By Walter Ang
Contributor
“What does it mean to be Filipino?” is a question contemplated by Gigo Alampay, executive director of the Center for Art, New Ventures, and Sustainable Development (Canvas).
Having lived abroad for a number of years, he said, “Without judgment, Americans find it easy to say who they are. Here in our country, it’s sometimes easier to answer ‘What is a Batangueño, or what is an Ilocano?’ than it is to answer ‘What is a Filipino?’ There may be some stereotypes for regional identities, but at least there are characteristic identifiers. However, as a nation, sometimes it’s not easy to figure out who we are.”
He added, “There’s a notion that our lack of national identity may be one of the reasons why some people feel the Philippines has not really lived up to its full potential.”
The center’s latest endeavor is the “Looking for Juan Outdoor Banner Project,” an exhibition of artworks by some of the best contemporary Filipino artists who attempt to provide visual answers to the discussion.
“The project aims to collect at least a hundred artworks that will be reproduced as tarpaulin banners that will then be displayed in two highly accessible and pedestrian-friendly venues,” said Alampay.
“The Looking for Juan Outdoor Banner Project will showcase some of the country’s best creative talents. Artists, graphic designers and photographers have been asked to express their idea of the Filipino identity,” he said.
“The project is designed to engage visitors with its art-driven messaging about the Filipino identity. It will be a new kind of experience that allows visitors to view and appreciate great art as well as explore important social themes in a non-intimidating, relaxed, and creative environment.”
The first 40 to 50 original works that will be reproduced as banners were launched at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The artworks will be on display until June 7. This original artwork exhibit will transfer to the Alab Art Space gallery (Intellectual Property Philippines Building along Buendia St., Makati) on June 8.
Meanwhile, the first outdoor banner exhibit will be at the end of May at the new Philippine Pacific Rim Friendship Park in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The second will be in June at the University of the Philippines’ Academic Oval in Diliman. “Just in time for opening of classes and Independence Day,” he added.
Canvas has been actively involved with The Pacific Rim Project to build a Friendship Park in Puerto Princesa. Architecture and art students from different countries like China, South Korea, the United States, Russia, and Mexico were flown in earlier this month to interact with counterpart Filipino students. These volunteers will design, present to the city government, and actually build the whole park under the artistic supervision of leading artists, architects, and urban planners in just 30 days.
After the park is completed, it is given as a gift to the citizens of the Pacific and to the host city. All parks are for the public and are directly connected to the Pacific Ocean. The park will then become part of a network of Friendship Parks ringing the Pacific. There are already four parks in US, Russia, China, and Mexico.
To date, participants in the Looking For Juan Outdoor Banner Exhibit include Buen Abrigo, Leonard Aguinaldo, Daniel Aligaen, Reynaldo Amido, Mark Arcamo, Moralde Arrogante, Anton Balao, Jeho Bitangcor, Plet Bolipata, Elmer Borlongan, Malyn Bonayog, Serj Bumatay, Michael Cacnio, Buen Calubayan, Jeff Carnay, Salvador Ching, Marika Constantino, Salvador Convocar, Dansoy Coquilla, Geronimo Cristobal, Jigger Cruz, Don Dalmacio, Kawayan de Guia, Anna de Leon, Crisanto de Leon, Maan de Loyola, Farley del Rosario, Robert Deniega, Anthony Fermin, Tina Fernandez, Karen Flores, Liza Flores, Emmanuel Garibay, Juan Sajid Imao, Agang Maganda, Lotsu Manes, Josue Mangrobang, Roel Obemio, Wilfredo Offemaria, Jr., Marcial Pontillas, Anthony Palo, Anthony Palomo, Jay Pacena II, Jucar Raquepo, Omi Reyes, Iggy Rodriguez, Tres Roman, Kirby Roxas, Mark Salvatus, Julius Samson, Andoi Solon, Aner Sebastian, Angelo Tabije, CJ Tanedo, Rex Tatlonghari, Palma Tayona, Jomike Tejido, Juanito Torres, Ian Valladarez, Wesley Vallenzuela, Migs Villanueva and Liv Vinluan.
