House of Flying Daggers poster in Pancake House Greenbelt 1

Sleeping at 4am has its rewards. Well, only if you've finished the job, and met the deadline. This morning was one such morning. 

That the client liked the work, is a bonus.

Heavy day with breakfast meeting and Pancake House Greenbelt 1 has a poster of House of Flying Daggers! Whoaaaah!  Of course, I took a shot of it.

Takeshi Kaneshiro rules!  Or should I say, Jin Cheng Wu!

 On to a lunch lecture featuring Out-of-Home advertising technology.  McDonald's in London flashed its icons and characters on a tall building on King's Road.  All passersby that could shoot a sundae on their mobile phones claimed a free sundae at McDonald's. 

Rain poured, and almost rendered the city at zero visibility.  Wow, it's a sneeze away from June, and at 2 pm, there it came.

Heavy questions today: Should I get a Smart-Sun postpaid at P549 a month?  Or should I just buy a CDR King brand.  Their iPhone clone is only P2,400!  The Blackberry clone is P1,680.  Their basic Nokia version is only... P990.00!  

Wow!

And there's MyPhone.. sighs.

Choices.

This just in.  Message from Globe: We are changing our network equipment and technology to give you a better experience!  We are currently rolling out our modern network for better quality and reliability of calls and texts, faster downloads and surfing.  This program is part of our commitment to give you superior customer experience.  Modernization will soon arrive in your area. 

Hear, hear!

Xabi Boss!

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's No. 14 is my favorite football player.  He's the celebrity endorser of Hugo Boss for España! Muy guapo!

Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool and Real Sociedad man, is so solid playing in front of the defenders that no player has been able to replace him perfectly.

Alonso has the ability to not only pass the ball, but also tackle it well; a requirement of a player playing in his position.

The Spanish midfielder, from the Basque Country,  is considered to be a deep-lying playmaker,  sitting down right behind the midfielders aiding the team with his inch-perfect passing, long shoots and good tackling ability.

Therefore, Alonso belongs to a breed of players who are not only dying out but who are also a rare find. Hence, replacing him in the Real Madrid first-team is a task which is not every player’s cup of tea.

Becky's Kitchen, best of home-style bakeshops

One of the city's best kept secrets is Becky's Kitchen. It's a lovely bakeshop that has the standards, with a little twist. 

You want fudge brownies?  Well they have the walnut and cherry versions.  Becky's Kitchen bakes the king of all Prune Cakes, plus a lovely Swiss choco cake with rich icing. Yummy!

They have the standard Ensaymada (my favorite pastry). This has a version with queso de bola.  Of course, there's cheese roll and food for the gods.   And the cinnamon roll is ever so soft.  Double yum!

Be careful, the stuff's addicting.  

When in the area of Vito Cruz and Bautista, drop by Becky's Kitchen. The shop's closed on Mondays, take note.  

Green along Taft

Full day today. Early morning rush to DLSU library archives.  This yearbook project is proving very rich and deep in history.  The University is 101 years old.  It's in the historic city of Manila, along Taft Avenue.   

Bliss Market at Vargas Museum in UP

The UP Vargas Museum presents Bliss Market: Exchange in Time | Space of Transience.  Perhaps in homage, or plain remembrance, of UP Bliss.  

Remember how it was once a landmark housing project upon entering the majestic avenue leading to the Oblation?

The exhibit brings the community face-to-face with its (fading) glory.

It may be a call to arms:  let's sustain what UP Bliss was constucted to be.  And that is housing. Provide homes.    But we're talking about the Bliss Market - and the transient, rushing, non-reflecting bustle of human activity.  Activity, human.. no matter how fleeting is an exchange. 

The Bliss Market exhibit may be nostalgia stylized.  But nostalgia, nonetheless.

Post no Bill: From Object to Icon at Tin-aw

At the Somerset along Makati Avenue, Tin-aw is a cozy gallery that gives out Choc-nut for free.  If that isn't enough reason to visit, check out Post no Bill, the current exhibit.

From the Central Riverbank Painting Series by Alwin Reamillo

Post no Bill is a sign that is found all over.  No one actually knows exactly what it means.  Nonetheless, Post no Bill is part and parcel of daily life. 

Cabinet with collaged bottles by Christina Quisumbing Ramilo

The exhibit features cross-generational artists using everyday signs and signages, and all other stuff one wouldn't even give a second glance at.

The exhibit is refreshing, familiar, yet.. stylized.  It is a gallery after all.

Beat exhibit at Lopez Museum

The Beat exhibit at the Lopez Museum is a dark and moody experience.  It is historically rich in narrative, but the dark brown hues and blurry colors predominant in the pieces give a heavy and deep visual on the pieces.   

