Who is Niňo?

Well, the name sounds like “Sto. Niňo” when Jesus Christ was a boy. It somehow you remind you of that cute little boy whom your religious grandma or mom taught you to offer your first little prayer before you sleep each night.
During the annual Dinagyang Festival every last Sunday of January, you used to see the image of this little boy raised by an Ati Warrior during the climax or at the end of their synchronized tribe performances, right? Truly, the image of Jesus Christ when he was a boy in the religious realm is miraculous and has change pagan civilizations into Christianity hundreds of years ago in the Philippines. We, the Ilonggos and our fellow Filipinos are offspring of that historical transition that has shaped our destiny as a people.
The holy child symbolizes innocence, undying hope, optimism and compassion to its believers. His presence every year makes Iloilo City’s cultural and tourism festivity truly lively, significant and spirited.
But in our modern world plagued by economic depression, poverty and other social ills that makes life harsh, Niňo walk the streets of Iloilo City with queries on how his humble life should be lived with a purpose and understand the meaning of life. He doesn’t bother to think who won the election a few months ago, dreaming to own an expensive toy or latest cellphone model, live in a comfy home or asking about why having lots of money makes life better. He only wants to see the beauty of the day as it touches the wet cold street wherein he will sleep in torn pages of newspapers tonight, fill his tummy with food to get over the day, see people smiling as they pass by or visit the church everyday to pray. His dreams are simple, his prayers has always been tireless and his sweet voice exudes compassion.
This is the story of Niňo who never gets tired walking in the streets of Iloilo looking for a piece of life and reason to go on. His simple journey will lead to the rediscovery of a forgotten historical and cultural legacy most Ilonggos missed to understand. He befriended Fr. Achilles of San Jose Church and met someone like him who has nothing to give much but only love.
Meet Niňo and his new friend in the First Animated Short Film of Iloilo City’s greatest cultural and tourism gem...prepare for the coming of “The BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang” this January at the region’s ultimate shopping and entertainment destination, SM City Iloilo.
For further inquiries, you may call KURIS Animation Unlimited or Ilonggohit Animation Studio at (033) 5080186 or text us at 09184822338 or 09274976748. Email us at kurisanimators@yahoo.com or check us at www.kurisanimation.blogspot.com

The BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang is still open for sponsorship

The greatest cultural and tourism gem of Iloilo City will finally have its first animated short film aptly titled “The BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang” slated for public pre-screening and viewing at the region’s ultimate shopping and entertainment destination, SM City Iloilo on January 2008.
KURIS Animation Unlimited and Ilonggohit Animation Studio composed of multi-talented Ilonggo animators will create another cultural milestone and leave a lasting mark in history through this significant project. The animated short will unveil the history and origin of Dinagyang Festival, its undefined connection to the legendary “Barter of Panay” and the Christianization of Cebu through the holy Sto. Niňo. This project is proudly presented by Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Iloilo, Dinagyang Foundation, Inc., SM City Iloilo and Museo-Iloilo.
You can be one of the dynamic sponsors for this significant project by reaching us not later than December 10, 2007. We have a good marketing team to respond and offer Sponsorship Packages by emailing us at kurisanimators@yahoo.com, text us at 09184822338, 09274976748 or call us at (033) 5090186. Check us at www.kurisanimation.blogspot.com

Sponsorship open for Dinagynag animated short film

Kuris and Ilonggohit Animators’ presents “The BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang”

