Maaaring sa salita natin, ay may tinatawag na “Seasons of Life” : katulad ng isang produksyon ito ay may simula, gitna, at katapusan. Sa bawat panahon ng buhay mayroon itong kanya kanyang kabanata. Isa sa mga panahon ng buhay ay ang pagkatuto—sa tahanan, paaralan, at sa kapatagan ng mga posibilidad. Sa panahon ng pagkatuto mayroon akong tatlong kabanatang ibabahagi :

UNANG KABANATA 
Ito yung kabanata na maari mo pang gawin ang lahat; maglaro, gumuhit, matutong mag a-ba-ka-da, matutong magbilang, matutong makilala ang kapwa, at matutong mangarap nang buong akala mo’y kay daling abutin.

PANGALAWANG KABANATA
Ito yung kabanata na marami ka nang nais gawin, ngunit maraming bagay na ang maaring pumigil sayo. Ito yung kabanata na maaaring bumuo o sumira ng pagkatao mo, maaari mo ring mas makilala kung sino ka ba talaga—ito ang kabanata na maaaring mong mabuo at simulan ang pangarap na iyong ninanais.

IKATLONG KABANATA
Ito na yung kabanata na maaring magpaalala na mahirap ang matuto lalo na sa buhay na kailangan mong maging totoo. Kabanata na papalapit nang papalapit sa salitang “tagumpay”, tagumpay na masasabing mong kinaya mo at mas kakayanin mo pa na harapin ang susunod na panahon ng buhay. Sa kabanatang ito, mas kailangan mong pagbutihin, para sa pangarap mo at pangarap ng mga taong nagmamahal sayo. Pangarap na binuo simula noong unang kabanata hanggang sa kabanatang ito, pangarap para sa sarili, para sa mga mahal mo, para sa Bayan at para sa Diyos; magpapaalala na ang panahon ng pagkatuto ay hindi madali at hindi magiging madali pero kinakaya at patuloy pang kakayanin.

Ang mga kabanata ng pagkatuto ay isa sa pinakamahirap na panahon ng buhay, at maihahalintulad ito sa isang apoy na maaring humina o sumiklab, ngunit ang mahalaga ay hindi mauubos ang dahilan kung bakit ito patuloy na lumiliyab, kung bakit patuloy na ibinabahagi ang init ng inspirasyon na ang buhay ay hindi madali pero kailangan mo itong harapin dahil hindi natatapos ang laban at hindi natatapos ang mga bagay na kailangan nating matutunan.

– Yvette Dianne Alamani
Manlilikha, The Scenius Pro.

Photo by Elyandre Miguel Dagli
Edited by Ralph Harvey Wayne Rirao

#SceniusSpins
#LIYAB2018

Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body according to Martha Graham. Dance comes from movements. Movement comes from bodies, living or non-living. The body as the human instrument is vital in movement. Everybody can move, every body can move.

But what lies beneath is the purpose of the movement. That drive, that certain motivation, that pushes (or pulls) someone to move. How do we know what makes us move? It is inside us. Not just what we think of but what we feel inside. That feeling that wants to always come out..and dash, and leap, and fly. That special feeling that we know we should acknowledge. We really should.

We should acknowledge our soul.
Listen to it, let it speak, and let it move.
Let your soul move your body and acknowledge what if feels.
Let it help you know your purpose.
Let it help you understand your motivations.
Because there are movements that only the soul could start, and only the soul could tell.

If you don’t think you are ready yet, take a pause and prepare.
If you are feeling tired, take time to recharge.
If you are wounded or sick, gather the energy inside and empower yourself.
Let your body get prepared with your soul.
Let your soul HEAL your body until you are ready.

So close your eyes, listen to what is inside, and feel. Feel the flame.
Then slowly, let it out and let it blaze.
And discover the beginning of your own movement.

– Alvin Joseph Veneracion
Manlilikha, The Scenius Pro.

