Thank you, Getty Images.

Gorillaz + Madonna: what an audio-visual feast huh??

***
About a week ago, our good friend Earnest invited Arn to talk to the students of CSB’s School for Deaf Education and Applied Studies and what an experience that was. About 50 Deaf students (and a handful of hearing ones) showed up and “listened” to him talk about visual storytelling via able interpreter Nicky (who teaches at SDEAS). It surprised us that the kids actually knew who Arn was and that most of them have read his novels – After Eden in particular, and it was so touching when they all stayed about an hour after the talk just to ask him to sign their books, among other things. You can read more about what Arn talked about (bloopers included!) in Nikki’s post.



Pia left a comment in one of my phlog entries: “Isn’t sign language awesome?” I wholeheartedly agree. Nest and I were saying that somehow, it’s the ones who can’t speak who are able to communicate their feelings better. When Arn walked in amidst a roomful of silent, visual applause (in sign languange, a frantic waving of raised hands), I felt that it was the most genuine form of appreciation I’ve ever witnessed.

Thanks for inviting us over Nest, it was great seeing you and Indi and meeting Nicky and the students. (:

***


My magazine-mates and I trooped over to Cebu last weekend to oversee stuff for our next issue. Some pics are in the phlog. And yes I took all those tourist-y shots because believe it or not, it was my first time to go as a tourist. The last time I was there was for the ’99 Ad Congress and my pals and I didn’t really have time to go around.

If you were in Megamall recently, you might have chanced upon this 6 ft x 4 ft mural of Level-Up’s new game RF Online in the basement, next to Netopia. Uhm, I’m not a gamer so why am I posting it? Because my Arn illustrated it so am being a proud wifey. (: Hope you get to see it before they take it down.

***

And for us QC dwellers, here’s yet another reason to visit Megamall – particularly the Cinderella boutique. Our dear fashionable friend Tippi‘s designs are now available (along with four other young designers) at a section called Createur ala Mode. If you think what she’s wearing is proof enough that she can make unique, funky and functional clothes, please do swing by and check out the Pret-a-Party and Lounge Lizard lines. More pics from the launch are here.

***
I recently told Itchyworms‘ Kelvin and Jugs that they should’ve been part of Ultraelectromagneticjam because I think they would’ve done justice to the Eheads’ music (unlike … a few other performers who were, i.m.h.o., kinda miscast in the album), being excellent musicians and most importantly, huge fans themselves. Sayang…
But on a brighter note, it seems that their brave new album has reached the ears of real Noontime Show folk. Read Jim Paredes‘ letter to the ‘Worms. (via Chino’s journal).
…………
Did you read it? If you’ve given up on watching local TV like Arn and I – and apparently the Worms and their audience – have, let’s just hope that they, the showbiz people – or at least the few, true artists in that world – do go back to who they were in the first place (as Mr. Jim wrote himself): “artists with messages to convey and not artistas who are second guessing what the masa wants to hear”. Kudos to the ‘Worms for reminding them (and bravo to their gals too – hi Nix and Jen!)

***
And last but not the least, before I go back to “all work, no blog” mode, ask yourself this question: Is producing a Filipino version of a foreign trend your idea of creativity? Do you use a “peg?” Read the rest here.
Thank you, Rome, for writing this article. May we all strive to be original in everything we do.

Opening this Saturday, our friend ?¢ÀÜ?°?Ǭ¢?¢‚Ǩ?°?ɂİ?Ǭ®?¢‚Ǩ?°?É‚Äû?ɬ? the much sought-after photographer Toto Labrador has a one-man show titled Transient: Images from Vietnam and Cambodia at Lumiere Gallery. Lumiere is open Tuesdays to Sundays, 11am to 9pm. Take a peek when you can.

***
If you’ve been checking the phlog, yes we’re back from Japan but with the way things are moving, it feels like that short vacation didn’t happen at all, tsk. Since we arrived, I’ve already (1) attended a photo shoot for WE, (2) judged for the Direct Marketing, Design and Interactive categories of the Ad Congress Araw Awards (some pics here), and (3) finished several illustrations for an album that’s about to come out. I’m not complaining, in fact all the activities have been enjoyable. It’s just that work fell on my lap too quickly that there was no time to savor that fresh-from-a-vacation feeling, you know what I mean?

***

By the way, I got my 6-year-old G4 a bluetooth dongle (I know, I know, I’m so behind!). The contact list on my cell is now synced with the Mac’s Address Book and holy cow, it’s suddenly such a breeze to send text messages to friends (like Carlo, for one, since he tipped me about it in the first place (: ) via the nifty “Send SMS” feature. Unless I’m not in front of the computer, I’m finally liberated from using my phone‘s slow-operating keypad. (So if you send me a text and I miraculously respond in less than a second, thank the dongle!)