I might be the hugesest Field Notes fan that I know. It all started when eliepstein kindly sent me a Just Below Zero 3-Pack, and the rest as they say, is history. I can’t help it; they are so useful, and so pretty.

A lot of people have asked me where I get my Field Notes fix and are dismayed when I say that I order all the way from Chicago, IL, where these beauties are made. I’m happy to announce that Avalon.ph has now made the classic Field Notes books available in the Philippines!

Avalon.ph and Nothing Spaces (me!) are giving away an original 3-pack (ruled paper) and the 2012 18-Month Workstation Calendar to one lucky winner!

I use Field Notes for everything. It’s a no-fuss notebook, that is both useful and easy on the eyes. I’m a huge Futura nerd, so I love the design to pieces. It’s also great for lists, sketches, notes (for reviews and blog drafts), and full-blown sketch battles with my dad in the emergency room:

Field Notes is a super portable notebook, great to keep in the back of your jeans or shirt pocket. It’s slim enough so that it’s not a nuisance to bring around, but the 48-pages are just the right amount before you’d need to whip out another one.

Did I mention that it’s beautiful?

The paper is lined with a soft brown soy-based ink.

The back of the calendar has a list of useful dates.

FIELD NOTES GIVEAWAY MECHANICS
Winner of the Field Notes set (Ruled 3-pack and 18 Month Workstation Calendar) will be picked at random using a randomizer. Do at least one of the following; each counts as an entry for you. Open only to residents of The Philippines.

1. For Twitter users: Tweet “Dear Nothing Spaces and Avalon.ph, I am joining because I want to remember now. http://bit.ly/ns-fieldnotes #NSGiveaway” You can tweet only once during the contest. Don’t forget to use the hashtag.
2. For Tumblr users: Follow my tumblr and reblog this entry. Each counts as 1 entry.
3. For Nothing Spaces readers: comment with something you want to remember
   or link http://bit.ly/ns-fieldnotes in a blog entry and comment on this post with the link.

Good luck! Comment if you have any questions or clarifications.

———

Avalon.ph has been up and running since 1999. It’s a great resource for wonderful limited edition and signed books, among others, gift and novelty items, and stationery, including Moleskine journals, and now—Field Notes! They carry all the original variations, but will eventually make other products (Steno pad, pencils, etc) available as well. For more information on Field Notes products available on Avalon.ph, click here.

You can also check them out here:
Google+: http://gplus.to/avalonph
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/avalonph
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/avalonph

Since my last post here, I’ve finished reading three books on my Kindle, namely J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” (a review of which can be found here), Sara Zarr’s “Story of a Girl,” and Julian Barnes’ “The Sense of an Ending,” all of which I love to pieces. Funnily enough, my busy self has found time to read—funnily enough, on a Kindle—but I suppose it’s Internet activity that has suffered a decline. Good thing or bad thing, you decide!

So far, I’ve been successful with four January goals, the four being Get two big projects, Work six hours a day, five days a week, Save 50% of my paycheck, and Write down all expenses. Begin budgeting. Obviously have not been exercising. I thought I had a good motivation, but I guess that’s not enough. I’ll try again, though. January is still young and there is still a lot of fat to be lost.

2012 has been exciting, to say the least. I’ll be exhibiting some more works for a group show next week (I’ll post the details as soon as I can) and also next week, I’m taking a trip to the mountains! This is exciting because I’ve always wanted to go exploring up north and also because I’ve just read “The Hobbit,” which still makes my heart ache in numerous places but has also somehow planted this weird seed of adventure in me. Seeing a little part of the world from a mountaintop would be a great start; I can’t wait!

Speaking of traveling—while it looks to be a year that’s full of traveling for me—I came upon this gorgeous list from the New York Times, 45 Places to Go to in 2012, and obviously I can’t possibly go to all of these places, but it’s a great reminder of what kind of adventure could lie behind your door. My mountain is not on this list; in fact, only two places are. But, I feel like it’s a start.

I’ve always loved traveling, but I think my sense of exploration and discovery has somehow been dulled. I like seeing different cities, but when I’m on the plane, from way high up, I always wonder what it’d be like to get lost in something other than buildings and metal structures and monuments and seas of people. I’ve been watching a lot of Survivor‘s past seasons lately, and behind all the scheming and starving, it’s such a beautiful peek into places around the world that I don’t know how I would find myself lost in.

