T H E O F F I C I A L N E W S L E TT E R O F T H E J A PA N F O U N DAT I O N , M A N I L A

OCTOBER 2019

THIS ISSUE INCLUDES:
Cover Story:			
Undokai Fiesta by Malay Elementary
School Principal Dos Barrientos
Features:
The Strangers Theater Collaboration,
The 22nd Japanese Film Festival,
EIGASAI, etc.
Upcoming Events:
JAPAN FIESTA, Animahenasyon,		
and moreContributor’s Corner:
Contemporary 			Wood-Carved Netsuke		by Asuka Kajiura
Youkobo Art Space 		
Artist-in-Residence Programby Mia Cabalfin and Rhosam
Prudenciado Jr.

COVER STORYUNDOKAI FIESTA

August 23, 2019
Malay Elementary School and Malay Activity Center, Malay, Aklan
The Japan Foundation, Manila, partnered with Malay Elementary
School, held the Undokai Fiesta at the Malay Activity Center in
Malay, Aklan.
Undokai is a traditional Japanese Sports Day held in the fall of every
year in Japan. It is composed of different sports and physical activities,emphasizing discipline and skill.
Aligned with the Core Concepts of the Paralympic 2020 which will
be held in Japan, as well as the concept of the Philippine Fiesta, theUndokai Fiesta included the participation of elementary school students
and students with special needs.
Two guest athletes also delivered a talk during the event. Edwin
Villanueva, a member of the Philippine Paralympic swimming team, andYuri Fukuda, a Japanese volleyball player for the Petron Blaze Spikers,
shared their personal stories as athletes to hopefully inspire the students
in learning teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness.
In this issue’s Cover Story, Malay Elementary School Principal Dos
Barrientos shares his experience in hosting the first ever Undokai Fiesta
in the Philippines.

by Dos Barrientos

The privilege was ours when we heard that The Japan Foundation Manila chose us as their partner school among the big andcompetitive schools nationwide. The concept of the activity was commonly done within Manila and It was the first time to beheld outside the capital city. It was a big responsibility but because we work with the whole community, it was a success lastAugust 23, 2019.
The Undokai Fiesta promotes, Cultural Exchange, Camaraderie and most importantly, Inclusivity. Malay Elementary School isa small central school here in the province of Aklan. Honestly, we did not have enough resources and connections to conduct thiskind of event. But because of the generous heart of the Japan Foundation Manila, we were given the opportunity to witness andexecute this kind of cultural event.

COVER STORY

02

CULTURAL EXCHANGE
The Undokai Fiesta is a marriage of two
cultures—Japanese and Philippine cultures. It
aims to promote the Japanese cultural sports
event with the mixture of Philippine culturalconcept of gathering, the reason why it wascalled Fiesta. Since the opening of classes lastJune, the whole community already started
doing the Japanese Morning Exercise Ritual— The Radio Taiso. A short discussion about
Japanese History and Culture background
was also given to the students, for them toappreciate more what Japan culture is allabout. As part of the Filipinos, we introduced
the “Boodle Fight” to our Japanese visitors
and had the chance to teach them some basic
Filipino phrases.

The whole community of Malay Elementary
School participated in this event: from thestudents, parents, teachers and even the
Local Government Unit of Malay. Aklan was
delighted to witness this kind of activity
happening in our small town. Everyone
prepared for their Mass demonstration andrepeatedly practiced various Japanese games.
The event also bridged a strong relationshipof student to teacher and teachers to parents.
The whole event was a collaborative effort,
and it was a success because of the teamwork
and dedication of each one us since day one.
There were no losers in the event, all of us arewinners and all of us ended the event smiling
beacuse we shared a common success.
Continued on next page...

Photo by Rennzy Sanchez

CAMARADERIE

COVER STORYINCLUSIVITY
There is a quote from the animated Movie, Trolls, which says
“No one left behind”. This line really transformed into reality
when our Special Education Class joined us in our celebrationof Undokai. They are all present and have their own teams
together with the other students. The SPED class also prepareda dance presentation that was cheered by the students. It was a
precious moment for them and for their parents. Seeing themenjoying the company with other students makes my heart
flutter and it was a big win for the whole community.

Photo Credit © Rennzy Sanchez

The event was also attended by Ms. Yuri Fukuda, a volleyball
player from Japan and Mr. Erwin Villanueva, a Paralympic
swimmer from Aklan, Philippines. They both sharedinspirational messages to our students. Ms. Fukuda also
demonstrated some volleyball techniques and move to ourvolleyball players—just the right timing since only few weeks left
before our District Sports Meet.
Even the strong winds and heavy rains tried to stop us, but
the fun and energy remained. It was clearly a successful
activity and undoubtedly everyone had fun. We cannot thankenough the Japan Foundation Manila team for this memorable
opportunity. On behalf of the whole Malay Elementary Schoolcommunity, Abo gid nga Salamat sa tanan! (Thank you very muchto everyone). We are looking forward tp more partnerships in
the future and we are always ready to greet you--“Welcome to
Malay and Good vibes!”

