boks
I spent half a day with Mike, a bok who is leaving for Dubai within the week. We went out to inspect past projects he is leaving behind with me. Prior to that I met up with Manny and Pam at the Galleria. And Mike had a small chat with Donna on the phone. I also bumped into Ronnie at the Galleria.
Mike and I had the chance to talk about friends, careers and plans. It's funny how fast time flies, we who were just students a few years ago who are now living our lives. We talked about people we seldom see, people who want to leave their parents house and try it on their own, and people who are now outside of the country.
These are the boks. The people who have become part of our lives and still continue to shape our lives, eventhough we don't get to see them anymore. They are the arkiboks.
______________
I remember hearing the word "bok" for the first time from the great bok himself, Goldsta, who came from the distant past of the 80s. It was further immortalized by the Mascardo thesis house grand bok, Bok Ed. Then it was further used and abused by the first fellowship of the Bok, namely Bok Noel, Bok Ferdz and Bok Abet. Then the great arkiboks@yahoogroups.com was formed by the punx, where more boks was introduced into the great fellowship, the bokness.
Now, after almost three years, the great arkiboks was further elevated to the status of blog-mania, thanks to the efforts of the great bok of mass media, Bok ponpon. Arkiboks was now given more exposure thanks to print media. Now we have bok talks. Next time, bok fellowships na siguro, then bok books.
The boks are now scattered around the globe. International na ang boks. With media exposure, internet and yahoogroups, we hope that arkiboks continue on the tradition of, well, bokhood.
There are funny boks, stiff boks, serious boks, active boks and boks who remain anonymous.
All hail arkiboks. Boks. Pare, utol, whatever. May we all see each other again.
_________________
That was fun.
Bust
Nature is not art...it needs the intervention of man for it to be considered an art form.
So goes the lectures in art theory and criticism. I wonder what my life would be right now if I have decided to continue pursuing my art studies degree?
Long before I stepped into college I have always liked History classes. Philippine History, Asian and World History. Long before I knew completely the whys,I was content with the hows, the whats, whens and wheres.
During college, I got my history fix once more, not just in the classroom, but also in my immediate surroundings. The travels in and out of manila, Burnham's manila, Intramuros, UP Diliman. Now I try to seek the why's in the works of man.
I got engrossed in war history as well. Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, Braveheart, The Patriot, Timeline. I would look up various eras for any trivia and facts about the lives of various people during different times of war. Now it's not just art figures, but significant historic figures and events as well.
But I didn't think history was in our own front yard. Not until now.
My landlord, a self proclaimed artist, recently acquired an old plaster bust, coated in copper. He was busy retouching the old bust when I passed by his garage workshop. Upon going back home, I found him ecstatic, looking over the corners of the bust. It turns out that the sculptor of the bust was none other than Guillermo Tolentino himself, circa 1953. He found Tolentino's signature at the base of the bust.
Now he is on a mission to spread the word about the bust, looking for contacts, writing articles and researching about the authenticity of the bust.
He found the sculpture at the chemical dumping grounds at the side of the Institute of Chemistry, while he was out jogging. Being the artist he claims himself to be, he got the papers necessary to acquire the forgotten bust, and took it home. The rest is history.
It's a good thing that there are still people who appreciates artworks, both known and unknown artists. My landlord is one of those unknown artists who still has the passion to continue doing art for art's sake. With the continuing "modernization" and improvements in the university, there are many art pieces that are left at corners, unknown and deteriorating.
With this precious find, we hope to spread the word that there are many art works from bygone eras that are just waiting to be discovered. Let's just hope that the bust find won't be just, well, another bust. As for me, history is now in our front yard, waiting for me to join in and do my share of its appreciation and contribution.
POWERS
I have new powers! I have a physical attraction on one of my classmates in masters, and I was thinking of her even before going to sleep. It turns out I dreamed of us being in a relationship, but the problem? Only the name of the person stuck in the dream, and the person in the dream was another person with the same name! It was another person's girlfriend! *@@#$%$!!! The twist!
Now you're gonna ask me who the person is who I dreamed about? Secret!
Try it! See what happens!
Now this song is dedicated not to the person but to the whole experience. Enjoy...
And lastly, I hope my girlfriend doesn't read this...
CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off of you
You’d be like heaven to touch
I wanna love/hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I’m alive
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off of you
Pardon the way that I stare
There’s nothing else to compare
The sight of you makes me weak
There are no words left to speak
But if you feel like I feel
Please let me know that it’s real
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off of you
I love you baby
And if it’s quite all right
I need you baby
To warm the lonely nights
I love you baby
Trust in me when I say
Oh pretty baby
Don’t bring me down I pray
Oh pretty baby
Now that I found you stay
And let me love you baby
Let me love you
Decisions...
Howard Roark did not get his major designs immediately.
That's what I keep telling myself. I did not get paid with my last venture as a code abiding, grounded to earth approach as an Architect. Although I did everything by the books, it's seems that the only payment I'll get are the free dinners and the small sum for representation and conceptualization.
