share to a wider market (through the internet, for example), or as a collaborative frontier where the arts can meet and mix in new ways," he says.

For details on the Wifi Body Festival's dance film competition, visit www.geocities.com/wifibody.

Also published online:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090607-209269/Filipinos-win-online-dance-video-contest

Virgin Labfest marks 5th year, launches book

Virgin Labfest marks 5th year, launches book
By Walter Ang
June 8, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Five years ago, playwright Rody Vera conceived the Virgin Labfest as "a venue for playwrights, directors and actors to bring to life `untried, untested, unpublished and unstaged' one-act plays." This year, it celebrates its longevity and opens its fifth year with the launch of an anthology of fifteen plays culled from the past four fests.

Vera selected and edited the plays for the book in consultation with former Tanghalang Pilipino artistic director Dennis Marasigan. Playwrights featured in the book include established names such as F. Sionil Jose, Liza Magtoto, Nicolas Pichay and Floy Quintos together with a younger generation of playwrights such as Dennis Teodisio, Glenn Mas Sevilla, Layeta Bucoy, and Allan Lopez.

To be launched on June 24, the book is an appropriate and logical output for the festival as the labfest was created as a way to present the works of the Writers Bloc, an independent organization of established and aspiring playwrights headed by Vera. Plays are done in conjunction with Tanghalang Pilipino, the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

As has become the tradition, there will be five sets of one-act trilogies where each set deals with a central topic or unifying theme. This year's sets have titles that range from intriguing such as "It's Complicated (The Buhul-Buhol Trilogy)," "Life is a Trap (Three Plays in Search of Escape)," "The Family That _______s Together (Tatlong Dulang Walang Diyos)," to wickedly humorous such as "School of Life (Mga Dulang Walang Pinag-aralan)," and "Blood Sports (Trilohiyang Dinuguan )."

Activities
One additional set restages three plays from last year's fest, namely: Floy Quintos's Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna; Rogelio Braga's Ang Bayot, Ang Meranao at ang Habal-Habal sa Isang Nakababagot na Paghihintay sa Kanto ng Lanao del Norte; and Job Pagsibigan's Uuwi na ang Nanay kong si Darna.

Aside from the performances, there will be staged readings of works-in-progress, including a musical by Joel Trinidad that will eventually be produced by Repertory Philippines and devised improvisational comedy sessions by Silly People's Improv Theater (Spit). "Also included is a staged reading of Korean American Lloyd Suh's "American Hwangup," currently being staged in New York City by Filipino American theater group May-Yi Theater. It's receiving rave reviews," says Chris Millado, CCP Performing Arts Department head.

There will also be Talkback sessions with audiences for the first week of performances; and a creative playwriting workshop for high school students to be moderated by Glenn Mas Sevilla.

Brave new works
This year, the Virgin Labfest will be held concurrently with the fourth Wifibody Festival, an independent contemporary dance festival, and is preceeded by wordJam!, a Spoken Word Festival which opens June 10.

These three festivals in June are part of CCP's Brave New Works Festivals, a series which concludes in July with three more events: the 13 Artists Awards and Exhibition, opening on July 9; Musik Underkonstruktion, featuring new compositions for symphonies opening July 15; and the fifth Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, opening on July 17.

"The Brave New Works Festivals is part of CCP's 40th anniversary and exemplifies the CCP mandate of encouraging and showcasing original Filipino works. Through these festivals, CCP ushers in a deluge of provocative new works from poets, playwrights, choreographers, composers, visual artists and independent filmmakers," says Millado. "From June to July, audiences can experience groundbreaking productions in poetry-in-performance, modern theater, contemporary dance, new symphonic music, painting, sculpture, installation, multimedia and digital feature film."

With the Virgin Labfest, Wifibody Festival and Cinemalaya as three of the more well-known events, having gained ground from the past few years, it is the aim of Millado to cross-pollinate the different audiences for all of the shows included in Brave New Works.

Audiences will have a chance to explore new art forms they may not be familiar with and artists, on the other hand, are encouraged to work with each other across crafts. "It's working. Choreographer Denisa Reyes has staged a play in a previous Virgin Labfest and is now turning it into a movie for Cinemalaya. Paul Morales, himself steeped in theater, dance and film, is curating Wifibody and has done some movement choreography for the music being developed for Musik Underkonstruktion," says Millado.

Spoken word
wordJam! is curated by Herminio Beltran, Jr. and has three main performance dates every other Wednesday beginning June 10 with Lourd de Veyra's Radioactive Sago Project. Oral tradition and balagtasan will be featured on the first night together with their modern variation: rap poetry.

June 24 features protest poetry while July 1 presents a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender night of poetry featuring the works of J. Neil Garcia and Aida Santos, among others. "All performances will be held at Barbaribas Bar where people can relax after the work day, have a meal with beer and enjoy the sounds and meanings of the spoken word," says Millado. A special performance of poetry for children will be held on July 6 at the CCP Main Theater Lobby.

For details, call 832-1125 or log on to www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

Also published online:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090607-209272/Virgin_Labfest_marks_5th_year%2C_launches_book

Wifibody dance festival 2009 explores evolving body

Wifibody dance festival explores evolving body
By Walter Ang
June 8, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The evolving body is the theme of this year's Wifibody, an independent contemporary dance festival now on its fourth year held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Festival director Paul Morales says, "The festival asks dancers and choreographers where we can go and where do we go; how do we use our bodies differently and how we want to push our bodies further."

Morales succeeds Myra Beltran who was festival director for Wifibody's first three years. Both are proponents of the local contemporary dance scene with Beltran as the Artistic Director of Dance Forum and Morales as Artistic Director of Airdance.

