POETRY & ART BY:

BARBIE ALMALBISTINA ARCILLA

OLEG DE LEONJOURDAN SEBASTIAN

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> GABBY CANTERODAYLIGHT SERIES

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2new beginnings

Who, upon upward gaze will pace his eyes and contemplate those tyrian drapes that shroud the stageso carefully above us?

To ponder on the cloud of dust that waits behind the silent curtains

Gathering dreams?

To thank the swirling mass of sleeping fires for keeping faithuntil our thoughts find voices and call them to rage?

Who will remember the blank page where possibility dwells?Who will remember its patience?

The star can only blaze against the night as its canvas

WATERCOLOR PAINTING BY: KARA ESCAY, “SOUL PIECE”

For info and reservations:http://getsthenovel.wordpress.com

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It's the first issue!SPARK is something very

close to my heart. The idea for the magazine

dawned on me earlier this year in a flurry of thoughts that I had around election time. As usual, I was frustrated with the way things were playing out. It was like an old vinyl record jumping back because of that same old scratch in the grooves.

In the end, I realized all my own frustrations were coming from a passive disposition. They were coming from a box I placed myself in. I was not really doing anything to change the situation that I was in, the situation we are all in.

I eventually started thinking of ways I could really be the change, be the difference. As I started conceptualizing new projects towards nation-building (one of those projects being this magazine), one of the realizations I had was that I wasn't making any substantial change in the career I was focusing on.

I was a real estate agent. I wouldn't go as far as saying

that I sold my soul to "the man". Though I felt my soul was slowly being eaten away by an unknown malevolent force, it was more that, despite the fact I was providing people with homes (mostly second homes) I felt I could be doing so much more.

I decided to go back to what I love… teaching.

After several interviews (some pleasant and refreshing, others being tests of patience and personal fortitude), it was like the fates were dancing and playing that little game they play with the strings they weave. The universe was conspiring.

I met a community with the same advocacies and the same passions. I became a My Masterpiece teaching-artist.

I won't go too much into details (I have other articles for that). To make a long story short, I found a place where I could be who I truly am without second guessing myself. It’s a place where you find the everyday magic in the little things and where you choose to be like a kid again.

What was funny was that they also wanted to put up an online magazine (I told you the universe was conspiring).

It felt right to join creative forces for this new adventure. And that's where we are now.

The theme for this issue, "New Beginnings", was chosen for various reasons. On a personal level, I liked the idea because it was in line with the launch of my book (yes, I know, I just shamelessly self-promoted myself).

Also, this being SPARK's first issue, the theme seemed appropriate. But as you read the rest of this magazine, you will see it touches different people in many different ways.

Most of the time, it's in ways that you would least expect.

For you, maybe it's a new career. For some, it might be as simple as a new book they read or a restaurant they visited for the first time. For others, it's a new stage in their life. As a nation, it's a new day with new hopes and aspirations. And for many, it may even be the old hopes and aspirations with a fresh outlook.

As artists (yes, this includes you), we can see today as a blank canvas. It's a clear empty space where anything and everything is possible.

And much like how I realized that I wasn't alone in what I believed in, you may realize that you don't have to paint that picture on your own. I know it may sound corny but we can all paint that landscape together.

So pick up a brush, a pencil or any instrument you see fit and join us in being the difference!

R I C H A R D W , D A C A L O SE D I T O R - I N - C H I E F

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

{ spontaneous collaborative poetry }BY: CORINNE CHING AND FRIENDS

ART BY: TINA ARCILLA, COBBIE KARAGDAG, ERICA VILLANUEVA

BY: ISABEL GARCIA FEATURING: CARINA SANTOSCAT CORTES

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ON

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E X T E R N A L C O N T R I B U T O R SSmarla AngtuacoTina ArcillaYosu De Erquiaga Oleg De Leon Isabel GarciaCarl Montalba

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S T A F F & C O N T R I B U T O R S

Richard W. DacalosEditor-in-Chief / Renaissance Man-in-Training

Nica HechanovaCreative Director / Contributor

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Anna Escay-CortezCreative Consultant / Contributor

P U B L I S H E R S

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God gives us time,time for everything

To express who we are or how we feel like being

Sometimes we hide beautiful things behind a wall

A wall we build around us that makes us deaf to any call

Build it up, break it downTo reveal, to conceal what's

there to be found

Live your life to the fullest, only who knows how?

Live the moment cause what we have is now

WORDS BY: ERICA VILLANUEVA

ARTWORK BY: ERICA VILLANUEVA & CARL MONTALBA

God gives us time,time for everything

To express who we are or how we feel like being

Sometimes we hide beautiful things behind a wall

A wall we build around us that makes us deaf to any call

Build it up, break it downTo reveal, to conceal what's

there to be found

Live your life to the fullest, only who knows how?

Live the moment cause what we have is now

WORDS BY: ERICA VILLANUEVA

ARTWORK BY: ERICA VILLANUEVA & CARL MONTALBA

With the simple and humble let us take flightFrom the silence and hush of darkest nightTo a place of fancy and fantasyWhere dreams are birthright of ecstasy

Where all everything is what we createOur fires newly stowed, we no longer waitAs tomorrow's embrace holds magic and promiseOn we go to search for our soul's infinite bliss

The seeds in our spirits now guide us steady,Dreams and imagination deem us readyWith the simplest and strongest sparks we take flightOnward we fly to new beginning's brightest light

6new beginnings

WORDS BY:

YOSU DE ERQUIAGA

ARTWORK BY:

NICA HECHANOVA

Seeds of L ight

own waking life. My state made it difficult for me to find inspiration where I used to gather them in pails. I had no money to take me anywhere, and my friends were too busy to keep me sane.

The depression was so daunting that I didn't even bother to drink my problems away. Not that I could've afforded it anyway.

