Katha Magazine - Issue 01 Sept/Oct 2013 by Katha Magazine

ISSUE 01

Sept/Oct 2013

KATHA MASTERMINDS Geli Balcruz hellogelibee.blogspot.com Aya Dalumpines facebook.com/createbytlf

SUBSCRIBE Sign up for our mailing list http://eepurl.com/DI7LT

EDITORIAL BOARD Andrea Dela Cruz mabuhaydiy.wordpress.com Allie Principe foureyedwonder.com

Cachi Reyes thepinkdoormat.blogspot.com

CONTRIBUTORS Koni Esteban candidlypretty.blogspot.com

Ella Lama threesixtyfivepointfour.timblr.com

Illustrators Lando Cusi behance.net/landocusi

SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook kathamagazineph Twitter @kathamagazine Instagram kathamagazine Pinterest kathamagazine

Katha is a bi-monthly magazine for creatives, by creatives. Copyright is reserved. Reposting in whole or in part on other sites and publications without permission is prohibited. All rights to photos and illustrations belong to their respective owners.

kathamagazine.tumblr.com

EVERY STORY HAS A BEGINNING Ours started one random night, not too long ago, with five girls who shared the same love and passion for creating. They decided that they wanted to start something --something they’ve never done before, something that they’ve been wanting to see in the local scene but could never seem to find, something that could feed the souls of other creative minds such as theirs. Katha /kat·hâ/. In local vernacular, it means to create something, be it with your hands, your computer, or even just your imagination. The word is beautiful and evokes a mystical sort of wonder, and we think there is no better word in any other language that could perfectly capture our vision for this magazine. In our very first issue, we decided to celebrate the creation of something new and wonderful. Whether it’s starting a new passion project, bringing new life to your old things, or starting to plan your own parties, we want everyone who reads this to share in the joy of seeing great ideas transform from vague concepts to tangible realities. This is the just the beginning, but we’re hoping that it’s the beginning of something big. Now, on to writing the next part of the story! Cheers, The Katha Team

photo by Allie Principe

10 24

CONTENTS 30

38 58

32 46

WHIMSIES

10A ALABAMA

BAZAAR TIPS 101

UPCYCLED PROJECTS

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

HEY YOU

KATHA Q&A

KAWAII BUYS

CRAFTERPRENEUR

FASHION TREND

CREATIVE NOOK

ART FOR ALL

FACEOFF

OH HELLO DY

VERSUS

SCOUTS’ HONOR

PHENOM

LET’S CELEBRATE

MARSHMALLOW LOVE

CONNECT

M I X TAPE FOR T H IS IS S U E

Songs that may or may not be about starting anew, optimism, makeovers, and Fred Astaire 1. This is the beginning by BOY 2. New Years by Ohbijou 3. Shine Like A New Pin by Camera Obscura 4. New Soul by Yael Naim 5. In the New by Reverie Sound Revue

6. The Night Starts Here by Stars 7. Brand New by Techy Romantics 8. Begin Again by California Snow Story 9. New Slang by The Shins 10. Another Daybreak by Outerhope

Listen to this playlist on Katha’s 8tracks! 8tracks.com/kathamagazine/beginnings

A N G BONGGAN G B O N G G AN G B ATA NG BE K I

U NS E E N M OON

by Eliza Victoria

B A H IA ACC E S S OR IE S

facebook.com/bahia.accessories

by Rh andee Garlitos

A ground-breaking, lovely children’s book about acceptance and courage in various forms.We think the world would be kinder and more colorful if we had more books like this.

Palanca award-winner Eliza Victoria brings us a chilling collection of stories set in places that are all-too-familiar, filled with strange encounters and terrifying characters. Best read in old ancestral homes, or under the sheets with a flashlight.

A BEAUTI FU L M E SS Award-winning lifestyle bloggers Elsie and Emma share their passion for the beautiful life with a photo app that’s filled with just the right amount of function and whimsy. Personalizing photos is so easy; you’ll never post dull, boring photos again. Download A Beautiful Mess for iOS for $0.99 from the App Store. Check out abeautifulmess.com for updates on other operating systems. 6 | W HIMSIES

We love how the brand still makes use of local materials even if there are tons of mass-produced supplies readily available in the market. Each handmade product tells a story of how we should promote sustainability and preserve Filipino culture.

TR AVELO GU ES

LE BUNNY BLEU

facebook.com/LeBunnyBleuPH Is there anyone on the face of the earth who can resist bunnies? Especially if you can wear them on your feet? We’re oohing and aahing over Le Bunny Bleu and all of the cuteness -- both of their shoes and their store interiors.

ALEYN COMPRENDIO blog.aleyncomprendio.com The analog photos taken by Aleyn are dreamlike, ethereal, and a bit nostalgic. Her snapshots seem to possess a hint of magic, and will fill you with wonder.

THE YELLOW ADVENTURES blog.hannah.ph In a single snapshot, Hannah is able to tell a touching story about the true essence of a place or a person. She invites you to her adventures all over the globe, as seen through her ever-optimistic eyes.

BRAVE THE WAVES bravethewaves.net Still hungover from your last beach trip? Take a quick virtual vacay through Mia’s blog. Her photos will make you feel glad that we live in a tropical country, filled with beautiful beaches and people with beautiful hearts.

FOOD WE WA N T TO TRY Local takes on food trends

SHMALLOW MARSHMALLOW SPREAD shmallowsph.com Gooey goodness you can spread on just about anything. It comes in three flavors – original, strawberry and cookies n’ shmallows! Prices range from P 165 to P 180. GnD SPREADS facebook.com/GNDByGoNuts Go Nuts Donuts outdid itself by creating not just one, but two variants each of cookie butter and chocolate cookie butter, and(!) a chocolate hazelnut spread. No more waiting for the next stock of US imports to arrive. Prices range from P 99 to P 219.

S pät z le E uro M arket C afe

Located on the 5th floor of the new wing in Shangri-La Plaza, you will definitely not miss this hip but cozy cafe while walking around the mall. This new restaurant offers European dishes specifically German or Austrian Cuisine. The word Spätzle means traditional German dumplings or egg noodles. Try their Roast Chicken Sausage on Mushroom Spätzle, and their Mint Lemonade served in a mason jar. WH IM SIES | 7

D IY MAVEN S BORED AND CRAFTY boredandcrafty.com

THE HOUSE OF ISLA thehouseofislablog.blogspot.com

WHAT ELSE MICHELLE whatelsemichelle.com

Always bored, sometimes crafty and often odd, is how Meream describes herself. A Cebu-based crafter, she shares with us her love for cats, skirts, sewing and crafts.

Baguio dweller, Aileen, shares snippets of her life through her DIYs and illustrations. A selftaught illustrator, watch out as this artrepreneur transforms life through her creations.

Michelle is a graphic designer and a mom to a three-year-old who blogs about her creative ideas on interior decor and fun DIY projects.

DESIGN THINKING AC T I ON LA B

novoed.com/designthinking

Develop thinking out of the box with this online course offered by the Stanford d.school. Learn about the design thinking process and engage in different exercises that will lead to an actual final project. Schedule’s flexible and it’s for free, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give it a try.

8 | W HIMSIES

K AT HMIT R A

instagram.com/kathmitra Kath is an architect and an artist who runs the paper and stationery shop 23060. We love the minimalist tone of Kath’s photos -- a mix of architecture, interior details, handmade work and small glimpses of a design-driven life. The muted colors paired with lovely composition will soothe anyone’s tired eyes.

Like what you see?

