Concert Negros Museum

It was a pity that there was a torrential downpour just as people might have been thinking of setting off for the concert at the Negros Museum. As a result I think that there were more musicians than audience when the music actually started. It was billed as starting at 18.00hrs so we arrived about ten minutes before that only to find no one there. Just an array of empty chairs and a bare dais in front.
A few people connected with the museum were wandering around so we sat down to see what would happen. Eventually about 18.15 a few guys apeared with instruments and activity started fixing electronic leads to machines all around the place. The young guy from the museum seemed to have to find all the equipment. A bit later Tata, Publicity Officer for the Museum, came over to chat to us and said she thought the concert would start at 18.30 !! We had a long chat with her about Dumaguette and its attractions as well as museum chat.
Two people arrived and set up a table in the entrance, stuck up posters about Amnesty International and the man who had been wandering around all the time we had been there arrived to ask us to sign the attendance list along with the only three other people sitting in front of us. Eventually we found out that the concert was organised by Amnesty for Human Rights Day. A very attractive young guy with a wavy beard got us to sign a petition trying to stop the death penalty being legal in the country. Ryan was fascinated that the guy spoke very well with an American accent. He was born in America of Dominican parents. He looked just like something from a Persian freeze picture.
Eventually the musicians were ready but then disappeared so that we could have a talk by the local organiser of Amnesty, the man who had been wandering around all the time and had got us to sign the guest list!!
He had the young museum technician fix a table and projector to use with his computer for the presentation he gave before the concert could start. Why this could not have been done before we all arrived I have no idea. Ryan kept insisting that this kind of delay was normal for events here. Worse than France!!
When the music started,over an hour late, a group of drummers from Murcia played together with an artist that I had chatted to at the Private View at the DFA Gallery earlier in the week. He played a descant recorder that complemented the drums extremely well.
Next came the main group from Iloilo. A percussionist and three guitarists who also sang as well. Two of the singers are brothers and have been involved with human rights issues since their student days.
It really was a pity that there were not more people there to listen to them and that it took so long to start. I was feeling fairly bored by the time things began to happen and worrying about how we would get home in the dark in the rather rough area surrounding the Museum. The audience seemed to start to leave in dribs and drabs so I did not feel too bad suggesting we leave before it finished.
It was still pouring with rain outside but eventually a jeepney appeared to take us to Lakson Street where we were able to find a taxi to get us home just in time to grab a bite to eat at Inasal.

Christmas Trees

The town seems to be awash with Christmas trees, in Public spaces. Shopping malls,shops, in fact anywhere there is a space seems to have sprouted a tree. All of them are artificial looking as though they are made of giant bottle brushes in various colours.
As for decorations the idea seems to be to cover as much of the tree as possible with artificial flowers of varying sizes .

The tree outside the Provincial Building is covered with artificial red poinsettia flowers, L'Fisher has a beautiful dove grey tree covered in large transparent baubles plus white and silver smaller ones. The China Centre Shopping Mall has done away with the tree altogether and just used lights and their cables to make the tree. The crib in front of it is flanked by nodding animals wicj pop up out of tubes and wave!!

Balay ni Tana Dicang

We took a jeepney out to Talisay this afternoon to visit a gallery there. It turned out to be not the ordinary type of commercial gallery but a part of a museum which was itself the home of the Lizares family and Tana Dicang in particular.

The small exhibition in the gallery was of work by five artists now living in the United States. As a result we were also shown round the rest of the house which is now the museum with furniture originally used by the family in their everyday life there.
There are two bronze busts , one of Tana the other of her husband,  Amongst the many photographs on show is one of Tana seated between two Presidents of the Philippines, Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmena.
Photographs were not permitted to be taken inside but here are some of the exterior of the building whichdates from 1883.

Mindanau Massacres

Today has been the first anniversary of the Mindanau Massacres where 58 people were killed in a road block by a local clan who did not want opposition to their rule in the area. the Ampatuan family had ruled the area for years and Ampatuan Snr was grooming his son to take over from him as governor. An opposition candidate was sending in his nomination forms. he sent his wife and some supporters along with 38 journalists to deposit the candidacy papers for him as he thought there would be no trouble if women and reporters were involved. The convoy of vehicles was stopped by the private Ampatuan army and every one was gunned to death and shovelled quickly into a shallow pit. There have been protest marches and vigils by candle light all over the country to protest against the massacre and to demand the culprits are brought to justice. The new President has added his voice to those wanting the clan brought to trial. They were able to operate for years apparently freely with the support of the last President, Gloria Arroyo, who made use of the forces to keep order in the province against the rebels.
The opposer to the Ampatuans, Mangundadadu, lost his wife and two sisters in the killings but went on to win the elaction

Coffee at L' Fisher

Relaxing with a coffee at L' Fisher in the coffee bar attached to the hotel.
On the way we passed the Negros Provincial Capitol Building.

Exhibition

On the way to a concert in the SM Mall there was an exhibition that we stopped at to view. Rather interesting work by a University professor using a saw and wood. Ryan took some photos so here they are.

Christmas in Chinatown.

The city is already awash with festive lights. We went to see thew lights outside the Chinatown Shopping Mall this evening.

Local harvest.

The local product around here is sugar cane and it is harvest time now so the roads are full of lorries trundling past loaded to overflowing with the cut canes.

More from Manila.

The visit to the PRA about a permanent retirement visa went well. I now have various forms to fill up , a medical to go to and have to have a form sent from the English police to say that I do not have a criminal record

To offset all that here are a few more pics of us relaxing in the hotel and the city or airport where we had an extra hour to wait because take off was delayed due to weather conditions.