Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Update on Kenneth Sula's Recovery
A Special Thanks to everyone who extended their prayers to Kenneth Sula. Your prayers did wonders! He is now at home recovering and I am thankful and appreciative of all of my friends and family that helped him recover by praying for him. You are wonderful! I love you all.
A Tribute to Apo Mendung Sabal
I know traveling is impossible for most of my family, friends and colleagues. It was a huge blessing to have gone back home and spent the precious time I did with Apo Mendung Sabal. I am eternally grateful. I wish I had the video & digital recordings I had of her in June, 2008, so that I could again hear her wonderful voice and listen to her meaningful prayers about the spirit world and her connection to it.
You can read about her and hear her voice by ordering her CD by clicking on the title above or finding the link at:
http://www.skyinet.net/~taomusic/taomusic/mogul.html
I am posting photos of Apo Mendung Sabal taken by Katribu member and Photographer Tan Tan (Jonathan Cena of Davao, Mindanao). He's got great photos of the IPs (indigenous peoples) of Mindanao, including the ones he sent me upon the death of Apo Mendung Sabal. These photos show her dancing and chanting at the Kapwa Conference in Iloilo, Panay and also returning to Mindanao with Sheila (a Katribu member), Maria Todi (T'boli) and being welcomed by Tan Tan's fabulous family.
The post below is what I sent my family members upon hearing the death of this wonderful chanter. We are raising money for her family members and you can write me directly if you want to assist them in covering the expenses of her hospital bills.
I met Grandma Mendung Sabal, a T'boli chanter, in Iloilo, Panay, Philippines at the Kapwa Conference. We shared the vitality of life, a respect for our ancestors, the joy of the present and the dreams of our future--tribal elders, community leaders, cultural bearers, artists, educators and youth. My last memories of her were watching her teach Frances, a dancer from Manila, how to properly wrap the malong in T'boli fashion, and also giving her my Hawaiian sarong.
We joked that she could go back home and tell everyone she had been to Hawaii. She pulled two handmade T'boli bracelets (made for the ankles, but fitting on my wrist instead), and asked me to hang them on the wall to remember her. Two days before she passed I finally printed photos I had of her and with joy, remembered how we both embraced each other & argued over who was more beautiful --her or I... then I won the argument by telling her that she was the more beautiful, because of her wonderful chants that she kept alive...chants of prayers that the spirits use to guide us. Good memories and a wonderful woman to always remember!
As a supporter of tribal people preserving their cultural heritage, protecting ancestral lands and guiding the youth as cultural bearers, I salute her! Praises & thanks to Mendung Sabal.
To read more, check out my friend Leny's blog by going to:
http://kathang-pinay.blogspot.com/
...It's really cool that Mendung even wore my sarong all the way back to Davao, as I saw photos of her from Tan Tan, as they disembarked with the Katribu members.
Monday, December 29, 2008
I write with sadness that my friend's son, Kenneth Sula, has been seriously injured in a knife attack in Lake Sebu. I spent some time in Davao with Kenneth, and two other Lumad (indigenous peoples) students, the wonderful cousins Merlita & Silme Rico. I loved spending time with these young university students and purposely had them all meet so that Merlita and Silme could be a support system for Kenneth, who just moved to the big city. We spent the day shopping for tennis shoes, as Kenneth's last pair of shoes had been ruined when his teachers brought him hiking up to Mt. Apo.
I just spoke with Luanda about how the lumad students will soon be on their own, as I believe the money for the dorm they stay in will soon be depleted. I still want to have a fundraiser, and have been thinking a lot about it when I received the email below from Rosie.
Today we really need your prayers.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Remembering Lubuagen
My fondest memories are of staying with the Bawer family in Lubuagen, especially during the 100th Anniversary of Provincial Government. This was one of the last photos I took when I took the bus back to Baguio.
Reflections on Kalinga
These three Bawer women are a wonderful reflection of their parents, Maria & Cirilio Bawer. My stay at the Bawer home was excellent--with the sharing of food, conversations, Kalinga wisdom, and a fabulous visit to the rice terraces, and artists of Lubuagen.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Cultural Resilience
Globalization: Response and Responsibility. This year's theme at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center's art series.
So this brings up a good question for all of us: How will you be culturally resilient in the midst of globalization? How will I?
Although I'm still going through a quiet transition, adjusting to my return to the U.S. and processing my experience in the Philippines-the joy and pain of it--I think about personal response and responsibility in the global world quite a bit. The next step is to make change. For now, I am formulating my direction...so it was great to be included in this section of the show: "Cultural Resilience." But my initial thoughts on this are on display at the show...along with artwork by Clarissa Cue, Johanna Poethig and Shizue Seigel. The work displayed, while unified by questions of identity, also show great contrast in response to the question of Globalization, each artist responding differently.
