MISSING LINK

MISSING LINK

By Wilhelmina S. Orozco

The message of PNoy to the people is exemplary in terms of mentioning the gains of his administration during the past two years that he has been in office grounded on facts. It should be the model for all speeches of his cabinet members so that they would not be sugarcoating their accomplishments only to be able to stay in power.

But he missed out on two very important things: the energy sector; and two culture. Why are these highly important? I shall focus on the first in this article and do the 2^nd another time. Energy is the basic component of progress. Without energy, we would remain in the dark ages. It is the energy resources that propelled the industrial revolution in Europe. It is energy which spurs people to invent, to create and to think of ways to earn from their work, from what they invent. It is energy that lightens up the burden of work.

Today, the topmost electric energy distributor is the number one top corporation in the Philippines. It has earned so much that it is now even asking for more profits for itself. But as it moves in this manner, we should start asking the question: is this what an energy company should be?

An energy company should help the people work well, earn well, and make a profit for a better life with rest and recreation at the most. But right now, we are working our butt off, so to speak, in order to give huge profits to the company.

In our house peopled by low-budget renters, we are spending 50% of what they give to the water and electric utility companies. We cannot raise the rentals because the people are small-earners and one even lost her capital and profit for the night selling food to working people at a garments factory, to a robbery-holdupper. Still one, who had already gone from our premises, lost his bike right inside our house one night after a drinking binge.

In Idaho, USA, energy consumption may be huge because of the industries there, but then the energy company even exempts certain sectors of society from paying taxes on their electric bills, like the education and health sectors. And non-profit organizations likewise are exempted.

Unfortuantely, here in our country, the prices of electric consumption just keeps going higher and higher. This despite the fact that we have the Malampaya Natural Gas Resource.

I still remember way back in the 60’s when my parents used to light up our house even up to the porch in order to drive away potential night burglars. Sometimes even my sisters and brothers would stay up late weekly just chatting and carousing with their friends, and leave the lights on without minding  if the electric bills would rise because of those. Then my younger brother Antonio, would always have his rock band group hold rehearsal sessions at home, using electricity for their electric guitars.

Now all of these are just a dream and past. We can no longer recover those good old days when to have well-lighted homes were the normal course of the night.

Today, even our streets do not have all the lamps shining brightly. In fact, somebody had thought of using those yellow lights which make it difficult walking under them at night, and most of all, impossible to see the faces or even the movements of other people in the streets should there be any one thinking of any untoward incident.

The habit of caring for electric consumption, of keeping it low has become the norm, rather than the habit of lighting up to make it easy for our eyes not to blur too easily as we age.

What kinds of charges does the electric company make, thus catapulting itself to the topmost of one thousand corporations? Plenty, and dubious charges. Our media people are speaking through hoarse voices already about how our people are being cheated of their hard-earned money by the company; yet, the department of energy has not even lifted a finger to stop this legalized hold-up through extra charges, which by all accounts should be under the company’s burden in its operations.

No, PNoy cannot remain deaf to the clamor of the people for lower electric charges. He must respond to this problem because he is profiting from the people’s belief in him as a leader. He must learn to cut off ties – ties of utang na loob to a family that has more than profited from its relationship with his own since 1986.

People power gains

Didn’t I help this electric company gain back its ownership way back in 1986 at the height of the snap elections?

I was with a small group of freedom-loving people then who were fed up with the Marcos dictatorship. I had just been relieved of my duties with CBS News, covering the elections for its radio section where I was told to listen to news all the time with earphones and then jot down the details and submit them to my editor at that time. One time, I raised my my fingers in Laban sign  with my forefingers up and my thumbs extended when Marcos’ helicopters would fly past the hotel. My editor would tell me, “Don’t do that. You are supposed to be objective,” and I answered him, “I am a Filipino first, and a media person, second.” He would smile sheepishly at my reply because he knew that there was no such thing as objectivity under a dictatorship.

For ten days I worked with CBS, and was so dedicated that I even went to the extent of sleeping in a small corner of the Manila Hotel penthouse late in the night just to listen and transcribe what was being said aurally through the earphones. One technical guy, probably pitying me, said “Aren’t you going berserk from doing that?” probably thinking that I didn’t even have time to go out and spend a break with them. But my mind was focused on dismantling the dictatorship and if I could earn while watching the political events pass by, use the money for more propaganda to dislodge it from power, then, I would skip all personal desires for ease just to achieve that. However, on hindsight, I wish I had chatted with them and made friends with them for all time.

Oh, by the way, I spent the dollars I earned printing Feminista, a tabloid of 1,000 copies after Cory had won. Unfortunately, the printer, maka-Marcos, cut the paper in such a way as to have no room for one-inch but rather about 3 cm margins only. I could not complain anymore because the following day, there would be a rally and I intended to sell the paper there.

