This document summarizes an art exhibit by Heber Bartolome featuring poems, songs, photographs and paintings. The exhibit included works by various poets and performers from different countries who participated either in person or online. National artists from the Philippines also attended and contributed poems in response to Bartolome's paintings. The document discusses the various artworks exhibited and interactions between Bartolome and other artists.

1. MGA TULA KANTA LARAWAN AT PINTURA from the Art Exhibit of HEBER BARTOLOME a collection of poems, songs, photographs and paintings

3. Poster detail eParticipants: Sydney: Edd Aragon & Alfredo Roces Belgium: Victor Brias London: Attila the Stockbroker Beijing: Claro Cortes IV Oregon: Melissa Nolledo Los Angeles Rodolfo Samonte Long Beach: Vics Magsaysay New Jersey: Ed Labadia San Francisco: Mel Vera Cruz Online workshop with BANGGAAN e-group

4. BEFORE THE RIBBON CUTTING Heber introduces an acoustic Harana group to serenade the gallery Also introducing songwriter Ernie Dela Pena, known for popular songs Kapalaran, Lupa, May Bukas Pa, and many kundiman songs Including the pop hits of Rico J. Puno.

5. EMIL LOSEÑADA, WILLY BULAOAN, ERNIE DELA PEÑA AND DHEL HORREST SINGING SOME KUNDIMAN NUMBERS

7. SINAMPAY (acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48 in. Tandang. Sora 2005) .

8. ALING PINTURA AT MGA MAKATA? MGA MAKATA: BIEN LUMBERA VIRGILIO ALMARIO JOSE F. LACABA EDD ARAGON TREVOR BATTEN TEO ANTONIO HEBER BARTOLOME CLARO CORTES IV MGA MAKATA: KRIP YUSON ED LABADIA MELISSA NOLLEDO TEO ANTONIO CLARO CORTES IV HEBER BARTOLOME MGA MAKATA: FRANK RIVERA VIM NADERA TEO ANTONIO CLARO CORTES IV EDD ARAGON HEBER BARTOLOME MARNE KILATES MGA MAKATA: ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER RICKY DE UNGRIA TEO ANTONIO CLARO CORTES IV ED LABADIA Performers: BIEN LUMBERA VIRGILIO ALMARIO CELINA CRISTOBAL RONNIE LAZARO TREVOR BATTEN TEO ANTONIO EGHAI ROXAS LIRIO AT ELEMENTO GLENN BAUTISTA Performers: VIRGILIO AVIADO FIL DELACRUZ BOY VINZON TEO ANTONIO GLENN BAUTISTA Performers: FRANK RIVERA VIM NADERA TEO ANTONIO GLENN BAUTISTA M2MILDRED & MARICEL ATTY. BONG BAYBAY RUBEN CA Ñ ETE MARNE KILATES Performers: PEPE SMITH LESTER DEMETILLO TEO ANTONIO GLENNBAUTISTA DAVID BAUTISTA RETASO MGA BIHAG SINAMPAY PINAY 2006

9. OTHER WORKS EXHIBITED AT CRUCIBLE MGA MAKATA: MEL VERA CRUZ TEO ANTONIO HEBER BARTOLOME Performers: JOSE TENCE RUIZ TEO ANTONIO LEVI BARTOLOME MGA MAKATA: FATS LASAY HEBER BARTOLOME Performers: FATS LASAY MGA MAKATA: HEBER BARTOLOME Performers: NAPOLEON ABUEVA MGA MAKATA: EDD ARAGON ROD SAMONTE TEO ANTONIO VICS MAGSAYSAY MEL VERA CRUZ Performers: RAUL ISIDRO EGHAI ROXAS LIRIO AT ELEMENTO TEO ANTONIO GLENN BAUTISTA DALAWANG SALOME,3x3 ft THE POET, 24x 20 in TINDERA AT ANAK, 3x3 ft DAPITHAPON, 3 x 4 ft