Maybe that’s a romanticism of the wilderness, because I know there are all sorts of threats unimaginable if I chose to coop myself up in cities. But there’s also satiated wonder and an unmatched awe in the God that created these places.

I’ve always said that I wanted to see the world, and lately I’ve been thinking about which parts I want to see. Which parts I would gladly be uncomfortable for. I’ve been thinking about taking risks a lot, and I’ve realized that sometimes the greatest payouts come from the greatest risks. I don’t mean to sound like a cliché and announce my newfound lifestyle of being a daredevil explorer with a constant need for an adrenaline fix. What I want to say is that when I say I want to see the world, I mean that I want to really see all of it. Not just the manicured lawns, or the smooth roads, or some local iteration of Starbucks and McDonald’s. I still want to cities, yes. I want to see art and culture and different sorts of places, but I want to see the earth that was before everything started becoming what it is now.

The world is so big. I suppose I’ve got to get moving.

If you remember, I blogged about The Grim Repat a few months ago (read over here), and I still mean it when I say that a lot of thought goes into Mara’s videos. Tomorrow, it’s a full production for the New Year’s episode, and having seen just a peek of the entire process has left me pretty speechless.

(It’s way funner to watch the video, but—) Come over and wear a one-color shirt (that is not red or white) and be on time (11 am)! Stripes, small patterns, and rain are not welcome. Jackstones, pogs, and games are. More details over here, which you should read.

I am so excited for this.

If you’ve been on the Internet a lot, you’ve probably heard about Tiger Translate. Tiger Translate is a worldwide campaign that showcases local creative talents, and they’ve chosen Manila as their next stop! The first leg of this bar tour will happen on November 18, 2011—this Friday—at KYSS. There’s going to be live music from Turbo Goth, as well as a live Graffiti Battle between KST Philippines’ Nuno and Ekis.

For more information about Tiger Translate, head on over to their official website: TigerTranslate.com. You’ll see how amazing and far-reaching this “cross-cultural movement” has been, having gone to places like Beijing, Bangkok, Cambodia, Sydney, and so on.

I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and exercise creativity in a different way. I’m so used to going to galleries and exhibits that are static, so this is a new way for me to get to know how other people perceive art. Taken from their website:

We’re cross-cultural.
We’re multi-disciplinary.
We’re East meets West.
We’re Tiger Translate.

And our mission? To generate the next big bang in creativity through exposure to different cultures and experiences. Fusing visionaries from the ends of the world, we showcase the best of emerging Asian creativity with work that challenges the status quo. And more importantly, work that entertains, engages and inspires you. But don’t take our word for it. Open your mind to new possibilities and see it for yourself here.

If you were interested in seeing the kind of art this movement has produced, you can see them for yourself.

Here’s a link to their teaser video, since I can’t seem to figure out how to embed it. Looks exciting, yes?

I think it’s about time something like this happened, too.

Don’t forget!

Tiger Translate kicks off in Manila with a bang! Watch the Graffiti Showdown between local street artists Nuno and Ekis from KST Philippines as they showcase their creativity live, and around the theme of GOLD.

Be part of the electric atmosphere on 18th November in the Philippines, and enjoy live music from Turbo Goth (http://turbogoth.bandcamp.com/). Drink up on your fill of Tiger Beer, and see which artist will emerge victorious!

Event: Tiger Translate in Manila
Theme: Gold
Date: 18th November 2011
Time: 9p.m.
Location: KYSS Bar

Join us as we bring the vibrancy and creativity of Tiger Translate to Manila.

Hope to see you there!

WHY TWELVE? Honestly, I picked the number at random. It seems like a good number—not too many, not too few—to start with. Just like your donuts and your eggs, changes in one’s life might as well come in dozens!

HOW WILL IT WORK? I’m going to list some things I want to do that I feel will greatly improve my life. Each one of them will be accompanied by a rationale as to why they’re part of the list, and each should be feasible (because I don’t want to set myself up for a fall). They will not be too hard, but they will also not be too easy. I will try to tie this in with a project I’ve always wanted to do, but never pushed through with, Mission 101.

WHY ARE YOU SHARING THIS ON THE INTERNET? DON’T YOU THINK YOU’VE EMBARRASSED YOURSELF ENOUGH? I find that while this might border on oversharing, the Internet is a great avenue for a) accountability, and b) encouragement (for myself and for other people who might stumble across this little challenge). Plus, it’s automatic documentation for when I feel down and out and want to be reminded why I am doing this in the first place.

