Lost in the Urban Jungle

I've been away from the Metro life and had confined myself in a not so less mundane existence since I moved here in The Province of Laguna and it intensified even further when I venture into self-employment. Leaving the corporate world allows me to reflect more of my personal life and still have plenty of excess for the whole world in general.

   I don't get that chance to really reflect about life when I was heavily squeeze with so many responsibilities as an Administrative Officer of a human resource agency in the Largest Printing  Press in Asia. I don't get the chance to have a complete 8 hours sleep then and I don't have the time to even think for my own future but only that of the company's future...

   Your Company robs you of your personal dreams...not unless your dream is to make your employer enrich themselves...which I really did. I mean, I swore to myself that I'll push the best of the people under me and make them productive, and in so doing they push me upward as well and in the end my bosses benefits the most. Not a bad 20 or so years of my life...

   But I always wanted to be an artist and the best father there is, at least for my children...to compensate the lost time, and those moment that I haven't seen them growing up right before my eyes...

   It took courage...sometimes, honestly there are times that I've feel I have taken the wrong decision. But when I see how my long suspended art journal grew more steadily and more creatively evolving in a faster phase, I think I'm on the right track. As for my kids, I get more bonding time with them...(but trap too with the headache of being with them all the time...)

   

   Well, this blog isn't about reflecting on that area. It was about my visit the other day in Metro Manila for a business deal and also I took the privilege to see some friends and art exhibitions. I was just amaze how so short a time can make you so alienated with the previous life style that I use to know. It is not that I miss them...I was just shock how progress grew right before our very eyes. I didn't notice these before...maybe because I was within the process and not an expectant audience. 

   Did I welcome progress before? Probably almost anything it had offered including its sin. Now, the only thing that hooks me with technology is my laptop and cellphone...and by the way, I was able to blog more often too than I begun this page on the luxury of my old office 3 years ago. 

   I have to laugh to myself when I get lost inside SM Mega Mall...can't locate the way going to EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, and don't know where's the overpass for a bus ride...going to the mazes of shops, boutique, and winding pathways and alleys...

   I can't believe that I used to be a regular guest of the best hotels here when I used to work at a Research center and all I could do now is look at them with mix emotions,  and there's the shopping district, malls, and specially clubs where some crazy memory abound. It became like a pilgrimage when I took a ride from Mandaluyong City, to Makati City, and to Pasay City to see my childhood friends. 

   The good thing is that we are bringing the art in the mainstream by establishing those galleries within the shopping centers. I get the chance to see some of the best contemporary artworks first hand than simply browse them on electronic galleries...I miss doing my art walk, which was not that plenty here in Laguna.
   I don't want to pass this opportunity to visit the Kristo Exhibit at SM Mega Mall by Malolos, Bulacan artist where some of our Tagged ArtLover friends works are on display. (inset photo, left.)

   The busier streets...The excessive life...The buffet at Dads-Kamayan almost make my belly explode, not because I'm hungry or wanted to get more from the bill, which was any way paid by my friends but I tasted all the dishes that my palate misses. Actually, as I now digress, I had these food during parties when I get hired for face painting here in Laguna, and even better...YET...Well, its a different ambiance than going to the same restaurant or resorts here in Laguna. It somehow change the taste in a strange way when you are surrounded with high-rise facade all around you. Now, I appreciate all these "urbanize" experience even for a day. Something I took for granted before...and wasted. 

   Now, I'm back here in Laguna, which is fast becoming an urbanized place too...and the usual, fresh air, green fields and crystal clear rivers are replaced with subdivisions and factories...plus the fact that the exodus of city dwellers opted this place for the sheer beauty and accessibility. Now, the same tragic fate might engulf this former paradise to whom a popular song by the Rock and Roll Queen was dedicated.

   I'm not going to miss the city after all, it is coming to get me again. 

In Simple Terms

I tried as much as I can to simplify my blog when I am trying to make a point. But then, after I have some random re-reading of my previous post, I had a sudden realization that some of the ideas I am speaking needed a little re-introductions or further clarifications. Sometimes I assume people knew what I am talking about...and as I have looked at it now, in my haste to share everything at once...I sometimes forget to give a little background. It's a shame...well, sorry for that.

