unSAULicited

A first attempt at directing an animated film for the founder and former chairperson of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Digital Filmmaking Department has been selected to compete in three different film festivals this December. Jag Garcia’s “I, Labyrinth” is part of the official selection of the Paradise and Valencia Indie Film Festivals based in Hungary and Spain, respectively, as well as the Oroquieta Film Festival 2021 in Misamis Occidental. Paradise and Valencia IFF are both monthly film competitions while the Oroquieta filmfest runs from November 28 to December 4. In “I, Labyrinth,” The Pilgrim finds himself lost amid the chaos of modern life. He comes upon a labyrinth where its center calls to him. As he journeys through the labyrinth, he faces the obstacles that keep him from reaching the center: himself. “This project was born when I was teaching an elective in basic video production for non-film students. Evonne Limsui, an architecture student enrolled in the cl...

  As Vince Tanada's Philippine Stagers Foundation Inc. (PSF) moves into a web-based media outfit, Phistager's Films, one of their most successful musicals. Katips: Mga Bagong Katipunaro, is retold in the big screen. Set during the dark times of Martial Law, Katips: The Movie explores stories of activists, writers, students, all freedom fighters. A necessary watch especially for those who have not experienced the dark iron hand of a dictator who still tries to grasp the neck of the nation. Despite being a work of fiction, Tanada made sure that all historical events are accurate as he is against revisionism. Various film techniques were also employed to capture the reality that was experienced in the 70s and 80s. Joining headliners Jerome Ponce and Nicole Laurel Asensio are fil and theater greats Vince Tanada, Mon Confiado, Johnrey Rivas, Adelie Ibarrientos, Sachzna Laparan, Joshua Buleot, Vian Olmedo, Carla Lim, Patricia Ismael, Dexter Doria, Afi Africa, OJ Arci, Ricky Bri...

A professorial lecturer at Far Eastern University recently bagged a Special Mention award for his documentary screenplay at the 3rd Dreamanila International Film Festival. “Maria Leonor,” a short documentary written and directed by Seymour Barros Sanchez in the form of an open letter, delves into the Filipino voter’s psyche as it trains its sight on the Office of the Vice President’s pandemic response efforts. It is an offshoot of his ongoing full-length project “Leading Lady” funded by the Centre for Global Business of the Monash Business School in Australia. Sanchez currently teaches Screenwriting, Documentary Production, Production Management and Film Marketing at FEU under the Digital Cinema track. Collaborating with him on “Maria Leonor” are voiceover narrator and producer Eloisa Espino Sanchez, creative consultant Richard Soriano Legaspi, sound designer, graphic artist and editor John Lanbert Rafols, music composer Tonton Hernandez and singer Jaycee Belmonte (“Tuloy ang Laban...

A photographer-educator has collaborated with his students for a collection of photographs that serves as a satirical reply to “red-tagging” in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s ongoing online art exhibition. Jay Javier’s “Red Tagged!,” which is “an absurdist retort to an absurdist reality epitomized by the current administration,” is part of the exhibit “To Differ Digitally 2: Love and Dissent in the Time of Pandemic.” It looks at labeling individuals or groups of being communists “by having real red tags attached to the objects in the photographs.” Javier, who has been with Benilde since 2010, is one of the faculty members from the New Media Cluster who heeded the call for project proposals of the Center for Campus Art under its director, Architect Gerry Torres, and NMC, which is headed by Associate Dean Maria Sharon Mapa Arriola. A professional photographer for 35 years and an educator for 30 years, Javier curated the set from photos submitted to his MMA photography cla...

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) is set to stream another play to cap 2021! In commemoration of World AIDS Day, PETA, together with esteemed advocacy organizations LoveYourself PH and The Red Whistle, and major co-presenters UNILAB, Inc., and Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., revamps Rody Vera’s provocative, relevant, and heart-wrenching anthology drama on HIV, Under My Skin, directed by Melvin Lee, from the stage to the screen. Under My Skin was PETA’s last live performance at the PETA Theater Center before the lockdown in 2020 happened – just two weeks shy of the show’s closing. The play is inspired by real people and events, and it accurately depicts the realities, triumphs, and struggles of people living with HIV, while navigating an important conversation about acceptance and tolerance. The show introduces us to a number of characters – Jonathan, Greg, Syd, and Mario whose relationships are tested when Jonathan gets infected; Dino, ...

November 29, 2021 marks the pearl anniversary of Mrs. Celia Diaz Laurel’s conferment of the highly prestigious international peace and humanitarian award “Woman for Peace” given by the Insieme Per La Pace (Together for Peace) Foundation. Like its founder and president Madame Mariapia Fanfani who herself had devoted all her life to cater to the sick, poor, and victims of war, the honor is bestowed upon remarkable women who have helped promote, advance, and partake in global peacebuilding processes through meaningful social, educational, and cultural means. Mrs. Laurel’s vast humanitarian work began in 1986 when she volunteered to head our country’s national bid for the United Nations’ Million Minutes of Peace —a worldwide campaign asking people (even with differing religions) to pledge and devote “minutes of meditation, positive thinking or prayer for peace.” Under her leadership, she launched a series of peaceful undertakings that triumphantly landed the Philippines at the fourth sl...

