Rock 4 Ages: Midlife Crisis Concert

Rock 4 Ages: Midlife Crisis Concert 
Newport Performing Arts Theater
September 25, 2012
8:00PM

Directed by Freddie Santos
Musical Direction by Kettle Mata and Roy Del Valle
 Special Participation of Michael V. and other surprise guests

For the benefit of MLC UP College of Music Scholars and Kalinga Intramuros
For tickets, please call Ms. Junie at 0922-860-9248

https://www.facebook.com/groups/midlifecrisisph/ 

Lights and Sounds Museum: A Walking Tour To Philippine History

Lapu-Lapu is regarded as the first Filipino hero.

When I first heard of the Lights and Sounds Museum, I thought I was just going to watch an ordinary show about the making of Intramuros. But when I entered a big room, standing, and with lights all turned off, I felt I was up for something more exciting that day. The Lights and Sounds Museum wasn't just a museum, it was an experience center!

A diorama of one of the battles fought between the Filipinos and the Spaniards.

The museum was divided into different rooms. Each one of them is depicting some of the highlights of the Philippine history. It has dioramas- moving replicas of people and objects placed in scenes that tell the remarkable stories of the Philippines' past.

Statues of the different Filipino heroes were placed inside the Lights and Sounds Museum.

Each scene is to be "experienced" one by one. It is dramatically narrated by a voice over with some background music. The lights are also in place to direct the attention of the audience to the main characters. A tour facilitator is also present to lead the audience from one room to another.

We were brought to Europe inside the Lights and Sounds Museum and experienced the life of Jose Rizal and his fellow Filipinos when they were there.

The life of Jose Rizal was one of the highlights in the Lights and Sound Museum. It was an instant trip to Europe when we were brought by the tour facilitator to Jose Rizal's life in Spain and Germany.

The publishing of La Solidaridad.

We were able to "experience" the national hero's life through the images being depicted in the dioramas.  The dioramas were not anymore at their best conditions today but I still enjoyed the entire show, nonetheless.

The different characters from Noli Me Tangere.

There was even a room showcasing the characters of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. It was nice to go back once again to the novels written by Jose Rizal. This time, with life-size dioramas and dramatic narrations.

The friars warned the Filipinos about reading Rizal's novels.

The Lights and Sounds Museum was a project of the former Tourism Secretary, Richard Gordon. The aim of the museum is to retell the history of the Philippines to local and foreign visitors in an interactive and fun setting.

The building of Intramuros.

Another highlight of the show is the story of how Intramuros, the Walled City, was built. This topic wasn't discussed that much during my classes in history in high school and college.

The Filipinos weren't allowed to enter inside Intramuros- except the slaves.

Because of the Lights and Sounds Museum, I have learned that ordinary Filipinos- except the special guests and the slaves- weren't allowed to enter the walls of Intramuros back then. It was exclusive to the Spaniards- the government officials, the friars and their guests. It was also said that the Spaniards made it a very happy place. Spaniards held feasts inside it every now and then,  leaving the Filipinos outside hungry and oppressed.

A diorama of Jose Rizal when he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago.

Lights and Sounds Museum is located at Sta. Lucia cor. Victoria Sts. The tour requires a minimum fee of PhP 1,000 per tour. The first show starts at 10:00 AM and the last show at 6:00 PM. For reservations or inquiries, you may contact (02) 524 2827.

Blogger's Note: These pictures were taken at the museum with permission the Intramuros Administration.

Ang Kayamanan ni Ka Paeng and the Intramuros Visual Artist's Group

[Photo Credits: http://mannydeguzmanartist.wetpaint.com/]

Ang Kayamanan ni Aling Cela. I saw this painting way back when I was still the small wide-eyed wonder kid who's fascinated with colors and illustrations. This painting started my fascination with the arts and I hoped that one day I will be able to see its creator- renowned hand painter from Rizal, Maestro Rafael "Ka Paeng" Pacheco.