Visit our site for more fun! kathamagazine.tumblr.com

pho to b y Geli B alcru z

Handmade heaven 10A Alabama is a treasure trove amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. wor d s b y Gel i B a l cr u z

In one of the busy streets in Quezon City, you’ll find a hidden gem that houses quintessential found objects in a furniture gallery. It is also considered a home to many crafters who thrive to support their needs and sustain their love for the arts. A carefully hand-drawn gate of a blue Adarna bird will welcome you to 10A Alabama, the home of Resurrection Furniture and Found Objects Gallery. The old house transformed into an art and furniture gallery is a rehabilitation center for rescued furniture and given a second life. An important rule to when you visit this place is to keep your eyes and mind open to absorb all the awesomeness you’re about to discover. As you enter the gallery, fabric buntings will welcome you as they dance along with the wind. Arlene Barbaza, Leah Sanchez and Binggoy de Ocampo, the brains behind 10 | S TO RIES

Resurrection Gallery, turn old-fashioned furniture into conversation pieces. Old wooden chairs are turned into Lamesilyas, a chair and table top in one. Your lola’s cabinets with floral engravings are delightfully colored orange or blue to add quirkiness to its personality and resurrected wooden trays are painted with chevron prints. You’ll also discover found vintage posters, decoupage art and ceramic wares. In an effort to support the local handmade movement, Arlene, Leah and Binggoy hold an Arts and Crafts fair once every three months to support their fellow handmakers. 10A Alabama becomes even more alive when crafterpreneurs or Alabamers get together to offer essential and functional art pieces that are meticulously handcrafted and made with love and pride.

p h oto b y Gel i Balc ru z

Each handcrafted item tells a story and the crafters are encouraged to man their booth to unravel the story behind their creations. In a world where competition is steadfast, these proud handmakers are not hesitant to tell even their trade secrets to every crafter. There is a strong sense of community as the crafters are all hearts as they share their passion to everyone, be it a consumer or not. A number of successful Alabamers shared their humble beginnings here and everyone is encouraged to start their dreams no matter how small they are. If you are in the hunt for pieces that are not massproduced and intricately made, we highly suggest that you visit this place especially when a fair is being held. One way of supporting the fight against mindless consumption is to support the handmade movement. With every piece of their creations that you purchase, you take home a well-thought of creation and you also take that extra step with the handmakers to fulfill their dreams and sustain their needs.

ph ot os from fa c e b o o k. c o m /1 0 aAl ab am a

STOR IES | 1 1

OUR FAVES FROM THE FAIR! Aromateria Solid Perfume by Shani Tan

Manila Series Handmade notebooks by Kath Mitra of 23060

Paper Crane earrings by Alejo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aytin of Orig.Kami

Plushies by Joyce and Jordan of Monsterella Plush Art

Quirky upcycled accessories and Handmade plushies by Maan and Roma of Pop Junk Love p ho t o s f r o m r e s p e c ti v e s h op own er s

b a z a ar t ips 101

Planning to join your first-ever bazaar? Read on to know if you’re bazaar ready. wor d s b y Gel i B a l cr u z

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx If you’re eyeing to join a bazaar for a startup or existing business but are still uncertain of which ones to join, here are some pointers to consider before shelling out those hard earned pesos! TO GET STARTED, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK Ask yourself, “Do I really need to join a bazaar?” Somehow, your gut feel will tell you if you need to. You can either surrender to your gut feel or take a big leap! Ask Mr. Google Start with these two questions: Is the organizer credible? Is the bazaar popular? From here, you can have an idea of the foot traffic, the target market as well as potential sales and losses. Ask experienced Bazaaristas If you think Mr. Google can answer everything, well think again! Even Mr. Google can prevent you from seeing bad reviews from a certain event. Go ahead and ask around, join groups and keep on asking until you finally settle for a concrete answer. PREPARE FOR THE BATTLE Time to get crafting Plan ahead of time and make sure that you and your suppliers will be able to meet deadlines. Inventory time It’s a tedious task but it will save you glorious amounts of time after the bazaar. If you have done the inventory properly and managed to stick to the correct prices, chances are, you can just subtract the remaining items to determine your sales.

are joining a bazaar! Always remember to include the Bazaar’s name, location, date/s, and time. Get enough rest If you intend to cram and be sleepless, how can you have energy to tell your potential customers how awesome your products are? They certainly wouldn’t want a zombie crafter! THINGS TO BRING • Packaging, flyers, business cards • Writing material and a notebook, calculator, tape, scissors, string, trashbag, fan • Toiletries – alcohol, tissue, meds, extra clothes, etc. • Food and water • Change for at least P500, with lots of P20’s, P50’s, a few hundreds. At least P50 in P1 & P5 coins • Always have at least one sign with your business name to display on your booth. Make sure that it has at least one URL or website name. DURING THE BAZAAR • Always smile, engage and interact with your customers and fellow bazaaristas. • Give out flyers or business cards even to those who don’t buy. They might one day need your product or services. • Have fun and savor the moment! Keep in mind that external or intrinsic situations may vary. Whether your first ever bazaar was successful or not, just learn from the experience. You will eventually know the type of bazaar that you’re supposed to join. Have fun and be proud of your creations!

Spread the word! To get a grasp if your potential buyers are interested with what you have to offer, post work in progress photos on your page to excite them and let them know that you

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UPCYCLED PROJECTS Time to b ring new life to old things with these projects that are perfect for the craft room. w o r d s an d p h otog r a p h s b y C a c h i R ey es

CRAFT CANS Organize your crafting tools with these craft cans. YOU WILL NEED old cans, cereal containers, or jars scrap fabric hot glue washi tape paint There are different ways to decorate your craft cans. Here I will show you three options on how to spruce them up. Washi Tape. Create patterns on your container using colorful washi tape. My favorite pattern is the one with cute houses. Paint. To make it easier, I used flat white spray paint as the base of the can. And then I used acrylic paint to for the honeycomb details. Fabric. If you have scraps of fabric in your home, then you can use them to decorate your container. Stick the fabric onto the can with hot glue or white glue. You can even adorn it with buttons or ribbons!

M AK E | 1 5

SCRATCH PAPER PAD Make your own note pad with scratch paper. YOU WILL NEED a pile of scratch paper cereal box white glue materials for decorating Cut your scratch paper into the size that you want for your note pad. Cut the front and back sides of the cereal box with the same size. The cereal box will be the cover for your note pad. Bind the pile of scratch paper and the cover on each side. You can use clothespins or paper clips to make it secure. Add glue on the side where you want the spine to be. In this case, I chose the top portion. Use a paint brush to spread the glue. Let it dry and apply again. Do this step 4-5 times. Once the glue has dried, you can now decorate your notepad. You can paint the cover, add washi tape, make a collage - the choices are limitless!

M AK E | 1 7

to o l s of t h e t rad e: sc i ssors With a snip snip here and a snip snip there

w o r d s b y G e l i B al cr u z

i l l u s tr a ti on s b y A n d r ea D el a C r u z

Ever heard of the saying ‘Don’t use scissors on New Year’s or you will cut away your good luck?’ Tell that to the Egyptians who lived thousands of years ago and they’ll probably raise an eyebrow on you. Apparently, it was the Egyptians who invented the scissors thousand of years ago. It was of the U-shaped spring type that was made of metal or bronze. Aside from its general function of cutting things; it was also considered an art in itself as every piece was elaborately designed. During the Romanesque era, scissor making was held in high esteem and craft guilds were formed to honor this craft. A craft guild is an organization of workers trained in a particular specialty. Apprentices undergo a series of tests to perfect the craft and would later on pass on the knowledge to other apprentices. Oh wow, imagine all the hard work that was put into creating this amazing tool! 18 | MAKE

With the invention of other trades and crafts, it was normal for people to demand for high-quality scissors to use for tailoring or haircutting and we have Robert Hinchliffe to thank for that. He made use of steel in casting scissors for added durability and efficiency, which opened a gateway for largescale manufacturing. Rumor has it that the infamous Sweeney Todd got his blades from Hinchliffe’s shop. The innovation continued until the mid-17th century and Fiskars Company played a major role in shaping the scissors that we use now. With the new inventions and constant changes, scissor makers strived to implement new concepts to the market, handles were elaborately decorated, blades were fancied up into different shapes or cutting styles. The rest was put to history and now we have a lot of scissors readily available in our market.

