A Home School for Capisnon Orphans

The Baptist Home School. Image from Filamer Christian University  / Milton Walter Meyer. 

One day in August 1904, a local constabulary commandant informed Mrs. Robbins about the case of orphaned three children—one girl and two boys. Their father, a bandit chief, was sentenced to life imprisonment and they had no mother to look after them. The Robbins, who already had seven orphan children under their ward, adopted the girl named Regina. The two boys were sent to good homes nearby. Little did the Robbins know that their noble act of giving home to a young girl would later have a significant impact to the lives of many people in Capiz.

Barely a month earlier, the Robbins arrived in Capiz, after a stint in Iloilo. Two years ago, the Baptist faith was introduced to the natives of Capiz when Swedish missionary, Eric Lund, arrived together with Braulio Manikan, a Capisnon from the Aklan part of the province. With the help of a wealthy gentleman, Don Manuel Gregorio, the Baptist missionaries slowly spread their faith, despite the taunts and threats from the clergy.

American history professor Milton Meyer, whose parents Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Meyer were affiliated with Capiz Emmanuel Hospital from 1919 until 1943 and who were among the unfortunate victims of the Japanese at Hopevale in Tapaz town, Capiz, credited the “accidental but fortuitous founding” of the Home School to Reverend Joseph Robbins, who was described as a “very extraordinary person.” His wife, “a quiet and gentle soul,” who filled their home with “cheer and comfort.” Quoting Joseph Robbins, Meyer wrote that the situation had touched their hearts “ for the homeless, neglected children in the district and so established the Capiz Home School.”  

In his report to the Baptist Mission Board , Rev. Robbins took pride of the opening of the home school.  “In spite of unforeseen difficulties and the outspoken and continuous opposition from the priests of Capiz and vicinity,” he wrote, “this school has grown beyond our fondest hopes.”  The home school was, after all, one of the “best investments” made by the Baptists in Capiz.

In the book Filamer through the Years: A Centennial History of Filamer Christian College 1904-2002 by Nestor D. Bunda and Winnifred D. Stanford, Celia Sainz is also given credit for founding the Home School.  Previously stationed in Barcelona, Sainz arrived in Capiz in 1903, a year before the Robbins came, to teach Bible lessons to women. Bunda and Stanford wrote:

“It was Miss Sainz who opened a school in her home for Regina and other needy children. The girls being trained to become Bible Women assisted her in teaching the orphans and the poor children to read in their own language , to study the Bible and learn simple livelihood skills. It was not the original plan to build a large educational institution, but simply to care for “poor homeless waifs.’”

In 1905, the Robbins had to leave Capiz shortly after the orphanage was opened, while Sainz moved to Pontevedra. In 1906, due to health problems, she returned home. The task of running the Home School fell into the lap of Margaret Suman, who arrived in Capiz from Congo in 1905. 

By now home to 30 girls, Joseph Robbins wanted the school to accept more girls “between ages six and twelve years, who live in distant barrios where there is no school, bring them here and furnish them with a home and home care and Christian training, sending them to public school, and give them industrial training during the long summer vacation.”

The Home School was located in a rented large bamboo house. The number of girls living at the Home School swelled to fifty-three in 1905, Dr. Raphael Thomas reported to the mission board the need “for a large permanent home.” In 1906, the Robbins returned from the United States with a donation from Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, to purchase a land. According to Milton Meyer, the Baptists acquired  “a hilly bamboo-studded track of seven acres, located a mile south of the town’s center” and adjacent to the main highway. The land cost $231.41.

Another interesting thing about the property was the view it behold! “Immediately lay beneath us lay the town of Capiz,” Peter Lerrigo wrote. “Its defects were not prominent at this distance and it presented us a lovely view.” Built on this property were the Home School, hospital, mission house, and the doctor’s residence. By the end of 1907, the Home School had a new building. All these efforts by the American Baptists resulted to the expansion of the Home School but also of the spread of the Baptist faith in Capiz. The Capiz Home School is now Filamer Christian University.

References: 

Nestor Bunda and Winnifred Stanford (2004). Filamer through the Years: A Centennial History of Filamer Christian College 1904-2002. Filamer Christian College, Philippines; Milton Walter Meyer (2003). Letters Home: The Meyers & Capiz 1919-1943. The Paige Press, Claremont, CA; Missions in the Philippines (1906-1911). Boston, Mass.:  American Baptist Missionary Union.