   Then, I remember someone said that when you want to be understood, make it simple. Simple enough. Fewer the words; the better. Sometimes it is a struggle to concise a complex idea... 

   Rhetoric are flavor for speeches and sometimes unnecessary for debate...or is it? 

   I think had spend so much time in forums than journalism. I enjoy debate. But that one too, I had to stop...okay, maybe hibernating for a while. I decided last year to stay away from debate because of my new perspective and understanding of human nature...of the psychology of the mind. 

   The fullness of men are base on experiences...and those experiences forms beliefs...and beliefs become characters...and so on...

   Now if you put another persons belief system in question, you also put into question his being. So, I stay away from forums where we argue about conflicting ideas. 

   Sometimes, it is unavoidable especially those issue with regards to the existence of God or when somebody blaspheme the name of Jesus. I can not resist but to dip into futile arguments.

   I call them futile because, you can't convert someone who had already put a tattoo of his brand on his forehead. Do you think he or she will easily give up something? You can't take a person's faith without a struggle. Even if you ex-communicate that person or label them personae non-gratae. 

   So I settle here blogging, where I thought I can only argue with myself...no need to transform anyone. But then, I still blog issues with regards to Beliefs.   Hoping maybe, those unbeliever will realized something. That I am also right. 

   Back to the root once more...am I really understood or they still ignore? I don't care...or maybe I should really care? 

   The problem is I care a lot. I love so much...I don't want to enjoy relishing the bread alone. So I would still argue...it is unavoidable I supposed. To hurt a few hearts...because when you truly cared you will surgically remove the thing that you deemed wrong. And it is always painful...to change paradigm. There are sacrifices needed. 

   Now this essay, I wrote to clarify my thoughts. Should I stay or should I go now?  

The Disciplined of Martial Arts from My Father

My father (left) during his usual practice

Karate always reminds me of my late father. He is a 4th Dan Blackbelter, and can smash coconut bare-hands to emphasized how good he is. 
   He tried to teach me and my sisters some basic self-defense but I was too lazy to practice...especially now that he's gone. No one pushing me to practice...and memorized Kata by the heart
   I don't even remember the Kata anymore....it was not a thing for me...to hurt other people. But I never totally lost interest in Karate or Kung Fu...


   I have collections of Martial Arts films especially Jackie Chan. It's a legacy that my father have left aside from his Photography and Dadaism Arts. He always brought me and my sister Gina to watch Kung Fu movie...perhaps to influence or condition our mind to this principle. 
   To him, by the way he is Ferminiano Sanchez Ymas, karate is not about punching or kicking...it applies to all aspect of life. You must know where are the vital points...to hit the target or goal as quickly as possible. Guard your self at all times. Never under estimate an opponent or never under estimate LIFE. 
    And FORM is the most important discipline of Karate to him. 
   He said, when your posture is correct any opponent will hesitate...with that, now I realized why Chinese Kung Fu spend great deal of time in artistry...I thought those were just being over acting to the point of being ridiculous. 
   That is why he emphasize the teaching of Kata to me. To be able to make a whizzing sound while punching and kicking. This discipline is also preserve on athletic competition like Wu Shu or gymnastics. My father can blow a lighted candle using his fist inches away...a skill that I have not yet achieved. (But I can light a candle using my brush)
   I think he had lived to what he said...I had never hit him even once during our sparring. Oh yes, sometimes but I know those were freebies or consolations when he notice my frustrations, He never lose his guard even if he is unaware...because I would often try to ambush a punch when he is busy with other things but he was able to either block me or side step. 
   Karate thought me another valuable lesson or a character that my father develop. He never hit us when we had done something wrong. Not even a slight tap or even gestures to spank. (The role of spanking was assign to my mother) Hurting is not the first disciple of Karate...it is the last option. If you can get away with quarrel...better do it. Running away is also an option, he said. 




