Seeing the world of Manila Chinatown

The topic that was assigned for our group is to have a case study about China and the focus of our study is Chinese food and tea house. I got excited when we were told that we should go to different Chinese restaurants and tea houses and eat there. We decided to go to Banawe, Quezon City because there are some Chinese restaurants found there and might as well tea houses might be there.

First stop, Tasty Dumplings. When I arrived at the restaurant, my groupmates were already eating their own choice of food and what I ordered is dumplings with noodles. The prices of the food were affordable and we think that the prices suit for the food. I often eat Chinese food with my family but for some reasons, this place was somehow "more Chinese" than other restaurants in malls. The group were able to talk to the manager and head cook of the restaurant, and we were able to get some information about the food they serve and other things like who often eats at their restaurants, brief history of the restaurant, etc.

Tasty Dumplings at Banawe, Quezon City

Tasty Dumpling Menu

My Order (Dumpling with Noodles)

Andy and Mark

Andy and her order

Mark and his order

Dan, Jenriel, and Jorell

Interview 

It turns out that there are more Chinese who eats in Tasty Dumplings and often eats on a weekend. The group were amazed to find out that all the food they serve, even their soy sauce were home-made. Overall, the group was satisfied on the experience inside the Tasty Dumpling restaurant.

We were not contented to the restaurants around Banawe, Quezon City. Aside from being few, some tea houses and restaurants were not letting us to conduct a simple interview with them. So the group decided to go to Binondo, where the well-known Chinatown is present.

Welcome to Manila Chinatown

Before we went looking for a teahouse, we saw a shop called Chuan Kee and it sells different kinds of Chinese products. One of our groupmates bought a fortune cookie and we had an experience of eating it and looking to our fortune.

Chuan Kee Chinese Fast Food

Fortune Cookie

We finally found a tea house in Binondo and tried to eat dumplings there. We were able to talk to one of the owners of the tea house as well. We were told some facts about their food and the restaurant. All their food were home-made as well but their sauces were bought from imported stores. We asked the owner how they usually made their food and she said that they cook the food on what it really suppose to taste like. Some of the Chinese restaurants alter the taste of their food because they base the taste n the Filipino customers. But here, she said that they wanted to show to the customers what should be a specific Chinese food taste like. They wanted to serve and let the customers know what Chinese food should be like. We were also curious on why dimsums are always in a set of four. Well, the answer she gave us was simple, because one person could eat two and most of the time, Chinese would eat with someone so one order of dimsum is good for two persons. At the end of it, we enjoyed eating our order from her place.

Dumplings

Andy serving the tea

Looking at my own experience in this trip, China was able to give effect on Filipinos through food. Talking about aesthetics, that is how the Chinese were able to influence our country with their food. Filipino Aesthetics were influenced by both Western and other countries that are part of the East. The Western and Eastern Aesthetic are two different things but both have its own beauty. Taking China for example, they had their own style, own tradition, own practice. Every country is unique but looking at them closely, you will see similarities as well. Filipino Aesthetics were influenced by the West and what we do is to adapt the things we learn from them. We do some practices that the Western countries do and because of that we are colonized by them. Since they were able to interfere with our country before, it became a part of us and Filipino Aesthetics got affected also. Now, a mixture of Western and Eastern Aesthetics can be seen in our country through paintings, sculptures, architectures, and even practices.

We tend to say Eastern Aesthetics, well in fact, our country is part of the East and it's like we tend to exclude ourselves from being an Asian country. Filipino Aesthetics is one of a kind. We just sometimes don't appreciate this. The beauty of the Philippines exceptional despite of different influences that interfered. A great thing as well that the group were able to experience the world of Manila Chinatown because we get to learn the aesthetics of China when it comes to food and for some reasons, I am proud that I am a Filipino because I think Filipinos were better when it comes to food. Filipino Aesthetics  someday will have a great help in reaching the country's golden age.

Take Me For A Ride!