DON’T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE TYPE FROM ANOTHER? General Scissors It is usually less than 6 inches long and has a straight handle. Safety Scissors Most children use it as their ‘starter’ cutting instrument. It has blunt ends to avoid injuries. Fabric Scissors Also known as shears, it is the largest type of sewing scissors ranging from 6 to 9 inches long. Most fabric scissors have a bent handle so that they can easily fit snug into your hands. But don’t let the comfiness of the tool fool you because it is extremely sharp! Pinking Shears It is your go-to pair when you want to cut paper or fabric with flair. It is used for decorative purposes as it has zigzag or scalloped blades instead of a straight edge.

TIPS ON TAKING CARE OF YOUR SCISSORS Wipe the blades to remove any trace of fabric, tape or dust before putting them away. Have the blades sharpened once in a while to have it working good as new. Always remember all the hard work and creativity that was put into creating this amazing craft tool! Now snip, snippity, snap, snap away!

SOURCES Cl o ckwi se: Gen eral sc is s o r s , s af e t y s c is s o r s , fabr ic sci ssors, p i n k i ng s he ar s

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scissors helium.com/items/1080513-history-of-scissorsand-shears “The Story of Scissors” by J. Wiss & Sons, 1948

M AK E | 1 9

h ey you

In this month’s letter, we say hey to the big spenders. w or d s b y A y a D a l u m p i n es

DEAR YOU, Do you scour stores and empty shelves of their stocks? Buy at least five pieces of that cute pen you’re sure you won’t be using in the near future? Panic when you see that your favorite item is out of stock even if you still have a whole box at home? Have a room at home dedicated to all your finds? Do you want to win the lottery so you can spend a huge amount of your winnings on cute and colorful things you don’t need? If it’s a resounding yes to all of the above, then you, my friend, as you probably already know, are a hoarder. I hope you aren’t a packrat, and your hoarding isn’t a psychological condition. I hope you just collect things because you feel you’ll need them, and lots of them, in the future. I know you always tell yourself that this will come handy someday, but frankly, how many times has that actually happened? Two? Yes, two out of a hundred times to justify that purchase. And every time you find yourself already transacting for another hoard, all you can say, or sing, is “Oops, I did it again..”. Britney wouldn’t be happy to know that. I know you collect things because they’re cute, and unique, and they’re in your favorite color. I see the rainbow is your favorite color. Did you know that black and white aren’t in the rainbow? You said you’ll share 20 | HEY YO U

them all with your friends, send them a few. But you know deep inside you want it for yourself, you selfish b*tch. I hope you know your math. ‘Cause an item could be cheap, but not when you get twenty of it. And what has your partner said about it? Lucky you, if your partner loves you so much he or she has turned a blind eye on you. Luckier you, if he or she shares the same passion. I could just imagine you two on hoarding sprees together. I hope you still have space to eat, sleep and pee in your home. We both know that’s all that matters, go stuff the rest with your hoards. Just don’t forget the front door. I know you’re waiting for that day when you’ll host one big event, say a party, and you’ll use everything you have and you’ll pat yourself on the back and say, I told you so! But the chance of that happening is more unlikely than you adding a new bunch to your stash again. The same goes for your desire to clear your hoards empty, motivated only by the lovely thought of collecting from nothing again. I hope one day, you’ll learn how to curb your hoarding appetite and be able to practice the art of self-control. It isn’t easy, but I’m still counting on you.

XOXO, Your wallet

Katha Classifieds Oftentimes we find ourselves ready to get rid of the stash that have accumulated over the years (or months) but we don’t know how. The Katha team has come up with a way for you to share your excess loot and even get something else in return! It’s not a novel idea, you can find it in the newsstands by the name Buy and Sell, but we’ve tweaked it a bit to make sure you only see interesting stuff you might actually need or want. Do you already have an item you want to sell or swap in mind? Here are some conditions: 1. the item has never been used; 2. the item is your personal property and you do not have a store which sells it; 3. you are willing to provide your email to be published; 4. and you are willing to personally transact with interested people. If you’re okay with all of the above, send us an email (SUBJECT: KATHA CLASSIFIEDS) with the following:a clear, high-res photo of the item, a short description of it, and of course, your name. Also indicate the price you want to sell it for and if you are willing to do a swap, what kind of item you want to swap it with. Remember to K.I.S.S. keep it simple, sweetheart. We will determine the items for publishing and we will contact you if we chose your item. Once we’ve informed you, just sit back and wait for a barrage of emails in your inbox. Kidding! We hope your hoard finds a lovely new home, and you find something for yourself in return, too!

TALK | 2 1

K AT H A Q& A

WHAT DO YOU HOARD?

We can’t help it, we all admit to hoarding one thing or another. We asked our favorite crafters the most dreaded question and here are some of the interesting answers we received.

Art Materials & any colorful stuff which I think I can use for styling in future shoots

JEANIE | jeaniendelarama.blogspot.com

Kitchen gadgets, interesting ingredients like an unusual spice, alternative flour, or bean, grolschtype bottles, cookbooks MARIE | kitchenrevolution.ph

Paper!!

Tools! Though I think my hoard stash isn’t quite that massive.

All types of wood! Beads, chopping boards, books about wood!

Scrapbook paper and embellishments, stamps, craft tools and supplies

EULA | eulasleeps.com

Yarn and crochet thread! And doilyprinted anything (but ironically, not actual crocheted doilies haha) NIKE| lovenikitaph.blogspot.com

MARIELLE | craftmnl.com

TIPSY | googlygooeys.com

ELLA | threesixtyfivepointfour.tumblr.com

Washi tapes, micron pens (I consume a lot of this), craft books (for new ideas) JULIE| lianflores.blogspot.com

Paper, pens, pouches, keychains, phone accessories TATIN | tatiny.com

SURVEY RESULTS WAS HI 15%

OTH E RS 47%

Polymer clay materials, texture sheets, stamps and findings MADONNA | crazy-notions.blogspot.com

P AP E R 15%

NOTE BOOKS S TAMP S 4% 6%

BOOKS 6%

P E NS 7%

i l l u s tr a ti on s b y C a c h i R ey es

ch a r t b y Allie Prin c ipe

NEXT ISSUE’S QUESTION:

What is the most

CREATIVE

gift that you have given someone?

SEND YOUR ANSWERS VIA OUR FORM AND GET A CHANCE TO WIN SOMETHING AWESOME FROM THE KATHA TEAM!

TALK | 2 3

KAWAII BUYS Tatin shares her droolworthy pen collection int e r v ie w b y And r e a D el a C r u z

P h otog r a p h s f r om T a ti n Y a n g

Derwent watercolor pencil set in a wooden box. Tatin decorated it with a Snoopy cutout from her moleskine journal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Instead of throwing out the label, I decided to cut it out and affix it here.â&#x20AC;?

24 | S HO W & TELL

Muji pastel ballpoint pen (leftmost). “My favorite multi-pens.” says Tatin. “The rest are an assortment of Pilot Coleto, Uni Style-Fit, Zebra Prefill multi-pens. You buy the pen barrel empty and then choose from different-colored gel ink refills. Pilot Coleto is available at National Book Store and it’s cool how the switch is also the color of the ink so your pen looks colorful. I love that the barrel is still slim even though it can fit anywhere from 3-5 colors.”

An assortment of quirky/specialty pens. [L-R] hello kitty swarovski pen, Charlie Brown pen (part of a set), baby seal pen (National Book Store), Purple Swarovski pen,

“Mini pens. These pens are as long as my pointer finger. I make sure to keep one in my wallet so I always have a pen with me.”

Snoopy mechanical pencil (part of a set), tokidoki x hello kitty pen. [TOP to BOTTOM] Jonathan Adler pen, Leendert Jan Vis x Paperclip pen, Madeline pen, Swarovski pen, Pilot B2P pen (made out of recycled plastic water bottles), Rilakkuma dual ink pen

“It doesn’t belong in my bag if it’s not cute.” SH OW & TELL | 2 5

Derwent watercolor pencil set from National Book Store

Faber-Castell Limited Edition box set of Polychromos pencils which she got at 50% off in Seoul.

