pURMt-Suki November

ISSN 0118-7910
Volume XVIII Issue 2
november 2014
T h e o f f i c i a l n e w s l e tt e r o f t h e J a pa n F o u n dat i o n , M a n i l a
www.jfmo.org.ph
www.jfmanila.wordpress.com
IN THIS ISSUE
Upcoming Events
JFM Activity Report
eiga sai:
Building Stronger
Family Ties amidst Disaster
IN THIS ISSUE:
Upcoming Events
JFM Activity Report
Run and Learn—
New Curatorial Constellation
Building Resilience
“Who’s Afraid of Disasters?”
BEYOND Tomorrow Summer Program
HANDs Project
Earth Manual Project Exhibition
Move Philippines
upcoming events:
Earth manual project exhibition
November 8 to December 7, 2014
Ayala Museum, Makati City
The Japan Foundation in partnership with the KIITO, NPO Plus Arts and Ayala Museum,
brings the Earth Manual Project exhibition to the Philippines with the aim of raising
awareness about the disaster risk reduction, sharing the disaster preparedness practices of
neighboring Asian countries, and further developing the resilience of the Filipino people
and communities. The exhibition features 11 projects which address the common disasters
– earthquake, typhoon and flood. Lectures and workshops will also be held on weekends of
the exhibition run from November 8 to December 7 at Ayala Museum.
move pHILIPPINES
November 14, 2014
Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City
The Disaster Preparedness program demonstration entitled “MOVE
Philippines” is on November 14 at the Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro.
Selected teachers and students of the university will facilitate the demonstration
of games and programs for children based on the six-day workshop in August
conducted by the Japan Foundation, Manila and resource persons Hirokazu
Nagata of NPO Plus Arts, industrial designer Ruttikorn Vuttikorn and creatives
from the Manila-based design studio Plus63. Cagayan de Oro is one of the
provinces ravaged by the Typhoon Sendong in 2011 that claimed the lives of
more than 600 people.
viva exCON 2014
November13 - 16, 2014
Bacolod
The Japan Foundation, Manila will invite Mr. Keisuke Ozawa, Acting Director, Art Initiative Tokyo (AIT) to attend the Visayas
Islands Visual Arts Exhibition & Conference (VIVA ExCon). The VIVA Excon is a festival among artists from all over the Visayas
including the islands of Negros, Cebu, Panay, Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Guimaras, Siquijor and Boracay. This three-day festivity is a local
initiative towards the promotion and strengthening of cooperation among visual art groups in the region.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Project glocal
transi(en)t manila
November 28 - 29, 2014
Escolta, City of Manila
Manila’s heritage district Escolta will be the focus of 13 artists
of Project Glocal Transi(en)t Manila whose theme for 2014
is the synergy among art + technology, heritage and people
in urban setting. Each artist is tasked to create a project that
explores the history and enhance or challenge the present
condition of these public spaces. They are given 13 days onsite to produce either an installation or a performance and
showcase it in the evenings of November 29 and 30 in Escolta
and Intramuros, respectively. Project Glocal Transi(en)t Manila
is presented by 98B COLLABoratory in partnership with Japan
Foundation, Manila.
Run and learn—
new curatorial
constellation
December 2, 2014 – January 28, 2015
Vargas Museum, Quezon City
Run & Learn: New Curatorial Constellations is the Japan
Foundation’s project with young, promising curators from the
Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan. Chosen
from competitive curatorial workshops, these emerging
curators were invited for a short-term residency in Japan
where they were given the opportunity to meet with artists,
art historians, critics, and curators to develop an understanding
of curatorial developments in Asia. As part of this project, four
of the participating curators will present a group exhibition
at the Vargas Museum called “Forces at Work,” which will run
from December 2, 2014 to January 28, 2015.
