Formal archives education needed for heritage conservation

Prof. Jian Wang of the Renmin University

 Local archivists and other record-keepers have committed to advance records management in the country while stressing the need to professionalize records-keeping by formal archives education upon the conclusion of the 2nd National Archives Congress, Dec. 8-9, at the Colegio de San Agustin (CSA) in Bacolod City.

The meeting of some 165 archivists, librarians, university and college registrars,  and representatives from the business sector from around the country pointed several concerns, such as the lack of qualified professionals who could ably handle valuable documents.

For one, they called for “the inclusion of records and archives management in the general subjects or curriculum for undergraduate courses.”

The congress delegates also urged “collaboration between archival institutions here and abroad” and the “formulation and approval of a curriculum for archival studies.”

Dominican Missal to be launched; school of theology and homiletics established

The Dominican Province of the Philippines (DPP) will launch the Dominican Missal and Lectionary on Dec. 8, 5 p.m., at the Institute of Preaching-Philippine Dominican Center of Institutional Studies (IP-PDCIS) Bldg., Sto. Domingo Church, Quezon City.

The book is being launched in connection with the feast of the Immaculate Conception as well as the 40th anniversary of the DPP.

Shrine for Christ’s Precursor in Lian, Batangas, inaugurated

Facade of the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Lian, Batangas. Photo by Lester Babiera

He may already be tired and bruised from visiting almost every home in Lian, Batangas, and neighboring towns, but his charisma, which endears him to the faithful, is far from fading.

Such is how Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of the Archdiocese of Lipa described Lian’s patron, St. John the Baptist, in his homily last Aug. 29 after the official declaration of the very first shrine of the Precursor of Christ.

La Naval’s 76-year-old pipe organ to be restored

The historic musical instrument at Sto. Domingo.

The Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila, at Santo Domingo Church features a musical masterpiece with much historical value—the 76-year-old organ that makes use of over a thousand pipes. The musical instrument, a cultural heritage, is set to undergo restoration.

To raise funds for the expensive restoration, the officials of the shrine, headed by Fr. Giuseppe Pietro V. Arsciwals, OP, launched the adopt-a-pipe project.

The cost to  complete the project amounts to P3.5 million. The Diego Cera Organbuilders, Inc., curator of the world-famous bamboo organ of Las Piñas, has been commissioned to execute the restoration.

Antonio Hila, historian and former choirmaster of the Tiples de Santo Domingo (1987 2000), the Philippines’ oldest boys choir, says the restoration is a must.

“It’s about time [to restore the organ],” he explains. “For a church as big as Santo Domingo Church, we need that organ for the massive sound that would accompany the choirs so that the music would be more appreciated.”

Limits drawn on heritage law’s coverage of Church’s cultural properties

The Philippine Roman Catholic Church’s cultural patrimony is shielded from the controversial National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 (Republic Act 10066) because of the constitutional principle of separation of Church and state; the Church’s own canon law; and the Concordat between the Holy See and the Philippine government on Church cultural heritage.

“While the Church unites with the state in the national policy to protect, preserve and promote the nation’s cultural heritage, the law should not prohibit and penalize necessary works on churches,” said Jo Imbong, a lawyer of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Examples of “necessary works” are the construction of chapels and additions to the church rectory or other facilities that are inherently necessary to worship and liturgy.

Imbong was speaking in a forum on the National Cultural Heritage Law at the Angelicum College in Quezon City, with National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Commissioner Regalado Trota Jose and former NCCA commissioner Fr. Harold Rentoria, OSA.

Theme was “Kaban ng Nakaraan, Yaman ng Kasaysayan: RA 10066: National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.” It was held on Aug. 8, feast day of St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans, which own and run the Angelicum.

East meets West in UST’s international philosophy conference

Cover of Souvenir Program by Robbie Villegas

MANILA, Philippines—The University of Santo Tomas is bridging the wisdom between East and West through what is probably the biggest gathering of philosophy scholars in Asia in the international conference “Thomism and Asian Cultures: Celebrating 400 Years of Dialogue Across Civilizations,” which runs May 23-26.

The international conference is being held as part of the quadricentennial celebration of UST as Asia’s oldest university.

In attendance will be the officers and members of leading international philosophical societies: Académie du Midi, Asian Association of Christian Philosophers, Conférence Mondiale des Institutions Universitaires Catholiques de Philosophie (Comiucap) and World Union of Catholic Philosophical Societies.

Bulacan artists interpret Christ in ‘Kristo’

Clockwise from upper left:  Works by Jill Arwen Posadas, Reynaldo Amido, Francisco Nacion, and Gerrico Blanco. Photo by Jilson Tiu.

“KRISTO,” THE annual Lenten offering of visual artists from Bulacan, is now on its 10th year with a larger participation of homegrown talents—from beginner artists to established and acclaimed names.

The month-long exhibition opened April 13 and features the works of 64 artists from the province, who tackle through their styles and idioms this year’s theme “Alay,” also the theme of its Manila counterpart exhibit, “Kristo Manila.”

The exhibit’s founder, artist Salvador “Buddy” Ching says the exhibit aims to showcase the works of professionals, students and hobbyists, to pay tribute to the “true Master.” Ching started “Kristo” in 2001 as his panata (religious commitment) during Lent.

Santo Domingo Museum exhibits works by Joey Velasco

“HAPAG ng Pag-asa” and other works of the late religious artist Joey Velasco are on exhibit at Museo de Santo Domingo in Quezon City until April 24.
The exhibit “Beyond Life” seeks to help Catholics this Lent to “meditate on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ through the paintings,” said Fr. Giuseppe Arsciwals, OP, prior of the Sto. Domingo Convent. 

Quoting Velasco’s wife Queenie, Father Arciwals said the exhibit was so titled “[because] Joey has left this world but he continues to live through his paintings.”

Velasco, who died last year, was noted for his paintings and other artworks that combine Christianity and social realism.

“Hapag ng Pag-asa” is Velasco’s version of the Last Supper on a 4x8-ft canvas. It depicts Christ breaking bread with Filipino street-children. Models for the children were street urchins who have since been rehabilitated.

Also on exhibit is “Hele,” which shows Christ with special children.

Velasco’s affection for the young people is displayed in “Munting Sereneo,” in which three children help the suffering Christ carry the Cross.

Lavish coffee-table book honors heroes, trailblazers, saints and valiant history of Bataan

THE DEBACLE of Bataan on April 9, 1942 was never meant to go down history as a nation’s insurmountable defeat, for “it made heroes out of many, carving their niches as warriors in the glory of battle.” As a contemporary historian puts it, it’s ”the very reason why the historic event earned its fitting title, ‘Araw ng Kagitingan.’”

Such is how historian Jose Victor Torres puts it in his article, “Defeat and Glory: The Battle of Bataan (1942),” which is the closing essay of the lavish coffee-table book, “Peninsula of Faith and Valor: Bataan Through the Centuries” (Tomas Pinpin Publications, 2010).

Marian devotion, modern Filipino art blend in Valenzuela exhibit

by Bryz Montanes

by Aris Bagtas

by Manuel Villarica

IN “INANG MARIA,” the exhibit mounted to mark the golden year of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Valenzuela, artists, mainly based in Bulacan, take turns in depicting with both creativity and fondness the Mother of God.

Ernesto “Aris” Bagtas of the Art Association of the Philippines led a group of artists in donating 38 artworks for the exhibit at Museo Valenzuela, located just beside the shrine.