Filipino American Artists Network

A Homage for Lucrecia Kasilag, First Lady of Philippine Music

Last modified on 2008-08-19 10:05:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

GMANews.TV reported that National Artist for Music Lucrecia R. Kasilag died of pneumonia last Saturday night. Kasilag, 90, wasn’t only a composer but also a performing artist and a leader in music education. She innovatively fused Filipino ethnic music with Western music, using indigenous instruments in orchestral productions and led many Filipino composers to experiment with such an approach. She did this with works like the prize-winning “Toccata for Percussions and Winds, Divertissement and Concertante,” and the scores of the Filiasiana, Misang Pilipino and De Profundis.

Lucrecia Kasilag

Lucrecia Roces Kasilag was born on August 31, 1918 in San Fernando, La Union. Her mother encouraged her interest in music.

She went on to gain scholastic achievements from elementary until she graduated. She was a valedictorian and a Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English in Philippine Women s University. She received her Music Teacher’s Diploma at St. Scholastica’s College and then went on to teach piano and music theory at SSC, and then at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music from 1946 to 1947. After that, she returned to PWU to teach and in 1949, Kasilag received her Bachelor of Music degree at the PWU. Having received a PWU fellowship, she then pursued graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York under a Fulbright Travel Grant in September of the same year where she received her Music fellowship. She studied theory under Dr. Allen I. McHose and composition under Dr. Wayne Barlow and completed her M.A. in 1950.

With all that she learned from her studies, she applied it with fervor when she came back in the Philippines. Kasilag then became Dean of the PWU College of Music and Fine Arts in 1953. In 1957, she put together the Bayanihan Folk Arts Center, which undertook research and organized theatrical performances. Later, she became Chairperson of the Philippine Society for Music Education in 1971, then Chairperson of the Asian Composer’s League in 1975. In 1977, she retired from her position as Dean and became Dean Emeritus of the PWU College of Music and Fine Arts. In 1989, she garnered The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Awardee for Culture and the Arts. She also served organizations like NAMCYA, the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. In addition, she has held other positions including Director of the Center for Arts and Humanities of the PWU, honorary adviser to the Asian Arts Festival, Chairperson of the League of Filipino Composers, president and artistic director for the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and three years as special consultant of the Office of the President under the Aquino administration.

Kasilag, known as the First Lady of Philippine Music, was named National Artist for Music in 1989. Her prolific body of work amounted to over 250 compositions that include folk songs, opera and orchestral works. Some of her major works were “Love Songs,” “Legend of the Sarimanok,” “Sisa,” “Philippine Scenes” and “East Meets Jazz Ethnika.” She was the former head of the Asian Composers League and continued to create music until this year.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, actress Boots Anson-Roa recalled about five years ago, Mowelfund honored her at the CCP. She performed her unique composition “Basura Rap” with Andrew E with such confidence, skill and poise her even in her weakening health condition. Pianist Cecile Licad, who is currently based in New York considered her years at the CCP, “..was the golden age—the growth of all the arts, especially music.”

Her death is extremely a sad news for the Philippine Art Scene but rest assured that her music will live on in the hearts and minds of Filipinos across the globe.

Sources:
http://museeks.com/
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/
http://www.globalpinoy.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6j5bwrnvT0

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Vote for the New Seven Wonders of Nature

Last modified on 2008-08-16 16:52:26 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I was about to take a nap before getting back to work again but I came across this blog from filipinasoul and mentioned that, ” the nominees of the Philippines for the New Seven Wonders of Nature are slipping from their top ranks. The Tubbataha Reef is now at Number 9 from its previous spot at #8. It is followed by Chocolate Hills at #10 (previously #9). The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Mayon Volcano maintain their spots at #11 and #20, respectively.”

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

The Tubbataha Reef

Chocolate Hills

Mayon Volcano

The New 7 Wonders of the World were announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07.

According to the New 7 Wonders of the World, the top 77 Official Nominees will be eligible for consideration by the New7Wonders of Nature Panel of Experts for inclusion in the group of 21 finalist candidates. The live ranking is updated twice a day.

To know more about this campaign, check out the New 7 Wonders of the World website at: http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/about_the_campaign/

Here’s a video of Mel Tiangco making an appeal for Filipinos to put in their votes at

New 7 Wonders of the World

Pictures from: www.tubbatahareef.org, www.micgui.com, teukzel.com, commons.wikimedia.org

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BakitWhy Beach BBQ

Last modified on 2008-08-14 15:57:14 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

BakitWhy | Pilipin@ American Lifestyle is a fresh online community dedicated to uniting Pilipino-Americans and friends globally. Whether it’s connecting to our pamilya back home, or creating discussion with our kaibigan in the states, BakitWhy serves as a complete outlet, forum, and network for all Pilipino-American interests.

BakitWhy asks “why?” in Tagalog and English, languages which represent the duality of identity for Pilipino-Americans. We hope to stimulate the minds of inquisitive Pilipino-Americans around the world through fun and/or insightful posts and discussion. Likewise, we hope that Pil-Ams can utilize BakitWhy to strengthen local communities, bring up important global and local issues, and enhance their network of friends and allies.

As contributor to this online community, I’m really excited to get to know this group. They do reach out to the Filipino American community by being present to the events and not just having an “online presence.” As I mentioned before in my other blogs, it’s really important to network within your community. It benefits everyone and shows the best side of human nature.

So, come and join me this Saturday, Aug 23, from 11am – 9pm. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy. Food and entertainment will be provided and will continue through until night time with a bonfire. Feel free to bring friends and/or something to share. See you there!

Location
Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach, CA between Piers 24 and 25. Look for the tent with the big BakitWhy banner.

Parking
Parking is $10 for the beach lots, but there’s also free first-come-first-serve parking at the nearby Jack in the Box.

What to bring
You, towel, shovel, sand pail, body/boogie board, any food you want to share, your friends, mom, lolo.

You can check the out at http://www.bakitwhy.com