After February 7, the day of the elections, the CBS bosses had thought that after voting, the “normal” course would follow because Marcos had won. They were to be proven unable to read the people’s minds all the way by history though.

The people power rallies snowballed into a bigger movement with Cory leading them at Luneta and at Ugarte field. I joined this small group of rallyists in front of Channel 4 right after my stint with CBS and asked the organizers if I could speak. Then I said, “this Channel 4 is actually owned by this family and that it was just expropriated by Marcos in order to have a medium for propaganda. It should be returned to their rightful owners.” The people listening to me were amazed because my speech was not the usual propaganda of anti-dictatorship using abstract “Ibagsak” but one that was based on history.

My own former teacher in one school was even the consultant there, helping dish out the propaganda materials of the Marcos administration under the guise of being philosophically-based on “publicist powers of the State.”

When Cory was installed as President, the first thing she did was to give back the TV and radio stations to its original owners. This station has earned zo much that it can even sell its programs internationally thus earning dollars in return. I=

After working under Channel 4, the government station, producing Halina Kabaro which won the Best Women’s Program and which the bosses of that station had axed to give way to another similar program hosted by a more politically-influential female politician, who rode on the women’s movement, I tried working with Channel 2 very briefly, doing a segment on the Family Code for Cheche Lim’s public affairs program then.

When she left the station, I had tried staying on but could not fit in into their scheme of things. I was too independent and critical of goings-on. Who would like to earn a program just because the general manager had caressed your hand as you were proposing the women’s program you used to host in another channel to him? (Back to print media I did after that adventurous test of the broadcast waters.)

Coup d’tat

By the way, in 1989, during the coup d’etat against Cory by Honasan and company, I was there inside the station, when everyone had gone, thinking it highly important to finish my script for the segment and possibly stop the rebelling soldiers coming in and help protect the equipment, whatever manner I could. A manager looked at me with wonder why I was still there. But I was apprehensive then that the camera equipment which were so light to carry, would be easily brought out. Eventually, I had to leave, one of the last, climbing up the fence to go out of the yard. Now did I search for any reward or award for that bravery? No. and Recognition was nada, nada, nada.  Ha ha ha. Donya Quixote looking for reward? Impossible.

Feminist women and men

So many women in media are profiting from the new feminist movement that we started in the 80’s in response to the dictatorship. They are well-entrenched and know the ropes in order to stay on top. That is very good, but they should also think of lifting up other women to also express their talents and practice their skills. Sisterhood, after gaining equality, should be practiced, not beating others, including other women, for pomp and glory of sitting on top.

One thing we emphasized then, was that the word ‘feminist” is not only used to describe women but also men. Men should also believe in equality and thus they earn the title of being “feminist men.”

This is why I supported PNoy during his elections because he exemplified the character of a leader who does not look down upon women but even treats them as his equal. He has brought women into his cabinet, like Lilia de Lima of the justice department, Kim Henares of the internal revenue bureau, Tati Licuanan of the Commission for Higher Education, Rosalinda Baldoz for the department of labour, Dinky Soliman for social welfare and development, and Ging Quintos for the peace commission, among others. Of course, he has to continue what his mother had started, supported by his sisters who are of strong character to be leaders in their own right, “behind” him.

Being a Leader

Hence, the least that PNoy could do is cut off ties to those to whom he thinks he owes his having been elected. He should be a leader for the people, and not feel beholdened to anyone anymore. Contributions to this election should be contributions for the people of the Philippines, not for him to owe the donors anything at all after he had won.

This is also what those donors should always think. There is no room for “utang na loob,” to anyone who wishes a regime-change. We need to profit from that by doing the best of ourselves to follow the democratic path and honor and respect the rights of everyone to exist on earth following the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the Philippine Constitution (except for that section on the “unborn” of course).

Maybe this is what we, and the Comelec, should emphasize  in the coming 2013 political exercise again. Participating in the elections as candidate or donors should bring in with it ethical, not profit-making considerations. All candidates should also not feel indebted at all to those who help them win.

As a procedure to insure this, the Comelec should be informed before giving the financial contributions how much a candidate shall receive, who is the donor, and when the transaction is to be made. A listing of the facts of the donation should be made prior to and not after the elections.  As a third party to the transaction, the Comelec is making it known that political donations are made for the right individuals, parties, to be victorious at the polls for the PEOPLE’S SAKE. In other words, donating is a public not a private act. Political donations are like taxes that one gives to the government for good governance. 

The law to make some parties eligible for government support during the elections is also one way of stopping the tendency for candidates to seek help from suspicious sources just to be able to win the post.

Thus, to my mind, PNoy should start scouring the political landscape and see who has , and have been profiting from that People Power Movement without conscience. Ethical profiting is this possible? Of course it is once we put our mind into it.

Let us allow and support him in his “matuwid na daan” which should include targeting those private companies and individuals whose businesses have been so lucrative to the detriment of the people’s quest for a prosperous life.

   

PUBLIC TOILETS HOW ADEQUATE?

PUBLIC TOILETS, HOW ADEQUATE?

How much gains have women had in this society? How do we measure the gains? What have been the reactions of women to the movement for equality?

When we started the equality movement again way back in the 80’s during the martial law regime, many raised their eyebrows, women included because they had thought that it was only a copycat of the movements in the west. But by giving it a thirdworld perspective, the conscious women readily joined the bandwagon, including nuns.

The thing that made the movement highly embraceable, it that is an acceptable term, is that it encompassed not only the reading women at that time but also all other ages, from the girls to the elderlies. I remember very well Mamita Pardo de Tavera chairing many of the meetings in a very cool way, she with a Spanish background. I am sure the movement came as an enhancing aspect in the other activities then that included toppling the dictatorship.

Before, the term feminist was a curse word, but later on, it caught on as a legitimate term that should be respected even by men. The word feminist is meant for men as they must believe in equality, too. Today, that term sounds very ordinary. “Feminista yan,” meaning someone who is active and who will defend women at all costs,” which is still quite narrow, I must say. Not all women could be defended in a strong manner, especially those who reach the highest rungs of political power and do not do anything for the women’s and masses’ cause.

I am now venturing into getting a proper assessment of our gains because I find it rather constricting in some sections of our society, especially the way the comfort rooms in public places have been constructed. You see, Folks, as a writer, I go out all the time and have to use these CRs here and there. And here are my findings:

1. Unisex?: Some CR’s are unisex which is hardly sanitary, like those in Starbucks and other restaurants. Because the men’s bowls are situated beside that of the oval one, we can hardly be sure if all the guys shoot their thing in the hole without splashing any drop around. And because there is only one toilet bowl, then it is possible that some men could use that automatically without regard if it, with the wooden seat in place,  is for women’s use alone or not.

Hence, I would like to campaign that women’s toilets should be separate from men’s by a wall.

2. Hooks: Many CR’s do not have a hook for hanging bags. When women travel, we always carry an extra bag of sorts, for buying foodstuffs and the like for use at home. Now we have to devise ways of using the toilet by hanging our bags by the door, or placing them on  top of the cover of the water closet so as to be able to sit properly and do our thing.

3. Mothers and children; I pity the mothers who carry their children in tow and have to help them relieve themselves while having to think and be creative in putting down their things. In one mall, at least, I have seen a folding wooden panel for placing babies who need diaper change.

4. In Manila, especially along Ermita, the toilets are terrible, except for those three or four-star restaurants. Hardly do the owners care for their toilets. Some do not even have a proper lock. Flushing is “buhos” system. And I am wondering what the health and sanitation department of City hall is doing about that.

5. Bugged women’s toilets: At UP Arcade, you will see a toilet for women, with cubicles. Overhead, you will see the lamp connections with wires branching out. I have been told by an ex-intelligence officer that if you see that kind of contraption, you will find that as a signal that the place is bugged. Is it true? I have been wondering because in many toilets at UP they all have these branching wires of the lights in the ceiling.

If what he said is true, I dread the use of “intellectual freedom” at UP.

I think that the UP officials, especially the office working on sexual harassment issues, should investigate the matter and re-wire all those lights in the women’s toilets.

Now, I will try to investigate also other places that have similar set-ups and report them here at this site.

6. Children’s toilets:The first time I went to a children’s school for music run by Prof. Carmencita Arambulo, I noticed that the toilet bowls for the children were all small and only a few inches from the floor. They were geared truly for the size of the students. I think the construction of the those toilets showed really a great concern for the welfare of the children.

Hence, I believe that children should also have their own toilet seats which they can climb on to easily.

7. Number of toilets: I notice that the number of toilets per establishment is rather disproportional to the number of guests they have. For example, one restaurant in Makati I had gone to, had only one toilet for women and men, but the number of guests they could accommodate in the place could run up to 100.

Now how would the guests manage should they find themselves all wanting to go inside them?

      7. Sidewalk toilets: Now, the MMDA put up those sidewalk toilets for men right there in those pedestrian sidewalks where people pass and near streets where jeepneys ply their routes. Where in heaven’s name did they ever get that idea? You could see here that B. Fernando, the czar of that agency then, had a very narrow view of people’s needs.

When people pass those toilets, they cover their noses right away because of the stench.