26 | S HO W & TELL

“Some of my favorite pencils. Muji colored pencil set (value for money!), Rilakkuma x Pilot Dr. Grip mechanical pencil (you can shake the pencil or press the button to advance the lead), Field Notes cedar pencils (available at avalon.ph), Mechanical pencil that looks like a wooden pencil (Less than P500 for a set of 4 at Scribe Writing Essentials), Sailor mechanical pencil (I love the gold knob; also available at Scribe), Tombow Olno Body Knock mechanical pencil (you can press the button or the side of the pencil to advance the lead), Pentel mechanical pencil (shake to advance lead), Autopoint dual ended colored pencil (in blue and red lead), Pentel Multi8 pencil (8 different colored lead in one barrel; a nonbranded version is available at Muji), Midori brass pencil holder, Magic House mechanical pencil (lead advances automatically), Minority white brass pencil, Tombow Olno Body Knock pencil.”

Tatin Yang (Makeup artist/writer)

tatiny.com | instagram.com/tatiny

What do you collect? Anything cute! Mostly stationery stuff, pouches and phone accessories. Why do you collect them? I love anything cutesy; it doesn’t belong in my bag if it’s not cute :D How many of these do you have? I don’t want to count them! Any items you treasure the most in the collection? I treasure all of them (seriously!). Most of the items I buy are from places I’ve been to, so they are also my souvenirs from that place--functional souvenirs! Dream items to add to this collection? Something antique/vintage. I love pieces that have stories, too.

Do you have a memorable story involving an item in this collection? I love buying Japanese/Korean doodle books. During a trip to Seoul, I bought a book about watercolor pencil sketching. The book was recommending to use either Prismacolor or Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils. I went to an art shop near a Korean university and saw the Prismacolor set but I wasn’t sure which kind exactly so I decided to postpone buying the Prismacolor set first. It was good that I did because when I got to another stationery shop in Namdaemun, I saw a limited edition anniversary set of Faber-Castell Polychromos being sold half off! The boxed set was so beautiful because it was a reproduction of how the Faber-Castell pencils were packaged in the ‘60s--in a dark green leatherette box. I was so in love with the box that I ended up buying a small bag especially just for it for me to handcarry it safely back home. The pencils and I were MFEO [made for each other]!

SH OW & TELL | 2 7

C R AFT E R P RE N E UR

ale x pare d e s

If given the chance to have a DIY perfect day, how would you spend it? Making woodblock prints in Baguio. Name three things, people or life event that inspire you. Geninne Zlatkis, Guillermo del Toro, and friends who are warm and funny and who make cool stuff. Name two things, people or life event that will instantly make you happy . Parmesan chicken and a job well done. Name one thing, person or life event that makes you feel loved. Generosity in whatever form.

GIVEAWAY ALERT

It’s a design based on my own doodle. I drew it, transferred it to the rubber, carved it, made some test prints and when I was satisfied with the look, I attached a handle. Wanna win this item?Email us with the subject RUBBER DUCKY GIVEAWAY and tell us what you’ll be using it for! 28 | S HO W & TELL

Hi! I’m Alex. I’m a freelance graphic designer who’s crazy about printmaking. Most of my work hours are spent at the kitchen table, quietly tackling design problems, managing my projects and carving rubber stamps. But one thing I love about freelancing is the flexible schedule, so I also spend some afternoons hanging out with friends, going places and learning to take pictures. Early beginnings as an artist When my parents saw that I loved to draw, they encouraged me by providing papers and art materials. I’ve been doodling for as long as I can remember. I’m not the only creative type in the family, though. My brother makes polymer clay jewelry while my dad writes regularly. The birth of Rubber Ducky Stamp Co. You could probably trace it to my first year in college. That’s when I was exposed to rubbercut printing, in Materials class. But it was just one plate, and I hardly got to work with the medium again until after college, when I remembered how taken I was with carving. I started buying erasers and tools. Later, I moved on to rubber sole.

And then this idea just sort of built up, to sell rubber stamps. To be fully honest, it came out of two strong forces: the desire to create something through a process I loved (carving), and the need to provide for myself. (Artists gotta eat!) The idea was reinforced by a visit to the Resurrection Gallery, home of the 10A Alabama Handmade Arts & Crafts Fair. I knew some friends who had participated in the Fair and I thought it might be a good venue to try it out. Arlene Barbaza, one of the owners/ artists of Resurrection, encouraged me to push through with my plans. I sourced my materials and made my stamps. It was a slow process; I missed several Alabama Fairs before I finally felt ready to launch (as it were) with an arsenal of some 30 stamps. I took it for a test run at the Fair last November and found that people were willing to give it a chance, and that it could go somewhere. So I kept at it. It’s a work in progress. Nuggets of wisdom Get started! You don’t need anyone’s permission to make the art you want.

FASHION TREND

RACER FRONT We love how this trend is totally DIY-able. Simply turn your racerback tops and dresses around for an easy and interesting take on this intriguing silhouette. Pair a racer front top with a maxi skirt for volume or cinch a racer front dress with a wide belt atop leggings and look chic and fashion-forward. illustration by Andrea Dela Cruz

RESURRECTION FURNITURE

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C R E AT I V E N O O K

a bbey sy To be honest, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a specific place at home for my workspace. I like to explore around the house and usually, my workspace depends on my mood. Sometimes I also stay in coffee shops to get things done or spend a few hours away from home. But the set of things I have on my desk remains the same - my planner, sketch notebooks, laptop and a list of things to do. Here are photos of my workspace in my attic. This is particularly my favorite space because I get as much natural light as possible and the space is adequate enough for almost any kind of work I do. Mostly, work involves my laptop and planning tools and sketch drafts. I do freelance chalkboard illustrations as well, designing for my online shop, personal work and practice at the side. On most days, my table gets cluttered with chaos but as much as possible I try to segregate my tasks accordingly so that my desk stays neat. Besides, workable workspaces are key to effective and productive output!

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top left and bottom photos from instagram.com/98bcollaboratory | top right photo by Andrea Dela Cruz

32 | S TO RIES

ART FOR ALL 98B shares their thoughts on making art accessible and why art is for everyone. int e r v i ew b y A n d r ea D el a C r u z

Nestled in a building in historic Escolta is 98B, an artistrun initiative that seeks to “establish a convergence among creatives and the public.” Among 98B’s aspirations is making art accessible by involving different stakeholders in “organically fostering a dynamic creative community.” We asked them to share with us their mission, and their thoughts and hopes about the local creative scene: Can you tell us more about 98B COLLABoratory? Formed January 2012 in Cubao, 98B was founded by visual artist Mark Salvatus and curator Mayumi Hirano, who wanted to have a space where artists and other creative individuals can meet and discuss things in a very casual setup. 98B is a community + network + library + kitchen + shop. Established as a response to the need for alternative art and creative venues in Manila, 98B is a place where artists can interact and work together while presenting art and other creative output in different ways – through talks, bazaars, publications, meals or simple gatherings. 98B is a site for creative sharing, discussion and collaboration. First stationed in Cubao, 98B was the address of our original location. 98B is all about linkages. Our programs and activities lead to partnerships and affiliations. 98B aims to stimulate communication, promote diversity and uphold creative engagements by being at the center of it all. What made you want to start something like 98B? We wanted a space where creative people and the public can interact. As artists, we wanted to make art more

accessible. We wanted to do our fair share in breaking the notion that art is intimidating, or that it is only for the educated and the elite. For us, art has a lot of possibilities. It is a mode of communication that can lead to new opportunities. 98B is a venue where artists and creative people from other disciplines and walks of life can learn from each other while broadening their horizons. How did the group decide about whom to recruit as new members of the group? Who are the people currently behind 98B? 98B started with friends who love to cook, drink and eat (not necessarily in that order). The people running 98B COLLABORATORY are Anjo Bolarda, Con Cabrera, Marika Constantino, Vermont Coronel III, Camz Dagal, Don Dalmacio, Zyrael Fortes, Mayumi Hirano, Mik Laborde, Pau Reyes, Mark Salvatus and Gabriel Villegas. What do you like most about working as a group and what are the challenges that you face? The composition of 98B is quite diverse. Members come from different creative practices – visual artists, writers, musicians, graphic designers, curators, photographers. This is part of our strength. We try to work on projects with a creative approach, where art is part of our process. We view each project seriously but we inject a lot of fun and humor in the execution. However, we are also quite critical with our outputs so as to better improve and develop. As a group, we are still working on how we can handle our own schedules better. This is because some of our team members have day jobs, while the others are full-time artists.