Talo from Dalena's Jai Alai series

La Derrota de Limahong by Hidalgo

Bringing life to leftovers at Julius Maggi Kitchen

Ever wonder what to do with leftovers other than, well, heating and re-heating?  Wonder no more. 

Now, leftover meat and fish magically rejuvenate plain rice into Tinapa Rice or Meat Loaf and Potato Soup—or the scrumptious Fish Lumpia.  Chef Laica Herrera demo'ed how blow-by-blow bringing Panawid Recipes to life.  

“These are really easy to make and nutritious, and above all, everything tastes good,” said the Chef.   

“Filipinos are very busy, they work at the same time, take care of their kids, it’s a big factor that these recipes are easy to make, and affordable,” she adds. 

“Recipes are a concept.  It’s up to the cook to create a personal version.  As chefs, we should extend their interest in cooking, and give ideas how to work around the recipes to suit their taste.  This gives them an idea what to use as alternatives if they don’t have all the listed ingredients on hand,” said Chef Laica.

Check out the Julius Maggi Kitchen Free cooking demos every month at Nestlé in the Rockwell Center. 

The Panawid Recipes are from the Celebrating 100 Years of Cooking with Nestlé Cookbook created by Nestlé Chef Tess Sutilo.

Cartoon Network says "Kids in charge"

Two-thirds of Pinoy kids own a mobile phone – more than in Australia and Taiwan – reports Cartoon Network’s New Generations 2012 study released today. Current ownership levels are at 65%, leaping a staggering 71% since 2009, and positions the next generation of Filipinos as one of the most connected in the whole of Asia Pacific.

More than half of kids from urban centers across the Philippines now live in internet-enabled homes, a 66% jump since the last New Generations survey nearly three years ago. The mobile phone remains an almost ubiquitous device, seen in 98% of homes.

Filipino kids are also adept at switching between screens and devices. Over a third (38%) watch TV on a flat panel screen; 54% have access to a digital camera; and 20% have a smartphone within reach. The latest gadget to break into the market since the last study is the tablet and already 16% of homes boast one.

Catwalk at Greenbelt 5

Recently at Greenbelt 5, Ayala Malls and the Philippine Star featured the hottest local fashion designers.  Style Origin pumped up the volume, outshone the stars, and made one super cool catwalk Thursday night.

It was summer at its hottest.

 

Style Origin was hosted by events meister Tim Yap and Borgy Manotoc.
 

Media celebrity and party man Yap, more upbeat and into the scene—and loving the action backstage—had more to say.  “I look forward to the menswear collection.  I love seeing stuff that I can wear myself for my hostings, my events parties,”  

“I love the stuff of Baretto, Samson, Ortiz, and so many others .  I see the variety and flexibility of menswear.  Finally, there’s real menswear in the Philippines!, says an excited Yap.  

Yuchengco Museum: Origins & Translations

The exhibit Origins & Translations: Philippine Textile Patterns & Motifs at the Yuchengco Museum displayed a fine sampling of traditional, local and indigenous pieces sourced from collections of the country’s top-of-mind, as well as budding, designers and artists.   

Tradition has always been the wellspring of inspiration for present day creative minds.  For fashion designers and artists, art motifs and patterns from local tribes and ethnic groups are rich with color and texture, as well as a story of people and their culture.  

Costume sketches by Gino Gonzales

A belief system of tribal groups emerges in these patterns and motifs.  When applied through textile and adornments, furniture and furnishings, these belief system is strengthened and handed down to the next generations.   In this case, it provides concepts to the modern artist.

Detail of silk barong created by Jeannie Goulbourn's Silk Cocoon

Origins & Translations is a collection of original textiles and clothing, and a selection of inspired contemporary creations, retranslations, and reinterpretations from contemporary artists that continue to celebrate, explore, and reflect the country’s rich indigenous culture thought its use of fabric and such material.

Ivi Avellana-Cosio at Origins & Translations

Taking part in the Origins &Translations exhibit is Philippine artist Ivi Avellana-Cosio.   As painter, printmaker and photographer, the artist started dabbling in indigenous forms in the mid-1980s. 

Describing her works as contemporary paintings based on tribal art, Avellana-Cosio bridges past, present and future to create them.  “The works are inspired heavily by the tribes: their patterns, tattoos, colors, breastwork, jewelry, weapons, shoes, etc., but, because I live in contemporary times, when I use them, they become contemporary,” says the artist. 

Of the country’s local history, she says, “The material is rich. This exhibit barely skims the surface of Filipino ethnic art.”  Asked how the country can develop global interest in local art, Avellana-Cosio replies, “I don’t know what the stand of government is.  I think they prefer bringing people in to the beaches, or do medical tourism. I don’t seem to read anything about culture.”