They jump over the urine that scatters around; or totally avoid going through or being near it at all. Meanwhile the jeepneys cannot avoid them because they right there beside the roads.

You can see here, Folks, that those who designed and put up those toilets did not research on their effects on the people and the environment. In London, public toilets are located underground and there is always someone who checks them every time someone uses them. That is how conscious they are about their usage.

I think that all local government units – especially the health and sanitation sections, the mayor’s office down to the barangay level should put up standards, then visit and check all public establishments that have toilets, and examine them if they meet the standards. It is high time that our society be meticulous in their treatment of the people even where it concerns their private activities in public. Public places should be closed right away when their toilets do not follow or meet the standards until such time that the owners are able to do so.

Health concerns should be comprehensive not only in alerting the public about epidemics but also in poking into the small corners where lurk bacteria and viruses that could bring in diseases. 

A healthy mind in a healthy body and a sanitary place is a policy worthwhile keeping.

SOLVING THE MASS TRANSPORT

By Wilhelmina S. Orozco

Folks, have you ever tried traveling from one city to another in MetroManila? Say you want to go from Quezon City or QC to Makati or vice-versa, without passing through EDSA or taking the MRT train, the trip is truly exhausting and leave you with frayed nerves. Within cities, it is quite all right. But from city to city, it really needs, physically, and that is if you don’t have a private vehicle, a strong body, an alert mind and a very patient disposition.

Let’s start from QC. Supposing you don’t want to join the retrace along EDSA, so you take public transport from Quezon Avenue where you can go to Aurora Boulevard (AB) via Araneta Avenue. I start off from there because I live nearby there. 2. From AB you take the jeepney going to Stop and Shop where you can take the ride to Punta Mandaluyong. 3. From the Mandaluyong market, you can take the jeep going to Padre Faura which passes by the Sta. Ana. Church. 4. From that point you take now the tricycle which brings you to PRC (formerly Philippine Refining Company) and which is no longer there but the initials have stuck) which is near JP Rizal. 5. From PRC you take the jeep going through Pasong Tamo. Or from JP Rizal, you take the jeep going to Guadalupe.  6. The jeep goes through Kalayaan and then you get off at that corner where you can take the jeep that will go straight and reach Ayala Avenue central where all the big malls are – Greenbelts 1 to 5-  and Landmark.

Six rides mind you and that could be 20 to 40 minutes per ride depending on the traffic. If the jeepney drivers elect to sweep all the passengers along the way, then it’s your karma if you are late for an appointment or a date. 6 x 8 = P48.

Now, as I sometimes go to Tondo at Smokey Mountain (SM) to do some volunteer work, (1) I travel from Araneta Avenue and take the tricycle going to Balic-Balic Galas market (P20). (2) Then I take the jeep with a Quiapo signboard, and which passes through G. Tuason – I then get off at Lardizabal Street where (3) I take the jeep going to Tayuman. (4) From here I take Pritil jeep and get off near the market where (5) I take the jeep going to Navotas. (6) I get off at a boulevard where all those jeeps coming from Balut, Navotas, Sangandaan pass through. (7) I take the tricycle which brings me to the site exactly – the entrance to the relocation condominium for the settlers of SM. 7 x 8 = 56 pesos. Back and forth that would be P112. For a daily earner that is a lot of money already, about 32% of the take home pay of P350 leaving the individual with P238 for food.

With the expensive cost of living in MetroManila, I am still wondering why our kababayan insist on residing here when in the provinces they can still have breezy surroundings and green scenery. I think the pull of visual attractions of the malls and daily doses of TV programs that dish out the lives of the rich and famous movie and TV stars some narcoticizes them to stick around.

It was a breeze for me to travel around London and New York in the 80’s and 90’s respectively. Transportation was cheap  and you can be sure of getting a safe ride. The buses and underground trains are programmed to come on time. The bus drivers do not hurry to reach their destinations because every stop says that the bus passes there every 15 or 30 minutes. I don’t really know what penalties they incur should they come late or earlier, but what I am saying here is that mass transport in these big cities is very much appreciated.

What mass transport do we have? Look at the trains traveling from Tutuban and passing through Blumentritt, Sta. Mesa, all the way to Alabang (which I had taken a few times on my way to meet a friend who lives in Ayala Alabang, would you believe? I am lucky to have one with whom I go swimming at her place.) . They are packed full especially at rush hours. One time, I thought my ribs would crack at the push and pull of crowds.

Then at another time, the train took so long to come, more than an hour and the people waited through it.

Before, when the trains were still dilapidated and green, now they are shiny silver, even the rooftops were filled with men travelers. And when you pass through Pandacan and other urban poor sites, you’d be lucky not to be touched by a bag of “yaki goodies” which the lumpen gangsters throw right smack through the window. I always rode the coaches with steel grills and so was lucky enough to evade them.