"The arching premise of Wifibody was to question where the human body lies in this increasingly technological and wireless world, how contemporary dance groups and dancers are linked together throughout the country, and to allow the public to `access' contemporary dance," says Beltran. "Paul is now progressing the discussion into where our bodies are going next, how it is all evolving."

Presented by Contemporary Dance Network Philippines (a member of World Dance Alliance), the Cultural Center of the Philippines (as part of its Brave New Works series for its 40th anniversary), and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, one of Wifibody's objectives is to present contemporary dance as a viable art form as well as nurture up and coming talents.

Nurture
This is the first time that the festival will span two weeks and Morales has given sub-themes for each week. The first week is themed "2nd Wave" and highlights the works of winners and competitors of past New Choreographers' Competition.

"They'll be featured in the segment appropriately called 2nd Step because we want to see their next steps now that they're done with past competitions. This segment helps ensure that there is life for our dancers after they compete. Past winners really become confident and get better but some of those who don't win really get discouraged," says Morales.

"Audiences will get a chance to see how these artists are coming into their own, how they move on from being young into maturing artists. This gives them a chance to really put their choreography out there," he says. "It's also to instill in the younger dancers a fighting spirit, to remind them that they should always strive to push for their craft."

Interaction
"The second week is themed 'Conjunction' and it highlights the interaction that all dancers do with each other. "This includes regional and international dancers, both professional and student groups," says Morales.

One example of this type of interaction is a show that will feature Japanese guest artist Maki Morishita with Ballet Philippines 2 alumni. Morales notes that Wifibody has been helping push Philippine talents into global interaction by sending past winners of its competitions to foreign festivals.

"Donna Miranda and Rhosam Prudenciado are two past winners who've won in competitions abroad and audiences will get a chance to see their works in this year's fest," he says. "The exposure is steadily building. We are now getting inquiries from foreign dance festivals about attending Wifibody. They want to know what's going on in the Philippines. We are creating buzz!"

New blood
The festival's line up is anchored on "main" evening performances in the IndepenDance segment featuring different contemporary groups such as Myra Beltran Dance Forum, Airdance, UP Dance Company, Kahayag Community Dance and Theater Company (Koronadal City), Dance-Pull (Bacolod), and Locsin Dance Workshop (Davao City).

Aside from the evening shows, a host of other performances and activities will be presented throughout the day and all over the CCP. There will be a photo exhibit, contemporary dance workshops, and two plenaries where artists, educators, dance enthusiasts and the public are invited to discuss contemporary dance and the evolving body. There will even be street parties at the driveway encircling the CCP fountain featuring groups like Krump Pinoy.

New blood is expected to come out of this year's New Choreographers' Competition, a competition exclusively for the solo and duet form. School-based dance groups, on the other hand, will have a chance to shine in the Emerging Talent Showcase.

While past festivals have always included screenings of dance film, a competition for filmmakers who focus on dance has been introduced this year. "Best Film, Best Student Film, and an Audience Prize will be awarded," says Morales. "Some of our judges include former Ballet Philippines danseur Nonoy Froilan and respected film maker Tad Ermitano."

Both Morales and Beltran feel there is still a lot to do in pushing contemporary dance further, but the Wifibody festival is becoming more and more integral in this process. "In the schools, more people are enrolling in modern dance and this is one of the results of the accumulated efforts of everyone involved," Morales says.

For details, visit www.geocities.com/wifibody. Tickets available at CCP Box Office 832-3704 and all Ticketworld outlets 891-9999. Festival passes and day passes are available.

Carlos 'Botong' Francisco's 'The Pageant of Commerce' gets freshly scrubbed

Freshly scrubbed
By Walter Ang
June-August 2009 issue
Metro Home and Entertaining Magazine

Detail from "Pageant of Commerce."
Via Retrato.com.ph

Twelve feet high and 24 feet across, Carlos Francisco's "The Pageant of Commerce" provides a dramatic panorama for visitors to one of the lobbies of the Eugenio Lopez, Jr. Building. Known also as "Pag-iimpok" or "Thrift," this oil on canvas created in 1956 is on loan from the Lopez Memorial Museum and was mounted at its current location in 2000.

The painter, popularly known as Botong, was a muralist from Angono, Rizal and was one of the first Filipino modernists along with Galo Ocampo and Victorio C. Edades who broke away from Fernando Amorsolo's romanticism of Philippine scenes. He was declared a National Artist for Visual Arts posthumously in 1973.

Commissioned by the Ramon Cojuangco family, the mural was intended for the Bank of Commerce and was initially displayed at the bank's Sta. Ana branch. In the mid 70s, the family had the mural put up for sale and it passed through several collections before it was acquired by the Lopez Memorial Museum in 1996.

The museum ensures the safety of its pieces, even works on loan. "For example, when the museum lent works to a museum in Spain, we called them to find out the climate there so we could start acclimatizing the works to their temperature and humidity, even before the works were boarded onto the plane," says Maita Maronilla - Reyes, the museum's consultant for art conservation.

The Botong mural is checked every quarter. "Aside from the lighting, humidity and temperature, we do visual inspections of the work itself to check for dirt and molds," she says. The mural had its last major cleaning in 2003 and in a recent check earlier this year, Reyes noted that it was time for another cleaning.

A chemist conservator who specializes in the "security, safety and survival" of art works, Reyes trained at the Facultad De Bellas Artes of the Unibersidad Complutense de Madrid and at the International Center of Conservation in Italy.

A five-person team rotating in shifts of three was formed to execute the meticulous cleaning. The mural was divided into a grid of 12 inch squares from a total of 288 square feet, and the staff had to thoroughly go through each square to remove surface dirt as well as treat it for molds and accretions (secretions and excretions left by insects). "Once the cleaning is completed, an ultraviolet-stable matte varnish is applied to protect the mural from the degrading effects of light," she adds.

