South Korea Revisited

-
During my first visit to South Korea five years ago, I was not able to see much of the place because the trip was a convention and 90% of the time we were inside halls listening to lectures. This time, I was able to see and appreciate the beauty of the country and understand its people and culture. It really helped that our tour guide, Mickey, was a loquacious and accommodating host. Through her, I was able to learn more about Korea in 4 days than reading book for a month. We visited several interesting sights and scenes. We had the opportunity to go and see the Blue House- where the Presidents reside, The Korean Folk Museum- where I was able to buy the sought after Korean Music Series Stamps, and the Kyungbok Palace. The Daejangguem Theme Park was an eye opener. It is the Hollywood version in Korea, where the sets for the Koreanovelas- one of Koreas greatest exports- can bee seen and interacted on. A few decades ago, entertainers and actors were frowned upon in Korea, but after several artist became millionaires, the old folks in Korea now encourage there young to sing and dance. Other places we visited include, the Dongnaenum market, Ginseng center, Amethyst and Kimchi making factory. The Kings Palace in Seoul is devoid of a living royalty because the last heir lived in the USA and married a non-Korean, breaking the royal genealogy. 
 
The JUMP show- a comedy martial arts show was highly entertaining. I really enjoined their kind of comedy- I developed side stitches due to overlaughing. After the show, I encountered my first snow in Korea. We were so happy we danced, the Koreans were sad.  

The visit to Seoul tower offered a magnificent 360 degress view of the city. Looking at the breath taking view, you will really admire the Korean people especially its leaders for transforming the country from a third world to first world in just two generations. Hope and pray  our leaders can do the same for our country.....

Popular posts from this blog

Glimpses of Old Cebu: Images of the Colonial Era

-
Image
"Glimpses of Old Cebu: Images of the Colonial Era" is a 276-page coffee table book of nearly 600 of the best photographs, postcards , stereoviews and lantern glass slides of Cebu and its many towns taken between 1870-1945. More than just a mere showcasing of rare, never-before-seen images, the book also provides a treasure trove of information accompanying nearly every picture. The author, Lucy Urgello Miller has been collecting vintage Philippine postcards and photographs for over 20 years, the thrust of her collection being Cebu . She acquired 90% of her Cebu collection in the United States where she is living with her husband Richard "Rick" Miller. Most of the collection was bought at antique postcards shows. Lucy has about 1,000 pictures and postcards on Cebu but she selected only the best and most interesting for this book. Mommy Gingging, Lucy and my wife Grace A blue-blooded Theresian, Lucy spent her entire education from kinder...
Read more

Celso Pepito's Mangostain Paintings at Mindanao Art Fair

-
Image
Parayeg, 11"x 8", Mangosteen stains/acrylic, 2024                            Celso Pepito ’s use of mangosteen stain as an artistic medium is a rare and distinctive artwork that originated from his "Mangosteen Discovery," which occurred during his participation in the Mindanao Art Fair at SM Lanang in Davao City . Inspired by Davao's abundance of local fruits , the celebrated Cebuano visual artist experimented with the deep, rich muddy pigments left behind by the fruit's rind. He subsequently integrated these natural organic stains into his paintings as a creative homage to the region . The Medium : Pepito utilizes the persistent dark purple juices of the mangosteen fruit to create unique organic stains and layers on his canvases. This approach adds distinct earthy and plum-toned hues to his mixed-media compositions. Signature Cubist Style : Despite experimenting with alternative materials like fruit stains, Pepit...
Read more

Melver Mercado: Painter, Conceptual Artist and Art Educator

-
Image
Home by the Sea, 10"x 14", Watercolor on paper, 2023 Melver Mercado is a prominent contemporary Cebuano painter, sculptor, conceptual artist and art educator . Known for his evolving artistic perspectives and profound dedication to the medium, Mercado balances a thriving studio practice with a commitment to molding the next generation of creative minds. Early Beginnings and Inspirations Mercado’s journey into the art world began with a childlike wonder. As a young boy in his elementary years, he found early inspiration in television art programs, most notably watching Bob Ross ’s painting shows. With limited resources and a scarce stash of art books in his local public library, he diligently researched techniques and practiced with crude, self-made materials. By high school, his persistence began to bear fruit as he experimented with T-shirt printing and sold his early works to supportive relatives. Though his parents initially discouraged him from pursuing a degree in Fine ...
Read more