McCormick goes Digital at 120 years old

Okay, didn't expect this to happen. Thank you Ricky Santillan for exposing me to something new.  I love it when I get invited to something I am totally in the dark of.  Well, not totally.

Recently at Fully Booked, McCormick Philippines treated bloggers and some media people to an afternoon of culinary takes.  At 120 years old, McCormick goes digital.  How's that for a change!

In a time of single living, condos, sachets and on the go, there's nowhere to go but small, and online.  So, want the recipe for something?  Whip out that mobile, or iPad, go to FB and download.  It's a modern shopping list, culinary venue, if there was one.

McCormick's got it right.  Spices in sachets.  Cracker spreads in handy tubes. And, don't forget the jazzed up, refreshing flavors to standards like Sinigang - make that with Rosemary, why don't you? It's an herbal adventure

It's fusion, it's fresh, and it's for the young!  Yummy!

Mixed roots munchies, and a beetroot chug on a rainy Sunday

Today, I had a ton of readings to do.  But, having retired at 4am to finish 3 articles, I found myself waking up to some sad news.

Life takes a turn - for better or for worse - when least expected. 

So, I wrapped myself in the cocoon that is my house.  Munched on some Mixed Roots, with Tipco Beetroot juice, and the last of a Vit am in bottle.

Laundry's waiting to be done, and have to be somewhere in an hour and a half.

Such is life.  Simple. Beautiful.

Locus Redux at the Yuchengco Museum

This begins a series of thoughts on the last 2 weeks at the Yuchengco Museum. The other weekend, I was part of Locus Redux: Speaking Across Contexts, Learnings and Negotiations in Writing and Teaching Art. Three meaty days of discussions with speakers from Hong Kong, China, Korea, 2 from Japan, Singapore, Morocco, The West Indies, and Indonesia.

Representatives from teachers, museum curators, deans and artists from across the Philippines, including Feliz Perez of Cafe by the Ruins (my favorite Baguio spot) joined in. Lovely!

Thank you May Ann Pernia, for inviting me to take part in this. I thought i was going to be so out of place, but i tried to feel my way through. Met the very intelligent Ina Cosio, daughter of Ivi Avellana-Cosio and Allan.

Dr. Brenda Fajardo: artist, painter, art educator, university professor, the CV list is long, opened Locus Redux with a comprehensive history of teaching art in the Philippines. Naturally, Dr. Fajardo started off with Damian Domingo, Filipino artist who opened the first art school in the country in the 19th century.

 For those who don't know Dr. Fajardo was essential in the initiatives in developing an art curriculum in the country's educational system. Tapped by renowned painter Araceli Dans in the 1960s, Dr. Fajardo has pioneer, first-hand experience with art, and the teaching of. Dr. Fajardo expounded in detail the arduous process in the creation, the drafting, and the implementation of an art curriculum.

The vast difference between the running of public schools, directly under the DECS, and the private schools, which have more freedom in their teaching formats, truly matter in the cultivation of a comprehensive, successful, and relevant art curriculum.

In its early days, the teaching of art has been very basic: drawing, lines, color, and cutting paper. All based on U.S. curriculum.

Then, there is the problem of qualified art teachers. From its inception, art teachers have not been qualified to teach art. Rarely do artists have the DECS qualifications, license, what-not, necessary to teach. The teachers assigned to art are those who have artistic inclinations, and lack the proper exposure, terminology and expertise on the subject.

There's a whole lot of learning experienced from Dr. Fajardo's talk. The meat of the matter is sustainable development of teaching art. The lady Emeritus of the University of the Philippines Department of Art Studies named various cross-disciplines and multi-venues as crucial int he development of art studies and art appreciation in the country.

Among those are the PETA,the Philippine High School for the Arts in Makiling, the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Of course, the opening of museums serves to expose the community to art forms and movements.

Accessibility, interest, inspiration, these venues and movements in the spread of art interest and art studies truly matter.

Next up, some learning from the speakers.

here i go again

Writing is such sweet sorrow. At least, it feels like it. I quit a relatively well paying job to try my hand at writing, magazine publishing. It didn't start out well, but it took shape, and here I am trying to make a living from it. So, in between bouts of self-pity, self-bullying, and pure lethargy and laziness, I pick myself up from the floor (yes, that is where I sleep) and try to sit down, face guapo or moon (my macs) and try to string a few words, then another sentence, til cohesion (or what seems like it) sets in. What I'm attempting to say, or write, is that, here I am trying to blog my writing life again. Will start with the events of the last few days, and see how far back I can actually relive, or rewrite. Here goes! Oh yeah, here's how I look now.