Photographs on the changing times

Long before Joe Gabor passed away, for some reason he put away his camera for good. Artistic temperament? One never knew. But everyone who knew him knew what a great photographer he was. And the sad thing is that even when he was alive, his pictures went with the fire that razed the family compound in Pasay. What a waste.

A few days ago, pictures taken by five photojournalists were mounted at silverlens (yes, that’s c in the lower case) in Makati, and eight of them were Joe Gabor’s. Miraculously, they had been saved during the fire, and at silverlens, Mina Gabor, Joe’s widow, told us how timely the exhibit had been — as it served to commemorate the memory of Joe who died five years ago.

They were the only ones not glass-encased, but were mounted on wood in the old style; all of the pictures are encased in nice frames. Joe’s photographs were very Joe: in almost-sepia, and the subjects were caught unaware of their being photographed at that precise moment that made their world stand still: a man hurling his fish net into the air (this photograph had received a prize from a London art association); fruit vendors in Tagaytay; children with running noses in  Bontoc; a picture of a nude Mina taken from behind. The seascapes and landscapes are just exquisite.

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The exhibit is a tribute to five pioneering masters of Philippine photojournalism. They had worked as photographers for weekly magazines and newspaper dailies. Gabor, Romy Vitug, Mario Co, Silverio Enriquez and Ed Santiago. Curated by Jose Enriquez Soriano, the exhibit shows off works taken, says the show’s promotional material, “at a critical time in Philippine photojournalism, when photography was in its nascent state as a form of art.”

There was a first 5 Photographers exhibit which was mounted  in 1967 at the Indigo Gallery and run by Bencab, now National Artist for the Visual Arts. A second 5 Photographers exhibit was held in 1973, the photographers chosen because, wrote critic Emmanuel Torres, of their sensitivity of expression, imagination, and ability to “raise the prosaic to the level of astonishment, the lyrical, and not the least of all, imposing a significance on what is often taken for granted, ignored, despised.”

The third, which is now shown at silverlens, consists of the 5 Photographers’ best works “produced during that Golden Age of Filipino photojournalism, reflecting “the changing political, economic, social, and cultural scene of those times.”

A few words on the four other photojournalists: Mario Co is a much-awarded photographer; he is now semi-retired, working on book projects and running the photography supplies business he put up in 1976. Silverio Enriquez is the only Filipino to have won the Best Picture in the World from the UPI in 1961 (this consists of a series of photos he took of an actual stabbing scene); he is now 81, and lives in Australia. Ed Santiago, now 77, who works solely with film. Romy Vitug also works with films.

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As to silverlens’ owner — it’s Isa Lorenzo, herself a photographer, of a vintage more recent than the 5 Photographers. She finished the medical course, but decided she loved photography, and went to the New School  University-Parsons school of Design in New York City, for  a masters in media studies and photography. She has shown at the Museum of Modern Art, the International Center of Photography, and the Thomas Werner gallery, all in New York City, and at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. You should go to silverlens, which only exhibits photographs (some of them for sale). It’s at 2320 Pasong Tamo, Makati.

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The Oblation, the University of the Philippines Centennial Newsletter, has come out with two issues, and will welcome contributions and reactions from UP alumni and friends. It is edited by a most interesting woman — university professor and entrepreneur (she owns Confetti and Natasha and a string of other shoe brands) — Victoria Bello-Jardiolin. The quarterly prints updates about university events and projects running up to the UP centennial in June 2008.

Vicki sent me a copy of the second issue of Vol. 1, which lists some accomplished alumni. They include Cesar Virata, Jaime C. Laya, Dr. Magdaleno Albarracin, Isidro “Sid” A. Consunji, and former Supreme Court Justice Abraham Sarmiento. First-person accounts of happy times at the university are authored by Atty. Romeo “Ome” Candazo, Vicente S. Quimbo, Roberto A. Alingog, Dr. Jaime C. Laya, Angelita T. Reyes, M.D., Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Dr. Romeo M. Flores and Jose L. Poe Jr.

The newsletter can be accessed online at www.up.edu.ph.

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This is wild — the Yule Go Wild Christmas Village Bazaar to be set up December 14, 15 and 16 at the 1,500 sq. meter A Venue Hall (ANTEL), at the corner of Makati avenue and Gen. Luna St., in Makati. For kids and young-at-heart oldies, Zoobic Safari, Residence Inn and Paradizoo, will have an Animal Park with exotic breeds of animals like Bengal tigers, camels, alpacas, reptiles, rodents, birds, ruminants, and more. A special program will present poodles dancing the waltz, tinikling and cha cha. And a pot bellied pig, Stanley, will paint on canvas while a chimpanzee will play basketball and pick up trash. A photo booth is open for those interested in having their pictures taken with the tiger. There will be magic demonstrations and colorful fireworks.

For adults, a Motor Kingdom will display multicabs, seater coasters, Pitbull cars, and Yamaha musical instruments.

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