"We, the survivors"

Hello,

 

                I guess this makes 4 JUFRAN blogs in a row since I’ve been given this time to just think since my grandma is very heavy on my mind. It’s just the fact that I’ve lived in my house with my grandma for ALL my life & it’s as if my grandparents are a “second set” of parents to me. These blogs and reflections and being around community folk is what’s making me strong through these overall tough times. I’ll also share that it’s been tears and an influx of emotions every day… The week was my first incomplete school week of the semester. To bring things to a lighter note, I show my cultural piece first before my reflection.

 

we, the survivors (excerpt) by lolan buhain sevilla

we survivors
the spirit warriors
somehow chosen ones
the dancing, crying, writing ones
chanting and singing
the life
into our rage

we, a family
born
out of circumstance
the knowing
knowing
of same
new scar skin
slowly connecting
our bruised bodies
and soaring spirits

we, the fighting
one-by-one
two-by-two
three-by-three
breaking chains
and cycles
rebirthing our souls
like phoenix wings

we, the survivors
somehow chosen
healing the world
and each other
loving our pain
the same
we do
our power

we, the survivors
surviving

surviving
survived.

 

The written piece was done by Lolan Sevilla, a Kasama who used to organize in Anakbayan East Bay and is now residing in Ney York and I believe she’s getting her feet wet into NYCHRP (New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines). Here’s a glimpse of her bio: “Lolan Buhain Sevilla is a butch Pinay cultural worker who believes art can inspire the masses to action. You can currently find her organizing with AnakBayan Eastbay, a mass-based youth and student organization supporting the people's movement toward National Democracy in the Philippines. She is the author of Translating New Brown, a collection of short stories and poetry, which won the Philippine American Writers & Artists (PAWA) 2005 Calatagan Award. Lolan is also co-founder of Kreatibo, a queer Pinay artist collective, which won the 2005 Lesbian Theatre Award from Curve Magazine.” http://www.lolansevilla.com/

 

                I would like to start and be open to the fact that during the workshop, It wasn’t easy trying to be open to the subject since I myself am a heterosexual male and I’m still learning to watch my tendencies and overall just trying to check myself at moments.  I think that one thing that could have been helpful was go over the community agreements at the beginning? Deconstructing and Rebuilding: Gender, Sexuality, and Love , was the dynamic of the day. I think as a male, society has constructed me and others into fulfilling the gender roles that we live in today. Whether it is the notion that us men, are supposed to be proud, strong, emotionless, & overall embrace our masculinity. Growing up to be a “MAN” is no different than the conditioning & brainwashing of the Filipino people & other people of color alike. In my family, Womyn are the majority, but when you are a male, like me, like many boys, we are told not to cry, because it shows that you’re “weak.” I’ll also like to admit that I have used derogatory terms such as “hella gay,” “no homo,” & “fag.” It’s probably because I surrounded myself with “friends” that overly use the terms without any thought and just that society makes it acceptable. The kinds of actions and how we act reflect on who we ourselves associate with.  A person, who is surrounded by these words, can’t help but join into society’s pressures. Like I said, I’m still trying to improve on checking my tendencies as a heterosexual male & I hope y’all have the patience.

                I’d also like to admit that I may be knowledgeable in many areas & I’ve come to a generalization that the LGBTQ community is something that I haven’t paid much attention to. Maybe for the fact that I’ve really haven’t gotten a chance to dive into its politics/culture and see how it affects me. One thing I’d really like to learn is how to be an “Ally.” As a member of the community, I feel that sometimes when an issue doesn’t feel like it affects me, then I feel like I don’t have that much say since I haven’t educated myself enough into the issue. Prop 8, I can re-call in my memory that for a couple of people, their stances were merely “hype” & “just b/c everyone was for it” type of deal since voting was also the new thing for my generation.  The term “Downe” is totally new for me. Being exposed to a whole complete culture is something fresh and throughout the day I was filled with “woahs”.

