CULTURE EXPRESS: TRIBU ON CINEMALAYA 2007

Every night, in the dark nooks and alleyways of this urban jungle, sporadic random violence erupts, waylaying and maiming young lives and youthful dreams. What feeds this brutality? How are lives affected by this vicious cycle? Through the eyes of a 10 year old boy, EBET, we are immersed into the lives of adolescent gangsta leaders. PONGKE, MAKOY and OGOY are head gangstas of three warring street gangs or “Tribes” in Tondo – Thugs Angels, Sacred Brown Tribe, and Diablos, respectively.

During an initiation ritual for neophytes, Thugs Angel members chance upon the blood-bathed body of a murdered SBT member. Though the kids suspect that this is a Diablos hit, Policemen who arrived at the scene arrests a key leader of Thugs Angel and pins the crime on him. MAKOY and his SBT tribe vow revenge. They go about their usual activities while secretly planning to avenge their fallen homeboy. SBT and Thugs Angels form an alliance against Diablos.

The stroke of midnight signals the start of the offensive. SBT stealthily enters DIablos' lair and unleashes their fury. A running battle erupts. Many are wounded, and two are killed – Makoy, and a bystander, Dennis, who happens to be the young brother of PONGKE. It’s Pongke and Thugs Angels’ turn to avenge the death of Dennis. They hunt down Diablos leader, Ogoy, and stabs him to death.

This is a personal story of Tondo (mirrored in many similar communities in the Metropolis) symptomatic of the slow decay of an impoverished society.

TRIBU is currently showing at the 2007 Edition of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. See more details here.

See the TUGISTA group LIVE in SPi! See them perform their rapoetry on August 10, 2007 at 6PM at the Night Cafe, across Top Dog, during the Closing Ceremonies of the Poetry Festival 2007.

READVOLUTION LAUNCHING (MARCH 2, 2007)

Last March 2, the Writers Guild of SPi launched its first major project for 2007 - the READVOLUTION. This is a reading project-cum-book club that was born last year and originally was called Project R.E.A.D.

Boosted by donations from Elaine Kunkle, Director of Operations for Contentm, and May Dizon, Manager for Communications, the collection is now 200-titles strong with the entry of more books that were loaned to the project by some SPi employees.

The launch, which was held at the Journals Lobby, was attended by several readers who already joined us during the M/V Doulos visit, as well as Ms. Elaine Kunkle herself who gave a short talk on how she discovered the joys of reading. We are also honored to have with us Ms. Susan Sy whose generosity has allowed us the use of her spacious lobby. Participants were treated to a poetry reading by Project Backspace's Poetry Editor Dai Miranda, as well as a raffle of Bob Ong books (Alamat ng Gubat and Stainless Longganisa) and Volume 1 of the Writers Guild's Music for Readers Series CD. Ms. Kunkle, assisted by Guild President Dylan Gozum, cut the ribbons of the bookcases.

Our own Goddess of Poetry, Dai Miranda, reads a poem by Margaret Atwood entitled The Woman Who Could Not Live With Her Faulty Heart.

The ribbons are cut! Let the borrowing begin!

During the assignment raffle, Readvolution's Bookcase 1 was to be assigned first to Content (how apt!) and Bookcase 2 will be hosted by Healthcare, both to stay in these BUs for 6 weeks. From there, they will move to Journals and Legal. As agreed upon with Ms. Kunkle, her books will also travel to Content in Laguna. SPi employees in Cebu and Dumaguete will also enjoy these books as they will be sent via courier to their areas.

The Guild thanks Ms. Dhang Rondael of Employee Relations, FMG, CBRE, Ms. Susan Sy of Journals for making the launching a success. To Mss. Elaine Kunkle and May Dizon, we are indebted to you forever. May your love for reading and generosity of heart be a shining example to other SPi employees and managers. Maraming salamat po at Mabuhay!


Ms. Kunkle shared how she started to love reading. Behind her are bookcases B1 and B2.

A participant wins a Bob Ong book from the Guild, represented here by Workshop Manager JP Canivel (holding the bowl), Dylan Gozum, President, and Perps Poblador, Blog Manager and host of the program.

"And the winner of a Bob Ong book is...." *drums roll*

Let Readvolution be your friend...

Yum-o! Brownie and butterscotch delights by Pia Manzano, WG Vice President and Readvolution Chief Librarian. For orders... (Hep, bawal nga pala magbenta sa SPi, hehe!)

________________________________

Photos by Odie Gementera of OBRA's Camera Club. Thanks so much! For those interested in joining the Camera Club, please email Odie at o.gementera@spi-bpo.com.

CLUBS-EMPLOYEE COUNCIL JOINT PLANNING SESSION 2007

Ms. Pam Belda, ER Manager, gives a situationer.

