El Dia...Parte Dos

where was I? Oh, yes...

Having sated our artistic curiosity with the tour of the galleries, it was time to turn our attention to the symposium. Kaya nga pumunta kami dun eh. When the participants returned after the museum tour, the open forum was begun wherein the various assembled participants could ask questions to the panel of experts assembled.

Checking the contents of our handouts, I was able to review the topics discussed in the previous lectures. The first was given by a lady Spanish scholar who endeavors to reconcile the various foreign views regarding the Philippines during Spanish colonial times. This was, from what I could gather from the summary of her presentation, an attempt to reconcile both the Filipino and Spanish viewpoints with regard to our history -- to give an "internationalist" scope in presenting the history of colonial Philippines. There was some discussion regarding the impression of Spanish times as "bad" and "abusive" times but what was stressed is the cooperative effort in figuring out this important period in our history. How this can be done without eliciting an emotional reaction or response, especially from the Filipinos, I do not know...

Another lecture was about the works of a Spanish writer by the name of del Pan. The gentleman who gave the lecture on the topic was not pelted by too much questions. But looking at the bibliography of sources appended to the lecture summary I was impressed at the sheer number of works cited. So this is what it means to make a dissertation...hmmmmmm...

After having dispensed with the academic banter, it was now time for the book raffle. YAY! Earlier, when one of the panelists was engaged in a rambling lecture, Eli and I decided to loiter at the corridor and take a look at the books displayed at the entrance. They were book spublishde by the NHI and I saw some very interesting titles: a Frenchman's account of 19th century Philippines, a collection of works by Lopez-Jaena, and a Biography of Apolinario Mabini written by Prof. Cesar Majul.

Eleazar, on the other hand, was busy pestering the attendant. Fortunately, the lady seated at the display table was a good-humored person and was game to our antics. Eleazar was quite the goofball and charmer haha matinik si Eli sa chicks...

After a few minutes of nonsensical banter at the book display, we seated ourselves at our tables since it was time for one of the most awaited events...

THE BOOK RAFFLE! I was quietly hoping to get the French account of 19th c. Philippines. Though the books were priced at a bargain, it wouldn't hurt to get a freebie...

Malas namin, walang nanalo sa amin hahahaha the numbers kept avoiding us. The emcee would call out various combinations of numbers but never our ticket numbers.

The brief interlude before the dinner marked an opportunity for the guests to make their way to the book display and make their purchase. When I made my way to where the crowd was, I discovered to my dismay that the French guy's account was already gone -- nawala ang lahat ng kopya na parang bula! Luckily, there was a lone copy of Mabini left and this I swiped off the table with greedy hands, together with Lopez-Jaena. Waldas Index strikes again hehe

DINNER TIME! the first time we lined up at the buffet table was a fluke...turned out the invited singers were given the time to have dinner prior to their performace. A night of Spanish songs was scheduled after dinner and surely the assembled chanteurs need their calories hehe After the singers have partaken of the food, it was a wild dash to the buffet table. The food was muy bueno y delicioso. My fave were the macaroons hahaha Nakadalawang balik ako ng dessert stand. Not surprisingly, Eli was chatting up the pretty caterers...para madagdagan ang servings niya, no doubt...

DINNER CONVERSATION CLASSIFIED -- basta it has something to do with verduras y montañas...and a telephone's dial tone. hehehe

I did not stick around for the singing, unfortunately. Another group of MA students invited me to join their group as they will be returning to UP after dinner. Since Eli has other plans (which will remain classified) I took my leave of the boys and escorted the ladies as we went outside in search of transportation. The original plan was for the four of us (me, Ate Lualhati, Ma'am Cecile, lady-with-no-name) to take a taxi. It was decided to take a jeep instead since there were few available taxis in the area.

THE TRIP BACK TO QUEZON CITY TOOK MORE THAN AN HOUR! SH*T! sumakit ang pwet ko sa tagal ng upo sa jeep. The traffic was a terrible way to end the day. But nevertheless, the events during Fil-Spanish friendship day were quite interesting and informative. Plus, I have two new books to add to my collection.

