At the Gateway to the Creative City! Anniversario's Resort

At the Gateway to the Creative City!

By: Nonnette C. Bennett

Artist Clinton Aniversario opened the Aniversario Art Gallery/ Clinton Museum on July 14 at Upper Palina boundary which marks the entry into Tuba, Benguet from Pugo, La Union. Perhaps a great motorist stop-over before the ascent to Baguio City, the two - hectare property is not just a woodcarver’s workshop and showroom but also a walk to stretch stiff limbs.

There is a growing fascination with eco-tourism and agro-tourism among local and foreign tourists. This is a perfect stop, a visual and physical exploration of art in different forms. There are different galleries to explore: woodcarving, antique heritage, photography, art, and camera museum. There is also an open space for performances or just to gather around.

Along the road, one sees the massive woodcarvings and the workshop where the wood is cut and carved. A coffee shop welcomes the travel weary with local coffee and cakes. This also serves as the photographs exhibit area of Clinton’s works with his camera. Outside the coffee shop is a garden cum gathering place where one can have a workshop/seminar for artists or other appropriate activities.

The main building is the display center for contemporary woodcarvings and handcrafted items for souvenirs and collections. The garden is a workshop of bonsais done by the Aniversario matriarch for the plant enthusiasts. There are swimming pools converted into tilapia ponds by the family. The fish can be served for lunch in the future. Different fruit trees are found in the different areas of the property: dragon fruit plants, jackfruit, balimbing or Averrhoa carambola, rambutan, and mangoes, among other endemic fruit trees. Perhaps, the family can include fruit picking for a fee.

The basement of the main building is the heritage gallery that displays a collection of Cordillera costumes and accessories. Antique and contemporary cultural pieces can be seen here which fits the essence of Baguio as a creative city for indigenous crafts and culture.

Beside another pond is a camera museum. Camera enthusiasts can

see the evolution of the camera through the decades. Set up like a photo studio, one can feel like one is being photographed by different cameras of different film eras. One can poke at the cameras collected by Clinton and those donated by friends and family to fill all the shelves on the walls of the gallery.

Taking a hundred or so steps down the side of the gallery, Clinton has aptly constructed a small dark room in the shape of a camera. One can climb the camera or go into the dark room through the door shaped like a lens. A work in progress, the landscaping of the area has a metal sculpture and a walk with interesting ornamental plants.

A path behind the coffee shop leads down to the art gallery. The art gallery hosts contemporary works done by different artists. On July 14, Clinton whose art uses syringe as a tool, Jordan Mang-osan who uses the magnifying glass for his solar paintings, Juan Elani Tulas using styrofoam as a medium, Augusto Endrina Elopre using feathers as his medium, and Carlo Villafuerte with needle as art tool opened their art exhibit. That was a very interesting exhibit where the artists did not use paint to express their art, a first.

Outside the gallery is a garden of sculptures too. A chess board with Cordillera icons can be a game with movable pieces. A garden stroll turns into an art landscape too. More stairs down the slope leads into an amphitheater where performances can be done surrounded by trees and plants.

As an adventurous traveler and eager stroller/hiker, this Aniversario Art Gallery is a perfect introduction to the Creative City of Baguio for indigenous crafts and culture. This is a must visit place to introduce the city as creative hub for indigenous art and culture.

When Graffiti Can Be Beautiful

When Graffiti Can Be Beautiful!

By: Nonnette C. Bennett

It is boring to look at clean painted walls. Such a waste of space, it is the venue for expression of vandals who just want to mark it with their names. Marked with names in spray paint not tastefully printed, they are not visually pleasant. Of late, Angelo Aurelio, performance and visual artist, found walls of schools and public parks as canvas for his own type of graffiti.

In search of himself and an outlet for his creative energy, he actually painted the walls of the Baguio City Jail – Female Dorm with floral patterns. His artwork actually lifted the spirits of the officers and the ladies. It was a break from the monotony of the pale walls and bars. This inspired Warden April Rose Ayangwa to bring the talent of Gelo to Paracelis for a week to do work on the walls of the Paracelis National High School and Paracelis Central School as a contribution of the Ayangwa Movement for Good Governance. This further inspired him to use historical images and symbols in his murals. He used the image of the generous couple who played a key role in the history of Paracelis on one wall and the Ga’dang gong players on another. He used images of the deer and the birds that abound in the mountains too. He kept true to the colors and symbolisms of the culture.

Called to Pidigan, Abra, he found the walls of St. Mary’s High School to work on. It was here where Gabriela Silang caught his attention and it seemed that this set the stage for his mural on the national heroes. He discovered how beautiful and fiercely nationalistic Gabriela was and he was hypnotized.