                To be a man, the patriarchal society we live in today just doesn’t reflect our history & roots. Spanish colonization has really destroyed the evidence of the kind of society the Philippines used to be.  Womyn used to be at the top and the Matriarchal society that once existed during Pre-Colonization is something I kind of want to see into action and makes me wonder how that was. Were males under oppression? If so, at what level? As I learn more and “find myself” so they say during this point in my life, I’m growing to accept my role in the Movement, as a Filipino-American living in the U.S., & as a Man.  When I say as a Man, I probably may be seen as a “pussy” or “cunt” for neglecting and not acting like the typical male. Meaning that I have to drop the senseless pride I have inside me, in order for a lot of things to work. Pride, it really is the male’s demise. We always hide behind it to fill the void that our insecurities give us.  I’m a living example of being a person whose senseless pride comes out when there’s a complete “void” in my life.  As I make these kinds of mistakes, I learn that the word “proud” has its more positive context. To be proud that I am a Filipino-American that takes pride in his history, his country, his family, his school, his community (even if times I want to give up on them.) Constantly humbling oneself where he/she came from in order to “be the change that he wants to see in the world.” Taking the time to learn and understand is a step to attack the structure of Heterosexism & Sexism.

 

DAMN, EVERYTHING is systematic.

What we gon’ do about it though?

I think... We should…

 

Analyze, Organize, & Mobilize.

 

One Love,

“Ian who be screamin’”

"Turning silence into song"

Hello,

 

            As much the ND (National Democratic) Movement here in the United States is moving in support of the movement back home in the motherland, the cause is rooted deeper back home. The different sectors are exploited. Women. Youth/Students. Workers. Peasants.  When we all watched the video from the CPA (Cordilleras People’s Alliance) all I can ever really think of was the STK (Stop The Killings) Campaign waged by BAYAN USA. I wear two pins on my backpack to not only show them off as an accessory, but a way to show people what I’m about. I get the occasional “what are those pins for?” & I can tell them with full confidence what they’re for, where I got them, & why I have them on.  As I mentioned the enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings have been escalated ever since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took office in the RP (Republic of the Philippines.) We may feel anger as our first impulsive emotion when we see videos that are really good at agitating an issue, but as the quote in the video says

 

“Turning silence into song,”

 

 which I believe is to transform our sorrow, anger, anything negative we feel into something that can be a positive motivating force.  I think this is where “Patience, Understanding, Loyalty” comes in. Sound familiar? It’s a lyric from “Loyalty” by the Blue Scholars.  To maintain “Loyalty” to the people, we gotta have the “Patience” to try and understand who the real enemy is. To have that “Understanding” that a death squad in Mindanao or in the Cordi’s were sent out to kill or kidnap by someone. We just gotta keep on asking the questions, who sent them?, who trained these Filipinos to kill Filipinos? Obviously the GMA puppet administration backed by the U.S. The Balikatan Exercises in the Philippines allow the United States to send their own troops and have joint exercises which totally violates the constitution where foreign troops aren’t allowed in Philippine soil. The root cause is again, U.S. Imperialism. Our tax dollars fund these death squads.  The money we send back home to our families also help fund these death squads. 

            The thing that trips me the most, is that it’s Filipinos killing Filipinos. That’s some insane brainwashing, conditioning done to our own people.  I shared that my biological Father was a AFP Marine stationed in Mindanao around the 80’s. I talk to my mom and all she can ever tell me that he was the nicest man in the world. That position in the military is a job. It gets something paid. The system has pitted Filipino versus Filipino. It really is some genius work the people in power have done. They’re working so hard to keep us down.  Videos like the one we watched are just really good refreshers why it’s important to do what we do.  To see such a powerful message in that video gave me goosebumps… I’d also like to admit that whenever I witness the movement through a video, a “makibaka!” that thunders the streets, I naturally get goose bumps. I have no idea why, but like I said, it was a good refresher for me and a good agitation tool for others.

 

Here’s a couple of videos that a fellow Kasama I look up to named Ivan made…

 

 

 

One Love,

“Ian who be screamin’”

"Enjoy Capitalism"

 

“On the last day in November, swellin' in ranks
Went to chant down the mighty IMF and World Bank
A gathering of people in peaceful assembly”

-“50k Deep”, Blue Scholars,  Bayani, 2007

Hello,

 

            The first thing that comes to my mind whenever the topic of Imperialism & Globalization is International Monetary Fund, World Bank, & the World Trade Organization. A bunch of words and acronyms that I don’t fully understand yet, but I can share what I do know… Reflecting on how the workshop went, It was pretty information heavy, but it was good info.  I caught myself in moment where it was a lot to take in a short amount of time, something that I’ve been learning being an organizer with the community is that everything isn’t going to be fun. That also goes with life.

