Category Archives: Articles

EVENT: Rebuilding Bayanihan: A Special Post Typhoon Event – Los Angeles

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LA & SF area artists, will be converging in a special event to support post typhoon rebuilding in the Philippines.

This day long event will be a call to the community – to come together in an intentional spirit and to hold sacred space as a way to heal our bodies, our relationships, our souls, our planet.

Our line-up is down below.

This is a family-friendly event and open to all! Vita Coco (http://vitacoco.com/) will be providing our elixir and White Rabbit (http://whiterabbittruck.com/) will be setting up their food truck in the lot – so come, explore, discover, sing, dance, play, and get some yummy pagkain and coconut water! Admission is free!

For more information, please contact Christine Jugueta at cjugueta@gmail.com.

Donations for relief efforts in the Philippines will be collected at the event – You can also donate online at the following sites:

Green ReLeaf Initiative: http://greenreleaf.org/
Banago Typhoon Relief: http://banago.mybigcommerce.com/
Permaculture Aid Yolanda: http://pcaidyolanda.org/

Mabuhay!

THE SCHEDULE/LINE-UP:
11am: Doors open at SIPA
12-12.30: Opening procession, prayers, welcome
12.30-1.20: Act I
1.20-1.45: Break
1.45-2: Ritual
2-3: Act II
3-5: Open jam
5-6: Kulintronica

11-3: Outdoor activities – storytelling, face-painting, Baybayin workshop, live art

Act I artists:
Cristina Golondrina Rose
Joel F Jacinto
Kristian Kabuay – http://www.kabuay.com/

Act II artists:
Alysa Lobo
Rachel Kann – http://rachelkann.com/
Alma Cielo – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdu_m3g9J5Q,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9XZ0nJBODQ
Christine Jugueta

Post Program/Booth/Outdoor Artists:
RAFFLE
FASHION SHOW
KAPWA JAM (live music)
Ron Quesada – http://kulintronica.wordpress.com/
Nicanor Evans – http://naseek.blogspot.com/
Aicnelav Diyan- http://bukobomba.blogspot.com/
Marybelle Mb, Belle by MB – http://marybellemb.wordpress.com/
Jay Landayan Malvari
Agapito Doronio – http://artbattles.com/artists/agapito-doronio
Jayson Lorenzo – http://funmakerbooth.com/

My new book: Sulat ng Kaluluwa (Writing of the Soul) launch Oct 11

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Sulat ng Kaluluwa I’m proud to announce the release of my 2nd book, Sulat ng Kaluluwa (Writing of the Soul) officially launching on October 11, 2013 at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, California, USA 6:30PM to 9PM. Here’s a link to the Facebook event.

Sulat ng Kaluluwa (Writing of the Soul) is the 2nd book by Ancient Philippine Calligraphy (Baybayin) Artist, Kristian Kabuay. The book features over 50 images of artwork and accompanying stories written by people from around the world. The concept was for each person to provide a word or name and write what it means to them. From the word and story, Kristian created the art.

The pre-sale with early bird pricing and specials is starting NOW at SulatngKaluluwa.com/buy that will lead you to the Kickstarter campaign.

The specials are as follows:

#1 $5 – eBook in PDF format (no crappy DRM)

#2 $13 – Early bird pricing for ebook + 1 book. Includes shipping to the USA. The book will retail for $14.99 starting October 11.

#3 $25 – eBook+ 1 book + a name or word in the Philippine script on 5×7 watercolor paper. Includes shipping to the USA.

#4 $50 – eBook + 1 book + a word or name in the Philippine script on 5×7 watercolor paper a + Baybayin snapback hat. Includes shipping to the USA.

Delivery will be late October

EVENT: Preservation and Promotion of the Mangyan syllabic script

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From the Facebook link:

The Mangyan Heritage Center, Inc. invites you to attend two lectures on Cultural Preservation sponsored by the US Embassy Manila. The first lecture is on the Preservation and Promotion of the Mangyan syllabic script and poetry (ambahan) while the second is about Cultural Preservation.

The lecture is free and open to the public but the complete name of all guests should be submitted earlier to the Embassy’s security group. In this regard, interested participants are requested to confirm as soon as possibleto any of the following: jimenezRL@state.gov, mhc@mangyan.org, mangyanheritage@gmail.com.

Entrance will be at the main gate and an identification card will be required. Parking within the compound is not allowed. Those with vehicles may park at the Museo Pambata or at the city parking spaces across the street for a minimal fee.

Kindly share this invitation with your friends who may be interested to attend the lectures.

Walker Underwear Philippines rips off artists

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Photo Aug 17, 12 04 07 PM
I’ve been ripped off again. This time by Walker Underwear from the Philippines. They used my Baybayin font that’s of my personal handwriting their “Extreme Collection:Baybayin”

I noticed it when some celebrity Teejay Marquez posted it on Instagram. I bust my ass traveling the world for free promoting Baybayin and Philippine culture out of my own pocket. This blatant disregard of my work will not be tolerated. I think it’s a great idea for Baybayin underwear but all they had to do was ask.

