"Jose Rizal and Switzerland" at Yuchengco Museum

RIZALizing the Future Culminating Event
Jose Rizal and Switzerland
Saturday, 29 October 2011
3:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Guest speakers: Ambeth Ocampo, Ambassador Maria Theresa Lazaro, and My Rizal 150
Presented in partnership with the Swiss Embassy

Symbolically linking Switzerland and the Philippines are the emblematic figures of two national heroes, Wilhelm Tell and Jose Rizal. Rizal translated into Tagalog Friedrich Schiller’s drama Wilhelm Tell, who embodied the values and ideals for which Rizal gave his life. In his lecture on “Jose Rizal and Switzerland,” Ambeth Ocampo will talk about Rizal’s links to Switzerland. Relations between the Philippines and Switzerland can be traced back to the early 19th century, when Swiss traders, missionaries, and travelers ventured into Southeast Asia. Since the establishment of a Swiss consulate in Manila—the first official representation of Switzerland in Asia—in 1862, exchange between the two countries has flourished. In her lecture on “Switzerland and the Philippines,” Ambassador Maria Theresa Lazaro will discuss the 150 years of diplomatic and trade relations, development cooperation, and cultural exchange between the two countries.

To Read My Review of this Talk "Jose Rizal and Switzerland" Please Click Here

Open to public and with admission (P100 for adults, P50 for students, P25 for children and senior citizens). Ambeth Ocampo's books on Jose Rizal will be available for sale, and a small reception to meet the speakers follows the program.For details, call Yuchengco Museum at 889-1234 or email info@yuchengcomuseum.org.

The Filipino Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins

Sharing you a children's book now a collector's item The Filipino Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins published i n1923. It is very well researched as if it had been written by someone who had visited the Philippines when the author has never been here! Like “It was a busy place,” she wrote about a dock along the Pasig River. “Men were unloading fish and vegetables from other boats…. Other men were piling the produce on carts drawn by carabaos and hurrying away to the markets. Scores of boats were tied along the banks, and in and out and up and down the waterway busy tugs plied back and forth, filling the air with the screams of their whistles and with smoke from their stacks…. There were also ships just sailing away loaded with sugar, tobacco, lumber, hemp, and coconuts.” Except that the family carabao is named Bobtail and the dog Dingo.

The Filipino Twins is part of a series of 26 children's books (1910 - 1930) known as "The Twins Books" about the usual topic always attached to a Filipino setting - struggles of a family to overcome the poverty that threatens them. Most of the stories are twins (The Dutch Twins, The Japanese Twins, The Irish Twins etc) composed of one boy and one girl, the only exception is The Spanish Twins , which is about two boys. Each book took place in a different country or time in America's past. These books are now hard to find now hard to find You're lucky if you have one of these!

New Philippine Peso Bills as One of the Best Currency Series in theWorld

Yahoo News Philippines reports despite its design errors, the new Philippine peso bills called the "New Generation Currency (NGC)" series has been judged as one of the best currency series in the world in an international design competition by the International Association of Currency Affairs (Iaca). 

Sri Lanka bagged the Best Currency Award. Uganda's new series of rupees is one of the finalists as well. IACA is an international organization of central banks, currency-issuing authorities, currency producers and suppliers.  To read more of the news you may click here

FREE Admission: Taiwan Film Festival 2011 at Shangri-La Plaza

 Schedule:  
 October 21
No Puedo Vivir Sin - 2:00pm
Zoom Hunting - 5:00pm
Gangster Rock - 8:00pmOctober 22
The Magical Washing Machine - 2:00pm
Gangster Rock - 5:00pm
Three Times - 8:00pm

October 23
Zoom Hunting - 2:00pm
Pinoy Sunday - 5:00pm
No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti - 8:00pm

October 24
Three Times - 2:00pm
Jump! Boys - 5:00pm
Pinoy Sunday - 8:00pm

October 25
Gangster Rock - 2:00pm
No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti - 5:00pm
The Magical Washing Machine - 8:00pm

October 26
Jump! Boys - 2:00pm
The Magical Washing Machine - 5:00pm
Zoom Hunting - 8:00pm

For more information, you may check their Facebook Fan Page here

Free Birdwatching Trip at La Mesa Ecopark

Free guided birdwatching trip at the La Mesa Ecopark on October 16, Sunday. Hosted by the the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.You may visit www.birdwatch.ph for more information.

Check their Facebook Event for more details here

Watch Película: The 10th Spanish Film Festival

Twenty films from Spain and Latin America are now showing from October 5 to 16 at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1 to celebrate Película, the annual Pelicula Spanish film festival in Manila. There will be special screenings of films: Raya Martin's Buenas noches, España (Good night, Spain) and the classic 1961 Golden Palm Cannes Film Festivalwinner, Viridiana. After watching, you may vote for your favorite film and help it win the Audience Choice Award this year. The screening of the winning film is on October 16, 9:30 p.m. Tickets are at P65 each.

For more information about 10th Pelicula Spanish film festival, visit pelicula.ph

An Introduction to Writing About Arts & Culture Writing Workshop

“With the growing art scene in Manila and the increasing number of Filipino artists receiving international attention, it is only appropriate to shine the spotlight on Philippine arts, culture, and heritage. Learn how to share and write about these topics to a wider audience. Get an overview of the different fields and opportunities in writing about arts and culture–be it visual arts, architecture, theater, music, or design.” - Writer’s Block Philippines 

An Introduction to Writing About Arts & Culture
October 8 (Sat), 9 am-6pm
November 7, 10, & 14 (Mon-Thu-Mon), 6-9pm
Workshop Fee: P3,500 (10% off WBP members & 15% off for students)

The Yuchengco Museum and Writer’s Block Philippines are offering “Writing About Arts and Culture,” a series of writing workshops that bring together writing skills development, cultural information, and art appreciation. The first workshop in the series will be facilitated by Yuchengco Museum curator Jeannie Javelosa and administrator Dannie Alvarez, alongside Writer’s Block founders Ana Santos, Nikka Sarthou, and Niña Terol-Zialcita. Interested participants can choose either the weekend workshop on October 8, or the weeknight series for three nights of November. This will cover:

• An overview of Philippine arts, culture, and heritage in contemporary life
• Telling the story of arts and culture
• Asking the right questions
• Q&A, case studies, and a writing exercise

Slots are limited to only 30 participants. The workshop fee is P3,500, which includes snacks, workshop materials, and a certificate. For registration and more details, contact Yuchengco Museum at 889-1234 or email info@yuchengcomuseum.org.