Celebrating a Filipino day of Independence in Mabalacat's art-haven BAYUNG MARDIKA!
The NCAA is most proud and humbled by a recent Net Works manifestation made possible by frequent collaborators the Office of Culture and Design. Two years ago, after the first Filipino Net Work was hung in Zamboanga City, Maria left a couple of nets behind for OCD's Clara Balaguer to distribute along her travels.
Before you check out the lovely photos below, you MUST READ the backstory that Clara shared when she decided to volunteer at an arts festival held on the land that now accommodatesĀ Sama D'Laut. Sama D'Laut translates to "sea gypsies" and refers to anĀ indigenous tribe of displaced refugees who had to flee the southern Mindanao region, where coincidentally our previous NCAA Net Work was hung.
Now, an oddly land-locked people, they keep some traditions and techniques alive despite discrimination from nearby villagers. In june, they were able to express community pride through an arts festival for which the OCD's Kristian Henson designed this flyer:
Below is a photo posted by Mike Swift of Pinoy Hoops. Maria recalls the incredible hand-crafted hoops one could find around more rural areas of the Philippines. One similar to this if featured on the first spread of our NCAA Publication.
Unsure how the Sama D'Laut would react to a hand-made net work offering, Clara brought a bright red MOLTENi Net Work along with her. This one was made from mason twine, plastic bags, and yarn. Because the community did not have a basketball hoop, she went into the nearest town and fit the net to this lovely blue rim!!
And the community found a very resourceful solution, attaching the new rim to a repurposed palette/backboard...
But then, of course, there was the issue of the mast (seafaring terms, we'll use here ; ) In order to finish off the hoop and test this net out, the villagers decided to CUT DOWN A TREE on which to erect the other assembled pieces.
We were amazed to see this gorgeous totem sculpted by a team of determined ballers being put to good use. It's hard to feel like our little plastic net deserved such a fuss but it's evident that something very exciting and special happened that day. We are in awe of this strong, vibrant group of folks creating across the globe from us. We're honored to have contributed the tiniest part of it. Typically Net Works attempts to fill a void, but in this circumstance, and in the truest form of art, something grand was created from nothing at all!
Below: Sama D'laut appropriate the MOLTEN logo in the true spirit of MOLTENi defiance. Mind Blown.
All photos courtesy of The Office of Culture and Design, Manila unless otherwise marked PinoyHoops!
