BATANG WEST TRIANGLE: Tribute Gig for Alexis & Nika
Posted by Erwin Romulo at September 30th, 2009
Alexis & Nika photograph by Chris Costello
Bully for You // Ornusa Cadness in UNO’s October ’09
Posted by RJ Ledesma at September 28th, 2009
Bully For You
an alternate editors note from RJ Ledesma
If the schoolyard adage “Knowledge is Power” holds any weight, then Washington “Wash” SyCip is the undisputed heavyweight of the schoolyard.
Wash—born in China, reared in the Philippines, and sworn in as an American citizen—has always been ever so familiar with the sweet science of success: He graduated college in two years at the age of seventeen with an accounting degree from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) summa cum laude. He began teaching at UST while also earning his master’s degree at his alma mater. Although Wash passed the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) exam at age 18, he was too young to receive his license to practice (You can be old enough to turn your liver into a punching bag, but not old enough to balance books, go figure) so he opted to pursue his doctorate in Columbia University.
While working on his dissertation, Wash’s studies were rudely interrupted by history: Pearl Harbor and Clark AirBase were bombed. When his father, Albino (yes, Albino) was arrested by the Japanese, he joined the Second Filipino Infantry Regimen of the U.S. Armed Forces. Although Wash wanted to fight on the front lines, he was told that he was overqualified for infantry work (read: he was too damn smart), so he was put to better use in the U.S. Armed Forces as a Japanese language code breaker out of a squadron stationed in India (Did I mention he had to learn Japanese first before taking on the intelligence work).
After the end of World War II, Wash returned to Manila and was enthused over the great opportunities that arose for the country’s reconstruction efforts. Bucking the trend of joining the big British-owned accounting firms of the time, Wash established his own firm. “Those firms were all Caucasians, and they had a fairly general policy that partners were Caucasians. From my viewpoint, I was as good as anyone and should not be subjected to discrimination in my own country.”
So, on the fifth floor of he Trade and Commerce Building in Binondo, Manila, Washington SyCip put up his shingle (“W. Sycip & Co.”) in March 1946, and the rest is business history.
Along with his longtime friend Alfredo M. Velayo, the firm was renamed SyCip, Gorres & Velayo (SGV). By building on Wash’s principles of emphasizing merit, training and integrity (which is something the current administration needs to take remedial classes in) SGV – later the SGV Group – became the country’s biggest and most prestigious accounting and consulting firm. And, under Wash’s leadership, SGV became Asia’s largest accounting firm – he was responsible for the firm’s expansion into Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. He was responsible for SGV’s partnership in 1985 with Arthur Andersen, one of the largest professional service organizations in the world (at that time).
SGV’s reputation as a firm has been so rock-solid in that managing partners and directors have been spirited away from the SGV to serve as technocrats over the past five administrations (and many of these technocrats have also left administrations that were not as rock-solid as they claimed to be). Meanwhile, Wash continues to be on a first name basis with the leaders of big business, including the Lopezes, Ayalas, Sys, Tys, del Rosarios, Gokongweis, Aboitizes, Gotianuns, Tans, Cosetengs, Sorianos, Cojuangcos, Kuoks, Delgados, Yuchenghocs Uytengsus, Yangs, Chiongs, Roxases and many others. And Wash is probably one of the few men who can bring together the country’s top political, economic, society and cultural elite on one table for a reasonably quiet dinner. And perhaps a good bottle of scotch.
Wash has been retired since 1996. But that doesn’t stop him from coming to office everyday at 6:30 am. Or from continuing to serve as the Honorary Consul of Austria to the Philippines. Or from being a fashion model for couture barong-makers Silk Cocoon. From still being. Or from being a big fan of the transvestite performers at Club Mwah. Really.
***
I blame pop culture for all of my conditioned fears. I blame the movie Jaws for my perennial fear of swimming by myself even in a kiddie-sized pool for fear that a 40-foot great white shark might just appear and turn me into lunch. I blame the move The Changeling for my fear of bathtubs because I might see a dead boy floating inside the tub. But for my biggest fear—the fear of sleeping by myself with the lights closed—is because of Freddie Aguilar.
When I was about four years old, I remember watching a (sort of) music video of Freddie Aguilar’s song Anak. The music video featured the drawing of a giant eating little boys. To my 4-year old mind, this image was terror epitomized, and I could not sleep with lights closed because the image of that toddler-eating giant would replay itself in my mind’s eye. I have not had a good night’s sleep for the past 31 years. Thank God for night-lights and (now) my wife.
