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Manila libraries not dead
In the age of the Internet, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna has emphasized the relevance of physical libraries, as well as the books and other reading materials they keep as veritable treasures of knowledge. Lacuna urged people, especially the youth, to visit city libraries as she greeted the Manila City Library headed by its Director Mylene Villanueva, on the occasion of its 77th founding anniversary celebrated throughout the month of October. “For those who don’t know, we have many libraries. We are striving to improve the level of service provided by our libraries, which is why we have more and more clients, from young to old,” she said. “Now that it’s the digital generation, most research is done at home using the internet. But nothing can beat opening a book,” she added in the vernacular. She said that by visiting libraries, people can learn, hone their skills, even as she emphasized that not everything that people read using the search engine platform Google is true. She explained that at times, what’s available through the Internet is “incomplete” or “even false.” “That’s why I encourage everyone, especially those with children, to visit our libraries,” Lacuna said. The MCL will continue providing quality educational services that would raise the level of intellect of the student population of Manila, the mayor said. The MCL had received various recognitions from the national government in recent years. The total library services that it has provided the public to date has reached 156,856. Villanueva reported to the mayor that the figure covers those served from January to September alone, notwithstanding the fact that five branches of the library are currently not functional since they are under rehabilitation. According to Villanueva, the MCL registered a total of 61,269 library users. Those who used the library’s computers and Wi-Fi reached 15,099 while those who borrowed books totaled 21,762. She added that the number of children served is 47,891 while the senior citizens served totaled 425. The MCL was also able to visit 167 barangays and 11 schools. The post Manila libraries not dead appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Old Montreal churches get a second life
Inside a former Anglican church in central Montreal, crucifixes, prayer benches and candlesticks have been replaced by books and chessboards -- part of an effort by developers and community groups to breathe new life into abandoned churches. "I really like coming here. I like the little church feel, it is conducive for concentrating," university student Alexia Delestre whispered at the Mordecai-Richler library, which is housed in the old church building. Across the once highly religious French-speaking province of Quebec, dozens of churches have been transformed into daycare centers, spas, basketball courts, climbing centers, and a cheese factory. "In general, we do not want to destroy churches if we can preserve them because they are beautiful buildings that mark the urban space well," said Justin Bur, 58, a member of the local historical society Memoire du Mile-End. "They are important landmarks." Another 1960s church in Montreal was saved from demolition at the last minute and now houses a residence for the elderly, social housing, and daycare. Outside, its imposing white concrete structure and its high-perched cross stand out in the urban landscape. Inside, seats and children's toys fill rooms with high ceilings and large windows. "It's really the Rolls-Royce of daycare centers," boasted Isabelle Juneau, deputy director of La Creche daycare, highlighting the modernist architecture and the brightness of the place. City of 100 steeples The repeal in the 1960s -- during Quebec's Quiet Revolution or secularization -- of a tax that paid for the maintenance of churches contributed greatly to the abandonment and deterioration of places of worship. Many have been deserted, including in Montreal, which was nicknamed "the city of 100 steeples" by the writer Mark Twain who once famously said that "you couldn't throw a brick without breaking a church window." Quebec used to be home to around 2,800 churches, but their number has been dwindling, explained Lucie Morisset, an urban heritage researcher. In Montreal alone, there were about 1,000 churches at the beginning of the 20th century, of which only 400 are left today. "There are no more priests, there are no more religious practices. Society has moved on to something else," said Morisset. Over the past two decades, about 100 churches have been redeveloped, according to the Quebec Religious Heritage Council. About ten have been demolished and some forty have transitioned into synagogues, mosques, or other types of places of worship. Costly conversions Conversions are not always easy, but they have become even more costly lately due to galloping inflation. Marc-Andre Simard, general manager of the Chic Resto Pop restaurant said it cost several hundred thousand dollars to convert an old church into a community cafeteria. The entire basement was repurposed into a kitchen and the grounds had to be decontaminated after an old heating oil tank leaked. The restaurant now serves more than 300 meals each day to the neighborhood's needy while providing kitchen training for the unemployed -- amid the original woodwork, multicolored stained glass windows, and confessionals. For Simard, it is "essential that the entire religious heritage is not left to rot" because old churches can still serve as community spaces or residences. The post Old Montreal churches get a second life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Makati launches mobile learning hubs
Makati City Mayor Abby Binay disclosed the launch of mobile learning (library) hubs equipped with books, Smart television, laptop and other equipment to further enhance the learning needs of students. The lady mayor disclosed they embarked the program last June to cater to the learning gap due to the effect of Covid-19 pandemic. The mobile library is equipped with the needed books, equipment and reading materials in English, Filipino, Social Studies and Literature. The city government has a schedule in going to different barangays and schools citywide to give the children along with aged residents who wanted to read books and other reading materials. Aside from the reading materials, the mobile hubs have teacher aides on standby to assist the residents or students for the use of mobile devices. The said mobile libraries were enhanced when the Singapore delegation brought books and other reading materials for Makatizens. “This really brought joy to my heart as they showed their concern for our students and their support to our project,” Mayor Abby said. Makati’s Mobile Learning Hub project was first launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic where it transformed 27 jeepneys into “Dyipni Makati” or jeepneys equipped with laptops, Internet connection, books and other learning materials to be used by the city’s youth who were having difficulties in their online learning classes due to lack of equipment and Internet. The two new Mobile Learning Hubs are equipped with books, TVs, tablets, tutorial lessons and other learning equipment which are considered an upgrade from the Dyipni Makati vehicles. The mayor noted that since Makati is small, the city government cannot build libraries in each barangay, hence, their decision to create the mobile. The post Makati launches mobile learning hubs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos pays tribute to mentors
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday paid tribute to the heroes of children’s education as National Teachers’ Month came to a close. Marcos made a statement on his Facebook page a day after Malacañang held the third edition of the “Konsyerto Sa Palasyo” (Concert at the Palace), which is dedicated to the country’s teachers. The free concert was especially for teachers, and many came to enjoy the music and take a break from their work. “As we thank you for all that you do, we also continue to work harder to improve your lives,” Marcos said. “The Marcos-Duterte administration will remain hard at work in addressing the needs of our schools, our teachers, and our students,” he added. During a pre-recorded message shown on “Konsyerto sa Palasyo” on Sunday night, Marcos said he still respects teachers. Even though he is now the Chief Executive, Marcos said he would still call female teachers “Ma’am” when he went to schools. Marcos, a La Salle Greenhills alumnus, remembered very well the time he spent with Miss Reyes, one of his first teachers in school. He then said that Miss Reyes had taught him how to treat teachers like he does now. “During Grade 1 to Grade 2, I had a teacher who became fond of me and I became her teacher’s pet. She always helped me with my studies,” Marcos said. “She was very, very helpful to me outside of school. She would assist me when I needed tutorials, and she would give me groceries and prayer books. I can’t forget her,” Marcos added. He went on to express that Miss Reyes had been his source of inspiration, influencing how he respects teachers to this day. The post Marcos pays tribute to mentors appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM honors ‘heroes of children’s education’
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday paid tribute to the "heroes of children's education" as National Teachers' Month came to a close. Marcos made a statement on his Facebook page a day after Malacañang held the third edition of the "Konsyerto Sa Palasyo" (Concert at the Palace), which is dedicated to the country's teachers. The free concert was especially for teachers, and many came to enjoy the music and take a break from their work. "As we thank you for all that you do, we also continue to work harder to improve your lives," Marcos said. "The Marcos-Duterte administration will remain hard at work in addressing the needs of our schools, our teachers, and our students," he added. During a pre-recorded message shown on Konsyerto sa Palasyo on Sunday night, Marcos said he still respects teachers. Even though he is now the Chief Executive, Marcos said he would still call female teachers "Ma'am" when he went to schools. Marcos, a La Salle Greenhills alumnus, remembered very well the time he spent with Miss Reyes, one of his first teachers in school. He then said that Miss Reyes had taught him how to treat teachers like he does now. "During Grade 1 to Grade 2, I had a teacher who became fond of me and I became her teacher's pet. She always helped me with my studies," Marcos said. "She was very, very helpful to me outside of school. She would assist me when I needed tutorials, and she would give me groceries and prayer books. I can't forget her," Marcos added. He went on to express that Miss Reyes had been his source of inspiration, influencing how he respects teachers to this day. The post PBBM honors ‘heroes of children’s education’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nina Lim-Yuson — A lifetime of girl scouting