JFM grants:
ALTERNATIVE ASIA
98B COLLABoratory
November 15 – December 16, 2014
Organized by Art Center Ongoing, an independent
art space in Tokyo, in collaboration with 98B
COLLABoratory in Manila, six Japanese artists selected
by the curator of Art Center Ongoing will carry
out research, create and present new artworks in
Escolta during their one-month residency with 98B
COLLABoratory. Throughout the residency period,
participating artists will conduct workshops, artist talks
and round table discussions to exchange ideas with
local artists, curators and audience.
wsk 2014
SABAW Media Art Kitchen
November 7 – 9, 2014
WSK is an international festival for cutting-edge music
and media art. This year's festival (WSK 2014) aims
to explore and navigate the intersections of culture,
technology and design. Part of this exercise involves
continuing established relations with Japanese artists
Daisuke Tanabe and Yosi Horikawa, as well as artists
from the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
02
Who’s Afraid
of Disasters?
Calamities are inevitable but not indomitable,
that’s why we’re all for promoting disaster education.
Living in a country where disasters are the norm may give us plenty of reasons to sigh and adopt an outlook dimmer than
floodwater. On the other hand, it may also present us with plenty of reasons to be proactive instead of dormant; to play the role
of the vigilant rather than the victim.
Most of our recently concluded and ongoing projects zero in on disaster education that aims to empower and equip Filipinos with
the knowledge and skills to better handle the coming and going of natural calamities­—unwelcomed guests that often leave the
country in a state of devastation.
Earth Manual Project, running from November 8 to December 7 at the Ayala Museum, is a traveling exhibition from Kobe which
presents 11 projects from the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand all sharing the common thread of improving disaster
preparedness and post-calamity relief and recovery. Related to this exhibition is the local counterpart of Iza! Kaeru! Caravan called
MOVE Philippines. The original caravan was developed by the Japanese non-profit organization Plus Arts to engage primary
school children in disaster awareness and preparedness through a series of fun, interactive games. Our own version of this will
have its pilot run in Cagayan de Oro on November 14, in partnership with the students and teachers of Capitol University.
Furthermore, we have also developed activities that promote intellectual exchange concerning disaster education. BEYOND
Tomorrow Summer Program in Asia is an avenue for young people from the Asia-Pacific region to bounce off ideas on disaster
risk reduction and post-disaster recovery. In the same vein, HANDs (Hopes and Dreams) Project is a bi-annual youth exchange for
Asian countries to mobilize young professionals and students in disaster education.
As with any type of education, learning about disaster risk reduction and recovery is a continuous process that thrives on
diligence. We may still have a long way to go, but the good thing is we’re on the right track.
Cover Story: Disaster Education
message
from the JFM Director
The Philippines and Japan have been both vulnerable to natural disasters. We are located not only in a typhoon prone area, but
also on the Pacific earthquake belt and the volcanic zone. – our two countries have experienced strong typhoons, heavy rain,
flood, landslides, earthquakes, tsunami, volcano eruptions and debris flow and other disastrous phenomena.
In particular, during and after incredible natural disasters – the super typhoon Yolanda and the Great East Japan earthquake, in
times of difficulty and desire for survival and recovery, we all come to realize the significance of mutual linkage and support and
the disaster risk reduction activities.
The Japan Foundation, Manila has been strongly supportive and actively involved in raising awareness on the said issues through
arts and culture projects; it is significant to note that in recent years, there has been a continuous implementation of support
related activities such as seminars, workshops, film showings, performing arts projects, and exhibitions.
Indeed, I am looking forward that – what has been developed and learned in these project will be transmitted – shared with
family members , friends, colleagues, the community – the entire barangay, as a manual to significantly contribute to risk reduction
at home, in school, in the community – nationwide then... worldwide.
Thus, we will all be remaining resilient and strong willed in times of unfortunate events – disasters and calamities, in our lives.
We support each other and collaborate for a better tomorrow!
SHUJI TAKATORI
BEYOND Tomorrow
Summer Program in Asia
The BEYOND Tomorrow Summer Program
in Asia brought together Japanese and Filipino
high school and college students who share the
tragic experience of natural disaster – Great East
Japan Earthquake , Super Typhoon Yolanda and
Typhoon Sendong. The program’s main goal is
to provide young people from the Asia-Pacific
region a platform to voice their concerns and
opinions regarding this pressing issue that many
Asian countries are facing today.