Mr. Dos Barrientos II has been in the education sector for 19 years. He is currently the Principal of Malay
Elementary School and District Planning Officer of Malay, Aklan.

CONTRIBUTOR'S CORNER

CONTRIBUTOR'S CORNER
The Contemporary Wood-Carved Netsuke exhibition is an innovative contemporary crafts exhibition presenting 65 works by contemporary
Japanese netsuke carvers and artists. It was mounted in two cities: Bacolod City in Negros and in Makati City, from May to July 2019.
The exhibition was in collaboration with Ayala Museum and Ayala Malls, with the support of The Japanese Studies Program and Arete ofAteneo de Manila University and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines. Admission was free for all viewers.
To introduce netsuke to Philippine audiences who may not be familiar with this traditional Japanese art form, JFM invited two netsuke
masters, Mr. Tadamine Nakagawa and Ms. Asuka Kajiura from Mie Prefecture, Japan, to give a talk and demonstration. Dr. Karl Cheng
Chua from the Japanese Studies Program of Ateneo also gave a talk on the history and development of netsuke in Japan. The next day, Mr.
Nakagawa and Ms. Kajiura held a netsuke carving workshop with artists from Paete, Laguna in Arete, Ateneo de Manila University.
Japanese Netsuke artist Asuka Kajiura shares her insights on her experience conducting a talk and a workshop withparticipants from the Philippines.

by Asuka Kajiura

I was grateful to be invited to join the opening of the Netsuke
exhibition. It was a very meaningful event for me and mymentor, Netsuke master Mr. Tadamine Nakagawa. I’d like toexpress my gratitude to Director Mr. Uesugi, Assistant Director
Ms. Nakamura and all of the staff who were involved in the
project for this valuable experience.
First of all, what surprised me was the high level of interest in
Netsuke among the people in the Philippines.

Kimono has no pockets. Netsuke is a tool to bring objects suchas purse and “Inro (traditional Japanese case for holding small
objects)” when people wearing kimono. Although there are fewer
people wearing kimono, Netsuke is still considered as a practical
tool. In other words, Netsuke embodies “the beauty of use”. Since
motifs of Netsuke reflect Japanese culture, there are many designs
that you can't understand without knowing the language andcultural background. I was anxious if ordinary Filipinos can discoverand feel enjoyment from this small sculpture.

04

Netsuke © Dems Angeles

Netsuke © Dems Angeles

CONTRIBUTOR'S CORNER

Despite my anxiety, when the opening ceremony started, many
people were interested in Netsuke. I received many questions andcompliments. It was happy to discover that people appreciatedNetsuke as a highly artistic craft. In Europe and North America,
Netsuke has been evaluated as an art, and it was a great
encouragement to see the same phenomenon in Asia.
The next day, there was a workshop for local craftsmen from Paete, and I saw their deeper
interests in netsuke and the common difficulties both Japanese and Filipino traditional crafts arefacing with.
Demand for Japanese traditional crafts are shrinking, and there are not enough successors. In
order to cultivate new sales channels and demands, young craftsmen are confronted with thereality of new challenges, along with acquiring techniques. The sculptors from Paete are facing
the same problems as the demand for traditional sculptures continue to decrease; so they are
seeking for new possibilities. I was very moved by their seriousness, they cut off lunch breakand just worked hard to learn the technique of netsuke without uttering a word. I hope theyfound something useful from the workshop.
Traditional crafts are having difficulty surviving in any country. With their economic
development, some developed countries may find it challenging to continue their traditional
crafts. People from those countries often come to me to say, "It's such a pity that this ishappening in my country. I hope that Japanese traditional crafts can be conserved."
By using modern technologies, the world is getting smaller and more countries develop similar
lifestyles. With this, there are great opportunities for traditional crafts, one of our own national
identities. People can cultivate themselves if they recognize and respect each other's differences.
I am proud of my country's traditional crafts and would like to pass it on to the next generation.

ACTIVITY REPORT06

ACTIVITY REPORTKIN-BALL
June 6-9, 2019
Fujimi City, Saitama

The play was directed by Yutaka Tanoue (Kirari Fujimi), andco-written by Tanoue and J-mee Katanyag (PETA). The castmembers are a combination of five Filipinos (Kiki Baento,
Nicole Manlulo, J-mee Katanyag, Kitsi Advincula Pagaspas, Jack
Yabut) from PETA and seven Japanese (Ishimatsu Taichi, Ito
Masako, Gitaro, Kondo Tsuyoshi, Tomota Munehiro, Harada
Rio, and Fukuda Kenji).

ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN STUDIES(AAS) CONFERENCE IN BANGKOKJuly 1 – 4, 2019
Bangkok, Thailand
The Japan Foundation, Manila supported four JapaneseStudies Scholars in this year’s Association for Asian Studies in
Asia Conference held at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel in
Bangkok, Thailand, with a theme “Asia on the Rise”.
Attendees who got the travel support were Ms. Yellowbelle
Duaqui of Sophia University, Dr. Kristine Michelle Santos ofAteneo de Manila University, Dr. Anderson Villa of Mindanao
State University – General Santos City, and Dr. Ron Bridget
Vilog of De La Salle University.
Yearly, The Japan Foundation, Manila provides travel support
to Japanese Studies scholars to build stronger working
relationships cultivated among Japan scholars in Asia, North
America, and Japan.

Photo credit © Kazuyuki Matsumoto

The Japan Foundation Asia Center and Kirari Fujimi Cultural
Center, in partnership with Philippine Educational Theater
Association (PETA) presented KIN-BALL, a Philippine-Japan
collaborative theater production. The story is set in the near
future where Kin-Ball is very popular worldwide. A Japanese
Kin-Ball club team is focusing on the next World Club Cup to
get the title. They are now at the training camp with somecoaches from the Philippines, who are known as the strongest
in the world.

ACTIVITY REPORTASIA IN RESONANCE
Gala Concert (July 1, 2019, Tokyo Metropolitan Theater)

Photo credit © Roland Samson

The Japan Foundation Asia Center held the Asia in Resonance2019, a series of events introducing its various cultural
exchange programs between Japan and Southeast Asia.
The broad range of special events includes cross-borderproductions of stage performances and films, a special
international friendly soccer match between the ASIANELEVEN team of selected Southeast Asian players against ateam from Japan, and a NIHONGO Partners symposium.
Representing the Philippines at the Japan Cup for ASIANELEVEN were football players Jhon Betanio and Samuel
Chavez, accompanied by Coach Niño Datoy. A special“one night only” Gala Concert conducted by Ken-ichiro
Kobayashi was also held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater,wherein the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and theManila Symphony Orchestra performed along with theother professional orchestras from Japan and Southeast
Asia. For visual arts, there was a reconstruction of theexhibition entitled Breathing of Maps: Transformations of the
Geo-Body held at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media,
in which performance artist Carlos Celdran participated.
Also featured in the celebrations was DANCE DANCE ASIA:
Crossing the Movements, a dance collaboration between
Japanese and Southeast Asian dancers.

SPECIAL LECTURE BY PROF. TOSHIRO NISHIZAWA
Ateneo de Manila University
August 30, 2019
The Ateneo de Manila University Japanese Studies Program in cooperation
with The Japan Foundation, Manila conducted a special lecture andorientation session on How could Japan maintain its National Well-Being with an
Aging Society? (Implications for Philippine – Japan Relation) by Professor Nishizawaof Tokyo University.
Preceding the lecture was an orientation about the programs and scholarships
offered by the Graduate School of Public Policy of the University of Tokyo.

ACTIVITY REPORTTHE STRANGERS
July 8-9, 2019
De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, Manila
The Strangers, a dance performance about
empathy and antipathy facing culturaldifferences, is a German-Asian collaboration
initiated by the Goethe-Institut Osaka andthe ricca ricca *festa Okinawa 2018. This
year, Goethe-Institut Philippinen, the JapanFoundation, Manila and De La Salle College ofSaint Benilde collaborated and presented thedance production at the Black Box Theatre,
School of Design and Arts in Malate, Manila.
The team is composed of Russian director andchoreographer, Leandro Kees together with Martin Rascher(Music/Tour Manager), Julia Dina Hebe (Dramaturgy)
and four dancers from different countries: Sang-hun
Lee (performer from Korea), James Kan (performer from
Malaysia), Yung-yun Chen (performer from Taiwan), andKanako Ihara (performer from Japan).

Aside from the two jam-packed performances, Mr. Leandro
Kees conducted a 3-hour dance-theater workshop to
fifty (50) Filipino participants who came from different
backgrounds, and mainly composed of students; the class had
a good combination of dancers and theater practitioners.

SPECIAL LECTURE AND DEBRIEFING SEMINAR
ON JAPANESE CULTURE AND LITERATURE
September 6, 2019
Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman

The Japan Foundation, Manila in cooperation with the
UP Asian Center held a special lecture on Happiness andIndependence: Japanese Propaganda and Problems in Translation
During the Wartime Occupation of the Philippines by Prof.
Gonzalo Campoamor.
Following the lecture was the debriefing session by thewinners of the 1st Japanese Studies Research Competition
for Students, Mr. Mathew Sison, Ms. Erika Nañes, Mr. Andre
Lorenz Feria, and Ms. Dyan delos Reyes, where they shared
their takeaways and experiences during their study tour inTokyo, Japan last April 15 – 18, 2019.