The president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Nina Lim-Yuson, grew up in a family and home of Girl Scouts. Her grandmother, Pilar Hidalgo-Lim, was one of the co-founders of the GSP. “It was actually my Lola Pilar who suggested to Josefa Llanes Escoda, the GSP founder, to go to America to learn about girl scouting.” This tidbit of history, Nina shared in an online interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE. Pilar Hidalgo-Lim became GSP president, and so did Nina’s mother, Estefania Aldaba-Lim, who served as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Nina’s sister too, the eminent broadcast journalist, Cheche Lazaro, was a Girl Scout. Coming from a lineage of women achievers, Nina could not have chosen a different path. It was scouting that formally introduced the family to social responsibility, skills development and citizenship. Her brothers were also Boy Scouts. “I started when I was six years old and it was my Lola Pilar who inducted me as a Brownie. It used to be called Brownie because we were still using the American pattern,” she related. She belonged to Troop Number One, the first to be organized by the GSP national headquarters. In high school at the Jose Abad Santos Memorial School of the Philippine Women’s University, she became a junior and later a senior Girl Scout. College would briefly end her Girl Scouting as she focused on her studies. Along the way, she also danced with the Bayanihan Folk Dance Company. It was not unexpected that she would return to scouting, her first love, and her first extra-curricular activity. For the last 36 years, she has been active in various organizations and volunteer work. She founded the Museong Pambata. She is a recipient of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service and is active in its various social development efforts. What Nina brings to her post is the legacy of leadership that had been passed on to her through generations of women leaders in the family. “My Lola Pilar was my idol. She was such a nice person and I never knew her totally as a president. I knew her more as a loving lola from all the stories she related when we rode up to Baguio. “My mother, on the other hand, was the opposite. She was very career-minded. I learned naman from her a lot of things, like being thrifty and having a list of things to do. In terms of organization, she was like that. Because she was in government. And, you know, when we started Museo, while it was actually my concept, I learned a lot from her. She would call me up at 5 o’clock in the morning and she would rattle off what needed to be done, like ‘number one, number two and so on.’ That was her. And I’m glad that I worked with her for six years in Museo. She was the president and I was the executive director for six years. I took over in 2000 as president and chief executive officer. And then, I stepped down in 2017.” Girl Scouts who read and tell stories Nina was elected president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines for the term 2021-2024 during its 2021 national convention. From day one, she shared, “My purpose was to reach out to the community-based troops because we have always been school-based. Many young women now have social problems so we need to reach out to the communities through our community-based troops.” Also on top of her priorities is literacy development, a cause that she addressed even in the Museo Pambata. She explained, “My advocacy has always been education. So, I was very concerned because the Asian Development Bank reported in 2022 that the World Bank found out that our Filipino children at ages 9 and 10 cannot read. So, I felt that because girl scouting is all over the country, with 96 local councils, the organization could serve as a vehicle for improving literacy in our country. “We started the Girl Scout Storyteller project because storytelling affects the heart first before the mind. When young people start with storytelling, they will love the stories and then the written word. They would then want to read. “We now have storytelling in economically challenged communities and we have partners. We sent out 2,500 books throughout the country with the help of our partner couriers.” Initially, she sought the help of her family foundation “to give a donation. I also sought the help of Ging Montinola, who is into literacy development. Together, we founded the literacy program. We are building this fund to cover the cost of buying children’s books. We will have a storytelling contest next year.” Raising funds for Camp Escoda Nina then shifted the conversation to another major endeavor that she is spearheading as GSP president — fundraising for the 27-hectare Camp Josefa Llanes Escoda in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, which was donated by the provincial government during the term of Governor Amado Aleta, the father of consul and civic leader Fortune Ledesma. “Palayan is beautiful because it has rolling hills, but it doesn’t have electrical and water facilities and roadworks. It doesn’t have a swimming pool, and it’s so hot in Nueva Ecija. It also does not have a conference hall. This is a big one-time fundraising project because it’s for the future of the girls who are going to the camp. Because as of now, if you go camping there, you have to walk up the hills to get your drinking water. You have to make buhos to take a bath.” She recalled, “In my time as a young Girl Scout, which was of another era, we had to walk in the dark to fetch water to fill up two drums. I was so scared because there were tuko in Los Baños. That taught me to be courageous. Camps really build up your lifetime skills and attitude. Camping is very integral in girl scouting and boy scouting. So, this camp will serve a purpose. It just needs various basic facilities to make it world-class and convenient with the proper amenities, but the girls will continue to learn all those survival techniques and appreciate nature right on the camp.” She praised architect Pippo Carunungan, “who is an environmental planner. He surveyed the site and drew up everything. It will be a beautiful camp, he said, because it’s a gift of nature.” First Lady as Chief Girl Scout Nina recently led the Girl Scouts in a fundraising ball attended by the “First Lady, Liza Araneta-Marcos, who is our Chief Girl Scout. It’s mandated in the GSP constitution that whoever is the female president of the country or the First Lady is the Chief Girl Scout. In the past, we had Imelda Marcos, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. All the first ladies were all Chief Girl Scouts. “Mrs. Liza Marcos spoke before us and she promised to help. She said, ‘We will make it the best campsite.’ Everyone was excited to see her and she obliged everyone who asked to have selfie with her. She is very friendly. She is really a Girl Scout.” Nina shared, “A generous couple is sponsoring the swimming pool at P6 million, while a gentleman entrepreneur is sponsoring the perimeter fence at P1.5 million. Many other businessmen and leaders have pledged to help build this dream GSP project. “We really need to raise about 50 million to have a very good camp. But when the First Lady heard about it, she said, ‘It has to be P250 million.’ But, really, when we have the funds, we can have deep toilets that have running water instead of tabo-tabo. Since we have a little Pampanga river that runs across the camp, we can build a bridge that crosses it and then the girls can have white-water rafting there in the Pampanga river. “Camp Escoda will be a very important and significant venue for our Girl Scouts to gather, bond, learn new skills and develop as morally upright citizens of the country and the world. It is especially so because camping is integral in any Girl Scout’s life. If you don’t have camping, it’s like half of your scouting life is missing. Every Girl Scout remembers that time of her youth. And being the national camp, it will welcome Girl Scouts representing the 96 councils from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao who will participate in various events and trainings.” Girl Scouts of all ages As GSP president, Nina travels to various parts of the country. “We have regional conferences aside from the meeting of the Central Board when regional heads and executives come to Manila. “I had just come from Baguio where I stayed for two-and-a-half days. I met our young Girl Scout representatives from ages 14 to 18. I enjoyed listening to them and exchanging ideas with them. I am so happy that we have a wealth of intelligent girls who want to serve the country. They are the ones who are going to take over. “It’s amazing that GSP is no longer limited to old people on the board. We finally have young ones on the board. Our Escoda committee is headed by Jade Delgado from Iloilo. Then we have Justine Bautista. She’s a psychometrician. She heads the Program Committee, which is a big committee because when we were in Baguio, we had 86 girls from all the councils throughout the country. Many of them are running for SK. “So, in my 70s now, which I don’t feel at all, I don’t take any medicines or something like that. Being with young people is what inspires me. Because at 15, 16 or 17, they already know that they have some kind of a mission.” Nina proudly shared that the venue of the Baguio conference, 'Ating Tahanan' on the South Drive was bought during the tenure of my Lola Pilar. We have four buildings there, including the houses of Senator and actor Rogelio de la Rosa and Carlos Valdes, the accountant. Lola Pilar, according to Carlos Valdes, twisted his arm to get a low price. I’m so thankful for all those who preceded me because they bought these places. It’s on South Drive which is so valuable. We even have a reserved forest behind us.” As she looks forward to the next camping and gets even busier raising funds for Camp Escoda, Nina feels elated that “every one of us in the Girl Scouts has been together in our various undertakings. The nice thing is we are now intergenerational because we try to bring in the old with experience, institutional memory and their wisdom born of their long life, and the young who are full of enthusiasm, energy and new ideas.” A star scout for a granddaughter While Nina does her part for the bright future of girl scouting in the country, her personal family too has not stopped contributing to the roster of members to this worldwide organization. Today, a granddaughter of hers, seven-year-old Rocio Yuson de Guzman, is a Star Scout. She is the daughter of Nina’s daughter, Nicky. No grandmother could have been prouder. Nina said, “Rufio loves being a star scout. When I arrived from the recent world conference in Cyprus, I came back with some badges and I gave some to Rufio who is very proud of the little badges that I got for her.” For sure, Nina will pass on not just the badges to Rufio. More importantly, she will give her granddaughter the once-in-one’s-childhood experience of being a Girl Scout and learning “the values that are identified in the Girl Scout Promise and Laws. I think that while there is so much to enjoy and learn, it is the inculcation of these values that would mold her into a well-rounded human being. As we all know, a Girl Scout’s honor is to be trusted. A Girl Scout is loyal, thrifty, courteous… and so on. It’s like a mantra -- the values that one lives by. “I have reached that point when it is not about success or what one accumulates in life, whether awards or accomplishments or material things. It is more about what I can share and scouting gives me that honor and privilege — to do my part in helping mold our young girls and making them aware even at an early age that they have a mission and worthy purpose in life. It is not just about being good and outstanding on your own but it is also about helping others to become better in what they’re doing and live better lives. “And I need not look far. As a grandmother, I dote on my Star Scout granddaughter, Rufio. There’s a world out there for her to discover and in which she has a role to play and use the skills and values she will learn from scouting.” The post Nina Lim-Yuson — A lifetime of girl scouting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cherchez la femme?
