Discovery Channel delves into & lsquo;Black Lives Matter& rsquo; movement
To better understand the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement that recently shook America and the rest of the world, Discovery Channel airs special features tackling the sensitive and significant topics of racism and police brutality from June 26 to 28. .....»»
Fantasy reality
I’m a Barbie Girl… in the Barbie world, life in plastic, it’s fantastic… I bet you sang that part, right? All I know is that one day I opened my social media account and almost everyone was wearing pink, from celebrities to influencers, even politicians were jumping into the Barbie era. Almost all of my online friends were uploading photos of themselves in a Barbie box frame posing like real-life dolls. Even while I was doing my groceries and inside shopping malls, I encountered people dressed as Barbies and Kens, and sometimes I would ask myself, am I being different for not diving into the Barbie madness? Little did I know the Barbie effect was working on me subconsciously. I wore pink and white for an online interview and the interviewer told me I was being a Barbie on cam. At that moment I realized I was indeed living in a Barbie world now, and that the Barbie effect was unknowingly consuming me, too. I am now one of those people who have dived into this Barbie madness. The Barbie effect is superb! Maybe this could help too with government projects where we can get people involved in so many creative and positive ways, especially if it relates to them. But since it’s Thirstday, I bet you’re looking for thirst-quenching facts about Barbie. Did you know that the first Barbie was based on a postwar German cartoon? Barbie has been the subject of debates for supposedly creating the stigma of a perfect body for kids and young adults. If Barbie was, in fact, a real person, her measurements according to researchers would be 32-17-28, nearly impossible for a real woman. In fact, research conducted in the 1990s concluded that not only are Barbie’s weight and body proportions not attainable but they are also unhealthy. In the movie, Barbies lead a matriarchal society. We Barbies lead the world and our Kens are just beach dudes! In a sudden twist of fate, the Kens realized they were second-class citizens, so they mounted a coup and established a patriarchal society just like what we actually have right now in the real world. Oh, so sad. But unlike in the former matriarchal setup, the Barbies let the Kens and the outcast share power, leadership, and the most important thing, responsibility! Wow! Way to go, Barbies! We can draw important lessons from the movie where real-world Barbies like us can be part of making a positive change in society. We must embrace our inner strengths as we accept that we are not perfect. We must, and we can show the world that, yes, we can lead. In the Philippine context, the situation of women is not ideal but is constantly improving steadily. Some of the socio-economic and political affairs to which we can channel our natural feminine touch and strength include foreign affairs and diplomacy, conflict resolution, food security, social welfare, information industry, tourism and shipping, and much more! Let us take a closer look at food security and tourism. Why? Well, Barbies love food and love to travel! There are what we call Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas or GIDAs — these possess the most abundant natural resources suitable for food production and are home to splendid picturesque spots of nature so suited for tourism! But we need roads leading to those places and we need robust transport systems to make it work. Most of the GIDAs can be reached only through unreliable trails using “habal-habal.” Barbies with our Kens can be rallying figures in those aspects where we can best help those in need. The movie told us to embrace our femininity but I say let us embrace the wholeness of society whether you are a Ken or a Barbie. Women cannot exist alone and so with men. That Barbie effect? I hope we can draw a positive impact from that one and set ideal, yet realistic, goals and standards to cater to the needs of the public. Remember when Barbie released their dolls with Down syndrome this year? In recent years they also created dolls with prosthetic limbs, and curvy and black Barbies to cater to the clamor of groups that said Barbies did not represent real women. You see? We can always meet halfway, especially when it comes to providing solutions to the common problems of people, whether in a local or national government setup. We listen and modify, and we get feedback if projects are effective or not. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whether a Barbie or a Ken leads and steers. All that matters is that we need to act together, be together, and move together to arrive at our intended destination because... Barbies and Kens, we are in the same boat. The post Fantasy reality appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ukrainian drone attack damages Russian tanker
KYIV (AFP) — A Russian tanker was damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Kerch Strait, briefly halting traffic on the strategic bridge linking Crimea to Russia on Saturday, a day after one of Moscow’s warships was hit in the Black Sea. The number of attacks in the Black Sea has increased from both sides since Moscow exited a deal last month that had allowed Ukrainian grain exports via the shipping hub during the conflict between the two countries. The Russian tanker SIG was hit around 11:20 p.m. (2020 GMT) Friday south of the Kerch Strait, Russia’s Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport said. The SIG suffered a hole at the waterline in the area of the engine room, “presumably as a result of an attack by a marine drone,” the agency said on Telegram. “The ship is afloat.” An oil boom had been placed around the vessel and preparations were underway to patch the damage, it said. The Marine Traffic vessel-tracking website showed the SIG stationary and attended by tugs just south of the strait. The oil and chemical tanker is under US sanctions for supplying jet fuel to Russian forces in Syria supporting President Bashar al-Assad. Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency said there were no casualties in the attack, citing the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center of Novorossiysk. Traffic on the bridge across the Kerch Strait linking the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula to Russia’s mainland was halted for around three hours and resumed early Saturday, according to the Russian highways information center’s Telegram channel. The latest attack in the Black Sea came a day after Ukraine said it had carried out a seaborne-drone strike on a Russian navy ship at Novorossiysk naval base in southern Russia. In a video of the purported attack on the warship obtained by AFP, a naval drone is seen speeding towards the darkened silhouette of a military vessel before the connection abruptly cuts off. A Ukrainian attack targeting the Olenegrorsky Gornyak landing ship was “successful,” a Ukrainian security source told AFP Friday. “The goal was to show that Ukraine can attack any Russian warship in that zone,” the source added. Russia said it had repelled an attempted attack on the naval base by the Ukrainian armed forces “with the use of two unmanned sea boats.” Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been targeted since the beginning of Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine more than a year ago, but attacks have increased in recent weeks. The port of Novorossiysk also hosts the terminus of a pipeline that carries most Kazakh oil exports through Russia. The fuel artery’s operator Caspian Pipeline Consortium said it was continuing to ship oil to moored tankers at the terminal, Russian state media reported Friday. Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, has been targeted by Kyiv throughout Moscow’s Ukraine offensive but has seen more intense attacks in recent weeks. Ukrainian drone strikes on Crimea in July blew up an ammunition depot and damaged the strategic bridge across the Kerch Strait. The post Ukrainian drone attack damages Russian tanker appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Katya Angara – The journey of a woman and artist
The promising artist that Katya is today is the latest phase in a lifelong journey that began at an early age when she began drawing characters from cartoon comics. All the while she was growing up in a home that nurtured her interest in the arts, as much as it prepared her for rigorous academic training. She read early in life, in a house filled with books. In this second part of our interview, Katya shares with us how she made a number of choices that would lead to where she is today. But once upon a time, for all that had been given to her on a silver platter, she was in a quandary as to what to do with her life. But when she finally decided on what she wanted, there was no stopping the talented and smart girl who, it turned out, possessed an intellectual prowess not unlike those of her parents, the lawyer, and senator Edgardo Angara, whose affinity for the land had been impressed on his daughter, and the lady educator Gloria Manalang Angara, who opened up her daughter’s eyes and minds to the wonders of world literature and the other arts. And it was in art that the young girl did not only find solace but also healing. Here is the final part of our interview: DT: After high school, did you immediately leave for London? KA: To be honest, and I don’t want filters here, I had mental health issues at that time. I was severely depressed. Before I went to London, I went through a tumultuous period of deciding where to go with my education. So, after Poveda, I went to Woldingham (boarding school). then I did half of my BA Psychology degree at UP Diliman from late 2000 to 2002. I loved my time at Diliman but it was a tumultuous transitional period for me, so I decided to revisit pursuing university in London. Central Saint Martins, to be precise, is one of the most prestigious and distinguished art and design schools in the world DT: Around what time was this? KA: It was in 2002. I was bouncing around like I couldn’t anchor myself to one thing. Like, okay, I’m here in London already. And then, okay I’m going to study Psychology in UP. So, what’s with the leap, the sudden jump, the sudden shift? I couldn’t make up my mind. And I think that frustrated my parents for the longest time. I was also being hard on myself because I ended up causing a lot of frustration for myself. And I think that depressed me. So, you know, I’ve been diagnosed with different things. I’m bipolar. And then, I had the hallmarks of ADHD. Let’s just say that my brain works differently DT: Well, one can never be sure about oneself. KA: No, you can never be sure about yourself. And I was questioning myself. For the longest time, all those years I thought, what’s wrong with me? Why am I making all these strange decisions? Why am I behaving this way? Why do I react to people this way?”. You know, parang I shouldn’t be talking or reacting to people like this in this kind of situation. And I’m not just saying with family or what. But with my classmates in school. What drew me to art was it being a place that has its own language e. It’s a place where I can express myself. Art is also a way of healing your own wounds. It’s also a way of revealing those aspects of yourself that you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. It really was a way of healing for me. And I didn’t even know that I needed it. Because again, I was a very quiet and introverted kid. I don’t know why. I couldn’t rely on people, talk to people the way I thought, or maybe people thought I should. So, you know, I kept to myself. I’d hide away in the library every recess or lunch. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. So, that carried on until my university years. Daily Tribune (DT): What did you finally take up in college? Katya Angara: Well, first I just wanted to do a purely art course. So, my foundation course to get me a degree was an Art and Design course. My first choice for this was Central Saint Martins, which continues to be ranked as one of the best art and design schools in the world. I was over the moon when I made it in. DT: What did you have to show to qualify? KA: I needed to show my work. I had some already since I was drawing a lot in my childhood and teenage years. DT: Your works are not the usual ones that use oil, watercolor, acrylic, and all that. KA: I was drawing mostly. And for some reason, I have always been more of a draftsman eh. I’m always more into drawing. I have more illustrating tendencies. DT: Like pen and paper? KA: Yes, pen and paper. Pencil, charcoal. I’ve always had a thing for dry media and pen and ink. It’s more about the control and the precision. That’s my personality. DT: That’s not easy ah. KA: It’s not easy. But you have an affinity for it. And your hands have to be steady. Which is unlikely for someone with pasmado hands like me. But that’s where I