The Covers Project: Art In Site

Calling all artists! Submit a cover design!

Their goal is to give their readers "a snapshot of the contemporary Filipino art movement". The ART IN SITE magazine is the Filipino magazine for artist, by artist about artists. Their magazine and official website will be launched January of 2009 and they are inviting all Filipino artists to be part of this project.

Each of their magazines will have a unique cover created by the Filipino artist: writers, filmmakers, painters, poets, dancers, photographers, jeepney painters, graffiti artists, etc.,etc., and everyone with a Filipino artistic soul.

The magazine aims to feature as many Filipino artists as possible-- to write, draw, smear, tear, paint, etc.-- so, join the bandwagon, and let's show the world what we Pinoy artists are made of!!!!

Click here to design and submit a cover or view the guidelines. Submission deadline is on September 15, 2008.

Miss Sister 2008

This one caught my eye awhile ago. It's not a sister-sibling kind of thing, but read on:

ROME - An Italian priest and theologian said Sunday he is organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns to give them more visibility within the Catholic Church and to fight the stereotype that they are all old and dour.

The "Miss Sister 2008" contest will start in September on a blog run by the Rev. Antonio Rungi and will give nuns from around the world a chance to showcase their work and their image. (more..)

I bet there are already tons of reactions and criticisms. I actually don't know how to react. It would probably be a different story if it was re-worded into something not so pageant-like, since connotations of a beauty pageant is synonymous to what most would think of as fully-made-up-gown-and-swimsuit kinda thingi. Don't get me wrong as I have nothing against beauty contests or titlists (lest I'd be biting my own tongue) Iba kasi ang dating pag mga madre na ang pinag-uusapan. Probably a title that's a bit more subtle, like a nun-wide search for a Mother Theresa Recipient Award, or a Nun of the Year Award, or something. Oh yeah, and definitely no swimsuit competitions here!

Garden Set

We've been living in Marikina for 38 years already, the time when our house was just the 3rd house in this street inside the subdivision, surrounded by rice fields.

**Read: as in 'rice fields' with the pilapil, scarecrow, kalabaw, tutubing karayom and kuhol.**

One of the oldest things in the house is our steel garden set my dad bought in 1970. It has withstood all atmospheric conditions, from extreme heat to hard rain, and had numerous paint jobs already. In short: tried and tested through time.

This morning while having breakfast...

Mama: Yang, pinalipat ko ang garden set natin sa garahe.
Why?

Mama: Nababasa kasi eh.
Nge..kaya nga garden set eh!

Eh pano mga bata, sa garahe sila naglalaro? pano yung sasakyan?
Mama: Basta pinalipat ko sa garahe para pwedeng umupo-upo, kape-kape...

Nanay, sino pa ang uupo don? Sayang lang pwesto..
Mama: Aba! P130.00 din yan ah!
?!?...

Mama: At 6 gives pa!!

Astig. Kailangan talagang sabihin yun! hehehe. Bombay pa daw ang pumupunta sa house (uso na rin pala nun), at 25.00 pesos a month!!!! Gaaassstosss paaareh!

One Corel Morning

Started my Sunday morning at 7am by having an oatmeal and egg breakfast with mama, Andee and Diego. This is one of the very rare moments that we'd sit down together during mealtime. After breakfast, I had to get started with good 'ol Corel for teasers and certificates for an office project again. This is a repeat or a continuing project that started late 2007 to give recognition to outstanding agents who meet their stats and KPI's.

Patterned after America's Next Top Model, I was included into a team of apprentices and senior agents, headed by one of our Coaches, to start off the project. The first four months ran cycles 1 through 4, of course, changing the word 'America's' in America's Next Top Model, to the account's name. It was also the first time in years (after designs for my JustCats store, and lay-outs for a coffee-table book) that I again got face-to-face with Corel. After four Top Model cycles, it was followed by our version of Pinoy Big Brother- Celebrity Edition, which unfortunately, didn't quite had the impact we were hoping. It only lasted 'Season 1'. Those times were great because I get to spill out all my frustrations (!!), depressions (?!!?), and creative juices with Corel. It was again a getting-to-know-you stage. Insecurities started to settle in mainly because, well.. old school syndrome. Feeling ko lalabas na masyadong outdated ang layout or design..pang 80's ba. Had to spend more time online and check out subjects on graphic designs, consulting with Cak, and try to reinvent myself..etc. , etc.

Now we are again back with the Top Model Cycle 5 project and I'd say, this time.. or, this morning rather it seemed that it didn't take me forever to think of what to put in or do. It was the usual surfing for new America's Top Model pics (Cycle 10 pala na sila!) and embelishing again. Aside from blogging and dating (hehe)... good thing there's this therapeutic 'work'. Never been better!