08

ACTIVITY REPORT

Director Uesugi with festival partners

July 3 - August 25, 2019
Red Carpet Cinema, Shangri-La Plaza; Robinsons Place Tacloban ; SM City Legazpi; SM City Iloilo; Abreeza Mall Davao; CCP;SM City Rosales, Pangasinan; Cine Adarna, UPFI; Ayala Center Cebu; and Gateway Cineplex.
The 22nd EIGASAI gains history gathers the biggest
viewers this year!
More than 33,000 audiences gathered to watch 17
contemporary Japanese films in 10 venues across the country
from July 3 to August 25, 2019 in the recently concluded 22nd
Japanese Film Festival, popularly known as EIGASAI.
The festival opening film was SAMURAI MARATHON
directed by Bernard Rose with a story revolving around
Japan’s first marathon (Ansei Tooashi). It highlighted
the collaboration between an all-star Japanese cast andinternational production team. This movie was officially
supported by the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the
Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of the cultural
program of Tokyo 2020 Participation Program.
A special performance by master Shamisen player Keisho
Ohno added to the excitement during the opening week of
EIGASAI. He played original compositions with his threestringed Japanese traditional instrument during the festival’s
opening night, at Gateway Mall last July 4, and another roundof performances with the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group at
Shangri-La Plaza Mall on July 6.

Spotlight on emerging filmmakers were also programmed at the
Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and University of thePhilippines Film Institute (UPFI).
Director NOJIRI KATSUMI made his name with LYING TO
MOM, a suicide film tackled with humor, as the recipient of
the 2018 Tokyo International Film Festival’s Best Picture in
the Japanese Cinema Splash, a competition category for new
filmmakers. Lying to Mom had its Philippine premiere during
the 15th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last August 3,
2019 at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, CCP where viewers
had a chance to interact with the director. Another screening
was held last August 9 at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde, CCP.
Cinemalaya has been an allied festival of EIGASAI since 2016.
Director CHONG WISHING, on the other hand, is a famous
playwright who took a serious step into filmmaking withYAKINIKU DRAGON, a play-turned-film that pays homage tohis ancestry. It portrays the joys and sorrows of a Korean familyliving in Japan during its rapid economic growth. Director
Chong, together with film producers Toru Emori and Hirotake
Sasaki, visited Manila during the film screening at UPFI. They
did a series of talkback sessions and a roundtable discussion,moderated by multi-awarded filmmaker Giancarlo Abrahan.

Photo credit © Dems Angeles

22ND JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL (EIGASAI)ACTIVITY REPORT10PARTICIPANT'S REPORT

Photo Credit © Dems Angeles

Six (6) blockbuster films of 2018 were featured at this year’s JFF| EIGASAI:SHOPLIFTERS, a drama about interweaving emotional ties
that transcend family, directed by prominent filmmaker
Hirokazu Kore-eda, won the Palme d’Or at the 71st Cannes
Film Festival and was nominated as Best Foreign Language
Film in the recent Oscars, among others. It made its Philippine
premiere during the 2018 QCinema International Film Festival.
It was brought back again with his two other films, The Third
Murder and After The Storm.

Keisho Ohno with Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group

A low budget indie film that transformed into a social
phenomenon through word of mouth, ONE CUT OF THE
DEAD, was also screened during the festival. From two small
art theaters, its release expanded nationwide and has earned
over a thousand times its budget, thanks to the uniqueness ofthe film that became viral on social media.
Animated feature film MIRAI, produced by Studio Chizu,
is a daringly original story of love passed down throughgenerations. This film was an official selection for the Director’s
Fortnight in the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, Best Animated Filmnominee in the 91st Academy Awards, Best Motion Picture –Animated nominee in the 2018 Golden Globe Awards and it
also competed at the 2018 Annecy International Animation
Film Festival.
The film adaptation of the non-fiction book, THE 8-YEAR
ENGAGEMENT, featured Takeru Satoh and Tao Tsuchiya. The
story was about a young engaged couple who waited 8 years
for their wedding after the bride-to-be fell into a coma andlost her memory.

Director Katsumi Nojiri
Photo Credit © Dems Angeles

Crime and mystery film THE CRIMES THAT BIND was basedon the novel of the same name by Higashino Keigo. It was the
final chapter of “Detective Kaga” series, following the featurefilm The Wings of Kirin and TV drama Shinzanmono.
Closing film THE HOUSE WHERE THE MERMAID SLEEPS
was specially lined up for Gateway Mall screening. This family
drama, which transformed into an increasingly disturbing
mystery film, revolved around a fatally injured child and amother whose love leads to madness.

Continued on next page...

Director Chong Wishing with Toru Emori, Hirotake Sasaki

Continued from page 10

Equally exciting films in the 22nd JFF | EIGASAI included
KAKEGURUI by Tsutomu Hanabasa, LAUGHING UNDER
THE CLOUDS by Katsuyuki Motohiro, MIXED DOUBLES by
Junichi Ishikawa, PERFECT WORLD by Kenji Shibayama, LU
OVER THE WALL by Masaaki Yuasa, and THE TEARS OF
MALUMPATI, a film that represented the vibrant relations
between Japan and the Philippines and was based on the true
story of a Japanese NGO group and volunteers and the locals
who help construct a 10km water pipeline in Pandan (a ruralvillage in Panay Island), by Keita Meguro.

