LIEU ISSUE NO 8
LUST FOR LIFE
Here’s to romance, desire, and love that celebrates living.
8
ISSUE NO
LIEU
noun stead; place (esp in the phrases in lieu, in lieu of) Behind LIEU Online Magazine are young people who are passionate about photography, music, literature, film, fashion, travel, graphic design — anything that stirs the soul and inspires expression. By offering LIEU as a space for budding artists to share their craft, we hope to influence more people to get out, get inspired and start creating. WWW.LIEUMAGAZINE.COM @LIEUMAGAZINE | FB.COM/LIEUMAGAZINE
ROLL CALL CREATIVE DIRECTOR Aidx Paredes ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Janna Moya FEATURES EDITOR Chit Lacson FEATURES WRITER Ramon Erum ONLINE HEAD Mo Jaravelo SOCIAL MEDIA HEAD Amelia Baird CONTRIBUTORS Cyrell, Deby Binalla, Eanna Fernandez, Jay Rosas, Joseph Agra, Mark Pidor, Nico Aquino, Nikko Zamora, Sam Ortiz EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Cheekie Albay, Jad Montenegro, Kristine Serrano
ISSUE NO 8
in LIEU
POOF
+ Don’t Kiss and Tell Mixtape + A Different Date + You, Me, and the Movies + Lucas Launches Nostalgia EP + Reverie 2014
HASHTAG + Exuding Love + Appetite for Seduction
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS LUST FOR LIFE: Bagane Fiola
FILM ROLL
+ The Davao We See + Disquieted + Untitled I, Untitled II + Lately... + The Streets
poof
MIXTAPE
DON’T KISS AND TELL Mixtape by Amelia Baird
If your current playlist lacks that spark to get things going, LIEU has got you covered. We’ve designed this playlist to set the mood for any romantic endeavor in the month of February, whether it’s a light makeout session or something hotter and heavier. Light some scented candles, put on your favorite perfume, wear that dress he likes, and remember to keep the music at a low volume.
Nouvul, “Theydreamlady”
From the post-R&B project of Manila’s Similarobjects, this song lets you take a walk through dreamland, meet the girl of your dreams, and wake up beside her.
The Raveonettes, “I Wanna Be Adored”
A cover of a Stone Roses classic, this song will make any heart realize that all it wants is to be adored.
Lorde, “400 Lux”
This song will make you appreciate the love you presently have and hold on to it more dearly.
Dream Koala, “Ocean”
Oozing with sexiness, Dream Koala’s guitars put you on a cloud and set you sailing away.
Stars, “Better Be Heaven”
It’s more a painful song than a makeout number, but it does create a wonderful atmosphere for getting sensual.
Morrisey, “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get” The title says it all.
Joshua Radin, “The Greenest Disclosure ft. Sam Smith, “Latch” Grass” A break from the slow, sweet, and sexy, “Latch” will get your heart racing with its soul-infused electronica.
Tame Impala, “Feels Like We’re Only Going Backwards”
“I know that you think you sound silly when you call my name / But I hear it inside my head all day.” Anyone who’s ever been smitten can relate.
Metric, “Torture Me”
“Get the rope / Tie me to the bed post” obviously suggests something more than simply making out. It’ll get you dancing a slow tango.
Feel the joy of kissing the person you like. If things go well, this could be the song playing in the background of your engagement video.
SoundArchitects, “Nightlights”
With this local post-rock track, embark on a cosmic journey to the solar system from the balcony of your condominium. Just remember to hold on tight to your partner. LISTEN TO THE MIXTAPE HERE :
http://8tracks.com/lieuonlinemagazine/don-t-kiss-and-tell
Still from Breathless (Les Films Impéria)
A DIFFERENT DATE Text by Chit Lacson
Looking to do something new this Valentine’s? Inject some novelty into your love celebration by considering this list of unconventional date options. You’re sure to have a V-Day you won’t soon forget.
MAKE IT MORNING The solution to all the good restaurants being booked on the evening of February 14th: breakfast date. Rise early, take a long walk, and have a delightful breakfast together to celebrate Valentine’s.
HAVE A GROUP HANG Being single is not such a bad thing. Instead of hating February 14, celebrate being single by having some friends over at your place. Prepare chick flicks, a box or two of double extra large pizza, and some bottles of booze, and you’re good.
