November 19, 2001

Pinoy Pop Goes Pulp

By Clara Enriquez

Check out the newly-launched book entitled"Pinoy Pop Culture,"a collaborative effort between literary and theater bigwig Gilda Cordero-Fernando, author and book designer Manuel Chaves, and flourishing fashion retailer Bench on, what else, Philippine popular culture!The volume includes anything Filipino, from colorful jeepneys, day-old chick, dirty ice cream, distinctly-local sweet spaghetti, hodgepodge interiors, and samalamig (a luscious native drink filled with tapioca balls and gelatin) to national symbols like Nora Aunor, Kenkoy, Sylvia la Torre, and Ma Mon Luk. It also has a dictionary of local lingo covering the '70s through today and, naturally, a bakla-bulary (that's"sward-speak"to Filipinos, but"gay-speak"to you).The 100 plus-page book, in full-color illustrations, presents itself as a fun, funky, pleasant journey along Philippine popular culture history without omitting recent developments. Its launch, recently held at the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, was in itself a grand theater presentation. Past and present Pinoy pop culture icons gathered on stage, including Yoyoy Villame, Rivermaya, Anna Fegi, Aegis, Radioactive Sago Project, and Darna and Valentina. There were also prominent figures from the business, fashion, food, and literary circles.It comes as a surprise to many, though, that 71-year-old Fernando has this book to offer on a"continually-now"topic."I work with young people who help me with their insights, like my co-author Manni Chaves,"explains Fernando. Such is her hankering for anything new that Fernando even gamely listened to a band named Slapshock at a rock concert.In a disclaimer, Chaves writes that"Pinoy Pop Culture"is not a definitive book on the theme."We wanted to go the opposite direction of more academic undertakings in the study of pop. It invites the reader to join in the experience of fun and togetherness."And so the book is a compilation in English, Taglish (Tagalog combined with English), carabao (faulty) English,"whichever is convenient."Ben Chan, for his part, spells out his role in the project."I'd like to give something back, especially to the young people who have made my business thrive. I also want to know more about myself, to discover what makes us unique and different from the rest. And maybe when we understand ourselves, we could be proud just being Pinoy."Adds Fernando:"I have always dreamed that big business and high culture would someday come together, and not just in sporadic sponsorships of cultural events, because they have so much to learn from each other. Each has what the other needs. Culture can give the marketing some substance, art, and meaning. Business can provide capital and merchandising guidance to steer the art form closer to what's popular and mainstream."With that, the three believe their book will be a big hit with everyone. Pinoy pop, anyone?