THE PHILIPPINES-JAPAN SOCIETY

The 2019 JFF | EIGASAI was generously supported by
Shangri-La Plaza, Ayala Mall Cinemas, Cultural Center of thePhilippines, SM Supermalls, SM City Iloilo, SM City Legazpi,
SM City Rosales, Robinsons Movieworld Tacloban, UP Film
Institute, Film Development Council of the Philippines, JT
International (Philippines) Inc., Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan
Airlines Co. Ltd., and Aruga by Rockwell.
This annual festival is held in honor of the Philippines-Japan
Friendship Month celebrated every July.

41ST PHILIPPINE-JAPAN FRIENDSHIPCELEBRATION AWARDS NIGHT
July 31, 2019
New World Hotel, Makati CityOn July 31st, the Japan Foundation, represented by Executive
Vice-President Mr. Tomoyuki Sakurai, was conferred 41st The
Philippines-Japan Society (PJS) Medal of Merit.
PJS defines the award as “the highest award within theSociety’s gift to confer upon Filipino and Japanese nationals
who have significantly contributed to nation-building interms of the promotion of friendship, mutual benefit, mutual
respect and closer, deeper, stronger relations between thetwo countries”. As of 2019, there have been 42 awardees,
both Filipinos and Japanese, including prominent businessleaders and pioneers, high government officials, diplomats,and civil society organizations. The Japan Foundation is very
honored and deeply humbled to receive such a prestigious
medal of merit and has reaffirmed its commitment to fosteringfriendship between the two countries.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Sakurai expressed his gratitude
to the current and past Filipino staff members for their
dedications since the establishment of The Japan Foundation,
Manila in 1996. The Japan Foundation is thankful to every
single person who involved into our projects to bridging overtwo cultures. Conferment of this medal of merit would nothave been possible without the enormous contribution of ourvaluable staff members and counterparts. Maraming , maraming
salamat po!

ACTIVITY REPORTPARTICIPANT'S REPORT

13TH SILENT FILM FESTIVAL
August 30 - September 1, 2019
Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City
The Japan Foundation, Manila’s entry for the 13th International
Silent Film Festival (ISFF) featured an art house and drama
film by renowned director-screenwriter Kenji Mizoguchi, withworld music live scoring from a regional band.
Film and music enthusiasts gathered at SM Aura Premier’s
Samsung Hall from August 30 to September 1 to watch six (6)silent classic films participating in the first-of-its-kind silent film
festival in Asia.
A screening of Orizuru Osen (The Downfall of Osen), a
story about a beautiful servant girl who was used by her
unscrupulous employer, an antique dealer, to help his illegal
business, was staged last August 31. This film was based on
the novel “Baishoku Kamo Nanban” by Kyoka Izumi andwas restored as part of the 2018 Kyoto Prefecture digitalremastering development program.
Director Mizoguchi was considered as one of the mostacclaimed filmmakers of world cinema, whose work is
popularly known as keikō-eiga (tendency films) because of theinfluence of kabuki, noh and traditional Japanese dance andmusic. His career as a serious director did not begin until 1936,
when “Osaka Elegy” and “Sisters of the Gion” were released.
His filmography includes more than fifty titles, majority ofwhich, from the 1920s and 1930s, are lost. During the war,
Mizoguchi is forced to make artistic compromises, producing
propaganda for the military government; the most famous ofwhich is a retelling of the Samurai bushido classic The 47 Ronin(1941), an epic jidai geki.
Bringing more life through music to this emotional Meiji era
film is a band hailing from Mindanao, Kaduma ni Karol. They

Carol Bello Dawonlay

play “contemporary pre-colonial music” – fusing indigenous
traditional musical influences and languages from north tosouth of the Philippines with contemporary sounds. The
audience at ISFF listened to a wonderful mix of the ancient andthe contemporary, of soothing vibes and danceable grooves
from the Philippines’ queen of chants Karol Dawonlay, singersongwriter Dandy Dawonlay, rhythm guitarist Richard Mira,
bass guitarist Joshua Gultiano, brass aerophone player Job
Vezh, master percussionist Jean Paul Zialcita and flute player
Iwag Alcalde.
The band was chosen in line with the Japan Foundation, Manila’s
tradition of shining light and collaborating with talents not just in
the Metro Manila but also from the regions.

Director Uesugi with Kaduma ni Karol Band

Other films were presented by the Film Development Councilof the Philippines, Instituto Cervantes, the Philippine-Italian
Association, Goethe-Institut Philippinen and the Embassy ofAustria. ISFF was made possible in partnership with SM Aura
Premier, with the support of the Embassy of Italy, Cineteca
Bologna, Embassy of Japan, Embassy of Spain, Filmoteca Española,Matsuda Film Productions, Globe, HearLife Foundation, Inc., Med
El, and Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia.