  

Historic Churches of Frankfurt

In 2017, I had the chance to explore Europe.  A fifteen-hour layover in Frankfurt meant a tour of the Altstadt, the city’s Old Town. Enamoured is an understatement to describe how I felt the first time I saw centuries-old buildings. The history student in me was enlivened with all these structures standing side by side.  Of course, the seat of the Holy Roman Empire has a hundred and one and more stories to tell that my short stay is not enough... Frankfurt has many churches, Roman Catholic and Lutheran alike, and my walking tour from Alstadt to Sachsenhausen (via Eiserner Steg – the Iron Footbridge) took me to these churches.

Deutschordenskirche (Church of the Teutonic Order)

A hospital in 1182 originally stood in the grounds of the Deutschordenskirche. Taken over by the Teutonic Order in 1221, a Gothic aise-less church was constructed in 1309. High Gothic mural paintings depicting the stations of the cross and scenes of the crucifixion were created in the 1340s. The Baroque facade with axial portal was later added in the mid-18th century. The interior was transformed into the neo-Gothic style between 1881-1893. The spire, which was damaged following the bombings during World War II, was rebuilt in 1960.

Dreikonigskirche (Church of the Three Kings)

This Protestant parish church was once the site of a Gothic chapel until it was demolished in the 1870s to give way to a Neo-Gothic church.  A five-bay, vaulted main naive extended in the middle side naves with impressive stone galleries. Stain glass window by Charles Crodel was installed in 1956, while a new organ was installed by organ marker Karl Schuke in 1961.

Liebfrauenkirche

This Roman Catholic Parish church and minster was built in 1344. the belfry was erected more than a century after, between 1453 and 1478. In the mid-18th century, the church tower was heightened in the baroque style with the interiors in the rococo decoration. The Capuchin Brothers took over the church in 1917. Severely damaged during World War II, reconstruction commenced in 1948.

Alte Nikolaikirche (Old St. Nicholas Church)

Located at the heart of the Altstadt, the Old St. Nicholas Church  is known for its 51 bells, 4 of which are used for peals, the rest for carillons. A Catholic church once stood here until the mid-15th century, when the present structure was erected. The Alte Nikolaikirche  is the only structure in Romerberg that survived intact after the bombing of Frankfurt during World War II.

Paulskirche (St. Paul Church)

An old Gothic church once stood here until demolished to give way to the present structure.  In 1848, the first democratically elected German National Assembly met here, where they adopted the first German constitution.   Presently a United Protestant church, Paulskirche  began as a Lutheran church in 1789.

Frankfurter Dom

For over a millenium, Holy Roman Emperors were crowned in this Gothic structure with its tower overlooking an impressive view.   Frankfurter Dom also served as the meeting place of some of the most powerful German princes long before Germany was born as a nation.

If ever you decide to explore Frankfurt, don't forget to visit these storied churches to get a feel of the faith and culture of the people.  

Nipa, Tuba, and the Prewar Distilling Industry of Capiz

Nipa palm grove around 1950s

Long before the coming of the Spaniards, nipa wine was already an export product of the natives of the Philippines. Extract from the sap of the nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) called tuba was available in many parts of the islands, including the present-day Capiz, where a large portion of its future capital city and the pueblo of Panay used to be swampland. In fact, the native Filipinos had many types of alcoholic drinks to enjoy. A variety of the tuba is the one extracted from the coconut sap. From rice came the tapuy and from sugarcane the basi was made.

Spanish conquistador Miguel de Loarca noted that the natives “draw a great quantity of wine from the palm-trees.”  The taste was “sweet and good” and the wine was used in “making great quantities of brandy, excellent vinegar and delicious honey.”

Antonio de Morga, a high ranking colonial official in the early 17th century, also recorded that the indios enjoyed "wine made from the tops of coco and nipa palm of which there is a great abundance. They are grown and tended like vineyards, although without so much toil and labor. Drawing the tuba they distilled it, using for alembics using their own little furnace and utensils, to a greater less strength and it becomes a brandy. This is drunk throughout the islands."

Morga detailed the medicinal benefits of the tuba, especially for the stomach. Food historian Felice Sta. Maria further explained that when mixed with an infusion of tobacco leaves,  the tuba is a potent cure for a wounded cock.   With its sweet and good taste, nipa lovers claimed that tuba (sap) from nipa is superior in both taste and sock than coconut’s. The Spaniards, though, rate the tuba less potent that the rice wine. French physician and writer Jean Mallat observed that too much indulgence of tuba caused jaundice among the natives of Negros.

