Art Fair Philippines 2016

Art Fair Philippines was launched in 2013. It aims to showcase Philippine modern and contemporary art in the country's business and commercial district. Since its foundation, it has featured a number of local artists, and several art galleries in the Metro. As it continues to grow, even galleries from Southeast Asia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan participated in the event. The art scene was such a feast to the eyes.



The collection of artworks in Art Fair was vast. Two floors are reserved for this year's fair at The Link. It puts the limelight on all kinds of contemporary and modern art, and is seriously overwhelming. It really lives up to its dubbed name, Beyond the Link. To truly savor every piece, might actually take the whole day.



I loved too many pieces. If only I have the funds to take them home with me. Also, I do apologize in advance, because of the crappy photos (I only used my phone, and was too busy feeling all the feels).

This sculpture was one of my top favorites. It's called "Four Beasts Girl" by Akira Miyamoto.



Now, for some colors. "In Flux series: Tribute to the Little Prince: Sahara Sky, His Rose, Hidden Well, Asteroid B-12, Secret of the Prince, and Sahara Sunset" by Michelle Perez.



These eyes speak volumes.



This was among the first pieces I saw, and I fell in love with it quickly. "Toys Are Us" by Gabriel Barredo.



Always in awe of Raffy Napay's works. "Father and Son" was also made of thread, but glows in the dark. Captivating.

Only one of the many beautifully haunting ceramic sculptures by Lara de los Reyes. This effortlessly won me.





I wanted to post everything, but I did not take enough photos, nor did I have any decent ones good enough to give the artworks justice.

Anyway, do visit Art Fair at The Link. Whether you're an art enthusiast or a human simply searching for visual pleasures, Art Fair will definitely satisfy your creative cravings.

(c)

READ MORE

Personal Recession

Explaining My Depression to My Mother: A Conversation

Mom, my depression is a shape shifter.
One day it is as small as a firefly in the palm of a bear,
The next, it’s the bear.
On those days I play dead until the bear leaves me alone.
I call the bad days: “the Dark Days.”
Mom says, “Try lighting candles.”
When I see a candle, I see the flesh of a church, the flicker of a flame,
Sparks of a memory younger than noon.
I am standing beside her open casket.
It is the moment I learn every person I ever come to know will someday die.
Besides Mom, I’m not afraid of the dark.
Perhaps, that’s part of the problem.
Mom says, “I thought the problem was that you can’t get out of bed.”
I can’t.
Anxiety holds me a hostage inside of my house, inside of my head.
Mom says, “Where did anxiety come from?”
Anxiety is the cousin visiting from out-of-town depression felt obligated to bring to the party.
Mom, I am the party.
Only I am a party I don’t want to be at.
Mom says, “Why don’t you try going to actual parties, see your friends?”
Sure, I make plans. I make plans but I don’t want to go.
I make plans because I know I should want to go. I know sometimes I would have wanted to go.
It’s just not that fun having fun when you don’t want to have fun, Mom.
You see, Mom, each night insomnia sweeps me up in his arms dips me in the kitchen in the small glow of the stove-light.
Insomnia has this romantic way of making the moon feel like perfect company.
Mom says, “Try counting sheep.”
But my mind can only count reasons to stay awake;
So I go for walks; but my stuttering kneecaps clank like silver spoons held in strong arms with loose wrists.
They ring in my ears like clumsy church bells reminding me I am sleepwalking on an ocean of happiness I cannot baptize myself in.
Mom says, “Happy is a decision.”
But my happy is as hollow as a pin pricked egg.
My happy is a high fever that will break.
Mom says I am so good at making something out of nothing and then flat-out asks me if I am afraid of dying.
No.
I am afraid of living.
Mom, I am lonely.
I think I learned that when Dad left how to turn the anger into lonely —
The lonely into busy;
So when I tell you, “I’ve been super busy lately,” I mean I’ve been falling asleep watching Sports Center on the couch
To avoid confronting the empty side of my bed.
But my depression always drags me back to my bed
Until my bones are the forgotten fossils of a skeleton sunken city,
My mouth a bone yard of teeth broken from biting down on themselves.
The hollow auditorium of my chest swoons with echoes of a heartbeat,
But I am a careless tourist here.
I will never truly know everywhere I have been.
Mom still doesn’t understand.
Mom! Can’t you see that neither can I?
—Sabrina Benaim