Nude Studies Collection: Yap, Galicano, Abellana, Deguilmo, Alcoseba, Francisco, Natural and Dingal

-
Image
  Jonathan Abellana , 2023 Nude studies are highly valued in art collections because they provide a raw, foundational look at an artist's technical mastery, creative process, and lineage. Historically considered the ultimate test of draftsmanship, these works bridge the gap between academic preparation and finished masterpieces. Incorporating nude studies enhances a collection's value across several key dimensions. Luther Galicano , 1993-1994, New York Unlike highly polished, completed works, nude studies reveal an artist’s initial vision and technical methodology. They show the underlying structure, preliminary linework, and anatomical exploration that inform larger, complex compositions—such as biblical , historical, or mythological paintings. Kimsoy Yap , 1979, New York The human body is widely considered one of the most challenging subjects to capture accurately. A collection that includes nude studies highlights the artist’s understanding of anatomy, proportion, light and...
Read more

Intertwining Medium and Meaning: The Art of Govinda Je an Marquesto

-
Image
  The Moth and the Lamp- Dr. Jose Rizal Memoirs,                             22"x 29", Watercolor In the contemporary art landscape, an artist's value is often measured by their willingness to push beyond conventional frameworks. Filipino multi-disciplinary artist Je An “Govinda” Marquesto Jean embodies this ethos, leveraging unexpected materials to bridge the gap between meticulous craftsmanship and profound social commentary . Primarily recognized for his intricate thread, nails and wire art, Marquesto has transcended traditional canvas boundaries to construct a visual language defined by tension, texture, and resilience. His career reflects the trajectory of a self-taught creator whose devotion to innovation has transformed ordinary materials into globally recognized masterpieces. A Self-Taught Multi-Disciplinary Foundation Marquesto's creative roots began far from elite art institutions. He entered the...
Read more

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Celso Duazo Pepito

-
Image
The Will to Live 2021, 20"x 14", Mixed Media ( Autostereogram )     When we look and appraise a painting by color deficient   Master artist Celso Duazo Pepito , one will immediately come face to face with a brilliantly made work of art.    He was born 54 years ago on the 22nd of November in Daan Bantayan , Cebu . He plunged into the world of art as a young man who showed special skills in lettering . He was surprised when he steps into the halls of the University of the Philippines that the fine arts course was after all about painting. His painting career soon took off soon after college.    There were years of facing struggles hurdling one trial after another. But, like college education, experience is considered as the best teacher. His paintings are known to contain imagery that is brought to life by crisp and clear lines, bold strokes and his usual usage of bright color scheming. But deep within his subjects are personal motives and intent...
Read more

The Kudyapi- The Philippine Two-Stringed Lute

-
Image
The kutiyapi or kudyapi, is a Philippine two-stringed, fretted boat-lute. It is the only stringed instrument among the Maguindanao people, and one of several among other groups such as the Maranao and Manobo . It is four to six feet long with nine frets made of hardened beeswax . The instrument is carved out of solid soft wood such as from the jackfruit tree.   Common to all kutiyapi instruments, a constant drone is played with one string while the other, an octave above the drone, plays the melody with a kebit or rattan pluck (commonly made from plastic nowadays). This feature, which is also common to other related Southeast Asian "boat lutes", which were influenced by varying degrees by Indian concepts of melody and scale via the Malay archipelago .   Among the T'Boli , Manobo and other Lumad groups, the instrument (known as Hegelung, Kudyapi or Fedlung) is tuned to a major pentatonic scale . Among groups like the Bagobo , the Kutiyapi (Kudlung) is also used as...
Read more