By the end of April, he was caught in a frenzy of capturing the images of 22 images of our national heroes for the Department of Education in time for National Heroes Day. Striking was the side lining of Jose Rizal who is often used as the centerpiece of any celebration. True to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to give all the heroes equal attention, Gelo’s mural on tarpaulin allows a viewer to examine each face and expression. It is often difficult for an artist to give the details of his work and the reason for using the elements of color or texture. Gelo explained his art in both the presentations at the Baguio Museum and at DepEd in Manila, aptly captured by Krissy Aguilar of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, “Ako po’y gumamit din ng mga kulay na hamok sa ating bandila. Pula para sa katapangan, para sa apoy ng nasyonalismo. Para sa mga bayani na nag-alay ng dugo at buhay (I also used the colors of our flag – red for bravery and the fires of nationalism. It stands for heroes who gave up their lives).” “Asul para sa lalim ng diwang Pilipino, para sa karagatan, para sa kalikasan. Puti para sa dalisay na kaluluwa at dilaw para sa liwanag at galing ng Pilipino (Blue for the depth of Filipino spirit, for the ocean, for nature. White for the purity of the soul and yellow for the greatness of the Filipino),” Aguilar added as Gelo’s explanation.

In July, Gelo launched another mural for the Baguio Museum on the occasion of re-opening the Cordillera exhibit area. The rehabilitation and curation of the exhibit area was funded by a grant from the Unites States of America Embassy was launched in time for the Filipino – American friendship day. He captured the old images of Cordillera’s major tribes from the six provinces. Gelo ably expressed the distinct details of each tribe’s customary traditional garb.

Gelo has turned murals into narratives that inspire a love of place, a love of history and love for culture. It is time that graffiti turn into beautiful stories that inspire a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.

11.11.11 11th Anniversary of the UC Percussion & Orchestra

 11.11.11

By: Nonnette C. Bennett

In numerology, this series of 1’s are auspicious signs of synchronicity says Wikipedia. In China, 11 11 is singles day with the 1 and the best day in sales, online or at the brick and mortars, if there are any left. In Baguio, it stands for the 11^th year of the University of the Cordilleras Percussion & Orchestra at the University of the Cordillera Center for Creative Production on the 11^th day of the 11^th month. Two hours of harmonic Original Pilipino Music (OPM) music lifted amateur spirits and melancholy for the graduates who watched the performance.

Music is the language of the soul, this cannot be disputed. Playing the instruments require a finer or the finest strands of a person. To possess this finer quality is such a gift from above. To unravel these talents is even more challenging. Paul Louie Serrano has been at this feat for the last 11 years being the Music Master for the 23 scholars of the UCPO and the performance on November 11 proved his dedication.

Paul says it was Engr. Alec Mapalo, now Tourism Officer of Baguio City, who revived the band of UC. At the time the group was inclined towards a choreographic marching band to liven the performances of the UC representatives during parades of the Panagbenga. However, when Paul came to apply for the position, he was taken in as a Music teacher. Paul says he belonged to the last batch of College of Education graduates of St. Louis University who majored in Music and Arts in 2006. He was looking forward to being a band master more than a music teacher. The challenge of transitioning it into an orchestra meant working with more students. Since the start of the K-12 program of the Department of Education, Paul has taken in Senior High School students into the fold.

The Drumline Ensemble composed of the Senior High School students was reminiscent of movies on marching bands like “Drumline” which showed the synchronicity in the percussion instruments as well as in the choreography of movement while marching. Of course, the limited space allowed sways, drumstick flips and forward and backwards marches only and no formations. These drums are the life of a parade as they give the tempo for the march or the performance which the drumline ensemble will do.

What better way to present the song “Buwan” than with guitars! The guitar ensemble with the beatbox was delightful to listen to. The Woodwind Ensemble and Violin Ensemble serenaded the audience. It was a surprise to listen to “Forevermore” on the saxophone.

Putting all the instruments together as an orchestra, the first part of the presentation had the songs of the mountains like “Salidummay”, “Nanlayad” and “O Demdem” in the repertoire. The second part made for more upbeat Pinoy favorites like “Awitin Natin”, “Paraiso” and “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika”. As an orchestra, they are invited to perform at concerts and as a marching band they perform in the parades, says Paul.

The hurdle this year was incorporating the senior high school students who were beginners in the guitar ensemble. They read chords and had to be taught how to read notes in order to perform with the other instruments. But the concert showed that the greatest team that can show synchronicity will always be an orchestra. Not so perfect yet but with more bonding and exposure, there is much promise in the musicians to become excellent.

