Ward Dialogues: OFW FTW

I've been working as a staff nurse on the same ward for almost 3 years now. I've encountered X number of people, and heard X number of stories. But these kind of stories will always hit me right on the soft mushy part of my chest and send me a bit of shiver down my spine. 
In a good healthy way, of course.

Today, I've heard stories about Pinoys from two different people on the same shift. It's fantastic to hear different perspectives of Pinoys from different people of another country or nationality. It can serve as a reflection and sometimes an unwanted recognition and challenge. 

Mary Lou and the Village people.

The first one is from a 'posh' elderly English lady, on her 80's. Lady F was lovely, always putting her make up on every morning after her wash. Making sure she's seen by the doctors and the nursing staff all prepped up and perky with her lipstick on her smile. She told me about her travels and people she met and couldn't forget. The lady next to her asked me where I came from. Philippines, I answered. Lady H mentioned to me her Filipina friend named 'Mary Lou' whom was very lovely and always happy. Mary Lou apparently met an American guy, and later on married and had a wonderful family when they moved to America. I told her I was happy for her to have a Filipina friend. 
Lady H was happy for Mary Lou that she met a very rich husband! 

Lady F overheard us and mentioned to me one of her travels on a cruise ship. She marveled at the Filipinos working there on the cruise ship. 'Lots of Filipinos there! Every staff member I think were Filipinos.' she said. Lady F was delighted to meet some of them, and how courteous they were to everybody. I've shared the time I visited my sister who works as a nurse on a cruise ship. I was indeed surprised to see loads of Pinoys, 'they can have their own village inside the ship!' 

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Gym Rat and the Smiling Pinoys.

Then I met the bodybuilder. He was well on his 50's, 60's and employed as a gym instructor. Later on the conversation, he asked me where I was from, and I answered : 'Mabuhay Philippines!!!' (No, without the wave and the long gown.) 

'Oh, another Filipino!' he was smiling and sounded really pleased. He mentioned to me an unforgettable cruise ship travel he had with his wife about almost 10 years ago. Mr. Gym was amazed by the Filipinos working on the ship. 'Hardworking guys!' He talked to them and was feeling the hardship the OFW's were having. Miles away from home and they had to wait for almost a year to see their family again. 'And they're still smiling?!' Mr. Gym must've thought of us OFW's to be nuts. (Maybe.) But no, he found the smiles genuine and the work ethic remarkable.

'On a performance night on the ship, there was like a cabaret show by the Filipino performers. It was so good, all of us, the audience were on a standing ovation and the cheers and the clapping were non-stop. Amazing talent!'

And then one time he went to the ship's gym at 6 AM. He was with a lone Filipino guy cleaning the area, and was smiling. He asked 'It's 6AM and you're still smiling?!' 
The Filipino guy answered: 'There's no reason not to smile!' 

I ended the conversation with 'Well now I hope I don't disappoint and try to smile despite the work!' He laughed and said 'No pressure mate.'

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ManikVid: Bricks & Police

Bricks & Police from reigun decena on Vimeo.

This is how we encounter the English police every now and then.

Have you ever watched the film Project X? No? 

Basically it's a teen film wherein they threw a house party, people came in and they got wasted and everything went bonkers. In the middle of the film, the neighbours complained, called the cops and had the cops come to the party house.

Except for the total mayhem and destruction on that film, I think we've got everything covered on this vid. I have no idea I was still recording by the time the cops arrived. Either we were all too drunk or probably thought we were going to jail for too much partying.

BLOGTERVIEW: The Art of Paulo Correa

Art. It has intrigued me ever since I learned to use my senses to say the least. I have no formal lessons on the subject, but I do appreciate when I see one. Don't ask me to define which is art and which one isn't. I could namedrop Picasso, da Vinci, or the Spolarium and still won't have enough grasp on them.

