Category: Pop 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.

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.

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.

Flashnote: Red Light, Green Light

I just finished watching Squid Game, a Netflix new Korean series about a brutal game where the players need to win each game or else die. The first challenge is Green Light, Red Light where a massive doll will gun down anyone she caught moving. And that massive 10-foot doll is now at the entrance of Robinsons Galleria mall.

Mascots Inc.

When it comes to mascots, Japan takes it to a whole new level. Whether it’s for corporate branding, sports teams, or even public services, it appears that there is a mascot for nearly every aspect of life in Japan. This phenomenon has become deeply rooted in Japanese culture, captivating both residents and tourists with its widespread appeal.

Meeting Kumamon

Kumamon is a mascot created by the local government of Kumamoto Prefecture in 2010 as a campaign drive by the region to draw more tourist when the bullet train Kyushu Shinkansen opened. He is a bear, about 1.5 metres (5ft) tall, with black glossy fur, circular red cheeks and wide, staring eyes. Kumamon was voted the most popular yuru-kyara in 2011.