The things that come and go

I'M a changed person. 

I say this because in the last seven months, my life has had an unexpected turn. Putting it into perspective, there are things that I have lost, but there are also things that I have gained.

To speak bluntly, I have now said goodbye--almost--to all the privileges of the lifestyle press. Meaning no more first dibs on movie premieres, perks from retail brands, shopping sprees without spending a dime, tickets to much-awaited productions and concerts, no more lunch or dinner at fancy restaurants, and no more familiarization trips to newly opened hotels and resorts.

Of course, I do miss those things but there's one I will really long for. It's the chance to meet interesting and inspiring people in the industry, whether fellow mediamen like myself, or those whose stories are worth writing and sharing.

This has been my life in the past six years but being able to leave the scene has opened up new horizons for me. Ones that I have only dreamed of in the past.

It is finally being able to embrace the outdoor, and explore volunteerism. All thanks to my wonderful group of outdoor enthusiasts, environmental activists, and outreach volunteers, Random Act of Kindness (RAK).

We climb as one, and help others as one.

I am smitten by these kind-hearted group of Filipinos so much so that I never get tired of writing about them, now, US. Because as we say it, "Sa RAK, may tayo (In RAK, there is us)."

Yet have you ever wondered how I got into this sweet disposition?

Let me begin by saying that I have desired long ago to join a group with a cause/advocacy but have never found the time and outlet to do so.

And then, there is my friend Tupe who has been "selling" RAK to me and all its good deeds for the mountains and its indigenous dwellers. In my mind, it may just be the one I am looking for. Unfortunately, my tight schedule as a lifestyle reporter never really opened up for any of RAK's "climb for a cause" from 2015 until latter half of 2016.

Finally, I was able to join my first climb with the group in August of 2016, a month after I moved from print to online media. It was at Mt. Manabu in Batangas, which we were not able to summit due to an emergency. And then in December of last year, I was able to climb with them again at Mt. Daraitan in Rizal. It was my first serious hike and I thought all my bones would break.

From there on, I told myself, the next time I'd climb, I'd be strong.

Our March climbs. 

Today, I believe I am not just strong but stronger. This month of March, RAK has gone on back-to-back training climbs at Mt. Cinco Picos in Zambales and at Mt. Damas in Tarlac. Both mountains have been true tests to both mind and body. But I have endured.

Because I am in the company of people whose love for the mountains and the indigenous peoples, our fellow Filipinos, is so real you want to emulate it too. Nakakahawa.

There is Sir Rick, na kahit lagi kong kaasaran, is, really, like a mentor to me. Of course, Tupe, walang hanggang pasasalamat sa iyo sa pagdala sa akin sa RAK. Our trio creates whatever you see in our "fun page." Do like and follow us in Facebook.

There is Alex, the ultimate bully, who is also the group's main source of laughter. Jan, the apprentice bully, who is just as annoyingly funny.

And then the women of RAK, my idols and role models. Ate Weng and Ate Elms who are mothers and social workers. Their energy and passion are unbelievable. I want to grow older just like them. 

My ates, Daiana and Kikay who always take care of me. My little sister Coleen, our Millennial na malayo sa maraming Millennial na umaakyat ng bundok. (You know what I mean.)

Our members from the Cordillera Autonomous Region, Kits, Billy, Briget and Levis. And everyone who I meet along the way and become friends with! 

Thank you RAK for giving me a new home and family. 

27: Just As It Is

IT'S kind of scary to be spending my 27th birthday without a job. Really, scary. 

Because since graduating from college in 2010, I have spent five birthdays as a lifestyle journalist, which is equivalent to six years in the media industry. Throughout that time, I have devoted everything that I am to the job I am most passionate about: Writing. 

So to be in semi-hiatus after all those time, I do get paranoid. Sometimes, I just can't shrug off that feeling of uncertainty. What's next for me? 

But then, I look back at the last three days just before January 19 and I realize that I am blessed with many people who care about me. I am not worried anymore. 

