Visual Arts and Crafts: Aklan Province Islands Philippines
The traditional weaving method of piña is called pili or
sinuksuk. This is a floating weft technique accomplished after the
cloth weaving. An intricate process for embellishing piña
fabric before it is cut and sewn into a gown. A typical design is
a cluster of five-petalled flowers surrounding a butterfly. This
is repeated in a series along the borders of the cloth.
The pili or sinuksuk tradition continues to live because of weavers
like Magdalena Marte and her niece Sosima de la Cruz. Marte was
conferred the Manlilikha ng Bayan Award in 1990.
An Aklanon visual artist who became prominent was Telesforo Sucgang,
painter and sculptor, and a contemporary of Jose Rizal, Felix Resurreccion
Hidalgo, and Juan Luna. Born in Banga, Sucgang was sent to Manila
to study at the Colegio de San Jose and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
He then studied art at the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura. In 1879,
in the literary-artistic contest sponsored by the Liceo Artistico-Literario,
Sucgang won in the sculpture category an award for his entry of
Cardinal Cisneros’ bust, while Rizal won in the poetry category
for "A la juventud Filipina." In 1884, Sucgang won an
art scholarship to Madrid, where he did El desembarco de Magallanes
(The Disembarcation of Magallanes), 1888, also called the First
Mass in the Philippines, and La llegada de Legazpi y Urdaneta. (The
arrival of Legaspi and Urdaneta), which was used as the model for
the Legazpi monument at the Luneta.
Sucgang was a portraitist of such prominent people as the Young
King Alfonso XIII, Victor Balaguer, Marquez de Soller, and Gen Corte.
His works in sculpture were generally religious, although one piece,
Un centimo señorito (Xmall change Boy), represented a street
boy of Madrid. Upon his return to the Philippines in 1893, he taught
modeling and engraving at the Escuela de Artes y Oficio in Iloilo.
During the Propaganda Movement, Sucgang wrote for a paper called
Revolucion, published in Jaro, Iloilo; and during the Revolution
he rose to the rant of Major under Gen Martin Delgado. With the
American civil government established, he foudned the Instituto
de Visayas, 1900, in Jaro, the Institutto Aklan, and another school
in Capiz, In 1912 he founded the Colegio de Minerva in Manila. He
also continued with his portraits and easel paintings, and was a
favorite subjects of his genre works were fruits, wild game, and
rustic scenes.
Travel Quotes:
We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls. Anais Nin
Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience. Francis Bacon
Breads and Pastries Philippines Cuisine
In a typical Filipino bakery, pandesal, monay and ensaymada are often sold. Pandesal comes from the Spanish pan de sal (literally, bread of salt), and is a ubiquitous breakfast fare, normally eaten with (and sometimes even dipped in) coffee.
More details at Breads and Pastries Philippines Cuisine Central Philippine Cuisine
Bicol is noted for its gastronomic appetite for the fiery or chili-hot dishes. Perhaps the most well-known Bicolano dish is the very spicy Bicol express. The region is also the well-known home of natong also known as laing or pinangat (a pork or fish stew in taro leaves).
More details at Central Philippine Cuisine |