"Not many people know this, but to attend to the needs of private owners and collectors, the museum provides conservation and restoration services through the Roberto M. Lopez Conservation Center," she says. "The goal of conservation is really to stabilize works of art. Our work involves preventing and arresting deterioration caused by natural and human-related disasters."

For details, call the Lopez Memorial Museum at 631-2417 or email pezseum@skyinet.net.

Homebuying as easy as plug-and-play at Ayala Westgrove Heights

Homebuying as easy as plug-and-play
By Walter Ang
June-August 2009 issue
Metro Home and Entertaining Magazine

With its Mediterranean-inspired homes, Ayala Westgrove Heights is situated amidst the rolling hills of Sta. Rosa, Laguna. This 400-hectare residential community features panoramic views of Mt. Makiling, Tagaytay Ridge, and Laguna Bay, providing homeowners with lush scenery in every turn.

Immersion in nature is a major component. The development includes a six-hectare park with man-made fishing lagoons and a 26-hectare orchard park filled with mango trees. It's less than an hour drive from Makati and accessible through the expansion of the South Luzon Expressway through three exits: Mamplasan, Sta. Rosa, and Malitlit.

Young families will appreciate Westgrove Heights' proximity to schools such as St. Scholastica-Westgrove, De La Salle Canlubang and Don Bosco School; retail centers such as Paseo de Santa Rosa and Alabang Town Center; and the currently in construction St. Benedict-Westgrove Church.

The major highlight for Ayala Westgrove Heights is The Crestwood, an exclusive phase offering house-and-lot packages (a first for developer Ayala Land Premier) featuring a selection of limited-edition designs by architect Conrad Onglao.

The idea here is "plug-and-play," where homeowners choose a lot first and then they select a house model to "plug" into the lot. Buyers of these homes won't have to go through the hassles of dealing with contractors, getting permits, looking for suppliers, and deciding on finishes. Ayala Land Premier will oversee the entire process for them. "It's like having your own house built without having to pay for the services of an architect or engineer," Onglao says.

Onglao has created three house models to choose from: Cypress is the basic model with 300sqm. Laurel has 350sqm. and features a balcony. Olive includes a lanai in its 400sqm. Both Olive and Laurel have additional service kitchen areas.

Foremost in Onglao's designs is the sense of height and space. "The common features for all three models are the double volume living room and the maximized space, with ceilings at almost ten feet high," Onglao says. "The windows are designed so that when you're lying in bed, you can appreciate the view." Almost every single wall has windows that allow as much light in as possible and for cross ventilation.

"Of course, the windows provide wonderful views. The only perimeter walls for the lots are in a corner where the laundry area is located," says Onglao. The Crestwood is planned around an 8,000-sqm. park and buyers of parkside lots will have the luxury of having their backyards extend into the park, further adding a sense of expanse. Of course, there are other options for lot locations such as those that face the rising sun or lots that are more secluded.

No matter the location, all the Crestwood homes will have interior finishes that include engineered oak wood flooring, tempered clear glass panelling, and travertine granite countertops for bathrooms. Exterior materials use concrete roof tiles and stone-clad accent walls. All homes have underground termite control systems and three-drain systems to prevent clogs.

Home buyers needn't worry about a potential cookie-cutter look for their home. Personalization is a key element of the process. "We made sure that every house would be markedly different from the other in terms of space planning," says Onglao. "They'll also have the option for structural or architectural extensions, façade coloring and cladding, and landscaping, all done to their specifications."

For inquiries on Ayala Westgrove Heights, call 848-5000, email ask@ayalalandpremier.com or visit www.ayalalandpremier.com. Model houses are available for viewing onsite.

Looking for Juan artwork exhibition 2009

Looking for Juan
By Walter Ang
May 18, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

"What Does It Mean to Be Filipino?" is a question contemplated by Gigo Alampay, executive director of the Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (Canvas).

Having lived abroad for a number of years, he said, "Without judgment, Americans find it easy to say who they are. Here in our country, it's sometimes easier to answer 'What is a Batangueño, or what is an Ilocano?' than it is to answer `What is a Filipino?' There may be some stereotypes for regional identities, but at least there are characteristic identifiers. However, as a nation, sometimes it's not easy to figure out who we are."

He added, "There's a notion that our lack of national identity may be one of the reasons why some people feel the Philippines has not really lived up to its full potential."

To get people thinking about possible answers, Alampay founded Canvas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of greater awareness and appreciation for Philippine art, culture and the environment through art exhibitions designed to explore issues of national identity, environment and free expression.

Canvas' latest endeavor is the "Looking for Juan Outdoor Banner Project," an exhibition of artworks by some of the best contemporary Filipino artists who attempt to provide visual answers to the discussion.

Public engagement
"The project aims to collect at least a hundred artworks that will be reproduced as tarpaulin banners that will then be displayed in two highly accessible and pedestrian-friendly venues," said Alampay.

"The Looking for Juan Outdoor Banner Project will showcase some of the country's best creative talents. Artists, graphic designers and photographers have been asked to express their idea of the Filipino identity," he said. "The project is designed to engage visitors with its art-driven messaging about the Filipino identity. It will be a new kind of experience that allows visitors to view and appreciate great art as well as explore important social themes in a non-intimidating, relaxed, and creative environment."

The first forty to fifty original works that will be reproduced as banners were launched at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in an intimate ceremony led by Alampay. The artworks will be on display until June 7. This original artwork exhibit will transfer to the Alab Art Space gallery (Intellectual Property Philippines Building along Buendia St., Makati) on June 8.

Meanwhile, the first outdoor banner exhibit will be at the end of May at the new Philippine Pacific Rim Friendship Park in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The second will be in June at the University of the Philippines' Academic Oval in Diliman. "Just in time for opening of classes and Independence Day," he added.