Unfortunately, no amount of lighting or spooning can make me any less frightened reading the stories in Yvette Tan’s first collection of short fiction, Waking The Dead. The award-winning fictionist was one of the names we named in our ’52 Women On Top’ list in our June issue. Her recently released book, which features a fair amount of monsters (both mythical and the all too real), certainly marks her out as one of the dark stars of Philippine literature. For that reason we’ve asked her to guest-edit our October issue—only fitting given that we celebrate the pagan heresies of Halloween this month. Who better guide to the season than a lovely and talented witch like Tan? (Anybody who reads her prose knows there’s some black magic at work there; and, not very long ago, at least one of the stories in her book would’ve easily gotten figuratively “burned at the stake” if not realistically incarcerated.)
So, set aside your Necronomicons for a while, and peruse UNO’s October issue. Turn up the lights then, don’t be selfish. You want those around you—even in your seemingly empty room—to see the pictures properly.
BASIC DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP by At Maculangan
Posted by Erwin Romulo at September 27th, 2009BASIC DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
by At Maculangan
With newer and newer technology coming into the scene, digital photography in the last decade has been becoming more and more available to students, hobbyists and professionals. This workshop is about the fundamentals of digital photography, from conceptualization to actual taking of photos to post-production. To maximize and experiment with the properties of the digital camera is to maximize and experiment with one’s own creativity. Depth of field, shutter speed, sensitivity and exposure will be some of the words going to be used in this workshop, as well as megapixels, CMOS and memory card capacity – several concepts that are unlikely to be discussed in photography using film (celluloid).
At Maculangan is well known in the Philippine art scene as a photographer and a visual artist. He is a regular contributor of Manila’s top magazines. His background in visual arts and film gained him an edge as an art and culture photographer of choice particularly for documentation of contemporary art, artists and exhibitions.
Schedule: October 16, 17, 18, 23 ,24, 25 (10am – 4pm)
Requirement: D-SLR camera
Fee: P 6,000.00
Workshops are open to the public.
To register*, please drop by our office at:
UP Film Institute, 2/f cine adarna bldg. Magsaysay and Osmena Ave, UP campus, Diliman, QC.(across Bahay ng Alumni) Monday-Friday, 9-6pm
*please bring php500 downpayment to ensure your slot.
Last day of Registration: OCT 13, Tues
For inquiries:
926 02 86
upfi_workshops@yahoo.com.ph
http://www.upfilminstitute.net
Bob
Posted by Erwin Romulo at September 26th, 2009
MEET YOUR UNO CONTRIBUTOR: EveryWhereWeShoot
Posted by Erwin Romulo at September 21st, 2009
Everywhere We Shoot’s intro video for Graphika Manila 2009 from Ryan Vergara on
UNO supports Sarah Gaugler for President
Posted by Erwin Romulo at September 21st, 2009
Relax…See A Movie, Really…Go See One or Two.
Posted by Erwin Romulo at September 15th, 2009U.P. CINE ADARNA (formerly U.P. Film Center)
presents
Indio Nacional and Independencia by Raya Martin
|
INDIO NACIONAL
Sept 14 / Mon / 5pm Sept 15 / Tue / 5pm Sept 16 / Wed / 5pm INDEPENDENCIA Sept 14 / Mon / 7pm
Sept 15 / Tue / 7pm Sept 16 / Wed / 7pm Sept 17 / Thu / 1pm 7pm Sept 18 / Fri / 1pm Sept 19 / Sat / 1pm |
So You Wanna Write Films and Take Pictures…
Posted by Erwin Romulo at September 15th, 2009UP FILM INSTITUTE WORKSHOPS
OCTOBER 2009
BASIC SCRIPTWRITING WORKSHOP
by Nick Olanka
Schedule: OCT 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 (6days)
1pm to 4 pm
Course fee: 6,000
(inclusive of snacks)
BASIC DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
by At Maculangan
Schedule: OCT 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 (6days)
10am to 4 pm
Course fee: 6,000
(inclusive of snacks)
Requirement: Digital Camera preferably DSLR
OPEN TO ALL.
LAST DAY OF REGISTRATION*: OCT 13, TUES, 5PM
*php500 down payment is required to ensure a slot.
Drop by our office at UP Film Institute, 2nd floor Cine Adarna bldg. Magsaysay and Osmena Ave , UP Diliman campus, QC.
Office hours, 9am-6pm.
For Inquiries: 925-0286 (look for Mich )
Email: upfi_workshops@yahoo.com.ph
UNO Recommends: Mangatyanan
Posted by Erwin Romulo at September 15th, 2009Just a reminder, folks. MANGATYANAN will start its one week run at Robinson’s Galleria Indiesine this Wednesday, Sept 16.
The answers to questions 15, 16, and 17 can be found here
Posted by Jayvee at September 14th, 2009Well, what can we say. The guys over at Flesh Asia daily are running a contest, and we’re part of it.
We’ll help you. The answer to number 15 is Bianca Gonzalez. Amazing, ain’t it? Took a while for our Facebook friends to guess as well. Remember, her last name is spelled with a “Z.”
As for the answers to 16 and 17, you can dig through here and here.
