Original Art is Not Cheap

I treat my works with respect, in fact I treat them like a part of myself. Creating art for me is probably comparable to the hardships of a mother giving birth to her precious child. I feel drained emotionally, physically and mentally whenever I finish an artwork. But the fruits of labor becomes priceless.

This is what makes an artwork very special, at least for me.

Like every artist's creative piece, my art is one-of-a-kind, original, and can't be found on the streets of Divisoria. You cannot a buy an artist's reputation and name, which was earned through much hardwork, at any SM department stores.

Art is expensive not only because of the expensive medium (the more expensive the material, the more it lasts longer through time) but also because it is special, mostly a product of human endeavor of which not everyone can imitate, achieve nor can be done all over again.

So I hope whenever you ask an artist for cheap art, please do think again, and think of it like you are buying their very soul.

Weird Ebay Item

There are some things in life that are difficult to say with all honesty and sincerity combined even if you say it in the most positive way, that the best thing to deal with it is to just leave it alone or say nothing at all rather than being mean and hurting the person.

Can you tell directly to a person's face he's not gifted with good looks? How can you tell a person who has dragon breath? Can you frankly tell that your boss is jologs?

It's difficult to tell a person that you don't like him or her, or—anymore.
You can't simply just tell a friend that they've been cheated.
It's not easy to tell someone that a loved one is gone.

It's hard to say goodbye.

On Greener Pastures

And they all thought my parents are sleeping on dollar bills.

If they only knew how hard it is to earn money these days, like everyone else does. With the exception of Piolo Pascual and Marian Rivera. It does not matter whether you are in the US or here in our country.

We all work hard to earn a living.

We all make sacrifices if we want to achieve something.

I guess it is true that your true friends and family are the ones who stays with you through thick and thin. Amusingly, people who never even bothered to help us nor visit us in our cramped apartment when my family was really struggling, are now starting to show up. I wonder why.

Will they ever be there again when times turn sour?

But then there are really true friends and family who will always be there no matter what, even if the ties aren't there anymore because of unavoidable circumstances. No wonder God gives them with so much blessings. I am thankful to God for them and wish them with much more blessings.

Flying Colors

I used to think that when a person tells all about his achievements, he's only bragging to the world how proud and great he is. I feel envious and bitter when I read someone makes his way to success, I tend to think of dubious reasons and possibilities why he got there. In a cynic mind, like I used to, it's all about one's self. I'm not talking about, generally, politicians.

Most of us want to get rich quickly. Others just want larger things in their lives, like the Dark Knight who seeks justice in an unjust way or the Joker who just want the world to burn. While some just want to better themselves. We sometimes forget the real stories behind the great success of achievers. All we want to hear or see is the now, the glamour of their triumphs, and not the struggles of hard work and determination.

Now I'm learning that telling your success story is more than getting flattery, but to inspire more people about how you achieved it.

Today is National Children's Book Day!

There's no other day much happier than today, at least for me, despite the downpour of Helen. That's because we are celebrating the joys of childhood. How I've wanted not to grow up and stay like a child: nothing much to worry about, everything seems like at play, and the joy of receiving gifts!

I have received so much gifts recently. Now's my turn to share them.

Mind Power

Do you believe in the power of your mind?
That whatever you can think of, if you think of it repeatedly, may turn into reality?

This is how weird things happen to me.

Whenever I think of a person whom I rarely get in touch with nor think about suddenly pops in my mind, or they become the subject of my recent dream, or any activity - like looking at an object associated with him/her, or read somewhere, they also suddenly appear on the scene. That person will either give me an sms, an email, or a call, after awhile. But sometimes the effect takes a few days after.

Whenever I'm running out of projects and I'm in need of funds, all I have to do is ask for a project that pays well, as soon as possible. I would always think of the great projects I would likely to have and be happy to accomplish it, imagining as if the project's done smoothly and with ease. Sure it comes along just as when you need it, with lots of prayer, and comes with a big bonus at that.

I used to put pictures of the things I'd like to have or needed, sort of a wishlist, on my office table. I was only beginning to work then, and I would really want to have my own efficient laptop so I can do other projects after work. So I took out some iBook photos and place them where I can see it often. I didn't knew exactly how it will come to me, nor how will I gonna pay for it considering my really basic salary. A few months later, I got my own laptop. I can't remember exactly how I managed to save up for it, but it came, with lots of determination and prayer.

My growing family badly needed our own house. But we couldn't afford anything to even pay the plans. How my mom wanted to do everything she can just to make this dream a reality. Desperately wanted to help her, all I could do was to wish. And casted the power of visualization. So I pasted several pictures of dream houses on the "wealth" area of the cramped studio apartment where we seven people uncomfortably yet humbly lived. My mom's scornful reaction to my "ritual" was anticipated, but became supportive anyway. We are now living in our own house, although it does not look like our dream house yet. We asked, prayed hard, and amazingly, help was coming from different sources, including mostly from my sister who sacrificed herself for our family.

I needed some money to fund my personal projects...and so I thought maybe I should post several money bills on my desktop as my wallpaper...


Hmm, why not dollar notes...bundles of them?

Expensive Toy

And so I got myself an anticipated birthday gift.

Quite an expensive toy for quite an expensive hobby that hopefully will turn into another profitable skill. After all the hard work, the self-restraint, of missing bonding moments, the tragedies and victories, the pains of waiting, sleepless nights, and now...

indulgence.

And so another year, another period of working hard, saving up, and of dreaming big.

Sigh, I'd like to travel next.

For free.

Cool Life-Size Dolls on National Children's Book Day

The National Children's Book Day is on July 15, 2008. It is celebrated every third week of July to commemorate the anniversary of the publication of Jose Rizal’s "The Monkey and the Turtle" in Trubner’s Oriental Record in London.

Activities are lined-up during that day and throughout the year. Here is a schedule from PBBY.

My beloved art group, Ang INK has been very busy preparing for an interesting exhibit: life-size characters from top favorite children's storybooks. The works are really amazing, this photo is just a sneak peak. She is Raquel, from the book "Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Raquel" under Adarna House written by Dr. Luis Gatmaitan illustrated by Beth Parrocha-Doctolero. The lovely doll was created by Pergylene Acuña, a PBBY Alcala Prize winner. Photo by Liza Flores.