Photo by Elyandre Miguel Dagli
Edited by Ralph Harvey Wayne Rirao

#SceniusSpins
#LIYAB2018

“Dark Times”
Hindi na siguro lingid sa ating kaalaman na mga berdugo ang nakapangyayari sa atin ngayon. Kamatayan, kasinungalingan at pambabalahura – yan ang araw-araw nating kasalamuha, tayo ay nabubuhay sa ilalim ng makapangyarihang salaula.

May madalas na itim na ulap na panlilinlang sa umaga at may mantsa ng dugo ang lambong ng gabi.

Ang tanong:
Nasaan na nga ba ang mga artist during these darkest times?

At patuloy pang tanong:
Kung madilim, saan natin hahanapin ang liwanag?
O baka nasa atin din ang kaliwanagan? Paano tayo gagawa ng liwanag?

“Sumamo”
Isinasamo ang lahat ng usal ng dasal ng ating mga ninuno at mula sa kaibuturan ng katotohanan ng aming mga puso nawa ay gawan kami ng lakas upang gumawa ng sining na mapagpalaya.

Kinikilala namin ang aming kasaysayan at ang patuloy sa pagtuklas ng dahilan ng aming pagkakalikha.

Walang sawang pagtuklas ng dahilan kung bakit nilikha ang may mga kakayahan na lumikha at pagbibigay pugay sa mga nauna pang manlilikhang babaylan.

Kami ay magpapatuloy na lilikha ng sining para sa mga komunidad. Artista para sa komunidad.

“Panunumpa”
Ako ay sumusumpa na magliliyab, kahit gaano man kahirap lumikha.
Magliliyab gaano man kapayak ang likha.
Magliliyab gaano man katagal ang proseso.
Magliliyab na komunidad ang sentro at hindi ang pansariling interes.
Magliliyab at tutupukin ang gawa na mapang-api.
Magliliyab upang gumawa ng mga bagong espasyong mapagpalaya. Magliliyab upang maging tanglaw sa paparating pang manlilikha.
Magliliyab para sa bayan.
Magliliyab na lumalaban.
Magliliyab upang lumaya.

P.S.

“Sikat”
Sa pagliliyab maaring uminit, magningas, magningning o SUMIKAT; maari din namang hindi.

Huling pagsamo sa kapwa manlilikha at magiging manlilikha, huwag sana tayong lamunin ng nakaeengganyong pagpapasikat. Dahil ang paglikha ay hindi para magpasikat bagkus ito ay upang maging tanglaw.

Ang kasikatan ay nakasisilaw, nakabubulag ngunit ang pagtanglaw ay siyang magbibigay linaw ng paningin upang makayanan natin ang dilim.

– James Harvey Estrada
Manlilikha, The Scenius Pro.

Photo by Elyandre Miguel Dagli
Edited by Ralph Harvey Wayne Rirao

#SceniusSpins
#LIYAB2018

1. Accepting the fact that this gift of life will give you challenges. Enjoying every step of the journey. Whether it’s good or bad. Appreciate.

2. Step up. Keep moving forward. Nothing and nobody could stop you.

3. There are delays, loud voices and bad events. Plunge into them. Play with them. Climb to the highest.

4. Some will never understand you. Some are are dearest to you. Friends, relatives, colleagues, Family. Breathe. Not everybody will understand your journey. Those steps are yours, as precious as they are, not theirs.

5. You can’t please everyone but many would stay to guide and support you. Life is kind.

6. Giving up is not an option. Just do your best walking in your chosen path. Don’t get disctracted. Do not look away.

7. Fight back. Now. For your own sake. For your dreams.

8. Go back to your core. Listen to your soul, saying : “I’m fighting for the people who cared during my worthless hours.

9. Just keep the fire burning.

 

BJ Ocampo, Manlilikha
The Scenius Pro.