find my control eh. That’s why I like it so much. DT: So, what was it like when you showed your drawings at Central Saint Martin? KA: So, I showed my drawings because that was required during the interview. And so I went through the ropes. They asked questions like, "why do you want to do this course here?" DT: Your work must have been good to get you accepted. KA: They were fine. I think it was good enough. But there was a lot I had to improve on. I only knew that once I got into the school. Then, you told yourself, Ah, oo nga pala. There was so much I had to learn. That I could be taught. DT: How was your learning experience? KA: From the beginning, as a child, I always copied from cartoons. And they didn’t like that. They didn’t want to see any cartoons or anything like that. They wanted to see me. They wanted to see my work. My drawing from life. DT: So, how did you do that? It must have been challenging KA: So, I gave them the best of my life drawings. But when I showed them my other works, they weren’t happy with them. So, I learned from that. Being young, you got a bit crushed. But then, you realize it’s a different way of thinking. It’s a different way of doing things. Okay, there’s still so much to learn in terms of art. And it’s not the be-all and end of it all. And then, they said, “This is where you should be learning from.” And they showed me art books. They said, “Go to this gallery or this museum.” DT: How was it like living abroad? Back home, you were the daughter of a senator. KA: Which means nothing when you’re abroad. It meant nothing. Which I actually loved. It was something that I was looking for. Because I lived in a bubble back home. To my parents’ credit naman there’s a reason for that. I was very protected. They wanted to keep me safe and secure given my father’s position. So, I’d always lived in a bubble. I’d always have bodyguards and drivers and all that. And it just felt at times a little restrictive. DT: So, it was a welcome thing? KA: It was a welcome thing. Really, I felt different. I felt normal na parang my family name didn’t mean a thing. And that was refreshing. I could be anything I wanted to be. I could experiment and nobody would judge. Because in schools like that and abroad, especially in Europe, they’re so open-minded. They’re so liberal. DT: How were the teachers? KA: Oh, wonderful. Of course, you always have your favorites, right? Very varied. Depending also on what course you were taking up, whether industrial design or sculpture which I was horrible at when I tried it. I didn’t really get close to my tutors until I moved on to my actual degree. Funny enough, instead of ending up in a practical course. Which would have been like Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or even Illustration because I love drawing. You would think that I would end up in a more practical course like Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or even Illustration, I did a complete shift and I did a theoretical course. I did Curation, Art Criticism, and Art History. So, my training is as a curator and an art critic. DT: Wow, that was very intellectual. It’s good that you always read a lot. KA: Yes, I think that helped because you have to read a lot. You have to love reading. You have to like doing the research. And that served me well. Who would have known, right? But if you think about it, as long as you follow what you want to do in life, it just opens up even if you don’t intentionally seek it. Somehow it just finds you It just fell into place for me in that sense. This is not what I initially set out to do. But I think you have to allow yourself to change your mind. Parang whatever happens at the time, you change with it. You adjust to it. And it worked out beautifully for me. DT: So, were the teachers terrors? KA: Mabait naman sila. But they have very different personalities. My course leader was a lovely older lady who was really into Victorian arts and culture. As in, Victoriana lahat. She would tell you everything about English Victorian history. And she was very passionate about it. And you know, it involved a lot of writing and research. But my favorite tutor was someone who was writing about comic books. Comic books and Pop culture. So, for me, that was a revelation because I didn’t think you could take comics books and put them in the academe. You know, academic level like intellectual. Pwede pala e. Because he showed me a way. He took me under his wing and he showed me his work and from there I learned to write. And because I love comic books. I’m actually a huge geek. I’m a nerd, I’m a dork. DT: What was your thesis? [caption id="attachment_165427" align="aligncenter" width="463"] Roger Sabin was Katya's pop culture mentor at Central Saint Martins in London.[/caption] KA: Because I wanted Roger Sabin, my pop culture tutor, as my professor for my thesis, it was about a 1990s Japanese animated film called Ghost in the Shell 101. It was an animated film based on a very heavy graphic novel, a manga or Japanese comics, by Masamune Shirow. And for me, his work is revelatory. It wasn’t just the style of the Ghost in the Shell. And to think just one man could draw like this. I mean it was a very thick graphic novel. He could draw like that. And he wrote the story too. And to think you had the mental stamina to be able to write something like that and to draw. DT: You must enjoy doing comics. KA: Since I was a kid, I’ve made my own comic books. You know, I would sell my own comic books and people would actually buy them. I taught myself to draw in the comic book style. I learned them all. You know, there’s like Stan Lee of Marvel. DT: You really had it in you. KA: I had it in me. My love for comic books started by reading the ones my brother had collected over the years. He had a stash of them, so, I just devoured them. It was all very amazing to me. Kasi the drawings, the stories, these are worlds written by someone else. So, you have Marvel comics, DC comics, Dark Horse comics. [caption id="attachment_165417" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] With brother, Senator Sonny Angara, whose comic books she devoured for their cartoon figures.