06.05.08 kulturnatib

Red letter day

Thursday, next week, will be one big red letter day for the Philippines and, by international law because they are considered part of Philippine territory, Philippine embassies and missions all over the world.

For the embassy here in Ottawa, though, that is more an intelligent guess because, as of this writing, there has been no announcements in the regular media and even on the embassy's website as to what activities or events are scheduled to take place for Independence Day on June 12.

The website would actually be where I would think that this and such announcements would be better posted rather than the regular media. It is cheaper and could be targeted more precisely. After all, when registering or doing business with the embassy one is required to furnish an email address.

More than simple cost considerations, however, the web also allows for interactivity, immediate feedback or action and all other kinds of information, communications and entertainment advantages that all web savvy Filipino teens know about and use daily.

But, the embassy here, and I would bet elsewhere as well, is too adult for that. Proof of this is that on the site's main page the main feature is still the “Important Announcement Concerning May 2007 Elections.” How so yesterday is that?

And then, the first part of that announcement is a list of voter's who apparently had taken advantage of the newly instituted overseas absentee vote and had election related mail from the Comelec which they had to pick up from the embassy. Why not take advantage of email?

Of course, that is the Comelec. The Comelec of Abalos, to be precise, who is involved in some of the most monumental scandals in Philippine electoral history or just history in general.

Again, that is so yesterday for which we all suffer the regime of GMA today and in the days to come.

So, there probably is nothing going on to celebrate Independence Day here. Unless, at the last minute, something turns up.

Nonetheless, it will still be a red letter day.

It will be the opening of the exhibit of the Bank Street North Rehabilitation Project Bike Rack Art competition. This will be a one day exhibit where some 50 shortlisted submissions selected by an art selection committee for this competition from the total submissions will be subjected to public scrutiny and comment.

These comments will be taken into account by the selection committee to decide on the final 30 entries. The final designs will be plasma cut into half inch solid steel sheets measuring one meter square. Each will then be mounted on bike rack areas along the length of Bank Street.

This is just one of the many art projects that the City of Ottawa is initiating, including the just granted Wellington Street Art Commission sculpture project and the light emitting diode (LED) public art commission, which is still accepting entries, among others for this year.

These are among the projects and programs that support the thrust of the city for the promotion of the arts which is funded through the allocation of one percent of funds for municipal development. Together with the private sector, who enjoy their own government incentives, these not only beautify public spaces but more importantly guarantee public access and appreciation of the arts.

On the level of the artist, these allow a foot, so to speak, in the door to more prominent exhibit spaces like better known galleries and museums.

With the Bike Rack Project I have two feet in the door with the shortlisting of two designs I submitted. True, there is still one more hurdle towards final selection. But, like the British Booker Prize for literature, to be shortlisted is prize enough.