In the flying zone

WCC Aviation puts Pangasinan on the map.

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
March 15, 2015

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Everybody wants to fly. There’s the option of traveling through a commercial plane. A roller coaster ride that tosses you up and down, left and right is another story, too. But perhaps, nothing tops it best when you’re in the cockpit, driving your own plane. After all, now is the best time to travel here and abroad, far and wide, east or west, all thanks to the ignition of our inner itchy feet and the spotlight on the country as one of the best travel spots in the world.

Besides the allure of traveling, many young men (and women) dream of studying the art and science of flying. They want to become a pilot. Like many children, Ramon Guico III dreamed of seeing what it was like up there.

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/173.jpg

Images by Pinggot Zulueta

“It all started with a hobby. Even when I was young, I was already interested in planes, jets, all kinds of aircrafts. I turned that hobby into a profession right after I graduated,” says the licensed pilot and captain instructor. He flew his first aircraft when he was 23. Now he’s 38 years old and maneuvering a different endeavor. He is the owner and the brains behind WCC Aeronautical and Technological College in Binalonan, Pangasinan.

“Every day, the aviation industry needs highly trained aircraft maintenance specialists, flight attendants, and professional pilots to serve in thousands of domestic and international flights. There is a serious need for competent personnel worldwide,” says Ramon.

WCC offers various degree programs like commercial flying, aircraft maintenance technology, tourism, aeronautical engineering, flight attendant course, and aviation management, among others.

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/256-219x300.jpg

Incidentally, Ramon is also Binalonan’s mayor. He said that he opened the school before joining politics and was quick to add that his two passions never interfered with one another. He dreams of putting Binalonan, a relatively quiet town in Pangasinan, in the Philippine tourism map. In 2005, when the town opened its first airstrip, tourists, especially students, started to come in droves. Ramon says he wants Binalonan to be Pangasinan’s university town.

Currently, WCC operates a fleet of 30 aircrafts of varying capacity and has produced more than 500 commercial pilots. It is also re-fleeting its aircraft to brand new models from an Italian brand. The campus has also one of the most complete facilities in the country, which is at par with London and Malaysia’s aviation schools.

The campus is a world to itself. Inside WCC vicinity, there’s a gym as well as a clubhouse, a football field, multipurpose halls, and resort-type hotel rooms for students.

But when the students are off (the tourists are welcome, too), Binalonan offers side trips, although they’re not that many. Tourists and students can take a trip to a sugarcane vinegar-making session or see how chichacorn (dried corn) and banana chips are made to perfection. For pasalubong, Binalonan offers its version of longganisa that rivals that of Lucban or Vigan that can awake your palate especially when paired with its local version of suka (vinegar). While you can always travel to its neighboring town, where the more popular tourist spot Hundred Islands is located, why not travel on air and enroll yourself on a fast track flying session this summer? And off you can fly anywhere you wish to wander. —

www.wccaviation.com, 632 913 8384

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/in-the-flying-zone/#IIEh1A3qL5o9yJQG.99

We call them Legends

SYM and Mario Parial’s pieces, all on view until March 31, demonstrate what being ‘masters’ truly means

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
March 23, 2015

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Beyond creating masterpieces that speak to one’s truths and beliefs, the beauty and nobility, perhaps, of becoming an artist (whether one is a painter, dancer, writer, photographer, sculptor) is the legacy he will leave past his glory days, and beyond his deathbed.

In the Philippines, many great masters, dead or alive, like Vicente Manansala, F. Sionil Jose, Botong Francisco, Alice Reyes, Daisy Avellana, and Lisa Macuja, have inspired generations and genres of artists and artworks. In the ongoing exhibitions of late expressionist Mario Parial and neo-cubism painter Sofronio “SYM” Y. Mendoza, these two artists show just what it means to be considered “masters.”

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SYM.jpg

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Mario-Parial2.jpg

 

IN HINDSIGHT

There’s Pinoy pride in Mario Parial’s paintings.  He was known for his love affair with the folk arts where women, often curly haired and brown skinned, are the central figures. But he wasn’t tied to womenfolk. He also painted horses, or fishes, or men in rice fields. But all of his paintings were colorful, striking, and rife with details. There never was a blank space in a Parial canvas.

