Nowadays, the hip hop and the RnB culture of the Americans have become influential among the Filipino youth of this generation. From the clothing, the way they walk and talk and from their tastes in music, all of hip hop’s influence greatly affected the Pinoy youth.

From Francis Magalona up to the new generation of the pinoy rappers, the popularity of the hip hop dance crews especially the Jabawockeez, all of these has contributed to the emergence of the hip hop culture to the Filipinos.

Hanging clothes, trucker caps and the bling blings, all of these things are the symbol that Pinoy youth has transformed from being simple to the thuggish look.

The Metro Manila streets wouldn’t be complete without the teenagers wearing big clothes and singing rap music made by foreign artists and even local and upcoming Pinoy rappers. The gangster looks from the foreign countries; especially the United States can now be seen locally because the youth hugged the popularity of those artists who write songs that catches the attention of the people, especially the youth.

The likes of Eminem, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Akon, T-Pain, Chris Brown and the Jabawockeez are great contributors to the affection of the Filipino youth for hip hop culture.

Everyday, the effects of the emerging hip hop culture can be seen, even from the young kids who somehow, imitate the older ones, from clothing up to the love for rap music.

With the emergence of the hip hop style, are we going to bid goodbye to our old-fashioned culture? Are we welcoming a new trend from the foreigners? Are we the latest addition to the Hip Hop Nations?

One thing is for sure, Hip Hop is emerging.

And it can be seen among us, the youth.

Surrealism to me is an expression of deep un-conveyed unconsciousness of one being. An art in which the only way to bridge the gap between the reality and the unseen. Its also the representation of the true self or the expression of the person within us.

It was an artistic movement that brought together artists, thinkers and researchers in hunt of sense of expression of the unconscious. They were searching for the definition of new aesthetic, new humankind and a new social order. Surrealists had their forerunners in Italian Metaphysical Painters in early 1910's.

As the artistic movement, Surrealism came into being after the French poet Andre Breton 1924 published the first Manifeste du surrealisme. In this book Breton suggested that rational thought was repressive to the powers of creativity and imagination and thus inimical to artistic expression. An admirer of Sigmund Freud and his concept of the subconscious, Breton felt that contact with this hidden part of the mind could produce poetic truth.

This art is one of the most powerful art i've learned. from it we could see the state of our being. Most people don't appreciate art, some appreciate it and want to create yet they say "they ant because the art don like them". for me, when you want to do something new and far beyond your skill, try it. There's fun in learning things you see hard for you to take. anyway, art is an expression, it doesn't require anyone to be great, what it requires is you and your expression and how would you put it on canvas.

By Tracy Anne Cruz

Besides its stellar education, the University of the Philippines Diliman campus is a popular destination for college students in the area for the wide variety of delicious street food and affordable restaurants in the shopping center and various buildings. One of the most sought-after goodies in the campus is their isaw (intestines), which you can find near the Kalayaan Residence Hall. At around three or four in the afternoon, you can find the vendors from the UP Coop setting up their barbecue grill and bringing out their sticks of pre-cooked isaw baboy (pork intestines), isaw manok (chicken intestines), barbecued pork, chicken feet, and other barbecued meats.

After the isaw baboy and manok is grilled in front of you, you dip it in vinegar seasoned with garlic and onions. The crunchy exterior of the pork intestines and the chewy texture of the meat makes isaw baboy something I always crave for when I smell the aroma of barbecued meat. Be warned though – this snack is high in cholesterol, and eating too many sticks at once just might bring you a little bit closer to death.

Mang Larry's Isaw is one of the most famous choices here.

Neighboring students from Ateneo and Miriam also cross the streets of Katipunan Avenue just to buy some Isaw from UP. Coming from what they say higher class in the society Ateneans still claim that they love this isaws.

So if you are just in the vicinity, go ahead and try some of these sumptuous Isaw. 

 (photos from http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quezon-City/UP-isaw/97617643852)

By Tracy Anne Cruz

I am sure that all of us went through that experience of folding this scratch papers and turning them into little art works. Just as most of us thought that this is just a hobby or such a waste of time, it is not.