Depression (n.)
It’s like drowning.
Except you can see everyone around you breathing.
—Unknown

(via theartidote)

READ MORE

The Club Balai Depreciation

Every once in a while, the family spontaneously decides to go on vacation. And because of the urgency, we almost always do not have the best option for a trip only planned the night before. Thank the gods (or the actual people responsible) for the internet because we get to find resorts online.

We stumbled upon Club Balai Isabel in Batangas. And browsing through the photos, it was really beautiful. Without much debacle, we hit the road the next morning. The trip, however, was unbearable. The town where the said resort was located seemed to have its fiesta on the day of our travel. We arrived at the resort still an hour early of our schedule, though. The photos online were real. Because the place truly was a pleasure to the eyes. But here comes the real struggle.




Thirty minutes before we checked-in, there was already a problem with our room. The people who reserved it (before us) lost the key. To hear such stupidity really ruins the vacation mode person in me. We gave the management time to resolve the awful situation. We first had our late lunch in the resort's only restaurant. To our dismay, the services also sucked. It took them almost an hour to actually serve our food. The food was good, though. Or maybe, we were just starved. We also took our time to enjoy the view and took photos. Sadly, when we came back to the reception, the room was still not ready. And the key, still nowhere to be found (or so they told us). I did go maldita after an hour. It was really unprofessional of them. Not even a single person apologized for the hassle and trouble. No one also seemed to acknowledge their fault. It was a vacation, for god's sake. And their making it hell.



We were finally able to checked-in our room after two hours, but without the key. The room was clean, cozy, and had simple, calming interior. The management, of course, had a spare key. Yet, they kept telling us lies about the whole scenario. It was really frustrating. We just rested in our room the whole afternoon to calm down our senses.



At night, we went out for a walk. The resort was pretty big. They offer many amenities for guests to enjoy. But since it was already getting dark, we decided to grab an early dinner. Unfortunately for us, there was only one restaurant—which meant we would have to deal with their disappointing service again. True enough, as we searched for a table to dine, there were already many people anxious to have their orders taken. Alas! No waiter seemed to be paying attention to customers. So there were celebrities being served. But that was no excuse to disregard the rest of the guests. People around were obviously starting to get pissed as well. We did not want to go through all the stress from earlier, so we ordered straight to the kitchen. We told them we would pick up the food after an hour or so, but gave them our room number, just in case. To avoid further anxiety, since all of us were also exhausted, we just headed back to our room. We fell asleep fast. A knock on the door woke us up. It was our food that we forgot to pick up. Nonetheless, the disappointment continued. There was nothing more saddening than waking up from a nap, only to be fed dull, and tasteless food. We went back to sleep full of regrets.

The next morning, we still wanted to give the resort a chance, and our vacation, hope. We took a swim at one of their largest pools. It was the one near the restaurant so we could have our breakfast at the same time. Surprisingly, the food was okay. We enjoyed touring a portion of the resort. And we had a good swim.




I was glad that nothing stupid happened that morning. Because we were about to check out that afternoon. We did not lose the key. We had our brains with us.



Overall, the place was glorious. It was a beautiful destination where you get to enjoy nature. Sadly though, it was not enough to outwit the unbearable service they offer. Will most likely never come back. Two stars out of five.

PHOTOS: iPhone, GoPro

READ MORE

The Troye Sivan

Troye Sivan is my new favorite person. His music is so good.

I'm sorry if I'm late for the Troye Appreciation Club, but I did not know that aside from being an actor, he's also internet famous. Now that we have established how cool of a person Troye is, listen to his soulful music. You will not regret it. Or you might, because you would not be able to stop listening to it.

"I am tired of this place, I hope people change. I need time to replace what I gave away. And my hopes, they are high, I must keep them small."

(photo and video are not mine; credits to youtube, owner)

READ MORE