First and foremost, there is my former editors and colleagues at The Manila Times who are are more than just that. They are truly like family to me already. On a recent visit, I am humbled and kept grounded. I will always be privileged and proud to have the Philippines' oldest newspaper as my roots. 

There are also friends I have made along the way--be them editors and reporters, sales and advertising managers and public relations officers--who are just a chat or text away. They generously allow me to contribute stories for them, even kindly offer me to write a column for them! Some are helping me find a full-time gig too. 

And despite my temporary break, many still remember my special day and send greetings and gifts. 

Not to forget my closest, fellow lifestyle journalists who just don't fail in cheering me up.  I haven't seen them in more than a month but I'm sure we can just see each other and share stories over bottles of beer. I know soon, we will cross paths again. 

Talk about paths! Well, where ever life may take me from here on, I am sure of one thing. That I will continue to write with the same ethics and diligence that I always have. 

And life being just as it is, I allow me to enjoy the rest of my free time, and more importantly, utilize it to accomplish my other personal plans for 2017, the year I turn 27, and the year of blessings from the Almighty One. 

Cheers! 

Finding Meaning in the Mountains - Part 2

There's this much-raved about arts and music festival happening soon in a much-visited mountain up in the Cordilleras.  

It would have easily caught my interest knowing the arts and music enthusiast and nature lover that I both am but instead, I saw it in a bad light. Because I believe that the featured mountain does not need any publicity at the moment, neither droves of people going up there all at once. What said mountain needs is to actually "heal" from all the negative impacts it has received since hiking started trending among Filipinos a few years back. (Although upon research, I discovered that festival in question is organized in partnership with a foundation that supports communities through sports, arts and music. So I do hope that a big part of the profit goes to the advocacy of this foundation. Organizers have yet to divulge details about this aspect.)

On another instance, I advised a cousin to make sure that the mountain tours she had been joining observe proper hiking manners, like not leaving garbage and being considerate of the communities. The most recent climb she joined had as much as 63 tourists. That's a lot of people. 

Awareness on these matters I have developed after recently joining Random Act of Kindness (RAK), a group of mountain-loving people from different backgrounds and professions. Lead by professional mountaineers, RAK imparts mountaineering courses and ethics. More importantly, it organizes climbs for a cause. 

RAK actually gives back to the locals and indigenous peoples residing in remote communities at the foot or sometimes, even deep in the mountains. 

Take for example our annual Give Light and Pasko Fiesta program that took place last December 17, 2016 at Sitio Manggahan in Barangay Daraitan at Tanay, Rizal. It provided eight solar lamps to eight Dumagat families from Purok Paydas which remains without access to electricity, a basic need, as well as donated toys, clothing, school supplies and food to hundreds of locals both young and old from the sitio. 

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." -- Desmond Tutu

To know more about the successful community outreach, you can read the article I wrote for Business Mirror. Also in the story, Dumagat Chieftain Eufemia Enciso of Sitio Manggahan expressed her gratitude. 

Dumagat Chieftain Eufemia Enciso of Sitio Manggahan

"Nagpapasalamat ako at nagpatuloy pa rin ang Random Act Kindness sa pag-aabot ng mga donasyon, damit, pagkain, laruan para sa mga bata. At higit sa lahat, ang solar lamps dahil hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin kaming kuryente [I am grateful because RAK continued its donation of clothes, food and toys for the kids. Most important, the solar lamps,  because we still don’t have electricity]."

Hearing these words, I sincerely felt that I was finally in the right place and time doing the right thing. 

Now, time to see photos from the 2016 Give Light and Pasko Fiesta: 


Let there be light! Three of the eight Dumagat beneficiaries of the lamps made by SolarSolutions Inc., a solar enterprise that promotes use of sustainable and clean energy. 

Little girls of Sitio Manggahan show off their plush toys from Jollibee, which sponsored our outreach through its Maaga ang Pasko campaign.

And of course, young boys too! Besides toys, children of the sitio and the Dumagat kids of Purok Paydas were also gifted with clothes, school supplies and snacks. 

 His cuteness caught me. And he caught me in act!

Well, he likes me! :) Kilig! 