[/caption] Q: You didn’t idolize anybody? A: Well, I wasn’t particularly huge on the American comics. I think it was until I stumbled upon the Japanese comics or manga. That really piqued my interest to a degree I never felt before. Kasi it wasn’t just the style, which at first for me was very girly. I mean, I love the romantic comics. But I also felt myself leaning toward the darker stuff. DT: What did you like about Ghost in the Shell? KA: It’s a cyberpunk graphic novel. So, ang galing, ang ganda ng style. It was like, wow. You know, the sheer amount of detail that he puts into the drawings. I said I want to draw like this. I want to tell a story like this. But I don’t know if I was capable of telling if I had the stamina to tell something so intricate and complex. DT: When did you graduate? KA: In 2008. The BA in the UK is only three years. That’s why you take a foundation course. There’s a BA in Curation, and Communication, and criticism in Arts and Design. DT: I am told that you graduated at the top of your class. But you’re not telling me. KA: It sounds so funny kasi eh. Anyway, I graduated with first-class honors for my degree. So, basically, I was Suma Cum Laude in my batch in my year. So, that was what sealed the deal for me and my dad. Kasi for the longest time, I was kind of meandering. I was kind of flip-flopping. My mom knows this eh She goes, “You know Katya you have a tendency to be whimsical.” I am an artist eh, what can I do? Besides, I was young and I wasn’t sure. I knew what I wanted to do, which was to be in the arts but not where I wanted to go. I was asking myself if I had the stamina, the commitment, the fortitude to see it through. [caption id="attachment_165415" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Katya and mom Gloria Angara, who first ignited her interest in the arts.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_165419" align="aligncenter" width="854"] Katya with her dad, the late Senate President Edgardo Angara from whom she learned to apply the principles of nature to her art[/caption] DT: College made you really bloom. KA: Yes. It was the environment. it was the people I was with. Because I was able to go into something I really enjoyed. I wasn’t just doing homework because I was told to do homework. I loved what I was doing. I was invested in it. DT: What did you do after you graduated? KA: Apart from community work, I also worked for some small galleries. I did some work for the Victoria and Albert Museum. I tried to have experiences in bigger institutions, bigger museums, and small independent galleries. I thought that experience would hone me and make me well-rounded. With the smaller galleries, I was able to practice my curatorial background. I was able to help a lot of young artists. They don’t know how to talk about their work or they’re not confident enough to do so. So anyhow, apart from helping them put together shows, I help them speak about their work. Or offer them a perspective they have never seen or thought about. And I feel that that was helping them and I think that’s where I have been able to engage with them. It was fulfilling to help them find their voice as an artist. DT: All the while, you were all alone in London? KA: I was married actually. To a Filipino who was born in the UK, in London. He’s an Englishman, for all purposes. It didn’t work out. We have a daughter. I had a beautiful little girl with him. She lives in London with her father. She’s been here. She lived here in her early years. After she was born in 2010, I decided to move back here. Then, after four years, we went back to London because it was what my husband wanted. He and my dad had a falling out. DT: When was your first exhibit? KA: Last year. Earlier, I did a group show at the Lethaby Gallery at Central Saint Martins. So, I did it with other emerging artists. My next group show was at The Crucible. But it was for a book that Sari Ortiga had commissioned me to do. He wanted to do a series of children’s books about Philippine artists. I did mine. Mine was about Anita Magsaysay-Ho. I did the illustration. It wasn’t new to me because I had been making my own books. I would staple them myself. Although up until that point I didn’t know how to really do it professionally. I found out it could be lucrative and fulfilling. This was in 2008 when I didn’t have a daughter yet. DT: Tell me about your forthcoming show. (The current show had yet to be opened). What paintings are you showing? KA: They’re not paintings, they’re not just drawings. They’re an amalgamation. They’re what you call a compendium of everything I’ve ever done as an artist. The book illustration, and then I dabbled a bit in black-and-white photography. I like the look of black and white photography. So, I do it with my phone or a simple camera. It’s also good for taking reference photos for my work. Because if you can’t sit in the park drawing people or objects, or subjects, the next best thing is you take pictures. And you can draw from those pictures. Kaya maganda siya for reference. So, my work is that, actually. DT: So, what about your subjects? KA: Well, I’m a very central person. We live in a very conservative culture. And I have subjects that would make people say ay, you know, you shouldn’t talk about that. So, there’s no filter, it’s very raw, very natural. In London, I was able to talk to people about things like BDSM or Bondage Sado-Masochism. And you know, that can get a bad rap. Because if you do it wrong, it would look strange to anyone who is not familiar with it. Among the Japanese, there is a subculture that does that. DT: Do they consider BDSM an art form? KA: There’s a particular Japanese artist whose work I used to admire. He’s a photographer. And his subject is BDSM. There were pictures of women tied up and then there were flowers and reptiles. So it was very sexual. I found myself drawn to that because there’s the element of the dark side. Carl Jung, the psychoanalyst, talked about how we have to make our unconscious conscious. The darkness in us is unconscious. And if you don’t make your darkness conscious, it’s going to come out in other ways at some point. Meaning to say, you shouldn’t repress those sides of you. I think it is a side that’s intertwined with the creative side of me. I can’t be an artist without being sensual. Without that aspect, all that would be macabre. Which brings me to my mom again. She used to chide me for reading Stephen King when I was a kid. I’m a huge Stephen King fan. She was like, “It’s so macabre, so dark.” And I’m like, “I like it, I like his work.” He’s such a skilled writer. And I like how he could take something so mundane and make it terrifying and frightening on all levels. Stephen King said that he writes two thousand words every morning. I’m not sure if I can do that. I wanted to write na rin eh because the natural partner of my art is my writing. Because as a curator, I didn’t just read. I had to write a lot. And that’s where I