RIP Cory Aquino::Long Live People Power

“I don't have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It's always the people who make things happen.” -Corazon Aquino

Corazon "Cory" Aquino, the first female president of the Philippines died 3:18am, August 1, 2009 (Philippines time) of colon cancer. I'm very saddened by the news, but I'm happy she's no longer in pain. Tita (Auntie) Cory, as she wanted to be called, is one of the most influential political figures, not only in the Philippines, but worldwide as well. She serves as an example of the unexpected hero--the housewife of an influential politician who is pushed to become the leader of Philippine democracy after the assassination of her husband, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. She didn't want to become president, but she knew her role and took it without hesitation. Although her years as president had its share of controversies (but which presidency doesn't?), she symbolized one of the greatest political movements in Filipino (and even worldwide) history--People Power. She took her leadership role for the people. The people of the Philippines chose her.

She holds a place in my heart personally because I did a project about her in high school. I went to an all-girls' Catholic high school, so feminism and liberal ideas was rife and filled the hallways (thank God). As part of the frosh curriculum, we have to do a "Women's Place Project", a sort of artistic dinner table in which each student has to create a table setting which represents her respective woman. It's based on the art installation The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago. And I chose Cory Aquino. I unfortunately was not taught a lot of Filipino history growing up. But this project brought me closer to my heritage. Learning about Cory and People Power made me prouder to be a Filipina. As a kid, I sadly didn't know all the details about the Marcos regime. The most I heard growing up were quips and jokes about Imelda Marcos' 3,000 pairs of shoes (it's true, not lying here). But now I know more, and now I don't take my Filipino heritage for granted.


From housewife to the first female president of the Philippines--it's inspiration in itself. It's certainly inspiration for me. She was a tiny little Filipina lady, but people took her seriously. People respected her. Despite her appearance, she was one strong lady, resisting 7 coup d'etats and being resolute despite political opposition during her term. It makes me rather sad that the US has yet to have a female president, while the Philippines being a younger democracy has had two since 1986. However, having the first African American in office will hopefully pave the way for more groups to be represented in the highest office in the land, but I digress....

Tita Cory brings out the best in Filipinos. When people recall her, they show that they once trusted their government. Although there has been some tumult in recent history--former President Joseph Estrada and there are some controversies surrounding current Pres. Gloria Arroyo (2nd female president!), when people hear Cory's name, there is a feeling of sincere admiration present. She will surely be missed, but she will always be remembered. RIP Tita Cory!

For more about Cory and the history check these out:

• ABS-CBN News Coverage
• Time Magazine made her Woman of the Year in 1986 and they've provided some nice memorial coverage.

I make good things!

I have no summer job and it's about a month away from starting film school. Aside from summer homework, I'm pretty damn bored. What happens when Allison's bored? I make random things for no reason whatsoever and become my own personal Martha Stewart.

* Handkerchief scarf/curtain/tablecloth/whatever you want...
[Need: Old fabric, stapler (if you're lazy), or needle and thread if you're feeling more motivated. You can even use safety pins if you want to make a punk look I suppose, or buttons if you want to cute-tify it... ]
I made this using a bunch of old handkerchiefs I never use. I cut the fabric into random shapes. It started out as me wanting to make a quilt, but then I grew too lazy to sew so I just got a stapler and stapled at certain areas to allow some spacing between each piece of fabric. Not really sure what I'll use it for, but I'm tempted to drape it on a stick and make it into a kinda of wind catcher/mobile.




* Decoupage trash can...
[Need: Your favorite pictures from magazines, newspapers, shopping bags, etc; decoupage glue (you can buy it or just mix equal parts Elmer's white glue and water or even just mix flour and water to create a paste).]
After four years of using the same trash can I got really bored of seeing a plain white receptacle so I decided to spiff it up using this awesome shopping bag I got last summer when I went to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. They luckily had this exhibit about modern Chinese design and made a great shopping bag to advertise it. Previously, I used the shopping bag as a poster, but now it's immortalized into this trashcan. Now it's a functional keepsake =)
There has been no white Elmer's glue in my house since I was 12, so I made my own glue using flour mixed with water. I put a thin layer of clear paper glue I had to finish it off, and to even out the edges I used electrical tape...good thing the bag was black to begin with. On the subject of the V&A, I highly suggest you visit it whenever you're in London (it's free!)--it's a great museum, especially if you're into design and its history. It has one of the best gift shops I've ever been in.



Candy pincushion...
[Need: Old fabric, foam or cotton, needle and thread]
I got so bored of my old and blah pincushion I made a few years ago, so I made a new one using an old pink handkerchief I wore when I was a kid and wanted to be a cowgirl for Halloween. I had some foam that you find in those boxes when you buy jewelry, and I rolled it to look like a small sausage and pinned it. Then I cut a square out of the handkerchief and covered it over the foam to make a candy-shape. Did some sewing and voilà!

I'm Painted.

My lovely and beautiful friend, F painted me last year. And in the wonderful ritual I call shameless advertising, I strongly suggest you check out her website where you can check out the painting of me as well as many other great artwork ranging from oil paintings to, my personal fave, screen prints. Even though F says I look like a gremlin in her painting (which I don't think I do...) not many people can say they have an oil painting of themselves, so ergo, I take great pride.

Note: To present the painting of me to her teacher, F had a real garden hose on the canvas. Awesome.

Cool things via Youtube

My lovely friend, T shared with me these awesome short pieces.

Stop-motion animation's been flooding the student filmmaking realm. It was in almost every piece in the UC Davis Film Festival--not that I'm complaining. If done well, it is pure awesome. But hopefully it's not some fad or attempt to look indie-hipster. I made stop-motion myself, so I can't really point fingers either. But this is a great and creative example of stop-motion done well.



I love this short piece called Synethesia! So surrealist that it'll make Dali and Buñel happy as oysters sipping wine in the Caribbean.

Why I'm an awesome actress....

...and why I'm such a great friend. Don't worry, she fed me as compensation. It wasn't actually that difficult to play a psychotic 4-year-old who abuses her toys. After all, I owned an amazing collection of naked, headless Barbies when I was little which my mom wasn't quite fond about. I don't really like being in front of the camera that much, but I do it for friends..oh, and free food too. And I heartily accept acting if I'm given a totally strange and hilarious role. It allows me to break out of my shell...which doesn't happen that often unless around the right company.

Teddy, dir. Golda Criddle