Monthly Archives: September 2012

Arabic Calligraphy Names: A Bright Idea

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While I was searching and relying on the powers of internet for an idea on what would be my suggestion to my family’s uniform t-shirt design for Christmas (which by the way has been part of my family’s tradition to wear on Christmas Eve), I stumbled upon an awesome Facebook page.

I wanted our t-shirt design this year to bear our beautiful family’s surname in Arabic calligraphy.  I surfed on through the internet but there seem to be very limited source where I could adopt my surname written in classic Arabic calligraphy.

Thanks to Arabic Calligraphy Names, a Facebook Community Page, developed by an artist and graphic designer named Nihad Nadam.  By “liking” this amazing community page through your own Facebook, you can actually have the chance that your name be chosen and written in Arabic calligraphy form.  What is more remarkable is that Nadam’s work is FREE of charge.

My surname was luckily picked (since I accumulated significant numbers of “likes” on my request/comment) to be written in calligraphic form.  And in just a couple of hours Nadam, the Genius, had it published on the community page for me to see, download and adopt.

Here is how it looked like…

Through the help of my officemate Frankie (who is an equally awesome graphic artist), this is how my first t-shirt design suggestion looked like which I presented to my crazy relatives…

 Thanks Mr. Nihad Nadam! I tremendously adore your work…

Galing ‘di ba?!

Nengkoy on Facebook, Ella on Youtube

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Its official! At 75, Nengkoy (my mother) is now a netizen.  She is now an official Facebook member.  Miggy, one of her grandsons signed her up while me, my sister Joy and elder brother Wreigh patiently taught her how things are done in Facebook.  I can’t believe how fast Nengkoy gets the heck out of Facebook.  She was actually chatting with my niece Erika who’s based in Japan in minutes after she was signed up!

nengkoy’s present profile picture

Being so used to snail mail, she was so surprised how fast a message can be sent and received by the recipient who’s at the other end of this planet.  We were laughing when she remarked, “Ang bilis naman dumating sa Japan!”

While teaching her how things are done on Facebook, we were watching the X Factor Philippines 2012.  I was a bit disappointed with the judges and the contestants considering that the show is already on its last stretch.  I don’t want to sound like a sore thumb but I do not feel the X factor vibe from the contestants and I find the judges too corny, retardedly emotive and enormously cheesy.  I wanted to throw my expensive slippers on the TV screen.

The show is so unlike the 2012 British version.  Their version doesn’t look for the best singing voice, the most gorgeous looking neither the financially-challenged contestant who gains mercy from the viewing public to win. They are looking for the elusive X factor!  The judges are naturally cool and their show has more soul and essence.  They were looking for somebody like the 16-year-old, Ella Henderson.  She does not possess a pretty face, a drop dead gorgeous body neither a spotless singing voice.   But when she sings you know you she exudes the brilliant X factor.

Watch how Ella moved the judges and wowed the crowd…

I’m pretty sure, Nengkoy will post Youtube videos like this in her Facebook account in the future.

Congrachuleysions kay Nengkoy at Ella.  Pareho kayong may eks paktor.

Kantuz by Kalakan

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Sing!

Kantuz sortu naiz eta kantuz nahi bizi,
Kantuz igortzen ditut nik penak IHESI;
kantuz izan dudano zerbait irabazi,
kantuz gostura ditut guziak iretsi.
kantuz ez dute beraz hiltzea merezi?

Kantuz iragan ditut gau eta egunak;
kantuz ekarri ditut griak Lanak eta;
kantuz biltzen nituen aldeko Lagunak:
kantuz eman dauztate, Obra gabe, famak;
kantuz hartuko nauia zeruko Jaun Onak!

Kantuz eman izan tut zonbaiten Berriak,
kantuz atseginekin erranez egiak;
kantuz egin baititut usus afruntuiak,
kantuz aitortzen ditut ene bekatuiak;
katuz eginen ditut nik penitzentziak.

