Juan Marcos de Guzmán Arellano was a Filipino architect, best known for Manila's Metropolitan Theater (1935), Executive House (1926) (now houses the National Museum of the Philippines), the Manila Post Office Building (1926), and Jones Bridge.
Juan Arellano was born on April 25, 1888 in Manila, the Philippines. He attended the Ateneo Municipal and graduated in 1908. His first passion was painting and he trained under Lorenzo Guerrero, Toribio Antillon, and Fabian de la Rosa. He, however, pursued architecture and was sent to the United States as one of the first pensionados in architecture, after Carlos Barreto, who was sent to the Drexel Institute in 1908, Antonio Toledo, who went to Ohio State, and Tomas Mapua, who went to Cornell.
Arellano went to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1911 and subssequently transferred to Drexel to finish his bachelor's degree in Architecture. He was trained in the Beaux Arts and subsequently went to work for George B. Post & Sons in New York City, where he worked for Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.
He then went back to the Philippines to begin a practice with his brother, Arcadio. He later joined the Bureau of Public Works just as the last American architects, George Fenhagen and Ralph H. Doane, were leaving. He and Tomas Mapua were then named as supervising architects. In 1927, he took a study leave and went to the United States where he was greatly influenced by Art Deco architecture.
In 1930, he returned to Manila and designed the Manila Metropolitan Theater, which was then considered controversially moderne. He also continued to act as a consulting architect for the Bureau of Public Works where he oversaw the production of the Manila's first zoning plan. In 1940, he and Harry Frost created a design for Quezon City, which was to become the new capital of the Philippines.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Rogelio de la Rosa
Rogelio de la Rosa (born Regidor de la Rosa; November 12, 1916 – November 10, 1986) was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of the 20th century. Elected to the Philippine Senate from 1957 to 1963, he also was the first Filipino film actor who was able to parlay his fame into a substantial political career, paving the way for other than future Filipino entertainers-turned-politicians such as Senators Eddie Ilarde, Ramon Revilla Sr., Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, Lito Lapid and President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.
In the 1957 general elections, de la Rosa ran and won a seat in the Philippine Senate under the banner of the Liberal Party. He served for one 6-year term spanning the 4th and 5th Congress. As a Senator, he was active in issues of particular concern within his home province of Pampanga such as fisheries and agriculture, emerging as a strong advocate for nationalization of those industries. Appropriately, de la Rosa was also interested in issues relating to the Filipino film industry, co-authoring a bill that would lead to the establishment of a Board of Censors.
After 3 years in the Senate, De La Rosa decided to run for the presidency as an independent candidate. His residual popularity as a film star, as well as the unpopularity of incumbent re-electionist Nacionalista Carlos P. Garcia made him a credible candidate. The other major candidate in the race was then-Vice President Macapagal of the Liberal Party, his former brother-in-law. Then shortly before election day, de la Rosa withdrew from the election. The reasons for his withdrawal remain a mystery. According to his official Senate biography, de la Rosa was concerned about the strength of what he perceived as the corrupt political machinery of President Garcia, and was ultimately convinced that his withdrawal from the race was the only way to ensure Garcia's defeat. Whatever the motivation, de la Rosa's gambit proved successful, and Macapagal was easily elected over Garcia.
In the 1957 general elections, de la Rosa ran and won a seat in the Philippine Senate under the banner of the Liberal Party. He served for one 6-year term spanning the 4th and 5th Congress. As a Senator, he was active in issues of particular concern within his home province of Pampanga such as fisheries and agriculture, emerging as a strong advocate for nationalization of those industries. Appropriately, de la Rosa was also interested in issues relating to the Filipino film industry, co-authoring a bill that would lead to the establishment of a Board of Censors.
After 3 years in the Senate, De La Rosa decided to run for the presidency as an independent candidate. His residual popularity as a film star, as well as the unpopularity of incumbent re-electionist Nacionalista Carlos P. Garcia made him a credible candidate. The other major candidate in the race was then-Vice President Macapagal of the Liberal Party, his former brother-in-law. Then shortly before election day, de la Rosa withdrew from the election. The reasons for his withdrawal remain a mystery. According to his official Senate biography, de la Rosa was concerned about the strength of what he perceived as the corrupt political machinery of President Garcia, and was ultimately convinced that his withdrawal from the race was the only way to ensure Garcia's defeat. Whatever the motivation, de la Rosa's gambit proved successful, and Macapagal was easily elected over Garcia.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Narcisa de Leon
Narcisa B. Vda. de Leon (October 29, 1877 – February 6, 1966) was a Filipino film producer. Clad daily in the frugal rural dress of the camison, saya and slippers, "Doña Sisang", as she was widely known, was already a 61-year old widow when she entered the film industry. Nonetheless, she chartered her family-owned LVN Pictures into a dominant position in post-World War II Philippine cinema. In addition, de Leon was one of the most highly-regarded Filipino businesswomen of the first half of the 20th century.
