The Gathering of the Unlikelies 2

The day and the eve of Independence Day this year 2K 09, a gathering of sorts happened at the main artery that leads towards the heart of Manila. This artery has, not a blood clot or some cholesterol build up but a real Oasis. The place really was named Oasis.

As the electric trains roar from above these unlikely beings go through a two day immersion, confession, careless abandon and moments of discovery - AHA moments with sips - gulps of beer in between. I on the otherhand went for bottomless iced tea. and coke. and water. Iced water.

At first I thought It weird that they would call this rare phenomenon - Taken. Depicting what seems to be an alien abduction of sorts. But these are weird people I thought so well, take it as it is I said. Only in afterthought did I realize that it was an apt name. Arriving at the location ( which I got to know only the night before ) I noticed immediately that this one is different.

From the outside I can see strange glow of lights, mostly with a sort of fruit shaped luminiscence emanating from the dark room. Just before I entered, a strange bald clownish looking man greeted me. He had a plate. In the plate was a small canvas painting. In the painting read, " mangored ".

We learned later on about the legend behind the name.

And so there, I was in. I can't describe the mood. All I can see was their ghoulish faces in front of the flickering macintosh screens. I studied each and every face I recognize to be a face. And true enough, like the name implies, I now realized that this was going to be one heck of an alien abductee/ close encounter of the weirdest kind - type of experience.

I was Taken. One of the first Takee gathered from all over the world ( or at least the Asian part of the world. Good for us - Sucks for the westerners. ). And all there would agree - as much as we were aliens and strangers to each other, it was some sort of Jai Ho that has led us to be there. Like Spock and Kirk and the rest of the crew of the USS Enterprise, we share a commonality. We share the same vision. Passion. We are entirely non conformed yet to each other, we became, we are - like brothers.

Just like the two unlikely heads behind this conspiracy, we have found a common ground with each other and then to them the Red ones. And we discovered and explored, dug and scattered dirt all over the place - the sweat the the juice of our creative souls

Taken - The Gathering of the Unlikelies

I've said it once, I've said it a million times... We, THE PINOYS - Are brimming full of talents. We are so gifted we might probably be the basis of Professor Charles X. Xaviers' School. Of course Professor X and his school are all fictional. Fortunately for us - we are not. But it seems so and it felt so for such a long time in the industrial age past. We, the gifted ones are often down played, ignored and even outrightly discouraged. Our elders rarely if at all see anything good that may come out of the " weird activities ".

At first they will find it cute. You young as you are can do this, do that, draw this, draw that - they would do a clap and say, " very nice! " and then maybe pinch your cheek. But I think thats maybe more because you look like a raggedy doll back then. But as you grow up, those sketches and drawings and "other stuff" begin to be uncute. It begins to look...weird.

" ano yan tao ba yan? "

" nge ampangit naman anu yan? "

" uy, abstract?!? ano yan? "

Then they began to be concerned. The elders will give you the infamous loving advise...

" magnurse... "

"magabogado..."

" tignan mo si engineer ganito o... "

We all have our own varied reactions.

Some of us succumb.

Some of us rebel.

And then there are some who emerge from the rubble the storm that is our life in clashes of opinions, emotions, old and new ideas, visions, inhibitions, recklessness and (mis)calculations...

When the dust settles. Only the strong and true remains. Standing and evermore defiant.

Eventually our time has come. The age of the creatives. The artists by heart. The artists by being.

( to be continued... )

blinking in my sleep

then i found these little gems just beneath these white polished square pebbles etched with magical symbols that bring the curious to both known and unknown worlds...

as i mark my imprints over and

over again into these white pebbles

one by one

the gems appear

first in pale visions then slowly

little by little

they

these gems

speak

sing

play

sparkle

mesmerize me.

and there are colors now

in my dreams.

dawn comes 

but i can keep it tucked under my eyelids

such bright morning light.

Bing and Jo, Save the Date

Just Another Day at the Office ( with my Mac )

It is official. I cannot live without my Mac. Here is a photo of me right out of bed and straight to my Mac. And this was after sleeping at 3AM after, you guessed it - being in front of the Mac. Whether it be surfing the net, reading blogs, news, YouTube or Photoshopping, or dabbling with  iPhoto, iMovie and Keynote which are just some of the Mac's cool built in softwares - I really just can't have enough of it. Maybe its because I was a latebloomer in this web/ information age thing.

But you know what, really - I think its because it is just a Mac.

Really.