In August 2014, the students traveled to Tacloban,
one of the most affected cities by the Super
Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, to meet with
NGOs and the surrounding communities. Their
goal was to understand the status of local and international recovery efforts. While volunteering and conducting
fieldwork, the students began to develop their proposals on youth participation in disaster risk reduction, which
they then presented at the Japan Foundation, Manila office.
04
HANDs Project
for Disaster Education
HANDs (Hope and Dreams) Project is a
bi-annual exchange for Asian countries to
engage and mobilize young professionals and
students in disaster resistance and recovery,
talk to local and international NGOs, and speak
with communities affected by disaster. The
participants will develop disaster education
action plans to be implemented the following
year. From September 25 to October 5, 2014, the
twenty-four participants of HANDs 2014-2015
toured through Indonesia and the Philippines.
In Jakarta, they met with Indonesia’s leading filmmaker Riri Riza to talk about the role of artists
in society and using movies as a tool for education. They moved on the Yogyakarta to explore Mount Merapi,
Indonesia’s most active volcano, and the visited Kotagede to speak with local artisans affected by the 2006 Java
earthquake about their livelihood recovery.
In the Philippines HANDs heard from Ms. Celina Agaton about crisis mapping and cross-sector engagement for
disaster resistance and recovery. They then travelled to Tacloban, spending a day with Philippines Communitere
to learn about their livelihood projects for the local community, as well as visiting local schools to speak with
students, teachers, and administrators about the impact of Super Typhoon Yolanda on education.
The participants returned to Manila for a Google Hangout meeting with the HANDs Philippines country adviser,
LDLN, to consult about their ideas for their disaster education action plans.
MOVE Philippines
The Disaster Preparedness program demonstration is on November 14 at the
Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro. Selected teachers and students of the
university will facilitate the demonstration of games and programs for children
based on the six-day workshop in August conducted by the Japan Foundation,
Manila and resource persons Hirokazu Nagata of NPO Plus Arts, industrial designer
Ruttikorn Vittikorn and creative from the Manila-based design studio Plus63.
Cagayan de Oro is one of the provinces ravaged by the Typhoon Sendong in 2011
that claimed lives of more than 600 people.
Earth Manual Project
The Japan Foundation, Manila in cooperation with the KIITO, NPO Plus Arts and Ayala Museum, bring
the Earth Manual Project exhibition to the Philippines with the aim of raising awareness about disaster
risk reduction, sharing the disaster preparedness practices of neighboring Asian countries, and further
developing the resilience of the Filipino people and communities. The traveling exhibition includes 11
projects which address the common disasters—earthquake, typhoon and flood. There are lectures slated
on first two Saturdays of the exhibition run from November 8 to December 7 at the Ayala Museum. This
exhibition is also made possible through the support of AIG, Muji, Yoshinoya, Capitol University, Plus63
Design Co. and the Ateneo de Manila University Japanese Studies Program. For inquiries, call (02) 811-61-55
to 58 or email [email protected]. Also check out www.jfmo.org.ph and www.facebook.com/jfmanila.
JFM ACTIVITY REPORT
jfm activity report
Run and Learn –
New Curatorial
Constellation
Last January, the Japan Foundation and the University of the Philippines
Vargas Museum announced a call for applications to a Curatorial Workshop
that was held from March 4 to 7 at the Vargas Museum. The open call was
for young curators to send exhibition proposals on the theme of "History of
Negotiations" for an exhibit to be held at the Vargas Museum. The proposals
were to be critiqued and refined through a workshop led by Ms. Mami
Kataoka, Chief Curator of the Mori Art Museum, and Dr. Patrick Flores, Curator
of the Vargas Museum. The program aimed to enhance expertise in curating
contemporary art and related platforms of young Filipino curators. A total
of 44 applications were received from all over the country, from as far north
as Baguio and as far south as Davao. Independent and institutional curators
to artist-curators, non-governmental organization workers and teachers
comprised the pool of applicants. From this batch, 12 exhibition proposals
were chosen for the workshop. Upon the culmination of the workshop,
four participants were to receive a study grant for a structured tour of select
museums, galleries, residency programs, artist-run initiatives, city-run art spaces
and art events such as exhibitions, projects and triennales, in Japan. The four
curators chosen for the study grant were Con Cabrera, Merv Espina, Ricky
Francisco and Mayumi Hirano. They went to sites and art events in Tokyo,
Yokohama, Nagoya, Kanazawa, Osaka, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Fukuoka with
nine other curators who underwent similar workshops in their home countries
of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, from August 25 to September 8. This
invitation program for young Southeast Asian curators conducted was later
dubbed Run & Learn: New Curatorial Constellations.