Kantuz eginez geroz munduian sortzia,
kantuz egin behar dut ontsalaz, hiltzia;
kantuz emaiten badaut Jainkoak grazia,
kantuz idekiko daut San Pierrek Atia,
kantuz egin dezadan zeruan sartzian …

Kantuz ehortz nezate, hiltzen naizenian,
kantuz ene lagunek harturik airian;
kantuz Ariko zaizkit lurrean sartzian;
kantuz Frango utziko diotet munduian,
kantuz ha diten beti nitaz oroitzian.

Kantuz ene lagunek harturik airian;
kantuz Ariko zaizkit lurrean sartzian;
kantuz Frango utziko diotet munduian,
kantuz ha diten beti nitaz oroitzian.

Yeah, I don’t understand a single word (its written in Basque Country language) but the beat and melody is so refreshing!

Yeba!!!

Page 120

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Find me.  I’m on page 120.

clue: the delicious looking dude

A book usually contains photos of famous landmarks, historical events and noteworthy human beings.  That is why I’m so proud to announce that for the first time ever, a photo of my face has been included in a very good and remarkable book.

Larry Can’t Cook is a collection of essays, vignettes and notable episodes about the colorful life of the late restaurant czar of the Philippines, Mr. Larry J. Cruz.  The book also contains recipes of popular Filipino dishes served in the restaurants of Mr. Cruz.  It is published by Anvil and is now available at National Bookstore and Powerbooks.

Piling sikat!!! Hahaha!

Weiner in Melaka

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Early this year when I was at Osaka in Japan, I found pussy in Namba Parks  (press this LINK if you wish to read this hilarious post).  Last week during a long weekend in Malaysia, I found a weiner in Melaka.

Titi is a Tagalog word when translated in English would mean a man’s love-stick, prick, or pecker.  For a nicer and more appropriate label it is the male genitalia.

While passing through one narrow street inside Chinatown in Melaka, I and my colleagues noticed the signage of Titi Art Gallery.  Without hesitation we mindlessly took a photo of it.  It was for us hilarious and was actually laughing out loud wondering what interesting pieces of art could be inside.

Initially, I thought the gallery would feature the “helmeted yogurt slinger” in various artistic media.  But of course I am wrong because the gallery sells gorgeous drawings and paintings.  The reputed art works were even hailed and endorsed by UNESCO as indicated in one of its posters.

The gallery’s owner was the one who welcomed us and instinctively guessed that we were Filipinos simply because of our laughter.  He said that he knew we were Filipinos because his gallery receives the same reception and reaction from Filipino tourists in Melaka from the past.  He was nevertheless gentle and accommodating enough to explain that “titi” in Chinese means little or younger brother and when translated in Malay language would mean a small bridge.

The paintings and drawings were actually stunning but it was a bit pricey for our budget so we simply say thanks and bid goodbye to the gallery’s owner.

But since my brain’s dendrites were functioning very well after a cup of coffee from a nearby shop, I realized that the Chinese and Malay translation for titi is basically close to that of Tagalog.  Why?  It is because a lot of androcentric jocks consider their pecker as their little brother.  Also, a man’s joystick when interloped inside a love-hole would be the small bridge where the huge army of seeds or jellyfishes will have to cross so as to create a human being.  Thus, Tagalog, Chinese and Malay’s definition of titi is fundamentally the same.

In peyrnes, di madulas sa tindahan ni manong!

Photos of Malaysia

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Today is Malaysia Day.  Let me commemorate this day by posting few and selected photos I shot while I was in Malaysia last week (and were enhanced using Instagram and Photo360 apps).  This is my second venture into the world of photography…

title: malaysian-chinese temple

title: merdeka

title: petronas

Maleysha, Truli Eysha…

Ceramic Tile Painting in Melaka

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mr. ho, the ceramic tile painter

Along Temple Street in Melaka, Malaysia there sits a long-haired Chinese-Malay looking man who introduced himself as Mr. Ho.  He seems to enjoy smoking cigar from a classic looking wooden pipe during what seem to be a lazy afternoon in Melaka.  While smoking from his pipe, he paints on ceramic tiles that depict colorful mini-replicas of antique European china as well as artistic facades of mansions and colonial buildings found in Melaka.

