Authentic Italian

24 September 2012

Our Housing class had a field trip around the Southern part of Metro Manila. First, we went to the New Bilibid Prison resettlement area, which is funded by the National Housing Authority. Then we went to the neighboring Portofino Residences by Brittany. Lastly, we visited the Bonifacio Global City under AyalaLand and Evergreen Holdings.

The whole day was interesting in itself, but I'm only going to discuss Portofino here because the whole "authentic Italian" schtick they have rubbed us the wrong way.

Pizza Pasta Pepperoni

Before I had Architectural Theory classes, I already felt uncomfortable with themed developments. The ads in newspapers and magazines, though pretty, had never appealed to me. It took one HTC class for me to understand why I felt iffy with these imitations.

There are reasons why Filipino architecture is different from any other architecture found in other parts of the world. A few of these reasons are climate, availability of materials, and differences in culture.

Transplanting an authentic foreign style into Manila simply won't work. It's not just a matter of nationalism. There's a reason why the basic Filipino houses don't have cupolas and chimneys and basements. It's because WE DON'T NEED THEM. Having useless and costly design details that are completely foreign is pretentious.

And they introduce their developments in first person. I find that extremely unusual.

As the trip was composed of three professors and eight vans of idealistic architecture students, we had a lot of questions, but the number one question was simply... why?

Why build all these thematic developments (they have a Switzerland-inspired  one in Tagaytay and an American... thing somewhere else)??? Why not just build high-end exclusive villages wherein people can have their own designs? WHY???

Their answer? Because there's a market for these kind of things.

Alfie asking a question.

Kurt asking a question.

Bibbokid Ice asking a question.

Kuya Don asking a question

They fed us adobo rolls..... bwahahahaha.

Their clubhouse was posh-looking, but certainly not as Italian as I expected.

Despite the artificial-looking facades, I'd have to commend them on the Interior Design. At least they did something right by commissioning the Almario Sisters to do the interiors.

Christian and Arvin on the balcony

We were taken to two of their model houses. We were greeted by classical music as we entered the houses.

Becky orgmates welcoming people in.

The house design was named Alessandro. All their designs are named after Italian artists.

Fake books

REAL Vidka???

A room named Alex

For display purposes only

Mariz, Ell, Alyssa and Gelmer

A lot of pictures were taken that day.

I forgot the name of the second house. But it has a courtyard.

A small one, but hey! At least meron.

I like the table settings, but I'm too messy to have them in real life.

I have so many photos of Donna and Liz. They actually own the house.

Gonna have a wall like this someday.

The donyas.

I don't like wallpaper in general... but these two do.

We were not allowed to sit on or touch anything... but bleh.

A lot of Chinese stuff for an Italian home.

We left Portofino with mixed feelings. Personally, I think that they are trying to mislead people by selling "authentic Italian architecture". But their definition of authentic is skewed. If you built something like that in Italy, it won't fit the context at all. It's not authentic Italian. It's a hodgepodge of styles that the designers think is Italian. It misinforms people.

The sad thing is that people actually buy these properties, and at very high prices. It's like the people's definition of luxury includes homes that can fit inside theme parks.

Then again, who can fault the buyers? This proves that colonial mentality still exists. One thing is for sure... none of us taking the field trip would want to live there.

Ell is running away from it already.

Guilt: Once Every Two Months.

I seriously love my parents.

My mother is coming to Manila for the weekend. I've probably said this before, but me and my siblings don't get to see our parents often enough. It's one of the unavoidables of sending your kids far away so they can study in their dream schools.

Whenever my parents come to Manila, it's pretty much a big deal. We try to spend as much time with them as possible: we shop and eat and talk and laugh... we try to do the typical things that Filipino families do on Sundays.

Unfortunately, flights are booked months beforehand and bad timing cannot always be avoided. I was supposed to be cramming a lot of academic stuff into my weekend, which means that family time has to be cut short.

Do you know how that makes me feel?

Guilty. That's how I feel.

Now I'm not the type to go moping around, missing people, and becoming homesick. But we rarely see them nowadays. Rarely = once every two months if we're lucky.

This isn't the first time this has happened. I remember a certain hospital design plate getting in the way of our bonding moment back in third year. I felt really bad back then. 24 hours of nonstop work plus having to present it in PGH the day after has made me cranky and unfit for company. I fell asleep in the FX ride home. Thankfully, the kind driver woke me up. It was exhausting, and I slept through my mother's visit.

