Real Living Space

A few weeks back, me and my friends Carlo, Jenny, and Coni attended RL creative director Gwyn Guanzon’s play for the College of St. Benilde’s Technical Theater class (yes, Gwyn can act too), and we got an additional treat right after the show—an up-close look at St. Benilde’s beautiful building…

I wish all design schools looked like this! (And not that I’m complaining about UP—still love my school) It was designed by modernist architect Ed Calma, right at the height of his PRC licensure controversy (FYI it’s over, Calma is now a licensed Filipino architect). The deconstructivist/modernist building is an amazing example of how good design can make the most out of a tight, crowded area—in this case, right smack in the middle of downtown Manila. Upon approach, its facade’s sharp creases and folds open to reveal a dramatically airy space. And I like the fact that it’s peppered with amazing artwork in the lobby…

And the students’ exhibit of miniature chairs just took me right back to my college days!

To date, the college is beefing up its design programs, offering more intense courses on industrial and interior design, architecture, multimedia, filmmaking, even production design. Students are encouraged to take a more hands-on, experiential approach to learning, which is definitely good. For more information on the college, click here.

While we’re on the topic of design education, SOFA (School of Fashion and the Arts) recently opened its School of Interior Design, offering courses on Visual Editing, entertaining, and renovating on a budget among other things.  Interesting—but do take the basic design classes first! For more info, call the academic and marketing officer at (02) 892-8807.

The Buddha-inspired artworks by siblings Dorothy and Elmer Alforque definitely made the long ride to Alabang worth it. Dorothy and Elmer are Bohemian Nation’s in-house artists who handpainted the different faces of Buddha on canvasses, tables, headboards and other furniture, which were launched to the press and friends last August 18.

Brother-and-sister tandem Elmer and Dorothy sign their works Erimon and Dorosera, as a symbol of brotherhood; these were the names the African kids in Rwanda called them way back 2005. Dorothy, in behalf of her brother Elmer who couldn’t make it to the event, briefed the press about their artworks.

I have never seen so many artworks inspired by Gautama under one roof! One can hear oohs and aahs as the visitors checked out the charming and blissful coffee tables. Out of all the coffee table designs, I certainly fell in love with this one:

The headboards were also one-of-a-kind; something you’d want hanging on your wall to assure you of a good night’s sleep. I, together with Ms. Betty Romero of Bohemian Nation and Lei who works for another glossy, had our photo taken with the Awakened one headboard.

The Buddha Bliss Series will be featured August 18 onwards at Bohemian Nation, The Serenity Place. (Photos by Raf Jamolangue)

(The Serenity Place is located in Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City)

While Typhoon Basyang’s winds were building up along Roxas Boulevard last night, we were at the Metropolitan Museum for This French is Pinoy!, an exhibit of French expat Henri Eteve’s works while here in the Philippines (organized by Alliance Francaise with Avellana Art Gallery).

Henri has been staying in the Philippines for the past 45 years, and except for the vestiges of a slight Gallic accent, he has definitely gone native. Some of his favorite pastimes include trawling Quiapo and other parts of downtown Manila for bizarre odds and ends (buffalo horns, anting-anting); and the occasional antique book written about the Philippines by another European. He loves to talk about other famous expats who have settled anonymously in our humble country, like Charles Lindbergh and Bobby Fischer.

Henri’s curious, observant, but not-to0-serious attitude in life translates into upbeat, colorful works with organic forms that have an ebullient, almost happy feel to them. (Here’s designer Jojie Lloren surveying them.)

I’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t been to Metropolitan Museum in a while. Last I went there was during Marlene Aguilar’s book launch, but all that is another story. So I wandered around the galleries upstairs, and there was this exhibit of contemporary Japanese photographers (“Out of the Ordinary/Extraordinary” sponsored by the Japan Foundation), which shows how Japan’s young photogs see their country in this generation. I was not disappointed. The works were amazing like these prints by Takano Ryudai of half-bodies—the subjects are so androgynous you cannot tell if they are male or female.

I got home in time before Basyang hit. When the weather’s better, I want to go out and see more exhibits and shows, and I think you should, too. “This French is Pinoy!”runs until July 31, while “Out of the Ordinary/Extraordinary” runs until September 30.

It’s quite rare these days to come across a truly interesting event, but to my surprise, there are still a few out there. One of them was the preview of Victorio C. Edades-Father of Modern Art, which I attended last Friday at the Edades Tower and Garden Villa model unit at the Powerplant Mall. In this special preview, elusive Edades works are quite aptly incorporated into the Edades luxury model units (his painting of the UST botanical gardens is featured above in the dining room—this work is my favorite). (Rockwell Land has other residential towers named after noted Filipino artists like Luna, Joya, and Amorsolo.)