Vargas Museum, UP Diliman with my Teammates

The class had a trip at UP Diliman and we had a certain activity called the “Amazing Race” in which groups were tasked to go to places and answers some questions. Aside from that, there are special tasks that we need to do like taking our picture with this kind of action. It was really fun and after the activity, we got a chance to go and view the Vargas Museum there. There were many artworks that can be seen from it. Among all the artworks in the Vargas Museum, Daniel Coquilla’s “Drawing on Board” caught my attention the most. This was the first artwork I saw inside the Vargas museum and it really captured my interest.

Drawing on Board by Daniel Coquilla

Aside from the fact that it was big enough to see inside the museum, when I went to look up on it, it was different drawings of different places here in the Philippines. Daniel Coquilla did was to draw them on a ceiling of a jeepney and he all did this while standing. According to the description, he wanted to show to the viewers how populated urban cities here in our country and how does it feel to live in those places. The drawings were top view of the places and it really shows what the places looks like. Basing on Historical Contexts, we can see urban changes from this artwork. Before, the places he drew were not like that, overpopulated for example. There were changes because he based it to our context now. Another thing, he wanted to relate himself to the audience or in public that is why he made his output in a ceiling of a jeepney because he also said that the passengers in our jeepneys sometimes look up that is why he placed it there. He was an expressionist and it is the reason why he drew al of these places. Almost everyone could relate themselves to it because many of us experience commuting and going to these places.

The Outline of Drawing on Board with places labeled

Top View of Quiapo, Espana

Top View of Welcome, Rotonda

Top View of Philcoa

Daniel Coquilla used his artwork to show what Filipinos are.  Like other Filipino artworks, Filipino Aesthetics is all about details, information, and facts. Since the Philippines were colonized by different countries, we tend to incorporate our works with their art and design. We make artworks that Western Art was present. For example, we had an activity around UP Diliman and we were tasked to go to different places. As we look on the different structures and paintings, Western Art is present. One painting in a church has a Cubism style of painting. Some churches there were dome in structure.  

Filipino Art is truly something we’re supposed to be proud of. All of the outputs of our artists should be shown to all because it is worth the watch and it is worth to learn them. The next generation could really learn from the past artworks especially for the aspiring artists. I can’t wait for the next set of artworks of the Filipinos from the next generation because I know it would make us all proud.

Claudio Bravo is Bravo!

Studying the Aesthetics of Art, or nature and beauty of art helps me learn more and appreciate more art as a part of my life. At first, I really thought that art is just colors, beautiful things around, etc. but now, as I learn from it, I feel that art has really deeper meaning and valuable meaning.


    The society uses art as one of the important things in life. Sometimes, they don’t even know how art was involved in their work, even in their lives. When we look inside our houses, some of our living rooms have these portraits posted in the walls. We see portraits as a design in our homes. We place them in our walls because we believe that when there are portraits in our houses, it gives us lively feeling and somehow, it fills the emptiness inside us. Sometimes, when we look at a portrait, we try to understand its meaning and what is it all about. There are stories behind those portraits. Aside from portraits in the living rooms, we use these as a source of income. We sell creative portraits and it helps us to earn money from it. It sells because the buyers see the creativity in those portraits, and sometimes it’s because they want one for their living rooms. Some portraits also are ways of supporting the Arts. By means of galleries, museums, and such presentations of portraits, art is showcased to all of us. But I think, portraits do represent what the artist feels. The bottom line is that a work of art is created simply because artists just want to show to us what they want to express, and what they want us to know, from our history to our own reasons. 

     We went for a trip at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and we were asked to view artworks made by Claudio Bravo, a Chilean painter who went to the Philippines. Looking at his artworks, I was astonished because first, I’m no painter so looking at it, I was like “wow!”. Second, the materials used in the paintings were listed and some of them are just pencils and charcoals. There were famous personalities like Evelyn Forbes, Jaime and Beatrice Zobel de Ayala, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, etc. Some paintings were incomplete but I still appreciate these works because it was still creative and artistic. Looking at the hair of some women painted, they were like painted in an exaggerated way because some have hair that is so high. I asked one of the museum guides on some background on Claudio Bravo, she said that Claudio is a fashion artist which means that when he paints or draws something, what he would do is to give a touch of fashion to it before painting it. Like for some of his models, they were dressed beautifully because he wanted to showcase his talents not only in painting but in fashion as well. Some paintings there were confusing though, like “The Neighbors”. We didn't get what he wanted to say on that painting. It is a painting of two abdomen and that was all it. After looking at the portraits/paintings, I was jealous in a way that I wanted to paint like him but I know that I don’t have that kind of talent so it’s fine with me. 

