Post-PUV-modernization, I suggest a museum for tourists that shall be called Phased-out Utility Vehicles Museum, or maybe Public Utility Transportation and Automobile Monument. Why flatten and weigh rusty scrap metals out of all jeepneys, when some topnotch models can preserve culture, evoke sentiment and turn feelings for the fallen icon into cash?
A few weeks ago, I inadvertently sparked among my social media contacts (and their contacts) a heated discussion about art, politics, alliances and cultural institutions; hence this attempt at making sense of the timely prairie fire, after the suffocating smoke settled, finally vanished and blended with the dissonant aroma of noise-air pollution. The wick: “ano ‘yang bringing back political theater, new protest poetry sa entablado? sinong huminto? kailan naging apolitical ang ahrt?” (What’s bringing back political theater, new protest poetry on stage? Who stopped? When has ahrt been apolitical?) Though far from the infernal flames of DDS-Dilawan troll war, firewood kept the thread ablaze for a few days, and I had to extinguish it and limit access; as of now, only those who chipped in comments and ideas regarding the new protest performance poetry shenanigans can reflect on their word choices and life decisions. As for me, no regrets so far.
I intended to begin with “Dear Students,” like an open letter, but that seems insincere. Most of you are not dear to me, not reading this anyway, not reading your…
(Note: fill in the brackets and consider the parenthetical notes, such as this. This template is just a recommendation, thus democratic and not dogmatic.) I approve of the rally held last [date here] by activists (note: do not identify the group that organized the rally so non-aligned individuals cannot tell the difference and lump all activists in one category, as if homogenous), but I also suggest that they mobilize for causes and issues I find relevant. Slogans should be:
Progressive art works better once it serves functions outside galleries and museums. Same with protest poetry, once words step out of books and flow into the streets. For instance, some…