Look for the woman is what the phrase Cherchez la femme means in the French language. By a person’s statement, he or she attributes a certain action or incident to be caused by a woman. It presupposes a negative connotation, but to me it symbolizes the strength and power of a woman. Indeed, so much in this world can be recharged, repaired, corrected, healed if we give women the opportunity and the chance to make a great difference in the world. Women hold half of the sky so they should be given all the means and tools to make a difference. As mothers they carry the baby in their womb for nine months. That takes much sacrifice, inconvenience and risks to their health. But because women are strong in faith and character, they bear all the difficulties with a smile and bravura. Women are teachers. They are the first tutors of her children. Their early values are honed by the mother. Children do not take our words seriously. It is how we conduct ourselves that they absorb their first lessons in life. Women are healers. Because of their compassionate and caring nature, they can assuage the hurts caused by unkind words as they console their loved ones with a big hug, a warm bowl of soup and their sage advice as symbolized by Mother Teresa who will soon be canonized as a saint because of her humane and loving treatment of everyone. Women are strong warriors. The katipuneras proved their valor and fearless nature when they fought side by side with the men as proven by Gabriela Silang, wife of hero Diego Silang. Women are born singers as they lull their infants to sleep in their cradles. Women are marvelous cooks as they plan and cook the healthy food for their families without missing a step. Women are creative seamstresses as they sew the uniforms and clothes of their children growing up. Women are wonderful social human beings as they reach out to neighbors and the community as social workers and nurses. Women are good accountants as they can stretch their household budget like a rubber band with nary a complaint. Women are prayerful persons as they constantly pray for the safety, good health and well-being of the entire family. Women above all are the constant partners and faithful lovers to their husbands. So, we ask, what can women not do? Women can do anything you ask of them provided they are given the due respect, love and support they need to accomplish any task big or small. They are also great coaches who can mentor both young men and women to fulfill their dreams. They are possessed of noble intentions, fierce in their belief that if one needs to perform a task, they will be up to it. So, the question is asked, Cherchez la femme? Where is the woman? She can be found in all mothers, wives, doctors, nurses, teachers, cooks, OFWs, drivers, CEOs, presidents, artists, singers, ballet dancers, farmers, graphic designers, authors, nuns, debaters, makeup artists, parliamentarians, scientists, politicians, models, accountants, lawyers, students, bakers, NGO leaders, laundrywomen, caregivers, environment warriors, gardeners, streetsweepers etc. We could go on and on. What this proves is women can be anyone she aspires to be and for as long as she finds herself valued and needed; she will be there. All she needs is to be valued and loved. After all women are love personified. They will give of themselves for as long as they have life in them. Vive La Femme! In 1989, Bing Carreon was recognized as one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS). In San Francisco, California, U.S.A., she was chosen as one of 100 Most Influential Global Filipinas for her books and advocacy work. As a social historian, she has written 46 coffee table books in the last 25 years found in select libraries around the world. For comments and suggestions please e-mail: bncmyob@gmail.com The post Cherchez la femme? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Emma Stone stars in sex-mad Frankenstein-like tale at Venice
With Emma Stone as a sex-mad reanimated corpse in "Poor Things" and Wes Anderson presenting his take on Roald Dahl, the Venice Film Festival was taken on some wild rides on Friday. "Poor Things" was set to premiere on the Lido without its star to light up the red carpet, due to the ongoing Hollywood strike barring actors from publicity work. Rumors at the festival suggest the horror-comedy, in which Stone plays a woman brought back from the dead by a mad scientist, could be an early awards frontrunner. Its Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos has established himself as one of the most imaginative and daring filmmakers of his generation. His previous film "The Favourite", also starring Stone, won the Jury Prize in Venice in 2018 and best actress for Olivia Colman, paving the way to her Oscar triumph. "Poor Things" is among 23 movies competing for the top prize, the Golden Lion, to be awarded on September 9 by a jury including directors Damien Chazelle, Jane Campion and last year's winner Laura Poitras. Anderson's Dahl Meanwhile, another indie darling, Wes Anderson, was feted in Venice with a lifetime achievement award. He presented "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar", a 40-minute film based on a short story by beloved children's author Roald Dahl. It is one of four Dahl adaptations the whimsical director has made for Netflix featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Dev Patel and Ralph Fiennes. As always, there is a meticulous, chocolate-box feel to Anderson's film. "It's more like a little theatrical presentation that we found a way to film," Anderson told reporters. The director, who previously adapted Dahl's "Fantastic Mr Fox", said he was strongly against moves to alter the author's books for "sensitivity" reasons. Asked about recent revisions to Dahl's books to remove character descriptions like "fat" and "crazy", Anderson said: "No one who is not an author should be modifying someone's book." He added: "I understand the motivation for it, but I'm in the school where, when the piece is finished... the audience participates in it, we know it, so when it's done, it's done." Strikes and waivers Also premiering on Friday was "The Promised Land" starring Mads Mikkelsen, described by The Hollywood Reporter as a "gripping historical epic" about a low-born soldier seeking to better himself. Mikkelsen was able to attend the festival for the Danish film, but Venice has lost out on several star appearances due to the actor and writer strike in Hollywood, which is primarily over pay and the potential threat of AI. Some independent films have been given a waiver, including Michael Mann's "Ferrari" which premiered on Thursday, allowing lead actor Adam Driver to attend. But others such as Stone and Bradley Cooper (for his Leonard Bernstein biopic "Maestro") are not coming, costing the studios valuable PR shots of their stars arriving by gondola and working the red carpet. Still to come in Venice are new movies by Sofia Coppola ("Priscilla" about Elvis Presley's wife) and David Fincher ("The Killer" starring Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton). There are also out-of-competition premieres for controversial directors Woody Allen ("Coup de Chance") and Roman Polanski ("The Palace"). The post Emma Stone stars in sex-mad Frankenstein-like tale at Venice appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Metamorphosis: Fairy tale come true
Fairy tales are true stories, if you know what I mean. This story is inspired by a children’s book entitled, “Hope for the Flowers,” by Trina Paulus. It is a children’s book for adults. Once upon a time, there were two caterpillars, brother and sister Paul and Liz. Paul was thinking of climbing to the top of a mountain along with a pile of other caterpillars all struggling to get to the top. PAUL: I am going up there to try my luck. LIZ: What for? Do you know what’s up there? PAUL: Perhaps a rainbow or a blinding light, who knows? Why would so many other caterpillars try to climb up? Of course to achieve success, fame. LIZ: I’m not going. Tell me about it when you get back. PAUL: I may never come back. LIZ: It’s too much trouble. I will stay here and wait. PAUL: Wait for what? LIZ: I don’t know. Something to happen perhaps. PAUL: I’m bringing several coins with me as a way for me to communicate with you. When I throw down a silver coin, it means I am all right. If I throw down a lead coin, it means I’m having problems. LIZ: That’s a good plan. I will wait. And so Paul embarks on his dream to achieve success. It is hard at first. Everyone is pushing everyone. Midway, he hesitates and wants to go back. He is tired. He tosses a lead coin. But after a while he regrets it. His dream energizes him. He strengthens his resolve and tosses a silver coin. Liz understands what is happening — the hesitation followed by the ambition. She is glad he moved on. Almost at the top, there is a frenzy, everyone is stepping on each other, pushing and shoving. The situation gets violent once everyone can see the mist at the top of the mountain. Paul is inside the mist, in a trance. He decides to toss another silver coin before he reaches the very top. He is imagining a rainbow or a bright light at the very top. Instead, he found nothing. Those around him were equally disappointed and started to go down. But running into the surging caterpillars trying to go up, they simply jumped down, tumbling towards the bottom of the pile. Getting the silver coin, Liz’s heart jumps. Paul is perhaps now at the top. Just as she is celebrating with other fellow caterpillars who decided not to climb up, a lead coin drops from the sky. Everyone is stunned, staring at each other in silence. There ensues a violent debate on theories of what was really happening up there. Some said the strongest caterpillar prevailed and it was not Paul. LIZ: (Seeing the shower of caterpillars tumbling down from the sky). Guys, there is nothing up there. Zero. They are jumping down in despair and frustration. Just as Liz is speaking, she suddenly explodes into a radiant blue and silver butterfly. Metamorphosis. The others follow, in a series of explosions. They all fly up to investigate. Indeed, there is nothing at the top but caterpillars violently pushing each other. Paul decides to jump and stumble down. The butterflies descend and find Paul unconscious. Then, finally, he regains consciousness. PAUL: Why didn’t I turn into a butterfly like you? LIZ: You need energy to become a butterfly. You were too weak from struggling and fighting each other. (Paul weeps violently.) Don’t worry, when you regain your strength, you will become a butterfly. There is no choice. No one has remained a caterpillar all his life. True enough, Paul finally achieves metamorphosis. All the new butterflies fly together, led by Liz and Paul, searching for paradise. In no time, they discover a dark, cool rainforest where they all live happily ever after. *** PAUL: I will study to be a lawyer. I have this dream to be a congressman so I can help people. LIZ: Good luck. Me, I’ll just read books and work in a library. PAUL: And then what? You will rot with boredom in a library. LIZ: Not if I have dreams. PAUL: And what is your dream? LIZ: I don’t know yet. Give me time. I’m not in a hurry. I’m working on it. Paul finished law but never got to be a congressman. He worked for a while as a corporate lawyer, which he hated. Liz became a celebrity with her own TV show called “Street Food for the Gods.” She yanked Paul out of corporate life to become her chef and cameraman. They traveled around the world together, shooting street food everywhere. They discovered that street food in poor countries was way more advanced than in rich countries. They made a pile of money beyond their dreams and lived happily ever after. *** eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post Metamorphosis: Fairy tale come true appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Katya Angara – The journey of a woman and artist