12

SPECIAL FEATURE

ART ARCHIVE 02
A Collection of Essays of Philippine Contemporary
Film & Literature
Published by the Japan Foundation, Manila, ART ARCHIVE
02 is the second book in a series that explores current trends
and concerns in the Philippine contemporary art. This volume
brings together eleven writers from the Philippines, putting
forth a diverse set of perspectives about contemporary
literature and film in the country.
In line with the Japan Foundation’s aim of carrying out
comprehensive international exchange programs throughout
the world, the book is published in a digital format foraccessibility. As a primer for readers interested in Philippine art,
ART ARCHIVE 02 is meant to be used as a resource to foster
cultural exchange and knowledge sharing for artists, educators,
and art and cultural institutions in the Philippines and abroad.

To download ART ARCHIVE 02, please access:https:/bit.ly/ARTARCHIVE02

CONTENT
Introduction
A NEW AGE OF CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINECINEMA AND LITERATURE by Patricia Tumang

The Golden Ages
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE BOOKSWE KNOW by Patricia May B. Jurilla, PhD
NEW PERSPECTIVES: Philippine Cinema at the
Crossroads by Nick Deocampo

Regional to National
SMALL FILM, GLOBAL CONNECTIONS by Patrick
F. Campos
CREATING RIPPLES IN THE PHILIPPINES CINEMA:
The Rise of Regional Cinema by Katrina Ross Tan
THE HISTORIC AND EPIC: Contemporary Fiction
from Mindanao by John Bengan
SILLIMAN AND BEYOND: A Look Inside theWriter’s Workshop by Tara FT Sering

Third Waves
DIGITAL DOCUMENTARY TRADITIONS
by Adjani Arumpac
A THIRD WAVE: Potential Future for Alternative
Cinema by Dodo Dayao
PHILIPPINE COMICS: Tradition and Innovation
by Roy Agustin
FESTIVAL AND THE LITERARY IMAGINATIONS
by Andrea Pasion-Flores
CURRENT FILM AND DISTRIBUTION TRENDS IN
THE PHILIPPINES by Baby Ruth Villarama

UPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTS

Literature Talks with Ginny Takemori
Oct 3 and 5, 2019
National Museum of thePhilippines, Manila and Fully
Booked, Bonifacio High Street

Award-winning Japanese translator Ginny Tapley Takemori is coming to Manila to deliver a seriesof talks. First is her public talk during the 85th PEN International Congress Manila 2019, as guest
speaker for the panel Crossing Over: Translation/Transliteration, on October 3, Thursday. Ginny
Takemori will also have a talk at Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street discussing Sayaka Murata’s
Convenience Store Woman and Japanese Contemporary Literature entitled "Building Bridges:
Conversations on Contemporary Literature", moderated by Jessica Zafra.

EYES for Embracing Diversity
October 9 – 21, 2019
Philippines & Japan

EYES for Embracing Diversity: Multicultural Coexistence and Art will have its 13-day study
program designed to understand multicultural diversity resulting from human mobility in thePhilippines and Japan. With participants coming from different parts of Asia, EYES Project hopes
to promote and enhance multicultural coexistence within the Asian region.

Japan Film Weekend in Davao
October 11-12, 2019
SM Lanang in Davao City

This year marks the 100th anniversary of establishment of the Japanese community in Davao.
To celebrate this longstanding friendship of Japan and the Philippines, especially peoples from
Davao, the Consulate-General of Japan in Davao and the Japan Foundation, Manila will holdJapan Film Weekend in Davao on October 11-13, 2019 at SM Lanang in Davao City. During
the 3-day screenings, 5 contemporary Japanese films are to be shown: Shoplifters (2018) byprestigious Director Hirokazu Kore-eda, which won Palme d’Or at the 71st Cannes InternationalFilm Festival in 2018; Samurai Marathon (2019), a historical drama directed by Bernard Rose,
based on Akihiro Dobashi’s novel about Ansei Tooashi, Japan’s first marathon; Kakegurui (2019),
a live action adaptation of popular manga featuring compulsive student gamblers; Okko’s Inn(2018), an film anime adaptation of a popular piece of children's literature that has sold over 3
million copies; and The Tears of Malumpati (2019), a drama based on a true story of the Pandan
Water Pipe Project in Antique, Philippines, where Japanese and Filipino work together while
overcoming various hardships. Admission is free.