06
Go With the Flow
by Con Cabrera
I left for Japan for the study tour without any expectations, but with one definite goal, that is to observe and learn
about exhibition flow. Entering the curatorial workshop and being chosen to receive the project grant bestowed
me with this responsibility of enriching my curatorial practice with every opportunity that arises. And looking at
our itinerary, I was pretty sure that at the end of our trip, I would definitely take something home with me.
True enough, after more than ten museums and
a handful more of art centers, galleries and
other spaces, each one taught me at least one
thing about curating and a lot more about
culture in general. In Japan, from the ways of
transportation to the simplest safekeeping of
umbrellas before entering a building are well
thought out series of flows, which basically
makes life there easier and thus moves faster.
So my quest for knowledge in designing
exhibition flows became an obsessive
observation of flows in the surroundings as
well. A stark contrast against chaotic Manila,
Japan is very linear. Though overlapping in
many circumstances, almost always, lines are
clear-cut. It's fairly manageable to create an
exhibition flow with an audience that has this
type of environment. They also follow a certain
template in giving titles to exhibitions, images to use in their press materials,
text they write for and together with the installed works. In most instances they
work effectively depending on the type of art they show, but of course, like
any other system, in some they fail. We were lucky to have our two weeks in
Japan maximized where we saw as many arts and places as possible, that it was
impossible not to see at least one bad show. But the learning was very rigorous to
the point that even after we had a presentation and sharing of our experiences
to our peers few days after our arrival, I personally haven't really processed
everything in yet. Even as I am writing this piece, there is still not enough space
and time to share the accumulated knowledge, and pin pointing favorites or
enumerating each place and exhibition we went to will not do justice to the
education I received from it.
So, did I learn enough about exhibition flow? I can now say that I have personally
experienced a variety of treatments in exhibition spaces, I have added knowledge
in this aspect. Was it enough? Probably. The expectation then is how this
knowledge can be translated in the exhibitions that I will curate. To be honest, I haven't reached the point yet
where I can be confident in what I do after the study tour. Then again, that was not the point. As with flow, you
can meticulously plan it, impose it, and make it apparent, but if you’re talking to the Filipino audience who as a
nation has the difficulty of trailing straight lines and are not really good rule followers, it is a challenge to constantly
face. And I won’t have it any other way. I’ll take this audience any day. Because one of my realizations about flow
is that it makes you constantly move in a phase. But sometimes, a full stop is necessary, to assess and reassess your
state of being, to be thoughtful of your place in society and exercise your right to go against the flow.
JFM ACTIVITY REPORT
Eiga Sai 2014
July 3 - 13 Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City
July 25 - 27 Abreeza Ayala, Davao City
July 29 - August 3 FDCP Cinematheque, Davao City
August 6 - 10 Ayala Center, Cebu City
The Eiga Sai (Japanese Film Festival) this year showed 17 films
focusing on the theme “Family”. The opening of the Japanese
Film Festival was held at Shangri-la Plaza Mall last July 3
followed by the screening of the film "Homeland (Ieji)" which
involved a broken family seeking for light and hope during
times of injustice and desperation.
The films were also shown in various venues in Cebu and Davao City.
Eiga Sai is an annual event by the Japan Foundation, Manila
in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines,
Shangri-la Plaza and Film Development Council of the Philippines.
"How did architects respond
immediately after 3/11?"