Park for all
Canvas has been actively involved with The Pacific Rim Project to build a Friendship Park in Puerto Princesa. Architecture and art students from different countries like China, South Korea, the United States, Russia, and Mexico were flown in earlier this month to interact with counterpart Filipino students. These volunteers will design, present to the city government, and actually build the whole park under the artistic supervision of leading artists, architects and urban planners in just 30 days.

After the park is completed, it is given as a gift to the citizens of the Pacific and to the host city. All parks are for the public and are directly connected to the Pacific Ocean. The park will then become part of a network of Friendship Parks ringing the Pacific. There are already four parks in US, Russia, China and Mexico.

To date, participants in the Looking For Juan Outdoor Banner Exhibit include Buen Abrigo, Leonard Aguinaldo, Daniel Aligaen, Mark Arcamo, Ral Arogante, Anton Balao, Jeho Bitangcor, Plet Bolipata, Malyn Bonayog, Elmer Borlongan, Serj Bumatay, Michael Cacnio, Buen Calubayan, Jef Carnay, Marika Constantino, Dansoy Coquilla, Jigger Cruz, Don Dalmacio, Crisanto De Leon, Maan De Loyola, Farley del Rosario, Anthony Fermin, Tina Fernandez, Karen Flores, Liza Flores, Emmanuel Garibay, Sajid Imao, Agang Maganda, Josue Mangrobang, Lotsu Manes, Roel Obemio, Jay Pacena II, Anthony Palo, Anthony Palomo, Marcial Pontillas, Jucar Raquepo, Iggy Rodriguez, Kirby Roxas, Mark Salvatus, Julios Samson, Andoi Solon, Angelo Tabije, CJ Tanedo, Daniel Tayona, Juanito Torres, Wesley Valenzuela, Ian Valladarez, and Liv Vinluan.

Selected students from the UP College of Fine Arts, members of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan, various creative writers, as well as a number of graphic design and advertising studios are also involved.

After the end of the outdoor banner exhibits, the banners will be recycled by two women's communities in Antipolo and Laguna into tote bags and sold as original works of functional art. Proceeds from the sale of the tote bags will support Padyak, a U.P. Mountaineers-led movement to promote environmentalism and cycling as a healthy lifestyle.

For details, visit lookingforjuan.blogspot.com or www.canvas.ph.

Also published online:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090517-205534/Looking-for-the-Filipino-soul

Vagina Monologues for men

Vagina Monologues for men
By Walter Ang
May 18, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Back: Valdes, Wilson.
Front: Abuel, Williams.

As part of its fifteenth anniversary, New Voice Company is giving audiences a twist on one of the productions it is most known for.

Eve Ensler's seminal "The Vagina Monologues," a collection of monologues read by a varying number of women, has been a staple in the company's repertoire for several years now, having been shown in both English and Filipino as well as toured in different Asian countries.

In 2003, Ensler decided to include men in her annual "V-Day" benefit shows (a global movement to end violence against women and girls) by raising the question of addressing the problem of violence against women by involving men in the understanding and solution process.

"In Manila, NVC conducted a series of workshops and interviews with different men that resulted in a short but highly acclaimed segment of the "VDay" show at the AFP Theater that year," said associate artistic director Rito Asilo.

Asilo and actor Jamie Wilson have gone on to expand the material and have created "The Male Voice," a collection of monologues and vignettes that deal with men's experiences with violence.

Violence
Actors Tommy Abuel, Michael Williams, Joel Trinidad and Joaqui Valdes are the intergenerational cast for "The Male Voice." Williams said, "We've been tasked to convey and portray the different kinds of violence committed by and on men. The play sheds light on many things about `being a man' that we take for granted. It tackles how men, not just women and children, can be victims of violence, too."

Abuel noted that the play doesn't only explore physical violence, but also emotional violence and the idea that men can be victims of society's notions of how men should behave. "Society imposes an image and it can be difficult to sustain that image if a man experiences pain. There are expectations to be macho and how men aren't supposed to cry. The play deals with these issues and the shame and secrecy that sometimes accompany these situations."

Despite the cast's initial descriptions of the production's central theme, they are quick to point out that it won't be all doom and gloom. "There is drama, yes. But the stories that audiences will see are also poignant and sometimes hilarious," said Asilo.

True-to-life
All of the monologues are true-to-life and based on interviews with actual people: artists, students, men who are HIV positive, priests, gay and straight men, illegal Filipino workers abroad, macho dancers, businessmen, male prostitutes, military men, abused children, doctors, fathers and brothers. "The play is an honest, provoking and moving introspection of the rarely spoken issues of men," said Asilo. "It provides audiences with a unique and revealing perspective."

To keep the production "relevant to the Pinoy situation," Asilo has opted to use English and Filipino since "that's the way we really talk anyway." Valdes admitted that even though he's not used to speaking in Tagalog, he's up for the challenge.

He said, "Not only do I have to speak Tagalog, but the context is provincial. I'm more used to being cast in English-language musicals, but as an actor and artist, these are the opportunities that I want and need to grow."

Valdes, the youngest in the cast, revels in the fact that he has been cast together with seasoned and accomplished actors and that he's been able to pick up acting techniques from them. Williams said, "We don't necessarily coach each other since we have our director for that, but we sit down and talk about each other's monologues to get insights. We all want to be able to deliver the truth behind the lines."

Produced by NVC Executive Director Rossana Abueva and NVC Artistic Director Monique Wilson, "The Male Voice" runs on May 22, 23 and 31 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. Call 896-5497 or email nvc@pldtdsl.net.

