Cosas Nuestras

Criollito & Cia. (or "Have a mate!"), by akermariano, 2006; based on Disney Animation Art: "The Flying Gauchito," 1945.

Rompecabezas Filipino • Philippine Puzzle

There is a well known—yet unpleasant—Spanish proverb referring to the idea that distance engenders apathy: "Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente" (out of sight, out of mind). In one of my lectures, I have transformed it deliberately. This was "Filipinas: ojos que te ven, corazón que te siente" (Philippines: eyes that see you, heart that feels you; Buenos Aires, Universidad de Belgrano, 2005). Today I may choose the motto of the Philippine Ministry of Turism, of which I think as very apt to introduce these pics—"WOW PHILIPPINES!"

Image selection, sequence and text by akermariano. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.

My Song (Rabindranath Tagore, 1861-1941)

This song of mine will wind its music around
you, my child, like the fond arms of love.

The song of mine will touch your forehead
like a kiss of blessing. When you are alone it
will sit by your side and whisper in your ear,
when you are in the crowd it will fence you
about with aloofness.

My song will be like a pair of wings to your
dreams, it will transport your heart to the
verge of the unknown.

It will be like the faithful star overhead when
dark night is over your road.

My song will sit in the pupils of your eyes, and
will carry your sight into the heart of things.

And when my voice is silenced in death,
my song will speak in your living heart.


Mariano Akerman
Constelación E3 (Constellation E3)
watercolor, 2005

Alguien dijo, "Nadie muere, si alguien le recuerda."

Yo te recuerdo todos los días.

Philippine Riddle • Acertijo Filipino

Riddle / Salawikain / Acertijo


Water wrapped in flesh
Flesh wrapped in bone
Bone wrapped in hair
Hair wrapped in skin.

Original Tagalog:
Tubig na binalot sa laman,
Lamang binalot sa buto,
Butong binalot sa balahibo,
Balahibong binalot sa balat.

Mi traducción:
Agua envuelta en carne
Carne envuelta en hueso
Hueso envuelto en pelo
Pelo envuelto en piel.

Answer ? / Sagot ? / ¿ Respuesta ?



Source: Doreen G. Fernandez, Fruits of the Philippines, Manila: Bookmark, 1997, p. 179. Photo: ibid. Text, p. 82: “Niyog (Coconut), Family PALMACEAE, Cocos nucifera L. / Lubi, Niog (Bisaya), Iniug, Niug, Ongot, (Ibanag), Gira-gira, Ngot-ngot (Sambali), I-ing (Itneg), Ngot-ngot (Pampango), Ponlaing (Subanon, Yakan), Niog (Bikol, Iloko, Tagalog). / Season: Year round.”

Entre las Naciones / Among the Nations

GENUINO APARENTISMO

Sin identidad
Mirage, illusionism, apparentism
Despojado
Hombre espejismo
Realismo aparente, genuino aparentismo.



GENUINE APPARENTISM

With no identity
Espejismo, ilusionismo, aparentismo.
Deprived
Mirage man
Apparent realism, genuine apparentism.



"Genuino aparentismo / Genuine apparentism" is a poem by Mariano Akerman (akermariano), London 1995. And so are all the images in this post: 1. Entre las Naciones (Among the Nations), collage, 2005; 2. Constelación E1 (Constellation E1), watercolor, 2000; 3. Entre las Naciones (Among the Nations), digital configuration, 2006.

Carpe Diem

The shortness of life cannot dissuade us from its pleasures, nor console us from its pains.

Marquis de Vauvernagues, Reflexions and Maxims, 1746



Better a thousand times even a swiftly fading, ephemeral moment of life than the epoch-long unconsciousness of the stone.

Edwin Way Teale, Autumn Across America, 1956

Reflecting on Life

The life force is vigorous. The delight that accompanies it counter-balances all the pains and hardships that confront men. It makes life worth living.
William Somerset Maugham, The Summing Up, 1938



The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.

Henry Miller, "Creative Death," The Wisdom of the Heart, 1941

Life imitates art more than art imitates life.

Oscar Wilde, "The Decay of Lying," Intentions, 1891

Cool Slideshows

Picture peel mirror, by Akermariano (Mariano Akerman). Copyright 1988-2006. All rights reserved. See also the Picture puzzle "In the Spirit of Linnaeus."