katha magazine - issue 01 sept/oct 2013

ISSUE 01 SeptOct 2013

EDITORIALBOARD

MASTERMINDSGeli Balcruzhellogelibeeblogspotcom Aya Dalumpinesfacebookcomcreatebytlf

Andrea Dela Cruzmabuhaydiywordpresscom

Allie Principefoureyedwondercom

Cachi Reyesthepinkdoormatblogspotcom

CONTRIBUTORSKoni Estebancandidlyprettyblogspotcom

Ella Lamathreesixtyfivepointfourtimblrcom

IllUSTRATORSLando Cusibehancenetlandocusi

CONTACT USFor submissions advertising opportunities and other inquirieskathamagazinephgmailcom

SUBSCRIBESign up for our mailing listhttpeepurlcomDI7LT

SOCIAl MEDIAFacebook kathamagazinephTwitter kathamagazine Instagram kathamagazinePinterest kathamagazine

Katha is a bi-monthly magazine for creatives by creatives Copyright is reserved Reposting in whole or in part on other sites and publications without permission is prohibited All rights to photos and illustrations belong to their respective owners

kathamagazinetumblrcom

KATHA

EVERY STORY HAS A BEGINNINGOurs started one random night not too long ago with five girls who shared the same love and passion for creating They decided that they wanted to start something --something theyrsquove never done before something that theyrsquove been wanting to see in the local scene but could never seem to find something that could feed the souls of other creative minds such as theirs

Katha katmiddothacirc In local vernacular it means to create something be it with your hands your computer or even just your imagination The word is beautiful and evokes a mystical sort of wonder and we think there is no better word in any other language that could perfectly capture our vision for this magazine

In our very first issue we decided to celebrate the creation of something new and wonderful Whether itrsquos starting a new passion project bringing new life to your old things or starting to plan your own parties we want everyone who reads this to share in the joy of seeing great ideas transform from vague concepts to tangible realities

This is the just the beginning but wersquore hoping that itrsquos the beginning of something big Now on to writing the next part of the story

CheersThe Katha Team

photo by Allie Principe

CONTENTS06 WHIMSIES

10 10A ALABAMA

12 BAZAAR TIPS 101

14 UPCYCLED PROJECTS

18 TOOLS OF THE TRADE

20 HEY YOU

22 KATHA QampA

24 KAWAII BUYS

28 CRAFTERPRENEUR

29 FASHION TREND

30 CREATIVE NOOK

32 ART FOR ALL

36 FACEOFF

38 OH HELLO DY

44 VERSUS

46 SCOUTSrsquo HONOR

50 PHENOM

56 LETrsquoS CELEBRATE

58 MARSHMALLOW LOVE

62 CONNECT

10

14

24

30

32

38

46

58

6 | WHIMSIES

MIXTAPE FOR THIS ISSUE

ANG BONGGANG BONGGANGBATANG BEKIby Rhandee Garl i tos

A BEAUTIFUL MESS

UNSEEN MOONby El iza Victoria

BAHIA ACCESSORIESfacebookcombahia accessories

1 This is the beginning by BOY2 New Years by Ohbijou3 Shine Like A New Pin by Camera Obscura4 New Soul by Yael Naim5 In the New by Reverie Sound Revue

6 The Night Starts Here by Stars7 Brand New by Techy Romantics8 Begin Again by California Snow Story9 New Slang by The Shins10 Another Daybreak by Outerhope

A ground-breaking lovely childrenrsquos book about acceptance and courage in various formsWe think the world would be kinder and more colorful if we had more books like this

Palanca award-winner Eliza Victoria brings us a chilling collection of stories set in places that are all-too-familiar filled with strange encounters and terrifying characters Best read in old ancestral homes or under the sheets with a flashlight

Award-winning lifestyle bloggers Elsie and Emma share their passion for the beautiful life with a photo app thatrsquos filled with just the right amount of function and whimsy Personalizing photos is so easy yoursquoll never post dull boring photos again Download A Beautiful Mess for iOS for $099 from the App Store Check out abeautifulmesscom for updates on other operating systems

We love how the brand still makes use of local materials even if there are tons of mass-produced supplies readily available in the market Each handmade product tells a story of how we should promote sustainability and preserve Filipino culture

Listen to this playlist on Katharsquos 8tracks 8trackscomkathamagazinebeginnings

Songs that may or may not be about starting anew optimism makeovers and Fred Astaire

WHIMSIES | 7

ALEYN COMPRENDIOblogaleyncomprendiocomThe analog photos taken by Aleyn are dreamlike ethereal and a bit nostalgic Her snapshots seem to possess a hint of magic and will fill you with wonder SHMALLOW MARSHMALLOW SPREAD

shmallowsphcomGooey goodness you can spread on just about anything It comes in three flavors ndash original strawberry and cookies nrsquo shmallows Prices range from P 165 to P 180

GnD SPREADSfacebookcomGNDByGoNutsGo Nuts Donuts outdid itself by creating not just one but two variants each of cookie butter and chocolate cookie butter and() a chocolate hazelnut spread No more waiting for the next stock of US imports to arrive Prices range from P 99 to P 219

Located on the 5th floor of the new wing in Shangri-La Plaza you will definitely not miss this hip but cozy cafe while walking around the mall This new restaurant offers European dishes specifically German or Austrian Cuisine The word Spaumltzle means traditional German dumplings or egg noodles Try their Roast Chicken Sausage on Mushroom Spaumltzle and their Mint Lemonade served in a mason jar

THE YELLOW ADVENTURESbloghannahphIn a single snapshot Hannah is able to tell a touching story about the true essence of a place or a person She invites you to her adventures all over the globe as seen through her ever-optimistic eyes

BRAVE THE WAVESbravethewavesnetStill hungover from your last beach trip Take a quick virtual vacay through Miarsquos blog Her photos will make you feel glad that we live in a tropical country filled with beautiful beaches and people with beautiful hearts

TRAVELOGUES LE BUNNY BLEUfacebookcomLeBunnyBleuPH

FOOD WE WANT TO TRYLocal takes on food trends

SPaumlTzLE EURO MARKET CAFE

Is there anyone on the face of the earth who can resist bunnies Especially if you can wear them on your feet Wersquore oohing and aahing over Le Bunny Bleu and all of the cuteness -- both of their shoes and their store interiors

8 | WHIMSIES

DIY MAVENS

DESIGN THINKING ACTION LABnovoedcomdesignthinking

KATHMITRAinstagramcomkathmitra

Always bored sometimes crafty and often odd is how Meream describes herself A Cebu-based crafter she shares with us her

love for cats skirts sewing and crafts

Develop thinking out of the box with this online course offered by the Stanford dschool Learn about the design thinking process and engage in different exercises that will lead to an actual final project Schedulersquos flexible and itrsquos for free therersquos no reason why you shouldnrsquot give it a try

Baguio dweller Aileen shares snippets of her life through her DIYs and illustrations A self-

taught illustrator watch out as this artrepreneur transforms life

through her creations

Kath is an architect and an artist who runs the paper and stationery shop 23060 We love the minimalist tone of Kathrsquos photos -- a mix of architecture interior details

handmade work and small glimpses of a design-driven life The muted colors paired with lovely composition will soothe anyonersquos tired eyes

Michelle is a graphic designer and a mom to a three-year-old who

blogs about her creative ideas on interior decor and fun DIY projects

BORED AND CRAFTYboredandcraftycom

THE HOUSE OF ISLAthehouseofislablogblogspotcom

WHAT ELSE MICHELLEwhatelsemichellecom

Like what you see

Visit our site for more funkathamagazinetumblrcom

10 | STORIES

In one of the busy streets in Quezon City yoursquoll find a hidden gem that houses quintessential found objects in a furniture gallery It is also considered a home to many crafters who thrive to support their needs and sustain their love for the arts

A carefully hand-drawn gate of a blue Adarna bird will welcome you to 10A Alabama the home of Resurrection Furniture and Found Objects Gallery The old house transformed into an art and furniture gallery is a rehabilitation center for rescued furniture and given a second life An important rule to when you visit this place is to keep your eyes and mind open to absorb all the awesomeness yoursquore about to discover

As you enter the gallery fabric buntings will welcome you as they dance along with the wind Arlene Barbaza Leah Sanchez and Binggoy de Ocampo the brains behind

Resurrection Gallery turn old-fashioned furniture into conversation pieces Old wooden chairs are turned into Lamesilyas a chair and table top in one Your lolarsquos cabinets with floral engravings are delightfully colored orange or blue to add quirkiness to its personality and resurrected wooden trays are painted with chevron prints Yoursquoll also discover found vintage posters decoupage art and ceramic wares