Still from The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Summit Entertainment)
Still from Reality Bites (Universal Pictures)
VOLUNTEER TOGETHER This day is a celebration of love, and not just the love between you and your partner. Reach out to others by spending this day doing volunteer work, such as visiting an orphanage or joining charitable activities. Still from The House Bunny (Columbia Pictures)
EAT AL FRESCO If you can’t have that picturesque restaurant dining experience on this day, head out to your home’s garden, throw down a mat and a few pillows, lay out some aphrodisiac-loaded food, and voila! You now have a sweet, private picnic for two. Still from (500) Days of Summer (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
CELEBRATE ON A DIFFERENT DAY The celebration of love doesn’t end when Valentine’s Day comes to an end. Why not think of romantic things to do together for the days still to come? In small slips of paper, list down all the things you’ve both always wanted to try, and put them in a jar. Every time you plan to go out, pick out one piece of paper and do whatever is written on it. Still from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Paramount Pictures)
FILMS
YOU, ME, AND THE MOVIES Text by Ramon Erum Movie posters c/o http://www.imdb.com
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Other than the distress of trying to figure out what to do on V-Day, where to do it should be second on your list of things to worry about. But believe it or not, that one romantic spot that you’ve been searching for is closer than you think. Valentine’s is perfect for staying indoors, getting comfy with your special someone, and watching a good dose of chick flicks. It saves you from spending a lot of money on dates, gifts, and an fancy dinner, too. Here, LIEU presents a list of flicks you should catch on this special day.
THE NOTEBOOK (2004) This is a classic, gooey love story that has touched the hearts of audiences everywhere. Also, Ryan Gosling is in it – a definite plus for the ladies. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993) Before mainstream chick flicks, there was Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Witness one of cinema’s most timeless love pairs in this 90s rom-com.
A LOT LIKE LOVE (2005) “If you’re not willing to sound stupid, you don’t deserve to be in love.” Enough said.
DEFINITELY, MAYBE (2008) A father in the midst of a divorce tells his daughter the story of his life before marriage and how he met his soon-to-be ex-wife, but changes the names in the story, turning it into a romantic mystery.
ONE DAY (2011) This friends-turned-lovers story takes place on the same day over a period of 23 years. It also features Anne Hathaway with a sexy English accent.
BEFORE SUNRISE (1995), BEFORE SUNSET (2004), AND BEFORE MIDNIGHT (2013) Three movies, two decades, and one amazing storyline. No V-Day flick list is complete without even one of these three.
THE SPECTACULAR NOW (2013) This is a story about young love and overcoming one’s own flaws. What makes it even more refreshing is it doesn’t follow the cliché teen-in-love plot.
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER (2009) This movie is undeniably one of the best “boy meets girl” stories ever – although, as the film’s narrator is quick to point out, “This is not a love story.”
EVENTS
LUCAS LAUNCHES NOSTALGIA EP The alternative five-piece celebrates the release of their first EP with a rocking launch party that also featured performances by WeRideDynamite, Tramonto, 8-A, DJ Ram Mia, and Cagayan de Oro’s AgainstTheLight. Photography by Sam Ortiz
REVERIE 2014
Abreeza Mall and Manic Nightnings Productions host Mindanao’s first-ever 3D mapping dance party, with Davao’s DJ Torch and Boracay’s DJ Surf, DJ Erwin Edralin, and DJ Reo Mendoza spinning wicked EDM beats. Photography by Raphael Meting and Nikko Zamora
EVENTS
hashtag
EXUDING LOVE Text and photography by Amelia Baird
(L-R) Thea Pitogo, lead vocalist and ukulele player; Lal Wanan, back-up vocalist; Jacob Elemento, drummer/beatboxer
Some might recognize her as a contestant on Season 3 of the primetime ABS-CBN show Pilipinas Got Talent. Aside from this, not much is known of Thea Pitogo in the local music scene. Thea was discovered two years ago by UK-based label Plutonic Group Syncs. With their help, she made waves in the Midem Music Festival, an indie music contest based in Paris where she landed in the top 30 out of 800 entries. Now, as one of the rising stars of Davao’s indie underground scene, Thea aims to connect with her listeners through music that exudes the same thing it takes inspiration from: love.
