Ground Views and Random Thoughts

When my aunt asked me to help her market her co-production of Pesta Igal 2016 along with her friend, Dr. Santamaria of UP Asian Center and Bunga Arts Link, at first I was kind of hesitant thinking that cultural stage shows are already over-the-hill for a society with abounding technology and with a declined interest in its own culture and traditions. But I got it all wrong. It is, in fact, an opportunity for me to serve my country. If other people excel in music or in sports as a way of glorifying the country, why not with preserving or reviving its own indigenous culture through stage performances, especially when collaborated with neighboring countries that also share the same dance labels suchlike Malaysia? Pesta Igal is a rare festival-concert that enjoins audiences to partake of the rich performance traditions of the Sama-Bajau people of the Southern Philippines. This features igal and pansak dance pieces and kulintangan ensemble music pieces from four Sama-Bajau performing groups

It is always darkest before dawn. It's Always Darkest Before Dawn Painting by: Erika Yunson

A woman who values nature  is loved by nature. Illustration by: Erika Yunson

You are not found at the corner. You are not found at the corner. Painting by: Erika Yunson

You are just no tissue paper. You are a memory, too special to keep.  More precious than sto You are just no tissue paper. You are a memory, too special to keep.  More precious than stones.  Drawing by: Erika Yunson

Every atom in  us was once a star. Everything was once a star. It is there. There is a star in each and everyone of us. Every atom in  us was once a star. Everything was once a star.  It is there. There is a star in each and everyone of us.   Illustration by: Erika Yunson

I don’t fear failures. The truth is, I believe in the power of failures. I’ve been with them many times of my life, and they made me stronger, bolder, and even wiser. Failures will never be unavoidable to humans, so why develop a fear of them? Instead, we should embrace them and convert them into an opportunity for learning and growth.

The Pesta lgal concert series returns to the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium stage, University of the Philippines Diliman on 22 October 2016. This year’s theme is Maglasig—lasig kitabi! (Let us all celebrate together!). The concert enjoins audiences to partake of the rich performance traditions of the Sama-Bajau people of the Southern Philippines. This rare festival-concert features igal and pansak dance pieces and kulintangan ensemble music pieces from four Sama-Bajau performing groups from Semporna, Malaysia; Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Apalit, Pampanga; and, San Andres, Manila. lgal and pansak are two dance labels used by Sama-Bajau groups to refer to their traditional dances. These dance forms are characterized by fluid and graceful arm movements that evoke the swaying of palm fronds, the drifting of see grasses, and the curling of the waters of the ebbing and flowing tides reflecting the marine environment of its birth place. The kulintangan ensemble (aka tagunggo‘an ensemble) is compose