In an effort to support the local handmade movement Arlene Leah and Binggoy hold an Arts and Crafts fair once every three months to support their fellow handmakers 10A Alabama becomes even more alive when crafterpreneurs or Alabamers get together to offer essential and functional art pieces that are meticulously handcrafted and made with love and pride

Handmade heaven10A Alabama is a treasure trove amidst the hust le and bust le o f c i ty l i fe

words by Gel i Balcruz

photo by Gel i Balcruz

STORIES | 11

Each handcrafted item tells a story and the crafters are encouraged to man their booth to unravel the story behind their creations In a world where competition is steadfast these proud handmakers are not hesitant to tell even their trade secrets to every crafter There is a strong sense of community as the crafters are all hearts as they share their passion to everyone be it a consumer or not A number of successful Alabamers shared their humble beginnings here and everyone is encouraged to start their dreams no matter how small they are

If you are in the hunt for pieces that are not mass-produced and intricately made we highly suggest that you visit this place especially when a fair is being held One way of supporting the fight against mindless consumption is to support the handmade movement With every piece of their creations that you purchase you take home a well-thought of creation and you also take that extra step with the handmakers to fulfill their dreams and sustain their needs

photos from facebookcom10aAlabama


OUR FAVES FROM THE FAIR

Aromateria Solid

Perfume by Shani Tan

Paper Crane earrings by Alejo ndash Aytin of OrigKami

Plushies by Joyce and Jordan of Monsterella Plush Art

Quirky upcycled accessories and Handmade plushies by Maan and Roma of Pop Junk Love

Manila Series Handmade notebooks

by Kath Mitra of 23060

photos from respect ive shop owners

MAKE | 13

bazaar t ips 101Planning to jo in your f irst-ever bazaar Read on to

know i f yoursquore bazaar ready


If yoursquore eyeing to join a bazaar for a startup or existing business but are still uncertain of which ones to join here are some pointers to consider before shelling out those hard earned pesos

TO GET STARTED ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK

Ask yourself ldquoDo I really need to join a bazaarrdquoSomehow your gut feel will tell you if you need to You can either surrender to your gut feel or take a big leap

Ask Mr GoogleStart with these two questions Is the organizer credible Is the bazaar popular From here you can have an idea of the foot traffic the target market as well as potential sales and losses

Ask experienced BazaaristasIf you think Mr Google can answer everything well think again Even Mr Google can prevent you from seeing bad reviews from a certain event Go ahead and ask around join groups and keep on asking until you finally settle for a concrete answer

PREPARE FOR THE BATTLE

Time to get craftingPlan ahead of time and make sure that you and your suppliers will be able to meet deadlines

Inventory timeItrsquos a tedious task but it will save you glorious amounts of time after the bazaar If you have done the inventory properly and managed to stick to the correct prices chances are you can just subtract the remaining items to determine your sales

Spread the wordTo get a grasp if your potential buyers are interested with what you have to offer post work in progress photos on your page to excite them and let them know that you

are joining a bazaar Always remember to include the Bazaarrsquos name location dates and time

Get enough restIf you intend to cram and be sleepless how can you have energy to tell your potential customers how awesome your products are They certainly wouldnrsquot want a zombie crafter

THINGS TO BRING

bull Packaging flyers business cardsbull Writing material and a notebook calculator tape

scissors string trashbag fanbull Toiletries ndash alcohol tissue meds extra clothes etcbull Food and waterbull Change for at least P500 with lots of P20rsquos P50rsquos a

few hundreds At least P50 in P1 amp P5 coinsbull Always have at least one sign with your business

name to display on your booth Make sure that it has at least one URL or website name

DURING THE BAZAAR

bull Always smile engage and interact with your customers and fellow bazaaristas

bull Give out flyers or business cards even to those who donrsquot buy They might one day need your product or services

bull Have fun and savor the moment

Keep in mind that external or intrinsic situations may vary Whether your first ever bazaar was successful or not just learn from the experience You will eventually know the type of bazaar that yoursquore supposed to join Have fun and be proud of your creations

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x


MAKE | 15

UPCYCLED PROJECTSTime to bring new l i fe to o ld things with these projects that are perfect for the craft room

words and photographs by Cachi Reyes

CRAFT CANS

Organize your crafting tools with these craft cans

YOU WILL NEEDold cans cereal containers or jarsscrap fabrichot gluewashi tapepaint

There are different ways to decorate your craft cans Here I will show you three options on how to spruce them up

Washi Tape Create patterns on your container using colorful washi tape My favorite pattern is the one with cute houses

Paint To make it easier I used flat white spray paint as the base of the can And then I used acrylic paint to for the honeycomb details

Fabric If you have scraps of fabric in your home then you can use them to decorate your container Stick the fabric onto the can with hot glue or white glue You can even adorn it with buttons or ribbons

MAKE | 17

SCRATCH PAPER PAD

Make your own note pad with scratch paper

YOU WILL NEEDa pile of scratch papercereal boxwhite gluematerials for decorating

Cut your scratch paper into the size that you want for your note pad Cut the front and back sides of the cereal box with the same size The cereal box will be the cover for your note pad

Bind the pile of scratch paper and the cover on each side You can use clothespins or paper clips to make it secure

Add glue on the side where you want the spine to be In this case I chose the top portion Use a paint brush to spread the glue Let it dry and apply again Do this step 4-5 times

Once the glue has dried you can now decorate your notepad You can paint the cover add washi tape make a collage - the choices are limitless

18 | MAKE

tools of the trade sc issorsWith a snip snip here and a snip snip there

words by Gel i Balcruz i l lustrat ions by Andrea Dela Cruz

Ever heard of the saying lsquoDonrsquot use scissors on New Yearrsquos or you will cut away your good luckrsquo Tell that to the Egyptians who lived thousands of years ago and theyrsquoll probably raise an eyebrow on you

Apparently it was the Egyptians who invented the scissors thousand of years ago It was of the U-shaped spring type that was made of metal or bronze Aside from its general function of cutting things it was also considered an art in itself as every piece was elaborately designed

During the Romanesque era scissor making was held in high esteem and craft guilds were formed to honor this craft A craft guild is an organization of workers trained in a particular specialty Apprentices undergo a series of tests to perfect the craft and would later on pass on the knowledge to other apprentices Oh wow imagine all the hard work that was put into creating this amazing tool

With the invention of other trades and crafts it was normal for people to demand for high-quality scissors to use for tailoring or haircutting and we have Robert Hinchliffe to thank for that He made use of steel in casting scissors for added durability and efficiency which opened a gateway for large-scale manufacturing Rumor has it that the infamous Sweeney Todd got his blades from Hinchliffersquos shop

The innovation continued until the mid-17th century and Fiskars Company played a major role in shaping the scissors that we use now With the new inventions and constant changes scissor makers strived to implement new concepts to the market handles were elaborately decorated blades were fancied up into different shapes or cutting styles The rest was put to history and now we have a lot of scissors readily available in our market

MAKE | 19

DONrsquoT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE TYPE FROM ANOTHER

General ScissorsIt is usually less than 6 inches long and has a straight handle

Safety Scissors Most children use it as their lsquostarterrsquo cutting instrument It has blunt ends to avoid injuries

Fabric ScissorsAlso known as shears it is the largest type of sewing scissors ranging from 6 to 9 inches long Most fabric scissors have a bent handle so that they can easily fit snug into your hands But donrsquot let the comfiness of the tool fool you because it is extremely sharp

Pinking Shears It is your go-to pair when you want to cut paper or fabric with flair It is used for decorative purposes as it has zigzag or scalloped blades instead of a straight edge

TIPS ON TAKING CARE OF YOUR SCISSORS

Wipe the blades to remove any trace of fabric tape or dust before putting them away Have the blades sharpened once in a while to have it working good as new

Always remember all the hard work and creativity that was put into creating this amazing craft tool Now snip snippity snap snap away