All but one person struggled to rebuild my connection to the world and my identity. Anyone in his situation would've left me for dead but here was someone who never let go – a person with an enormous heart and a self-replenishing source of patience.

Even through my darkest days, I found myself confronted by someone saying how proud he was of me, and could never fail to enumerate the good things he saw inside of me. Then out of nowhere a light turned on. I started to see what he saw. I suddenly recognized myself and saw what it was that I kept ignoring all this time. I felt myself bursting from within, and before I knew it, I was painting again.

For the first time in my entire life as an artist, I was able to finish not just one but three paintings. All of which hung alongside other works of art by old classmates from university. It was my New Beginning. I saw myself in a different, yet familiar light. Like it had been there for ages but I'd always failed to notice it.

In the hope of writing an article that would receive innumerable amounts of praise and great reviews, I struggled in the attempts of coming up with the perfect idea, the perfect wording, and the perfect work of literature. I had forgotten what the point of all this was. Being human, I drifted off in rejoicing over a delirious glimpse into my self-fabricated future – a standing ovation, or in this case, a possible bombarding of comments, likes, and reblogs. Vanity had taken a relatively large toll on my time and effort. So there I was, finding myself staring at a blank Word Document, four hours before my given deadline.

A tsunami of questions drowned my thoughts. I asked myself: what do I truly want to convey through this opportunity to be heard. I thought of this issue's theme, namely, New Beginnings. I had gone through this before, but now I had the chance to see it, breathe it, and internalize it with a clear and empty space within me. Somehow, as I took the phrase in, I grew more aware of the fact that I am not a stranger to this idea. Not long after that I knew most, if not all, of those who are reading this might be familiar with it in different ways.

This made it a great deal easier for me to relate what I have to say. At first I was very doubtful with my article but soon I realized that all it needed was something more personal, something that would truly prove to be a piece of me.

About three or four months ago, I felt like I lost everything. I was forced to drop out of school. I was kicked out of my house. I had no money and nowhere to go. The people I depended on, in a way, weren't as helpful as I had hoped. I lost trust in the things that used to sustain me. It was as if the world was against me. I was scared. I lost track of who I was and all that I used to love. It was difficult for me since this feeling was new. All my inner demons were clawing out from under my skin. I spent every waking day bringing myself down, and even as I slept, my dreams served as a horrid reminder of the day that was.

With this mindset, I often found myself spending long hours staring into canvasses, unfinished works of art, feeling too tired to be motivated and too depressed to even try. It bothered me enough that I began to despise my very existence, and the more I thought about my situation, the more desolate and lost I felt. I thought of myself as my own worst enemy – a nightmare within my

A new form of excitement, inspiration and motivation was birthed. I found myself creating more within a day than what would have taken me months to finish in the past.

I read an article about how the structure of a human being's brain cell strikingly resembles the structure of the universe. It somehow fed me a new perspective on my experience. As an artist, this piece of information proves vital to my grip on sanity.

Stereotypical questions like "Why do I exist?" and "Who am I?" seem to fade out in lieu of these tidbits of information. The idea that we are actually connected to our universe even in such miniscule details gives us a feeling of security, a sense of acceptance, a definitive point in our existence, more questions and soon enough their respective answers.

I gave my New Beginning a name and thus called it the Big Bang. The idea of the Big Bang model reminded me so much of how it felt – the spontaneous surge of energy, the constructive and creative ingenuity, the force that drove me to extend my reach and demolish the barriers that had once hindered me from becoming all that I am now. I suppose the same goes with everyone. This experience is not limited to me alone.

In an attempt to strengthen the bridge that connects us to our vast home, we must first know how it all began. The

closest we can get to understanding our universal origin is a dot, a point, a miniscule condensation of matter and energy whose origin is also unknown but its existence evident prior to our own.

This point, with reasons unknown to us, produced a massive explosion, a Big Bang of all that we know, of space and of time – a pure creational burst, almost like the birth of an idea in the deep chambers of our brain. The universe, after the explosion, was a chaotic tangle of light and high-temperature mass, and within a second or less, its temperature dramatically dropped from a trillion to a billion degrees. A continuous expansion and cooling of the universe occurred, and eventually, the stellar formation of certain life-sustaining elements led to our existence.

The title says it all: Anthropomorphic Cosmology. I didn't mean it in terms of what philosophers of the past dub it as (an egocentric view as to how we are the point in which all the universe revolves upon), but as how I think we as human beings should (that we are a reflection of all that is around us).

We are not much different from our universe. As far as we know, the universe is vast, it continues to grow, it is eternal, and it is infinite. It isn't wrong for us to think that we are as well. We shouldn't limit ourselves to small things. We have to rid ourselves of the idea that we can't do certain things for certain reasons.

These are all excuses we delude ourselves in to prevent ourselves from making mistakes or being humiliated, and so we find ourselves wasting our time doing nothing and living in fear of unimportant things.

I'm not telling you to find yourself someone to see you as someone great to motivate you, nor am I telling you to lose everything. But try to see yourself for what you are – a masterpiece: a unique individual capable of anything you will yourself to do. Accept yourself. Love yourself. Let the explosion from within engulf you in the light of creation and you'll see that, like Anne Copeland once said, "There is a whole universe within."

8new beginnings

K U R O M I L L O

R I C H A R D W . D A C A LO S

"Untrained"… What does it really mean?Some people believe we come into this world

as a tabula rasa or a blank slate. Others think we have a priori knowledge or that there is something already there.

Regardless of these beliefs, there are points in our lives where we feel we need to go an extra mile to learn something. May it be training ourselves or getting training from others. More often than not, people won't think you're capable if you aren't "formally" trained.

Strictly speaking I have only been formally trained in singing, Capoeira (the Brazilian Martial Art), research, marching in unison, rifle drills and live ammunition firing. I half believe this is because the collective unconscious is preparing me for a zombie apocalypse or another dystopian post-apocalyptic scenario that may involve a musical number, but that’s beside the point.

