RATIONAL INSANITY
Back from the grave
I’m back and this time with a vengeance! To all my readers who have been wondering why I was not in The News Today for the past month, I guess I have some explaining to do. Anyway, the important thing is that I’m back again, at your service, so let me begin by telling you all about what kept me out of print for the past month.
INTERNATIONAL DANCE EXCHANGE
I was in Dumaguete City during the end part of April for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) 1st International Dance Exchange. This was a gathering of dancers, choreographers, tourism and culture officers, and dance enthusiasts from all over the world. I had some great exposure during the activity as I witnessed dances from as far as Spain all in one place. Some people will have to pay thousands just to see these dances from all over the world, because let’s face it, you don’t really get them all in one place at one time, but the International Dance exchange did just that. I had a few quarrels with the trip though; for one, the bus trip from Bacolod to Dumaguete was hell. It took almost eight hours because of the terrible roads. Then, there was the issue of the Ceres Liner not having an air-con unit when I left for the trip. Sulumpaan! It was terrible; but the convention changed all that, although, I had to worry about another 8-hour trip again when I had to make my way back. I suppose people won’t be put through the same agony in next year’s Dance Exchange, which will, hopefully, be held in Roxas City, and will feature 30 plus dance troupes from all over the world! Brace yourselves for a week of dancing and cultural exchanges in Roxas City!
NCCA ARTISTS FOR CRISIS TRAINING
Right after the Dumaguete trip, I spent another week in Iloilo City at the Hotel Del Rio for the NCCA Artists for Crisis Trainor’s Training. The training aimed to bring together artists from all over the country to equip them with the necessary skills and techniques to be used in rehabilitation of victims of crisis (war, calamities, etc.) through the arts. I met really wonderful people during the training and got to re-acquaint myself with a long-lost writer friend, Joshua! Well, since the training was held in Iloilo, Marz was there also to have coffee with our newfound friends. I also had the privilege of spending time with a wonderful little guy who wants to learn Hiligaynon, Ronnie Binas! The training was wonderful, I only wish we had more time together; darn, I should have taken the chance from day 1, hehehehehe. I’ll see you guys again soon, and especially you, Ronald McDonald!
PANDAYAN PLAYWRIGHTING AND THEATER WORKSHOP
From Iloilo I took a very quick trip to Tagbilaran for some meetings, then after that I went straight to Bacolod City for the Pandayan Playwriting and Theater Workshop. This fun activity was organized by TheatroCon-Bacolod which included a newfound ka-chika, Tanya Lopez, and Nong Rudy Reviche. There, I finally met the great Glenn Sevilla Mas who turns out to be an Antiqueño like our beloved John Iremil Teodoro; and not only that, Glenn is also a close ‘sistah’ of the literary ‘giant’, John Iremil Teodoro. We had a great time talking about lit and the forces that be in our home genre, and we went out once or twice to chill. We also stayed in the same hotel (although separate rooms – sacrilege!). Then we talked about the only daughson of John, Marz; and well, by virtue of relation, Glen is officially the ‘Tiya’ of Marz because John and Glen are ‘sistahs’. Oh well, for those who don’t get the drift, just rift through your literary anthologies and you just might understand what I mean.
VISAYAS ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS CONVENTION
Right after the Pandayan Workshops, I had to stay over in Bacolod for another week because of the Visayas Association of Museums (VAM) Convention. During this particular event I met great and fun museum people like Clem del Castillo, Tanya Lopez, Raymond Bayot, and Soltrec Capistrano. I also had more time to bond with the museum kids of Tanya because we had two straight days of museum trips all over Negros Occidental. We also got to talk about many projects related to museums like the state of the birthplace of President Manuel Roxas and the possible hosting of Roxas City of the 1st VAM Conference in 2010. It was a wonderful time to expand my network and learn more about the field I am currently in. Soon, I will be in Makati again for more trainings with the Yuchengco and Lopez Museums, but I will do my best to keep in touch guys!
There were other mini-trips in between and some quick ‘balikan’ engagements. It was a tough and tiring month for me, in fact, I am nursing a cough and cold now, which, hopefully, is not the A-N1H1 Virus! Knock on wood! Whatever… the important thing is that your Rationally Insane writer is back in business!
Be rational; be insane… every once in a while! TTFN!
I love you all! Byers!