Well anyways, The IMF-WB-WTO are some powerful forces that are in control of the wealth the world has to share.  It’s representation is dominated by western, first world countries, and I believe(correct me if I’m wrong…) the U.S. has the most representation and that eventually means decision making, & overall, POWER. When I hear globalization, I think of it as Imperialism’s most current modern day form.  More than a colonial rule, but a total hegemonic entity in which the people are hurt internally through their culture and media. Going back to the IMF-WB-WTO, this group of individuals are the lenders of money to the Third World. I’ll use myself as an example and represent the Third World. I need money for college in order that someday I can get a job and feed my family. The Third World needs money in order to have an opportunity to be industrialized and eventually rise up and become a “developing” Second World Nation.  Me and the Third World need money to get an education and get industrialized.  I turn to my financial aid for some help, I’m also lucky enough that I am able to qualify for money. A Third World Nation in Asia, Africa, or Latin America turns to the IMF-WB-WTO.  I get money from financial aid; the Third World gets money from the IMF-WB-WTO.  One problem, how am I gonna pay for my financial aid when it may take me an average of 5 years to graduate, depending if I have to commute, move out to the city, get a job, and help my family? One problem, how is the Third World gonna pay for the loans from the IMF-WB-WTO when the programs that are supposed to structurally benefit the people are only benefiting the ruling class?

            Me & the Third World are stuck in a system that doesn’t benefit us at all. I know for a fact that what I want to do in life is not what society has bred everyone to be. A worker in their assembly line to uphold their power. Being Filipino, my parents want me to be an engineer since that mentality has been conditioned in their minds since Spanish & American Colonization. To be real, it’s some good money, being an engineer, but does it equal my happiness? What is the definition of happy? The trying to be an engineer or nurse is probably  very common in the Filipino Community. Does working the system really benefit us to the fullest?  I say that there is always someone at the top exploiting the masses financially, physically, mentally, & emotionally. We may receive the “benefits” of the system through material gains (cars,houses,etc.) new status in society (feeling apart of the middle class), & basically more privileges (having time). Imperialism & Globalization are just the result of Capitalism. “The Beast.” We really are the bullet in the belly of the beast. So it gives me hope that if we do spread the knowledge, help the movement flourish, we can really damage the system, capitalism, “the beast” from within. Until then…

“Enjoy Capitalism”

One Love,

“Ian who be screamin’”

 

"Art requires time"

Hello,

Art as Activism. As the quote says… “we shouldn’t do art for art’s sake.” One of the things that stuck out to me was the part about how your class background reflects on the kind of art a person makes & the message they are trying to form. I myself would admit that I’m not specialized in any form of art, or maybe it’s untapped within me & all I need is a little push… The workshop also opened my eyes to the fact that the forces in power also use art to oppress us and maintain the system. That alone, made me think about all the images, visuals we see in the media are forms of art, but these artists are paid. Their work is commoditized. Someone made billions for drawing out that Nike logo, someone made billions for writing up these popular shows on t.v., and someone made billions putting out ego driven, misogynistic, pointless music. Those people in power know how to appeal at us in many different forms using art.

With that in mind, if they’re using art to prevail against us, why don’t we use it back at them? Kultural Work is when art is used to transform the system. I’m a witness to the various kinds of kultural work that has been applied to the movement, the community, & ourselves. When I learned that art has a form and a function, it broke down to the process into creating a work of art. A written piece needs a function and it could be informative and tell a story. A painting can also have the same effect and share emotions through color, contrast. One thing that still is on my mind is that that class background really is a factor in who is putting out art.

Art requires time.

Time is scarce resource that many do not have. To have time is privilege. To those that are creating art have time and it says a lot with what they do with their time. A person that paints by the beach on a nice sunny day will paint the landscape, because he/she has the time and for their own self escape. It makes sense when you connect it back to power and privilege. Art is just another tool we can use against the system and form a culture of resistance. I’ve been lucky enough to see this first hand at the high school level. I have friends that write, paint, make video, and I’ve always admired them from afar since I myself haven’t really showed what I can do.

Here's a piece by Mike Dream.

“Ian who be screamin’”

CATCHING UP.

I'm three posts behind so this is going to be a long entry. =D ready?! okay GOOO!