In Japan, this is an art. An art of folding papers. Origami is the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century CE and was popularized in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form. The goal of this art is to transform a flat sheet of material into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques, and as such the use of cuts or glue are not considered to be origami.

In Japan, the earliest unambiguous reference to a paper model is in a short poem by Ihara Saikaku in 1680 which describes paper butterflies in a dream. Origami butterflies were used during the celebration of Shinto weddings to represent the bride and groom, so paperfolding already become a significant aspect of Japanese ceremony by the Heian period (794–1185) of Japanese history, enough that the reference in this poem would be recognized. Samurai warriors would exchange gifts adorned with noshi, a sort of good luck token made of folded strips of paper. (wikipedia.com)

Just by using your imagination, you can make an origami of almost all of the things that you can think of.

Here are some of the websites where you can learn how to make one.

http://origamiinstructions.blogspot.com/

http://www.origami-resource-center.com/free-origami-instructions.html

By Tracy Anne Cruz

Just as summer started, temperature is really getting high hitting its highest at 37 degree Celsius. Everybody is searching a way to east this hot temperature brought by the weather. Since the Philippines is a tropical country having the extremes of just two weathers, Sunny and Windy.  

Here is one of the top Filipino cold desserts to try. Halo-halo.

Halo-halo (from "halo" = mix) is a favorite Filipino dessert or snack. It is basically a mixture of sweet preserved beans(red beans, chick peas), coconut meat (macapuno), jackfruit (langka), pounded dried rice (pinipig), sweet yam (ube), cream flan (leche flan), shreds of sweetened plantain (saba), filled with crushed ice, milk (or coconut milk) and topped with ice cream. The halo-halo basically is sweet, creamy, and a filling dessert.

This Filipino concoction is quite popular during the hot summer months (March-June) in the country, just as ice cream is. It is usually served in tall, clear glasses that show its colorful contents that tempt one's taste buds. One's thirst is even made worse by the perspiring ice-filled glass, and the melting ice cream on top.

Filipino culture may be likened to a halo-halo. The ice cream, which is a Western ingredient, may be on top of the concoction, but that is just the surface of the dessert. The ice cream melts, and it blends with the Asian tropical fruits and beans underneath, which forms the bulk and substance of the mixture, the ones that are to be eaten first with a spoon. Drinking the melted ice cream and milk later is the final act and passion of consuming the halo-halo, the creme de la creme in its liquid form.

To say that Filipino culture is primarily Western is like taking the ice cream as the main ingredient of the halo-halo, thereby missing the colorful Asian substance of the whole mixture. Likewise, to say that Filipino culture is essentially Eastern is the same as taking only the Asian tropical fruits in the halo-halo and failing to drink the melted ice cream in the mixture. One then misses passion, which is the creme of Filipino culture. (www.seasite.niu.edu)

By Tracy Anne Cruz

In a Catholic country such as ours, Holy Week is one of the most celebrated religious activities. We prepared so hard just to give importance for this days.  It is also commonly known as Semana Santa (in Spanish) or Mahal na Araw (in Tagalog).

Some of the Filipinos also take this week to have their dream vacation of the year because most of the days for this week are treated Holiday.

The week starts on a Sunday, Palm Sunday (Linggo ng Palaspas)

Where people go out to attend mass and have their palm fronds blessed. Usually, Catholics bring this palm fronds home and place them in their doors and windows with the beliefs that it can ward off evil spirits. 

The usual Gospel reading on Palm Sunday features Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when he was welcomed by people waving palm fronds and laying their cloaks on the ground for his donkey to walk upon. 

Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday ( Lunes Santo hanggang Miyerkules Santo)

This days marks the start of the of the Pabasa or "reading"  or Pasyon the marathon chanting of the poetic prayer-story of Jesus' life, Passion, and death, which continues day and night, for as long as two straight days.

Maundy Thursday (Huwebes Santo)

Come Thursday where Catholics usually do the Visita Iglesia or Church Visit.  This is where the devotees visit 13 different churches and would faithfully pray the devotion known as Stations of the Cross.

This time of the day is a very joyful celebration as this is considered by many priests in the country to be the day when they renew their sacerdotal vows.

