UNDERNEATH the cuss words, rough sex scenes, and noir setting, the new indie film Tandem -- opening in cinemas on Feb. 17 -- is a poignant story of brothers, played by actors Nico Antonio and JM de Guzman (who bagged the New Wave Best Actor award in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival).
THE INDIE FILM Tandem follows two brothers -- played by Nico Antonio and JM de Guzman -- who make a living by robbing people while riding in tandem on a motorcycle.
Tandem, directed by King Palisoc of Bang Bang Alley fame, follows brothers Roman (Antonio) and Rex (De Guzman), who work as “riding-in-tandem,” a colloquial term for a team of robbers on a motorcycle, in the sleazy streets of the city. Petty thieves who only want to make ends meet, they are trapped in the shady underworld of a police syndicate. The brothers are soon tested.
The brothers are opposites: the elder Roman is more cautious because he has a family to protect (his wife Cha, played by Rochelle Pangilinan is pregnant with their first child); Rex, on the other hand, is more reckless, a daredevil.
Holding a mirror to today’s society, the movie tries to humanize the criminals, while never venerating them.
“It’s up to the audience to interpret. We’re not glorifying criminals, we’re not judging them… but it’s good to see different points of view,” said the film’s director Mr. Palisoc at a press preview on Feb. 11.
Tandem is produced by three production houses: Quantum Films, which produced the hits English Only Please, Walang Forever, and Buy Now Die Later; Tuko Film Productions; and Buchi Boy Films, a subsidiary of Artikulo Uno Productions, the makers of Heneral Luna.
Heneral Luna’s E. A. Rocha and Fernando Ortigas are the film’s executive producers.
On a Facebook note, the executive producers pleaded for support and asked the audience to watch the movie on its opening day -- Feb. 17 -- to guarantee its theatrical run.
“We’re not expecting a Heneral Luna level [of attendance], but having to fill a 300-seater cinema is more than enough,” said Mr. Palisoc in a mix of English and Filipino.
“Heneral Luna is different. For one, they had a bigger budget and longer time to prepare and market it. We’re shorter. The goal is to have as much people as possible, because we are drawn with setbacks. One, we’re R-16 and we have Hollywood film competitors,” he said of the film’s obstacles.
He added: “Perhaps, it might have a chance to become mainstream because its story is simple. Hindi pa lang ganon kadami ang wide release (We don’t have a wide theater release). I think the audience will always be smarter than the makers, it’s up to them whether they like it or not.”
INTERNATIONAL SCREENINGS After the film’s local showing, Tandem will join the Fantasporto International Film Festival in Porto, Portugal, screening on March 3.
“It’s our first genre festival… I’m excited. I want to show that we can do something in genre films. We can represent the genre filmmaking,” said Mr. Palisoc.
The film written by Zig Marasigan has already been seen in film festivals abroad: it was shown at the Montreal International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, and Cairo International Film Festival last year.
“The reaction was the same as the collective gasp from tonight’s audience. They were very surprise with this kind of milieu in the Philippines,” said the director.
HE’S FINALLY HOME. After decades of making a name in the Western world of art -- he pioneered the wax resist on watercolor technique, has done an exhibit with Andy Warhol in the ’60s, and was influenced by and contemporaries with Jackson Pollock, a major figure in the birth of American abstract expressionism -- Filipino-American painter Alfonso Ossorio returns to the Philippines for his first ever, albeit posthumous, local exhibit.
Called the Afflictions of Glory, Mr. Ossorio’s works that span from the ’40s until the ’80s are on highlight at the Leon Gallery until Feb. 21. This is to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary.
“His exhibit is a reminder to the millennials and other Filipinos, who will be traveling the road that Ossorio has already traveled. There will be more Filipinos and Southeast Asians who’ll be finding themselves in the US and Europe having to compete against the best of the best,” co-curator Lisa Guerrero Nakpil told BusinessWorldwhen asked of the resonance of the exhibit in today’s times.
Apart from being an original artist, she said the exhibit is “a signpost on how to be able to stand tall with the current equivalent of Pollock and [Jean] Dubuffet and still be original and true to oneself.”
Dubuffet was a French sculptor and painter who founded the Art Brut or rough art movement in Europe. Mr. Ossorio met Dubuffet during his travel in Paris in 1949. Later, Mr. Ossorio would be inspired by the Art Brut style and would make artworks from random objects like eyeballs and bones, and mirror shards and shells. He called his collage “congregations.”
He might have called his newfound technique as “congregations” because “he’s deeply rooted with Catholicism,” said co-curator Tats Rejante-Manahan, who also wrote an extensive feature of Mr. Ossorio’s life and lifestyle, which appeared on Rogue magazine last year.
