This is it..

I say good bye

With a deep sigh

Well I might cry 

But each time I pass by

Never forget to say hi

Istimer

   Isang lutong siomai  na ako dito sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa sobrang init at gitgitan ng mga kapwa kong siomai at siopao. Tagaktak na sa pawis ang aking likod at leeg na sinabayan pa ng nanlalagkit kong buhok. Ihahawi ko na lang ito sa aking kaliwang balikat. Ngunit dahan-dahan lang kung hindi ay magagalit si Aleng maliit na nakapila sa aking likod.

   Isang malakas na tunog ang umalingaw-ngaw, siya namang tingin ng mga ate sa kanilang kanan. Mabilis na lumalapit ang ilaw. Ayan na ang tren. Ayan na ang pwersang nanggagaling sa likod na siyang sasabayan ng aking katawan. Hindi pa bumubukas ang mga pinto ng tren sumusugod na ang mga amazona. Walang laban naman ang mga gustong lumabas mula sa mainit na istimer na ito. Ayaw kong makisali sa kanilang away. Tanging ang mga inosenteng laptop at kamera ko ang mahalaga sa akin ngayon. Hindi sila dapat bumitaw sa akin o madamay sa pangyayaring ito.

   Durog na ang ang mga siomai at siopao sa loob ng istimer. Sa bawat biglang tigil ng tren walang natutumba dahil ubos lahat ng espasyong pwedeng tumbahan nino man. Ayon lang, may na over-cook na isang siomai man yun o siopao. Hindi na kaya ni ate ang init dito sa loob ng istimer. Ngunit gusto niya pa ring ipagpatuloy ang biyahe upang makita lamang si Andres. Tulad niya may magagawa pa ba kami? May mangyayari ba kung kami ay magrereklamo? Magpapasko na. Magpasensiyahan na lang sa mga nagigitgitan at magbigayan  na lang. 

Amazing race and the spark of connection

Amazing Race in a wide campus with green grass, tall trees and fresh air? G!

This activity in our ESTHETA class is more exciting than just doing it for the sake of having class requirement.  Running, finding clues, doing what is asked in the guidelines are so much fun especially doing it with my friends. Everyone did their part in this activity: in thinking, composing answers and posing for a picture. I say that it was tiring but still the fun is exceptional.

I was really amazed in the UP Diliman’s campus because it is like a campus of the arts. There are different kinds of art you can find there especially in the UP Vargas Museum. One of the work of art there that got my attention is the Dream Girl  by  Preeyachanok Ketsuwan. 

Source: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/vargas%20museum?before=1352936513

Source:http://projectglocal2012.blogspot.com/2012/10/cityzening-on-exhibit.html

I actually don’t get why the title is like that but the art works show only a long hair of a girl. According to one of source, Preeyachanok is a Buddhist. She feels that women are being oppressed in the society and do not enjoy equal opportunity as men do. In the first glance you would really feel the weakness from the art work in the way how these women hide in their long hair. But when I knew the reason why the artist did draw this I felt more of her pain and sympathy to the oppressed women.

I like this kind of art because you might not know the real reason of the artist but you will feel how the artist feels. It is like a spark of connection. 

Say "Cheese" or do the pose?

Aesthetics.

Pretty. Cool. Cute. Extravagant. Relaxing. Beautiful. Ugly.  Elegant. High-class. Cheap. Handsome.  Plain.

These are the words that most of us use when we describe or criticizing something. However if something beautiful for you it may not be that beautiful for others or if something is cool for them you might find it as something weird. Just like how the Western art is different from the Asian art or may be the same in some ways. For example in fashion, Koreans dress more to express unlike Americans who dresses more to impress. (That's how I see it.)

Source: http://media1.onsugar.com/files/2011/07/26/5/192/1922564/5d671d47b17decbf_saks2.preview/i/American-Designers-Celebrate-American-Fashion-Sakscom.jpg

Source: http://trendfashiondesign.com/2012/07/wonder-girls-fashion-style-2012-korean-girls-band-clothes/popular-wonder-girls-fashion-style-2012-korean-girls-band-trends/

They also differ in music. Most Asian songs have both sing and dance while the most Westerns’ have drama in their songs. In film, Westerns are fond of creating weird or what we call experimental films than Asians. 

“I don’t like KPop that much but I love to listen to Maroon 5 and One Direction. I don’t watch Glee or Gossip Girl but I am a fan of Full House, Princess Hours, Boys Over Flowers and other Korean drama. I used to text in jeje language, now I don’t like receiving text messages like that.”

My personal aesthetics? It is a mixture of what I get from the Western and Asian art. It is also affected by the society where I am in. My examples above are more of art and media. Perhaps because it is more close to me than artistic works in museums.   However I like something if it’s relevant to me, has meaning, can move me, can amaze me, or can even make me think or wonder. If I don’t get the point of a particular art then to me it’s just an expression of an artist that I don’t know of. Just like my examples above, I don’t like KPop (but does not mean that I hate it) because I don’t get the language of their song than Maroon 5 and One Direction’s. I like Korean dramas (Kdramas) more than Glee and Gossip Girl maybe because I used to watch Kdramas since grade six and in our province we did not have cable connections. Also the language is translated in Tagalog which I understand more than English. Lastly, I realized that when I say “So jeje”, it means so cheap or perhaps ugly. Unlike before I love to send text messages in jeje language. I think I started to stop texting in jeje language since first year college because I was influenced by my “high class environment” but later on I realized that Jejemon is actually an art because it is an expression of self.

