Kidlat Tahimik in Amsterdam, The Netherlands for the 2018 Prince Claus Awards

 
By Yvonne Belen
The Netherlands
September 17, 2018
 


Kidlat Tahimik (“Silent Lightning” in Tagalog), a film director, actor and writer from Baguio City, Philippines, was chosen as one of the six Prince Claus Laureates for 2018.The awarding ceremonies will be held at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on 6 December 2018. Other awardees are from South Africa, Uganda, Syria, Indonesia and Brazil.

On 5 December from 20:00-22:00 hours, Kidlat Tahimik and other awardees will be on stage to tell their stories during “Louder than Words” at the Compagnietheater, Kloveniersburgwal 50, Amsterdam. The event is open to the public. Tickets can be ordered through the Prince Claus Fund website: www.princeclausfund.org.

According to the Prince Claus website, Kidlat Tahimik is an “an artist in many disciplines and a creative force in his community.  Called the Godfather of the Filipino New Wave, Kidlat’s work ranges from film and photography to weaving, free-style architecture and carved installations. While working as an economic researcher for the OECD in Paris, Kidlat’s imagination was ignited by film. He tore up his MBA degree, quit his job, and poured his heart into his first film, Perfumed Nightmare (1977), a fictionalised version of his own dream trip to the West and subsequent disenchantment, which won the International Critics Award in Berlin. Kidlat is an enthusiastic advocate of indigenous culture. He organises conferences of indigenous peoples from around the world. His unconventional artworks raise awareness about environmental issues. He has designed and built two imaginative art centres using local craftsmen and found materials where local artists and craftspeople can exhibit their works. He generously gives his time mentoring young creatives and promoting independent creativity in workshops.”

Kidlat Tahimik was born in Baguio City, Philippines in 1942 as Eric De Guia. His mother, Virginia de Guia, was a former post-war mayor of Baguio City.

He finished grade school at Maryknoll Convent School, Baguio City and secondary studies from the St. Louis University Boy’s High School also in Baguio City. He graduated with a speech and drama course at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City. While at UP, he became president of the University of the Philippines Student Council from 1962 to 1963.

Like Kidlat, his family members are artists. His wife, Katrin is a writer; oldest son, Kidlat “Lightning” de Guia is a television and film director; son Kawayan “Bamboo” de Guia is a painter, and youngest Kabunyan, “the Igorot name for god” is into painting.

Previous Filipino awardees and year of awarding are: Elena Rivera Mirano (USA and Philippines, 2001), an academic in art studies, a music scholar, choir conductor and singer; Lavrente Indico Diaz (2014), an independent filmmaker. 

With Kidlat Tahimik as “Prince Claus Laureate” in 2018, the Philippines is again on the world stage of culture and development.