SOURCES

enwikipediaorgwikiScissors

heliumcomitems1080513-history-of-scissors-and-shears

ldquoThe Story of Scissorsrdquo by J Wiss amp Sons 1948

Clockwise General scissors safety scissors fabric scissors pinking shears

20 | HEY YOU

DEAR YOU Do you scour stores and empty shelves of their stocks Buy at least five pieces of that cute pen yoursquore sure you wonrsquot be using in the near future Panic when you see that your favorite item is out of stock even if you still have a whole box at home Have a room at home dedicated to all your finds Do you want to win the lottery so you can spend a huge amount of your winnings on cute and colorful things you donrsquot need If itrsquos a resounding yes to all of the above then you my friend as you probably already know are a hoarder I hope you arenrsquot a packrat and your hoarding isnrsquot a psychological condition I hope you just collect things because you feel yoursquoll need them and lots of them in the future I know you always tell yourself that this will come handy someday but frankly how many times has that actually happened Two Yes two out of a hundred times to justify that purchase And every time you find yourself already transacting for another hoard all you can say or sing is ldquoOops I did it againrdquo Britney wouldnrsquot be happy to know that I know you collect things because theyrsquore cute and unique and theyrsquore in your favorite color I see the rainbow is your favorite color Did you know that black and white arenrsquot in the rainbow You said yoursquoll share

them all with your friends send them a few But you know deep inside you want it for yourself you selfish btch I hope you know your math lsquoCause an item could be cheap but not when you get twenty of it And what has your partner said about it Lucky you if your partner loves you so much he or she has turned a blind eye on you Luckier you if he or she shares the same passion I could just imagine you two on hoarding sprees together I hope you still have space to eat sleep and pee in your home We both know thatrsquos all that matters go stuff the rest with your hoards Just donrsquot forget the front door I know yoursquore waiting for that day when yoursquoll host one big event say a party and yoursquoll use everything you have and yoursquoll pat yourself on the back and say I told you so But the chance of that happening is more unlikely than you adding a new bunch to your stash again The same goes for your desire to clear your hoards empty motivated only by the lovely thought of collecting from nothing again I hope one day yoursquoll learn how to curb your hoarding appetite and be able to practice the art of self-control It isnrsquot easy but Irsquom still counting on you XOXOYour wallet

hey youIn this monthrsquos letter we say hey to the big spenders

words by Aya Dalumpines

TALK | 21

Katha ClassifiedsOftentimes we find ourselves ready to get rid of the stash

that have accumulated over the years (or months) but we

donrsquot know how The Katha team has come up with a way for

you to share your excess loot and even get something else

in return Itrsquos not a novel idea you can find it in the

newsstands by the name Buy and Sell but wersquove tweaked it a

bit to make sure you only see interesting stuff you might

actually need or want

Do you already have an item you want to sell or swap in

mind Here are some conditions

1 the item has never been used

2 the item is your personal property and you do not have a

store which sells it

3 you are willing to provide your email to be published

4 and you are willing to personally transact with

interested people

If yoursquore okay with all of the above send us an email

(SUBJECT KATHA CLASSIFIEDS) with the followinga clear

high-res photo of the item a short description of it and

of course your name Also indicate the price you want to

sell it for and if you are willing to do a swap what kind

of item you want to swap it with Remember to KISS -

keep it simple sweetheart

We will determine the items for publishing and we will

contact you if we chose your item Once wersquove informed

you just sit back and wait for a barrage of emails in your

inbox Kidding We hope your hoard finds a lovely new home

and you find something for yourself in return too

ELLA | threesixtyfivepointfourtumblrcom

NIKE| lovenikitaphblogspotcom TATIN | tatinycom

MADONNA | crazy-notionsblogspotcom

PaperTools Though I think my hoard

stash isnrsquot quite that massive

Paper pens pouches keychains phone accessories

All types of wood Beads chopping boards books about wood

Scrapbook paper and embellishments stamps craft tools

and supplies

Art Materials amp any colorful stuff which I think I can use for styling in

future shoots

We canrsquot help it we all admit to hoarding one thing or another We asked our favorite crafters the most dreaded question and here are some of the interesting answers we received

JEANIE | jeaniendelaramablogspotcom TIPSY | googlygooeyscom

MARIELLE | craftmnlcom

JULIE| lianfloresblogspotcom

EULA | eulasleepscom

Yarn and crochet thread And doily-printed anything (but ironically not

actual crocheted doilies haha)

Washi tapes micron pens (I consume a lot of this) craft books

(for new ideas)

Kitchen gadgets interesting ingredients like an unusual spice alternative flour or bean grolsch-

type bottles cookbooks

i l lustrat ions by Cachi Reyes chart by All ie Principe

SURVEY RESULTS

Polymer clay materials texture sheets stamps and findings

KATHA QampA

WHAT DO YOU HOARD

MARIE | kitchenrevolutionph

OTHERS47

WASHI15

PAPER15

NOTEBOOKS6

BOOKS6STAMPS

4

PENS7

TALK | 23

NEXT ISSUErsquoS QUESTION

SEND YOUR ANSWERSVIA OUR FORM

AND GET A CHANCE TO WIN SOMETHING

AWESOME FROMTHE KATHA TEAM

What isthe most

CREATIVEgift that you have givensomeone

24 | SHOW amp TELL

KAWAII BUYSTatin shares her droolworthy pen col lect ion

interview by Andrea Dela Cruz Photographs from Tat in Yang

Derwent watercolor pencil set in a wooden box Tatin decorated it with a Snoopy cutout from her

moleskine journal ldquoInstead of throwing out the label I decided to cut it out and affix it hererdquo

SHOW amp TELL | 25

ldquoIT DOESNrsquoT BELONG IN MY BAG IF ITrsquoS NOT cUTErdquo

Muji pastel ballpoint pen (leftmost) ldquoMy favorite multi-pensrdquo says Tatin ldquoThe rest are an assortment of Pilot Coleto Uni Style-Fit Zebra Prefill multi-pens You buy the

pen barrel empty and then choose from different-colored gel ink refills Pilot Coleto is available at National Book Store and itrsquos cool how the switch is also the color of the

ink so your pen looks colorful I love that the barrel is still slim even though it can fit anywhere from 3-5 colorsrdquo

An assortment of quirkyspecialty pens [L-R] hello kitty swarovski pen Charlie

Brown pen (part of a set) baby seal pen (National Book Store) Purple Swarovski pen

Snoopy mechanical pencil (part of a set) tokidoki x hello kitty pen [TOP to BOTTOM]

Jonathan Adler pen Leendert Jan Vis x Paperclip pen Madeline pen Swarovski pen

Pilot B2P pen (made out of recycled plastic water bottles) Rilakkuma dual ink pen

ldquoMini pens These pens are as long as my pointer finger I make sure to keep

one in my wallet so I always have a pen with merdquo

26 | SHOW amp TELL

Derwent watercolor pencil set from National Book Store

Faber-Castell Limited Edition box set of Polychromos pencils which she got at 50 off in Seoul

SHOW amp TELL | 27

What do you collectAnything cute Mostly stationery stuff pouches and phone accessories

Why do you collect them I love anything cutesy it doesnrsquot belong in my bag if itrsquos not cute D

How many of these do you have I donrsquot want to count them

Any items you treasure the most in the collection I treasure all of them (seriously) Most of the items I buy are from places Irsquove been to so they are also my souvenirs from that place--functional souvenirs

Dream items to add to this collectionSomething antiquevintage I love pieces that have stories too

Do you have a memorable story involving an item in this collection I love buying JapaneseKorean doodle books During a trip to Seoul I bought a book about watercolor pencil sketching The book was recommending to use either Prismacolor or Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils I went to an art shop near a Korean university and saw the Prismacolor set but I wasnrsquot sure which kind exactly so I decided to postpone buying the Prismacolor set first It was good that I did because when I got to another stationery shop in Namdaemun I saw a limited edition anniversary set of Faber-Castell Polychromos being sold half off The boxed set was so beautiful because it was a reproduction of how the Faber-Castell pencils were packaged in the lsquo60s--in a dark green leatherette box I was so in love with the box that I ended up buying a small bag especially just for it for me to handcarry it safely back home The pencils and I were MFEO [made for each other]

Tatin Yang (Makeup artistwriter)tatinycom | instagramcomtatiny

ldquoSome of my favorite pencils Muji colored pencil

set (value for money) Rilakkuma x Pilot Dr Grip

mechanical pencil (you can shake the pencil or press the

button to advance the lead) Field Notes cedar pencils

(available at avalonph) Mechanical pencil that looks like

a wooden pencil (Less than P500 for a set of 4 at Scribe

Writing Essentials) Sailor mechanical pencil (I love the

gold knob also available at Scribe) Tombow Olno Body

Knock mechanical pencil (you can press the button or the

side of the pencil to advance the lead) Pentel mechanical

pencil (shake to advance lead) Autopoint dual ended

colored pencil (in blue and red lead) Pentel Multi8

pencil (8 different colored lead in one barrel a non-

branded version is available at Muji) Midori brass pencil

holder Magic House mechanical pencil (lead advances

automatically) Minority white brass pencil Tombow

Olno Body Knock pencilrdquo

28 | SHOW amp TELL

If given the chance to have a DIY perfect day how would you spend itMaking woodblock prints in Baguio

Name three things people or life event that inspire youGeninne Zlatkis Guillermo del Toro and friends who are warm and funny and who make cool stuff