Last November 25, 2011, my wish was granted. I saw Ka Paeng during the establishment of the Intramuros Visual Artist's Group (IVA) in one of the chambers in Intramuros Manila. Ka Paeng was not anymore at his best health but he still continues to paint very good pictures using his fingers. Take a look at this one.

Rafael Pacheco with his Koi painting

It's a beautiful painting of Koi fishes and this, along with the works of the other Lakeshore Artists from Rizal Province, was exhibited at Intramuros Manila last November 25. On that day too, the Intramuros Visual Artist's Group was created along with Ka Paeng's announcement of the establishment of his foundation, the Pacheco Art Foundation.

Rafel Pacheco with fellow artists and Intramuros Administration officers

The event was highlighted by the raffling off of the paintings of Maestro Pacheco himself and of the paintings of other Lakeshore Artists. I can only imagine how much these paintings are worth but Maestro Pacheco's heart is filled with so much gratefulness to the Lord, the source of all the beauty of the world, and gratefulness to all the people who supported his foundation- that he willingly raffled off his priced paintings.

Maestro Pacheco's speech was moving and I figured there might be a single element that all great artists are made of -- their hearts are filled with joy seeing the beauty of the world that they attempted to duplicate it through the works of their hands.

The last few words of his speech stayed in me. "Pasensiya na kayo... wala akong alam kundi iyan... ang gumawa po ng sining. Wala akong alam sa buhay kundi gumawa at kopyahin ang kagandahan at kadakilaan ng ating kapaligiran!"

5 Interesting Things to Know about the Intramuros Administration

Whenever I go to Intramuros, one thing that really ignites my interest is the presence of the architectural style during the Spanish Era inside the whole place- not just in the old schools and churches but also in the modern-day fastfood chains and restaurants such as Jollibee and Max's. All of the buildings seemed to comply with a certain blueprint or style in order to preserve the ambiance of the Walled City during the Philippine colonial period.

I was grateful to have met some of the officials of the government organization that is above all these things- the restoration, preservation as well as the promotion of Intramuros. The organization is called the Intramuros Administration. It's nice to know that there is actually a group that is assigned to take care of the Walled City. That even though it is said that Intramuros was not anymore as glorious as it was during the 18th and 19th centuries, with Intramuros Administration Intramuros may be able to "relive within its imposing walls the dramatic walls of the Philippine past".

The Intramuros Administration is located at 5th Floor,  Palacio del Gobernador, Gen. Luna cor Aduana Sts. Intramuros, Manila. [Photo Credits: http://miteasia.com/] 

Here are 5 interesting facts to know about the Intramuros Administration.

1. National Government Agency. The Intramuros Administration is a national government agency created on April 10, 1979 under Presidential Decree 1616. It is tasked to restore the Walled City of Intramuros and develop it into a prime urban tourist destination.
2. Main Center of Tourism in Manila. IA's objective is to make this "city within a city" socially, economically and culturally viable again while keeping pace with modernization. IA intends to enhance the potential of Intramuros as a main center of tourist activity in the City of Manila. It is involved not only in restoration but also in urban renewal and income generation
3. Cultural Center. Today, IA provides a more enjoyable visit to the Walled City for its guests. With ninety percent of the walls restored, Intramuros has become a busy cultural center featuring the performing arts, exhibits, flea markets, book fairs, music and art contests, and religious activities. Restored chambers of the gates have been converted into commercial establishments like food stalls and souvenir shops. Tourists can also visit antique and handicraft stores.
4. Fil-Hispanic Ambiance. IA has ensured that business offices and residences have locational clearances and that they follow designs of Philippine colonial architecture to recapture Fil-Hispanic ambiance of the Walled City.
5. Cultural Heritage Treasures. IA is also recovering the treasures of our cultural heritage. To date, it has an impressive collection of antique furniture, period decor, paintings, jewelry, icons and other items of the Philippines' past. Some of these are exhibited at Casa Manila Museum.

Bloggers Note: Do you have any questions or suggestions to the Intramuros Administration? Please feel free to email us at intramurosmanila [@] ymail [.] com. We will be more than happy to relay all your questions and suggestions to the government organization. 

[Source: Intramuros Map]