kindergarten

kindergarten students, Virgen del Pilar
18th Avenue, East Rembo, Makati

More images from the same place. This time kindergarten kids consultation in an arts class.

sleep

Mocha Blends
Harbour Square, Malate, Manila

Harbour Square is a wonderful place to eat out with friends and family- any time of the day- sunsets to night time are the best, and any day of the year with a sole exception- when the tide is high. You won’t want  Manila Bay water splashing over you or your food). We’ve seen Singkit and Dencio’s, now it’s Mocha Blends’ turn and there are a lot more.

Mocha Blends isn’t really something unfamiliar to everyone. The very name gives whatever secret it has. The photo screams Starbucks, Figaro, Gloria Jeans, Seattle’s Best, Bo’s, UCC and everything.  But this one has got to be Oz’s pride.

tabaqueria

Tobacco
SM Mall of Asia, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Bay City, Pasay

 

Tobacco is one of the Philippines’ original cash crops. Along with hemp, coconut oil and the notorious cane sugar, tobacco kept the then colonial and highly agricultural economy of the archipelago okay. Philippine tobacco is pretty reputable too- not within the iconic status of Cuban cigar though. I can’t say it’s good. The largest I had ever was about half the diameter of a regular hefty cigar. And it’s from Havana. So much for being a Manileño, but when I can finally afford this, or when I cannot be satisfied by them Marlboros, Luckies and Dunhills anymore– and I’m trying to kick them out of my system– I’ll try local cigar, for fun.

Local cigarettes are definitely funny though. You know the ones specifically for the old ladies or ‘manangs’?

them cosplayers, last part

Level Up! Live 2008, World Trade Center Metro Manila
Senator Gil Puyat Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard / Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City

 

The last fanboy and the last Alice girl. There’s another cosplay and general anime event on this day in Silvercity, sponsored by Anime cable tv channel Hero, which celebrates its anniversary. I wish I could be there but no time. In fact, I find it increasingly more difficult to maintain this blog. And it’s disheartening that it can’t be a daily photoblog it ought to be, it makes me even less enthusiastic.

 

This too long series isn’t really a big deal. I’m just drawn to this artform- obscure fandom + absurd fashion + performance. And yea, shows what sort of events happen here in Metro Manila. Level Up! Live is an annual thing, but to host Ragnarok World Championships is big, since it’s usually done in South Korea. Probably the next best thing to World Cyber Games, which is something I’m to noobz to be bothered anyway. Also, if you’re not from Metro Manila, or the Philippines for that matter, this set more or less gives an idea on how some Metro Manileños appear, too bad it doesn’t show what they would ‘normally’ wear.

 

I’m actually thinking about this new project, portraits of people from Metro Manila or people who are based here and some generic questionnaire, like basics and stuff. But it’s too ambitious at the moment. And I’m not too confident with my portraiture skills yet.

them cosplayers, part 13

Level Up! Live 2008, World Trade Center Metro Manila
Senator Gil Puyat Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard / Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City

 

Here’s the mastersmith. Definitely a fanboy crowd favorite, really. It’s almost too much I overheard a conversation between an overly jealous girlfriend and a boyfriend too unwilling to give up taking cellphone video clips of this girl. I wish I could’ve shown a sexier full body shot here. But there’s way too much fanboy cameramen in the way!

them cosplayers, part 12

Level Up! Live 2008, World Trade Center Metro Manila
Senator Gil Puyat Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard / Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City

 

A Ragnarok Sniper and a guy who looks like a ninja. I think I’ve seen that thing before, I can’t remember.

them cosplayers, part 11

Level Up! Live 2008, World Trade Center Metro Manila
Senator Gil Puyat Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard / Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City

 

A high priest named Chippy and a blacksmith named Reese

them cosplayers, part 10

Level Up! Live 2008, World Trade Center Metro Manila
Senator Gil Puyat Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard / Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City

The Einbroch crew. Behave or perish, like fresh goods.

them cosplayers, part 9

Level Up! Live 2008, World Trade Center Metro Manila
Senator Gil Puyat Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard / Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City

A cute girl carrying a DSLR. Is that part of the costume? She doesn’t even look like she’s playing a character, but so many people are taking photographs of her as well, and probably not just because she looks really cute.

them cosplayers, part 8

Level Up! Live 2008, World Trade Center Metro Manila
Senator Gil Puyat Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard / Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City

A merchant girl. Be nice and she may give you discounts.