Unworthy YT Music Awards

ytmusicawards2013It has been quite disappointing to know that the line-up of nominees in this year’s YouTube Music Awards (YTMA) Artist Of The Year were nothing but a product of strong marketing campaign.

The award says “artist” but the line-up of nominees seem out of place.  Yeah, they had the greatest number of views and likes in their respective videos but that does not mean they are the greatest artist this year.  I would be more convinced if any one of these nominees were lined up in the category of YTMA Popular Celebrity of the Year.

For me, YouTube’s coming up with bunch of awards to give out has been a total mess.  It’s nothing but a cringe-worthy crusade.  YouTube is YouTube.  It’s a totally huge, massive and colossal virtual world of videos representing every walks of human life.  With the enormous amount of artistic videos uploaded daily around the planet, you can’t just select and trim down in just ten so-called worthy celebrities who are products of western pop marketing campaigns.

One pop group or a celebrity cannot in any way represent the great impetus of YouTube.   YouTube coming up with these nasty awards is only making itself cheap and annoying.  YouTube should realize the social impact that they’ve done and continuously doing and not just a mere portal of pop music and their celebrities.

Yuchub! Ang labo mo…

Serenity of the Stone Faces

The Bayon Temple located at Angkor Thom, approximately 1.5 kilometers away from Angkor Wat is one of the two wondrous bonus sites I did not expect me and my sister would visit when we toured Siem Reap, Cambodia.

After visiting Angkor Wat, our hired driver cum tour guide drove and brought us to this equally spectacular ancient capital city of Khmer Empire.  The excitement started when our driver suddenly stopped and asked us to get out of the car and told us to walk our way at the south entrance gate of Angkor Thom.  He told us the he would drive ahead and meet us at the other side of the ancient yet massive gate.

Upon approaching the south gate of the walled-city, we were greeted by fascinating giant statues lined up along the both sides of the causeway wearing assorted facial expressions. My sister Joy immediately noticed that the statues at the left side of the land bridge looked more pleasant while at the right side were scary.  Upon my research the left side were considered gods (or devas) while the right side statues were demons (or asuras).

asuras...

asuras…

excited at angkor thom south gate

excited at angkor thom south gate

Before entering the massive stone gate in which the peak has four massive faces gazing into four cardinal directions, we could not resist taking our respective photos.  We saw our driver, got in the car and continued our journey inside to see and feel for ourselves the iconic Bayon Temple.

the bayon... a bizarre bonus treat

the bayon… a bizarre bonus treat

wow!

wow!

enigmatic smile...

serene enigmatic smile…

Joy channeling the inner Lara Croft in her... hahaha!

my sister Joy… channeling the inner Lara Croft in her… hahaha!

feeling!!!

feeling!!!

There are diverse versions on why Bayon was built.  Some say that it is because of the overblown ego of the King who ordered that it be built and the massive stone faces with enigmatic smile be based on his own facial features.  Others believe that the King dedicated Bayon to the universal god of compassion Avalokitesvara, thus, a testament of his deep spirituality.  I would like to believe it’s the latter.

Moreover, the sheer scale and intricacy of the bas-reliefs found on the walls of this temple is also something to marvel at.

i actually wanted to bring this home to nengkoy and hang it inside her house!

i actually wanted to bring this home to nengkoy
and hang it inside her house!

intricate...

intricate…

Whatever the real purpose in the building of this bizarre temple, the fact remains that gazing unto those stone faces some strange serenity, calmness and quietude is emitted beneath my being.

Pag ako yumaman, magpapagawa din ako ng ganyan. Por shur…

Neil Tattoo

It is believed that a tattoo marked on a person’s skin is the owner’s artistic expression about himself/herself.  It further distinguishes a person’s appearance, trait and character other than his or her unique DNA and matchless thumbprints.

If ever having a tattoo on your skin is going to be one key requirement to live a normal a life on this planet (similar to having a “name”) have you ever wondered what design/s are you gonna have printed on your epidermis?

I do.  It would be this….

neil in tamil

This is how my name is written in the ancient language of Tamil.  I intend to have it marked on my left shoulder blade.  And since I for sure cannot tolerate the excruciating pain of tattoo needles nipping my clear, supple and young-looking skin, I will just have it soon printed on a shirt.

Istey kul, bukul…

Arabic Calligraphy Names: A Bright Idea

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?!

Weiner in Melaka

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

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

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!

Colors of Abe’s Farm by a Newbie in Photography

Here is my first venture into the world of photography using only my iPhone as my tool as well as the wonders of photo apps, Instagram and Camera360.  As a newbie, I decided to start with landscape, still life and plants as my subject using only the natural light.  These photos were taken at Abe’s Farm located in Magalang, Pampanga.

You be the judge if I have the inkling and if this could be my possible fallback career…

title: wooden wheel

title: wind chimes

luggage

title: blue stones and a pathway

title: bricks column

title: modern hut

title: violet tips

But then again, Abe’s Farm is such a beautiful place any clear, sharp and on-focus shot you make still ends-up being very nice.

Konti pang praktis!

Eating Art

May it be pieces of priceless art found in the famous museums, unique chunks of architecture or praiseworthy monuments my usual tour out of the country always includes finding good or amazing pieces of art of the place I visit.

But in Japan, pieces of admirable art can be found right on the dining table.  Japanese people I suppose have the liking and inclination of utilizing first their sense of sight when dining prior to using their senses of smell and taste when consuming a meal.  I know that culinary craftsmanship is a creation meant to communicate and appeal to the taste buds but chefs here in Japan seem to put so much effort in details of food arrangements in their repertoire. Aside from being so yummy, I adore the aesthetically beautiful food presentation!!!

Walking through the streets of Osaka, I found various food presentations that are not only a banquet for someone’s palate but a feast for the eyes as well.  There are moments when I would not want to take a bite of the food I ordered but instead wish to preserve it and have it donated to a local museum for others to see and appreciate.  Dining in Japan is just like eating pieces of art.

classic japanese food

 

egg soup with shrimp & mushroom

 

green tea cake

this Mister Donut sign board is so cute I want it printed on my shirt

i love their window displays... truly mouthwatering...

the japanese versions of "espasol" with various fillings

"burrrrppp"

Busog pati mata mo!

Giordano

Giordano as we all know is a Hong Kong giant retailer of men’s, women’s and kids’ apparel.  Their store is literally everywhere.  But when in Hong Kong, aside from the usual key chains and ref magnets that a typical tourist buys, a trip to a Giordano store is inevitable.

But with my recent trip to Melbourne I found a different Giordano.  Surprisingly, it is not a clothes store located along the sassy streets of Australia’s fashion capital but it was right inside the National Gallery of Victoria.  (Since Melbourne is considered the “cultural capital of Australia” let me be culturally-inclined in this particular writing)

I found a painting that enormously roused the synaptic vessels of my brain.  Executions of the visual elements as well as the symbols for each character portrayed in the painting were just overwhelming.  A great deal of metaphoric stories – may it be compassionate or evil – can be depicted and interpreted from this cunning work of art. It precisely fits its title “Allegory” a genius oil in canvass painting of Italian painter Luca Giordano.

Wow, ang sosyal ko na! Ching!!!