MD: "Please, Mr. Postman....Where Are You?"

MOTORCYCLE DIARIES

" MAILMAN ", Agosto 26, 2011

Modern communication technology is fast and efficient. In today’s age, content is king, but the speed by which it is conveyed might just be the queen. Indeed, when it comes to communicating, the saying, “out with the old, in with the new,” seems to hold true.

One sector struggling to keep pace with the information age is the postal system. E-mail, the social networking sites, cellular phone and text messaging technology have all relegated paper-based mail in the back burner, resulting in the loss of jobs of many of our postmen. And those who have managed to stay find it difficult to remain relevant in this modern era.

With this as backdrop, Jay Taruc gets to know the people who might just belong to the last generation of the profession of mail carrying. He finds out the difficulties that they have to endure just to ensure that our mail reach our home.

The scorching heat of the sun. The drenching torrent of rain. These are but some of the everyday perils that face the ordinary postman, as witnessed by Jay Taruc. All in exchange for low wage and minimal benefits. .

But the day-to-day hazards these mail carriers face outside pale in comparison to those that hound the postal system to which they belong. Allegations of embezzlement and mismanagement by the powers that be have aggravated the already dire situation of a system saddled with low budget and even less vision for the future. With these problems on their shoulders everyday, it is a wonder how our postmen can still perform their work and take charge of their own future.

Jay Taruc tells another story of journey and discovery in Motorcycle Diaries this Friday, 8 PM, on GMA News TV.

"KARTERO", August 26, 2011

Ang lingguwahe ng makabagong komunikasyon sa ngayon, mabilis at walang mintis. Kaya naman pagdating sa pagpapadala ng mahahalagang impormasyon at mensahe, pabilisan na ang labanan. Moderno na ang sukatan at tila napag-iiwanan na ang mga napaglumaan.

Pero ang tradisyunal na pagpapadala at pagtanggap ng mga sulat at koreo sa Pilipinas, pilit na humahabol sa takbo ng panahon. Iyon nga lang, masasabing nangangalay na ang Philippine Postal Office sa teknolohiyang kaakibat na ng e-mail, social networking sites at maging ng text messaging at mobile phones. Ang resulta, marami sa mga kartero ang nawalan ng trabaho at ang iilang natitira sa kanila, tila napag-iwanan na rin ng modernong panahon.

Kikilalanin ni Jay Taruc ang ilan pa sa mga natitirang kartero o 'postman' sa ngayon para higit lalo nating maunawaan ang mga pinagdaraanan nilang hirap bago makarating ang mga sulat sa ating bahay-bahay. Ulan, araw, hangin, alikabok, at kilo-kilometrong biyahe na ang kapalit naman ay kakarampot lang na suweldo. Ganiyan maisasalarawan ang buhay na nakita ni Jay Taruc nang makisalamuha siya sa mga kartero.

Katiwalian at maling pamamalakad ang itinuturong dahilan kung bakit tila hindi makausad ang sistema ng koreo sa Pilipinas. Salat na nga sa pondo, wala pang malinaw na plano. Saan dadalin ng sistema ang mga paa ng ating mga kartero kung puro problema ang sinusuong nila sa trabaho?

Ang mga kuwento sa paglalakbay at kuwento sa pagtuklas ni Jay Taruc sa Motorcycle Diaries ngayong Huwebes, 8PM sa GMA NewsTV Channel 11.

MD: "Poleteismo" and the CCP "Kulo" exhibit controversy Tonight on MD"

Art for Art's Sake?

Never has a piece of artwork caused this much public uproar in recent history. The Church openly expressed its disfavor. Other artists voiced their dismay. Still other artists defended the artist and his work. Rallies have been organized. The Senate began to investigate. The debates continue.


All because of Poleteismo, a piece made by visual and installation artist Mideo Cruz.


With his juxtaposition of religious and sexual symbolisms, he has been tagged anywhere from "amateur" to downright "satanic."


But in the middle of the brouhaha, do people really understand the full meaning of Cruz's work, denounced by many as blasphemous?