LKC WORKSHOP-

I'm happy we got to go to LKC for a workshop, I'm apart of their tuesday study halls so i know it well. The workshop itself was very interesting because a lot of the information was from a general perspective, not just of filipinos. 1968 was one hell of a year. I knew nothing much about that year before I came to SFSU. I had no idea people were able to join together to fight for their rights-- To see that, that many people were able to unite for a cause brings a sense of hope. We still have a very long way to go though, we can't forget about the reasons why those people came together in the first place. My pluses to this workshop would definitely be the pictures and power point presentation, as well as having some of the sources used handy-- like the books. Things we could work on, like everyone has mentioned was the timing of the workshop, this goes for all of them so far, i feel like we never have enough time and everything is rushed.

ART & ACTIVISM-

I'm always inspired whenever i see pieces of art, which is why i liked this workshop. I enjoyed the mural walk around the campus, and reading about what each mural stands for. I think that we need things like this around our school because it gives each student something to be proud of, and it gives us a little representation. I do think that since it was called art and activism, that we needed some more art and not just visual art, but other kinds as well. I think we could have seen more pieces throughout the power point, especially as examples to some of the words and ideas that we were presented with. I do wish we had time at the end for the activity, but maybe we could do it some other time, perhaps during another kick-it? anyway, i was very inspired to keep on being creative whether with words, pictures, music, dance or whatever. everything is some sort of art right?

IMPERIALISM AND GLOBALIZATION-
I just want to start by saying that the activity at the end of the workshop was my favorite part, because i really liked the picture that my group came up with =D Our picture was of a beast, inspired by the quote "the belly of the beast" and there were people inside the beast breaking free, through education and activism. As you can tell, i enjoy drawing pictures. I almost cried during the reflection, when talking about how everything affects our families. It always gets to me when talking about personal family issues because the only reason i am in school is to get a well paying job help my family out, as with anyone else who is out there working, or trying to work. Everything is done to help the family out. This workshop was again done with a power point presentation so maybe we should mix it up a little bit and try something different?! I guess thats my only critique.


its always an inspiration to be learning with you guys...

I worked really hard on this weeks creative piece and i've been working on this tag for a while so its still not colored in yet but i wanted to share it...i don't really want to explain all of it so i'll let you guys analyze it and what not. =D go ahead! It says SPEAK, and thats pretty much all i'm going to tell you. Let me know what you guys think!

Tres.

Sorry for my lack of commitment to being on top of these blogs! Everything has just been culminating at the same time and I've been neglecting one thing or the other. But no excuses!

Workshop @ LKC:
I think it's been said that you can never stop learning something new about a familiar subject, no matter how many times you encounter it. I can surely say that about the workshop at LKC. I'm quite familiar with LKC because of tutoring for LFS and because of PYC and every time I leave that place, I always get something new out of that. Sure, I've learned about what went down in the 1960's, but there's always another side that isn't told. I think some things that were very new to me, even though they were taught to me during my high school duration, were Watergate and the Red Scare, I believe. I wasn't every fond about history at the time, so any dates or any historical information that was probably given to me didn't register too well when I first heard it, so in a way, I (re)learned something new.

Arts&Activism:
I think I get the point about art being political. Looking back on it now, I used to write for myself, to get my emotions out there, and now looking at recent poetry I've written, I realize some of it was political in some way. One piece I wrote was called "Prop H8" in regards to the passing of Prop 8. The message was very clear in my poem that I thought it was clearly illogical for people to pose that and use campaigns to influence the people into thinking that same sex marriage was actually going to do some harm to everyone. Bullshit. I really believe that people took too much into context and never stopped to look at the present. For example, one thing that I thought was very stupid, and I mean very stupid, was the reasoning that schools would have to teach about same sex marriage once Prop 8 fails. For one thing, the California Education Code already states that they have to teach it already. I can talk more about this later, but I have to continue with talking about the workshop before I stray away. Art is a form of expression, but also a tool for us to relay a message to everyone without the use of straightforward words. People draw, people paint, they sing, they dance, they photograph, etc. Everything counts as an art, and I think that people can use it to their advantage to get a message across.

Imperialism&Globalization:
I didn't get to mention this previously during the workshop, but I remember clearly we started talking about how the these past issues continue to haunt us in the present time. When I passed on my turn to go, I was actually thinking about my parents in Las Vegas. Times have gotten rough and my parents are without a job. My sister informed me a couple weeks back, maybe even a month ago, that my dad was really up to his head in stress and even mentioned to my sister that he's thinking about killing himself. This really hurts me, and in all honesty, I really don't know what to do. Heart and mind conflict so much with each other that I can't/don't want to think about them right now because I'm trying to do what they wanted me to do, but at the same time I need to be there for my family and be their support as much as they are mine, or more. It's just too difficult to process so many things in what's going on that if I lose focus on what I was set out to do, I won't be able to get back on that track. Imperialism & Globalization has gotten the best of everyone and I'm honestly doing my best to balance things out so that no one loses sanity because of it.