10. DING ROCES FROM SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA His visions, expressed in song or painted image, come straight from the heart. Heber Bartolome is a folk poet whose work does not attract the attention of the high priests in the temples of today's art world. He is spokesman for the common man, singing out in simple language, pain, anger, hope, sometimes even joy. Even if you take away the angry political activist in him, so basic to his self-expression, there is still much to celebrate about humanity in his music and his paintings. Heber best describes what makes him tick with these lines: "Di ko kailangan magpa-guapo Upang hangaan. pansinin ng tao Ang kailangan ko'y ang maging totoo Awitin ang dapat sa panahong ito." As a writer-painter who has always held uppermost the value of being authentic and telling it like it is, I salute Heber, whose art has always remained "totoo". Who was the poet who said: "To thine own self be true, you cannot then be false to any man"? Mabuhay si Heber. ALFREDO ROCES [email_address] Art Book Author and Publisher Minsan ay dinalaw namin ni Ding Roces sa Imus, Cavite ang pintor na si Glenn Bautista. Habang nagpapahingalay ako sa may sanga ng puno ng mangga, iginuhit pala ako ni Ding. Ginawan ko naman ito ng tula at ginamit kong background ang kanyang painting na Fraser Island. Ginawa ko ito sa photoshop kasama ang isang dingo na naglalakad sa dalampasigan at isang asong tila nagpi- piano.Ang mga larawang ito ay bahagi ng aming interaksyon sa egroup na si Ding rin ang lumikha, ang BANGGAAN.

11. Maagang dumating ang iskultor at National Artist na si NAPOLEON ABUEVA.

12. DAPITHAPON Heber Bartolome Kulay pulang langit, kulay pulang pisngi Tulad ng pulang labi ng isang binibini Kulay pulang langit mandi'y humahalik Sa pisngi ng lupang kayakap ng tubig Ito'y dapithapon ng mga bulaklak Ng mga damong-ligaw, at mga kulisap Mapusyaw na bughaw ang hinawing ulap Kulimlim na sinag sa bundok at dagat DAPITHAPON acrylic on canvas, 36x48 in. Tandang Sora,1997, National Artist Napoleon Abueva with Heber Bartolome

13. LENNY DE JESUS, among other special guests opens the exhibitt

14. PAGPUPUGAY SA ISA’T ISA, nang dumating si BIEN LUMBERA, bagong hirang na National Artist for Literature.

16. National Artist for Literature BIEN LUMBERA

17. National Artist for literature VIRGILIO ALMARIO a.k.a RIO ALMA with HEBER BARTOLOME

18. NATIONAL ARTIST VIRGILIO ALMARIO reading his poem entitled SAMPAYAN referring to Heber’s painting SINAMPAY. at hindi ito dumadaing lumundo man ang dibdib sa dinadalang bigat. Hihingi ito ng tukod at taimtim na susubaybay sa maghapong salamangka ng simoy at silahis. Umaalis nang walang-paalam pagdadapithapon ang maninipis na blusa’t kamisadentro at wala itong pakialam; may dapat pang bantayan magdamag na mababagal na kumot at mahihinahong pantalon laban sa biglang ulan at malilikot na kamay. Iniingatan nito ang maselang seda ngunit di pinangingimian ang may-sulsing korto o masipag na katsa. Sa mata ng sampayan: Ang lahat ng tela ay pantay-pantay at may karapatang hindi malaglag sa lupa o maihian ng walang-modong aso. Nagseselos naman ito kapag tinambakan lamang ng basahan samantalang ibinabayad ng makina ang terno’t pambulwagan; natutuwa kapag nilalaro ang mga puting lampin SAMPAYAN ni RIO ALMA May sariling damdamin ang sampayan. Kung gabi, Tila hibla ito ng metalikong gagamba, nangungulila at ibig gawin ang sarili na isang antena sa paghahanap ng kausap na bituin. May araw din kapag tinatamad kahit kalabaw sa kural, tila dinaglat itong hininga ng buhay, nakabayubay sa matatalas na bitag ng simoy at silahis, ngunit di pansin ang bulong at yapos ng matiyagang tutubi. Sa ganitong araw ng pamamahinga isinusulat nito sa hangin ang makamandag na ugat na kalawang. Ngunit sa araw ng gawain at paglilingkod, tila linya ito ng iba’t ibang ugali, pandama’t panlasa, kahit di hari ni pari, bahaghari ng bestida’t palda, tanghalan ng bagong-sabon at giniginaw na damit at kortina, maginhawang panti’t sando, pribadong tuwalya’t kumot, at nababalisa kapag matagal nawala o naglayas ang pantalon at kamiseta. Malihim din ang sampayan: Nabubuwisit ito sa madaliang paglalaba ng malibag na kuwelyo panyolitong masangsang o panloob na may marka; at hiyang-hiya ito kapag itinanghal sa labas ng bintana, sinabitan ng isang bimpo o bra, at pinanood ng mga bastos na istambay.