Also celebrated on this day is the last Mass before Easter (commonly called the Mass of the Institution of the Lord's Supper) usually including a reenactment of the Washing of the Feet of the Apostles; this Mass is followed by the procession of the Blessed Sacrament before it is taken to the Altar of Repose. TV and Radio networks in the nation have formally either sign-off until Easter Sunday or started restricting broadcasts related to religion, especially to the Holy Week.

Good Friday ( Biyernes Santo)

Good Friday (Biyernes Santo), a public holiday in the Philippines, is commemorated with solemn street processions, the Way of the Cross, the commemoration of Jesus' Seven last words and a Passion play called the Senakulo.

In fact, the great sorrow that is attributed to this day gave rise to the Tagalog idiom "Mukha kang Biyernes Santo", which could literally be translated into English as "You look like Good Friday". This means that the person looks so sad that he resembles the sorrows of Jesus Christ on His passion day.

Black Saturday ( Sabado de Gloria )

As it is called in the country, is traditionally observed with silence and solemnity. Preparations are made for the Easter Vigil to be celebrated that evening.

Easter Sunday ( Linggo ng Pagkabuhay )

Easter morning is usually celebrated with joyous atmosphere, the first being the dawn ceremony called the Salubong ("meeting"), wherein statues of the Resurrected Christ and the Virgin Mary, along with other saints such as St. Peter and Mary Magdalene, are brought in procession together to meet, imagining the first reunion of Jesus and his mother Mary after the Resurrection. The statue of the Virgin Mary is veiled in black, showing her state of bereavement. A girl dressed as an angel, positioned on a specially constructed high platform/scaffold or suspended in mid-air, sings the Regina Coeli and then dramatically pulls the veil off of the image, signifying the end of her grieving. This is followed by pealing bells and fireworks, and the joyous Easter Mass. (wikipedia.com)

By Tracy Anne Cruz


( photo from http://www.backpackingphilippines.com/2007/11/angel-cacnio-and-bahay-parokyano-art.html)

I'm not really a artistic person nor a fan of artworks. I don't know but I'm stupid when it comes to appreciating artworks. Arts is my weakness, really even since I'm in my kindergarten years.

But not until I knew that I have a famous artist neighbor. Their family is the most sophisticated in the village. Their house stood out among others not just because of its size but its design and motif. And also knowing that they are a family of successful ones will amaze you.

They are the Cacnio family, head of the family Mr. Angel Cacnio is a famous and well-known artist here in our country. His passion for paintings and sculpture was inherited by his two sons , Fredie and Micahel. 

He finished a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines in the year 1954 , he is also a member of International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. 

Mr. Angel is famous for his designs in our coins and bills, yes some of  the mysterious designs stamped in our bills and coins are maid by him. Angel Cacnio has won coin design contests of the Central Bank of the Philippines in 1967 where his designs won first prizes for the Lapu-Lapu one centavo coin and the Marcelo H. Del Pilar 50 centavo coin. His designs commissioned by the Central Bank for the P100 and P20 bills are still in circulation. And also, he is the one who designed the 500 peso bill, with Benigno Aquino in it.

While his son, Ferdie Cacnio, in 2005, won 2nd place in Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) Annual Art Competition. He also listed large mixed-metal sculpture “Pasasalamat (Thanksgiving)” which stands prominently in Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Micahel is an awardee  of the Ten Outstanding Young Men for 2006, after more than 50 well-received solo exhibits, his art has achieved critical and commercial success in Asia, Europe and the United States, his works frequently featured in broadcast media and in several reputable publications. In 2007, he became the first Filipino artist to be featured in a solo exhibit in the European Commission’s headquarters in Berlaymont, Brussels.

They built their own art gallery museum located just beside their house in Malabon, which they called "Bahay Parokyano" for some reasons.

Here are some of Mr. Angel Cacnio's achievements.

Central Bank of the Philippines Coin Design Contest.
Lapulapu, 1-centavo coin (first prize)

Marcelo H. Pilar, 50-centavo coin (first prize)

Tandang Sora, 5-centavo (second prize)

Francisco Baltazar, 10 centavo (third prize)

Juan Luna, 25-centavo coin (third prize)

Gintong Parangal ng Malabon Awardee for Art,1981.

