Say Modern

I teach History of Architecture. Doing so makes me tackle subjects in Theories of Architecture, although I do not teach this subject.  This is why I got interested on the topic of Modern Architecture when I keep hearing my friends mention Tropical Modern, Bali Modern, Asian Modern, and all other words with "Modern" attached to it.

What exactly are these? How do they differ from one another? Are these just loose titles without any significant content, are is there something that we should learn from all of these? These are some of the questions I was mulling over at times when I have the luxury of exploring concepts and ideas.

Unfortunately that "luxury" is very limited.So I shall try to share my thoughts about the subject in the shortest way I can.... with drawings and captions....

The "Awesome" Phenomena

I have another bout of insomnia tonight. I am staying in my friend's house for the night because the electricity in my apartment was disconnected. I thought I had paid the bills, but I remembered missing out this one because I forgot to bring the bill and I don't have the account number. Anyway, the Christmas season sort of distorted my memory. I settled my bills yesterday afternoon and was told that my lights will be up the following day.

My friend has a habit of putting on a video while he is working or studying. When I arrived, he already had the collection of the series "How I Met Your Mother" on the playlist and running. I was distracted, of course. I was not able to work on what I planned to do, and I ended up watching the series until it started to repeat... by then it was already 4am.

That show features five friends (Ted, Barney, Marshall, Lily and Robin) and, although I think of them most of the time as stupid, their relationship actually fascinated me. I have a lot of friends I hang out with, most of them students. Normally, these students form different groups, so I find myself hanging out with one group now and another group the next. One group in particular likes this TV show a lot. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I think they identify themselves with the show and are actually trying to get tips on how to get girls... or how to act cool... or awesome...

Aside from them being half my age, I can understand now why they don't act their age. It looks like the show has a lot of influence to them. But while this show made me think of this group of friends, it also made me realized that this group had actually been very good friends for me.  For some reason I don't have the hang ups I had with other friends in the past. There are many good things I want to say about them... but even with the insomnia my head is a bit reeling... so I will describe it in one word which I'm sure they will like very much.. I find these guys simply... awesome! =)

It's not easy having friends who are way younger than you are. The fact that I'm doing fine dealing with them right now must mean I have matured on this point. I have finally learned to understand and adjust to their ways. Watching this show helps a lot.

When you become friends with people younger than you some rules had to be observed. For me, it's ok to have some beer and chit chat with friends and just let loose among ourselves. When the guys want to go out to meet girls and hang out with them, that's the time I back out and do something else. Among these guys, they also try to follow a set of rules of conduct which they got from the show. It's called the "Bro Code". They do it for fun, although they sometimes end up using it for serious situations. Anyway... just to cite an example of the "influences" of the show.

I'm not trying to exclude the other group of students who became my friends. They are awesome as well. It's just that this particular group is more associated with the show. Having said that I should end this blog and hope that sleep can finally take over. =)

A Day of Promises

The first of January. This is the day when nearly everyone in the world make a promise to themselves in what we normally call a "new year's resolution." I wondered whether I should join the fray. I ended up making a plan for the whole year. First I make my goals, then I map out how I intend to fulfill those goals.

It's interesting to listen to these resolutions, but what I also found more amusing are the predictions made by the so called feng shui experts or what have you. They sound so funny in the radio and television. Everything they say are so general that it doesn't matter at all. I just wish they feature the "predictions" made last year and check out those that went true. Now THAT would be more interesting.

Nowadays it is easier to make promises. People have gotten used to making promises in order to break them. Gone is the honor that goes when one makes a promise. Perhaps people have very little regard of human dignity that they don't mind if other people don't trust them or believe them anymore.

Anyway, let me just take this opportunity to wish everyone good luck in keeping their new year's resolutions. As for me, I have a plan to map out.

The Game of Life

I confess. I'm addicted to Mafia Wars...

Big deal? I don't know. I just realized that I spent so much time on it and there are times that I my schedule got affected by it. Ok, i can almost hear those who thought that I must be nuts to be playing a game at my age and status. I don't think there's anything wrong, unless there's a label that says "for children between the ages 3 to 9". In my class in urban planning, even my professor asked us to play SIM CITY to get a good grasp of urban planning.

I remember when I was involved in a youth club in Manila. One time we had an excursion with grade school kids. I was seated at the back of a van with two grade 2 students and I was amused at how they spent their time while traveling. They were playing a game, but a virtual one. Each of them has a particular character and they would exchange roles or actions, depending on what the other says. One kid would say "I will attack you with this weapon! and you will be thrown away!" The other kid would respond: "I will use this gadget to hold on to something and throw myself at you with this weapon"... and so on...

Other than Nintendo's early games like Space Invaders, I don't really play much in computer. I often wonder what goes on in the minds of these kids.

There are many reasons why adults play games like this one. I think that the most important reason is that the game is an outlet for people who get frustrated over their desire to control things in their lives. In games, you have more control

Peace of the Past in Argao

There are many things that Argao is known for, among others there’s the beach, the food, and the heritage resources. Among the heritage resources, however, its cemetery is probably the least popular. It is not common for tourists to tour cemeteries of small towns, but visiting Argao’s cemetery is actually worthwhile.