Name two things people or life event that will instantly make you happy Parmesan chicken and a job well done

Name one thing person or life event that makes you feel lovedGenerosity in whatever form

CRAFTERPRENEUR

alex paredes

Itrsquos a design based on my own doodle I drew it transferred it to the rubber carved it made some test prints and when I was satisfied with the look I attached a handle Wanna win this itemEmail us with the subject RUBBER DUCKY GIVEAWAY and tell us what yoursquoll be using it for

GIVEAWAY ALERT

Hi Irsquom Alex Irsquom a freelance graphic designer whorsquos crazy about printmaking Most of my work hours are spent at the kitchen table quietly tackling design problems managing my projects and carving rubber stamps But one thing I love about freelancing is the flexible schedule so I also spend some afternoons hanging out with friends going places and learning to take pictures

EARLY BEGINNINGS AS AN ARTISTWhen my parents saw that I loved to draw they encouraged me by providing papers and art materials Irsquove been doodling for as long as I can remember Irsquom not the only creative type in the family though My brother makes polymer clay jewelry while my dad writes regularly

THE BIRTH OF RUBBER DUCKY STAMP COYou could probably trace it to my first year in college Thatrsquos when I was exposed to rubbercut printing in Materials class But it was just one plate and I hardly got to work with the medium again until after college when I remembered how taken I was with carving I started buying erasers and tools Later I moved on to rubber sole

And then this idea just sort of built up to sell rubber stamps To be fully honest it came out of two strong forces the desire to create something through a process I loved (carving) and the need to provide for myself (Artists gotta eat)

The idea was reinforced by a visit to the Resurrection Gallery home of the 10A Alabama Handmade Arts amp Crafts Fair I knew some friends who had participated in the Fair and I thought it might be a good venue to try it out Arlene Barbaza one of the ownersartists of Resurrection encouraged me to push through with my plans

I sourced my materials and made my stamps It was a slow process I missed several Alabama Fairs before I finally felt ready to launch (as it were) with an arsenal of some 30 stamps

I took it for a test run at the Fair last November and found that people were willing to give it a chance and that it could go somewhere So I kept at it Itrsquos a work in progress

NUGGETS OF WISDOMGet started You donrsquot need anyonersquos permission to make the art you want

SHOW amp TELL | 29

RESURRECTION FURNITURE

We love how this trend is totally DIY-able

Simply turn your racerback tops and dresses around for an

easy and interesting take on this intriguing silhouette Pair a racer

front top with a maxi skirt for volume or cinch a racer front dress with a wide belt atop leggings and

look chic and fashion-forward

illustration by Andrea Dela Cruz

FASHION TREND

RACER FRONT

30 | SHOW amp TELL

SHOW amp TELL | 31

To be honest I donrsquot have a specific place at home for my workspace I like to explore around the house and usually my workspace depends on my mood Sometimes I also stay in coffee shops to get things done or spend a few hours away from home But the set of things I have on my desk remains the same - my planner sketch notebooks laptop and a list of things to do

Here are photos of my workspace in my attic This is particularly my favorite space because I get as much natural light as possible and the space is adequate enough for almost any kind of work I do Mostly work involves my laptop and planning tools and sketch drafts I do freelance chalkboard illustrations as well designing for my online shop personal work and practice at the side On most days my table gets cluttered with chaos but as much as possible I try to segregate my tasks accordingly so that my desk stays neat Besides workable workspaces are key to effective and productive output

CREATIVE NOOK

abbey sy

32 | STORIES

top left and bottom photos from instagramcom98bcollaboratory | top right photo by Andrea Dela Cruz

STORIES | 33

Nestled in a building in historic Escolta is 98B an artist-run initiative that seeks to ldquoestablish a convergence among creatives and the publicrdquo Among 98Brsquos aspirations is making art accessible by involving different stakeholders in ldquoorganically fostering a dynamic creative communityrdquo

We asked them to share with us their mission and their thoughts and hopes about the local creative scene

Can you tell us more about 98B COLLABoratoryFormed January 2012 in Cubao 98B was founded by visual artist Mark Salvatus and curator Mayumi Hirano who wanted to have a space where artists and other creative individuals can meet and discuss things in a very casual setup

98B is a community + network + library + kitchen + shop Established as a response to the need for alternative art and creative venues in Manila 98B is a place where artists can interact and work together while presenting art and other creative output in different ways ndash through talks bazaars publications meals or simple gatherings 98B is a site for creative sharing discussion and collaboration

First stationed in Cubao 98B was the address of our original location

98B is all about linkages Our programs and activities lead to partnerships and affiliations 98B aims to stimulate communication promote diversity and uphold creative engagements by being at the center of it all

What made you want to start something like 98B We wanted a space where creative people and the public can interact As artists we wanted to make art more

accessible We wanted to do our fair share in breaking the notion that art is intimidating or that it is only for the educated and the elite For us art has a lot of possibilities It is a mode of communication that can lead to new opportunities 98B is a venue where artists and creative people from other disciplines and walks of life can learn from each other while broadening their horizons

How did the group decide about whom to recruit as new members of the group Who are the people currently behind 98B98B started with friends who love to cook drink and eat (not necessarily in that order) The people running 98B COLLABORATORY are Anjo Bolarda Con Cabrera Marika Constantino Vermont Coronel III Camz Dagal Don Dalmacio Zyrael Fortes Mayumi Hirano Mik Laborde Pau Reyes Mark Salvatus and Gabriel Villegas

What do you like most about working as a group and what are the challenges that you faceThe composition of 98B is quite diverse Members come from different creative practices ndash visual artists writers musicians graphic designers curators photographers This is part of our strength We try to work on projects with a creative approach where art is part of our process

We view each project seriously but we inject a lot of fun and humor in the execution However we are also quite critical with our outputs so as to better improveand develop

As a group we are still working on how we can handle our own schedules better This is because some of our team members have day jobs while the others are full-time artists

ART FOR ALL98B shares their thoughts on making art accessible and why art is for everyone

interview by Andrea Dela Cruz

34 | STORIES

How did working in Escolta once Manilarsquos center of commerce and business affect your projects Escolta has its charm it has lots of good memories of the yesteryears It is like an old friend you want to see again because it has become a part of your life It has history Unfortunately the younger generation do not know much about this area It has no malls so kids donrsquot go here But when you mix history culture art and commerce it can be something special

A lot of ldquofirstsrdquo happened here The countryrsquos first ice cream parlor Clarkersquos Ice Cream was established here Escolta is also the site of the first cinema house (Cinematografo) and the very first electric cable car (the Tramvia)

Escolta has become part of 98Brsquos advocacy Escolta needs your support It is a nice walkable street that is is safe charming and waiting to be rediscovered We initiated the ldquoHola Escoltardquo campaign to help create more awareness for the street 98B projects that help in Escoltarsquos revitalization efforts fall under this

Our projects have also adapted to the new locale As a group we have immersed ourselves in the community by

observing learning and familiarizing ourselves with the environment

We are also fortunate to have a healthy working relationship with the building owners through the Escolta Commercial Association Inc (ECAI) With everyonersquos help in the community we can slowly initiate changes 98B helps Escolta by creating more awareness and interest for the area

Is 98B inspired by local or foreign art collectives Is there a similar group that 98B identifies with We were initially inspired by Koganecho Area Management Center in Yokohama Japan where Mayumi Hirano (one of the co-founders of 98B) worked as a curator It is a non-profit organization that turned old and abandoned brothel houses into art studios and shops It infused different creative activities in the former red light district

Tell us more about the 98B Future Market The Future Market started in the original Cubao space It is a bazaar garage sale thrift shop black market and meeting place Artists craft makers designers and hoarders sell their wares from artworks limited edition or handmade

photo from 98-borg

STORIES | 35

clothes bags jewellery accessories toys zines CDs stickers cookies to unwanted things The idea is to help the artists to sustain their practice and also to network with other creatives

Escolta used to be the prime district for commerce here in Manila The idea of setting up the FutureMarketXSaturdayMarketESCOLTA harks back to the Old Escolta As the popular quote goes ldquoIf you build it they will comerdquo As an adaptive re-use project the idea is to utilize the space of the First United Building while it is still not being rented out Since it used to be a department store (Berg) we decided to use that context for the initiative

Any tips or inspiring words for makers or those who want to create art and crafts Create and share

In your opinion why is it important to createPeople from different disciplines should collaborate share and execute great ideas that will benefit the general public the community and the country Utopian as it may seem we hope that creatives could work together for the environment for education for the economy and for everyonersquos well-being