Born in 1916 as an heir to a vast shipping and sugar fortune in Negros Occidental, Mr. Ossorio was able to live and study abroad at Harvard and the Rhode Island School of Design. He was eventually naturalized as an American citizen in 1933.
In 1950, Mr. Ossorio revisited the Philippines, albeit a short time, after his family commissioned him to create a mural for the Chapel of Saint Joseph the Worker. It was dubbed The Angry Christ.
Mr. Ossorio started as an abstract expressionist but was better known for his congregations. “He’s a well-rounded artist. He had many influences and has done many experiments,” said Ms. Nakpil.
But Ms. Ossorio’s journey toward becoming an accepted artist in the US was paved with challenges. While at the right place and at the right time when the American modern art was booming in the ’50s, Ms. Nakpil said “there were some biases against him.” He wasn’t a starving artist. He was rich. His passion and talent were underappreciated because they were eclipsed by his affluence. In fact, he was a generous Pollock art buyer. The two became friends and as assistance, he would give the dirt-poor American artist from a cowboy family his monthly allowance. He bought one of Pollock’s most celebrated works, Number 1 1950 (Lavender Mist), which was on display at his sprawling mansion at the Hamptons, Long Island.
But Mr. Ossorio was a force to reckon with. Today’s critics arguably consider him as one of the most colorful, prolific, imaginative artists to emerge from the Abstract Expressionist movement. In 1977 and 1987, his works were included in exhibits at Whitney Museum of American Art in New York called 30 Years of American Art: 1945-1975 and 20th Century Drawings respectively. Last year, the same museum included him along with 400 more American artists who changed the art landscape in an exhibit called America is Hard to See.
“Before, Europe was the center of art. Then it was pulled by Pollock and Ossorio and other abstract expressionists in the US. They made their own little Silicon Valley, but art,” said Ms. Nakpil.
“If you like Steve Jobs, you’ll like Ossorio because of his boldness, experimentation, and originality. He’s a true global person.”
Afflictions of Glory will be exhibited from Feb. 6-21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Leon Gallery, Corinthian Plaza, 121 Paseo de Roxas, Legazpi Village, Makati City. For more info on the exhibit, please contact Leon Gallery at (632) 856-2781 or info@leon-gallery.com.
The humans of Makati through a photographer’s lens
EVER since the New York Times and CNN picked up her story as a Hong Kong-based domestic helper-turned-photographer two years ago, Xyza Cruz Bacani has been doing photo exhibits around the globe. But not in the Philippines. As a sort of homecoming, Ms. Bacani, armed with her camera, returns to the country to showcase her first ever local exhibit called Humans of Makati, a photo-documentary on view at the Ayala Triangle Gardens until Feb. 12.
Inspired by the Humans of New York blog that features street portraits of people and their stories, the Ayala Land, Inc.’s Make it Makati project commissioned Ms. Bacani to scour the streets of the city and take random and candid shots of its people.
“We want to highlight and emphasize the diversity in Makati that it’s not just about the big businesses, but it’s also about the people -- the souls of a city -- who make it interesting,” said Makati Project Development Manager Sheila Aguila.
Home to over 500,000 people and the preferred business and entertainment address, the stories of Makati are varied and vivid. From 80 random shots of people from all walks of life -- taxi driver, security guard, call center agent, artist, student, businessman, and takatak boy (cigarette vendor) -- Ms. Bacani narrowed them down to 32 photos to come up with a story line, highlighting people’s dreams and aspirations.
“Even if the photos are different and the people are strangers to each other, their stories are somewhat interwoven. There’s a narrative in between the photographs,” Ms. Bacani told BusinessWorld.
Known for her black and white candid shots of random strangers, her photo exhibit deviates from her comfort zone: they are colored.
“It’s challenging because colored photos are not my forte. I have to be sensitive with the composition and the lighting,” she said.
Said she had to roam the streets of Makati for two weeks. In the exhibit, one will notice that some subjects, students and vendors, came up more than once in her photographs. “There may be repetitions [in terms of profession], but their stories are different,” she said in mixed Filipino and English.
While the exhibit champions stories of ordinary people, Ms. Bacani also included some prominent subjects like the four-time junior golf world champion Jed Dy; WheninManila website founder Vince Golangco; and Ayala Corporation Associate Mariana Zobel, among many others.
Ms. Bacani’s life story is as interesting as her subjects. Working as a domestic helper abroad for more than a decade has opened her eyes to the wicked ways of the world including human rights violation and discrimination.