Now, to lobby Prof Llanes to give us participants incentives...por favor, Señor Llanes!

El Dia Filipino-Español con Compañeros en El Museo Nacional - Parte Uno

since today is Filipino-Spanish Friendship Day, I thought I'd put in the title in Spanish.

'langhiya nung Independence Day late yung Independence Day post...ni wala ngang post on Rizal Day hahaha the reason for this is that today was full of "happenings" na di pwedeng palampasin na hindi malagay sa blog...

I was at first ambivalent about attending the symposium at the National Museum since the location is soooooo muy lejos! But since we were invited by Prof Llanes at nagyaya na rin si Eleazar I guess I better take the opportunity since this would be the first time I'd step into the National Museum.

Turned out both Eli and I were like lost strangers sa kalakhang Maynila. It took us a few minutes to get our bearings and decide on the best route and jeepney to take us to the National Museum. The symposium was a whole day event but I had to wait for Eli since he had classes until 1 PM. Nagyosi na lang ang kawawang bata sa labas ng library para mawala ang gutom.

Back to our trip to the National Museum...it was a long jeepney ride and during the ride we fell into talking about the assigned research topics in our Kas 110 class. Eli was still undecided about which topic to write about -- he was thinking about doing a local history paper about Krus na Ligas. Our brainstorming turned to other matters and that was when I realized that long haired, hippie Eli was pretty much a bookworm like me. Turns out we both knew George Orwell -- I have read Animal Farm while Eli's read 1984. Thus we agreed on a book swapping of sorts -- I will lend him Animal Farm while he lends me 1984.

After about 40 minutes, we finally reached our destination. The Pambansang Museum used to be the old Legislative building--but that was not the place where the symposium will be held. Turns out it was the other National Museum building across the street. Thus Eli and I braved the treacherous avenue filled with cars, buses and ten-wheeler trucks to reach our destination. It was already 3 PM.

The first person that I met at the entrance to the conference hall where the symposium was held was none other than my profesora en español diez Maria Luna. So it was buenas tardes Maria, como estas?, estoy bien! por que estas aqui? para una clase del Profesor Llanes...it was a moment to exercise my insufficient Spanish pero since nagkaintindihan kami ni Ma'am medyo OK na rin hahaha. Our meeting was a bit ironic given today was a day for a meeting of Filipino-Spanish culture and history.

Since 3 PM na kami nakarating we were unable to hear the scheduled lectures. The conference hall was empty since the participants were on a tour of the museum premises. Hindi na kami humabol. What Eli and I did was we held our own tour of the nearby galleries featuring Filipino artists and Japanese photographers. We were joined by three other classmates in our Kas 110.

Viewing the various works of art displayed was a wonderful experience. To summarize: Pinoy artists -- supeeeeer talented! As in! my most favorite work was one entitled "Basta Driver, Sweet Lover" which is an artwork made using ballpen on cloth. the whole 3x6 canvas was covered with a complicated, intricate art design echoing Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel works or the Grecian frieze artworks. Second fave was a picture of a full sized man lifting a canvas -- kung titingnan mo sa malayo akala mo may taong kumakabit ng painting sa sulok. Astig talaga ang mga Pinoy! Hanep!

On the other hand, the Japanese photographers are weeeeeeeird! the most provocative work in my opinion was a set of pictures made by a photographer who shot exterior shots of buildings through the windows of a MENTAL INSTITUTION. It was, according to the photographer, an attempt to capture the perspective of the people locked in the mental institute. The pictures where then transferred on cloth/canvas and stretched over boxes which were then illuminated from the inside. Para siyang installation art and the effect of the images on cloth and with the lighting made it even more eerie. Kaya nga eh -- weird ang mga Japanese. Period.

Then we went into another gallery showcasing indigenous clothing. Some of which I believe are more than a hundred years old since the info on the display panels said that some of the articles of native clothing were displayed in the St. Louis Expedition held in 1904.

After a few moments of strolling around we finally made our way back to the conference hall. We were motivated to stay because of the free snacks, dinner and a book raffle. All of which I will blog about next time hehe