Traditional Textiles Fest

2nd ASEAN Traditional Textiles Syposium and Bazaar
February 1 – 3 2009
Hosted by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines and the National Museum of the Philippines
 
With Sustaining Traditional Textiles of the ASEAN as its theme, the second symposium (the first held in Indonesia in 2005) offers a series of talks and demonstrations on traditional Southeast Asian textiles. Specialists, practitioners, and collectors from four continents will speak on the successes and changes that face the manufacture, use, and distribution of natural fabrics.
 
The 2009 symposium showcases 21 sessions on new research and workshops that demonstrate new weaving techniques. Papers by outstanding academic specialists and demonstrations by expert weavers from three continents will present on the art, aesthetics, manufacture, and sustainability of Southeast Asian traditional textiles.
 
Also part of the event are:
T/ISSUE: Cloth and Its Complications in Southeast Asia, an exhibit of the complex problems that complex materials pose in the Philippines and Indonesia at the National Museum of the Filipino People
Market Counter, a bazaar of traditional and contemporary woven fabrics, clothings, and goods from across the Philippines, as well as selected pieces from Southeast Asia
Cocktails and Habi: Weaving the Fabric of Life fashion show
Post-symposium textile tour of Kalibo, Aklan with a firsthand view of its fabric weaving industry
Symposium fee is P5,000 for local residents. To register or for more details, call the Secretariat at 404-2685 or visit the symposium website at aseantextiles09.museumfoundationph.org

ENP Licensure Examinations

Do you want to be a certified environmental planner? Better take note of the following:

ENP Licensure Examinations June 16-17, 2009, MLQU, Manila

Deadline for Application: May 27, 2009

Requirements: Bring to PRC Birth Certificate on NSO paper, original Transcript of Records, or Certificate of Grades, and photocopy original Diploma and photocopy, Certificate of Employment, Certificate of Planning Experience from a licensed ENP, Certificate of Good Moral Character from licensed ENP, four 2X2 pictures with white background, long white window envelope, fee of P800

For Group Review Arrangements, email ecopolis_enp@ piep.org. ph.

Sliding House

Check out this sliding house designed by London architects DRMM in Suffolk England. The house features mobile walls and roofs that can be used to shade and expose parts of the house. The sliding structure is 28 meters long and weighs 50 tons.

What’s cool is you can choose between outdoor and indoor living whenever you fell like it!

from http://www.dezeen.com/2009/01/19/sliding-house-by-drmm-2/

We wonder how heavy-duty the rails or tracks of the sliding structure is.

Pinoys Love Trees

Grand Utopia Inc., a South Korean firm tasked to design and build a 120-million dollar project –Ocean 9 Casino and Hotel–in the former US naval Base of Subic Bay was asked to redevelop their design on account of environmental damages. Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza led the order of rebuilding a new design that would consider the natural locations of the trees around the area, instead of the original plan that calls for poisoning and cutting down of the trees along the waterfront. The project which broke ground last November is now facing the risk of having their environmental clearance revoked.

The project is expected to promote the country’s tourism, but Atienza is firm that investors must follow our existing laws.

We at drunkondesign.com commends our Environment Secretary for a job well done. This just shows that we Filipinos still care for our environment more than the supposed income.

It’s that time of the year once again…

Nope, we’re not talking about the Chinese New Year, but something that’s maybe equally exciting. We’re talking about the imm cologne fair. Every year, people from across the globe trot to Cologne, Germany to attend one design world’s biggest furniture show. The show, which ran through 19 January to 25 January, was attended by some 100,000 design professionals! Imagine that!

The show is segmented into seven exhibitions–imm pure, basic, comfort, sleep, solid, smart and prime.The imm pure exhibition puts out select pieces by renowned designers, while others range from an all upholstered collection (comfort), to an all-wood collection in imm pure. We snagged a few photos of the event, and we’re sharing it right here.

Ligne Roset's quirky sofa that doubles as a conversation piece

one-of-a-kind wall hangings: winter trees by artisan house

(photos by sofa-blog@flickr.com)

Frozen in Time

a peek into Philippine prehistory

Filipinos may not be a museum-going lot but it isn’t stopping anyone from putting up museums to encourage people to start visiting and start learning more about their heritage. Last weekend, we had a chance to visit one of the relatively newer museums in town, the Light and Sound Museum in Intramuros, Manila.

