alexfelipe's PhotoBlog

Anita Majumdar's 'The Misfit' and more

2008-10-03T06:00:09Z

Some new blog posts posted on my new site www.alexfelipe.com Click to enter: The Misfit The Biggest Human Rights Problem[/url] Ignite the Americas

Kultura (& other new posts)

2008-08-29T06:19:03Z

Some new blog posts posted on my new site www.alexfelipe.com Click to enter: “Tell Me About Filipinos” Photos From Kultura Juana Tejada: A Celebration and a Campaign Launch I See Filipinos, But I Smell Wet Dog Olympic Thoughts The Georgian War: Russian Aggression?

New Blog Entries

2008-08-13T15:35:24Z

Just a reminder again that I have moved to a new blog... www.alexfelipe.wordpress.com Some new entries: The Aftertaste of Testicle: This is an old travel story writted during my first trip back to the Philippines in 2001. It tells the story of the first (and so far only) time I ever put testicle in my mouth... http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/the-aftertaste-of-testicle/ Want to Call Yourself Canadian? Assimilate–or Else… Did anyone else read all the hate in the weekend's Toronto Star Letters to the Editor page? http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/assimilate-with-white-canada-or-else/ Migrante Camping Weekend: I spent the last weekend camping in the pouring rain with live-in caregivers... http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/migrante-camping-weekend/ You're in Canada, Be Happy and Grateful: What does it mean to be Canadian? This concept is changing for me, and I'm not sure where this path will lead... http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/youre-in-canada-be-happy-and-grateful/ Poverty, Devotion, Death, Homosexuality, Beer, & Block Parties... Just another Fiesta: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/poverty-devotion-death-and-big-block-parties/ Canada is Providing Military Assistance and Nuclear Gear to the Phils, It's Democracy at Work... http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/canada-to-spread-democracy-in-the-phils/

My New Blog Address....

2008-08-04T22:25:39Z

Hi all! First I'd like to thank everyone very much for coming by to look at my pics and read my blogs. I really appreciate the support I've gotten from this community. Because of the limitations here on this site as regards to layout of photos and text I found myself posting more often on the wordpress site my work has. Thus I have decided to start up a wordpress account of my own: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/ I hope you will come to visit me there. ===================== Some sample entries include Why does Manila Smell like Sewage? Thoughts on arriving, oct 07: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/arrival/ http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/first-impressions/ Child Labour in a Plastic Recycling Yard, Who Needs School? http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2007/10/27/the-plastic-yard/ Mad, Philippine Politics... in a Neighbourhood Election: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2007/12/04/philippine-politics-just-as-insane-locally/ The Australian Ambassador Sips Wine, While Filipinos Die in Oz mining sites: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/onus-of-proof/ Terrorists, Kids in Jail, and Dead Americans: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/a-version-of-justice/ A Very Atypical Xmas Holiday: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2007/12/30/what-i-did-on-my-christmas-holidays/ Myk, JR, and Kids Living in the Garbage Dump: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/a-friday-in-manila/ Indonesia, the CIA, and a Kid with a "Jihad" hat: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/death-and-suharto/

Filipino: A Love/Hate Thing

2008-07-30T20:41:12Z

I was at a famjam last weekend at the Fiesta ng Pateros picnic in Newmarket (Pateros is the part of Manila where my immediate family lived). I decided to test out a project about how young Filipinos and Filipinas viewed their people. I visited other tables and asked youth to write one positive and one negative about Fils. The horizontal images show what they liked, the vertical pics what they didn’t like. I told them they could write anything on the white board they wanted, as long as they meant it. I didn’t tell what language to use, nor did I correct spelling. Though they all wrote positives and negatives, it’s the negatives that interested me more… For the curious, the other positives listed include: family (this was by far the most popular answer coming up five times), friendly, out-going, caring, religious, smart, and sinegang. The most common negative was “gossip” (four votes). I’d love to hear what you think of their answers, what you think it says about the Filipino identity, and how you would answer the question of what you like/dislike about your fellow Fils… * * * I found this pretty interesting and after making some adjustments to this project, it will be continued… Look for the results at the Kultura Festival!!! Kultura is on Saturday 23 August from 12 to 9pm at Bellevue Square Park (in Kensington Market) and at the KPC (167 Augusta). * * * For an overview on the Filipino experience here in Toronto see my post “Filipinos in Canada.” * * * For more check out my other blog: http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/

Feminism Anyone?

2008-07-21T01:12:12Z

I was shooting in Circa nightclub and met this girl and a guy in the stairwell. I saw her shirt and asked if I could take a photo. She happily posed. Then the guy came up to me afterward and told me with pride that it was his idea to write "Cunt" on her shirt. He wanted me to give him a credit line. She giggled. Any thoughts? * * * * * *please note that I post more often on my other blog: www.kapisanan.wordpress.com

