The Batanes Group of Islands (or the Archipelagic Province of Batanes) is the northernmost region of the Philippine archipelago. Composed of three major islands: Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat; these islands have been inhabited for 4,000 years and are believed to be homes of the ancestors of the Austronesian-speaking peoples in the Pacific and Indian Oceans….
(Com)Modified Bodies: The Archive
Early this year, I led a dramaturgical exhibition on body technologies and body modifications. The exhibition was based on a growing interest on the body as a starting point of discourse, which was rampant in the academic circle in the past decades. Together with my co-curators, my colleagues from the University of the Philippines, B.L. Viray,…
Belfries in the Flemish Region of Belgium: Towers of Power in European Histories
Among the European countries I visited, Belgium is my favorite. I will not get tired of visiting this small nation over and over again. For many, Belgium produces the best beer in the world. Actually, the Belgians are the producers of the best beers (take note plural) in the world. As for me, Belgium, especially…
Rio and its Playful Landscape (Part 2 of 2)
I am really glad, I was not interpellated by popular biases against Rio. Otherwise, I would not have experienced the carioca landscapes between the mountains and the seas. A panoramic view of the city from the Marro do Urca (Photo: SAP Tiatco) My visit to Rio de Janeiro was spent for a few hours only. Given…
Rio and its Playful Landscape (Part 1 of 2)
In the Philippines, when one thinks of Brazil, she thinks of the Amazon jungle, the carnival, beauty pageants, and Rio! Rio’s popularity has been on the rise since the 1960’s. The Bossanova song “A Girl from Ipanema” invaded the world radio, even winning Record of the Year in the 1965 Grammy Awards, beating American and English…
Skogskyrkogården: an Architectural Wonder where the Beauty of Life and Death Meet
On my way to Stockholm in 2016, a friend asked me via Messenger to pass by Skogskyrkogården, especially since he knew my sort of interest with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. “Skogsky what?” I asked. “Thought you were a WHS fanatic? Really, you know nothing about Skogskykogården?” he quipped. I googled (thanks to an easy access…
Gaspar, Baltasar and Melchor or the Three Kings in Kölner Dom/Cologne Cathedral (Part 2 of 2)
It was raining when I arrived in Köln. I was afraid that the bad weather would spoil my first opportunity to pay tribute to the three kings. Rain and cold weather – not a good idea for travel, I know. However, the bad wheater did not spoil my visit. The magnificent giant that is the…
Gaspar, Baltasar and Melchor or the Three Kings in Kölner Dom/Cologne Cathedral (Part 1 of 2)
For a long time, four things come across my mind each time I hear “The Three Kings” or “The Three Wise Men” or in biblical terms “The Three Magi.” First, I think of them as Gaspar, Baltasar, and Melchor because this is how they are called in the Philippines. In relation, I also think of…
Sydney Opera House: Sculptural Marvel and Architectural Wonder
A trip to Sydney is never complete without a visit to the Sydney Opera House. One of the most popular and most visited tourist destinations not only in Australia but arguably also in the entire world, the Opera House is an unusual structure that appears to be a grand sculpture from afar. Just like any…
Gaudi’s Candyland
Oftentimes, we associate Barcelona with its football team, especially the powerful line-up beginning with Lionel Messi, Arthur Melo, and Arturo Vidal. For my friends who have visited Barcelona, they remember the city via Barceloneta (Summer Beach) and the 1.2 km Las Ramblas (the Central Boulevard for many tourists). My other “nerdy” acquaintances think of Placido Domingo…
Tanghal Kultura 