Also published online:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090517-205533/Vagina-Monologues-for-men

Jennifer Wee Tan Dreams Big and Steps Big

For success in life, Jennifer Wee Tan believes that you should
Dream big and step big
By Walter Ang
May-June 2009 issue
Asian Dragon Magazine

When Jennifer Wee Tan was in college, she joined two beauty pageants on a whim. She was crowned Miss Mandaue at 2am in the morning and she refused to smile because she was already very sleepy. "The person who put the crown on my head told me I should be happy. I replied, 'My feet hurt!'" she says with a laugh.

Later on, she was encouraged to join yet another pageant. She was told that if she won, she could get a chance to go to Sydney, Australia, all expenses paid. "I have an adventurous streak, I joined just for the heck of it. Come what may! After all, the prize was enticing, although I never thought I would win Miss Cebu-Australia," she recalls.

The political science major was brought to Australia with four other finalists and charmed the judges with her knowledge of current events. "I was used to talking with people since I used to manage the campaigns of the political parties in school. I am not afraid to talk to anyone and I'm highly opinionated," Jennifer says.

It surprises people to find out what she appreciates the most about these two milestones in her youth. "I loved the discipline involved. The rigid schedule, the rehearsals, the intense preparation. It really builds character," she says.

Her candor, can-do attitude, and discipline are just some of the traits that have served her well as mayor of Tangub City since she won her first term in 2002. Mayors can serve a maximum of three terms, with each term encompassing three years. Jennifer is on her third term, a testament of her constituents' approval.

Love is blind
Born and raised in General Santos City, Jennifer was the third of five siblings to Luis Chang Wee, a manger for General Milling Corporation, and Milagros Con Uy, an obstetrician-gynecologist. Despite the course she took at University of San Carlos in Cebu, she never entertained the thought of running for public service.

"When I was still in school, I preferred being in the background. I never wanted to run, but I always wanted to pick the people who I wanted to run," she says. "I found that planning projects and events was a more challenging task than actually being the frontliner."

She was thrust into the world of politics when her college sweetheart, Philip Tan, officially proposed with his parents. "I announced that I wanted to get married on May 7 and they started looking at each other. I wondered why until they finally mentioned that it was an election day," she says.

"That's the only time I found out that my fiancé was from a political family and was actually running for mayor of Tangub City." Jennifer laughs at the memory. "That's what true love is. I didn't do research on my fiancé's backround!"

Community and philanthropy
Tangub City is a third-class city in the province of Misamis Occidental with a population of roughly 52,000 spread over 55 barangays. Prior to Jennifer winning as the mayor, she had already started becoming involved in community affairs during her husband's own terms as mayor.

During her first Christmas in Tangub as a newly married woman, far away from her home and family, Jennifer was lonely and disappointed to see the city plaza without any festive décor. Her husband appointed her to head a decorating committee. "We never spent any government money, it was all through donations. A few days later, so many families came to the plaza to have picnics and enjoy the lights," she says.

Today, Tangub City is known as the Christmas Capital of Mindanao for its annual Christmas Symbols Festival. "We never spent on advertising or promotions. We only intended to create something for the community to enjoy. By word of mouth, people from all over the country started to visit," she says.

With a seemingly magical touch that ensures success for all her projects, Jennifer combined her passions for education and philanthropy to create the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe. "I didn't like how out-of-school youth were given livelihood projects instead of being encouraged to go back school. I created the troupe for out-of-school youth under the condition that they must return to school first," she says.

The troupe started out teaching dance to the youth and has now branched out into teaching singing as well. "We started joining the Sinulog contest in 1994 and has since won seven championship trophies," Jennifer says. "I wanted to promote the performing arts since there were already organizations and people who were taking care of advocating sports."

Enabling the future
Jennifer credits her Chinese heritage as an important part of who she is today. "My upbringing really involved a lot of discipline. It was more strict compared to today's `accepted' style of parenting, but I am very thankful for it. I'm grounded and I turned out well. This is why I'm also very strict with my own daughters and son. I strongly believe that we should never give up our culture, it's part of our soul," she says.

Having been taught to be independent and hardworking, she endeavors to teach others the same principles. "I hate it when people ask for dole outs," she says. "I hate it when people simply talk about their dreams. I tell them dreaming is important, but taking actual steps toward your goals is more important. Don't just dream big, take a very big step."

When she finally did become mayor, she rallied her staff to follow the same philosophies she espouses. "It was a challenge because I wasn't used to the bureaucracy. I can be impatient at times because I want to see results right away," she says. "I think I was able to make a difference because we eventually became a team. We were able to win an `Outstanding City Mayor' award in 2003 from the Senate of the Philippines. I was the only female nominee at the time and the only nominee from Mindanao. We were up against really big cities, but we won. My accomplishment is their accomplishment. Our city may be small, but when we won, we felt so big."

Mayor Enrique Yap Jr. is bringing change to Glan, Sarangani

Bringing change to Glan
By Walter Ang
May-June 2009 issue
Asian Dragon Magazine

Enrique Yap Jr. enters the room in a whoosh, rushing in from a just concluded meeting with the President in Malacanang. He is in a plain red shirt and jeans, not exactly mayoral threads.

However, when you begin to notice Yap's kinetic aura, you soon understand that he wants to be dressed for maximum movement, ready and poised for action.

Yap is now on his last term as the mayor of Glan, a first class municipality in Sarangani, a province in Mindanao. Each term is three years and the city has a mandatory term limit of three.

He didn't entertain the thought of serving in public office when he was younger despite the fact that both his parents were public servants. His mother, Esther Yap, was district supervisor for the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (now Department of Education) and his father, Enrique, Sr. was Glan's mayor from 1992 until passing away from a heart attack in 2000.

The third of four children, Yap was sent to live and study in Manila with his siblings in the late 70s because of the raging muslim secessiojnist conflict at the time. He took up political science in De La Salle University-Manila and law in Ateneo De Manila University.