After she was widowed, de Leon was urged by her brother some friends to invest in the Filipino film industry. She agreed, and in 1938, her family, along with the Villonco and Navoa families, contributed capital to establish a film studio. The company was named LVN Pictures, the name taken from the respective initials of the three founding families. Apart from de Leon, the two other principal founding partners of LVN Pictures were Carmen Villongco and Eleuterio Navoa Sr.
LVN broke into the Philippine film industry with the successful release of its first feature, Carlos Vander Tolosa's musical Giliw Ko, released in 1939. De Leon was elected president of LVN Pictures in 1940, and she eventually bought out the shares of her other partners, gaining full control over the studio. Giliw Ko was followed with another successful film, Manuel Conde's Ibong Adarna (1941), which featured the first color sequence in a Filipino film and was the first local film to earn more than a million pesos. However, LVN Pictures was forced to close shop upon the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in December of 1941. It resumed operations after the Liberation of Manila in 1945, and produced the first post-war Filipino movie, Orasang Ginto (1946). In 1949, LVN produced the first full-color Filipino feature film, Batalyon XIII. Dissatisfied by the color-processing of that film, De Leon bought her own color laboratory for LVN.
After she was widowed, de Leon was urged by her brother some friends to invest in the Filipino film industry. She agreed, and in 1938, her family, along with the Villonco and Navoa families, contributed capital to establish a film studio. The company was named LVN Pictures, the name taken from the respective initials of the three founding families. Apart from de Leon, the two other principal founding partners of LVN Pictures were Carmen Villongco and Eleuterio Navoa Sr.
LVN broke into the Philippine film industry with the successful release of its first feature, Carlos Vander Tolosa's musical Giliw Ko, released in 1939. De Leon was elected president of LVN Pictures in 1940, and she eventually bought out the shares of her other partners, gaining full control over the studio. Giliw Ko was followed with another successful film, Manuel Conde's Ibong Adarna (1941), which featured the first color sequence in a Filipino film and was the first local film to earn more than a million pesos. However, LVN Pictures was forced to close shop upon the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in December of 1941. It resumed operations after the Liberation of Manila in 1945, and produced the first post-war Filipino movie, Orasang Ginto (1946). In 1949, LVN produced the first full-color Filipino feature film, Batalyon XIII. Dissatisfied by the color-processing of that film, De Leon bought her own color laboratory for LVN.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Leonor Orosa Goquinco
Leonor Orosa Goquinco was a Filipino National Artist in Creative Dance. She could play the piano, draw, design scenery and costumes, sculpt, act, direct, dance and choreograph. Her penname was Cristina Luna and she was known as Trailblazer, Mother of Philippine Theater Dance and Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics. She died on July 15 2005 of "cardiac arrest secondary to cerebro-vascular accident" at the age of 87.
Goquinco graduated at the top of her class as valedictorian in Negros Occidental Provincial High School. She later moved to Manila and entered the Philippine Women's University (PWU) where she took an ACS course. She earned a diploma in education, majoring in English Literature from St. Scholastica's College and graduated summa cum laude. The famous national artist also took graduate courses in theatre craft, drama and music at Columbia University and the Teachers College in New York City, USA. She also took professional and teacher courses at the Ballet de Monte Carlo.
Leonor Orosa-Goquinco was born on July 24, 1917 at Jolo, Sulu. Her parents were Sixto Orosa and Sevedna Luna, both doctors who graduated from UP. She was married to Benjamin Goquinco and had three children: Benjamin Jr., Rachelle and Regina.
She won the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award in 1961 and 1964, the Rizal Centennial Award in 1962, the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1964, and the Presidential Award of Merit in 1970. She also won the Tandang Sora Award and the Columbia University Alumni Association Award in 1975. Leonor Orosa Goquinco was proclaimed the National Artist for Dance on March 27, 1976.
Goquinco graduated at the top of her class as valedictorian in Negros Occidental Provincial High School. She later moved to Manila and entered the Philippine Women's University (PWU) where she took an ACS course. She earned a diploma in education, majoring in English Literature from St. Scholastica's College and graduated summa cum laude. The famous national artist also took graduate courses in theatre craft, drama and music at Columbia University and the Teachers College in New York City, USA. She also took professional and teacher courses at the Ballet de Monte Carlo.