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photo from 98-b.org

How did working in Escolta, once Manila’s center of commerce and business, affect your projects? Escolta has its charm; it has lots of good memories of the yesteryears. It is like an old friend you want to see again because it has become a part of your life. It has history. Unfortunately, the younger generation do not know much about this area. It has no malls so kids don’t go here. But when you mix history, culture, art and commerce it can be something special.

observing, learning and familiarizing ourselves with the environment.

A lot of “firsts” happened here: The country’s first ice cream parlor, Clarke’s Ice Cream, was established here. Escolta is also the site of the first cinema house (Cinematografo), and the very first electric cable car (the Tramvia).

Is 98B inspired by local or foreign art collectives? Is there a similar group that 98B identifies with? We were initially inspired by Koganecho Area Management Center in Yokohama, Japan, where Mayumi Hirano (one of the co-founders of 98B) worked as a curator. It is a nonprofit organization that turned old and abandoned brothel houses into art studios and shops. It infused different creative activities in the former red light district.

Escolta has become part of 98B’s advocacy. Escolta needs your support. It is a nice walkable street that is is safe, charming and waiting to be rediscovered. We initiated the “Hola! Escolta” campaign to help create more awareness for the street. 98B projects that help in Escolta’s revitalization efforts fall under this. Our projects have also adapted to the new locale. As a group, we have immersed ourselves in the community by

34 | S TO RIES

We are also fortunate to have a healthy working relationship with the building owners through the Escolta Commercial Association Inc. (ECAI). With everyone’s help in the community, we can slowly initiate changes. 98B helps Escolta by creating more awareness and interest for the area.

Tell us more about the 98B Future Market. The Future Market started in the original Cubao space. It is a bazaar, garage sale, thrift shop, black market and meeting place. Artists, craft makers, designers and hoarders sell their wares: from artworks, limited edition or handmade

“We wanted to do our fair share in breaking the notion that art is intimidating, or that it is only for the educated and the elite.”

clothes, bags, jewellery, accessories, toys, zines, CDs, stickers, cookies to unwanted things. The idea is to help the artists to sustain their practice and also to network with other creatives. Escolta used to be the prime district for commerce here in Manila. The idea of setting up the FutureMarketXSaturdayMarket@ESCOLTA harks back to the Old Escolta. As the popular quote goes, “If you build it, they will come.” As an adaptive re-use project, the idea is to utilize the space of the First United Building while it is still not being rented out. Since it used to be a department store (Berg) we decided to use that context for the initiative. Any tips or inspiring words for makers or those who want to create art and crafts? Create and share! In your opinion, why is it important to create? People from different disciplines should collaborate, share and execute great ideas that will benefit the general public, the community and the country. Utopian as it may seem, we hope that creatives could work together for the environment, for education, for the economy and for everyone’s well-being. What is the usual creative process of 98B when you’re planning a project? When a meeting is called, we usually cook first. Only after we eat can the actual meeting happen. In between cooking, drinking and eating, different ideas for possible projects arise. We are quite D.I.Y. and very organic. What are the usual projects of 98B? What can we expect from 98B? Our core programs are talks, open library, residency, KIT (Kitchen) Future Market. You can check out our website at www.98-b.org.

Some of the goods in display at the 98B Future Market. photos by Andrea Dela Cruz

What are your dreams for 98B? We hope that we can continue with our projects. Our supporters, patrons and friends help us keep this dream alive and within reach. Eventually, we would like to fully equip our space with the necessary tools and equipment needed for our projects. We also hope to have our own living quarters to further our Residency program.

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36 | FACEO FF

by Geli Balcruz

by Ella Llama

F ACEOF F | 3 7

OH HELLO, DY! Extremely talented Dy helps us spread good vibes through her quirky designs and Posit iviDy int e r v ie w b y G e l i B al c r u z

38 | S TO RIES

p h otos a n d i l l u s tr a ti on s f r om D y J a ci n to

Word on the street is, we have a very talented Filipina in Singapore who’s working her way in the design field. Diana Jacinto or Dy, has a very quirky and colorful design aesthetic which makes you giddy and proud that she’s a Filipino. She’s on a mission to save the world from negativity by creating one beautiful and quirky typography and graphic design at a time. Her secret weapon: PositiviDy! ALL ABOUT DY AND HER DAILY ADVENTURES I’m a proud Overseas Filipino Wanderer based in Singapore. My official job title is a Graphic Designer, but in reality, work involves being surrounded by pens, markers and art materials 5 days a week. I’ve been called bubbly many times because I can be overly enthusiastic and optimistic. You can bribe me with fonts, notebooks and cardigans. Also, pep talks, lists, puns and hugs are some of the things that I like.

Reddit on the commute to the office. I basically spend the rest of the day in front of the computer working on multiple projects. At home, that is when I do side projects (a.k.a “raket”) and personal stuff while catching up on whatever show I’m into along with some light reading before bedtime. On weekends, it’s almost the same routine but with more shows, blogs, snacks and naps. EARLY BEGINNINGS AND DESIGN INSPIRATIONS My mom has always been very creative and is a major influence for my love of everything visual and artsy. I carried this all through high school as I help design our classroom bulletin board with letter cutouts and Styrofoam. So 2000, right? I tend to make things based on significant and random moments in my life, so I can say that it is mostly inspired by personal experiences. As emotional as it sounds, it’s true. I can be very sentimental. My favorite magazines and bloggers always keep me inspired as well.

On a workday, I start off early with Flipboard or

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40 | S TO RIES

DESIGN AESTHETICS AND HER SECRET WEAPON It depends on the project, really. When it comes to my day job, I fly solo in the art department so there’s a happy kind of pressure to be the best and find the most creative way to launch a product or do a promotion. As for my own style, I’m very fond of typography, patterns and colors. I enjoy creating things that will make me happy and if others feel the same way about it, that’s a bonus. I like them fun with whole lot of wit & positivity. I can be annoyingly optimistic and most of my works are tagged as Positividy. I try my best to insert cuteness with every project. As a designer, I know I’m expected to pull off an all-nighter but I just can’t. I think I’ve had enough of sleepless nights and energy drinks. Living in Singapore and being surrounded by a league of graphic designers For one thing, moving here is liberating. I’ve always referred to it as my fresh start. Mainly because there are a lot of places to explore, people to meet, along with tons of experiences to draw inspiration from. I feel like I’m free to experiment, to take more chances and to make more mistakes. It is great learning how to be in touch with me being a Filipino and a foreigner at the same time. I’m not that brave [to become part of a design group just yet]. It’s been two years, and yet I still feel like an outsider. I do however go to different design festivals and exhibits if time permits. I’m also lucky to work with Lomography Singapore early this year. Currently, I’m excited about my team up with PixaRoll – a mobile printing app.’ Design direction and design satisfaction I love that it’s becoming less cluttered and just focusing on the essentials. Personally, I’ve always been a fan of flat design with vivid colors. The glossy and gradient trend is not my cup of tea. I’m also very excited that there are so many ways to play with type. I kern wait to try them. Heh! Creatively improved, yes! But creatively satisfied, I’m not quite there yet. There are a lot of techniques to explore and skills I’d like to improve. There are plans to collaborate with other designers and it’s very exciting and challenging, in a good way.

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Bonus questions for Super Dy If given the chance to recreate any form of media ad, what would you change and why? I will not name-drop but I’d love be part of the rebranding for an established pizza joint in Manila. Ack! I don’t want to be in trouble.

Name two things, people or life events that will instantly make you happy. On top of my head: Parcels arriving earlier than expected and Jim’s (my ka-loveteam) catchy made up songs with baduy lyrics.

If given the chance to have a DIY perfect day, how would you spend it? I’d spend it cataloging my washi tapes, creating a huge photo wall and doing all those pinned DIY projects (at least attempt to). Any project that involves Mod Podge will sure be a blast!