The promising artist that Katya is today is the latest phase in a lifelong journey that began at an early age when she began drawing characters from cartoon comics. All the while she was growing up in a home that nurtured her interest in the arts, as much as it prepared her for rigorous academic training. She read early in life, in a house filled with books. In this second part of our interview, Katya shares with us how she made a number of choices that would lead to where she is today. But once upon a time, for all that had been given to her on a silver platter, she was in a quandary as to what to do with her life. But when she finally decided on what she wanted, there was no stopping the talented and smart girl who, it turned out, possessed an intellectual prowess not unlike those of her parents, the lawyer, and senator Edgardo Angara, whose affinity for the land had been impressed on his daughter, and the lady educator Gloria Manalang Angara, who opened up her daughter’s eyes and minds to the wonders of world literature and the other arts. And it was in art that the young girl did not only find solace but also healing. Here is the final part of our interview: DT: After high school, did you immediately leave for London? KA: To be honest, and I don’t want filters here, I had mental health issues at that time. I was severely depressed. Before I went to London, I went through a tumultuous period of deciding where to go with my education. So, after Poveda, I went to Woldingham (boarding school). then I did half of my BA Psychology degree at UP Diliman from late 2000 to 2002. I loved my time at Diliman but it was a tumultuous transitional period for me, so I decided to revisit pursuing university in London. Central Saint Martins, to be precise, is one of the most prestigious and distinguished art and design schools in the world DT: Around what time was this? KA: It was in 2002. I was bouncing around like I couldn’t anchor myself to one thing. Like, okay, I’m here in London already. And then, okay I’m going to study Psychology in UP. So, what’s with the leap, the sudden jump, the sudden shift? I couldn’t make up my mind. And I think that frustrated my parents for the longest time. I was also being hard on myself because I ended up causing a lot of frustration for myself. And I think that depressed me. So, you know, I’ve been diagnosed with different things. I’m bipolar. And then, I had the hallmarks of ADHD. Let’s just say that my brain works differently DT: Well, one can never be sure about oneself. KA: No, you can never be sure about yourself. And I was questioning myself. For the longest time, all those years I thought, what’s wrong with me? Why am I making all these strange decisions? Why am I behaving this way? Why do I react to people this way?”. You know, parang I shouldn’t be talking or reacting to people like this in this kind of situation. And I’m not just saying with family or what. But with my classmates in school. What drew me to art was it being a place that has its own language e. It’s a place where I can express myself. Art is also a way of healing your own wounds. It’s also a way of revealing those aspects of yourself that you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. It really was a way of healing for me. And I didn’t even know that I needed it. Because again, I was a very quiet and introverted kid. I don’t know why. I couldn’t rely on people, talk to people the way I thought, or maybe people thought I should. So, you know, I kept to myself. I’d hide away in the library every recess or lunch. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. So, that carried on until my university years. Daily Tribune (DT): What did you finally take up in college? Katya Angara: Well, first I just wanted to do a purely art course. So, my foundation course to get me a degree was an Art and Design course. My first choice for this was Central Saint Martins, which continues to be ranked as one of the best art and design schools in the world. I was over the moon when I made it in. DT: What did you have to show to qualify? KA: I needed to show my work. I had some already since I was drawing a lot in my childhood and teenage years. DT: Your works are not the usual ones that use oil, watercolor, acrylic, and all that. KA: I was drawing mostly. And for some reason, I have always been more of a draftsman eh. I’m always more into drawing. I have more illustrating tendencies. DT: Like pen and paper? KA: Yes, pen and paper. Pencil, charcoal. I’ve always had a thing for dry media and pen and ink. It’s more about the control and the precision. That’s my personality. DT: That’s not easy ah. KA: It’s not easy. But you have an affinity for it. And your hands have to be steady. Which is unlikely for someone with pasmado hands like me. But that’s where I find my control eh. That’s why I like it so much. DT: So, what was it like when you showed your drawings at Central Saint Martin? KA: So, I showed my drawings because that was required during the interview. And so I went through the ropes. They asked questions like, "why do you want to do this course here?" DT: Your work must have been good to get you accepted. KA: They were fine. I think it was good enough. But there was a lot I had to improve on. I only knew that once I got into the school. Then, you told yourself, Ah, oo nga pala. There was so much I had to learn. That I could be taught. DT: How was your learning experience? KA: From the beginning, as a child, I always copied from cartoons. And they didn’t like that. They didn’t want to see any cartoons or anything like that. They wanted to see me. They wanted to see my work. My drawing from life. DT: So, how did you do that? It must have been challenging KA: So, I gave them the best of my life drawings. But when I showed them my other works, they weren’t happy with them. So, I learned from that. Being young, you got a bit crushed. But then, you realize it’s a different way of thinking. It’s a different way of doing things. Okay, there’s still so much to learn in terms of art. And it’s not the be-all and end of it all. And then, they said, “This is where you should be learning from.” And they showed me art books. They said, “Go to this gallery or this museum.” DT: How was it like living abroad? Back home, you were the daughter of a senator. KA: Which means nothing when you’re abroad. It meant nothing. Which I actually loved. It was something that I was looking for. Because I lived in a bubble back home. To my parents’ credit naman there’s a reason for that. I was very protected. They wanted to keep me safe and secure given my father’s position. So, I’d always lived in a bubble. I’d always have bodyguards and drivers and all that. And it just felt at times a little restrictive. DT: So, it was a welcome thing? KA: It was a welcome thing. Really, I felt different. I felt normal na parang my family name didn’t mean a thing. And that was refreshing. I could be anything I wanted to be. I could experiment and nobody would judge. Because in schools like that and abroad, especially in Europe, they’re so open-minded. They’re so liberal. DT: How were the teachers? KA: Oh, wonderful. Of course, you always have your favorites, right? Very varied. Depending also on what course you were taking up, whether industrial design or sculpture which I was horrible at when I tried it. I didn’t really get close to my tutors until I moved on to my actual degree. Funny enough, instead of ending up in a practical course. Which would have been like Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or even Illustration because I love drawing. You would think that I would end up in a more practical course like Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or even Illustration, I did a complete shift and I did a theoretical course. I did Curation, Art Criticism, and Art History. So, my training is as a curator and an art critic. DT: Wow, that was very intellectual. It’s good that you always read a lot. KA: Yes, I think that helped because you have to read a lot. You have to love reading. You have to like doing the research. And that served me well. Who would have known, right? But if you think about it, as long as you follow what you want to do in life, it just opens up even if you don’t intentionally seek it. Somehow it just finds you It just fell into place for me in that sense. This is not what I initially set out to do. But I think you have to allow yourself to change your mind. Parang whatever happens at the time, you change with it. You adjust to it. And it worked out beautifully for me. DT: So, were the teachers terrors? KA: Mabait naman sila. But they have very different personalities. My course leader was a lovely older lady who was really into Victorian arts and culture. As in, Victoriana lahat. She would tell you everything about English Victorian history. And she was very passionate about it. And you know, it involved a lot of writing and research. But my favorite tutor was someone who was writing about comic books. Comic books and Pop culture. So, for me, that was a revelation because I didn’t think you could take comics books and put them in the academe. You know, academic level like intellectual. Pwede pala e. Because he showed me a way. He took me under his wing and he showed me his work and from there I learned to write. And because I love comic books. I’m actually a huge geek. I’m a nerd, I’m a dork. DT: What was your thesis? [caption id="attachment_165427" align="aligncenter" width="463"] Roger Sabin was Katya's pop culture mentor at Central Saint Martins in London.