|
Post by VeeVee on Sept 7, 2008 20:31:30 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by VeeVee on Sept 7, 2008 20:34:37 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by VeeVee on Sept 7, 2008 21:12:33 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by indiosbravos on Sept 8, 2008 0:52:07 GMT -5
But at least eventually in general and in the end they did win the fight ( Americans ). Seen a Docu from BBC two weeks ago Re: Slavery. It was said that the British focused their might ( and Armada ) in the West Indies particularly Jamaica to protect their interest; Sugar. They're afraid at the time that other country might take over from them. They can't afford it during this period since sugar was very important to the empire, financially and as a royal luxury. Of course this is just one of the theory and obviously other scholar will beg to this disagree to this argument".
Imagine the headline : Sugar helps the Cause of War....
This is no way an attempt to rob those great people of their rightly deserved glory against their coloniser....
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Sept 8, 2008 13:30:51 GMT -5
That's my dream too actually, that we'll have a lot of people who are interested in their country's history and want to play it/re-live it. I mean, cosplaying movies and anime is fun (that's something I do as well with the Pirates of the Caribbean series) but our country's history is something else, something special. I really wish and if I can, I'd love to work toward popularizing reenacting in the Philippines.
Let me share my weird ideas with you guys. I was thinking that as an alternative to the regular CAT/ROTC, schools could be given the option of becoming reenactment units and training to be units from Philippine history. While they would learn military discipline there would also be fun field days with water gun fights in our historical uniforms and ultimately, reenactment days held on anniversaries of great events. This would already count toward the requirement for ROTC and hopefully the fun factor would be enough to make the young people enjoy it instead of hate it - as they do now. I suspect that there aren't many people who want to do this back home because of the way CAT/ROTC is handled.
Now if not that, I was wondering if, to popularize it - the standards for absolute accuracy could be temporarily lowered (yeah I know it sounds like heresy but hear me out). There's no market now for reenactment items back home except for BnK but there's a pretty big market for anime etc. because people are buying and interested. Well, if there's a groundswell of interest - and I've talked to a number of young people who would be interested in it because I gave them a POSITIVE experience in dressing up in historical costumes (albeit for Pirates of the Caribbean but put them in a rayadillo or guardia civil or tiradores del muerte costume they wouldn't say no!) and they're open to playing historical characters/soldiers. The trick is to have the serious reenacting and the fun cosplaying as well - in December they play the Regimento de Magallanes or Del Pilar's sharpshooters at Tirad Pass, but at another time they play Jumong or Naruto or whatever they're interested in and BOTH are encouraged and fostered. It's high time that the divide between the 'serious reenactor' and the 'fun cosplayer' be broken down back home so that young people can see that reenactment is also fun in the same way that they can be serious about accuracy and getting it perfect even in cosplaying, that accuracy matters whether they're playing an anime character or a Philippine Scout, they can at least work toward that even if at this time they can't afford actual period repros. They should be encouraged and not put down even if they can't get it right the first time and in time they'll get it right and perhaps even better.
Anyways, just some thoughts and encouragement!
Salutes, Tom
|
|
|
Post by VeeVee on Sept 8, 2008 16:29:03 GMT -5
Wait you're saying
Cosplay = Fun Reenacting = Serious
For me personally reenacting is both.
There are similarities to the hobbies and some hobbyists like you do cross over and dabble in both. However I think it's the same apples and oranges difference between Reenacting and the Airsoft hobby. or Paintball vs. Airsoft. There's enough similarity but underneath very different.
What's another analogy... maybe it's like the difference between restoring classic cars... and tricking out contemporary cars a'la Fast and the Furious. They both involve cars but very different.
You can't force one over the other crowd. Simply different interests.
I've come to realize that after wondering why so many paintballers don't make the switch to airsoft, and why most airsofters have no interest in historical impressions and reenacting. I'm guessing it would be the same for cosplay and reenacting.
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Sept 9, 2008 12:22:09 GMT -5
No no, not at all :-) I agree with you - I think reenacting is both - and cosplaying is both. I can be as serious at researching the cut and buttons of my uniforms as a fictional commodore in Pirates of the Caribbean and I have fun playing historical characters as well with groups like BnK. What I meant was that from what I've seen back home, a lot of young filipinos feel that reenacting is 'serious' and 'boring' and 'more CAT/ROTC pain'.
Point well taken on the differences between paintball and airsoft - yes they are different interests and you won't get everyone. What I'm suggesting is, though, there are some who would be willing to cross over given the right circumstances. While not everyone can, some people can like both apples and oranges. Some haven't even been introduced to it yet but want to. What I'm hoping for is a way to popularize reenacting back home because it is fun - and I can tell them about my experience at Fort Mac and how it felt to hold a real Remington and 'defend a hill' against the advancing American forces like our forefathers did a hundred years ago - and because it awakes the sense of history that I believe our countrymen have but haven't fully explored yet.
Salutes, Tom
|
|
|
Post by legionnaire on Sept 9, 2008 13:59:53 GMT -5
The real key to getting the kids excited and really interested to get them into reenacting is really to stage a reenactment battle with opposing forces. As that is the fun part of it that they have to experience and realize. And combined that with a sense of pride portraying our heroes and educating themselves and the viewing public about our history at same time. Without that it is really hard to convince or sell the idea to them that portraying Philippine history is fun. How can they stage it when acquiring the antique weapons used are so difficult to reproduce or get legalized through the bureaucratic red tape. Again it's a situation were you have to have influence and connections the right officials. really sad situation. I sympathized with the BNK guys. Philip
|
|
|
Post by indiosbravos on Sept 11, 2008 0:06:45 GMT -5
Sad to say Philippine History or History in the Philippine School is all about Text Book Knowledge. Test of how one remembers dates and names. I maybe wrong but I think it's only Ambeth Ocampo from Ateneo de Manila (University Level) who teaches Philippine History "beyond" the class room. Lower level Teachers, elementary and highschool are bound by lessons plan and pre approved reference books.