Although her employer didn’t abuse her, she told this writer that photography is her way of escape.
Ms. Bacani, who was one of the awardees at the 2015 BBC 100 Women of the World, and was short-listed for the 2016 Forbes List’s 30 under 30, said her mission is to document the lives and plight of overseas Filipino workers who are trapped in difficult circumstances.
“Photography is a universal language -- the language of freedom and equality. In photography, there’s no gender, there’s no age, there’s no social status, color, or race. We speak one language, and nothing of those stereotypes.” -- Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
DESPITE the presence of more technologically advanced countries like Japan, China, and Korea, the Philippine delegation at the 17th International Robotics Olympiad held in Bucheon, South Korea amassed 62 medals -- the most number of medals we have yet, ever since joining the contest eight years ago.
“We’re a little intimidated by the delegates, but we had the passion. This year, we’re not the number one, but we’re a force to reckon with. In terms of delegation, we are many. We have 112 students. In terms of robot capabilities, we’re advanced,” Josephine Pinky B. Legaspi, Data Science and Technology Corporation (DSTC) vice president for marketing and sales, told the BusinessWorld during a recognition ceremony on Feb. 3. The international robotics competition was on Dec. 15-20.
DSTC, a technology solutions provider for education by introducing and implementing technology in teaching and learning, is the primary sponsor for the Olympiad. But it has partnership with other private sectors including Wyeth Nutrition, which gave a Kid Innovator special award to Colegio De San Juan De Letran, Calamba students Zandra Pauline Chavez, Vince Jhanzel Sulit, and Ezekiel Godwin Torres, as models of Filipino children’s innate passion for innovation and science. The kids are aged 10 years old, and are the youngest among the delegates.
"I've always loved Math and solving problems, even as a hobby," said Ms. Chavez, who joined the Philippine Robotics team when she was only nine years old. One of her team's winning robot is a robo tank, which makes film-making underwater easier.
The 112 students are in grades 3 to 11 and were winners of past national robotics competitions.
Besides Letran, the delegates come from: Jubilee Christian Academy, Grace Christian College, Eton International School, De La Salle Zobel, St. Martin de Porres Guiguinto, Bulacan, St. Martin de Porres Norzagaray, Bulacan, St. Dominic de Guzman, St. Peter de Apostle, Xavier School, and Philippine Yuh Chiau, Isabela.
Yet, despite the passion and recognition, De La Salle Zobel coach Albert Pagiligan thought the Philippine team still has a long way to go.
“Lugi tayo (we’re in a disadvantage) when it comes to technology…we can only afford the little, cheap ones… The language barrier also becomes a problem because they would say this is the rule, but then again, that is not the rule written on paper,” he said.
While we may look far behind in technology, “We are still fairing well, because we bagged the gold in the Mission Challenge, which is more of a strategy test. This is where we thrive. It’s a testament where Filipinos are great.”
The 2015 prestigious robotic Olympiad was divided into challenges including Mission, Creative, Robot in Movie, and Emergency and Rescue, among others.
“There are many other problems we can attend to, so it’s not yet financed and supported by the government unlike the advanced countries with more resources,” said Mr. Pagiligan when asked what does the Philippine team need in order to improve.
“Sa ngayon kasi (nowadays), robotics is not integrated with our education, so it seemingly looks like only the intelligent elite could join, when it shouldn’t be because technology is for everyone. I think if this contest becomes a regular thing, we’ll eventually get the support of the government,” added Ms. Legaspi.
Amp up your business game plan in the Year of the Monkey
By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
Some companies are rags to riches stories, while others bloom and boom only to go bust. There are many theories why this is so, though some will give a certain amount of credit to feng shui.
“A businessman, whether in a big or small enterprise, can always gain wisdom from applying feng shui practices,” Hanz Cua toldBusinessWorld. At 33, he is the youngest feng shui master in the country.
Feng Shui, which literally means wind-water, is the art of harmonizing qi (energy flow) with the surrounding environment. Mr. Cua said feng shui has a formula which he has to study and analyze every year.
“Knowing how to augment the positive qi management could yield growth in your finances and improve the operations in a company,” he said.
On Feb. 8, Chinese communities all over the world, including those in the Philippines, will celebrate Chinese New Year, officially welcoming the Year of the Fire Monkey. What surprises does the Chinese New Year hold, especially for our booming economy?
BUSINESS PREDICTIONS “Fire is a symbol for passion, desire, and determination. While the monkey on the other hand, is the ninth animal in the zodiac. Nine is the highest number. Monkeys are jokers and witty, so it’s good to put your best foot forward but always have a plan B,” said Mr. Cua, who attended the School of Chinese Metaphysics in Singapore, among others, to earn his mastery in feng shui.