The point is if I lived up to the prejudice of others I would never get anything done.

I would never have become a musician because no one taught me how to compose (or make weird sounds with my mouth). I would have never written a book because no one taught me how to write. And this magazine may have never come into fruition because no one trained me how to manage a publication.

For a long time, I considered myself a "renaissance man". But it wasn't really something I really owned up to until a few months ago.

At work, we started making "declarations" for ourselves and for the team. This meant taking on a possibility and being a stand for yourself and for others. Choosing to do or be what we declare.

Seeing that, at work, we were teaching our kids about Shakespeare and his stories. I felt it was appropriate to push myself to be bigger than I previously thought I was. I chose that day to become a renaissance man. I declared it.

A huge part of declaring that for myself was that I had to push myself out of my comfort zones (e.g. playing guitar, sketching, acting). It wasn’t that I lacked skills. I believe it was more related to how I thought of myself.

I used to believe all I was capable of drawing was stick figures and random shapes. The moment I told myself I could do it, in a matter of days, you could drastically see the difference in my drawing.

10new beginnings

It was about letting go of whatever fears I wasn't acknowledging. It was about taking a step forward and taking on a new adventure… one of the first being painting.

In all honesty, I wasn't an "artsy" kid (or an athletic one for that matter). Yes, I drew (stick people count as drawings and so do sheep pooping stars). I also made comics. But as a child, my "art" and my games were more story-driven.

When it comes to painting and other traditional mediums, I had barely any exposure before I started working as a Teacher-Artist. It’s likely that most of the paint I had handled before this year was when I used to make and decorate macaroni necklaces in elementary school (possibly given as a task to curb my ADHD).

So taking it on was a daunting task. Buying the materials was fun but the adventure I chose for myself became concrete when that blank canvas was actually in front of me.

I thought to myself… Now what do I do? Where do I start? I had sketches already to guide me but putting the paint and making that white space disappear was a whole different story. The same old fears started rising up again.

Where did those fears come from?Part of me believes that it is how we were

raised. May it have been a parent, sibling or a teacher, there was a point in our lives when someone got mad at us for doing something wrong (or wrong in their eyes). We become trained to fear "imperfections". Accustomed to seeing a mistake as a failure (yes, there is a difference).

In connection with that, it may also be a fear of the unknown. A white space is intimidating because there so much space to work with, so many possibilities. Many of us feel comfortable working with something that is already established rather than venturing into the unfamiliar.

Again, this is very much related to the idea of seeing a mistake as a failure. Trying to stick on a set path rather then playing with a space and letting yourself get surprised.

Children play so naturally. It's something I guess we forget as we get older.

In my own personal experience, the first brush stroke was the hardest. But I guess, like anything, you just have to take it a step at a time. Once you jump in, just enjoy the ride. See where your own creative daemon or genius takes you.

I still remember the first time I put the oil paint on the palette. I seriously used too much black. A surge of panic went through me. To think, the paint wasn't even on the canvas.

More than anything it is about playing with the possibility, the space, and seeing that mistakes are your friends. If you see a mistake as a comrade, you might be surprised where your friend might take you (as you choose to take yourself).

After the initial panic, it was just about exploring myself and the paint. But I must say, clean up was an experience. My own obsessive-compulsive tendencies were pushed to a limit.

The "Aaaahhh! My sink is black. Ahhhh! The paint is spreading! Ahhhhh! My hands are black and the paint is spreading to my arm!" thoughts almost pushed me to a comfort zone breakdown.

I didn't go as far going into a fit of yelling, "Unclean! Unclean!" as I scrubbed myself with a loofa in the shower but I did have flashbacks of my general science courses in college and the reason why you use soap in terms of positive and negative charges in water and oil. I'm strange.

After I let go of my own frantic scrubbing, I just accepted the fact that I may not get all the paint off. I just thought to myself that it's pretty cool that I either looked like a mechanic or that I killed the Predator with my bare hands. And aside from that, my painting was looking pretty good.

Painting is just one of the things I’m “untrained” in that I'm taking on to learn. I'll be sharing regularly, through this column, my experiences exploring different art forms. I'll embark on new journeys as often as I can.

Who knows which adventure is next? With how much the world has to offer, the possibilities are endless. I could be taking up a new dance (maybe involving a pole), learn how to play an instrument or try out a different martial art. I’ll let the world surprise me as I surprise myself.

I invite you to do the same. Take something on. Be not afraid. Venture into the unknown and embrace the adventure in front of you.

What are you going to take on? Let me know and tell me how it goes. Send me a message at richard@indieartinc.com or rdacalos@indieartinc.com

{ s p o n t a n e o u s c o l l a b o r a t i v e p o e t r y }B Y : C O R I N N E C H I N G & F R I E N D S

what is una poetry?

una poetry was discovered by my friends jourdan, lina and me, one lazy afternoon by the bay, near CCP. we appropriated the concept from a common exercise used in acting workshops called one-word-story.

each person throws a word, and another person responds by adding another word, until the group is happy with the story they created.

through this surprising spontaneous collaborative exercise, i've collected around 200 pieces.

una poetry, randomly made with friends, acquaintances & sometimes strangers from 2001-2010.here are some of our masterpieces...

p.s. i'll be coming out with a collection of this fantastically bogus poetry soon so watch out for it!enjoy our succulent organic poetry!

right start today and this time, everything seems right.finally, clarity.seeing purpose, being whole.coming in... roses fragrant,laughter after every pain,baggage released clouded thinking. strategies implemented,losing ground.closer to every reality,becoming beautiful personal relationshipsassisted by emotionsand crowns placed atop my beautiful head. existence now!forever, freedom attained.closet cleaned,summer arrives, raining stops,work brought about meaningful relationships.peace.friendship. come to a never-ending glorious love-affair!   ross & corinne chingmarch 4, 2005iloveyoustore, saguijo

mismo ka talaga exactly my preferred desire,coming, becoming,lasting forever... dearest insight,i succumb to you. sigh... then float, zoom inward, outwardburst with succulent, luscious moments,forever clever like me. todo ayus talaga!kakagigil ideas na mismo!tumatama talaga.kaya wag na patagalin ang kwento, act na now!   