Selected students from the UP College of Fine Arts, members of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan, various creative writers, as well as a number of graphic design and advertising studios, are also involved.
After the end of the outdoor banner exhibits, the banners will be recycled by two women’s communities in Antipolo and Laguna into tote bags and sold as original works of functional art. Proceeds from the sale of the tote bags will support Padyak, a UP Mountaineers-led movement to promote environmentalism and cycling as a healthy lifestyle.
17 Feedbacks on "Looking for Juan"
mangrey
you are looking for juan, but juan is everywhere. you can see juan at malacanang. you can see him in the mountains with guns. you can see him on everybarrio, on every streets and yet you can’t see juan because you don’t want to face reality. it is in facing reality that you can see that juan is everywhere.
once we stop putting down juan and accep his predicament, it is only then that we can truly transform the kind of juan we want to be. it is not easy but it can be done. the juan of your dreams that you want to put in a pedestal and say this is juan this is the real pilipino .
but first recognize juan as he is the we can move forward faster.
jjregino
As Mangrey said, Juan is everywhere. But in order to be proud of Juan, we have to ask him to instill dignity to his name by: accepting his wrong doing when he commits a wrong and not hiding behind ‘negation’ (denying a wrong to kingdom come as a defense mechanism). This has become our ‘persona’ and truth is no longer a term in the Filipino vocabulary. When we shall have learned to be truthful, to be responsible individuals, to mend our ways, to accept a wrong and be sorry for it, then we can regain the dignity we once had as a people. Then Juan can be the proud Filipino he once was. We cry foul when an ‘allegation of rape’ is reported in media. But in the end, is it really rape or a consensual sex between two people. When a foreigner drop hints about a Filipino(a) we feel insulted as a people. Let’s ask ourselves, what led others to judge us as we really are? I am proud who I am, but I have to carry the burden of the wrongdoing of my Leaders, my representatives in government,leaders in society.
mang godo
i think Juan is not good symbol for filipinos.
first and foremost Juan is a spanish name. and if we are looking for Juan, it might be a spanish not filipino.
besides, juan is a symbol of laziness, as Juan Tamad… that’s the reason why filipinos don’t go nowhere, no progress.
so don’t look for Juan.
Juan is everywhere, nasa kanto, istambay, pahiga, higa, nasa duyan at kalatog pinggan naghihintay na lang ng tawag para kumain ayaw magtrabaho.
Don’t look for Juan,we should for Bayani, a true filipino name that every filipino should emulate and idolize.
Juan, simbolo ng katamaran, dapat palitan.
mangrey
juan will always be the name symbol for filipinos, so what if it is a spanish name
jose rizal will always be a hero to filipinos
it doesn’t matter that he has a spanish name
juan is you, juan is us, we are juan, we are filipinos. we evolve from the begining. read our history and trace back the events,the tortous events that influence the juan we are today. we don’t have to blame the past. we have to learn from the experience and prepare ourselves to transform juan to a character and culture
that we aspire in our dreams.
let us make our dreams a reality. let us start from ourselves. from our own soroundings, our home. next then the composition of the political elected member of the goverment. choose them wisely and if we fail to do it then progress will be delayed again for juan
let us transform juan in the hills with guns
let us make juan in malacanan responsible
let us try to create jobs opportunities for juan. our land is limited but the rich can and has to create profitable jobs for our fellow juans. they must not resist or fail because that is their responsibilities in our society
let us teach our juan…sons and daughter..be responsible and answerable for their mistakes and yet always extending our arms to assist them on their pursuit of success
its not easy to transform juan but it can be done.
JoeSeg
Agree that it we drop Juan to symbolize the Filipinos. Simply because if you see Juan, you ‘em all.