Photo by Elyandre Miguel Dagli
Edited by Ralph Harvey Wayne Rirao

#SceniusSpins
#LIYAB2018

#SceNEWS: Call for Applications

THREE DAYS BEFORE THE DEADLINE! 🙂

VIRGIN LABFEST 14 WRITING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Join the Virgin Labfest 14 Writing Fellowship Program on July 3-15, 2018!

Deadline of applications is on May 18, 2018.

For guidelines and application forms visit:
http://culturalcenter.gov.ph/press-room/call-for-applications-to-the-virgin-labfest-14-writing-fellowship-program-2018/

#SceNEWS #VirginLabfest #theater #workshop

“Katawan” #SceniusSpins

“Ang katawan, hubad man o bihis, ay kamangha-mangha.” – Bunny
—

Tungkol sa “strength, beauty and confidence” – hindi ‘yan overnight, parang muscle” rin na kailangang i-work out every single day.

Ang lahat ay maaaring umpisahan sa pagyakap sa katotohanang ang katawan ay
1/isang munting uniberso – may sariling proseso ng paglikha at pagwasak
2/may sariling “hugis, hubog at hulma”
3/walang kaparis, natatangi.

Subukin man nating bigyan ng karampatang halaga, tumabasan ng kulay, porma, bugso o lalim ang katawan, hindi tayo magtatagumpay ng perpektong wangis. Hindi rin nating magagawang makagawa ng perpektong replika sa iba’t ibang nangyayari sa loob at labas nito.

Ang ating katawan ay itinakdang alagaan, irespeto, palaguin, mahalin, pasalamatan, palayain (self care).

Dapat rin nating tandaan na ang katawan bago pa man naging katawan ay kaluluwa – kasing-rikit ng ibang kaluluwa.

Malaki ang maitutulong ng “instincts” – mula sa “core”. Madalas, ito ang paraan ng kaluluwa upang ipaalam sa katawan ang mainam na gawin – magpahinga, kumain, lumubog, lumipad – mainam rin kung maensayo ang tiwala, kabutihan (kindness), pagpapatawad sa sariling katawan o kahit ang simpleng pakikinig at pagtugon sa mga mensahe at bilyon pang hinuhuni ng kaluluwa (response ability).

Ang katawan, hubad man o bihis, ay kamangha-mangha.
Gayunpaman, hindi sa lahat ng oras ay obligado ang katawang maramdamang kamangha-mangha ito. Ngunit hindi ito malaking kabawasan o nangangahulugan ng kalupitan – wala itong kinalaman sa pagpapahalaga sa sarili at kapwa.

Ang isang katawan at hindi kailanman makapangyayari sa ibang katawan. Walang mas higit.

Ang desisyon ng kalusugan ng ibang katawan ay “none of our business”. Ang sariling katawan lamang ang makapagsasabi kung ano’ng mas mabuti para dito – KASARINLAN ang itawag natin dito.

(Artwork made by a Sunday Nudes PH Visual Artist / Photo by Jac Vidgen)

—

#SceniusSpins Entry No. 1

We are exploring the social media as a platform for artists in making relevant, interesting and fun works/posts because why not? Lols.

This is #SceniusSpins and our artist of the week is Bunny Cadag!

Cadag works predominantly in the medium of theater and performance art since 2008. Cadag uses the pronoun THEY as Gender Non-conformist.

movements should be exploratory and should express your emotions.

PAGPAG : A Movement Class – Scenius Eskwela : Interdisciplinary Fellowship Exchange Program 2018 |25, February 2018, SA PUSOD NG LUNA | Written by Toja Sadie

Walk like a fish, move with a handkerchief, sway with the wall. Seems absurd? Well it is, but in a good and artistic way. As absurd as it looks like, the human body can create movements beyond our words and description. One might even create a dance piece with just a burst of emotions.

For the second installment of this week’s Scenius Eskwela we had a movement workshop entitled PAGPAG lead by Jan Lloyd Celecio, a very talented dance prodigy from the well-received dance company, the PUP Maharlika. Continuing the theme of understanding the body, we’re to express our feeling ad emotions thru various bodily movements. We are also joined by some members and apprentices from the PUP Sininglahi Polyrepertory, the beneficiary of the Eskwela.