"When my father became mayor in 1992, I was 'forced' into becoming one of the first set of elected board members in the provincial legislative body. I had just finished my law studies and all I wanted to do was drive around Manila and party with my friends, but many people asked that I help out," he recalls.

"I never envisioned that I would win, but when I did, I had to face the music. I was the youngest member, educated in Manila and had a law degree, so the expectations were high."

When Yap's father passed away, he had an epiphany and decided to continue what his father started. Though he'd spent time away from Glan, his heart had always been for the improvement of his hometown.

"I had no funds for a campaign. I couldn't even afford to have posters with a photo of my face printed. I filed my mayoral candidacy with only P100 in my pocket. My wife asked me if I was really up for running for mayor," he says.

But become mayor he did in 2001 and promptly introduced many changes to Glan.

"The first thing I did was to remove all the illegal activities like games and fishing. People were shocked. It's a 180-degree type of governance. That's why I always joke that U.S. President Obama's platform of 'change' was copied from me," he says.

After cleaning up, next on the agenda was moving forward.

With Glan's 31 barangays and population of 100,000, Yap wanted to ensure the youth received proper education. "I grew up playing with children of poor families who all wanted to go to school," he says.

"I feel very strongly that poverty should not be a reason for a child to be denied an education." To this end, he helped set up Sultan Kudarat State Polytechnic College and Glan School of Science and Technology.

For all of his achievements, one of the legacies Yap is most proud of is his spearheading of an economic cluster comprised of Glan and its two neighboring municipalities Sarangani and Jose Abad Santos in Davao del Sur called JAGS-CT (Jose Abad Santos-Glan-Sarangani Cooperation Triangle).

The cluster was formed in 2004 to foster relations within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). By 2006, a sisterhood agreement with Sangihe Regency of Indonesia was forged to promote better partnership and cooperation.

"The Indonesian port of Tahuna is a mere seven hours away from Glan, it makes sense to do business with Indonesia since it's nearer to us than Manila," he says.

"We spent P18 million to repair, rehabilitate and upgrade the Glan International Port into a modern, international-standard port to bolster the livelihood and economic activities in JAGS-CT."

When asked how he spends his leisure time, he replies, "I am on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's hard to find time for even a nap. Public service is a sacrifice. If you want to be a good public servant, it's not going to be too good for raising a family."

His family may not totally agree with his statement, given that public service seems to be something they do well together. Yap's wife, Ami Abundo, is a councilor of Glan while his daughter, Miquee Louise, was a board member of the youth sector for five years.

Although Yap is no longer eligible to run for mayor, he jokes that he would consider running for vice-mayor if only to continue the efforts and initiatives he has started.

"Glan used to be a dead-end municipality, but now it's on its way to becoming a trading and economic hub for South and Western Mindanao. We also have around six beaches and numerous resorts, so we're working towards becoming the aqua-marine and tourism center of Socsargen (South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City). I'm really in love with my community," he says.

The success he's found as a public servant has served as poignant turning point for his spirituality as well. "For a time back in the 80s, I didn't believe in God anymore," he says.

"I had asked for change for Glan and I didn't get to see that right away. Now I realize I was given the chance to make the change that I asked for."

Pinoy choreographer bags 2009 Grand Prize at Yokohama

Pinoy choreographer bags Grand Prize at Yokohama
By Walter Ang
April 6, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Rhosam "Sam" Prudenciado Jr. recently won the Grand Prize at the Yokohama Solo x Duo + competition of the Yokohama Dance Collection R in Japan. When he turns twenty-five later this year in July, it will be one of the biggest birthday gifts of his life when he collects on the prize: a six month scholarship to study dance in France.

Yokohama Dance Collection R was launched as a contemporary dance festival in 1996 and has become one of Asia's most prestigious contemporary dance events. In addition to performance competitions and showcases, it functions as a contemporary dance market that connects choreographers and directors from all over the globe.

Prudenciado was the official Philippine representative sent by Wi-fi Body Festival and Contemporary Dance Network Philippines. This year's Yokohama Solo x Duo + competition received 192 entries from fourteen countries. Prudenciado's solo piece "Which way," was chosen as one of only fifteen finalists to compete.

Finding identity
"My piece is about a man who is confused, full of questions, struggling in every way and finding his own identity," said Prudenciado. "Jordan Arabejo edited my video, Digibox provided the music, Sueyen Austero did the lighting design, and Crispin Urbanozo III helped me conceptualized the piece." His original seven-minute piece placed second at the New Choreographers Competition of Wi-fi Body Festival 3 last year and was expanded for the competition in Japan.

Myra Beltran, festival director of Wi-fi Body Festival for its first three years, said, "This victory belongs to everyone who has made our festival a success and who have worked hard for it to become the wonderful gathering of dance artists that it is. We thank our friends and supporters at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and Arts, Japan Foundation Manila, and our host organization for the festival for three years, World Dance Alliance-Philippines."

Prudenciado, who hails from Iloilo, started dancing when he was seven years old. "My first ballet and modern dance teacher was Annie Divinagracia Sartorio. She made a big impact on my dancing career," he said. "I've been dancing for almost 14 years, but professionally only for the past three years."

He took up Communication Arts at the University of San Agustin where he was president of the Kawilihan Dance Troupe. Prudenciado relocated to Manila in 2006 to audition for leading contemporary dance company Airdance. He is currently a member, choreographer and a hiphop/jazz teacher of Airdance and has also been a guest artist of UP Dance Company.

Support
Preparations leading up to the competition proved nerve wracking. "It was pretty bad because sleepless nights plagued me even months before the competition," he said. "The pressure required me to improve my piece over and over until the competition day itself."

"It was very hard and it took me a long time to figure things out. There was a time that I was about to lose hope and was unsure of my piece because adding seven more minutes to my original choreography was not an easy thing to do," he said. "I was given constructive criticism from my co-dancers, teachers and directors especially Airdance co-artistic director Ava Maureen Villanueva and artistic director Paul Morales."