Gintong Ama Awardee for Arts and Culture,1996.

Truly, this father and son tandem is a pride not just for their hometown but for the whole country.

( photos from http://www.backpackingphilippines.com/2007/11/angel-cacnio-and-bahay-parokyano-art.html, michaelcacnio.com)

Who wouldn’t want to be refreshed from summer’s scorching heat of sun? Though it really spells fun for everyone, it’s time to beat the heat and be with an enchantress─ something that uses the power of childhood favorites to ensnare you. Sometimes, an endless scoop of cool and healthy desserts that is new to our senses is all it takes.

Soften your warmth by Red Mango’s earthiness, yet the effect is not intimidating. In fact, it is inviting. World class popularity that originated in Seoul, South Korea in 2002 and now this frozen yogurt chain is sweeping the nation this year! It has recently opened in the Eastwood Mall and been dominating the sweet businesses.

It’s always good to start with its name, just the name; it sounds provocative─ which then makes you all more curious. Mango is a nutritious, flavorful and succulent fruit that changes in color from green to red to yellow as it ripens. Red is often the Color of the mango immediately before it has reached its ripest state.

The company is known for using natural ingredients in making “authentic frozen yogurt” that are both tasty and creamy. Red Mango offers irresistibly delicious and nutritious products and they announced in 2007 that it became the first retailer of natural frozen yogurt to receive the National Yogurt Associations Live and Active Culture Seal! Truly, it stood up to its name.

After the tango of its sweet-sour proof, arrive at dessert and it’s suppose to be a happy ending. Novel, yet familiar and inviting enough to make you ask for more. Enter in that store to cool your heels, you can choose which yogurt you want. Original or Green Tea. If you are hesitant, ask for a sampler from the very accommodating crew. And you have a wide variety of fresh fruits like grapes, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi Mandarin oranges… et al.

Like any good fruits, the play between the saltiness and the sweetness of the ingredient is perfect. Exhilarating as it is, you may want to find out what other pleasures lay ahead.

Red Mango has its own version of Halo-Halo─ the “bingsu”, originated from the word “patbingsoo” of Korea. It is the most popular snack or dessert in South Korea especially during sweltering and humid season. This snack originally began as ice shavings and sweetened azuki beans (known as “pat”) that were sold by street vendors. These days, it has become a very popular summer dessert often topped with ice cream or frozen yogurt, sweetened or condensed milk, cereal flakes─ of your choice.

Why, this store is kid-friendly too! If you have kids and they haven’t reached the fruit stage where they will actually eat it, they offer some cereals from Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Pebbles and Capt’n Crunch.

Their specialty comes with cups that have simple and very attractive design that match their easy-to-remember logo. Their pink spoons have an uncommon shape yet, unique.

You guarantee that your fruit selections are fresh because they are preparing it right in front of you. Surprising thing is that you have the maximum of five toppings on your shaved ice, a cream and icy treat of frozen yogurt on finely crushed ice, for only 125 pesos. As you tighten your belt, you will still be on the healthy side of the line.

A number of choices, yet, so hard to choose.

Only logical option? Don’t miss your pick of Red Mango.

Whoever is loath to admit that the simple fact of playing lottery may as well leave sizeable odds of winning some serious lottery cash? Though it was not a skill-based game, as the numbers were randomly selected, Filipino people were intimately familiar with it in the late 2800s

and it toplled the financial crisis─ long thought to be “tried and tested.”

Blame it to the Spanish government who conducted loterrias to generate revenues. In fact our own national hero Dr. Jose Rizal won Php 6,200.00 in the draw of 1892 while on exile in Dapitan and he donated his winnings to an educational project. Maybe this altruistic act gives an inkling of what could be done if the lottery as harnessed for charitable and social welfare projects.

And this where it all started. We have inherited something that has long been part of our Filipino culture. Something that has already been a social norm since

the time of Juan Tamad.

Balancing Act

Source: www.bibokz.com

The clear signs of economic recession, slowdown, unemployment and uncertainties are visibly seen nowadays and the seeming contradictions do not end there.

In sheer desperation ─ note that this already nets out those who opted to seek their fortunes through a little gambling. People push their luck and find their way out of series of numbers.

