Archive for February, 2009
el dia seis a el Centro- El Zocalo
February 28, 2009el dia cinco, continued
February 28, 2009
una silla de la protesta contra el inegualidad (2.24.09)
dia 5- ficco
February 24, 2009
Julius was tinkering at the hotel’s business center and came across a document pertaining to a film festival! So the eager indie-philes that we are, we then partook in FICCO-FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE CONTEMPORANEO DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO the following day. What a treat indeed to have seen two well done films by 2 Filipino directors: Ronnie Bertubin’s “Kurap”, “Blink” en ingles y “Parpadeo” en espanol; and Francis Xavier Pasion’s “Jay”.
“Kurap” touched upon the navigations of a bastard brother borne de las calles de Manila y su hermana ser a ciega (blind). Making it through a life of poverty and without parents; the lessons from the raw street—the trade of stolen goods and flesh in a third world {black} market.
“Jay” is a searing condemnation of how modern society, through tv, has controverted and exploited marginalized and poor families, especialmente, los victimas de crimen, in this particular film, the killing of a gay teacher. “Jay” satirized the spectacle of marginalized pain and loss.
No doubt, these two spectacular films will be widely distributed in the next few months and por siempre, van a ganar muchos premios. Question: What happened to Manila’s Film Festival, que ha comenzado de Imelda? Also, why doesn’t Manila have its own city logo, a memorable trademark of sort for people to remember that city by?
2.27.09
We were blessed enough to have met both directors and their producer a few days after the screening. LOVE IT!
del dia tres + quatro
February 24, 2009tres
el nombre indigena de la libreria del nuestro hotel. tienen libros del artes.
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Water bearers, Julius, forever the lover of water, aquario. He could not stop swimming in the pool.
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El Museo de Antropologia: being humbled by the vastness of indigenous civilizations in the Americas!
random tidbits:
lime city: mexico city’s gustation, sabor, flavor is all about the lime, big green ones. it’s in every taqueria, cada cerveza, salsa.
Situacion de la Pobreza Global:
everywhere it is all the same—we work to maintain, get by and live. we go with our day-to-day as the gap between the hves and have nots continue to widen. there has to be a better way to address wealth inequality. photo de los slums del distrito federal, como que los calles y slums de manila o as per oscar winner, slumdog millionaire’s mumbai.
with repeated trips to third world cities such as manila and cebu, this has been a pressing question that comes to mind: how best to empower poor families, parents without jobs? they can loan money from non-bank lenders and start a sustainable business. this i would like to do—small loans for business startups… something to consider and think about.
LA FAMILIA INDIA, nuestro raices, nuestro historia de los Filipino tambien
quatro
We took this day easy b/c Mexico City, as assumed wrongly, can get cold and in my philosophy of aesthetic before comfort, I was not dressed warm enough during our early morning jog through Chapultepec (DF’s version de Central Park de NYC) and Paseo de la Reforma. Then we ended our day a la Museu de Arte Contemporaneo.
And some of the best pieces from the museum: Siquierros! Of course, Fridah Kahlo!
la continuation del dia dos
February 21, 2009La Milagrosa Sitio de la Virgen de los Mexicanos: La Guadalupe y Santo Diego.
teotihuacanh
February 21, 2009day 2 ( a view of aztec ruins from the summit of the pyramid of the sun)
the ruins of the majestic aztecs. they rose and conquered; then they “disappeared, without a trace”, according to Senor Carlos (arriba), our private tour guide, courtesy de la habita. today, aztec descendants prevail despite centuries of endless incursions, encroachments and western penetration. as european and white americans appreciate the shallow window dressing that is aztec feathered dances, they, who once were warriors and now overpopulated in urban shantytowns, struggle to make a living.
so to honor them and meself, I jump, again! A video footage of a half minute dance piece I will post in you tube or facebook.
hotel habita
February 20, 2009boutique hotel in polanco district. always nice to be inspired by the ambitious and innovative use of urban space…
for our first meal at [lob by], its sous chef, enrique olvera, hooked us up with cotton candy after our late lunch. this brought julius and i back to our childhood when the cotton candy man and his makeshift tin maker carretera (pushcart) stood outside church spinning his pink cotton candy after the misa pontifical de la fiesta. nice!
and what trip would it be sans our model shots. we had to pimp the 180 degree outdoor balcony covered in glass…
estamos en mexico city, aka distrito federal
February 20, 2009day one
mexican skies and aerial of the world’s largest metropolitan community! mexico city is perched between mountains…
Vistas de las calles—street scenes que recordamos de las calles pobres de Cebu y Manila, ambos paises luchamos contra pobreza y faltas de oportunidades economicas para la mayoria de los gentes.
Happy 33rd to me-self!
February 12, 2009Thanks to all of you for the love…it’s all about love. Time to take time and just breathe! Mwahs to all!
Then it was off to check in at the one-week old Westin-Jersey City, courtesy de Papa Gerry. Thanks Pa! What a great downtown spot—took advantage of the pool, much to Julius’ egging. I’m an Aquarian after all!
jersey city nite out with val: smile and say “s-t-e-v-e”!
February 9, 2009
a fun night out with Val at our downtown jersey city haunts: classical music concert at gracevanvorst church; dinner at marco & pepe and skateboarding/drinks at l.i.t.m. (love is the message). it is always a breath of fresh air to share family stories and struggles; to have rounds of beer and laugh responsibilities away, even if just for a wee bit.
