Paintings evoke nationalist sentiments among Dutch Pinoys

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 06/28/2011 8:35 AM | Updated as of 06/28/2011 8:35 AM


A painting of Rigor Esguerra featuring Filipino street vendors. by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

THE NETHERLANDS – The paintings displayed at an art exhibit in The Hague, Netherlands evoked nationalist sentiment and nostalgic feelings among Filipinos in the country.

The creative canvases that hung on the wall of the Muzee Scheveningen were very colorful.

But up close, goose bumps and heavy emotions were felt by many of the Filipinos who looked at the paintings.

The paintings are part of the exhibit on "Filipinism, what makes art Filipino?" of the Philippine Embassy and the Kunst Gallery, which made a tour of several European cities.

The exhibit featured the works of 5 Filipino painters.

The paintings by Max Balatbat, Erick Dator, Ronna Manansala, Vincent Christopher Gonzales and Rigor Esguerra brought back memories of the Philippines among the Dutch Pinoys who are long-time residents of The Netherlands.

The hit of the exhibit was "Batang Baler" Esguerra, with his paintings depicting the typical life of a street vendor and street food.

"Nakakatuwa kasi... you go on a sentimental journey. Brings back memories of your childhood and that daily life in Manila. I thank this artist here," said Philippine dance diva Becky Garcia.

Esguerra explained that he wants to show the importance of Filipino cart vendors, who contribute to the good of the country in their own little way.

Esguerra said that for a few coins, the common street food will be able to feed a hungry soul who does not have enough means.

"Yung dati na nakikita nila sa Pilipinas, tulad ng pagtitinda ng chicharon, samalamig at tubig, Marlboro cigarette, then balot. Tapos dito naman yung mga cart vendor ng fish ball, banana que, mais, toknene, 'yan ang karaniwang kinakain ng mga Pinoy," said Esguerra.

For abstractionist Balatbat, his theme is deep and intense as he aimed to show the beauty of his hometown Caloocan, which has a reputation of being a haven for prostitutes and bad elements.

"Inspirasyon ko dito kagaya netong mga patterns na to. Top view ng mga shanties sa lugar namin. Yung mismong lugar ng mga puta. Pagtinignan mo para syang tela, pinagsapalsapal na tela. Kinuha ko yun sa pagsasama ng inspirasyon ko yung mga puta, pagsasama ng mga panty ng mga puta," Balatbat said.

According to Balatbat, one should not judge a place by it exterior.

One only needs to look more closely into the hearts of its residents and see the smiles on the faces of the people living there in order to see its real beauty.

Yet again, he refers to his beloved Caloocan.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/06/28/11/paintings-evoke-nationalist-sentiments-among-dutch-pinoys

PH Embassy in Holland holds dual Araw ng Kalayaan celebrations

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Posted at 06/22/2011 2:31 PM | Updated as of 06/22/2011 2:31 PM

HOLLAND-Not to be outdone and dwarfed by the Dutch Pinoy’s grand celebration of the 113th Independence Day, the Philippine Embassy in The Hague held two events of its own.

On Independence Day itself, the Embassy held a Filipiniana breakfast for its staff and for members of the Filipino community.

The festivity commenced with a Holy Mass officiated by Archbishop Arguelles, followed by a flag-raising ceremony and reciting of the Panatang Makabayan.

The breakfast fare of fried rice, longganisa, tocino, tapa, fried eggs and salted eggs with tomatoes certainly took the Dutch Pinoy guests back to the Philippines as they got a taste of home.

Topping the authentic Filipino breakfast was the Philippine flag cake.

And for a more stately event, the Embassy held a diplomatic reception which was attended by more than 80 members of the Diplomatic Corps, led by the U.S. Ambassador to The Netherlands.

“This is the second Independence Day that I am able to celebrate with the Filipinos and I very much admire that they have made it into such a creative and exuberant way,” Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

The regal gathering also featured the mother and son tandem of Mabel and Kim Regasa who provided the entertainment, show-casing to the foreigners the inherent talent of Filipinos in singing.

Dubbed as the mini-Michael Jackson of Holland, Dutch-Pinoy Kim rose to fame as a finalist in last year’s Holland’s Got Talent.

Special guest for the event was Dutch singer Marcel Duprix who wrote the song “Here I Am”, which he says became a hit in the Visayas.

“A friend of mine…asked me to write a song to help support a children's village. So I wrote the song and when I was back in Holland, three months later he sent me a video clip. He was in a taxi, the song was on the radio in the Philippines and they played it eight times a day so he said Marcel you have to go back to the Philippines and perform your song because people love your song,” Duprix said.

Duprix said he aims to help the needy children in the Philippines through music so that all the proceeds from the sale of the “Here I Am” single will go directly to the children’s village of Padre Burgos in Leyte.

The embassy has definitely shot two birds with one stone, that of commemorating and celebrating with the kababayans and foreigners the most important day of being a Filipino and also helping a Dutch citizen promote a charity project in the Philippines

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM


http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/06/22/11/ph-embassy-holland-holds-dual-araw-ng-kalayaan-celebrations

Joma Sison joins PH Independence Day rite

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 06/13/2011 7:29 PM | Updated as of 06/13/2011 10:52 PM


NETHERLANDS - The 113th celebration of Philippine Independence on Saturday became memorable for the more than 4,000 Filipinos and Dutch who were at the Spaarnwoude Park in Haarlemmermeer.

In the middle of the Independence Day musical program, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison surprisingly showed up, causing a commotion among Pinoys who scrambled to shake his hand or pose for photos with him.

It was indeed very rare for Sison to attend such a festivity, especially since it has always been held in a very big park packed with more than 6,000 people every year. However, the stormy weather dampened the attendance this year.

According to Sison, he hasn't been to the Filipino community's Independence Day celebrations since 1999 because of fear for his security.

"Me mga reports na me mga hit team na pinalakad nun ng rehimen sa Pilipinas so bilang pag-iingat kaya di ako sumisipot sa Independence Day," Sison told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

Sison said he decided to finally join the biggest gathering of Filipino communities in Holland after intelligence report showed there is no threat to his security.

"Normal na sumasama ako sa mga kasayahan ng Filipino community. Kahit na open air ito, nagustahan ko, dahil marami, me libong Pilipino ngayon at ako'y natutuwa na nakikiisa sa kanila sa kanilang pagdiriwang ng independence day," Sison said.

The Philippine Embassy staff, led by Charge d'Affaires Frank Cimafranca, was also there. Sison’s presence became the greatest show of unity among Filipinos.

"I heard that he [Sison] came but I think it's a good thing. He should join with the Filipino Community in celebration of Philippine Independence. Kasama yan sa pagkakaisa. Hopefully back home, they will try to approach the peace process positively and let's unite as a people and let's do away with violence and use of force," Cimafranca said.

Sison said he has not observed any bad blood between the 2 parties involved in the ongoing peace talks.

Sison added the second round of formal talks had only been disrupted because of the Philippine government’s opposition to free the individuals who are protected under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees or JASIG. The kinks have already been smoothened out, he said.

There is a great belief among the Pinoys here that the time to be one as a nation and as a people has finally come.

SOURCE:WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3527450582355285238