Children's Art Interpretation (A Family of Dogs)

Dr Abe V Rotor 
Living with Nature School on Blog 
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid with Ms Melly C Tenorio 
738 DZRB AM, evening class 8 to 9, Monday to Friday. 

These drawings have a common pattern.  Three interpretations show the richness and variety of children's imagination. What motivated each of them may be traced to experience, association of the subject, and skill in drawing. 

A family of three dogs, 

three happy children

three trees,  two up, one below

three pairs of bones,

and one house for all. 

How lonely, how sad

this duo, under a tree, 

beside their house;

a guest wonders why.

Polka dots run in the family, 

and their master's fashion, too?

Why don't you come up with your own interpretation?  This is a good subject in elementary and high school, and as a hobby, too.

Exploring Art through Experimental Paintings

 By Abe V Rotor

When two immiscible mediums - oil and water-based acrylic - are mixed and sandwiched by two glass panes, the two opposing mediums create unexpected impressions of varied colors, shapes, hues and shades trapped in a network of venation. This method is extremely difficult in exactly executing a planned design or subject. 

Surprisingly however, with constant practice and experimentation you can create amazing serendipitous designs and images such as these specimens. The biologist in me seemed to have dominated my new art, spontaneously expressing my thoughts about the subject, including the interpretation of each painting.

Specimen 1 - Fan-type, typical of leaf venation, fungal mycellia
and patterns of antibiosis in a culture medium.

Specimen 2 - Colony-type, typical of swarms of plankton organisms,
germinating spores, and decomposition of tissues.

Specimen 3 - Dichotomous-type, typical of branching of
plants, seaweeds, growing buds, and growth habit of
protists and invertebrate organisms. 

Specimen 4 - Bilateral symmetry, typical of dividing cells,
growth pattern of seaweeds, mosses and ferns.

Specimen 5 - Multiple dichotomy, typical of cancerous 

growth, patterns of decomposition by bacteria and fungi.

This experimental painting technique and the results that it has created and continue to create, support the argument of a professor in Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines who said, "Everyone is entitled to his theory of the arts. No theory is wrong."

Oh art! Take me to another place unfamiliar
like Gauguin's niche in the Pacific;
where the forests and rivers and seas can talk, 
where I can clearly hear God speak. 

Oh art! If to learn another style, another techique,
Gladly I take the road less trodden by;
Though dim and thorns and rocks may bar my way,
Let me with my art freely live and die. ~

Spirit of the Tree

Spirit of the Tree

The world is alive with tales and legends;

    untrue yet true, for they are a twin;

and if you pass by a tree, stop and listen

    to the spirit that throbs within. - avr

Dr Abe V Rotor

Silhouette images of  a heritage tree, living and dead, respectively.

Call the kapre, dwende, tikbalang

    to scare or just for fun;

the goddess Maria Makiling,

    and Helios, the sun.

I imagine the world without them -

without them around:

Children wouldn't be home before dark;

and dogs at night wouldn't bark?

Why sunflowers always face the sun,

and go to sleep when gone;

trespassers, beware, take the road instead,

unless you hold the Labyrinth's thread;

over the hills and valleys thunder rolls

when angry Thor growls,

and mushrooms spontaneously appear

breaking the ground like spear;

phosphorescence fascinates us,

even after the fire has turned to ash;

look up, they’re but one - fireflies and stars,

fireflies are the missing stars;

holiest the altar of nature unspoiled,

where logging was foiled,

where the kapre lives in big trees,

and scares with a sudden breeze;

paddies sigh, bamboos creak and whisper,

unseen - creatures or not – slither.

The world is alive with tales and legends;

    untrue yet true, for they are a twin;

and if you pass by a tree, stop and listen

    to the spirit that throbs within.~

I love to paint Nature - and write verses, too

Dr Abe V Rotor

 Watershed, mural on canvas

" I paint the stream laugh and cry,
and hiss over the rock;
 the clouds on the mountain high, 
down the sea and back. "
 

Rodents in their burrow, wall mural SPUQC now in disrepair

"What goes on in a rodent's home,
is love and care like our own."

 Coral Reef, wall mural SPUQC 

It's a race of time and essence,
before the coral reef is gone;
for posterity in urgent sense,
for the archive and my son,"  

Edge of a Crater, 

"Who joins me in Jules Verne's novel,
Journey to the Center of the Earth,
 and travel down the burning navel,
far from the comfort of the hearth?"

 Cascade

"Too full to contain a downpour in May,
but burst with fury;
ends a long, hot summer in a day
                             and lives in a story."                             

Wounded fish

"Death - if you must,

let me carry on life

until I turn into dust,

    in earnest strife." 

  

 

Predator 

"Life the raw, the wild,
 the weak, the mild,
death the ugly, the good,
 Lo! to the cruel, the bold,"
 

Bouquet 

Bouquet - how extreme:
how happy, how sad,
how deceitful, how holy,
how tame, how mad!

Bouquet - how fresh,
picked for vase or lei;
how withered when gone
across the bay.