But, what will all of our responses to globalization be? My own has been to look back to the past, to my precolonial roots...to "indigenize" myself...a common thing for many Fil-Ams to do. In Iloilo at the KAPWA2 Conference, Filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik recommended that we bring out the "Indo-GENIOUS" of our ancestors... I saw a lot of this with the young artists I met in the Philippines and of many young artists here in the states. I think it's a cultural phenomena that's occurring worldwide, under the radar of major media and probably not getting play because it's a powerful thing.
Going to the I-Hotel Manilatown Center yesterday was a good thing for me. Good for my family too. It gave Uncle Donn an opportunity to explain to Miles the importance and history of the I-Hotel. My mom came, and so did three of my kids and their significant others, along with my sister Kelly, and grandbaby Amaya. Memories of visiting the I-Hotel with dad and remembering all the history there and seeing the manongs in my mind--these were good things. Revisiting the past is always good.
Which brings up another thing: The archive at the center is up and running. Here's a good way to review the history of the I-Hotel. You can access it at: manilatownarchives.blogspot.com
Check out the show "Cultural Resilience," at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center, 868 Kearny Street (at Jackson), San Francisco, CA. It runs until November 15th, 2008. Gallery hours: 1-6 pm (Tues-Sat)
So this brings up a good question for all of us: How will you be culturally resilient in the midst of globalization? How will I?
Although I'm still going through a quiet transition, adjusting to my return to the U.S. and processing my experience in the Philippines-the joy and pain of it--I think about personal response and responsibility in the global world quite a bit. The next step is to make change. For now, I am formulating my direction...so it was great to be included in this section of the show: "Cultural Resilience." But my initial thoughts on this are on display at the show...along with artwork by Clarissa Cue, Johanna Poethig and Shizue Seigel. The work displayed, while unified by questions of identity, also show great contrast in response to the question of Globalization, each artist responding differently.
But, what will all of our responses to globalization be? My own has been to look back to the past, to my precolonial roots...to "indigenize" myself...a common thing for many Fil-Ams to do. In Iloilo at the KAPWA2 Conference, Filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik recommended that we bring out the "Indo-GENIOUS" of our ancestors... I saw a lot of this with the young artists I met in the Philippines and of many young artists here in the states. I think it's a cultural phenomena that's occurring worldwide, under the radar of major media and probably not getting play because it's a powerful thing.
Going to the I-Hotel Manilatown Center yesterday was a good thing for me. Good for my family too. It gave Uncle Donn an opportunity to explain to Miles the importance and history of the I-Hotel. My mom came, and so did three of my kids and their significant others, along with my sister Kelly, and grandbaby Amaya. Memories of visiting the I-Hotel with dad and remembering all the history there and seeing the manongs in my mind--these were good things. Revisiting the past is always good.
Which brings up another thing: The archive at the center is up and running. Here's a good way to review the history of the I-Hotel. You can access it at: manilatownarchives.blogspot.com
Check out the show "Cultural Resilience," at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center, 868 Kearny Street (at Jackson), San Francisco, CA. It runs until November 15th, 2008. Gallery hours: 1-6 pm (Tues-Sat)
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Reflections on Returning
I flew back to San Francisco on August 23, 2008. A two month journey. The deepest valley was the grief of losing Kulpna so suddenly. Stopped me cold. Couldn't do art research & thankfully, Bryan Ellorimo, my Cultural Guide & exquisite Kulintang player, turned to me in Gen San to tell me, "Maybe we should go to Davao, mam. Your heart is broken..." It was the best advice. I couldn't focus on gathering documentation on indigenous arts & cultural, while grieving for such a wonderful woman.
My exit from Mindanao was amidst the failure of the MOA between the Philippine National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Once the Supreme Court pulled the MOA, fighting broke out. Land issues in Mindanao are deep and conflicts span generations, if not centuries. I am saddened that the peace process fell apart. I have friends on all sides: the Lumads (Indigenous Peoples-IP), Moros (Muslim Pilipinos) and the settlers (Pilipinos from other islands).
The parents of my niece's high school friend were shot in the head over land issues while I stayed in Davao. My T'boli friends grieve over loosing most of their land to the settlers: 70% T'boli population in Lake Sebu own only 20% of the land. I am told that Datus who stand up to the injustice are murdered. Another datu from a different tribe was indignant that IP ancestral domain was included in the PNG/MILF MOA, and anticipated the war days, maybe weeks before it began.
