P is for Pac Man (Manny Pacquiao), A-Z of Filipino Cultural Exports
B. 1978 /Manny Pacquiao is more than a boxer. For the Filipino people, Pacquiao is the unofficial patron saint of the Philippines. Fondly referred to as Pac Man by his fans, Pacquiao’s ‘rags to riches’ success is perfectly summarised after the 1980’s cult Japanese arcade game. Like the game, Manny Pacquiao has become an international social phenomenon, resulting in various spin off projects – within the sectors of entertainment, philanthropy and politics. This said, Manny Pacquiao is a great boxer – he is a boxer’s boxer, who many would argue as one of the greatest pound for pound boxers of all time. Pacquiao is the first and only boxer in history to win ten world titles in eight different weight divisions. His last match alone, ‘Floyd Mayweather Vs Manny Pacquiao’ (May 2, 2015) captured the world’s attention, becoming the richest purse in the history of boxing, hitting the £300 million mark. In the lead up to what became a 5 year wait for ‘the match of the century’, Pacquio’s life story was made into a feature length documentary, from his humble beginnings, growing up in a slum in the Philippines to his fight to becoming one of the most loved and recognisable boxers in history. Narrated by personal friend and ambassador – Hollywood A-lister Liam Neeson, the story of ‘Manny’, is one of transcendence – in the hope that the people of the Philippines, like Manny Pacquiao will one day be saved.
The trailer to ‘Manny’ can be watched here: http://mannypacquiaomovie.com/
#OFW more than a country of good looking, half-wit, opportunistic terrorists
O is for Alfonso Ossorio, A-Z of Filipino Cultural Exports
Alfonso Ossorio / 1916-1990, Manila, Philippines
The artistic relationships among Jackson Pollock (1912–1956), Alfonso Ossorio (1916–1990), and Jean Dubuffet (1901–1985) strongly influenced the development of postwar art. Ossorio, the central figure in the trio, was an early champion of Pollock and the close friend of Dubuffet, whose radically anticultural Art Brut collection was prominently displayed at Ossorio’s Hamptons estate. Dubuffet’s admiration for Ossorio is evident in his 1951 essay on the artist, published here for the first time in English. Angels, Demons, and Savages reveals previously unrecognized technical and thematic affinities in the artists’ work, from Dubuffet’s “raw,” unconventional style to Ossorio’s use of Christian iconography and grotesque elements to Pollock’s emphasis on medium and gestural force.
Complete with two original essays and a conservation study, this groundbreaking catalogue shows how the three artists shaped the aesthetic on both sides of the Atlantic through their exchange of ideas and techniques.
Suggestion and text provided by artist /curator Father Jason Dy.
#OFW more than a country of good looking, half-wit, opportunistic terrorists
N is for No Permanent Address (Mark Boulos), A-Z of Filipino Cultural Exports
B. 1975 / Mark Boulos is an American filmmaker, based in Holland & Switzerland. Straddling the space between artist moving image and documentary film, his practice investigates the relationship between ideas, ideology and materiality. Boulos’ work will often address the space it is exhibited in, resulting in multi-channel video works – thus widening his audience reach, from contemporary art galleries to single screen projections at international film festivals.
Mark Boulos is obviously not Filipino, however he has been awarded an honorary #OFW Cultural Export, for his contribution to the continued plight for Filipino independence in ‘No Permanent Address’ (2010). ‘No Permanent Address’ is a 23 minute, 3-channel HD video, which re-imagines the New People’s Army (NPA), as a socialist, freedom fighting group. Exiled in the jungle and branded by the US government and perpetuated by the mainstream press as a terrorist organisation, Boulos provides the NPA with a platform to intelligently discuss philosophical Marxist ideas, in the battle against capitalism and corruption. A clip can be viewed at Mark Boulos Vimeo page.
#OFW more than a country of good looking, half-wit, opportunistic terrorists
M is for David Medalla, A-Z of Filipino Cultural Exports
B. 1942 / Can someone please give David Medalla a museum worthy retrospective in London?
Arts Council Collection
Tate Collection
Iniva
Tate Shots
Mousse Magazine
Publications
Enough said.
#OFW more than a country of good looking, half-wit, opportunistic terrorists