Whenever I see a creative work of an individual that catches my attention and perhaps imagination, my brain would process words such as : genius, brilliant, and wtf. And one artist I would namedrop now is known as Mr. Paulo Correa. 'Who?' you might ask. He's been featured as an upcoming illustrator and artist on the industry, named as one of the Top 10 Illustrators to follow for the week.  Let me show one of his many works that started my man-crush on him. Wherein I just said 'WTF.'

'MANILA' by Paulo Correa

He's one of those 'Damn-I-wish-I-could-do-what-he-does-but-I-just-can-not' people. Yet you could sit down with this husband*slash*father and tell stories over some light beer and other 'bro' stuffs. Choosing him as my first guest on the Blogterview Project series isn't a hard one. Picking on his innovative mind is, but I tried to catch up minus the booze. (Despite being tons of timezones apart from each other, we thank Mr. Zuckerberg for this thing called Facesomething to make this happen.)

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THE BLOGTERVIEW: manikreigun meets paulo ex machina

Reigun: 

So, you're an Advertising Art Director. I've seen your works of art, and it is jaw-droppingly good. Can we call you an 'artist'? 

Paulo: 

Basically I'm in an industry where almost everyone disgusts. Advertising. Even we as creatives, sometimes question why we are in this industry. But the thing that drive us is that we aim to create/change something that can bring inspiration to people. And if that's the definition of being an artist, yes I am an artist. Everyone is born to be one. 

Each one of us aim to create something.

(Hahaha ang deep shit ng opening answer.)

Reigun: 

(teka hirap sundan nun, lalim ng tone lol)

Good thing you mentioned that. It seems 'mainstream advertising' can be synonymous to being a 'sell-out' artist. I know loads of 'creative' minds who refuse to pursue their career with arts, then become 'frustrated artist' eventually. Any thoughts on that?

Paulo: 

Yes I agree dami nang gaming artist. Actually, I'm one of those. My first job is with a small ad agency, then napagod ako. Sabi ko ayoko na sa ahensya, hindi mo magawa kung ano yung gusto mo. 

Then I switched to a corporate setting, hardcore men that was one of my darkest days. Yung tipong Dina-drag mo yung sarili mo to work. Politics. Deceit. Assholes. Almost 3 years yun, then finally sabi ko ayoko na kasi parang self destruction yun. 

So bumalik ako ng ahensya, kahit pagod mas maliit ang sweldo pero masaya. Siguro kailangan lang talaga na as an artist alamin mo kung ano yung gusto mo. Mahirap bumalik kasi para akong back to zero, pero basta mahal mo ginagawa mo wag susuko. Lahat tayo siguro kailangan lang ng outlet sa pagiging 'artist' natin.

Reigun:

I think na-differentiate mo in a nutshell yung words na: Job, Work, Occupation, and Profession somewhere within your last statement. 

You've been asked of this countless times, pero how did this creativity started?

Paulo:

Hmmm pano nga ba... Basta may sayad lang yata ako eh. Haha. Pero nung bata ako mahilig na talaga ako magdrawing. Pero habang tumatanda na ko skeptic kasi ako so dun na nabubuo yung concepts sa utak ko.

Reigun:

For a newbie art-lover, or a future artist with an untapped potential, any recommendations to draw influence from?

Paulo:

Ah sa lahat ng bagay. Sa kalsada, sa mga pighati, sa maingay na kapit bahay. Or sa mga taong nakakausap mo. Mahalaga na marami dapat silang tanong. Wag silang matakot sabihan na weirdo ng ibang tao, ibig sabihin nun radikal sila magisip.

Title: MAKE PEACE/GO F*CK YOURSELF.

by Paulo Correa

An entry to Creative Allies' contest political angst poster design.