Also, this is my blog, I do what I like~

WHAT ARE THE THINGS ON YOUR LIST? I have not come up with the list yet, but here are some things I’ve been thinking about:

1. NEW ROOM (SORTA) — by which, I just mean: clean it
2. NEW MODE OF TRANSPORTATION — by which, I mean: learn how to drive
3. NEW LIFE SKILL — some ideas: how to change a flat tire, how to install a light bulb, etc.
4. NEW ADVENTURE — by which, I mean: go somewhere in the Philippines I’ve never been to before, and then write about it
5. NEW FRIEND — by which, I mean: diet and exercise. …yes, the friend in question is my body. Is that lame? I don’t know anymore.
6. NEW RESTRAINTS — by which, I mean: budget plan and savings. That I will actually follow.
7. NEW DIRECTIONS – by which, I mean: make more things (always, all ways).
8. NEW PACKAGING – by which, I mean: fixing up my portfolio
9. NEW LANGUAGE – by which, I mean: finally learn parseltongue French
10. NEW ROOTS – by which, I mean: look for opportunities in other places
11. NEW CREATIVE SKILL – by which, I mean: learn an instrument, or how to draw properly, or how to use a different sort of paint, or sew, or what-have-you
12. NEW BRAIN JUICE – by which, I mean: read more

Not a final list, and obviously some will be hard to keep track off because they are supposed to be habitual, but I think this is a pretty well-rounded list. What do you think? Do some sound stupid or unnecessary?

In any case, each time I embark on a goal, I will explain why it is there and how it will help me.

DO YOU HAVE A DEADLINE? Not a concrete one. I’d like to think of this as an ongoing process, really. Ideally, though, I finish these things as soon as possible, so I don’t feel as useless as I do. Fingers crossed for me?

I guess the main point of this challenge, really, is to just extend myself, because I don’t feel like I have been doing that enough. I am honest and upfront about what I feel like are my failings, but I think it’s about time I followed through.

And I suppose this is an attempt at doing just that.

———

What areas in your life do you feel like you can improve on?

When news broke out that poachers destroyed a reef five times the size of Manila, I was devastated. It’s so sad to me that the Philippines is blessed with so much biodiversity, and we wreck and ruin, instead of nurturing and cultivating what we have. I am mad that people thought they could do such a thing, and a little frustrated because I can’t really do much to stop them.

When I was younger, I didn’t really consider myself a “sea person” up until the last few years, when spending time near the water really gave me peace of mind and quieted my soul. My best friend, Isa, wrote about how one cannot help but falling in love with the ocean. I love being in the water. After I get over the initial panic of being in a body of water with creatures can’t sea swimming beside me, I embrace the feeling of somehow being one with the earth.

I missed Blog Action Day, which calls people to band together and make noise on June 8th, on behalf of the Philippine seas. But, just because I am lazy and forgetful, it doesn’t mean that I don’t care. It’s a little bit sad for me, knowing that at the moment, this is the most that I can do: declare how much I love the sea. I plead to the people who have more power than me to move and do something about this.

Here are some photos from Bohol. I am not very good friends with the ocean yet, and Sarie is urging me to give diving a try. I’m hoping there are still places left for me to see. (Tubbataha and Coron, I’ve got my eye on you.)

I also have some stragglers from an old LC-A+ roll, Kodak Gold, 200 ASA. They made the farm look extra spooky.

Click the cut for the rest. Can’t wait to try this out when I go traveling. Some of my favorite travel photos were the ones I took with my old Supersampler! I have to use nicer film, though. I think. I’ve been using Lomography and Kodak films… Any suggestions re: the best you’ve tried? :)

(Jason’s plot!)

Filming Gil.

Lunch!

Last Sunday was spent on some organic farmlands with Sarie and her (ex-)officemate, Jason, who’d taken up farming recently. She was shooting a film for it and I tagged along. I’d been interested in it ever since partially reading Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Eating Animals.” I learned about organic produce and community-based farming, and had been interested in it, but never really saw it in practice. Also, I was sort of in the mood for an adventure detached from the city.

The pretty photos are by Sarie. I took some with my iPhone, but I brought some film cameras, so I’m still waiting on them to be developed. Hopefully, they don’t take too long/that they actually show up. I don’t know if you know, but I’m kind of a bad estimator, so they will probably be crappy.

We ate carrots directly from the ground. Don’t be fooled by my face.
It was a lovely carrot. Might be the sweetest I’ve had.



Jason!



Sarie!