Bouquet - how fragrant
across the hall;
how lavish in summer,
how dearth in fall.

Bouquet - how missed
the bee, the butterfly
in the garden, the rainbow
an arch of sigh.~

 Waterfall

 I talk to the waterfall
 hiss, tumble and roar;
I talk to the nearby trees,
dancing with the breeze;
I talk to the clouds,
floating in the blue sky;
I talk to the nesting birds,
romance is in the air;
I talk to a skink darting by,
butterflies fluttering,
 scurrying ants, the busy bees,
seeds and buds waking up
to the morning sun;
I talk to myself
in the silence of song. ~

 

Mountain cave, detail of mural

Perched on a mountain high,
observatory of land and sea, 
yellow at sunrise, red at sunset,
green its cloak and curtain. 

Window to the world unknown
eons of time living in peace,
arched by the rainbow
'til man searched its ends.~

Reviving Philippine Tradition - Fiesta

Philippine Fiesta 

Fiestas are usually held to celebrate the feast day of a patron saint. Thus every town and city in the Philippines has a fiesta of its own.  It is part of Filipino culture modified by Spanish influence as early as in the 15th century when the Philippines became a colony of Spain. 

The Fiesta is a convenient tool in the Christianization effort of the missionaries, and the subjugation of the people under Spanish rule. It brought people from distant and scattered settlements to town.  The town or municipality then became the center of government, worship, commerce, education, and the like.  It is the navel of master-subject relationship. It  is no wonder the country remained under Spanish rule for nearly nearly four hundred years.

Fiestas are deeply engrained in our culture to this day. In fact every barrio or barangay has a fiesta. So with many sitios or puroks which have their own celebration following the tradition, and for other reasons like anniversaries, significant historical events, or simply a day set for people to get together. 

Philippine Folk and Classical Music Revival: Sa Kabukiran (In the Countryside) and Other Songs

Philippine Folk and Classical Music Revival: 

Sa Kabukiran  (In the Countryside) and Other Songs

Living with Nature School on Blog 

Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio, 738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday  

Compiled by Dr Abe V Rotor

                                                         Paintings by Fernando C Amorsolo  

Sa Kabukiran was a Spanish song that was translated into Cebuano. The famous lyricist Levi Celerio wrote Tagalog words for it, which were then popularized in a recording by Sylvia La Torre in the 1940's. It became such a hit that a movie was made with the title Sa Kabukiran in 1947. 

TAGALOG SONG LYRICS	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Sa kabukiran, walang kalungkutan Lahat ng araw ay kaligayahan Ang halaman kung aking masdan Masiglang lahat ang kanilang kulay	In the countryside, there is no sorrow All the days are joyful When I look at the plants Their colors are all cheerful
Ang mga ibon nag-aawitan Kawili-wili silang pakinggan O aking buhay na maligaya Busog ang puso at maginhawa	The birds are all a-singing It's entertaining to listen to them Oh, my happy life My heart is full and at ease

Paruparong Bukid
Field Butterfly

Paruparong bukid na lilipad-lipad
Sa gitna ng daan papagapagaspas
Isang bara ang tapis
Isang dangkal ang manggas
Ang sayang de kola
Isang piyesa ang sayad

May payneta pa siya — uy!
May suklay pa man din — uy!
Nagwas de-ohetes ang palalabasin
Haharap sa altar at mananalamin
At saka lalakad nang pakendeng-kendeng.

This song compares a certain woman to a field butterfly.

Santa Clara

Santa Clarang pinung-pino
Ang pangako ko ay ganito
Pagdating ko po sa Ubando
Ay magsasayaw ng pandanggo

Abaruray! abarinding!
ang pangako'y tutuparin!
Abaruray! abarinding!
ang pangako'y tutuparin!

Santa Clarang pinong-pino,
Ako po ay bigyan mo
Ng asawang labintatlo
Sa gastos ay walang reklamo!

Santa Clara
(English translation)
To the very refined, Saint Claire
This is my promise
Upon reaching Obando Town
I will dance the pandanggo.}

To the very refined, Saint Claire
I pray that you grant me
Thirteen spouses all in all
To the costs, I won’t complain at all!

Filipino Folk Song 

Rice Planting
Planting rice is never fun
Bent from morn till the set of sun,
Cannot stand and cannot sit,
Cannot rest for a little bit.

Planting rice is no fun
Bent from morn till set of sun,
Cannot stand, cannot sit,
Cannot rest a little bit.
 
 Oh, come friends and let us homeward take our way,
Now we rest until the dawn is gray,
Sleep, welcome sleep, we need to keep us strong
Morn brings another workday long.