Reigun:

Ilan sa mga nakikita ko sa mga museum ay ilang mga naka-display na parang 'doodle' ng isang 3 year old. Isa naman ay parang isang tumpok ng bricks. Marahil sadyang kulang lang talaga alam ko sa art, pero eto rin karamihan ang tingin ng iba. Sadyang ang artwork ba ay hindi para sa lahat na pili lang ang audience, dahil pawang mga 'mayayaman' ang kadalasang 'art afficionados', mga may 'napag-aralan'?

Paulo:

Feeling ko kasi ang art may leveling. I agree na minsan mapapakamot ka ng ulo dahil hindi ko rin minsan ma-get yung ibang art pieces sa museums. 

Leveling in a sense na, si Picasso bago siya sumikat bilang cubism artist, sobrang magaling siya sa proportion and anatomy ng tao. Ibig sabihin may naabot sa siya na malupit kaya inaaccept na ng ibang tao yung pasimuno niya. 

Opinion ko lang, depende pa rin sa tumitingin ang art. Walang karapatan ang ibang tao na husgahan ang manunuod kung hindi nila nageget yung art ng iba. Para sa lahat ang 'art' pero hindi lahat ng uri ng art. 

(Haha may sense ba yung sinabi ko?)

Reigun:

Medyo napakamot rin ako ng ulo dun, pero nakuha ko ang punto kahit papano. Parang the message is relative to the recipient and receiver whichever is the desired medium.

Paulo:

(Tumpak! Apir! Sana may beer tayo. Haha)

Reigun:

(virtual beer muna tayo pansamantala, at virtual sisig. apir!)

Ano ang masasabi mong 'pinnacle' or climax ng iyong napiling career, tipong masasabi mo na 'I effin made it'?

Paulo:

Feeling ko wala pa. Kasi I'm still pushing my way para makilala sa art scene. Mahirap men, sooobrang hirap makapenetrate lalo na kung wala ka pang sariling style

Reigun:

Etong tanong na to, isa sa mga cliche na badtrip sagutin, pero para sa iyong propesyon, hindi ko pa masyado narinig: Anong masasabi mong contribution ng art sa present society? O kung medyo gagawin nating 'kanto style' eh, 'ang art, makakain ko ba yan?'

Paulo:

Sa advertising, we inspire people on how they will think or feel. In short, manipulation. Sa art scene, as long as masaya ako sa dinrowing ko or ginawa ko am good. Kahit isa lang ang magsabi na 'Uy angas ng ginawa mo ah' sapat na para sa akin yun. (Yan ang semi-totoong sagot ko) Pero in reality, as long as people will pay for my art, Oks din yun. Haha

Reigun:

With that, I would like to say maraming salamat sa iyong oras at sa mga sagot. Kulang man ng beer, pero solb pa rin. Ipagpatuloy mo ang iyong maangas na mga likha. Apir.

-fin-

To view more of Paulo's works, you can check his portfolio on behance.net/pauloexmachina or facebook.com/pauloexmachina. He would appreciate a tweet or two on @pauloexmachina.

Basketball Heroes & Ice-tubigs

Why do I love the game of basketball? 

It's not really impossible to happen since I'm a male Filipino growing up in a family with basketball-crazed brothers, father, uncles, neighbours  and friends. It's hard to deny that Philippines IS still a basketball nation. (Maybe boxing is a close second, Pacquiao knows.)

But, how my passion for the game really started is beyond me. As the youngest of the siblings, being born in the mid 80's, simply means my older brothers were already in their teens during the 90's. Whatever tv show they have on, then that means that's my programme for the day. They won't listen if I wanted to watch Power Rangers, or Teenage Ninja Turtles, or maybe re-runs of animes of Voltes V and Daimos. No. Whether it's the PBA, NBA, UAAP, or even the now defunct MBA and PBL, basketball is on.

They would tag me along to watch a live Ginebra game, be it on Araneta Coliseum, or on Cuneta Astrodome. I would find them watching NBA/PBA games recorded on betamax/vhs tapes. It was absurd. It was addicting. I got hooked.

Here's my attempt at SkyWalking. 

Zero casualties reported.