Not Just An Old Photo

The myriad photos I see almost everyday since I assumed the post of curator of my great grandfather's mansion in Kawit, Cavite (which now, is the Aguinaldo Shrine) have created more excitement in my job and pride in my ancestry. Here is a photo of my grandaunt Carmen Aguinaldo-Melencio as a teenager which I am trying to restore digitally. Just like me, she was once a teacher. I have just realized that she has a strong resemblance with my aunt Trinidad Aguinaldo-Velasco who was also a teacher. Lola Mameng, as we fondly call her, is the mom of retired supreme court justice Ameurfina A.Melencio-Herrera.

Wild Flowers...Beach Scene

I stumbled on this filtrographs which I did for my friend Warren while I was trying to recover my lost files. He took the original photos while he was on  vacation on a local island resort. Good thing I saved these on a different folder. As I view them, I find it difficult to recall how I came up with such post processed outputs using Photofiltre...

Nagcarlan Filtrographs

Took shots of the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery Historical Landmark (Laguna, Philippines) during a curators meeting of the National Historical Institute last January 15, 2010. Here are the filtrographed versions:

 

Laro opens at the Aguinaldo Shrine

Laro, a mixed media show on the Filipino identity, opened yesterday (Feb 7) at the Aguinaldo Shrine. Here are some pics.

Check out http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=154941&id=701310167
for more pics.
Laro runs until March 6, 2010. Call the Aguinaldo Shrine at (046) 434-2955 for inquiries.

Laro at the Shrine

Laro (Game) a visual art show on the evolution of our identity as Filipinos, opens at the audio-visual room of the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, on February 7, 2010, Sunday. The show opens at 3 PM with FAMAS President and Kawit Tourism Officer Chit A. Sambile as guest of honor.

Viewers of Laro are bound to be intrigued by art works that weave into a cohesive thought the experiences of generations of Pinoys. In never ending transitions, these experiences that have affected us in myriad ways are like games where people get the chance to either triumph or remain hopeful for the next turn. As we go through them, the expectations keep running.


Artists Nimfa Ursabia, Rex Domogma, Victor Ursabia, Byron Salarza, Sir Soni Chavez, Cristina Ramirez, Alain Austria and this author relate those transitions in mixed media assemblages and collages reflecting footnotes on history and visual reminders of our glorious past and the dream as a Nation.

Made possible through the generosity of the National Historical Institute and Cafe Marcello,  Laro runs until March 6, 2010.

For particulars, those interested may call the Aguinaldo Shrine via (046) 484-7643 or text/call 09279077749/09195919748.

Forefathers

It has been a month now since my December 2009 appointment as shrine curator. I practically live with a lot artifacts including vintage photos in every nook and cranny of the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite. Just love old pics especially if they are about family and old family friends. Here are two which I am helping preserve for posterity.

Photo of Emilio Aguinaldo, my greatgrandfather (Lolo Miong).Taken in the 1940s in the old garden of his home which now is the Aguinaldo Shrine.

Clockwise, Miguel Aguinaldo, our grandfather (Lolo Miguel) and eldest son of Emilio Aguinaldo, Emilio Aguinaldo, and Felicidad Aguinaldo, our great grandaunt (Lola Neneng). Photo was taken in the 1900s.

Passion For Printmaking

I mentioned in my blog entry dated Novemebr 10, 2009 how I long to do traditional printing. And in late November, 2009, I did try my hand on rubbercut printing after some prodding from Nimfa Ursabia. The passion was sparked when we both attended BAKAS, an exhibit celebrating 50th year of printmaking in the Philippines, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, November 2009. Here's the output with an old fretwork design as a subject.