Kata (形, or more traditionally, 型) (literally: "form") is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs. Karate Kata are executed as a specified series of a variety of moves, with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. The practitioner is counseled to visualize the enemy attacks and their responses. Karateka "read" a kata in order to explain the imagined events. There are perhaps 100 kata across the various forms of karate, each with many minor variations. (Wikipedia)

Have we lost compassion?

I had mixed feelings when my daughter came to me this morning, she went straight to our kitchen and asked me "Papa, can we give my friend some rice...they don't have food again." She was already holding the plate.

   The other time she asked me in melancholic tone "Papa, why my friend always don't have food, it's lunch time already?"

   Of course I don't have to discuss all the detail to my 5 years old daughter that her friend's father had irregular jobs and that he is a drunkard and always into gambling. I don't want her to have bad impressions about family life. I can give her little details that she can understand and point the lesson towards her "That's why you should study harder," I would tell her "so you can earn a job and buy some food when you grow up."

   I also added some advocacy that she can aim for in the future "When you had a job already, don't forgot your friends that are needy." 

   Now, alone after my daughter left, I had much thinking while playing games on my computer. I was touched with my daughter's compassion to others that I just prefer to ignore on daily basis. What am I doing here in front of my laptop while those people within sight are struggling to live? 

  No! No! I can not give them financial support of course. I myself is just a small time entrepreneur with an irregular artistic job as well. My sideline as face painter of course can't save the world. Or am I? 

  Now since Fher Ymas had domestic priorities, can he not contribute to these people? 

  Almost daily I can hear people mumbling about how difficult life is. Marriage life are regularly degenerating because of poverty and vices. Teen-age boys and girls are wasted because their parents can't afford even the fare going to respective schools. How many times have I heard my friends being jailed for either caught pushing or using drugs? Can we number those street children roaming half-naked, sniffing solvent, and dirty on major avenues? And what do I do, turn my face away from them or even curse them for their own fate?

   Have I let the pregnant lady take my seat on the bus, and argue on my mind that I was all-so tired of a days work? How about the old-lady asking for alms, have I given a single centavo but instead rebuke her away because giving alms is bad according to good-thinkers who said you are only tolerating them to beg more. But if you are not giving alms, what are you doing to help them? Oh come on Fher, the Government is there to help them. There's the hundreds of Charity services and Social workers who can deal with them. Let the churches help them.

   Maybe we have grown tired of seeing and experiencing all of these that's why we grew numb. And helping the oppress are jobs for heroes only. Donating to charities are for rich only. Our society would either label you as corny or old-school if you obey the rules. If you help someone in need they will accuse you of ulterior motives. 

   Alas! We lost compassion to people...people that are lost. Lost like us. 

   We have forgotten one power we can use above all things. We unconsciously ignore our ability to PRAY for others. 

   Who said "Love thy neighbor as thy self" anyway? That's outdated and ridiculous. 

   "Now, go Elyona give this rice to your friend."

What you spend years in building,

can be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway! 

   

   

  

My Indian Friends

Ms. Universe 1994: Sushmita Sen

We generally call the people of India as Bombay here in the Philippines and like any foreign nationals we have made a stereotype image of them, and although some of these images may have been mostly untrue; they at least mirrors the clashes and mingling of two distinct culture that basically ignorance of each others character spell the big differences. I'm here to reflect on why Indian are special people to us even though we have a love-hate affair with them. 

   As Filipino you can not erase to us the image of a Bombay (read as boom-bay) riding his motorcycle and sporting his enigmatic turban -- who daily would knock neighborhood's door to collect lease (we call hulog) and would in-tone underneath his curly mustache and hairy beard a unique Filipino accent, in a strange but cute intonation on syllable that was not suppose to be stressed...and that made them funny by actually sounding mechanical.

   Yes, we love them when we need them for loans and we hate them when they came to annoy us daily with collections. The child would often run to his mother "Mother, Go and hide, the Boom-bay is coming!"

   Usually these loans are not money but they would sell you there goods like umbrella, mosquito net, electric fan, towel, etc. Name them, they have them. And they would insist you these items even if you don't actually need them. And then in a rather unusual business practice would close the deal by words and promises. The catch to these is what we termed as 5-6 (five-six) or more than double the price of the goods but lower daily payments. Of course these business relationship often would end up in not so good scenario.

