UP on a Sunday

I was in UP today to attend the 3rd session of a Basic Scriptwriting workshop at the UP Film Institute. Classes are held at the Videotheque part of the building, the area facing Quezon Hall. Today, we started past 1pm and was supposed to end at 4pm, but class was interesting and we extended until 6pm.

On my way out and walking towards a waiting shed across Quezon Hall, I bumped into an old friend while he was with some artists (some I knew from UP) for a weekend longboarding hang-out. I chatted with him for a few minutes and asked how he was doing with his art and exhibits. Glad to know that he’s busy with group shows until the end of the year. It was really getting dark now, so we said our goodbyes.

I decided to catch a cab in front of the Bahay ng Alumni, so I had to walk back from in front of the College of Music and then walk on the road between the Music Building and UP Theater. There were still a lot of people jogging and walking alone, in pairs or in groups. Some cyclists were sitting on their bikes, having a conversation and probably waiting for a decision on where to go next.

I realized I missed hanging out in UP, walking around and enjoying the place. Sometimes my friends and I would go all the way here from Katipunan to take our evening walks. I used to live inside the campus for 4 years. This place really became  home to me.

Walking back guided by yellow lights from streetlamps on the road between the College of Music and UP Theater, I saw a guy (most likely a student) playing an interesting looking musical instrument at the side of the Music building. With only a wire fence between me and him, I stayed for some minutes to listen to him practice. He was playing an Erhu, a Chinese fiddle. After a short break from playing, I asked if I could take his picture because it seemed like a rare occurrence and he gamely said yes.

I really had a great day today, so I walked away feeling light with music surrounding the cool October night.

Return to Cambodia

Exactly one month from now, my younger sister and I traveled to Thailand and Cambodia during her Habagat leave from work in Boracay. My brother and his girlfriend joined us for the trip, therefore completing the four of us as a fun and crazy group.

I’ve already been to Cambodia in February this year. Last time I was there I traveled with my friends and boyfriend from work (and play). While we were there, there was something that I wasn’t able to do in Angkor Wat – climb Ta Keo.

Ta Keo is this temple that requires you to conquer a steep climb. I wasn’t too confident back then, so during my second trip to Cambodia I was determined to, well, conquer that fear of heights. My siblings were toughies! They weren’t scared at all. When a young European guy saw me debating with myself whether to climb or not, he just nonchalantly said, “Oh don’t be scared, be brave.” And then he skipped his way up the very steep steps. (I wonder, do Europeans always have this fearless spirit?) Emboldened by the very tall dude and his effortless way of getting to the top, I struggled to begin my ascent. It was a slow crawl to the top, but hey, I made it there eventually! Yey!

I would love to return to Siem Reap. Angkor Wat is amazing, hanging around Pub Street, walking around town, and meeting such wonderful people along the way. I’m glad I was again able to visit Cambodia, this time with another amazing set of fellow travelers. Never mind the scam bus trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap that took forever, I had great fun!

Carl Jung and a Lot of Color

Apologies for being away from the wordpress page for so long. I’ve been busy with a lot of things. Finally, at least, I’m able to find the time to write about wonderful things that have happened so far.

First up, out of intense curiosity, I took a class on self-exploration managed by four wonderful Jungian psychologists. I’ve been reading the book “Women Who Run with the Wolves” by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes (also a Jungian psychologist) and have been mesmerized by the use of myths and folktales as a form of initiation into the unconscious (pertaining to the lives of women). Throughout my life, stories have made a huge impact; stories inspire as much as they heal. Then serendipity sends a text message and I jump in to take the 4-day workshop.

During the workshop, we took self-exploration tests, told each other fragments of our life stories, drew and colored mandalas, and listened to stories from Greek mythology. What fascinated me were the stories. Maybe because of the gifted storyteller? The characters seemed so alive, real, and breathing beside me. The archetypes fit into the people I live with.

Did I learn more about myself? Of course. Jungian psychology places a strong emphasis on the inner world. There were a couple of aha! moments, lots of “that’s why, now I know…”. I also learned more about the people who surround me and how, at this point in time, we unconsciously play out our archetypal roles. These are  roles that we fit into because of influences in society, family, and other relationships. Hopefully, I learn to become more aware of  the things that I do and feel, and transcend the limits of archetypes to discover what I am truly made of. After that brief workshop, it’s nice to see the world revealed in a different way.

Next up! I’m so happy that “Provenciana” by Apol Lejano-Massebieau is now out! A book launch was organized in Paris last month and sana I was there! The book is just the funniest ever! Apol is just such a funny and talented writer…and that’s still an understatement. I’ve been a long time fan of her blog that chronicles her new life and adventures in the South of France. I’m really so happy that she loved the book cover that I designed for her. My friend, Bernice, did an amazing job designing the inside pages and filling the book with lovely illustrations. Wonderful and such an inspiring project to work on – Merci beaucoup, Apol!