Leonor Orosa-Goquinco was born on July 24, 1917 at Jolo, Sulu. Her parents were Sixto Orosa and Sevedna Luna, both doctors who graduated from UP. She was married to Benjamin Goquinco and had three children: Benjamin Jr., Rachelle and Regina.
She won the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award in 1961 and 1964, the Rizal Centennial Award in 1962, the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1964, and the Presidential Award of Merit in 1970. She also won the Tandang Sora Award and the Columbia University Alumni Association Award in 1975. Leonor Orosa Goquinco was proclaimed the National Artist for Dance on March 27, 1976.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Rey Valera
Reynaldo Valera Guardiano (better known as Rey Valera) (born May 4, 1954 in Meycauayan, Bulacan, Philippines) is a singer, songwriter, music director and film scorer from the Philippines. He wrote and produced songs that were recorded by various singers, most notably Sharon Cuneta.
Reynaldo Valera Guardiano is the second of three siblings, and the surname Valera was derived from his mother's maiden name.
He still lives in Meycauayan, Bulacan with his family. He has a son and three daughters.
One of his initial projects was to make a song for a twelve-year-old mayor’s daughter named Sharon Cuneta (who later became known as the "Mega Star"). It was a daunting challenge, as Rey initially could not figure out what kind song would be fitting for her; she was too young to be taken seriously to be given a love song, and a bit too old to be given a nursery rhyme.
It dawned upon Rey to write a song about the people who were responsible for playing songs on the radio; the DJs. Wherever radio station the song would be submitted in, it was almost always guaranteed that it would be played and continue to play because it is their song. The song happens to be Mr. DJ, followed by Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko. It made remarkable sales on the chart.
Sharon states in a recent interview by Deborah Kan in Star News Asia, that she has been always thankful for and grateful to Rey, for writing her first hit song. "Mr. DJ".
Reynaldo Valera Guardiano is the second of three siblings, and the surname Valera was derived from his mother's maiden name.
He still lives in Meycauayan, Bulacan with his family. He has a son and three daughters.
One of his initial projects was to make a song for a twelve-year-old mayor’s daughter named Sharon Cuneta (who later became known as the "Mega Star"). It was a daunting challenge, as Rey initially could not figure out what kind song would be fitting for her; she was too young to be taken seriously to be given a love song, and a bit too old to be given a nursery rhyme.
It dawned upon Rey to write a song about the people who were responsible for playing songs on the radio; the DJs. Wherever radio station the song would be submitted in, it was almost always guaranteed that it would be played and continue to play because it is their song. The song happens to be Mr. DJ, followed by Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko. It made remarkable sales on the chart.
Sharon states in a recent interview by Deborah Kan in Star News Asia, that she has been always thankful for and grateful to Rey, for writing her first hit song. "Mr. DJ".
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Eduardo Castrillo
Eduardo De Los Santos Castrillo (b. October 31, 1942) is an award-winning Filipino sculptor. He was born in Santa Ana, Manila, the youngest of five children of Santiago Silva Castrillo, a jeweler, and Magdalena De Los Santos, a leading actress in Zarzuelas and Holy Week pageants in Makati, Philippines. Castrillo was a Republic Cultural Heritage awardee. He is also a jewelry artist and designer.
In 1966, Castrillo broke into the contemporary art field by holding an exhibit that stirred critics who had experienced "difficulty" in formally categorizing the range of Castrillo's works. In the same year, a great number of local and international collectors became attracted to Castrillo's atelier. In 1971, at the age of twenty-nine, Castrillo received The Araw ng Maynila Centennial Award (Manila Day Centennial Award), the Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award, and the Outstanding Makati Resident Award as well as the national Republic Cultural Heritage Award. Castrillo was later sent as the Philippine's official representative at the Paris Biennale and the Venice Biennale.
Castrillo's sculpting techniques included in particular "embossed copper" and "constructed and welded brass". Apart from creating intricate jewelery designs, Castrillo also composed visual art pieces for monuments, reliefs, galleries, objects d'art and theatre sets.
In 1966, Castrillo broke into the contemporary art field by holding an exhibit that stirred critics who had experienced "difficulty" in formally categorizing the range of Castrillo's works. In the same year, a great number of local and international collectors became attracted to Castrillo's atelier. In 1971, at the age of twenty-nine, Castrillo received The Araw ng Maynila Centennial Award (Manila Day Centennial Award), the Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award, and the Outstanding Makati Resident Award as well as the national Republic Cultural Heritage Award. Castrillo was later sent as the Philippine's official representative at the Paris Biennale and the Venice Biennale.