And here's us wishing all our donors and sponsors our gratitude for making our Give Light and Pasko Fiesta 2016 possible. 

(ALL PHOTOS ARE MINE.)

My New Comfort Zone

Before acrophobia took over

In the past six years, I had been coddled by the comforts of the media industry's lifestyle beat, especially when it comes to traveling. 

Whenever I joined media familiarization tours, even if it involved  trekking in the outdoors, we, the writers and bloggers, would always be well taken care of. Porters would be hired to carry our stuff, personnel would be ready to hand us drinks, and modes of transportation would be present at any given moment. 

That's how babied media could be at the times. Unfortunately, others get used to it to the point that they demand all the privileges when that should never be the case. (But that's another topic altogether that I'd rather not discuss.) 

And so I wouldn't blame my best friend for telling me, "That's not you bes," after seeing this photo I shared over Instagram: 

(Photos from Ms. Weng)

That's me learning the basics of ropemanship and applying it in an actual scenario: which was to cross a gushing river during rainy weather with an emergency harness. The training was led by Sir Rick, our co-founder and leader of Random Act of Kindness (RAK). It was held at Daraitan River in Sitio Manggahan in Tanay, Rizal where our group organized an outreach for the marginalized community and Dumagat tribe the day before. (Read Finding Meaning in the Mountains-Part 1)

With half a day to spend at the remote village snaked by the river, RAK members decided to spend for ropemanship. Sir Rick first showed us how to properly cross a river without any ropes while sharing tips and tricks to our survival. Of course, it looked easy but I highly doubted it was. And then, he tied a line from the two sides of the river. This was were rope harness tied to us would be connected. 

Thanks to peer pressure, I came third in line. What happened surprised us all. Because of the continuous rains (the weather was bad even before we got at Sitio Manggahan), the water in middle part already reached my chest, I actually got swept away by the strong current. But thanks to our safety line, I was safe, haha. Yay, it worked! 

Still, I had to be semi-rescued because I couldn't stand anymore and finish the task on my own. About three came to me and two held the rope steady. 

It was well documented you see: 

Ready, steady

About to be swept away!

All of them to the rescue!

The only time Sir Alex did not bully me. But he went back to it right after we got back to land. 

When I returned to the rest of RAK, what do I get? Bullying! As always, we just made it a laughing matter. And all was good afterward especially with the shot of lambanog to warm the body. 

The week before that, we climbed Mt. Daraitan to raise funds for the community outreach and that too proved very challenging to the sheltered lifestyle journalist that I was. 


For the first time in my entire traveling life, I experienced the most number of falls I could ever had. Funny, in the beginning of the descent, I was even boastful for saving myself a couple of times from slipping thanks to my quick reflexes. This proved to be useless on the last hour of the four-hour descent because of the ruthless trail--muddy and slippery as fuck. Add to that my exhausted and lampa legs. I was a disaster. Haha. 

Muddy and slippery as fuck

Slip here, fall there. Landing on my butt, stopping the fall with my hands. At one point, my left hand without gloves landed on a sharp stone cutting it. I was bleeding and I needed to get a first aid. Hoho. On another instance, I landed with my right arm planting on the soil. I froze on the ground and thought oh God, hope I did not dislocate my arm. Thankfully, I did not. 

"Maisusulat ko pa," I would tell Sir Rick and my best friend Xerlyn, as well as the local guide. The four of us in the tail of the pack. 

We also went off trail and had to cross a narrow cliff. I almost slipped here too. But no worries, I was well assisted. 

All the time, our destination which was the Daraitan River at the foot of the mountain could be heard flowing with might as if we were getting nearer but we weren't! What a tease.

But as what life does not cease teaching us, it was never about the falls but how one got back up on his/her feet after. So on zombie mode, I did finish the hike. I was covered in mud and sweat combined and sure looked nothing like a lifestyle journalist.  

Yet, I felt as if I belonged there, in the great outdoors. In time, I will make it my new comfort zone. 