[/caption] KA: Because I wanted Roger Sabin, my pop culture tutor, as my professor for my thesis, it was about a 1990s Japanese animated film called Ghost in the Shell 101. It was an animated film based on a very heavy graphic novel, a manga or Japanese comics, by Masamune Shirow. And for me, his work is revelatory. It wasn’t just the style of the Ghost in the Shell. And to think just one man could draw like this. I mean it was a very thick graphic novel. He could draw like that. And he wrote the story too. And to think you had the mental stamina to be able to write something like that and to draw. DT: You must enjoy doing comics. KA: Since I was a kid, I’ve made my own comic books. You know, I would sell my own comic books and people would actually buy them. I taught myself to draw in the comic book style. I learned them all. You know, there’s like Stan Lee of Marvel. DT: You really had it in you. KA: I had it in me. My love for comic books started by reading the ones my brother had collected over the years. He had a stash of them, so, I just devoured them. It was all very amazing to me. Kasi the drawings, the stories, these are worlds written by someone else. So, you have Marvel comics, DC comics, Dark Horse comics. [caption id="attachment_165417" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] With brother, Senator Sonny Angara, whose comic books she devoured for their cartoon figures.[/caption] Q: You didn’t idolize anybody? A: Well, I wasn’t particularly huge on the American comics. I think it was until I stumbled upon the Japanese comics or manga. That really piqued my interest to a degree I never felt before. Kasi it wasn’t just the style, which at first for me was very girly. I mean, I love the romantic comics. But I also felt myself leaning toward the darker stuff. DT: What did you like about Ghost in the Shell? KA: It’s a cyberpunk graphic novel. So, ang galing, ang ganda ng style. It was like, wow. You know, the sheer amount of detail that he puts into the drawings. I said I want to draw like this. I want to tell a story like this. But I don’t know if I was capable of telling if I had the stamina to tell something so intricate and complex. DT: When did you graduate? KA: In 2008. The BA in the UK is only three years. That’s why you take a foundation course. There’s a BA in Curation, and Communication, and criticism in Arts and Design. DT: I am told that you graduated at the top of your class. But you’re not telling me. KA: It sounds so funny kasi eh. Anyway, I graduated with first-class honors for my degree. So, basically, I was Suma Cum Laude in my batch in my year. So, that was what sealed the deal for me and my dad. Kasi for the longest time, I was kind of meandering. I was kind of flip-flopping. My mom knows this eh She goes, “You know Katya you have a tendency to be whimsical.” I am an artist eh, what can I do? Besides, I was young and I wasn’t sure. I knew what I wanted to do, which was to be in the arts but not where I wanted to go. I was asking myself if I had the stamina, the commitment, the fortitude to see it through. [caption id="attachment_165415" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Katya and mom Gloria Angara, who first ignited her interest in the arts.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_165419" align="aligncenter" width="854"] Katya with her dad, the late Senate President Edgardo Angara from whom she learned to apply the principles of nature to her art[/caption] DT: College made you really bloom. KA: Yes. It was the environment. it was the people I was with. Because I was able to go into something I really enjoyed. I wasn’t just doing homework because I was told to do homework. I loved what I was doing. I was invested in it. DT: What did you do after you graduated? KA: Apart from community work, I also worked for some small galleries. I did some work for the Victoria and Albert Museum. I tried to have experiences in bigger institutions, bigger museums, and small independent galleries. I thought that experience would hone me and make me well-rounded. With the smaller galleries, I was able to practice my curatorial background. I was able to help a lot of young artists. They don’t know how to talk about their work or they’re not confident enough to do so. So anyhow, apart from helping them put together shows, I help them speak about their work. Or offer them a perspective they have never seen or thought about. And I feel that that was helping them and I think that’s where I have been able to engage with them. It was fulfilling to help them find their voice as an artist. DT: All the while, you were all alone in London? KA: I was married actually. To a Filipino who was born in the UK, in London. He’s an Englishman, for all purposes. It didn’t work out. We have a daughter. I had a beautiful little girl with him. She lives in London with her father. She’s been here. She lived here in her early years. After she was born in 2010, I decided to move back here. Then, after four years, we went back to London because it was what my husband wanted. He and my dad had a falling out. DT: When was your first exhibit? KA: Last year. Earlier, I did a group show at the Lethaby Gallery at Central Saint Martins. So, I did it with other emerging artists. My next group show was at The Crucible. But it was for a book that Sari Ortiga had commissioned me to do. He wanted to do a series of children’s books about Philippine artists. I did mine. Mine was about Anita Magsaysay-Ho. I did the illustration. It wasn’t new to me because I had been making my own books. I would staple them myself. Although up until that point I didn’t know how to really do it professionally. I found out it could be lucrative and fulfilling. This was in 2008 when I didn’t have a daughter yet. DT: Tell me about your forthcoming show. (The current show had yet to be opened). What paintings are you showing? KA: They’re not paintings, they’re not just drawings. They’re an amalgamation. They’re what you call a compendium of everything I’ve ever done as an artist. The book illustration, and then I dabbled a bit in black-and-white photography. I like the look of black and white photography. So, I do it with my phone or a simple camera. It’s also good for taking reference photos for my work. Because if you can’t sit in the park drawing people or objects, or subjects, the next best thing is you take pictures. And you can draw from those pictures. Kaya maganda siya for reference. So, my work is that, actually. DT: So, what about your subjects? KA: Well, I’m a very central person. We live in a very conservative culture. And I have subjects that would make people say ay, you know, you shouldn’t talk about that. So, there’s no filter, it’s very raw, very natural. In London, I was able to talk to people about things like BDSM or Bondage Sado-Masochism. And you know, that can get a bad rap. Because if you do it wrong, it would look strange to anyone who is not familiar with it. Among the Japanese, there is a subculture that does that. DT: Do they consider BDSM an art form? KA: There’s a particular Japanese artist whose work I used to admire. He’s a photographer. And his subject is BDSM. There were pictures of women tied up and then there were flowers and reptiles. So it was very sexual. I found myself drawn to that because there’s the element of the dark side. Carl Jung, the psychoanalyst, talked about how we have to make our unconscious conscious. The darkness in us is unconscious. And if you don’t make your darkness conscious, it’s going to come out in other ways at some point. Meaning to say, you shouldn’t repress those sides of you. I think it is a side that’s intertwined with the creative side of me. I can’t be an artist without being sensual. Without that aspect, all that would be macabre. Which brings me to my mom again. She used to chide me for reading Stephen King when I was a kid. I’m a huge Stephen King fan. She was like, “It’s so macabre, so dark.” And I’m like, “I like it, I like his work.” He’s such a skilled writer. And I like how he could take something so mundane and make it terrifying and frightening on all levels. Stephen King said that he writes two thousand words every morning. I’m not sure if I can do that. I wanted to write na rin eh because the natural partner of my art is my writing. Because as a curator, I didn’t just read. I had to write a lot. And that’s where I honed my skills. Kasi siyempre, it’s a sword that you have to sharpen every now and then. So, for the show. I did a lot of writing. I did my own writing. DT: While we're on the talk of artists, what about the Filipino artists? Who among them do you admire? Do you have any mentors and idols? KA: Among Philippine artists, Junyee is my second father and my first artistic mentor. He is my OG sage and shaman of Philippine art, the Father of Philippine Installation Art. I'm actively lobbying for him to become National Artist soon, as no one deserves it more than he does, with his magnificent oeuvre. I'll always remember how, in a fleeing moment of impostor syndrome, he consoled me by saying that making art for myself always comes first. Love the process and the rest follows. The maverick attitude is very Junyee! And yet, he lives a modest life in the forest-like setting of his home in Los Banos, echoing the nature-loving ethos of our favorite Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki, creator of Toroto, Nausicaa, Spirited Away, among many other magical films. Since I was a child, Junyee saw my potential and continued to push me to have my own gallery shows, as did his longtime friend and one of my other mentors, Sari Ortiga. Sari's daughter Yasmin is a good friend and batchmate of mine from Poveda. Sari owns and runs the distinguished Crucible Gallery, and he hired me to illustrate one of the children's books for his series "Growing up with Philippine art" in 2009. It's thanks to Sari that I pushed myself to evolve as an artist, to grow outside of my comfort zone. The acclaimed visual artist and