I love putting videos of choirs because I want people to appreciate a different side of music that you can't emulate with beats and a voice. I'm giving you three videos (three to make up for the fact that I have to make up three blogs) that I thought were very amazing to listen to.


I personally love this last piece because it's a very hopeful song. It's really beautiful and if you listen to the lyrics, it's really deep.

There Will Be Rest
There will be rest and sure stars shining,
Over the rooftops, crowned with snow.
A reign of rest, serene, forgetting.
The music of stillness, holy and low.

I will make this world of my devising on top of dreams,
In my lonely mind, I shall find the crystal of peace.
Stars.. Stars I shall find..

With that, I hope you all have a great week,
--Kace Face.

Out of touch

POST UP!

Whats good guys,

Tonight, I lost another intramural basketball game which makes the team I'm part of 1-5 (1 win, 5 loses), which sucks, but there's always the next semester. I'm sorry for venting the loss on an educational blog, but DAMN we suck. With all that aside here goes my entry.

Last weeks ED got me thinking about my family and why they came to the states. Besides having more oppurtunity, I wondered why the Phils was struggling when my family was there. Theres plenty of resources and the Phils has the highest import need for rice!? I also thought about the corrupt government, poverty, the economy, man just thinking about the Philippines gets me more excited for the next meeting, but in a good way. I have not been to the PI yet and I can't wait to go there and visit my fathers side. I haven't met any relatives from his side and I'm looking foward to that day. I've always adimired my parents for working hard and barely taking any vacations since I've been alive. I always wondered why we barely went on vacations and now I know why.

The activity was fun, we had to artistically represent our fight as the belly of the beast. One group drew a picture, another recited some poetry and the group I was part of "moved" our representation of our fight. I loved everyones presentation, from the beautifully drawn manbearpig, to the five man Chocolate Rain Ensemble and of course the "belly of the beast" movement technique. Each holds a special place in the brain of mine.

One of my inspirations,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzgZPrudKKg

The new guy,

Ruben

"Bag Lady"

Throughout this entire ED my family was constantly on my mind. Imperialism+Globalization does equal bad. It breaks my hurt to think of how my loved ones are struggling in the Philippines. My own blood must question if their going to make it through a single day, week, and month. My dad's side lives in the Bicol and right now things in this area are not good, especially with the issue of the VFA. I fear for their well being everyday. I pray to God that they are able to eat, stay safe, and have the strength to keep fighting. I really enjoyed the part on how the women in the Philippines are being effected by Imperialism and Globalization. One of my cousin's is a prostitute. This is not something she wants to do, but was forced to do. In order for her family to survive she feels she needs to sell her body for money. She is a beautiful, intelligent, and kind spirited person. But her spirit is slowly dying every time she walks out the door and goes to work. So many people are suffering and these people are my family. I wish I could do more to help them because this issue hits close to home. Education is a very important part to this aspect because I believe this is the first step towards change.
I really liked the game we played in the beginning of the ED. It was fun and a really good energizer. I also enjoyed the last activity we did in groups. It was cool to see all the different forms of awareness we used to discuss the topic. I love how we have so many talented Jufranians. Each person's talent was used to relay an important message.

The effects of Imperialism and Globalization on women → Prostitution
~Dedicated to Ate Grace~

“Bag Lady”

She's like a bag lady carrying so much baggage, but Eryka Badu would say “the day has come when all them bags has gotten in her way”
She carries the struggle of her family and people on her shoulders. She keeps on going but the fire in her heart is slowly getting colder.
Walking out of her two bedroom shack that holds 12 people she puts on a smile...she tells her younger siblings she'll only be gone for a little while
She fixes her hair, puts on makeup and holds back her tears knowing the ugliness she is going to face. She's tired of living this life at a slow and painful pace.
Don't cry, don't weep and don't be afraid...make him feel like he's the king of the world...”Hello sir, would u like a good time today?”
Every kiss and every touch is worth a price...don't cry bag lady, remind yourself u need to make it through the night
This is for the family and the food we need to eat, this is for my adings so they have a place to sleep.
To my kuya and ate for you to get the education you deserve, to my nanay and tatay please forgive for the things you have heard.
She's a lady of the night and yes, she knows how to treat a man right. Her make up is smudged and hair messed up...she's so much better than this because she's a diamond in the rough.
She wishes she could lie as if she was happy but she can't hide this hurt inside.
She wants to go home and be far away from this torture...she closes her eyes and says, “Would you like to know what I'm like in bed?”
She's screaming on the inside and calling for help, this is her life, this is how the card's were dealt.
She's the bag lady with all the baggage that's hurting her back, whatever she does she feels there is no way for her life to be on track
No one ever told her the one thing you must hold onto is yourself, but sadly she let that go a long time ago.
She wants things to get better and break free from her burden. She has so much potential, she needs to be in school learnin'
There's nothing she can do, there's nothing she can say. She's the bag lady just trying to make her way.