25. PEPE SMITH On the spot, Pepe Smith read with melody and guitar chords a poem written by a British punk-poet-musician Attila The Stockbroker entitled ARESTADO. Attila wrote and emailed the poem as an interaction to Heber’s painting entitled BIHAG.

27. O KAY GANDA A song written by Willy Bulaoan referring to Heber’s painting PINAY 2006 was performed by his daughters M2Mildred&Maricel

30. From Leuven, Belgium Heber's music and biting lyrics captured the mood of his generation: The 70s and 80s were decades of national deliberation, rebellion, and self-discovery. With Macbethian lyricism, Heber explicitly posed fundamental questions about Philippine culture to the beat of Pinoy rock and rhythm. A generous dose of “Kalamansi Sa Sugat” was not meant to add insult to injury to the pathetic colonial residues of the jeprox generation; it was a means of stimulating a musical catharsis. Heber is a rebel with a cause, the giant of Pinoy protest songs, an authentic national artist of the highest caliber and integrity. DR. VICTOR BRIAS PhD in Philosophy, A former and fellow professor of Heber in De La Salle University. If his artistry reverberates in the field of music, it has been subversively mute in other realms. For over three decades, Heber has transferred his ideas to canvas from his unique perspective. With each stroke of the brush, with each opus, Heber’s seems to say: “I am here and you are there, reality lies in between.” Heber does not paint a subject as he sees it; he paints it as it reveals itself to him. His graphic protest lies in defying matter and capturing the aura, the wild essence, and temporal flux of each subject. With Heber there is no such thing as “still life” … everything is in living motion, particles and waves disguise their being in a dance of light and colors. Heber’s art brings one to the realization that life and reality transcend the dimensions of physics, and that art itself is a facet of life’s essential being. Through his paintings, Heber has reached a higher, more sublime, but implicit form of rebellious expression. On canvas he protests against the dull and obvious. Even a shirt on a clothesline is beautiful, interesting, and worthy of attention… as is Nena, the prostitute, with her short skirt and skinny legs. But what do we make of these subjects? What is Heber insinuating? Perhaps the answer lies in what Heber does not paint, namely: Kings, Generals, Presidents, Castles or Palaces … or any of the so called “great subjects”. Heber looks at life from the margins, because it is there where life starts and stops. The simple things, the simple people are not so simple at all. It is they who make history. Heber protests against “the grandiose” and leads us towards an appreciation of the integral beauty and truth of mundane reality. Heber is the Pinoy protest painter of our time, but an artist for all, and all time. FILIPINO ARTIST OF HIGHEST CALIBER AND INTEGRITY

