Musa's Longest Running Christmas Gift List: No. 3 Stuff in Obscure Art Bazaars

I'm super excited for this Saturday. I've been hearing great things about the Ronac Art's Center but I've never had the chance to go. They're having a bazaar with a mix of young Pinoy brands so I'm sure there are lot of quirky Filipino gifts to choose from. Do drop by and say hi. 

Fire Versus Water at Last Friday's Brigada/ Poi Event

I got rained out of the Brigada/ Poi event last Friday. I really wanted to go, but I wasn't quite willing to wade through ankle deep waters just to see it. This is a big problem for the venue, Collective or Makati X. It rains for 30 minutes there's a flood outside. Also, their central area is not covered making performances difficult and sometimes unsafe. I know the people behind Collective had the best intentions for creating their community on Malugay street but I wish they had looked into the accessibility of the location. Drainage. Parking. Safety. Very important basics!

But enough of the constructive criticism. Here is an awesome slow motion video of the fire dancing done by Ira Villar. 

Banging Brigada Celebrates with Free Booze

Yay! it's Friday! I'm going out to support my partner who also happens to be a poi dancer as he plays with fire. Come one! Come all! Here's an invite from my friend Paulino Servado who happens to be a master poi (firedancer) :  

We've got something super dooper special for this month's Planet Zips SpinD poi gathering, because this time round.. we'll be joining forces with the awesome Brazilian samba beat drumming powers of BRIGADA! As we celebrate their anniversary and Paulino's post bday party!

PZ has gigged w/ Brigada for many years now, and every single one of them ends up becoming a big carnival party, sonically glazed with colorful rhythms, awash with light, energy and good vibes!

But that's not all folks! This night will be packed with other amazing performances by:

Nyco Maca
Escola Brasileira de Capoeira
Polecats (Pole dancing!)
Salamin
Il Primitivo
Cheeba

And guest DJs...

Cocoy Puyat
Kevin Ruiz
Mecca Hell
Scrambled Edge
Danger Sanchez
Tribomanila
Funk Roots
Cyril Yannisantos

Expect lots of music, dancing, art, fire/LED/glow poi performances and wall projections of fire poi artists from around the world! 

NO ENTRANCE FEE OPEN BAR from 9-11pm 


(so come early to tank up for the show!)


BSIDE, The Collective, 7274 Malugay St., Makati, Philippines

Show starts at 930pm. With this line up, it really couldn't get any better. So be there and spread the word!





* PZ Products will also be on display for trial use and sale
- Photos care of Paulino's facebook page

Rockwell Super Sale Bazaar July 30 - August 1

I don't bother going to bazaars anymore because they dare charge entrance fees when the stuff they sell are basically brought in from Bangkok. That's what Divisoria, Greenhills, and tiangges are for.
Bazaars should promote original Pinoy goods 
made by original Pinoy talent. 
That's why I'm happy I found some of that at this weekend's Rockwell Super Sale Bazaar.
I dropped by to accompany my friend Iking who was in the mood for a little shopping spree.

These cuties are vintage buttons made into earrings. Tiffany Santos sells them for around P100. 

She also makes them into stud earrings. I got a pair to match the necklace I was wearing for just P120.

More studs but this time from Stephanie Gabayan of Lucky Marias. How many Pinoy icons can you spot? These were just P100 as well. She also designs made-to-order trinkets. 

These were by far my fave finds from the bazaar. Farah Abu's cool copper wire rosaries. 

Just P850!

Farah designs full time and is a regular on the bazaar circuit. See her stuff at Glam Accessories. 

Her pieces which were mostly necklaces and bracelets were pure eye candy. 

Drop by Rockwell. Two more days to go!

Although, I think calling it a Super Sale is a super over promise.
Most of the things on sale were still pretty pricey. 

Mused this Weekend: Ambeth Ocampo Rocks Ayala Museum

History has gained an awful reputation for being boring and irrelevant but if you were at the Ayala Museum last Saturday for Ambeth Ocampo’s lecture on prehistorical Philippines, you’d think history was (gasp) cool.

I’ve never met Ambeth Ocampo but I’ve heard much about his passion for Philippine history and Jose Rizal in particular. So I dragged my sleepy self out on a Saturday morning despite a crummy tummy. He did not disappoint. Not a boring second in the lecture. I was impressed because despite being hailed as a “Rock Star Historian” with the ability to command reserved seating and a venue packed with almost 500 people, he was candid and dare I say it, even dorky. In one anecdote, he shared how in the British Library, he found the Antonio de Morga Sánchez Garay book used by Jose Rizal. So in his everyday research, even when he didn’t need the book, he would put it by his side and caress it lovingly then touch his head hoping to be great someday too.

Well sir, I would have wanted to pat your head for greatness when I asked for a photo but I am not that bold. So, I just got my free book signed. (I read it in one sitting.)

I ran into a childhood friend from Saudi Arabia, Ate Kristine. She’s now a teacher based in Rhode Island, U.S.A. She enjoyed the talk a lot and I think it’s fed her patriotic spirit. Our meeting was serendipitous. The conversation gushed out over lunch and I couldn’t help but compare the feeling of catching up with an old friend to the talk Mr. Ocampo gave. He makes history intensely personal, almost like friends discussing the latest news regarding a common friend  (who just happens to be a historical figure.)

 

So yes, let's double the crowds the next time around.
His next lecture is on July 24, 2010. 3:00 pm. It's on the Philippine-American War.

Ambeth Ocampo Brings History Alive at the Ayala Museum

I'm really excited to attend tomorrow's talk at the Ayala Museum. History buff, Rizal fanatic, and all- around Filipino Idol: Ambeth Ocampo kicks off his new lecture series designed to take us through the nation's entire history in four short sessions.  I've heard a great deal about his work at the National Historical Institute and my friends have told me that he is a phenomenal great teacher. For those of you like me who have never had the opportunity to attend any of his classes, tomorrow is the day. The first session is pre-colonial Philippine society. It will be held at the Ground Floor Lobby of the Ayala Museum at 10:30 a.m. That's tomorrow! Come, let's go.

For details. please click: