Old and New
Posted on January 8, 2012 by Hannah
I was preparing the photos I’d post here of the holidays spent quietly in our family’s compound in the province while mindlessly watching the pilot episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. where Ross agonize being newly divorce at age 26 and it dawned on me that I saw this episode when I was 10 and now I’m the same age as the characters. Nostalgia came rushing in while looking at photos of the holidays with cousins I grew up with who now have their own families and baby cousins are all turning into tweens. Every single year i don’t know why I bother commenting on how tall they’re all getting. I also gave our grandparents’ old abandoned (almost dilapidated) house a visit and the current state of the once glorious house and my lola’s garden where we spent most of the family gatherings a decade and a half ago magnifies how life really is short and we just slip into our present selves without realizing it.
When i was 10 I couldn’t wait to be an adult and it seems 26 is far out future like how 80s movies depict the 2000s the utlra modern civilization with flying cars and hologram phones. Alas it’s 2012 already and I still feel like there’s something I ought to be when I turn this and that age. But at this point I’m relishing this time of my life. Taking my sweet time to realize my hopes and dreams and living in the present. 
Happy 2012 everyone! As a little tribute to the new year ahead my cousins,nieces and nephews spontaneously worked on this wall art project in the family compound celebrating our family name.
An Update
Posted on December 15, 2011 by Hannah
I’m alive! I have no excuse for being absent in this blog except that I find it difficult to write anything substantial the past few months.
2012 will be different though. My good friend Wiji – an illustrator,tattoo artist extraordinaire and also a close friend who I met during my active blogging days in Livejournal 4 years ago, assumed the role of blogging nagger, so I would update this journal from time to time and vice versa to her.
I’ve just been working hard that’s all. Here are the “work” I speak of.
This is an animated video about a Volunteering Conference produced by a studio based in London – Paperboat Creative. I supplied illustrations for this which you can watch here.
After that, I think around August. Mark commissioned me to work on the illustrations for an infommercial for PLDT. Here are some screencaps from the video and various lady puppets that they animated which i found amusing.
Then last November I designed the exhibit of Manikako for PETA’s awareness campaign for Child Protection Law entitled “Pagmasdan ang Kabataan.” Gabie Osorio’s works of delight was the main feature of this show. Including some artist dolls from our Podium exhibition 3 years back.
Such colorful works! Ok.. that’s it.. that was pretty fun.. I hope i don’t have to drag myself to update this thing the next time around
Oh and P.S.
I’m also updating my website! FINALLY!
The Art Supplies Challenge (T.A.S.C.)
Posted on August 7, 2011 by Hannah
I have been drawing a lot on my notebook lately with my favorite pen brush but i wish i can venture into other mediums and use up all these art supplies i have in stock. I LOVE buying art supplies or random supplies i can use for the future but never get around in using. Last year while living in Vietnam, i blew off steam from my day job by going to local art shops on the weekends or lunch breaks to buy supplies like oil paint tubes which i’ve only used thrice in my year long stay in Saigon. They have ART Friend there.. and art materials was relatively cheap so I kind of hoarded things i don’t really use. So, starting from now on I challenge myself to avoid the occasional visits to the book shop and try to spend the time on using these supplies instead..
Oh and i also have stuff from my textile printing days..hmm
MISSY BON BON
Posted on June 29, 2011 by Hannah
Photography by Rene Araneta
I just realized I’ve forgotten about this project from last year entirely. It seriously didn’t exist in my head until a few moments ago during a conference call when the client sent a visual reference that reminded me of this job. The talented Architect Edwin Uy (whose work i admired prior to finding out he designed it) invited me to work on the wall illustrations for Missy Bon Bon – a newly launched breadshop franchise in Cagayan city, Philippines last year. I was based in Saigon when I worked on this and I haven’t been able to visit the actual bakeshop yet since it’s far from Manila. Apparently these photos has been sitting in my inbox since April of last year and I only saw it now! I guess I was busy moving houses at that time so it wasn’t really my top priority or perhaps riding motorbikes everyday gives permanent brain damage. eheh..
I also found my initial studies from my email correspondence with Edwin.