honed my skills. Kasi siyempre, it’s a sword that you have to sharpen every now and then. So, for the show. I did a lot of writing. I did my own writing. DT: While we're on the talk of artists, what about the Filipino artists? Who among them do you admire? Do you have any mentors and idols? KA: Among Philippine artists, Junyee is my second father and my first artistic mentor. He is my OG sage and shaman of Philippine art, the Father of Philippine Installation Art. I'm actively lobbying for him to become National Artist soon, as no one deserves it more than he does, with his magnificent oeuvre. I'll always remember how, in a fleeing moment of impostor syndrome, he consoled me by saying that making art for myself always comes first. Love the process and the rest follows. The maverick attitude is very Junyee! And yet, he lives a modest life in the forest-like setting of his home in Los Banos, echoing the nature-loving ethos of our favorite Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki, creator of Toroto, Nausicaa, Spirited Away, among many other magical films. Since I was a child, Junyee saw my potential and continued to push me to have my own gallery shows, as did his longtime friend and one of my other mentors, Sari Ortiga. Sari's daughter Yasmin is a good friend and batchmate of mine from Poveda. Sari owns and runs the distinguished Crucible Gallery, and he hired me to illustrate one of the children's books for his series "Growing up with Philippine art" in 2009. It's thanks to Sari that I pushed myself to evolve as an artist, to grow outside of my comfort zone. The acclaimed visual artist and sculptor Jinggoy Buensuceso is something of a bad boy du jour of the Philippine art scene, and his dissident attitude is something I can identify with. I love the unorthodox, the sensual, the macabre, the dark stuff that delves deep into the psyche. I'm so bored of the "covers" or "riffs" of the countless Amorsolo, Basquiat, Picasso, or Rothko-type artworks that I see so much of in the local art scene. As wtih Junyee and Sari, Jinggoy has taught me how to navigate the perilous seas of art and life, echoing Junyee's advice to remain myself, in a world that often pushes us to be someone else. My three mentors, by example, taught me how to be original. DT: How many are you exhibiting? How many works? KA: Now, I have 9 complete pieces. I’d like to add another one. Honestly, medyo cramming ito because I only had two months to do the show. Normally for this kind of work - especially with the big piece I am doing - it’s a seven-foot piece. I would need, preferably to be comfortable, at least four to six months to do all this work. Kasi, there is so much nicer when you give it time to compost. To come together, to become fertile. DT: Is there enough time for one more work? A: Yes. I have one more work that I want. Because I feel that it rounds it up eh. If I do ten, I love the work that I’ve already done. Again, it’s not a painting, it’s a collage. So, I’d call it a photographic collage with paper cuttings on canvas. I wanted to treat canvas in a way that is not painting DT: Shouldn’t someone curate for you? KA: For now, I’m happy to have to do it myself. Because I feel that I’m the only one who can portray myself in a way that I feel I should be portrayed. Kasi it’s art eh. You’re trying not so much to explain yourself as you’re trying to convey who you are to somebody without being obvious. That’s art. DT: Where does Stephen, your partner, come in? [caption id="attachment_165418" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] With her partner and anchor, Stephen Lu.[/caption] KA: Stephen is somewhat of an anchor for me. So, I feel comfortable, I feel more confident when he’s around. But I guess I’m okay. DT: Now, as we wind up, let’s talk about how you are like your parents and not like them. You said that your interest in the arts came from the exposure that you received from your mother, and of course, the presence of books at home. Tell me more about your father’s role in your becoming the person that you are. KA: One of my fondest memories of my father was his love of nature, gardening, and farming, which I learned from him. He was at his best and calmest when he was at his farm in Nasugbu and Baler. Whilst my father was a “man of the soil”, I learned to be an “artist of the soil”, a gardener who applies the principles of nature to my art. Hence the overlying themes of nature in my oeuvre of artwork. And the most resonant themes of philosophy (which my father also studied and applied in his life) are the themes relating to lessons learned from nature: patience, fortitude, temperance. From this I’ve become more acutely aware of life’s transience, making our time all the more precious, being grateful for small and simple pleasures, and the opportunities that come my way. The naïveté of my younger years meant that I didn’t have a complete grasp of the opportunities presented to me by my father, I took much for granted. Now I see why he did what he did, he gave me the tools to be able to achieve my full potential. Only now that I’m embracing that fire and heading in a direction that makes the most of my talents. I had impostor syndrome for the longest time. Always questioning and doubting myself. Now I can fully embrace who I am and it is cathartic. DT: In what way are you like them? KA: I have the different strengths of my parents. I’ve inherited their academic minds and cultured tastes, with an eye for detail and beauty. I have many mannerisms and behavious in common with my mum, in terms of poise and self-possession. But, she is like Audrey Hepburn and I am infinitely more of a Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was also a very private person and something of a poet and writer. I guess it’s no surprise that I am drawn to art and writing; I am highly introspective, painfully self-aware and attuned to my moods and to the moods of others; like my Dad, I’m intuitive and know how to read people. DT: My last question is, how has art influenced you in your direction in life? And where are you going from here? KA: Being an introvert, I don’t always translate into easy social interactions with most people. So I channel it all into my art. It’s a language that best expresses my psyche, thoughts, and emotions. Working with my hands is healing and consolation for the isolation, depression, and anxiety attacks that grip me on bad days. That’s why as an artist of the soil, gardening and art go hand in hand. In the future, I can see myself tending to the land and becoming a farmer as my father was. It’s like coming home. The post Katya Angara – The journey of a woman and artist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Missile barrage hits Ukraine, Russia repels attack