Name one thing person or life event that makes you feel loved. A simple yet sincere “I miss you!” from family and friends back home gets me all the time. It instantly brightens up my day and it just shows that closeness has nothing to do with distance. Mkay, I’m gonna cry now.

What advice would you give to a young designer starting out? My favorite friendly reminders. (See artwork) Name three things, people or life events that inspire you. Good music, books and films are my contant sources of inspiration.

42 | S TO RIES

Cry happy tears Dy! Like a superhero who never fails to save the day, we know that you’ll surprise us again with a fun blogpost or an instagram photo to spread good vibes.

TALK | 4 3

photo from Plus63.org

scoutsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; honor Design Co.Mission leads the way in spreading the creative spirit across our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s islands. w o r d s b y Al l ie P r i n c i p e p h otos a n d g r a p h i c s f r om P l u s 63

44 | T A L K

It’s all too easy to say, “I wish things would get better for our country.” What’s not so easy, is actually taking the first steps in doing something to make things better. One of the few who have managed to take those precious first steps is Plus63, a design studio founded by Dan Matutina and Berns De Leon-Yumul. Not too long ago, they launched their latest venture called Design Co.Mission, a passion project geared towards helping the Philippines become a better nation through inspired, design-driven solutions. The project has been creating a lot of buzz (the good kind) in the local creative community, and we think that it’s a grand idea that deserves to be put in the spotlight. LEADING A TRAIL INTO THE WILDERNESS “We wanted to showcase Filipino creativity and how it can positively change things,” says Berns De LeonYumul. “Oftentimes, we see how things are unorganized/ cluttered/unsightly and we have ideas on how we can improve public service. So we just wanted to get those ideas out and produce something tangible.” As designers, is it really enough to just be able to create visual works of art? Isn’t being socially conscious part of what makes a good designer? Berns says, “We also believe that we have to continuously challenge ourselves to make us grow and become relevant contributors in our society. So we thought, why not challenge ourselves and the creative community?” Armed with passion, nationalism, and kickass design chops, the Plus63 team set out to create a difference and spread the creative spirit across our 7,107 islands. Their slogan? “Inspire People to Collaborate for a Better Country.”

graphics from behance.net/plus63

TAKING ON THE CHALLENGES With nation building being such a broad topic, some might be tempted to tackle issues in a more general sense to cover more ground. But instead, the Plus63 team decided to limit their scope to a smaller set of problems, which enabled them to brainstorm on more realistic and concrete solutions. But with so many pressing issues all calling out to be addressed, how did the team decide on what specific problems to target? It all boiled down to what they perceived as the most crucial areas in terms of our country’s development. “We believe that for a country to progress, we should have a good education and health system,” says Berns. “We also see the need for cultural development as this is usually neglected in developing countries.” CALLING ALL SCOUTS Creating change seems like such a large and daunting task for a small group of individuals, so Plus63 decided to take on the challenge with the assistance of some of the leading design studios in the country. Also being their friends in the industry, they felt that these individuals were just as passionate as them about uplifting the country’s creative community. One of them is Inksurge, a multi-awarded creative duo made up of Rex Advincula and Jois Tai. The other one is Team Manila, the popular design studio and lifestyle brand headed by Jowee Alviar and Mon Punzalan. The three studios each had a specific issue that they had to come up with a creative solution for. These solutions were to be presented during a public event where colleagues, fellow creatives, guests, and even government representatives would be present to hear what they would have to say.

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top left: Design Co.Mission logo (image from Plus.Org); top right and bottom left: Team Manila’s Abanig and Inksurge’s poster design for the National Museum (images from uploaded presentation files); bottom right: Plus 63’s Kindred app (image from Kindredapp.net)

PRESENTING THE SOLUTIONS On the rainy afternoon of August 2, 2013, excitement simmered inside the walls of Ayala Museum as curious minds waited to see what the Design Co.Mission scouts were able to come up with. They certainly weren’t disappointed, as they were about to be a part of a visual feast of innovative ideas. Team Manila, who was tasked to cover Education, thought of a simple proposal that could address the lack of early childhood education for toddlers in local communities. Using everyday Filipino handmade products, they came up with clever ways for parents to be able to teach their kids basic things such as letters, numbers and colors. The names of these products are word plays on the vernacular names of these products, such as “Abanig” and “Latalino”. Plus63 assigned themselves the topic of Healthcare, and decided to focus on the need for a more organized system for blood donations. Taking a more technology-driven 46 | S TO RIES

route than Team Manila, they designed a beautiful-looking app called Kindred, which aids blood seekers in finding donors, and vice versa. It harnesses the power of Facebook login to quickly establish a network between friends and contacts, making it easy to connect with one another. The challenge of cultural development was left in the able hands of Inksurge, who created a branding scheme for the National Museum and the way it presents its information to its visitors. They presented a more modern and unified design approach for the museum logo, signages and its other collaterals, with the end goal of being more engaging for today’s generation and fostering a community spirit in the museum. By the time the event ended, excitement had turned into an overwhelming awareness of how powerful design is and how it could help shape our nation’s future. Everyone left the museum brimming with inspiration and desire to find out what would come next.

HEARING FEEDBACK The government officials present during the event were impressed, to say the least. In attendance were Department of Health Undersecretary Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa and Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, who is the main proponent of the Philippine Design Competitiveness Act. So does that mean these ideas are well under way for implementation? “Right now, there’s nothing concrete yet,” was Bern’s honest answer. “But they were delighted to see how the young and creative minds can help in our country’s progress. That’s a good start.” The aim of the Design Co.Mission event was to generate enough fanfare to get noticed, hoping something would happen. Based on the feedback of the attendees, seems it will only be a matter of time before something does. TAKING THE NEXT STEP So what’s next for Design Co.Mission? For starters, the team is putting together a report on the successful event to circulate their ideas to a broader audience. Though there aren’t any plans yet on whether another event will take place soon, they are working with other organizations with the same goal of creating positive change in the country, such as Designing.ph. We think it’s great that projects like these recognize the importance of fostering creative culture, and we’re excited to find out what’s in store for Design Co.Mission. Who could they be collaborating with next? Who knows, someday it might be us! We’ll keep dreaming for now, but we know we want to be part of this design revolution. What about you?

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graphic from Plus63.org

MAG

In this issue’s Versus, we ponder the differences between e-mags and magazines. What would you like Versus to feature next? Drop us a line at kathamag.ph@gmail.com.

The smell of a newly unwrapped magazine – priceless

Collages and cutouts

Tear-out pages and posters of your favorite boy band!

I know, I know. It’s hard to lug twenty of us magazines around.

Freebies!

So we all eventually have to be thrown away. But we can be recycled! Gift wrappers, anyone?

Where art thou glasses?

Bathroom read!

Sadly, we are not waterproof. Or dog proof. Or cat proof. Or child proof.

Coffee table display!

Send an email to join giveaways

The cost of printing is expensive.

Uhm…

Damn couriers, they make us wait.

Magazine is shorter to spell

VER SUS | 4 8

E-MAG An email announcing the release of a new issue - exciting

Printables!

Small- space friendly

Online collages and easy pins on Pinterest

Portable! Unlimited e-magazines you can bring anywhere.

Paperless is the new eco-friendly.

No torn and dog-eared pages, we always look like new.

Glow in the dark! :p

Bad eyes? Just zoom and boom, large print!

Bathroom read, too! Bring at your own risk.

Music with 8tracks! Links to everything!

One click to join giveaways!

Right on time, all the time especially for foreign e-magazines!

Cheap! Better yet, FREE!

We can enjoy all the Katha magazine goodness anytime we want and share it with our friends wherever they are *wink wink*

49 | V ERSUS

words by Aya Dalumpines

illustrations by Allie Principe

d es i g n diva

We had a short online chat with Wanderrgirl, Arriane Serafico to ask about her daily routine, her inspirations and her latest projects. We ended up finding out what’s inside her closet, who her role models are and why we shouldn’t expect her in politics in the future. int e r v ie w b y A y a D a l u m p i n es

a r t b y La n d o C u s i

Katha (K): Hi Arriane! Thanks for taking time for this interview! Hope we didn’t bother you that much!

where I’m going and what I’m going to do. That decides whether I can go in flats or heels!