What is the usual creative process of 98B when yoursquore planning a project When a meeting is called we usually cook first Only after we eat can the actual meeting happen In between cooking drinking and eating different ideas for possible projects arise We are quite DIY and very organic

What are the usual projects of 98B What can we expect from 98BOur core programs are talks open library residency KIT (Kitchen) Future Market You can check out our website at www98-borg

What are your dreams for 98B We hope that we can continue with our projects Our supporters patrons and friends help us keep this dream alive and within reach Eventually we would like to fully equip our space with the necessary tools and equipment needed for our projects We also hope to have our own living quarters to further our Residency program

Some of the goods in display at the 98B Future Market photos by Andrea Dela Cruz

ldquoWE WANTED TO DO OUR FAIR SHARE IN BREAKING THE NOTION THAT ART IS INTIMIDATING OR THAT IT IS ONLY FOR THE EDUcATED AND THE ELITErdquo

36 | FACEOFF by Geli Balcruz

FACEOFF | 37by Ella Llama

38 | STORIES

OH HELLO DYExtremely talented Dy helps us spread good vibes through her quirky designs and Posit iviDy

interview by Gel i Balcruz photos and i l lustrat ions from Dy Jacinto

STORIES | 39

Word on the street is we have a very talented Filipina in Singapore whorsquos working her way in the design field Diana Jacinto or Dy has a very quirky and colorful design aesthetic which makes you giddy and proud that shersquos a Filipino

Shersquos on a mission to save the world from negativity by creating one beautiful and quirky typography and graphic design at a time

Her secret weapon PositiviDy

ALL ABOUT DY AND HER DAILY ADVENTURESIrsquom a proud Overseas Filipino Wanderer based in Singapore My official job title is a Graphic Designer but in reality work involves being surrounded by pens markers and art materials 5 days a week Irsquove been called bubbly many times because I can be overly enthusiastic and optimistic You can bribe me with fonts notebooks and cardigans Also pep talks lists puns and hugs are some of the things that I like

On a workday I start off early with Flipboard or

Reddit on the commute to the office I basically spend the rest of the day in front of the computer working on multiple projects At home that is when I do side projects (aka ldquoraketrdquo) and personal stuff while catching up on whatever show Irsquom into along with some light reading before bedtime On weekends itrsquos almost the same routine but with more shows blogs snacks and naps

EARLY BEGINNINGS AND DESIGN INSPIRATIONSMy mom has always been very creative and is a major influence for my love of everything visual and artsy I carried this all through high school as I help design our classroom bulletin board with letter cutouts and Styrofoam So 2000 right

I tend to make things based on significant and random moments in my life so I can say that it is mostly inspired by personal experiences As emotional as it sounds itrsquos true I can be very sentimental My favorite magazines and bloggers always keep me inspired as well

40 | STORIES

STORIES | 41

DESIGN AESTHETIcS AND HER SEcRET WEAPONIt depends on the project really When it comes to my day job I fly solo in the art department so therersquos a happy kind of pressure to be the best and find the most creative way to launch a product or do a promotion As for my own style Irsquom very fond of typography patterns and colors I enjoy creating things that will make me happy and if others feel the same way about it thatrsquos a bonus I like them fun with whole lot of wit amp positivity

I can be annoyingly optimistic and most of my works are tagged as Positividy I try my best to insert cuteness with every project As a designer I know Irsquom expected to pull off an all-nighter but I just canrsquot I think Irsquove had enough of sleepless nights and energy drinks

LIVING IN SINGAPORE AND BEING SURROUNDED BY A LEAGUE OF GRAPHIc DESIGNERSFor one thing moving here is liberating Irsquove always referred to it as my fresh start Mainly because there are a lot of places to explore people to meet along with tons of experiences to draw inspiration from I feel like Irsquom free to experiment to take more chances and to make more mistakes It is great learning how to be in touch with me being a Filipino and a foreigner at the same time

Irsquom not that brave [to become part of a design group just yet] Itrsquos been two years and yet I still feel like an outsider I do however go to different design festivals and exhibits if time permits Irsquom also lucky to work with Lomography Singapore early this year Currently Irsquom excited about my team up with PixaRoll ndash a mobile printing apprsquo

DESIGN DIREcTION AND DESIGN SATISFAcTIONI love that itrsquos becoming less cluttered and just focusing on the essentials Personally Irsquove always been a fan of flat design with vivid colors The glossy and gradient trend is not my cup of tea Irsquom also very excited that there are so many ways to play with type I kern wait to try them Heh

Creatively improved yes But creatively satisfied Irsquom not quite there yet There are a lot of techniques to explore and skills Irsquod like to improve There are plans to collaborate with other designers and itrsquos very exciting and challenging in a good way

42 | STORIES

BONUS qUESTIONS FOR SUPER DY

If given the chance to recreate any form of media ad what would you change and whyI will not name-drop but Irsquod love be part of the rebranding for an established pizza joint in Manila Ack I donrsquot want to be in trouble

If given the chance to have a DIY perfect day how would you spend itIrsquod spend it cataloging my washi tapes creating a huge photo wall and doing all those pinned DIY projects (at least attempt to) Any project that involves Mod Podge will sure be a blast

What advice would you give to a young designer starting outMy favorite friendly reminders (See artwork)

Name three things people or life events that inspire youGood music books and films are my contant sources of inspiration

Name two things people or life events that will instantly make you happy On top of my head Parcels arriving earlier than expected and Jimrsquos (my ka-loveteam) catchy made up songs with baduy lyrics

Name one thing person or life event that makes you feel lovedA simple yet sincere ldquoI miss yourdquo from family and friends back home gets me all the time It instantly brightens up my day and it just shows that closeness has nothing to do with distance Mkay Irsquom gonna cry now

Cry happy tears Dy Like a superhero who never fails to save the day we know that yoursquoll surprise us again with a fun blogpost or an instagram photo to spread good vibes

TALK | 43

44 | TALK

scoutsrsquo honorDesign CoMission leads the way in spreading the creat ive spir i t

across our nationrsquos is lands

words by All ie Principe photos and graphics from Plus63

photo from Plus63org

TALK | 45graphics from behancenetplus63

Itrsquos all too easy to say ldquoI wish things would get better for our countryrdquo Whatrsquos not so easy is actually taking the first steps in doing something to make things better One of the few who have managed to take those precious first steps is Plus63 a design studio founded by Dan Matutina and Berns De Leon-Yumul Not too long ago they launched their latest venture called Design CoMission a passion project geared towards helping the Philippines become a better nation through inspired design-driven solutions

The project has been creating a lot of buzz (the good kind) in the local creative community and we think that itrsquos a grand idea that deserves to be put in the spotlight

LEADING A TRAIL INTO THE WILDERNESSldquoWe wanted to showcase Filipino creativity and how it can positively change thingsrdquo says Berns De Leon-Yumul ldquoOftentimes we see how things are unorganizedclutteredunsightly and we have ideas on how we can improve public service So we just wanted to get those ideas out and produce something tangiblerdquo

As designers is it really enough to just be able to create visual works of art Isnrsquot being socially conscious part of what makes a good designer Berns says ldquoWe also believe that we have to continuously challenge ourselves to make us grow and become relevant contributors in our society So we thought why not challenge ourselves and the creative communityrdquo

Armed with passion nationalism and kickass design chops the Plus63 team set out to create a difference and spread the creative spirit across our 7107 islands Their slogan ldquoInspire People to Collaborate for a Better Countryrdquo

TAKING ON THE CHALLENGESWith nation building being such a broad topic some might be tempted to tackle issues in a more general sense to cover more ground But instead the Plus63 team decided to limit their scope to a smaller set of problems which enabled them to brainstorm on more realistic and concrete solutions But with so many pressing issues all calling out to be addressed how did the team decide on what specific problems to target

It all boiled down to what they perceived as the most crucial areas in terms of our countryrsquos development ldquoWe believe that for a country to progress we should have a good education and health systemrdquo says Berns ldquoWe also see the need for cultural development as this is usually neglected in developing countriesrdquo

CALLING ALL SCOUTSCreating change seems like such a large and daunting task for a small group of individuals so Plus63 decided to take on the challenge with the assistance of some of the leading design studios in the country Also being their friends in the industry they felt that these individuals were just as passionate as them about uplifting the countryrsquos creative community One of them is Inksurge a multi-awarded creative duo made up of Rex Advincula and Jois Tai The other one is Team Manila the popular design studio and lifestyle brand headed by Jowee Alviar and Mon Punzalan

The three studios each had a specific issue that they had to come up with a creative solution for These solutions were to be presented during a public event where colleagues fellow creatives guests and even government representatives would be present to hear what they would have to say