Argao’s cemetery was built during the Spanish period. It was a public cemetery owned by the Catholic Church. A few mausoleums were built for prominent families but what made the cemetery interesting are the rows of concrete crosses laid in grid over the field instead of the usual stone slabs on the ground. The names of the deceased, including their dates of birth and death, are etched on the concrete crosses. The field is also surrounded by a wall of niches and some structures built during the Spanish era such as its gate and its main chapel with only the façade remaining.

The cemetery is currently being redeveloped. Using the façade of the old chapel, a new chapel had been built. The quaint mausoleum of the Kintanars had been converted into a gazebo which acts as a centerpiece to the whole development and the Spanish era gate and fence had been torn down. Despite these changes the place still transports you back in time

Another point of interest outside the Spanish cemetery is the burial ground of the Kintanar family. The place is surrounded by a moat and is sometimes referred to by locals as an island cemetery.

Heritage Hunt in Colon

Colon Street is one of the busiest streets of Cebu. It is also one of the oldest streets in the Philippines. If you walk along Colon today you will only notice how busy it is, not how old it is. Nearly all the remnants of the old Colon have disappeared. There is only a handful of buildings left, like the Vision Theater and the University of the Visayas, but people hardly notice their importance anymore.

Throughout its history, Colon had been known for many things. In the first place it is the location for the residences of prominent people like the Gaisanos and Osmenas. Colon was also known as "Calle Teatro" (Theater Street) because of a number of theaters dotting the length of the street.  Artists have also set up studios along Colon such as painting studios and dance studios. There are also quite a number of schools along Colon. Other establishments in the old Colon include a number of printing press and restaurants.

Although these establishments have long disappeared, it is still possible to know what they were exactly, where they stood, and what their history is. In the late 90's a civic group implemented  a plan to bring back the glory of Colon. Although the movement was felt only for a short term they managed to set up informative markers along the street. These markers come in the form of a plaque on posts (see pictures). The plaques state the important establishment being marked including a brief history. Unfortunately, like the surviving structures of the old Colon, these markers are now difficult to notice.

Those who are curious about the history of Colon can venture into a hunting expedition where they search for these markers and be transported in the past.

Yellow Tribute

I know that a lot of people will find this strange but this blog is a tribute to the late President Corazon Aquino. I've often wanted to write this around the time she died but I wondered whether it was appropriate. What actually made me hesitate is that I may end up revealing some things in the past that I think should be kept silent. The upcoming anniversary of the death of Ninoy Aquino, however, moved me to go ahead.

I was watching the news with my parents when Ninoy was assassinated. In fact, we were watching the live telecast of his assassination. I still remember the reaction of my parents that time. I had never seen them so suddenly anxious, as if they don't know what to do. They both gave me the impression that the country is about to collapse. There was a general feeling of hopelessness which, in my carefree youth at that time, was a totally new experience. This moved me to follow events in the news, both the television and the newspaper.

I think the Snap Election declared by then President Ferdinand Marcos was the time I first voted. The Marcos "regime" had a deep impact on me. Out of fear, people had the tendency to over react to the President's rules during the Martial Law. I remember how my mom was worried about a law restricting the number of childred to three, and I happened to be the fourth. There was talk about making my neighbors adopt me. It was totally confusing to me. Later on, I just grew familiar with the underground activities... knowing but never participating... until Cory took the lead.

I joined the rallies together with my parents. I wore the yellow shirt and flashed the "Laban" sign. I sang the nationalistic songs. My participation, however, was simply for support to the real movers. I simply helped out in the logistics. Anyway, the long and short is that Cory became president and things went normal for me. I thought it was the last that I would concern myself about the widow of Ninoy. I was in for a surprise.

Immediately after graduating in college I went to Manila. Somehow I ended up working for one of Cory's cabinet member when she was still President. They still correspond to each other so I found myself coordinating with the office of the Cojuangco's, which includes her, of course.

My encounters with the past president, however, was not confined to work. At one time, she was invited to a get-together with university students. An activity which I took part in organizing. I remember how awkward it was when people became silent during the open forum after her talk. I broke the silence by asking her how she managed being president and mother at the same time. She took that opportunity to thank her eldest daughter who helped her with this dilemma.

This is how I know this  woman in yellow: a president, an executive, a mother. If I were in Manila around the time of her death I would be found in her wake and her funeral. I know her more than most of my friends right now and I cannot help feeling disgusted whenever I hear some people criticize her, or make fun of her, when they know nothing about her. The youth nowadays would call the "Laban" sign as a "loser" sign. If only they know that flashing that sign before was an act of great courage, for it may mean your detention or your anonymous death.

In parting, I wish to give a simple request to the young people around my great circle of friends... if you have nothing good to say about the late president, say nothing. Respect her memory, even if the only thing you can do is to remain silent.