The young artist is grateful for the support of his extended family. "My `Kuya and Tatay' Herbert Alvarez of UP Dance Company has been helping me since I arrived in Manila. Elena Laniog from UP Dance Company and Ava Maureen Villanueva, on the other hand, are my two very special `ates' who influence me a lot in my dancing."

The competition is held to uncover, support, and train promising young choreographers from around the world. Former Filipino finalists to this contest were Jose Jay Cruz and Donna Miranda, who won the 2007 Jury Prize.

For his hard work, Prudenciado won The French Embassy Prize for Young Choreographers. "I was shocked and I couldn't believe that I won. It's like a dream," he said. "It was a very humbling experience because the competition showed me that there are far better competitors than me and, even with those odds, the jury chose me as the winner. It was very interesting, refreshing, uplifting and a good experience for a young choreographer like me."

Also published online:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090406-198094/Pinoy-choreographer-bags-grand-prize-at-Yokohama-dancefest

Gerry "Mr. Ube" Chua approaches life and work with gratitude and grace

Gerry Chua approaches life and work with 
Gratitude and grace
By Walter Ang
March-April 2009 issue
Asian Dragon Magazine

To fans of ube hopia, the man who invented it is endearingly and simply known as Mr. Ube. Gerry Chua, the man behind the delectable delicacy, is owner and manager of Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli, a small empire that counts several branches in Manila and exports its products all over the world.

Rotund and gregarious, Gerry also owns Chuankee Eatery, a popular restaurant offering humble Fujian staples like fish soup and kiampong (salted rice with mushrooms and peanuts); Café Mezzanine, a coffeeshop whose profits are donated to the Binondo and Paco Volunteer Fire Search and Rescue Brigade; and, recently, Mr. Ube, a tony restaurant featuring noodles as its main draw.

The tale of Gerry's success is the stuff of television soaps and is a testament to his tenacity and conviction. In the early 1900s, Chua's grandfather Chua Chiu Hong, a farmer from China who came to the Philippines for new opportunities, opened Eng Bee Tin (Ever Precious Beauty) Hopia Factory in Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila.

Management was eventually passed on to Gerry's father Benito, under whose watch the business fell on hard times in the 80s. Gerry, then 18, was a management major at Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA) when he took over a family store that was losing out to competition, had mounting debts, and was near bankruptcy.

Bankrupt
"No want wanted to lend us any money. This is a small community, once word is out that your business is failing, everyone avoids you," Gerry says. "In times of crisis, you'll find out who your real friends are. I had to be self-reliant, I had to do everything. I was manager, baker, cashier, and delivery boy. I traveled as far as Cavite and Quezon just to deliver our products. I still have scars on my arms from all the baking I used to do."

One of his lowest points was being denied an extension for the cut-off time for cheque clearing in one of the local banks, an incident that reduced him to tears inside the bank. "It was that bad, that I had to wait to see if I could sell a bit more after lunch to see if I could earn the money to pay off cheques that I had issued," he says. "It pushed me to work even harder."

Fortunately, a friend gave him an unsolicited loan that helped him survive. He used the infusion to initiate changes to their flagship product. "Instead of using lard, I switched to corn oil, which is healthier," he says. Something was still lacking, however, and it was a fortuitous visit to the grocery store across the street that finally introduced him to his magic ingredient.

Serendipity
"I hung out at the grocery store because it had airconditioning," he laughs. "I found out that the most popular ice cream flavor at the time was ube." Hopia only came in two flavors then, mung bean and pork. Chua bought six bottles of ube halaya, went to his kitchen, and concocted what would become the now famous ube hopia.

It didn't catch on right away, however. "People laughed at me, they mocked me, they called me crazy," he says. The big push came in the form of television exposure through the defunct show Citiline of Cory Quirino. "The day after the episode aired, my phone rang the whole day from people who wanted to order," he says.

He also relentlessly peddled his new product to a hopia exporter who constantly rejected his offers. "I finally offered it to him at a loss just so his customers abroad could try the product. When he finally started asking me how much my hopia actually cost, I knew it meant my hopia had started selling."

By the early 90s, he'd renamed his grandfather's business to Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli and it has thrived to this day. The store has not only given him business success but also love. "My wife came here to buy hopia, she ended up with more than just hopia," laughs this father of three children.

Gratitude
"When I finally earned profit, I bought a firetruck for the Binondo Volunteer Fire Brigade," he says. "People called me crazy again, but I believe in being thankful for good karma. I was actually interviewed by Cory Quirino as a representative of the fire brigade first before she interviewed me about my ube hopia. If it weren't for my involvement in the fire brigade, I may have never been able to succeed in my business."

Gerry has seen firsthand the dangers to volunteer firefighters, having lost part of his finger in a fire. He'd been a volunteer firefighter since he was sixteen years old, inspired by his godfather, also a volunteer and the former owner of Chuankee Eatery. "When he saw my success with Eng Bee Tin, he bequeathed the eatery to me in the mid 90s," he says. Gerry wasted no time in creating Café Mezzanine on the second floor of the eatery. Aside from the profits of the coffeeshop, Gerry has already donated six firetrucks to the brigade, all colored bright purple, and an ambulance is in the works.

"Hardwork and perseverance can give you success," he says. "But you also need patience and gratitude. You have to learn to give back." Gerry points out that only one raw materials supplier agreed to sell to him during his bad times. "When I was no longer in debt, I continued to buy from him even if his prices were higher than the rest and even if I could get big discounts from wholesalers when I finally became president of the Philippine Bakers Association. I only stopped buying from him when he finally closed his business."