Arriane (A): Hello! No problem!!

But I’m very particular about making sure I dress in something that makes me feel inspired, productive, and me. ‘Cause if you’re having a bad day and you dress sloppily, you’re bound to feel even lazier.

K: You’re a pretty busy person. How does a typical day in your life begin? What’s your morning ritual? A: One, I definitely try not to touch my phone first thing in the morning! Haha! K: That takes a lot of self control! Haha! A: Something I learned from yoga you have to set your intention first, so I try to do that. Even before I look at my list of to-do’s, I run through my macro goals first. Is this day primarily devoted to Senate work? co.lab work? Meetings? Along with setting my intention, just offering up a prayer of gratitude. It’s always a nice way to start the day on a grateful tone. K: How about when it comes to dressing up? How do you choose what you’re wearing for the day? A: Hmm.. I’m not the type to prepare my clothes but usually I decide on one thing in my head the night before, or in the morning. For example, if I have a skirt or dress that I really want to wear, then I decide everything else based on that. It also depends on

50 | PHENO M

K: We sort of thought you wore heels wherever you went. Haha! A: Hahaha no, I do a lot of walking and moving around in between meetings, so I wear flats a lot, too! K: You’re an advocate of wearing local brands. Is it still a conscious effort to wear something Filipino everyday? A: Of course!! It’s never a problem for me now since I have a lot of things in my closet that are locally made. So it feels very natural for one or two pieces to make it to my outfit all the time. For example, my flats are either from Suelas or Renegade Folk . My bags are from different brands - mostly Vesti from Mindanao, or Aranaz from my friend Amina. K: So it’s not like you still ask yourself if you’re wearing something local today. A: Yeah, exactly! Hahaha! I do wish there were more work-friendly clothes from Filipino brands though. Investment ones, I mean.

“something i learned from yoga, you have to set your intention first, so i try to do that.” K: You’re always brimming with ideas. Where do you go to soak up on inspiration? A: I get it both online and offline! Offline, I get it from the different people I meet. I’m so lucky because the universe somehow always brings these amazing people my way. I get to meet just so many kinds of people who expose me to ideas that I can’t otherwise know about if, for example, I’m just working in government and government alone, or in blogging and blogging alone. It really widens my perspective and my view of what’s possible. Online naman, I have my favorite online haunts.

PH ENOM | 5 1

K: What are your go-to websites? A: My favorite reads as of the moment- Jessica Zafra’s blog, I love the way she writes. I’ve been a longtime reader of her blog. I also like Man Repeller, DesignLoveFest, 99u. com, Fast Company, WhoWhatWear for fashion, Chris Guillebeau for entrepreneurship and Seth Godin for marketing.

But for example, when I need extra motivation, my go-to artist is Beyonce. I watch her documentary. I like watching live performances of really good performers. That really makes me more motivated. K: Congratulations on your bill! That’s a feat for Philippine design! What’s next for the Philippine Design Competitiveness Act?

K: Do you also listen to music to get inspired? A: More than inspiration, music is more of my mood maker. If I’m feeling really lazy but I need to feel happy, I put on a happy playlist on 8tracks. But in terms of music, more than the music itself, I get inspired by performers. K: What’s your current favorite playlist on 8tracks? A: I’ve been feeling nostalgic lately, so I’ve been listening to The OC tracks. Haha! I also like this playlist, ‘cause it’s been raining and gloomy the past 2 weeks. 52 | PHENO M

A: Oh my gosh, so weird and surreal, right?? I was like, no way this is happening. LOL. So right now we’re working on the IRR - Implementing Rules and Regulations. We’re working hand-in-hand with DTI and Design Center. Those rules will probably be done by the end of September and then they’ll be restructuring the Design Center and the President will appoint the people on the Design Advisory Council. Lots of boring technical stuff has to happen first before we get to the actual crafting of policies. The idea is to create a National Design Policy: What’s our national strategy for Philippine design? How do we leverage it for

economic competitiveness and social innovation? So let’s say, let’s compare it to a school. What do you envision for the school - what’s your missionvision or thrust and then you come up with 5-year plans, which areas will be priorities, etcetera. Then that’s when we can start producing programs. K: Are you the first person in the country to have a bill passed at your age? :) A: Hahaha, I don’t know!!! I’m probably the first one to really blog about it - HAHAHA! K: Hahaha! So you’re actively participating in all these right now? You’ll probably be involved in this for the rest of your life, huh? A: I hope!! Or I don’t know really. If there’s anything I’m sure of with my life, it’s just that it has a way of throwing me into things I have no idea how to do and I totally did not see coming. I think I will always be in the realm of using design and creativity for nation-building and problemsolving. Hahaha, it’s kinda like that quote where you jump and build your wings on your way down. Medyo kakaloka and panic wing-building nga lang, but I’m still alive. K: You’re hosting a design thinking bootcamp. Can you explain what design thinking is? A: Ack, that’s a pretty tough question. It’s like asking me to define design. Haha! But basically, design thinking is a process that is empathic and user-centered, which means before designing your solution, you need to understand your user and your problem first. Design thinking is also action-oriented, despite what the name might suggest. It’s final stage is prototyping and testing. It shouldn’t

be confined to just brainstorming, which is usually the case with most “idea-generating” processes. It’s also about innovation. It encourages problem-solving teams to be as multidisciplinary as possible. For example, a designer, an anthropologist, an engineer and a writer - so your perspective and your solutions are not limited to one view only. K: What’s the story behind designing.ph? A: Hmm, well, designing.ph is a new project I’m starting with my friend Julia. When I started getting obsessed

to be good in politics you have to be good at two things: politics and governance. with DT [design thinking] siguro mga 2 years ago, I was reading up about it, as in deep dive talaga. I was so fascinated by it. I even tried holding one [workshop] for fun! Hahaha! I had no idea what i was doing (again) but it was fun. And then I would just do it with these little groups I’d be working with. Sakto, Julia was also doing the same thing but in GK naman. We became friends before pa. Since we were both design thinking fans we started hanging out more. Then we went to Kuala Lumpur together to attend one [design thinking workshop] and dun ko na realize na,

maaan, akala mo common sense lang yung design thinking but it’s different when the mentor or facilitator actually has been doing it for a long time!! K: So is this how you’ve been approaching situations or problems since then? A: Oh yeah. Syempre it’s not a magic pill. It’s for bigger problems. For example, if the table is broken, I don’t do design thinking on it, I fix it. But for when I know I need to innovate, or when I’m out of ideas, yun. K: You promote and support local start up businesses and also have your own. What advice can you give to young Filipino entrepreneurs who want to turn their ideas into reality? A: Don’t overthink it. Prototype as soon as you can. We tend to marinate in all these ideas and trying to make them perfect and bongga before we launch them. But I’d rather have small failures and big learnings early on, than devote 6 months to 1 year developing something big and then having it fail. Experiment, test, learn as early as you can. K: When a project goes haywire, how do you motivate your self to keep going? A: Hmmm, I have a moment of panic first, definitely. I start with letting all the stress out. Hahaha! K: How? A: Oh, if there’s somebody I can talk to, like an intern, I call or meet with them and just let it all out muna without an agenda. Just try to get the problems out of my head. And then once I’ve sorta calmed down.. One of my main working principles is that you always have to know your why.

