Street Art Exposition | Graffiti Art at Chino Roces

Graffiti art is slowly getting accepted to society in the Philippines as another form of expression. But there are still graffiti that is considered vandalism such as an unfocused and random destruction of another art piece. If you’re not the usual commuter who takes a jeepney, trike, or even a bus chances are you won’t notice it. Whenever I’m about to take a commute to somewhere I’m always paying attention to my surroundings like what I used to do back in Adelaide and there’s something new that I might discover that I have not seen in the previous days. Last Thursday was just a random day and just across the street there used to be one graffiti art but they added two more artworks that I called the ‘Mikez Wall’ a tribute to a friend who passed on.

Earthquake at a Glance | Perspective of Reality

04.22.2019 – There hasn’t been a major catastrophe in the Philippines when you talk about Earthquake in the last thirty years. Most of the things that go wrong are from typhoons that displaced communities and disrupting economies in the archipelago. It is not common either that it happened within Central Luzon that rocked Metro Manila all of sudden. Its reality that is unexpected to happen and most take it with humor and then others just plainly silently hope that the next one won’t be as bad as the first one. Earthquakes happen because it has been part of nature as long as everyone can remember. It just so happens that the context about these things can sometimes bring a few people to what really matters to their lives.

Lost Urban History | Sta. Cruz Building

04.01.2019 – If you’re in Manila you’ll find it hard to believe this place was the original central business commerce for the country. Even before World War II erupted Escolta, and its surrounding area was the most visited place as shopping centres basking in the business. But after the war with transition that changed the Philippines things where not the same. There have been so many historical landmarks in this area of Carriedo, Sta. Cruz, and Escolta that you can find these stories not preserved in libraries, but through the web. Because even public libraries in this country have been shall we say ‘under construction’ since as evident from last week’s random walks around the city and nearby Rizal Park you’ll probably have idea already.

Lost Urban History | Harrison Plaza

03.20.2019 - Harrison Plaza is a local shopping centre in the Philippines, and the first mall with air conditioning that opened in the mid-197os. There’s a lot of history to go about this mall for those who have grown up in the area of Malate in Manila, and there were a lot good memories in this place that made it even more special. But sadly, things have not been the same lately that appears that this mall has become a shell of its former place. News has it that this might close down by the end of 2019 with possible demolition and redevelopment by the new owners signaling what could be another ‘end of an era’ considered as a historical landmark for its time.

National Museum | Fine Arts Sunday

01.08.2019 – Museums are a place of wonder and they also teach you about the culture of a particular city, state or the entire region. The Philippines is rich with culture but as you may not notice not everything is kept and preserved that it is quite challenging to understand why some have been lost through the past and some are just a distant memory. But there are those pieces of history are still kept in their pristine condition because there’s support for it such as the paintings and installations that could have been a hundred or more years older than anyone. The National Museum Fine Arts is where you can find a collection of works by national artists in the country and some of the never before seen pieces that you’ll find interesting.

Lost Urban History: Philcomcen Building.

05.18.2015 – The Philcomcen building was one of the original buildings that were first constructed in the Ortigas area that would be visibly seen from EDSA and used to be the residence for most of the local radio stations and a UHF TV station in the Philippines. Over the years the development of Ortigas has spawned taller structures that are residential or business related. The former Philcomcen building has become an eyesore with failed rehabilitation in the mid-1990s and now it’s being slowly demolished.