8 U.P. Newsletter
may 2012
CBA student brings light to thousands, wins award
Continued from page 6
Karl Louie Mariano, Sarah Perlawan, Shiela Muya, Aurea Christabel Dris, Jasmine Ebuenga and Lenie Pahimnayan) and later hearing them and the beautiful sounds they made. In watching the Noh in Japan under an ASPAC Fellowship grant, I was always mystified by the crisp sound of the shoulder drum combined with the guttural sounds of the musicians’ voices. Tonight, I heard the exact same sounds again and it did not escape me that two pre-teen girls wearing white were part of the black clad chorus and that they were given separate lines of my poetry to recite for themselves. That the whole production’s success is dependent on the great potential of the Filipino in the arts and the disciplined approach to theatre, which was very obvious right from the very beginning in the rolling up of the panelled curtain covering the entrance of the hashigakari bridge to the stage and the entrance of the first actor, the priest Padre Salvi (Bryan Viray), and then the woodsmen and fisher folk (Takahiro Ishii, Melanie Adan and Ana Elizabeth Bongon) and, finally, the total impact of SISA (Diana Alferez) in voluminous silvery kimono topped by the most gigantic white wig, the tallest one can ever hope to see in his/her lifetime. From the Noh movement of the cast before her to Sisa’s controlled steps and most economy of dance as she traversed the stage, making three oblique crossings, one asks, are these not Japanese Noh actors of many years training in the Noh Theatre? Yes, the young Filipino students, most of them appearing on the stage for the first time, rewarded the labour of their two mentors, Drs. Umali III and Umewaka, with their best gift - the potential of Filipino artistry, first class. Dr. Umali III, I must thank again for her love and respect for my play, from her first encounter with it, her excellent
Iba’t ibang uri ng pagtatanghal ang tampok sa masiglang palatuntunan sa bukana ng Bulwagang Palma na pawang nakabatay sa mga likhang obra ni Lumbera. Sa huli ay pinutungan siya ng laurel bilang “Guro at Artista ng Bayan.” Nangyari ito isang linggo pagkatapos namang magkaroon ng isang pagdiriwang sa araw ng kanyang kaarawan sa Executive House sa UP Diliman, ang opisyal na tirahan ng presidente ng UP.
graduate thesis on it, and her excellent work in directing it as a Noh play for the second time, and a promised third in 2013. Directing and training each newcomer participant and whipping them into a disciplined ensemble in a play of the greatest challenge reveal a rare master director indeed. Dr. Umewaka not only contributed his vast training as Noh Master for the Shite or lead actor, as choreographer and consultant, but brought the wealth of his Noh theatre in terms of costumes, wigs, masks and footwear and musical instruments, etc. and the non-dramatic part, but surely so much drama in it, the
changing of costume right on stage, the removal of the giant wig and slivery kimono removed by the pulling of one straight thread, which Dr. Umewaka did himself. I would like to thank you in this year’s production, for the use of the concluding lines of my play as projected on the giant bell, the lines of goodbye of Sisa: May impit na hinaing sa aking dibdib Galing sa isang tinig na aking narinig Bago kami nilamon ng apoy; Wika niya, Ako’y mamamatay na hindi masisilayan Ang paglaganap ng pagbubukang liwayway
Sa kahat ng dako ng ating bayan Kayo na makasasaksi riyan, Huwag kaming kalilimutan Kaming bumagsak sa kadiliman Huwag kaming kalimutan, Huwag kaming kalimutan… Huwag! For providing the Filipino a brilliant presentation of a Filipino Noh in three showings only, 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM on March 5 and 6:00 PM on March 6, we wish to express our gratitude, Bravo, Drs. Umali III & Umewaka! Bravo to the entire Cast & Crew!
Honorary doctorate for Pascual UP President Alfredo Pascual was conferred a Doctor of Pedagogy degree honoris causa by the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) last April 21 in Angeles City. AUF President Joseph Emmanuel Angeles (third from left) and AUF
Photo courtesy of the AUF website
A Rejoinder
According to their websites, over 1.6 powered lights. The villagers can now use the darkness that surrounds them.” billion people around the world rely on the the 30 percent of their incomes that they According to Peralta in her story printed insufficient illumination of kerosene lamps used for kerosene for “the education of in the Star Star, a partnership with Energizer and many families spend about half their their children and other basic needs.” will see them reach seven more provinces: income on kerosene. And more disturbingly, This great contribution led to their Mindoro, Kalinga Apayao, Mountain the OML also says that kerosene lamps are being recognized by President Aquino for Province, Eastern Samar, Cebu and Rizal to responsible for 1.5 million deaths annually “choosing to light up the lives of the less distribute 2,950 more solar-powered lights – “62% of which are children”. fortunate rather than being insensitive to to about 15,000 Filipinos. A f t e r receiving positive feedback from the OML Team in Califor nia, Peralta, through her relatives found two barangay in Catanduanes who could greatly benefit from their project – Barangay Dugui Too and Barangay Dugui Wala. With the help of sponsors like Philippine Airlines and T he Cer tified Brokerage Corp., and the daunting task of fundraising, Muy Bien: Guro at Artista ng Bayan. Sinalubong ng mga kaibigan, kapanalig, at tagahanga ang makatang makabayan na si Bienvenido Lumbera patungo sa pagdarausan ng isang programa para sa kanyang ika-80 kaarawan. Pinamunuan they managed to ang mga pagpupugay ng UP, ilan nitong mga kolehiyo at mga organisasyong nakabase rito, pati na ng Concerned Artists deliver 250 solar of the Philippines at ng Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas. Photo by Jonathan Madrid
“Pushing myself beyond my limits for One Million Lights - Philippines made me realize that in order to change the country, I have to start with myself.” UP Diliman College of Business Administration (CBA) incoming sophomore Tricia Peralta, along with her friend from PAREF Southridge School Mark Lozano, was given the Spirit of Edsa award by President Benigno Aquino III and the EDSA People Power Commission last February 25. Sharing the stage with Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and former president Fidel Ramos, the two young founders of One Million Lights – Philippines (OMLP) proved that youth is no barrier to innovative public service. The seeds of OMLP were first sown in 2010, when Lozano returned from the Global Youth Leaders Conference in Washington D.C. with a desire to create an environmental project. Together with Peralta and a few other friends, they brainstormed on possible solutions and eventually discovered One Million Lights, an international non-profit organization based in Palo Alto, California with a goal of distributing one million solar light units to replace kerosene lamps in communities with limited access to electricity. Kerosene lamps, according to OML, not only pollute the environment, but can poison its users with toxic smoke and cause accidents due to the highly flammable nature of kerosene.
Andre Encarnacion
Chancellor Emmanuel Angeles (fourth) led the conferment rites. Pascual was with wife Carmen, children Czarina and Carlos, and grandchildren Aaron and Anica. Pascual was recognized for his professional achievements and contributions to the
economic growth of the Asia-Pacific Region through his 19 years service with the Asian Development Bank. His contributions to education include having previously served as faculty and lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University from 1973 to 1978 and the Asian Institute of Management from 1980 to 1989. Pascual pioneered development initiatives in the AsiaPacific Region when he assumed important positions at the Asian Development Bank from 1989 to 2008. Pascual addressed the graduating students of the AUF Colleges o f A l l i ed M ed i ca l Professions, Arts & Sciences, Computer Studies, Education, Engineering and Criminal Justice Education, according to a Sun.Star report.