Nowadays, these trains are air-conditioned, smell nice, and that is if you travel during the few hours that they carry less passengers than “normal” and that is sardine-packedful.

I wonder now why the coaches remain at their numerical level, unable to give a ride where there are only a few people standing up. By the way, you should see the buses from Makati to Manila. The crowd is too much, people are standing up on the aisles and the aircon is not enough to cool it because of too much breathing out of carbon dioxide of the passengers. The conductors and drivers connive to make hay every 5 to 7 during rush hours, probably one reason is because there are some passengers who no longer bother to get their tickets and so their payments find their way to the pockets of the workers instead of the owners.

Truly, Folks, mass transport is what the government has to look into, more gravely. I don’t believe in giving it to private corporations because surely, the fares would jack up. We can keep the jeepneys because they are what identify us to the world. We are the only that have them, no one else. And so, that is the historical legacy of our historical past, when enterprising people made a vehicle for the living out of a jeepney  that used to go to war and carry the dead.

Efficient and cheap mass transport will propel our development to faster heights. The people will be energized to go to work and earn a living. Artists will welcome all kinds of experiences which they can reflect on their artworks depicting the lives of people – from all strata – and the scenery. Children will rejoice at new experiences in visiting places.

I think that it is the strong workers’ movement in the west which caused the building of vast mass transport systems there that served their needs very much for a healthy livelihood. Well, the movement here is too weak to challenge the government to what is the right direction to curbing the greed of oil companies which raises the prices of oil products and which then cause the increase in fares all the time.

Anyway, if mass transport should ever be mulled over, then one aspect that is necessary is how to connect the various routes together into just two or three trips, Jeep routes must be lengthened, say from Pritil Market to Galas Market should just be one travel. Jeep routes from Andres Bonifacio Drive in Caloocan, through Araneta Avenue and Aurora Boulevard should be another route.

We needed more lengthy routes of jeepneys as we can’t possibly be spending our time going from one place to another in cities especially in those that have lost their allure. To do this, I think we need the participation of everyone, commuters, professionals, artist-landscapists and visualists – teachers, etcetera.

We have many things to do and can do in this world that would be more earthshaking than sitting down sleeping or standing up and being thrown from one side to another as the inside buses that race to reach their daily quota.

Let us make this a serious endeavor while we still have time to think of the future.

A plan for a good mass transport that will calculate how many coaches are needed to carry 500,000 passengers daily on these trains is very much imperative.

PAGCOR LAUNCHES ART CONTEST WITH MORAL QUESTIONS

PAGCOR launched an art contest with the theme "It's more fun in the Philippines." The categories were professional and amateur. Here is the problem: professional was defined as those artists who have held a one-"man" show while the amateurs were those without. The winners displayed at the casino gambling place at Paranaque however revealed that the winners were all professionals. The artworks did not have any amateur. The works exhibited what would be called artworks of those who have been drawing and painting in the advertising world, and/or commercial companies that produce educational materials. 

Here are my comments: One artwork looked like a rehash of the cover of the box of a puzzle that presents the different tourist spots in the Philippines. Two other paintings depicted children -- what is this, a come-on to pedophiles to enjoy fun with kids? Another painting had a face laughing for what purposes?  I cannot gather. Still another painting showed a foreign woman looking at the different spots in the Philippines. 

True, the paintings desired to market the country, but the contents were not well-thought of. Another artwork had three little girls (??? Yak!) in the foreground, wearing clothes that did not look like Philippine, except maybe of the Muslim sarong which could be mistaken for the costume of some other female Asians.  Another painting showed boys climbing some kind of fence. Why climbing? Ask the painters. 

Besides, when we talk of amateur paintings we are immediately presented with ideas that exhibit simplicity, spontaneity, and naivete of some sorts. Yet the artworks showed sure masterful embrace of technique but had the same meanings all throughout, not revealing any in-depth understanding that "fun" in the Philippines is not mere physical enjoyment, but rather an appreciation of our culture, our social customs and mores, as well as political ideas. 

Yet, in this contest, none of these were visible. Instead we were presented with an array of paintings that depicted what could appear as colorful posters on the Philippines. 

When I presented my painting, I asked the organizer, Ms. Monfort if I could submit a photoshopped copy of my painting and later on she said, upon conference with one of the judges, that it should not be the case. Yet looking at most of the paintings, some sure looked "photoshopped." You see folks, Adobe Photoshop is a software that allows you to transfer a photo of your painting on to the computer so you can easily clean it up, copy some other images elsewhere and then paste it there. Afterwards, the product can be printed on canvas through another machine. 

