Taiwanese get a dose of Pinoy culture

Chinese proverb goes: “Close neighbors are dearer than distant relatives.”

The Philippines and Taiwan are so close geographically that roughly 250 kilometers of water separate Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan, from the Philippines’ northernmost island of Batanes.

“It is said that on a clear day, one can hear the roosters crowing from across the Balintang Channel. Sadly, our country’s rich culture still remains unknown to the Taiwanese,” says Antonio I. Basilio, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) resident representative in Taiwan.

Basilio adds that only a total of 120,000 Taiwanese tourists visited the Philippines in 2007, ranking fifth after visitors from the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.

In an effort to make the Chinese proverb a reality, MECO, the Department of Tourism, and the Council of Cultural Affairs in Taiwan recently hosted the 2008 Asia-Pacific Traditional Arts Festival.

Held at the National Center for Traditional Arts in Yilan County, Taiwan, the festival kicked off recently with rousing performances by the Bayanihan National Folk Dance Company, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Banda Kawayan, and the Dance Troupe of Taipei Physical Educational College.

The event was graced by Basilio, Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA) Minister Huang Bi-ray, Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts (POHNTTA) director Ke Chi-Liang, and Tourism Attaché for Taiwan Irineo Reyes.

“It is a golden opportunity for us to learn more about the artistic treasures of the Philippines,” enthuses Huang Bi-Ray. “The country also boasts historical landmarks that have become UNESCO World Heritage Sites.”

The Bayanihan took the audience to a journey through Philippine history via their music and dance numbers. The spectators held their breath as the dancers nimbly performed Bangko, a precarious dance on top of a pyramid of wooden benches.

The PUP Banda Kawayan, on the other hand, serenaded guests with Philippine folk songs using handmade musical bamboo instruments such as the marimba, traditional Islamic instruments like lira gabbang, the low-toned bumbong and panpipes, and the melodic angklungs.

Not to be outdone, the Taipei Physical Education College Dance Troupe showcased Taiwan’s traditional dance and music in two well-applauded numbers.

Situated in the downstream area of Dong Shan River in Wujie Township, Yilan County, the National Center for Traditional Arts (NCTA) serves as a window to Taiwanese culture.

Established in 1996 by the Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA), the NCTA is aimed at protecting endangered traditional crafts through the Folk Arts Preservation and Instruction Program; reshaping the development of traditional arts through research programs and performing arts activities; and creating a foundation for traditional arts in the education system.

The center is organized into small villages. Its unique architecture harmoniously blends the past and the present by combining traditional red brick, wood and clay tiles with cement, steel and glass.

A walk down Folk Art Boulevard lets one appreciate a wide array of Taiwan’s traditional handicraft such as stone, wood, and bamboo carvings, jade and copper ware, weaving and pottery.

There’s also a restaurant row where visitors can savor the local fare. Must-try is the tung cong (stretched sugar) candies and toffee-coated fresh fruits and tomatoes served like lollipops. The Taiwanese, we are told, are fond of fancy food items and themed restaurants.

In Taipei, for example, students and yuppies frequent the Modern Toilet resto located in the bustling Shilin district. The façade looks like a home depot that offers bathroom fixtures. Inside, various poo-shaped merchandise are displayed — from ref magnets to cardholders, key chains, face towels and poo banks for kids.

On the menu are curries, noodles and stews served on candy-colored miniature toilet bowls. For dessert, we ordered ice shavings (crushed ice with ice cream topped with marshmallows, jellies and candies) on a porcelain urinal. There’s also a chocolate ice cream shaped like a turd. Well, there’s definitely no room for the prudish here.

From the Folk Art Boulevard we proceeded to the NCTA Theater Hall to get a glimpse of “The Fantastic Sound from the Land of the Philippines,” an exhibition of the traditional instruments from the Philippines and its neighboring countries.

Showcased are homegrown instruments across the Philippines and its surrounding countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Taiwan. It also demonstrates the commonality and versatility of the instruments used in Southeast Asian countries.

Documentaries featuring Philippine traditional arts, handicraft, music and dance forms were also shown.

Four Filipino artisans representing diverse fields of Philippine traditional arts conducted live demonstrations at the lobby.

The locals had a heyday taking photos of Alice Ocampo creating delicate pastillas (milk candy) wrappers; Renato Deveza romancing buri leaves to create his signature buri birds; Rudel San Gaspar making ornamental wooden filigrees (necklaces, earrings, picture frames,a and home accents), and Julie Mantang weaving the tinalak fabric.

Although modest in size, the exhibition of Filipino folk arts provides the Taiwanese people a glimpse of the diversity, cultural richness and achievement of Filipinos.

“That knowledge of the history and culture of our people promotes better understanding and mutual respect. We hope that the 2008 Asia-Pacific Traditonal Arts Festival in Taiwan contributes to making the Chinese proverb a reality,” adds Basilio.