Everyday City | Mind Through Visuals

Lockdowns are tough. It’s like the world has stopped and you feel useless. Some find ways to go about their day, but for some its not the appearance that you see. Though how most go through with their Mental Health, their anxieties or coping through isolation. Last year was really rough and the pandemic has made short work on most creative individuals out there. Personally, it really took me out unknowingly while on isolation. There was no challenges to write something it’s the part that I need, which is to at least get out of the house for a bit of stroll. Most those days were done in the middle of the day to think and get some ideas, but when you’re stuck at home it become long naps.

Makati | The Two Cities of Makati

Makati is one of the major cities in Metro Manila. When you mention the name and the first thing on top of your head is the business district and the commercial space that has been there probably even before you were born. It has heritage and history that goes back to the Spaniards taking over the country. These challenging times during the coronavirus pandemic it is currently deserted. But it also gave a little bit of clarity what is Makati as a city would probably surprise you that they are TWO cities within. In other countries like in Australia when you say the City of Adelaide it covers what is defined of that location and in the map the border of greenery surrounding it would easily say that’s downtown. Makati is different the marketing “Make It Makai” is just for the Business District Not the City.

Everyday City | Crossing Jones Bridge

12.02.2019 – It is the4 second day of December how far have we’ve been gone deep to 2019 and the next thing you’ll notice is that it is 2020 already. With all the things that has been happening I haven’t been keeping up with a lot just a journey everyday got me occupied and it is always a treat to pass by the iconic Jones Bridge. Past 1PM it was really a slow crawl crossing this bridge and from a far you’ll see it is nearing the final stages of completion as construction workers are hard at work putting together where the four statues will be placed. Actually, the first two has been welcoming as I strolled my way to the foot of the bridge at the right side of Monday.

Everyday City | Black Friday in Makati

11.29.2019 – Another week has ended and there will be LOTS of people in shopping malls as Friday is Salary Day. It is also the end of November by tomorrow (Saturday) expect more horrendous traffic in an overly dense populated city. But earlier today it wasn’t that bad and it isn’t either normal though you get the drift about the weekend. Black Friday is supposed to be an American shopping tradition, but outside of USA some countries followed suit with their own sale. It happened in Australia and some parts of Asia namely the Philippines included. But what makes it crazier is how much people fork up a lot from their hard earned salary all for half the price or even more.

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?

Everyday City | Christmas Day

12.26.2018 – The Holiday Season in the Philippines is insanely festive that people are all over the place prior to Christmas Day. But once that day is finally here that’s where you tend to realize there’s A LOT of them spending these annual Holidays from far off places that you tend to wish it’s like this every day but its not. Spending the Holiday Season again in Manila and the last one was more than two years ago. Back then my perspective was different it’s the usual thing year in and year out. You spend it like the last few years of your adult life. This season I take like any ordinary day like last year when I was out heading to work late at night.

Self-Checkout | Is the Philippines Ready?

12.19.2018 - The Holiday Season in the Philippines is in full swing and long lines build up at retail counters in department stores, boos stores,, and other retail shop nationwide. It’s the busiest time of the year, but despite all this, the more employed staff takes up the counters without any proper solution to the congested long lines that are comparable to the traffic in EDSA. The Philippine retail industry has been this way ever since that has not changed while other countries namely their Asian counterparts are slowly embracing the self-service checkouts as an alternative way to ease off the congestion inside these shops is this the country ready for this type of service?

Cultural | Death of a Movie Experience

09.17.2018 –Movies are supposed to be fun its how we get entertained seeing these films in the big screen. It supposed to keep us distracted and got us engaged in what we’re seeing and these days that form of ‘movie-going experience’ is slowly getting outdated by the day due to piracy and the age of streaming. Last night I’ve got the chance to see the latest installment of “The Predator” with a friend. It was one of those science-fiction films that have been trying to be introduced to this generation. I haven’t been reading many details but it got Olivia Munn as one of the leads in this film and I wasn’t there to see the actress but “The Predator.”

Pop Hub | Mixed Festival Feels

07.16.2018 – There are many events in the Philippines that caters to local artistry and fandom. The community is something worth enough growth to see that there is interest in comics, movies, and other property out there. You got yourselves a group that cater to these interests but organizing an event that stands out needs a voice. This is where Pop Hub comes in as organized by Prime Trade Asia, the same company that host the annual Philippine International Bookfair. It’s the latest event that they came up to promoting the local self-published artist at the same time invited local communities that are into fantasy and science fiction hosted in the small venue in the second level of the SMX Convention Centre.

