Project Must See: Museums in Metro Manila, Philippines

I have been living in the city for as long as I could remember, and in Manila alone there are so many places I haven't been to or explored. Travel and discovery, I believe, are innate qualities of my being. I may be an introvert, perhaps even bordering to becoming a social hermit, but the opportunity to explore hole-in-the-wall establishments, cultural hubs and art exhibitions always excites me. Through exposure you learn and get insights. And most importantly, you gain inspiration, even from those that most would consider as mundane. Creativity and inspiration are ideas that always seem to be beyond one's grasp but at times, especially when our minds are clouded. Through selective conditioning and unrealistic expectations, we fail to see any sort of redeeming beauty in the "ugliest" of places. 

To travel and explore the community you live in is a path one navigates to discover your own history, and discovering your place and the part you play in your community. Metro Manila is the center of commerce; the most populous city in the Philippines. One can be disheartened and discouraged to explore the city because of the impending traffic, noise and air pollution combined. However, as Carlos Celdran, an artist and cultural activist, puts it in is TED Talks, " If you can't find beauty and poetry in Manila, you'll never find it anywhere."

Watch Carlos Celdran TEDx here: 

With this in mind, I am planning my  "walk this way" of Manila. Here are my pitstops for the month of August: 

1.  Revisiting Vargas Museum

Where: Roxas Avenue, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City  

Operating hours: Tuesday to Saturday, closed on most holidays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Museum fee: Php 20.00 for UP students, alumni, faculty and employees, PhP 30.00 for everyone else; entrance is free every Wednesday for UP students, alumni, faculty and employees.

2. Ayala Museum 

Where: Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City 
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Museum fee: P225 for adults, P125 for students, senior citizens, and Makati residents

3. Yuchengco Museum 

Where: RCBC Plaza corner Ayala and Senator Gil Puyat Avenues, Makati

Operating hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Museum fee: P100 for adults; P50 for students; P25 for children and senior citizens

4. Revisiting National Museum 

Where: Padre Burgos Drive, Manila, Philippines 

Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Museum fee: P150 for adults; P120 for senior citizens; P50 for students; free admissions on Sundays

5. Metropolitan Museum 

Where: BSP Complex, Roxas Blvd, Malate, Manila

Operating hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Gold and Pottery Galleries, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Museum fee: P100 for adults and children above three years old; P80 for senior citizens

Let us explore the what Manila has to offer! 

Keeping it real.- PJV 

Sister Dragonfly Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky

Some of our handmade pieces have made it to Louisville, Kentucky (USA) thanks to the eclectic Sister Dragonfly Gallery. Located on 2021 Frankfort Avenue, their store carries a variety of women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories (to which we have proudly contributed some!). They also have Mexican, African and local Kentucky folk art for those who are looking for a something to decorate with.  Their selections are curated with the utmost taste, with items not available anywhere else in the state.

Art Bag by Paola Germar

Recently they held a trunkshow for artists based in New York who recycled semi-precious stones in making her rings, necklaces, and pendants. They also exhibited an artist whose medium is wire and leather wrapping with rarified stones mined from Thailand, China, and Peru.

Spring Necklace by PJ Valenciano

So if you’re looking for something to wear, give as a gift, or ornaments, be sure to drop by their store. Look for great bargains when they run some of their discount promos as a way of giving back to their loyal customers. They are also generous when it comes to supporting meaningful causes. From time-to-time, they will be donating a percentage of their sales to non-profit organizations such as the Kentucky Humane Society. Sister Dragonfly Gallery is proud to be an independent, small, and local store that cares and gives back to their community!

Wire Art Necklace by Stephanie Lopez

Photos by Sister Dragonfly  
Keeping it real.- PJV 

Hello France with Lady Noree

Embellished Clutch Bag by Paola Germar
Art Jewelry by PJ Valenciano

Our accessories made it to France thanks to fashion photographer Oana Celina. Also known as “Noree” she is a young photographer specializing in fashion portraiture and advertising photography. She works mainly in UK, France and Romania. Oana is a multi-talented individual who’s also a singer, a fashion model and a stylist. She is originally from Arad, Romania, who now lives in Tours, France.

Photo from Lady Noree's Website

We got to know of Noree through the Fashion Bloggers group page in Facebook. It turns out that she also has a blog of her own, named Lady Noree’s blog. In her blog, she talks about fashion, travel, and she even does giveaways for her readers!

Art Jewelry Sketch of Red and Black Cherry Blossoms

Photo from Lady Noree's Website

So check out her blog, Facebook page, and website and followLady Noree if you’re into fashion, photography and music.

Jewelry and Bags at PALAMUTISHOP.COM

Keeping it real.- PJV

Art by the Sea with Nikki Ocean x The Mobile Shack

As a philosophy, we support our Style Advocates with their passion and dreams. Nikki Ocean's dream is to live by the sea while she creates and shares her art with mother nature as her school yard. This weekend, The Mobile Shack and Nikki Ocean will be holding a Surf and Art Attack travel experience to San Juan, La Union. If you are not doing anything this weekend, sign up and enjoy surf x art with them. 

THE MOBILE SHACK 

The Mobile Shack is a surf tour company built in passion and enthusiasm of two individuals who wants to share their love for surfing, adventure and good vibe.  We take pride on our uniqueness and our different approach to surf tours and adventure by making it more personalized and packed with fun-filled experiences.

