Time to discover Japan

Acelebration of Japanese culture and art was had at a festival dubbed “Discover Japan at S Maison” recently. joint partnership between the Sinag Arts Foundation and SM, the festival celebrated the many years of friendship between the Philippines and Japan through an art exhibit, cultural performances and workshops at S Maison in Conrad Manila. The six-day celebration included the exhibition of artworks by Manila-based Japanese artist Atsuko Yamagata, who hails from Sapporo, Hokkaido. She mainly uses ink and bond, as well as handmade paper of pineapple or banana fiber for her artworks.

The exhibition also highlighted the Awareness of Light: Handbook and Archives of Technical Theater in the

Philippines, a book by Naomi “Shoko” Matsumoto. The tome highlights the Japanese viewpoint on the discipline of lighting design. The book also presents information about the full craft of theater-making.

The festival also included demonstrations of traditional Japanese crafts like furoshiki or the Japanese way of gift wrapping by Yoshiko Kitada; origami making by Mariko

Okeda; and the art of ikebana flower by Marc Tomas of Ikebana International Manila.

Alice Dixson hit a strike at her recently concluded Alice Dixson Charity Bowl held at Paeng’s Eastwood Bowl in Quezon City. Aimed to raise funds for the Kalipay Negrense Foundation, the event was sort of a post-birthday fundraising event for Alice who, through the years, has been supporting several charitable groups and foundations. The birthday girl’s showbiz friends who came to support and have fun included Donita Rose, Teresa Loyzaga, Maila Gumila, Ara Mina, Tom Rodriguez, Ritz Azul, Elaine Quemuel, Ynez Veneracion and Edu Manzano. The celebrity and non-celebrity players were divided to form 10 teams, which competed to get to the final round. The winners included Ara Mina, Teresa Loyzaga and Maila Gumila for the celebrities; and Josh Ablang (champion), Cesar Barranta Jr. (second place) and Renjie Santos (third place). With the success of this endeavor, Alice looks forward to holding the second Charity Bowl by the first quarter of 2018.

Grace Mindanao and Millie Dizon beside an exquisite kimono displayed at the festival launch.

Event host Emlyn Santos (front row, second from left) with Discover Japan performers (front row, from left) Joseleo Logdat, Madonna Decena and Gerald Superio; (back row) the Velvet Mood musical group members.

The slanted flower arrangement type of the art of ikebana.

Borrowed Scenery by Atsuko Yamagata in Indian ink, handmade piña paper on canvas.

After Talk with Silence 2 by Atsuko Yamagata in Indian ink, acrylic, handmade paper on plexiglass.

Kimono for men — subdued, dark colored, matte with prints.

(From left) Cesar Barranta Jr., Josh Ablang, Alice Dixson and Renjie Santos.

Tom Rodriguez and CJ Jaravata and Eric Ynez Veneracion. Tsakic.

Alice Dixson, Rich Ilustre and Ritz Azul.

Donita Rose.

Teresa Loyzaga, Maila Gumila and Ara Mina.