Before we commenced on the workshop activities, we had a brief discussion first about what movement is and how it is different from dance. As Jan Lloyd discussed,

Awareness and sensitivity is the key on doing movements or “pulsuhan”. Movements are not practiced or choreographed unlike dance but you can create a full dance piece with just movements. As Jan Lloyd further elaborates, movements are good way to unleash stress and unburden oneself from heavy emotions.

We started with doing small random movements that Jan Lloyd throws us and then it would shift to another one. With every shifts, the movements have to be bigger and faster. It is really exhausting and it will really get your adrenaline running. Next, we were asked to tell a story thru moving tableau. Unlike regular tableau, in moving tableau you will have to “change the scene” once it is already “painted” but it can only be done by striking a different pose, one person at a time. First we were grouped by fours and then after a few rounds, grouped together. It is way more challenging with more people since connection is encouraged. It will really get your creative juices working. Before we proceed with the next activity, we did an ice-breaker called “follow the leader” to cool us down. Basically it is just like Zumba but anyone can take the lead once ready to change the routine. After that we proceeded with the next activity which a bit similar from the one we did earlier but this time instead of just doing a pose it has to be a constant movement. It is way more challenging with the addition of movement because you’ll have to complement each other’s bodies and at the same time be in-synch. Nonetheless it was very much fun to know that you could still create a story with spontaneous movement and a background music without planning.

We paused for a short break before we proceed to more advanced activities as Jan Lloyd explained. For the next activity we did Contact Improv. It’s part of Dance Improv that has to be done with at least pairs. A part of your body must remain in contact with your partner as both of the bodies will do movements and tempo should not just match the music but your partner’s body as well. Jan Lloyd taught us the techniques which are rolling, sliding, and twisting to help keep the connections or contact points with partners. After we did it by partner, we did it together as a group and it was more intense. Yet again, it is a wonderful experience because it feels that all of the body parts are synchronized, connected and moving as one unit.

For the next activity we were once again grouped in to pairs. What we were asked to do is to make our partners move by tapping the body part, but it has to look like we are dancing as well. Just like the former activities the movements should be logical, if foot is to tap forward it has to move forward while feeling the music. As the performance progresses, the movements become more detailed until they become a full choreography.

For our last activity we were asked to get any random object in doing an Improv dance piece with a random song. The results were astounding as every participant were able to create a story with the object. It was a mixture of Improv acting and dancing.

As we closed the workshop with a choreographed performance taught to us by our facilitator

we have come to realize that our bodies have movements on their own. So does our emotions and our subconscious.

Will all the activities we did none of it were planned or practiced, it was all raw emotions and jolts of body movements tempered by sensitivity and finesse.  It just shows that our bodies no matter what shape and size and color, could produce art in performance through various ways whether it is planned or not.

It would make you wonder, in terms of performance, what else can we do with/thru our bodies?

“It won’t make sense if you’ve achieved the perfect form if you’re not breathing properly.”

COMMUNITY YOGA CLASS – Scenius Eskwela : Interdisciplinary Fellowship Exchange Program | 24, February 2018, SA PUSOD NG LUNA | Written by Toja Sadie

For a long time I’ve always thought Yoga is all about crazy acrobatics, inhumane flexibility, and hours of saying “ohm”. Although those are just some of the minor components, yoga is actually focused about one thing only. Proper breathing.

This week on Scenius Eskwela it’s all about understanding the body and for the first day we did Ashtanga Yoga with Jowein Artes as our lovely facilitator.

Yoga originated in Ancient India and had flourished through the centuries since its conception. But it was not before two generations ago that it got organized in a systematic way by K. Pattabhi Jois and thus the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, now known as the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute, was born. The practice went on for a long journey being taught around by its pioneers who are mostly Americans the communities from one country to another until it reached their country. Through the years, Yoga has been very westernized which resulted to a large misconception that Yoga is only for the elite thus explains why Yoga classes are so expensive. But according to Jowein it should not, you could always find cheap Yoga classes or even free community classes.

