It is always a high-time in my job whenever I get to interact with high and mighty people. I’ve dealt with known celebrities, great motivational speakers, and others as such. But what I really treasure are my interviews with known personalities in our art society. They were really motivational and inspiring, spoken like true people who have made their names in the industry. Hear some clips of their interview and pick out a line or two of words to live by.
Mr. Jeremy Barns, Director of National Museum, a historian and author of several books and articles on Philippine history and heritage:
I think from my museum perspective, what we always look for is the highest possible quality of artistic execution. Of course originality in artistic vision. And just as important, once an integrity as an artist to really commit yourself to the highest standards and to really imbue your art with a powerful message, especially from a national Museum standpoint, we are always looking for art that contributes to our sense of identity, that straightens our awareness of ourselves as Filipinos. Both the good and the bad, the weak and the strong. And that educates our audience to what Filipino creative expression whether from painting, sculpture or other media. We know how we fit into, into how human beings around the world express, what’s the Filipino contribution to that? So whether we are talking about the old masters from centuries back – Juan Luna, Amorsolo. These are I think the attributes that make for great Filipino artist and great Filipino art. And so we are always interested in making sure that those attributes, those qualities are always alive.
Mr Elmer Borlongan, recipient of prestigious CCP 13 Artists Awards
Kailangan lang ng determination at pagtityaga sa napili nilang field kasi ano yan, ang pagiging pintor, para din yang may calling. Kung di mo sya pababayaan, ipagpapatuloy mo ang paglikha, patuloy ang paglago in terms of techniques, sa concept. Tapos yung maging totoo sa sarili. Kailangan lang wag tayo madishearten no kasi ang buhay ng pagiging artist, malaking struggle talaga. Sa kanila, yung mga arts students, maganadang opportunities yung sumasali saganitong competition. So sa tingin ko sumali lang ng sumali. Yun nga, manalo man o hindi, nakikita mo lang yung mga kasabay mo sa pagpipinta. Yung pareho kayo ng interest, pareho kayo ng direksyon.
Mr Sonny Yabao, 1985 winner of the Photojournalist of the Year award, given by the Press Photographers of the Philippines and National Press Club
It’s always the eye. The substance. Ang pinakaimportante lagi sa photograph is the eye behind the camera or the mind behind the eye or something. It’s always what you see, what you feel. Yun ang palaging importante dun sa trabaho. Hindi masyado yung technical, dahil superficial yun ee. Importante yung substance ng trabaho. Always. Kahit anong aspeto. Ano ba talaga? Ano bang gusto mong sabihin? Saan ba pupunta ang trabahong yon? It’s always what’s important.
Mr Romy Vitug, awardee of first FAMAS Hall of Fame and the Parangal Patnubay sa Kalinangan for Cinematography
Something na pagnakita mo, malakas ang impact. Sabi ko nga, a good photograph ee hindi ko makalimutan. Lagi kong naiisip. Maganda sya. Tsaka pag magaling ang photographer, bukod sa maganda, may puso. Nararamdaman mo may puso.
Mr Joey Yupangco, Dean for the School of Design and Arts at the De La Salle College of St. Benilde
What would be a winning entry is something that gives me right away an understanding of what I’m looking at. Something iconic which means that it’s easy to understand what it is and yet your eyes keep looking at it.
I want students to be mindful of art in the sense that they can also think about why they want to do things. It’s not just a matter of having a talent to draw, to design, but it’s asking why, why you wanna do this. These are the things that are more important because creativity can be applied in different ways.
You know, what I like about this design, or this competition is that.. the impact is it is able to relate. It easily.. It communicates easily and that’s why you’re able to reach out. So I think it’s important cause after all we have to bridge our communication between people and this communicates very quickly. For whatever theme you have, for whatever message you have, it’s implied more quicker.
Hon Abdulmari Asia Imao,
Kailangan ang isang artist, hindi lang magaling. Bukod sa magaling ka nga, talentado ka, kailangan masipag ka. These things go together. Tsaka kung anung sasabihin nilang criticism, wag mong masyadog pakinggan. Gawin mo ang gusto mo. And maybe s angayon hindi gusto ng mga tao yan, hindi nila maappreciate, pero pag dating ng araw maaaring magustuhan din nila
Art is a creative work. Parang writing yan e. When you put up a writing, iisipin mo ang topic. But you have to work out kung ano ang dapat mong ilagay. Nevermind your grammar because grammar, trabaho na ng editor yan ee. Some years back, ganon ang ginagawa ko. Kasi noong araw mahirap magkaroon ng pangalan as an artist. Anong ginawa ko, ang English ko hanggang English 2 lang sa UP. I read practically everything that comes to me. Nagsulata ako, nag-ano ako. Sabi ni late Mr Roces Alejandro, former secretary of education, national artist ngayon, magaling ka sumulat. Yan ang importante. Kalimutan mo ang grammar, birahin mo. Sumulat ako ng sumulat. Alam mo malaking bagay yan. I wouldn’t have been a national artist without those works. I started writing in every magazine including Tagumpay magazine. Tiktik lang ang hindi ko nasulatan. Pero sinulat ko, yon ang ginawa ko. Kasi iba ang artist when you are able to express yourself. Kesa ang artist na magdrawing ka lang. Malaking bagay. You may call it self-promotion, but it is very important.
