RP Heritage Festival ends with unique show

Guests were to have thrilled to a vinta regatta (race), viewing this from the Westin Philippine Plaza swimming pool area facing the Manila Bay, as part of the Filipino Heritage Festival closing ceremonies last Sunday. What a pity the regatta could not go on owing to the rains, strong winds and rough waters which would have engulfed the vintas!

Incidentally, these sailboats came all the way from Zamboanga through the kindness of Jon Ramon M. Aboitiz, chairman of the WG&A shipping company which runs the Superferry.

However, the audience headed by the charming Olongapo Mayor Kate Gordon did see colorful vinta sails flying in the breeze. The vintas brought back recollections of "Morolandia" from my parents who had served as the first Christian doctors among the Muslims of Jolo, Sulu. Shortly after graduating from the UP College of Medicine, they stayed in that far-flung region from 1916 to 1926 – this was before my time! – my father as head of the Sulu Public Hospital; my mother as his conscientious factotum.

Vintas were a common sight to those pioneer doctors as they ministered to the Badjaos whose houses stood on stilts out at sea. The two were also introduced to Muslim traditions, customs, religious practices and dances such as those which were performed at the Westin Philippine Plaza to the accompaniment of gongs and the kulintang.

The performers, some of the best I had seen, included Mayor Hja. Nur-Ana "Lady Ann" I. Sabidulla and former Mayor Abdulawahid K. Sabidulla, as well as an exciting pair, all of Tongkil, Sulu. The Sining Kumintang ng Batangas likewise danced in a compelling manner.

The highly original art show was a display of kites with paintings of preserved heritage sites and churches. The art work is on wood, not paper, and obviously, the kites were not meant to be flown. However painted kites will be "flying" in the next festival set for May of 2004. Fireworks ensued at the close of the program for which Anton Juan served as artistic director.

Festival co-chairman Mita Rufino disclosed that a fireworks contest, to be held in December, will have Spain, Italy, the UK, France, Germany among the ten participants.

Maria Fina C. Yonzon, NCCA executive director and Ana Marie (Bambi) Harper, Commissioner, UNESCO Committee on Culture, who first thought of holding the festival, gave brief messages. In her remarks, Mayor Kate Gordon expressed her admiration for what she had seen, adding that she would want to present something like it in Olongapo.

In an earlier column, I summarized the several diverse events of the Filipino Heritage Festival. Doubtless, even more auspicious and more imaginative festivals encapsulating other aspects of our rich culture, history, traditions, customs and crafts will follow. I trust Rodrigo Cornejo, assistant to the president of the GMA television station, has filmed the festival highlights for posterity.

Other actually hard-working committee members were Bonjin Bolinao, Marichu Tellano and Lourdes Locsin. Congratulations!

May I suggest that in future, organizers target larger foreign audiences. Although the festivals will make us Filipinos understand our culture and ourselves more deeply, these same festivals will serve foreigners as fascinating introductions to our heritage as also enticing tourist attractions. The sprinkling of foreigners that afternoon included Uniliver’s Howard Belton who graciously assisted in the awarding of raffle prizes, Spanish Agustinian Pedro Galende, director of San Agustin Museum and British executive Brian Murray, president of Business Partners Asia Consulting – both of whom are Filipino citizens!

Fond Farewell To Ate Luds

The field of Lourdes Jimenez Carvajal popularly known as Inday Badiday and Ate Luds was almost alien to mine, she being a luminary in the world of entertainment ("showbiz"). For this same reason, it was almost impossible to believe she was the sister of top journalist-political analyst Letty Jimenez Magsanoc.

A unique personality, Ate Luds possessed a distinctive style both in print and on television which no one else could approach. Although she moved in the world of glamour and glitter, which is usually characterized by deviousness and duplicity, she herself remained incredibly sincere, simple and unassuming, devoid of the arrogant airs entertainment and television personalities often assume to a ridiculous degree.

Exuding goodwill at all times, Ate Luds was incapable of malice. She should now be the object of envy, being finally at rest and at peace in a realm that is beyond malice and intrigue.