theater

Java’s Cultural Heart: Yogyakarta & Borobudur Temple

Posted on February 2, 2012

Borobudur Temple offers 360-degree views of Central Java’s countryside It’s been almost a year since my adventure traveling across Java, Indonesia and I have a handful of stories yet to share. Though accessible by train, Yogyakarta (often pronounced jog-ja-kar-ta) – the cultural heart of Java – was a short, dirt-cheap hop by plane for us from the urban madness of Jakarta. Of course, a visit to Indonesia would not be complete without visiting Borobudur, one of the most celebrated landmarksRead More→

Hong Kong for Art Lovers

Posted on February 7, 2011

The following article is a commissioned article I wrote for this month’s issue (February-March 2011) of SMILE, the in-flight magazine of Cebu Pacific Air. You may browse the magazine online at http://www.cebusmile.com ALONG WITH being the habitat of bankers and shopaholics, Hong Kong has now become the playground for all sorts of artists. Fueled by a bullish world economy, the former British colony has established itself in recent years as a top destination for dealers and collectors from around theRead More→

Manila Metropolitan Theater

Posted on November 2, 2008

Aboard the LRT before the train crosses the Pasig River, you won’t miss it: a lonesome structure with curious detailing on the busy intersection of Padre Burgos Street and Quezon Boulevard, once the “Grand Dame” of theater during the heydays of Manila before the Second World War. Meet the “Met”, the Manila Metropolitan Theater.  Designed in 1931 by architect Juan Arellano (1888-1960), this abandoned building is a prime example of Filipinized Art Deco, the geometric and decorative architectural style thatRead More→