Bayani is good as suggested. But if we are looking for somebody we could be proud of, why not Rizal?
mangrey
the issue is we are looking for juan……….
i’ll follow the change of name as it is being raise agains juan. this will entail so many complications that will result to dismemberment of the republic. so its a very dangerous idea to change juan to rizal. juan is for everybody, for the muslim, the catholics, all christians, for all the tribes, but rizal is not.
why must juan be put down by the very person it symbolizes. all time is given to filipinos to uplift juan to a higher degree
of culture and character. election is fast approaching again. its one of the big oppurtunities for us to uplift juan. let us put juan in malacanan who will guide the country to a new height of respect and not of shame as being experience now.
let us choose juan who can transform juan who are in the mountain with guns
to lay down their firearms and help in the nation building. let us choose juan for malacanan, a president juan who can rally the business communities to forgo momentarilytheir keen desire for profits and focus their effort in creating productive employment for the less fortunate juan. let us choose juan who can’t be blinded by the glittering rewards of corruption and let us make juan responsible and accountable for the misdeeds done. if not then, then another AM SORRY must be expected.
going back to the issue of looking for juan. shall you put down juan or start now uplifting juan towards to our dreams that we ca be proud of
mangrey
let us now start uplifting juan. juan whose rule was not fully recognize. lets look back to the history of another juan.
history will show to us that recognition was not bestowed to our muslim brothers the due recognition due to our muslim brothers in mindanao. the different tribes of muslim in mindanao fought the foreign invaders and was never been subdued, and yet was not represented in the flag
as recognition to their heroic resistance to invaders.
here comes an opportunity to give the long delayed appreciation and recognition
for the muslims different tribe resisting foreign invaders.
a ninth ray to the flag of our country, the philippine. this is only one step in making
the culture and character of juan to a new level of dignity that we can be proud of.
there are many steps to be taken and step by step we will succeed.
roger lasquite
‘Juan de la Cruz,Juan Tamad,Tatang Juan,Lolo Juan,Johnny,’…’Juan sa Pagapapatuloy ng Paglalakbay-Paghahanap.’ ‘marami pa rin at tila hindi naman tayo nag-iisa,sa patuloy na ‘pag-biyahe sa buhay na ito,bilang isang Filipino,o isang lahi o isang bayan/bansa,…at marahil nga e walang katapusan,lalo na’t tila lalong lumawak pa at maraming mga karanasang dumarating at darating pa,…bilang isa at bilang indibidwal,…Maganda ang matutunan sa mga Israelita,sa ‘Exodo’,'remembering and anticipating’ sabi ng isang manunulat,..o mga memories o mga kaganapan at syempre ang kasaysayang ating mga naisulat na at ginagawa pa.’me mga hamon pa sa atin,malaki at maliit,’babalik,susulong,wika,at iba pa…direksyon,plano at kung paano ito maipa-aabot at maipapa-timo sa isip at damdamin ng bawat isa,ang isa sa pinaka-malaking HAMON,’ ‘maganda na ring magmuni, at isa-isip ang mga antas o kung NASAAN na kaya tayo sa ating paglalakbay, o “KUNG ALAM NATIN KUNG SAAN AT ANO ANG ATING MGA PANGARAP,” “1st stage,2nd,3rd o malapit na kaya tayo??? ‘Life on the road can be hard and discouraging.Yet it is not a journey we need to undertake on our own.Part of God’s gracious provision is fellow travers along that road of faith.They are there to refresh us,to build us up,and to encourage us as we travel together to the New Jerusalem. “Nasaan na tayo???”
‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,but in humility count others better than yourselves.Each of you should look not only to your own interests,but also to the interests of others.’
‘ Juan,Ka Juan,Amang Juan,kuya Juan,tiyo Juan,pareng Juan,Mayor Juan,Konsehal Juan,Kapitan Juan,Senador Juan,Congressman Juan,Father Juan,Dr.Juan,Pangulong Juan,JUANA,…marami pa,…lahat tayo JUAN,at hindi pa huli ang lahat!!! di ba JOHNNY???—matagal ng nasimulan ang ‘biyahe’ kaya nga eto nag-iisip tayo at parang…ok kaya?,baga?,tama ba o kaya e naliligaw tayo??? so baka nga konting pahinga muna ang kailangan at tingnan muli ang sarili at ang mga naganap na at ang mga…darating pa,dahil sa mga desisyong ginawa at direksyong tinutungo…!!! -lahat tayo,sama-sama sa biyahe,lahat kasali-
mang godo
We should not look for Juan… as they say Juan is everywhere.
Whether Juan Tamad, Juan Batugan, Juan Tanga.