Finding Meaning in the Mountains - Part 1

Exhausted, I went to bed, closed my eyes, and tried to sleep. Half-conscious, half dreaming, the memories of the day that just transpired flashed in my mind. It was a blur of browns and greens, the colors of the earth and trees, of the mountain I just hiked. 

Normally, this only happened to me after movies that I took by heart. It could only mean that said mountain made the same impact, perhaps even greater.  

At the summit of Mt. Daraitan

It was Tanay, Rizal's Mt. Daraitan, standing at approximately 739 meters above sea level. Supposedly, it was categorized as a minor climb but totally did not felt that way to me. It was my first serious hike and it was also the toughest. 

Nevertheless, I was not one to complain because despite feeling dead from the physical pain, I felt so much more alive from the unforgettable gain. 

Because unlike most of the commercial climbs I bet you have joined to "get away from the city" and instead "get close to Mother Earth while"--and all other similar cliches--this particular journey to Mt. Daraitan was mainly for a good cause. 

The colors of the mountain

Held last December 11, Sunday, it was one the last fund-raising climb of Random Act of Kindness, or RAK, for the year 2016. RAK is a group of mountaineers slash volunteers hailing from different sectors of the society. 

Only on my second adventure with the group, I had been enlightened ten-fold about "mountaineering" and all the responsibilities it entailed. It was never just about reaching the summit, taking selfies, and saying "I conquered Mt. Daraitan (or any other mountain)." 

Sir Rick of RAK lives and breathes mountains

Because as RAK co-founder and leader Frederick "Rick" Laping said with conviction, "You can't conquer a mountain because the mountains had been there before you. And you can't conquer a mountain because the mountains will outlast you." 

What you are allowed to say is you conquered your fears, or you conquered yourself in reaching the summit and returning safe. Sir Rick further imparted to the hike's participants. 

There were over 10 of us plus three more RAK members Tupe, Alex, Paul and Daiana, who were savoring the steaming lomi after the tiring hike, while taking by heart valuable lessons from a man who had courted and loved the mountains for two decades already. 

The group at the summit

From this immersion came the awareness that many mountains in the Philippines served as ancestral domains of indigenous peoples, the rightful dwellers who most often lacked access to basic needs like shelter, clothing, food and light. 

Thus, RAK was born from the desire to do one random act of kindness at a time. Whether to extend a helping hand to remote, mountainous communities, or to protect and preserve the environment through clean-up drives, or promoting clean, renewable energy, among others. 

Sir Rick points to where the last outreach program of RAK for 2016 is to be held

So how to does RAK do all this? We go back to the non-profit organization's fundraising climbs which are open to all who wish to follow and support RAK's above-mentioned outreach programs. Of which, the culmination for 2016 was recently held on December 17 at Sitio Manggahan in Brgy. Daraitan (yes where the mountain was). 

I also took part in the said event and for two consecutive weekends, found new meaning in the mountains. 

To be continued in Part 2. 

***
For now let's take a look at photos from the Mt. Daraitan fund-raising climb with RAK. 

Don't be fooled by the seriousness of this entry because RAK is composed of a bunch of goofies and bullies, led by this trio, Rick, Alex and Kris (or RAK). Genius! 

Had to stop on my track just to capture this tiny beauties. 

There was also grotto deep in the mountain.

Sir Rick with the local tour guides in the background

Happy and funny faces at Station 2. 

My best friend and travel buddy Xerlyn and I at the summit, the very spot that confirmed my fear of heights. 

She, on the other hand, had no problem whatsoever and kept bugging me to take her photos. 

But truly, such a scenic view. 

Is this a challenge? Yak hane!

(ALL PHOTOS ARE MINE)

'Child' not 'Doctor'; 'Apocalypse' not 'Strange'

I want to shut up about this (I do not want to be "panira") but I will express myself nonetheless because I believe this needs to be shared. 

Last Saturday, October 29, I took Mama to the cinema to watch the Filipino independent film "Apocalypse Child," which was first shown last year at the QCinema film festival. That was amidst a majority of cinemagoers rooting for "Doctor Strange," the major Marvel movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch! Mr. Cumberbatch's match, Sid Lucero who I daresay is as believable and as effective as an actor. 