After a brief discussion we then go ahead on the Yoga Session. I and the other attendees were a bit anxious at first due to the fact that we admit that we are not that flexible. But, Jowein always reminds us that it is about proper breathing.

The poses and stances might seem simple and easy but it is not a piece of cake. Jowein taught us the basic warm up sequence called Surya Namaskara. It has two variations; the first one has 9 stances and the second have 17. Usually an Ashtanga practice begins with five repetitions of each variation. For a basic warm-up, it is very challenging and even painful.  Jowein reminded us that

“if we feel pain in the parts where it shouldn’t be, it is our body’s way of saying that there is something wrong on what we are doing.”

It could be that our grip on the yoga mat is not stable enough or the position of our feet is a few inches away where it supposed to be.

Every movement should correspond to the breaths you take. One breath, one movement. It also has to be precise to avoid causing unnecessary on oneself. Where the eyes look or the focal point matters as well, for it also affects the posture on the stances – in Yoga it is called the “dristhi”.

The flow of the stances should be smooth and not robotic but since we are all beginners, Jowein said “it’s alright”. She said it would take time master the gracefulness of the movements especially when changing poses every breath. Jowein also gave us a tip that would help us whenever we forget what the next position would be.

“If you are inhaling you’re next position would either be forward and/or upward, if you are exhaling then backward and/or downward.”

We ended the two hour session with closing stance and then saying “ohm”.  According to Jowein the reason why its “ohm” because it is the sound of the universe. After that we lay down on our backs and rested for five minutes.

Surya Namaskara is just the first sequence of the first series of Ashtanga Yoga. There are actually seven series and Jowein has been practicing and mastered the first series since she started her practice. According to her it is not mandatory to master the whole six series of it, if the body has achieved enlightenment in the first series then that would do well. As long as the body is doing it with will and determination,

“practicing yoga on a regular basis would help balance your body, master your mind, and temper your emotions.”

As I’ve said what taught were just the basic warm up exercises but it feels like we went thru a full gym session. It is very exhausting and the cardiovascular endurance will definitely be tested. Yoga is a complete workout indeed. But nonetheless in the end the body would feel this euphoric sensation that the mind has been unclogged from those background noises in your head. The muscles tingle, the joints feels like they’re renewed, and body’ll also feel docile and relaxed.

So, why do Yoga? Simply because it would make us realize that the most basic thing to do which is breathing would make us better as human. Jowein explained that Yoga is highly metaphorical, the poses represents the obstacles and challenges in your life and if you are not focused enough on what you’re doing everything would go discord. And if life gets tougher always remember to breathe.

Now imagine this, what if every man would do Yoga. Maybe not all on regular daily basis but more frequent that none, won’t that make our communities a better place?

***********************************************

SCENIUS ESKWELA 2018
A Venture of Sharing and Exchange

This is the Scenius Eskwela – a little space to

1/research or investigate on how to recall and exercise instincts as natural artists and creators;
2/discover how to affiliate the physical, psychological and physiological and how to link and unify these for intellectual and emotional responses to the self, family, community and nation;
3/realize and materialize these thru series of storytelling with help from texts, sounds, movements, etc.;
4/know how to utilize codified theories and systems or discipline in acting and/or performance-making;
5/reidentify more ways to perform (inspired from words of Jk Anicoche of Sipat Lawin Ensemble and Karnabal Festival)

Therefore, this is a Laboratory.
Trials and errors.
To create.
Together.

Therefore,
exchange + sharing.

Therefore,
this is an Artist Fellowship.

The SCENIUS ESKWELA is a year-long program this 2018 which started on January 6.
Classes from different influences and languages are happening in all Saturdays and Sundays at the PUSOD NG LUNA, #306 Wilvic Building #96 V.Luna Road Extension, Diliman. QC.