 

jourdan sebastian, barbie almalbis & corinne chingnovember 11, 2005

hit it hard

expectorant expecting dephlegmatoric flummoxedgastric complication needing constant attention. inside bodily functionslie a desire not easily quelled. discomposure becomes evident. nightly questioningwhether to or whatever not. taste everything fresh from today's batch of cookies.stale servings deserve stale treatment. desserts like apple-pie- a-la-modemelting into realizations... empty toxic treats. deliberatly punishpanis ang bumubulok na prutasunlike peypakwa,soothing, healing deliciousnessnecessary for complete recovery and closure.  bianca holganza & corinne chingaugust 2, 2005

12new beginnings

h t t p : / / c o b b i e k . m u l t i p l y . c o m

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS?c l u e : i t ' s r e c y c l a b l e

Be one of the first 3 to send in the right answer and WIN A PRIZE!Email us at richard@indieartinc.com or rdacalos@indieartinc.com

F o r p u r c h a s e s a n d i n q u i r i e s ema i l :r i c h a r d@ i n d i e a r t i n c . c om o r r d a c a l o s@ i n d i e a r t i n c . c om

14new beginnings

tinaA R C I L L A

awakenoil/tempera on canvas12x14

cobbieK A R A G D A Ghttp://cobbiek.multiply.com

beginnings digital photos

beginning to get used to crowded areas

beginning to show the signs of twilight

beginning to form into something else

16new beginnings

ericaV I L L A N U E V A

freedom mixed media on canvas

rayynC O R T E Zhttp://www.rayyn.com

hello my friendand so we meet again begin the game and fire away

we won’t fade into the unknown divided, broken and alone

we burn forever in the name - we are the flame

do you recallthe rise and fall of men and kings on broken wings

we won’t fade into the unknown divided, broken and alone

we burn forever in the name - we are the flame

the flame

download this song fromRayyn’s 3rd album, Big Machine,

for FREE!

http://web.mac.com/rayyn/rayyn/3rd_album_BIG_MACHINE.html

18new beginnings

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B Y : I S A B E L G A R C I A

When I graduated last March, I carried with me the bright-eyed enthusiasm of most college graduates. I walked out of that gymnasium, diploma in hand, with more of a sense of relief than accomplishment. The beauty of graduation is that we are thrown into a strange new world. It is a world that begins as the earth once did: as nothing. The ultimate tabula rasa.

Some people leave having their lives all planned out but most are thrown into a frenzy of worries, questions and the inevitable quarter-life crisis. Plans are laid out, trips are made and resumes are sent out, each carefully typed-out document riding solely on ambitious intentions.

And in the middle of the pandemonium, the future happens. That, perhaps, is the irony of the post-grad world. You only make your way once you lose yourself.

Many nights afterwards, I would receive pats on the back, big smiles and an endless string of congratulations. My family held a graduation dinner in my honor, the sum of their hopes spilling over, pinning me to the ground. "Starting today, the world is your oyster. You can accomplish everything," they promised. I believed them.

There was only one catch: I graduated with a degree in Creative Writing.

The mere utterance of those two words, Creative Writing, leave bespectacled men in expensive suits with one question: "So what are you going to do with that?" I look at them, in my jeans and dirty espadrilles, and I struggle.

Like a well-practiced speech, it goes: "There's advertising, journalism, publication, novel-writing and, if all else fails, teaching." They stare at me blankly, clearly unimpressed.

It is saddening that student artists are all too familiar with this.

Teachers, friends, parents and aunts (but mostly uncles) who believe that art is a hobby, a pipe dream, tell me in grave and hushed tones much like the bespectacled men, "not a very lucrative career". Some of the most talented people I know give up their craft to pursue what is practical. I don't blame them. Times are hard and money is no longer just a commodity. It's the heartbeat, the pulse, the blood and veins that keep modern society afloat.

My biggest realization, seven months after graduation, is that there is no 4-step way to success. When I got into Creative Writing, I envisioned the Carrie Bradshaw lifestyle: great apartment, nice shoes and a steady writing gig. Today I am 22, still living with my parents and shamelessly living off bargains.

Finding publications to write for isn't difficult. There are hundreds of eligible magazines worth writing for in this country. Unfortunately, as in matters of the heart, the difficulty lies in finding one that wants you.

And even when you do get the job, you're usually subjected to editing so severe that your piece devolves into a flat, barely-recognizable version of you. Let it be said: times are hard for dreamers and about half of them are writers.

While the post-grad world offers plenty of opposition, it also provides plenty of opportunities. But the dream unfolds a day at a time. I talked to two promising and talented artists who, fresh out of college, are just like me, still searching for solid ground. And while they're not quite there yet (wherever there may be), they are definitely well on their way.

Carina Santos, 22. BFA-Information Design. Currently: Graphic Designer (with a few extra projects on the side)

A Loyola Art Awardee during her senior year in college, Carina has been designing for most of her life. As far as I can remember, she began creating layouts for weblogs in grade school, using her self-taught literacy in HTML and Photoshop. From there, she moved on to mixed media and writing. I can tell you that her sense of aesthetics is definitely her own. Though, some may say that her genes play a minor role in it (she is the daughter of well-known painters, Soler and Mona Santos; granddaughter of none other than Malang. Yes, the Malang.)

