Matter of Perspective | Savage City

There’s no such thing as the great outdoors anymore due to the pandemic of COVID-19 and the only reason why the city is slowly opening up is due to economy. It is still not highly advised to go out and venture your way to spend at your own leisure. But you can’t avoid seeing people now that might have made the change in your perspective these past months being in quarantine. The only reason you need to step out is either you run to do your errands and other important priorities or for those who are cautiously need to get out in doing your workout routine that only allows you in your limited time. But of course in those short travels to the store to buy food or a jog around your area for the observant you may find something that is not ‘normal’ to a decent educated individual.

Human Nature | Don't Panic for Survival

The weekend seems a little bit grim due to the Corona Virus (COVID-19) and the Philippine government making announcements last night about locking down Metro Manila from 15 March to 14 April 2020 has been going around social media with different interpretations across the board. This things should be a serious matter now that affects livelihood of many people across the globe as WHO (World Health Organization) has announced that the virus now Pandemic, but follow-up with a clarification that it is a “controlled pandemic” as countries started closing down on foreign visitors. It’s like a scene from a sci-fi horror film but it is true that things are getting worse.

Discovery Behind the Jeepney Mural

There are things that catch your attention when it comes to art and then there is that one that really stands out. You need to dig up and find its original story and in the case of a mural painting that covers the current renovation of the Ayala Museum featuring a jeepney painting that had an overloaded passenger it really caught my attention how it was depicted being set in a local province in the Philippines. But it gets interesting when I was getting my friend’s stuff in order to bring it to his temporary place before he goes back to his home country. Interesting enough that all his stuff was sitting in my room almost nine years ago and while I was preparing I came across an old postcard from 2001 that made it more than just a jeepney image.

The Collective | Las Vegas Hookups

02.10.2020 – It has been a while since I have received some appreciation from close friends and relatives. I rarely, share them as I keep things in perspective how these things are unexpected presents from the closest people that I used to hangout that have moved overseas that still don’t forget to be thoughtful. That last time I receive presents when I was back in Adelaide since I have a friend from another state and another one from Queensland who just recently started a hobby. This time around my younger sibling from the US was in town for his sister-in-law’s wedding and his trip with the fam was short, but unexpected opportunity.

Kobe Bryant | Mamba Inspired Life

01.29.2020 – More than forty eight hours has been passed and tributes poured in from NBA games to the Staples Center for the tragic death of Kobe Bryant that also include his 13-year old daughter Gianna, six family friends including Coach John Altobelli and his wife and daughter, and the pilot. All on board were killed. The past couple of days were really somber all over the world who have followed a 17 year old became one of the NBA Greats of All Time. It was a gut wrenching day as mostly described who knew Kobe as a person beyond the basketball player people associate him with. What’s tough is that in his tragic death it also included Gianna, the heir apparent to follow his path in becoming the basketball player we all hope for is also gone.

Halloween ComicFest | Social Activity for Everyone

10.28.2019 – Halloween ComicFest is an annual event promoting literacy through giving away comicbooks at the same time trick or treating for kids who would be encouraged to find interest in reading them. In short, it’s the Halloween version of Free Comic Book Day in a small scale that is more targeted to a general audience. The event started in 2012 and in the Philippines Comic Odyssey and Fully Booked became pioneers of celebrating this annual event. Filbar’s did participate a couple times, but for the succeeding years, they along with other local shops had shifted focused heavily to celebrate comicbooks through FCBD instead.

Traffic Horror Tales | 3 Hour Quiapo Trip

09.26.2019 – The month of September is almost done and as the day goes by traffic has become far worse than you’ll ever think to live in a densely populated area in the Philippines. Every day it has become part of the daily grind for most Filipinos living in a city as things have become gloriously terrible by the hour. If the local mass transportation has not evolved in the last two decades and the dwindling sidewalks that include proper pick-up points were not enough to be taken out by road widening projects. Then things get more horrible than the usual horror stories you encounter every day while on the road in this part of the country.

Quitline | Can It Help Stop You From Smoking?

08.28.2019 – When there is ‘No Hope’ but there is a “Quitline” help services supported by DOH (Department Of Health) that is mainly tasked to assist with those individuals having difficulty in quitting smoking. Surprisingly this was heavily advertised in local commutes like in the LRT (Light Rail Transit). If you’re aware recently the Philippine Government’s DOH stop its support for Suicide Helpline as news came out in the Philippine Star. In other countries that are aware of Mental Health, there should be a Helpline, but for a country that still trying to catch up with the rest of the world, they simply not sold about Mental Health.

Filipino Komiks in Mainstream Perspective

08.22.2019: The week-long event for the Anime Fest: Epic Con continues through Sunday that started 19 August 2019 at the main area of the Lucky Chinatown Mall. It features local sellers and collaboration with Komikon that has a rotation of local komiks artists except for Pol Merdina Jr. the Creator of Pugad Baboy. Medina is the mainstay of the event until this Friday, while the rest of the rotating cast certainly features the ensemble of self-publishers that have been known by the community. But can they get the same reception with the general masses that rarely see their works? There’s a story here to share and it this might be interesting…

Mail Call | Package Supposed to be FREE

06.18.2019 – Generally when you purchase a product anywhere in the world there would be some sort of warranty. Despite that, the only way to get the customer service you need is half a world away, and that is not available in the country where you actually bought the product that was supposed to cover the service. But not in the Philippines as I’ve been in the same experience that what supposed to be “Free of Charge” you still have to shell out money for that warranty service that was already paid for when it matters to the Philippine Postal Service. How can a convenience of service that was supposed to be “Free of Charge” become something more than a stressful burden than sis should be given already?