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Mario-Parial-300x197.jpg

The colorful and detailed works of Mario Parial (b.1944-2013) [Portraits by Pinggot Zulueta]

Organized by the University of the Philippines Theater Complex (Mario used to teach at the College of Fine Arts at UP Diliman and College of Architecture and Fine Arts in UST), and on view until March 31 at Bulwagan ng Dangal Heritage Museum at UP Diliman, the exhibit, dubbed “Beyond Reality” features Mario’s previous works that reminisce and celebrate the yesteryears. The works of the late painter-printmaker-photographer-sculptor takes viewers, yet again, through a retrospection of Pinoy’s forgotten culture and tradition. The exhibit walks viewers through his realm of festivities, cultural and religious affairs, and folk imageries.

His colorful paintings speak of longing for a simple life, back when Filipinos enjoyed siesta after harvesting or an afternoon of kite flying. Also featured in the exhibit is the Pinoy’s effervescent devotion to Christianity and how it affects our everyday living and reality. Mario, it seems, was a religious man. There’s even an old bible on display at the exhibit.

The prolific artist also did printmaking and painted photographs. In an adjacent room, there is a showcase of this medium. Last year, the Globe Art Gallery featured his painted photographs, a technique where he would paint over, and sometimes even alter, a photograph, which he took with his collection of vintage cameras such as Leicas.

His life revolved around painting and printmaking, but when he had health problems in early 2000, he revived his passion for photography. Some of his vintage cameras are also on display at the exhibit. Mario passed away December 2013. But his contributions linger on.

 CALL FOR CELEBRATION

His recent exhibit called “Exaltation” summarizes it all. Renowned artist Sym Mendoza has all the reasons to be happy: Having just turned 81 years old, he is still a prolific artist.

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SYM21-300x197.jpg

Sofronio ‘SYM’ Y. Mendoza’s neoclassical cubism pieces

It isn’t fair to compare Sym and Mario but the two have penchants for Pinoy symbolisms and colors. Also on view until March 31 at Hiraya Gallery, Sym’s exhibit showcases his mastery of the neoclassical cubism technique. His brand of cubism infuses shapes from sarimanok, a colorful mythical bird that represents our culture.

Present in his paintings are abstract-drawn cubes that resemble a sarimanok. At the center of the prisms and abstractions are clear images of fruits and flowers, baskets and vases, faces and women’s naked bodies. How does he do it? Perhaps, only Sym has the wit and ability for such synergy.

Before concentrating on neocubism, Sym used to be an impressionist painter. He would do landscapes of the glorious Manila back when life was still simple and peaceful. Then he had an aha! moment. Sym founded Dimasalang, a group of renowned figurative artists and impressionists, including Romulo Galicano, Emilio “Abe” Aguilar Cruz, Ibarra dela Rosa, and Andres Cristobal Cruz. They captured images of Manila after WWII when it used to enjoy the era of affluence and peace.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/we-call-them-legends/#vU60f1uZxJZquECX.99

K-Chicken

Introducing Lee Min Ho’s favorite chicken.

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
March 5, 2015

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What do Pinoys and Koreans have in common besides their penchant for TV series? Both love their version of chicken.

In the Philippines, chicken reigns supreme among our favorite are adobo or tinola. There’s also fried, grilled, glazed, baked, barbecued, or boiled. While Koreans tend to have healthier and more colorful dishes (think of bibimbap or kimchi), they take pride in their own version of chicken, especially when it’s fried and paired with ice cold beer. Korean fried chicken and beer pairing, or chimaek, is available in every corner, most especially during happy hours, when everybody gets to relax from their day job. I was fortunate to visit Seoul last year and boy, did Koreans love their chicken. There are chimaek stands everywhere. The Pinoy in me wanted it paired with rice, but when you’re in Korea, do it the Korean way: no rice but onlydips and beer. Unlike Filipinos who like their chicken with ketchup or gravy, Koreans love them infused with flavors and sauces: garlic, spicy, both, or with honey. If the flavors do not satisfy your taste yet, choose between mustard or barbecue sauce.

