THREE PUPIANS SHINE IN BANGKOK CONFAB

By Hector Calma

Mr. Joseph Reylan B. Viray, Prof. Kriztine R. Viray, and Mr. Jordan Niel A. Dinglasan participated and presented their respective productions, artworks and papers in the Asia Pacific Youth Forum on Climate Change: Explorations Thru Cultural Expressions held at Rajamangala Technological University, Bangkok, Thailand on January 24-28, 2011. 

Mr. Joseph Reylan Viray, Chief of the PUP Visual Arts Office, UCCA, presented a paper/poster entitled “Doing Painting the Ancient Way: Going back to Basics” explored the use of ancient painting materials such as Achiote (Annato Seeds), onion skin, curry, alugbati, extracts from plants and minerals, and other environmental friendly materials in producing visual artworks. Mr. Viray emphasized that commercially and synthetically produced painting materials which are harmful to the environment confused the view of modern artists as to their concept of aesthetics.  Artists began to rely so much on these materials and that beauty became synonymous with how painters masterfully manipulate these materials.  Mr. Viray suggested that painters should start to redo their ways and that they should go back to basics.  This is to truly manifest their concern and care for the environment. 

Five artworks by Mr. Viray and the artists of the PUP Guhit Sudlungan were exhibited for five- days in the conference venue.  The collection which was made out of ancient materials stunned the international participants for their simplicity and beauty.  The collection was donated to the SEAMEO-SPAFA office in Bangkok, Thailand.      

On the other hand, Prof. Kriztine R. Viray, Director of the PUP Film Center, tore the hearts of the participants when she presented her documentary film entitled “The Unwanted Visitor”.  The film was so powerful that it generated a melancholic atmosphere in the conference venue.  Almost everybody cried including the organizers.  The film essayed the events that unfold during the visit of typhoon Ondoy in the Metropolitan Manila.  Graphic and vivid images of deaths, loss of property, livelihoods, and sorrows touched the hearts of the delegates.  Prof. Viray’s actual interviews with the victims likewise left unforgettable marks to the audience.   Towards the end of the film, Prof. Viray stressed the resilient spirit of the Filipino people.  The film showcased how Filipinos became aware of the evils of climate change and that they started to do their own little ways in caring for mother nature.  The film underlined that there is still hope or that there is “a rainbow after the rain”, as the popular song of South border band goes. 

A music video of the “Earth Song” composed by Ryan Cayabyab was presented by a student artist of Guhit Sudlungan Mr. Dinglasan in the same conference.  The MTV was meant to educate and inform the youth about the importance of environmental awareness.  Mr. Dinglasan, barely 18, used MTV because according to him this is a popular medium among young people.   “This is the best way to reach out to my fellow youth”, he stressed.   

Through travel grants provided by SEAMEO-SPAFA and Japan Foundation to the three PUPIANS, they were able to exchange minds with other 200 youth delegates from countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos PDR, Cambodia, Thailand, England, China, and other countries in the Asia Pacific Region.