Katha Magazine - Issue 05 - May/June 2014 by Katha Magazine

ISSUE 05

May/June 2014

KATHA MASTERMINDS Geli Balcruz hellogelibee.blogspot.com Aya Dalumpines facebook.com/createbytlf Andrea Dela Cruz mabuhaydiy.wordpress.com Allie Principe thefoureyedwonder.com Cachi Reyes thepinkdoormat.blogspot.com

Illustrators Lando Cusi behance.net/landocusi Ella Lama ellalama.tumblr.com Charisse Reyes behance.net/cmtreyes

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Katha is a bi-monthly magazine for creatives, by creatives. Copyright is reserved. Reposting in whole or in part on other sites and publications without permission is prohibited. All rights to photos and illustrations belong to their respective owners.

kathamagazine.tumblr.com CONTRIBUTORS Koni Esteban candidlypretty.blogspot.com

WE THINK IT’S ABOUT TIME WE SHARE MORE OF THE SPOTLIGHT WITH THE BOYS. Whenever we start racking up ideas for the magazine, chances are, a lot of the pitches we make involve featuring women and their works – and it’s pretty evident when you flip through the pages of each issue. Granted, almost all of the people who make up the editorial team are women (with only one male on our current roster ), so that fact isn’t really that surprising. But we thought it was about time we get out of our comfort zone and dedicate an entire issue on some barely explored territory: men. Hence, the Manmade Issue. Challenging as this may have been, as we have so less insight into this particular foray than others, it was definitely a welcome change. It was refreshing to talk to male creatives and see more of what’s on the other side of the spectrum, and we’re thankful that so many were willing to share their stories, thoughts and works with us. We also have everything from how to make your own bespoke card case, to a delicious nacho recipe you can make at home (sharing optional). As different as this issue is from our previous ones, this is for guys and girls alike to enjoy. Creativity knows no gender or boundaries, and we want to explore every nook and cranny of this big world that is just bursting with talent. Consider this our first small step towards that goal. We hope you can join us in our journey!

Cheers, The Katha Team

photo by Geli Balcruz

16 14 42

CONTENTS 22 46

80 72 84 92

MIXTAPE

WHIMSIES

LEATHER FELLOW

DREAMS ON LOOP

CREATIVE NOOK

SNAPSHOTS

CRAFTERPRENEUR

FACEOFF

HEY GUYS

HEY LITTLE BOY

THE TINKERER

MANCAVE

SUBTLE HUES

DREAM WEAVER

FASH

A DAY N THE LIFE

TO THE BEAT OF ONE DRUM

SKETCH, STYLE, TRAVEL

(RE)MAKING MELODIES

TO HIS OWN TUNE

GROUND BEEF NACHO

TIPSY TURVY

REIMAGININGS

T H I S I S SUE ’S CONTR I B U TOR S

MANUEL

“MANIX”

ABRERA

JON ALBANIEL has been into

TIM ALBANO is a game concept

graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree. His comic strip Kikomachine runs from Monday to Saturday in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and appears in ten compilations published by Visprint. His webcomic News Hardcore! appears weekly on GMA News Online. He also has a silent comic/graphic novel titled “12”, and has another one coming out this November. He is also a very kind person.

different sports at an early age. He went through formal training in football then ventured out to swimming, track and field and martial arts. In 2011, he started paddling with the UP dragonboat team and has competed and won in various local and international races. Despite having a day job as a licensed architect, he still finds time to squeeze in sports and exercise to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

artist by profession. He specializes in environment and character design. In his spare time, he spend hours playing World of Warcraft, chugging beer and petting kittens. You can check out his portfolio at https://www.behance.net/ Timalbano

MARS BUGAOAN was born in ANJO CANTALEJO is an architect who is passionate about his work, his food, and his karaoke. He is currently embarking on the long and difficult journey to becoming sexy.

1988, the son of an electrician and midwife. He was raised in the province of Isabela and graduated at the UST College of Fine Arts and Design. He is currently pursuing his MFA at the UP College of Fine Arts. He does photography, printmaking, drawing, and sometimes painting. He blogs at: letitstandrandom.blogspot.com.

GEROME SORIANO is a young artist from Manila. He produces art objects as a way of sharing the experience and sustaining the practice. He enjoys making zines, comics, laughter and flying his DSLR with a kite. In this issue, he reimagines life as a bird, giving us a glimpse of the world from above. You can catch him at some of the art fairs in Manila and on Facebook. See more of his work at: behance. net/geromesoriano.

PAUL BLASCO is the Principal Architect of Blasco Architects. On the side, he makes art that reflects the formal and spatial explorations he is doing as an architect. He also draws avidly with pen and ink in an attempt to capture the beauty of the abandoned and the damaged. It was just in October of 2013 after resigning from his work in Locsin and having more time to explore artistic fields - that he discovered the pleasure in learning calligraphy.

ROB

CHAM

is a freelance illustrator, designer, comics artist and friend. You can see his work on his website: robcham.me or follow him on Twitter: @robcham.

DAX CUARESMA is an architect working in Makati. He dreams of one day breaking free from corporate slavery to doodle all day, everyday. Keep an eye out for his doodle blog. You can follow him on Twitter @daxcc.

ANGEL SO ELECTONA-PABLINAS

LANDO CUSI is an architect from the Philippines currently in Tokyo for his ninja training. His free time is spent doodling or searching for weird, new food to try. He wants to have his own zoo someday. He has a poorly maintained collection of works at behance.net/landocusi.

is ½ of My Gilded Nest and Leather Fellow. She loves making accessories but lately has been more focused on handcrafting leather goods. She loves books, school supplies, gadgets and shoes but has consciously stopped buying those things to start building their arsenal of leather crafting tools. She dreams of one day having a tidy workshop with 2 or 3 assistants and they’d all be wearing cute work aprons (with the shop’s logo, of course!) and surrounded by several racks of gorgeous leather hides. Check out their works at facebook. com/MyGildedNest or follow @ mygildednest on Instagram.

ANNA GRAHAM graduated from the UP College of Music with a Diploma in Asian Music. She is 1/3 of the Jazz trio Baihana and is the Mrs. of Mrs. Graham’s Macaron Cafe. Her whole life as of the moment revolves around being a new mom and wife, a self-taught baker, craft lover and full-time musician.

Katha ’S MASTERMINDS SHARE ANSWERS T H I S I STheSUE CONTR I BTHEIR U TOR S TO THE QUESTION

MICH ESCULTURA is a freelance

MARVS CONTI juggles his time in

MILO BUÑAO is an Interior Design

writer who creates articles about almost anything under the sun. She loves cats, her free time and ice cold beer. She believes that everyone can be creative; you just have to figure out what brings it out.

his full-time job and crafting with his Habil Crafts. He loves reading and geeky stuff. You may catch him rummaging through books at any Booksale shops or see his works at 98B’s Saturday Future Market at Escolta.

graduate from PUP. He currently does graphic designs for a t-shirt brand called TPWS. He also designs vinyl cruisers for a local skateboard cmpany called Big H Skate Co. He is a member of a creative group caed Polarities where they do different graphics on different mediums and products.

YANI TORIO is a cat who loves to

GINO

travel, take photos, crochet, do arts and crafts. His little boy, Senna, will forever melt her heart.

8 | H EL L O

ERAÑA is an interior designer with a passion for fashion illustration, conceptualization, and sun protection. He makes quick fashion design sketches fueled by unique sources of inspiration. You can follow him on Instagram via his accont, @ginosunscreen.

LET US HELP YOU GET IN THE MOOD. Every issue has its own soundtrack. Here are ten songs that may or may not involve swordsmandship, wooing and dancing. 1. One Time Too Many Phoenix 2. Cosmic Convergence Tarsius ft. Archaster 3. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d Rather Dance With You Kings of Convenience 4. Giving Up The Gun Vampire Weekend 5. Excuses Minus the Bear

6. Towers Bon Iver 7. Let Me In Snowmine 8. Apartment Story The National 9. Ayoko Na Pinikpikan 10. Boy Lilikoi Jonsi

LISTEN HERE

WH IM SIES | 9

A LU N S IN A facebook.com/alunsina.handbound.books Alunsina handbound journals are the perfect companion for those who love to jot down their thoughts or sketch their travel adventures. Each journals are 100% handmade and bounded in delicious leather. You can also carry it around as an accessory to look more artsy if that’s how you like to roll, but even the most stubborn will be unable to resist writing in its blank pages.

UVL A

64 A Cubao Expo, Cubao, Quezon City

Need to jazz up your mancave? You can add vintage cars in your bookshelf, cool vintage movie posters or let robots guard your doorstep. Cubao X is always a goto place for unique finds, and this shop is no exception. Standing for “Unique Vintage and Lost Art”, this quaint store has the most interesting items, such as collectible toys, art pieces, comic books, and other assorted knicknacks that will surely delight anyone regardless of what generation he/she belongs to. Email They are open Monday to Saturday from 3:00pm-7:00pm, and you can email iamevayu@yahoo.com for any inquiries..