A special auction of Edades’s works will be held on July 15 by Salcedo Auctions, one of the few (oh I think they are the only one) auction houses in the country. Their advisor, Richie Lerma, was on hand as curator for this special exhibit and gave us more info on the pieces we saw. Here he is in front of this small but lovely “Portrait of a Baby Girl” in the master bedroom…

Now if you weren’t paying attention in your Humanities class, Edades is one of our National Artists for painting. Though noted for his depictions of Filipino life, we can’t directly compare him to Amorsolo and his airbrushed, bucolic Pinoy landscapes. Edades’s renditions are more intimate, raw, more personal, and without any pretensions. And though he did a lot of commissioned portraits of society matrons, Richie mentioned that Edades also made beautiful portraits of everyday people, like this sfumato charcoal of a school teacher (1980) in the master bedroom…

Edades in his later years shunned the spotlight and retreated to Davao to live a simple and quite life. Here, he met Norma Liongoren, who became one of his closest friends and who procured many of the works in this exhibit. And in line with his painting very intimate and personal portraits (he did many sketches and watercolor studies of his own family), he did painting of Norma and her family as well. This painting in the children’s room shows photographer Erik Liongoren and director Avid Liongoren as children!

And I must say, the Edades model unit is one of the best model units I’ve seen in years—beautiful palette, textures, and fabrics, well-executed (from experience, a lot of model units out there are bang-up, rush jobs), this one is very tasteful indeed! I heard it was done by veteran interior designer Alice Erfe.

Visit the Edades model unit beside the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell, Makati City, or click here. For more information on Salcedo Auctions and the special Edades auction on July 15, click here.

If you haven’t been living under a rock, then you’ve probably heard of artist, heritage-fanatic, and multi-talented Manila tour guide Carlos Celdran and his Walk This Way tours. We actually featured Carlos and his lovely wife Tesa’s home in Real Living way back in November 2004. Here are a few pics of that shoot…

Aside from hosting and organizing assorted art events and performances at The Living Room at The Syquia Apartments, Carlos practically turned local guided tours from boring history lesson and tourist trap to a social commentary/performance art/non-fuddy-duddy must-do activity regardless if you were a white foreigner or full-blooded Pinoy. Carlos’ most famous and frequently-attended tour is his “If These Walls Could Talk” Intramuros Tour, so it is but fitting that he opened a gift shop tucked right within the walls of Intramuros itself, called La Monja Loca, which has been open for about a year or so.

“La Monja Loca” actually means “The Crazy Nun,” (ask me another time for the explanation, folks). This little shop carries items that run the gamut from Team Manila t-shirts, bayong totes, tabako coasters, and Imelda terno bags, postcards of Old Manila to actual anting-antings from Quiapo—all references to Pinoy history, pop culture, kitsch, and silly superstitions. Here is a sampling of the stuff on sale (with some actual bomb shells you can use as found-object or doorstop as well):

It’s an interesting stop after visiting Manila Cathedral, San Agustin, or Casa Manila (it’s actually near there). And much like Carlos’s tours, I feel the entire shop is a social commentary of sorts on the richness—and craziness—of the Philippines.

La Monja Loca is located at Unit 3a, Plaza San Luis, Calle Real, Intramuros, Manila, text tel. 0920-9092021 for inquiries. Thank you Pierra, for dragging me along that lazy Saturday, and sorry Carlos, for barging into your store unannounced and publishing all this without your permission—I’m sure you won’t mind, dear. Have a safe Holy Week, guys. (Real Home photos by Albert Labrador)

My mom had her cataract operations last year, and thankfully, our friendly ophtha was very kind in helping us out. The operations were both successful, and now her eyesight is better than mine. So the exhibit and sale of artwork for the Opthalmological Foundation of the Philippines sorta rings close to my heart. The proceeds from the sale of art pieces by the likes of National Artist Bencab, and noted artists Impy Pilapil, Valeria Cavestany, and Betsy Westendorp will go to the healthcare of needy cataract patients in the Mountain Province. Cataract operations are costly, and the replacement lenses are very expensive, and the proceeds will go directly to the IFSU-OFPHIL Eye Center at the Ifugao State University.

So if you’re an avid art collector, why not make a prized purchase for a cause? Here are some of the art pieces with their respective prices:

This art-sale-for-a-cause will be held at the Manila Polo Club on February 3, Wednesday, at 6PM.

I was never great in mathematics. I only understand it to a certain point. After that, all those high falutin’ equations might as well be written in Huttese for what I can make of it.