And finally, I did some illustrations  for the new Spark Hope board at Starbucks. I’m glad the 5-piece set came out well – well, on my part. I just love it when I get to work on watercolor textures, line drawings, etc. Exciting rin to see how they’ll go together with the photographs once working on them in the computer. I’m glad that the baristas at Katipunan like them. If they’re happy, I’m happy.

Yey, now I can’t wait to work on new stuff for two exhibits in November!

Poems and Songs

Collecting poems along the way…

And sharing a beautiful song by Billy Bragg, from his album “Mr. Love and Justice”.

I Keep Faith

If you want to make the weather
Then you have to take the blame
If sometimes dark clouds fill the sky
And it starts to rain, and folks complain
And though your head may tell you
To run and hide
Listen to your heart, and you’ll find me
Right by your side
Because…

I keep faith, I keep faith
I keep faith, I keep faith in you
Yes I do, I keep faith in you

If you think you have the answer
Don’t be surprised
If what you say is met with anger
And contempt and lies
No matter how hard you want to
Just walk away
Reach out you’ll find me there beside you
All of the way
Because…

I keep faith, I keep faith
I keep faith, I keep faith in you
Yes I do, I keep faith in you

All the dreams we shared
I never knew no one who cared
About these things the way that I’ve seen in you
It doesn’t matter if
This all falls off the cliff
Together we are gonna see it through

I know it takes a mess of courage
To go against the grain
You have to make great sacrifice for such little gain
And so much pain
And if your plans come to nothing
Washed out in the rain
Let me rekindle all your hopes
And help you start again
Because….

I keep faith, I keep faith
I keep faith, I keep faith in you
Yes I do, I keep faith in you

Untitled

(Interior) Tolentino Hall, UP Fine Arts Diliman. January 2009.

Early January of this year, I dropped by the College of Fine Arts to have my canvas prepared for an exhibit. Sprawled around the college grounds beside the Painting classrooms, were the huge colorful constructions that were paraded at last month’s Lantern Parade. Some maintenance guys that I knew  were dismantling them, breaking their wooden bones.

At that time of the year, the students haven’t returned from their Christmas break, and so the atmosphere at the college was quite and empty. Too quite and empty, memories rushed in to make some noise. I had one of the best times in this place.

***

Every time summer comes, I get nervous. In April, the College of Fine Arts begins its drawing workshops. And most of the time, I’m pretty sure the people enrolled there will be taking the Talent Test.  In 1999, I took that same workshop and most of us, well except 2 or 3 in a class of 20 or more, were going to take that test. I had a wonderful teacher and it was she who taught me how to draw better. I didn’t pass the UPCAT, so this was my lifeline to the college of my dreams. I swear, it was UP Fine Arts or out of school youth.

Well, I didn’t pass on my first try, which really really sucked. I think I made my parents really nervous when I didn’t want to go to another university because I felt that the shortest way of getting into FA was to just focus on my drawings. So we made a deal, if I don’t pass it the second time, I move on and enroll at the university that accepted me.

To keep me busy for a year, I did some independent studying – the most fun that I could think of. I bought a thick history book, National Geographic magazines, and read the newspapers everyday. I took another drawing class to refine what I learned. I also got myself a book that taught me the value of writing daily and showing up on the blank page for morning pages, and having artist dates with myself in galleries and coffee shops.

Although I had fun, it was also very lonely. I was at home most of the time with my older sister, mostly keeping to ourselves as we worked on our own stories or drawings. Sometimes, I didn’t feel like doing anything and just lie in bed all day. Merienda time, we’d take a break and hangout together to talk about what we’ve done, our concepts, our ideas, this and that guy, showbiz chismis, and a lot of other interesting topics.

At an exhibit in Glorietta, I met an artist who asked me what I wanted to pursue. I said I liked writing and painting, but that I really wanted to paint. He gave me the worst advice ever, “Why don’t you become a writer? There are already so many painters. We need people to write about art.” And then hands me a postcard invite to one of his exhibits. I couldn’t believe he said that. The world will never have enough of painters – or whatever kind of artist they want to be: musicians, directors, etc.

When April rolled in the next year, I took the Talent Test again and got accepted. For days, I slept with a smile on my face.  I know not everyone who wanted to be in that year passed. I’ve seen a lot of them cry when they didn’t see their names on that list. I hope they try again, and again if they have to.

When I finally met my classmates (some of them became my greatest friends), I learned that some of us shared the same stories. For us, there was no other way to live but to pursue our bliss.

Hello World!

And we sail on to 2009!

I’m really looking forward to this year. I’ve got lots and lots of plans, ofcourse. Looking forward to more adventures, travels, lots of art and love!

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” Omar Khayyam

I hope all your dreams come true.