It is a nondescript building located along Calle Victoria, and sits on what was once a Beaterio or a convent during the Spanish and American era. Although, the original structure may not have withstood the test of time, the museum was built to replicate the old convent, at least as far as the exterior walls go. Inside, however, is another matter.

At best, the museum is a decent attempt by the government to put up more cultural establishments in the country. The architecture and design of the lobby may not amount to anything much, neither telling people of the history of the place nor striving to bring anything new or of interest to the table with its rather blah state, but once inside the galleries, we can give its founders a point for their effort to make history more interesting.

the first Philippine hero, Lapu-Lapu, cast in bronze

No, there are no painting or artworks by the masters here in this museum. Rather are visitor go through galleries and vignettes that depict very specific periods in Philippine history. The brief history lesson start with Philippine prehistory and move on to a lengthy overview on the Spanish colonization and the valiant efforts of Philippine heroes to thwart the imperial power focusing on the life and works of Rizal.

a vignette depicting polo y servicios or forced labor

The museum helps people (especially those with short attention span) to relate to history on a visual and sometimes almost physical level through video, lighting, set design and animatronics. History buffs may not find the content any different from what is taught in schools but the presentation can be at times, engaging.

a vignette depicting the publishing office of La Solidaridad

The tour, however, conspicuously skips (leaps even) certain parts of our history, including that of the American and Japanese Occupation and contemporary history. Save for a video montage, contemporary history was reduced to scenes that showed all three EDSA revolts, and which showed prominently the faces of the more popular politicians of our time including of course, President Arroyo, Cory Aquino, and Dick Gordon…we wonder why.

The tour was followed by a short lecture by Dr. Fernando Zialcita, the director of Cultural Heritage in Ateneo de Manila University on the contextualization of history.

The Light and Sound Museum tour is organized by Youth Trip, an NGO geared to the promotion of Philippine culture and heritage.

What’s the Cheese?

What separates a good interior designer from those who just loves to decorate interiors is the concept of the designs. Check out this cafe in Japan, designed by Koichi Suzono and Shinya Kamuro, with a cheese concept. Wooden boards with circular cuts dominate the interiors, simulating holes in cheddar cheese. The “holes” also act as tools to let daylight through the inner areas of the cafe.

UP Arki Haraya

UP College of Architecture will be holding it’s Annual Year-End Exhibit of Undergraduate Theses, students works from all year levels, launching of the CD of “Designing Diliman” and other activities, including Arki Thesis Redux, a re-presentation of the best tof the year.

UP Arki Haraya 2009
Start: Monday, March 9 at 9:00am
End: Friday, March 13 at 5:00pm
Where: College of Architecture, UP Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila

Amen to This

The Heritage Conservation Society will be holding “SAVING GRACE: Case Studies on the Architectural Conservation of Heritage Churches Here and Abroad” on Saturday, 31 January 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Army & Navy Club Building (now Museo ng Maynila) in Rizal Park. Speakers will include: Ms. Tina Paterno, Senior Conservator from New York City – the Smithfield Church, built in 1925, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, – the Cathedral of the Incarnation, built in 1876, in Garden City, New York; Archt. Arnulfo Dado, of the National Museum – San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila, completed in 1607 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, – the Parish Church of San Raymundo de Peñafort, Rizal (Malaueg), Cagayan, built in 1607 and declared a National Cultural Treasure by the NCCA; Archt. Angel Lazaro, of Angel Lazaro & Associates – Parish Church of San Andres, in Masinloc, Zambales, built in 1607 and declared a National Cultural Treasure by the NCCA. Lunch will be served. Minimum donation is P 200 for non-members, P 100 for HCS members, and P 50 for undergraduate students. For more information, please contact the HCS at 521-2239 or hcs_secretariat@ yahoo.com.

Singapore Furniture Fest

Take advantage of Cebu Pacific’s Zero Fares Promo and fly to Singapore for the Singapore Mozaic, Singapore Furniture Industries Council’s furniture exhibition. To be held on March 9 -25 in Singapore (and as a participant in the IMM Cologne Exhibition on January 19-25), the council aims to showcase the works of their young local designers to an international audience. Workshops and forums will also be offered at the exhibition.

So book your flights now!