10 | WHIMSIES

XBESITZER

178 Mabini St. Brgy. Addition Hills, 1500 San Juan del Monte

If animals and taxidermy are more up your speed, you need to take a trip to this funky store. The word “besitzer” means to own/ possess, and you’ll definitely be coveting their items, all which will complement your humble abode. Aside from stuffed animals, they also have animal bones and some furniture too. Contact them at 09153805172 or xbesitzer@gmail.com.

VI N Y L C LOC K S

by New Vintage Culture

Jazz up your old and boring wall clock with these upcycled vinyl clocks by New Vintage Culture. Wouldn’t it be nice to have your favorite band tell you that it’s time to rock and roll?

A P LAC E FO R WA S H I

facebook.com/scrappymanila

PAU L I MB ONG

popol.ph

Hoarded a lot of washi tapes over the years? Don’t worry, we won’t judge. If you need a neater way to store and display them, this handmade washi tape holder might be just what you need! Display your washi tapes in style with this wooden holder, which can hold more than 100 washi, depending on the thickness of your washi tape roll. Not into washi? It’s a nice gift for your crafty, washi-crazy friend too!

EXO N O M A D by Mark Jordan

Planning to go on a hike anytime soon? Carry with you an exo nomad backpack. These are custom made, durable carry solutions hand made by Mark Jordan. These are also perfect for everyday use and will keep your belongings safe and sound. You can check out instagram.com/exo_ nomad or email markjosephjordan@ gmail.com for any inquiries.

Do you remember those cute postcards that comes with your order of HeyKessy washi tapes? I bet it made you smile! Fun, quirky and colorful illustrations are a trademark of Paul’s artwork. Rekindled with his childhood love for the arts, Paul is determined to be great at his work. When he’s not riding his bicycle, he’s out there doing what he does best, drawing and making art!

PAO_REYE S

instagram.com/pao_reyes You’ve probably figured out by now that we’re color lovers at heart, but we couldn’t help but fall in love with Pao Reyes’ monochrome feed. Filled with photographsof quiet, everyday scenes and breathtaking views, perusing through his feed will give anyone serene thoughts and a whiff of nostalgia. You can also visit Pao’s music account on soundcloud.com/ pr-5.

WH IM SIES | 1 1

12 | WHIMSIES

WE NEED YOUR HELP! As much as we want to keep our Whimsies section as fresh and current as possible, but we’ve realized that we just can’t do it alone. If you have any suggestions on what we can feature next, we’re all ears. Send us your ideas, it could be anything and everything under the sun. If we think it’s a good fit, we’ll feature it in an upcoming issue. We promise to be eternally grateful and credit you accordingly! Ready to get in touch with us? Click here to go to our submission form. We’ll be waiting!

WH IM SIES | 1 3

14 | MAKE

LEATHER FELLOW Give your cards a good home with this tutorial on how to make your own bespoke card case. w o r d s and p h otos b y A n g el So E l ecton a - P a b a l i n a s

WHAT YOU NEED

STEP 1: Cut 8”x2.75” of leather from your hide using a rotary cutter.

STEP 2: Fold the leather in half.

M AK E | 1 5

STEP 3: Apply glue near the edges and leave it to dry. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good idea to use binder clips.

STEP 4: Mark your stitching holes using a pricking tool plus a ruler to keep the holes aligned. You may use an awl, a pricking chisel, a small hole punch, or even an ice pick to punch your holes. If you have a thick leather hide, use that instead of a cutting mat under your project when punching holes.

STEP 5: Prep your thread. If you do not have pre-waxed thread, rub the entire length of your thread with a beeswax block/sheet. It makes the thread stronger.

STEP6: Thread your needle, pierce the thread twice and pull it back to form a knot. Twist it in place. Do the same to the other end of the thread. (See below.)

HOW TO THREAD YOUR NEEDLE

16 | MAKE

STEP 7: Start stitching! Push the needle through the first hole. Start on the left side. Pull both ends of the thread towards you and make sure that both sides are of equal length. Next, push the left needle through the right side of the same hole. Do the same for the next 2 or 3 holes.

STEP 8: . For the remaining holes, I usually go left-right-left-right until I reach the end and then backstitch 2 or 3 holes. To secure the stitches, you could make a knot in between the folds or outside and then just push the knot inside. If you have heavily-waxed thread, you could simply snip off the thread close to the leather.

STEP 9 Get your bigger circular punch and use your mallet to drive a half-circular hole through the bottom of the case. This would provide easier access to the cards later.

STEP 10: Since the initial design looked topheavy, I decided to add another hole on top. To do this, get your smaller punch and drive a half circle hole on just the top layer of your case.

STEP 11: Ta-da!

You could use the card case as is or if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re into details like I am, you could go further by making sure the edges are given extra TLC as well. Get 2 different grits of sandpaper, water, saddle soap, beeswax and a wooden burnishing tool or heavy canvas. Lightly sand the edges using the rougher-grit sandpaper followed by the finer one. Dampen the edges with water then rub saddle soap and burnish. Last step is to rub beeswax on the edges and burnish some more. It is extra work and it could take up minutes to an hour of your time but it is worth it! M AK E | 1 7

18 | S TO RIES

DREAMS ON LOOP

We chat with Clemente Cobaria about his one-of-a-kind art made of wire rope called Sintaz. as t o l d t o And r e a d el a C r u z

The man behind Sintaz My name is Clemente Cobaria and I own Avataro Handicraft, a single proprietorship that manufactures and sells wire rope that’s called ‘Sintaz’. I’m a senior citizen of Makati city and a member of the Filipino Inventors Society Inc. I retired early from work at 51 and I worked before as a maintenance engineer in Manila Hotel. I use my pension now though, but it’s not that huge of a sum. When I was young, I was fascinated with neon signs and asked myself “What kind of material could substitute neon signs without using electricity?” That question remained on my mind, so I started experimenting on the right material with a capital of 500 pesos in 2009. I practiced copying branded logos and I enjoyed it. This was the origin of Sintaz. Materials and uses Sintaz is a composite material made of wire, plastic hose and colorful strands of nylon or natural fibers like coco twine, abaca, yarn, water-lily and other materials that could be entwined. It is primarily used to make artworks and signages. It has a variety of uses: 1. As a literacy tool for pre-school teachers teachers can bend big letters and numbers in colors, shapes, and other figures like animals and flowers. 2. As a modeling tool for architects and designers, so they can create quick models or prototypes of their ideas (structures, furniture, gowns and logo designs) .

p h otos b y C l em en te C ob a r i a

3. As a therapy tool to increase hand-grip strength and for mental stress relaxation. 4. As a survival tool for mountain climbers, just wear it as a belt ready for use in case of emergency. Hopes for Sintaz I joined bazaars and exhibits where they discovered me and featured me in ‘Umagang Kay Ganda’ thrice, and one segment on Go Negosyo with Sen. Bam Aquino. He ordered 12 piece of signs to be used on his wedding day. “Wow pinoy na pinoy ang dating!”, he said . I dream of having Sintaz commercialized soon. I want to supply to schools and art enthusiasts. I will teach Sintaz bending to anyone who’s interested for free but they have to buy the material from me because it’s patented. For parties & events, I can come for a minimum order of 30 pieces. I sell Sintaz for around P80 per meter. With character accent it’s P120. One meter can make an 8-letter word. I also make lamps using PET bottles. It’s inexpensive, handy, and unique. “Practice, Practice, Practice. Never lose grit.” is my motto.

You may get in touch with Mr. Cobaria using his landline: 7917939, his Facebook page: facebook. com/clemente.cobaria, or his email: clemente. cobaria@yahoo.com.

STOR IES | 1 9

C R E AT I V E N O O K

HOCUS

Our workshop has constantly been changing since we moved in almost 4 years ago. It used to be an old bodega of liquor and other “PX” goods in a repurposed warehouse. The first couple of years we spent trying to figure out how to get things organized, but after awhile, the workspace designed itself ! It was tricky at first- because we were half screen printing studio and half bicycle restoration shop, in a semi retail environment. But eventually, we decided to concentrate more on screen printing, which gave us a better idea of how the shop should be. It was the actual process of screen printing that pretty much dictated how the workshop looks today. Now we’ve got a simple lay out: central working table, with paper storage under, a pegboard, ink shelves, exposure unit, and our drying rack. One of the nice things about our workspace is that it’s also an open studio. So while working, random people could walk right into the shop and watch us screen printing an edition or restoring a bike! They’re welcome distractions; we do enjoy meeting new people and exchanging ideas and it makes days at the shop more exciting. Andrei’s favorite: We can play whichever music we want! I like being able to sleep at the workshop too, my favorite thing in the workshop now is our music player. Sheina’s favorite: The little, blue director’s chair behind the printing table. It’s where I like to sit and take a break after printing. SH OW & TELL | 2 1

SNAPSHOTS Minde showcases his prized vintage camera collection in ter v i ew b y Gel i B a l cr u z

22 | S HO W & TELL

Minde Alberto

street and life documentary photographer

mindyminde.me/home

What do you collect? Cameras, Prints of photographs I took and I recently started collecting Photobooks.