Castrillo's sculpting techniques included in particular "embossed copper" and "constructed and welded brass". Apart from creating intricate jewelery designs, Castrillo also composed visual art pieces for monuments, reliefs, galleries, objects d'art and theatre sets.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Baybayin or Alibata
Baybayin or Alibata (known in Unicode as the Tagalog script) is a pre-Hispanic Philippine writing system that originated from the Javanese script Old Kawi. The writing system is a member of the Brahmic family (and an offshoot of the Vatteluttu alphabet) and is believed to be in use as early as the 14th century. It continued to be in use during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines up until the late 19th Century. The term baybayin literally means syllables. Closely related scripts are Hanunóo, Buhid, and Tagbanwa.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Fernando Amorsolo
Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (May 30, 1892 - April 26, 1972) is one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and mastery in the use of light. Born in Paco, Manila, he earned a degree from the Liceo de Manila Art School in 1909.
Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (May 30, 1892 - April 26, 1972) is one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and mastery in the use of light. Born in Paco, Manila, he earned a degree from the Liceo de Manila Art School in 1909.
During his lifetime, Amorsolo was married twice and had 14 children. In 1916, he married Salud Jorge, with whom he had six children. After Jorge’s death in 1931, Amorsolo married Maria del Carmen Zaragoza, with whom he had eight more children. Among her daughters are Sylvia Amorsolo Lazo and Luz Amorsolo. Five of Amorsolo’s children became painters themselves. Amorsolo was a close friend to the Philippine sculptor Guillermo Tolentino, the creator of the Caloocan City monument for Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio.
Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (May 30, 1892 - April 26, 1972) is one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and mastery in the use of light. Born in Paco, Manila, he earned a degree from the Liceo de Manila Art School in 1909.
During his lifetime, Amorsolo was married twice and had 14 children. In 1916, he married Salud Jorge, with whom he had six children. After Jorge’s death in 1931, Amorsolo married Maria del Carmen Zaragoza, with whom he had eight more children. Among her daughters are Sylvia Amorsolo Lazo and Luz Amorsolo. Five of Amorsolo’s children became painters themselves. Amorsolo was a close friend to the Philippine sculptor Guillermo Tolentino, the creator of the Caloocan City monument for Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
Wilfrido Ma. Guerreo (1911-1995) was a Filipino playwright, teacher and theater artist.
He has written well over a hundred plays, 41 one which have been published. His unpublished plays have either been broadcast over the radio or staged in various parts of the Philippines.
He has been the teacher of some of the most famous people in the Performing Arts at present: Behn Cervantes, Celia Diaz-Laurel, Joy Virata, and Joonee Gamboa.
This brought sadness to Wilfrido. His aunt’s death was a devastating experience for him. It took him about four or five months before he was able to sleep at night without crying, and even when he wrote his personal memoirs at the age of 47, he still, if he thought of his aunt deeply, burst into tears in the silence of his room.
And yet soon after her death, he wrote some of his most popular comedies, like Movie Artists, Basketball Fight, and Wanted: A Chaperon.
Year’s later, he made his aunt the principal character in Forever as Maria Teresa and later as Maria Araceli in Frustrations. “Both women are like my aunt: imperious, strong-willed, wise, but also humane,” he wrote.
He has received three national awards: the Rizal Pro-Patria Award in 1961, the Araw ng Maynila Award in 1969, and the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1972.
The U.P. Mobile Theater has been a recipient of two awards when he was its director: The Citizen's Council for Mass Media Trophy (1966) and the Balagtas Award (1969).
In 1997, Guerrero was distinguished as a National Artist for Philippine Theatre.
He has written well over a hundred plays, 41 one which have been published. His unpublished plays have either been broadcast over the radio or staged in various parts of the Philippines.
He has been the teacher of some of the most famous people in the Performing Arts at present: Behn Cervantes, Celia Diaz-Laurel, Joy Virata, and Joonee Gamboa.
This brought sadness to Wilfrido. His aunt’s death was a devastating experience for him. It took him about four or five months before he was able to sleep at night without crying, and even when he wrote his personal memoirs at the age of 47, he still, if he thought of his aunt deeply, burst into tears in the silence of his room.
And yet soon after her death, he wrote some of his most popular comedies, like Movie Artists, Basketball Fight, and Wanted: A Chaperon.
Year’s later, he made his aunt the principal character in Forever as Maria Teresa and later as Maria Araceli in Frustrations. “Both women are like my aunt: imperious, strong-willed, wise, but also humane,” he wrote.
He has received three national awards: the Rizal Pro-Patria Award in 1961, the Araw ng Maynila Award in 1969, and the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1972.
The U.P. Mobile Theater has been a recipient of two awards when he was its director: The Citizen's Council for Mass Media Trophy (1966) and the Balagtas Award (1969).
In 1997, Guerrero was distinguished as a National Artist for Philippine Theatre.
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