In my opinion, she's in a league of her own with a style that is, in every sense, unique. For as long as I've known her (read: a decade), she's always struck me as the type of person who was bound to go places.

We were a row apart on that afternoon of new beginnings, graduating on the same day from the same university under the same fine arts department. "Graduation was more of a sigh of relief than anything," she admits, echoing my personal sentiments, further affirming that we are, indeed, meant to be friends. "And then things got scary and uncertain, so I took the first job offer I got (it was impermanent so it didn't really feel like a commitment). I'd been working on freelance jobs prior to graduation, so I wasn't really all that surprised by the work environment. What was hard to deal with was coming from school and having no time (working a 9-to-6) to having so much frakking time that I didn't know what to do with (working a stay-at-home job)."

"But I'm dealing with it," she adds. Currently a graphic designer for a reputable

company, she has great plans for the future. "I've always had an inclination to aesthetics and visual communication, and art, [sic]" she says via e-mail. "I don't really want to be a graphic designer; I want to work with books and paper, and other tactile materials. The way people interact with something visually appealing is a big part of what interests me with design. I want to work abroad for maybe two years. I know that's not a big possibility right now, but that's where I want to be."

The post-grad world is scary but Carina, who is in the same boat as most of us fresh grads, is moving forward. She knows where she wants to be. "I want to write and make books. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that my idea for a career isn't exactly going to make me much money. But Max Fischer said it best: 'The secret, I don't know…I guess you've just gotta find something you love to do and then…do it for the rest of your life.'"

Her advice for young artists? "Never stop trying to learn. Read, read, read, and never stop making things. That's the only way you can grow."

Cat Cortes, 22. BA-SOSS Sociology-Anthropology. Currently: HR & Project Manager, lead singer for Arigato, Hato!

Cat's first plan was to be a writer. Well, with her soft spot for socio-politics, she originally wanted to save the world while writing on the side.

During her senior year in college, her laptop got lost as did her thesis. She spent one week cramming and re-constructing everything -- which is why it's no surprise that graduation was, more than anything else, a big weight off her shoulders.

"I sat through graduation thinking: 'Okay, what's next?'" she told me over dinner in her apartment. With her game face on, Cat took a month-long break then began the tedious task of finding a job, which ultimately led her to where she works today.

Cat is known for many things: a winning personality, lyrical prose and poetry, her pint-sized stature yet larger-than-life charm and a fluency in French. But these days, she also gets a lot of recognition from being the lead singer of the band, Arigato, Hato!

Arigato, Hato! was formed sometime during Cat's college years. Although she had never envisioned becoming a singer, she eventually found herself, along with a band of beloved boys, performing in public. An independent band, Arigato, Hato!'s success escalated slowly until they eventually began performing in various places around the metro, cultivating loyal supporters along the way. The quirky and talented band flew to Singapore last July to perform along with two other indie bands: Us-2-Evil-0 and The Bernadettes.

Currently an artist in the corporate world, Cat plans to keep on writing, singing and making beautiful things. She calls her job 'capital for the future'. "You need to be realistic," she says.

"My advice for students who want to pursue art? You have to know what you love. And you have to have a support group.

Don't be afraid."She still hopes to save the world someday. (I

have no doubt that she will.)

***Maybe the real graduation happens when we bridge

the gap between dreams and truth. Maybe the real graduation is when we face that first rejection letter, put one foot in front of the other and try again. When we chase the dream even if the world kicks our ass in the process. I shall honor that by saying Creative Writing loud and proud.

"So what are you going to do with that?"Well, I'll tell you what: I'm going to keep writing. Maybe

I'll end up dirt poor. Maybe I'll go places. But there are two things I know for sure: one, the last shocking act is the pursuit of a passion with no guarantees. And two, wherever it leads will never be boring.

20new beginnings

"Don't go into arts, there's no money there.""There's no work out there for artists."I've heard these lines thrown at aspiring artists

time and time again. Sometimes, these comments are even from their loved ones. These comments are, of course, not meant to shoot down dreams but to express a concern for practicality. Pursuing the arts, after all, does not come cheap.

SLRs, canvasses, paints and workshops can be pretty expensive. With the continuous outflow of money with little or no reimbursement, lack of recognition, and more often than not, lack of support, artists are then forced to question their own dreams. A photographer friend of mine even posed the question, "Should passion trump practicality?"

As a struggling writer myself, my friend's question haunted me. Once again, the temptation to take the more financially secure route and shelve my "impractical" artistic visions was lurking around the corner.

I shared this with another friend and as he tried to be as supportive as possible, he suddenly thought that it might be helpful to introduce me to his favorite bar in Quezon City, Conspiracy Garden Cafe.

With just a dim lighted signage at the end of the seemingly boundless Visayas Avenue, my friend and I entered this house turned bar opposite the huge, brightly lit Shell station. It was unlike any other bar that I've been to. This one was complete with a garden, kitchen, lanai, sala and even a garage.

Conspiracy Garden Cafe was put up by a group of artists namely, Gary Granada, Cooky Chua, Noel Cabangon, Joey Ayala, Cynthia Alexander and Bayang Barrios.

Granada came up with the idea of putting up a bar together with his musician friends. They wanted a venue where people could gather and talk openly about the important issues we face as a country.

With burning hearts, the "conspirators" decided to take a risk and ventured into opening their own bar. They were aware of the country's glum economic situation but they still pushed on with their passion.

Since they were all independent artists, they invited fellow artists, music lovers and their friends from NGOs and progressive groups to become part of the conspiracy. With financial backing from their friends, they bought an old Spanish house along Visayas Avenue and converted it to what we know today as Conspiracy Garden Cafe.

Given the line of "conspirators", this bar, tagged as a progressive center, is known to give spotlight on underground music. Against all practical money making schemes, they do not showcase the common cookie-cutter pop groups, instead they sing songs about the country, women's issues and the environment. The place then serves as a cultural center that champions independent artists, poets, songwriters and literati.

