Serene Pleasures by Margaux Estrella, Melissa Sue Floro, Mazie Lynn Po

Mounted in cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Eastwood City, ”E.A.R.T.H. Designs” celebrates PSID’s 41st anniversary with an exhibit addressing environmental concerns in 21 masterfully-designed and executed interior spaces that strike a chord in today’s global scene.

Couch Potato by Vanessa Caisip, Alexi Chua, Ma. Elizabeth Constantino, Maylyn Cruz, Renz Jillian Tan

“Climate change is a global concern, translating its major influence on contemporary design and current trends,” explains PSID professor Jie Pambid. “The month-long exhibit focuses on creative approaches to sustainable interior design, showcased in four different habitat settings: High Rise Haven, The Blissful Burbs, Sea Sanctuaries, and Peaceful Peaks.”

Pop Earth by Aermaen Anne Balosa, Melissa Enriquez, Ji-Hye Lee, Katherine Kaye Reyes, Odessa Angela Sepacio

PSID has always been known for its innovative, groundbreaking, pioneering, and original exhibits. This year’s graduating batch rises to the challenge with “E.A.R.T.H. Designs,” another highly anticipated show of talent and creativity – standards that make the PSID graduates a viable force in the academe and the industry, and their exhibits a must – see!

With the theme “Words without Borders,” the MIBF celebrates the power of literature to cross the boundaries of time, place, and culture. MIBF showcases the largest and most varied collection of literature, textbooks, educational supplements, general references, religious and inspirational titles, self-help books, management books, Filipiniana, coffee table books, popular novels, children’s books, art books, graphic novels, rare and hard-to-find titles, magazines, audio and e-books, multimedia, teaching supplies and services, publishers’ technology, and travel materials.

The 29th Manila International Book Fair is organized by Primetrade Asia, Inc. in partnership with Asian Communicators, Inc., Book Development Association of the Philippines, Philippine Booksellers Association, Inc., and Publishers Representatives Organization of the Philippines. For details, call 890-0661 or 896-0682, log on to www.manilabookfair.com, or e-mail bookfair@primetradeasia.com.

At the recent launch of the new TV program, top entertainment scribes and guests were allowed to enter this magical world as Jollitown was temporarily transported to Rockwell Tent. A place of rainbows, dessert- and toy-shaped clouds, and magical fountains, Jollitown is a place where the happiness of children reigns. The atmosphere rivals that of famous foreign children’s shows and provides an enjoyable setting for kids to freely frolic and learn. The first TV program in the country that’s produced by a major food chain, Jollitown merges the company’s Filipino family-oriented values with the network’s kid-friendly programming, assuring parents of a wholesome viewing experience that can be enjoyed by children of all ages.

The bright, bubbly and educational TV treat stays in tune with Jollibee’s mission of spreading happiness and promoting friendships and positive thinking. With every weekly installment, audiences will get to know the real characters of Jollibee and his friends and find inspiration in how they make the most of their unique personalities.

Yum is the imaginative young science expert who loves solving puzzles and mysteries through experiments and high-tech gadgetry. Cheerleader Hetty is the group’s big sister and is looked up to for her sweet, nurturing ways, neatness and self-discipline. The funniest and most athletic of the bunch, Popo loves sports but never neglects his studies and thus always gets good grades. Twirlie, the star performer who loves to sing and dance, is ever curious and inquisitive. And as everyone’s best friend is Jollibee, always good-natured, smiling and playful, he is a natural leader who sets an example for his friends with his courteous, helpful and kind ways.

The launch of Jollitown is yet another highlight of Jollibee’s 30th anniversary celebration this year. As the leading fast-food chain marks three decades of serving langhap-sarap experiences, Filipinos can expect more special activities, promotions and corporate social responsibility programs to promote the brand’s vision, values and increasing global stature, as well as reward the consumers who have helped make it all possible. As the latest offering for its younger but loyal patrons, Jollitown is an exciting and engaging highlight of the company’s 30th year commemoration. Sunday mornings’ new jolly habit starts this April 13, 9:30 to 10:00 am on GMA7.

To our postal patron
Please count your change before leaving the counter
Otherwise complaint will not be entertained
Thank you

Ang taray!

To be fair, I’ve forgotten to get my change on more than one occasion and the lady behind the counter would always call me back.

From the Press Release:

Living in the Philippines has been an eye opening experience for Australian
artist/photographer Henry Bateman. For the last 3 years he has been a resident
of the Island Nation and its influence has seen his work expand in ways he
never imagined possible.

