BREAKING INTO THE BANK

cowrie shells

I'm not talking about a major crime here... just a little catchy title for a visit to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. 

knife currency 

Unbeknownst to many Filipinos, the BSP holds the distinction of having two (yes, TWO!) museums within the complex. The more famous one is the Metropolitan Museum which houses priceless works of our masters in the visual arts.

jade coins

Aside from that, Fort San Antonio Abad also lies adjacent to the Met Museum where special events and dinners for the central bank are held. The fort was built by the Spaniards as a look out for pirates and invaders coming in from the Manila Bay. Eventually, the navy erected their headquarters in the area which is now known as the Jose Andrada Naval Station.

crocodile money

The main purpose of my visit, though, was the MONEY MUSEUM, mainly because it was part of the itinerary of Business Management students from the Aklan Catholic College who were in Manila last week.

barter rings

It's not very often visited by tourists. One, because it isn't as high profile as the other well-known museums in the country. And two, because one only visits it for a particular reason that borders on materialism. It deals with the history of money. Anyone who would be interested in how we developed our currency should go visit it.

pre-spanish coin

Anyone knows that people attach a certain value to material things. Ergo, our appreciation of money and what it can buy is a subjective thing. Money is a great indicator of a people's history. It, in a way, is a "billboard" of what makes a country distinct from the rest of the world. It is a microcosm of a people's struggle to create an ideal way of life for its citizens. And so, when you look at a bill, you will find portraits of people who have contributed greatly to society, flora and fauna endemic in a country, historical vignettes that shaped a nation and security features to prevent imitation and falsification.

galleon trade coins

What interests me about the money museum is the evolution of our medium of exchange. It had to progress somehow, somewhere. So from early examples of cowrie shells traded for other goods and services it slowly... over the centuries... became more state of the art. Cowrie shells! Really? It is surprising how the value of it changed over time. Nowadays, it's only good to mark your "bahay" for a game of "sungka". But in pre-colonial times these cowrie shells were even coated with gold for added value.

Spanish coins

The Money Museum has four sections: the pre-colonial, the Spanish colonial period, the American up to WWII, and the contemporary period. Side galleries include Layon which tackles how paper bills and coins are designed and finally minted, the installation art collections of the Central Bank and tucked away in a corner is the foreign currency collection which includes an ancient Roman coin.

galleon trade coins and Spanish medals

It really is worth a visit for those of you who are history buffs. The collection is well-curated and organized and just about anybody who wants to view the collection is welcomed provided they can present valid identification. 

pre-colonial jewelry

tamborin jewelry spanish colonial period

Enchanting the A.C.C.

I had the privilege of guiding students of the Aklan Community College again last week. That was really cool. This time around, the group was composed of Business Management students, some of whom were coming to Manila for the first time.  Ms. Portia Robado got in touch with me weeks in advance in preparation for their arrival. She was accompanied by other professors of the Aklan Catholic College who were with the kids.

Unfortunately, their arrival was marred by a vehicular accident that caused a few precious minutes of delay. We were on our way to the Philippine Stock Exchange in Ortigas Center when the bus hit a car swerving onto the road. But once we got to our first itinerary for the day, we were all set. After the lecture at the Philippine Stock Exchange, the tour group found its way to Max's Restaurant at Harrison Plaza for lunch and then we walked our way to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas where the kids were given an AVP on the role of the BSP in the economy. It started raining by then and I was relieved we were indoors. 

The next stop was the Money Museum of the Central Bank which was conveniently located within the complex. The treat here was that the students got to see very rare collections of medium of exchange throughout the centuries; the oldest being a Roman gold coin.

The next day was a treat for the students as they were to do factory visits at Lucky Me and Gardenia, both in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and then the afternoon was spent at Enchanted Kingdom. We  hied off early to Sta. Rosa squeezing a side trip to Intramuros prior to our southward journey.  It was hot and humid and before the day had ended we sweated out in the sweltering heat of Laguna. Hopefully, the students from Aklan Catholic College had fun. They were, after all, a long way from home....