MUSIC
(L-R) Lal Wanan, back-up vocalist; Thea Pitogo, lead vocalist and ukulele player; Jacob Elemento, drummer/beatboxer Who are your greatest influences as a musician? One of my greatest influences is my dad. My dad would usually be out of town for work but whenever he would come home, he’d unwind by listening to his massive collection of vinyl records by brilliant artists. He influenced my taste in music for artists such as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Peter, Paul and Mary, to name a few. I cherish my childhood days where I would sit with my dad and we would listen to music; during one of those moments, I realized that my dad had imparted a very special gift to me: the gift of listening. Since then, I discovered my mission in life and that hasn’t changed at all: it is to transcend the art of listening to form a promising truth through music. In your music, you seem to know a lot about love. How does love inspire you to write? Love is the thread in the fabric of the universe. We wouldn’t exist without it. It’s there and we’re blessed to
have it. All you have to do is listen carefully. What’s your take on Davao’s budding music scene? It’s a privilege to be a part of Davao’s promising music scene. There are plenty of talented and humble artists around here. I want to be a catalyst of change, just like every other artist in the country. Davao’s music scene needs to level up and the people need to get involved and realize that there is more to the OPM scene than just Manila bands. What’s in store for Thea Pitogo in 2014? We have four songs already and we’re writing more for an upcoming EP which is sponsored by our label Plutonic Group Syncs. You can catch me and my band play at Bogser’s by the Sea on weekends. Listen to the songs of Thea Pitogo: https://soundcloud.com/theapitogomusic
FOOD
APPETITE FOR SEDUCTION Text by Cheekie Albay Photography by Aidx Paredes
It’s Valentine’s season once again, which means romancing diners will soon be filling Davao’s fancy restaurants with heart eyes and blushing smiles. Instead of just settling on a restaurant and letting the date run its course, why not choose dishes that can steer the night from sweet straight into sexy? We visited Tsuru Japanese Restaurant and Hanoi Vietnamese Cuisine and consulted Operations Manager Christian De La Paz for aphrodisiac-loaded picks that couples can savor to get that loving feeling. Enjoy your evening, lovebirds.
TSURU SPICY SALMON SUSHI Salmon is a good source of omega-3, which ups mood-enhancing serotonin levels. Plus, it packs vitamins that give the libido a boost. SPECIAL SASHIMI In this selection of 10 types of sashimi, zero in on the uni (sea urchin), which is said to release dopamine, a chemical involved in the brain’s pleasure center. (Photo c/o Tsuru) KAKI BUTTER YAKI Probably the most popular aphrodisiac, oysters—bathed in lemon butter sauce in this dish—carry testosterone-pumping zinc and hormone-triggering amino acids that make it perfect for sexy time. (Photo c/o Tsuru)
HANOI CHA NUONG This Hanoi specialty contains basil, which helps improve blood flow; carrots, loaded with vitamins that aid sex hormone production; and cucumber, whose scent has been found to turn women on. (Also worth noting is the grilled pork barbecue’s phallic shape.) BUN BO HUE This spicy soup has garlic and ginger, which both promote blood flow. Meanwhile, the chili in it gets you hot and hikes up your heart rate—two things that also happen when getting freaky. DURIAN PIE Here’s one more reason to love this pleasant-yet-pungent fruit: its libido-lifting effects. Get your delicious fill with Hanoi’s homemade durian pie. VIETNAMESE BREWED COFFEE Coffee gets you going—in more ways than one. Turn to this Vietnamese brew to score an energy buzz for the night ahead.
Tsuru is located at G/F Abreeza Mall, JP Laurel Ave. [Tel. no. (082) 284-1134]; Damosa Gateway, Lanang [Tel. no. (082) 233-0501]; and J. Camus St. [Tel. no. (082) 221-0901)]. Hanoi is also located at G/F Abreeza Mall [Tel. no. (082) 2841137] and J. Camus St.
