Manila Mondays

I know Jon said that Friday nights in Manila can't be beat, but that was before we made it to a "Manila Monday". So apparently the local rock scene is bursting at the seams, and we we can now vouch for that. Warehouse 135 was the venue of choice and bands like Chicosci who have opened for the "who's who" of the global punk/rock scene, was just the opening jig. They set a raging pace that had everyone mosh/dancing basically on stage all night. Great bands followed like Pedicab and Taken by Cars which rocked the street out front Pablo Gallery Saturday night. This event wouldn't have been possible without meeting Diego at Mo_Space Gallery in Fort Bonafacio. Diego was an excellent host, adding us to the guest list to come watch his band and putting ice-cold San Miguels in our hands at the show. Turns out Diego's band, Sandwich, that he so humbly spoke about, rules! From one music lover to the next, these bands all offer something to appreciate. Check them all out whenever you can. I know we're gonna have to again before this ride is all over.

















Sandwich playing at Warehouse 135

Positive Future For Street Children, Pangarap Foundation

The Pangarap Foundation helps street children (boys aged 8-23) of Manila to get back on course. They assist in reintegrating the children into a future of promise through specially design programs. The programs encourage and help the boys to become active, educated and skilled. We had the opportunity (thanks to Silvana Ancelloti-Diaz) to experience first hand a candle-making program that teaches the children to engage in a skilled craft. The children make the molds by hand using plaster of paris, pour the wax, wax the wicks, finish the candles, and package the final products. The kids really seemed to enjoy themselves. 10% percent of their sales go into their savings funds giving them added motivation. Jon and I are hoping to collaborate with the foundation to explore new design possibilities and market promotion to help these children gain the recognition they deserve as fellow skilled Filipinos. Send in your suggestions or contact us if you or your store would be interested in supporting them in anyway.






























Outside Pangarap Foundation

Visit To Galleria Duemila, Pasay City

Manila - Environments, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Visit by appointment only, we met and spoke to Silvana Ancelloti-Diaz, art director of Galleria Duemila in Pasay City. Silvana (an Italian who married a Filipino) established the gallery in 1975 to encourage support for the country's modern art. We had an incredibly in-depth conversation about the people of the Philippines, its future, culture, art, politics, and youth. We discussed a wide-array of topics that left us overwhelmed. The background information she gave us was priceless and has left us with a better understanding of the current state of the Philippines. I'm starting to get a better feeling of what we're getting ourselves into and I find it both intriguing and scary. It's amazing.

We met with her husband, Ramon Diaz, an artist himself who currently is exhibiting at Galleria Duemila. The both of them gave us a visually stimulating tour of their home which was filled with ancient artifacts, sculptures and hundreds of paintings. It basically could be a small gallery of its own.

Work by Ramon Diaz, Galleria Duemila