It evolved to this. I like the initial direction better but then again the final work is more happy and warm which was in line with brand’s identity.
aww, now i’m craving for pastries.. yep – see what i did just there, subliminal manipulation… nuninuni..
Pirata Cat and Manikako at ToyCon 2011
Posted on June 16, 2011 by Hannah
Yey! It’s June! it’s the time of the year again for ToyCon which would only mean Manikako (a non-profit organization that sustains free doll making workshops for under-priviledge children also known as that booth with weird people pricking needles on voodoo dolls) will have a booth yet again in the annual toy fair! I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since our first booth in this decade old ToyCon and we’re still alive and kicking! Yehey.. I’m so happy to be back and helping our organization that all started in this toy conference back in 2007, before i start being sappy and sentimental let me just tell you a quick story about Pirata Cat!
Incidentally, Pirata Cat and I had Matching scarves when i took this photo last week…hihi. He’s my favorite Manikako creation only because he’s my first and i think i got lucky finding the right colors in the stash of donated scrap materials while assisting head seamstress Gabie in a Manikako workshop funded by our very first TOYCON booth for an orphanage in South of Manila back in 2007. Here’s the incriminating evidence of that time and my not-so-wasted youth : ) He’s almost 5 years old now can you imagine? Pirata cat hangs out on this sail boat which I got from Vietnam, docked beside my window sill in my home office, greeting me every morning!
Anyway, Pirata cat told me to show you the TOYCON map in case you get lost on Saturday or Sunday : ) See you guys there!
Breakfast
Posted on June 9, 2011 by Hannah
Woke up to the ringing of bells around 6AM today that turned out to be my heavenly father sent from the hilly top of Antipolo. We had coffee and pandesal (bread) with cream cheese for breakfast while our sleepy 17 year old house keeper listened to his usual banter, that and other randomness we discussed. I told him about my frustration with shading and inking pencil panels during my failed attempts on doing comic strips these past few days.
He drew me this diagram that explains the importance of identifying the negative and positive space in drawing which he taught me eons ago that i never manage to learn, then from that topic he jumped to a series of chiasmus which is relevant because of its yin and yang nature, hence the picture above which i drew freehand with my pocket pen brush.
In case your wondering what’s that on the cow print plate, it’s yellow corn not mini leopard skin chips (if there’s such a thing). I have no idea why i made it positive, it looks weird… hnnh…
Hopefully this drawing frenzy continues. Don’t jinx it!
Tangled
Posted on June 8, 2011 by Hannah
Drew this last February, i think after watching Tangled. Posting it now to feel less tangled with thoughts. Unloading bits and pieces of life here the next few days. Just saying hi Wednesday, it’s nice of you to rain.
Coffee Flavored Twine
Posted on February 17, 2011 by Hannah
For as long as I can remember, the very first person I became really good friends with is my father. It was his birthday a few weeks ago (January 29 to be exact) and I totally forgot. I suppose it never really occurs to me that he ages. Though he sports a beard and white hair, his spirit is forever young. Most people won’t even think he’s pass 60 if they start talking to him. I have this series of drawings of him based on memories. This one is fairly recent. We were in this coffee shop 3 years ago and he started winding napkin paper together and dipping it in his coffee, saying it’s a Coffee Flavored Twine that you can place in your car’s AC and you can smell real coffee while driving. : )
Mama Pipino
Posted on February 8, 2011 by Hannah
I’ve concluded that my mother has a strange inclination with fruits and vegetables while traveling. She has got to have one with her at all cost! While growing up I’ve experienced a number of episodes during our travels in which she has in her luggage at least one article of vegetable stored safely among her clothes. The most recent one was last year when she paid me a visit in Vietnam in which she actually got me believing that she’ll be bringing a watermelon from home and while that was only a practical joke, she still ended up lugging around an avocado during our Vietnam adventure. That according to her fell off from somebody’s baggage which she picked up somewhere in the loading dock.
Proof! Forgive me for the crappy photo, this is the only one i have. This was from last year in the airplane to Hanoi, the south of Vietnam. The avocado conveniently ripened after our 9 day trip and I’ve never tasted an avocado that ridiculously delicious! I guess the travel did that to it : )
