My debut performance....My first performance art...In and international event!

A truly liberating experience!

"I See One Nation"

Franz Uy - Philippines

(5th Tupada International Performance Art, April 28-30, 2008, Dagupan City)

Old and new paint fumes, fresh-from-the-printer tarpaulin streamers, a bunch of long-haired, bald and not-so-balled guys, a hefty amount of so-called normal looking people, forms, faces, plus a chicken and goat tandem - welcome to the 2nd Dagupan Arts Festival!

I really forgot the date but I knew it was coming very soon. So little ol' me looked so surprised when my cellphone rang. "Hello," I said sleepily. "Beep!" low-bat. Thank God for a spare battery.

SMS 1: 2PM, 3rd flr NEPO Mall. SMS 2: Be there by 1PM. I calculated (yes, I have some math in me) the hours of how much decent sleep I had. Three hours. Not bad. Getting to the venue was a story in itself so I'll skip it for your sakes.

Arrived thirty minutes past my call time, I dreaded a scolding. Well, nobody had the time there to even converse to me let alone scold me. The place was a bee hive. Last minute decor, sound checks, late hurried lunches. Then I being the nosy noisy me asked the wrong question. "What's the program?"

Impromptu is a staple for artists. Inspiration cannot be held captive for long- elusive is its middle name. Our muses must travel back to Olympus, thereby we relish every blessed moment. And the fruit of our passions, pieces that can never be duplicated simply because of the imprints of time, ripen. Behold, the obra maestra.

After thanking the sponsors and putting down the microphone I was glad I was nosy. My fellow emcee did well. Oti could actually host the show without me. It was an honor to be part of such an inspiring occasion.

Handshakes, snapshots, conversations, smiles... the day ended the next day, which is by the way, today. I just witnessed the finest art of all. Friends.



also at http://fwanz.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/