All classes are Blank-ticketed – the audience gets to decide their monetary exchange and support according to their perceived value of the work and financial capacity. (Karnabal Festival) A portion of the proceeds go to the PUP Sining-lahi Polyrepertory.

Thrilled to be with everyone in this endeavor,

BUNNY CADAG
Head Facilitator,
Scenius Eskwela : Interdisciplinary Fellowship Exchange Program 2018
#SceniusEskwela

 

“If there were no words, no way to speak, I would still feel you.”

This line from a used-to-be anthem of the hopeless romantics evolves into a new mantra of The Scenius Pro. for a new performance work that would try to connect, encourage interaction, merge the hearing and non-hearing communities in one celebration of language, communication-and, yeah-love-and everything in between.

HEAR, HERE! is a devised work exploring the potentials of sign language, song, dance, puppetry, painting to create a performance powerful enough to engage the hearing and the non-hearing audiences.

For Karnabal 2016, The Scenius Pro. will serve and support the deaf community through… allied arts in performance and advance the public interest of incorporating sign languages in developing possibilities in the craft. It is believed that the sign language is a beautiful and moving visual language and art.

The ensemble went through series of workshops and immersions to study the dynamics of signs, the distinctions of non-hearing & hearing culture, and their accesibility in the mainstream of society.

The performance will challenge two different worlds. A series of interaction process will test the communication potential of the two, and as they interact together, they build both knowledge and relationships-knowledge coming from discovery and relationships developing from willingness to do together to improve the practice.

HEAR, HERE! is The Scenius Pro.’s official entry to the Karnabal Festival 2016
JUNE 10 & 11 / 4PM
3rd level, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo

KARNABAL Festival is a pioneering contemporary and alternative creative laboratory for performance and social innovations in the Philippines. It highlights the community of changemakers from the local scene whose works and practices are representative of the alternative wave of art-making in the country, alongside international artists interested in immersing in creative multi-field connectivity and collaboration with Filipino practitioners and communities.

BLANK-TICKET CONCEPT

Karnabal Festival is Blank-Ticketed: every performance is open to anybody and everybody.

How it works:
Audiences are given Blank-Tickets instead of fixed price tickets. This is a social experiment where we ask audiences to determine the value (ie. cost, price) of the exchange, based on their perceived value (ie. importance) of the performance, while also considering their economic capacity. Socialised! This seeks to develop a deeper relationship between the audience and artist, as they become liable and accountable to each other. This is a beautiful risk all the artists are taking, a risk worth diving into. We aim for genuine audience development and education. We want audiences to be conscious and active stakeholders of artistic and cultural development.

How do we do it? What is the value of our exchange?

1. Pre-show. Get a Blank Ticket.2. Experience the performance.3. Post-show. We will be given time. Grab a pen. Write an amount on your Blank Ticket, based on yourperceived value of the performance AND your economic capacity.
4. Leave a message for the artist if you’d like.
5. Yes!

KARNABAL FESTIVAL 2016
JUNE 1-12
Maginhawa Art District
photo courtesy: Joy Frances Ulit

#KARNABAL2016 #thesceniuspro #HearHere #deafcommunities #gathering

Dito sa Improvland! Nagtanghal ang 10 Improv Groups sa Mint College. Kabilang ang Scenius ProActives na sina James Harvey Estrada, Bunny Cadag, Mavel Bernabe, Cath Go, James Adrian Cabais Cifra at Josh Maniquiz. Ang buong palabas ay puno na katuwaan at katatawanan, ito ay 2 araw na pagtatanghal ng ibat ibat Improv Groups at sa ikalawang araw ay nagcompete ang ibat ibang grupo! Pinamunuan ng One and a half Men ang dalawang araw na palabas. Kami ay puno ng pasasalamat sa inbitasyon na kami ay magtanghal! Mabuhay ! #Improvland #Oneandahalfmen