I usually just use/play with all of them (cameras) as much as I can since I don’t want any of my cameras getting jealous of one another.

How many do you have in your collection now? About 30+ Cameras, 8000 prints and about 15 photo books.

What do you keep in mind when looking for cameras to buy? (i.e. brand, model, amount etc.) and where do you source your cameras? When collecting something it all boils down on your budget. So I suggest getting a high paying job or break your piggy banks to support your cameracollecting madness. Haha, just kidding!

When did you start collecting cameras and what was the first camera you bought? I think my camera collection madness started way back 2007 to 2008. Yashica Electro 35 GT was the very first camera that I bought which was eventually sold to a friend after few months. What made you decide to collect cameras? There are different type of cameras, 35mm, 120, polaroid, instax rangefinder, SLR, TLR, view camera, point and shoot, pinhole, 110, etc. You might ask: “Why collect cameras when they all do the same thing?” True, all cameras are just “capturing mediums” but for me, the difference lies on how you use it or what it makes you feel when holding it or how people react when you’re using it. Photography is mainly about feeling. If you’re using something that is completely out of place or inappropriate it will show on your image. For example, if you want to get up close and personal to your subject I suggest using a point and shoot camera rather than using an SLR. Since point-andshoot cameras are small and unobtrusive, you can work more spontaneously and you don’t have to fiddle with the controls. If you want to have full control on your images, I suggest you use a medium format camera where can be more decisive and selective on your shots.

Things to keep in mind: 1. Research for the cameras that you like. 2. Know the quirks and proper usage of the camera 3. Know where to source films. 4. Learn how to check shutter speeds and aperture. 5. Check for prices online. Where I source my cameras: Hidalgo (But be wary of the prices) Ukay ukay (If it’s above 1K don’t buy it) Friends that are also collectors (I highly suggest this one) Online shops but be sure to check prices first and wait for promotions or discounts What dream camera would complete your collection? At the moment I can only think of the Kowa Six medium format camera. Will you ever stop collecting cameras? I don’t know, maybe I can stop for a while. It’s like telling me to stop eating at my favorite restaurant if I stop collecting cameras.

SH OW & TELL | 2 3

24 | S HO W & TELL

CR A F TERPRENEUR

KART WHEEL CREATIONS “Hello! I’m Kish Javier and I’m an Artist/Craftsman at Kartwheel Creations.” A DAY IN THE LIFE OF KISH

ALL WIRED UP

I wake up between 7:30 to 11:30am. I feed my pets and water my plants before I eat breakfast. Then I start creating things until 12:00 to 2:00pm. I eat lunch once I get hungry. After eating I go back to the workshop to make stuff. Between 3:00 to 9:00pm I either play basketball, train my dogs, do gardening, or just make more stuff until I notice it’s already dark. Then I wash up, eat dinner, spend some time with my fiancée and family, or manage my online business. Then sleep at around 10:00pm to 3:00am when I lose control playing computer games.

I saw some wire sculptures in an exhibit and the pieces really caught my attention and curiosity. After a few weeks, I saw some spare wire in my grandparents’ house (which is now my workshop), and I just had to try turning it into a wire person. I made one and I was really happy with it, so I tried making another and then another and another... I didn’t really decide on it but the satisfaction and the creative challenge that it gave me just made me get more wire and twist and twist and twist.

On training days, it’s the same thing: I wake up, feed my pets and water my plants, eat breakfast, make stuff, eat lunch, then make more stuff until 6:00pm. Then I wash up and prepare for ultimate frisbee training which is usually 8:00-10:00pm. I eat dinner with my team mates or with just my fiancée, who is also my frisbee team mate. After that, I drive home then sleep at around 12:00 to 1:00am. EARLY BEGINNINGS I have always been creating stuff since I was a kid. I made toys, shirts, bags, accessories, furniture, paintings, longboard skateboards, etc. In 2011, I stumbled upon wire sculpting and I started making and posting my works online. In 2012, a friend suggested that I join the 10a Alabama Arts and Crafts Fair. During those times, our house was in “Art Attack” mode. My mom, sister, and brother started painting while I got hooked tomindyminde.me/home wire sculpting. In the process of preparing for the art fair, I thought that instead of just going with “Kish Javier, Wire Sculptor”, why not create a brand that would carry all my creations together with other artists? So then Kartwheel Creations was born.

When I joined the 10a Alabama Arts and Crafts Fair, I saw other artists/craftsmen who turned their hobbies into a livelihood. I got so inspired that I decided to just immerse myself into my arts and crafts and earn a living by doing what I love. SCULPTED FUTURE I don’t have any secret projects for now. I’m just too busy juggling my wire sculpting with my other creations (cup of tree, wire and resin trinkets). Kartwheel Creations will definitely have its own gallery store someday. My goal is to have more artists and craftsmen join Kartwheel Creations. I want it to be a brand that thrives by embracing, developing, generating and honing this special addictive thing in all of us that is creativity. NUGGETS OF WISDOM Follow your passion! Trust yourself ! Create, create, create!

SH OW & TELL | 2 5

WHAT IS YOUR

MARVS

I have always been fascinated how a humble wooden peg can be used in various ways. One of which is a lamp I made out of them. For my dream tool, I envisioned a single wooden clothespin that can be turned into solar-powered mini reading light or a night lamp! You can just clip it on your book and it lights up instantly. It is portable and sustainable at the same time.

26 | FACEO FF

DREAM TOOL?

MILO

Drawing curve lines is always a headache especially when you’re inking, and it’s always harder to find a french curve that’ll fit with your drawings. My dream tool is a magic “Curving Moustache” which you can bend, pull and deform to any shape that you desire to help you create your fine curves on your drawings. When you’re done, you can reshape it back to its original form or it’ll automatically go back to its shape after a while. I wanted to have this device if possible so I can manage to create art nouveau-ish lines... or simply just to use it as a disguise.

F ACEOF F | 2 7

photo by Geli Balcruz

HEY GUYS Mich Escultura calls out s tereotyping and encourages breaking the mold.

Hey guys, Funny how men and women are pushed into their respective gender roles. From a young age, boys are taught to love things that are blue, or robotic, or muscular. Girls, on the other hand are taught to love pink, cooking, plush toys and pretty dolls. But once they grow up, the line between these interests become more blurred. Women who try traditionally masculine hobbies are seen as tough girls. But once they put on a dress and some makeup, it seems so cool that they can switch from one end of the gender spectrum to the other. With men, it’s an entirely different story. You see, when guys are into more traditionally feminine things like crocheting, painting with “girly” colors, and fashion designing, there exists a stigma. Men who are into these things are seen as “too in touch” with their feminine side. But is there really such a thing? Do your hobbies and interests define your gender? Your sexuality? I think not. Just because you like doing what women are often seen doing,

28 | HEY YO U

doesn’t mean that you want to be a woman. If you’re into the same things your sisters, your mom or your female friends are into, does that make you a lesser man? Hell no. If anything, it shows that you can have a healthy balance of interests. Your horizons are wider, your options almost limitless. You’re not restrained by society dictating what men should do to prove that they’re “real” men. You’re not stuck in one area because you’re exploring what’s on the other side. You’re free to like all things pretty and all things dainty! So what if you’re a guy who has an attachment to his crochet needles, or to his collection of flowy fabrics, or to his pastel paint pots? So what if you love to draw beautiful women wearing the latest trends? So what if you want to be a makeup artist. Creativity has no gender. Passion has no gender. Loving what you do has no gender. Set yourself free from the stigma; do what makes you happy!

H E Y LI T TLE B OY Yani Torio shares some of her loving reminders to the person she holds dearest.

Dear Senna, Once upon a time, there was this mommy who wanted a little boy in her life. She prayed and prayed that she would have a little boy in her life. On her birthday, she prayed again and asked for a birthday gift: a little boy. And do you know what happened? It came true! That’s why I have you. You’re my little boy and whatever happens you will always be my little boy. I know in the future that we might have some misunderstandings and arguments but remember that whatever happens, you will always be my little boy and I will always love you. I want you to remember that. I also want you to remember the future is always uncertain. There are some things that may or may not happen and just in case that future no longer has me in it, I want you to remember a few things. Learn. Learn a new language. Learn a new craft. Learn to travel alone. Learn to cook. Learn everything you want and remember them. Why? Because you’ll never know when you might need it. As they always say, knowledge is power.