The point is, why look for Juan for what? for identity as a Filipino?
We were already known all over the world, since LapuLapu killed Magellan, the discoverer of the new world who circumvented the world.
We were already known to the world as one of the first nations that revolted against Spain for independence.
We were known to the world as America’s commonwealth, a partner in world war 2, as our veterans are now receiving pensions.
We were known to the world who used people power to oust Marcos and Erap without the benefit of the Constitution.
We are known all over the world as overseas worker as nurses, engineers,DH,teachers, accountants and everything any country ask for,
We are known as the text capital of the the IT center, call center of the world.
In the old days as of today, we are still known as Pearl of the Orient….
Why look for Juan for identity as a Filipino and nation….
We are already known and identified… What we should do is do more and harness what our fathers, forefathers, heroes and leaders had done to make this country great as it is today.
Don’t look for Juan…. Do what Juan had done and should do.
David B Katague
I agree with Mang Godo to change “JUAN” to some other name. However, I feel it will be very hard to find a name to truly represent the Filipinos of today. How about a combination of Filipino-spanish-american name! Any suggestion?
mangrey
oh juan isang katanungan kailan ka ba isinilang?
ng ang islas filipinas ay natagpuan ni magellan
noon taon 1521 ay hindi ka pa isinisilang juan.
ang iyong mga ninuno ay may sariling katauhan
at angking kultura na lubos iginagalang. ng tanan
mga taong sa mga karatig isla pawang naninirahan
mayroon kang mga ninunong sa dayuhan ay sumalubong
at tinanggap pakipagkaibigan. Dala nilay mga regalong
handog bilang katunayan sa sinabing layon kapayapaan.
upang matuklasan lamang na itoy isa lamang panlilinlang.
Ito’y napatunayan sa isla ng mactan ng itong si lapu-lapu
ay tumanggi sa alok ni magellan na pakipagkaibigan.
itoy nagresulta sa digmaan, at napatay nga si magellan
sa daigdig ng mga mangangamkam sa kanilang talaan
si magellan ay napatay sa dalampasigan
ng mactan
at dumating nga itong si villalobos at pinanglanan
ang mga isla na “islas filipinas” ngunit wala pa si juan
ng dumating si miguel lopez de legaspi
ay sinimulan
kamkamin ang buong kapuluan kasama na ang kalayaan
wala pa rin si juan at kung kailan siya isisilang hindi alam.
mahigit na 250 taon ang lumipas sa talaan kasaysayan
unti unti ng naramdaman ang pagdating pagsilang ni juan
marami ng nagaaklas sa pangaabuso ng mga prayle gahaman
unti unti may sumisigaw na ang hinihingi ay kalayaan
lahat ng sakop ng islas filipinas ngayon ay tatawaging filipino
at isinilang si juan na ang hangarin ay kamtin ang kalayaan
ang el filibusterismo at noli me tangere ay kumalat sa lipunan
mga lihim na paggalaw ng mga damdamin naging api-apihan
si bonifacio’t mga kasamahan sa balinta
wak sigaw ay kalayaan
sa kalayaan pinapangarap si juan ay isa ng nasyon .
june 12 1898 sa kawit cavite iwinagayway ang bandila ng kalayaan
ang bansang pilipinas ay ipinanganak sa
gitna ng himagsikan
roger lasquite
JUAN bilang isang tunay na Lider o Pangulo ng lahat,oo nga po,at kung sinong juan man ako,mahirap,mayaman,hindi nakapag-aaral,nagsikap pa rin,overseas,pulitiko na,nasa pamamahala,simbahan,kristiyano,hindi kristiyano,matanda,bata,babae o lalaki,o ano man,…tamad,masipag,malakas,mahina,mabait,naging salbahe,o nagkamali o laging tama,
wala ng sisihan,’hanapin na natin ang Juan sa ating mga sarili na matagal ng nag-aantay,’…panahon na nga ng pagsasa-aayos.’Juan,halika na.Opo.Ama,Ina.’
roger lasquite
kagabi ko lang napanood ang ‘Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister’,parang contest o debate din,,at ang mga hurado e mga dating,Prime Ministers msmo ng canada,at mga bata o siguro mga fresh graduates from college o university ang mga kasali,at maganda ang mga tanong,na maganda nga rin siguro na magawa natin.(pwede ring magtanong tayo o mangopya kaya?)