And so, there we were, lined up at the senior citizen lane (Mama perks haha). I clearly told the SM Megamall box office attendant, "Two tickets for 'Apocalypse Child.'"

"For 7:40 (p.m.) po?" she asked back. 

"Uh, 7:50." I said coz the screening time for Apocalypse Child at Cinema 1 indicated so. 

"Pili na po kayong seats."

I looked at the screen and I thought to myself, WHOA! 

Out of 600 seats, more than half are already occupied. Namromlema pa ako dahil hindi na maganda seats namin ni Mama. 

Could it be true that "Apocalypse Child's" online marketing worked? Could it be possible that the little child actually gave the Marvel giant a good fight? And could it be really, really happening: Filipinos now cared about locally produced films, the ones that actually made sense? 

No, no and a big NO!

The box office attendant apparently assumed that I came to see "Doctor Strange" because, obviously, everybody was! (If I remembered correctly, 8 out of Megamall's 12 cinemas were screening the Marvel film.) So, she got us tickets to the 7:40 p.m. showing of "Doctor Strange." Kaya pala!

OK, I admit. I was also stupid for not looking at the tickets handed to me. (Food was the next thing in my mind, haha). I only realized the mistake when Mama and I were already entrance of Cinema 1, "Apocalypse Child" to play in 5 minutes. 

As I inserted the automated cards that came with the tickets, it got churned out so naturally, I asked the entrance personnel, "Ate bakit nilabas?"

She looked at my tickets and answered, "Ma'am 'Doctor Strange' po ang tickets nyo."

"Ha! Hindi, sabi ko 'Apocalypse Child' e!" 

A woman beside her, who was wearing a Sinag Maynila T-shirt (which made me assume she was there for 'Apocalypse Child'), then told the personnel: "Papalitan mo na lang." 

"Sige," I agreed and then before the confused SM Megamall employee left to the ticket booths, "Paano yong seat number namin?"

"Ma'am kahit saan, konti lang naman ang tao." 

Upon entering the cinema, all my hopes were shattered. I could count in my fingers the few Filipinos watching "Apocalypse Child." 

What was I imagining really when I saw that half-filled cinema in the ticket booth screen? By then I should've already noticed something was wrong.  

Of course, Filipinos would choose a well-budgeted foreign film over an independently produced film even if it was their OWN. 

I'm not saying don't watch Marvel films. I myself will be watching "Doctor Strange" in the big screen. 

All I'm appealing is that, if you could spend P250 for a Hollywood movie that would surely rake millions of dollars, why not spare P250 for a Pinoy indie that would probably never even earn back half of its budget spent.

You'll be surprised, you'll also get your money's worth. Maybe not in entertainment value but in enlightenment value. And that is what we need badly today in our society! 

(Willingly spending P250 over Star Cinema rom-coms are of another breed. I rather not go into that.)

As of this writing, "Apocalypse Child" would probably be pulled out from cinemas already after only a week-long slot, at the most! You can't blame the businessmen entirely. Sadyang Hindi sapat 'yong nanonood e. Parehong olats ang pelikula at ang sinehan. 

Pero ang pinaka-talo, ang mga mamayang Pilipinong hindi marunong tumangkilik ng sariling likhang sining. 

***
But here comes the panira part, which is now entirely my fault. 

I expected too much from "Apocalypse Child" after seeing rave reviews from the likes of directors Erik Matti ("On the Job") and Jerrold Tarog ("Heneral Luna"). Also, it had won important awards namely Best Picture and Best Director for Mario Cornejo at QCinema awards last year. 

I believe the film deserve all the love and trophies it had received so far. The film was a subtle kind of beautiful with nuanced acting close to perfection. Montejo brought out the best in his cast namely Sid Lucero, Annicka Dolonius (Best Supporting Actress, QCinema), Ana Abad-Santos (Best Supporting Actress, Gawad Urian), Gwen Zamora, RK Bagatsing and Archie Alemania. The acting, for me, really is the best part of the film. 

