Rough Groove

Beyond Frames - my first major gallery group exhibit

My first gallery exhibit via a group show starting this 21 December - 6 January 2007.

Beyond Frames. 7 Artists-Photographers at OWG.

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Typhoon Milenyo

Crippling typhoon Milenyo (international code name Xangsane) whooshed its way right in the center of Metro Manila wreaking havoc and mayhem. Early morning and already the rains have been pouring unceasingly from the previous night that the front of the condominium where I’m staying got flooded. I thought that it was just an ordinary typhoon when around 1100H, the shafts of the building were already whistling as strong currents of air passed through. The rains, which was just slight started to get strong as the winds started to get powerful. Leaves of trees were being flown high as the electric power supplying the building started to become unreliable. On, off, on, on, on, off, on…

1200H, an unseeming calm just descended. The rains again was slight and no more strong winds. We’re already at the center of the storm, the eye of the typhoon is already passing, I thought. After 30 minutes, the wind again started to howl but this time, at the other direction. Strong rain, powerful winds again. Then suddenly, the power was cut off. The generator started but not for long, it conked out and darkness in my room.

1500H and outside, it has calmed but still no power. Night came and it seems that most of Metro Manila is dark. I went out supposedly to watch a movie but when I arrived at Glorietta, it was closed. Same with Shangri-la Mall in Shaw Blvd. Along the way, it was just dark. Branches were cut and littered the road. Some trees fell while, in Estrella, misfortune came to some people aboard a car and an FX taxi when one steel billboard toppled.

Fortunately, I was able to go to SM Megamall. It was hot inside as the airconditioning was not working but with nothing to do back at the condo, I watched Flyboys but was disappointed with the movie that I left.

San Agustin procession

Last August 27, San Agustin church in Intramuros had a procession in honor of the order’s feast day. I was there to take photos upon the invitation of Fr. Pedro Galende.

The main image of San Agustin (1 of 3) carried out of the church (left). The oldest church in the Philippines with much history with it, the only standing church remaining during the Liberation of Manila, WWII, San Agustin Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site stands proud through the centuries as the procession starts its centuries old path around the once walled city of Intramuros (right).

The band that played behind the procession (left). The main image coming back from the procession (right). The churche’s interior is so rich and beautiful with the trompe l’oeil still intact when the painter Alberoni (brothers?) first did the church. Just beside the altar, the tomb of Legazpi, founder of Manila is located.

Another trip in Binondo

Well, I was on another errand in Sta. Cruz and just couldn’t resist to drop by Ongpin in Binondo. At first, I was just planned to have a snack of bola-bola siopao in one snack house near the Binondo church (the one I frequent). The steamed bun was just so so with not even a piece of salted egg and/or sliver of sausage but I bet, their special siopao would be much much better and larger (I think). This coupled with avocado shake and I was full.

On the way back, I can’t just help but imagine the taste of the mixed nuts with one salted egg yolk mooncake that I had two days ago and was definitely craving to get one that when I passed by the Salazar bakery, I saw and got one. Off to Eng Bee Tin and I got their squid adobo and special puto cheese (hmmm, after having tasted it, I say I prefer those that I usually get in Cebu, moist and really cheesy but the sliver of salted egg on top somewhat made up for the shortcoming).

From their, on my way back to the Carriedo LRT station, I passed by a couple of fruit stands and bought guavas as well as this strange fruit they call lampara that almost takes like mansanitas but a little bit less sweeter. There were also pears, peaches, lansones from Bangkok, different kinds of persimons and plums but I stayed off from these considering the price. Just before I got to the station, I happened to chance upon a stall selling kikiam (meat and vegetable mixture wrapped in beancurd) and got one package.

This place is really very tempting for various food items. I just hope that when I get back there probably tomorrow, I can reign in my curiosity.

Pomegranates in Ongpin

Just as I was on my way back to the Carriedo LRT station, I was walking along Ongpin St. in chinatown for some errands, that I passed by a couple of fruit stalls and what just captured my attention were a few boxes of pomegranates neatly packaged in plastic with chinese calligraphy and styrofoam pouches.

It has been decades since I’ve enjoyed this unique fruit that we locally call granada (translates to grenade in English). Maybe because of its shape and hundreds of tightly packed seeds covered in the most delicate and translucent pulp sometimes with a tinge of red or purple or maroon or just plain translucence arranged in sections covered with a thin gossamer sheath.

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