Category Archives: Visualizations

Toy Story 3

The first two Toy Story movies made me and my children (and perhaps all those who watched it) laugh hard. For those who are not young as children anymore, perhaps they remembered their childhood years and the toys that go with it.

My children identified the good and the bad in the movies and cheered when the toys triumphed over all things they went through together.

I asked my two children then, if they wanted to watch Toy Story 3 and they haven’t said “yes” because they worry about the expenditures we would have because the movie is in 3D which means it is going to be more expensive. Anyway, we will probably wait for the DVD version of the movie so that the kids can watch this movie again and again. And again until they memorize the lines, like what they do with their other favorite movies.

Watch the movie trailer here.

In this day of hand-held game consoles and computer games, it is difficult to accept that more and more children do not play with toys anymore. Sure, there are those who still play outdoors, with friends, real people, but society seems to categorize them as children whose families do not have the means to give them toys to play with, hence they just spend time with playmates. Duh.

To those who still play with toys and play with playmates and friends, may your tribes increase and your creativity developed better.

Practical Courses

I wrote about Eric Duquette in my teacher blog. I admit, I cried a bit when I watched the video. Who wouldn’t be crying, his journey has been amazing? With the kind of educational system and support (or lack of) we have in this country regarding the public school system, it is heartwarming when we read about students who excel despite the odds. In Eric Duquette’s case, he was diagnosed with autism.

I was saddened with the news last night when I learned that one institution that gives free short courses to mostly out of school youth have their budget slashed. How can this institution help the students who want to learn basic skills like bar tending, sewing clothes, care giver courses and medical transcription courses. I know more than two million students in our country take this path to enable them to land jobs that will later on, hopefully, help them go to nursing and medical assisting schools, and other institutions where they can earn higher academic achievements.

Most of them dream of going and working overseas to earn green bucks. Who else but the government should help them achieve their dreams because in the end, it is the government who will benefit from the remittances that they will send back.

Free TV

Television commercials are bound to catch the attention of the target market. Most of the time these are quirky, funny and have jingles that will continually play in one’s mind again and again. Just like an LSS. These however, abound in free TV.

There are those that do not specifically target the audience they are supposed to. Some seem rude or not age-appropriate or even give misinformation or exaggeration (huh? Did anyone just say extenze?) It is no wonder some countries have their citizens pay for Television Licence to be able broadcast without commercials.

I am sure this concept will not be received well in our country if this is implemented since free TV is one of the major sources of entertainment for most households. Plus, a lot of stations will be affected by this policy, especially those who get hefty salaries.

Thoughts on 2010 Philippine Elections

It is a few days before elections and I know that most candidates are becoming antsy. Those who ranked low in surveys are probably brainstorming right now what they have done wrong. Those who rank high, on the other hand, can not rest on this achievement alone. As they have said, the “real” survey will give the “real” result when all the ballots have been cast.

That is if there have been no cheating done despite this election being the first automated one in the country.

So what are the salient points that candidates use to encourage people to vote for them?

Jobs. Health care. Education. Poverty eradication which is a Herculean task and would probably take a loooong time to be able to have a significant improvement. No corruption. Peace and order.

I wonder where sustainable development, rural development and reproductive health care (and population control) comes into play? These are among those that rank high in my list of priorities for the country.

For me,  the country’s situation is a vicious cycle that needs not just a strong leader who has the will, dedication and leadership to lead us from further sinking into the basket case that we already are.We, the people, should do our part in ensuring that the future of our children’s children would be something to look forward to.

Enough Blood on the Ballot

Make a Stand for Democracy Now: Enough Blood on the Ballot

With the 2010 Philippine Elections just a few days away, we have to make one of the most important decisions for our country by voting for leaders that our hearts, minds and  conscience dictate to us.

The Ampatuan Maguindanao Massacre which still has to be solved and seems to be on the track of not being solved still haunts many people, the victims’ families, the journalists and ordinary citizens till now.

Triggered by this fatal incident, Cherie Paris watches encourages people to stand up and be heard by saying “NO!” to electoral violence.

Enough Blood on the Ballot

A photographic tableau “Not Today” was created by visual artist and photograher Wawi Navarroza as a reminder to call for a clean, honest and peaceful Philippine elections. This will be featured in a billboard along EDSA, Mandaluyong.

News photos from the media and Francisco de Goya’s cathartic painting, The Third of May, 1808, are some of the inspirations that Navarroza looked at to create this  “critical piece that comments and re-imagines the absurdity of violence by staging a thought-provoking Real/Unreal tableau vivant”.

Not Today, The Third of May, 1808, where the Spanish resistance to Napoleon’s armies during the occupation of 1808 happened, also served as a poignant reaction against political violence.

“I got interested in re-creating a shared pathos, a familiar disturbing image as a way of addressing the problem,” Wawi Navarroza said

“I’ve designed this piece to function in many levels through the different contexts I staged this photo to be read (billboard, gallery, commercial),” explains the contemporary artist. “The work aims to destabilize our usual reception of images in order for us to remember and rethink how images shape our ideas and opinions in a massive insidious way. I’ve decentralized the meaning in this picture by depicting reality mirrored as fiction.”

She adds further: “That this photograph seems to be parading the Theatre of the Absurd is nothing different to the absurdity of massacre, war, atrocity and violence.  People have died for pointless reasons, the “senseless” killings (is there sensible killing?), the blood-stained election votes.  We all know it’s starting to feel like circus around here.  We’re living in a cabaret of underhanded politics… the huddled masses with collective amnesia, the trigger-happy demons on wheels, sequined evangelists, stupid whitening products, scams and scandals, the madmen and monsters who are willing to do horrendous acts of violence in exchange of…what?  This is our dark comedy, our self-styled campy horror show.”

The Time is Now

Not Today, Limited Edition Cherie Paris watch

In cooperation with Cherie Paris watches, the tableau Not Today, a limited edition Cherie Paris watch was launched as a reminder that NOW is the time we have to make a stand against electoral violence, brutality and bloodshed.

The “Peace” watch reminds Filipinos that it’s about time we emerge from behind our mobile phones, behind television sets and behind our Facebook and Twitter accounts and take an active and visible stand against electoral violence.

The Peace watch is designed by Wawi Navarroza and features a short hand that reads “It’s about time” and a long hand showing the words “Enough blood on the ballot,” emblazoned as strong symbols of peace, as well as non-violent and honest elections.

Sign the petition here and let your voice be heard when you say “Enough Blood on the Ballot

For more information about Urban Time and Wawi Navarroza’s anti-violence advocacy, please visit www.urbantime.com.ph. Limited-edition Cherie Paris “Peace” watch is available at The Urban Time boutique in SM North EDSA Annex and select Robinsons and Metro Gaisano department store.