34. TEO ANTONIO APAT NA TULA RETASO Sala-salang retaso,iba't ibang kulay, sala-salang talinghaga ng buhay. Sana'y sala-salang retaso ang puso't diwa ng madla, kawit-bisig sa makabansang adhika. ARESTADO Di lahat ng arestado'y may kasalanan maaaring sila'y napagkamalan. Ang masakit kapag tinamnan ng ebidens'yang di nila alam. SINAMPAY Mula sa pagod,pawis ng naglaba ang isinampay mula sa labada. Maaaring damit ng lolo at lola, nagtratrabahong ina at ama, estudyante't istambay sa eskinita. Mahalagang malinis ang damit pero, mas mahalagang ang kalooba'y malinis. ANG PINAY Nakakalat sa bawat panig ng mundo, makabagong alipin ang ibinansag sa iyo. Gusto mo lamang ang pamilya'y isalba, maiahon sa lumulubog na ekonomiya. Dahil maraming pinunong nilimas ang yaman ng bansa para sa lahat. TEO T. ANTONIO 10 ABRIL 2006 MULA SA BANGGAAN eGROUP: Pareng Edd, Nag-txt nga si teo ng ganito: Buksan mo ang email kaibigan naroon ang tulang makabuluhan Apat na talinghaga sa hiling mong tula. MABUHAY KA! Nag-txtbak naman ako: Tanggap ko na kaibigan mga tulang apatan maghanda ka ng salabat maraming salamat. Heber hehe galeng. ano tawag jan...balagtexan?;-) eddA Oo nga pareng edd, Orig ang Banggaan sa Balagtexan. Matagal na nating ginagawa ito dito. Ang bilis mo mag-isip ng masaya at magandang totoo. Heber BALAGTEKSAN Nawala ng kopya ng APAT NA TULA na babasahin sana ni Teo Antonio kayat napilitan siyang bumalagtas

35. RAUL ISIDRO Painter and President of Printmakers Association of the Philippines reading a portion of Balagtasan sa Email pareng heber, haplit lang marahil ng bagong panahon makibago o humarang sa kaibang ebolusyon. naka-ipod na ang Papa laptop sa ayatollah blogger na ang queen may website ang masa. dati-rati'y balagtasan nakabarong sa entablado ngayo'y daliri ang gamit ng makatang tao. yayaman ang diwa ng malayang pag-iisip sa tagisan ng dila may kislap na sisirit. Edd Aragon MAKATA NG BAGONG PANAHON

40. JOSE TENCE RUIZ @MEL VERA CRUZ PINTURANG PULA kasama ng mga tambay kaharap namin ay tagay kantahan sa kanto utot ng dila’y awit mo inihain ng mahal kong nanay almusal n’yang masarap na tunay tapsilog na sinubo ng kamay limot ang masasamang bagay di biro ang pagsakay ng bus para kang may pasan na krus sumakay man ako sa ibang agos awit mo sa puso ko’y tagos awitin mong sumasabay sa diwa kong naglalakbay wika ng ilong na pango huwag akong magpapa-pako pinoy akong sumasakay si nena ay aking ka-akbay napasuot sa salimu-ot kanta mo ang s’yang humugot sa laban ng aking barangay tanglaw mo’y laging taglay ang sugo ni putla, ‘yan ay babala huwag ma-aya sa maapoy nya’ng dila laganap ang mga asong ulol sila’y ngumingiyaw, di kumakahol taliwas na landas mag-ingat sa ahas pag inabot ng malas, wala nang lunas kulay ng pintura tawagin mang pula dinemonyo ni mama dahil sa takot n’ya ang magpapalaya sa mga madadaya ay matapat na dila, yan ang tunay na biyaya bow. MEL VERA CRUZ Banggaan egroup San Francisco CA FROM SAN FRANCISCO

41. HEBER AND DULCE trying to remember an old song

43. CARICATURES BY: MEL VERA CRUZ ROD SAMONTE VIDEOS BY: JIM AYSON GLENN BAUTISTA ED MANALO

44. Maraming Salamat sa mga sumusunod: Boy Vinzon of My Brother’s Mustache, Sari Ortiga of Crucible, Margot Viola, Benjo Laygo, Joey Estipona, Brod Goding & Lucia Ferrer, Brod Boy &Julie Catalla, Danny Bautista, Ambassador Eusebio Abaquin, Pabs Villegas, Lorna Bautista, Trevor Batten & Fats Lasay, Jim Ayson, Ben Razon, Luis Liwanag, Ed Manalo, Ellen&Ross Capili, Angelo Ocampo, atbp.