Peejay Natiola, UC Center for Creative Production Director said that the concert showed how the scholars were able to manage their time for the orchestra and their academics. He told the parents present that the UC promises to guide the students to finish their studies while performing in the orchestra.

Cheers to 11 years of the Percussion & Orchestra of the UC! The lights and a wider space would be more appropriate for such a magnificent performance on the 12^th year to celebrate your music.

Buzzing Gelato & Tossing Pizza at Amare La Cucina

Buzzing Gelato & Tossing Pizza

By: Nonnette C. Bennett

Summer is upon us and cool treats make it bearable. To the adventurous, what about a scoop of Cabernet Gelato or Red Horse Gelato for a light buzz after tossing your own pizza at Amare La Cucina (Italian for Love Your Kitchen)?

Creating their own selection of 20 homemade gelato flavors for Monte Gelati, Edmark Bustos, 33 and wife Nica are capturing natural and favorite flavors using the Italian technology. Bustos says that gelato is smoother, lighter and airy compared to ice cream and has less butterfat. Recently experimenting with alcoholic beverages as flavors, he explains that the alcohol content is reduced when they cook the wine or beer prior to mixing it with the custard that is the base of gelato. This allows the alcohol to freeze but retain the flavor of the drink. He says gelato is better than ice cream since it has less sugar and allows you to better taste the fruit, nut, chocolate and other ingredients used because it doesn’t numb the tongue. His favorite things like Nutella and Speculoos Cookie Butter are in the selection of gelato flavors too since they opened in February this year.

“Would you like to prepare your own pizza?” Edmark asked. This is the experience that Amare La Cucina adds in the woodfire brick oven made pizzas that they serve. Wenmark Mirania, 21, pizza dough tosser and maker, says he trained for a month before he learned the art of tossing the dough which he is willing to share with the curious customers. The ingredients for the different kinds of pizza are weighed and pre-packed to give consistency in the quality of the pizza according to Edmark. “Anytime you come to Amare the pizza will be the same,” he said. He is supplied organic vegetables for the salads and pizza by three local farmers. He uses about 10 bundles of fruit tree branches for the wood in his oven daily to bake his pizza and other food preparations like ribs and chicken. He says that they try to maximize the use of all the ingredients and items in the restaurant to reduce waste. After five years, all these ingredients for management and operations have rated Amare as number one in firewood baked pizzas in Baguio according to Tripadvisor.

Amare is not just a pleasure for the palate with the Italian flair but also an opportunity for its workers and staff to venture into the same business. Bustos says that he hopes that sharing the recipes and training the staff with the skills to understand the business will inspire them to become entrepreneurs like him. He has already opened two other branches in San Juan, La Union and Pasig with partners. The kitchen lovers are growing in number because of Edmark’s love for food baked in the woodfire brick oven. He designs the brick oven made from German fire bricks and mortar that can sustain 1200°F himself.

The exotic Cabernet and Red Horse gelato of Monte Gelati on a warm summer day should be a nice finish to any of your favorite pizzas at Amare La Cucina. Toss your very own pizza and get the zing and buzz of the exotic or fruity gelato from 10 am to 9 pm at the Albergo Hotel on any day.

Destination Kalinga, Philippines : Amazing Things to See

Destination Kalinga: Amazing Things to See!

Photos and text by: Nonnette C. Bennett

If you are driving to Tabuk from Tuguegarao or Cagayan, the first map stop should be Rizal, Kalinga for a quick stop at the municipal hall mini-museum for a view of the Rhino fossils. The archeological fossils on display date back to 709,000 years, according to the international team of archeologists led by John de Vos and Thomas Ingicco.  Called Elephant Hill, the archeological site is only open during the one month that the archeological team are present. This year, the site will open from July to August. At the municipal hall, one can also find the largest gangza or gong with 1.6 m. diameter and the longest g-string with a length of 1,000 meters. Contact : Maila Depalog MTO – +639557297266 or Mayor Melchor dela Cruz – +639778064407.

If you want to see the relics from Tabuk, take a Tabuk-Tuguegarao public transportation and get off at the Romualdez Police Station and take a tricycle ride from the intersection to the municipal hall. Commuting the 37 kms. should cost P100 or P50 for each the van or tricycle.

