Page 47 - 2018 JAN-JUN KAAKBAY

47January to June
2018

Tumandok Exhibit Opens at the Philippine Center New York

The charcoal pencil portrait exhibit of Dr. Minda Cabrera
featuring the Ati, one of the ethnic groups living in Panay, opened on 20
March 2018 at the lobby gallery of the Philippine Center in New York.

Dr. Cabrera, a gifted artist and medical doctor based in Iloilo,
documents through her artworks her encounters with members of the Ati
tribe, believed to be the "tumandok" or natives of the Philippine Islands.
Using charcoal pencil and paper, the human face is the subject of Dr.
Cabrera's recent works, a result of her fascination with its paradoxical

complexity and simplicity.

Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Consul General Ma. (L-R) Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador
Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega, Fil-am artists, and members of the Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., featured artist Dr. Minda Cabrera, Ms.
community attended the opening ceremony. Menchu Cabigting, Consul Arman R. Talbo, and Mr. Ernie Gange
cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the Tumandok exhibit at the
Consul General de Vega noted the prominence of women Ati in Philippine Center in New York on 20 March 2018. (photo by PCMB)
the works of Dr. Cabrera and said that the exhibit is very timely as the
Philippines celebrates National Women's Month this March. On the
other hand, Ambassador Locsin mentioned that the rights of indigenous
people, like those of migrants, must always be observed and protected.

“Broken Hallelujah” Screens at Philippine Center in New York Holds
Philippine Center New York Unique Photography Exhibit

The Filipino film The Philippine Center in New York
launched the photography exhibit of two renowned
“Broken Hallelujah” Filipino photographers Mr. Carlos L. Esguerra and
Dr. Thor Lidasan at the Lobby Gallery of the
directed by Roland Philippine Center on 14 May 2018.

Sanchez screened at the The extraordinary exhibit featured award-
winning landscape and architectural photos of
Philippine Center in New Esguerra, a Pamana ng Pilipino Presidential
awardee. In 2011, he also received the "Ani ng
York on 8 January 2018 to Dangal" award from the Commission of Culture and
the Arts (NCCA) and in 2014, he was awarded the
raise awareness of human "Distinguished Alumni Award for Culture and the
Arts" by his alma mater, the University of the
trafficking issues. Philippines.

Organized by During the opening ceremony, Mr. Esguerra
emphasized the importance of promoting
Rescue Homeless Youth photography as a medium for the arts. Dr. Lidasan,
on the other hand, explained the process of infrared
Through Hymns, Movies photography and highlighted how this technique
could open opportunities for photo enthusiasts and
and Spoken Word professionals.

(RHYTHMS) and New Consul Arman R. Talbo (left) welcomes the guests to the opening of the
photography exhibit of Visible and Invisible light .
York advocacy groups

against Human Trafficking,

the screening drew an audience of over 60 persons who stayed on

for a dialogue with Roland Sanchez, an agent of the Philippine

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), who wrote and directed the

feature film as part of his advocacy to educate the public on human

trafficking.

For RHYTHMS representative, Filipino-American poet
Grace Baldisseri, the screening is a timely means of encouraging
more community members to educate themselves about the evils
of human trafficking and the need to help victims.

Prior to the screening, RHYTHMS cited the
contributions of ten Filipina members of the Community in efforts to
uplift the condition of the underserved. These include: Angela
Ponce of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York,
Kim Mende Itskov, Laura Garcia, Myrna Gutierrez, Gloria Cabrera,
Evelyn Gonzaga, Rosario Magno, Zenaida Santos, Carol
Sibbaluca, and Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega.