Recuerdos

Priela-Ontengco Wedding Invites

When Rochelle and GP called me to do their wedding invites, they were actually planing to do a very formal and classic one with the Ilocos feel through my doodles. It was really hard for me to imagine mixing up the classic invitation elements and doodles. So for a month, I tried looking for different inspirations. Then they showed me some photos of the location of their wedding. It was a village of century old houses near the beach, and the only thing that came into my mind was Filipiniana. So I said to myself, forget the damask and the lace-like letters, I must mix Filipiniana and my doodles. A week after I started my sketches, I presented my work to GP. At that time, I was afraid Rochelle will not like it since I did not follow her request (the formal look). But to my surprise, it was really okay for her. And it was GP who turned out to be more meticulous, but in a very very good way. Following his requests, I added some matsuka tiles like those of the church in Ilocos, a village of century old bahay-na-bato, a light tower, and a mini statue of a goat. 

Here are some of the illustrations I incorporated in the invites.

Baltog

If I am going to follow the belief that he is Bhaerava, the son of Shiva, who travelled from India to Mudiipa (ancient Philippines) through a giant bamboo raft, he would probably look like this.

He's wearing the skin of a tiger and a cobra on his neck. He's holding a trident. These are the most common elements found in all Bhaerava's images.

Oryol

This illustration is part of a bestiary of Bikolano mythology I'm doing. I have to research further on the details of the narratives so I'll be faithful to the text. 

Oryol is a very strong figure in the epic fragment of Ibalong. She is a giant serpent and the deity of the river who disguises herself as a beautiful maiden. Of the creatures mentioned in Ibalong, she was the only undefeated character that the hero Handiong decided to work with her instead of being an adversary. Just like the balyanas, she represents the strong feminine force in the ancient Bikol. 

In the story I'm writing, Oryol is continuously reincarnated in different generations in a cycle where she and Handiong would find each other as allies or enemies.  

Balyana

The Balyanas served as the priestesses of the ancient Bikol. Women have the capacity to connect to the Gugurangs or Bathala, through their rituals where they sing and enter into a trance to journey into the diferrent dimension so they can see what the gods want to show. They are powerful in the society, that when the Spanish conquistadores came they labeled the Balyanas as ghouls or aswangs.


I dedicate this illustration to my nanay Jo Bisuña, a modern balyana.

the blue lake

Invite me to swim into your depths. Let me see your world. 

Tsokolate Eh

Inspired by the famous line of Padri Salvi in Jose Rizal's novel "Noli Me tangere", Pan de Cielo brings you a taste of this Spanish drink. More than a century ago, the thick, hot and rich, Tsokolate Eh is served only to special guests that pleased the old colonial masters, while the diluted Tsokolate Ah is for those uninvited. Today, everyone is a welcomed guest to enjoy this treat, which beans are carefully picked and roasted at the foot of Mt. Isarog. 

Apres Moi

Since childhood, my favourite school subject is history, and one chapter I'm interested most is the chapter on French revolution. But before the heads of the last Bourbon king and his wife rolled out of the guillotine, the past kings and mistresses played the coffers of France living in absolute luxury. This work is a tribute to the woman who predicted the fall of the French monarchy. Truly, the deluge came after their reign. 

Bikol SLAM

the sleepy minion

It was said that the minions are genetically engineered from a DNA of a person living in a palace wearing a barong. This explains the uncanny resemblance to the person we address as his excellency.

Pan de Cielo

Frida

The Sick Octopus

They said he's sick,

so they sedated him and chained his tentacles.

Then they opened his skull and examined his brain, and they found nothing but slime.

SURAL

March 2012






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Bungkukan

Bungkukan na kinalot sa gilid kan uma,

daing sapog sa dila, 

daing darang sustansya.

Tinanom sa marhay na daga

nagtubo na garo sa tagiltilan.

Nagdahon kuta nin darakula

nagbuladas sana an duma. 

kan sakong ubakan, an laman nalalapa,

haloy nang nilayasan nin tagok

an lawas na nanggurang sa anggot.  

the angry bird

Sticks and stones may break your bones when there's anger to impart. 

Spiteful words can hurt your feelings but silence breaks your heart. 

-unknown

Pinas

Jagger

My dog/troll bestfriend.

samurai

My attempt to recreate a Japanese drawing, close enough.

Wolf eater

We let our fears eat our souls.