Tom, I applaud your desire for reenactment to flourish in the Philippines. I think BNK are not far off in doing this. There are loads of talented craftsmen and tailor there that with the right guidance and pattern can easily copy or produce a top class repro. It's only with the deactivated guns and replica guns that you'll have a problem. You'll need to go through bureaucracy etc....
"How can they stage it when acquiring the antique weapons used are so difficult to reproduce or get legalized through the bureaucratic red tape. Again it's a situation were you have to have influence and connections the right officials. really sad situation. I sympathized with the BNK guys"
why do you think only the doctors and military scions and chinese kids are predominantly the one playing Airsoft in the country? ( other than the obvious reasons that it is expensive) you have to realise it's illegal to own an Airsoft Gun. This is no way an attempt to malign the above mentioned, I'm just stating what I know from talking to people and highlighting the point.
WW2 are even hardly discuss in Schools....
I agree with Philip a yearly school or municipal or any local or national goverment sponsored Battle Reenactment is a very good Idea. Putting flesh and movements to Historical figures and events. They can start by doing the key dates and battles in Philippine History. The only hindrance, "no budget"...why do it? we'll do it on centennial celebration, silver anniversary, etc...
|
|
|
Post by indiosbravos on Sept 11, 2008 0:22:41 GMT -5
"Having this reenactment and history lesson made everyone in the audience proud to be American and proud of the heritage (heck including non-Americans )"
That's the thing with us Filipinos we immersed, integrate to our "Bagong Hinirang" ( Adoptive Country- sorry no translation can justify the phrase). We becomes Filipino- American, it is not selling out but rather realizing who you are and acknowledging one's identity and his place in the society. Selling out, hell no...
Like me if I did not started doing PS, I might have join a Home Guard group, As the Governator ( Arnie of CA ) said "loved your country but embrace the flag of America"...enuff said.
and if they will ask me I'll say I've got a British heart in a Filipino Soul...."Love the one you're with" CSN
|
|
|
Post by 79thfoot on Sept 11, 2008 2:57:57 GMT -5
I think they may have a few quasi-reenactments here and there but these are more 'moro-moro' / fiesta type events. I believe Balangiga is one town that has a kind of a reenactment. I really just wish I could share that Fort Mac experience with all the young people back home but, like Philip said, the problems that one encounters with all the bureaucracy for owning even airsoft guns is ridiculous. Still, I'm thinking that there MUST be a way, I just can't think of one right now.
I'm wondering if we can't stage something, even something small during these cosplay conventions and stuff, like a fight between Katipuneros and Guardias or Cazadores, something that'll be small enough to be manageable within a small hall yet exciting enough to get more young people interested.
Hopefully, hopefully, Tom
|
|
|
Post by VeeVee on Sept 11, 2008 6:24:12 GMT -5
That's the thing with us Filipinos we immersed, integrate to our "Bagong Hinirang" ( Adoptive Country- sorry no translation can justify the phrase). We becomes Filipino- American, it is not selling out but rather realizing who you are and acknowledging one's identity and his place in the society. Selling out, hell no... I've never been more proud to be Filipino until I came here. Just like you. I'm sure you were proudest when you were the lone PS in War and Peace Tom, good idea. How about a stage play by the UP or Philippine Repertory? That would be full blown "acting"though, not reenacting ;D
|
|
|
Post by legionnaire on Sept 11, 2008 13:59:32 GMT -5
Tom,
You must get in touch with the BNK folks, meet and organize a propose "reenactment battle" event plan with higher and local officials first to get the necessary legalize approval with the authorities.
Have the propose site were the reenactement could be stage. Choosing the site has to be within pubic accesibility to have as big public attendance to witness the event.
Maybe start with Fort Santiago as your first location. But at the Fort you probably might not be able to have a "battle" with blank firing gunfire involved yet. But some how have a n artillery salute with the Fort's cannon Since it is within the city. But close order rifle/ marching and ceremonial drills would work. And hopefully it should grow yearly into a "Old Fort Santiago days" event, it can happen.
Plus the fact that Fort Santiago's history is a central part of Philippine History too. Was used by the Americans in pre war and then you also have the battle for Manila with Japanese period . So you can have from revolutionary up to liberation as your "marching through history" venue of the Fort. Right at the heart of Manila. ;D
I don't now how you can stage a mock battle in a indoor cosplay event. Unless you just show a screening of a reenactment battle filmed out of town. It's a huge undertaking but it possible could be pulled of with the right high officials backing the plan.
Philip
|
|
|
Post by indiosbravos on Sept 11, 2008 16:26:24 GMT -5
"Plus the fact that Fort Santiago's history is a central part of Philippine History too. Was used by the Americans in pre war and then you also have the battle for Manila with Japanese period . So you can have from revolutionary up to liberation as your "marching through history" venue of the Fort. Right at the heart of Manila."
I agree with Philip, when Manila was declared open city during WW2, the Japanese troops and some Filipinos retreated to the old walled city, the place is really reach in history....
|
|