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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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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
savoring singapore November 29, 2011
BON APETIT!
shanghai drunken chicken (cold) and crispy prawn pancake
michie teaching me how to eat the xia long bao
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BRUNCH
Michie: “You cannot leave without trying their xia long bao.”
Restaurant: DIN TAI FUNG (inside the Pentagon mall along Orchard road)
Consumed: My first ever Xia Long Bao, Crispy Prawn Pancake and Shanghai Drunken Chicken
Verdict: Really enjoyable! I love biting onto the skin of the xia long bao dipped in soy sauce and ginger and then slowly sucking its liquid for that burst of flavor. Yummey!!!!! The tasty prawn pancake was my favorite too.
I noticed that the resto is run by 100 % Chinese, very authentic. Good thing Michie and I arrived early and got a table because there was already a long queue forming outside. This was definitely a great way to jumpstart the day 
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DESSERT
Noli: “Naku j, hindi uso tissue rito.”
Location: Funan Mall Food court
Consumed: Bobo Chacha (a chidi kong kwayla a butchikik ;p)
Verdict: It tasted like ginataang halo-halo but this one was with shaved ice but you can order it warm as well.
Noli is a colleague who is now based in Singapore with his family. We met up at this place because this is where his son Nathan takes his guitar lessons While eating my dessert, I spilled some coconut milk on my hand and asked for a tissue. Noli told me they don’t really give out tissue paper here 
Hmmm …
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MERIENDA:
Michie: “You should check out this café, I’m sure you will love it.”
Café / Restaurant: FOOD FOR THOUGHT (right behind the Singapore Art Museum)
Consumed: Chocolate Chip & Banana Pancake
Verdict: Supah dupah good! But I got umay after a while so I wasn’t able to finish it. Great ambiance I could see meself hanging out a lot here. If I have the opportunity, I would definitely come back and try other dishes.
When I got tired walking around under the heat, this is where I decided to take a break. The place was packed when I got in, good thing they were able to squeeze me in. The placemats had different food for thought phrases on it, mine was INSPIRE KIND ACTS. Well, I have yet to inspire myself to be kinder to my tummy.
Have to cross out another must-eat here at SG, met up with Michie for dinner at the original Wee Nam Kee…
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one happy shopper November 7, 2011
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SINGAPORE is considered to be the most sophisticated shopping destination in Asia.
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Well, I am not at all sophisticated.
I didn’t even bother to go inside any boutiques in Orchard road where I stayed.
I love shopping but I prefer bargain hunting.
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What catches my fancy are original designs, funky accessories and unusual objects.
In short, kuning-kunings!
My friend then suggested I head towards Haji lane on Arab Street.
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Haji lane is a shopper’s haven but surprisingly I didn’t get to buy anything here.
I felt that some of the stuff I saw, I can also buy in Manila.
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Ready to go home empty-handed, I started walking my way back to the hotel.
Then I heard a DJ playing loud music, I followed the sound and soon discovered a bargain shopping paradise . . .
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Halukatdat, A FLEA MARKET / BAZAAR !
I saw some accessories like the ones in Haji Lane but it’s way cheaper here
After much haggling, I got meself some lego-like notebooks, funky rings and mini postcards.
WOOT WOOT!
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BLING BLINGS! the insect, tv, lightning and 2 small deer rings are from SG, the rest are my baon
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But this ain’t the only highlight of my expedition
I found a place where I went totally gaga…
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THE WABBIT IN THE LION CITY October 16, 2011
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After almost 10 years,
I finally get to go back to Singapore and skippity hop around the city.
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This wabbit was certainly drawn to the architectural landscape of the city.
Grazing around, I saw a lot of construction going on. I feel that Singapore is still a work in progress. Hopefully, I don’t get to wait another 10 more years to return. I wonder how much change would happen then.
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Coming back, I see the city still squeaky clean and orderly but for me it finally has a bit of some soul. I guess it has something to do with the people I know living there. Met up with some friends and colleagues who has made this city their home.
I used to feel that Singapore is much like a hollywood set but now maybe its time to give it another chance. I was only here a few days and I know I’ve barely scratched the surface. Maybe now with cheap flights and with friends living here, I could give it another go
heaven on earth August 1, 2011
with mrs. masferre
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Sagada is a place where I recharge… I’ve been coming here to rest my mind, to celebrate freedom from everything and to just chill. I remember the wind whispering “welcome” in my ear each time I arrive. I feel myself more here. I hear myself more. Here, I am more… It is also here in Sagada where I want my last days on earth to be. I want my friends and family to all come here and celebrate my departure before sending my ashes off to my other slices of heaven on earth – Batanes, Venice & Paris… But for now, I share this piece of heaven with my loved-ones and friends, enjoying the time left here on earth, before I too become part of the wind.
