MIGUEL & ME: the story of a late bloomer and her violin May 17, 2012

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When I want something, I try to do something about it.

So when I was asked what musical instrument do I want to rock out in my next life, I said the violin.

And so as not to waste time, I got meself one and baptized it Miguel.

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So while teaching some kids from the community in Zambales how to make their own documentary,

these kids were also teaching me how to play the violin.

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JULIAN AT 5 years old
(found this image on the internet, ain’t he a cutie

JULIAN at 12

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Julian Duque was my first teacher. He was actually the one who let me experience how it is to hold a violin. It was during this moment that I felt this connection with the instrument. Naks! He was also the one who gave in to our request for a concerto. He played so well he made our hearts swell, haha rhyme! But really, he is fun to watch and a joy to listen to. This kid has so much to offer… There’s so much inside of him and he’s just bursting with all this energy that is affecting everybody who watches him. This boy is gonna go places, with a gift like his, I want to be just like him in my next life

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This is Miguel, yep he’s got the same name as my violin  He was the one who taught me how to do the musical scales properly. He also taught me the 4th variation of  twinkle, twinkle little star, the first piece that I learned. I asked him when can I do the vibrato, he said anytime Haha, easy for him to say, he started playing the violin at the age of 3!!!

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This is now my regular teacher, Remed, he is actually more strict compared to them. Some say he’s the bad boy of the group, must be the bangs but to me he is an effective teacher. I mean, I can now properly play the violin, aruruteynkyu to him, and I’m actually on my 8th piece already, so he must be doing something right  I told him I prefer faster pieces to play but he told me that I need to go through the musical scales first and that I need to do it correctly. Yes sir-ee!

I just watched his solo performance last weekend at Casa and boy was he a delightful surprise! I didn’t know he was that good! He gave a heart-wrenching performance, everybody in the theater felt his passion and emotion. I am a proud student, bravo teacher Remed!!!

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These kids (kids because I’m much older than them!) all started out in Casa San Miguel and is part of the Pundaquit Virtuosi. They were all trained by no other than the world-renowned violinist, Coke Bolipata. Now, they play alongside him and in fact headed to Europe (Paris-Rome-Venice) this June  for a concerto. Halukatdat!

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I watched them perform at Casa San Miguel’s theater hall and I was just in awe. Every note they played tugged my heartstrings. It was also my first time to watch Sir Coke perform and I just wanted to cry. I hear what he’s been saying about art exponents in music. During a conversation before their performance, he mentioned that we will hear some movements of impressionism & pointillism and I really saw it painted by his violin…

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I feel that it’s never too late to learn something new…

So here I am at 35 trying to learn how to play the violin from these child prodigies.

Hopefully in my next life, I will be as great as them, but for now I will rock out my version of Twinkle, twinkle…

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*** performance video of the virtuosi to follow

http://theartofeveryday.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/what-a-weekend-casa-san-miguel/

ARURUTEYNKYU April 15, 2012

Inside me is a splatter of neon colors.

Feeling hot pink outlined with luminous yellow.

Days have been layers and layers of textures.

I feel my heart bursts with ribbons of rainbows.

THE ART OF DOING NOTHING ( Sonya’s Garden ) March 25, 2012

continue reading after the jump

WHAT A WEEKEND (Casa San Miguel) March 20, 2012

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Still hungover from our workshop weekend at Casa San Miguel in Pundaquit, Zambales.

I’ve been wanting to visit this music, arts & culture haven eversince I saw images of it on a magazine a long time ago.  Finally we were invited here to share our knowledge on creative documentary filmmaking to 70 high school students!!! Yes 70!  It was a bit difficult to keep their attention the whole day but hearing them identify correct camera angles and different documentary approaches was very rewarding.

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To end the already perfect day, we decided to walk towards the beach and watch the sunset.

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Looking out into the sea, I had this overwhelming feeling of gratefulness inside me.  My goal in life is to give back to the world what it has given me and with this opportunity, hopefully, I am one step closer to that.

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The next day, we rode on a small banca and was given the front seat view of the majestic ocean. It was mesmerizing to watch the different shapes and colors of the waves as it undulates towards my direction. Being in this wide open space can be overwhelming, the sea is so vast and I feel so small…

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front view seat of the majestic ocean

island hopping

capones island

give me peace, give me liberty

balancing act

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After Capones Island, we hopped onto Anawangin where we filled ourselves up with life’s simple pleasures – pancit canton with hot & spicy tuna, hard boiled egg, halo-halo and lots of crazy ideas!!! We got to conceptualize an out-of-this-world music video to the tune of Vogue with the mountains and the beach as our backdrop. Hahaha, sorry inside joke :D

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LIFEs SIMPLE PLEASURES
halo-halo & pancit canton (with spicy tuna)

we were suprised to see a forest of trees next to the beach

happy campers in anawangin

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Heading back, we encountered a huge wave that almost toppled us over. Good thing manong boatman maneuvered us safely back to shore but not without a casualty. I tumbled out of the boat and got only one leg out when the fishermen helped pushed our boat into land. I fell awkwardly on the beach and was scared that water got inside the plastic bag with my camera in it. I heaved a sigh of relief when I found out that the only thing that got wet was my ass and that my dear camera is unharmed. Whew! Adventure

