A PASSION FOR SINGING?, JOIN THE MULTICULTURAL CHOIR HERE IN KOREA!

We are looking for foreigners in South Korea who has passion in singing to join the Incheon International Airport Multi-cultural choir. Application is until June 2, 2011. Audition will be on June 10, 2011 (Friday)  in Haja Center, near Yeondungpo-gu office station - Line 2. Members of the multi-cultural choir will have the chance to travel to other Asian Countries. This is a billion won worth project by Noridan and The Incheon International Airport. see this link for more details: http://noridan.org/blog/notice/60

MABUHAY ANG KALAYAAN!

MABUHAY ANG KALAYAAN!

a group photo with Amba. Luis Cruz

In commemoration of the 113^th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and the 16^th Migrant Workers Day, the Philippine Embassy, Seoul once again staged a colorful and meaningful multicultural fanfare theentitled: “Philippine Festival in Yeouido,” a daylong celebration of Filipino culture through songs, dances and traditional games scheduled to be held at the Yeouido Hanggang Park on 29 May 2011.

The PIKO Booth

With the Kids

The annual Festival attracted hundreds of Filipinos, Koreans and enthusiasts of Filipino culture from all over South Korea, included a housing fair and other onsite services such as labor counseling and medical services. Cultural performances and traditional Filipino games for multicultural children were also held in the afternoon. The Philippine Embassy also handed out awards to individuals and groups who provided invaluable assistance to Filipino migrants in 2010.

With Haechi, the Seoul Mascot

The Festival is possible through the help of the following: Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Human Resource Development of Korea, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Global Center, and the Philippine Pag-ibig Home Development and Mutual Fund.

THE VENUE

CRUISING THE MIGHTY HAN RIVER

CRUISING THE MIGHTY HAN RIVER

63 building looms at the background

At the Restaurant Area

May 28, 2011(Saturday), Hangang River ---- Tourism has boomed in the Han River since the development of various facilities and infrastructures like Ferry docks, parks, restaurants and open fields that is spacious for picnics, social gatherings and the like. Surely anyone who has visited Seoul knows of the mighty Han River (한강). Originating on two mountains, one in South Korea and the other in the North, the Hangang, as it’s known in Korea, winds along peacefully for over 500 kilometers before passing through Seoul on its way into the West or Yellow Sea.

Before boarding the ferry

Seeing Seoul from its main artery is a great way to get your bearings in this huge city. Starting in 2006, Seoul City has worked with lighting designers to create new illumination systems for the bridges that span the river. The result is a diverse array of bright and beautiful pieces of light art that paint not just the bridges, but the surrounding river as well in a colorful glow. To conserve energy, only half of the bridges are illuminated at any one time, and low-wattage, energy-efficient bulbs and cold cathode lamps were installed. As a matter of fact, the daily cost for illuminating a bridge is just 33,000 won.

Hangang River Ferry Cruise is one of the best ways to enjoy the scenery around Hangang River that flows through Seoul. For KRW 15,000 (rougly PHP 600 or USD 15) Cool wind from the river, the surrounding scenery, which get more beautiful in the evenings, are the rewards the ferry cruise can offer you. Currently there are six ferry cruises, going from Yanghwa to Jamsil, and they all operate throughout the year. There are 4 places to get on or get off the ferries: at the Yeouido, Jamsil, Nanji, and Yanghwa docks. All rides run on two kinds of cruise schedules. One cruise leaves the dock, goes on the Hangang River cruise course, and comes back. The other course starts from either Yeouido, makes a stop at Ttukseom Island, then ends at Jamsil. The alternate route starts from Jamsil, makes a stop at Ttukseom Island, and finishes at Yeouido. On the cruise, you can see Hangang River’s beautiful scenery, the surrounding islands, Jeoldusan Park, the 63 Building, Namsan Tower, Jamsil’s Multi Sports Complex, and other famous tourist spots. The cruise is often used for weddings, birthday parties, music performances and other events. In addition to the standard sightseeing cruises, the boats can also be chartered for special events and parties.