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images shot in Sagada, Philippines
the gods must be crazy June 25, 2011
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No one knows who she is. Or where she has come from.
Or why everyday, she comes to this same spot, in the middle of the road right in front of the Sagada Lemon Pie House, sweeping the already pristine concrete with the leaves of a freshly snapped-off tree branch.
No one knows all these things except for the old woman herself. Those who know of her have long passed away, buried along with the heritage of a place, and of beings that have first treaded its soil.
The legend begins with rain, washing down to earth the Sky Gods’ two children named Wigan and Bugan. The siblings were Ifugao’s first dwellers, who populated the province with their offspring. Oh, such familial relations were common in those days. Incest was a thing of the future.
Wigan was the people’s God of harvest. With his faithful wife Bugan, he fattened the Sky Mountains’ soil, ensuring that their earthen steps teemed with crops. His was the name most uttered by farmers, who strove to please Wigan with sacrifice, chants and prayers.
But as the years passed, people started to forget—the ancients, their origins, and even their own identity. Wigan and his fellow gods weakened, for their powers relied on the people’s belief. One by one, away they faded.
Only Bugan now remained. As to why she survived, she could only hazard this guess: she was meant to look after her husband Wigan— whose remains lay beneath the thick concrete in the middle of the road.
Everyday while she sweeps and weeps over her husband’s grave, she offers a silent prayer to the Sky Gods to allow her to join her husband, to take her away from this strange place, inhabited by strange people who believe in even stranger gods.
Onlookers dismiss her as a crazy, old woman.
Still, Bugan is convinced that they are the crazy ones, deigning to conceal the rich soil, covering life itself with cold, hard cement—an offering to yet another one of their modern gods that choke the air and pollute the silence while walking, not on feet, but on wheels.
Story by AGAY LLANERA - REYES and Sagada Images by JK (Jazel Kristin)
Writer’s Link: http://agayandspanky.blogspot.com/
copyright 2011
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I’ve been wanting to collaborate with kindred spirits here on The Art of Everyday and so finally the series of ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONs happened. The Gods Must Be Crazy is a story especially written for this by Agay Llanera-Reyes, a freelance writer for print and video and also a children’s book writer (The Gathering, SOL, Song of the Ifugao & Girl meets Girl included in Bagets, an anthology for young adults).
Agay and I have travelled around the Philippines and abroad together. She has actually celebrated some of my orbital journeys with me from Batanes to China and then Paris and most recently to Sagada. We saw this old woman, a very interesting character, during our walk. I tried to photograph her without noticing me and Agay wondered aloud what could be her story. Hence the birth of this collaboration…
Agayskee, it’s always great to hang out with you and also aruruteynkyu for always sharing your gift. I always say I write with images but you have this gift with words
highway to heaven June 17, 2011
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There was only one place I could think of to celebrate my 34th orbit,
I consider it to be one of my heavens on earth.
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My good friend and fellow wanderlust willingly celebrated this journey with me.
I’ve been to heaven and back but for Agayskee it will be her first time to see (this) heaven.
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The closest thing to flying would be riding the wind on top of a jeepney!
Being away, this feeling was what I missed most.
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The highway to heaven is not without bumps,
but we are in it for the ride!
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H E A V E N A W A I T S
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images shot while seated on the roof of a moving vehicle
the french have landed May 19, 2011
Coming all the way from France, China and South Africa…
the French have finallly landed.
Welcome to the Pearl of the Orient,
PHILIPPINES!!!!!!!
They first heard about the Philippines through the stories and photos that A and I shared with them.
During our reunion in Normandy , the idea of coming here came up and now I can’t believe they are finally here.
Halukatdat!!!
fresh coconuts for sale
I heard oohs and aahs as we stepped out into the beach front when we arrived… They all fell in love with Boracay, I mean who wouldn’t. They were so in love with the place they started having this crazy idea of maybe putting up a family business here
Aba huwhy not!
teo doing some monkey business
brave emilie with uncle A
What I enjoyed about hanging out with them is that there is no need to do everything all at once.
Travelling for them is not about speed. It’s about taking your time, relaxing and just enjoying the place.
This was actually my longest stay in Boracay.
island music
teo became friends with the bartenders and got himself some free drinks
emilie busy reading A's book. she was also busy writing and illustrating her first story
teo doing his karate chops on uncle A
But of course they also know how to let loose and just Anjoy ( that’s how they pronounce it
Cam's first time behind the wheeeeeeeeeel
What they really loved about the Philippines beyond the wonderful beaches and the beautiful islands are the people. Everybody was just friendly and warm and happy and game. I know this won’t be their last time here but for now we are already planning on our next reunion trip.
Beijing perhaps or why not Cape town?
Hmmmm… Abangan!
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images shot in Boracay, Philippines
Arurumerci Ella & Gino for everything