From here, one should drive towards Bulanao, Tabuk, the next stop should be wine tasting at Ryan’s Farm. Although wine tasting is not a Filipino kind of thing, Corazon Kub-ao Ryan welcomes guests with an entry fee of P75 per person for a taste of Bugnay wine or juice which is fermented at the Ryan and Son’s Winery. Azon, as she is fondly called, tells of how bugnay or Antidesma bunius can be fermented to three kinds of wines – dry, medium dry and medium sweet that compare to the best wines in the world. She prides herself in the expanding orchard of bugnay trees and her garden with fish ponds that is reminiscent of her Gawad Saka award in the fishery category in 1997. But her bugnay or currant juice is as delightful. Her wine is sold at P380 for 700 ml. This is located some 11 kms. from Bulanao Poblacion and has a gravel path some 500 meters from the main road. Call : +639167557078 for inquiries.

The wine appetizer prepares one for a meal beside the Chico River at the Ethnic Boutique Grill Café and Restaurant at Barangay Malin-awa along the Tabuk – Bontoc Road. A charming and breezy patio café, the restaurant offers regular Filipino fare and Kalinga specialties. Meal sizes are for big appetites. This is accessible from the main road and is some 7-8 kms from Bulanao Poblacion.

The municipality of Lubuagan is the most popular destination among Kalinga’s municipalities because it is the most accessible by any kind of vehicle. Traversed by the Tabuk- Bontoc road, it is cement paved and located some 45 kms. away from Bulanao, Tabuk. The weavers of Mabilong are the most popular among tourists because a hike up a series of stairs that may stretch to less than a kilometer opens to several weaver’s backstrap loom weaving workshops. This should be a slow hike for the middle - aged urbanites towards the house of the local historian of loom weaving, Mr. Cirilo Bawer. One can shop for hand crafted bags and trinkets. Homestay at Ma K at P300 per head with coffee and hot and cold shower is also available here for tourists who would like to experience the cool nights of Lubuagan and explore it for another day or two. Ma K reservations with Malikay Paat is +639355268809.

The San Francisco Restaurant is some two kilometers away from the Mabilong weavers to bring an appetite for local tilapia and meat fare courtesy of Elsie Adangi Oddoc. But the 20 - minute walk or stroll gives one a view of the rice fields below the road and the jutting mountains kissed by clouds on certain times of the day. For a meal of P250, one gets a bonus of riding the local wooden cart or "Taltallac" on the downward slopes of the Tabuk-Bontoc road. There is also a Baptist Church set atop a hill across where one could get a view of distant Tinglayan villages where the Sleeping Beauty Mountain is a tourist stop.

The Tiwon Fertility Spring is located at the heart of the Poblacion, a few meters away from the Saint Theresita’s School.  The fertility spring is said to bless childless couples with a child, twins or triplets. This is the reason for couples to take a trip to Lubuagan. Manuela Guilay, 74, says that the legend of the fertility spring began when a woman with long hair and wearing a white dress was seen at the spring at dawn and those who are childless and hope to receive the blessings from the “goddess” or “diwata” must drink and bathe in the spring water. Although, stories say that observations of twins among families located within 50 to 100 meters of the spring and whose households drew drinking water from the source brought the attention to the fertility spring, including Mayor Johnny Dickpus who has twins. “It is their belief and faith,” Guilay says that will give the couples a child if they will dare bathe between 3:00 – 4:00 a.m. at the spring.

Lubuagan in itself has the Aguinaldo Shrine and prides itself in being the seat of the Philippine government for some three months in the early 1900s. “Geronimo Alunday, 84, Lubuagan’s informal historian, relates that from March 16 to May 17, 1900, Aguinaldo with around 200 men who were then being pursued by the Americans stayed in Lubuagan, “writes Estanislao Albano. Apart from this, the catholic church also brought education to these parts.

If one wants to learn how to play indigenous instruments and stay in a typical octagonal Kalinga hut complete with a hearth, the Awichon Cultural Village located atop the hill some seven kilometers away from Lubuagan Poblacion is the place to go. For now, the rough roads only permit 4WD vehicles access to the six traditional huts constructed by 2000 Gawad Manlilikha awardee of National Commission for Culture and Arts, Alonzo Saclag Sr. Saclag, 77, the living treasure of Kalinga, welcomes visitors to his cultural village with stories and experiences of Kalinga lifeways. There is a P50 charge per head for entrance to the village and a P500/head charge for overnight stay. The village also offers a one-hour trek to and from the center that traces Aguinaldo’s Freedom Trail to a vantage point in the 50 - hectare property. One looks over the rice terraces of Uma, Lubuagan and Balatoc, Pasil. The view of the mountains continually shrouded by clouds is also breathtaking. Food is served for P150/head or one can bring their own food and are welcome to cook using their facilities for a minimal fee. Contact number for the reservation is Rebecca Saclag – +639554226403.

Arrangements for this one-day trip to Lubuagan is available at P4,000 for the vehicle and driver. Contact number is Dennis Anniban of the Kalinga Provincial Office – +639164887618.