But when I saw the invite to Pablo Fort’s latest offering …

Well, I got curious. You too? Together with it was a write up from which I quote, “As basic universal symbols as “-”, “+” and “*” are, they contain a list of what they might signify. Primarily used in mathematical equations, these symbols are selected by Dexter to layers of personality and narratives attached to his portraits….”

To understand what he is talking about, do drop by opening night on January 20, Wednesday, 7pm. There’s the off chance that Dex just might personally explain it to you.

Dex Fernandez
Exhibit run - January 20 to February 24, 2010

PABLO Fort
Unit C-11, South of Market Condominium, 26th Street corner 11th Avenue,
Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

www.pablogalleries.com

The prediction for next year: 2010 will be blue, blue, blue! But not sad-blue, tho—I mean the color of 2010 will be turquoise blue, or specifically, Pantone 15-5519 Turquoise, as seen below:

I have to admit that for me, this was totally unexpected. Since Pantone’s 2009 color of the year was Mimosa, a very bright and appropriate-for-the-times Cory-yellow, I was expecting the 2010 color to be also on the warm scale, or veering toward sophisticated, autumnal darks. Pantone’s 2010 15-5519 Turquoise isn’t pure turquoise, but rather, the semi-precious-stone turquoise veering on the aqua side, very much like the jewel-like, bluish-green water of a tropical sea, somewhere near the shore, preferably with exotic fish swimming around and swishing palms on the beach, like this:

Pantone’s press release says that this color choice stems from the belief that turquoise is “…a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing…Turquoise represents an escape to many—taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

How very apt—and very telling. I’m thinking that this color was chosen as a soothing balm to all the troubles we encountered this past year. But whether we escape to our “tropical fantasy” or make that pleasant dream real, I sure hope that 2010 will be much, much better. Happy New Year, guys!

Together with Uncle Ho’s mausoleum and the opera house, one of my must-sees in Hanoi was 87 Pho Ma May in the Old Quarter. It is an authentic traditional ‘tube house’, restored to its 19th century condition.

Tall, narrow, and long, the tube house was designed such to lower the property taxes. The ancient system computes one’s property tax in proportion to the property’s width.

The house opens as a shop to the street while the living areas are situated at the rear and upstairs. In the heart of the house is a courtyard, a source of ventilation and illumination.

We paid a 5000 dong entrance fee (approx. P13.) and had Vietnamese ladies tour us around the house and later serve us tea. It was nice yet since it was sort of a museum, the place seemingly lacked life. Good thing, Hanoians still live in tube houses thus the internet cafes and eateries were able to give us an idea of how it might have been in the past.

Found myself (and a handful of friends) strolling the streets of Hanoi a couple of weeks ago. I expected the usual from this trip- cheap hostels, good food, and cute backpackers. What I didn’t expect was to be enchanted by the Vietnamese capital.

I was mesmerized by Hanoi’s hold on its past while it fearlessly forges towards its future. Unlike Manila that was leveled to the ground during WWII or other Asian cities that unmercifully annihilates any sign of its past, Hanoi is a live show of its architectural history. Wide tree-lined boulevards and French colonial buildings still stand (and are being restored) in the French Quarter. A stark contrast to the tall, slim vernacular ‘tube houses” within the web of alleyways in the Old Quarter.

But don’t get the impression that Hanoi is a quiet town. Quite the opposite really – with motorbikes whizzing past, sidewalk and fine restaurants filled with chopstick-armed diners, and people displaying their wares in shops that open to the street. And since the six neighborhoods of Hanoi are within walking distance of each other, the whole city seems to be in perpetual motion.

Best still is the unmistakable pride that Hanoians seem to have for their City. It was in the way that they enjoyed it – playing games at the park on a lazy Sunday afternoon or gazing at the charming lights from a lakeside park bench at night. And a bit dusty Hanoi might have been, but it was relatively litter-free.

In hindsight, I believe my longing for Hanoi stemmed from the hope that Manila could’ve been Hanoi. Our Spanish and American colonial buildings should be peacefully standing next to our local architecture. Even our beautiful structures built in the 50s, 60s, 70s should be respected. Our Manila should be standing proudly as its self, instead of incessantly trying to be American.

Manila would always be my beloved home.
But as any Real Living reader would know, any home can still be improved.

Hanoi Opera House

“tube houses” along Ma May in the old quarter

a cyclo

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in the Ba Dinh district

a statue of Lenin

Roundabout at the end of Hang Dao and Tien Hoang in the old quarter

one of the Vietnamese posters around the city