sculptor Jinggoy Buensuceso is something of a bad boy du jour of the Philippine art scene, and his dissident attitude is something I can identify with. I love the unorthodox, the sensual, the macabre, the dark stuff that delves deep into the psyche. I'm so bored of the "covers" or "riffs" of the countless Amorsolo, Basquiat, Picasso, or Rothko-type artworks that I see so much of in the local art scene. As wtih Junyee and Sari, Jinggoy has taught me how to navigate the perilous seas of art and life, echoing Junyee's advice to remain myself, in a world that often pushes us to be someone else. My three mentors, by example, taught me how to be original. DT: How many are you exhibiting? How many works? KA: Now, I have 9 complete pieces. I’d like to add another one. Honestly, medyo cramming ito because I only had two months to do the show. Normally for this kind of work - especially with the big piece I am doing - it’s a seven-foot piece. I would need, preferably to be comfortable, at least four to six months to do all this work. Kasi, there is so much nicer when you give it time to compost. To come together, to become fertile. DT: Is there enough time for one more work? A: Yes. I have one more work that I want. Because I feel that it rounds it up eh. If I do ten, I love the work that I’ve already done. Again, it’s not a painting, it’s a collage. So, I’d call it a photographic collage with paper cuttings on canvas. I wanted to treat canvas in a way that is not painting DT: Shouldn’t someone curate for you? KA: For now, I’m happy to have to do it myself. Because I feel that I’m the only one who can portray myself in a way that I feel I should be portrayed. Kasi it’s art eh. You’re trying not so much to explain yourself as you’re trying to convey who you are to somebody without being obvious. That’s art. DT: Where does Stephen, your partner, come in? [caption id="attachment_165418" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] With her partner and anchor, Stephen Lu.[/caption] KA: Stephen is somewhat of an anchor for me. So, I feel comfortable, I feel more confident when he’s around. But I guess I’m okay. DT: Now, as we wind up, let’s talk about how you are like your parents and not like them. You said that your interest in the arts came from the exposure that you received from your mother, and of course, the presence of books at home. Tell me more about your father’s role in your becoming the person that you are. KA: One of my fondest memories of my father was his love of nature, gardening, and farming, which I learned from him. He was at his best and calmest when he was at his farm in Nasugbu and Baler. Whilst my father was a “man of the soil”, I learned to be an “artist of the soil”, a gardener who applies the principles of nature to my art. Hence the overlying themes of nature in my oeuvre of artwork. And the most resonant themes of philosophy (which my father also studied and applied in his life) are the themes relating to lessons learned from nature: patience, fortitude, temperance. From this I’ve become more acutely aware of life’s transience, making our time all the more precious, being grateful for small and simple pleasures, and the opportunities that come my way. The naïveté of my younger years meant that I didn’t have a complete grasp of the opportunities presented to me by my father, I took much for granted. Now I see why he did what he did, he gave me the tools to be able to achieve my full potential. Only now that I’m embracing that fire and heading in a direction that makes the most of my talents. I had impostor syndrome for the longest time. Always questioning and doubting myself. Now I can fully embrace who I am and it is cathartic. DT: In what way are you like them? KA: I have the different strengths of my parents. I’ve inherited their academic minds and cultured tastes, with an eye for detail and beauty. I have many mannerisms and behavious in common with my mum, in terms of poise and self-possession. But, she is like Audrey Hepburn and I am infinitely more of a Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was also a very private person and something of a poet and writer. I guess it’s no surprise that I am drawn to art and writing; I am highly introspective, painfully self-aware and attuned to my moods and to the moods of others; like my Dad, I’m intuitive and know how to read people. DT: My last question is, how has art influenced you in your direction in life? And where are you going from here? KA: Being an introvert, I don’t always translate into easy social interactions with most people. So I channel it all into my art. It’s a language that best expresses my psyche, thoughts, and emotions. Working with my hands is healing and consolation for the isolation, depression, and anxiety attacks that grip me on bad days. That’s why as an artist of the soil, gardening and art go hand in hand. In the future, I can see myself tending to the land and becoming a farmer as my father was. It’s like coming home. The post Katya Angara – The journey of a woman and artist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK Roald Dahl Museum acknowledges author’s ‘undeniable’ racism
The Roald Dahl Museum in Britain has detailed work it is undertaking "towards combatting hate and prejudice," it said, acknowledging that the renowned children's writer's racism was "undeniable and indelible". The admission by the museum, located in Buckinghamshire in southeast England, follows an apology in 2020 by the Dahl family and Roald Dahl Story Company for his well-documented anti-Semitic comments. Dahl, the creator of books such as "Matilda", "The BFG" and "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" who died in 1990, made offensive remarks about Jewish people in a 1983 interview with the New Statesman magazine. The Dahl museum, which is a charity, said it fully supported the 2020 apology and that it "condemns all racism, including antisemitism, directed at any group or individual". "Roald Dahl's racism is undeniable and indelible but what we hope can also endure is the potential of Dahl's creative legacy to do some good," it said on its website. The museum said it was "committed to being more welcoming, inclusive, diverse, and equitable in all aspects of our work," revealing steps it had been taking to achieve that. They include "reflecting the visible diversity of our audiences in our marketing, by running accessible and inclusive recruitment campaigns for staff or trustee positions". It is also better training employees and engaging with several organizations within the Jewish community, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council. The museum noted it chooses not to repeat Dahl's anti-Semitic statements publicly, but keeps a record of what he wrote in its collection, "so it is not forgotten". Dahl's comments have long cast a shadow over his personal legacy, which has remained prominent as a number of his children's classics have made it onto the screen and stage since his death aged 74. A prequel film to "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory", featuring computer-generated imagery of Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa and Timothee Chalamet as the eccentric chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka is set for release later this year. Reflecting on his life, the Dahl Museum said he was "a contradictory person" who could be kind and "often helped people, donated to charity, and contributed to medical science". "However, there are also recorded incidents of him being very unkind and worse, including writing and saying antisemitic things about Jewish people". jj/jwp/yad © Agence France-Presse The post UK Roald Dahl Museum acknowledges author’s ‘undeniable’ racism appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
National Children’s Day at Rotary Cultural Village
Porac, Pampanga — The Rotary Club of Makati, led by RC Makati president-elect Keith Harrison and his wife, RC Makati past president Mrs. Rachel Harrison, along with new RC Makati member, Paolo Turno, celebrated National Children’s Day at the Usbong Katutubo Rotary Cultural Village in Porac, Pampanga last 11 July 2023. This initiative was organized by their daughter club, RC Makati Business District. Upon their arrival, the eager anticipation of the indigenous tribe’s children was evident as they awaited the start of the program. Without much ado, the Rotary Club of Makati team sprang into action, rendering a joyous performance that captivated the hearts of those present. Later, Mr. Harrison took center stage as he presented a generous donation of books to be turned over to the community library. This contribution was aimed at promoting education and literacy among the children in the village, with the overall objective of enriching their lives and fostering a love for learning. During the event, RC Makati members, in collaboration with Taba Samson, provided slippers to the children. Treat for kids In a heartwarming display of camaraderie, RC Makati Business District, or RCMBD, under the leadership of RCMBD president Liza Timbol and RCMBD Charter president Mache Ackerman, distributed food packs to the children. This gesture reflected the club’s dedication to not only celebrating the joys of Children’s Day but also ensuring the nourishment of every child in attendance. The highlight of the event was the ribbon-cutting ceremony which marked the official opening of the community library. Housed within a specially modified forty-foot container, the community library symbolizes the growth and progress of the Usbong Katutubo Rotary Cultural Village. The foundation of this village was established in 2019 by the VIPs for IPs Foundation, led by then RC Makati presidents Fred Pascual and Liza Timbol, and after four years, the community is now realizing its dream of a more sustainable and enriching environment. The post National Children’s Day at Rotary Cultural Village appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TAKE A PEEK INTO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ‘WONKA’