Baggage

2008-07-21T01:08:17Z

I've always wanted to try acting, but was always either dissuaded by others or too scared to try. Well I finally got my chance early this month. I was part of the ensemble cast of "Baggage," a play put together by the Pulang Maleta Collective and presented at the Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Toronto's Fringe Festival. What can I say? It was an amazing experience. I truly enjoyed it and I don't think I was half bad (not half great, but not half bad)! We had a great cast and crew, and the audiences and critics seemed to like us. We started ok, and ended great, in terms of house numbers (including a good number of sold out nights). At the end of the festival, our little show was one of the best rated in this massive festival, and our cast named an Outstanding Ensemble! * * * For more photos: http://kapisanan.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/baggage-final-fringe-show-pt-1/ http://kapisanan.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/backstage-final-curtain-pt-2/ http://kapisanan.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/more-backstage-pix-from-baggage/ http://kapisanan.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/backstage-baggage/ * * * Here are some reviews: National Post’s Top 5 Pick http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=619307 Eye Magazine (4 out of 5 stars) http://www.eyeweekly.com/fringe/article/31991 NOW Magazine (3 out of 4 N’s) http://www.nowtoronto.com/fringe/play_details.cfm?play_id=1398 NOW Magazine’s Jon Kaplan’s Review http://nowtoronto.com/blog/view_post.cfm?post=913 Toronto.com’s Top 10 Pick http://www.toronto.com/theatre/event/529769 Tandem Online’s Top 8 Pick http://www.tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=8447 * * * Written, Produced and Performed by: Reese Baguio Aura Carcueva Vincent Galvez Darrel Gamotin Christine Mangosing * * * Directed by: Karen Ancheta & Marie Beath Badian Associate Producer: Isa Palanca Also Starring: Leon Aureus Rose Cortez Alex Felipe Jessica Leibgott Elizabeth Lofranco Caroline Mangosing Andrea Mapili Regina Simon Michelle Turingan Stage Manager: Karyl Alvarado Agana Assistant Stage Manager/Publicist: Bea Palanca Technician: Daryl Anne Panganiban

Should Canada Deport Juana Tejada?

2008-06-24T20:25:27Z

Canada is going to deport a Toronto-based Filipina live in caregiver because she has cancer. She completed all the requirements of the live-in caregiver program, but when she underwent the manditory health check that comes with applying for permanent residency they discovered she had cancer. This discovery prompted the order for her to leave Canada. As one Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officer put it: "While I am sympathetic to your situation, I am not satisfied that these circumstances justify granting an exemption.... In the opinion of a medical officer, this health condition might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health and social services." In otherwords, her cancer would cost Canadians too much money. Here's a short write up I found in the Philippine Reporter: Juana Tejada, a Filipina caregiver stricken with stage 4 cancer, may pay the ultimate price to keep Canada's government-sponsored medical system out of the reach of foreign workers, if the recent Toronto Star poll taken June 9 is any indication. Of 4,459 respondents, 61% said that foreign workers like Tejada should be denied permanent residence if they are sick. Only 30% voted against denying foreign workers permanent status due to sickness. Without permanent residency status, foreign workers like Juana cannot avail of OHIP or similar government health plans. Tejada served as a nanny in Alberta after her arrival in Canada in 2003. Her application for an open work permit and permanent residency status in 2006 was denied by an Alberta immigration officer after medical tests indicated she had metastatic colon cancer. According to the ruling, her health condition “might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health and social services”. But for her medical condition, Juana would have received permanent residency status, having completed the 3 years required service as a caregiver under the Federal Live-In Caregiver Program. She has been twice denied permanent immigrant status, however, and was recently ordered by immigration officials to leave the country by August 8, a decision that some say is inhumane and tantamount to a death sentence. Tejada is currently receiving disability pay but she and her visiting husband do not have OHIP coverage. She has been denied OHIP coverage due to her medical condition. Juana pays for her own prescription drugs with the financial support of friends and members of her church. Out of compassion, doctors at Princess Margaret are providing medical services to Juana for free. Of course I have my opinion about this case (and the LCP program in general), but I'd love to hear back from you guys. What do you know about the Live in Caregiver Program? Have you had a chance to talk to those girls (and some guys) that you see in the parks with White kids? And what do you think about this case in specific? * * * There was a press conference about Juana's case yesterday (Friday 20 June). It was decently attended. Olivia Chow, the United Steelworkers, Kairos, and Migrante-Ontario were speakers (among the panel with Juana, her husband, and their lawyer). She has received a decent amout of press coverage. The Star had a piece on her last week, and today she was interviewed by Global and CBC. Above are some of my images from then... Her husband, pictured above, arrived in Canada a few months ago (after she found out she had cancer). They were married in 2000, and soon after she left to be a caregiver in Hong Kong. From HK, she came directly to Toronto. He lamented to me that this was the first time they've been together since they were married and now she's being dying and may be deported. * * * If you would like to sign the petition to keep Juana in Canada CLICK HERE. There is also a rally in support of Juana on Friday 27 June @ 4pm in front of Citizenship & Immigration Canada's office (CIC), 5343 Dundas St West, near Kipling Subway (across Subway parking lot). CLICK HERE for more info on facebook.

Post Independence Day...

2008-06-17T20:47:56Z

[*all the above images are archival images*] ‘Independence Day’ 2008 has come and gone, so I figure it’s a good time for a visual retrospective on the years after Aguinaldo declared the Philippines ‘free’ on12 June 1898. As a Filipino photographer, I find these old archival images gripping… The Philippine American War was fought from the moment the Americans claimed ownership of the Phils as a colony until at least 1902 (though fighting continued throughout the American term–and, arguably, is still going on today). The country continues to bear the scars of this conflict. Official (aka American) numbers put the casualties at: 4234/2818 American dead/wounded and 20,000/200,000 Filipino dead (note the exact figures of the US casualities and the averaged out number for us Filipinos). Filipino estimates are MUCH higher (with at least 500,000 civilian deaths). After the conflict the US did it’s best to create “little brown Americans.” The Thomasites opened up schools to ‘educate’ the populace. And members of the elite were groomed into political positions. “Independence” was finally granted by the Americans in 1946. For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine-American_War

Randy Couture and Sean Sherk

2008-05-30T17:23:35Z

These are production stills from a shoot with Sean Sherk and Randy Couture. All are shot with available light as I had no access to the strobes. They were in town for the launch of the new 'Round 5' MMA action figure toy line. Sean was still healing from his fight with BJ Penn less than a week prior...