But it is not enough. And I'm not being a critic here. I just want to be honest with my feelings or "lack" thereof. How so? I simply did not feel something new from "Apocalypse Child." 

Sex, drugs, love and little politics are a tried and tested formula in the big screen. Only for this time, the formula is set among the crashing waves of Baler. 

Unfortunately again, even Baler is not new to me. I've personally seen it's charm with my own two eyes. 

And so for the verdict, let me recall what I told a friend who asked me if it's worth watching in the big screen. 

50-50. 

50 percent for "Apocalypse Child" and 50 percent for independent Philippine cinema. 

So go watch it if its still miraculously showing after reading this. 

P.S. Please don't hate me. 

(All photos from Apocalypse Child on Facebook.)

Mars Ravelo, Komiks, and Arts

This entire month, I had been craving for a dose of arts in my life. I've been dreaming of going up to Angono, Rizal to visit the many museums of the Philippines' Arts Capital; as well as planning a return trip to Angono's sister town, Antipolo, where the Pinto Arts Museum is located. 

Unfortunately, hectic October couldn't allow even just one of the two to happen. 

But when I least expected it, I ran into an art exhibit last October 15, Saturday. 

That day, I was covering Day 1 of the Asia Pacific leg of Travel Blog Exchange, which was hosted by the Philippines for the first time. The event was held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. 

After the official business, I walked toward Roxas Boulevard and passed by the nearby Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Along the ground driveway, there were tarpaulins of ongoing shows and programs. 

And there it was, the poster of "Mars Ravelo Reinterpreted," an exhibit marking the Filipino comic artist's birth centennary. It was staged by the CCP with the support of the Ravelo family. 

The participating artists

A true legend, Ravelo continues to touch the lives of today's generation. His creations and characters come to life up in TV shows and movies. Darna, Dyesebel, Lastikman, and Captain Barbell are just some his heroes and heroines that have become household names. 

The exhibit is no different as it also aims to "present the continuing legacy and influence of his work in Philippine culture and society." But at the same time, it is different for it showcases the creativity of Filipino artists who were tapped to "move from and into different styles and mediums, applying 'komiks' sensibilities without losing their distinct personalities." (CCP) 


And I was ecstatic to see familiar names in the list of participating artists. Leeroy New and Dex Fernandez are two contemporary Filipino artists that I had been following through social media for more than years now. The works of Kris Abrigo I also recently encountered. 

I was curious to see how they, and the others, would, pay tribute to someone as iconic and legendary as Mars Ravelo. 

Upon entering the CCP's Main Gallery, I was first greeted by a collection of memorabilia documenting the career of Ravelo. It was a prelude of sort. 

There was a timeline detailing his early days, as well as his latest works. His family also lent personal items like a script of Captain Barbell, and a vintage typewriter--both probably utilized by Ravelo himself. 
Also aplenty were first-ever printed editions of Ravelo's different comics. I bet this would delight comic collectors and lovers if they ever visited the exhibit. 

After the brief familiariazation and history lesson, it was time to see the actual artworks which included paintings, murals, mixed media and installations. 

An early favorite of mine was "D for Divinity" (2016) by Ernest Concepcion. Made of oil and enamel on gypsum canvas, it is a reimagining of Darna--humanized but divine. The iconic Pinay superhero had her arms raised as if she was on a campaign trail. Her nemesis surrounding her but not quite succeeding in defeating her. Look closely and you see her soul escaping her. Why, I wondered?

'D for Divinity'

Another popular female protagonist of Ravelo is Dyesebel, whom generations of Pinays once dreamed of becoming. In the exhibit, the mermaid came to life in a brass sculpture on a stainless steel base by Jonas Roces. The 2016 work of art seemed to leap out of the depths of the ocean, her figure--body, hair, tail and face, detailed subtlety but beautifully.

Sculpted Dysebel in brass

A different interpretation of Dyesebel is painted by R.M de Leon. His 2009 acrylic on paper showed the mermaid splattered on the ground and surrounded by flies and insects! "Malansa na?" I couldn't help but ask this time around, proving that art raises discourse. 

