07/24/2009

A National Convention of NABO will kick off this morning a whole program of Basque events for the weekend in Reno, Nevada. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the First Western Festival held in Reno-Sparks in 1959; it's also the 43rd anniversary of Reno's Zazpiak Bat Basque Club; the 36th anniversary of the founding of NABO, in Reno in 1973; as well as the 30th annual NABO Convention and festival; the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the National Monumento to the Basque Sheepherder, located also in Reno; the 20th anniversary of Zenbat Gara, a Basque cultural group originated at the University of Nevada, Reno; and the 42th anniversary of the Center for Basque Studies of the UNR. The program for today includes the dedication of the new facilities of the Center for Basque Studies of the University of Nevada, Reno.
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07/23/2009

The 'alboka', a traditional Basque instrument formed of wood and ram’s horn, took center stage in a concert organized by the Gure Txoko Basque Center of Cordoba, Argentina this past July 3rd. 'Gure Txokoa', which literally means 'our little corner', is located in the city of Cordoba and home to the Basque-Argentinean Baietz ensemble. They make their own traditional instruments and enjoy Basque music playing and teaching instruments that hold names such as alboka, txalaparta, xirula or kirikoketa.
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07/20/2009

"Udaleku is always a big undertaking, but this year for the Chino Basque Club it became even more with 101 participants! It strained our resources, but we bent but did not break. On the same day that we concluded the camp with a final performance, we also had there the NABO Mus tournament. There were almost 400 people in attendance last Saturday. So July 11th was NABO day in Chino with these two events." John Ysursa explains to his NaBasque newsletter suscribers how Udaleku worked this year in Chino, California.
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07/16/2009

The ambassador of the Philippines in Spain, Antonio Lagdameo, was received by the new Basque Lehendakari (President) in Vitoria-Gasteiz last July 9. The Philippines and the Basque Country have developed strong and active relations in recent years. In December 2007, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made a historic visit to the Basque Country to strengthen the economic, cultural and technical cooperation between the Philippines and the Basque Country. Basque names, from the Spanish colonial period, are all over the Philippine map.
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07/16/2009

In the latter part of the 19th century, Manila was a booming metropolis, worthy of the sobriquet “Pearl of the Orient”. The city government was paving new streets and commissioning new bridges to help the rising economy. One of the symbols of Manila’s, and the Ynchausti y Companias’ affluence was the Puente Colgante (“Hanging Bridge”), built by Matias Menchacatorre and originally named Claveria bridge, after governor Narciso Claveria y Zaldua. In Manila My Manila, Nick Joaquin described the bridge during the dawn of the 1870s, “Across the city’s river now arched…the amazing Puente Colgante, suspended in the air, like a salute to the age of science and engineering.” The Industrial Age found its expression in the Philippines in the form of a bridge unparalleled throughout Asia. An article by Alejandro R. Roces
originally published in Philstar.com.
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07/07/2009

At twelve o´clock noon yesterday, Pamplona city council member Maite Esporrin launched the 'txupinazo' from the balcony of City Hall above a sea of cheering onlookers, marking the beginning of the festival of San Fermin 2009. The 'txupinazo', the small firework which is the namesake of the opening ceremony, kicks off nine days of festivities which are celebrated not only in Pamplona, but in many other locations around the globe. Though it may not be an official week of holiday outside of Iruña-Pamplona, many Diaspora centers join the celebration with organized events in their own towns which typically take place on the weekends. In Argentina, due to a recent outbreak of Influenza A, the government has been forced to cancel festivities which were set to take place this Thursday, July 9th, and large congregations of people are outlawed for the time being.
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06/26/2009

The Center for Basque Studies of the University of Nevada, Reno is seeking a Publications Coordinator to assist its faculty with the production of books by leading scholars in a range of disciplines. This is an 11-month contract. This position is a .80% FTE position - 32 hours per week. The salary for this position is $25,400 including benefits. This position may be renewed, if funding is available. The successful candidate will ideally have some experience in publishing, and experience in marketing and sales will be advantageous.
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05/26/2009

During its routine Tuesday meeting, the Basque Government’s council approved the letting go of various appointments in the area of the Lehendakaritza, all of which will be publically announced in the Official Bulletin this coming Friday. The posts involved are all part of the General Secretariat of Foreign Actions, whose head, Iñaki Aguirre, was dismissed two weeks ago.
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05/23/2009

This weekend it is Bakersfield’s turn, and the one before that was Los Banos’s and before that it was Fresno’s turn to hold an annual Basque picnic. As each year, the month of May begins the Basque festival season in the US that spans the west, lasting until October with festivals in Las Vegas, Nevada and Rocklin, California. The main celebration will take place July 24-26 in Reno with the celebration of the NABO convention and festival, details of which are forthcoming in another article. Following, a summary of the 2009 festival calendar in the US.
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05/06/2009

If you live in the US, are 16 or older and are interested in learning Basque and becoming a Basque language instructor, here is a great opportunity for you. NABO is offering the chance to learn Basque online and then become a teacher at your local Euskal Etxea. NABO is looking for a minimum of 12 people to start this program, completely free of charge for the students. Izaskun Kortazar, NABO's Euskara coordinator is the contact for those interested.
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