How should one deconstruct and analyze a certain artwork? What should one do when faced with an art work that offends? Artists cry out for freedom of expression. But is this freedom absolute? Who sets the parameters and bounds? Who defines what is art and what is trash?


Ride with Jay Taruc as he seeks to understand the points of view of the Church, artists, and Mideo Cruz himself, and attempts to tell the story of Poleteismo from all these angles to the common Filipino.

MD: "Manuel Ocampo riding with us on Motorcycle Diaries"

An honor for us to have filipino artist Manuel Ocampo on Motorcycle Diaries.

In L.A., where he spent most of his time in the 80's after studying fine arts in U.P. , Manuel made an impact on the art scene in the U.S. after doing shows for alternative galleries like La Luz de Jesus and 01 Gallery.

From the late 80s to the 90s, he was part of the "lowbrow art movement", with the likes of Joe Coleman, Mark Ryden and Robert Williams.

In early 2000, Manuel have participated in very important art events like the Seville, Venice and Berlin Viennale.

This week, we talk to Manuel about the use of religious imagery in his art, and his views on the CCP "Kulo" exhibit controversy.

Motorcycle Diaries airs tonight at 8 pm on GMANEWSTV.

MD: "Beep, Beep"

Si Tata Leon ay mahigit sampung taon nang tsuper ng jeepney.

Walang trabaho ang kaniyang asawa, kaya siya lang ang kumakayod para buhayin ang lima nilang anak.

Akala ko, ang mga liblib na lugar lang ang hindi nakararanas at nagtitiis na walang kuryente.

Pero ang pamilya ni Tata Leon, may isang buwan nang nagtitiis sa dilim dahil kulang na kulang ang budget.

Dahil sa sobrang trapik at patuloy na pagtaas ng produktong petrolyo, lalo lamang nababaon sa kahirapan ang mga tsuper ng jeep na gaya ni Tata Leon.

Mamayang gabi, panoorin niyo ang pakikipasada ko kay Tata Leon mula Cubao hanggang Harrison, mamayang 8 PM sa Motorcycle Diaries: "Hari ng mga Kalsada", sa GMA NEWS TV.

Happy 12th, I Witness! Camarines Norte Shoot "Uhaw"

Photorcycle Diaries: Magtanim ay Di Biro

MD: "Sitio Beach"

Ngayon ko lang narating ang "Sitio Beach".

Di namin alintana ang bagyong si "Kabayan"--tumulak kami patungong Taal, Batangas para marating ito.

Binayo ng malakas ang hangin, at maulan ang biyahe ko.

Pero di nagpatinag ang gamit kong BMW GS G-650--mas maliit sa karaniwang gamit namin na 1200 GS, pero matinik!

Ang Sitio Beach ay naging laman ng balita sa mga diyaryo at telebisyon nitong mga nakalipas na buwan noong pumutok ang "fish kill" sa Batangas.

Minsa'y naging beach resort na rin ito noong dekada 70, sabi ng mga nakausap namin.

Noon pa man, marami na ring umaasa sa bahaging ito ng lawa ng Laguna dahil sa mga nahuhuling bangus at tilapia.

Karamihan sa kanila ay mga maliliit na mangingisda.

Hindi lang kasi ito pinamumugaran ng mga mamumuhunang Chinese nationale na gumagamit ng mga "dummy" para lang makapangapital ng "fish cages" dito.

Yung labis na kakulangan sa oxygen, ang sinisisi ng mga eksperto, ay ang pagsikip ng lawa dahil na rin sa pagiging ganid ng ilang negosyante, na kinukunsinte naman ng lokal na pamahalaan at ilang lokal na ahensiya ng gobyerno.

Ilang buwan na rin matapos ang fish kill....kinamusta ko ang mga maliliit na mangingisda dito sa Sitio Beach. Abangan ninyo ang buong kwento sa Motorcycle Diaries ngayong Biyernes, July 5, GMA NEWSTV.

Photorcycle Diaries: The Road to Talamsi 2