30 | HEY YO U

Love. Love reading. Love traveling. Love other people. Love yourself. Love independence. Love makes you human and it keeps you human. Balance. Balance everything you want, you need, you feel, you think. When you find that balance, everything will just fall into place. And lastly, live. There’s nothing sadder that to grow old and have regrets. Live life the way you want to as long as you don’t hurt other people in the process. You only get one chance to live this life, better make the most out of it. I can’t put everything I want to tell you in a letter, so again, I’m praying that I get to teach you everything, be there to guide you and watch you live your life. Because for me, seeing you happy is the best success story I can ever have. I love you little boy. You will forever have my heart in your hands. Mommy

by Tim Albano

H EY YOU | 3 1

THE TINKERER

We interviewed Mitch Shivers who shared with us how he started and what it’s like teaching industrial design. i n ter v i ew b y C a c h i R ey es

p h otos b y M i tc h Sh i v er s

What is a typical day in the life of Mitch Shivers? The only days where my routine is fixed is when I teach classes at the UP College of Fine Arts and the DLS-College of St. Benilde School of Design and Arts, and when I have to attend meetings. Other than that, I don’t really have a typical day. For my creative process, I “go with the flow” depending on what I have to accomplish. On days when my creative juices aren’t flowing, or if I’m stuck because of lack of inspiration, I sometimes just bum around and do stuff to get out of my funk and get my groove back on. This includes spinning vinyls, doing research online, reading books, watching “How It’s Made”, and playing with my pet chihuahua. Growing up, have you always been inclined to creating/making something? Yes. I have always been curious. Some would call me naughty or mischievous because I loved deconstructing and reverse-engineering (a.k.a. ruining) things that sparked my interest. I’m a “tinkerer”. What made you decide to pursue industrial design? Actually, I didn’t even know there was such a course or career path. I started out studying industrial engineering in the U.S. because manufacturing is also creating products. But this was too technical (as it was heavy on math) for me. I realized that my interest and strength was more on the artistic side of production design. I discovered that Industrial Design was the perfect field for me. My technical background really helped though, because as an industrial designer, one has to have more that basic knowledge of electronics, mechanical engineering, materials, manufacturing techniques, etc. Where do you get your inspiration? What inspires you? That’s one of the hardest questions to answer because there isn’t an answer that won’t sound like a cliché, contrived or pretentious! It really depends on what I am working on, what my mood is, and what materials are available to me. That’s how any typical artist feels, I think.

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How does your creative process work? My forte is creating sustainably designed products through upcycling and repurposing. My creative process starts with the collection of junk materials to be used as raw materials for my pieces. From there, I either have instant ideas on how to transform them into functional art, or I let the ideas “simmer” until I get inspiration or find other materials needed to complete my design concept.

Have you collaborated with other artists? Not yet, but it’s in the works. I have ideas brewing for working with other artists such as painters and graphic designers. When the time is right and when the idea is ripe, collaboration will happen, I hope. What is it like teaching and working with industrial design students? For me, teaching is one of the best and most rewarding things about what I do. It keeps me young and relevant. I believe I learn more from my students than they learn from me! I would like to think that I am mentoring my students about life, not just teaching them a skill. What is/are your favorite work/s so far? I love them all equally because each piece has a builtin backstory. My pieces are “new bodies with old souls” What are your plans in the future? My latest endeavor is opening a maker space and retail space called “make it up” at the Podium Mall. I’m doing this with partners who have the same creative vision. This space will cater to design professionals, as well as anyone who wants to release their inner artist or inner mad scientist. We will offer workshops, 3D printing and laser cutting. Upcycled items, including my pieces, will also be sold there. Target opening of our store is April 2014. Any advice to budding industrial designers? • Future designers should not let their egos get in the way of good design. It’s not about them, it’s about the end-user. • Collaborate with others from multiple disciplines, i.e. engineers, architects, scientists, etc. • Be resourceful. Just because someone says it can’t be done, doesn’t mean you should give up. • Have fun! 34 | S TO RIES

HOMME SWEET HOMME Midcentury-industrial store Space Encounters shares their collection inspired by “son-of-a-gun defiance”.

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1. Antler and Pigeon Pillow | 2. Gun Chopping Board | 3. Space Cowboy Loveseat | 4. Halley Table | 5. Round ‘Em Up Notebook | 6. Space Cowboy Coasters | All items from Space Encounters: Unit B Mezzanine Level, Padilla Building, F. Ortigas Jr. Rd., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, 1606. For Inquiries: 910-8031, 0917-795-6739 or info@spaceencounters.net. D WELL | 3 5

MANCAVE Lando Cusi shares what his conceptual crib looks like.

Superman has his Fortress of Solitude; Batman, the Bat Cave. Ironman has both the Stark Tower and his Malibu mansion, and Spider-man has his tiny New York apartment. After a long and tiring day of fighting crime and thwarting evil villains -- or whatever the day’s agenda was -- a place to kick back and retire is the best thing for a superhero, or anyone for that matter. Your very own space where you can be your own person, do your own thing, free from the woes of the outside world; a place to escape, or reflect, or whatever you fancy: that, for me, is essential; something every man or woman must have. And while my space right now is limited to some 20 square meter flat, my profession

makes it easier for me to dream up something more suited to my needs and wants. I decided to design what my ideal space would look like in an ideal setting (read: where I would live if I had a crapload of money), and hopefully it could be of some use to make this dream of mine come one step closer to becoming a reality. It’s simple: four walls and a ceiling, which makes it applicable as wither a stand-alone structure or a high-rise suite, and minimal interior partitions (I like me an open plan). Think of it as a studio unit on steroids. I’m sharing with you my design, as well as the 10 things that I absolutely must have in my “man cave.”

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Living Area Kitchen Bar Home Office Reading Lounge

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Bed Toilet and Bath Laundry Walk-In Closet Balcony

CONCRETE AND BRICK I always like seeing concrete as the dominant material whether it’s for interior or exterior applications. It’s a little cold as a material, visually, but when done right it gives off a beautiful sense of calmness and restraint. The use of concrete as the main finish is very brutalist, and I’m a fan of brutalist style. Brick, on the other hand, is warm and serves as a nice contrast to concrete; an accent of sorts, like the back wall of the sleeping area. These two materials make up the most of my dream place.

HOT BATH The reason for this is simple: a hot bath can do wonders to relieve stress that gets built-up in the body throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be big or luxurious; it just has to be there for you when you get home.

BAR Whether it’s for entertaining friends, helping to get the creative juices flowing, or giving you a more relaxed sensation of sleep, alcohol (just a skosh) has got your back. It’s also something that I would like to have a collection of someday. Different bottles for display and for the occasional drinking; I think that’s pretty cool. And what better way to display said alcohol collection than on a bar. (Knowledge on mixing drinks would be helpful here, but I have yet to acquire that.) D WELL | 3 7

HOME OFFICE Architecture tends to demand long office hours and if had the choice to work from home I would, 100 percent of the time choose not to leave the house. I can save time and money from the lack of commute. I can get work done in just my shirt and boxer shorts and nobody would care because nobody’s there. If I need to work long hours at night and need to rest, the bed would always just be a few meters away (Okay, this one is a double-edged sword). So I need a proper space where I can go about doing my work. Desk space is the most important. I’ll have all sorts of things placed on them like a PC, a laptop, a printer/scanner, maybe a 3D printer (definitely), and lots and lots of papers. Plenty of drawer and overhead cabinet space for storage of supplies and materials are essential. And a really comfortable office chair is a must.

DRUM SET One of my many daydreams/frustrations/ fantasies is to be a gut-busting rock band drummer; one who can dish out 5-minute solos on concerts and look really cool doing it. But alas, I neither have the skills nor the training nor the equipment for it. That’s why in this ideal world situation which I’ve created, I absolutely need to have a drum set. At the very least I can practice rocking out in the comfort of my own home.

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DESIGNER PIECES Not every piece of furniture or accessory has to be a designer piece; maybe 2 or 3 (or 4) would be enough. I like mid-century and modern pieces. In this case I have myself a little reading lounge with a Barcelona chair and ottoman, lit by an Arco lamp. I don’t really read that much, but with pieces like this I’m bound to sit here for hours.

BALCONY WITH A VIEW There’s nothing like drawing inspiration from you see outside your window. Bigger windows mean a better view. A view I’d like to have is that of nature: a mountain, a forest, a field, the ocean, a small garden; everything works. I’d also like to have a balcony; it’s a nice place to relax, reflect and have existential crises in.

WALK-IN CLOSET I believe that one must make it a point to look his best, when he is out in public. That being said, he must have access to a decent collection of clothes; and those clothes must be well taken care of. A proper storage space is key to clothing care, plus a walk-in closet allows for a huge mirror to check yourself out with; just to make sure you’re dressed alright. A laundry room connected to the closet and away from public access is a bonus, since I don’t want visitors finding my dirty laundry.