QCinema International Film Festival
October 13-22, 2019
Quezon City
The Japan Foundation, Manila will bring in A Girl Missing (Yokogao in a Japanese title) directed byan award-winning Koji Fukada during this year’s QCinema International Film Festival to be heldon October 13-22, 2019. The film is a challenging work that tackles the theme of an "innocent
assailant" with an original script written by director Fukada, who won the Prix du Jury in the Un
Certain Regard program for Harmonium at the 69th Cannes International Film Festival.
Film Synopsis: Risa (Mariko Tsutsui) specifically requests Kazumichi (Sousuke Ikematsu) as herhair stylist. Until six months ago she was working as a home-care nurse with the name of Ichiko,
but an incident causes her life to fall apart. To get revenge she tries to get close to Kazumichi
using the alias of Risa.

14

UPCOMING EVENTS

Animahenasyon 13: 2019 Philippine Animation Festival
November 7-9, 2019
IMAX & Samsung Hall, SM
Aura, Taguig City

The 13th Animahenasyon festival aims to encourage the production of original content in
Philippine animation, recognize the Filipino talent in the field of animation, and achieve local andinternational animation excellence and competitiveness.
A one-day conference will be held with plenary, workshops, breakout sessions on concerns,
issues and animation topics such as new approaches and trends, animation technology,
animation education, and copyright issues.
Japan Foundation, Manila will show two screenings of the animated film Okko’s Inn, with
Director Kitaro Kosaka as guest speaker. He will also be conducting a Director’s Master class for
Animahenasyon participants. Kitaro Kosaka has worked on many titles as the animation director
and key animator for Studio Ghibli, such as Spirited Away, Grave of the Fireflies, and Nausicaa of
the Valley of the Wind to name a few, and has also worked on many MADHOUSE productions.
In 2014, Kosaka was awarded as Best Animator for Director Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises at theTokyo Anime Award Festival.

Japan Fiesta 2019
November 9-10, 2019
SMX Convention center,
SM Aura Premier, Taguig City.
Japan Fiesta 2019 is organized through the cooperation of
the Japan Fiesta Council, such as the Embassy of Japan in
the Philippines, Japan National Tourism Organization Manila
Office, the Japan Foundation, Manila, the Japanese Association,
Manila, Inc. and Primer Media, Inc.
The Japan Fiesta 2019 is the first event of its kind and is
expected to be the flagship event in Manila to promote
friendship between Japan and the Philippines. This event aims
to foster a deeper mutual relationship between the peoples ofJapan and the Philippines by experiencing many facets of Japan.
The event will feature Japanese culture, tourism, cuisine
among others, and promote the best of Japan to Filipinos.
Artists and performers who enjoy popularity in the Philippines
and Japan will join the event to provide entertainment andadded attraction.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Rhetoric of Creative Partnership:
Conversations on Artistic Cross-Cultural Exchanges
November 14-15, 2019
GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium
UP Diliman, Quezon CityThe UP Department of Speech Communication and Theatre
Arts, in partnership with the Japan Foundation Manila, will
host an international academic gathering where artists, festival
curators, choreographers, set designers, and art practitioners
from Japan, USA, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and thePhilippines are given a space to talk about their work toheighten their artistry and creativity as starting points of artisticknowledge. This event aims to create a venue for a dialogue on
creative and artistic collaboration in the performing arts.
Happening this 14-15 November 2019 at the GT Toyota
Auditorium, Asian Center, University of the Philippines
Diliman, our goal is to gather and engage hundreds of artists,
scholars, students and enthusiasts of the performing arts todiscuss their works and creative processes, and to share andgenerate artistic knowledge. This gathering highlights the roleof artists as cultural producers, as well as the need for actual
practitioners to directly engage audiences and communities
without intermediaries. An emphasis is also placed on crosscultural exchanges and creative partnerships to shift theconversation to the collaborative, rather than individual artistry.
It calls for the assessment of current practices in international
collaboration and the identification of possibilities in future
artistic engagements.
Admission to the conference is FREE.
To register visit: https://bit.ly/2l00tqm
or email conferences.upd@up.edu.ph16

GRANTS
Participant’s Report by Mia Cabalfin

YOUKOBO ART SPACE ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
June 4 - August 10, 2019
Zenpukuji, Suginami City, Tokyo, Japan

Mid-2018, Rhosam and I received the news that we were
accepted in two Artist-in-Residence programs: Youkobo Art
Space in Tokyo, Japan (June-August 2019) and Tokyo Arts
and Space (TOKAS) Research Residency Program (JanuaryMarch 2020). Having made the decision to work together
after our first artist-in-residence program for Kyoto Art
Center in 2012, we were thrilled and excited to be able to go
back to Japan and create new work in different spaces.
Youkobo Art Space is located in Zempukuji and is situatedin a residential area. It is a private art space run by Tatsuhikoand Hiroko Murata, and has been a haven for artists for thelast 30 years. Together with their coordinator Makiko Tsuji,
they were so welcoming, accommodating, and supportivewith all our ideas. Youkobo is usually more catered to visual
artists, so we knew it would be an interesting experience towork in an alternative “non-dance” venue. Also, this was thefirst time that they had resident artists from the Philippines,
and dance artists/choreographers at that!
At Youkobo, our objective was to start to create amulti-disciplinary performance piece entitled “Pahayag”(Expression). Our initial jump-off point was the theme of
population; with a distinct difference between Japan’s
dwindling and aging population versus the massive
overpopulation of the Philippines; and the possible
correlation with other social factors or cultural aspects, suchas economy, expressiveness, interaction, and communication.
We wanted to explore this concept and attempt to translate
it to the performing body. The plan was to create andperform this piece in an open studio event, ascribing to ourpractice of exploration of non-proscenium dance spaces.
Upon arrival in Japan, we knew we had to get centered andget down to business. We were able to record interviews(both in person and through Skype/Facetime) with 10
individuals, and we shot footage for our exhibition in
Shibuya Crossing and Zempukuji Park. The beauty ofworking in Youkobo is that we had 100% freedom to becreative, and there was zero pressure- it was all about going
through the process and seeing what surprises or discoveries
would come about.

