The midst of the busy preparations way back two months ago together with the other organizers on a late evening meeting, a question just pop up, “are we going to continue with these?”
Well, the answer was a sounding YES and last December 16-18, 2011 the first artist run, artist initiated festival took place. I was talking about the culminated Bohol Arts Fest 2011 that just ended a few weeks ago. It’s never too late to blog about this right?
So I am going to share the best parts that I love during the festival. I am definitely part of the organizing committee so it’s kinda hard to enjoy the event when you’re part of the back stage person but I do have some favorite parts and it’s a different perspective from the back.
Day 1
We all know it’s the registration part at the morning and the opening proper in the afternoon but what you all don’t know was that the putting up of the banners and the setting up of the stage was made in a rush. I was there around 4 in the morning of December 16, 2011, first day for the Christmas dawn mass and first day of the 5 months preparation for the festival. I was on my feet early that day setting up our installation exhibit. The pieces of bamboos from Joey save me, just like the way I plan it, mask on stick of thick bamboos on the ground. Eric, who did not sleep, finished touching up the bamboos on the side of the stage before he rest eyes that dawn breaks. So the rest goes… the tarpaulins run late on printing, the banners needs to hang and one more tent needs to be put up. The list goes on what things needs to be finished and what needs to be done but it was a work on progress.
So it was time for the opening program… “What was that?” “Where are the performers?” “Are the Keynote speakers coming?” everyone in the backstage was in panic mode. Thanks to Tweng’s performance it saved the whole of the program. Why not? Can you imagine a performer gone wild in the middle of the drum beat, in the middle of the crow, spread some red paints on his body and dance like nobody’s around? To add up his chanting “What is art?” and asking the crowd to go crazy with him, expect the unexpected every time Tweng performs and like we were crazy of the things he might do.
Lastly for that day was the opening of the curated art exhibit. And yeah, the speaker, Sir Sio Montera was not able to show up because of the typhoon that was causing the slight rain and the cancelation of all sea travels. The program was kept simple, cutting of the ribbon and then viewing of the paintings. The guests were the same persons present at the opening program. Back stage spoilers, the artworks were not all yet displayed, if lucky enough you might spot Roi Ferre putting up his artworks on the other side. It wasn’t that strictly curated after all, some paintings were just fillers.
Day 2
Unlike the first day where the hassle and rumble of the registration booth due to lacking of printed IDs and kits that were not properly hand outs much worries were encountered. Where the heck is the sound system? Like it was supposed to be a festival with music and live sounds. Arts demo should have started in minutes ago but what is going on? The banners where still not yet ready and some just arrive yet so we started hanging them, while the performers “Barrio Amigo” started to roll out there short play as soon as the borrowed sound systems were set up. I missed the short film forum that was running at the Meridian Hotel so I can’t say how it all went. Where I am? I am at the Plaza stuck with the on-going competitions.
Afternoon came and preparations for the photography exhibit was not yet over, 3 in the afternoon we call out some crowd to witness the ribbon cutting of the exhibit at the National Musuem. Big thanks to Sir Ric Ramasola for gracing the occasion even thou he had a small disappointments with us. Then in the evening, speakers from UP Cebu for the morning film forum arrived so we had to gather again some audience for they brought with them some sweet short films. Oh! Indeed it was sweet… but not for the minors, those who were there, you know what I mean. It opens the eyes literally wide open of the participants and some were encourage to continue doing short films, big thanks to Ara and Christian!
When we were done at the Meridian Hotel the cultural evening show was already starting and the moment that welcomes us was the splendid performance from Diwanag Dancers, no wonder they were sent to China, it was an amazing dance number they put up! There were several singers and performers that evening that just made the passing public watch and mused but it does not end there, the party continues at the City Gardens where bands of different genre performed. I got it from there, my fever! Stress out and tired body plus a bottle of strong beer equals a hang over and a fever.
Day 3
Trying to wake up early when you staying late and drunk were really difficult. I had no choice for the forum on Industrial Design would start at 8 AM. I run here and there trying to prepare the venue, “Where’s the LCD projector?”, “Are the mics Ok?” blah blah blah… it never stops there. A few more minutes my colleague and my speaker for that morning arrived. “Where are the participants?” then I realized only a few sign up for the forum. Meanwhile Sir Sio arrived at the same hall with the expectation that they will have the forum in the same area. Ok, so what happened? The forum went on with booth the participants for Industrial Design and Visual Arts forum in one hall. Sir Miki gives at least an hour talk about Industrial Design and the rest of the morning went to Sir Sio for Visual arts.
It does not end there yet. Everything was moved so was the program. The workshops on Print making and mixed media went on the afternoon for at least 2 hours with the short time the participant’s enjoyment was cut short for we have to start what I consider the boring moment of the day, The Artist Talk. It was supposedly tailored for the audience but what happen was it became a discussion of boring topics where some of the high school participants can’t relate to it. Oh well lets skip that part!
Then we have dinner, a budget tight dinner for everyone. 2 pieces of Siomai and a piece of Puso (rice wrap in coconut leaf). Honestly it could have been more if the food was properly coordinated, the barbeque for everyone was not done and the other stuffs were left, my apologies to the participants. I even forgot I have a fever. I had to prepare the winners for the contest and the prizes as well. The program which went like unprepared look more of a talk show between Tweng and Glenn.
