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A Symphony of Color

I first found Bethram Dacuma Alegado's work on my Facebook feed  –  a painting of an astronaut surfing on vibrant water. I clicked on her profile and fell down the rabbit hole. Beth is a self-taught artist from Toledo City, Cebu. Five years ago, she got into a freak motorcycle accident. During her recovery, she started playing around with a paintbrush, and discovered art’s therapeutic power. Beth's inspiration comes from everyday moments and nature, and her portfolio is a delightful mix of hues and emotions. However, she doesn’t let the vibrancy overwhelm the detail. Instead, the colors serve to amplify the realism, drawing you in and making you appreciate the details you might otherwise overlook. In some of her paintings, Beth pays homage to old masters, like Vermeer and da Vinci, by recreating their artworks that feature bubble wrap effect. The bubble wrap isn't a saboteur of art, but a lens that makes us look at it differently. Her work is a direct rebuttal to the grim ...
Recent posts

Bright Colors and Lush Florals

Ever walked into a gallery or scrolled through your Instagram feed and instantly recognized a painting without even reading the description? One artist who exemplifies this is Naomi Okubo . Born in Tokyo, Okubo collects images from various sources like books and magazines, scans the images, then project them onto a canvas and traces their outline. From there, she hand-paints each image. Her art explores themes such as belonging and societal pressures, and the pattern-filled paintings are full of girls who conceal their faces with their hair. Okubo earned her MFA from Musashino Art University and lived in New York for two years. She has exhibited widely in Asia, Europe, and the United States, and her work has been featured by Airbnb Magazine, Financial Times, Juxtapoz, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair.

Lost Conversations with Eduardo Castrillo

If you’ve been to Ayala Avenue, you likely are familiar with one of Eduardo Castrillo’s sculptures, as his massive piece, The Spirit of EDSA, sits in the middle of the RCBC Plaza courtyard. Castrillo has plenty of other impressive sculptures. From the People Power Monument along EDSA to the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila, his works are more than just bronze and steel; they are reflections of a nation's struggles, triumphs, and aspirations. Thanks to ArticulatePH for uploading these lost conversations with the renowned sculptor. It’s a chance for us to hear his own words and to understand his philosophy. These videos have been on YouTube for weeks so you may have seen them. If you did, you might want to see them again…

A Christmas ornament, or a stack of painful plastic?

What kind of Christmas tree will grace our house this year? I'm thinking smaller, made of plastic, and frankly, quite expensive. I'm planning to get this new LEGO Family Christmas Tree Decoration. It has a total of 3,171 pieces and retails for $329.99. It has a small sleigh and reindeer along with seven minifigs. These include Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and five elves. Of course, there will be moments of frustration – a misplaced piece, a section collapsing, but it will be fun. This LEGO set will be more than just an ornament; it will be a testament to my family’s beautiful and chaotic holiday spirit. We'll bond, we'll laugh, and we'll probably yell a lot.  

The Sundance Kid is Gone

Robert Redford was the kind of actor who made you believe in the characters he played, and in the stories he told. He will be missed, but his legacy will live on forever. My favorite of his films has to be Spy Game . Released in 2001, this movie is a masterclass in tension and dialogue – a spy flick without the futuristic gadgets and the insane stunts. And, watching him pull strings from behind a desk, is as gripping as any car chase.

Other World

Walking through Altro Mondo, Italian for “other world”, you get the sense that every piece was chosen for its ability to provoke a feeling, tell a story, or simply exist as a unique expression of human imagination. This creative space in Makati promotes young, emerging Filipino artists, along with the commercially and critically renowned. One room is filled with large, colorful paintings, another is a study in minimalism. Altro Mondo is a place to go to be reminded of what’s possible. I saw a landscape that made me want to write a book about a small town in Masbate. I saw a chaotic abstract piece that made me want to throw paint at a corrupt government official, just to see what happens. So, next time you're feeling a bit lost, find a gallery and step into a world of creativity. 

Finding Joy in the Now

I'm not too old, but I'm definitely not young. I was born when the world was analog. I remember Batibot , cassettes, Betamax, and when Debbie Gibson was at her peak. I used a typewriter to write the first draft of my college thesis. I didn't have apps to tell me where to eat; I just wandered until I smelled something good. I'm turning 46 in a few months and, just this morning, I caught myself marveling at the simple pleasure of an empty hamper. The opinions of others start to matter less, and my own inner peace matters more. When I look in the mirror, I see a person who's been through a lot and, hopefully, has a lot more to go. I see a collector, gathering the moments, not things. I'm collecting the memory of my daughter's expression when she made that accidental ollie, and my son's face during his first bike ride. I'm grateful for the past, excited for the future, and just happy to be here for the ride.