All posts filed under: Happenings

BlocNation Launch + Zedd in Manila

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Last month, my friend Lyra invited me and Vince to Zedd’s concert in The Cove Manila. Little did we know that the passes were actually to the launch party of BlocNation (BNTN), which was held in a private cabana at the concert. Vince and I had to do some waiting and explaining because our tickets weren’t being recognized by the scanners, but then we found out that we should’ve gone through a different entrance. Still, get in we did. We soon found ourselves in one of The Cove’s special cabanas being welcomed by a rep of PouchNation. While BNTN was completely new to us, I was already familiar with PouchNation. It was the system I used to buy tickets to this year’s Philippine Art Fair and assign them to my companions. What I particularly enjoyed about it was how it allowed us to check in online and skip the registration lines at the venue itself. That’s convenience right there! [Learn more about PouchNation here.] Opening Act: BNTN And that brings us to PouchNation’s brainchild, BNTN. …

Q&A with Calvyn Grandling and Noxolo Dlamini + Musical Review: THE LION KING in Manila

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The Lion King is part of my childhood soundtrack, and its stage adaptation has long been on my list of must-see Broadway musicals. So when I heard that Manila would be their first stop in this year’s international tour, there was no way I could miss it. Luckily, I didn’t just get to see the show, I was also invited to an exclusive lunch with Calvyn Grandling and Noxolo Dlamini, otherwise known as Simba and Nala.

Asia Young Designer Award 2016: Be Bold. Be Free. Be You.

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Four years ago, I traded in my designer’s pencil for a writer’s pen. It was a tough switch but the right one – and though I’ve changed career paths for good, there’s no doubt that I’ll always have a special place in my heart for design and architecture. More than just making places look pretty and Instagrammable, these have the power to influence moods, form behaviors, create solutions, and make life easier. And that’s exactly why I’m so stoked about this year’s Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA) sponsored by Nippon Paint. “Good design is an enabler of a sustainable future [and] healthier living,” Mr. Michael Chung, the General Manager of Nippon Paint Coatings Philippines, said during the media launch of the AYDA. At its core, this competition challenges students to “think beyond convention” to create design solutions that address the “needs of our continually changing world.” Ar. Guillermo Hisancha of the United Architects of the Philippines said, “The Asia Young Designer Award is a platform empowering Filipino students to showcase their talents. [It] encourages leadership, creativity, and resourcefulness.” IDr. Vincent Louie …

Shake your groove thing at the Malasimbo Festival—now on its 5th year!

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If you’re a fan of music, dance, art, and straight-up fun, I’m sure Malasimbo needs no further introduction. But just in case, here’s what you need to know about this epic festival:  1. “Malasimbo” isn’t some random made-up name. It’s the name of the mountain in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, where the festival is held. You don’t have to worry about bringing your hiking gear, though. The revelries take place on the foot of Mt. Malasimbo overlooking the bay. Check out that photo above. That right there is where the magic happens—and it also happens to be outside the home of the D’Aboville family, who spearheads this yearly event. 2. It’s been drawing locals and foreigners alike since 2011. In 2011, some 1,500 people trooped over to Puerto Galera to witness the debut of the Malasimbo Festival. Last year, the count exceeded 5,000 attendees. And we’re not just talking about Filipinos—more than 30 countries were represented! I’m sure they’ll hit a new record this year with all the cool things they have prepared. Catch music acts such as Ky-Mani Marley (Bob Marley’s son), …

Suitcase Souvenirs: A bazaar for travelers by travelers

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I‘ve been fascinated with typography for a while now—thus, this short story that I wrote for my Creative Writing class years ago—but thanks to Instagram, I’ve been obsessed with following amateur and professional calligraphers lately. One of the Filipino letterers I happened across was Abbey Sy of Le Rêveur. What I especially liked about her was how she’s a fellow travel lover. So when I learned that she along with three other friends were organizing a travel bazaar called Suitcase Souvenirs, I immediately made up my mind to drop by, crazy traffic be damned. The event was held at Habitual Coffee, a new third-wave coffee shop in Metro Manila that highlights the Aeropress brewing method. I’d been there before for a food review and was lucky enough to have interviewed co-owner and barista Kaye Ong, who happened to be another organizer of Suitcase Souvenirs. I couldn’t indulge in a cuppa during my visit last Saturday because of my acid reflux, but I loved the black Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Chelba cold brew that I tried before. It paired perfectly with their …