The end result of our residency was in two parts: first, a
3-day workshop series (Body Awareness for Adults + Creative
Movement for Kids) and second, a 3-day Open Studio event/performance of our work-in-progress for “Pahayag”. We
assembled a multimedia / experiential area for the audiences
to listen to the interviews and see the footage we shot, andthen we performed our new piece.

GRANTSThis period in Tokyo was also a great opportunity to grow our
network and make new connections. We were able to pay a
courtesy call to the Embassy of the Philippines as well as the
Department of Trade and Industry in Tokyo. We met with
Dita Angara-Mathay and Kenneth Yap, and they invited us toperform at the Philippine Independence Day celebration at theImperial Hotel! At the event, we were also introduced to thePhilippine ambassador to Japan, Ambassador Laurel. It was ahuge honor for us to be recognized by fellow Filipinos in Japan,
and to be able to share our art and talent as we represented
the Philippines.

Asia Center, and we were able to watch this year’s edition ofDance Dance Asia. We even taught 200 students at the Momoi
Dashi Elementary School beside Youkobo and participated intheir Maimai House event at the end of the month – it was sucha joy to connect with the local community!
Two months went by so quickly, and the experience was soenriching and action-packed. But, our “Pahayag” journey isn’t
over yet—we plan to continue working on this piece here
in Manila, and then again in January for TOKAS. It will beinteresting to see how “Pahayag” will grow and develop, andwe are looking forward to what's ahead.

Also, this time in Youkobo, there was an ongoing projectwith Y-AIR Exchange Program (Tokyo-London), and a Basqueprogram as well. We were able to give a talk about work andour residency at Joshibi University with these artists too. We
couldn’t leave Tokyo without paying a visit to Japan Foundation

MIA CABALFIN AND RHOSAM PRUDENCIADO JR. are
Filipino contemporary dance artists. Their choreographic partnershipis unique in the Philippines, reliant on collaboration, experimentationand trust, and a model for other young choreographers who wish to
create within the contemporary dance genre.

If He Doesn't See Your Face
August 2-4, 2019
Doreen Fernandez Black Box Theater
Arete, Ateneo de Manila University

A Japanese-Filipino theater collaboration that completed atrio works - Fireflies (2012) and My Friend Has Come (2016) directed by Dr. Ricardo Abad and written by Suzue Toshiro.
The two-hour play starred Delphine Buencamino and Brian Sy
who played the estranged couple. If He Doesn’t See Your Face asks
how two people can keep on loving each other despite intense
physical and emotional constraints.

ANNOUNCEMENT

THE JAPAN FOUNDATION ACCEPTS
GRANT APPLICATIONSFiscal Year July 2019 - March 2020

The JFM, in its continuing endeavor to promote international cultural exchange and mutual
understanding, is accepting grant applications in Japanese language, arts, and cultural
exchange. For more information, please visit us at www.jfmo.org.ph/grants
The deadline of submission is on December 2, 2019.

18

EDITORIAL STAFF
Hiroaki Uesugi
director

ISSN 0118-7910
Volume 26 | Issue 2

Photo by Szusza Velasco

Szusza Velasco
editorSkyzx Labastilla
Tomoko Nakamura
Kanami Namiki
Carlos Ortiz
Mariko Okeda
Rolando Samson

Suki is a newsletter published by the Japan Foundation, Manila located at the23rd Floor, Pacific Star Building, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, corner Makati Avenues,
Makati City 1226, Philippines, with telephone numbers (632) 811-6155 to 58, 		
fax number (632) 811-6153; and email address at email@jfmo.org.ph.
Suki is published three times a year and is duly registered as printed matter mailat the Makati Central Post Office under Permit No. 1074-97 NCR dated June 16,
1997. It is distributed free of charge to individuals and organizations interested
in Japanese Studies, International Cultural Exchange and Intellectual Exchange,
among others.
The opinions expressed in the feature articles are of the authors and notnecessarily of the organization. Reproduction in whole or part of Suki articles is
prohibited without permission from the author and the Japan Foundation, Manila.