PH ENOM | 5 3

For every project - Why are you doing it? What are you trying to achieve? What is your goal? ‘Cause the tendency is, when you run into a problem, you plug holes immediately. And because of the panic, sometimes your solutions don’t fit your original goals and so it might skew your project towards something that wasn’t in your original vision anyway. So once I go back to my why, my head becomes clearer and we come up with an action plan. K: A lot of young people look up to you. Who is your role model? Or who was your own role model growing up? A: I don’t remember having one when I was growing up, although I did look up to Bianca Gonzalez when I was in high school! But now it’s a mixture of different people. I really admire Maria Ressa. More than as a journalist, I admire her as a leader. It’s really amazing how she’s formed such an empowered and cohesive team. I think it also stems from them being inspired by her - like I can’t submit anything less than my best because I’m from Rappler. That’s the kind of team I want to lead, the kind of people I want to work with. Another person I look up to is [former] Secretary Jesse Robredo. I was so lucky to have had the privilege of working with him. I liked how he would always talk about measuring results - which I think is what is lacking in most development groups. Heart is not in question, passion is not in question, but you also need to run it professionally. Impact for impact’s sake is not good for long-term growth. K: Do you see yourself in their shoes in a few years? A: Ha! Hahaha! I hope to be anywhere half as good as they are at any point in my lifetime. I’m too Lisa Frank-y to be like Maria Ressa. Hahaha! I’m too KPop to be like Sec. Jess!! K: Haha! 10-15 years from now, what is (future) Arriane currently doing? A: STILL creatively building the country and building an army of empowered young people to have the same passion - in a sustainable manner that still allows me to do the things that make me happy. (travel! shopping!) Still learning. Still doing things I’ve never done before. As I said, I don’t want to limit myself to labels or specifics.

54 | PHENO M

“...you always have to know your why. For every project - Why are you doing it? What are you trying to achieve? What is your goal? “ K: Do you ever think of the possibility of running for public office? A: Laughable!! Di ako bagay, hahaha! My personality is NOT cut out for politics. I’m the WORST at it. You absolutely can see right through me when I don’t think I can work with a person. Hahaha. To be a good public official, you need to be good in two things: governance and politics. Governance is what I like - getting things done. Politics, I abhor! That’s the part where you have to consider plays on power, pleasing people, etcetera, etcetera. K: President Arriane is highly unlikely then. :) A: Oh god, no! Hahaha! K: Well, president or not, we’re still looking forward to what you’ll be up to next! ‘Til our next interview!

JOIN IN ON THE CONVERSATION

le t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ce le b rate

Thinking of hosting your dream party but a little tight on the budget? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll help you plan your DIY budget friendly party, and discover the crafter in you. wor d s and p ho t o g r ap hs b y K o ni Es teb a n

I enjoy parties because it is a perfect time to bond with family and friends. Organizing one gives me an extra jolt of energy because I am sharing a part of me and my interest in DIY. Preparing for an intimate event is an opportunity to express creativity through handmade details. It is also a great way to celebrate the craft artisans in us. If you would like to give DIY a try, here are some tips on how to prepare for an intimate handmade party: Plan ahead and start early Make a moodboard via Pinterest or doodle one on your journal. Either way, organize your vision on a platform you can see, as visualizing what you have in mind will make it easier to organize your party requirements. DIY takes time so set a realistic timeframe in working on your projects. Prepare a schedule and stick to it. Research, research, research Talk to a crafty friend and ask for advice. Read a craft book to learn tips and techniques. Maximize the world wide web and learn how to make your DIY projects through online tutorials. Have a realistic budget If the only reason you want to DIY is to save money, please think again. Small items like ribbons, fabric, scrapbook paper add up quickly, not to mention craft tools like cutters and punchers. Your total expenditure might not be as cost effective as going direct to an independent artisan or craft specialist. Involve your family and friends Never make everything on your own so learn to delegate. Make DIY time family time! Crafts are enjoyable to do but it is more fun when family and friends share this joy too. To make crafts and handmade details are delightful! Making them is like dancing freely to the rhythm of my heart. So why not try to DIY? Unleash your creativity and have fun in making! Koni Esteban is a craft specialist at Candidly Pretty where she specializes in DIY party planning for weddings and intimate celebrations. Send her a hello at candidlypretty@yahoo.com

F ETE | 5 7

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marshmallow love What dessert to serve for a party? Try these easy and delicious recipes with chocolate and marshmallows. w o r d s a n d p h otog r a p h s b y C a ch i R ey es

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58 | N O MS

MARSHMALLOW SKEWERS 24 pieces campfire marshmallows 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/3 cup walnuts (or any other nut you prefer ) 24 pieces paper straws

Continuously stir the chocolate chips. When the water in the pan starts boiling, the chocolate will start to melt. Keep stirring until the the chocolate is completely melted.

Crush the walnuts with a mortar and pestle and set this aside. Poke the bottom of the marshmallows with paper straws. You may also use a barbecue stick or a pretzel stick for this.

While the chocolate is still hot, dip the upper half of the marshmallows and sprinkle crushed walnuts on top. Makes 24 skewers.

Add water in a pan and place a glass bowl on top. Place the pan in a stove and pour the semi sweet chocolate chips on the glass bowl.

60 | N O MS

CHOCO MALLOW BISCUITS Biscuit Recipe 3/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking flour 1 teaspoon salt Preheat the oven at 205C. Mix butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until well blended. Add in two eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla and continue mixing. Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt into the batter and blend everything using an electric mixer or just using a spatula. Let the dough chill for 1 hour in the freezer. Once it has chilled, use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. You may use a cookie cutter or a small drinking glass to cut the dough into small circles about 2 inches in diameter. Lay them out on a baking pan with a cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cookies cool in a rack while you make the marshmallow. Marshmallow Recipe 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup light corn syrup 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon powdered gelatin 2 tablespoons cold water 2 egg whites at room temperature 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pour 1 tablespoon powdered gelatin on a bowl with 2 tablespoons cold water. Mix and set this aside. In a medium sized mixing bowl, whip the two egg whites with an electric mixer until hard peaks form. Combine water, corn syrup and sugar in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Do not stir when while the sugar is boiling. You will need a candy thermometer to check that the sugar mixture does not go above 235F (soft ball). When it reaches the required temperature, remove from heat. Slowly pour the hot sugar, gelatin and vanilla into the bowl of whipped egg whites while mixing with an electric mixer. You will notice that the outer side of bowl will feel warm. Just keep mixing until the mixture cools down. Transfer the mixture in an icing bag. If you do not have any, you can use a zip loc and cut the tip of the bag. Pipe the marshmallow onto the biscuits and let it set for about 2 hours. Chocolate Dip Melt a pack of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a double boiler. Dip the marshmallow biscuits into the melted chocolate. Let them cool on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Makes 36 biscuits

NOM S | 6 1

WHERE TO FIND THEM 10A Alabama 10A Alabama St., New Manila Quezon City 1102 facebook.com/10aAlabama 98B 413 Escolta St. Mezanine Level, First United Building Binondo, Manila 98-b.org facebook.com/98Bcollaboratory A Beautiful Mess abeautifulmess.com | itunes.apple. com/us/app/a-beautiful-mess/ id603092599?mt=8 Abbey Sy artistic-dreams.com Aleyn Comprendio blog.aleyncomprendio.com Ang Bonggang Bonggang Batang Beki (Rhandee Garlitos) facebook.com/pages/RhandeeGarlĂtos/255454791137603 Arriane Serafico wanderrgirl.com Bahia Accessories facebook.com/bahia.accessories

62 | CO NNECT

Bored and Crafty (Meream) boredandcrafty.com Brave the Waves (Mia Bontol) bravethewaves.net

Plus63 Design Co. plus63.com behance.net/plus63

Design Co.Mission plus63.org facebook.com/DesignCo.mission

Resurrection Furniture and Found Objects Gallery 10a Alabama St., Quezon City 1102 facebook.com/resurrection.furniture

Design Thinking Action Lab novoed.com/designthinking

Rubber Ducky Stamp Co. facebook.com/rubberduckystampco

GnD Spreads facebook.com/GNDbyGoNuts

Spatzle Euro Market CafĂŠ 5/F East Wing Shangri-La Plaza Mall Mandaluyong

The House of Isla (Aiz Kim) thehouseofislablog.blogspot.com Kath Mitra helloarchitect.wordpress.com instagram.com/kathmitra Le Bunny Bleu facebook.com/LeBunnyBleuPH Oh Hello Dy (Diana Jacinto) ohhellody.blogspot.com Shmallow Marshmallow Spread shmallowsph.com

Tatin Yang tatiny.com instagram.com/tatiny Unseen Moon (Eliza Victoria) elizavictoria.com What Else Michelle whatelsemichelle.com The Yellow Adventures (Hannah Reyes) blog.hannah.ph

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