So how sure are we that all the works that won did not undergo Adobe "photoshopping?" One artwork had an image of Amorsolo's farm with a superimposed image of the jeepney to make it current. The extreme likeness of the farm with the original Amorsolo cannot be denied. 

What is the purpose of a painting contest but to showcase the talents, not only the skills, but the depth of awareness of the artists with regard to the issues besetting or encompassing tourism in the country. It is not a matter of selling the country but promoting our historical roots, traditions and people with dignity. Do we expect some moral changes in a gaming agency?

I shall upload a copy of my painting next time. 

PAGCOR launched an art contest with the theme "It's more fun in the Philippines." The categories were professional and amateur. Here is the problem: professional was defined as those artists who have held a one-"man" show while the amateurs were those without. The winners displayed at the casino gambling place at Paranaque however revealed that the winners were all professionals. The artworks did not have any amateur. The works exhibited what would be called artworks of those who have been drawing and painting in the advertising world, and/or commercial companies that produce educational materials. 

Here are my comments: One artwork looked like a rehash of the cover of the box of a puzzle that presents the different tourist spots in the Philippines. Two other paintings depicted children -- what is this, a come-on to pedophiles to enjoy fun with kids? Another painting had a face laughing for what purposes?  I cannot gather. Still another painting showed a foreign woman looking at the different spots in the Philippines. 

True, the paintings desired to market the country, but the contents were not well-thought of. Another artwork had three little girls (??? Yak!) in the foreground, wearing clothes that did not look like Philippine, except maybe of the Muslim sarong which could be mistaken for the costume of some other female Asians.  Another painting showed boys climbing some kind of fence. Why climbing? Ask the painters. 

Besides, when we talk of amateur paintings we are immediately presented with ideas that exhibit simplicity, spontaneity, and naivete of some sorts. Yet the artworks showed sure masterful embrace of technique but had the same meanings all throughout, not revealing any in-depth understanding that "fun" in the Philippines is not mere physical enjoyment, but rather an appreciation of our culture, our social customs and mores, as well as political ideas. 

Yet, in this contest, none of these were visible. Instead we were presented with an array of paintings that depicted what could appear as colorful posters on the Philippines. 

When I presented my painting, I asked the organizer, Ms. Monfort if I could submit a photoshopped copy of my painting and later on she said, upon conference with one of the judges, that it should not be the case. Yet looking at most of the paintings, some sure looked "photoshopped." You see folks, Adobe Photoshop is a software that allows you to transfer a photo of your painting on to the computer so you can easily clean it up, copy some other images elsewhere and then paste it there. Afterwards, the product can be printed on canvas through another machine. 

So how sure are we that all the works that won did not undergo Adobe "photoshopping?" One artwork had an image of Amorsolo's farm with a superimposed image of the jeepney to make it current. The extreme likeness of the farm with the original Amorsolo cannot be denied. 

What is the purpose of a painting contest but to showcase the talents, not only the skills, but the depth of awareness of the artists with regard to the issues besetting or encompassing tourism in the country. It is not a matter of selling the country but promoting our historical roots, traditions and people with dignity. Do we expect some moral changes in a gaming agency?

I shall upload a copy of my painting next time. 

PAGCOR LAUNCHES ART CONTEST WITH MORAL QUESTIONS

PAGCOR launched an art contest with the theme "It's more fun in the Philippines." The categories were professional and amateur. Here is the problem: professional was defined as those artists who have held a one-"man" show while the amateurs were those without. The winners displayed at the casino gambling place at Paranaque however revealed that the winners were all professionals. The artworks did not have any amateur. The works exhibited what would be called artworks of those who have been drawing and painting in the advertising world, and/or commercial companies that produce educational materials. 

Here are my comments: One artwork looked like a rehash of the cover of the box of a puzzle that presents the different tourist spots in the Philippines. Two other paintings depicted children -- what is this, a come-on to pedophiles to enjoy fun with kids? Another painting had a face laughing for what purposes?  I cannot gather. Still another painting showed a foreign woman looking at the different spots in the Philippines. 

True, the paintings desired to market the country, but the contents were not well-thought of. Another artwork had three little girls (??? Yak!) in the foreground, wearing clothes that did not look like Philippine, except maybe of the Muslim sarong which could be mistaken for the costume of some other female Asians.  Another painting showed boys climbing some kind of fence. Why climbing? Ask the painters. 

Besides, when we talk of amateur paintings we are immediately presented with ideas that exhibit simplicity, spontaneity, and naivete of some sorts. Yet the artworks showed sure masterful embrace of technique but had the same meanings all throughout, not revealing any in-depth understanding that "fun" in the Philippines is not mere physical enjoyment, but rather an appreciation of our culture, our social customs and mores, as well as political ideas. 