Picking up from Gary Granada's inspired idea of people with common interests coming together in one place, they named the bar, "Conspiracy." In contrast with the dictionary meaning of the bar’s name, the idea came from the word "co-inspire."

They opened Conspiracy back in December of 2004. And despite the financial struggles (that they continue to face today), they have successfully kept the bar faithful to its mission to become a cultural hub for all kinds of artists.

22new beginnings

Conspiracy Garden Cafe has definitely paved the way for a new beginning in the industry. Without selling out, the bar allows artists to flourish in their artistic passions without compromising practicality. Through this bar, artists are given the spotlight to express and dialogue about what matters most to them.

Aside from progressive music, they have also explored other genres such as jazz, reggae and ethnic blues. Last October 2010, young bossa nova singers Chique Arcilla and Dianne Rivas performed in the bar.

Conspiracy Garden Cafe also pays tribute to writers, songwriters and upcoming poets by hosting book launching and poetry reading nights during Tuesdays. This has then drawn in different organizations such as PinoyPoets.com, UP Writer's Club and even UP Los Banos students.

Moreover, painters and visual artists are given a space as well. Other than the Php100 entrance fee sign, the whole white-walled mini hallway leading to the music bar was heavily adorned with paintings. The walls serve as a free gallery for local Filipino artists.

When I took a closer look at the paintings, I noticed that most of them were only painted this year. A bond paper description posted on the wall reveals that the paintings are in fact creations of young poets as part of the project “Salit Sining: Wordsmiths Turned Visual Artists II”. Browsing online, I learned that the bar also exhibited artworks by children in the past.

Despite these artistic successes, being in the business hasn't been easy for these artists. Back in 2007, the Quezon City police padlocked the place for a night. This was after an irate neighbor filed a complaint for noise pollution.

Furthermore, the artists decided to do everything the hard way. The six artists relied on each other playing every week with the hope to bring in more people.

The conspirators honestly claim that they are not businessmen but truly artists. They say that Gary Granada is the only one among them with the business sense. He then became Conspiracy's business manager for a couple of years.

Today, Conspiracy Garden Cafe is managed by one of the board members. They have also pumped up the investment by selling more shares to their friends and their NGO contacts. They currently have over a hundred stakeholders.

The bar is still at risk of being shut down like other businesses but they embrace this wholeheartedly with Cabangon's statement, "The target is not to be a rock star. Struggle is the twin of our artistry." It may not be "pratical" for them to put up a bar with such a small and specific niche but their tireless passion for their craft has allowed them to create a spirited community bonded by their beliefs and their love for the arts.

True enough, the place was jam packed when I visited. It was a Wednesday night. It turns out that Wednesdays are also known as Noel Cabangon night. People came in one by one as I noticed peals of laughter and happy conversations filled the room. However, when the clock struck 9:30 in the evening, the room fell silent as Noel's voice melodiously echoed through the entire place.

CONSP IRACY GARDEN CAFE Address:

59 Visayas Avenue, Quezon CityContact:

453-2170, 920-6517Operating Days/Hours:

Monday to Saturday, 6pm onwards

Overhead yellow spotlights were beaming down on him as he started singing his heart out in front of a microphone with his pale brown, metal stringed guitar in his hands.

There were no special effects, no other instruments or back up vocals - just raw acoustic music. The pureness of his voice lit up the small dark music bar, which invited the other people in the room to sing along.

We were all singing along with Noel as he played his songs and the crowd's requests as well. Almost everyone stayed on until he finished playing in the wee hours of the morning. It was so surprising to see that the people in the room seemed to know each other already.

It was truly an inspiring night for a struggling artist like me. Seeing how Conspiracy Garden Cafe has slowly but successfully gained ground in the Philippine scene today to showcase talents not commonly paid attention to by mass media, I am encouraged to push on with my passion.

It's also a comforting thought that this bar is going all out in their advocacy to support and serve as the incubator of the country's undiscovered talents. This is evident in their free art gallery, free book launching, song writing and poetry reading Tuesday nights and monthly line up of indie music artists and new faces in the industry.

Furthermore, the "conspirators" have effectively created a tight knit community where artists and enthusiasts can network and support one another.

Pursuing the arts may not be the most lucrative path but if it fuels the human soul, it is worth struggling for.

Hip-hop in the Philippines is a very touchy subject for me. In my opinion, for the past few decades, it has been either underrepresented or misrepresented. This of course is a generalization and there have been great exceptions (both Filipino hip-hop artists living and those who have passed).

There's a lot behind the whole scene that goes deeper than the surface. It’s not just about saying "yo", wearing baggy pants or using explicit language as you rhyme. A whole culture is present and people (even the people who call themselves "hip-hop") forget that.

I've been involved in the local hip-hop scene since 2000. I've been flying under the radar for about a decade, beatboxing and performing a handful of songs and spoken word poetry underground.

Earlier this year, after a long hiatus from attending hip-hop events, I started attending Fliptop. And what I saw was something I was not prepared for. No, it was not my friend Cameltoe's camel roll (don't even ask).

As I watched people arrive from the entrance, fans were asking if they could have pictures with the battle emcees. This may not seem like a big deal to you but let me put this into context.

In all my years involved in the community, to see this amount of picture taking and to hear "Kuya! Pwede po papicture!" as many times as I did was just overwhelming. Mostly because it never happens! This was unless, of course, you were Francis M.

Something was happening. Things were changing. I was hearing from friends, "Was that you in that Fliptop video?" And this was coming from diverse groups of people. Some people didn't even really listen to hip-hop.

Funny how, after 10 years of being in the industry, I'm more familiar now as that guy in that video or the guy who yells, "Syat da pak ap!"