Two people were killed in separate overnight airstrikes on Ukraine, authorities said on Thursday. A missile struck port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region on the Black Sea coast killing one person, the regional governor said Thursday. Oleg Kiper said Russian forces “fired Kalibr missiles from a submarine in the Black Sea.” “A civilian guard born in 1979 died as a result of the hit. Equipment of one of the cargo terminals was damaged, a small security building and two cars were destroyed,” Kiper said on social media. The other fatality was in the town of Kivsharivka in the eastern Kharkiv region, governor Oleg Synegubov said. The attacks followed the downing of 36 cruise missiles by the Ukrainian Air Force. “On 26 July, 36 enemy cruise missiles were destroyed,” Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk said Wednesday on the air force’s official Telegram channel. Three Kalibr missiles were fired in the afternoon while 33 X-101 and X-555 missiles were fired in the early evening by eight Tu-95 bombers from the southeast heading towards western Ukraine, it said. The air force mentioned another strike by Russian MiG-31s which launched four hypersonic Kinjal missiles targeting the Khmelnytsky region in western Ukraine on Wednesday evening. In the Dnipro central region of Ukraine, the governor said Wednesday on Telegram that the debris of a downed Russian missile caused a fire which was brought under control without causing any casualties. Meanwhile, Russia’s FSB security service said Thursday that a cargo ship bound for the Russian port of Rostov-on-Don was turned back “from Russian territorial waters” after “traces of explosives” were found on the ship. The FSB said in a statement that the ship coming from Turkey had previously sailed to the Ukrainian port of Reni. Earlier, the Russian army said it turned back several hundred Ukrainian soldiers near the town of Orikhiv in the south, one of the areas where Kyiv has been carrying out its counteroffensive. Ukraine “conducted a massive attack by the forces of three battalions reinforced by tanks. All attacks of the Armed Force of Ukraine were repelled. Positions were held,” the ministry said. The Russian military also said it progressed in the direction of Lyman, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, after reporting an advance of up to two kilometers on Tuesday. WITH AFP The post Missile barrage hits Ukraine, Russia repels attack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘SPARKS CAMP’ SENDS KILIG VIBES TO VIEWERS IN U.S., INDIA, CANADA, UAE
“Sparks Camp,” the newest queer dating online reality series, has captured the hearts of viewers from across the United States of America, India, Canada and the United Arab Emirates since it premiered last 24 May on Black Sheep’s YouTube channel. The pilot episode has already garnered more than 200,000 views, while its second episode raked more than 100,000 views as of this writing. The hashtag #SparksCamp has consistently figured in the trending topics since the show’s debut. The much-talked-about online dating series has also attracted a following among viewers from Spain and Portugal, who are requesting subtitles in their languages. During the initial challenge, the campers got to know each other better. Karl and Dan emerged victorious and chose Justin and Nat as their respective dates. Viewers were given a sneak peek of the campers exchanging their spark cards. Expect tension and drama to unfold as more spark cards are revealed. “Sparks Camp” is one of the latest offerings of ABS-CBN’s “Made for YouTube.” Don’t miss its newest episodes every Wednesday, 8 p.m., on Black Sheep’s YouTube channel. The post ‘SPARKS CAMP’ SENDS KILIG VIBES TO VIEWERS IN U.S., INDIA, CANADA, UAE appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
10 proud LGBTQ members magpapakilig at maglalabasan ng tunay na feelings sa queer dating reality show na ‘Sparks Camp’
SIGURADONG marami ang mahu-hook at mae-excite sa pagsisimula ng kauna-unahang queer dating reality show sa bansa, ang “Sparks Camp”. Ngayong araw, May 24, ang unang episode ng “Sparks Camp” na mapapanood sa YouTube Channel ng Black Sheep Productions, hosted by Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan. 10 proud members ng LGBTQIA+ community ang magsasama-sama sa […] The post 10 proud LGBTQ members magpapakilig at maglalabasan ng tunay na feelings sa queer dating reality show na ‘Sparks Camp’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
Pinoy drag queens shine at DragCon LA, join ‘Drag Race Philippines’ cast reunion
Several Filipino drag queens participated in RuPaul’s DragCon Los Angeles on 12 and 13 May at the Los Angeles Convention Center, California, United States. This year’s expo of drag culture welcomed its first delegation of Filipino drag performers and it was a sizable group, led by Drag Race Philippines’ first winner Precious Paula Nicole. She was joined by Marina Summers, Eva Le Queen, Xilhouete, Minty Fresh, Viñas DeLuxe, Turing, Gigi Era, Corazon and Prince — all contestants of the Philippine version of the phenomenal drag reality series RuPaul’s Drag Race. [caption id="attachment_135144" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph COURTESY of Twitter.com/@minortiz | Double Mints Minty Fresh with Sminty Drop from ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’ Season 4.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_135147" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph COURTESY of Twiiter.com/@VinasDeluxe | Vinas DeLuxe in the Filipiniana version of her famous tuwalya look in ‘Drag Race Philippines.’[/caption] [caption id="attachment_135146" align="aligncenter" width="504"] Photograph COURTESY of FB.com/Prince Marell | Prince, dramatic in black and red.[/caption] The annual RuPaul’s DragCon LA, which started in 2015, is an outgrowth of RuPaul’s Drag Race and is also organized by the series’ producer, World of Wonder. This year, it spotlighted about 150 queens from 12 countries and received thousands of attendees from all over the world. One of the biggest events for drag fans, it featured many events, such as a market, performances, meet-and-greets, wig and sewing workshops, talks and parties. The Queens’ Walk One of the highlights was the Queen’s Walk on the now famous Pink Carpet on the first day after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The queens were introduced to the public one by one and sashayed down the pink carpet in their fabulous outfits. Eva Le Queen was in an all-white ensemble inspired by the Philippine national flower — the sampaguita or Indian jasmine — designed by Ehrran Montoya, who described the outfit as a “long-sleeve corseted column dress with bias folds and structured draping on top” with “a detachable train with voluminous cascades.” [caption id="attachment_135151" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph COURTESY of FB.com/Eva Le Queen | Eva Le Queen’s all-white Pink Carpet outfit.