Fortunately, the K-chicken has invaded the Filipino palate. Thanks to the two culprits: the success of well-loved Koreanovela, My Love from the Star, where the protagonist enjoys chimaek every minute, every day, and the mushrooming of Korean restaurants offering their version of fried chicken.

Korean superstar and fried chicken lover, Lee Min Ho

K-pop superstar Lee Min Ho, a proclaimed chicken lover, recently flew to the country to lead the inauguration of Kyochon, one of Korea’s best chicken restaurants. He says he likes his chicken based on his mood: spicy when stressed and with honey when happy.

Kyochon started in 1991. It has a whopping 950 branches in Korea alone. It’s said that Kyochon started the Korean fried chicken craze. It offers cold beers, too, perfect for the chimaek experience. It has since gone worldwide, invading the US, Japan, Thailand, China, and now the Philippines.

Unlike ordinary fried chicken, Kyochon deep fries its bestseller twice, which makes the skin crunchier and less greasy. Apparently, the double frying method removes excess oil, which gives the chicken a clean and light taste.

“While double frying and coating each chicken are time consuming, these are necessary for them to be nutritious and delicious. We only cook the chicken after you order to make sure that they are crispy,” says Kyochon marketing manager Chanky Tiangco. She adds that the K-chicken uses natural ingredients.

Perhaps, this is why Kyochon, as well as the rest of its healthier K-chicken versions, is popular among the Koreans, who are notably conscious of their health and diet. In Korea, majority (if not all) of the restaurants impose calorie count. In the Philippines, however, Pinoys aren’t as health and weight conscious. We eat what we want. The more sinful, the better. And maybe, this is what our local fried chickens should learn from K-chicken: Make them mouthwatering yet healthier.

Riddles of Time

The Riddles of Time

The concept of existence in the eyes of a Millennial painter

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
March 2, 2015

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What is it that flies or crawls, but sometimes can stand still? We mark it and celebrate it. Yet, we abuse it and when lost, it can never be found again. Albert Einstein once called it an illusion.

For young contemporary artist Edwin Martinez, time is among the greatest subjects for painting and discussion. “Why would I think of another subject that people would love to see if the concept of time is already here, in our face? I only paint what I feel, what I see,” he says.

Images by Pinggot Zulueta

Edwin likens himself to a timekeeper. He loves the concept of time so much that his past and present exhibits show it in metaphor, sometimes painted as phases of the moon, or a clock ticking by, or an hourglass half empty.

In his latest solo exhibit called “Forethoughts and Afterthoughts,” on view at Art Underground in Mandaluyong City, Edwin recognizes the fleeting nature of time and life and tries to capture it in black and white.

“My exhibit is about my thoughts on existence. I am, for lack of a better term, scared of the future. That’s why I mounted this exhibit so that I could show that time is running out. I need to step up and do something. Hindi pwedeng naka-upo lang ako. (I cannot just sit all day.),” he says.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE Right: Millennial artist Edwin Martinez and his recently concluded exhibit, ‘Forethoughts and Afterthoughts.’ Above: Fine Time shows the importance of timekeeping.

Shown in his collection are surrealist paintings of his nephew beside an hourglass. He says his process starts from taking pictures of his nephew and then painting them on the canvas. The background depends on his mood, he says, “Wala lang. Whatever I feel like painting to complement the emotion.” One of the background paintings is Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. It suits the mood of his nephew Raymond, who’s pensively looking at the hourglass. In the Shades Series, he painted Raymond and himself (he asked his friend to take his picture). They were covering their faces or their eyes were closed. Peppered throughout the canvas are tiles with shades of gray, like phases of the moon, representing the periods and processes of life.

Since graduating from college, Edwin has been a fulltime artist. He maximizes his day and time by painting as much as he can, every day. But like any Millennial (he’s 28 years old), he prefers a YOLO lifestyle: going on dates or working at a music studio in between his painting sessions.