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BIG METAL DOOR I’ve always been a fan of big, industrial, metal sliding doors that look like they’re meant for factories, but you see sometimes used in New York lofts. I think it’s cool to have one as the main entry for my place. The older and more industrial-looking it is, the better.

DISPLAY CASE I believe it’s important to showcase your personality in your home. Displaying souvenirs from travels, hobbies and interests, or photos of friends and family all tell a story and help to make your place more personal. And for me, what better way to do that than to have a glass case to display one of the most iconic and arguably the best villain/antihero in science fiction history? Throw in a couple of lightsabers and it would be perfect.

Yes, this is the dream. Some of you might also fancy some things I’ve mentioned for your own ideal place, but then again maybe not. The good thing is that nowadays it’s easy to get inspiration for what you want from TV, or magazines, or the internet. The only hard part left is the financing. Now I’m off to find myself a few billion pesos to make my dream happen.

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SUBTLE HUES Denver shares his humble beginnings one stroke at a time. int e r v ie w b y G el i B a l c r u z

I love joining bazaars or attending art related events because you get to meet people some of the most interesting people on earth. There are humble beginners who nervously launched their art for the world to see. There are well known artists who everyone looks up to and more often than not, will trigger your fanmode side. And there are artists, who makes incredible works but remains humble and silent about their achievements. I met Denver in a photography club I was a member of. He took great photos, mostly in black and white. Back then, he was making and selling quirky bags that immediately grabs anyone’s attention. Little did I know that he was quietly making a scene in the art industry, one painting at a time.

Hello, I’m Denver and I am not into sports (haha). I learned how to draw when I was already 20, and so then I never stopped ever since. What’s a typical day for Denver Garza? I never skip meals, and I dress casually whenever I go to work. By nature, I am a talker, so communicating with our patients, interns and staff to keep things balanced in our department is one heck of a job. I am a rat pack, so I carry a lot including my art stuff (sketch pad, brush, watercolor, pencils, etc.) to the office so that I can work on it in cafes after a stressful day at work. Sometimes, I just simply head home and work on it if I don’t feel like working in public. Did you grow up to an artistic family? Not really. Our family is fairly simple. But, I guess the interest and openness to such is there to begin with. What did you wanted to be when you were young? A dentist!

p h otos f r om D en v er Ga r z a

Did you enjoy drawing or creating something as a kid? Who do you look up to or who was your inspiration as a kid? Well, I cannot say. I had drawn only a few times, one or two dinosaurs and that’s it. But I admire people who are good at it and I usually ask them to draw for me. Back then, did you imagine making a living out of your artworks? Learning to draw was not even my interest back then… so no. In what year did you start delving into the creative world? I think it was during college (2007-2008). I started to write poetry and doodle some ugly things until I took some serious practice after I graduated. I also like playing with Photoshop. I learned how to play with color and design. Do you find a way to include creativity / making something on a daily basis? Actually, since I draw/paint almost on a daily basis, stopping for a while keeps my creativity rather, healthy. What hobbies or activities sparked your interest in creating or drawing? I used to do photography as a hobby with my family’s old cameras. I enjoyed travelling a lot because of it. My work in the psychiatric facility helps me explore a lot of things, particularly about myself and how I see other people. That keeps me somewhat driven to do things. i do reflect on what, why and how things are happening around me now a days. That often helps build some sort of concept around my head what to do next with my artworks.

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When did you start making bags? What was the inspiration behind it? My bags started because I was majorly broke back then. I actually started painting tote bags back in 2009 until I learned how to use my grandma’s electric sewing machine. From there, I focused on the structure, until the design started to become complex, focusing purely on textile, patterns, and random stuff. The inclusion of old clothes/fabrics was inspired by my previous volunteer work at WWF Philippines and HSBC’s Project Eco Kids, an environmental awareness project for Grade 3 students. You got to practice what you preach, right? From making bags, how did you transition to painting? Back then, I decided to be on hiatus in making bags because I felt exhausted mentally doing all of the work. I decided to paint some huge bags again which I find it easier to work with. After I got into my clinical psychology work, I decided to stop (for good) on the bag project, and just work with the art. Did you always loved painting / drawing? Who taught you how to draw / paint? I never thought I would have a continuous interest on

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it. My older brother taught me the basics in drawing and painting, from there I worked on it daily, until now, much worst than 5 years ago. What do you usually paint? Does your subject revolves around everyday encounters / experiences? I usually paint people. Mostly my subjects are young attractive people, I also enjoy portraits. But I try to find a way to distort, hide or make it weird. I try to hide the usual description of everyday experiences through disorientation, or distaste, or whatever it is I put in the visuals I create. What made you decide to sell your artworks? Well, one is to check if people are interested with what I am doing, another is to fund this heck of a hobby. Can you share some of your favorite works? Can you tell us the story behind it? The first painting to be shown in a group exhibit with my brother and friends. I painted a weird alien face after I sewn plastic bottle caps in the canvas. It was huge compared to what I’ve doing recently. It was very therapeutic when I did that painting. A lot emotion was given when I was constructing it. But I guess it was worth it.

Are you working on a series now? Would you like to tell us more about it? I’ve been working on a lot of watercolor artworks lately. Sorry, I can’t tell, but I posted some on my Facebook account early this year in terms of the concept I am playing around with. What series would you like to work on in the near future? On the technical side, I want to learn to add complexity on the visuals than to what I have been doing recently. I like nature and urban places since I’ve been painting too many faces already, or integrate both. Do you plan to hold an exhibit for your artworks? YES…soon. Can you share some advice for people who want to be an artist like you? Find meaning to what you do, it simply transcends to the work we present to other people.

From painting dinosaurs to giving life to alternate realities, Denver surely improved a lot on his craft. I vividly remember him telling me that “the amount of time you put into your artwork is directly proportional to the quality of your work” True enough, with patience, determination and tons of practice, one can surely be great in their chosen craft. So start with what you have and do what you can right now

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DREAM WEAVER RJ Santos creates vivid dreams and weaves them into reality through his designs. int e r v ie w b y Gel i B a l c r u z

p h otos f r om R J Sa n tos

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RJ Santos is a fashion designer, photographer and illustrator. He loves to think of himself as an illusionist, transforming distorted sensations into brilliant works of art. He currently works as a freelance designer while managing his own clothing line, Randolf. What’s a typical day like for RJ Santos? I usually wake up at around 6-7am and start working at 8:30. I work in our house haha but I made a rule for myself to not open my computer until 5-6pm so that I can focus on work, unless I need to develop prints. If there are MTO orders, I’m usually glued to my desk sewing. If not, I work on clothes for Randolf and develop the line/conceptualize/research. Growing up, have you always been inclined to creating or making something? Oh yes! I remember always wanting to create things haha not necessarily clothes. When I was a kid, I always try to do those DIY things shown on TV, science or art. I find joy in problem solving. Designing clothes developed when I was in high school. That was when I decided to focus on clothing.

Did you always wanted to be in the fashion industry? If not, What made you decide to delve into the fashion industry? Well I’ve always wanted to make clothes, not sure though about being in the fashion industry. I think there’s a difference between wanting to belong and just wanting to do it for the sake of passion. I’m not for the glamour of fashion; I’m more interested on the process of developing and creating, which is not so glamorous. I think the only time fashion is glamorous is when it is being presented, and I’m not talking about backstage. What inspires you? Where do you get inspiration for your works? A lot! Music in certain situations. Sometimes I create a specific character and imagine his/her life. From there, I create clothes that I think that person/group would wear. Sometimes, I get inspiration from certain events or situations. My grad show collection was inspired primarily by Stockholm Syndrome. There are also times when I will see an image or a thing and it will make my mind go crazy and start developing ideas.

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Can you briefly describe the creative process behind your works? There’s actually no formula to it, at least for me. My creative process is different from each design or collection, which I think is fun and stressful at the same time. It all depends on the concept I’m trying to achieve. For example, when I was working on my first collection for Randolf, I wanted it to mimic a certain group of ‘fashionistas’. So, what I did was researched about mimicking and found Dadaism, which is a form of art form that you can, I guess, consider somewhat a parody (in some aspect). From there, I developed an idea of making these ‘fashion icons’ into viruses that would spread among the people through clothing and prints. I then turned to Yayoi Kusama’s artworks, which included polka dots and used that idea for the layout of my prints. What do you do when you feel like you’re running out of ideas? I take a nap. Rest makes everything better. Sometimes, I go out, relax and observe, but I never expect anything to arrive. I think it’s nicer to not expect for anything

because that’s the time when you’re most open to any possibilities and can gather more ideas. Can you share your favorite works with us? • Randolf polos. This was the first time I was really able to feel confident to sell my works. • Prom dress. I made this dress for my cousin. This was the second prom dress I did for her and the first custom-print gown I ever made. • Graduation barong. I only had three days to do my own graduation barong so I went a la Project Runway on it. I was not really supposed to make one because I was already making my sister’s grad dress, but I could not find a barong with Raglan sleeves(!) so three days before my graduation, I decided to just make my own. I even made my own print for it and silkscreened it instead of having the fabric embroidered. My barong was then featured in Rogue Magazine. • Graduation Collection. Even if this is a rush project, the collection still remains to be one of my favorites because during the whole process (graduation show), I have learned a lot and was STOR IES | 5 1

able to develop my leadership skills since I was the one assigned to be the overall head of the show. The collection serves as my reminder that things really are possible if you give it your all and stay focused. Can you tell us more about Randolf? Randolf [www.randolf.tk] is about having fun and feeling good about yourself. It’s about having fun and not taking everything too serious. In a nutshell, Randolf is a brand that supports the crazy in you! What are your future plans? My main plan as of now is to be able to create and sell a full collection, which I have been revising for months now! I am very OC. And yes, I dream of having my own clothing line which has an actual store and is able to employ people.