[/caption] Montoya was also behind’s Marina’s pink-carpet look, which is inspired by the sea. “Splashing from the Philippine sea to the pink carpet of @rupaulsdragcon. Bringing the sea to the City of Angels in custom @ehrranmontoya,” Marina wrote on her social media posts. According to Montoya, the gown was a “full-length mesh bodice with slit embellished with rhinestones, pearls and sequins adorned with dangling crystals, attached with voluminous layers of iridescent ruffles and pleated organza on the train, epitomizing a goddess rising from the sea.” Corazon was also in a Montoya creation, inspired by the butterfly. A “Fairytopia Fantasy,” the drag queen described. [caption id="attachment_135143" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph COURTESY of FB.com/Corazon Filipinas | Corazon on the Pink Carpet.[/caption] “Transforming our Lepidoptera SS22 piece into a new breed of majestic full-on metamorphosis look with this full-length serpentine gown with cape adorned with voluminous ruffles and cascades embellished with beadworks and crystals,” the designer explained. Minty was in a gown with an open slit and dripping with large silver sequins, while Precious was in all gold. The Filipino queens took centerstage at one of the reunion events, “Bring Back My Girls.” The Drag Race Philippines cast reunion happened on 13 May with one of the judges, Jiggly Caliente, serving as host. WOWIE winners They also shone at the WOWIES, which celebrates trailblazers in different fields, such as drag, art, activism, pop culture and entertainment. Precious was one of the Breakout Star awardees. The nine other winners were Admira Thunderpussy, Danny Beard, Drag Couenne, Giselle Lullaby, LA Diamond, Matt Rogers, Paloma, Spankie Jackzon and Stephanie Hsu. The awarding ceremony was held on 13 May, hosted by Ts Madison, with special performances by Marina Summers and Sasha Colby. Two more Filipino drag queens were announced as winners — Marina for WOWlebrity on the Rise and Eva Le Queen for Best Beauty Guru. [caption id="attachment_135148" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph Courtesy of David Martinez | WOWlebrity on the Rise Marina Summers’ Pink Carpet look, inspired by the Philippine seas.[/caption] Marina received her The Can’t Get You Out of My Head Award right after her performance, dancing to Beyonce’s “Love on Top.” She bested Anetra, Gemini Dai, Grant Vanderbilt, Kristen Kish, Lemon, Liam Krug and Rylie. On the other hand, Eva bagged the Painted Award, besting Abby Roberts, Bosco, Emira D’Spain, Gigi Gorgeous, Julie Vu, Silky Nutmeg Ganache and Sminty Drop. The other WOWIE winners are Gigi Goode (Best Instagram); Sugar and Spice (Best TikTok); Miss Fiercalicious (Best Twitter): Rock M. Sakura (Best YouTube Channel); Krystal Versace in Girls Aloud Performance at London Marathon (Best Viral Moment); Chase Strangio (Resistor of the Year); Fire of Love (Best Documentary); BenDeLaCreme on The Daily Show (Best Television Appearance); RuPaul’s Black Butta (Best Album); Amethyst (Best New Artist); The House of Avalon (Fiercest Nightlife People); Ariana Grande (Best Ally); Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers of Las Culturistas (Best Podcast); Ts Madison (Best Comedian); Trixie Cosmetics (Best Beauty Line); Sasha Velour’s The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag (Best Book); Taylor Hale (Biggest Drag Superfan); Jazell Royale (Hottest Hottie Award); and Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Gottmik and Violet Chachki at the Grammys (Best Dressed). Meaningful and memorable The Filipino drag queens expressed delight and gratitude for being part of DragCon LA. “After all the madness I just want to say that I had the best time of my life with my family. It just blows my mind to think that this was beyond our wildest dreams a few years back. And to know that Filipino drag is LOVED AND RAVED all the way here. Thank you everyone!,” wrote Eva Le Queen on her Twitter account (@eva_lequeen) on 15 May. “To know and hear it from Queens like Sasha Colby, Angeria and many others that Drag Race PH is their FAVORITE FRANCHISE IN THE WORLD is just f*ckin wild!!! I would think we have made a mark in the PH mainstream but guuurl — we made a mark in the WORLD,” she added. On the other hand, Viñas DeLuxe, on her Twitter (@vinasdeluxe), said: “Being part of @rupaulsdragcon was an unforgettable experience, feeling the love and connection with supporters from all over the world, making an impact one glittery step at a time!” This year’s DragCon had an extra special meaning as attacks on drag queens and trans persons are intensifying and laws against them are being pushed in the United States. The post Pinoy drag queens shine at DragCon LA, join ‘Drag Race Philippines’ cast reunion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
OKBet backs World Cup coverage
Filipino fans will not be missing out on the biggest basketball tournament of the year as OKBet sponsors Cignal TV’s broadcast of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. OKbet will be present in Cignal TV’s broadcast across different platforms, including free-to-air television on TV5 and One Sports and Pay TV on One Sports+ and OTT C-Play. The sponsorship agreement was formalized last Thursday at the Black Olive Restaurant and Events Hall in Pasig City. Among those who attended were OKBet assistant business director Perterean Briñas; OKBet brand director Christopher Cañadella; Cignal TV vice president for content innovations, solutions, and channel sales Eric Centeno; and TV5 cluster head Jackie Dulog. Centeno said that there will be a “very extensive coverage” of the games, which will be played in three host countries this year, namely the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. “We welcome, acknowledge and thank OKBet [as] one of our first broadcast sponsors for this monumental event,” the media firm exec remarked. “We are looking forward to a fruitful relationship and beneficial partnership moving forward,” he added. OKBet, Cignal TV aim to make the hardcourt action more accessible to the passionate fans at home, especially now that the country is hosting FIBA once again after over four decades. A total of 32 teams, allocated into eight groups of four, are competing this year for the much-coveted Naismith Trophy. The Philippine men’s national basketball team Gilas Pilipinas will play in Group A, joining Angola, the Dominican Republic, and Italy. The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is set to kick off on 25 August at the Philippine Arena. The post OKBet backs World Cup coverage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ONE Championship: Eduard Folayang wants Eddie Alvarez rematch