   So, when you came here and heard a Filipino asked you for five-six or umbrella, don't be confused that's how we greet each other.

   Well, we have similarities too even if we don't eat much of Indian cuisine. Philippine cinema like Bollywood religiously include "song and dance" scene on almost all their films. Yes, whether be it horror or drama. 

Shivaker a.k.a. Sam YG

   Lately, we had Shivaker a.k.a. Sam YG who became a popular comedian who presented to us the character of an Indian national play by a real Indian. What made him endearing to the Filipino public is how he was able to make fun of his own culture according to a Filipino perspective but still stand tall with respect and dignity.  

   Seriously now, I'm writing this because of my new found relationship with Bombay. Aside from Aladdin and the magic-carpet I have very little knowledge of India and only now I'm beginning to be aware of the beauty of these people. No don't get me wrong here, I'm not speaking of skin deep beauty. I've already found beauty in them many decades ago, especially Sushmita Sen the Miss Universe winner aside from Jasmine singing "I can show you the world..."

   So who are these people that comprises 15% of the worlds population?

   Most of my Indian friends are from the networking sites only; so the reflection on the matter will focus on this aspect. First, I've notice that they are prolific bloggers and in fact I think they now rank number one bloggers in the whole worldwide web. If we Filipinos hold the kingdom of Facebook they are the Ruler of Blog Kingdom. These blogs change a lot of my misconceptions about India. 

   I think partly I am seeing the heart and soul of the mystifying India. I see their passions and enthusiasm almost similar to our determinations to make a contribution to global wellness. There is of course yoga that we have adapted for our exercise routine. Their poetry that speaks the inner-heart of pure love. Amazing artworks too that are unique in their culture. How they embrace to their faith and practices with utmost respect, and little by little I am seeing many similarities how we both value families and friends. There are a lot of things I am discovering from my Indian friends and I think I'm only seeing a small portion...

   Oh! Before I forgot to mention, that we are both expert in riding trains. I don't know who learned from whom but we can get in and out of a jam-packed train fast and swiftly without bumping each other. 

   Till, next time...continue to mystify me INDIA.

   

. 

Artistic Freedom!

   Censorship had been around since ancient times. The early Catholic Church exercises this when they remove the phallus from pagan Rome’s sculptures replacing them with leaves. I am just curious where did the Vatican archive those files of male organs? Also, there had been long standing debate between moralist and the art community regarding nude paintings. Just recently the art community in the Philippines cried foul when the premier art center The CCP gave in to the pressures of various sector to stop the exhibition “Kulo” (by including one controversial work and affecting the other artworks as well) which is supposedly to commemorate University of Santo Tomas 400 year as an institution and also coincides with the 150 year birth anniversary of our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal.  

   Dr. Jose Rizal by the way suffers the extreme penalty of death under Spain because of censorship too. He was accused of inciting sedition, when all he was trying to do is educate his countrymen about the evils of a colonial rule by writing two Novels. Musicians, poet, painter, and performing artist are susceptible to criticism when they cross the norm or if they tried to go against the tides. 

  Can any individual claim artistic freedom? Well if so, what are the limitations or is there any limitation at all, since all freedom has to have its boundaries too? Should the government create a body like censorship committee to set by-laws and therefore give “ratings” and determine for themselves what the general public ought to see or hears. Most of this critics, if not all are from the academe and generally artist came from the masses.

   If the artist is simply showcasing reality, which is according to his own perceptions and experiences, can any group or association condemn his right to “express” personal stands? One thing have to be investigated here too; can we rely all the artisan’s self-regulating themselves. I mean, can we trust the artist to censor his own works and be a responsible citizen.

   How about the masses, are we also withholding from them their rights for information? By the way, the Freedom of Information bill is still under stipulation in congress. 

   Freedom of Expression falling under basic Human Rights, should be once and for all clearly define in our charter.  The 1987 Constitution guarantees the free artistic expressions and the late Director Lino Broca  himself advocates and insist to be included in the convention works  “that will hurt…that will not make you rest…For the times are really bad, and given times like this, it is a crime to rest.”