Php 16,000,000─ what conclusions can we form from this huge amounts?

Nonetheless, this is the reason why do people play lottery and keep on vying for it. It is a cheap way to have an opportunity of winning big lottery prize with no special skills required and gamblers can even wager small amounts. With this, players have little or no fear of corruption because of the low payout compared to other forms of gambling.

Lotteries give an illusion of control to some players. Because you can pick your own numbers in some games, you can choose your own lucky number. Tabloids feature articles about how to improve odds at picking lottery numbers, obviously a forlorn hope because the winning numbers are product of a random process.

Another attraction of lottery is that people enjoy the non-monetary aspects of it, including talking about playing, engaging in the ritual weekly purchase, socializing with friends and coworkers to pool to but tickets and dreaming about winning perhaps the favorite activity among lottery players.

Surmounting the odds

But because most people are not wealthy and powerful, the odds of success in lotteries do not seem that important to players. They don’t seem to know the probable event that can occur. Definitely, a small number of people do win win large amounts of money, although the overwhelming majorities lose some. Lotteries recruit people into commercial gaming, especially in states that have had little legalized gaming or exposure to such activity.

In some places, lottery syndicates that are usually set up by groups of workmates or friends who have one objective of boosting their lottery winning chances has its downside too. It may develop improper syndicate agreement that has been put in place because of tax issues; situations like these often lead to legal action.

Gambling can be an addiction to some gamblers that they can’t escape from. This may affect young people who are engaged in such action.

Charity indices

Through and through, lotteries has its own good. More funds were raised fro health programs, medical assistance and services charities and other social welfare programs. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) conducts sweepstakes and lotteries to provide funds for its causes since it was founded in 1932. The agency gets its operating expenses from the sales of lottery tickets and other similar activities. PCSO registered gross earnings of approximately 15 billion pesos last year. It also supports the Philippine Anti-Tuberculosis Society.

The game itself is hardly illustrative of decency because of a number of moralists condemning it. The scrums and tackles can get life threatening. But lottery is one of the leading in the country, to avert crisis, not merely political but something more basic and valuable because it exists on the plane of the humbly familiar─ that ardent desire to surmount odds.

By Tracy Anne Cruz

Its been decades since jeepney was introduce to the Filipinos. The use of this vehicle started when the American troops started to leave the Philippines after the World War II. The Americans donated some of the used jeepneys and some of the new ones are sold to local Filipinos. This is where the creativeness and wit of Filipinos, they started to stripped the jeeps and to accommodate more passengers, added metal roofs for shade and designed them with striking and vibrant colors and drawings.

The jeepney suddenly became the talk of the town and also became one of the most cheapest means of transportation. It was then when the government was alarmed by the rapid growth of jeeps on the roads that is when they decides to require all drivers to have specialized license for driving and the jeeps to have its specific route to travel.

Sarao motors is the most popular manufactures of jeepneys in the Philippines. The oldest jeepneys were of origin old American jeeps. They were extended in length by approximately two meters. Inside were put two long seats and the 'jeepneys' were ready to serve as a small bus. The 'first generation' jeepneys were replaced by 'new' jeepneys produced in the Philippines. Small family enterprises built up jeepneys and even a jeepney fabric arose in Sarao, just south of Metro Manila. The fabric "Sarao Motors" went out of business in 2001. (http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/jeepneys1.htm)




Today, jeeps are considered the "king of the road" as you can see them anywhere. From the nearest and up to the hard to reach areas there are still jeeps that you can depend on if you don not have your own vehicle.

It has been part of the daily living of mostly all Filipinos. Wherever you are heading to, work, school, supermarkets, malls, parks, etc. there is always a jeepney to ride to. Though a lot of advanced means of transportation was introduced to us, still we support this industry.

Sneaking through the traffic on the road and streets to the widest road of EDSA (Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue), there came out air-conditioned vehicles which is faster and more comfortable to ride in yet we still search for this hot and noisy ambiance of riding our traditional jeeps.

Even other countries also showed their interest of buying and importing this world class jeeps of the Philippines, one of this is Papua New Guinea.

A lot of other means of transportation has tried but still can't put down this very reliable jeeps.