I Wouldn't Mind if I Turn Japanese

I like a lot of things about Japan. Their culture, technology, art, craftsmanship , weather and specially, food. Yesterday, Val and I tried this Japanese resto Akashi in Paragon mall at Orchard road.

A bit pricey but the food is good. The place looks good too. We will definitly eat here again. Maybe next payday. :)

Bamboo Stands Solo

The best opm singer of my generation. I've been a fan since Rivermaya 'til now. think he still has one of the most distinct voices in opm.

Bought his new solo album, No Water, No Moon. I still miss the band but it's great to hear him in a different sound.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Monarchy of Roses [Official Music Video]

Cool animation. They've always been one of my favorite bands.

I'm with you.

Sketch: John and Paul

Portrait

Self-centered portrait. Haha! Yes, I should practice some more and draw other stuff/ people besides myself. :)

Muse

Hello! Here's my first digital painting. What do you think? :)

Paradise- Coldplay

In the night the stormy night away she'd fly

One Hit Combo feat. Gloc9 Official Video

Ang lupit lang. :)

I Drew a Header

living in the little red dot

Pen Tablet on a Budget

Bought myself a pen tablet. At last! I've been planning to by one for centuries. Ok maybe just a couple of years. It's because I couldn't decide what to get aaaaannd I'm always on a budget. Quite tight. Also it's not at the top of my priorities at the time. Anyway, this month, I found out that Wacom launched new products that are quite cheap. And it happened that I have some spare cash at the moment so I bought one.

I really prefer using traditional mediums like pencils, paints and stuff. But still, this would be a good thing to spend time on creativity. And maybe earn money out of it. :)

Will post stuff soon. :)

Wasak Waltz

Relate.

Pearl Jam 20

Last Tuesday, one of my favorite bands celebrated their 20th anniversary. Val and I (and the whole world) watched their film documentary. Awesome night!

Hit this to watch the trailer.

Pearl Jam Twenty chronicles the years leading up to the band's formation, the chaos that ensued soon-after their rise to megastardom, their step back from center stage, and the creation of a trusted circle that would surround them—giving way to a work culture that would sustain them. Told in big themes and bold colors with blistering sound, the film is carved from over 1,200 hours of rarely-seen and never-before seen footage spanning the band's career. Pearl Jam Twenty is the definitive portrait of Pearl Jam: part concert film, part intimate insider-hang, part testimonial to the power of music and uncompromising artists.

About the Filmmaker

CAMERON CROWE, Director, Writer, Producer
At Age 13 Cameron Crowe began his professional life as a music critic, writing for magazines such as Creem and Crawdaddy, and at 15, became a staff writer for Rolling Stone. In 1979, Crowe (then 22) went undercover as a Southern California high schooler for his book, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He then wrote the screenplay for the film upon which it was based. In 1989, Crowe made his feature film directorial debut with Say Anything.... His other films include Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, Elizabethtown and Almost Famous, which earned him an Oscar® for Best Original Screenplay. His newest narrative film, We Bought A Zoo, starring Matt Damon, will be released in December 2011.

Let's Load these Ammos

Guess who's a sucker for films?

What Happened to September?

Just like what happened ten years ago in New York, same thing happened in my work. -HELL.

That's why Val and I decided to go on a boat cruise. We thought that it would be a great escape from the busy life in the city which was great!

Val also had an idea for a blog. Go check!

Five

It's our fifth year together and I am so happy we've made it this far. I was planning to by her something expensive or treat her to a fancy dinner but unfortunately, I am swamped at work and low on budget because of my expenses during my mom's stay last month.

So all I had was a song I wrote for her the night before our anniversary. (Bawi na lang ako, babe. Love you!)

"Five"

Limang taon

Na pala tayong

Tumatakbo.

Magkasamang

Pinagsasaluhan ang pagibig na

Dala natin sa isa’t-isa.

*Oh kay sarap magbalik-tanaw

Sa’ting mga pinagdaanang

Hirap at saya.

**At ngayong gabi,

nakatingin sa bulalakaw

na sabay nating pinagmamasdan

ang sandaling ‘di maipagpapalit

kaylan man.

Limang taon

Na pala akong

Gumigising sa iyong mga ngiti

Na nagbibigay liwanag

Sa ulan at kalungkutan ko.