“There are aspects of Filipino life that stand in stark contrast to an
Australian lifestyle,” Bateman said. “With my work I have tried to capture
not only the physical differences but also the cultural differences that the
Filipino lifestyle imposes on Australian sensibilities,” he added.

A painter who embraced digital photography 8 years ago, Bateman manipulates his
digitally captured photographs on his computer to delve below the composition of
the recorded moment. From each of his photographs he builds a new image that
explores the underlying motivation that caused the shutter to be pressed when
it was. “It is a journey in which the image dictates what directions to
take,” Bateman said. “My major contribution is knowing when a destination
has been reached,” he added.

“Through Australian Eyes” will be Bateman’s 14th exhibition, but his
first in the Philippines. His work has been shown in Australia and the US with
the most recent being a solo exhibition at The Australian National University
in September last year.

One Workshop Gallery
2241 Don Chino Roces Ave, corner Sabio St, Makati City

True to form to their themes of love and its different vagaries, filmmakers Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos follow up their highly-acclaimed debut film ILUSYON (Rated A 2005, Cinemanila IFF 2006, Pusan IFF 2006) with the tragic tale of 3 characters in Selda. The film stars Sid Lucero, Emilio Garcia and Ara Mina. Also starring are Michael de Mesa, Allan Paule, Soliman Cruz and Ping Medina.

Set in two contrasting enivronments that undeline the same premise of imprisonment, Selda tells the story of Rommel, a young man who accidentally kills a boy, resulting in his incarceration. Inside the jail, he befriends another inmate, Esteban, who becomes his rock and protector. Seven years later, Rommel is living in the province as a farmer together with Sita his wife. Esteban tracks down Rommel in hopes of renewing a brewing love affair. Rommel and Sita welcome Esteban into their lives, until their intimacy crosses borderlines and results in the undeniable scourge of self-discovery.

Selda is a return to classiscist forms and delivers a stylish, deliberately-paced treatise on love. At moments strange, Selda is a sublime and disquieting portrait of a young man whose search for happiness, innocence and true love is laden with guilt and doubt.

Source: Selda Trailer at Youtube.com

Are you dateless this Valentine’s? Instead of wallowing in your singledom, how about spending it with other singles and laugh about it? The Youth Tourism Response Philippines (YouthTRiP) is inviting all singles (or even couples) to the Jokefest for the Dateless event on the 16th, at the Club Intramuros Roof Deck. Doors open at 8pm, and an entrance fee of Php150 will be collected. Don’t fret about the fee; it gets you one drink, and the rest is contributed for YouthTRiP’s upcoming Yayain si Yaya Day, “a project that will take Yayas and their kids and wards to Museo Pambata for an afternoon of history, storytelling, and Pinoy games. It is a tribute to our second mothers and quasi-big sisters.“

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Dolls for a cause by Philippine contemporary artists
Manikako doll fair and auction on February 16-23 at the Podium

We invite you to be a part of Manikako, Future Ko! A Fund-Raising Doll Fair at The Podium Activity Center along 18 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City., February 16 to 23, 2008. The proceeds of the event will fund free doll-making workshops for underprivileged kids conducted by the House of Comfort Art Network (ARTHOC).

The week-long fair will open with a “loud auction” conducted by artist/critic Cid Reyes on February 16, 6pm with TV personality Tintin Bersola Babao as program host.

Doll-making workshops will be held daily at the fair, led by a wide variety of groups such as : ManikaManila, avid collectors of ball-jointed dolls; Mistula, concept doll band; Pilipinas Street talented grafitti artists; Sewing Circle, needlepoint craft enthusiasts; Creatives from Y & R Philippines; Superficial Girls; and, INK or Illustrador ng Kabataan whose works breathe life into Filipino children’s literature. (Do it yourself) doll manikako kits and other
manikako products will be available for sale during the event.

Capping the week is Salamat sa’yo, Manikako!, a thanksgiving celebration featuring musicians like Moonstar88, Joey Ayala, Susan Fernandez Magno, Ciudad and the multiawarded performance poet, Vim Nadera, among others.

