Category: Culture

Baan Louis, the King and I

Known locally as Baan Louis, the Louis T. Leonowens House is often mentioned because of its indirect but well-known link to The King and I. The connection comes through Anna Leonowens, the mother of Louis T. Leonowens. Anna served in the 1860s as tutor to the children of King Mongkut (Rama IV), an experience that later became the basis for Western novels, stage productions, and films.

The Black House Museum of Chiang Rai

The Baan Dam Museum, more commonly known to foreign visitors as the Black House Museum, is the life’s work of Thawan Duchanee, a native of Chiang Rai celebrated as a painter, architect, and sculptor. His vision for Baan Dam was not to create a conventional museum, but to build an immersive environment where architecture itself becomes art.

Disenyo Pandi

Disenyo Pandi is known today as a reliable destination for barongs, gowns, and formal wear in Pandi, Bulacan, operating under the Bagong Barrio Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BBMPC). Since its establishment in 2002, the cooperative has focused on improving the quality of life of its members by supporting local designers and providing access to quality, affordable materials. In January 2025, Disenyo Pandi marked its 7th anniversary as a Wedding Depot, reflecting its steady growth and continued relevance in the local fashion industry.

Bert Monterona’s “All Out Peace Not War” Art Exhibit

During my visit to Zamboanga City, I was fortunate to experience “All Out Peace Not War: Kalinaw Hindi Digmaan,” a powerful traveling exhibition of large-scale paintings by Norberto “Bert” Monterona, currently on display at the National Museum Western-Southern Mindanao inside the historic Fort Pilar. The centuries-old fortress, once a sentinel of colonial history, now serves as a symbolic space for reflection and renewal — a fitting venue for Monterona’s stirring call for peace, justice, and cultural preservation

Vicente Manansala’s “Inang Bayan”

Painted in 1975 by National Artist Vicente Manansala, Inang Bayan is a monumental mural that blurs the lines between art, politics, and propaganda. Installed at the Philippine Heart Center—a premier hospital that was one of many legacy projects of then-First Lady Imelda Marcos—the painting was officially declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines on February 28, 2011. At the heart of the mural is a symbolic portrayal of Marcos herself, at the height of her influence during the Marcos dictatorship.

One Piece 25th Anniversary at SM North EDSA

The centerpiece of the Animezing North: One Piece 25th event is the gigantic Luffy Gear 5 balloon. Gear 5 is the awakened form of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, enhancing Luffy’s rubbery body and granting him the power to manipulate and transform his surroundings. Luffy unlocked this ability during his final battle with Kaidou on Onigashima.

Animezing North: One Piece

The massive 21-foot inflatable Luffy serves as the centerpiece of the third run of Animezing North exhibit in collaboration with Toei Animation Enterprises and Funk, which has already traveled to various countries including Japan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

Otto Shoes Mini Museum

Otto Shoes was established by its founder Manuel P. Samson in 1979. The journey began in the backyard of his ancestral residence in Marikina, with the inauguration of the first retail store in Pasig in the same year. Subsequently, the brand expanded, setting up additional retail outlets and providing footwear to various malls. Presently, Otto Shoes has 66 boutiques across the nation.

Flashnote: The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale 2023 in Manila

Inspired by the notorious character from the beloved fairy tale, the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale made its debut in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia in May 2009. This event spanned five days and showcased a wide selection of books primarily sourced from BookXcess, a bookstore specializing in surplus or remaindered books obtained from international distributors. The founders of BookXcess, Andrew Yap and Jacqueline Ng, were the creative minds behind this remarkable sale.

Flashnote: Modern Filipiniana by Peñaflorida Atelier

To commemorate both the Founding Anniversary of the Province of Rizal and the Philippine Independence Day, SM City Masinag is showcasing 3 modern Filipiniana attire created by Peñaflorida Atelier, a designer from Rizal.

Pag-iilaw 2021 in UP Diliman

The University of the Philippines Diliman’s annual “pag-iilaw” event this year serves as a heartfelt homage to the faculty, staff, and researchers who lost their lives during the pandemic. Taking inspiration from the ancient role of “babaylan” as healers and intermediaries connecting the community and the universe, numerous lanterns were incorporated into the current installation artwork located in and around Quezon Hall.