The One and Only,
Kristina Nagales

The Message within the Brush Strokes

When I think of art a lot of images come to mind. I think of music, painting, sculpting, dancing, poetry, writing, etc. Art is a very broad topic for me. I have had a strong passion for art ever since I was little. I consider myself to be well rounded in art. My passion for singing began at family parties when I was first introduced to the magic mic. My love for dancing all began when I would dance in front of the mirror in my room when I was in middle school. Writing came to me when I found my self to be sad or upset and I let the pen and paper do all the talking. I did all these things because it was what I wanted to do. Although it may have seemed silly, it was who I was as a person. I found this as a form of self expression of who I am. However; as I got older and entered college, art was being used to express more than who the artist was, but the message behind their work. When I first came to San Francisco State I never thought much of the murals on the outside of the Cesar Chavez student center. But after taking Asian American and Ethnic Studies classes I found out their true meaning, the underlying message. The ED on Art as Activism opened my eyes to things I never payed much attention to. I learned a lot of things when we walked around campus looking at the murals. I saw the detail within the murals, why there were certain images on the murals, and the overall struggle to have these murals put up. I know now when I walk by these works of art to no longer ignore them, but acknowledge the strength within the brush strokes.
Although the ED was very informative, there was a lot of information for me to take in. At some points I was a little confused with the vocabulary and found myself lost. I think a delta for this ED would be to thoroughly go into the definitions making it more tangible for others to understand. However; with the amount of information that was taught to us I was able to learn something new. I never knew the deeper context in how art was used. I honestly wish I was talented enough to paint a picture, but for now I use my voice, dancing skills, and writing to create my image for change.

The one and only,
Kristina Nagales

Art is Education

Art is Education

It is the only thing that can be understood throughout a variety of cultures and ethnicities. It spans languages and countries. Art is the essence of creativity and expression of body, mind, and soul. I whole heartedly believe that this workshop was very effective in showing us that art is a huge part of society. Sure, i say i do a lot of art and a lot of creative things, but i have never stepped back and noticed how important it really is. It can be used as a tool to broaden peoples horizons, to educate people, to have society think critically, or even to hinder one's ability into thinking for themselves. Art can be used as good or evil, right or wrong. That is why it is political. It holds power, not just in the physical sense (such as buying a camera) but in a theoretical and deeper sense. It mind fucks you, for a lack of a better term. It can make you do things to better society or to destroy society. It is THAT POWERFUL!

Taking that mural walk was a nice thing to see. Not often do i get to see visual art portrayed in that way. Usually i see art that does not hold any significance toward me, such as the paintings of kings and queens or splattered paint on a white canvas that sold for millions of dollars. But these murals were different. They exuded pride, and thrust change and revolution under the limelight of this campus. it highlights struggle and it highlights heroism. Ofcourse it is wrong for anyone to judge what is "bad" art, but art in the mainstream doesn't necessarily use these techniques. Art in the mainstream doesn't educate like our campus murals do. Art needs to educate in order for change. And in all respect, i believe that this is what art needs nowadays. Even in music, being that that is an art form as well, needs to educate more, rather than stupid shit about goin hyphy on the radio. Truly, if art was more like this, society would have a more open mind.

What i am hopeful for is the spreading of this kind of art. i have taken it upon myself to continue the art i do by portraying it in my music. I want to educate. So quite fittingly, i posted my new track on my website myspace.com/bayarea916. i hope you guys enjoy this track, its been a long time coming. The track is entitled P.R.O.P.A.G.A.N.D.A. and it really challenges you into hinking more critically about what you see and perceive in society and in art as well. 