This was the context with which I traveled Mindanao. But juxtapose this against the time I spent with the Cultural Workers I visited in Lake Sebu and South Cotabato. Although my visit was short, the music shared with us was spectacular--very moving and heartffelt--the "love-laced" tribal chants of the T'boli women and the fast-paced agong contests of the Maguindanaon men, mostly members of Master Danongan Kalanduyan's family, were great highlights of my trip. Meeting a Maranao Princess was a delight I hadn't expected and Ate Bai Bing was such a caring, wonderful person, and a proud Bangsamoro.
Returning to Luzon, especially the Cordillera Mountains was especially healing for me. Reconnecting with friends and relatives in Manila, and especially in Baguio, helped me recalibrate my senses. I needed to breath the fresh air, let the mountain spirits cool me and see the Chico river flow below me, while the Kalingas of Lubuagen celebrated their 100th year of Provincial government. I was caught up with the excitement of a community celebrating the wealth of their tribal music, dance and culture. I am especially grateful to Ruel Bimuyag and the entire Bawer family, who facilitated with their familial warmth, my return to balance, to community belonging and to balance. I am grateful to the community members of the Mabilong Barangay, who welcomed me back with open arms, and with their compassion and generosity, helped me heal my ailing heart. It was in the mountains overlooking Lubuagen that my grief began to fall away. Those mountains bring me a peaceful heart and a clear mind.
And now I am happy to be home. My return visit to Lubuagen brought me full circle. Once I returned to Lubuagen, I was ready to return to the U.S. Can't explain it much, except that my own indigenization of myself is connected to the land & for me that land is the La Union/Cordi area...I am certain my ancestors walked those mountains at one time. I could feel it.
My homecoming a happy one--greeted by Amaya (my grandchild) & Sandino (my son) at the airport & Keenan, Cory & Aja at the house. A simple and quiet homecoming & of course my own bed!!! Then, all my kids, Shy, Alicia, Amaya & Aliyah Sky (my grandaughter) for Dario's (my son) 25th Birthday on August 24th. A perfect homecoming. It's good to be home. THANK YOU FAMILY!!!
My exit from Mindanao was amidst the failure of the MOA between the Philippine National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Once the Supreme Court pulled the MOA, fighting broke out. Land issues in Mindanao are deep and conflicts span generations, if not centuries. I am saddened that the peace process fell apart. I have friends on all sides: the Lumads (Indigenous Peoples-IP), Moros (Muslim Pilipinos) and the settlers (Pilipinos from other islands).
The parents of my niece's high school friend were shot in the head over land issues while I stayed in Davao. My T'boli friends grieve over loosing most of their land to the settlers: 70% T'boli population in Lake Sebu own only 20% of the land. I am told that Datus who stand up to the injustice are murdered. Another datu from a different tribe was indignant that IP ancestral domain was included in the PNG/MILF MOA, and anticipated the war days, maybe weeks before it began.
This was the context with which I traveled Mindanao. But juxtapose this against the time I spent with the Cultural Workers I visited in Lake Sebu and South Cotabato. Although my visit was short, the music shared with us was spectacular--very moving and heartffelt--the "love-laced" tribal chants of the T'boli women and the fast-paced agong contests of the Maguindanaon men, mostly members of Master Danongan Kalanduyan's family, were great highlights of my trip. Meeting a Maranao Princess was a delight I hadn't expected and Ate Bai Bing was such a caring, wonderful person, and a proud Bangsamoro.
Returning to Luzon, especially the Cordillera Mountains was especially healing for me. Reconnecting with friends and relatives in Manila, and especially in Baguio, helped me recalibrate my senses. I needed to breath the fresh air, let the mountain spirits cool me and see the Chico river flow below me, while the Kalingas of Lubuagen celebrated their 100th year of Provincial government. I was caught up with the excitement of a community celebrating the wealth of their tribal music, dance and culture. I am especially grateful to Ruel Bimuyag and the entire Bawer family, who facilitated with their familial warmth, my return to balance, to community belonging and to balance. I am grateful to the community members of the Mabilong Barangay, who welcomed me back with open arms, and with their compassion and generosity, helped me heal my ailing heart. It was in the mountains overlooking Lubuagen that my grief began to fall away. Those mountains bring me a peaceful heart and a clear mind.
And now I am happy to be home. My return visit to Lubuagen brought me full circle. Once I returned to Lubuagen, I was ready to return to the U.S. Can't explain it much, except that my own indigenization of myself is connected to the land & for me that land is the La Union/Cordi area...I am certain my ancestors walked those mountains at one time. I could feel it.
My homecoming a happy one--greeted by Amaya (my grandchild) & Sandino (my son) at the airport & Keenan, Cory & Aja at the house. A simple and quiet homecoming & of course my own bed!!! Then, all my kids, Shy, Alicia, Amaya & Aliyah Sky (my grandaughter) for Dario's (my son) 25th Birthday on August 24th. A perfect homecoming. It's good to be home. THANK YOU FAMILY!!!
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