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continue reading

ENDLESS POSSIBLITIES March 8, 2012

I’ve been really sick the past weeks – cough, fever, tooth ache, back pain and all. My body may have been suffering but my soul is just soaring. This time with/for myself has been productive. I’ve been creating and preparing for something  exciting but of course I try to rest but it’s really hard. Even if I’m lying down, my mind is just restless. Too many ideas in my head. I’ve been missing this exhilarating feeling for quite some time and despite the physical pain, I am just truly excited by the endless possibilities.

the making of something February 16, 2012

My body is still stuck in a parallel universe, dozing in and out of zones. Been watching memories and noting it all down, preparing something that is going to be beyond me. Fueled by dreams and passion, this dragon year started out with a fiery roar.

I AM ALL FIRED UP, LET’s GO GO GO!!!

I AM JK

MISSING December 5, 2011

I MISS staying put in one space and just losing meself . . .

I remember one time, I didn’t go out for days

I just kept on creating collages after collages for my exhibition.

There was also another time when I was editing during the Christmas holidays and I needed to finish this documentary. I was so into it, I spent Christmas eve or was it New Year alone with just Mithi, my first laptop.

Hahahahapinyunyir!

I MISS my RITUALS before the creation…

I used to sneak behind my sisters back and use her apartment as my atelier.

I loved waking up early in the morning and walking towards my makeshift creative space. Setting the mood with some music, opening the windows and letting the morning light shine in. I then lay down my materials, one by one on the white table,

and then

PLAY

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I MISS creating something personal. Expressing what I have inside. Speaking with my heart through my hands.

COMMUNICATING

I MISS this kind of focus

CONCENTRATING

I MISS this feeling

SMILING

. . .

And so I vow after this upcoming soul trip,

i will lock meself up again and just lose it.

create. go crazy. let go.

 

A B A N G A N

 

 

SHOUT OUT TO THE UNIVERSE November 8, 2011

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I WILL HAVE AN EXHIBITION NEXT YEAR ! 

I am not yet exactly sure where but I BELIEVE it will happen.

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SNIPPETS of INSPIRATION September 12, 2011

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“You have to find your voice…

Sing out loud so you can be heard. “

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Mannix or Emmanuel Santos in the international art scene, was in town and we agreed to meet up in Place de l’Opera. It was sunny and I didn’t mind waiting a bit at the footsteps of the Paris Opera Garnier. I watch the tourists taking photos of the grandiose architecture, some were eating sandwiches while the others were just soaking in the sun.

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“Always think of the big picture… Your works should be eternal.

50 years from now, people should be able to look at your work and think that it is still good.”

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I met Mannix some years back at a friends place in Manila. I didn’t know then that he was a fine art photographer, he asked me what I do and through my friends prodding, I showed Mannix some of my handmade photo collages and hand-colored photos from my very first exhibit entitled tRIP (To Rest In Peace).

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“Exhibiting for the sake of recall is not important, you have to come out with shows that are really good. 

Shows that will echo and resonate throughout.”

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hand painting an edition for his PASSING OF LIGHT exhibition

He said he mixes his own pigments and hand-paints his photographs as well. When I saw his works, I was just floored. Hiya naman ako sa mga gawa ko. I told him I should have just kept my talent hidden, hehehe.

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Flash forward to Paris… Mannix & I are walking around Palais Royal, catching up, sipping coffee at this famous café in Place Colette, exchanging, him sharing and me absorbing…

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“You are lucky to be here, surrounded by all these inspirations.

Go out, learn and discover…”

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“Surround yourself with people who can and who will criticize you,

that’s the only way you will learn, evolve and develop.”

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After we parted ways, I had to be by myself  to collect my thoughts and write down these snippets of inspiration. Found a café near the place where I was supposed to meet A’s dad later for a vernissage. I ordered dessert, I continued writing, slowly chewing everything that he said. . .

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“You are still young, you’ll get there.”

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images shot in Paris

tRIP photo collages & hand-colored photos (¤2005) by JK

images of Emmanuel Santos at his Troika Studio in Melbourne, stolen from his FB page (hope you understand )

healing process August 29, 2011

I’m not feeling well now but I’m at my happiest

These days has been spent creating

Cutting and pasting with my nose running and me coughing

I lose track of time and my space is in a creative mess

and I lavettt!

I’m reading this book now “The Geography of Bliss” and I totally agree with what this Icelander Hilmar said when asked about his feelings when composing music,

“I lose track of time when composing. It is a blissful activity. You are doing something you couldn’t imagine doing. It is bigger than yourself. You are enlarging yourself.”

This has also been a good time to take care of meself… I cooked some stir fried tofu and string beans with soy sauce (43% less salt!) paired with organic brown rice. Then for dinner I grilled some veggies (eggplant, bell pepper, onions & tomatoes) drizzled with pesto then placed on an open sandwich grilled with melted mozarella cheese. Absolutely yummy ! ! !

My body is weak

but my spirit is soaring.

n a k s