We Storm the Capitol

Written by Chrishandra Sebastiampillai   

Pictures by Melissa Chia

The night before the Kasadyahan parade, we held a council of war in the Conference Room. We had to plan an all-out assault on the city of Iloilo. The mission: cover a complex and sprawling street festival as comprehensively as possible, with just four camera teams dispatched to various locations the parade would pass. We decided unanimously on a James Bond theme: we would be teams Skyfall, Thunderball, Octopussy and Moonraker conducting Operation STOM (take Iloilo City by storm).

Teams Skyfall, Thunderball, Octopussy and Moonraker. STOM. Yes, really.

And I think you’ll agree that we succeeded.

One With The Tribe: Part 2

Written by Chrishandra Sebastiampillai

Pictures by Jonathan Lim, Sarah Chong and Melissa Chia

<< One With The Tribe: Part 1                                  One With The Tribe: Part 3 >>

   On Saturday, 26th January, we were invited by Mr. Rommel Flogen to watch the last full dress rehearsal of Tribu Panayanon. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were not able to make it in time to watch the full rehearsals, but caught the tail end of it, and managed to interview some of the student participants.

A Visit to the University of Philippines Visayas, Miagao Campus

Written by Sarah Chong

Photographs by Sarah Chong

UPV

     During our trip in the city of Iloilo, we were hosted by the wonderful students and lecturers of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV). The University of the Philippines Visayas is a public research university in the Philippines which comprises three campuses located in Miagao, Iloilo City and Tacloban. I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the main campus in Miagao.

Churches of Iloilo: A photo essay

Words by Lestari Hairul

Photographs by Sarah Chong and Lestari Hairul

     The Philippines is home to some of the most beautiful churches in Asia and Iloilo City itself contains a high concentration of old churches. They boast amazing architecture that cross several periods and styles from Romanesque to Gothic and containing design syncretism of Spanish, Filipino, Chinese and even Muslim influences.

This photo essay highlights 4 churches that were visited in the course of a day.

Moving fast against the wind – Transportation around Manila, Boracay and Iloilo.

Written by Maxine Lim
Photographs by Maxine Lim

     When we, the Monash University alumni students, decided to coincide our holiday plans with this year’s Monash Arts study trip to Iloilo, we knew that getting around was going to be an interesting adventure. Most of us were no strangers to hard travelling – the previous study trip to Baguio and Sagada in 2007 brought to mind 6 hour bus-rides from Baguio to Sagada, winding around breath-taking and hair-raising rice terrace cliffs. Evidently, five years out in the working field blurs memories of motion-sickness and makes one nostalgic for some backpacking escapades. 

    Nine days and nine types of transportation later, this is one woman’s experience in transportation from Manila to Boracay to Iloilo.

Video Diary: Day 7

Session 6.1: Nanark Darbur - The Sikh Temple of Iloilo

Written by Kushmin Perera
Photographs by Melissa Chia

     Located in the corner of Mandurriao,Western Visayas, the Sikh temple of Iloilo -'Nanark Darbur'- is one of the very few non-Catholic/ Christian establishments in the province, and has stood for 50 years. With an incense-infused scent upon entrance, you are introduced to a completely new side of Iloilo- away from the countless churches and Dinagyang festival fever to a little touch of India. Initially, we were greeted by the devotees who were already present for their daily prayers, who instructed us to wear headscarves before entering. We were then directed towards the prayer chamber, where we all sat respectfully before the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.

Session 6.2: A Taste of Home, Our Langar Experience in Iloilo

Written by Anis Nadia Jilid
Photographs by Melissa Chia

Granthi Amrik Singh offering us Karah Parshad

     After the conclusion of the Q&A session, all of us were offered a sweet called karah parshad by Granthi. In Sikhism, this sweet is made with equal portions of whole-wheat flour, butter and sugar. It is offered to all visitors to the Darbar Sahib (main hall of the Gurdwara) and should not be refused when given. This is because the food itself is regarded as having been blessed, and as a sign of humility and respect, visitors accept the karah parshad while sitting and their hands raised and cupped. The offering and acceptance of this food is an important part of hospitality customs in Sikhism.

The Fluvial Procession-ish

Written by Esther Ho

Photographs by Sarah Choong

So close, but no cigar. 

     The guards stopped us just as it came our turn to board the last of the 150 boats that will join the fluvial procession welcoming Santo Niño. What a pity, we thought as we watched the rest of the boats sail away to spirited drumbeats and salutary fire crackers. Maybe we should have come in suits, like Hermana and Hermano Mayor. Or maybe in costume, since several boats featured Ati tribe dancers, an entourage in Spanish getup and even beauty queens in their elaborate gowns and sparkling platform stilettos. Or maybe we should have come hours earlier instead of arriving punctually, and saved ourselves some of the wild jostling of people with Santo Niño figurines across the narrow pier hacked rough and ruined by daily port traffic. No matter, it was worth the try, and our guide Peter told us that we could simply catch up with the procession on land.

Boats heading out to the Fluvial Procession

Beauty queens preparing to board the boat

Traditional Ati Dance Performance

Written by Lestari Hairul 

Photographs by Melissa Chia 

An Ati man in full costume

     When we visited the Ati community of Guimaras Island on Tuesday, the village chief had told us of a presentation of authentic Ati culture at the Dinagyang festival when we related our experience of a ‘tribe’ rehearsal at the Freedom Grandstand. The chief was emphatic that the tribal dance competition portrayed nothing of true Ati culture and wanted us to witness what they truly have to offer in performance. Thus we were invited to watch the dance presentation on Friday.