Lifestyle

The Performance Laboratory Inc. (PerfLab) in partnership with the Women Playwrights’ International – Philippines, Teatrokon: West Visayas Theater Network, International Theatre Institute – International Playwright’s Forum, and the University of St. La Salle will hold the Kuris Theater International Festival and Workshops in Bacolod City on, February 17– 20.The celebration is being held in February that was declared National Arts Month in Presidential Proclamation No. 683 dated January 28, 1991, a press release from PerfLab said.The Kuris Theater International Festival and Workshops have become a creative and empowering nest in encouraging theater awareness, collaboration and strengthening network through workshops, symposia/conferences, performances and play festivals.Throughout th...

Lockdowns and quarantines did not deter 16 filmmakers from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the National Capital Region from chronicling their struggles and triumphs during the Covid-19 pandemic in the way they know best - through film.ECQ: Eksena Cinema Quarantine (COVID-19 Filmmakers’ Diaries), a project under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts - National Committee on Cinema (NCCA-NCC), in cooperation with University of St. La Salle- Artists’ Hub, features 16 filmmakers - Adjani Arumpac, Hiyas Baldemor Bagabaldo, Arbi Barbarona, Glenn Barit, Carlo Enciso Catu, Zurich Chan,Arden Rod Condez, Kristian Sendon Cordero, Khavn, Keith Deligero, Kyle Fermindoza, Bagane Fiola, Mark L. Garcia, Julienne Ilagan, Pam Miras, and Guillermo Ocampo.Sixteen short films made into two Omni...

Reena and Lynn Gamboa hand a copy of the “Negrense Heritage Cooking” book to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat (4th from left) as mayors Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City and Mark Golez of Silay City, and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson look on.*CPG photoTourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the book “Negrense Heritage Cooking” is a testament to the region’s culinary traditions through recipes that tell stories of ingenuity, creativity, and passion.“It is a legacy that will be passed down to generations who will remember forgotten ingredients and keep heirloom dishes alive,” she said, at the launching of the book at Casa Gamboa in Silay City, Negros Occidental, today, January 19.Romulo-Puyat also thanked the Slow Food Community of Negros, who despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we...

A continuing Curators Converse for the Visayan Islands Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference (VIVA ExCon) Virtual Conference 2 (VCon 2), with the theme "KALIBUTAN: The World in Mind," featured the head curator Dr. Patrick Flores and Region 7 curators Jay Jore and Maria Taniguchi as well Region 8 curators Nomar Miano and Mars Briones on January 16.Flores expressed that there is a shift from locating the art world in society to the social world of art.It needs a mediation process addressed towards the social dimension of art and it is important to develop a venue of social imagination.He commented on the art’s scale and materiality, density and disappearance as well as the influence of place and geography on art.He acknowledged the welcome development regarding non-discu...

Love was given this pandemic Christmas season in a special way with affordable and original artworks from local artists."Art of Giving" has become a Christmas tradition for Orange Project as a way to make artworks accessible to the local community and at the same time to make sure that local artists will be able to generate holiday funds. It was made doubly special this passing holiday season because of the COVID-19 challenges.Edbon Sevilleno’s watercolor on paper ‘Balay Bougainvillea’ Gringo Benedicto’s ink on paper ‘Space X Acrylic’Anika Marie Loquite’s acrylic on canvas ‘Blossoms’Tiano Beto’s acrylic on canvas ‘Like Grass’Charlie Co’s oil pastel on paper ‘March Panic Buying’Jayvee Necesario’s pen and ink on paper ‘Detoxification II’ (4/6)Gibson Jimenea’s ballpoint pen on 30...

Pre-pandemic, I would have already received about three to five yearly organizers/planners by the time the holidays are over.This year though, not even the banks gave out their usual logo-embossed organizers and very few establishments rolled out their yearly calendar give-away.Really, who can blame them? Why should they spend so much on these items when they know that these days, masks, face shields, sanitizers, and grocery packs would be better appreciated?We used to be so excited upon seeing the schedule for the incoming year’s no-work holidays, immediately checking out flight promos and travel destinations. Now our inbox is flooded with piso-fares and other attractive deals, but no one’s biting the bait. We used to get hyped by the start of the year crossing out dates ...

Peque and Madie Gallaga*The wife of the late Negrense director Peque Gallaga thanked the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for the Special Jury Prize it awarded her husband for Magikland.The action-adventure movie also won the FPJ Memorial Award, and awards for best visual effects, production design, musical score, and virtual float at the 46th MMFF Gabi ng Parangal Sunday night, December 27.Madie Gallaga, in a statement today, December 29, said she would like to clarify her stand regarding the MMFF awarding ceremony, stressing that she is grateful to the jurors for awarding her husband the Special Jury Prize.“I am humbled by the outpouring of support and recognition that he is getting by such an august body. I am also thankful to the MMFF for giving us a medium to be able ...

Yes, we need to think before we act. Thinking is a human skill we use and develop to move us into educated decisions, creativity, and productivity. It is also essential in building communities and fostering progress.But when thinking goes into hyperdrive and blows up into overthinking, that’s when it causes extreme stress and multiple problems.When we overthink, our judgments become a murky pool of what-ifs and speculations. Most of the time, our overthinking takes us out of the present and into the darkness of our past and the horrors of our fears. Our stress levels become elevated. Our logical thoughts seem to freeze or go into panic mode.We find it difficult to make the right decisions. Because of overthinking, we sometimes do things we regret or fail to take necessary ...

"Caught by the Lockdown: Artists’ Struggles and Strategies" is a webinar describing the personal situation of foreign visual artists as they were caught by the global pandemic and the ensuing lockdown.It was an insightful sharing on how the global pandemic and lockdown affected their art practice and projects and the strategies they employed to cope and thrive. The insights and realizations shared with fellow artists who are struggling during this time elicited relevant discourse.Inagaki Tatsuo of Japan shared that after doing many art projects since 1992, the roots of his ideas took shape. His artistic concept of realizing communication that transcends cultural backgrounds seems to have originated in experiences over several days at VIVA.He said that last February, he had...

Bacolod artist Bamboo Tunogbanua, Councilors Simplicia Distrito and Wilson Gamboa, Jr., and artist Jeck Alano (l-r) at the opening of "Paskua" art exhibit at Uyso Restaurant, San Juan Street, Bacolod City Saturday, December 12.*Twenty-five visual artists are currently holding a group exhibit titled “Paskua” at the Uyso Restaurant at San Juan-San Sebastian streets, Bacolod City that opened Saturday, December 12, and will run until January 12, 2021.Bacolod Councilors Wilson Gamboa Jr. and Simplicia Distrito together with artist Bamboo Tunogbanua were guests of honor at the opening.Gamboa, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Culture and Arts, encouraged the artists to continue their vision through their artworks which serves as a refuge in times of desperation or c...