Find out how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today in “Wonka,” opening in Philippine cinemas on 8 January 2024 and starring Timothée Chalamet. Based on the extraordinary character at the center of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book and one of the bestselling children’s books of all time, “Wonka” is an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, all told with fabulous heart and humor. This vivid and inventive big-screen spectacle will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka, chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time—proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible. Starring alongside Chalamet are Calah Lane (“The Day Shall Come”), Emmy and Peabody Award winner Keegan-Michael Key (“The Prom,” “Schmigadoon”), Paterson Joseph (“Vigil,” “Noughts + Crosses”), Matt Lucas (“Paddington,” “Little Britain”), Mathew Baynton (“The Wrong Mans,” “Ghosts”), Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (“The Shape of Water,” the “Paddington” films, “Spencer”), Rowan Atkinson (the “Johnny English” and “Mr. Bean” films, “Love Actually”), Jim Carter (“Downton Abbey”), with Oscar winner Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”). The film, directed by Paul King, is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company. The post TAKE A PEEK INTO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ‘WONKA’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Holistic approach to Childhood Education
Beyond providing holistic and quality early childhood education to underserved communities around the Philippines, being able to provide our donors with a worthwhile platform to help out the greater community and invest in the future generation will always be at the forefront of what we consider to be the significant gains of MovEd or the Mold Optimism and Values through Education Foundation. [caption id="attachment_150794" align="aligncenter" width="525"] MOVED founder Alex Eduque.[/caption] And these goals, we will always strive for in the years to come. Over the last 10 years, MovEd definitely has had its highs and lows. But at our very core is being able to fulfill our mission of providing holistic and quality early childhood education and support programs to children of underserved communities and their families. We are constantly on the lookout to improve in order to make greater strides to perpetuate our mission, in as much as we want to continuously evolve in order to stay relevant with the world today and be sensitive to the communities we serve. Our priority, of course, has been, is and will always be to constantly and consistently grow — in knowledge, in operations and, of course, in expansion and volume without the quality of our programs suffering. We are hoping to serve more communities (and in effect, more children) in the years to come. Because we are a non-profit organization, funding is always challenging. We are consistently looking to expand our donor database and to make sure to reach a safe, sweet spot in terms of funding to achieve sustainability. The pandemic most definitely did not help in this regard, but just being able to survive and stay afloat during a most difficult time is already an achievement in our books. As to the future of volunteerism and the social advocacy sector to which we belong, I think that as a whole, civil society will make an effort to consistently and continuously evolve with the world today — to shift to address the needs of the greater community and worldly issues. After the pandemic, it has become more evident to me that the only constant in this world truly is change. Resilience is essential, but flexibility is key. ***** Alexandra Eduque made her foray into volunteerism and the NGO world with Habitat for Humanity in 2005. Since then, she has expanded her foray into the social advocacy world by starting her own non-profit organization. She is chairperson of the board of MovEd, founded in 2012, which advocates for Mold Optimism and Values through Education. Alex authored a book in the Bikolnon Biography Series, Chito Madrigal, as a tribute to her mentor, society’s grand dame and philanthropist, Consuelo Madrigal. [caption id="attachment_150793" align="aligncenter" width="960"] ALEX Eduque made her foray into volunteerism and the NGO world with Habitat for Humanity in 2005.[/caption] The post Holistic approach to Childhood Education appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Security Bank Foundation honors 29 scholar graduates of 2020-2022
So young, yet so many responsibilities. This is a typical story of many young Filipinos who pursue continuing education because they are the future breadwinners of their families, like Security Bank Foundation Inc. scholar Mellan Benitez. Benitez is the eldest among her siblings and had to care for the family since her father had already passed and her mother is unemployed. "Life, prior to being a scholar, was difficult. Since I live in Cavite and have to travel to school every day, it was really hard to sustain my studies. There are times when I have to ask for financial assistance from my relatives. When I became a Security Bank Foundation scholar, I was able to finance my transportation, books, and other schooling expenses and this motivated me to persevere even in the most academically challenging times," Benitez said. Benitez was one of 29 graduates (collegiate and masteral) of SBFI’s scholarship programs who were recently honored at a commencement ceremony in Security Bank Centre, Makati City. In 2022, Mellan graduated magna cum laude and was immediately hired at the bank as an audit examiner. The SBFI graduates are young Filipinos from various backgrounds. Some are children of Security Bank employees and agency personnel, others came from eight partner universities and the rest are Security Bank employees. Twenty-five scholars obtained Bachelor’s degrees, while four Master’s degree holders are current Security Bank employees. Twelve of the graduates (or 41 percent) received Latin honors — four magna cum laude and eight cum laude. “Security Bank Foundation is always proud of the success of our scholars. They have finished the course of their dream and we pray that their recent success will motivate them to build a better future for themselves, their families, the company they will work for and for our country,” said Rafael F. Simpao Jr., SBFI chairman. As recognition for their achievements, graduates received certificates, plaques and monetary rewards. At the ceremony, Security Bank’s SVP and Human Capital Management head Nerissa Berba shared tips with the scholars on finding an organization with a work environment that enables them to achieve success. She advised the scholars to align with a company that is purposeful, flexible, has an enabling environment, gives rewards and recognition, cares and listens. Since 1993, SBFI has supported the education of more than 1,200 scholars, with over 170 having graduated from college. Thirty-three of these scholars graduated with Latin honors and 10 now have a career with Security Bank. Visit www.securitybank.com/foundation. The post Security Bank Foundation honors 29 scholar graduates of 2020-2022 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
In life we get what we give
Six months ago, I ran a workshop for 50 women managers of a local government unit in Southern Luzon. In this time of disruption, the four mayors of the region decided to invite so that these female managers would be able to cope with the massive changes brought about by the pandemic not only in their jobs but also in work and family life. I studied the profiles of the women and decided to focus my topic on how to survive today’s disruption with the right mindset. As our lives have profoundly changed with the impact of the pandemic and massive changes in our societal norms, I needed to empower these women to focus on the most essential aspects of change. The workshop I conducted was life-changing for the women as we tackled their problems and issues. I listened to their stories intently as I observed their body language and eye movements. One of the narratives that impressed me was that of an HR manager who had to deal with the employees with problems ranging from economic, hard-headed children and husbands who were philanderers. I marveled at how she was able to advise these women to change their defeatist attitude into that of a fearless, winning person. I therefore worked individually with the women with serious problems of isolation, anger management, depression and lack of drive. On the second day, I gave them guidelines on how to navigate their daily lives. The importance of a grateful heart. When we are grateful, abundance follows. [caption id="attachment_145480" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UNSPLASH/tyler nix | START each day with a grateful heart.[/caption] Giving back to create a better, safer and happier world for us all. [caption id="attachment_145481" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UNSPLASH/ROSIE SUN | GIVE back to people.[/caption] To find value in family and valued relationships. Allow oneself to discover life’s purpose. The power of thinking and living positive values in the family, in the workplace and in their respective communities. Create a network of like-minded people who are able to work together to uplift, engage, mentor, share in each other’s joys, triumphs, problems with love, compassion, care, concern and advice. The workshop proved to be a huge success as the women returned to their workplace and families with positive mindsets, fearless and confident attitudes, and most importantly the CAN-DO belief that nothing was impossible to achieve for as long as they had faith in themselves and their Creator. When we manage CHANGE in our lives with focus to our advantage, we win the game of life. The author is one of 100 Most Influential Global Filipinas for her books and advocacy work. She was recognized as one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS). As a social historian she has written 44 coffee table books in the last 24 years found in select libraries around the world. The post In life we get what we give appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
To the children and mothers of our generation