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What’s your dream project? For Randolf, [I would like] to be able to afford a factory where the brand will hire and train underprivileged Filipinos. I also want to help people from ‘Tahanang Walang Hagdan’. I want Randolf to be able to afford paying its workers above minimum wage because I know how hard life is. Our government is f*d up, so I think it would be nice to help. My dream project is a collaboration with IT or to be able to sell in IT stores. Do you have any advice for artists or aspiring artists? I am also an aspiring artist, but if I were to give them advice, it would be to dream big and never let go of it.

calligraphy by Paul Blasco

DREAM WEAVER Interior designer and fa shion illustrator Gino EraĂąa interprets this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme in two contrasting illustrations.

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A DAY IN THE LIFE Two illustrators share their daily routines using their best medium.

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ROB C HAM

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MANIX ABRERA

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TO THE BEAT OF ONE DRUM words by Jon Albaniel

I’ve always believed that man was created to be competitive. In the field of athletics, from the Olympics to patintero and tagu-taguan, every guy and girl still aims to best their competition whenever they step into the playing field, and what better way to fuel this spirit than to share it with equally competitive peers in one team. Being part of a team has one major advantage - you all share the same goal, and you’ll never be alone in trying to reach that goal. This is one advantage that is clearly manifested in one of the sports that I have grown to love: dragon boat racing. Imagine twenty people, men and women, sitting in pairs inside a narrow boat with barely enough space to fit each other, rowing in sync while constantly paying attention to the drum beats and shouts of a lead drummer seated in front of all of them while a steersman ensures that the only direction the boat will go will be towards the finish line. Now imagine

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photo by Jijo De Guzman

three, or sometimes even five, other dragon boats alongside you doing the same thing. Everybody’s shouting, urging their teammates to row harder and push themselves, drum beats are getting louder as each boat cuts through the water. But at the end of probably the longest two minutes of your life, the feeling of finishing ahead of your competition will always be something treasured. To be able to achieve the same goal, and knowing that each person in the group worked to achieve the same goal is what playing as a team is all about. As I continue to spend time with these individuals, it’s almost inevitable to not let this degree of camaraderie carry over to life outside the sport. We start spending time together outside training sessions, having cookouts, going on out of town trips, and simply just having a few drinks at the end of a long day at work or school. Now, I not only have a reason to maintain a healthy lifestyle doing sports. In a team, I end up having an extension of my family as well.

What is your favorite

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SKETCH, STYLE, TRAVEL One of the geniuses behind the brand Papemelroti, Kuya Robert (also known as The Sketching Backpacker ) tells us about his creative journey. a s t old t o And r e a d e l a C r uz

p ho t o s f r om R ob er t A l ej a n d r o

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ON HIS CHILDHOOD I’m the “ro” of Papemelroti (the rest are, PAtsy, PEggy, MELdy, RObert, TIna). I have the most wonderful job of creating new products (designing, drawing, sculpting etc.). When I was younger, I remember being the “kargador”, delivering goods with my mom to other stores. As a child, I drew on walls and furniture (something I don’t recommend). My school notebooks were full of drawings. I also remember doing badly at math but when it was time to learn geometry, (where I had to draw angles) I did very well. I distinctly remember growing up watching Popeye and believing that spinach gave you muscles and incredible strength. ‘When I grow up, I want to be just like Popeye’, was what I thought. I also grew up with Sesame Street, the Funny Company, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, etc. The Love Bug (a movie featuring a Volkswagen with a soul), Mary Poppins (a Disney movie with a nanny that flies), Casper the friendly ghost - I believed everything! I remember thinking I had the most handsome daddy and the most beautiful mommy - I was absolutely right! I grew up with arts and crafts all around me - we had art books and there was paint and plaster all over the apartment we lived in. 74 | S TO RIES

I was in charge of “antique-ing” at a very young age. “Antique-ing” (this is just my definition) is a process of making an object look older or worn. The process could involve a number of things: carving, staining, painting, drilling etc. My job (I was probably in 1st or 2nd grade) was to “antique” figurines. I had to paint (or dunk) figurines (by the dozen like a factory assembly line) in dark stain. It was a messy job and I was a mess myself by the end of the day. Picture a small boy covered in wood stain - that was me. I earned a few centavos for it (I bought bubble gum). I learned work ethic at a young age (and am thankful for the lesson). ON WORK AND PLAY I have my own “art/design” business (www.raadesign. com) and so Papemelroti is actually more of my “play”. Most of the time I have a free hand on what I can design, as long as the product is economically/ environmentally viable. Sometimes my sister tells me what she would like me to design and sometimes I ask her if I could design a certain line of products. Then I just create it - I have to know each and every step of how the product will be done. I have to make sure it doesn’t cost so much so that the product doesn’t come out so pricey. Creativity is the lifeblood of Papemelroti.

ON HIS TRAVEL SKETCHES In 2007, five friends (3 of whom I just met through the Internet), introduced me to the world of backpacking. Suddenly, it was affordable to travel. We first traveled throughout Southeast Asia. (see my book: Backpacking: Southeast Asia and parts of China).The trip took 3 months and I experienced “slow travel” - which meant I had all the time to draw, which made me so happy. I get real grouchy when I am rushed. I would spend the whole day in one spot, drawing. This is the kind of travel I love - slow. And cheap! I did this throughout Europe too. I never travel without a sketchpad, pens and watercolor. I also bring glue! When I was younger, I remember traveling with family and I would ask a day for “myself” - I would spend the day sketching. I would just give these sketches to my sister (I think she still has them). It was obviously about the “moment” of creating art and not much about the art created. ON MAKING ART AND FAVORITE PLACES TO SKETCH When you draw in public, people are very interested. People watch and talk to you. Once I was drawing a beautiful building in Luang Prabang in Laos - a group of tricycle drivers gathered around me and got angry at another driver who

covered my view of the building (I don’t know their language but what they were saying was obvious). I absolutely love Budapest. I lovingly made a Budapest sketchbook which is now lost! I imagine it will turn up one day when I’m dead. I would like to go to the salt flats of Bolivia - I heard it’s quite a trip! When I see my travel sketchbooks, I really do remember the “moment” I created the art. I remember how uncomfortable the fence I was sitting on when I drew the Moulin Rouge in Paris, I remember biking to different places in Prague, stopping to do watercolors, etc. - sounds so ideal doesn’t it? It is! My favorite artists include artists from Ang INK (Ilustrador ng Kabataan), Edward Gorey and Mark Hearld, among many others. Right now i’m crazy about photographer Tim Walker’s work! ON STYLE AND HIS SARTORIAL SKETCHES I came across Scott Schuman’s book “The Sartorialist” and thought how wonderful it would be to sketch these interesting, beautiful people! I bought the book even though it was hefty in price and weight when I was in Hong Kong. In the future, maybe I could draw our local fashion icons - I think I will start with Gilda Cordero Fernando and Michael Salientes! I think it’s the “personal style” that makes a person stylish! - this has absolutely STOR IES | 7 5

nothing to do with brands and economics! It’s more about courage, conviction and personality--I don’t have much courage and conviction but I have a teaspoon of personality! ON STARTING A SKETCHBOOK You don’t really need a particular place to create art. You can create art here and now. Start RIGHT NOW. You don’t even have to travel to do it. Do get into the habit of drawing, sketching, painting and creating. Do it all the time. Enjoy the moment, the process. Enjoy the quiet bliss of creating. ON HIS CURRENT PROJECTS AND SAGE ADVICE At any given time, there are no less than 20 items on my “to do list”. But it is important for me to focus on one thing at a time and not get caught up in the rush of things and spoiling all the fun of creation and art. I am always most excited about what I am working on at the moment. As of nw, I’m working on a new batch of Papemelroti postcards. I’m also developing a line of figurines. You can find inspiration absolutely ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE! I say this with all honesty. Draw, paint, create to your hearts content. Get inspired. Surround yourself with creativity and inspiring people. Have fun!

