Reconnecting: an expatriate's voice

BENCHWARMER
Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- Yvonne Belen, my former high school chemistry teacher now based in The Netherlands, recently alerted her fellow expatriates to the entry of Igorot artist Gilbert Gano Alberto to the 10th International Sculpture Symposium in Morges, Switzerland. The news took the small Igorot community there by storm. They ended up with a canao of sorts celebrating the victory of the carver in g-string with a shoestring budget for his ethnic rendition of an old man beating a gong.

Reading their impressions through e-mail, Yvonne, e-mailed back: “I didn’t realize that Gano’s presence would inspire our kailian in Switzerland and bring out the writer in them.”

Hereunder (after the asterisk) is the article from Violeta Passerini that somehow sums up the feeling of pride and sense of community heightened by their encounter with Gilbert:
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Rain poured heavily that Saturday morning when my daughter and I drove from Baselland to see the International Sculpture Symposium at Morges. Reaching the place, I already heard a voice as we entered the exhibition compound, “Dey dimmateng da Manang,” Lolit was waving her hands with a wide grin.

“Nangabak manok tako” she said as she embraced us. She pointed to the others who were smiling: Christa, Letty, Erica, Jurg and Julio, and in midst of them was a shy man holding a glass ready for a toast.

“Hinay hi Gilbert,” she introduced us to him as we shook hands. I looked down, still holding his hand, to read the tag where his name was written and the title of his sculpture, “THE ECHO OF AN OLD MAN.”

“Congrats,” I said. “Pinadakkelmo dakami ay Igorot isna Switzerland.” He smiled as if he was still dreaming, not realising that all what happened was a fact. He was one of the best or I should say, “He was the best, bringing home two trophies, GOLD and SILVER.”

Lorena arrived. Julian Chees and Renate Doth from Nürnberg, Germany came to see him, too. This Saturday is Gilbert’s day. His co-artists ask him to have a picture with them and exchange gifts. Visitors ask him about his work and, of course, to have pictures with him. The buyer of his sculpture come to say hello and have a group photo with him. Do I see a kid asking for his autograph? Alphorn blowers ask him if he could join them while they play after he demonstrates playing his noseflute.

Lolit and I are standing beside him and listen to his music, “Nanlayad nenlikatan,” and I think of my roots, Igorotland. Yes, he is busy but we understand. Still, he has the time to play the gong with us and we dance around his sculpture. GILBERT IS THE MAN OF THE DAY.

Yes, Gilbert Alberto, thank you for the honour you shared us. This handful Saturday Igorot group is very proud of you. Not only we, but the whole Igorotland, is very proud of you. More, you represented not only the Philippines, but also us Igorots. We hope to read more about you and your work not only in local papers, but also here in Europe or to be short, international.

“Gilbert Alberto, an Igorot artist from Hapao, Hungduan, Ifugao representing the Philippines exhibits his artworks in…”

For him, it could still be a dream. Maybe when he is back home, when the jetlag is over, when he gets up one morning and sees the two trophies in his atelier, he will realize that it’s not only a dream but a dream come true. MORGES, TWO TROPHIES, SWITZERLAND and the handful IGOROTS on that SATURDAY morning, the sound of the GONGS that he played with us. GILBERT, the handful Saturday Igorot group say, “Thank you and we wish you all the best.” - Violeta Passerini.
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Gano’s trophies and awards certificates are in his working hut at the Kennon Road side, Twin Peaks, Tuba, Benguet. They were turned far more precious by the warmth of the Igorot community members who dropped their work schedules to stand by their provincial artist in Morges. Reading their impressions just brings back the image triggered by another reading years ago:

“There are moments when a sudden connection is made somewhere in the world – powerful and undeniable. This is one of those moments.”

We here in the Cordillera homeland salute you, too, BIBAK Switzerland and Europe for reconnecting home through Gilbert. Ma’m Yvonne, thanks for the chemistry. Oss, too, to Sensei Julian Chees and Sensei Renate Doth for driving far beyond 500 miles so Gilbert could bring home that T-shirt from Shoshin.

Come to think of it, all of you never left home. (e-mail: mondaxbench@yahoo.com for comments).