Rattan waveforms, pageant for nobles meant for ADB delegates

Early evening of May 4, a pre-Hispanic tableau of rattan and super-sized golden ornaments welcomes delegates and dignitaries at the 45^th annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank who attend the host country reception dinner at the SMX Convention Center.   Among the artists commissioned to mount the envisioned reality for the Philippines’ “new golden age” is the same creative marvel who designed costumes of the fantasy drama television series “Amaya” aired on the GMA Network.   In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online, Gino G. Gonzales said they based some of the tableau’s pieces on pre-Hispanic gold pieces unearthed in Butuan, Mindanao.   “It was very important to us for it to have a contemporary look, so we’ve married it with modern shapes like wave-like forms…using local materials,” shared Gonzales, who psyched himself to get into a CITEM mode of using indigenous materials in a very modern way.   CITEM is the Department of Trade and Industry’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions. Here is an excerpt of the interview with Gonzales and also with Jeannie Javelosa, creative and artistic director of the Philippine Pavillon at the SMX Convention Center.   Gonzales said the Department of Finance commissioned the project and use of local materials was made a given.   “Usually, the tendency is to do the Hispanic look like the bahay na bato, but we thought of going farther back into time, pre-Hispanic. We thought of putting our best foot forward, so we thought of looking at that period   There’s more than meets the eye. The waveforms took quite a while to figure out, including how to rattan and bamboo keep their shapes and undulations.   In addition to rattan and bamboo, we had to use a lot of metal—embedded into the parts of the structures to maintain the wave forms.   Conceptualization began six months ago while construction of the set began two months ago. Building the set alone needed 80 people.   Focal point of the center stage is an enlarged gold earring, Gonzales said. Large—as in super-sized to several feet in diameter.   The golden disc is meant to dominate the backdrop of the stage and is placed in front of the video wall.   Spread over the ramps leading down from the backstage area—palay painted golden for a golden harvest of plenty.   Spacious bamboo lounge sofas in front of the stage and laid out in the performance hall are meant to let guests rest their feet and restfully sit while they chat with other delegates and possible business partners.   A pageant of singers, musicians, dancers, fashion models entertains the guests as if they are visiting nobility from faraway lands. Dreamweaver of the performance at the host country reception is Director Floy Quintos.   Bituin Escalante, Leo Valdez and The Company are in the powerhouse cast of performing artists. Also in the cast are Kalayo for music, Tribu Pan-ay for the Dinagyang, and the Luna Dancers.   Models don apparel and accessories featuring Manila Wear.   Designers who signed up for this coming of age extravaganza commissioned by the Department of Finance include Inno Sotto, Joey Samson, Rajo Laurel, Cesar Gaupo, OJ Hofer, JC Buendia, Vic Barba, and Dennis Lustico. — ELR, GMA News