46 | STORIES

PRESENTING THE SOLUTIONS On the rainy afternoon of August 2 2013 excitement simmered inside the walls of Ayala Museum as curious minds waited to see what the Design CoMission scouts were able to come up with They certainly werenrsquot disappointed as they were about to be a part of a visual feast of innovative ideas

Team Manila who was tasked to cover Education thought of a simple proposal that could address the lack of early childhood education for toddlers in local communities Using everyday Filipino handmade products they came up with clever ways for parents to be able to teach their kids basic things such as letters numbers and colors The names of these products are word plays on the vernacular names of these products such as ldquoAbanigrdquo and ldquoLatalinordquo

Plus63 assigned themselves the topic of Healthcare and decided to focus on the need for a more organized system for blood donations Taking a more technology-driven

route than Team Manila they designed a beautiful-looking app called Kindred which aids blood seekers in finding donors and vice versa It harnesses the power of Facebook login to quickly establish a network between friends and contacts making it easy to connect with one another

The challenge of cultural development was left in the able hands of Inksurge who created a branding scheme for the National Museum and the way it presents its information to its visitors They presented a more modern and unified design approach for the museum logo signages and its other collaterals with the end goal of being more engaging for todayrsquos generation and fostering a community spirit in the museum

By the time the event ended excitement had turned into an overwhelming awareness of how powerful design is and how it could help shape our nationrsquos future Everyone left the museum brimming with inspiration and desire to find out what would come next

top left Design CoMission logo (image from PlusOrg) top right and bottom left Team Manilarsquos Abanig and Inksurgersquos poster design for the National Museum (images from uploaded presentation files) bottom right Plus 63rsquos Kindred app (image from Kindredappnet)

STORIES | 47

HEARING FEEDBACKThe government officials present during the event were impressed to say the least In attendance were Department of Health Undersecretary Dr Teodoro J Herbosa and Sen Teofisto Guingona III who is the main proponent of the Philippine Design Competitiveness Act So does that mean these ideas are well under way for implementation ldquoRight now therersquos nothing concrete yetrdquo was Bernrsquos honest answer ldquoBut they were delighted to see how the young and creative minds can help in our countryrsquos progress Thatrsquos a good startrdquo

The aim of the Design CoMission event was to generate enough fanfare to get noticed hoping something would happen Based on the feedback of the attendees seems it will only be a matter of time before something does

TAKING THE NEXT STEPSo whatrsquos next for Design CoMission For starters the team is putting together a report on the successful event to circulate their ideas to a broader audience Though there arenrsquot any plans yet on whether another event will take place soon they are working with other organizations with the same goal of creating positive change in the country such as Designingph

We think itrsquos great that projects like these recognize the importance of fostering creative culture and wersquore excited to find out whatrsquos in store for Design CoMission Who could they be collaborating with next Who knows someday it might be us Wersquoll keep dreaming for now but we know we want to be part of this design revolution What about you

graphic from Plus63org

VERSUS | 48

MAGThe smell of a newly unwrapped magazine ndash priceless

Collages and cutouts Tear-out pages and posters of your favorite boy band

I know I know Itrsquos hard to lug twenty of us magazines around

So we all eventually have to be thrown away But we can be recycled Gift wrappers anyone

Where art thou glasses

Bathroom read Coffee table display

Send an email to join giveaways

Damn couriers they make us waitThe cost of printing is expensive

Magazine is shorter to spell

Uhmhellip

Sadly we are not waterproof Or dog proof Or cat proof Or child proof

Freebies

In this issuersquos Versus we ponder the differences between e-mags and magazines What would you like Versus to feature next Drop us a line at kathamagphgmailcom

49 | VERSUS

E-MAGAn email announcing the release of a new issue - excitingAn email announcing the release of a new issue - exciting

Online collages and easy pins on PinterestPrintables

Right on time all the time especially for foreign e-magazines Cheap Better yet FREE

We can enjoy all the Katha magazine goodness anytime we want and share it with our friends wherever they are wink wink

One click to join giveawaysMusic with 8tracks Links to everything

Glow in the dark p Bathroom read too Bring at your own risk

No torn and dog-eared pages we always look like new Bad eyes Just zoom and boom large print

Paperless is the new eco-friendly

Portable Unlimited e-magazines you can bring anywhereSmall- space friendly

words by Aya Dalumpines illustrations by Allie Principe

50 | PHENOM

Katha (K) Hi Arriane Thanks for taking time for this interview Hope we didnrsquot bother you that much

Arriane (A) Hello No problem

K Yoursquore a pretty busy person How does a typical day in your life begin Whatrsquos your morning ritual

A One I definitely try not to touch my phone first thing in the morning Haha

K That takes a lot of self control Haha

A Something I learned from yoga - you have to set your intention first so I try to do that Even before I look at my list of to-dorsquos I run through my macro goals first Is this day primarily devoted to Senate work colab work Meetings

Along with setting my intention just offering up a prayer of gratitude Itrsquos always a nice way to start the day on a grateful tone

K How about when it comes to dressing up How do you choose what yoursquore wearing for the day

A Hmm Irsquom not the type to prepare my clothes but usually I decide on one thing in my head the night before or in the morning For example if I have a skirt or dress that I really want to wear then I decide everything else based on that It also depends on

where Irsquom going and what Irsquom going to do That decides whether I can go in flats or heels

But Irsquom very particular about making sure I dress in something that makes me feel inspired productive and me lsquoCause if yoursquore having a bad day and you dress sloppily yoursquore bound to feel even lazier

K We sort of thought you wore heels wherever you went Haha

A Hahaha no I do a lot of walking and moving around in between meetings so I wear flats a lot too

K Yoursquore an advocate of wearing local brands Is it still a conscious effort to wear something Filipino everyday

A Of course Itrsquos never a problem for me now since I have a lot of things in my closet that are locally made So it feels very natural for one or two pieces to make it to my outfit all the time For example my flats are either from Suelas or Renegade Folk My bags are from different brands - mostly Vesti from Mindanao or Aranaz from my friend Amina

K So itrsquos not like you still ask yourself if yoursquore wearing something local today

A Yeah exactly Hahaha I do wish there were more work-friendly clothes from Filipino brands though Investment ones I mean

K Yoursquore always brimming with ideas Where do you go to soak up on inspiration

A I get it both online and offline Offline I get it from the different people I meet Irsquom so lucky because the universe somehow always brings these amazing people my way I get to meet just so many kinds of people who expose me to ideas that I canrsquot otherwise know about if for example Irsquom just working in government and government alone or in blogging and blogging alone It really widens my perspective and my view of whatrsquos possible Online naman I have my favorite online haunts

design divaWe had a short online chat with Wanderrgirl Arriane Serafico to ask about her daily routine her inspirations and her latest projects We ended up finding out whatrsquos inside her closet who her role models are and why we shouldnrsquot expect her in politics in the future

interview by Aya Dalumpines art by Lando Cusi

ldquoSOMETHING I LEARNED FROM YOGA YOU HAVE TO SET YOUR INTENTION FIRST SO I TRY TO DO THATrdquo

PHENOM | 51

52 | PHENOM

K What are your go-to websites

A My favorite reads as of the moment- Jessica Zafrarsquos blog I love the way she writes Irsquove been a longtime reader of her blog I also like Man Repeller DesignLoveFest 99ucom Fast Company WhoWhatWear for fashion Chris Guillebeau for entrepreneurship and Seth Godin for marketing

K Do you also listen to music to get inspired

A More than inspiration music is more of my mood maker If Irsquom feeling really lazy but I need to feel happy I put on a happy playlist on 8tracks But in terms of music more than the music itself I get inspired by performers

K Whatrsquos your current favorite playlist on 8tracks

A Irsquove been feeling nostalgic lately so Irsquove been listening to The OC tracks Haha I also like this playlist lsquocause itrsquos been raining and gloomy the past 2 weeks

But for example when I need extra motivation my go-to artist is Beyonce I watch her documentary I like watching live performances of really good performers That really makes me more motivated

K Congratulations on your bill Thatrsquos a feat for Philippine design Whatrsquos next for the Philippine Design Competitiveness Act

A Oh my gosh so weird and surreal right I was like no way this is happening LOL So right now wersquore working on the IRR - Implementing Rules and Regulations Wersquore working hand-in-hand with DTI and Design Center Those rules will probably be done by the end of September and then theyrsquoll be restructuring the Design Center and the President will appoint the people on the Design Advisory Council Lots of boring technical stuff has to happen first before we get to the actual crafting of policies The idea is to create a National Design Policy Whatrsquos our national strategy for Philippine design How do we leverage it for

PHENOM | 53

economic competitiveness and social innovation So letrsquos say letrsquos compare it to a school What do you envision for the school - whatrsquos your mission-vision or thrust and then you come up with 5-year plans which areas will be priorities etcetera Then thatrsquos when we can start producing programs