Almost a hundred dolls created by noted visual artists, singers, composers, dancers, photographers and cultural workers, including those by National Artist Abdulmari Imao and senior artist Mauro Malang Santos will be exhibited and auctioned off throughout the fair. Participating artists include Leo Abaya, Mike Achevido, Cynthia Alexander, Willie Alicdan, Yasmin Almonte, Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa, Edda Amonoy, John Paul Antido, Marcel Antonio, Ral Arrogante, Pandy Aviado, Joey Ayala, Pablo Baensantos, Mara Bernaldo, Joan Bitangcol, Plet Bolipata, Remy Boquiren, Elmer Borlongan, Alan Cabalfin, Benjie Cabangis, Noel Cabangon, Angel Cacnio, Michael Cacnio, Imelda
Cajipe-Endaya, Bong Callao, Bea Camacho, Susan Canoy, Rafael del Casal, Rey Paz Contreras, Tala Contreras, Daniel Coquilla, Chie Cruz, Noel Cuison, Aba Dalena, June Dalisay, Ginny Dandan, Nadya Melina David, Antipas Delotavo, Romina Diaz, Neil Doloricon, Noell El Farol, Gigi Escalante, Bob Feleo, Egai Fernandez, Karen Flores, Nonoy Froilan, Esther Garcia, Gian Gianan, Gino Gonzales, Guerrero Habulan, Sid Hildawa, Grace Imao, Juan Sajid Imao, Toym Imao, Ferdie Jingco, Lett Jingco, Tiffany Jingco, Katwo, Prudencio Lammaroza, Lilia Lao, Glo Tenza-Lava, Lao Lianben, Bing Libatique, Lenore Lim, Margarita Lim, Tita Lim, Alfredo Liongoren, Julie Lluch, Jojo Lofranco, Athena Lopez, Noli Manalang, Baidy Mendoza, Ferdie Montemayor, Peter Mutuc, Teresita Narciso, Wawi Navarroza, Romulo Olazo, Jim Orencio, Gabie Osorio, Vincent Padilla, Gapas, Mario Parial, Mikel Parial, Mervy Pueblo, Alma Quinto, Ton Raymundo, Jucar Raquepo, Roberto Ma. Robles, Riza Romero, Jose Tence Ruiz, Rovi Salegumba, Jaypee Samson, Julio Samson, Soler Santos, Ching Abad Santos, Mia Singson, Sharon See, Sherwin Tan, Kitty Taniguchi, Lia Torralba, Cez Nunez-Uhing, Clairelynn Uy, Rosel Valenzuela, Brian Vallesteros, Anna Varona, Lydia Velasco, Edna Vida, Kris Villanueva, Liv Vinluan, and Nestor Vinluan.

Manikako, Future Ko! is a collaboration of ARTHOC, a non-stock, non-profit organization that believes in the power of art to comfort the needy and the afflicted and its fund-raising arm MANIKAKO, Liongoren Gallery, The Podium, Y & R Philippines and Britania Art Projects.

ARTHOC and Manikako have been conducting doll workshops with out-of-school youth in Naga city, typhoon Reming survivors in Albay, among the wards of SOS village in Ayala Alabang, and among children from slum communities in Cubao, Project 2, and Payatas in Quezon City.

Other projects by ARTHOC include workshops such as the “House of Comfort Art Project” and “Malaya Ka Ba? Freedom Quilt” which yielded handcrafted textile pieces created by participants from various communities throughout the Philippines. For inquiries, please call 9124319 or log on to www.manikako.com and www.traumainterrupted.org/arthoc

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I hope we’ll see each other there! :D

The first one was on Thursday, around 2 o’clock in the morning. My friends and I were driving from Antipolo, on the way home to Quezon City. As we turned right to Katipunan Avenue, we were stopped by a couple of policemen. They flashed their lights inside the vehicle, and proceeded to check who and what was inside the car.

The second one was last Friday night, around 8 o’clock in the evening. I was riding a cab along Visayas avenue, when we passed through a check point, made by two police cars parked on the outer lanes, and policemen checking out passengers. This made me recall the number of times I saw a police car parked on the corner of Mindanao and Congressional avenues.

Why are they doing this? Since when did this start? What are they looking for? Is this only happening in Quezon City?

The Daily Tribune has the details:

Local aircraft enthusiasts will have a closer look at the super jumbo jet which is scheduled to arrive at 2:45 p.m. and land at the NAIA’s longest runway, the 3,700-meter long 06/24 runway.

The giant aircraft, which requires only 1,500 meters of landing space, will line up for its final approach in the vicinity of Antipolo flying toward the South Luzon Expressway.

The aircraft can be clearly seen at The Fort in Taguig City but can be best viewed at the east-west service roads of the South Luzon Expressway near the gates of Villamor Airbase and Merville Subdivision.

Upon loading, the double-deck aircraft will taxi toward NAIA’s remote parking area where officials from the Airbus 380 Industries as well as Manila International Airport Authority officials, to be led by MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi and other airline companies, will be waiting for a tour of the aircraft’s interiors.

The state-of-the-art aircraft will dock at an exiting gate of the NAIA to check if the A380 Airbus can utilize the existing movable bridges of the terminal.

Source: The Daily Tribune