In 1860, Queen Isabella II opened Iloilo port to worldwide trade and this spurred the agricultural and industrial growth in Panay and the neighboring island of Negros. The Culasi port in Capiz town (now Roxas City), which used to serve only as an arsenal to Spanish galleons when the seas get rough, was transformed into a transloading port for inter-island trade.

An ad material of the Destileria Ayala, which indicates that they have distilleries in Capiz (present day Roxas City) and Panay towns. Image from Filipinas Heritage Library

Some 600 kilometers away, in the Spanish city of Manila, a Creole woman, imperious in bearing and resolute in spirit had her eyes set southwards to expand her family’s already vast fortune. At a young age, Margarita Roxas endured the abuses of the peninsulares who governed the islands. Her father, Don Domingo Roxas, was incarcerated by the Spanish authorities twice over. Liberal and enlightened, he advocated for the rights of the natives. The Spaniards accused him of plotting against Spain. He eventually died in prison shortly after Margarita personally obtained for Domingo the pardon from the queen. With Don Domingo’s death, Margarita set out to further expand her inherited wealth. In 1844, she married her father’s business partner, the Spaniard Antonio Ayala who was 15 years her junior.

On the foundations of her father's business, Margarita diversified into real estate, mining, and alcohol production, acquiring hectares upon hectares of swamplands in Candaba, Pampanga and Calatagan, Batangas. In 1850, she also purchased lands in Capiz and sent her grand-nephew, Antonio Roxas (her uncle’s great grandson) to start the nipa palm business. Doña Margarita herself made trips to Capiz, riding a goleta (schooner), which smoothly navigated through the swamps and rivers in Capiz. In 1865, she established wine distilleries in Capiz and Panay. She personally supervised her capataz (field foreman) in the harvesting of nipa alcohol which became the basis of Ginebra Ayala.

All in all, 10 distilleries were established in the province that processed nipa wine and aguardiente (beverage from sugarcane) for export. One of these distilleries was vividly described by Capisnon writer Jose Bolante: “The two-storey distillery building was built on an ideal place by the bank of the Panay River for easy conveyance of raw materials and finished products. The building typical of a Spanish architecture in that area was an imposing building of red bricks and square corral rocks. It was surrounded with deep marshland, and a stone walk connected the building to what is now the modern slaughterhouse area in Luna Novicio Street of Roxas City.”

At the start of the American regime, it was recorded that nipa products are among the country's top produce. American civil servant J.P. Sanger reports that nipa was grown in 29 provinces, with every part of the nipa put to best use: leaves and stalks are used in the construction of houses while the prized tuba was distilled into alcohol. Pampanga grew the most number of nipa in the country, where 7,195 hectares dedicated into nipa plantations. Nevertheless, Capiz was the country's top producer of tuba. According to a 1905 statistics, the Visayan province's production reached 39,877,314 liters, followed by Bulacan and Pampanga. Panay Island was only second to Luzon as the country's top tuba producing island.

The native Capisnons called the distillery as binohan (from the Spanish  vino, wine). The finished bi-products were transported either by land or water,  the wine placed in a tapayan or tadyao and damajuana and transported by animals on land or by conducciones on water. The success of the distilleries in Capiz had significant impact to the local economy and society, especially the creation of the illustrado class since many nipa plantation owners profited from this industry. However, prevalent was the exploitation of labor and forcing the tillers of the land to concentrate on the cultivation of nipa palms instead of staples, like rice and corn.

Alas, the province’s nipa wine industry suffered from the insular government’s tax schemes. By 1914, the Ayala’s interests in the province shut down. One by one, the distilleries shut down.

References

Ronald A. Amigo (1996). The Nipa Wine Distillery of Capiz: Preliminary Study. Proceedings of the 6th Conference on West Visayan History and Culture.UP Visayas; Jose Bolante (1992). Capiz in Search of Identity; Clarita T. Nolasco (1970, September-December). “The Creoles in Spanish Philippines.” Far Eastern University Journal, 14 (1-2), 47;  J.P. Sanger, et al. (1905). Census of the Philippine Islands volume 4: Agricultural, Social and Industrial Statistics. Washington, DC: United States Bureau of Census; Felice P. Sta. Maria (2006). The Governor-General's Kitchen: Philippine Culinary Vignettes and Period Recipes (1521-1935). Anvil.

Rynek: Wroclaw’s Historic Market Square

I have never seen a public square so beautiful, so picturesque, so vibrant as Rynek. Life transpires here. You see people dancing, singing, playing, painting, eating, or simply sitting on a bench with a gelato at hand, wondering, marvelling, witnessing the beauty of life. For the entire week that I stayed in Wroclaw, I did not miss a day without passing by at the Old Town Square. I could spend an hour or so just gawking at the Ratusz (Old Town Hall) while admiring its picture-perfect structure and intricate details. For an old soul like me, this is heaven! 