EVERYBODY IS KUNG FIGHTING!

EVERYBODY IS KUNG FIGHTING!

A movie review on Kung Fu Panda 2

Synopsis

Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, the Furious Five - Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey. But Po's new life is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, Lord Shen, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon; a destructive firework cannon, to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po and the Furious Five are entrusted the mission to stop Lord Shen from destroying China and Kung Fu, but flashbacks of Po's humble beginnings hinder his concentration on the mission. He puts himself on the deadly task on confronting Lord Shen himself, as he believes Lord Shen has the answer to his true family and beginning. As the journey deepens into Lord Shen's own palace and weapon, Po discovers the fact that he can only defeat Lord Shen through inner peace, but to accomplish it, it requires forgetting the past, which meant forgetting how Lord Shen killed his own parents.

Filmography

Kung Fu Panda 2 is the sequel to the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda. The first film was released in June of 2008, and by the following October, the studio Dreamworks Animation announced plans for a second film. Jennifer Yuh Nelson, who was head of story for the first film, was hired to direct the sequel. The original film's cast members reprise their voice roles. Like the other DWA films beginning production in 2009, Kung Fu Panda 2 was produced in stereoscopic 3-D technology. The studio also plans to release the film in IMAX theaters worldwide. Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger were screenwriters and co-producers for the first film, and while they returned for the sequel, the studio hired Charlie Kaufman to revise the screenplay.

On International Relations

While watching Kung Fu Panda, I can’t help but connect the story to International Relations. World order can somehow be reflected on the plot as the protagonist has their perpetual mission of saving the world from destruction. Po stands for a benign yet powerful state equipped with hard and soft power. Remember, his Dad (a goose) was able to sell truckloads of noodles and dumplings named after the Dragon Warrior himself.  People (or should I say, animals) seem attracted to his small resto in the midst of a small Chinese town.  The citizens also rely on his (Po) protection whenever there will be bandits and looters. Po is destined to fulfill his duty of saving China as if it was a ‘Manifest Destiny’. His pack (Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey) forms a sort of NATO alliance that maintains social order and contains the invasionist and ‘alien’ principles of Shan, the evil peacock.

The story reflects how the changing security order, unstable regimes after the peaceful reign of Lord Shen’s parents, enabled him to deter the traditional warfare (Kung Fu) by launching a new armament (a firework canon) for some time. It is like the end of history for some characters especially to the Crocodile and who wanted to stay on their prison cells as Shen’s invention is a Weapon of Mass Destruction, marking the end of Kung Fu. After experiencing a short defeat, Po decided to fight back and end Shen’s delusions of conquering the world. Using traditional warfare, Po used the canon fireworks to defeat Shen. A symbolical battle telling the world that the world is still protected by the Dragon Warrior.

On Morality

As a fable, Po’s past hunts him creating a void that made him in despair and confusion for some time, he wants to unravel his real identity and he continuously asks the question of why does he need to suffer and be the dragon warrior. As the story itself reveals the answer, what is important is not the gloomy past that we had but how we, as an individual, try to live our lives according to the will of God while accepting that those sufferings are in itself a primordial human joy. His mother left him at a raddish box for him to suvive the slaying of the wolves. It is his mother’s joy to see him alive and well.

Dreamworks has unleashed the first official teaser trailer of Kung Fu Panda 2:

KUNG FU PANDA 2

BUCHEON CITY TOUR

BUCHEON CITY TOUR

DESTINATION 1: MANHWA MUSEUM

Going wacky and funny beside this statue at the entrance of the museum

The guide discussing the background of the museum

During the first part of the tour we visited the largest Manhwa (Comic) Museum in Korea. The high tech museum will give each and every comic fan a treat as it features various comics from the early 20^th century and it traces the development of drawings, themes, publications and forms of comics through time.  The kids will definitely be astounded as various gadgets and interactive facilities will show how comics have shaped the lifestyle and culture of the Korean people especially during the Korean War and Japanese Occupation. 