The owner decided not to pursue with the "legal" designing and construction of the house, and decided to contact his engineer cousin at the city hall. With all smiles and sincerity we concluded the venture and made promises of contacting each other for future projects. I don't understand rich people.
On another note, the girlfriend is applying for a job in London. That leaves me flat in the face with my decision of not leaving the country. Now questions arise. What do I do for the later half of my very exciting so called 20s life? Do I follow her lead and find work there at the same country she's going to? Do I stay and pursue other courses in life, inside the University? Do I risk everything?
At least with all that's happening now, I'm expanding my horizons. Failed contracts, more contacts. Graduate studies, less time. Girl leaving, me thinking.
I think I have to re-think things through.
One founder of Task Force Arki told me that "...Architecture is man's slow way to China...".
It's raining outside and I can't go home. Oh well, slowly but hopefully surelym, I'll get there.
And another thing, I don't think I'll go bombing failed designs like Roark did.
Back to Basics
It seems that the shitft from construction to design has left me struggling to find technical answers to seemingly simple questions. Just like any other skill once you stop practicing your brain sorts of slows down.
___________
Been working on a small resthouse recently, and I'm now at the technical phase of the project. I can't seem to visualize the proper components for the house, as to what material to use. I think I'm beginning to realize that I have mastered concrete construction over timber and steel construction, so I can't maximize the potential of the latter two materials when dealing with structural conceptualization for the design. Concrete structures are generally easier to construct, based on experience, as well as comprehension. Just read the Structural Code and you'll see what I mean.
Maybe it's due to the fact that it's much easier to visualize concrete and steel reinforcements working together, as compared to steel, wherein you have a wide range of items to choose from, from pipes to tubes, channels to purlins, plates to flanges. Well I don't want to fall into the trap of blaming the educational system, but it seems that concrete has always been emphasized over steel and timber construction.
I should read up on structural books, so that I can get inspiration for explorations on the use of other materials other than concrete. Guess I'll start with the Dytoc books.
________________
It's not enough that Architects rely on the Structural engineer. Guess that's what another architect imparted on my formative years (which I guess I still am in). His paranoia for structural design failures succeeded in limiting my imagination when it comes to determining spans and dimensions of structural components.
The worst example of this paranoia came when I was assigned to partly supervise the lifting of steel columns for the footbridge project at the MRT station. The activity for the day involved the lifting of huge 20 meter steel columns into place. After successfully lifting one column we were sure that the second column can be lifted. But after the column was lifted from a horizontal position to a diagonal position the cables of the crane gave way and the column, which was around 5 meters from the truck came crashing down to the ground. Although the supposed danger came from implementation rather than design, the risk is still there. Architecture is not just drawing afte all. It involves logistical nightmares like this. You should have seen how the large bridge girders flew from the ground to it's final position at the top of the columns. THAT was scary.
______________
On another side of construction and design, I recently went to the mountains of Antipolo along with a landscape architect friend for a potential client. The house under construction is notable for the various wood species used for the trimmings, counters, cladding and surface treatment. Pine, birch, narra...I forgot the rest. No tanguile or yakal for this project. I was honest with the client that I don't know the materials he used, since these are rare materials. I was eager to learn there and then, to see how these wood species look, feel, smell and taste. Yes, some architects know wood by their taste, by licking the wood itself. Hmmm yummy...well I guess I'll just ask for samples from him later. It goes to show that I have a lot to learn again.
______________
So much for my yearning to enter a corporate archi firm were I get to learn high end finishes and techno-savvy equipment. I guess I have to learn first more from the basics. Where's a mentor when you need one?
CROSS COUTNRY, CROSS BORDERS
CROSS COUNTRY, CROSS BORDERS part 1
Nope, I did not go on a cross country tour of the Strong Republic, we just went on a weekend get-away to the southern portions of Luzon.
Thanks to the graciousness of the Great Punx, members of the former Firm went to the highlands of Tagaytay for an overnight celebration of his having passed the board exam. We then proceeded on a last-minute decision to go swimming in Batangas. The result was a strong comparison of what it was to live inside the metro and in the far reaches of the mainland. The adventure took place in the highways of Metro Manila to the stretches of Southern Luzon.
____________
Due to obligations to my high school batch, I went ahead and attended a meeting for our highschool reunion in our home city of Parañaque. I was to meet the group at the Jollibee branch near the Sucat Toll Exit. I preferred to meet them at the ubiquitous insect franchise since it is very easy to spot from the tollway, and very quick to access from the expressway.
But alas, the “expressway” has its limits, as our transport made a wrong turn to the “service” road, resulting in the appreciation of south Luzon traffic. It took the group 3 hours to meet up with me at Alabang, the new meeting place, since they did not dare go on using the service road to Sucat. All familiarity of the beloved South Luzon Expressway faded, and I was filled with wonder as to why there was such a build up in the SLEX. It was almost 10 years when I suffered the same fate at the same traffic artery, with the absence of the then built Skyway. But then it took me 5 hours of traffic hell.