A Short History of the Rynek

Considered as one of largest market squares in Europe, second only to Krakow’s, Rynek is also where the two largest city halls in Poland is found. The Town Square is surrounded by buildings of different styles. An urban ensemble, it has two diagonally contiguous areas - the Salt Market and the square in front of St. Elisabeth's Church. The Magdeburg law passed in the early years of the rule of Polish Duke Henry “the Bearded” ensured the establishment of the market and town’s patricians later built houses around. Tram lines were later built, which were connected to the square in the 19th century. What started as a horse-drawn system was replaced by the electric system in the 1890s. World War II wrought havoc to the market square. Careful restoration work in the second half of the 20th century guaranteed the restoration of these buildings.

The heart of Rynek is the Ratusz (Old Town Hall), a historic and cultural attraction that dates back to the 13th century. The Ratusz’s impressive image reflects Wroclaw’s 15th century fortunes. As the city’s commercial and administrative building, it was only fitting for the Ratusz to showcase Wroclaw’s Renaissance glory. Sitting handsomely outside the Ratusz is the statue of Alexander Fredro, one of Poland's most renowned literary figures. 

Experience the Rynek

The Market Square in Wroclaw has everything for everyone. It is the heart of Wroclaw’s Old Town and attracts locals and tourists alike, thanks to its unlimited shopping, dining and entertainment options. But let’s not forget it is also a priceless cultural treasure with its history spanning hundreds of years from the medieval period to the present. With colourful, centuries-old buildings, no visit to Wroclaw is complete without experiencing Rynek!

During the daytime, the place teems with tourists eager to capture what’s going around—its beautiful structures and the life that gets more and more exciting as dusk settles. In the evening, the Rynek is transformed into a bustling entertainment hotspot with restaurants, cafes and clubs welcoming everyone who  yearns for some good food and great time.

The Rynek is a spectacle comes by only when you visit Wroclaw. Just look for somewhere to sit down and let life happen right before your eyes. No need to spend so much! The old buildings are enough to fill your mind with inspiration. 

One summer dusk in the old Market Square, the golden sunset rays kissing the storied walls of the centuries-old buildings leave a romantic feel. Crowd begin to flock this place. 

Tourists from other parts of Poland and Europe emerge in the Market Square. I saw very few Asians loitering around. 

Life thrives in the afternoon. Many simply stroll and enjoy the relaxing vibe of the place. 

The statue of Aleksander Fredro was originally from Lviv in Ukraine. When the city's Polish inhabitants returned to Wroclaw, they brought with them this statue, which ended at the heart of the Market Square. 

The Old Town Hall's east elevation where the famous clock is hung. 

Bibili ka ba ng Bibingka? A Short History of the Bibingka

A bibingka stall on a Sunday market in Cuartero, Capiz.

A tour of the Sunday market presents you a line of make-shift stalls on sidewalks where the perennial Filipino favorite, the bibingka, is sold.  Despite the abundance of foreign pastries that flooded the Filipino table, bibingka and other rice-based kakanin (goodies) are still preferred by the locals. In fact, special occasions call for the bibingka as a staple, especially during All Saints’ Day and Christmas. Rice being the food for the gods in the pre-Spanish society has inspired the culinary genius of the Filipinos and  rice cakes now come in various kinds.

According to E. Arsenio Manuel, the word “bi” is Chinese for rice, thus, bibingka, biko (sticky rice cake), bijon (rice noodles) and bilo-bilo (glutinous balls). The Spanish classified the preparation of the bibingka as a pudding made of glutinous rice flour or ordinary rice made into a wet paste and, later, eggs.  Coconut milk or water is also added. Bibingka also strikes a semblance to the Indian desert bebinca, although rice is not an ingredient and it is baked every time a layer of pudding is added. What makes the the bibingka  and bebinca similar is the way they are cooked: both requires heat over and beneath while baking.

Every province or community in the Philippines has its version of the bibingka. The famous Balasan bibingka in Northern Panay Island, also sold in Jaro, Iloilo, is famous for its soft texture, creamy flavour and generous coconut meat. The usual ones sold on Sunday markets in other towns in the island are close to this minus the velvety feel. In Binakayan, Cavite, the bibingka balinghoy (cassava) is a favorite. According to Michaela Fenix, it is similar to bibingkang malagkit (glutenous rice) on a first glance, but tasting it reveals the nata de coco, kaong, and langka  (jackfruit) stuffed inside. In Negros Oriental, bibingka kabog (millet) is cooked, while in Malolos, Bulacan, bibinkang monggo (mong beans) is proffered to visitors.

