The country’s best writers and cultural institutions paid homage this year to the 100th anniversary of the late National Artist Nick Joaquin.
Ironically, had Joaquin been around, he might never have allowed the tributes and accolades given in his honor. Or maybe, he would, but at great discomfort.
Said writer Jose ‘Pete’ Lacaba, “Sinasabi sa amin ni Nick pag dumadalaw kami sa mga burol ‘ayaw ko ng mga tribute-tribute. Ibalot niyo na lang ako sa banig, itapon niyo ako sa Pasig River.’ Pero tinatanggap din naman niya pag binigyan siya ng award [Nick would tell us whenever we were in a wake, ‘I don’t like tributes. Just wrap me in a mat and throw me in the Pasig River. But he still would accept every time he is given an award].”
Europe, the seat of everything that was grand, powerful, and prosperous, was caught in the teeth of the First World War, the year Nicomedes Márquez Joaquín was born on May 4, 1917. It was half a world away from a boy who would emerge half a century later as one of the greatest literary minds in a poor and exploited country still caught in its own, long drawn-out war of independence in 1917.
“Our sense ... of our country is a sustained act of imagination. From that vantage, it can be said that our writers and artists, who are men and women of imagination, create our country (italics mine). That is to say: they evoke those images of ourselves as we live life day and night, those images of ourselves which we share and by which we recognize our nativity. We are our own best interpreters of our history and culture because it is we who have lived through that history and created our own values by which we live.”
—National Artist for Literature Gemino Abad
It’s a four-year-old book of poetry—a slim book, all of 90 pages, with 55 poems published in 2022, ready to be read and absorbed.
And for English-proficient third-millennium Filipinos—whether aspiring for comfort or already living in ease—the images spun by 16 of the 55 poems hark back to a time beyond their consciousness.
That is why Jim Pascual Agustin’s Bloodred Dragonflies can be the metaphorical blood transfusion required to pump poignant, visual, and painful cells of old memory into the veins of the unconcerned and unaware.
It was the type of news that jarred the senses because it was the first time it happened in the country. Government officials called it an “unprecedented tragedy.”
On the morning of June 22 of this year, two students, aged 14 and 15, bypassed the security checks of San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
One student carried in his bag a Glock 17 pistol, the other carried a .38-caliber revolver. At past 9 a.m. both opened fire indiscriminately inside the school’s crowded rooms and hallways. And then the shooting stopped, but not after killing three students and wounding 20 more.
Eight years ago, Rosario “Chat” Lachica, 58, made her first visit to the Libingan ng mga Bayani. She was there to pay her last respects to National Artist Nick Joaquin who died in his sleep on April 29, 2004.
“Our sense ... of our country is a sustained act of imagination. From that vantage, it can be said that our writers and artists, who are men and women of imagination, create our country (italics mine). That is to say: they evoke those images of ourselves as we live life day and night, those images of ourselves which we share and by which we recognize our nativity. We are our own best interpreters of our history and culture because it is we who have lived through that history and created our own values by which we live.”
—National Artist for Literature Gemino Abad
For decades, mining has occupied a complicated place in the national conversation, caught in a tug-of-war between the promise of economic growth and the cost of environmental degradation.
It was the type of news that jarred the senses because it was the first time it happened in the country. Government officials called it an “unprecedented tragedy.”
On the morning of June 22 of this year, two students, aged 14 and 15, bypassed the security checks of San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
One student carried in his bag a Glock 17 pistol, the other carried a .38-caliber revolver. At past 9 a.m. both opened fire indiscriminately inside the school’s crowded rooms and hallways. And then the shooting stopped, but not after killing three students and wounding 20 more.
(L-R): Acclaimed fashion designer Lesley Mobo, Bench founder Ben Chan, Cultural Center of the Philippines President Margie Moran-Floirendo, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, SM Investments Vice Chairperson Tessie Sy-Coson, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, and celebrated fashion designer Joey Samson
A grand celebration of Pinoy culture and couture this Christmas
It was a festive, star-studded evening in celebration of Filipino heritage and fashion at the very first Paskong TernoCon 2023 at SM Aura. A joint project of SM Supermalls, Bench/Lifestyle + Clothing, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the inaugural Paskong TernoCon marked a milestone in Philippine fashion with visionary designers Joey Samson and Lesley Mobo taking centerstage in TernoCon’s first fashion show in a mall.