I have known of this phenomenon that Apple does have some fiercely loyal cult following. They still do now and it its growing. I didn't think I'd be one of them! 

I don't know. I am not a techie, I am just an artist who wants to use the computer. I guess that figures it. I found out and have observed, most artists' computers are a Mac. I thought Apple computers are just expensive stuffs to show off - it does cost a hefty some I tell you but you know what I have to say it is worth every penny. I am not talking without objectivity here.

Macs are really designed to be used and used well. I have never had such an ease in adopting to a technology as I have with a Mac. Well - and Nokia also. And that is not merely my own feedback. People of discriminating tastes, specifically the artists circle are almost exclusively Mac people. That alone shows how excellent a product a Mac is. Being able to capture a discriminating and even fickle market such as artists.

Steve Jobs and the rest of the Apple Macintosh Team are really really really fine fellows able to come up with such an excellent product in both design and function. No one and I mean no one has been able to equal their feat. I met an Apple executive I think lat year doing a talk here in the Philippines and he did say a couple of times that Apple as a company led by their visionary leader Steve Jobs really makes it a point to be excellent in their field. They cut no corners, no shorcuts, no " so-so " attitude, - pure passionate excellence.

And it does show in their work. You don't even have to look at the Mac computers. Just look at the iPod - from the smallest Shuffle to the iTouch.  And then there's the revolutionary iPhone. All of these are such awesome pieces of technology.

I just admire people who are passionate about excellence like Steve Jobs and the Apple Team. They make our lives better with the products they provide and its always worth the money you pay for.

Right now as I blog this i am also doing some photo editing and layouts for clients. It does eat up a lot of time and brain power to come up with great works- images that can be called works of art and excellently done. I am glad I am working with my Mac. I will never go back to the " pwede na to" thinking for my gears especially with my computers. I've had the worse experience with such mediocre products. An excellent work should have excellent tools to use with.

And Mac fits the job perfectly.

The iMac and my MacBook Pro are such fun stuff to use. Large bright screens, very accurate colour, light and comfy feeling keyboards, the cool white Apple mouse with the kinky button... Sexy Aluminum finish... My wife for a time did get jealous not of any girl but of my Mac. Hehe...

Now, time to be inspired and create awesome stuff with me and my Mac. : )

still

Cross and Rose Wedding

The summer sun is hot yes - but wonderful to be photographed nonetheless. I love the way it spills inside the room and windows and doors. I played with it the whole time in this wedding and I hope you'll agree with me that this are awesome photos utilizing it - the sun's light.

the wedding itself was casual and utterly memorable for the couple most especially. Cris/Cross ( she calls him cris we call him cross go figure ) the groom was to say the least, stunned seeing his bride all made up and ready for the taking ( in the aisle that is.lol).

There are more ( as i have said before ) but I'm kinda saving it for the official website.

Ok i admit - there are more but i am procrastinating posting it. i don't know where to start. Lots of great photos.hahaha. This few ones were posted in my multiply already (www.likamirafoto.multiply.com) so i thought i'll post it here as well.

Check out my multiply too. : )

o may gulay (omg)

boy boxed in

Under the searing hot noonday sun he walked wearing this wooden box frame. He was in his own world. If you could see his face ( not in this picture of course ) he was I think playing. Like he was in some kind of a suit and he was travelling. Sort of like that. Probably. I did that when I was a kid. : )

It was funny. I felt like I was watching an improv or something. Maybe he'd grow up to be a performance artist. Seems like a long way to go from being a basurero's kid to becoming a performance artist but hey - we all start by dreaming right.

This kid's got a future. I can see it. : )

And you thought I'd be writing some dramatic heart wrenching story right? Nope.

A bright future for this bright kid. : )

John and Angel Tagaytay Wedding

Definitely a match made in heaven - their names alone were already a sign of their heavenly destiny. The saint meeting the angel... : ) I am just glad to witness this beautiful meeting of two souls becoming one in marriage. Alas - I have much to tell ( and photos to post ), but none for now. At least not immediately. Ok, okay... I still have to do some post processing no - so the drama is complete. : )

Seriously though - a beautiful couple indeed. : )

Isang Ordinaryong Araw sa Kalye Pilipinas

"Pishbols", " Kwek-kwek", " Samalamig"... Ang mga bida sa lahat ng kalye sa Pilipinas. Kahit sa kalagitnaan ng Ortigas Business District. Pamatid gutom sa mga commuter at trabahador na umaagos sa bawat sulok ng kalye na parang alon - dagat ng mga namumutlang mukha at nangingintab na mga mata. Kanya kanyang muni muni. Kanya kanyang diskarte sa buhay. Minsa'y sablay. Minsay sakto lamang.