See more of Kuya Robert’s works on his sites: • raadesign.com • the-sketching-backpacker.tumblr.com

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by Dax Cuaresma

PLAYING WITH GLASS BY MARS BUGOAN “I am totally free and I am imposing my will on something… Enriching the monotype with stitching is an intervention that doesn’t register at first glance. And then it appears to me that the experience of the work requires intimate attention and scrutiny. This series is a tribute to Nietzsche’s “freigeist” (free spirit) which challenged intellectual and moral standards as well as encouraged man to be willing, daring and open-minded—and it happens only if we ‘look closer’.”

This is a monotype print made through the following process: Ink the entire plate and create the drawing by removing the ink (subtraction method) using brush, paper, sponge, or rags. To add contrast to the expressionistic mood of the monotype, I created geometric embroidery on top of it. This print was part of the series I made for PAP group exhibition at the German Club.

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(RE)MAKING MELODIES Cris Garcimo, together with his band, creates music for a kinder universe int e r v ie w b y G e l i B a l c r u z

Cris Garcimo creates and plays music for Gentle Universe, a children and natured-inspired ambient music group. Inspired by the birth of his son, their music resounds nature and children inspired tunes. Being an avid lover of music, he founded Musiko Imbento, a community of crafters, players, and supporters of handmade musical instruments in the Philippines. Join us as Cris tells us the process behind every handmade musical instruments and sound installations he makes using vintage synths, computers, toys, coconut shells and other repurposed objects.

My parents don’t play any musical instruments, but they told me that my grandfather plays folk guitars. Growing up, it was my older brother who influenced me to listen to different types of music. We were lucky that our parents nurtured our interest in music. When I was in grade six, I played “tom tom” drums for our school’s marching band. We played during school programs and town fiestas. It was always fun and festive! Lots of free food too! After my brother started playing drums, I got interested in playing guitars. Eventually, I formed my own band with my high school classmates. Later on, I discovered homemade electronic music. I just used available resources and equipment at home. I started with tape decks and cassette recorders back in the 90’s. I tried recording interesting sounds, noise manipulation and overdubbing. Then in 2003, I started creating my own music projects using 4-track recorders, drum machines, synthesizers and computers. In 2006, one of tracks was featured in SABAW, the first anthology of experimental, electronic and sound art in the Philippines. I started Gentle Universe after having a family. I began collecting kiddie musical instruments for our son Dylan in 2010. Eventually, I used it in creating

p h otos f r om C r i s Ga r c i m o

family-friendly and nature-inspired music for Gentle Universe, where I invited my friends Eric Diolola, Valerie Bautista, Stanley Castelo to play. We also collaborate with Yen Reville on visuals and guest artist Amiya on vocals on some of our live performances. What sparked your interest in making your own instrument? For handmade and d.i.y. musical instruments, I was inspired by Lirio Salvador of Elemento. He creates musical instruments and sculptural assemblage using bicycle parts, utensils and found objects. Last year, I joined Mochiko’s handmade contest to win the prize as a birthday gift for my wife. Surprisingly, my handmade musical instrument made of coconut shell won the contest. Since then, I’ve been using coconut shells in my instruments and sound installations called “Cocospheres”. I use coconut shells because it is sustainable and abundant in the Philippines as a tropical country. Can you briefly describe the process involved in creating your handmade instrument? For the Cocokalimba, it starts with the cleaning and sanding the coconut shell which acts as the resonator for the instruments. Then, I prepare the lamella or the tines for the thumb piano. Before, I used steel springs, but now I used bamboo and wood. Recently, I found a natural wood polish for my handmade coconut kalimba. I’m using beeswax wood polish from Ilog Maria HoneyBee Farm instead of plastic varnish.Beeswax wood polish is an ancient blend of beeswax from beehives and other selected natural oils that gently brings out the natural color and grain of wood. Smells good too! What made you decide to use found objects to make your own instruments? Aside from being accessible, using found objects makes it more fun and fulfilling. I like the idea of giving it a new life and use.

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One can create musical instruments and sound devices using repurposed materials and found objects. This is the principle behind Musiko Imbento. It is a community of crafters, players, and supporters of self-built and handmade musical instruments in the Philippines.

Any future plans for your creations? i.e. do you plan to have a workshop, a store etc? I plan to create more designs, sound installations and custom musical instruments. I am also open for commissioned works.

During shows and events, we also sell CDs and other handmade items and including Lirio Salvador fundraising T-shirts. Lirio Salvador is a musician who created “experimental instruments based on his concept of ethno-industrial art/music;” he is recovering from a hit-and-run incident that happened in 2011. To help, please visit www.facebook.com/ HelpLirioSalvador.

For Musiko Imbento, we’ll be organizing our next show and tell, workshop and open jam at Sev’s Café soon. For April, we joined 98B’s Future x Saturday Market at Escolta. Hopefully, we could have our own community craftspace also.

Can you share some of your favorite works? My current favorites are the Cocokalimba and Jeepnilamella. Cocokalimba was my entry to Mochiko’s handmade contest. I was also invited by Prof Ma. Cristina Muyco to design and play an instrument made of jeepney scrap. I made a customized jeepney-shaped lamellaphone. The Cocokalomba was featured in Tropang Potchi, Aha! TV show and recently in Saksi of GMA Channel 7 when they did a feature on musical instruments made of repurposed materials.

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Can you share some words of wisdom? For those who are interested in crafting their own musical instruments, just have fun, be open and inventive. Love your family and love your craft. How can we attend upcoming shows and events of Musiko Imbento? For more information and updates, please visit and like www.facebook.com/musikoimbento or follow Musiko Imbento on twitter. #musikoimbento www.gentleuniverse.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/musikoimbento csgarcimo@gmail.com

“Love your family and love your craft.“

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TO HIS OWN TUNE We interview singer and songwriter Bullet Dumas who shares his songwriting secrets, inspirations and favorite songs. w o r d s b y Anna Ac h a cos o- Gr a h a m

Bullet Dumas is someone you could well enough place side-by-side with singer-songwriters such as Joey Ayala, Noel Cabangon and Gary Granada due to his eccentric style and folk-like sound. “Feeling ko since pinanganak ako mahilig na talaga ako sa music. Alam ko medyo cliché sabihin ‘yun, pero ganun talaga eh, diba?” Bullet was first influenced by Broadway classics such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Grease, and by the playfulness and adventurousness of Disney songs. Music was always played in Bullet’s home. He would listen to whatever was being played on the radio. “I’m a music a fan, and I’ll always be a music fan”, he claims. Bullet admits he’s not really a fan of genres. To him, as long as it sounds good, he’ll give it a listen. Bullet learned how to play the guitar when he was in first year high school. They were required to learn during their fourth quarter but his best friend, KC Tan, taught him a quarter earlier since he was already eager to learn. KC taught him two songs, “Pare ko” and “Elesi” both by Eraserheads. He then relied on Song Hits magazines and chord charts afterwards. He began composing during his fourth year in High school, but it was in college where he really focused on it. He remembered that it was during that time when he experienced his first heartbreak – proof that we really owe a lot of beautiful songs to a broken heart. When asked about his influences, you’d be surprised with the wide range and variety of whom Bullet listens to. International artists include Hiromi Uehara, Bobby McFerrin, Richard Bona, Beatles, Oasis, System of a Down, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus and Basia, while local artists include Eraserheads, Rivermaya and Sugarfree. He specially mentioned Ebe Dancel, whom he idolizes when it comes to writing lyrics. DETUNING One really interesting thing about his music playing is that he detunes his guitar. Though Bullet still performs

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p h otos b y I s i La u r ea n o

some songs with his guitar strings in the standard tuning of E A D G B E, he discovered detuning to be an easier way for him to play the guitar. He detunes the strings to a totally random chord, because he wants to create a nice sounding chord in one strum. He doesn’t even know what chord it is, and does not mind, as long as it sounds good to his ear. From that random chord, he forms different sounds and forms a song from there. Structure-wise, he also doesn’t stick to the verse-chorus-bridge-chorus labels. He labels the parts as they are, and tells the story as it comes to him. SONGWRITING There’s something about Bullet’s songs that just draws you in. You can feel the offbeat quality and quirkiness of his character in his compositions. Through the lyrics, rhythm, meter changes, melodies, you can tell that every aspect of the song is well thought of. He shared three songwriting processes he uses. The most basic one is when he composes the lyrics first; then does the arrangement where he sings it the way he wants it to sound like; then he learns the guitar parts. He rarely uses this process because he feels boxed in, and it tends to make him follow the standard rules. The second process is where he composes the music first, the lyrics afterwards. The songwriting process he uses more often is where the guitar riff comes first. “Sobrang random na tunog lang. I detune my guitar to some random sounding chord, tapos pipili na ako ng mga magandang tunog na riff, then I try to hum to it or scat to it, sobrang random gibberish words lang. Pagtapos nun magkakaroon ng session sa bahay. Kung may lumabas, eh ‘di swerte. Kung walang lumabas, I have to record that, pero kailangan nandun yung scatting ko, yung gibberish para alam ko kung ano yung iniisip ko that time.” Bullet listens to what he has recorded everywhere he goes. He reveals that he actually rarely listens to other artists’ albums. He listens to his own instrumentals so

