National Artist Collectors Series
No. 5
About the Event
We’ve officially gone live
with fashionalism through our first ever tribute to a living National Artist!
After paying tribute to National
Artists Nick Joaquin (Literature), Ang Kiukok (Visual Arts), Jose Garcia Villa
(Literature) and Ramon Valera (Fashion Design), Freeway was excited to feature
its first living National Artist in the fifth of this Series. This May, Freeway launched the National
Artist Collectors’ Series Fall 2011 Collection featuring the works of
National Artist for Literature Francisco Sionil José.
Held last May 31, 2011 at
The Row, Glorietta 5, Freeway paid tribute to our honored living Philippine
National Artist F. Sionil Jose. It was an intimate gathering that celebrated
the life and works of F. Sionil José. We were joined by our media friends and
bloggers, and esteemed peers, friends and family of Sionil José. The event was hosted by no other
than the Prima Ballerina and Ballet Manila’s Artistic Director, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. It was a pleasure
to have the lovely Prima ballerina grace the event before she embarks her final
career performance in the Swan Song Series starting this October.
The tribute started with a video
presentation of F. Sionil José’s
life, followed by a Tertulia. The Tertulia,
a gathering of artistic or literary overtones, has already been a tradition in past
Freeway literary event launches. The readings for the evening were carefully
chosen by Philippine Inquirer Editor Lito Zulueta. Excerpts from Sionil José’s works were interpreted by
dramatic actress Cherie Gil and
talented musician/poet, journalist and artist Lourd Ernest De Veyra, accompanied by live classical guitar played
by Mr. Ferdie Medina, a UP College
of Music instructor. Cherie Gil read from “The Pretenders” and the famous
“Ermita”, while Lourd De Veyra read from “Tree” and “The God Stealer”. Both beautifully brought the words from
literature into life. The very highlight
of the event was the No Holds Barred Question & Answer and Fast Response
Words with the candid and funny F. Sionil José as host by Lisa Macuja-Elizalde shot off the questions. It
was very interesting to discover the personal side of this living legend, or
fondly known as Sir Frankie or Manong.
For
this event, Freeway collaborated with Lomography
Embassy Manila. A group of Pinoy lomography enthusiasts from their thriving
community of lomographers were there to cover the event armed with analogue
cameras: a new approach to photography. It
was very interesting to see both brands, Freeway and Lomography, working
together and sharing the same vision: to elevate symbols of Pinoy Pop Culture. Lomomanila
will hold a mini exhibit that will showcase the analog photographs taken during
the event. Know more details about the
exhibit on Freeway website.
Freeway
treated their guests to delectable cocktail servings. Freeway’s CEO, Sheree Roxas-Chua Gotuaco
closed the night by thanking everyone who attended the event.
The entire collection was viewed
for the first time on the same night, extending a special discount to guests
only for that evening. The collection will be available in all stores by June 1st.
Freeway features some of Sionil José’s well
known works as interpreted in a pocket collection which includes staple
favorites graphic tees in trendy silhouettes, modern tailored woven tops and
dresses and accessories. All items have a printed seal, a bio-swing tag and packaged in the signature
National Artist Collectors Series envelope.
To know more about the collection,
visit www.freeway.net.ph.
Plus get fresher updates at our Facebook Fan Page (search for “Freeway Online”)
and Twitter http://twitter.com/FreewayOnline.
All About the writer, F. Sionil José
Francisco Sionil José (F. Sionil José) is one of the most widely-read Filipino writers whose work is now
translated into 28 languages including his native Ilokano. His novels and short stories depict the
social underpinnings of class struggles and colonialism in Filipino society.
F. Sionil José
was born on December 3, 1924 in Rosales, Pangasinan, the setting of many of his
stories. He was introduced to literature
in public school and later attended the University
of Santo Tomas after World War II, but
dropped out and plunged into writing and journalism in Manila. He started journalism in the forties
and was for ten years a staff of the old Manila Times ‘til 1960. His essays on agrarian reform and on social
issues won him numerous awards.
In subsequent years, he edited various literary and
journalistic publications, started a publishing house, and founded the
Philippine branch of PEN, an international organization for writers. Sionil José received numerous awards
for his work. The Pretenders is his most popular novel, which is the
story of one man's alienation from his poor background and the decadence of his
wife's wealthy family.
Jose Rizal's life and writings profoundly influenced José's
work. The five volume Rosales Saga, in particular, employs and interrogates
themes and characters from Rizal's work.
Throughout his career, Sionil José's writings espouse social justice and change to better
the lives of average Filipino families. He is one of the most critically
acclaimed Filipino authors internationally, although much underrated in his own
country because of his authentic Filipino English and his anti-elite views.
Sionil José
also owns Solidaridad Bookshop, which is on Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila. The bookshop
offers mostly hard-to-find books and Filipiniana reading materials. It is said
to be one of the favorite haunts of many local writers.
In 1980, Sionil José received the Ramon
Magsaysay Award for Literature and Journalism.
In 2001, he was names National Artist for Literature and in 2004, he
received the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award.
Sources:
·
Why
We Are Poor | Essays by F. Sionil Jose | Compiled and edited by Alejandro
Padilla
·
Photo
taken from Flickr of jojopensica
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