Mismo.

Tulad ng mga pagkaing kalyeng ito. Minsay bitin. Minsay sablay ( na inaabot sa banyo o sana'y hindi - tipos ) at minsan nama'y sakto lang.

 

Ayos na.

Pamatid gutom. Pamatid uhaw. Pamatid putla.

Pandagdag kulay 

sa medyo

malabu labong buhay.

maputlang muni muni ( muted thoughts )

rachael

This was not part of the shoot. She was about to leave - about to pack things up. I saw the light, her eyes... I missed the hair though, It was that detail - the wind in her hair that caught me. Nevertheless this still is a decent portrait of her.

Maharlika Mirasol on Mauro Malang

Mauro Malang is one of the most succesful artist in our country today. His works are priced high but are always sought after by discriminating art patrons all over the world. I am a fan of his work together with the late Onib Olmedo and Ang Kiokok. A few days ago I had a chance to view some of Malang's drawings at the Art Walk in Megamall. I love going to that place. Back in the days I was still in the province, whenever I would go to Manila I make sure I go to the Art Walk at the 5th level of Megamall and look into the works of different artists there. Now that I am based here in Manila... Well actually I still am not able to go there as much as I want so it was perfect timing that when I got there a few days ago I get to see Malang's exhibit. : )

Critics of Malang's work say his paintings are kinda cartoonish and " too colorful ". Well Im just wondering what kind of childhood those critics had. It was probably a traumatic one cause they seem to be looking for some artist kuno depression/angst ridden kind of work. Which Malang has none of. Malang too is definitely not an artsy fartsy artist is weird cliche' kinda guy. I have not met him but have read some of the articles and interviews of him. No air of pretension. Just a regular dude, A born again Christian who reads the bible and goes to work - paint that is.

Maybe one of this days I'd meet him - that would be awesome. ; ) I wonder what we'd talk about. : )

a scene at the airport

Talents of Starmovers Management

a self portrait and a sunset

before a shoot at the lung center of the Philippines, testing my camera before the actual shoot. I liked how it turned out. The other one is at Enchanted Kingdom. There were a lot of people we had to wait 4 hours in the line for a 2 minute ride. Anyways about this photo. Well, I love the play of the lights here with the clouds all glowing and orangy. Then the silhouette of the roller coaster pierces through the sky...

...Im sleepy now, its almost 5am and have lots of photos to finish. Haaayyy... lovin' it even if it is sometimes tiring.

It actually took me several minutes to type this short blog, Im dozing off!hahahaaazzzz...zzz.

jeanette

Jeanette is one cool subject. We did this shoot in her condo in Ortigas, the space was tight but we managed to have some decent shots from it. I think she still has some of those showbiz training ( she was the child kontrabida in the 80's soap Anna Lisa ) as she was very comfortable with the camera I was the one who can't keep up with her poses. She has different angles that makes her kinda look like different actresses right now - from Ruffa mae Quinto to Ruffa Gutierrez to Marianne Rivera - seriously!  This photo ( top low ) was her idea. She just came from Dubai and I think she was inspired by the fashion trend there and so did some poses using the veil.

We have more sessions coming - she enjoyed the shoot and said we have to do it again soon!

Dagupan Trippin

Went to Dagupan for Christmas with the family. Before leaving for Manila, went to the fish port and with a styrobox in one hand ( for the Bonuan Bangus I would bring to Manila ) and the camera on the other, got some photos of the sights you'll see in the fish market. The first one however is a " magbubuko" ( should I call him the " coconut man"? ), selling the sweetest buko juice I've tasted in such a long time. A few of them are found in make shift stalls along the highway in Calasiao. For those passing by Pangasinan going to and from the North, this is worth the stop. Not to mention a lot of other things pretty good to check out in my hometown/city/province. : )

2009 Before Weddings

Cross, the groom and Rose, the bride to be were high school sweethearts who eventually broke up and parted ways only to meet each other again after several years in a Nokia party. But they were both " committed " at that time and so that was that.

Forward a few years later, they found each other again and this time, they were both single and unattached. Both decided that this time they shouldn't let go of each other anymore. And not let go they did. Or at least, will do - by February this new year 2009.

Our e sessions was a blast. Here are some photos. The couple said and I quote - the photos are " awesome ".

So nice to hear such appreciation ( ears-a-clappin' ). ; ) Nicer too, to hear such a wonderful love story. : )