   I think it is improper to favor certain institution because of an artwork that is brewing its opposing sentiment against that group. Activists do that to our President more often than artist making funny caricature, when in fact these revolutionaries throw tomatoes on his replica or burn his effigy.  But do we charge them with treason for mocking its leader? After all, character assassination is less evil than actually aiming sniper on his head.   Now instead of burning churches which had been happening elsewhere in the world…these artists is just expressing their anger thru visual arts.

   The sad truth that one must accepts is that Art does not always paint beautiful landscape, lovely faces, icons of Martyrs, or starry nights…they also paint hell and devils.

   Now am I in favor of Artistic Freedom? I can not tell. As an artist myself, of course I will be bias on my own creation and will surely condone anything that will hurt my beliefs.  

Here are some controversial Art pieces that you may want to discuss…

  

   Now seeing goddess Lakshmi on swimsuit would enrage most Indian for sure, are you? 

   Now how about being sandwiched in the middle by this two piss-off sculpture done by David Cerny? 

   Paul Gauguin painted "Yellow Christ" in 1889 and why dutch women in particular kneeling on this? 

   In a sprawling gallery space in Milan, women with marbled skin mingle with marble plinths. One hundred and fifty people at a time streamed in to take in the sight of the vivid hues– green onyx, French red ochre, Portuguese pink marble, lapis lazuli, sodalite blue, macaubus light blue, and black Belgian– glowing against a white cube setting. As Roberta Smith said in a 1998 New York Times review of the artist’s work, “It’s art; it’s fashion. It’s good; it’s bad. It’s sexist; it’s not. It’s Vanessa Beecroft‘s performance art.” (artobserve.com)

The Goodness in Crab Mentality

The Goodness in Crab Mentality

In the Philippines to climb the corporate ladder it is almost unavoidable to face the menace of Crab Mentality. Like a silent assassin ready to discredit your capacity as a person without you knowing.

   Crab Mentality considered as a Filipino Trait (or threat) is almost synonymous with the word “sipsip” (sucking) as in bloodsucker or leech.  Sip-sip or the much brutal form Higop is the method employed by a Crab Mentalist (The practitioner) usually working alone in almost any associations or corporations from North to South. No one is safe from the bottom and up to the top of any bureaucracy.  They were sometimes labeled as Malabanan (A reknown Septic Tank siphoning company in Metro Manila) the sip-sips tactic is only a tiny portions of the symptoms called Crab Mentality.

   I am not sure whether our Colonizers have labeled this attitude to Filipinos or we had made it on our own; was it something genetics? But we had been exposing ourselves to this kind of mentality early in our life, usually in the form of sibling rivalries.

   The first book of the Bible also had an intriguing incident about trying to win the favor of God. In Genesis we read the story of Cain and Abel both making their offerings to God…it is not clear why God took favor in Abel’s gift but it often made me wonder, maybe Cain’s jealousy had its validity anyway…to him, Abel maybe is some kind of sip-sip too?  Oh No! We are not going to divert about theology here…

   Let us return and take a closer examination about the menace of Crab Mentality. The illustrations using crab as the poor example, supposes that when you place all the crabs in one basket, by instinct will individually scramble up, pulling and wrestling each other trying to escape and in the process toppling down the other to the bottom. It is noted therefore that if the crab would just cooperate using the Bayanihan Spirit (The opposite positive traits of Filipinos) they will all reach freedom.

   It is at the same way, our people view some government officials, officemates, colleagues, and even neighbors.  It is more subtle than “survival of the fittest” because a Filipino employee with this mentality is often disguised as a helpful and valuable source for the bosses and therefore destroying reputations and in the long run the whole system itself. This they believe will guarantee security of tenure. 

   A practitioner of Realizationism like me, who is always on the look out for the bright side of things; even from a treacherous attitude like crab, mentality…

   As I digress and imagine those crabs trying to escape and reach the rim of the basket, I found out that there is something heroic too in the process. There are actually some crab making it to the top and therefore escape. I saw that those left have actually sacrifice themselves for others. 

