No Plans by RM De Leon

Archivo 1984

Pasillo 18

2241 La Fuerza Compound 1

Chino Roces, Makati City

Archivo 1984 proudly presents "No Plans", a solo exhibition by RM De Leon featuring his new paintings which runs until 28 November 2017. The exhibition takes a direction of randomness from which no specific visual agenda or narrative is imposed. Here, discontinued or unseen permutations archived through the years are repurposed, only stopping when the composition has achieved a sense of formal elegance. The outputs have resulted in vibrantly humorous paintings, which embody an unexpected order amidst the offbeat. All this manifests a playful irony, as seen in found images reworked with blotted lines, and repetitious stamp-like figures.

De Leon’s practice has often tackled established formal standards of painting and image-making. He explores the possibilities of crossbreeding painterly acts and graphic design sensibilities. Pop culture images, the cartoonish and kitsch, and even the banal are processed with a seemingly personalized Warholian approach. De Leon presented just that in his first solo exhibition at Archivo 1984: “Dust Drawings and Other Works” (2015), which showcased a survey of several early period pieces. These were produced under the mentorship of Roberto Chabet in the 1980s, combined with recent works based on rudimentary images he has collected overtime. In his practice, De Leom has mastered the cancellation of the obvious; the result is an amalgamation of images that straddle the boundaries between representation and abstraction; painting and graphic design. He creates works that seemingly embody the contemporary nature and obscurity of the overwhelming bombardment of fleeting images in today’s technological armageddon.

RM De Leon finished a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Major in Painting at the University of the Philippines in 1984.  With an artistic practice that spans almost three decades, his work has been exhibited in numerous solo exhibition and group shows both in the Philippines and abroad. An accomplished artist, De Leon was one of the recipients of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Thirteen Artists Awards in 1990. He was the first Filipino awardee of the Vermont Studio Center, Studio Arts Program for Painting. He is currently an art professor at the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.

ASEAN CSOs March Against Human Rights Abuses and Inequitable Development

Heads of State are demanded to put social dimension to regional integration   

On the first day of the 31st ASEAN Summit Heads of State, hundreds of representatives of civil society and social movements across Southeast Asia participating in the parallel ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum marched to the People Power Monument today to protest the human rights atrocities, breakdown of the rule of law and unjust and inequitable economic policies in the region. They pushed for transformative changes in the ASEAN and demanded for a social dimension in the ASEAN economic integration.

Srey Sotheavy, Executive Director of the Alliance for Conflict Transformation Organization in Cambodia pointed out the need to review the non-interference policy of the ASEAN, which she says “has served as an excuse for ASEAN governments to remain silent on human rights violations of authoritarian governments.”

“The ASEAN virtually condone these brutal acts as they hide behind the shield of ‘non-interference,” said Jelen Paclarin, Chair of the ACSC/APF Regional Steering Committee.

Paclarin saw the “crucial need to reform ASEAN's decision-making processes” as she noted that “the non-interference policy blocks ASEAN to seriously address issues on the ground."

“ASEAN must respond to and act on the various human rights violations in the region,” said Sunsanee Sutthisunsanee of Pro-Rights Foundation in Thailand. She also stressed that the ASEAN must engage more with the people and civil society.  

“When it comes to decision-making, ASEAN should consult with the people and civil society before adopting a treaty or an instrument because this impacts on the people.” She emphasized the need for the “participation of peoples in the monitoring of the implementation of the ASEAN blueprint.”

Meanwhile, Soe Min Than of Singapore, who is among the organizers and host of next year’s ACSC/APF in Singapore said they “envision a region where all stakeholders can openly engage and work on the issue of human rights and social concerns to allow greater collaboration, better and more sustainable solutions.”

He said the ASEAN member states’ current emphasis on the ASEAN Economic Community “does not include issues which affect marginalized communities and groups to ensure that they are not left behind.” According to him, the ASEAN ‘”should ensure that policies are grounded in regular consultation with all stakeholders to push towards greater economic prosperity.”

Jane Aileen of  Indonesia Legal Aid Foundproation (YLBHI) hopes to see an ASEAN that “embraces everyone without any discrimination,  preserves the culture and local languages, protects  the environment  and empowers people.”

Yasinta Lujina of Timor Leste hopes her country becomes a member of ASEAN. She said she envisions “an ASEAN that respects human rights, human dignity and the contribution of peoples organizations and their indispensable participation.” She further said that the “ASEAN should be a region that is safe for everyone.”

The march rally concludes the four-day ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples Forum that brought together people’s organizations, social movements and NGOs of youth,  children, women, workers, older people, indigenous groups, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ and other sectors, including academics from the ten (10) ASEAN countries plus East Timor. The delegates substantially discussed issues on human rights and access to justice, corporate greed and power, labor mobility and mixed migration, decent work,transformative social protection and life of dignity for all, peace and human security.

The delegates vowed to forge stronger alliances, continuously engage the ASEAN and push for alternative regionalism and practices.

Award-Winning Agencies Mount Campaign for Love Gala

Creative experts from the advertising industry come together to produce a video campaign for the Love Gala, Asia's premier charity and awards event to be held this Dec. 01, World AIDS Day.

The video campaign, dubbed as Celebrate Love (http://bit.ly/CelebrateLoveFB), is a collaborative project of Black Maria Productions and Dentsu JaymeSyfu. It is a call for love and solidarity, with a fresh take on the old adage: "Love is all you need."

The one-and-a-half-minute video, directed by Black Maria Productions' Michael Manalastas, celebrates love in all shapes and forms, and features dedicated advocates and passionate influencers doing their part in ending HIV and AIDS in the country.

According to the June 2017 HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) report, there are now an average of 30 new cases of HIV infections per day in the country. Males who have sex with males (MSM) and the youth from ages 15 to 24 are the most vulnerable segments of the population.

Manalastas shared, “I feel proud to have contributed to the Love Gala campaign, as the cause of HIV awareness and education is close to my heart.”







“Shooting the teaser required us to work with both seasoned professionals and enthusiastic but totally inexperienced volunteers. What was great about all this was that everyone, no matter the level of experience, came together to achieve one singular goal,” said Manalastas about filming the advocacy video.

He added, “I'm looking forward to seeing how love is celebrated by everyone within our community and without. I know that the Love Gala will touch many people's lives in the same way it touched mine.”

For her part, Gabbie Santiago, Group Account Director at Dentsu JaymeSyfu said, “Seeing as HIV and AIDS can affect everyone regardless of age, gender, or social class, it was important for us to send a message that is inclusive.”

“We decided to go back to the basics by thinking of the many ways we express love as human beings. Our relationships, our passions, our tastes, our desires, our quirks—they all shape who we are. These are also the kinds of things that inspire us to do more and reach out,” Santiago pointed out.

According to Santiago, it is already a huge milestone that people with various interests and political views, in different fields and social circles, have come together for an important cause like the rise of HIV in the Philippines and inspire the public to sign up for an HIV test or to advocate safe sex practices.

The Faces of Love can be viewed online on the Love Gala’s official Youtube channel (http://bit.ly/CelebrateLoveVid).

The Love Gala organization believes that “as we continue the fight against the HIV pandemic in the Philippines, the video reminds us that love can be our greatest weapon.”