Noli Galgana of SPILA does the score board.

Laughter galore after a game. What a way to start the day!

Three's a company, four's a...team! Pia, JP, Dylan and Kathyleen (partly hidden) of Writers Guild. Johnny Gonzales, SPILA Manager, looks on.

Charlie's Angels? Espie Vitug, Luz Desquitado and Perps Poblador of Toastmasters.

That's Macrey and Gil of SPi Laguna

Macrey of Laguna discusses plans of Performing Arts

Plans, plans, plans...How many of these will become reality this year? Abangan!

Luz of Toastmasters speaks for her club.

Tikboy of Mountaineering Society discusses his club's lofty ambitions for 2007

"Dito ba? O, dito ba? Dito baaaa? O, dito ba?"

Pia of Writers Guild finds her piece's place

The photo is finally completed!

Sir Raffy Mendiola, Production Manager of Healthcare, shares a laugh with Ms. Lea

Ms. Lea gives her final message to participants

A light moment with Susan Sy, Director of Operations for Journals


All's well that ends well. One People, One Voice, One SPi!

WGimik: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES at DON BOSCO MAKATI

Last December 2006, the Writers Guild was invited by the Alitaptap Stoytellers Philippines to join many other storytellers from different organizations in Manila to participate in the day-long commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati.

The event was organized by the Archdiocese of Manila Office for Persons with Disabilities. The Guild sent 3 storytellers to join over 50 others to handle storytelling sessions with special children.

Artworks by special children.

A briefing was made before the group was broken into teams.

Practising the stories before the actual sessions.

Dr. Rose Teleron in action assisted by a staff.

Lisa and Kathy take their turn.

Dr. Rose is confronted with a major challenge

A staff interprets Kathy and Dr. Rose's story

Storytellers give feedback after the day's sessions in order to improve next year's event.

Storyteller volunteers from several organizations in Manila, SPi included.

TIKIM: SANCTUARIO CAFE & ART GALLERY, TAGAYTAY

Most people go to Tagaytay simply to take in the majestic view of the Taal Lake and that of the volcano itself. Other than that, unless your wallets are bursting with cash, there isn't much else to do other than visit the de regieur destinations like the Pink Sisters or other nearby convents and stock up on the ho-hum pasalubong regulars like cookies made out of communion hosts, ubeng halaya or what not. Surely, there must be a medium price range place where one can unwind before going back to the metro.

Enter Sanctuario Cafe and Art Gallery.

A three-floor affair with an unassuming facade (there's a Korean KTV beside it for good measure), one enters a different world the moment one steps into Sanctuario. The red walls are so inviting with several Balinese and Filipino artifacts spread all over the place like it were a home and yet not quite so. One can go up a winding staircase and get a kick out of the view (but we're already tired of that, remember?).

Downstairs, in the basement, there are more dining spaces which you can reserve ahead of your visit (if you come with a large group). There's a rather cozy nook by the window for lovers and close friends. In this level, it's the yellow-colored wall that warms the tired and weary soul. There's also a piano you can play if you wish to show off your talents. Otherwise, just stick to your trusty camera and spare everyone else the trouble of having to haul you back to the dining table.

3rd floor view. Breathtaking as always!

Start healthy! Seared salmon and greens.

Heaven on earth. Tomatoes on the pizza were sun-ripened to perfection.

Tawilis. Said to be found only in the lake surrounding Taal Volcano.

One can also try their famous raisin bread and pair it with smoked bangus pate. Not to be missed is Sanctuario's Pasta bulalo (P300) - beef marrow served osso bucco style with cream on linguine. Finish it all off with coffee or tea! Yummy!

On your way out, you may want to pick up a bottle of two of bottled tawilis and bangus (milkfish) to brag about to friends and family. Sanctuario Cafe and Art Gallery is located at the Tagaytay Rotonda (near 7-Eleven). Contact Sanctuario at +63 46 4130637, or at mobile +63 917 5404799.

Our comments:
Service: May take some time if there are only few service crews on duty. It is so pitiful to see them going up and down three floors that one is tempted to help by getting your orders yourself from the kitchen.
Food: Many food blogs have mixed reviews. If you choose well, perhaps you'd end up the winner at the end of the day. The best thing to do would be to ask the crew what items are most popular among visitors. You may also want to try out things that are peculiar to Tagaytay - or this restaurant. Fried tawilis would be a safe choice, for example.
Price: Not cheap, not very expensive either. A group of 3 can share and still get billed around P600-P1,000 depending on your order choices (and appetites). If you can do a better version of certain item at home, skip it. Be wise.

Disclaimer:
We do not know the owners personally. We just read other blogs or get info from the grapevine and go at will. Personal monies were spent on these visits.