A bibingka mixture poured on cake tin moulds, ready for baking on the oven. 

A batch of newly baked bibingka. 

The bibingka was not spared from further foreign influences. The Spanish, for example, topped the bibingka with white sugar, white cheese and butter and sprinkled it with Edam cheese. The Chinese, meanwhile, introduced the red egg on this Filipino staple.

The bibingka is also a Christmastime favorite sold with the puto bumbong and salabat (turmeric tea) outside the church to warm the faithful after the misa de gallo (midnight mass). It also reaches the tables on holiday gatherings. The December 1940 article of the Philippines Magazine listed bibingka as one of the main noche buena fares. "The housewives cook the suman, bibingka, cuchinta, and the puto (all native pastries) and prepare the lechon (suckling pig to be roasted on Christmas day), which is the main delicacy..."

An enterprising local wanting to open a kakanin business should never miss the bibingka on its menu. In a May 1916 article of the Filipino publication Patnubayan ng Bayan , the locals are encouraged to be bold and enterprising enough to open their own businesses. A restaurant business was cited as a feasible example and the bibingka as among the Filipino foods that the locals could be proud, which could complete with foreign offerings, like pies and cakes.

"Sa ganang akala namain, kung tayong mga Pilipino ay magbubukas ng ganyan ding uri ng mga tindahan sa nangangabanggit na mga puok at ng mga kakaning Pilipino na gaya bagaa ng bibingka, kalamay, puto-bungbong, palitaw espasol,ginatan suman, ibp. at magkaroon din naman ng mga chaa, cape, chokolate, taho at ibp. sa isang paraang malinis at di kahihiyang pasukan ng kahi't sinomang maselang, ay inaasanahan naming pakikinabangan din naman ng di kawasa. At sa ganitong paraan ay di pa mapapasa dayuhan ang ating salapi."

References:

Michaela Fenix (2014). Country Cooking: Philippine Regional Cuisines. Anvil; Isang hanap-buhay na dapat samantalahin. Patnubay ng Bayan, Taon II, Bilang 20. May 1915; E. Arsenio Manuel (1948). Chinese Elements in Tagalog Language. Filipiniana Publications;  Pilar N. Ravelo (December 1940). Xmas without Santa Claus. Philippines Magazine, volume 1, no. 1; Felice Prudente Sta. Maria (2006). The Governor-General’s Kitchen: Philippine Culinary Vignettes and Period Recipes: 1521-1935. Anvil.

The Royal Palace of Wroclaw: A Baron’s Mansion Turned King’s Palace

Once in our lives we turn on the TV or turn a page of our favourite book to find it so enchanting that we could only dream that one day we could see that place! Then we wake up one morning to realize that that dream has already come true. Never in our wildest imagination did we realize that it could actually happen. The Royal Palace in Wroclaw is one of those places that I only read about but one cold afternoon, I found myself standing right in front of its gates and, moments later, I was already exploring its Baroque hallways.

A Short History of Wroclaw, Poland

Until 1740, the mineral-rich province of Silesia was part of the Habsburg dominions. For centuries, this dynasty had provided rulers to Spain, Austria, and the Holy Roman Empire. However, when Emperor Charles VI realized that he could not have any male heir, he issued the Pragmatic Sanction that allowed her eldest daughter, Maria Theresa, to inherit the throne. Shortly before he died, the Great Powers refused to acknowledge her as ruler and Prussia’s King Frederick II marched and conquered Silesia. It remained under the Hohenzollerns until after 1918, when it became part of Poland.

From Mansion to Palace

The Royal Palace of Wroclaw (then called Breslau) was formerly called Spaetgen’s Palace, named after Heinrich Gottfried von Spätgen, chancellor of Bishop Francis Louis of Neuburg.  In 1717 Spätgen acquired the property, which was a modest baroque mansion back then. After his death in 1750, King Frederick II bought the mansion, making Breslau as a royal residence city alongside Berlin and Königsberg (present-day Kaliningrad). Succeeding kings extended the property, changing its design and character to suit their tastes and the fashions of the era.  By the turn of the 19th century, the palace already extended from Wolności Square to Kazimierza Wielkiego Street.