1.Kung ikaw ang Pangulo ano ang una mong gagawin,sa unang 100 araw mo?
2.
Friend
Magandang araw po sa ating lahat! Isa po sa mga juan na nais ko pong ipakilala sa inyo ang kuyajuan01 na di niyo kilala ngunit ngayon ay nais naming mabasa ang mga pahayag naging pahayag niya. Ngunit ang lahat ng ito ay maririnig po niyo kung panonoorin niyo ang keyprogram_invitation@csk na may english at bersyong Tagalog. {(www.keyprogram.ning.com ) Kasalukuyan pang isinasaayos.} sa google paki-type lang po ang kuyajuan01 ay may ilan na po kayong makikita. Paalala lang po para malubos ninyong maunawaan ang kabuuang bersyong ng TAGALOG part pareho po ninyong panoorin ang 2nd part at 3rd part nito. Maraming salamat po.
Mga mahal naming kaibigan,
Ngayon na ang panahon. Ito ang pinakahinihintay-hintay na ng lahat. Humudyat na ang trumpeta, isang panawagan pumailanlang sa sandaigdigan. Mensaheng ipinaabot mula sa Kasulatang balumbon, may sulat sa magkabilang panig, ngunit selyado ng mga tanda na tanging siya lamang ang makapagbubukas at makapagbibigay ng paliwanag ng mga inilihim na panukala ng may Akda ng lahat ng ito. Siya ang tanging humahawak ng pinakasusi ng programa. Programang di abot ng unawa di kayang ipaliwanag ng iba ngunit sa kanya ibinigay ang kapahintulutan at inabot ang Karunungan patungkol sa mga tandang inilihim upang sa takdang panahon ay ihayag, at kanyang ipakilala ang pinagmulan, ang may panukala at may Akda ng lahat ng ito.
Kaya nga yamang bukas na ang pinto mga kaibigan. Nag-iisang pinto lang yan at iisa lang. Daan sa mga daan, pinagmulan ng mga panukala at mga patotoo kaya’t matibay, matatag at totoo. Ito ang tamang daan na pinili niyang taluntunin na siyang daluyan ng mga biyayang walang kabalisahan. Kapayapaan, kapahingahan at kapanatagan ang dito’y manganlong. “Halina kayong lahat! keyprogram_invitation@csk (Imbitasyon 2009). Lahat ay kasama, Lahat ay kaibigan, Bawa’t isa ay may partisipasyon. Magsama-sama na tayo sa bukas na pinto. Biyaya ko’y biyaya niyo! Tahanan ko’y tahanan niyo. Pag-ibig ang dala dala ko.
Ngayon na ang panahon ng pakikipagkaisa, ng pakikipagkasundo sa kanya. Napapanahon na ang pagbabagong-buhay Piliin natin ang mabuti yan ang ibig niya kaya nakasunod at kinalugdan Siya. Narito Siya sa Pilipinas. Sa pagkalinga at pangangalaga ng “Mother Control” Piniling bansa upang dito isagawa at mabuksan ang lahat ng saklaw ng programa, Kaya’t narito rin ang lahat ng sagot sa mga katanungan ng nakararami na; saan natin makikita ang gamot at lunas ng lumalalang kahirapan at mga tumitinding kaguluhan? Paano pa maisasalba ang pandaigdigang merkado na halos lugmok at bagsak na sa tunay nitong kalagayan? At paano pa makababayad sa World Bank ang mga bansang baon na baon na sa pagkakautang, kung ang bawa’t nagiging lider ng mga bansa nila’y dito na nakadepende sa panghihiram upang mapagtakpan ang malalang kalagayan ng bansang kinabibilangan? Hanggang kailan matatapos ang pagdaing ng mga taong nagugutom na at mga nag-aaklas para hingin ang mga karagdagang umento at ibat-iba pang kahilingan? Kailan makakalagan ang kahirapan at sino ang maglalapat ng katarungan sa mga napagkaitan nito? Sino ang nagtataglay ng tunay na kapayapaan? Ilang inaguration pa ang isasagawa para lumutang na ang “iisa na lang” na laging sinasabi at naririnig ngunit hindi naman lumilitaw. Tanong kung bakit? Dahil ibang tao! Ibang dako! Ibang proseso!