In August of 2019, Filipino mixed martial arts icon and two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang came painfully close to recording what would have been the biggest win of his MMA career when he faced former UFC and Bellator Lightweight World Champion Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez in a high-stakes lightweight matchup. The winner would earn a spot in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Finals against Turkey’s Saygid Guseyn “Dagi” Arslanaliev at ONE: CENTURY in Tokyo, Japan, later that year. Early in the first round, it looked like Folayang was on his way to Tokyo after chopping Alvarez down with a nasty leg kick that obviously hurt the American star. What followed suit however, was a heartbreaking turn of events for Folayang, and an impeccable comeback from Alvarez. Looking to finish Alvarez off, Folayang pounced and began raining down heavy shot after heavy shot. Alvarez meanwhile, covered up and then waited for his opportunity to reverse things. Alvarez flipped Folayang over, took his back, and locked in the rear naked choke for the first-round submission win. Folayang admitted to rushing things as he was a tad bit too excited to get the finish. (READ ALSO: WHAT IF: Eduard Folayang had stopped Eddie Alvarez back in 2019?) Now, looking to make his way back up to the top of the lightweight ladder, Folayang hopes to be able to draw another meeting with Alvarez. “[If I could face anybody], it’s definitely Eddie Alvarez,” Folayang told ONE Championship’s Christian Jacinto. “I want to face him again.” As he had said before, Folayang acknowledges that he could have done a lot of things better in their first encounter. “Back in our match, I had a lot of regrets, I made a lot of mistakes…If given the chance, I believe my performance would be a whole lot better,” the Team Lakay star stated. “I definitely got careless in that match. We expected Eddie to be more of a striker, so I was confident when the match hit the ground,” he continued. Indeed, Alvarez has been known to be a brawler, which has helped him become a crowd favorite during his time in the UFC and in Bellator. Against Folayang however, Alvarez - who’s a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Ricardo Almeida - let his grappling and his experience shine. In the past, Folayang has shown that he can hold his own against some dangerous grapplers, as evidenced by his stunning world title win against former champion Shinya Aoki back in 2016. Folayang hopes that he can channel that same level of defense again if and when he gets to share the cage with Alvarez again. “If there would be a rematch, I’d address my issues in the ground, and hopefully, I’ll be better this time around.".....»»
Discovery Channel delves into & lsquo;Black Lives Matter& rsquo; movement
To better understand the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement that recently shook America and the rest of the world, Discovery Channel airs special features tackling the sensitive and significant topics of racism and police brutality from June 26 to 28. .....»»
LIST: Dragonpay’s payment channels schedule for Holy Week
Some payment channels will have shortened hours of operation while others will be temporarily deactivated from March 27 (Holy Wednesday) to March 30 (Black Saturday)......»»
KATRIBU on the impact of Maharlika Investment Fund on the Moro and Indigenous Peoples
A speech delivered by Beverly Longid, KATRIBU National Convenor, during the Maharlika Investment Fund forum organized by the First Quarter Storm (FQS) Movement......»»
NEWS BRIEFS | 26 March 2024
P101-M sea wall to rise in Surigao Sur town A P101.3 million sea wall will be constructed in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur to protect lives and properties from storm surges there. Rep. Romeo Momo (1st District, Surigao del Sur) led the ground breaking of the Marihatag Seawall Project last Sunday, March 24. “The project is a […].....»»
Leisurely
On every pressing matter, it seems, our government is hardwired to make haste slowly......»»
Zanjoe, Ria nagpakasal na; magiging nanay at tatay na rin ba?
IKINASAL na ang celebrity couple na sina Ria Atayde at Zanjoe Marudo sa pamamagitan ng intimate wedding ceremony officiated by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. Kinumpirma ito ng Kapamilya actor sa kanyang latest Instagram post kung saan makikitang nakasuot siya ng black suit habang naka-white dress naman si Ria na may hawak na bouquet of flowers......»»
Meralco reminds public of electrical safety tips this Holy Week
Electric concessionaire Meralco said that its personnel will attend to the needs of its customers during Holy Week despite its offices being closed from Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday......»»
Patay nang milutaw sa Mactan Channel
Patay nang milutaw sa Mactan Channel.....»»
Exploring the culinary heritage of Pampanga
'The future of Kapampangan food is bright,' says chef Jam Melchor, founder of the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement.....»»
Bantay Dagat tells fisherfolks, fish dealers to register their gears, vessels
CEBU CITY, Philippines – An official of Cebu City’s Bantay Dagat Commission (BDC) is urging fisherfolks and fish dealers to comply with the mandatory registration of their fishing vessels and gears. Lawyer Ernesto Jose Rama, the BDC chairman, said in an episode of Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission (BDC) aired via the Sugboanon Channel that.....»»
Tambalang SnoRene kinakiligan pati ng mga celebs
TALAGA namang parami pa nang parami ang kinikilig sa tambalan ng Kapamilya stars na sina Maris Racal at Anthony Jennings o mas kilala bilang SnoRene. Nag-post kasi si Maris sa kanyang Instagram page ng mga black and white photos nila ni Anthony na kuha bago sila um-attend ng Star Magical Prom 2024. Matatandaang nitong March.....»»