With the downfall of the Hohenzollerns, the palace was donated to the local government of Breslau, which reserved the use of the palace for exhibition purposes. On September 20, 1926, the Palace Museum (Schlossmuseum) was opened with an exhibition dedicated glory days of Frederick II the Great on the right side of the south wing. Also showcased were glass and pottery as well as iron casts, which Silesia is known for. Upstairs, the interiors from the baroque, rococo and classicistic periods were restored and the rooms paintings and sculptures from the Albrecht Säbisch collection also filled the palace rooms.

The palace was heavily damaged at the end of World War II. Only Spätgen’s Palace with the north wings and a fragment of the south wing were preserve; the rest of the palace was demolished in the 1960s. by this time, Breslau was renamed Wroclaw. From 1963 until 1999, the palace was home of the Archaeological Museum and, until 2004, Ethnographic Museum.  

From Palace to History Museum

The Royal Palace of Wroclaw has been converted into two museums: the Historical Museum and the Museum of Medallic Art. The restored palace chambers—including the baroque room with the walls covered with Delft ceramics—is now home to the Historical Museum. The Historical Museum maintains objects of historical and artistic value related to Wroclaw. The collections include iconographic items, graphics, drawings and photographs. A collection illustrating the history of Wroclaw theatres is the unique one. The rich collection of the museum are displayed in the permanent exhibition “1000 Years of Wroclaw,” and also in a number of changing exhibits. Aside from these, the museum also hosts various cultural programs, scientific gatherings, and lectures.

The palace’s ground floor serves as the reception area where guests could wander around and enjoy souvenir shopping. Excited much, I decided on an impulse to buy postcards, each sold for 10 zloty each. The elevator leads to the palace’s second and third floor, where the exhibits are displayed.

The palace’s second floor opens up to the Royal Apartments, carefully restored back to their former glory. The first room is the Rococo room of King Frederick II, which showcases the king’s taste for French art and culture. The green and red rooms are dedicated to the reign of  his nephew and successor, King Frederick William III. During the last renovation, four niches with shell-bands ornaments were discovered. Among the most admirable objects displayed here include the set of Biedermeir furniture and the cylindrical faience oven.

Much history transpired in the Yellow Room. In 1813, Frederick William III sought refuge in Breslau. In the Yellow Room, the fate of the Prussia was sealed since here, the king signed his famous manifestos,”To my People,” and “To My Army.” In 1913, the iconic Centennial Hall was built in commemoration of the first manifesto. The Blue Room is also laid with objects remembering King Frederick William III, particularly relating to his army.

How to Visit the Royal Palace of Wroclaw?

The Palace is located at Kazimierza Wielkiego. It is open from 10 am until 5 pm, Tuesday until Friday, and from 10 am until 6 pm, every Saturday and Sunday. Permanent exhibitions are free of charge. For more details, visit the official website.

INKcredible: Ang Panublion Museum Brings you the Art of Terry Gavino

Artist Terry Gavino interacts with students who marvels at her work.

When artist Marika Constantino curated Pagtahud, she featured the works of Capiz’s unsung art luminaries, including, among others, octogenarian Terry  Gavino. She was lone female artist on the list but that made her stand-out among the rest, as she always does.

Constantino described Tita Terry with petite frame but very commanding presence! In fact, it is not difficult to feel “her fire and passion” when she is around. She speaks her mind when she knew she had a piece or two to tell.

Outside the artistic circle, very few knew that Terry Gavino is an artistic genius. She was instrumental in the design of some of the landmark structures in Roxas City, namely the Roxas City Hall, Capiz Provincial Memorial Hospital and Ang Panublion Museum. The huge illuminated flowers that adorn the streets of Araneta Center every Christmas are products of her concept. They have been brought to Roxas City many times in the past, gracing the city streets during festivities and special occasions.

Her fiery passion extends to her inkcredible  ballpen art. “I want to tell the Capizenos that all that all they need to create a masterpiece is a ballpoint point,” she once remarked, shunning “fancy tools” and other expensive art materials. And what a masterpiece Gavino can create! “Gavino’s meticiouls renditions exact a lot of concentration and dedication,” Constantino said. The result of Gavino’s work are intricate and almost-real details of mostly still-life objects.  Gavino balks at mediocrity but praises quality work. “I expect above-standard performance,” she said.”because that is what I also give.”

Terry Gavino and her work displayed at Ang Panublion Museum

In honor of a larger-than-life Capizeno artist, Ang Panublion Museum launches its new exhibit in time for Capiztahan Festival. INKcredible Ballpen Drawings, the one-woman art exhibit of Ms. Terry Frial Gavino will formally open on April 15, 2019 at 10.30 AM. For more details about this evemt, contact Ang Panublion Museum curator Ms. Cherryl Anne del Rosario at telephone number (036) 522-8857.