Oh

*

Drawing Therapy

TriShaw Driver

You can go around town to see Melaka's sights on one of these Trishaws. It's well decorated with colorful flowers and accessories, accompanied by loud heavy metal music. No wonder it's hard not to notice.

Night Crawlers

Back in Manila, my friends and I go out for skate sessions after work. Thursdays was our regular skate night. But when work doesn't get in the way, we would skate every night.

It started in 2005 when I went out to skate at a parking lot near my office. Empty and quiet, all one can hear is the sound of the wheels spinning when it carves the concrete. As the night wears on, the chopping sound of the board breaks the silence of the city.

It was like some sort of freedom. It felt so great.

After a long day, you'll go out there and skate your stress away. Without thinking of work and being chased by security guards. Without worrying if it's already 2 A.M. It was just pure fun.

New Time Piece

Got me (and Val. Thanks babe!) a new watch during our trip to Malaysia over the long weekend.

I'm not really the type of person who shops often. It also takes a long time for me to decide before buying one thing. But when Val showed me this watch, it took me just 2 minutes too purchase it.

It's not fancy or expensive which I really liked about it. It's simple, reasonably cheap and functional.

About Family

I love when families get together.

It's when you feel the excitement of seeing and being with them again.

It makes places extra special when you go with them.

It's when you all eat on one big table

where you enjoy the food while arguing over the littlest things.

It's when you share real conversations

and laugh about the most stupid jokes.

It's when you can truly be yourself.

It's the feeling of being home

and being loved.

Surfing Dream

This shot was taken from one of our surf trips in the Philippines.

Writing on Rain

A lot of things change when it rains. Everything seems to be out of place. You find yourself waking up at the far side of the bed, looking at the clock with one eye open. The view outside has a pale blue grey shade taking a bit of that happy mood away.

People seem disoriented, walking at an awkward pace. Moving along the puddled pavement with their quick footsteps and heads hung low. The streets fill up with cars, each bumper closer to the next and the driver's faces press on the window shield.

A lot of things change when it rains. The time you get up from bed, the set of clothes you wear, the route you take, even the food you prepare. It may change your mood, it may be bad or good.

What is it with rain? Is it a sign of change? A shower of blessing? Maybe it's trying to tell you something or make you do anything? Maybe you'll find out yourself when you wake up on one rainy morning.

World's first photograph- The Camera Obscura

Centuries of advances in chemistry and optics, including the invention of the camera obscura, set the stage for the world’s first photograph. In 1826, French scientist Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, took that photograph, titled View from the Window at Le Gras, at his family’s country home. Niépce produced his photo—a view of a courtyard and outbuildings seen from the house’s upstairs window—by exposing a bitumen-coated plate in a camera obscura for several hours on his windowsill.

New Kicks from 1966

Vans' storied history, and our connection with skate and surf culture, began in 1966 Southern California with the rolling out of a single pair of shoes. They were named Authentic. In the generations since, they have only gotten more popular amongst hardcore skaters and skate enthusiasts. Their design is simple, stylish, and effective: a low top lace-up profile made with sturdy canvas uppers, and signature waffle rubber soles.

Thanks to my lovely girlfriend, Val who bought this for me. :)

Believe in Everything

I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?

~John Lennon

Meet Pete Eckert

Pete Eckert is a totally blind person.

But through his photography, he proves that he IS a visual person,

he just can't see.

Give it up for Diego Stocco

Diego is a sound designer, composer and performer that creates eclectic musical experiences with custom built instruments and experimental recording techniques. Diego loves discovering hidden sounds from organic sources, objects and materials, his unorthodox musical curiosity allows him to produce music with sounds never heard before.

Mock Ups

I've been doing brochure mock ups since yesterday for a pitch that I'm working on and I keep screwing it up. I know that it's fun and challenging to do but it's not my favorite part of being an Art Director, specially when it's taking too much of my time. Since the office doesn't have a "mock-up" area so to speak, I had to work in the storage room where I was sweating like hell and my hair got all sticky from the spray mount.

Then again, just like what Barney Stinson always says. "Challenge accepted!" And after three times of doing the same mock up, I finally got it right. Yes, it's just a brochure but i did it and I'm proud of it.

:)

A Post for Val

Love Lost- Temper Trap