I’m giving you a few more weeks, then you’re out of my life, zombies and you too, plants. I don’t want to have anything to do with your fight anymore. I don’t even know why you’re fighting in the first place. Plants against zombies? Wtf! But anyways…. In the meantime, let’s go Chomper!

Matahum Nga Cebu

CEBU’s art scene is probably one of the most alive in the country today, with local musicians, painters, filmmakers, photographers, poets, writers and other artists churning out works like their lives (not livelihood) depended on it.

They are not difficult to find. Check out places like Kukuk’s Nest, Turtle’s Nest, Handuraw, The Outpost and other similar holes and they are there, guzzling beer, discussing Kant, rehashing jokes, plotting revolutions, or simply staring at empty space.

They are many, if you consider how Cebu is just a small community. And their number is growing, with more and more artists from neighboring provinces in the Visayas coming here in search of soul mates and a place to call home.

They may not be a tight, first-name-basis community but they are a sharing group, with disciples of one form of art sharing tables with those of another form of art. They know their works complement each other, so they pass art around, like glass in a tagay session. They have a word for it: collaboration.

In many occasions, the sharing comes in the form of seminars and workshops: veterans guiding neophytes, or wannabes inspiring has-beens (it doesn’t matter) – both ensuring that the art scene lives at least a generation longer.

They may not know it, but the generosity local artists are showing to each other is what keeps Cebu’s art scene going.  (By Jimi Stuart Salvador)

PHOTO BY ARCHIE UY, NU107 Cebu relaunching, july 2009

having an extremely rare type of blood running in our veins is reason enough for us to unite as one group that makes sure its members don’t die just because there’s no blood available.

dili lalim sa pamilya ang masiri-siri’g pangita’g dugo while the patient waits at the hospital. unya at the end of the day, way nakit-an.

i’ve arranged a series of meetings with blood center officials to discuss details of this plan.

of course, it’s all about saving lives – whether you’re a plus or a minus.

all minus people are welcome to join. just send me a note here.

who are not welcome? people who attach monetary value to every drop of blood they give. how much is a piece of your heart, dude? hah!

This text message i received today from the family of the patient should be reward enough:

“sir, nakaginhawa kog lawom nga na-match mong (name of patient). salamat, salamat kaayo sir. you have us to contact if in case you need blood pud.”

check out this old article i wrote on the topic

Tsinelas is organizing an art school for free to benefit kids from cebu city’s depressed areas. here’s the initial points agreed upon: children will receive free art lessons at the university of san carlos – college of fine arts and architecture in talamban every weekend. a 3-month (or 2-month?) module will be designed. handling the project are fine arts alumni and faculty members of usc-talamban. beneficiaries will be selected from elementary public schools and must come from poor families.

screening of beneficiaries will involve teachers and members of the community to make sure only those who deserve the training will qualify. everything will be provided to the students for free, including fare to and from usc-talamban campus, art materials and snacks during sessions. at the end of the module, a culminating activity will be held where certificates will be distributed and with the usc administration officially recognizing the children’s accomplishments. an exhibit of the children’s art works will be the highlight of the graduation ceremonies. jonggai, a member of tsinelas executive committee, is in the organizing team. thanks jong.

one of our cyberpals, modern patadyong is starting a similar activity, with focus on music. visit her blog and check it out. i salute kristine buenavista for starting it in her hometown in iloilo. i salute all people who make life a lot less difficult for underprivileged kids.

for all visitors to this blog, i invite you to join us. that cup of starbucks coffee you’re holding is worth a year of school supplies for kids in the mountains. think about that.

This has kept me busy the past weeks. Tsinelas is finalizing a proposal for the construction of a Community Resource Center in one of Cebu City’s remotest barangays – where children go to school on empty stomachs, where classes stop when there’s fog because it grows dark and there’s no electricity and it’s impossible to read, where no elected city hall official has ever set foot, fuck you!

tsinelas has lots of plans for the area… and i don’t mind living there the rest of my life because there’s plenty of preskong utanon and bisayang manok, fuck me!

(photos by CHERYL BALDICANTOS)