Images from Ang Panublion Museum

Hanas, the Ultimate Summer Program for Culture and the Arts

What better way to make the most of your summer vacation than to level up your cultural experience? This summer  the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in partnership with Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, Western Visayas Association of Museums, Inc., and The Negros Museum, brings you Hanas, the scholarship program for culture and the arts.

In the Hiligaynon language, Hanas means to hone one’s skills. That’s why Hanas aims to provide the opportunities for second-liners in the field of performance arts and cultural management to hone their skills and capacity.

Five courses are offered: fundamentals of film, theatre, dance, museology, weaving and creative curriculum. The scholarship program, held in different venues in Bacolod City gears the participants in accomplishing an accumulated 140 hours of training in a span for two months to be eligible to graduate from the training.

Participants who fall short in accomplishing the required total number of hours will still be provided with a certificate. Esteemed inviduals in the different fields of culture and the arts will serve as mentors of the participants.  So far, slots are still available for museum workers and teachers from the Department of Education.

Hanas is now accepting scholarship applications from the Western Visayas Region and beyond. The scholarship covers the registration for the duration of the training. For interested applicants, kindly click this link and complete the registration process. For more details, please contact Mr.Roger Joshua Venzal of Negros Museum or visit Hanas Official Facebook page. 

Magsugilalonay Kita, Revitalizing the Western Visayan Literature

Books written in the mother tongue and published by Kasingkasing Press.

Western Visayas has a thriving literary community, thanks to the active endeavors of Hiligaynon writers who advocated the resurgence of mother tongue-based literature. Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and Akeanon were the three languages in Western Visayas.  While Hiligaynon is the region’s lingua franca, Kinaray-a remains the predominant language,  spoken in the central and southern towns of Iloilo, the entire province of Antique and most of Capiz. Hiligaynon, meanwhile, is spoken in Iloilo City, the coastal communities of Northern Panay (extending from Carles in Iloilo until Ivisan in Capiz), Guimaras island, and majority of Negros Occidental. Hiligaynon was spread in Mindanao when migrants from Panay settled in Southern Mindanao from 1950s until 1970s. 

Hiligaynon literature became popular at the turn of the 19th century when Imprenta La Panayana was established in Iloilo City. The coming of the Americans saw the emergence of the Golden Age of Hiligaynon literature despite the presence of Spanish influences. Literary luminaries in the native tongue, like Angel Magahum, Magdalena Jalandoni, and Miguela Montelibano thrived with their prolific outputs during this time. Hiligaynon magazine, like Liwayway Publications in Manila and of the Makinaugalingon Press by Rosendo Mejica in Iloilo City were printed and sold by the thousands, which further strengthened Hiligaynon literature. 

The Hiligaynon literature saw a steady decline after World War II and thereafter. It could have remained in oblivion if not for the efforts of a new breed of Hiligaynon writers who created a new wave for interest for the present generation. But more needs to be done to promote the appreciation and use of mother tongue not only in literature but more importantly in transmitting knowledge.

 “It is important for us to raise such awareness to the public now that the use of the native language as a medium of instruction is being fully implemented in classrooms nationwide,” Noel G. de Leon, founder and publisher of Kasingkasing Press, said. Kasingkasing Press it the only publishing house dedicated to publish and support mother tongue-based literature.

“Not only does this enable us to strengthen the great linguistic and literary heritage we have as West Visayans but it also helps us address the great language divide we have previously faced in our educational system. We welcome this move as a gift to future generations,” he continues.
Every two years, Kasingkasing Press, together with Hubon Manunulat, an organization of West Visayan writers whose aim is to promote, propagate, and preserve West Visayan literature, organized Magsugilanonay Kita, the West Visayan Mother Tongue Children's Books Summit. This bi-annual event started in  2015 and gathers teachers, writers, and artists within and outside the region to interact, share and exhibit their best practices in the field of children’s literature. It is also a way to heighten the awareness of parents, teachers and educational policy makers in fostering the language skills of young readers in their native tongue.

This 2019, Magsugilalonay Kita Summit has three components: the Writers Talk Series, the Children’s Rights Talk Series and the Art Workshop Series.