Wala sa kanya ang pagkukulang, mga mahal kong kaibigan. Ibinigay na niya sa nakararami ang mga detalyeng marapat na isagawa ngunit may nakalimot sa tunay at totoong kasunduan nakapaloob. Humanap pa at pumili ng iba, nagtatag, nagtayo ng sarili at kanya kanya, dahil ang ipinapalagay, kahit wala siya iisa lang ang patutunguhan natin, kahit wala siya makukuha nila ang bahagi nila. Ngunit paulit ulit na kabiguan para sa kanila at sa mga tumutulong sa gugulin nila.. Kahit lihitimo at rehistrado mga dalang patotoong dokumento hindi na mabuksan, di na magalaw, di na mailipat, di na magamit pa! Dahil saklaw na ng programa na sumailalim sa Pandaigdigang Kasunduan na pinagtibay ng mga nauna pang mga lider ng mga bansang nagkakaisa. Kaya’t sa panig ng mga may accounts na ipinakikilang pagmamay-ari na nila, ngunit ang totoo’y mula sa pinagmulan ng lahat ng bagay at hinabilin lamang sa kanila. Kaya bumalik na sa pinaka “MOTHER ACCOUNT” ang perang ginagamit ng buong mundo kaya ang lahat ng mga bansa ngayon ay dumaranas ng GLOBAL CRISIS. Kaya nga kahit kilala na nila ang tamang tao, na nakakaalam ng tamang dako at tamang proseso kung hindi natin kinikilala ang kanyang kahalalan bilang Tagapanguna sa bagay na naibilin, ibinigay at naipagkatiwala sa kanya, isang paglilinaw walang magaganap na inagurasyon.
(ANG KABUUANG PAHAYAG ay nasa keyprogram_invitation@csk sa youtube )
Friend
Malapit na po ninyo siyang makilala at ganap na makadaupang palad. Muli sa kanyang pagbabalik marami siyang ipapahayag, isasagawa upang ang nawawalang pag-asa ng pananaw at damdaming pinanghihina ng matinding kahirapan at sinasabayan pa ng ibat-ibang kaganapan gaya ng mga inilalarawan na inyong mapapanood (keyprogram_invitation@csk) Malapit na… malapit na malapit na… Muli siyang magbibigay ng ibayong sigla at saya. Ito ay totoo at hindi isang kwento, alam na alam ng lahat ng mga mahilig sa transaksyon (Yamashita Treasure, MARCOS Wealth, ….) na may iisa na lang na hinahanap kaya bigo sila sa lahat ng kanilang inaasahan. Mapalad tayo at siya ay kasama natin at laang ibahagi ang lahat sa lahat… Ngunit dapat tayong makasunod at masunod ang bilin. Tamang Tao… Tamang Lugar at Tamang Proseso… IPAALAM SA MGA MAHAL SA BUHAY, KAIBIGAN at mga KAKILALA. Muli maraming salamat…
roger lasquite
o nakita na baga si kaJuan,ha,ha,mukhang na-traffic tayo sa huling lathala ah!,so tuloy ang paghahanap…
maganda nga rin na makapag-muni-muni at mag-obserba at magbasa at makinig at makiramdam sa mga nagaganap,…at habang ginagawa ito e mag-aral o sa sarili e mag-tanong ‘nasaan nga baga tayo ngayon?, at yung mga ini-isip na mga hakbang o solusyon nga baga ay karapat-dapat o tama? o muli e ‘wala lang’ o sama na lang sa agos,muli at muli???
Looking for Juan : PinoyBlogoSphere.com (PBS)
[...] By Walter Ang Contributor “What does it mean to be Filipino?” is a question contemplated by Gigo Alampay, executive director of the Center for Art, New Ventures, and Sustainable Development (Canvas). Having lived abroad for a number of years, he said, “Without judgment, Americans find it easy to say who they are. Here …… Source: Being Filipino [...]
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