Since fire is the dominant symbol for 2016, Mr. Cua said businesses related to it, including food, gas stations, and electronics, would be in for a good year. On the other hand, business ventures linked to water, including water-refilling stations, will not do as well as others.
But there are ways to attract a good energy flow into one’s work place and home, even if, according to the geomancers, this is not a good year for you. One can, for example, wear metal (gold and silver) ornaments and place neko cats — the cat figurine that waves its arms up and down — in one’s workplace to attract good luck.
If you’re thinking of opening a business, whether micro, small, or medium, now is the best time to do so. Master Cua said business expansions and opportunities will thrive from January until June, but luck will wane in the middle of the year, then will regain traction in the “ber” months.
The general outlook for business is “extremely competitive and the climate of business is demanding,” said another feng shui expert, Marites Allen, whose clients include Ben Chan of Bench and Washington SyCip of SGV.
She said the economy looks promising in the third and fourth quarters of the year. “The people will pursue power, wealth, and financial security.”
Both experts agreed that the stock market would be “more aggressive and favorable,” especially in the second half of the year.
While businesses seem to be heading toward a good year, those people born in the year of the Tiger (1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, and 2010) may have to rethink business plans and expansions because they are prone to career losses this year. According to the experts, this is because tigers are the enemies of monkeys.
BW FILE PHOTO
ATTRACT GOOD VIBES Despite the Chinese influence in Filipino culture, and the fact that the Philippines is home to one of the largest Chinese communities in the world outside of China itself, many people are still apprehensive about following feng shui tips.
When asked if the qi would still flow as abundantly if one doesn’t believe in the power of this ancient Chinese tradition, Master Cua said: “There’s no room for half-baked beliefs. It is not mandatory. If you’re anxious about it, then don’t follow it at all.”
While the keys to a successful business are determination, perseverance, and hard work, Mr. Cua said, “Feng shui is a science. It has formulas that will guide your life. It’s up to you to make sense of it. After all, you are your own architect — you build your own life.”
Still, placing a glass of water on the North side of your workplace or home to ward off negative vibes isn’t that tall of an order. Besides, you won’t lose anything if you follow it.
Here are feng shui businesstips from Master Hanz Cua
Where is your entrance? The entrance or main door should always be easy on the eyes. The entryway should be spacious and clean to usher in good energy.
De-clutter. This is perhaps the golden rule in feng shui business. A muddle of files, books, office products and supplies give a bad impression to patrons and future clients. According to Master Cua, it only attracts “stagnant energy,” which can affect the sales and negotiations.
Show me the money. The cash register should always face the entrance, but it should not be directly in front of the door.
Appropriate Lighting. Proper lighting isn’t for aesthetics alone — it serves as an energizer that attracts and raises the qi energy. Always light up a dim room.
Wealth is on the left. The wealth area of your store or office is found in the far left corner. To energize the area, place a cash box or a money plant with gold or red ribbons on this side. You may also do business transactions in this area.
Chinese New Year Traditions
THE CHINESE New Year is associated with a variety of traditions, myths and superstitions. The Peninsula Manila Hotel — which will be marking Chinese New Year with a dragon dance and special auspicious meals at its various restaurants — came up with a list of some of these traditions to guide those who are less familiar with this celebration.
• No Cleaning. The household has to be thoroughly cleaned before the New Year’s day because it is believed that cleaning sweeps away bad luck from the last year. However, all cleaning equipment should be put away before the New Year’s Eve so that good luck is not swept away. Even though sweeping is allowed after the first day of a New Year, the garbage and dust shouldn’t be carried through the front door, as it may result in death or estrangement of a family member.
• No Ghost Stories. According to Chinese beliefs, what happens on the New Year’s Eve sets a precedent for the rest of the year. Foul language and unlucky words are a taboo on the first day of the New Year. Since ghost stories essentially involve mentions of death, children as well as elders are not allowed to tell stories related to spirits, zombies or the undead.
• No Washing Hair. Though you are encouraged to get a hair-cut on the first day, you’re not supposed to wash your hair to ensure that good luck is not washed away.
• No Books. Book stores remain closed on the New Year’s Eve in areas with strong Chinese traditions as buying books is not allowed. The reason stems from the fact that “book” is a homonym for “lose” in Cantonese. However, apparently, there is no restriction on reading.
• No Shoes. Shoe shopping is restricted on the first day because “shoes” is a homonym for “rough” in Cantonese.