Looking through the walls of his artworks inside his gallery I was bitten by an artistic bug.  I was easily mesmerized by the colors, artistry and intricacy of his work.  It was like an out of body experience.  Though with a limited budget, I purchased myself one of his works mounted inside a stylish wooden frame.

inside mr. ho’s gallery

my purchase, entitled: “melakan malay courtyard”

a closer look

the written description at the back of the frame

Mr. Ho was courteous enough to allow me to take his photo while he does his painting on one of his ceramic tiles.  Good thing though, I asked for his name because when I stepped out of his shop there was no signage to fully document this artistic experience.

Ma-pintahan nga ang mga tayls sa banyo!

Dress Code in Heaven?

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Resorts World Casino at Genting Highlands in Malaysia refused to accept fashionably dressed people in their establishment.  I was in my premium Japanese-branded spring/summer ensemble – three-fourths cut sleeved plaid shirt matched with rust-colored twill shorts, trendy almond-toed gray loafers and of course premium branded underwear – all in extra fine cotton fabric when I was refused entry.

The security at the entrance door refused me entry because according to him I was in shorts cut above the knee.  While being reprimanded, I wanted to answer back the uncouth obsolescent security officer that shorts cut below the knee are sooo ‘90s!  The security officer and the Genting Highlands management in itself do not realize that the cost of my chic and trendy shorts would probably be more expensive than the gown worn by the lady who entered before me at their starting-to-dilapidate entrance hall.

Too bad, Genting Casino refused me entry simply because of my chichi-looking shorts when in fact I was all ready to splurge millions of ringgits in their establishment which in a way can help rehabilitate their somewhat old and outmoded facilities.  Instead, me and my colleagues settled for the nearby Starbucks.

inside the church in kuala lumpur

Later in the afternoon, I joined my colleagues’ plan to hear the Holy Mass celebrated in one of the few Catholic churches in Kuala Lumpur.  I was hesitant to join at first because I might also be refused entry because I was still in my chic fashionable shorts.  I thought that if hell (the casino) can refuse me entry it is by all means that heaven (church) would definitely not allow me in.

But while making my way under the roof of heaven here on earth no one frisked or stopped me.  And when I was regenerated by prayers and while stepping out of the church, I realized that heaven is truly more fashionable than hell.

Kaya mag-shorts kung plano mo ng mamatay.

Vogue-ing Baguio: The Potential Fashion Capital of the Philippines

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i can never wear this ensemble in manila

I always believe that fashion is governed by the temperature.  People for sure dress up differently when they go up to Baguio.  It’s a strange thing that happens unconsciously.  You can’t just pack a simple shirt, singlet, shorts and jeans when going up to spend a day or two in Baguio.  That is why for me cool breezy Baguio City has the full potential to become the fashion capital of the Philippines.

People in the Pine City can wear lots of layers, lots of dark or neutral colored fabrics and lots of accessories to go with it.   Baguio can have warm sunny days from March to July and very cold weather from August until the end of February which means it is but logical to see true shifts in wardrobe throughout the year.

In Manila or other places in the Philippines that has invariable temperature donning in a trench coat or wrapping your neck with a scarf would simply be laughable.  When a lady feels cold in Manila, which is never an outdoor occurrence but usually inside a cinema, a mall or a hotel, she would simply wrap herself with a shawl or ask somebody to adjust the aircon.  But in Baguio, when it’s cold outside you would have to have chic overcoats, trendy scarves, stylish knitted hats and even fashionable knee-high leather boots.  Thus, you could simply play dress up!

Too bad, only few Baguio inhabitants seem to have embraced the idea that their place can be the true fashion capital of this country because of the climate.  They are so drawn with Manila-fashion they do not realize that they can actually improvise and vogue-up the Pinoy fashion which could flicker worldwide fad, craze and attention.

Yeah, living in Manila looks good but staying in Baguio feels good.  If Baguio is a drink, it is a Martini while Manila is an Iced Tea.  When it comes to fashion, Manila is the Los Angeles of the Philippines but Baguio can be its New York.

Hoy Baguio gising!