“Gusto ko chill lang pero may ibubuga (I want to be just chill but with something to offer),” he says while waving his hands, showing a tattoo of a crescent moon and a key. “Though it sounds cliché, the key pointing toward my right hand, which I use in painting, is the key to my successes,” he says, laughing. The crescent moon, meanwhile, as you’ve guessed, describes time: nighttime and daytime.

Among his works in the exhibit, Edwin’s favorite is The Reminder, which, like his tattoo, is a reminder to savor time. The painting of the hourglass is lying horizontally. “I want to make time stand still. If only we can be forever young,” he says.

But that’s impossible. Edwin knows that. This is reminiscent of Mitch Albom’s The Time Keeper that says: “Man wants to own his existence, but no one owns time.”

Paper Power

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
March 2, 2015

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Paper may be lightweight but its power isn’t. What’s written or drawn or drafted on it is indelible, memorable. Great histories are documented on paper. Poets write their feelings on paper. Journalists jot down their facts on paper. We read books and news on print. We doodle on paper. The bestselling ideas, the most revolutionary ideals find expression on book paper. But some artists have problems with it. Isn’t it ironic?

Art galleries, it turns out, shun paper artwork because of its lack of commercial value. Plus, according to them, they don’t last well. Or they do? The works of romantic painters Francisco Jose de Goya and Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, to name a few, have lasted a lifetime.

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Bente cuatro oras, Pinggot Zulueta

“Despite the long history of printmaking dating back to the early ‘60s, paper as a medium has to be nurtured—like a child,” says artist Renato Habulan. Also the curator, he is one of the members, in the recently concluded paper art exhibit of 12 Pinoy artists called “Papelmismo.”

The exhibit is the sequel of their successful joint in 2012 exhibit dubbed “Papelismo,” back when they were only five artists. The first exhibit is a word play of papel and –ismo (kapitalismo, komunismo, sosyalismo). It centered on the political and social turmoil in the country during the ‘70s and ‘80s, the heyday of the artists’ careers.

Papelmismo, on the other hand, highlights the word “mismo” (exactly). This time, the 12 artists Benjie Torrado-Cabrera, Alfredo Liongoren, Arnel Mirasol, Thomas Daquioag, Neil Doloriicon, Alfredo Esquillo, Egai Talusan Fernandez, Emmanuel Garibay, Pablo Baen Santos, Allison Wong David, and Manila Bulletin Lifestyle’s very own Pinggot Zulueta, manipulated the papers and turned them into works of fancy. There’s a 3D paper cutout. There’s a termite-eaten paper magically turned seemingly into a painting, but not really. There’s a papier-mâché sculpture. And some folded paper bills, too.

Besides utilizing paper, the group proved that paper power could expand, not only in content, but also in form.

“This time, the medium is the message. There are no painted artworks but only imageries made from paper. The paper is the emotion of the artists,” says Renato.

The artists also remained true on their first theme, which is social realism. Among the artworks were Thomas Daquioag’s Binasurang Papel, inspired from Nora Aunor’s iconic line “my brother is not a pig” and his commentary on Nora’s “binasurang papel” when the government snubbed her major contributions in the film industry when she didn’t make the cut as a National Artist.

Pinggot Zulueta’s Ang Papel Ko, meanwhile, is a 3D collage of his editorial cartoons and some books and magazines he ripped to come up with a playful intersection of texts and images that convey social observations. “I want to be experimental. I don’t like it too profound to the point that nobody understands it. What you see is what you get,” he says.

But why focus on paper? The artists are all connected with paper—as a painter, as a journalist, as a printmaker, as an editorial cartoonist, and as a book illustrator, among others. Beyond this, however, Renato says the group wants to upgrade the seemingly “second-class rate” of paper as a medium of art. The group, which Renato jovially calls “oldies,” also wants to prove that they are not to be relegated in the periphery. According to him, art galleries nowadays snub old artists and favor the younger, more contemporary ones. They want to prove, that like paper, they are here to stay. The movement continues. This year, the group, which continues to grow, is plotting their third exhibit and calling it, “Ang Papel Mo,” a question of one’s role in life and society.