The Hobbit: graphic novel

When I learned that The Hobbit was actually going to be adapted for film, I was thrilled! It was actually a J.R.R. Tolkien book that I read. Well, most of it anyways. I skipped the singing parts of which there was a lot. Strangely enough, I do not see myself reading it again (and I am rather notorious at rereading books I really like).

Thank goodness that I came across the next best thing - a graphic novel!

This graphic novel was very nicely done, with illustrations and colours that are as rich as the story itself. I was able to finish it in a couple of hours and enjoyed reading this visual treat.

Technorati tags: book

Our Heritage

"Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan."
(One who does not know how to look back where he came from, will never reach his destination")

This Filipino proverb rings a strong sentiment, especially to what has been happening in the Philippines. Turn of the century, art deco architecture are being demolished to give way to commercialism. In the process of losing our past, we are slowly losing our national pride; whatever is left of our rich culture giving way to more money-making schemes. Imagine, Asia's first ever botanical garden desecrated by a huge parking lot!

This sentiment was renewed when I saw photos of the Jai Alai building which was demolished some years back. If you have a Facebook account, join up with Old Philippines and see the former splendour that is the Philippines.

Can we bring back our former glory? Only if we come together and work as one.



Related link: National Commission for the Culture and the Arts


Technorati tags: Baguio

Dragon origami

This origami is from the same book as Pegasus, the Origami Sourcebook authored by Jay Ansill. This dragon design is shared by Robert Neale.

This dragon is quite fun to make because it's very easy. It uses the bird base and only requires a few folds to get the dragon done. I think I overdid the folds on the neck, though. There's one too many. I liked it nonetheless and so it is now on display in my office.

Technorati tags: origami

Pegasus origami

This was a very challenging paper fold, but I managed to complete this project after 3 hours. This origami was devised by Gabriel Alvarez from the book Origami Sourcebook (author: Jay Ansill).

I used an A3 sized paper. Based on my experience, a smaller-sized paper will make folding this project difficult. As it is, I skipped some folding instructions, particularly those that further defined features at the latter part and I also improvised, such as the tail. But I like the result overall. Kudos to Mr. Alvarez for this ingenious origami.
Pegasus is one of my favorite mythical creatures. One can wonder how such a beautiful creature actually came out of Medusa's blood! Pegasus was instrumental in the destruction of the Chimaera, and served Zeus as he brought the god his weapon of lightning. Alas, Pegasus was mortal but because he faithfully served the gods, he became a constellation, a place of honour in the skies.
I like this origami so much I took some thick cardboard and mounted it. It is now on display in my office.

Technorati tags: origami

It's not yet over for Baguio's Convention Center forested area

Before we left the country last year, I was keen on what had been happening over the forested area at the Convention Center in Baguio City, the Philippines. As I have mentioned before, the pine trees were planted there when I was around Grade 2. I saw the trees grow and the area become a desolate piece of land into a place rich with life and reflects what Baguio City is all about - a city of Pines. That lot was threatened to developments by GSIS and SM. I learned recently that it still is being fought for.

Frankly, we do not need any more large-scale construction in Baguio City. Last year, look to your left and right and you will see construction everywhere. More concrete is being planted than trees. And it was trees and the idyllic atmosphere that made Baguio famous in the first place. Sure, development is great, but at the rate it is happening in Baguio, it is not development at all. Where before you can walk around freely and the city sleeps at 8 and the scent of trees are all over, you now have humongous traffic jams, pollution, overpopulation, and increased crime rate.

And frankly, if a residential/condominium space is built on that area, I will tell all my friends and ask them to tell their friends to NEVER patronize the place because it was built on fallen trees for the sake of moneymaking.

Same goes to that SM Baguio. Many trees were felled on that area and they fooled the people by saying a resort was going to be built there, only to reveal later on that it was going to be a mall. Sure, it gave us updated movie screenings but what else is there? We've lost the trees there and the land they grew on, and we can no longer get it back. Do we want to lose more land and trees?

Newsbits:
Official confirms SM plans to develop GSIS lot - rather old news
GSIS sues Baguio City over Convention Center pine forest development
Goodbye Baguio Convention Center
Baguio won't heed GSIS eviction notice

Technorati tags: Baguio