december-2011

chikka buzz
Q&A:
Carlos Celdran
Artist, advocate, raconteur and part-time provocateur
Carlos Celdran reveals how he keeps part of history alive
with humor, a dash of irreverence and loads of info
CARLOS CELDRAN’S irreverent, clever and
highly popular walking tours defy convention
and delve more into performance art than
touristy diversions. During these tours, the
costumed Celdran — usually in a barong
tagalog and top hat — leads a group of people
through sections of the old walled city of
Intramuros and passes on impressive amounts
of knowledge on Filipino culture and pysche
to a rapt audience.
Why walking?
Therapy. It started as a job but now it’s
become a vocation. Working with the Heritage
Conservation Society, I did walking tours as
part of their outreach program. Now I walk for
a living and I haven’t worked a single day in
my life.
And how does this help
preserve the Pinoy heritage?
I don’t like the word “preserve,” it sounds
like you’re pickling something in a jar. I think
Philippine culture is very much alive and is in
a constant state of fl ux, which is a good thing.
The only problem now is that we have a hard
time making our past relevant to the present,
which is the only way to teach the new
generation about our history and culture. Doing
the walking tours is like reciting an oral history
of Manila that I do on a weekly basis.
Do you think Filipinos who
go on the tour have a better
appreciation for the city?
The tour is really kind of a conversation I
have with myself, so I’m not trying to change
anyone’s point of view; but I am more than
happy to have people come along with me
on the journey as well. I don’t actually go out
{ 42 }
The walking historybook-with-a-twist,
Carlos Celdran.
Carlos’ quips
On his favorite spot in Manila
Oh, obviously Intramuros, specifi cally
Baluarte San Diego, the southwestern
part. It overlooks the park and has a
view of the sunset. It’s a little green,
grassy, quiet moment of solace in
Manila.
On downtime in the city
For a drink I go to The Other Offi ce, a
small piano bar in Ermita. Nothing’s
more cathartic than having a Scotch
and belting out a song where nobody
can judge you.
On being a “guardian of culture”
Thank you for calling me that, but
I’m glad it’s something you called me
instead of something I’m calling myself.
Strong claim, strong claim.
there and say, “Oh my God, I want to change
the way people think.” I just do the tour as a
continuing conversation with myself.
What role does preserving
culture play in keeping a
country strong?
It’s like brand management — the more
confi dent you are with the product, the better
it will sell. So, basically, history helps a person
have a fuller understanding of the self; of one’s
idiosyncrasies, strengths, weaknesses and
potentials.
Name something interesting
about Filipinos that few
people actually realize.
How connected we are to world history. Before
Manny Pacquiao, before Imelda Marcos,
Filipinos gave to the world things like the yoyo
(laughs). We have been amalgamating cultures
and infl uences from all around the world to
create a unique culture. The Philippines was
post-modern before post-modern was cool.
We’ve been taking infl uences from all around
the world: religion, genes, architecture and
cuisine. We’ve been mixing and matching
things since the day we started. Our lack of
“purity” is our strength. We should embrace
our diversity.
Catch Carlos Celdran’s walking tours of
historical Manila. For schedules, check www.
carlosceldran.com
TEXT RIA LIMJAP PHOTO WALTER VILLA