Otherwise, visit M Hotel along the Provincial Road in Barangay Appas, Tabuk, Kalinga for arrangements. M Hotel prides itself as a facility for meetings, conferences, parties, KTV private rooms, swimming, and other private customized gatherings. Contact numbers are: +639178131423 or +639359316982 or visit FB MHotel Tabuk for more information.

The "Taltallac" wooden cart that is an additional thrill at San Francisco Restaurant in Lubuagan.

Mabilong Weaver's Village of Lubuangan entrance and the Ma K homestay place at P300 per person.

Alonzo Saclag Sr., owner of Awichon Cultural Village is a Philippine Living Treasure for preserving the arts and music of Kalinga.

Traditional octagonal hut accommodations at the Awichon Cultural Village for P500 per head.

The Rhino mini-museum of Rizal, Kalinga that displays the 709,000 year old fossils of animals and tools.

A bone sample from the rhinoceros found at the archeological site called Elephant Hill in Rizal, Kalinga.

The largest gong in the Philippines measuring 1.6m that is among Rizal, Kalinga's treasures.

Nambaran Cemetery with unusual tombs along the Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road.

Tiwon Fertility Springs that are said to gift childless couples children after bathing and drinking the spring water.

World Class Bugnay wine and juices at the Ryan and Sons Winery in Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga.

Corazon Kub-ao Ryan is wine brewer and heirloom bead designer. She is story teller to visitors and tourists.

A late afternoon sample of wine and fruits at Ryan's Farm.

Ethnic Boutique Café Grill and Restaurant that has a view of the Chico River from the dining area.

Playing gongs and bamboo instruments of the Awichon Cultural Village are part of the experience.

Destination Kalinga, Philippines: An Historical and Cultural Tour of Lubuagan, Kalinga

An Historical and Cultural Experience of  Lubuagan, Kalinga

Lubuagan, Kalinga prides itself as the seat of the Philippine government under president Emilio Aguinaldo from March 16 to May 17, 1900. 
     This tour package brings you to the municipality for its historical highlights and the remnants of those years. One can relive the flight from American captivity of president Emilio Aguinaldo through the Freedom Trail that goes into the mountains and down into adjacent Pasil municipality. The Aguinaldo shrine is a landmark near the municipal hall.

The "Taltallac" or wooden cart at San Francisco restaurant.

Loomweaving has been an industry in this place since time immemorial and passed through generations of women. Weaving historian Cirilo Bawer is a person to visit at Mabilong Weaving Village. One can watch the weavers at their looms or purchase the products as souvenirs. This requires one to ascend a series of stairs to the different homes of the weavers.

A Lubuagan girl models the hand woven belt with ethnic Kalinga patterns and beads.

   The view of the distant mountains of Tinglayan along the Tabuk-Bontoc road that traverses Lubuagan is inspiring and exciting.  A few kilometers away from Mabilong Weaver’s Village is the San Francisco Restaurant that offers meals and a ride on the “Taltallac” or the wooden carts on the cement pavement. This child’s cart is an exhilarating experience.

Traditional gongs and bamboo instruments are part of the cultural experience at Awichon Cultural Village.

One also ascends a seven kilometer road from the central town of Lubuagan into the cultural and arts center called the Awichon Cultural Village. Established by 2000 Gawad Manlilikha awardee of National Commission for Culture and Arts, Alonzo Saclag Sr.  Saclag, 77, the living treasure of Kalinga, welcomes visitors to his cultural village with stories and experiences of Kalinga lifeways. Playing indigenous games, learning to play indigenous bamboo instruments, and sleeping in traditional octagonal Kalinga huts are the memorable experiences one can take home after an overnight stay here. One can taste traditional Kalinga food or order regular meals here. The evening promises dances around a bonfire and a cultural show.

The traditional Kalinga octagonal house used for accommodating tourists at P500 per head. One can also use the traditional costumes and participate in the cultural show. The evening bonfires are perfect for dancing and playing instruments.

Alonzo Saclag Sr. is a Philippine Living Treasure because of his knowledge in Kalinga arts and music. He welcomes guests with stories and teaches interested guests how to play the instruments.

Traditional architecture and engineering were used to construct the six Kalinga houses that have no nails, only pegs.

The Freedom Trail hike is also a 30 minute walk outside the village.

   
      Before the morning departure, the view of the sea of clouds can be breathtaking. This tour package is at P7, 800 for 24 hours for a maximum of four with the vehicle and tour guide. For more information on the package, please contact MHotel  in Tabuk, Kalinga at +639399316982 or +639178131423.