GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
8 ways to positively experience the Philippines as a free citizen
The wow came and went. Now, the fun has been replaced with a vague experience... but you know what? It's still a free country and today is the perfect day to figure out how to maximize the enjoyment of our liberties.
The headlines are troubling, but today we're making a push for the positive Philippine experience. Making one bad decision doesn't mean you're incapable of making a good one after.
Let's enjoy democracy and make better choices, starting now.
1. Island hop in paradise
Coron is, without exaggerating, infuriatingly beautiful. It's maddening to think that something that pristine exists. Kayangan Lake almost looks fake, because it's perfect — the water is so clear and the mountains look like they were sculpted by some forgotten divine being.
Over at Nagasasa Cove in Zambales, the night sky looks equally magical and humbling. Light pollution has chased the stars away from the city, but when you look up in Nagsasa, the universe unfolds.
We may not have the largest theme park or the tallest skyscrapers, but there's little need for that when you've got nature coming out of your ears. Fingers crossed that it stays that way — because anyone can build a structure, but replacing a lake within a lake? Mountains? Waterfalls? Coral reefs? Good luck with that.
2. Get the perfect shot
Raise a glass to freedom! We've got a budding craft beer movement across the country, but today we wear patriotic colors and we take patriotic shots of lambanog and tapey.
Filipino cuisine remains a mystery to some poor foreign folks, but those in the know are already taking pleasure in some local digestif like Proudly Promdi's Tapuey Rice Wine and Barik Supremo Lambanog. There's also the smooth local gin from Crows Craft Brewing. It's just a Pinoy thing to make an already great thing (read: gin) even more amazing (read: craft gin).
3. Binge on Pinoy movies
The Museum of Modern Art is celebrating the "new golden age" of Philippine Cinema and frankly, so should you.
The Film Development Council of the Philippines is exploring the possibility of screening the finest in contemporary local cinema in mainstream theaters via the appropriately titled screenings "Cine Lokal" and the Cinematheque Centre Manila always has something delightful on offer.
Independent films have also found a friend in Cinema '76 Film Society, which regularly screen those "new golden age" films. (Pro tip: on Independence Day, their holding free screenings of "Heneral Luna" and "Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo." Head to 160 Luna Mencias St. Brgy. Addition Hills, San Juan del Monte and join the fun!)
4. Stay Gising
Declaration of devotion to coffee happens online daily and in the Philippines, that doesn't stop in the cup.
SGD Coffee and Coffee Science Center on Maaalalahanin Street, Teacher's Village, Quezon City gives the love back to the hands that picked the bean and planted the coffee, sourcing its materials from Sagada and taking great pride in giving back to a community of farmers and not a foreign corporation.
The movement is gaining ground, as Commune Café, Kalsada Coffee, blocleaf café, and KKK Coffee are singing the same tune.
5. Wear Pinoy
You can hate beauty pageants for whatever reason, but you can't hate it for what it's done for the fashion industry and everyone working in it.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has done a tremendous job promoting Philippine designers during her reign and her push to have the Philippines host the biggest pageant in the world here has resulted in the introduction of Philippine textiles to a global audience.
Fast fashion is cute, but the work that goes into making Philippine fabric is mesmerizing. It's an art that we should all support.
Narda's, for example, has been busy making wearable art with ikat and Cynthia Alberto has been keeping the craft alive, too. Let's not forget the makers of the best kicks, just down the road in Marikina. Black Wing Shoes and Lupe Saenz will give you life.
6. Laugh
If you've been paying attention, you'd know that the Philippine art scene is experiencing a boom and part of that is the rise of shareable web comics.
Janjan and Hulyen capturing recent history with excellent humor, while Dead Balagtas is bringing the past back with urgent relevance.
And Daddy D? Well, Daddy D knows that malabo should be met with malabo.
7. Eat
Finally, the world has learned there's more to Filipino food than just balut. Ours is the current darling of the culinary world, with everybody singing praises for our sisig, ube, lechon, kare-kare, halo-halo, and of course Jollibee.
And then, there's our kamayan aka boodle fight, that westerners have also just discovered and are currently loving. No better way to enjoy freedom than to eat, no?
8. Read
Today, Adarna House is launching "Ito Ang Diktadura," a translated version of the Spanish children's book "Asi es la Dictadura," in which the Philippines is represented thanks to...Ferdinand Marcos. The publishing house couldn't have possibly published such a book—and we couldn't buy a copy—if we weren't a free society no? —LA, GMA News
