Are the excesses of the colonial-minded Doña Victorinas & the hypocrisies of Padre Damaso still plaguing our Philippine society in this 21st century? Are the power elite of our society the true saviors of the country or have they become as morally corrupt or intellectually bankrupt as many of the Spanish colonizers of the past?

The image below of Noli Me Tangera opera performers in USA sourced from www.abs-cbnnews.com




Let me share my latest "Philippine Star" newspaper column today in the Lifestyle section's Sunday Life, it's on the September 2014 staging of the Noli Me Tangere opera in Resorts World Manila in the Philippines.

This opera is based on the controversial and "subversive" 19th century "Noli Me Tangere" novel by the national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

People say Rizal was inspired by other Western literary works and that the main protagonist Crisostomo Ibarra was actually himself, the Europe-educated idealist?

The New York City staging of the Noli opera received a mixed review from the "New York Times" last year, will it fare better qualitatively in the Philippines this year and will it be popular with the local audience?

Read my Philippine Star column below and share to others, or tell me your feedback? Best wishes!

Click the link before to read:

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2014/03/09/1298579/are-excesses-dona-victorinas-and-hypocrisies-padre-damaso-still


Image below of the Noli Me Tangere opera in New York City sourced from www.broadway.com

I got this email invitation from Zamboanga-based Tausug painter Rameer Tawasil, seeking media and public support for their public appeal---through art---for peace in Sabah and for the Filipinos as well as Malaysians there.  Please pass this message to others & support Filipinos in Sabah, especially the refugees and the many thousands reportedly being maltreated or dislocated by war?

(Photo below is of the artist Rameer Tawasil, sourced from muslimmindanao.ph)



(Art work below by the artist)




Here's the email invitation below:


Greetings of Peace.

The Arts for Peace in Public places to protest the WAR and carnage in Sabah by Malaysia, finally has the date, time and venues. My Media friends in local TV, Radio and Newspapers and other Journalists promised to grace the event. I also invited the foreign Journalists too. Please help spread the news.

Details are as follows :

"The Arts for Peace Protest"  date :  MARCH 14, 2013  time:    3 : 30 pm
 
venues :
      PUBLIC MURAL PAINTINGS : Normal Road, outside the
                                                         Western Mindanaon State University Campus
                                                          Zamboanga City.      CHALKS DRAWINGS : 1. The famous Cawa - Cawa boulevard/ RT Lim Blvd,
                                             2. Normal Road, outside the Western Mindanao State
                                             University Campus, Zamboanga City.
  
   participants in the Art Making :
       RAMEER A. TAWASIL, and Mindanao Artists       Founding/Vice-Pres.- Mindanao Artists Association of the Philippines
       (Organizer)
     
       ARTES de ZAMBOANGA
       MUSLIM YOUTH MOVEMENT
       for Peace and Development. with 3 or 5 kids participants
       YOUTH SOLIDARITY for PEACE ( Muslim and Christian Youths)
       TAYO Awardee,  2012 ASEAN Youth Awardee
       COLORES de PAZ ( Colors of Peace)
       High School, College and Out-of-School-Youth.
       CHALK ARTISTS
      ( Elementary School Students and High School Students)
Audiences:
      HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
      UNIVERSITY STUDENTS/ STAFFS
      PUBLIC PASSERS BY
      YOUNG MORO PROFESSIONALS NETWORK, Wesmin Group
      MINDANAO HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION CENTER (MinhRAC)
      other Stakeholders


(Art by Rameer Tawasil, sourced from altausug.com)