______________
Moving on, after I met up with the now weary group, I hopped on to the back of the pick up with Jeck and Robert apparently enjoying the wind (pollution) of Metro Manila. But upon exiting Alabang and entering Laguna, the pollution lightened up and we all knew that we were going to enjoy a few minutes of fresh wind on our faces. And it did take us only minutes! We were in Tagaytay in less than one hour.
The group then went on a dinner treat of bulalo and rice at a roadside eatery. Large bowls of bulalo was served, and we had our fill of hot soup and tasty beef. The only bother we encountered was the large cat begging for a bite of our meal. And I do mean large. They don’t breed cats like those in Manila. It must be the fresh air.
Then came the espasol girls, selling the group espasol minus the e, with their goods labeled “spasol”. With nothing else to do but relax, I guess our observation skills must be in full force. Jeck tried his bola skills to get rid of the girls, but the girls must have been trained better in the art of counter-bola:
Jeck: Ay sorry hindi puede yan sa akin kasi me allergic ako jan e….”
Girl: E ser mas gagaling nga kayo pag kumain kayo nito e…
Jeck: E bawal din sa relihiyon ko yan e…”
Girl: E ser wala naman pong kinalaman ang relihiyon nyo sa pagkain nito e…”
This is not verbatim, but I guess it was hilarious enough for us to remember it later.
_______________
The only leg of the trip left was the travel to the Punx’ residence in Tagaytay. After a short drive along the cliffs of Tagaytay we finally found the complex. After entering the compound’s gate, I called the Punx and he asked us to turn left down to the lower parts of the cliff. The problem was there was no left, only a right to a dark roadway. With all of us noisily climbing down the back of the pickup and having entered the WRONG compound, we all expected shotguns pointed at us. Good thing we haven’t pitched camp first before calling, or else we might have been accused of trespassing.
________________
At last we have arrived at the Focolare compound with no bullet holes or axe cuts. It has been almost three years since I first entered the compound, and with some degree of familiarity to the place and the Punx’ family, we happily entered the house.
We met the Punx’ other friends and colleagues at the Focolare movement. And what a group indeed! There were a variety of nationalities present in the event, with Malaysians, Germans, Spanish, Portuguese present.
After a few minutes of drinking beer and eating barbecue, we proceeded to give a toast for the Punx, with pure lambanog being the drink! The group then proceeded with short impromptu performances from each nationality with the aid of the guitar. Robert was up first, and due to the lack of knowledge of any kundiman, we ended up singing Pare Ko by the Eraserheads. The guitar was eventually passed on to me, and with no other guitar piece memorized, I ended up playing a few Beatles songs. The highlight of the performance was the Spanish (or was it Portuguese?) singing a Spanish song along with some Spanish style guitar playing. The Malaysian also tried to play a few songs, with his demeanor reminding me of the F4 people.
___________________
The group then pitched camp along the side of the house, and since I don’t plan to get drunk or stay up late since I have to study tomorrow for an exam for my masters, I decided to sneak in the tent and sleep early. Good thing I didn’t join in the lambanog consumption session, I heard Mr. Malaysian got very drunk and ended up puking later on.
Ah, cross borders, cross nationalities…there’s more…
WE NEED SWIMMING SHORTS….
Cross Country Cross Borders part 2
After a few photo ops at the mountains of Tagaytay, we then proceeded to the beaches of Batangas for some last minute swimming.
We decided to but some cheapo swimming shorts at the market in Tagaytay, and we easily got three shorts for a hundred pesos. All that was left was to eat lunch and then it’s the beach for us!
I suggested we eat at the Mushroom Burger joint, since I haven’t tried the burgers yet. It was good, for a fungus.
After leaving the joint, we had a little stopover at the side of the road, since one of us forgot her packed fungus spaghetti at the Mushroom Burger. It was later on to be called the Spaghetti Incident and became a small joke for us at the back of the pickup, whenever we try to remember things we forgot to do before leaving for Batangas.
_________________
And so it was the beach for all of us! We ended up in Jigs’ Auntie’s resort, which has a very nice view, and very nice waves. There were the mountains near the shoreline, and large waves splashing along the waters. Since it was the middle of July, there was nobody but us at the beach. We hooked up with a bunch of local boys swimming at the beach, which we suspect tried to hit on our comrade who we would later call Elementary Levels.
After swimming we decided to go to the less frequented places in the beach. We tried to walk along the shallow areas of the beach full of sea urchins and small sharp stones, without footwear! Reminiscent of the bogs where Frodo and Gollum walked minus the ghosts, we successfully walked around the area, and back to the swimmable areas.
It was were we found out that our precious cheapo shorts were all ripped open, exposing more sensitive areas of skin. At least we got pictures wearing the shorts before and after ripping. So much for supporting the local industry.
__________________
The rest of the trip was spent taking pictures of ourselves windswept at the back of the pickup, trying to capture a nice sunset and taking pictures of the countryside. But all things must come to an end, as we returned to the urban jungles of Manila.
Now we’re back in our polluted-concrete covered havens. Hope the next out of town gimmick happens soon. It was fun escaping from it all. I heard Bulacan is up next. Ilocos anyone? Baguio? Boracay?