Grace
Never resting on his laurels, Gerry has continuously expanded his businesses and developed new product lines. His hopia now come in flavors like buko pandan and mocaccino and even in combos such as ube-pastillas and choco-peanut. His fondness for ube has been incorporated into tikoy and even siopao dough. "I like experimenting and trying out new things. People will eventually get tired if they keep on eating and seeing the same thing," he says.

In the same manner when he went to Pampanga to learn the making of ube halaya himself, Gerry still puts great weight in research and development. He travels to keep abreast of new techniques and shares the knowledge with his staff. "You must always be on top of things in running your business. If you gain, share it with your employees. Always be good, always do good, and don't expect anything in return," he says.

Sharing and serving come easy to this devout Catholic who espouses, "All your hard work won't go anywhere if you don't pray to God." He served as a barangay chairman of Binondo for close to two decades where he undertook various projects to improve the community such as street light installation and improvement of sewage and sanitation. In fact, for all that he's achieved in business and public service, he is most proud of the fact that he's created a text-based system, the first in the world, that allows anyone with a cellphone to report fires.

Gerry's four main enterprises are but a few steps from each other in a narrow stretch of street and each is small and slightly cramped, a visual and spatial symbol, perhaps, of his humility. Self deprecating and unassuming, he arrived for this interview in a plain purple shirt and would have been easily dismissed as another restaurant patron if it weren't for all the other patrons greeting him, full of warmth and pride, for this son of Binondo.

Playwright Tony Perez: seeing ghosts, bending time

Seeing ghosts, bending time
By Walter Ang
February 9, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tony Perez is, depending on who you ask, popularly known as the founder of the Spirit Questors, a group of psychics who "communicate with earthbound human spirits and elementals in attempt to negotiate for the peaceful coexistence with human beings."

He is also known as the author of a series of books set in Cubao with eerie titles such as "Cubao Pagkagat Ng Dilim," "Cubao Midnight Express," and "Eros, Thanatos, Cubao," among others. Some readers know him as the author of a series of books on how to cast spells and perform wiccan rituals.

Perez wrote segments for the movie "Shake, Rattle and Roll VI." Students from De La Salle University-Manila, St. Scholastica's College and Ateneo De Manila University who have had him as a professor know of his passion for esoterica.

Aside from also being a poet, painter, graphic designer, illustrator, art therapist and fabric artist (by way of knitting), he is also known as a prolific playwright whose works are constantly staged by various professional and collegiate groups.

Given his background, it is no wonder, therefore, that his play "Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid Ng Disyembre," to be staged by Philippine Educational Theater Association (Peta) this February, has been touted to be a "ghost play."

Metaphysical
The play revolves around Lalaki (alternately played by Julienne Mendoza and Jack Yabut) and Isa Pang Lalaki (played by Lex Marcos) and their love affair with the same woman, Babae (Angeli Bayani), who is torn between her feelings for the two.

These are the characters comprising "five generations of the David clan as they attempt to complete the unfinished painting of their Lolo, on the condition that it must be done only by an artist who has married into their fold."

But there is a fourth entity, Isa Pang Babae, who has, as Peta Artistic Director Maribel Legarda describes, "clairvoyant, clairaudient and clairsentient tendencies."

Prolific playwright Perez is quick to note that Disyembre, "is not just about ghosts. It is really more about elements of time and space manipulation, in that time is simultaneous in this play. It's very metaphysical."

Trilogy
Disyembre is actually the last of "Indakan Ng Mga Puso," a trilogy that Perez has written, the first two being "Oktubre, Noong Tayo'y Nagmamahalan Pa" and "Nobyembre, Noong Akala Ko'y Mahal Kita," both of which were staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in the 90s.

Last year, Perez won the National Book Awards for Drama for another trilogy of plays he's written. Collectively titled "Tatlong Paglalakbay," it includes "Bombita," "Biyaheng Timog," and "Sa North Diversion Road." The last play of which was adapted into a film in 2005 by Dennis Marasigan.

For "Indakan," the overarching theme for all three plays is friendship, love and compassion despite complications of betrayal, jealousy and anger. "There are two men and one woman in the first play, two women and one man in the second play," he says. "In Diseymbre, the third play, all `four' are present: two males and two females. All three plays are about making choices."

Challenge
While there is no need for audiences to have seen the first two plays since each of the three functions as an independent play, the fun (or challenge) for audiences in watching this third installment is the device employed by Perez of "time and space manipulation."

"The first act is set in the 1960s and ghosts from the future (2008) are in the same setting as the characters. In the second act, this is reversed and the ghosts from the 1960s are now with the characters in 2008. All the characters are superimposed on one another," he says. "It's now the job of the audience to determine who is who."

Perez has been writing plays since he was in high school at Ateneo De Manila University. His first Tagalog play saw its earliest incarnation while he was in the fourth grade and eventually became "Hoy, Boyet, Tinatawag Ka Na; Haingabi Na'y Gisng Ka Pa Pala" when he reached high school. It was staged by Dulaang Sibol in 1967. He was also involved for many years with Ateneo Children's Theater, starting out as "a monster designer" until he became its resident playwright.

While "Disyembre" was only recently committed to paper, Perez notes that it has always been fully formed in his mind. It was just a matter of timing until it could be written out and, finally, staged.

Disyembre will be directed by Nonon Padilla. The collaboration is familiar ground for Perez since both he and Padilla started out together as young artists working closely with Peta. Save for attending rehearsals to tweak some dialogue ("I adjust the lines to follow the speech patterns of the actors," he says), Perez trusts Padilla's choices completely. "I have no problems with his direction."

Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid ng Disyembre runs from Feb. 6 to March 15. For details, call 410-0821 or 0918-906-8083. Email petampro@yahoo.com.

Also published online:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090209-188172/Seeing-ghosts-bending-time