close encounters
LUST FOR LIFE Text by Jay Rosas / Photography by Aidx Paredes
That night was an answered prayer for Davao filmmaker Bagane Fiola. For days, Bagsy, as he is known to his friends, waited for a rainless night—a slim possibility the last month given Davao’s weather conditions— to shoot a final scene in a film he is still tight-lipped about. Ext. Thursday night. Carnival. The stars are out. No chance of rain. That is how I imagined the scene would play out in the screenplay of the film he is working on when I met him at the location with his scant crew of two cinematographers and two actors. It was a conver-
sation scene between a man and a woman, much like his dialogue-filled first feature Way to the Sunset, which is about a young Japinoy and a young girl who meet for the first time in Davao. While I was looking at the actors exchange words, it was hard not to be reminded of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, which introduced us to Jessie and Celine and the satisfaction of watching two people talk from start to finish without really much of a plot. So it wasn’t a surprise when I quizzed Bagsy
about Way to the Sunset (which might even be a nod to the Before trilogy’s first installment): he immediately named Linklater as an inspiration, though not particularly in the treatment and characters in the American director’s films; rather, in his use of available light. Bagsy started his filmmaking journey as a director of photography for Davaoeño filmmaker Sherad Anthony Sanchez’s Cinema One Originals 2008 entry Imburnal, which won him a Best in Cinematography award. Despite this national citation, Bagsy continues
to collaborate with Davao filmmakers, either as cinematographer or producer. “For me, film is the ultimate outlet of imaginations, fantasies, dreams, and strange memories,” Bagsy says. “It is the only medium I can think of where you can put everything, exaggerate them, and keep them.” It’s almost funny and melancholic when Bagsy brings up “strange memories”. The carnival located in one of the busiest streets in Davao—an anachronism in
Imagination is nothing without doing.
itself with the mall and billboards surrounding it—is inexplicably affecting. Just like his insistent focus on dialogues, the carnival adds texture to an instant trip down memory lane suffused with nostalgia. Bagsy fondly recalls his childhood in M’lang, North Cotabato, where he first experienced cinema in makeshift neighborhood theaters playing Betamax tapes of movies. Perhaps it is this early recollection that cultivated his passion for films and the filmmaking process. “Being away from the real world, creating something from imaginations, recreating experiences…working or just being surrounded by talented and passionate people are what keep me going,” he says. Aside from finishing his current project, he plans to continue organizing the Davao Ngilngig Festival, which showcases horror short films from the region, among them his own. While the horror genre seems like a huge departure from his “talky” films, his horror output is stamped with the same passion and dexterity he gives to each of his films. Bagsy says, “Every process or stage of filmmaking for me is a challenge; that also makes them my reward.” Passion is equaled by ambition. When Bagsy speaks of having a film studio in Davao like what Charlie Chaplin or George Melies had, to naysayers, he might as well be talking of a trip to the moon. But if the Chaplin-esque porkpie hat you see him don almost every day is any indication, “Imagination is nothing without doing.”
filmroll
#THEDAVAOWESEE
The Davao We See Analog Photography by Benjie Burdeos
#THEDAVAOWESEE
#THEDAVAOWESEE
Disquieted by Joseph Agra
Nightfall. Half-closed eyes Shattering stars. Daylight cracks In melancholy cups; in ambient air Coffee slithers, lungs smolder.
Hurricanes sing to raindrops. Rabid bottles; prancing shadows Footsteps glide, sideways sways Sobered by non-existent memories.
The pale goddess smiles. Dreams Behind scheming walls. We dance. In a palace of verticall hell Future’s past quickly slips away.
Whispers. Bays of broken chords Forgotten winds. Ruminations Transient scribbles, dusty tables; On misty panes. Forgotten. Decay.
POETRY
Photo by Mark Pidor
POETRY
Untitled I by Cyrell i’m greeted by the remainders of the night, cold rain and fine drizzle, misting the sleepy greens, all made a nostalgic and quaint sight.
a warm collection of the last night’s dreams. my consciousness refuse to forget, the moments painted in surreal, all that happened, the persons i met, the dream i cease to conceal.
but the night was thawed by the pierce of the needles, and all its lulling fraud that were spoken in riddles.
the clowns came crying, down the silly carnival. face paints slowly melting, revealing nightmare: cold and feral. running back to the threshold, i was chased by time and space. leaving each chapters unfold, alas, i found my way out of this maze.
THE RED LADY. Acryclic and Gouache on Canvas board by Eanna Fernandez
VISIONARY. Acrylic on paper by Eanna Fernandez
POETRY
Untitled II by Cyrell the residues of the forgotten are left hanged on twilight walls pain deserted unwritten words taking solitary strolls. behind the trees’ silhouette, sincerity and lies gradually waning, hues of the truth and counterfeit, what a sad, grotesque painting. alas, night will come, and i shall be comforted on her bosom the faking stars will fall, upon flowers in half blossom. sweet hollowness creeping, and shall contaminate me soon. twilight glows dying, leaving a disguised boon. the night is suicidal her silence assailing lights flicking: ephemeral soon forever fading, fading
Lately... By Nico Aquino
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The Streets Photography by Mark Pidor
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