We met a guy who started an non-profit about farming called A Growing Culture. His name is Loren.
He’s been backpacking around the world for the last four months, taking pictures and exploring farms.
It’s super cool; they have essays on different farms and farming techniques from all over the world.

The farm’s pretty cool. When we got there, Gil Carandang, who owns and manages Herbana Farms, was giving a seminar to people who were interested in growing their own food. I’m not really well-versed in food technology, or you know, food in general. I just like to eat it. It’s nice to get to know the processes and the work that goes into making the food that you eventually ingest so that you can continue to exist.

It’s strange how controversial food has become (I have more to say about this, but perhaps another day, when I’ve finished reading “Eating Animals,” or when I have been more enlightened, as I’m now pretty much a n00b at it). I would love to learn how to grow my own food, though. I guess there’s something strangely thrilling and fulfilling about actually growing something that you eat.

During the interview that Sarie and Jason were filming, Gil was saying that when you give to the earth, it gives back. There’s something so noble and rousing in that statement. I think that because food is generally readily available to us (in the sense that we don’t have to grow it ourselves), we tend to forget where it comes from. That thought alone really makes me want to grow my own food, for some reason I can’t articulate.

Herbana Farms has a community garden where you can lease a 10-sq. meter long plot of land that you can plant food in. Since it’s pretty tedious to drive back and forth everyday, they take care of your plot while you’re away. You can just come by when you want to harvest your food. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting my own plot, since I have always intended to eat healthier and be more smart about buying food. It’s just so hard to do it in the Philippines.

Going to Herbana Farms, though, I saw that it could be done. It’s maybe a little more inconvenient than just going to the market to buy your produce. But I think it’s worth the extra mile to be conscious about the way we eat.

The rest of the pictures (my crappy ones) are under the cut. I’ll post the film photos in a separate entry, just because.

If anyone is interested, most information regarding Herbana Farms can be found on their website. If you want to get in touch with them, or some directions to the farm, click here.

P.S. The title of this blog post is from the shirt Gil was wearing. I’m sorry I am such a thief.

Harvesting jalapeño peppers.

These plants are hole-y because they don’t use pesticides, so the soil’s really clean.
I mean, I really got convinced when we started picking food from the ground and eating them.
Aside from the carrots, we had two kinds of basil and some of this dill:

The drive back home was quiet.

• Watching Sports Night and Arrested Development before and during work.
• Backreading blog subscriptions! I can’t tell you how happy I am that the unread count is 0, and it’s not because I “mark[ed] all as read.”
• Not taking things personally.
• Talking to good people whenever I feel like freaking out.
• Collaging!

Here are a few of the ones I’ve made for We Are Triangle, a pop-up shop running next week:

If I manage to finish the stuff I have planned and hand them over to Mick (hehe), then some of my stuff will be up for sale. So, if you’re free between February 3 and 5, please stop by Cubao X. A lot of people have a lot of great stuff for sale. The last run of We Are Triangle, I got awesome pinback buttons, poetry books, and the music compilation. I handed out a few copies of Steve Roggenbuck‘s chapbook, “i am like october when i am dead.”

(Speaking of whom, he has another project you guys might be interested in: please direct your attention over here.)

RSVP HERE. It’s going to be really awesome, I promise.

Months ago, I joined Art House Co-Op‘s The Sketchbook Project. They give you about three months to fill up a sketchbook according to a theme, then you send it back to them, and they tour it around a few cities so that people can look at it and borrow it (like a library).

I was very excited to do this (the theme I chose was Things That Changed Other Things), but true to form, I put off doing it at the last minute. The journals needed to be sent and postmarked by January 15 (which fell on a Saturday!) so my deadline was the 14th. By the 13th, I had three pages done. I was ready to give up and sleep, but I remembered my post and decided to get as far as I could with it. In a span of about ten straight hours of making collages and trying not to die, I managed to fill up a Moleskine!

Not too so adherent to the theme; at least, not in an obvious way. I’m excited to do this again, although I think I’m going to try out their other project, a new one called The Fiction Project, which seems a lot more up my alley anyway.

In the meantime, there’s this, and while it’s not the best I could have done (I was really operating on a sort of zombie, auto-pilot mode), especially considering the amount of time I had, I’m glad I didn’t give up on it. At least I won’t feel like a liar whenever I wear this shirt out:

More photos are under the cut, but you can view the entire thing over here. The ones I’ve posted up are a few of my favorites, though. My sketchbook’s on its way to New York now. I hope it finds its way to one of you. :)