Visual artist Ikoy Ricio discusses the role of visual artists as storytellers in a talk at the Lopez Museum on October 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. “The Artist Talks by Ricio” complements an existing exhibit, “Tell-tale: The Artist as Storyteller, Amorsolo as Co-Author,” which delves into the visual artist as collaborator and how his works are narratives in themselves.

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A traditional full-length animated film usually takes three years to complete, but Dayo, a fully digital project by Cutting Edge Productions combining 2-D and 3-D animation, will be completed in just two years. More than 500 Filipino artists from all over the country are working to get it out in time for the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival this Christmas.

Every aspect of the film’s production has been a challenge, but it was the storyboard stage that was  the toughest, says director Robert Quilao, because it involved setting the mood and the look of the whole project. The makers brainstormed over the storyline for three days, while the script took four months to complete.

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Looking for some retail indulgement? If you’re generous about spending lately, there’s Markdown Madness over at the Enterprise that offers up to 70 percent discount on four brands–Skechers, Pony, Merrell, and Ecko. Sale runs from October 13 to 17, at 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at 14F, Tower 1 of the Enterprise Center on Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.

“Lahat ng Araw” [watch it on Youtube] is the first track from Fil-Am jazz singer Charmaine Clamor’s newest album, My Harana: A Filipino Serenade, a compilation of classic harana songs sung in eight different languages and dialects. The album will be released on November 11.

Charmaine, who made it to the top 5 of JazzWeek’s World (#2) and Traditional Jazz (#4) radio charts simultaneously, is known for introducing “jazzipino,” a hybrid musical genre that combines American jazz, blues, soul, and Filipino folk music. [Listen to her interview with NPR's Liane Hansen.]

In an exclusive Innerview with Pinoycentric, Charmaine talks about the hard work that was put into the making of My Harana: [Read more]

Students at the Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City learn the proper way to wash hands with soap.

More than 2 million children worldwide die of diarrhea every year, says the World Health Organization, yet the simple act of handwashing is the most cost-effective way of saving half of them.

“Although people around the world wash their hands with water, far fewer wash their hands with soap at critical moments–after using the toilet, after cleaning a child, and before handling food,” says United Nations Children’s Fund representative Vanessa Tobin. “They don’t realize that handwashing is a life-saving habit that can prevent the death of millions of children.”

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• Catch illustrations of national artist Fernando Amorsolo at the exhibit “Tell-tale: The Artist as Storyteller, Amorsolo as Co-Author” at the Lopez Museum.
• Over at the Yuchengco Museum, an Amorsolo exhibit is also running. “Mukhang Tsinoy” showcases a number of Amorsolo portraits of Sino-Filipino families, some of which will be shown to the public for the first time. Show runs until January 2009.
• At the Museo Pambata, parents and children develop an appreciation for Amorsolo and his works at the “Knowing Amorsolo” workshop, which runs on October 4, 11, 18; November 8, 15, 22; and December 6. To pre-register, call 523 1797 to 98 and 536 0595, or e-mail info@museopambata.org.
• Over in Los Angeles, the Filipino American Library celebrates its gala and awards night with a concert, “Jazzmopolitan,” featuring some of the best Filipino-American jazz performers. In addition, actor-comedian Alec Mapa will be receiving the role model award during the event.
• At the Filipinas Heritage Library’s the Alcove, Pinoys seriously into photography can sign up for a workshop on lighting with sought-after commercial and portrait photographer Jay Alonzo.
• Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang is still running over at PETA until October 12. It’s a great show to take kids to, as the play will feature some of the well-loved stories of classic author Severino Reyes. Unlike the submissive, meek, and ever-dependent characters from Western fairy tales, the females in these stories are young and strong women who make the best role models for our children.
• Sam Concepcion is turning 16 and he’s having his first major solo concert at the Music Museum on October 18. This talented young man says the show is dedicated to his fans, so if you’re one of them, make sure you you get tickets. More info here.
• West Side Story musical director Gerard Salonga, a big fan of Leonard Bernstein, who composed the music for the musical, says he feels as though the last ten years prepared him to do a project of such massive scale. Gerard was schooled in at the Berklee College of Music, where he studied under two former students of Bernstein.

Photo: “A Dying Breed” by usclabdog
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