K Are you the first person in the country to have a bill passed at your age )

A Hahaha I donrsquot know Irsquom probably the first one to really blog about it - HAHAHA

K Hahaha So yoursquore actively participating in all these right now Yoursquoll probably be involved in this for the rest of your life huh

A I hope Or I donrsquot know really If therersquos anything Irsquom sure of with my life itrsquos just that it has a way of throwing me into things I have no idea how to do and I totally did not see coming I think I will always be in the realm of using design and creativity for nation-building and problem-solving Hahaha itrsquos kinda like that quote where you jump and build your wings on your way down Medyo kakaloka and panic wing-building nga lang but Irsquom still alive

K Yoursquore hosting a design thinking bootcamp Can you explain what design thinking is

A Ack thatrsquos a pretty tough question Itrsquos like asking me to define design Haha But basically design thinking is a process that is empathic and user-centered which means before designing your solution you need to understand your user and your problem first Design thinking is also action-oriented despite what the name might suggest Itrsquos final stage is prototyping and testing It shouldnrsquot

be confined to just brainstorming which is usually the case with most ldquoidea-generatingrdquo processes Itrsquos also about innovation It encourages problem-solving teams to be as multi-disciplinary as possible For example a designer an anthropologist an engineer and a writer - so your perspective and your solutions are not limited to one view only

K Whatrsquos the story behind designingph

A Hmm well designingph is a new project Irsquom starting with my friend Julia When I started getting obsessed

with DT [design thinking] siguro mga 2 years ago I was reading up about it as in deep dive talaga I was so fascinated by it I even tried holding one [workshop] for fun Hahaha I had no idea what i was doing (again) but it was fun And then I would just do it with these little groups Irsquod be working with Sakto Julia was also doing the same thing but in GK naman We became friends before pa Since we were both design thinking fans we started hanging out more Then we went to Kuala Lumpur together to attend one [design thinking workshop] and dun ko na realize na

maaan akala mo common sense lang yung design thinking but itrsquos different when the mentor or facilitator actually has been doing it for a long time

K So is this how yoursquove been approaching situations or problems since then

A Oh yeah Syempre itrsquos not a magic pill Itrsquos for bigger problems For example if the table is broken I donrsquot do design thinking on it I fix it But for when I know I need to innovate or when Irsquom out of ideas yun

K You promote and support local start up businesses and also have your own What advice can you give to young Filipino entrepreneurs who want to turn their ideas into reality

A Donrsquot overthink it Prototype as soon as you can We tend to marinate in all these ideas and trying to make them perfect and bongga before we launch them But Irsquod rather have small failures and big learnings early on than devote 6 months to 1 year developing something big and then having it fail Experiment test learn - as early as you can

K When a project goes haywire how do you motivate your self to keep going

A Hmmm I have a moment of panic first definitely I start with letting all the stress out Hahaha

K How

A Oh if therersquos somebody I can talk to like an intern I call or meet with them and just let it all out muna without an agenda Just try to get the problems out of my head And then once Irsquove sorta calmed down One of my main working principles is that you always have to know your why

TO BE GOOD IN POLITIcS YOU HAVE TO BE GOOD AT TWO THINGS POLITIcS AND GOVERNANcE

54 | PHENOM

For every project - Why are you doing it What are you trying to achieve What is your goal lsquoCause the tendency is when you run into a problem you plug holes immediately And because of the panic sometimes your solutions donrsquot fit your original goals and so it might skew your project towards something that wasnrsquot in your original vision anyway So once I go back to my why my head becomes clearer and we come up with an action plan

K A lot of young people look up to you Who is your role model Or who was your own role model growing up

A I donrsquot remember having one when I was growing up although I did look up to Bianca Gonzalez when I was in high school But now itrsquos a mixture of different people

I really admire Maria Ressa More than as a journalist I admire her as a leader Itrsquos really amazing how shersquos formed such an empowered and cohesive team I think it also stems from them being inspired by her - like I canrsquot submit anything less than my best because Irsquom from Rappler Thatrsquos the kind of team I want to lead the kind of people I want to work with

Another person I look up to is [former] Secretary Jesse Robredo I was so lucky to have had the privilege of working with him I liked how he would always talk about measuring results - which I think is what is lacking in most development groups Heart is not in question passion is not in question but you also need to run it professionally Impact for impactrsquos sake is not good for long-term growth

K Do you see yourself in their shoes in a few years

A Ha Hahaha I hope to be anywhere half as good as they are at any point in my lifetime Irsquom too Lisa Frank-y to be like Maria Ressa Hahaha Irsquom too KPop to be like Sec Jess

K Haha 10-15 years from now what is (future) Arriane currently doing

A STILL creatively building the country and building an army of empowered young people to have the same passion - in a sustainable manner that still allows me to do the things that make me happy (travel shopping) Still learning Still doing things Irsquove never done before As I said I donrsquot want to limit myself to labels or specifics

K Do you ever think of the possibility of running for public office

A Laughable Di ako bagay hahaha My personality is NOT cut out for politics Irsquom the WORST at it You absolutely can see right through me when I donrsquot think I can work with a person Hahaha To be a good public official you need to be good in two things governance and politics Governance is what I like - getting things done Politics I abhor Thatrsquos the part where you have to consider plays on power pleasing people etcetera etcetera

K President Arriane is highly unlikely then )

A Oh god no Hahaha

K Well president or not wersquore still looking forward to what yoursquoll be up to next lsquoTil our next interview

ldquoYOU ALWAYS HAVE TO KNOW YOUR WHY FOR EVERY PROJEcT - WHY ARE YOU DOING IT WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO AcHIEVE WHAT IS YOUR GOAL ldquo

PHENOM | 55

JOIN IN ON THE CONVERSATION

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER(click on the icons above to visit them)

let rsquos celebrateThinking of host ing your dream party but a l i t t le t ight on the budget Wersquol l help you plan your DIY budget fr iendly

party and discover the crafter in you

words and photographs by Koni Esteban

I enjoy parties because it is a perfect time to bond with family and friends Organizing one gives me an extra jolt of energy because I am sharing a part of me and my interest in DIY Preparing for an intimate event is an opportunity to express creativity through handmade details It is also a great way to celebrate the craft artisans in us

If you would like to give DIY a try here are some tips on how to prepare for an intimate handmade party

PLAN AHEAD AND START EARLYMake a moodboard via Pinterest or doodle one on your journal Either way organize your vision on a platform you can see as visualizing what you have in mind will make it easier to organize your party requirements DIY takes time so set a realistic timeframe in working on your projects Prepare a schedule and stick to it

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCHTalk to a crafty friend and ask for advice Read a craft book to learn tips and techniques Maximize the world wide web and learn how to make your DIY projects through online tutorials

HAVE A REALISTIC BUDGETIf the only reason you want to DIY is to save money please think again Small items like ribbons fabric scrapbook paper add up quickly not to mention craft tools like cutters and punchers Your total expenditure might not be as cost effective as going direct to an independent artisan or craft specialist

INVOLVE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDSNever make everything on your own so learn to delegate Make DIY time family time Crafts are enjoyable to do but it is more fun when family and friends share this joy too

To make crafts and handmade details are delightful Making them is like dancing freely to the rhythm of my heart So why not try to DIY Unleash your creativity and have fun in making

Koni Esteban is a craft specialist at Candidly Pretty where she specializes in DIY party planning for weddings and intimate celebrations

Send her a hello at candidlyprettyyahoocom

FETE | 57

58 | NOMS

marshmallow loveWhat dessert to serve for a party Try these easy and del ic ious recipes

with chocolate and marshmallows


x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x


MARSHMALLOW SKEWERS

24 pieces campfire marshmallows1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips13 cup walnuts (or any other nut you prefer )24 pieces paper straws Crush the walnuts with a mortar and pestle and set this aside Poke the bottom of the marshmallows with paper straws You may also use a barbecue stick or a pretzel stick for this Add water in a pan and place a glass bowl on top Place the pan in a stove and pour the semi sweet chocolate chips on the glass bowl

Continuously stir the chocolate chips When the water in the pan starts boiling the chocolate will start to melt Keep stirring until the the chocolate is completely melted While the chocolate is still hot dip the upper half of the marshmallows and sprinkle crushed walnuts on top Makes 24 skewers