Filipino Folk Song

Pandangguhan

I

Manunugtug ay nangagpasimula
At nangagsayawan ang mga mutya
Sa mga padyak parang magigiba
Ang bawat tapakan ng mga bakya
II
Kung pagmamasdan ay nakatutuwa
Ang hinhin nila'y hindi nawawala
Tunay na hinahangaan ng madla
Ang sayaw nitong ating munting bansa
III
Dahil sa ikaw mutyang paraluman
Walang singganda sa dagat silangan
Mahal na hiyas ang puso mo hirang
Ang pag-ibig mo'y hirap makamtan

Kung hindi taos ay masasawi
Mga pagsuyong iniaalay
Kung hindi taos ay masasawi
Mga pagsuyong iniaalay
IV
Halina aking mahal, ligaya ko ay ikaw
Kapag 'di ka natatanaw,
Ang buhay ko ay anong panglaw
Halina aking mahal, ligaya ko ay ikaw
Kapag 'di ka natatanaw,
Ang buhay ko ay anong panglaw
V
Kung may pista sa aming bayan,
Ang lahat ay nagdiriwang
May letchon bawat tahanan,
May gayak pati simbahan
Paglabas ni Santa Mariang mahal,
Kami ay taos na nagdarasal
Prusisyon dito ay nagdaraan,
Kung kaya't ang iba'y nag-aabang
May tumutugtog at may sumasayaw,
Mayrong sa galak ay napapasigaw
Ang pista sa bayan namin ay ganyan,
Ang saya'y tila walang katapusan.
(Ulitin ang I)

(English Rough Translation)
 I
The musicians have began
And the maidens dance
Seems to be destroyed In the tramp
To each trample of the wooden shoes
II
If you look is so amusing
The refinement were not missing
Really admired by the people
The dance of our small country
III
As of you muse Pearl
Nothing as beautiful as to the east sea
Dear beloved jewel your heart
Your love is hard to attain
If you are not sincere is perish
Affection offered
If you are not sincere is perish
Affection offered
IV
Come my dear, you are my happiness
When I do not not see you,
My life is dreary
Come my dear, you are my happiness

When I do not not see you,
My life is dreary
V
If there is feast in our town,
Everyone is celebrating
There are letchon in every home,
There is decoration in the church
The release of Saint Mary dear,
We is sincerely praying

Here Procession is passing,
So the others waiting
There are playing instruments and dancing,
There are shouting to the delight
The feast in our town like that,
The happiness seems endless.
(Repeat I)

Ilocano Folk Song

 Manang Biday

        

Manang Biday, ilukat mo man

’Ta bintana ikalumbabam

Ta kitaem ’toy kinayawan

Ay, matayakon no dinak kaasian

Siasinnoka nga aglabaslabas

Ditoy hardinko pagay-ayamak

Ammom ngarud a balasangak

Sabong ni lirio, di pay nagukrad

Denggem, ading, ta bilinenka

Ta inkanto ’diay sadi daya

Agalakanto’t bunga’t mangga

Ken lansones pay, adu a kita

No nababa, imo gaw-aten

No nangato, dika sukdalen

No naregreg, dika piduten

Ngem labaslabasamto met laeng

Daytoy paniok no maregregko

Ti makapidut isublinanto

Ta nagmarka iti naganko

Nabordaan pay ti sinanpuso

Alaem dayta kutsilio

Ta abriem ’toy barukongko

Tapno maipapasmo ti guram

Kaniak ken sentimiento

Philippine Songs

Mabuhay Singers

Halina't Umawit Album

1       Lawiswis Kawayan

2       Leron Leron Sinta

3       Carinosa

4       Aking Bituin

5       Chit-Chirit-Chit

6       Kataka-taka

7       Sinisinta Kita

8       Paruparong Bukid

9       Halina't Magsaya

10     Tugtuging Bukid

11     Sarung-Banggi

12     Sa Libis Ng Nayon

Ti Ubing a Dina Kayat ti Paria (The child who did not like ampalaya)

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog 

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio

738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday   

 Ampalaya (bitter gourd) and other

vegetables  the child did not like to eat.

Ni Cles B. Rambaud

Ubing, ubing, ubing!

Ay, dina kaya ti paria

Napait, napait, isangsangitna

No isut’ maited a sidana.

Dina pay kayat ti karabasa

Pallang, patani ken parda,

Tangkoy, bilidan, mustasa

Tarong, rabanos, ken lasona

Uray sibuyas, kamatis ken laya,

Bawang, utong ken bungbunga

No dagitoy ti maipasango kenkuana

Ay, agkikinnamat dagiti luana

Agingga a gimmura dagitoy a makmakan

Didan nagpakpakita, didan nagparparang

Ti ubing, kimmapsut iti kasta la unay

Agingga nga intarayda iti ospital.

Sadiay simmarungkar ni paria

Ken aminen a kakaduana

Ti ubing inan-andingayda

Nga umis-isemen iti pannaturogna

                      

English translation

A child hated ampalaya, and cried when forced to eat it. He did

not also like squash, winged bean, lima bean, batao, wax gourd,

mustard, eggplant, and radish. And he did not like onion, tomato,

ginger, garlic, string beans and fruits. Tears would profusely flow

if forced to eat these.

Until, this group of food got angry and left the child.  As a result  

he became very weak. He was rushed to the hospital. There

ampalaya and his friends visited the sick child and comforted him.

Not for long he was smiling in his sleep.