In 1968, Pitoy Moreno with his models, among them Maita Gomez (seated, far right), Maurice Arcache (standing, middle), Jojie Felix-Velarde (standing, far left). Beside Pitoy is Chona Kasten.
(Via Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Led by award winning director Benito Bautista, the riveting film contains a treasure trove of beautiful Filipino music awaiting to be rediscovered. Intent on preserving vanishing customs, the film rekindles a connection with the past before it is irrevocably lost, and portrays a side of the Philippines rarely seen on the screen.
Harana was a traditional form of courtship in the Philippines wherein men introduced themselves and/or wooed women by singing underneath her window at night. It was widely practiced in old Philippines with a set of protocols, a code of conduct and a specific style of music.
In this endeavor, the most trusted instrument was the guitar. Its intimate sound complemented the sweetness of Spanish-influenced songs combined with the poetry and lyricism of the Tagalog language as it wafted through the breezy, tropical night.
For a young man in colonial Philippines, it was certainly advantageous to possess musical abilities as it was often useful in courting a Filipina woman. However, all is not lost if he lacks the singing ability. It was common practice to enlist friends as well as the best musicians and singer or haranista in town. Thus, harana was not always a solitary endeavor. In fact, it was considered a social event.
Harana was an exclusively nocturnal practice. Due to the daytime tropical weather, the evening offers respite from the heat, a time when everybody comes alive, full of romantic ideas, and as is typical of Filipino nature, always ready to enjoy the company of friends and loved ones. It was during this old Philippines, before the widespread use of electricity, that harana was at its ripest.
An onna-bugeisha was a type of female warrior belonging to the Japanese upper class. Many wives, widows, daughters, and rebels answered the call of duty by engaging in battle, commonly alongside samurai men. They were members of the bushi (samurai) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honor in times of war. They also represented a divergence from the traditional “housewife” role of the Japanese woman. They are sometimes mistakenly referred to as female samurai, although this is an oversimplification. Onna bugeisha were very important people in ancient Japan.
(Via wiki)
According to this article PNoy promises to retrieve Ferdinand Marco’s “ill-gotten wealth.”
The Philippines has assured Switzerland that it will soon complete the procedural requirements for the release of the recovered $680 million Marcos Swiss funds that have been held in escrow at the Philippine National Bank (PNB).
Secretary Sonny Coloma of the Presidential Communications and Operations Office said this was among the topics that were discussed when President Benigno Aquino III met with Swiss president Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf at the sidelines of the 9th Asia Europe Meeting in Laos on Monday.
“There was an agreement from both parties that they will work for the early completion of the process,” Coloma said at a press briefing in Vientiane.
He said Aquino “promised to do what’s needed to complete the compensation process and compensation to the [martial law] victims by clearing the administrative and procedural hurdles.”
Coloma said Aquino has a personal interest in resolving the issue as he can identify with martial law victims and their families. Aquino’s father, slain senator Benigno Aquino Jr., a political rival of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated in 1983.
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court in 1997 issued a decision returning the more than $680 Marcos Swiss deposits to the Philippines pending compliance to two conditions — a final and executory decision of a credible Philippine court declaring the said funds as ill-gotten, and a rightful share of the funds to be given to the martial law victims who won a class suit in Honolulu court against the Marcos estate.(Via GMA Network)
Ok, got it. He wants to compensate the victims and honestly most filipinos I know pretty much despise Ferdinand and Imelda.
BUT….their daughter is the current Governor of Ilocos Norte as of 2010. She served three terms as Representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte in the Philippine House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007. She still wields a lot of power and is still filthy stinkin rich. Imelda and Ferdinand’s son had an official position since the 80s and is now a congressman who wields even more power than his sister AND Imelda herself has been an incumbent for the house of representatives since 2010….
…….for all the anti-Marcos sentiment (and yes I do admit I don’t know as much as I should, but I’m getting there)
I feel like I’m missing something.
Song: Dil Laga Liya
Film: Dil Hai Tumhaara
Singer(s): Alka Yagnik & Udit Narayan
Miao Bin Si by Yin Chao for Harper’s Bazaar China (October 2012)
In other news, former Philippine ex-president Gloria Arroyo did not appropriate $8.8 million in state lottery wins. In fact, it disappeared into fat air, leading the Supreme Court to dismiss her case.
Pine, Plum and Cranes, 1759 AD, by Shen Quan (1682–1760). Hanging scroll, ink and colour on silk.
Chalcha Woman’s Headdress and Collier
19th Century
Mongolia
Virtual Collection of Masterpieces:This glorious headdress and collier were once worn by a woman of the Chalcha, a Mongolian Subgroup. They were a sign that this woman was married. They were also part of her personal “savings account” of jewellery.
President Sergio Osmeña and his family at the Malacañang gardens, circa 1945
President Quezon at the Malacañang Staircase, circa 1935.
Geetanjali Nagpal
Valima of TV Artist Zeenat Yasmeen
This photo was taken on Valima day of TV artist Zeenat Yasmeen (mother of model Iraj Manzoor). Neelofer Abbasi is next to her. In the right hand corner of the photo once can see (late) Ishrat Hashmi who was also a PTV artist. On the left side one can see face of TV actor Parveen Akhtar (later Parveen Khan).
November 1970 – PTV Drama “khabar hai aane ki”
Following photo is from the sets of PTV drama ‘khabar hai aana ki’. Neelofer Abbasi is accompanied by Zooni Butt in this scene. It is said that Zooni was the most popular model in those days.