Our itinerary is different from the rest. We, at The Mobile Shack, inject interesting spots and activities along the way depending on our clients’ mood and availability. We bring you to places not only picturesque but lets you explore and experience nature at its best.

Imagine a weekend packed with adventure, surfing, beach and fun-filled interaction with the locals and your co-adventurer. We, at The Mobile Shack, commit to give you a weekend that will fuel the adventurer in you.

Email: themobileshackph@gmail.com

Art lesson by the beach.
For inquiries and reservations feel free to contact The Mobile Shack at +63 915 693 1867 or email  themobileshackph@gmail.com

"Prepping something special for my students this weekend. Praying for sunny days ahead; because by the sea is where I want to be. It's a different kind of classroom (and adventure) this time around."- Nikki Ocean

NIKKI OCEAN 

Nikki is a teacher, make up artist, writer, fashion stylist, an environmental advocate and a fashionista; but mainly she’s a visual artist whose goal is to inspire others with her love for the arts. She’s a graduate of Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines and is currently with Finale Art File Gallery. She paints with her heart, treating every canvass as a way for her to share her gift to others. In each of her paintings, she gives a piece of herself to her audience. She uses her gift to push for her social advocacies. Her main goal is to become an inspiration for the youth to pursue their creative dreams and instill in them that with hard work and discipline they can create opportunities for themselves in the field of art and culture.

Email: nikki.valenzuela@ymail.com

Keeping it real- PJV 

Cruising in London

I am so lucky to have friends like Zoe, who gets to travel as part of her profession. Another perk of the job is that she gets to add fun to her traveling adventures with a bit of fashion styling. I have always known Zoe to have a love for theater and fashion, so it was no surprise for me that she also enjoys styling herself and her friends as well, with her travel destinations as her impromptu backdrops. Here are some photos of Zoe's friend wearing our Pinangga hand-beaded embroidered scarves, as they cruise along London. These were shot during the last weeks prior to Spring in London. 

All neutrals with the Pinangga Scarf as the main accessory. 

Adding a beret hat to the ensemble.  

With Buckingham Palace as the backdrop to Zoe's stylish travel companion. 

Two looks. Can you spot the difference? :) 

It's great to see how our handmade products reach international destinations. It's as though I get to experience your travel destinations with you. I may not be there, but with our pieces, such as the Pinangga scarves, I am able to take in and share in the wonderful place that is London. Pinangga Bead Embroidery Scarves will soon be available at PALAMUTISHOP.COM

Photos and Styling by Zoe Alabanza
Email: zaveracruz@gmail.com
Keeping it real. -PJV

GustoKo- Celebrating Filipino Artistry in Lisbon, Portugal

GustoKo is a Philippine store located in Lisbon, Portugal at the Rua da Escola Politecnica which specializes in offering world-class Philippine handcrafted fashion and accessories. Eponymously named after the Filipino phrase “I want”, GustoKo is owned and managed by Paula Mansilla-Figueras, a Filipina based in Portugal, who travels annually to the Philippines to seek elegantly made artisan collections to share the Portuguese market.

As a Filipino, she knows that art is a way of life for many of her countrymen. From indigenous tribes, cooperatives, and individual artists; Filipinos have been weaving, sculpting, carving, and crafting long before Spanish explorers discovered the South East Asian archipelago with more than seven thousand islands. 

The beauty and brains behind GustoKo, Paula Mansilla-Figueras.

With at least 13 indigenous languages spoken by more than 90 million inhabitants, it can be said that Filipinos are not just multilingual; they are nation composed of multiple and varying cultures. For a nation that’s pretty much in the middle of the ocean, the Philippines has been influenced by foreigners ranging from Chinese merchants, migrating kingdoms, European explorers, and modern industrialized nations for millennia. 

Black Widow Art Jewelry by PJ Valenciano on display at GustoKo Store in Lisbon, Portugal. 

With this viewpoint, one can arguably state the Philippines is one of Asia’s first truly global melting pots.  GustoKo aims to promote, uplift, and celebrate the craftsmanship, resourcefulness and creativity of the Filipinos; as well as the richness of its unique culture.  The handcrafted products, meticulously selected by Paula in her many travels to different parts of the Philippines, show the different experiences of each artisan.  

For people who are enticed by the elegance of Philippine indigenous and local materials, GustoKo’s handcrafted items are an ideal present for any occasion.

Photos by GustoKo

Address: Rua da Escola Politecnica 42, 1250-102 Lisbon, Portugal

Hours: (Monday to Sunday) 12:00-8:00 pm

GustoKo

Shop GustoKo Products 

Keeping real.- PJV

Mag-Balikbayan

“Balikbayan” is the Filipino term for “those who have returned to the country”. It is endearingly used for Filipino migrants or expatriates, who have left the country and have since returned (for a visit or to settle down for good) to the land of the Filipinos.

Balikbayan magazine is a bi-monthly travel and lifestyle magazine, which honors the sublime Philippine trait of being a gracious host to all its visitors. The magazine celebrates the spirit of adventure and transcendent experience of merging one’s soul with this vibrant nation, by presenting meaningful slivers of what it means to be Filipino. If you’re planning to visit, you can’t go without your very own copy. Enhance the international experience to the fullest as well as getting an in-depth look at what makes the country tick from within. From beautiful island destinations, food, music, fashion, and entertainment, Balikbayan Magazine is your personal tour guide.

Balikbayan is complemented with an online edition through http://www.balikbayanmagazine.com/.

Keeping it real.- PJV