For the Writers Talk Series, Jose Edison C. Tondares of St. Anthony’s College and editor of Taramdan sa Lantipulong Kinaray-a will discuss the Kinarya-a Orthography in Children’s Books, while Mr. Resurreccion Hidalgo of SUMAKWELAN Iloilo Inc. will talk about the Making of an English-Hiligaynon Visayan Dictionary and Pulong Hiligaynon Para sa Tanan. This year’s Keynote Speaker is Mr. Alain Russ Dimzon, the newly elected commissioner for Hiligaynon by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. Commissioner Dimzon will share why there is a need to strengthen children’s literature in the mother tongue.

Advocates of mother tongue-based literature.

For the Children’s Rights Talk Series, the invited speaker, Ms. Felinor Villa, Executive Director of Iloilo Children’s Welfare Foundation and Ms. Heide Foulc, Executive Director of CAMELEON Association Inc., will talk about the current situation of children’s rights and welfare in Western Visayas and its importance to include in local literature.

For the Art Workshop Series, particularly the Storytelling Workshop, Ms. Lj Bonsai of Iloilo Storytellers will discuss The Radical Act of Community Storytelling, while Mr. Hermie Cartagena of UP Visayas will talk about Making Spaces Meaningful Through Strategic Storytelling. For the Children's Book Illustration Workshop, Mr. Gil S. Montinola will share his insights on the Art and Aesthetics in Selected West Visayan Children’s Books. Mr. Nicole Caminian, a digital illustrator will share his knowledge on The Basics of Digital Illustrations. In the  Zine Making Workshop, Mr. Jag Muyco will give the participants insights the art of zine making as an alternative tool to publish classroom educational materials. Throughout the day, there will be an on-going zine exhibit and book fair of West Visayan literature books.

The 3rd Magsugilalonay Kita West Visayan Mother Tongue Children's Books Summit happens this August 6-7, 2019 at UP Visayas Auditorium. For registration, click this link. For more details, visit Magsugilalunay Kita Facebook page.

Images from Hubon Manunulat and Kasingkasing Press.

The Sunflowers of Bago, Negros Occidental

When we see sunflowers, a sense of happiness imbues us, but more than the sunny disposition this perennially favorite bloom offers, sunflowers also symbolize friendship and loyalty. So, ladies, if a guy gives you sunflower, either he wants you to be his friend or he loves you so much he wants you to know  he's loyal to you. Ok, so enough with that. But you would agree with me: no one can resist the mood-enhancing feel sunflowers bring to anyone.

The OISCA Sunflower Farm is one of the two sunflower destinations in Negros Occidental. The other one is in La Carlota City. This expansive field of 3,000 sunflowers is a change of scenery. Negros Occidental, after all, is synonymous with sugarcane plantation - thousands and thousands of them! But here at OISCA, aside from their mulberry plantation (check the picture above) which they feed to the silkworms they they raise here, you get these sunflowers, too!

The Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement set up the OISCA training Center in Tabunan here in Bago in 1981. The sprawling two-hectare property surrounding the center was planted with mulberry and that’s when the city’s silk making industry started. Today, OISCA Bago is independently run by Mr. Watanabe Shigeme and his wife Thelma. You can read the more detailed story of OISCA here.

The Watanabes originally planted the sunflower for commercial purposes. They intended to extract the oils but because sunflower is a novelty in the area, the 2,500 square-meters sunflower garden was an instant hit to the locals. Visitors flocked the area to see the flowers and words and pictures of the sunflower farm soon spread like wildfire on social media.

I came one quite Monday morning—when everyone is busy at work and no tourist was in site. So the whole sunflower farm was mine to enjoy. The sweltering heat, though, affects the bloom and the flowers looks quite distressed. Nevertheless, they still managed show off their beauty. The place was peaceful and calm and the whisper of the strong wind was refreshing amidst the late-morning warmth. I just fell in love with the place; I was bursting with life while standing in the midst of this field! No wonder sunflowers were the objects of inspiration of Gaugin and Monet. And because of that I took lots of picture for you to enjoy...

The OISCA Sunflower Farm is open to the public from Mondays to Saturdays from 6am to 5pm. Entrance fee is P20.00. How to reach OISCA Sunflower Farm? Take the Ceres Bus at the Bacolod Southbound Terminal, one that passes by Sum-Ag. Drop off at the 7-11 and take a short walk to the tricycle terminal that passes by OISCA. Tricycle fare is only P10.00 if you wait until the tricycle has already 10 passengers. You can also contract the driver if you want an exclusive ride.

P.S: A sunflower withers easily, so if you're going to OISCA just for the sunflower, better check their FB page to find out if the sunflowers are in full bloom and guests.

Wherever you go, leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time.