After 40 years of highlighting the excellence of Ilonggo cultural heritage and mesmerizing the world, Dinagyang Festival will finally become larger than life with the making of its first animated short film about its cultural and historical origin through the promising talents of Kuris Animators.
The Second Batch of Ilonggo Animators that recently graduated at SM City Iloilo last October 19 were President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s scholars under its visionary Training for Work Scholarship Program implemented by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region VI in partnership with Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) and Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc (ACPI).
While waiting for the series of examinations to be given by ACPI after graduation, this dynamic group of animators aimed to use their artistic gifts to promote the cultural heritage and tourism potentials of Iloilo Province. Armed with passion and equipped with creative minds, they realize that Dinagyang Festival, refuted as the “Best festival and world-famous tourism attraction in the Philippines” should be retold about its glorious origin and given a new historical significance through animation.
In their quest to make this important project historically accurate and valid, they sought the help of Dinagyang Foundation’s active Director, Ben Jimena who willingly presented his well-researched and profoundly-written article entitled “Anachronism-The Barter, The Baptism and The Bequest”. The animators themselves were in inspired and gained a new sense of direction after with the origins story came in.
Through a series of hectic brainstorming and conference, the animators represented by Ronelo Ladiao and Diosdado Aguilar, Jr. with the assistance of their former animation instructor, Paul Pinuela they drafted the final concept story of the project based on Ben Jimena’s article. Aptly titled “The BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang”, the animator’s themselves planned the project with eagerness and divided the team that would replicate a real animation studio. Sharing the same dream and creative ideas, the night class from the first batch of Ilonggo animators renamed their group as “Ilonggohit” already have their own animation studio at Burgos St. La Paz, Iloilo City decided to merge their talents with them. Together, they work hand-in-hand in designing the main characters, conceptualized the animated scenes, established a strong marketing arm and innovate the project by combining 2D and 3D animation (though they were supposedly trained for 2D animation).
Upon realizing the cultural impact and historical significance of the project to the Ilonggo community, Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, their training center close to the animators’ hearts, TESDA-Iloilo with positive encouragement from the Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. and the region’s ultimate shopping landmark, SM City Iloilo expressed their outmost support as the project presentors.
This project symbolizes the cultural identity of the world-renowned Ilonggo festival and will correct the copycat-misconceptions of Dinagyang from another well-established festival, the Ati-atihan Festival of Aklan. In the story concept, Dinagyang is historically, religiously and culturally connected to the beginning of Ati-atihan through the legendary “Barter of Panay” and during the Christianization of Cebu through the holy child Jesus or Sto. Nino. The animated short film which has an initial duration of not more than 10 minutes will provide a clear reminisce of the glorious past, inspire more Ilonggos to be proud of their identity and its succeeding generations, strengthen the tourism and cultural appeal of the festival with the aspiration to become “larger than life”.
Likewise, the animators are excited to inject vigor, rhythm and energy replicating the modern face of Dinagyang Festival when it comes to synchronized street dancing in form of animation, something that tickles their imagination and challenge their artistic talents. Presently, they are dedicating most of their untapped potentials to bring out the best in each of them to weave a breakthrough animated short film that would surely leave a lasting mark in the Ilonggo history. For sure, the project will become a genuine testimony that Ilonggos are capable to shine in the expanding global animation industry and let the world know that they have real talents to show.
“The BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang” is slated for public pre-screening and viewing on the third week of January 2008 at SM City Iloilo for free wherein Dinagyang enthusiasts will have the chance to purchase must-have souvenir items and glimpse of other animated works done by the animators who were involve in the project.
Inspired by this article? You can be one of the dynamic sponsors for this significant project. You may reach you us not later than December 10, 2007. We have a good marketing team to respond and offer Sponsorship Packages by emailing us at kurisanimators@yahoo.com, text us at 09184822338, 09274976748 or call us at (033) 5090186. Check us at www.kurisanimation.blogspot.com

KINARTON at Museo Iloilo
Astonishing success for the first Ilonggo animation exhibit


“Ilonggos ready for the world for the world of animation”
With the astonishing success of “KINARTON”, the first Ilonggo animation exhibit that formally opened at Museo Iloilo last November 29, 2007 at 5pm, the three promising groups of animators namely KURIS Animation Unlimited, Ilonggohit Animation Studio and Dimbox Animation proved that Ilonggo talents and artistry has a big future in the world of the expanding animation industry.
Visitors, tourists and students already flocked to see the stunning artworks and animated projects of these talented souls prior the official opening of the exhibit last November 24. Most of the art enthusiasts that visited the exhibit have already bought souvenir items sold by the animators in the exhibit area.
These gifted Ilonggo animators are proud products of Professional 2D Assistant Animators Training through President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Training for Work Scholarship Program implemented by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region VI with Western Visayas College of Science and Technology and Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc.
Ilonggohit Animation Studio and Dimbox Animation are animators from the first batch that undergone training last November 2006 until April this year. KURIS Animation Unlimited is the second batch of animators that started their training last April and graduated last October 19 at SM City Iloilo.
The opening program started at 5pm with inspiring messages from significant officials of TESDA, WVCST and City Government of Iloilo. City Councilor Joe Espinosa III, Mayor Jerry Trenas represented by Francis Cruz cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the exhibit. Art lovers and visitors were amazed to have a glimpse of the artworks and the animated projects of these dynamic Ilonggo animators. The audience gave a loud applause to the astonishing and creative animated presentations of Kuris Animation Unlimited which includes “Kuris Universe”, a glimpse of their original animated characters, “The Adventures of Tasi”, a short teaser of the first animated short film of Dinagyang Festival entitled “The BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang” and a trailer of their upcoming entry for ACPI’s Animahenasyon 2008 entitled “Lapis: Epic of the Key”, a fusion of 2D and 3D animation. Ilonggohit Animation Studio also unveiled their past projects that included the legendary “Barter of Panay” and a short trailer of “Medalyon”. Likewise, Dimbox Animation proudly presented their recent entry for ACPI’s Animahenasyon 2007, the trailer of “The Legend of Tibud”.
Veteran journalist Florence Hibionada hosted the program while Ilonggo tribal musical group Maharlikang Bahandi Band performed a special guest performance that made the event culturally significant.
Support Ilonggo animators and their dream to succeed, visit Museo Iloilo and have a glimpse of their stunning works, check out must-have animation souvenir items and get a creative henna tattoo drafted by the animators themselves from November 24 until December 24.