UBC Philippine Studies Series

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MAHAL Art Exhibit Documentation

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MAHAL: an artistic exploration of the desires
which carry the filipina/o across borders

By Chaya Erika Go, UBC Anthropology (4th year, undergraduate)

To culminate a series of events organised by the UBC Philippine Studies Series with guest lecturer, Dr Vicente L. Rafael, an art exhibit entitled MAHAL was held at the YACTAC gallery from October 28 to November 4, 2011. The name of the exhibit was inspired as such: In his book White Love (2000), Vicente L. Rafael considers the Filipino word ‘mahal’ as a translation for the word ‘love’. It refers to that which is dear, but also means valuable and expensive. Rafael writes that such ambiguities express love as a promise of fulfilment –and a costly one.

Artists were invited to submit their interpretations of what constitutes such desires, and what a ‘border’ signifies relating to their reflections on Filipino transnationals. Both as a co-curator and a participating artist in MAHAL, this paper is written as a post-exhibit reflective analysis of the processes I engaged with in this project: (1) interpreting the theme as expressed in the submissions, (2) designing the space to narrate the whole collection, and (3) witnessing the dynamic ways a Filipino transnational community is re-created in Vancouver through MAHAL. This paper is structured in these three sections accordingly. The reflections conveyed in this paper come from my own direct experiences, which are then interwoven with analyses put forward by Filipino artists and scholars of transnationalism. Through discussions with my co-curator, and conversations with artists and guests, this paper attempts to be inclusive of the wide variety of experiences created by MAHAL, but is careful not to claim authority over these individual experiences.

READ THE FULL PAPER

Photos by Deyan Denchev



Written by dada.docot

December 21st, 2011 at 1:21 pm

Counterspin Conference: Taking Root and Building a Home

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Poster

Website and for more info:


http://counterspin2.tumblr.com/


The UBC Philippine Studies Series in collaboration with the Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians presents “Counterspin: Taking Root and Building a Home”  on JUN 18 (Sat, 9-5pm) and JUN 19 (Sun 9-1pm) a two day academic conference about settlement and migration sponsored by the Liu Institute for Global Issues.


As a continuation of the first Counterspin titled “Towards a just and genuine settlement and integration: Link arms and unite for freedom,” held in the City of Montreal on April 30th until May 1st of 2010, women, workers, and youth, from the Filipino Canadian community, will once again gather to deepen and strengthen their resolve to realize their community’s entitlements of fully participating in the broader Canadian society as makers of history and as a people for social transformation.


Organized by the nationally formed organizations housed under the Kalayaan (Freedom) Centre in Vancouver, The Magkaisa (Unity) Centre in Toronto, and the Kapit Bisig (Link Arms) Centre in Montreal, the two-day conference will usher in a new phase in the rich history of educating, mobilizing, and organizing work in the Filipino Canadian community.


Featured Speakers are:


Ninotchka Rosca: feminist, novelist, recipient of the American Book Award (1993)

Dr. Geraldine Pratt: Professor of Geography, Associate Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, UBC

Arlene Oropel: Board Member of SIKLAB (Filipino Migrant Workers Organization)

Cecilia Diocson: Executive Director of the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada

Neil Castro: Chairperson of the National Alliance of Filipino Youth in Canada


A Solidarity Night with dinner and cultural performances will be held on Saturday (Jun 18) 7pm @ Simply Delicious Galleria and Sushi Lounge (4316 Main Street, Vancouver)


RSVP @ Counterspin Conference: Taking Root and Building a Home


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