But what is Fliptop?To be brief, it is the first Filipino Rap Battle

League. Two pre-arranged emcees go up against each other with no microphone. Being pre-arranged, the emcees can prepare lyrics but, as any of the Fliptop emcees will say, freestyling still plays a huge part.

To know a little bit more of what Fliptop is all about, I feel that it can come no better than from the face of Fliptop and mind behind it. So I arranged an informal chat with my good friend, Anygma, or as we lovingly call him, Koya Pleptop.

WE DIDN’TSTART

THE FIRE{ A FEATURE ABOUT FLIPTOP

BATTLE LEAGUE }

BY: RICHARD "D-CAL" DACALOS

Anygma: so shoot maynAnygma: might sleep na rin in a whilez :-sD-cal: okay first question.. how did it all start.. Anygma: uh, it was as simple as me being a fan and follower of hiphop and particularly battling and... all it needed was proper application to our country's setting so i went out and tried my best to cover all ground.Anygma: or as much ground as i couldD-cal: i see right now how much ground you are actually covering.. friggin a.. some of the fliptop battlers are on bubble gang now.. what can you say about that?Anygma: i just hope that they get properly compensated and that bubble gang does its best to try to understand the side of the emcees besides making fun of them or battling itself. i'm a fan of the show but i didn't really see the point of that specific segment. I mean, it was okay-funny but not the usual knee-slapping funny that bubble gang usually does. also wish Michael V took it more seriously or at least showed some of his past emceeing ability.D-cal: well i understand where you are coming fromD-cal: one of the main things I've respected since the beginning is how frank you areD-cal: especially in terms of "educating" peopleAnygma: hahahaD-cal: when you talk about educating people.. what do you really meanAnygma: hiphop wiseAnygma: but then there are those who lack a lot of common sense too and/or the will to try to figure things out on their own so... i'm really against that and will try to do my best to cure or at least curb itD-cal: i love the whole open forum stuff you've been doing.. has that been a part of it?Anygma: yeah we try to focus on that as much as possibleAnygma: it's evident that there's a whole lot of misinformation in the world as is so, yeah, we try our best to at least "keep our place clean".. if that makes sense..D-cal: well i have a few general questions.. i dont wanna waste your time.. especially since im wastedAnygma: hahahaAnygma: goAnygma: all goodz D-cal: what i've noticed about a lot of people.. is that they only see the insults and the cursing.. what can you say about that.. is it all about hostility?Anygma: of course not and yeah, i remember how i could've stressed that more in a lot of past interviews or features but i'll say it again nowAnygma: battling isn't wholly about insults, curses or whateverAnygma: it's about who's the better emceeAnygma: and sometimes, convincing other people that you're the better emcee involves cursing and all that

24new beginnings

D-cal: i get the idea of emcee.. but a lot of people.. they dont get the difference of emcee and rapper.. what does it really mean.. well for you that is..D-cal: cuz sometimes i see that the crowd favors the rapper over the emcee.. is that an issue in fliptop?Anygma: hmmAnygma: the word emcee would or usually implies proper representation of the craft, its culture, the comprising elements, all of that.Anygma: the word rapper usually denotes just someone who partakes of the act of rapping - rhyming fastAnygma: whether or not it's an issue?...Anygma: well...Anygma: people will say what they have to say or have their opinions regarding the battle... what's important is the discourse after, the comparison and contrast of aesthetics and standards, all of which involve proper knowledge or research and reflectionAnygma: and i'd like to think that fliptop has always presented that platformAnygma: that it's degree of democracy will lead to more refined assessments of the battles or battlersAnygma: whether or not that platform or forum is maximized is another storyAnygma: but as for the winning in the battle itself?Anygma: i firmly believe that as long as both emcees brought it, as in seriously brought it, that there's nothing more we could ask from them and that the winner doesn't even matter cos they just showed everyone how sick they can beAnygma: so yeah, if the battle is just flat out sick, theyre both winners for meD-cal: okay.. enough with the heavy questions hahaha how was the olangapo event.. i didnt get to go.Anygma: it was alrightAnygma: not the expected attendance but the battles just keep getting crazierAnygma: so...Anygma: i think a lot of olongapo city locals will regret not having watched it liveD-cal: to really close i just wanna know about your opinions about hiphop in the philippines in general and your plans for fliptop (aside from the next cock fight)Anygma: well, hiphop is definitely alive right nowAnygma: but it has a long way to goAnygma: hopefully we can close that gap with ideal in the next few yearsAnygma: and...Anygma: we have the rest of the world wanting to fly in and competeAnygma: we have a tour in the works, or at least we're trying to organize oneAnygma: and yeah, just a whole lot of hiphop hahahaD-cal:  nice!D-cal:  well thanks brother

D-cal:  thanks for sparing a few moments of your sleep to answer my questionsAnygma: hahahaD-cal:  ill see you on friday..D-cal:  sumulong highway?D-cal:  cockpitAnygma: yeah man!D-cal:  lolAnygma: yoAnygma: try to get some of your homies to goAnygma: tell them to buy ticketsAnygma: and that this event is not one to miss at allAnygma: simple cos it's in a cockpit for christ's sakeD-cal: i'll see what i can do.. there's gonna be beer right.. or can i bring my own? lolAnygma: yeah there will be beer for sure!D-cal: aight.. I'll be there.. don’t know how long i can stay.. but I'll push for people to go..Anygma: yeahh that would be sick manAnygma: we really wanna pack the placeAnygma: and especially since this is our first venue wherein space isn’t a problemD-cal: aight man.. ill see what i can do.. see you on friday.. gonna crash. thanks for the interview!Anygma: yeah man, no worriesAnygma: take care yo!D-cal:  miss youD-cal:  kadiAnygma: see you friday!Anygma: >:d<

***So I did go to the cockpit arena and, as

promised, it was a hell of a show. New faces killed their battles and, to cap it all, two female emcees joined the league.