Metropolitan Museum of Manila

My ticket to the Museum

Welcome to the Claudio Bravo Exhibit

The Tarps outside the Museum

     Giving importance on portraits is one thing we almost care about. Looking at our display pictures on Facebook, Twitter, on Instagram, etc., we always wanted to look good because that’s our portrait, that is the thing that represents us and by these photos, it describes us and symbolizes us from everyone. I think this is one practical reason on how we see portraits. 


My self-portrait is very simple; it is a collage of several pictures of me with my friends. With the use of Photoshop, I was able to do this collage of myself. Seeing it closer, the pictures I have used are my photos of myself with my friends. I don’t know why but I felt like placing them there as a part of my collage. I think at some point, I know that these people were the ones that formed me of who I am. They were one of the people who molded me and help me and pursue an art-related course which is Filmmaking. I was thinking of what is the symbolism behind this collage and come up with simple things. I think that in ways of color, Impressionist way of coloring is present since it was edited in Photoshop, the lighting of the photos was different, and it was not based on real life colors. Value of the photo is one element as well since some photos were light and some were a bit dark. I made most of the pictures lighter so that my self-image would be seen. In the aspect of Composition in space, there is rhythm since there are repetition of different images, and variety as well among the self-portrait. In terms of symbols, the portraits in the Claudio Bravo and my self-portrait have this similarity of own interpretation. Claudio Bravo wanted to show to the viewers his different way of painting his artists and as for me, I wanted to show that through people, I could create an artistic things through making films in the future. Every artwork has its own meaning and explanation and I think it is a way of showing us what we really are. 

Self- Portrait

Taka: Paete paper mache

Paper Mache is an art that is no joke. When you look at it, at first you will just see a plain object but when you experience to touch it and look at it closer, it is a very good art. It was good to see paper Mache in front of your eyes because it is different compared to pictures. Our professor in ESTHETA brought samples of different figures made of paper and placed it on the table. She wanted us to experience the Paper Mache by looking at it closely and touching it. Since a few students only went in front to take pictures and look at it closely, I decided to look at it later during break time. Our professor introduced again to us the figures that are made of paper in front and I was surprise when she banged the Paper Mache horse in the table. Knowing that it didn't break, I was excited to look at it. It was compared to the cat that was brought also because it was made of fiber glass. It looks great as well but compared to paper, it is unbreakable unlike the fiber glass.

Samples (Picutre by Jorell Gonzaga)

In Paete, Laguna, they have this paper mache which they call Taka. When you go there, they say that you will be welcomed by the workers that are laying brown paper or newsprint paper mache pieces on the roadside. They do this for drying. I guess when you go to Paete, you can see so many figures made out of paper and you cannot stop looking at them. It is very Filipino for me because the figures that I saw were like Filipino women and other things related to Philippines.

Taka in Paete, Laguna

Paper was not used as a medium for art but it was used as an art itself. Looking at it personally and looking at the pictures as well, it is very colorful and you can really see how the human's creativity works. I hope that this kind of Filipino folk art would never be forgotten because this is a gift from our Creator.

Sources:

http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/archives/6/paete-s-taka

http://traveleronfoot.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/taka-of-paete/

Neorealism

Blog 2: Is the Neorealism style similar to the film of Brillante Mendoza or Adolf Alix?

This is my second blog and like before, this post is for school work or academic purposes. The topic of my post or blog now is about Neorealism style of film and if it similar to the films of Brillante Mendoza or Adolf Alix?