60 | NOMS

NOMS | 61

Biscuit Recipe34 cup unsalted butter or margarine softened1 cup sugar2 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla2 12 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking flour1 teaspoon salt Preheat the oven at 205C Mix butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until well blended Add in two eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla and continue mixing Gradually add the all-purpose flour baking powder and salt into the batter and blend everything using an electric mixer or just using a spatula Let the dough chill for 1 hour in the freezer Once it has chilled use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to about 14 inch thick You may use a cookie cutter or a small drinking glass to cut the dough into small circles about 2 inches in diameter Lay them out on a baking pan with a cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes Let cookies cool in a rack while you make the marshmallow Marshmallow Recipe 14 cup water14 cup light corn syrup34 cup sugar1 tablespoon powdered gelatin2 tablespoons cold water2 egg whites at room temperature14 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pour 1 tablespoon powdered gelatin on a bowl with 2 tablespoons cold water Mix and set this aside In a medium sized mixing bowl whip the two egg whites with an electric mixer until hard peaks form Combine water corn syrup and sugar in a saucepan and bring it to a boil Do not stir when while the sugar is boiling You will need a candy thermometer to check that the sugar mixture does not go above 235F (soft ball) When it reaches the required temperature remove from heat Slowly pour the hot sugar gelatin and vanilla into the bowl of whipped egg whites while mixing with an electric mixer You will notice that the outer side of bowl will feel warm Just keep mixing until the mixture cools down Transfer the mixture in an icing bag If you do not have any you can use a zip loc and cut the tip of the bag Pipe the marshmallow onto the biscuits and let it set for about 2 hours Chocolate DipMelt a pack of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a double boiler Dip the marshmallow biscuits into the melted chocolate Let them cool on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

Makes 36 biscuits

cHOcO MALLOW BIScUITS

62 | CONNECT

10A Alabama10A Alabama St New ManilaQuezon City 1102facebookcom10aAlabama

98B413 Escolta StMezanine Level First United BuildingBinondo Manila98-borgfacebookcom98Bcollaboratory

A Beautiful Messabeautifulmesscom | itunesapplecomusappa-beautiful-messid603092599mt=8

Abbey Syartistic-dreamscom

Aleyn Comprendioblogaleyncomprendiocom

Ang Bonggang Bonggang Batang Beki (Rhandee Garlitos)facebookcompagesRhandee-Garliacutetos255454791137603

Arriane Seraficowanderrgirlcom

Bahia Accessoriesfacebookcombahiaaccessories

Bored and Crafty (Meream)boredandcraftycom

Brave the Waves (Mia Bontol)bravethewavesnet

Design CoMissionplus63org facebookcomDesignComission

Design Thinking Action Labnovoedcomdesignthinking

GnD SpreadsfacebookcomGNDbyGoNuts

The House of Isla (Aiz Kim)thehouseofislablogblogspotcom

Kath Mitrahelloarchitectwordpresscom instagramcomkathmitra

Le Bunny BleufacebookcomLeBunnyBleuPH

Oh Hello Dy (Diana Jacinto)ohhellodyblogspotcom

Shmallow Marshmallow Spreadshmallowsphcom

Plus63 Design Coplus63combehancenetplus63

Resurrection Furniture and Found Objects Gallery10a Alabama St Quezon City 1102facebookcomresurrectionfurniture

Rubber Ducky Stamp Cofacebookcomrubberduckystampco

Spatzle Euro Market Cafeacute5F East WingShangri-La Plaza MallMandaluyong

Tatin Yangtatinycominstagramcomtatiny

Unseen Moon (Eliza Victoria)elizavictoriacom

What Else Michellewhatelsemichellecom

The Yellow Adventures (Hannah Reyes)bloghannahph

WHERE TO FIND THEM

Help us out by answering this survey about the issue you just read Or you can email us with comments suggestions or just say hi to us at

kathamagazinephgmailcom

Wersquoll be publishing our favorite comments and letters in next monthrsquos issue The best one will also get a special surprise from the Katha team

Tell us how we can be the best magazine for YOU

photo by Geli Balcruz

OUR NEXT ISSUE IS ALL ABOUT THE ART AND JOY OF GIVING (AND RECEIVING)

And guess what We want you to be a part of it You can email us at kathamagazinephgmailcom and let us know what you have in mind They can be articles photographs illustrations music or something entirely out of this world that we didnrsquot even think of

Wersquore on the lookout for imaginative and creative individuals who share the ideals of Katha If you think thatrsquos you send us samples of your work with ldquoIrsquod like to be a contributorrdquo in the subject line You just might be who wersquore looking for





T H A N K S F O R R E A D I N G

V I S I T U S A T K A T H A M A G A Z I N E T U M B L R C O M

EDITORIALBOARD

MASTERMINDSGeli Balcruzhellogelibeeblogspotcom Aya Dalumpinesfacebookcomcreatebytlf

Andrea Dela Cruzmabuhaydiywordpresscom

Allie Principefoureyedwondercom

Cachi Reyesthepinkdoormatblogspotcom

CONTRIBUTORSKoni Estebancandidlyprettyblogspotcom

Ella Lamathreesixtyfivepointfourtimblrcom

IllUSTRATORSLando Cusibehancenetlandocusi

CONTACT USFor submissions advertising opportunities and other inquirieskathamagazinephgmailcom

SUBSCRIBESign up for our mailing listhttpeepurlcomDI7LT

SOCIAl MEDIAFacebook kathamagazinephTwitter kathamagazine Instagram kathamagazinePinterest kathamagazine

Katha is a bi-monthly magazine for creatives by creatives Copyright is reserved Reposting in whole or in part on other sites and publications without permission is prohibited All rights to photos and illustrations belong to their respective owners

kathamagazinetumblrcom

KATHA







CONTENTS06 WHIMSIES

10 10A ALABAMA

12 BAZAAR TIPS 101



20 HEY YOU

22 KATHA QampA

24 KAWAII BUYS

28 CRAFTERPRENEUR

29 FASHION TREND

30 CREATIVE NOOK

32 ART FOR ALL

36 FACEOFF

38 OH HELLO DY

44 VERSUS


50 PHENOM


58 MARSHMALLOW LOVE

62 CONNECT

10

14

24

30

32

38

46

58

6 | WHIMSIES



A BEAUTIFUL MESS











WHIMSIES | 7











8 | WHIMSIES

DIY MAVENS
















Like what you see


10 | STORIES









STORIES | 11






Aromateria Solid








MAKE | 13















THINGS TO BRING





DURING THE BAZAAR







MAKE | 15



CRAFT CANS







MAKE | 17

SCRATCH PAPER PAD







18 | MAKE








MAKE | 19









SOURCES





20 | HEY YOU





TALK | 21
















interested people





















and supplies


future shoots









(for new ideas)




SURVEY RESULTS


KATHA QampA

WHAT DO YOU HOARD


OTHERS47

WASHI15

PAPER15

NOTEBOOKS6

BOOKS6STAMPS

4

PENS7

TALK | 23





What isthe most


24 | SHOW amp TELL





SHOW amp TELL | 25












26 | SHOW amp TELL



SHOW amp TELL | 27

























28 | SHOW amp TELL





CRAFTERPRENEUR

alex paredes


GIVEAWAY ALERT









SHOW amp TELL | 29








FASHION TREND

RACER FRONT

30 | SHOW amp TELL

SHOW amp TELL | 31



CREATIVE NOOK

abbey sy

32 | STORIES


STORIES | 33















34 | STORIES









photo from 98-borg

STORIES | 35












38 | STORIES



STORIES | 39









40 | STORIES

STORIES | 41







42 | STORIES









TALK | 43

44 | TALK















46 | STORIES








STORIES | 47






VERSUS | 48










Uhmhellip


Freebies


49 | VERSUS











50 | PHENOM























PHENOM | 51

52 | PHENOM










PHENOM | 53



















K How



54 | PHENOM













A Oh god no Hahaha



PHENOM | 55















FETE | 57

58 | NOMS






MARSHMALLOW SKEWERS



60 | NOMS

NOMS | 61



Makes 36 biscuits


62 | CONNECT



























WHERE TO FIND THEM















58 | NOMS






MARSHMALLOW SKEWERS



60 | NOMS

NOMS | 61



Makes 36 biscuits


62 | CONNECT



























WHERE TO FIND THEM















MARSHMALLOW SKEWERS



60 | NOMS

NOMS | 61



Makes 36 biscuits


62 | CONNECT



























WHERE TO FIND THEM















60 | NOMS

NOMS | 61



Makes 36 biscuits


62 | CONNECT



























WHERE TO FIND THEM















NOMS | 61



Makes 36 biscuits


62 | CONNECT



























WHERE TO FIND THEM















62 | CONNECT



























WHERE TO FIND THEM















katha magazine - issue 01 sept/oct 2013

Documents

new life

new pin

new soul

brand new

new years

new slang

new passion project

katha teamphoto