The Killing Moon

"The Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen from their album Ocean Rain, 1984.

Under a blue moon I saw you 
So soon you'll take me 
Up in your arms 
Too late to beg you or cancel it 
Though I know it must be the killing time 
Unwillingly mine

Fellow 80's kids will call me predictable for choosing this to celebrate the allegedly once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event tonight, the Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse. I don't mind -- this piece is mysterious enough, and mildly jarring, for me to contemplate on things like why for almost a month now there seems to be a celestial conspiracy to not let me take a short vacation... like a short stop in Baguio for the weather, to replace my worn out walis tambo, and er... *bleep*

Friends on the Shore of Long Island

Two Friends on the Shore of Long Island
Devin Leonardi (1981 - 2014)

🖼 @TheVisualArt#VisualArt #HistoryofPainting pic.twitter.com/1LW8zmYUkq

— History of Art (@AHistoryofArt) January 29, 2018

My first immediate reaction was mild melancholy. My second was startled at how young the artist was when he passed away. Took his life, I learned from a simple Google search. Leonardi's friends also set up an online memorial.

"Friends on the Shore of Long Island" was a 2009 acrylic on paper work according to Altman Siegel.

Hubble Deep Field

Random number between 1 and 512. Page 96 of Universe (by DK) pic.twitter.com/kY8fWZrVdC

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) January 29, 2018

From the south-end shelf of my personal library, Universe (published by Dorling Kindersley, Martin Rees, general editor). Random number between one and 512, page 96 in the first part, Introduction, chapter on "Exploring Space," and section on "Space-Age Astronomy." The Hubble Deep Field image is part of discussion on the origins of the universe.

Marlo in futuristic 80's

Down memory lane, sometime between 1982 and 1984 in Makati. I don't remember what day of the week I get to watch Marlo and the Magic Movie Machine (on RPN 9), but likely it's a school night. I recall watching this sprawled on the floor in front of my grandparents' television, my school uniform already soiled from schoolyard play, while my sister and I waited for my mom to pick us up and go to our new home in Las Pinas.

Mabuhay, Elmer! Pit Senyor!

A post shared by Glenn Cruz (@glenncruz_ph) on Jan 20, 2018 at 4:05pm PST

Last January 20, went to the opening of contemporary artist Elmer Borlongan's major solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, "An Extraordinary Eye for the Ordinary." I had my first close encounter with Borlongan's works when I had the opportunity to visit Casa San Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales. The exhibit's name quite accurately describes Borlongan's body of work.

Earlier that day, was feeling disappointed that I missed my chance again to experience community feasting in honor of the Santo Nino. The nearest, notable feast in my area would have been "Lakbayaw" in Tondo, Manila. But was too late to prepare and get in touch with friends and acquaintances residing in the area. So imagine how jubilant I felt when I realized that Borlongan, who is a master of the beauty of the Filipino commonplace, have several depictions of the most revered Senyor.

Some of my friends were either in Aklan for Ati-atihan, or Cebu for Sinulog both honoring the Senyor. Borlongan's visual feast was good for me. On the last Sunday of January, our family hometown of Kawit, Cavite will also stage its own caracol celebrating Santo Nino.