Your mantra for the week: True happiness comes from living life knowing God is within.

When we talk about the God within each man, many people are unable to relate to this concept. They believe that God is a perfect Super Being somewhere “up there,” judging humanity’s right or wrongdoing.

This belief in an anthropomorphic God is responsible for the many fears man has. And that is why most religions are based on fearing punishment from a judgmental God who has also created a devil who, many times, wins over that Super Being itself.

If this sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is. As a pundit says, “Most religions are nothing else but a psychological weapon using FEARFUL lies to control and enslave man—that is its sole purpose! It is almost a satanic purpose!”

Of course, ironically, one can say they provide relief from the fears they have instilled themselves.

IAMISM teaches that the God is within you and Its name is “I AM THAT I AM,” and the way you use your I AM determines the quality of your life. When you use it negatively, you attract experiences of the same kind. But, when positively expressed, you experience the feeling that God is within you, especially if you assume that God is synonymous to Good.

There are many moments you feel the God within. When you smile and make others smile, too, the God within is explicitly felt.

There are other moments, like when you are feeling whole and complete and enjoying a great sense of well-being; when you feel prosperous; when you bring harmony wherever you go and help others make their dreams come true.

Also, whenever you overcome challenges, you will definitely feel the God I speak of. Most of all, when you forgive, you will surely feel the God within.

When you desire to feel God in a giving way, try spreading joy to others. When you are meditating and contemplating, you are ready to receive Divine Guidance.

When you follow this direction, everything follows, like perfect health, all the prosperity you need and more, all the love you would ever want, and success after success.

Raul Sunico as a rock star

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) under the baton of maestro Herminigildo Ranera and the Aegis band had a most successful show last Feb. 11 at CCP titled “Symphonic Aegis–Aegis in Symphony Hugot Pa More.”

It featured international concert pianist Raul Sunico, who just gave his courtesy resignation as CCP president but who’s still carrying on his duties as president until further notice. Not many know that Sunico is also a graduate of Mathematics and Statistics.

The audience responded to Sunico as if he were a rock star. Sige, Raul, hugot pa more!

Printmaker Jo Escudero

Nina Escudero, daughter of internationally renowned graphic artist Jo Escudero, reminded us that her mother died on Valentine’s Day in 2013, telling us that her mother’s artworks, which include over 250 of her intaglio prints (etchings), 35 of her brilliant oil and acrylic paintings and numerous hand-made quilts can now be viewed and purchased online on the Scottsdale Xanadu Galleries’ website: https://xanadugallery. com/2013/Artists/ArtistPage.php?ArtistID=7659.

I remember having met Jo, a student of Manuel Rodriguez Sr., a well-respected graphic artist-painter who owned the Contemporary Arts Gallery (CAG) in Malate. That was where I first exhibited my painting-poems called “In Words, In Color.”

In a way, Mang Maning was my godfather in the visual arts world. I held three one-man shows under his wing.

I recall the pretty Jo Escudero visiting CAG doing woodcuts, silkscreen and mixed-media intaglio. Her success as a graphic artist inspired many homemakers to devote their time to the same art. She organized workshops and contributed her ideas to the Pratt Art Institute for the design and donation of etching presses suited to the needs of local artists.

Later on, she was referred to as the “Mother of Filipino Printmaking,” while her first teacher, Manuel Rodriguez Sr., was dubbed the “Father of Graphic Arts.”

Arnel’s haiku

People are still talking about Arnel Patawaran’s first anniversary exhibit opening of his book, “HAI[NA]KU”, a week and a half ago, and the very nice speech that National Artist F. Sionil Jose gave about the author’s poetry.

He said that Arnel’s poetry is “readable, it goes to you diretso sa puso, sa utak mo,”—so very Arnel who is a person of few soft-spoken words, very much like the 17-syllable Japanese form of poetry called haiku.

Some of his poems that were read were accompanied by dance interpretations. Hainaku, ang galing talaga. The book event also got the support of a beautiful person with a heart—Heart Evangelista.

Art Fair 2017

Last Wednesday, I attended the opening of the 2017 Art Fair Philippines, which has become a runaway success since Trickie Lopa, Dindin Araneta and Lisa Periquet put up the first fair in 2013 in Makati. That was followed by the 2014 art fair at the Lopez Museum; the show the last three years has been at The Link, a carpark facility in Makati occupying the 5th, 6th and 7th floors.

Most of the artworks are sold out by the end of the three-day showing. In one of those exhibit years, 70 percent of all artworks were sold on the first day.

The 2017 show was packed to the gills with people queuing at the elevator on the ground floor, awaiting their turn to be brought to the 5th, 6th and 7th floors.

I ran into many familiar faces, like Phyllis Zaballero and her son David; Allan Cosio with daughter Dana; Debbie Enriquez, here on vacation from Singapore; Justin Nuyda and Rupert Jacinto being photographed; David and Marilou Batchelor with Monique Toda; Sandie and Manoling Poblador.

Sound art: an introduction

This year, for the first time, a sound art exhibition was included, featuring a wall where one could place one’s fingertips to produce unusual sounds. The main feature, however, consists of two 3D animated pictures that are simulations of Ferdinand E. Marcos and Dovie Beams, and the sounds produced were based on the conversation they were having while making love.

At one point, the multimedia artist Tad Ermitaño, who I met through Erwin Romulo—who heads the sound artists group and was once editor in chief of Rogue and Esquire magazines—recalled that he was explaining to a female guest the inspiration and origin of his artwork—without his realizing that the lady was Irene Marcos-Araneta.

He remembered that she was laughing through it all. Glad to know that someone in the Marcos family has a sense of humor. To Imelda, this would not be a laughing matter.

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