* Thank you to Ms. Portia Robado, Ms. Aiza Nahil, Madam Alice Coching and Sir Joel Zapico for the opportunity to be of service.

45 YEARS OF BRILLIANCE

Ballet Philippines' corps de ballet

This article is long overdue but I've been so busy lately and have not had the time to go online.

Stella Abrera as Giselle

That out of the way, I would like to add some tidbits about a lot of the articles that have come out in praise of Ballet Philippines' 45th Season Gala Opening and the Homecoming which brought to the fore students of former dancers who have immensely benefited from learning from colleagues and mentors who have left their stamp on the level of dancing in BP.

the mad scene

Sara Meier Black wrote a lengthy, well written article in the Manila Bulletin about the homecoming and the productions of the company that is both endearing and thought provoking. As of this writing, Ballet Philippines is touring the US West Coast and has so far garnered rave reviews from Filipinos and Americans alike prompting the likes of Lou Diamond Philips and Apl d.Ap to go backstage and heap praises on everybody in the company.

Myrtha and the Willis

Alice Reyes ( National Artist for Dance) once said that any company that lasts this long takes on a life of its own despite the people who run it. Prophetic words, those. The company's success lies on its main resource: the dancers and their mentors. Whomever runs the company is far overshadowed by the brilliance of the dancing, the energy of its youthful dancers and the passion that drives them to do what they do. I should know. Been there, done that!

James Whiteside

The Gala which starred American Ballet Theater's Stella Abrera and James Whiteside was magical. The tragic love story of Giselle is given a new perspective when Abrera's  and Whiteside's acting and technique marry together and  transform the ballet from a series of steps set to music to a moving story of love gone miserably wrong with the saving grace of eternal love. Ahhh... one is always hopeful...

Giselle and Albrecht in a pas de deux

Stella's "mad scene" which is the test of any seasoned ballerina was so well under-acted, you would've wanted to make the score go further. There were no jarring histrionics in her mime, no super violent reactions in movement. It was almost cinematic in effect. I was utterly moved by it. Whiteside, on the other hand was so technically adept, he seemed effortless particularly in the scene where Myrtha (Queen of the Willis) makes him dance till he drops of exhaustion. His entrechats were crisp and clean and his balon was breathtaking.

Denise Parungao and Edana Labitoria in Je, Tu, Elle

In the matinees, the Filipino dancers, tried to keep up with the ABT Stars as well. Denise Parungao and Katherine Trofeo were fabulous in their portrayals. Trofeo was slightly more expressive and her balances were solid. This, I feel, was due to experience. Denise Parungao is a star to watch. She is young and has more years to conquer the dance firmament. Jean Marc Cordero and Earl Arisola were galant Albrechts. Their partnering and support gave impetus to their Giselles semblance to weightlessness and ethereal quality. Giselle, is indeed after all, a ghost.

Macel Dofitas in Dandansoy

The next weekend saw the company performingin Blue Moon Series, a different genre of modern and contemporary dance. Strong pieces from the works of Bam Damian, Carlo Pacis, Rheda Bentefour, George Berkadze and culminating in Norman Walker's iconic Songs of a Wayfarer were the top draw. Ricard Yadao's dancing sealed the conviction that Nonoy Froilan can now finally rest his laurels. Nonoy was teaching Yadao the nuances of the piece every step of the way and the result was brilliant. Candice Adea and partner Shen Jie of HK Ballet and the Madrigal Singers performed to the delight of Philippine balletomanes. I was half expecting to see Gener Caringal's Ang Sultan, Edna Vida's Pagsamba and Isaiah in the repertoire as these were danced to death for shows during our generation. Ooops, that's a give-away!

Richard Yadao in Romeo and Juliet

Thanks to Ballet Philippines, there is now a whole new generation of artists who have stronger technique, higher aspirations and a legacy to pass on to other young aspiring dancers out there. Ballet Philippines should be elevated to a National Company like Bayanihan and Madrigal Singers. Shall we wait for another 45 years?

Garry Corpuz and Katherine Trofeo in Nocturne