Before I discuss if there are similarities, let me discuss or describe what a Neorealism style of film is. During that time, Neorealism was described this way: Shot on location, no sets, and they use non-professional actors. As I analyze it, it is really far from the films now. I think it was hard that when taking a shot there are no sets, which means there are many extras seen in the films and no design were made. When they take a scene, they will shoot it at the location without arranging the set. Aside from that, their actors were not professionals so that means they don't have acting workshops or other things needed to learn to be a better actor.

In our class, we watched an example of an Italian Neorealism film. The movie was entitled "The Bicycle Thief." It was directed by Vittorio De Sica.It was about a poor man who was searching in Rome for his stolen bicycle, which he needs for him to be able to work. In the end, because he still had no bicycle, what he did was to steal a bicycle but he was caught but not put in prison. In the film, it was observed that there are many extras because it was shot on location and no sets were there. The actors as well were not professional.

Neorealism style can still be seen in some films in the Philippines but more likely, they are seen in independent films. Brillante Mendoza is one of the Filipino directors that directs independent film. I have seen one of his movie and its title is Serbis. The main cast were Coco Martin, Mercedes Cabral, Jacklyn Jose, and Gina Pareno. In this film, it was observed that there are scenes that are shot on location and no set because there are extras that I can say that it was not really part of the script. For example, there are people walking at the background while a scene was going on. The actors Coco Martin and Mercedes Cabral were not professional actors but now, Coco Martin is a professional actor. In overall, there are still Neorealism style seen in Brillante Mendoza's work. As for Adolf Alix, I was not able to watch any movies he made although I was able to read a little summary about one of his work which is Nars that talks about the plans of five nurses here in the Philippines.It was said to be a tribute for Filipino nurses. Looking at the trailer, I think there are scenes as well that are same as the Neorealism style although some of the actors were professionals.

I think the reason why the style of Neorealism is like that because of lack of money. In order to produce a film with a low budget, there should be less expenses in props or in locations, and aside from that, I think they use non-professional actors to save money as well.

Busy. *Bow*

Mark Sarmiento and Thea Magbanua

Para lang may mapost ako. haha! Busy kami doing our PHILOMA, INTECOM HW.

The Birth of a Nation by D.W. Griffith "From my Point of View"

This is my first blog and this is my first time to have my own blog. I'm posting this one for academic purposes but maybe I would blog from time to time.

In our class FLMART1, a movie was shown in class. The title of this film is The Birth of a Nation and it was directed by D.W. Griffith. It was originally called The Clansman. The film was released on February 8, 1915. The Birth of a Nation is a silent drama film and it is black and white.

Just a background or somehow, a summary of the film, The Birth of a Nation was divided into two parts: The Pre-Civil War in America and Reconstruction. Generally, it is about the Civil War and the aftermath. There are two families in this film, the Northern Stonemans and the Camerons.When the war happened, different events happened in both families, all the young men joined the army, the Stonemans cast their lot to the union, the Camerons were attacked by the black militia but was saved by the confederate soldiers. One significant event here also is that Lincoln was assassinated and because of this, all his policy about the postwar were gone to waste and then the North people were determined now to punish the South people because of their acts.  Many things have happened in the next part but it is more focused on racial discrimination.

Watching this film, it was amazing that it is a silent film and I can understand it although you can't remove the fact that it is a bit boring especially now that the film industry is really developed compared to the past but I have read that it is one of the best film during that time and I think if I was in that time watching it, I would really appreciate it. It was good that a silent film was able to show the historical event although it would be better if dialogues were present. As a film student, I appreciate the way they maximized their resources during that time because I believe that during their time, it was not easy to make and produce film. I think there are only few people now who would appreciate this film and as for me, I appreciate this film.

One topic of this film was about Racism. During that time, racial discrimination is a hot topic because it is between the white and the black people. This topic is a big deal for them and it is good that now, the black and the white people are in good terms. Looking at this film, they are really opposing each other during that time. All I could say is that this film gave the people knowledge of the conflict between black and white.

I would recommend this film to everyone because this is a part of the world history but film students should appreciate this film and learn from this because it is not enough to know only the current trends of film but the past trends is also important for foundation.

For the summary or plot of the film: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_a_Nation / http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Birth_of_a_Nation,_The/Summary/