Categories
Menagerie

Scenes from Performatura

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) opened its doors for its inaugural literature festival, Performatura, last November 6, 7, and 8. To enter, no fee was required—only the donation of a book, be it fresh and glossy or old and battered. With the goal of exploring intertextuality, the event created a place where the…

Categories
Menagerie

On gifts that need to be shared: Digital Art Trade

Two years ago, Iz Lacson dreamt of forming a group where artists could freely share their works without fear of artistic hierarchy. Inviting four of his colleagues, they formed a group where this dream could become a reality. The group believed that every artist, amateur or adept, was gifted with their own style that they…

Categories
Menagerie

The bright lights of Asia Pop Comic Con

As you entered the convention hall, you witnessed a sight like a hall of champions. Black carpets covered the floor. Vibrant hues of lights glimmered through the matted darkness. A big screen stood at one end of the hall, showing scenes of a fallen star destroyer buried in a vast desert, in tune with the…

Categories
Menagerie

More than books: A look inside the Manila International Book Fair

The Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), now on its 36th edition, has become somewhat of a pilgrimage for Filipino lit lovers and bookworms. Known for its bargain prices, with discount rates as high as 90% off, and sightings of local and international authors, the MIBF has become an annual staple for those looking to satiate…

Categories
Menagerie

SiKuna: The rekindling of Filipino art

The sky was gray, the clouds thick, and the air heavy with suspended silence. At the entrance, goers were huddled in a circle carrying all sorts of percussion instruments—empty water gallons, bamboo, cow bells, tambourines, and wooden sticks. A man steps to the center and raises his cow bell and thin wooden stick to begin…

Categories
Menagerie

21st Metro Manila Pride: Marching towards hope

Banners of rainbows waved in the wind, glistening in the dull afternoon sun firmly and proudly. The crowd of supporters that had gathered ran furiously as stoplights turned from green to red, and vice versa. They ran wearing grins on their faces; a happiness of belonging somewhere, of being home in a crowd. Despite a…

Categories
Menagerie

An average Filipino’s Holy Week

Holy Week can mean a lot of things, depending on the persons being asked. For several students, it might be the chance to enjoy a long break from classes. Meanwhile, for others, it’s the opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for a weekend and retreat to a more relaxing and…