Yet, in this contest, none of these were visible. Instead we were presented with an array of paintings that depicted what could appear as colorful posters on the Philippines. 

When I presented my painting, I asked the organizer, Ms. Monfort if I could submit a photoshopped copy of my painting and later on she said, upon conference with one of the judges, that it should not be the case. Yet looking at most of the paintings, some sure looked "photoshopped." You see folks, Adobe Photoshop is a software that allows you to transfer a photo of your painting on to the computer so you can easily clean it up, copy some other images elsewhere and then paste it there. Afterwards, the product can be printed on canvas through another machine. 

So how sure are we that all the works that won did not undergo Adobe "photoshopping?" One artwork had an image of Amorsolo's farm with a superimposed image of the jeepney to make it current. The extreme likeness of the farm with the original Amorsolo cannot be denied. 

What is the purpose of a painting contest but to showcase the talents, not only the skills, but the depth of awareness of the artists with regard to the issues besetting or encompassing tourism in the country. It is not a matter of selling the country but promoting our historical roots, traditions and people with dignity. Do we expect some moral changes in a gaming agency?

I shall upload a copy of my painting next time. 

PAGCOR LAUNCHES ART CONTEST WITH MORAL QUESTIONS

PAGCOR launched an art contest with the theme "It's more fun in the Philippines." The categories were professional and amateur. Here is the problem: professional was defined as those artists who have held a one-"man" show while the amateurs were those without. The winners displayed at the casino gambling place at Paranaque however revealed that the winners were all professionals. The artworks did not have any amateur. The works exhibited what would be called artworks of those who have been drawing and painting in the advertising world, and/or commercial companies that produce educational materials. 

Here are my comments: One artwork looked like a rehash of the cover of the box of a puzzle that presents the different tourist spots in the Philippines. Two other paintings depicted children -- what is this, a come-on to pedophiles to enjoy fun with kids? Another painting had a face laughing for what purposes?  I cannot gather. Still another painting showed a foreign woman looking at the different spots in the Philippines. 

True, the paintings desired to market the country, but the contents were not well-thought of. Another artwork had three little girls (??? Yak!) in the foreground, wearing clothes that did not look like Philippine, except maybe of the Muslim sarong which could be mistaken for the costume of some other female Asians.  Another painting showed boys climbing some kind of fence. Why climbing? Ask the painters. 

Besides, when we talk of amateur paintings we are immediately presented with ideas that exhibit simplicity, spontaneity, and naivete of some sorts. Yet the artworks showed sure masterful embrace of technique but had the same meanings all throughout, not revealing any in-depth understanding that "fun" in the Philippines is not mere physical enjoyment, but rather an appreciation of our culture, our social customs and mores, as well as political ideas. 

Yet, in this contest, none of these were visible. Instead we were presented with an array of paintings that depicted what could appear as colorful posters on the Philippines. 

When I presented my painting, I asked the organizer, Ms. Monfort if I could submit a photoshopped copy of my painting and later on she said, upon conference with one of the judges, that it should not be the case. Yet looking at most of the paintings, some sure looked "photoshopped." You see folks, Adobe Photoshop is a software that allows you to transfer a photo of your painting on to the computer so you can easily clean it up, copy some other images elsewhere and then paste it there. Afterwards, the product can be printed on canvas through another machine. 

So how sure are we that all the works that won did not undergo Adobe "photoshopping?" One artwork had an image of Amorsolo's farm with a superimposed image of the jeepney to make it current. The extreme likeness of the farm with the original Amorsolo cannot be denied. 

What is the purpose of a painting contest but to showcase the talents, not only the skills, but the depth of awareness of the artists with regard to the issues besetting or encompassing tourism in the country. It is not a matter of selling the country but promoting our historical roots, traditions and people with dignity. Do we expect some moral changes in a gaming agency?

I shall upload a copy of my painting next time. 

PAGCOR LAUNCHES ART CONTEST WITH MORAL QUESTIONS

PAGCOR launched an art contest with the theme "It's more fun in the Philippines." The categories were professional and amateur. Here is the problem: professional was defined as those artists who have held a one-"man" show while the amateurs were those without. The winners displayed at the casino gambling place at Paranaque however revealed that the winners were all professionals. The artworks did not have any amateur. The works exhibited what would be called artworks of those who have been drawing and painting in the advertising world, and/or commercial companies that produce educational materials. 

Here are my comments: One artwork looked like a rehash of the cover of the box of a puzzle that presents the different tourist spots in the Philippines. Two other paintings depicted children -- what is this, a come-on to pedophiles to enjoy fun with kids? Another painting had a face laughing for what purposes?  I cannot gather. Still another painting showed a foreign woman looking at the different spots in the Philippines. 

