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My friends and I are suckers for anything cultural – be it a classical piano recital, a jazz concert, European, French, German, Filipino, Indian or Japanese film festivals. Like travelling, these events provide insights into our own Filipino culture and other country’s distinct cultures. It is probably the closest thing to visiting these countries through their films, plays, songs, poetry, music and dances. And once you’ve actually visited these countries and immersed in its cultures, or you’ve actually interacted (and yeah, have fallen in love) with its people, you gain a deeper insight and understanding not only of the country but also of its people. Most of these cultural events organized by the embassies or the cultural centers are for free so that is also another motivation to trek to wherever the event is held.
Last Saturday, we found ourselves navigating through Taft Avenue for Instituto Cervantes’ Open House and Dia del Libro (International Book Day). The festival started at 10:00 a.m. but we arrived only at 1:30 p.m. just in time to catch the award winning film “La Colmena” or The Beehive. The film was about the lives of ordinary people in Madrid during the post-civil war years. I didn’t read the synopsis and just expected the film to be spectacular because it won an award. But yeah, I ended up somewhat disappointed. Maybe also because I forgot my eyeglasses (what else is new?!) and I had to squint through the entire movie to read the English subtitles.
After the movie, we feasted our senses with the saxophonist serenading at the lobby. Then we hopped to the photo exhibit. Since it was Dia del Libro, there were a lot of books on sale – from cookbooks (I was tempted to buy one :)), popular fiction and non-fiction to Spanish literature. The biggest steal for the day was the book on Filipino-Spanish Cultural Structure in the Philippines sold for only 100 pesos! Of course there were books for 20 pesos – but in Spanish :). (more…)
On Living, Loving, and Learning 
