day 728 | February 8, 2015 | Art Fair Philippines

Details on one of John Paul Antido's work
Fortunate to have been in Manila on the weekend of Contemporary Art Fair this year. It was founded in 2013 as a platform for exhibiting and selling the best in modern and contemporary Philippine visual art. The fair managed to round up an impressive number of galleries. Heard good things about it from a friend, so decided to give it a go.

Hosted in a dressed up parking lot, the fair had a mix of understated, bold, whimsy, and satire. Took snaps of what disturbed, intrigued, fascinated, and those that remind me of things I want to remember. Personally curated, and sharing with credits to the artists. Revisiting my selection confirms that I am drawn to dark things, despite the sunburst tone I prefer in my own art. Censored a few pieces here which were a bit too dark -- I would hesitate to show those to my little ones.

Highly recommend flying over to Manila and checking out the vibrant art scene yourself! Will go and hunt down more of Marc Aran Reyes' work, which I've strangely not taken a photo of. Next year, Art Fest is going to be from February 18 - February 21, and fingers crossed, I might be in town again.
This piece haunted my dreams for a few nights. Artist to be identified.
Virgilio Aviado

day 731 | February 5, 2015 | Gigs in Manila

Memories tied to music -- how the first human boy I had a crush on introduced me to Sarah McLachlan. NU107 radio station playing the soundtrack of my youth. That specific day, humming to 'The Freshman' by The Verve Pipe as I was getting ready to go out with friends. Classmates strumming 'Closing Time' by the staircase as we waited to be picked up in school. That crystal clarity of Brandon Boyd taking his shirt off as he sang 'Pardon Me.' Sneaking off at midnight to travel all the way to Intramuros to sit entranced while Cynthia Alexander strummed and hummed her way into my soul. Throwing ourselves in the air as Sandwich jammed to 'Butterfly Carnival,' when Mayrics was still around. 'Bittersweet Symphony.' Discovering Dave Matthews Band, and Jeff Buckley... just wow. Receiving mixtapes and then making them for friends. And yes, even coming home past sunrise because of Hip Hop nights. 

So happy to have been able to connect to music again, coming back to Manila. This time around, in the company of my mom, a very dear friend, her beloved, and old friends from primary school days. Caught my latest crush, Franco, live in 12 Monkeys, a relatively new music bar. Then later on, Armi of Up Dharma Down in 19 East, an old haunt. Inspiration, Heartbreak. Distraction, Love.
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