All’s not quiet in Gingoog

The generally  peaceful city of Gingoog (129  kilometers east of Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental ),  was shaken  by the news of the ambush  last week of the vehicle of Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona, killing the driver and his companion, and the wounding of the mayor who is currently recuperating in a hospital in Manila.  Mrs. Guingona had just come down from a late-night celebration in an uphill barangay some 15 kilometers from the city with her daughter Marie, who is running for her mother’s mayoralty seat in the May 13 election.  The perpetrators are reported to be members of the New People’s Army.  The incident resulted in an exchange of gunfire  between the mayor’s military escort and the rebels’  troop. The current news is the forced evacuation of farmers to prevent their being caught in a massive military operation to flush out the rebels from their hideouts.

The situation has brought back to residents’ minds the killings that took place in the hinterlands, not just during  past electoral campaigns among supporters of political candidates  but also in clashes between government and rebel forces.

With the announcement of  the giving up by the head of the government’s  chief peace negotiator on talks with  communist rebels,  one wonders how the situation in Gingoog — and in other places in the country will finally end.

Let’s pray for the mayor’s quick recovery,  for the slain driver and companions’ families - and for peace in the land.

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For art lovers, the show of Jigs Adefuin at LRI Art Pavilion  May 2-15 will be a marvelous event to attend.  The show is timed to celebrate the ninth anniversary of LRI Design Plaza, one of the country’s trendsetting capitals in art and design.

LRI Design Plaza, located at 210 Nicanor Garcia St. (former Reposo Street), Bel Air, Makati,  houses over 45 showrooms of high end furniture home accessories sand furnishings. It features artists related to art and architecture, design, and interiors like Lor Calma, Bobby Manosa, Milo Naval, Ferdinand Cacnio, Gabby Barredo and other contemporary artists. Its latest featured art designer is Jigs Adefuin.

Adefuin’s show entitled “MASTERPIECES — the Fine Art of Living” shows off the designer’s 18 years of experience, mostly spent working for other design houses until he established his own atelier five years ago.

Adefuin, whose forte is modern classic influenced by the Art Deco traditon, will interpret the living room, bedroom and dining room as well as two minor areas. To breathe life to the “MASERPIECES” theme, he is given free rein to use original artworks of esteemed artists like Arturo Luz, Jose Joya, and Ferico Alcuaz  to lend character to the rooms. Adefuin believes that his leaning towards the classics convinced the LRI Design Plaza management that he is the ideal “bridge” between two designee disciplines — the classic and the contemporary.

He first showed interest in interior design at age seven. He drew shapes and figures representing his idea of bedroom layouts. Then he patiently learned everything he needed to become the best interior designer, taking design  courses at the Philippine School of Interior Design, then training at the Nardy Aquino Interior Design Studio and eventually working for American furniture designer Ethan Allen.

Jigs’ style is deemed to lean towards modern glamour. His designs have a certain look and feel that is best described as elegant and warm.

Jigs believes that classics always work, and this he shows by revisiting and drawing inspiration  as he creates very personal designs for his clients according to their  needs and preferences. For a design to be able to transcend time, it requires the use of  tried and tested design elements, says Jigs. He adds, “To be a good designer does not necessarily mean that you invent your own; you have the benefit of history to tell you what works and what doesn’t.”

One of Jigs’ milestones was being ranked 10th in the PID board exams. His talent  continues to be recognized with the LRI Design Plaza’s choosing him Designer of Choice for 2013. As Jigs celebrates his 18 years in the business,  his passion is to  build “the bridge between the young and the young  at heart designers, transcending  preferences and tastes of different generations with timelessness and maturity that appeal to all.”

Jigs’ exhibit at LRI Design Plaza is on May 2-15. LRI is open to the public Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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My husband and I attended the birthday bash of former Quezon City Vice-Mayor Charito Planas Monday at the Quezon Memorial Circle Monday evening.  She had invited friends with the note, “No gifts please, your presence alone is an important gift for me.”  As it turned out, her friends came and brought food to make a feast of  the 83rd birthday of  the indefatigable lawyer, exile (to the US) during the terrible martial law years, and director of Nayong Pilipino and the QC park itself. A very touching city move in recognition of her efforts as government official and civic leader was the naming of a good section of the park as “Planas Garden.” That was where the party was held, with well-wishers coming in red attire and cheery spirits.

At the party was Charito’s grandnephew, Reggie Planas, who is running for a seat in the city government, representing the 6th district.  Reggie, 44, has been shown in councilor survey sheets as the No. 3 or 4 candidate. If Reggie wins one of the  city’s six councilor’s seats, the city will be the better for it.

 Through good personal relationships with the Philippine School of Business Administration of the city, Reggie was able to secure 20 college scholarship slots for deserving students in his district’s barangays of Aplonio Samson, Baesa, balongbato, Cliat, New Era, Pasong Tamo, Sangandaan, Sauyo, Talipapa, Tandang Sora and Unang Sigaw.

Several scholars are now working. The students’ parents would not have been able to send them to college through their earnings as construction worker, technician,  vendor, labor, driver, sewer/tailor, and tricycle and taxi driver.  This school year, 20 more students will be tested and enrolled at PSBA as full scholars. Applicants  must have finished high school in Reggie’s barangays, have an average grade point of 88 percent in English and math, are recommended by the school principal and school guidance councilor, and  passed the PSBA  college entrance examination.

Reggie is a professor of computer, mathematics and business management; he is an entrepreneur and book author. He has a doctorate in business  administration, and two master’s degrees — one in  business administration and  the other, public administration. He has  a license for secondary teacher, and  a bachelor of science in computer.

Reggie idolizes his grandmother,  Charito Plans, for her civic-mindedness, generosity, and capability as a leader.  Another grandmother he is very proud of is the late Carmen Planas. He is the son of Renato Buenaventura Planas,  Charito’s nephew.  His wife is Janet Galguerra Apo, who is a great grandniece of the heroine Tandang Sora, by whom he has four  children — two of them seminarians.  His eldest son, J. Reginald Apo Planas is a Samahan Kabataan councilor.

Reggie believes education is a stepping stone to a good future for students and the nation.

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