Foot and Fire

    I received through this birthday project fundraiser an awesome list of things I should be thankful about. My birthday has been memorable and cause-worthy because of the many who believe in what Art can do to help, to uplift, to share, to multiply… To everyone who sent their financial support to the project, to everyone who wished me and this project well, to everyone who pledged to send in their support, to everyone who loves art, I share to you my celebration of my life this year. Here the unexpected things I learned in this undertaking I tied up with my birthday this year: I get to say hi to old friends and acquaintances which I cannot normally do because of my daily routine and get to engage current friends to worthy projects. *** I get to see some siblings and old folks of my classmates who are nearby or abroad because they get to be tasked to bring payment and/or pick up the book. *** I get to disturb, distract, awaken, everyo...

  My journey with Specks Fundraiser had been wonderful because of your overwhelming love. In return, I am pledging my time and efforts and good judgment to see to it that our four projects will be implemented and be sustainable as much as possible. It will be a commitment I am forging with you this year on my birthday. Here are the updates as of December 2018.     There fund already raised plus the pledges to collect met the target amount to spend for each of the project.  Yahoo, thanks to you!!! I love you. ***   The design is already in place but I am still scouting for the right and best public location. In the meantime, the books I bought from the Big Bad Wolf booksale is now up for free reading. Book tasting will be held from time to time. I'm excited! ***   One good friend pledged to buy Laptop for the Panay Bukidnon and it was a heartwarming gesture I still wait before getting the tribe its new recording device. *** ...

  In memory of the lost bracelets along the way and  in honor of these surviving ones, I have to write a story for you my dear readers about these finds I got from my travels outside the country. While trinkets abound, one has to look closely and feel affinity with the item before buying the same. Sometimes choices are overwhelming that one ends up not buying anything. It can be a visual overload actually at the flea market aside from the noise of haggling. So here is my stories... These bracelets are made of candle wicks. I can feel the candle texture on each strand actually. I lost one of this, the one with blue-green, green and blue color combination. One can buy stones of value but I found some art and soul in these candle wicker bracelets. It spoke to me like the wind, inaudible yet felt. I bought this in the night market of Siem Reap, Cambodia which is located just a walking distance from where we stayed, a hotel called, No Problem Hotel. From that hotel we woul...

  It has been in my mind for quite some time now the fact that one day, I will be telling my readers about my travels through the necklaces and braceles I bought along the way. Here, I quickly run down some favorites. I divide the story into two, Philippines and outside the Philippines. This is the first of the two-part story.  In 2015, I had a chance to observe four ordinary days of the Panay Bukidnon of Calinog, Iloilo. It was an immersion of sort. Nothing is extraordinary at face value unless one looks closely with one's heart. The community struggles to survive amidst the challenges of modernization. But I am happy that the tribe still try hard to preserve the culture like the Panubok or embroidery and it is still hand-made as opposed to all things made by machines and the easy entries of ukay-ukay. I bought a set of sash, bracelet, choker and arm band which at that time I am thinking of wearing as accent to my office clothes. And I am happy I did. Found a remar...

  I was treated by a friend to a tour of Guimaras last May 2018 when the Manggahan Festival was going on. We went to Roca Engcantada  which was declared as National heritage last 14 August 2002. Outside the pretty white mansion with ornate details is a ground planted with coconut trees and the native Bangkiling or the sour gooseberry tree which I often miss. Too bad, there were no fruits when we were there. We toured the place and took our selfies and poses in all of the nooks and crannies and I had two favorite photos below aside from the one above where I enjoyed the sun and the coconut midrib casting its shadows on my face.   ****   Do the island hopping from morning till noon and trek, swim, collect stones, sip coconut water and have several jump shots in between. The waters are clear and if you ae lucky, you can observe marine life at the SEAFDEC where turtles a nd and saltwater milkfish or bangus and other fishes swim. *** ...

  In-house made wines and cheeses are the cups of tea of La Vie Parisienne but the place offers varied food favorites from pasta, sausages and pizza. The place is cozy and a dinner in the place is highly recommended because the al fresco dining experience offers a beautifully-lit garden and nice cozy roof decks. It drizzled when I got there last July 2018 with a friend whom I shared with the book-hunting experience at the Big Bad Wolf in Cebu City. I bought Syrah wine some standard wines and some cheeses.   ***   ***   ***   *** \ I love this door! *** I'm not a fan but since we headed to Sirao Garden , we just passed by the Temple of Leah since they are located on the same way. I really don't like the concept which is a trying-hard copycat of some Greek Temple f gods and goddesses, and the gold image of Leah, and even the fact of calling it a temple. But then, it is admittedly, a pretty instagrammable place....