Times are quickly changing. The children of this generation get added support in pursuing their dreams with the help of advanced technology. Despite this, it makes sense to seek guidance and other information. Who else can help when we are still young and inexperienced? Kids still need love and support of their mothers. Even with all the books and gadgets, nothing can replace the wisdom of a mother. Their love and warmth go beyond webpages and apps. Truly, a mother’s love transcends all time periods and technology, regardless of generation. No matter how timeless a mother’s love may be, how can she actually play the role of one in this day and age where children are becoming more independent and self-reliant? How can a mother adjust to speedy changes that happen as this generation moves forward? [caption id="attachment_131497" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOgraph courtesy of unsplash/jordan whittKids need the love and support of their mothers.[/caption] Yes, it is natural that a mother must guide her children to the right path for their future, but it is crucial that a mother supports the choices her children make especially if these may lead them to better versions of themselves. She needs to be understanding and patient in being truly involved with her children, all while still giving them the independence to discover things for themselves. Being a mother nowadays may be different from being one back then, but at the end of the day, it is still a chance to become the best one still. Providing unconditional love, a safe space, a support system and loving arms to return may not entirely gone from motherhood at this time of advance technology and social media. Being able to empathize and understand your children’s diverse needs is part of being a mother. This one is for the children and mothers of today traversing life at these trying times. The post To the children and mothers of our generation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russian strike kills nine, including toddler, in eastern Ukraine
Russia shelled a block of flats in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, killing nine people, authorities said Saturday, including a two-year-old boy who was rescued from the rubble but died on his way to hospital. Friday's strike on the quiet neighborhood came as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that will make it easier to mobilize citizens into the army and block them from fleeing the country if drafted. Russia also said it was pushing further into the hotspot of Bakhmut, 45 kilometers (27 miles) southeast of Sloviansk, which is one of the cities that will be at risk if Kyiv loses the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. Sloviansk lies in a part of the Donetsk region that is under Ukrainian control. According to Kyiv, it was struck by seven missiles which hit five buildings, five homes, a school and an administrative building. Vadim Lyakh, the head of Sloviansk's military administration, said Saturday that nine people died -- including a woman whose body was recovered from the rubble overnight -- and 21 were wounded. Five people were still under the rubble and their identities were established, he said. AFP journalists saw rescue workers digging for survivors on the top floor of the typical Soviet-era housing block, and black smoke billowing from homes on fire across the street. "A child died in an ambulance after being pulled out from the rubble," Ukrainian police said on Twitter. Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska sent her condolences to the child's family during this "indescribable grief". President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier denounced Russia for "brutally shelling" residential buildings and "killing people in broad daylight". The street below -- including a playground -- was covered in concrete dust and debris, including torn pages from school books and children's drawings. Shocked residents "I live on the opposite side of the street and I was sleeping a little when I heard this huge boom and I ran out from my flat," 59-year-old resident Larisa told AFP. "I was really scared and in a state of shock," she said, adding that the impact of the shelling had broken her windows and sent shards of glass flying throughout her home. "I heard a woman screaming, 'there's a child here, there's a child here' -- She was screaming so much." A resident nearby, who declined to give her name, told AFP the strikes had blown out her windows and dislodged her front door from its frame. "No one from our side of the building was injured but maybe someone here was," she said, pointing to a pool of blood next to another entrance of her building. Fresh mobilization drive More than a year after Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine, fears are high in Russia that the government is planning a fresh mobilization drive after a bill was rushed through parliament this week to create a digital draft system. Under the legislation, which Putin signed Friday, a draftee would be banned from travelling abroad and would have to report to an enlistment office once electronic call-up papers were received. Tens of thousands of men fled Russia last autumn after Putin announced a mobilization to prop up the forces in Ukraine. The strike on Sloviansk, which many residents have fled since Russia invaded, came as Moscow said it was pushing to take more districts of ravaged Bakhmut. The town has become a fixation of military commanders despite having little strategic value, leading to a brutal nine-month war of attrition. "Wagner assault units are conducting high-intensity combat operations to conquer the western districts of the city," the Russian army said in a statement, referring to the private paramilitary group. Russian airborne troops were "providing support to assault squads and halting the enemy's attempts to deliver ammunition to the city and bring in reserves", it added. Separately, an intelligence source said any pullout from Bakhmut would be slow and gradual because there was only a narrow escape path left. The post Russian strike kills nine, including toddler, in eastern Ukraine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russian strike kills eight, including toddler, in eastern Ukraine
Russia shelled a block of flats in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk on Friday, killing eight people, including a toddler who was pulled out of the rubble but died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital, authorities said. The strike on the quiet neighborhood came as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that will make it easier to mobilize citizens into the army and block them from fleeing the country if drafted. Russia also said it was pushing further into the hotspot of Bakhmut, 45 kilometers (27 miles) southeast of Sloviansk, which is one of the cities that will be at risk if Kyiv loses the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. Sloviansk lies in a part of the Donetsk region that is under Ukrainian control. "21 people were wounded and eight people died," Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of the Donetsk region, said on Ukrainian television after the strike devastated an apartment building. He said the child who died was a boy. AFP journalists saw rescue workers digging for survivors on the top floor of the typical Soviet-era housing bloc, and black smoke billowing from homes on fire across the street. "A child died in an ambulance after being pulled out from the rubble," Ukrainian police said on Twitter. Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska sent her condolences to the child's family during this "indescribable grief". President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier denounced Russia for "brutally shelling" residential buildings and "killing people in broad daylight". The street below -- including a playground -- was covered in concrete dust and debris, including torn pages from school books and children's drawings. Shocked residents "I live on the opposite side of the street and I was sleeping a little when I heard this huge boom and I ran out from my flat," 59-year-old resident Larisa told AFP. "I was really scared and in a state of shock," she said, adding that the impact of the shelling had broken her windows and sent shards of glass flying throughout her home. "I heard a woman screaming, 'there's a child here, there's a child here' -- She was screaming so much." A resident nearby, who declined to give her name, told AFP that the strikes had blown out her windows and dislodged her front door from its frame. "No one from our side of the building was injured but maybe someone here was," she added, pointing to a pool of blood next to another entrance of her building. Russia pushes to take Bakhmut More than a year after Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine, fears are high in Russia that the government is planning a fresh mobilization drive after a bill was rushed through parliament this week to create a digital draft system. Under the legislation, which Putin signed Friday, a draftee would be banned from traveling abroad and would have to report to an enlistment office once electronic call-up papers are received. Tens of thousands of men fled Russia last autumn after Putin announced a mobilization to prop up the forces in Ukraine. The strike on Sloviansk, which many residents have fled since Russia invaded, came as Moscow said it was pushing to take more districts of ravaged Bakhmut. Despite having little strategic value, the town has become a fixation of military commanders, leading to a brutal nine-month war of attrition. "Wagner assault units are conducting high-intensity combat operations to conquer the western districts of the city," the Russian army said in a statement, referring to the private paramilitary group. Russian airborne troops were "providing support to assault squads and halting the enemy's attempts to deliver ammunition to the city and bring in reserves", it added. On Thursday, Moscow claimed to have cut off Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut. Kyiv denied the claim, saying it had access to its troops and was able to send in munitions. Ukraine has vowed to continue defending Bakhmut. But on the ground, Ukrainian sources near Bakhmut told AFP on Friday that Kyiv's forces were in a "difficult" position. "I know that many of our soldiers are missing, that positions were lost and it was impossible to evacuate or withdraw the troops," an army source said while adding that Ukraine was still "bringing in fresh people" into Bakhmut. Separately, an intelligence source said any pullout from Bakhmut would be slow and gradual, as there was only a narrow escape path left. The post Russian strike kills eight, including toddler, in eastern Ukraine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How money works for children
When it comes to personal finance, one of the best books that our children ought to read is a book entitled “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” written by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. .....»»