@TR AVE L / WA LK T HIS WAY
"...It just personally made more sense
to make Filipino art as a Filipino in
the Philippines itself."
How would you describe your relationship with
the
ing as we speak and I'm glad I made the decision to stay
Philippines/Manila?
and be part of it.
Complex. Perverted. And Unconditional.
And furthermore, I like eating rice with my every meal and I
What inspired you to do these tours?
hate the cold. That was enough to send me fleeing back
Boredom. Lack of attention. Love of Manila's History, art,
halfway around the world.
and culture. Boredom.
What do you want US and Diaspora Pinoys to know about the
You studied in the U.S. - what made you decide to return to the
cultural climate in the Philippines today?
Philippines and not stay in the States?
That "identity crisis" you have in the US is the same back
My work was all about Manila. I made paintings, installa-
home so get over it. The Filipino identity is multi-faceted,
tions, and performances that were all about Manila and
fluid, and still a work in progress. Don't romanticize it by
Philippine history, aesthetics, and context. It didn't make
pining over a pure cultural past that we really never had.
sense to stay in NY and push the issue. It just personally
Look forward.
made more sense to make Filipino art as a Filipino in the
Philippines itself.
And study our arts and culture history well. From therein you
shall find the pride and strength of our identity.
And the economy of the PH in 1997 under Ramos was rather
solid, so I had no fears about getting a job back then. Things
And what can they do to help their kababayan?
economically went a little downhill after that. We seem to be
Just be the change you want to see in the world. Whether it
recovering now after Gloria strengthened the economy
be here in the States or back in the Philippines.
despite the lack of her moral ascendancy so I'm glad I didn't
For more information on Carlos' tour visit his site at
decided to jump ship so to speak. The Philippines is improv-
www.carlosceldran.com
15 SPRING 2011 / THEPHILIPPINESMAGAZINE.COM

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