Dysebel painted on canvas

And then there were the abovementioned contemporary artists who had made names for themselves in local and global scales. 

Fernandez, the man behind Garapata, lent his signature art that had already became a brand coveted in other parts of Asia like Japan and Korea.

A portion of the mural "Ipe, Engot at si Garapata"

The Garapata was incorporated into Ravelo's 1940s character, Ipe. First printed in Buhay Pilipino, Ipe told the lives of two servants, the elder Ipe and younger Engot who serves as the annoying sidekick of the former. 

Fernandez's mural, which was popping with colors, was titled "Ipe, Engot at si Garapata."

And then there was New, famous for his out-of-this-world installation art. He had exhibited in different parts of the Philippines and the world. 

In Mars Ravelo Reinterpreted, he chose an early comics, "Flash Bomba" that chronicled tragedy of Roldan who got crippled by polio. However, he regained his legs and more through a deal with the Tiklabang. Thus, Flash Bomba was born. 

Flash Bombas with skulls

New's "Still Life with Two Flash Bombas" include two life-sized Flash Bombas made with multiple colorful, tiny and plastic baby toys. At their foot, four skulls made of the same material were scattered--which for me overshadowed the Flash Bombas. 


The younger Abrigo was also chosen for the exhibit. I had known of this promising muralist back in my days at The Manila Times after my former lifestyle section colleague wrote a feature on him. 

Abrigo's 'History of Halimaw'

Abrigo made two artworks, one acrylic on canvas, the other acrylic on wood, both of which are about Gog, a lesser known work of Ravelo, about monsters and brains. But despite the morbidity of the story, Abrigo's reinterpretation breathed of youthfulness and vibrancy, with colorful geometric and typography. 

Another personal favorite was the masterpiece of Jericho Vamenta called "Kwentong Labada ni Gorio at Tekla" (acrylic, oil pastel, and oil paint on canvas, 2016). As the titled suggested, it was about Ravelo's "Gorio and Tekla," first serialized in the 1950s. 

A personal favorite by Jericho Vamenta

The painting was a picture perfect depiction of the Filipino society's mister and misis, bickering because misis in a tapis had tons of laundry while mister on briefs had a cockfight to attend to. The way I saw it, Tekla was the typical nagging wife while Gorio was the hopeless under the saya. 

A unique piece was Mariano Ching's "Untitled" for the unique Ravelo character, Facifica Falayfay, the gay persona of Pacifico who hailed from a macho family. The acrylic and pyrogpraph on wood portrayed how Facifica's heart was colored differently. 

Mariano Ching's uses pyrography on this piece

Also part of the exhibit is a flat latex mural by Ang Gerilya painted at the wall just across the main gallery. Called "Tagapagligtas," it aptly honored the heroic deeds of iconic superhero, Captain Barbell. 

A Captain Barbell mural at the walls of CCP

Ravelo's direct, living descendants namely his daughter Rita and son Rex also contributed to the exhibit by showcasing their works that are heavily influenced by their father. 

Rita Ravelo-dela Cruz, the fourth daughter, for example had framed drafts of her comic strip "Kikay Okay," which came out at "Art Manila Quarterly," a publication by The Manila Times in the 2000s. Kikay Okay is the extension of Rita, a mischievous girl character by his father. Kikay is the daughter of Rita. 

The funny antics of Kikay Okay

The CCP writes, "Ravelo-dela Cruz's style is an epitome of Mars' original illustrations, the revival of Pinoy komiks essence and her father's drawing style . . The Kikay Okay series is a reflection of a love and admiration of her father's legacy."

Meanwhile, her brother Rex exhibited "Tinapa Literature," a drawing of his father's works repurposed as pambalot (wrapper) for tinapa (smoked fish)--reminiscing the golden era of komiks when it became a huge part of the Filipinos' everyday life. 

And while there may be a steady production of local comics today but Mars Ravelo Reinterpreted makes one hope for the full resurgence of komiks in the Filipino culture. 

Comics is for all ages

Self-portrait at the "Bondying" installation