I personally believe that aesthetics is not having standards. It is just a matter of how I can relate to the art. 

Claudio Bravo:Almost Perfect Works

        It is already a part of our culture that in every Filipino’s homes we display our family pictures. Sometimes it looks like a family’s timeline. We may not see it as an art but it is. The way the picture is taken and the memories behind it. However wealthy and prominent family really spends money for having a really nice portrait of their selves. These portraits do not just give the owner or the model the happiness and satisfaction but also help the photographer or even the painter in having the source of their income.

        Portraits are expression of our precious memory regardless if it’s bad one or a good one. Well that is how I believe not until when I saw Claudio Bravo’s works. When I went to the exhibit of his works I was really amazed of the simplicity, beauty and perfection of his works. He indirectly suggested something to me. Portraits are part of memories but it can also be the reason for having a particular memory. It is not just a form of expression but also an eye-opener. The beauty of each portrait he painted gives me the mystery of it. The mystery of why in particular that the model has the kind of pose, background, costume and facial expression.  That until this point of time remains a mystery to me. 

 Well I also made a portrait of myself but this one is my own expression of who I am. I made my portrait using a photoshop. I used the collage and mosaic techniques unlike Bravo's works. The pictures that I used in mosaic are pictures of myself and the people who are part of my life. My work may be different than Bravo's in terms of materials and techniques we used but we have the same goal and that is to express what we experienced.

Nagtataka ka ba kung ano ang Taka?

   Paper is a super thin sheet made out of wood where one can write on or print with. Everyday people use paper for learning, storytelling, giving information, and as such. But these paper are very thin that can be easily tear apart, burn and wet. However, we learn how to recycle these papers so in our little way we can save mother earth. This is not my point though. What I really want to share is that the paper can be in its strongest when recycled. How? Tantarantantan... Paper Mache! 

  We all know what a paper mache is right? Right?! That it is "a hard and strong substance made of a pulp from paper, mixed with size or glue, etc and it is formed into various articles, usually by means of molds" where you can paint on it when it is dry? Right! Here in the Philippines, the most known place where you can find paper mache making is in Paete, Laguna. They call their beautiful artwork as, taka. Their designs for their taka are based on the present season. For example, since Filipinos are really excited for Christmas, the early they set up their Christmas decorations at home the better and for taka makers they can carve a reindeer, Santa Claus or any Christmas related designs.  Inside the town, almost all shops sell different Filipino-inspired designs of carabao figurines, Maria Clara dolls, and horses in a variety of choices. Some new designs have also been incorporated which now includes the querubins, toy soliders, giraffes, rabbits, and a variety of fruits– all in different colors and sizes.", Mailah Baldemor said. Actually I just realize that paper mache are strong enough not to tear apart easily and are really beautifully carved and painted just like in the picture above. It is also sturdy enough to stand on its own. Not all in the picture are paper mache. Can you guess which is it or not? 

  I think I am missing one of my childhood and it is making paper mache. I saw once when I was a liitle girl when my older sister is making one for their project. Well I tried to put my hand in the bowl where strips of papers are mixed with gawgaw (starch) as paste. I think paper mache is a fun activity to do. If I will given a chance I will try mold or carve myself wearing Maria Clara. 

Source: www.thefreedictionary.com/Papier-mache

http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/archives/6/paete-s-taka

'Di matatakasan ang pagwakas

Paano kung nakagat ka ng isang bampira, nilapa ng mga zombies, dinurog ng ten-wheeler truck, pinalamon sa pating,  nilibing ng buhay sa loob ng isang taon, pinagpiyestahan ng mga lamok at dinengue ngunit buhay na buhay ka pa rin? Astg di ba? Ikaw na! Ano naman ang gusto mong tawag sa'yo nun? Superhumanbeing? Pwede ring Kapitan 'Di Mamatay-matay? Ay, Life Sucker? O kung grupo kayo, The Immortals? Oh ha!

Sarap isipin yung buhay na walang hanggan. Yung lahat kaya mong gawin na hindi nagmamadali. Kung gusto mo, pumunta ka muna ng Disneyland bago ka mag-quiz sa akda mong Pilosopiya ng Tao. Yung walang salitang deadline. Pati kamu 'yung load mo eh walang expiration at baterya ng cellphone mo ay hindi nauubos. Petiks, chillax, cool, izzi krizi, sisiw, later. Mga salita na 'to ay siguradong aapaw sa diksyunaryo. Ngunit sa tingin mo ba mabubuo pa ang salitang kamatayan sa ganitong mundo?

Hep! Sandaling lang. Reality check. Ikinalulungkot ko na tayo ay mga mortal na tao lamang. Alam kong libre ang mangarap ng ganitong mundo. Kasu baka kainin ng patay gutom na oras ang ating sarili sa kaiisip nito. Ang buhay ay puno ng mga walang kasiguraduhang bagay pero isa lang ang sigurado, darating sa bawat isa ang kamatayan. Ang kinatatakutan ng lahat. Bakit nga ba?

Gusto mo bang mamatay dahil sa katititig sa iyong crush? O 'di kaya dahil ni-retweet ng wirdo mong admirer ang tweet mong "I'm bored"? Gusto mo bang mamatay sa kamay ng isang napakagwapong kidnapper? O matapos magpakasal sa isang matandang mayaman? Gusto mo bang mamatay dahil binigyan ka ng hott mo na prof ng gradong 'R'? O masuffocate ng mabahong utot sa loob ng elevator? Pero, teka lang bakit ka nga ba takot mamatay?