True, the paintings desired to market the country, but the contents were not well-thought of. Another artwork had three little girls (??? Yak!) in the foreground, wearing clothes that did not look like Philippine, except maybe of the Muslim sarong which could be mistaken for the costume of some other female Asians.  Another painting showed boys climbing some kind of fence. Why climbing? Ask the painters. 

Besides, when we talk of amateur paintings we are immediately presented with ideas that exhibit simplicity, spontaneity, and naivete of some sorts. Yet the artworks showed sure masterful embrace of technique but had the same meanings all throughout, not revealing any in-depth understanding that "fun" in the Philippines is not mere physical enjoyment, but rather an appreciation of our culture, our social customs and mores, as well as political ideas. 

Yet, in this contest, none of these were visible. Instead we were presented with an array of paintings that depicted what could appear as colorful posters on the Philippines. 

When I presented my painting, I asked the organizer, Ms. Monfort if I could submit a photoshopped copy of my painting and later on she said, upon conference with one of the judges, that it should not be the case. Yet looking at most of the paintings, some sure looked "photoshopped." You see folks, Adobe Photoshop is a software that allows you to transfer a photo of your painting on to the computer so you can easily clean it up, copy some other images elsewhere and then paste it there. Afterwards, the product can be printed on canvas through another machine. 

So how sure are we that all the works that won did not undergo Adobe "photoshopping?" One artwork had an image of Amorsolo's farm with a superimposed image of the jeepney to make it current. The extreme likeness of the farm with the original Amorsolo cannot be denied. 

What is the purpose of a painting contest but to showcase the talents, not only the skills, but the depth of awareness of the artists with regard to the issues besetting or encompassing tourism in the country. It is not a matter of selling the country but promoting our historical roots, traditions and people with dignity. Do we expect some moral changes in a gaming agency?

I shall upload a copy of my painting next time. 

PAGCOR LAUNCHES ART CONTEST WITH MORAL QUESTIONS

PAGCOR launched an art contest with the theme "It's more fun in the Philippines." The categories were professional and amateur. Here is the problem: professional was defined as those artists who have held a one-"man" show while the amateurs were those without. The winners displayed at the casino gambling place at Paranaque however revealed that the winners were all professionals. The artworks did not have any amateur. The works exhibited what would be called artworks of those who have been drawing and painting in the advertising world, and/or commercial companies that produce educational materials. 

Here are my comments: One artwork looked like a rehash of the cover of the box of a puzzle that presents the different tourist spots in the Philippines. Two other paintings depicted children -- what is this, a come-on to pedophiles to enjoy fun with kids? Another painting had a face laughing for what purposes?  I cannot gather. Still another painting showed a foreign woman looking at the different spots in the Philippines. 

True, the paintings desired to market the country, but the contents were not well-thought of. Another artwork had three little girls (??? Yak!) in the foreground, wearing clothes that did not look like Philippine, except maybe of the Muslim sarong which could be mistaken for the costume of some other female Asians.  Another painting showed boys climbing some kind of fence. Why climbing? Ask the painters. 

Besides, when we talk of amateur paintings we are immediately presented with ideas that exhibit simplicity, spontaneity, and naivete of some sorts. Yet the artworks showed sure masterful embrace of technique but had the same meanings all throughout, not revealing any in-depth understanding that "fun" in the Philippines is not mere physical enjoyment, but rather an appreciation of our culture, our social customs and mores, as well as political ideas. 

Yet, in this contest, none of these were visible. Instead we were presented with an array of paintings that depicted what could appear as colorful posters on the Philippines. 

When I presented my painting, I asked the organizer, Ms. Monfort if I could submit a photoshopped copy of my painting and later on she said, upon conference with one of the judges, that it should not be the case. Yet looking at most of the paintings, some sure looked "photoshopped." You see folks, Adobe Photoshop is a software that allows you to transfer a photo of your painting on to the computer so you can easily clean it up, copy some other images elsewhere and then paste it there. Afterwards, the product can be printed on canvas through another machine. 

So how sure are we that all the works that won did not undergo Adobe "photoshopping?" One artwork had an image of Amorsolo's farm with a superimposed image of the jeepney to make it current. The extreme likeness of the farm with the original Amorsolo cannot be denied. 

What is the purpose of a painting contest but to showcase the talents, not only the skills, but the depth of awareness of the artists with regard to the issues besetting or encompassing tourism in the country. It is not a matter of selling the country but promoting our historical roots, traditions and people with dignity. Do we expect some moral changes in a gaming agency?

I shall upload a copy of my painting next time.