Stranger Things | Beyond Popcorn & Flickering Lights

08.16.2016 – Joyce Byers is not buying it that his son is dead. The Duffer Brothers is just merely holding back to what everything is all about “Stranger Things.” Netflix has not renewed the series and the collective who have seen it is very anxious. I myself won’t even believe it that this is all about it. There have been breadcrumbs left at the wake of the eight episode first season series and the lights are slowly flickering. It’s a series that had resolution but also left the upside down open…

Star Trek | Beyond Being Just A Trekkie.

07.20.2016 – The first Star Trek episode which I can no longer recall its particular title is one of the memories from my childhood. I do remember it was shown on the former RPN 9 on a Saturday afternoon a syndicated episode of The Original Series. The Next Generation was a time I casually see on Friday nights on the same channel in the early 1990s before going to bed. But Star Trek: Voyager sealed the deal for me when it was shown on Hallmark Channel Asia in 2001, which I became a full time on Trekkie.

Tim Duncan | #ThankYouTD

07.12.2016 – The NBA will never be the same again, well probably for those who grew up watching the games in the 1990s. Tim Duncan, the greatest Spur ever has decided to hang up his sneakers after nineteen seasons with one team early today. There’s no one like Tim Duncan, who was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs as their first pick in 1997. ‘The Big Fundamental’ was no bigger than the team, and he was unlike any player in this present era could be like the great Tim Duncan.

Kevin Durant | Its Not Everyone's Decision.

07.05.2016 – It has been six years since LeBron James took his game to South Beach and during that time forming a ‘super team’ was unheard of. You can’t count the Boston Celtics when they traded for Kevin Garnett who is no longer at his prime. But with Kevin Durant announcing his decision to join the Golden State Warriors is like the almost same atmosphere when James left the Cavaliers in 2010. But this time the story revolves around Kevin Durant, the ‘franchise player’ of the Thunder.

PSP X | More Than An Art Community

07.03.2016 – There are varying degrees of art but nothing like the expressive mantra of Graffiti or Street Art whatever you call it. There’s nothing like a creating expression created on a blank wall that has become a canvass for everyone to see. If you haven’t heard about the Pilipinas Street Plan, then you must have been stuck under the rock indulging on your noon time shows, nightly telenovelas, and the occasional corny joke on your favorite radio station to ever see what they’ve done. This year marks their tenth anniversary and they’ve grown beyond as a community.

Unrated Pop-Up Night Cinema!

12.28.2015 – Circuit Makati is running their “Pop-up Night Cinema” at the Globe Circuit grounds and not only that they are also have vendors set up a select few food stalls to accommodate hungry viewers of the scheduled films. It’s actually a rare thing nowadays with this type of screenings going back to the drive-in that used to happen in Luneta back in the day. This event runs through the 30th, which is quite a crowd drawer since December 26th. Last night they have three romantic films, but the second one was wee bit eye catcher…

I'm Not A Star Wars Fan.

12.14.2015 – Do I really need to prove myself that I’m a Star Wars fan? Probably back in the day when Social Media was not invented at that time it only takes to see how enthusiastic a fan you can be. But in this generation you don’t see that anymore and mostly you can see how that unfolds when most people you know weren’t even originally interested in it. Well not until “The Force Awakens” arrive in cinemas less than a few days away.

Changing Cultures in Philippine Conventions!

07.07.2015 – Is it ironic that when something comes up that’s new and a certain game changer they try to emulate or even try to derail the inevitable. This morning’s surprising announcement of guests for the first Asia Pop Comic Con didn’t surprise me at all. But for those who never got to experience going to conventions in another country its something Filipinos are talking about in social media. It is indeed surprising and definitely a game changer that it only took a foreign organizer to make it happen.

Personal Highlight of 2011: The Travel To Korea!

12.30.2011 – In the span of a decade I have travelled less and have only seen the surface in my trips to selected countries in Asia. The year 2011 was very fortunate to me being able to explore another place in Korea. For 18 days I’ve shared enough photos and videos than anyone could brag that they made it to the city of Seoul which has not entirely shared the essence of being there. For anyone who I’ve seen and told that they are in Seoul that’s the not the only place in Korea for you to see. I’ve been to Busan and live to tell little places where you can find all Filipinos who hang out.

Koji Moralez & The RT Ford Fiesta!

06.20.2011 - For years, I've been a radio junkie. Listening to FM radio was part of the daily routine. Those where the days in my youth I wanted to be a radio DJ myself. Back in high school, I usually hang out at the former station in 89.1 DMZ FM, and it's where I first met the late great Francis Magalona aka The Mouth. He had this show every Friday afternoon up to 8PM, and he was definitely great to see spin some music. By the year 1994, I was going to Joe D' Mango's mid-morning show. I became a regular listener on Magic 89.9 FM until 1995. This was around the time I was able to travel and visit the radio stations.