THE MOST HONEST PLACE IN THE PHILIPPINES

   This blog is an appeal to my fellow Filipino's abroad who without their consciousness represent our Nation wherever they go. I was saddened most of the time when I hear our very own people lambasting his own country and countrymen in foreign land. These actions are like spitting to heaven. Haven't you heard what are the penalties for treason? 

   Okay we are known for graft and corruptions, but that's just a handful of crooks. In general we are honest and peace loving people. Other Nation's had there own filthiness too and so we are not an isolated case. As a matter of fact, we had the most honest people in the world. Well, the people of Batanes island at least. As I've said this blog was an appeal, and perhaps to plead and beg that when you go abroad make it your mission to endorse our country or maybe clarify the bad reputation our motherland had been labeled due to few rotten eggs. To inspire you and may be a good start for our own personal advertisement...let us talk about the People of Philippine's Northernmost island....

   YES!!! You can visit the Province of Batanes and be ashame of their EXTREME HONESTY. Their grocery and gift shop was unattended, all you have to do is serve yourself, get what you want and then leave your payment on the counter. The owner said there was never an incident of burglary, not even once. And if you check the record of their prison, there are only one to two person detained there many years ago, and these are people found drunk in the street. Did you know that they even return item to a radio station (Radio Ng Bayan) even if ownership is not identifiable. When I visit that place I saw about a dozen wrist watch and some cash under the custody of the radio announcer. 
   200 kilometer away from Manila, separated by oceans, wind, and typhoon Batanes group of islands rouses in you the ancient, forgotten life core — free from modern excess, and what made the Ivatan (people of Batanes) undaunted are their regular battle with nature as the island are favorite route of storms and typhoons plus the harsh windy weather all year round being surrounded by South China sea North-east and the Pacific ocean on the other side.
   In Sabtang, a smaller island 45 minutes away from Ivana’s port, only a couple of stores sell cooked food—by request. After all, everyone grows and raises his own chickens, cows and crops for their own consumption.

  Others still find it embarrassing to sell their vegetables; they find it strange to have to ask for money for what grew on their fields. 
   Farms have no barb-wire fences and livestock freely rove the fields. The pasture are own by everyone, as people hardly raise crops for profit and that is even in the main island of Batan (where Basco City can be found) the most citified in the island group of Batanes.There was even a story I once read in a newspaper that a certain woman build a hut for a stranger she found homeless on the road.
   If you think this isolated place is god-forsaken in terms of basic needs and social services better think again. This is an example of the fruit of good governance, hospitalization and public school are free with teacher-student ratio of 1:12.    The provincial governor, we will discover, lives in a modest, unassuming house, absurd anywhere else in the Philippines. While most prototype of our public officials we knew own a dozen luxury cars, you'll find the former mayor of Sabtang wheeling the street with an old rusty bicycle. 
    I just wonder if the whole Philippine archipelago get battered by regular 200 km/hr typhoon almost on daily basis, will they be as honest and helpful as the people of Batanes?

  

Scattered after thought

   Glued my eyes on my fish tank...hot choco on one hand. 8 AM and I can already feel the heat...summer is not about to leave, not yet. Even if Typhoon Bebeng had brought roof tearing breeze and couple of inches downpour last week. Burning road....
   But that was last week's commentaries...now a quick season change...another 8 AM morning again...and at any moment Typhoon Chedeng is threatening to hit land any time this day. I feed my fishes with cockroach and now watching the tiny carnivore ramble and wrestle to get a chunk. If Sunshine is still alive this would be consumed in one gulp. 

   Yesterday, I made a realization piece by placing my self on the female mindset. The work I came up is "Undecided decision" done in mix-media. A reaction for the RH bill. It has taken a controversial twist because of th Catholic stance on taking the bill down. 
   A one kilometer tornadoes hit Missouri, USA...about 200 are found death as of this writing. Just part of the sorrows that was spoken in the book...it had started and it is inevitable. Speaking of the end times as some false prophet claims and supposed to have happen the other day May 21, 2011...or as some claimants said it is the day of rapture. The preacher who prophesied it now made a back up statement and said he had to review his math. Now, we had just identified a false prophet.