But through it all, the parents understand. My father gets a little whiny (eh, kelan tayo lalabas?!?), but he gets it too.

When I told her of my pesteng weekend, my mother told me that all they come here for is to see us (and to buy things they can't buy in Mindanao... charot, as if ang daming pera). Just as long as they're sure we're okay, they're okay. Of course it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, but that doesn't take away the guilt.

She said they were happy to see that we're working hard. Ah, Mama, if you can only see me during bum days.

/Bad Day

13 September 2012


The day started badly. We had an exam early in the day. I think I failed it. I couldn't study because the maids had a bitch fight in the garden the (mid)night before. Ugh. I hate running households, especially if I don't get much of a say on how things are done. I'm not a bratty person at all, most especially not with the household help. I keep my room clean and make my bed every morning and not let my clothes have bitch stains.

But displaying violence during midnight in the garden, where the whole world can see, is totally unacceptable to me. My uncle, who pays the bills, did not have the heart to really get mad (he's just too nice), and has already let it go. But the thing is, two supposedly mature adults fighting like kids is intolerable to me...INTOLERABLE!!! I don't care if they're from the *bukid! I've met people from the bukid too. My grandfather is from the bukid and he does not act like a rampaging bull who resorts to violence when he's mad!

I hate it when people start patronizing household help who come from low income families and have a lack of formal education. I hate it when they let the lack of manners pass because they assume that these people "do not know any better". I'm telling you, they do know better. If they don't, it is up to the employer to tell them how it's supposed to be done.

That's why I just EXPLODED on them yesterday. They're supposed to be here to work, not to fight with the people from other houses.

When it comes to things like honest work, they have to deliver. I don't care if they have disagreements. Work is work, and personal things should NEVER get in the way.

*bukid = farm

/Good day: Museum of the Filipino People

13 September 2012

After the fiasco earlier in the day, some friends persuaded me to go with them to the National Museum's Museum of the Filipino People. They had to go for their Anthropology class.

I've been here before, but I always like visiting. The museum is huge, and I never run out of things to see here. But I usually come for the timeless architecture. It makes me feel nostalgic and happy at the same time.

Designed by Ralph Harrington Doane, it was supposed to be a public library. Design revisions were made by Juan Arellano when the building became intended for the use of the Legislature. It was then repaired after World War II, which damaged it. In 1996, the Senate moved out of the building to make way for the National Musem [source]. 

We made a trip to the Ifugao House

Gelmer climbed up without difficulty. But she needed help climbing down.

Claire had pretty shoes on.

We sort of got lost and came into this stately hallway.

We came upon this.

We couldn't resist, of course.

Gelmer is an expert now.

More stately hallways

Eventually, these two had to get working on their homework. I just roamed around and distracted them.

Shell Midden!!!

I think replicated shell middens should be used as wall finish. Then again, that's a loooooot of shells. And it looks like a pain to maintain.

Claire was only interested in bling.

The balangay is one of my favorite exhibits in the museum. The National Museum has an exact complete replica in front. But seeing the real one, even just parts of it, still fascinates me. Seeing the ancient wood gives me goosebumps. Maybe I traveled in one of these in my past life, who knows?

Replica of their sea explorations.

Manunggul Jars!!!

In high school when I first heard that these were from Saranggani, I didn't think much of it. Then I actually SAW Saranggani... I'd like to float off its beautiful coast too after I die. 

The Ifugaos keep their mummified dead beside the steps of their houses for a period of time. I don't know if this replicates that.

I took a picture of this because I'd like to have something similar.

Of course I'd visit the T'nalak. But it made me miss home.

This is actually Donya Claire's house. 

They had this temporary exhibit of the Philippines' biodiversity. It reminded me of Maam Amparado of Bio 1. I miss her.

I'm lucky enough to have seen these babies alive in the sea.

Claire is used to show you how big these "sampalocs" are.

Fake Mahogany seeds! I once saw a bunch of these fall from a tree back in elementary school. I had a great time trying to catch them. They rotate like helicopter fins.

Another one.

We eventually got to the fifth floor. I don't think we were supposed to be there. But we didn't touch anything... Promise.

We persuaded Gelmer to take the glass elevator. She has this huge phobia of any vehicle that moves vertically. She pulled through in the end.

She even had the grace to smile.