Pre-Movie Screenings | Filipino Pageantry

04.27.2019 – Movies is one of Filipinos past time that it never stops to appreciate it on the big screen. With the fourth instalment of the Avengers franchise within the “Infinity Saga” that is the 22nd Marvel film in eleven years it is considered the crowning jewel that geeks have waited for since the heart wrenching Infinity War. But we’re not here to talk about the film although we can understand that tickets have been selling out all over world. Filipinos had eaten all the tickets up and while we’re on the subject of movies there have been companies and people organizing block screenings left and right that was crazy from other countries.

Summer Komikon | The Saturday After

04.14.2019 – Summer Komikon is on its tenth year since its first event at the old UP Bahay ng Alumni in 2009 expands the annual Komikon event to two at the time prior to Indie Komiks Market or simply Indieket that was held in July 2012. Conventions these days are not just about what its objectives, but also something new to see here. One year removed from this event in 2018 it was different from the one I last attended in 2017. This event changed over the years that most people would look forward to more than the one held in October/November. The weather heating up there were few familiar faces that didn’t turned up the way you expected to see in a long time.

Komiket 2019 | Blissful Chaotic Vibes

02.18.2019 – In the Philippines every weekend there’s an event happening it is a music festival, an art show, or anything that is related to the local industry that has something to do with comics. Komikon pioneered in making local komiks relevant and it evolved that introduced other things connected to it namely merchandise like shirts, pins, and prints. But mostly that event focused solely in promoting the Komiks medium while the rest is secondary. But with the introduction of Komiket it’s more of an Art Market that has produced a different kind of community since its inception in 2015. It caters not only to the komiks medium, but all things that can be produced and sold through art that simply stands out with what Komiket has to offer.

Conan without Borders | Travels to Australia

02.17.2019 – A few days ago Conan O’Brien officially announced through his social media that his next “Conan without Borders” travel segment is heading to the land down under in Australia. Of course, a lot are excited for this as an interesting adventure for the orange haired legendary talk show host. Hugh Jackman, one of the famed Aussie celebrities who is popular in Hollywood has invited him for this one time opportunity to visit the country. He also revealed this in his monologue during Tuesday’s episode that he’s making the trip next week.

The Collective | Distribution Day

12.30.2018 – Whenever you visit your usual toy store chances are there is new stuff to check it out. But in some cases these retail stores might not have the ones you’ve been seeing in community forums. The retail market when it comes to these toys is either they get sold out immediately or there’s just one distributor who controls them. The common business in releasing the toys back in the day is not what they are now. Rarely, you’ll see a complete wave or set being displayed immediately without fanfare or without the need for a limited group of people to know that they have arrived, but that’s unlike in the Philippines with this so called “Distribution Day.”

Aussie Community | Life After SBLUG Meetings

08.07.2018 – LEGO communities in Australia mostly in regional state in South Australia is very different from those based in the big cities. It also different in Southeast Asia since I’ve never been part of any group aside from being in the Philippines is something of a privileged at the same time humbled. In the past couple years being part of SBLUG (Southern LEGO Users Group) feels like in a family rather than just another toy group. You can’t compare it to another or being part of in another country. You can’t define it but they made the experience more welcoming just being present and treating you like you’re part of it.

Mental Health | Dealing with Depression

07.18.2018 – Let me share something to you on a personal level. Rarely would I speak about my life here overseas on a blog. Usually it would be relatable for me than directly that something to do with my current disposition. We as a human community have each individual lives to deal with everyday. They are mostly good days and most us would rather not share the challenges we face on a daily basis. The things we do to better ourselves have cost and effect. We might offend or hurt anyone close to us, but not taken personally it’s just how we’re not perfect. For those who have been living the dream I’m happy for you nonetheless. But for some who face difficult times like I do we can survive because hope is not lost.

Depression | It's Not All in the Mind.

06.09.2018 – What does Anthony Bourdain and Robin Williams have in common? Both of them died hanging themselves as they have gone through depression with Bourdain recently put Mental Health in focus throughout the weekend. It was a discussion everyone should address. There are a lot of people out there who is going through a tough time and not just famous individuals, but those who have struggled everyday. It’s a difficult time for everyone going through depression and its not just being “sad.”

Opinions | The Future of Filipino Children

01.10-2018 – “Nasa kabataan and pag-asa ng Bayan” (The Youth is the future of our Country) a Filipino quote by National Hero Jose Rizal. When you look at it in the Philippines in the present day the youth needs an awakening in the modern times. Personally, the declining attitude and how Filipino children being raised has been declining. This is just observations from interacting with un-supervised children gaining access to social media like Facebook has been quite bothering.

Phail Arrival at the IMAX Theater.

06.29.2011 - Transformers: Dark of the Moon press media started its screening on the Coca-cola IMAX Theater at SM Mall of Asia by 6PM. It's the usual thing with press media screenings for those who get to see the movie first before the regular release date. The traffic was horrible on a Tuesday and it was certainly has become the "normal" thing for those who regularly commute. But the weather was convincing enough to be more tolerable than the past few days of heavy downpours. Jump after the cut...