It was refreshing to see all the new blood. It was also refreshing to see female emcees being represented. (In the Philippines, it’s been a while since a person could see more than one rapping, not singing, at the same event).

For me, Fliptop has done something for Filipino hip-hop that hasn't been done (effectively) in a long time. It has given artists a platform to show audiences what they are made of.

And with over 7.5 million views on Youtube, the audience isn't small. A change is coming to Filipino hip-hop. Technically, it has already come. The question is, are you ready for it?

For more information on Fliptop's events, "like" them on Facebook under the name Fliptop Battle League 2

SUPPORT ONLY ORIGINAL FLIPTOP UPLOADED VIDEOS

B Y : M O N I Q U E T O L E N T I N O

"Photography is truth. It's something natural for us to keep on striving for. What is real and true. In a way, I guess, I get that from photography. There's nothing like being able to capture your subject in their truest."

21-year-old photographer, Gabrielle Therese V. Cantero (or Gabby to her friends), is on the path to making the world a beautiful place, one photo at a time.

"It started with this project in Flickr called, Project 50. The goal was to shoot 50 photographs in 50 days with a 50mm lens. During those 50 days, I asked some of my friends if they could model for me and they willingly accepted, thankfully. In one of the shoots, I had more than 20 people in my house. It was a test run for Daylight and I didn't even know it. From there, I worked on impulse, decided it could work and Daylight in Salcedo Park was born."

The first time I heard of the Daylight Series, I had no idea what it was about. As far as I was concerned, my good friend Gabby just contacted me and asked me to be a subject for a portrait shoot. My vanity kicked in and I immediately said yes.

When I got there, I was surprised to see people all lined up waiting to have one photo taken by her. In my head I was thinking, "Umm...what's going on?" Being the clueless, ignorant yet supportive friend that I am, I didn't ask out loud.

I kept attending her installments of this portrait-taking session that she called "Daylight" and just slowly noticed the event getting bigger and bigger.

First it was just a bunch of friends. At the next event, there were twice as many people. There were also chefs, personal friends of Gabby, who put up booths and provided everyone there with mouth-watering delicacies.

At the next one, there were unfamiliar faces who came in droves, celebrities, and a number of participating photographers. There was also food and live bands. It was an all out party while Gabby, of course, was still taking portraits of everyone there with no sign of slowing down.

Curiosity was consuming my thoughts. I got frustrated at the fact that I had never asked her what exactly she was doing and this was about to burst out of me. I finally voiced out my questions, with much embarrassment, and got such a pleasant surprise when I heard her answers.

"Daylight" was Gabby's personal advocacy. For every portrait she took, she donated 20 pesos to RockEd. RockEd is "a volunteer group working to provide venues and events for alternative education via music, the arts, poetry, sports, photography, fashion, graphic design, literature, new approaches to science, film, cultural studies, theatre, dance, and any other way except being in a classroom--the convenors of Rock Ed decided to Rock Society through Education and educate the youth through rock culture. A group of private citizens that value education in its traditional form but creates alternative solutions for teacher training and student activities to enhance classroom learning--NOT replace it", according to their website.

26new beginnings

The event marked its first anniversary on November 2010. Unfortunately, it was without a Daylight session. Gabby got accepted to Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore late 2010 and made the move just before Daylight's birthday.

I asked her "Was it really hard for you to have already made a name for yourself here in Manila, and have to start all over again in a different country?"

She answered "Absolutely. It's as if I have to prove myself all over again and this time around, the rules have changed."

Daylight has grown bigger than what Gabby foresaw. Since it launched, it has been one of the most anticipated monthly events in the independent art scene. She's been getting reinforcement from different groups, organizations and people from all walks of life. With this much support accompanied by all the love from her friends and family, nothing is stopping her now from making the world a better place one photo at a time, one country at a time.

"There's much more to accomplish I think. It never ends. If you've come to a point where you think you've done enough, then you've stopped learning when there's still so much more to learn! Best advice I can give anyone: prove it to yourself and prove them all wrong. And remember, hard work pays off, no matter what."

For more information, art and inspiration, you can check out Gabby's websites at

www.theseportraits.com and www.flickr.com/gabbycantero

We label our world through our five senses.We describe what/how we: see, hear, smell, taste, and touch.We build our feelings and experiences around them,then they become so real that they shape our world,and define who we are and who we are not,until we get comfortable with it,and we get stuck in a box that we created.How do we get unstuck?

The key to see your box and grow out of it is – to get sparked!“What?”“How?”First, get to “Why?”… Within every “what” (i.e. “What do I want?”)and every “how” (i.e. “How will I make it happen?”)is a “why”. “What” and “how” get tiringwhen “why” is out of whack.Especially when “why” is a “have to”… it is heavy, and it boxes you in.So get clear. Get centered.Then let “why” ripple outward. Sparksense: the drive to choose the “why” that inspires you.Use your sparksense. Be the masterpiece that you already are! So what’s your spark (your inspired “why”)? Why are you driven to do everything you do?Why is having the life of your dreams so valuable to you? Once you get your spark – be your spark – right here, right now. Be your SPARK. Share your spark and let others into your world. AlwaysPlay BIG games that inspire you to BE BIG. Your call toAdventure finds you when you embrace where you are. Enjoy theRide with its ups and downs; be open to surprises. And yes,Kindle your light; you don’t go reaching for the light when you let your light shine through. Inspire others to get SPARKED. Shift yourPoint-of-viewListen from where others are, and stretch your world.AccessRequestsGet interested in what makes others come alive, and call them to it. KickstartExtraordinaryDreamsWhen you stand for the magic in others, your life becomes magical.

 Note: to see this article animated through a draw-and-tell, visit www.sparksense.info

28new beginnings

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