(L-R, front): Acclaimed fashion designer Lesley Mobo, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, and celebrated fashion designer Joey Samson, accompanied by models Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee (left, back) and actress Janine Gutierrez (right, back)
Set against the backdrop of SM Aura’s exquisite Filipiniana-themed Christmas centerpiece, the runway showcased the impeccable technique and artistry of Samson and Mobo, as well as the range and versatility of the Philippine terno. Samson’s collection showcased masterful minimalism and tailored, architectural forms, while Mobo’s was a celebration of draping, unabated maximalism, color, and folk aesthetics.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee (center) and Miss Universe Philippines 2013 Ara Arida (left) grace the runway for renowned fashion designer Lesley MoboActress Janine Gutierrez (left, front) and model-photographer Jo Ann Bitagcol (right), with actor David Licauco (left, back), elegantly showcase the creations of renowned fashion designer Joey Samson(L-R, front): Acclaimed fashion designer Lesley Mobo and celebrated fashion designer Joey Samson, accompanied by models Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee (left, back) and actress Janine Gutierrez (right, back)Acclaimed fashion designers Joey Samson and Lesley MoboMinimalism maestro Joey Samson, TernoCon Artistic Director Gino Gonzales, and avant-garde designer Lesley MoboMiss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee walks the runway for avant-garde fashion designer Lesley MoboMiss Universe Philippines 2013 Ara Arida models for renowned fashion designer Lesley Mobo.Lesley Mobo’s collection is a vibrant celebration of tropical sensibilities and folk crafts, adorned with bold printed fabrics.Lesley Mobo, the Aklan-born and London-based designer presents a seamless fusion of contemporary aesthetics and tropical inspirations.Actress Janine Gutierrez models a timeless and elegant gown crafted by the maestro of minimalism, Joey Samson.Model-photographer Jo Ann Bitagcol showcases Joey Samson’s creation, seamlessly bridging the gap between menswear and womenswear.Actor David Licauco wears Joey Samson’s modern interpretation of the Barong Filipino.Designer Joey Samson is renowned for his clean, supple lines, and subtle romantic undertones.
But more than a fashion spectacle, Paskong TernoCon served as a platform for inclusivity, making the best of Philippine design more accessible to a wider audience.
“The event epitomizes SM Supermalls’ commitment to championing Filipino culture and artistry, and provides a platform to bring this closer to more people through our malls”, said SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan. “The exquisite designs by Lesley Mobo and Joey Samson beautifully represent our rich cultural traditions and Filipino creativity, and SM is honored to have been part of this trailblazing project”.
Paskong TernoCon’s glittering front rows comprised some of the biggest names from Philippine fashion, film, culture, business, and society – who all came out to support and celebrate Pinoy culture and fashion. Gracing the occasion were First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, SM Investments Corporation Chairperson Tessie Sy-Coson, Bench founder Ben Chan, CCP President Margie Moran-Floirendo, and SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan. Likewise, the runway featured actors Janine Gutierrez and David Licauco, Miss Universe Philippines 2013 Ara Arida, model-photographer Jo Ann Bitagcol, and Michelle Dee in her first public appearance after the Miss Universe pageant.
Ambassador of Singapore to the Philippines Her Excellency Constance See(L-R): Shaan Chainani and his wife, Neelam Gopwani-Chainani of Vision Express, along with Jica Sy-Bell, Assistant Vice President of SM Prime, and her husband Michael Bell(L-R): Models and influencers Nicole Hernandez-de los Angeles, Mikaela Lagdameo, Vanna Garcia, Georgia Schulze-Del Rosario, Patty Laurel-Filart, and Kelly Misa-FernandezLongtime Bench endorser, Representative of Leyte’s 4th district, and actor Richard GomezSM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan, fashion educator Mark Higgins, and TernoCon Artistic Director Gino GonzalesProminent designer and fashion educator Mark HigginsCelebrated designer Inno SottoFamed fashion designer Jojie LorenSuyen Corporation’s Migs Pastor, Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa, Monaco Consul General Dr. Fortune Ledesma, and Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Editor AA PatawaranDesigner Tonichi Nocom and distinguished hairstylist Henri CalayagEstée Lauder Companies Country General Manager Sharyn WongPhilippine Tatler Editor Mia Borromeo, Kaye Tinga, and Wildflour’s Ana Lorenzana de OcampoActress-singer Cris VilloncoSuyen Corporation’s Bryan and Kai LimSuyen Corporation’s Suyen Lim-Yap (right) with Benny YapZuellig Family Foundation’s Men ZuelligNational Bookstore’s Xandra Ramos-PadillaMelinda Sia, fashion designer Rhett Eala, Nelly See, Philip Cuazon Jr., and The Lind Boracay’s Linda Tan
Paskong TernoCon 2023 is a celebration of the Filipino spirit, artistry, and creativity that define the country’s vibrant culture. The event was also made possible by collaborators of the two featured designers. For Joey Samson: Lakat for the footwear and Unang Panahon for the jewelry. For Lesley Mobo: Ash & Muff and Harold & Harry for the earrings, and Adante Leyesa for the bags.
Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.
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