 For your reference, the text below is a response to you: THE REAL SUBVERSION A Statement by UP Professors Emeriti on the Banning of “Subversive” Books We, Professors Emeriti at the University of the Philippines, express our strongest support for the University Council of UP Diliman in its protest against the recent memorandum issued by the Commission on Higher Education in the Cordillera Administrative Region urging libraries in that region to remove “subversive” books and materials from their collections. Far from being of tangential concern to us in UP, this memorandum is an assault on academic freedom in all Philippine universities, as it sets the stage for further and possibly even more repressive measures in schools across the country. Any threat to academic freedom in any Philippine school or university is a threat to the whole system and has to be confronted instantly and squarely, regardless of whether individual institutions choose to deny the threat or to acquies...

PETA's Under My Skin Is Reborn Online QUEZON CITY, Philippines – After a successful run of Rak of Aegis Online, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) announces another streaming play to cap 2021. This time, PETA revamps Rody Vera’s provocative, relevant, and heart-wrenching anthology drama on HIV, Under My Skin, directed by Melvin Lee, from the stage to the screen, together with esteemed advocacy organizations The Red Whistle and LoveYourself, and UNILAB, Inc., PETA’s major co-presenter. Under My Skin was PETA’s last live performance at the PETA Theater Center before the lockdown in 2020 happened – just two weeks shy of the show’s closing. The play is inspired by real people and events, and it accurately depicts the realities, triumphs, and struggles of people living with HIV, while navigating an important conversation about acceptance and tolerance. The show introduces us to several characters – Jonathan, Greg, Syd, and Mario whose relationships are tested when ...

The Commissariat Manila is a purveyor of the finest goods and delicacies under the entrepreneurial skills of siblings Gino Asensio Lopez and Monique Lopez Ong who hail from the Visayas (Iloilo and Bacolod). They believe that "good food must never be kept secret and should be experienced by everyone." The Commissariat Manila opened its doors in July 2020 during the early days of the pandemic. As the country went into a lockdown period, there was a rising need for good food to be delivered to people’s homes. The Commissariat Manila was established to fulfill everyone’s need for first-class goods from the Visayas, particularly Bacolod City, the place that Gino and Monique both know has unrivaled pastries, cakes, chorizos, and seafood. Many of their sought-after delicacies come from Negros Occidental’s Felicia’s Pastry Shop. These pastries come from the kitchen of the three Lacson sisters namely Sony Lacson Cometa, Fely Lacson Montelibano, and Margie Lacson Macasa. Their pa...

As early as now, set a reminder that on November 26, a must-add on your playlist track will be released by Nicole Asenso, "Christmas Without You." The global situation may have physically separated us but the virtual network has allowed us to move more conveniently as we continue to be more efficient in meeting each other online. With the right people, we continue to be empowered to create. Such is the case when Nicole was making her latest track. On the first day of making "Christmas Without You," the melody and first verse came to Nicole. She searched for further inspiration by watching Christmas movies online and then connected with Dumaguete-based Nigerian songwriter Sam Akins. Taking advantage of technology, they met online to adjust and find the true direction of the composition. Moving into the direction of being soulful, it was natural to bring jazz arranger and saxophonist Michael Guevarra into the process. As it was continuing to take shape, the fello...

--- SM Megamall proudly presents the first solo art exhibit of noted fashion designer EDGAR SAN DIEGO titled ‘BARO’T SAYA TUWA AT LIGAYA’ from October 9 - 15, 2021 Ground Level, Mega Fashion Hall at SM Megamall. The theme of the exhibit is a ‘Tribute of Joy to the Filipina and her Traditional Dress amidst the Pandemic.’ Edgar’s love for the beautiful Filipina, traditions, costumes, and production design is evident in his paintings, keeping in mind that the colors are bright and the subjects are happy in creating positive vibes which we need most in this pandemic. He chose to deal with beautiful characters in their colorful costumes and nostalgic scenarios. Why this crossover from fashion design to visual arts? “I turned 60 last March 13, 2020. And then after 2 days, the lockdown was imposed. I thought that it was only going to last for a month or two. So to keep me away from boredom, I cleaned the house, reorganized my cabinets, and do things that I neglected when I was busy w...

We are calling all art lovers and collectors! The Santuario de San Antonio Parish Francisfest joyfully presents SpectaculART 2: An art, jewelry, and homeware auction. Both new and pre-loved pieces are up for grabs! The auction proceeds shall assist in the numerous Social Services and development ministries of SSAP and its sister parishes. SpectaculART 2 will feature Fine Jewelry, Estate, Artisan, and an assortment of diamonds, pearls, and colored stones. The homeware collection will feature European, Asian, and locally sourced pieces ranging from antique, vintage, contemporary furniture, and home décor. This year, SpectaculART 2 shall showcase a carefully curated selection of meaningful works created by esteemed artists, namely: National Artist for Visual Art Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Impy Pilapil, Romeo Tabuena, and Anita Magsaysay Ho. Unique pieces by renowned Filipino Visual Artists Gus Albor, Ramon Diaz, Jojo Guingona, Noli Principe Manalang, Isabel Campa, Ivy Lim, ...