A typical elementary classroom during the 1950s

This is how a Korean one stop shop looks like during its early republic years (1950s to 1960s)

Watching T.V at the Manga shop

Taking a rest while reading my fave comic

Doraemon and his gang caight my attention

A large Manga is about to unleash its mystery

Looking closely, the Museum encapsulates the sentiments of the people and how they overcame it. Today, Korea is still one of the top producers of Comics and animation. As a matter of fact the City Government have initiated a Festival entitled, Pucheon International Animation Film Festival every July. It is now on its 14^th year.

walking along the history of Korean Comics

Various comics fill the wall at this section

A Korean one stop shop

What is interesting about this museum, is how they value these small pieces of children’s tales as a national treasure. They are like icons that survived the test of time and technology. Now that the world is turning more and more paperless, most Korean comic fanatics are now turning to webtoons (web animation and comics). Comics may turn and transform into various forms of media but the real essence of entertaining children and the young at heart is still there.

I love figurines especially this cute Korean dolls, I think I have to go back to the museum to buy some of them. price KRW10,000 roughly PHP800.

At the photo area

Manganized

DESTINATION 2: BUCHEON WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY

a view of the Waste treatment plant

Bucheon has its own Waste Management facility that collects and recycles all biodegradable and non biodegradable wastes. At the beginning of our tour. We watched a short lecture that shows how the plant works. This was a very god experience for us as it poses a good example that can be replicated for use in the Philippines. Waste Management is a  major problem in the country and since the Philippines cannot construct large facilities similar to this one, it has resulted to the clogging of canals, waterways and drainage system especially in the metropolis. Large amount of methane and carbon dioxide gasses are also produced in the long run from dump sites uch as those in Payatas and other provincial waste complexes. This Waste Management Facility is worthy of emulation and I firmly believe that there is still hope for the Philippines.

DESTINATION 3: NANTA AND SAMULNORI

 

NANTA AND SAMULNORI

“Tong ta Kung da tong ta kung ta tong ta kung ta…..” (Salmunorui beat)

Samul nori is a genre of traditional percussion music originating in Korea. The word samul means "four objects" and nori means "play"; samul nori is performed with four traditional Korean musical instruments:

§  Kkwaenggwari (a small gong)

§  Jing (a larger gong)

§  Janggu (an hourglass-shaped drum)

§  Buk (a barrel drum similar to the bass drum)

The traditional Korean instruments are called pungmul.

Samul nori has its roots in nong-ak (literally "farmers' music"), a Korean folk genre comprising music, acrobatics, folk dance, and rituals, which was traditionally performed in rice farming villages in order to ensure and to celebrate good harvests. Specifically, samul nori music derives from utdari pungmul (the gut, or shaman ceremony rhythm of the Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheong provinces of South Korea), as well as the genres of Yeongnam folk music and Honam udo gut, combined with more contemporary improvisations, elaborations, and compositions. Such nong-ak is steeped in traditional animism and shamanism, but also shows influences from Korean Buddhism. While nong-ak often features the use of wind instruments, samul nori only features the aforementioned four percussion instruments.

Each of the four instruments represents a different weather condition: the janggu represents rain, the kkwaenggwari thunder, the jing the sounds of the wind, and the buk clouds. The idea of yin and yang is also reflected in these instruments: the buk and janggu (leather) represent the sounds of the earth, while the jing and kkwaenggwari (metal) represent sounds of the heavens. Although generally performed indoors, as a staged genre, samul nori depicts the traditional Korean culture, an agricultural society rooted in the natural environment. Samul nori is characterized by strong, accented rhythms, vibrant body movements, and an energetic spirit. Samul nori has gained international popularity, with many samul nori bands and camps worldwide. Since the 1980s in South Korea, there has been a marked increase in the amount of fusion music, combining samul nori and Western instruments. Samul nori is also extensively used in the Korean musical Nanta.

 

  As a part of the tour we also experienced how to play Samulnori and Nanat. For three hours we were taught the basics of this musical instrument. It was really fun! At last, I learned how to play this Korean traditional instrument before going back to the Philippines.:) To conclude this experience, we played a beautiful ensemble before the guides and the samulnori teachers..