Lessons from Guggenheim Museum’s Middle Eastern Art

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Guggenheim Museum’s Middle Eastern Art Former Associate Curator Reem Fadda shared personal thoughts and presented tangible forms that examined how they produce art, converting a museum as a venue to address contemporary issues.

The well-attended discussion was organized by the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB)’s Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD).

Fadda stressed that art has the ability to change norms and promote instant transformation. She likewise emphasized the importance of narrating history and creating depositories as witnesses to such events. The pieces on exhibit should entire the audience to champion for human modernity so that such issues are talked about.

Fadda has curated several international exhibits and biennales, which included Jerusalem Lives 2017 at the Palestinian Mesum, Birzeit, Not New Now, 6th Marrakech Biennale, Morocco 2016, and the United Arab Emirates National Pavilion, 55th Venice Biennale (2013).

DOE Task.Force Sets Road Map for Improvement of Palawan Electric Service

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Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi created a special task force to urgently address the recurring brownouts in Puerto Princesa and other parts of Palawan. The Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee and Task Force PALECO (IACC-TF PALECO) is set to meet with the representatives of Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO), National Power Corporation (NPC), and provincial government agencies tomorrow (25 July) to discuss the progress of the implementation of their respective action plans.

PALECO has been facing extreme backlash from both its consumers and the local government since 2017 due to unreliable electricity services in the province.

In February this year, Secretary Cusi tasked TF PALECO to look into the power interruptions perennially taking place in Palawan by means of a Performance Audit and Assessment. To this end, the task force conducted two site validations, with the first having taken place on 25 February followed by another on 11 March 2019.

TF PALECO's findings included, among others, the uncoordinated synchronization of the protection system of PALECO and NPC’s distributions lines, overloaded substations, vegetation obstruction along distribution lines, and the slow coordination among various government agencies on distribution line maintenance and improvements.

Based on these findings, the DOE, in its report directed PALECO, NPC, and the National Electrification Administration to submit implementation programs. PALECO was expected to accelerate tree clearing activities along its distribution lines, while the NPC was requested to fast track the improvement of its transmission lines and upgrade its power substations.

In tomorrow's meeting, the IACC-TF PALECO will also present its final report to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), a multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary body governing and implementing policies in the province, headed by Governor Jose Chavez Alvarez. The PCSD, whose members include local government units (LGU) and agencies, consumer and business groups, as well as indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples, has pledged its support to help foster efficient coordination among the various relevant stakeholders and local government agencies to effectively address all the issues surrounding the matter.

PCSD members, particularly the LGUs and their constituents will likewise have an opportunity to air out their grievances at the meeting.

"The DOE is committed to taking the lead in ensuring that PALECO's issues will soon be addressed. With the cooperation of all stakeholders, particularly the PALECO Board of Directors, its management member-consumers, as well as the local government agencies, we should be able to provide high quality electricity services that Palaweños deserve.” Secretary Cusi concluded.

Fashion Design Breakthroughs Deck SM Aura Premier’s The Atrium

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In partnership with SM Aura Premier and co-presented by tech brand Xiaomi, the Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) Program students of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) presented the much-awaited Sinulid: Altered Translation, their annual culminating show at The Atrium of the upscale mall.

This year’s second installment and the highlight of the series of three events welcomed guests and shoppers to a stunning array of pop-up booths and chic vignettes dressed with fresh brand concepts, new possibilities, and novel breakthroughs. It featured garments from nature- and art-inspired ready-to-wears, upcycled denims, ballet and hip hop-inspired streetwear, distinct avant-garde pieces, eye-catching knits and elegant evening ensembles.

Each style innovation exuded a wide-range of impeccable and intricate design techniques maximized to celebrate singularity and self-expression. Nicole Strawford’s display of vibrant ternos won the Best Exhibit Presentation. Her Pino Collection is a contemporary take on a traditional wear, which nods to the roots of Filipinos. It showcased cultural and temporal transformation through loud prints of the 80s and the 90s go-to snacks that likewise depicted the Filipinos’ distinct youthfulness and buoyancy.

This year’s student-artists were mentored by the Program’s roster of industry experts led by its Senior Industry Fellow Lulu Tan Gan and Benet alongside the country’s finest designers and merchandisers, to include Andre Chang, Carl Jan Cruz, Chris Diaz, John Herrera, Joel Escober, Pinky Tugas and Jerome Salaya-Ang.

The highly anticipated event was attended by SM Senior Vice President for Marketing Millie Dizon and SM Aura Mall Manager Margie de Leon.

Likewise present was the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) team, composed of Chancellor Robert Tang, Vice Chancellor for Academics Geronio Ulayao, Associate Dean for Environment Studies Ma. Cynthia Funk, FDM Program Chairperson Christine Benet and FDM faculty member and Sinulid Project Head Tracey Tabora.