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.

Philippine Dominican Province to mark 40th year in 2011

Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, OP during the thanksgiving Mass for the 39th year of DPP.

ONE YEAR shy of reaching its fourth decade, the Dominican Province of the Philippines (DPP), or the Philippine branch of the Order of Preachers, recently marked its 39th anniversary with the view to consolidating its relatively still young legacy.

The indigenous Province was founded on Dec. 8, 1971. Before that, Filipino Dominicans were part of the Holy Rosary Province, now commonly known as the Spanish Dominican Province, the original missionary province formed when the Dominicans first came to the Philippines in 1587.

The founding of the Philippine province of the Dominicans was a historic milestone in the history of one of the Church’s greatest religious orders: It recognized the Filipino religious and their capacity to contribute to the Church and her mission.

Book celebrates Bataan history, Tomas Pinpin, and Church heritage

Photo by Jilson Tiu

THE LAVISH coffee-table book, “Peninsula of Faith and Valor: Bataan Through the Centuries,” documents the glorious heritage of the historic province west of Manila, noted for being one of the first to embrace Christianity, aside from producing the first Filipino author and printer and displaying courage and patriotism especially during the Dutch invasion in the 17th century and the Japanese invasion in the 20th century.