• No Crying. Crying is also a strict no-no on New Year’s Eve which is why children are spared from spanking or punishments on the first day.
• No Sitting in the Bedroom. It is unlucky to meet anyone in their bedroom on the New Year’s Eve, which is the reason why everyone, including infants, the elderly and even those who are sick, are made to dress up and sit in the living room.
• No Sharp Objects. Handling sharp objects is considered a bad omen on the first day of the New Year, as they may cut off good fortune. It is recommended to put away knives and scissors the previous day.
• Red is Good. Bright red clothes, decorations and ornaments are highly recommended for the Chinese New Year. Children receive money in red paper envelopes from parents who wish them a healthy and happy New Year. Red paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of good fortune or happiness, are used to decorate the household.
• Songbirds are Good. The first person you meet on New Year’s eve holds great significance on how lucky you would be throughout the year. It is considered lucky to see or hear songbirds, red-colored birds or swallows on New Year’s Eve.
WHITE RICE may be a Filipino staple food, but for the diet conscious, a steaming cup of rice is a sin that must be avoided at all cost. Unfortunately, not many Filipinos know and have access to the wonders of the Cordillera heirloom rice. Unlike the processed white rice found in every market which is stripped of fiber, iron, and other nutrients, the heirloom rice varieties are healthier and more filling.
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna points out that heirloom rice varieties are tastier, more aromatic, and more resilient to environmental stresses.
In the hopes of preserving the dying Cordillera rice tradition and culture, IRRI initiated the Heirloom Rice Project. According to the IRRI Web site, the project “aims to enhance productivity and enrich the legacy of heirloom or traditional rice through empowered communities in unfavorable rice-based ecosystems.”
Many chefs, including the 2016 Asia’s Best Female Chef Margarita Fores of Cibo, Lusso, and Grace Park, and chef Chele Gonzales of Vask, have started adopting heirloom rice in their recipes.
Through the word of mouth and interaction with his chef friends, Discovery Leisure Company, Inc. corporate chef and F&B director Anthony Raymond has also incorporated heirloom rice into his recipes. His creations are available at select restaurants in Discovery hotels at Boracay, Ortigas, Tagaytay, Palawan, and Makati.
Discovery only started offering heirloom rice dishes six months ago, “but the heirloom rice is here to stay. We’re the first hotel chain in the country to promote our heirloom rice. With today’s health-conscious clientele, it helps that the [heirloom] rice contains more nutritional value than the typical white rice. It has great flavor and texture, too,” Mr. Raymond told BusinessWorld at the sidelines of Discovery Leisure Co.’s media appreciation on Jan. 19.
The sustainable project, he said, aims to help the livelihood of farmers (“98% of Cordillera farmers are women”) while promoting the survival of our rice tradition and the lifestyle of eating a healthier variety of rice.
According to chef, heirloom rice -- especially the black rice -- is rich in anti-oxidants and has less cholesterol. “It has a distinct aroma and nutty taste,” he also said.
A must-try heirloom rice dish from the group is Restaurant Verbena’s arroz loco. A favorite in Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay, the sinful paella-like creation has aromatic heirloom rice covered with tiger prawns, clams, herb-baked oysters, sausages, crab fat, crispy chicken thighs, barbecue red-braised pork belly, salted duck egg, shaved queso de bola, and chicken fat croutons.
There’s also Club Paradise Palawan’s coriander-crusted yellow fin tuna citrus with spring onions, topped with miso dressing and served on a bed of black heirloom rice. At Discovery Primea in Makati, a two-hour cooked chicken and heirloom rice is the hero. The chicken tagine (earthen pot) has green olives, lemon confit, and saffron-scented heirloom white rice salad.
SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD Besides championing heirloom rice, the Discovery group has also entered a partnership with Meliomar, Inc., which aims to introduce sustainable seafood to hotels and restaurants.
Besides Discovery, other hotels and restaurants, at least in Metro Manila, are at the helm of making our seafood both sustainable and delectable. They are: New World Hotel Makati, Fairmont, Raffles, Shangri-La (Makati, Edsa, and The Fort), Vask, Le Club, Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila Peninsula, Hyatt, and Marriott are part of the seafood crusade, as is Alab Restaurant, owned by chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou. The number of members are still growing.
On Feb. 15-21, the participating hotels and restaurants will celebrate Sustainable Sea Food Week with cooking shows and demos, chef collaborations and presentations of sustainability projects, and workshops.
“We all have to start somewhere. By 2020, my vision is to ensure that 100% of all our menus across all our hotels and resorts will only serve seafood sourced from sustainable fishing,” said Mr. Raymond.