June 9 – July 14, 2014
GT-Toyota Hall of Wisdom, Asian Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City
As part of the celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship
Month 2014, the traveling exhibition "How Did Architects
Respond Immediately After 3/11?" has brought together
participants from various regions of Japan. Among them are
designers, builders, engineers, and other practitioners in the
architectural discipline who have been involved in projects
that are trying to answer how they can build beyond tragedy.
This exhibit showcased the myriad projects, constructs, and
visions of the participating architects presented in visual
and text panels, as well as models and video presentations.
Samples of furniture and actual cardboard shelters used in
response to the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake
were also included.
2014 j-pop/anime sing
and dance contest (GRAND FINALS)
July 19, 2014
SM Centerstage, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
Photo credits to JICC, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines
This year’s JPOP/Anime Sing and Dance Contest successfully
took place at SM Centerstage, SM Mall of Asia last July 19
showcasing a variety of talents in both singing and dancing.
The first place winner for the singing competition was the trio
group Hi-Ka-Ri* who has captured the hearts of the audience
as they sang their own version of Ren Ai Shashin by Ai Otsuka.
On the other hand, the group Junior New System bagged
the first place for the first JPOP/Anime dance competition
with their lively performance of Voltes V no Uta. This is an
annual event organized by The Embassy of Japan in the
Philippines and The Japan Foundation, Manila in celebration
of Philippines-Japan Friendship Month.
08
AYANASU (Woven)
by DORA Theater
July 26 – 27, 2014
PETA Theater Center, Quezon City
The Japan Foundation, Manila and the Philippine Educational
Theater Association (PETA) jointly present The DORA Theater
Company’s “Ayanasu (Woven)”. Through an improvised
non-verbal performance they marvelously depicted a family’s
journey from disaster, loss to hope.
The DORA Theater also conducted a workshop at the PETA
Theater last July 27.
Japanese Film Festival
in Baguio and La Trinidad
The month-long celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship
Month in Baguio has kicked-off with the opening ceremony
of the Japanese Film Festival last August 10 at the FDCP
Cinematheque Baguio. The film festival featured nine Japanese
contemporary films such as “ROBO-G” and “The Voices from the
Distant Star”. The festival has traveled to different universities in
Baguio and La Trinidad from August to September.
Baguio Tanabata Festival
August 10 – 30, 2014
Baguio Museum, Baguio City
The Baguio Tanabata Festival successfully opened this
year under the theme “Your Whisper to Twinkling Stars”.
Traditionally, the wishes are written on tanzaku papers and
then hanged on decorated bamboo branches afterwards.
Tanabata literally means the night of the seventh and is also
known as the star festival.
8th International
Silent Film Festival
August 28 – 31, 2014
Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City
On its 8th year, the International Silent Film Festival has served
as feast for both the eyes and the ears for its classical appeal
and unique artistry thru the fusion of black-and-white images
and live music score.
The Japan Foundation, Manila successfully showcased the
film “Chuji Tabi Nikki” (A Diary of Chuji’s Travel) which was
accompanied by the live musical performance of the Kaapin Band.
JFM ACTIVITY REPORT
JFM grants:
Exhibition of Japanese
Sustainable Energy
for Architecture for Disaster
August 10 – September 10, 2014
Cebu Cathedral Museum, Cebu City
Twenty-one architectural designs from different participating
architects were presented to the Visayan community in
Cebu Cathedral Museum. This was a collaborative project
between Visayan Association of Museums and Galleries,
Inc. and professors of Shiga Prefecture University of the
reconstruction of the areas affected by the 2011 Great East
Japan Earthquake.
Summer Bon Odori Festival
August 8 – 9, 2014
Aboitiz Sportsfield, Mandaue City
Aside from the Bon Odori which was the highlight of this
event, various Natsumatsuri or summer festival-themed
activities were also organized such as Yukata and Cosplay
contests, exhibition of Japanese street foods and the parade
of Mikoshi, a portable shrine. People have gathered to attend
this festival and experience Japanese culture in the Central
Visayas. Bon Odori is also held to welcome the souls of one’s
ancestors and hold a memorial service for their souls too.
Artist Market
August 23, 2014
TIU Theater, Makati City
TIU Theater hosted the ARTIST MARKET, a collaboration of
Japanese and Filipino’s art and music through a live painting
show and musical recital which was held last August 23, 2014.
