Saturday, April 6, 2024
Kristo: Christ and Culture is an example of how a religious themed art experience immerses the viewer in a contemplative space. Just like in the creation of religious iconography and artwork, viewing and attempting to gain insight from art is a prayerful experience as well.
Here are some of my favorite artworks from the exhibition:
Despite the title of this piece, I find this Nordic redwork inspired art positively optimistic and inspiring. A red heart at the center of the cross and holy blood that resembles rose petals evoke a certain kind of understanding that Christ's redemption of humanity is likened to a beautiful flower.
This is a piece that had the most visceral effect on me. Of all the artworks in the collection, I spent the most time on this piece wondering if it is inspired by a Rorschach inkblot test or an attempt of the artist to draw an internal anatomical abstraction of disfigured face of Christ as suggested by swollen, blood engorged eyes and blood vessels rendered visible.
This is divine sadness set in stone. The rendition of a lonely, dead Christ in concrete slab and barbed wire crown captures the essence of divine sacrifice.
This is a creative, almost irreverent pop-art inspired juxtaposition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Christ on the Cross, both icons connected by the redeeming element of Christ's holy blood.
I can feel the warm, textured grain and sliver of old, recycled wood in this piece. The stunning element in this piece is doorknob that is affixed in the center of the cross. This is a direct invitation to open the doorknob of our hearts to receive the grace of Christ's resurrection.
The spatter of red paint on a predominantly green painted canvas evokes a gritty imagery of Christ's holy blood on the grass. This is a powerful, visceral piece of art that capture's the passion of Christ in a minimalist context.
A beautiful monochrome portrait of Christ on the cross looking through my soul.
Aptly entitled "gugma" or love, this striking, virtual pain inducing installation features a metallic head or heart of Christ dripping with red paint and topped with a crown of thorns. The presence of a spiked spear intensifies the pain this piece is trying to project. No love without pain.
A comforting imagery of a kind and compassionate Christ who is a friend to all.
A tortured Christ crying bullet sized tears. An armalite rifle pendant hangs on a bullet-beaded rosary. A very meaningful, thought provoking artwork, the theme of which runs parallel to the sad, violent, dark world we live in where only God can bring hope.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
I had the happiest time with you dear Macky while you were on this earthly plane. I hope you are having a grand time in Cat heaven and you always have your fill of cat treats and belly rubs. I love and miss you so much my dear boy!!!
Friday, March 29, 2024
The dry season (Pagasa weather bureau does not refer to it as summer) is particularly blistering this year with El Nino phenomenon rearing its ugly head. With heat indices in Iloilo reaching 44C, it’s definitely a brutal season for many especially for heat intolerant folks like myself. Everybody dreads the humidity and the heat that triggers all sorts of bodily ailments and irritable situations. How do breeze through this season without losing our sanity?
1. Take a cool shower twice or thrice a day if it is possible. This is the fastest way to keep our system cool and free from overheating. Try products like Human Nature cooling body cleansers for a refreshing twist.
2. Slather on the sunscreen and wear a hat.
3. Keep hydrated! On particularly hot days, drinking electrolyte added water like Pocari Sweat helps replace lost salts and minerals due to excessive sweating.
4. Treat yourself to your favorite cold drinks like iced coffee, juices and slushes.
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| Cheap but yummy popsicle treat from Aice Ice Cream |
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| The best strawberry bingsu in town is from Cafe Seoul. Available on Grab Food. |
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| They say Filipinos drink hot coffee even on hot days. Not in this crazy weather. Affogato is the best alternative if you are craving caffeine. CPlex Cafe near Jaro Plaza serves amazing affogato. |
5. Activities that require strenuous effort such as exercise should be done early morning or late evening. Haha, avoid all strenuous activities altogether. It's a season to be laaazzzzy!
6. Invest in a portable misting handheld fan to stay cool wherever you are. Cooling blankets, mats and products such as Biore cooling mists and body sheets are especially helpful.
7. Install windchimes such as Japanese furin in your garden or balcony to enjoy the cooling, gentle ringing sounds. Bamboo chimes have a cooling effect as well.
8. Wear light colored, comfortable clothing made of cotton fabric. Of course, the dry season is a reason to wear flip flops, yay!
9. Flowers are abloom so safely enjoy outdoor picnics under a cool shady tree. Be mindful of staying outdoors when UV level and heat indices are high. There is no reason to be miserable this season. Warmer weather can have its perks!
10. Budget permitting, the best way to escape the dry season for urban dwellers is to hie off to cooler destinations like mountain retreats (and the malls if you don’t have aircon at home).
In the meantime, enjoy the dry season. Stay cool!
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Coffee, tea or biscuit cat?
It’s bring your cat to school day!
Macky: Forever Meowmy’s little angel
Check out Snow, my fave web portrait AI app! Download on Google Play or Apple App Store.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
It was my first time to vist Mitsukoshi in Bonifacio Global City during my Ed Sheeran concert weekend. Since I ony had 48 hours to spare before going back to Iloilo City, I decided I wanted to see the Japanese department store branch in the Philippines and see how it compares with Mitsukoshi Ginza which I visited in Tokyo last summer. Of course, that’s a silly preposition since Mitsukoshi Ginza is a flagship store and the one here in the PH is a sampler of a Japanese lifestyle store so to speak.
Anyway, Mitsukoshi BGC did not disappoint. I actually love it. The store occupies 2 floors and a basement area. A good size for a mall I should say unlike the mammoth ones that take a week to explore. It has all the shops that I fancy and gives one a taste of Tokyo. There’s Daiso, Kinokuniya, Bandai Gachapon store (which unfortunately was emptied out of toys), Key Coffee and other Japanese name brands. My favorite would have to be the Mitsukoshi Fresh grocery which filled with Japanese products, snacks, confectionery and everything right up to my alley. That alone deserves another trip to Manila soon!
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