I’m sure they’ll come back and say our designer did it or it’s the fault of the freelancer. There was no note, we just downloaded it from the internet so we assume it was free. We never heard of you, etc. All lame excuses. If there’s any doubt of the origin of the art, they should know that they have to make an attempt to investigate. In my downloads page, I specifically say that all downloads are for personal use only. The zip file has a text file that also states that the font is for personal use only and has my contact info. Sure, someone could’ve deleted the text file and rezipped it but whoever was in-charge of this project should’ve asked the artist where the art was sourced. Those are questions that need to be asked. Any SMART business would do these things.

My action items:
1) After this post, email Walker wealth_collection@yahoo.com
2) Bring the attention to Walker Underwear on their FB page
3) Bring the attention to Walker Underwear on Twitter twitter.com/WalkerUnderwear
4) Notify the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines via email and their FB page
5) Consult with my business contacts in Manila
6) Consult with Philippine Government contacts in the San Francisco Philippine Consulate
7) As my friends of influence for assistance
8) Ask worldwide community to assist in bringing attention to this matter

What you can do…
1) Post on their FB page
2) Send them a Tweet twitter.com/WalkerUnderwear

I could’ve emailed them 1st but this has gotten out of hand. I understand a small groups of guys and a tshirt company but for a corporation, there’s NO EXCUSE. It’s embarrassing that their line is stated as Pilipino & Proud+.

So at the end of the day, what am I looking for? Is it money? Recognition? Nope, it’s RESPECT FOR ARTISTS! Art makes the world happy, don’t make the world unhappy by forcing artists to quit making art to get a regular job just to make a living. Companies like these are one reason why artists are poor.

This is a bad move for a Philippine company. It make businesses in the US and around the world NOT WANT to do business with a Philippine company due to issues like this.

I demand 1) A public apology and 2) An immediate cease of sales of the underwear or ALL profits go to Gawad Kalinga. Take your pick

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European tour 2013 – Paris recap

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I meant to get this out a couple weeks ago but I just recovered from the trip! Rather than write one big article, I’ll break it down to Paris, Madrid, London and Brussels. If you can’t wait, check out some pix on my Instagram and Facebook pages.

Here’s we go…..

1st stop was Paris. I’ve been there before in 2007 for vacation but wasn’t expecting the hot and humid weather. I only brought 1 pair of shorts due to my heavy luggage filled with artwork and other materials. When arrived at the airport, I was surprised by 2 things. 1) My Krink x Coach luggage tag was missing!

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2) Someone was waiting for me with a sign with my name from the Philippine Embassy. They took real good care of me.
Paris airport
I arrived in Paris the day before my lecture was scheduled on Jose Rizal’s birthday, June 19th. The morning kicked off with speeches and birthday greetings by the Paris chapter of the Knights of Rizal and Las Damas de Rizal.

Philippine Embassy Paris

We then visited Jose Rizal Place, the park where he used to hang out in Paris.

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After the morning festivities, I did my lecture for the Rizal organizations and the Philippine Embassy staff.

Baybayin Paris After my lecture, I had a few more days in Paris and caught the pre-colonial Philippine Exhibition at the  Musée du quai Branly. It was the best Philippine exhibit I’ve ever seen including those in the Philippines. What was interesting is that I got stopped on the way out of the museum by someone who worked there who wanted to ask my opinion of the exhibit. I guess she knew I was Filipino, I was the only one in the building! We talked about my tattoos, artwork and explained to her what Baybayin is. She didn’t have any idea why there wasn’t any on display.

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While in France, I also got to create some artwork for my art show and lecture in London. I called it the “Rogue Sessions”.

baybayin art

American Politics, Identity and Baybayin

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I don’t usually go to political events but I went to a rally for Fil-ams to confirm if my idea to use baybayin as a cultural identifier for businesses would also be applicable to politicians. After having pancit, fried chicken and a Carona, I spoke to some people in the audience, community organizers and a couple politicians. These politicians obviously want the support of the Filipino American community and specifically new young voters. The problem is how to identify as a Filipino without alienating others. It’s not a good idea I guess politically to say “Ryan Santos: Filipino” on a sign. People vote for people that they fell can trust to address their issues. Someone that speaks their language, literally and figuratively.

Below is the website of David Chiu. He uses a writing system specifically to identify him as Chinese and at the same time communicate to his target market.

In contrast, here’s the website below for Rob Bonta who’s Filipino.  The problem with Filipinos is that we are chameleons. We can look like virtually any race. Our last names can mistake us for Latin, Chinese, “American” or a handfull of others.

Fil-Am candidates should use Baybayin on their marketing materials to identify as Filipino. It does not have to communicate like David Chiu does because the reality is that the majority of Filipinos cannot read Baybayin (yet). However, the segment that Fil-Am politicians want to reach (young), do recognize it. Who will be the 1st Fil-Am politician to utilize Baybayin? Contact me and I’ll help you out.