- Ben Paz "The prophet with the knowledge rhymes a lecture with a logic" hahaha i think that's what i said in the 1st cipher. =)

Of Pea-sized Bladders and "Artivistas"

Kapatids,

May I just say that I'm really upset right now, because this is my third attempt to post this entry, and it keeps on malfunctioning! None of it is saved either, so I'd have to start from scratch all over again. UGH technology! I miss it when we all used to turn in notes. Tangible notes.

I apologize for the lateness of this blog. I try to be up to date as much as possible, but it's been really difficult. ESPECIALLY, when your computer keeps failing on you.

Bitter feelings aside, I'll be including 1.) LKC workshop reflection, and 2.) Art in Activism workshop reflection , in this one long and chunky blog.
________________________

LKC in DC.

I'm sorry I was late, and had to hold up the workshop because I had to pee. My bladder was exploding. I really think it would've been cool if we were early...as a matter of fact, we could've done the entire iternship workshop at LKC. That way, we'll save travel time.

So, 1968 is one crazy year. I've had lectures about it from my Ethnic Studies classes, but we didn't go over it in such great detail. For one thing, I didn't know that there were white progressive folks (whose name escapes me right now) who organized with other organizations of color. That, I thought was amazing, and it makes me wonder why there isn't much of that going on today.

I also loved the images from Sergio's powerpoint. They told stories that no words can ever tell. I needed those photographs to inspire me, and remind me why I'm in photojournalism in the first place.

The workshop was such a refresher, and it made me hella want to live in 1968!

I just remember thinking: Man, why aren't we as fired up as they were back then? We have the same issues today with all the budget cats, taxes going to military arms instead of education, the World Bank's greedy ass making poor people even hungrier... Why isn't everyone else as agitated and angry WITH us?

I feel like everyone was more sensitive back in the days. We've all gotten so jaded now because we're at a time when we can enjoy the luxury of having more choices--choices that folks from 1968 helped us claim. Had it not been for them, we wouldn't have such comfort in the first place. I understand that their work doesn't end there either. We owe it to them and our kids to continue the legacy--to develop OUR own legacy today.

Anyway, here's my kultural piece, in dedication to our PRESENT:


Truth by ~FayeYAHEY on deviantART

Because I am NOT about to pay thousands of dollars for MY RIGHT to higher education--and I ain't about to have my kid go through the same agony.
________________________





Artivista is not just Mike Luat's other name...

I believe he shares it with other "artivistas" who use art as their form of activism. Artist + Aktivista = Artivista. Get it? Yes, Mike Luat is the one who rose to fame with that name, but I think it can be shared to many kasamas who do kultural work.

I liked the workshop, but I did feel like it was lacking of visuals. I mean, for an art presentation, it sure didn't have that many images. (I'm an honest kid; just gotta say what I have to say. Hope y'all don't mind.)

I appreciate the thoroughness of the powerpoint, but I wish we'd have actual examples of the art that we went over. Honestly, I still don't know what scientific art is, and I wish we had various examples to help us understand it better.

I also wish that we had kultural artists to come and speak as well. Like Artivista (Mike) for example. Maybe even Jessicka Antonio.

It's really cool to see art as something that's produced by kasamas--folks like us--and not by people who have the money to go to an art class, studying Monet, and sucha sucha.

Art is so much more than validating your work through how much money it makes. It's more than just selling it to bourgeois art connoisseurs who have hella moolah. They'll probably use it for brags in their next house party, too. That takes away from the essence of why you made your art in the first place. If you make art for the money--then what is it REALLY for? Do you still do it to express yourself if you paint for someone by request? Hm.

To me, art can turn a blank canvas into stories of love, pain and struggle. It's a piece of poetry that can amplify even the smallest voice; an ode to those who can't hear; a picture portrait of those who are invisible. You do it because it's your outlet of frustration (or something), not because it's your job.

I still hope we get to do something artsy next workshop! Art really does help us become more vulnerable, and I feel like that's something that can help us get to know each other a little bit better. Maybe it'll help us bond even more.

Anyway, this is my art piece. I couldn't find anything else that was fitting for this entry, so I just chose this:

Antique Belief by ~FayeYAHEY on deviantART


FYI, I'm a self-proclaimed Agnostic, who used to be a devoted Catholic. Well, I was only "devoted" because I was made to feel that I have to. It's like that in the Philippines. I wish I was kidding. =(



Ingat!
Faye from the Bay