Childhood Artifacts
August 17 – 31, 2014
Museo Pambata, City of Manila
Featuring the works of both Japanese and Philippine artists,
their own recollections and representations of childhood
objects and play were displayed in this exhibit. The opening
performance was presented by Japanese koto player, Yu
Miyoshi and the participating artists.
10
EARTH MANUAL PROJECT TALKS
November 8 at 3:00pm – 5:00pm | 2F Ayala Museum
speaker :
“Lost Homes” Model Restoration Project creator Architect Tsukihashi
will discuss how making pre-disaster scale models of areas devastated
by tsunami play an important role not only in deepening our
understanding of the disaster-stricken areas but also in empathizing
with the survivors and readying them to advance to the next stage of
reconstructing their communities.
Professor Osamu Tsukihashi
Associate Professor, Department
of Architecture, Kobe University
Osamu Tsukihashi graduated from the School of Architecture, Faculty of
Engineering , Kyoto University, and completed coursework in a doctoral program
at the University of Tokyo in 1998. He established Architects Treehouse in 2003.
Since October 2009, he has been an associate professor at Kobe University.
November 15 at 3:00pm – 5:00pm || 2F Ayala Museum
speakers :
Three creators from Japan,
Thailand and the Philippines
will share their experiences
in developing the design and
content of the local version of
Iza! Kaeru Caravan!—a disaster
preparedness program consisting
of fun, interactive games for
grade school children—called
MOVE Philippines. The Pinoy
caravan is the result of a series
of workshops and brainstorming
with a group of students and
teachers from Capitol University
in Cagayan de Oro, where the
caravan recently had its pilot run.
Ayala Museum’s basic admission
fees apply: P150 (regular) and P75
(students and senior citizens).
Call (02) 811-6155 to 58 or email
[email protected] for more details.
Mr. Hirokazu Nagata
Vice Director, Design and Creative Center Kobe
Chairman, NPO Plus Arts
Hirokazu Nagata actively promotes disaster prevention education through developing programs
such as Iza! Kaeru Caravan!, as well as conducting lectures and workshops. He completed a postgraduate course at Osaka University in 1993 and established the non-profit organization Plus
Arts in 2006. He also serves as disaster preparedness consultant to many companies including
Tokyo Gas and Muji.
Ms. Ruttikorn Vuttikorn
Game Designer, Club Creative Co. Ltd.
A play activist, Ruttikorn Vuttikorn is an industrial design graduate who is into toy and game
design. She strongly believes that every child should have access to quality play, that’s why her
mission also includes play training. Ruttikorn collaborates with several different organizations in
Thailand and abroad in order to achieve her goal.
Mr. Dan Matutina
Chief Graphic Designer, Plus63 Design Co .
Manila-based designer and illustrator Dan Matutina likes mixing handmade and digital, clean
and dirty, old and modern aesthetics. He is also the co-founder of Plus63 Design Co., a design
studio that specializes in creating brand identities. Dan is a recipient of Art Directors Club Young
Guns Award for 2013.
EDITORIAL STAFF
ISSN 0118-7910
Volume XVII Issue 2
November 2014
Shuji Takatori
editor - in - chief
Yukie Mitomi
associate editor
Cecilia EJ Aquino
Kathleen Valle
Roland Samson
Fiona Tindugan
staff
Suki is a newsletter published by The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) located at
the 23rd Floor, Pacific Star Building, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, cor. Makati Avenue,
Makati City 1226, with telephone numbers (632) 811-6155 to 58, fax number
(632) 811-6153; and email address at [email protected].
Suki is published three times a year and is duly registered as printed matter mail
at the Makati Central Post Office under Permit No. 1074-97 NCR dated June 16,
1997. It is distributed free of charge to individuals and organizations interested in
Japanese Studies and International Culture Exchange.
The opinions expressed in the feature articles are of the authors and not
necessarily of the organization. Reproduction in whole or part of Suki articles is
prohibited without permission from the author and The Japan Foundation, Manila.