that he can come up with lyrics for them. He’ll listen to the gibberish words, and then if something sounds like a certain phrase, he’ll experiment with that. What he likes about this process it that he feels that he is latched on to the music more. The music is there and he allows himself to really feel that particular moment, which then leads to what that piece of music makes him want to say. “Medyo madali naman maging adventurous sa lyrics” he shares. From there he completes the song, but line-by-line. The good thing about that, he says, is that you know that each line is well thought of - every word and every phrase. “‘’Tas kung yun yung tunog dun, at ito yung magandang tunog para sa arrangement na yun, para sa riff na yun, eh di perfect diba? Parang yun talaga yung meant for it.” Bullet doesn’t have a lot of rules when it comes to writing songs so it’s mostly free flowing but one interesting rule he has is that he doesn’t like repeating big words in his songs, because for him there are many ways you can interpret a certain idea. He also believes that you should really allot time when writing a song. “Huwag mong sasakalin yung kanta. Huwag mo siyang pipiliting matapos. I’ll let the song ripen by itself”. STUDYING MUSIC For him, you have to learn the rules first before you tweak them. “I didn’t study, I’m just a music fan. Tanggap lang ako nang tanggap ng ideas.” He does feel that he needs to study eventually, because he doesn’t want to reach the point where he does the same thing over and over, and his songs start sounding similar to each other. He wants to study soon, to learn exactly what he’s already doing, and to enhance his knowledge and skills. MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES He couldn’t really pick at first, but what was at the top of his head was the Miriam College Grade School graduation rehearsal, where Bullet was invited by the music teacher to play for them as an icebreaker. One afternoon, he played, and all 300 students gave him a standing ovation. It was his first standing ovation ever, he excitedly shared. He performed “Pssst!” <watch here> Another memorable performance was at the Elements Songwriting Camp, because it was his first time to perform solo in front of a crowd. He was one of the top campers they chose to perform on their last night. He felt like that was his official debut into the music industry, and it turned out that the performance really triggered everything for him. Dreams “I want to teach music, teach songwriting. To have a big concert. To hit the international scene.” Bullet’s not one to plan a lot, he deals with what’s happening now. He just keeps going, keeps composing and performing. For most people, music is an escape from stress. But what do you do when music gives you that stress and feels like work? That’s something Bullet doesn’t want to happen. Sometimes he gets burned out, but he finds ways to get rid of that feeling. Any advice for budding musicians? “Wag masyadong bilib sa sarili. Wag i-box in ang sarili. Be open minded hindi lang sa music, sa lahat ng bagay. Pag musikero ka, ‘wag mong isipin na musikero ka, ‘wag mong isipin na sa music lang umiikot mundo mo, kasi marami kang mapupulot sa ibang bagay. Draw out inspiration from different types of things. Makinig lang nang makinig ng music. I’m a music fan and I’ll always be a music fan, so kung maganda yung music, pakikinggan ko ‘yan. Kinig lang talaga ako nang kinig.”

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BEHIND THE TUNES We asked Bullet to pick three of his most favorite compositions and share the story behind his songs. NINUNO “Kakarampot nalang ba kaming umaakay sa may kapansanang dalagitang kalikasan”. Ninuno is the first song he composed using the third process he described to us. The gibberish he was singing when he was forming the music eventually turned into the word “ninuno”. It took him only a week to finish the song because he was heartbroken! He shared that all the songs he wrote during that time were heartbreak songs, so he said to himself, “Forget that! I need to write something else,” and that’s when he composed “Ninuno”. The song is inspiring in a way, it aims to engage but you can also feel the hopelessness and sadness. He said he also wrote this song for the UP Mountaineers, an organization he is also part of. LIMGUHIT Limguhit is his collaboration with his best friend, KC Tan, who made the guitar riff. He said that it was this song that made him feel that he’s doing

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something right. Before when he would write something, he didn’t know if other people would like it. But at the Elements Songwriting camp, he was so overwhelmed that they all loved it so much because of its unconventional sound. PUT TO WASTE “Ayaw sa atin ng tadhana, malamang kinikilabutan sa yanig na dulot ng lupit ng ating pagkakaibigan”. He wrote the song for his students, back when he was teaching Math at Miriam College Grade School. He said that this is the saddest song he’s ever written. Half of the song is written in English, half in Filipino. His students were touched by the English part of the song, not knowing that the Filipino part has an evendeeper and powerful meaning. He performed it for them on their last day of class. Editor’s Note: Bullet Dumas will be launching his EP this month! Join him on May 10 at Conspiracy Garden Café, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.

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photo by Geli Balcruz

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GROUND BEEF AND POTATO NACHO W o r d s an d p h otog r a p h s b y A n j o C a n ta l ej o

I never really had any training when it came to cooking, but I’ve always enjoyed eating. So when there was no food in the house, I just had to be resourceful. I’m used to putting together whatever’s available at home, or if there are any leftovers. This recipe is actually from leftover ingredients my mom didn’t get to cook. It’s really not a healthy recipe. Haha. This would go really well with beer, and would be perfect if shared with a couple of friends. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS 8 big potatoes Flour Oil Butter ¼ kg ground beef 1 head garlic 2 medium sized white onions 2 regular tomatoes 3 tbsp tomato paste Chilli flakes 1 piece siling labuyo 4 strips bacon Spring onions (for garnish) Dried (crushed) basil leaves Cheese slices Cheese spread 1 solo pack plain yogurt Half a cup of cream POTATOES Cut the potatoes into roughly 1”x1” cubes. No need to peel. Toss lightly in flour. Deep fry until crisp and golden brown. Set aside.

On the same pan, with the rendered bacon fat, add butter. The oil will stop the butter from burning too fast. Sauté onions until slightly translucent. Add a small amount of sugar to help caramelize the onions. Then add the minced garlic, siling labuyo, and chilli flakes. Add the beef, and stir fry until beef is cooked. Stir in the tomatoes (cubed), and the tomato paste. Flavour with basil, and of course, season with salt and pepper. You may choose to add cumin and paprika, and spice up to your preference. Set aside. YOGURT SAUCE In a small bowl, mix the yogurt, grated garlic, and heavy cream. Add minced chives. ASSEMBLY Set the potatoes at the bottom. Then top with the beef mixture. Pour the yogurt sauce. Top again with the cheese spread and sliced cheeses. Don’t forget the bacon. Everything’s better with bacon.

BEEF Cut bacon strips into small bits. Pan fry in just a little bit of oil until perfectly crispy. Set aside.

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TIPSY TURVY w o r d s b y ano n y m ou s

i l l u s tr a ti on s b y La n d o C u s i

Is it love or just the alcohol? As I write my confessions, I realize that alcohol may be much better than love, and life may not be as wonderful without my alcohol lovers.

BEER

WHISKEY

LAMBANOG

I never liked you and avoided you at

It started extremely awkward as

You’re a challenge - a conquest I’ve

all cost. But in college blossomed an

you’re my dad’s good friend. We run

yet to face. Your reputation scares me.

unexpected friendship. You’ve become

in different circles but fate always

Maybe one day I’ll get to know you

a constant in my life yet you still find

seems to bring us together. I’ve

better and understand why.

ways to surprise me. One thing I’m

started not just to like you, but I love

sure is you’re a friend for keeps.

you, Mr. Walker.

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VODKA

RUM

TEQUILA

You truly know how to get to me.

We’ve had encounters few times

You were the ultimate charmer and

You once were my favorite of all - a

before but I only got to know you later

I’ll always have fond memories of you

chameleon and the life of the party.

in my life. You’re someone I can rely

and your buddies - The Triumvirate

But as I grew older, I stayed away.

on and such a sweet one, too. All I ask

as we called it. Sadly, your charm

Truth is I just can’t keep up with you

is please don’t backstab me like you’ve

does not work on me anymore. Here’s

anymore.

done to my friends.

a lick-shoot-suck for all the good times we shared.

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REIMAGINING

THE VIEW FROM ABOVE Gerome Soriano sho ws us his version of a bird’s eye view. This was my first time to visit the Hot Air Balloon festival at Subic. I was invited by Sir Orly of the Kite Association of the Philippines. I thought that I could get aerial photos of the Hot Air Balloons. But I learned that Hot Air Balloons and kites don’t go well. Kites need wind, Balloons hate those. I need daylight for my kite aerial photography, while the balloons take off before daylight when the temperature in the atmosphere is still low. I went there at around 9 am on a Saturday, and it was only until Sunday afternoon that I was able to take these photos. The most memorable part was doing kite aerial photography with Sir Orly’s huge red kit. It was so huge that people made way for it.

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