Archive for April, 2008


Vargas Museum visits

For four years in UP, I never really bothered to visit the Vargas Museum near the College of Arts & Letters. Come to think of it, it’s not actually isolated, not as much as, say the Math Building, for example. In fact most of the jeepneys in UP ply past it all the time. But I never made the effort to go inside the building all these years.

A few weeks ago, a friend, who volunteers to watch over the paintings at the second floor a few days a week, invited me to come on a Wednesday, which is the museum’s free-day when admission fees are waived (though the entrance fee is only 15 pesos anyway, for a UP student).

It was a very pleasant museum visit. There was barely anyone else in the museum, so it was really quiet and peaceful.

I was staring at the paintings on display this month. Some of which were by Fernando Amorsolo, and other paintings depicting the Philippine countryside. It all seemed quite contrived and romanticized to me. Women and other peasants were in ornate clothes and all-smiles despite the tedious farm work they appear to be doing. What more if you place them in what was a predominantly feudal set-up back then. Beautiful works of art, nonetheless.

The guard at the entrance confiscates phones and cameras from visitors so you wouldn’t be able to take any picture, as I haven’t.

Afternoon at Cordillera Coffee (Apr. 10, '08) Afternoon at Cordillera Coffee (Apr. 10, '08) Afternoon at Cordillera Coffee (Apr. 10, '08) Afternoon at Cordillera Coffee (Apr. 10, '08) Afternoon at Cordillera Coffee (Apr. 10, '08) Afternoon at Cordillera Coffee (Apr. 10, '08)

(more…)

Tags: , , ,

USC ‘08 Summer Planning Seminar

The incoming UP Diliman University Student Council held its first planning seminar last weekend at the Claretian Seminary in Quezon City.

USC 2008 Summer Planning (Apr. 5, '08) USC 2008 Summer Planning (Apr. 5, '08) USC 2008 Summer Planning (Apr. 5, '08) USC 2008 Summer Planning (Apr. 5, '08) USC 2008 Summer Planning (Apr. 5, '08) USC 2008 Summer Planning (Apr. 5, '08)

It was fairly all right. I have to say, however, that the meetings took excruciatingly long, and it came to the the point that I didn’t know if the length of our deliberations meant that we were genuinely concerned and that we would like to scrutinize all the proposals or if some members really wanted to delay the proceedings for one reason or another.

(more…)

Tags: , , , , ,

2008 Movie Round-up #7

We watched the films below as part of our last lecture class in Media Ethics a few weeks ago. All films are Hollywood productions made in the 1970’s.

The Abominable Dr. Phibes Lost HorizonThe Boys From Brazil

(more…)

Tags: , , , ,

What did UP do?

After more then three years of not seeing me, some of my high school friends were expectedly surprised with the sort of things I got myself into within that span of time, and the things that seem to have ‘changed’ since high school.

Back in high school, see, being the youngest in class, I’ve always kept that sort of bunso role (and image) among all us boys in class. I find it funny myself. Their first surprise was when I told them I was part of a fraternity. Oh my god, Victor is a fratman? I didn’t expect it myself, believe me. I was never the fratman material, back in high school, and up until now. That is if you follow the traditional stereotypes. The part of me being an activist and a student council member didn’t come off to them as much of a surprise. I was class vice-president for half our stay in high school, after all, and often ranted about our seeming apathy and indifference with what’s happening around us.

(more…)

Tags:

A Star City afternoon

A friend invited me to Star City theme park last Thursday afternoon. It had been more than two years since I last went to Star City. I had just passed my hard-bound written thesis that day, and a trip to Star City was a welcome treat.

You know, it’s a sad realization when you get really bored at some of the tame rides, which were obviously designed to amuse children. We boarded some Little Mermaid boat ride as an appetizer for the better rides. It was really corny. Childhood days are truly gone.

Star City afternoon (Apr. 3, '08) Star City afternoon (Apr. 3, '08) Star City afternoon (Apr. 3, '08) Star City afternoon (Apr. 3, '08) Star City afternoon (Apr. 3, '08) Star City afternoon (Apr. 3, '08)

(more…)

Tags: , , , ,

What an unceremonial end

I passed by UP last Monday to do some errands. I didn’t have any more undergraduate classes left, only a handful of final academic requirements. I met with some friends at the Batibot in Mass Comm, and hung out for an hour or so. I also quarreled with my thesis partner one last time, regarding our written thesis.

Last Friday, I passed my last academic requirement ever for my undergraduate years in college. It was a final paper for PI 100. After sending it by email and receiving my grade, it felt quite anticlimactic. Was that it? Am I done with BA Film & Audio-Visual Communication? I don’t have anything else to do to complete my course? I had expected it to feel liberating of some sort. It wasn’t quite like that.

(more…)

Tags: , , ,