I can has blog, wee

Had a chance to go to the first Singapore toy and comic convention last week with Carl where we burned our pockets bu buying 6 tofu toys (one wobbler signed by a devilrobot), Tokidoki stickers, a Tokidoki hat, and a Nintendo Wii (and guitar hero - which I think is already overused hehehe). The event was so packed that 10 AM in the morning at least 5,000 people (estimate) were already queueing to get inside. Also had a chance to grab a few drinks with Apol Sta. Maria and his girlfriend at the Butter factory last weekend where we watched The Devilrobots, Pete Folwer, and Simone Legno draw murals on white boards placed at the middle of the bar.

This weekend was not as bad for me as well as I get to hang out with my ex colleagues from Upeprstorey at the Loof right after work. Although I really think I am getting older coz by 10 PM i was already feeling sooo damn tired that I had to leave. The next day, Carl and I had to catch Wanted before it leaves out of the theaters soon.... i say you do the same as it it's one bad ass movie.

Oh well. Just another week.
Can't wait to watch the death cab concert soon.

Just transfered companies over the weekend from The Upperstorey Pte. Ltd. to Ffurious Pte Ltd. and so far so good. Been really planning to do this move for a long time despite my happiness in Upperstorey, maybe because what I really want is to go to a company that practices collaboration. I'm ok with working on my own with projects, but i am a firm believer that two heads are better than one... right guuuyyss? Lolz.

Not that we (designers) can't do that in TUS, but well... it's just different else where. Had the chance to do that collaborating thing the whole day today - as me and my new colleague just doodled our hearts out for a new project. It was definitely fun - and just a breathe of fresh air away from a machine.

Maybe when I'm older and needs more financial and career stability, I'll settle for an established advertising agency. For now... I'd rather have fun and be creative in a fun-loving young team.

Work area

-- Now I just have to get used to using PC again. I keep pressing ALT as it's always the place for APPLE / Command in mac. Hehehe.

Cows at the Sky Park

Had a chance to finally unwind and go to a mall yesterday with Carl to treat ourselves with good food and great movie after long hours of work.

We had a good selection of restaurants down at Vivo City but as soon as we stepped in at the Sky Park, my eyes instantly caught the green lights of Marche Restaurant. The line was very very (30 minute wait) long and despite that, the cool breeze of the night and the great ambiance (with jazz music) of the Sky Park made the wait easy.

Marche

The Marche Restaurant was a revive from it's old Heeren branch which closed last may. The dinning concept was very much the same at Shudoku in Raffles City where there is a self service "Food Market" stalls and cooks right smack in the middle with tables and chairs all around. You go to the "Market" and get the food that you want while giving out your guest card as a purchase.

We had Paella (i ultimately miss my mother's, and so far it's at par),  Sirloin steak with  Mashed potato, Pasta, and a yummy mango crepe. Just 4 dishes made the two of us almost puke out of fullness. It was just delicious! We could've eaten everything but of course, not as it is also a bit pricey. But anyhow, such a great find.

After the dinner, head back inside the mall to catch Jack Black's Kung Fu Panda. The experience would've been better if Carl's seat mate wasn't smelling like Kung Fu Panda himself... but anyway even though we had our noses covered 95% of the time during the movie we had fun. The movie was very light hearted and funny. Just as what you would expect on a Jack Black movie.

I'll say though that I think this is much better than his previous movie Be Kind Rewind, it's just more witty to me.

Grrr

Geez. Morning comes up, i grab a grande Macchiato to work... i sit on my fabulous desk (sarcastic tone there) and open my email and suddenly BOOM! My brain is loaded with things TO DO and things to THINK ABOUT.

To release all tension, I thought of writing them down:

Things to THINK ABOUT:

1. Been dreaming to put up a sweet bookstore since I saw the movie "You've got mail" (so lame, i know) and an idea strikes me that I want to bring Basheer to Manila. Now that's an idea i still need to work on definitely. Maybe find partners, maybe find help... i don't know. I just want something to invest in. Something that I love and I am passionate about.
2. To go back home or to stay in Singapore... or in another country.
3. Philweaver's partnerships and how to gain good exposure for it.

Things TO DO:

1. Penkat website
2. Code lean's company branding
3. Loads of office work (approximately 4 projects at hand)
4. My bloody website

Now I feel much better.

Gaaaah!!!

Greetings Fellow Filipino Web Designers, Employers and Job Posters,

Jose Illenberger
Co-Founder
PhilWeavers Network
http://www.philweavers.net

Been commissioned by a Film and Media company in UK to create a video portal for events based in the UK and I'm not very much surprised why they want to venture on this video trend because it is really one of the fastest growing business on the internet today.

Fwa

There's video portals everywhere catering to fun and humor, how-to's, lifestyle, travel, tv shows, and God knows what else is out there. Even the FWA which I suppose when built was not intentionally planning to be a video hub of some sort when they just recently released their new FWA Theater powered by FiV whose business is also now involving this great Internet video trend.

Haaay, internet is definitely the new television of today. We will definitely see some adverse effects on this soon starting with more jobs for Web/UI designers and videographers.

Mr. Site

Who needs freelance designers and developers when there is an available Mr. Site, Takeaway Website! Everything you need is just inside the box!

Well. I'm glad at least that it's on a box, not on a plastic bag with rubber handles. 

Really excited about this new project by Stephane Bucco where he collaborated with a lot of graphic designers to create wonderfully designed espadrilles. Love the idea that they used an old well-loved product and bring it back again in a modern way. The String republic 's first collaboration was the steamy underwears designed by talented designers all over the world, wonder why they're not selling them anymore.

Anyway, here's a new collection from String Republic... enjoy!

Just had a 4 hour meeting with exec clients today to have a brainstorming session regarding this new Singaporean web portal that they just launched. We needed to create a "schema" on how to promote and drive traffic to the website.

The session was quite a success as we had some great ideas refined but what really put me into thinking while on that meeting was do I see myself as one of them (these executive directors) in the future and just propose directions and ideas to a campaign or should stick to doing what I do best - which is being a doer.

I am always told the designer career ladder is a pretty short ladder to climb because if you have mastered your craft a designer can always become an Art Director... and I keep thinking what happens next after that... hmm.

Well, anyway i know I still have a long way to go and right now... I'm not even sure i want to climb up that ladder anymore or that I want to go to a different path. I guess everyone experiences this in their lives, and I just really really hope and pray that soon I will understand what is it really that I am meant to do and what will make me feel fulfilled.

Oh well. Someday. I guess it's just one step at a time.

But Boracay is just gorgeous.

Uluwatu on a sunset

I was kinda hoping of a white-sandy dreamy beach in Bali but surprisingly it wasn't - it's perfect for surfers as the tides are high (and strong) and the sand is brown... probably because of the volcano in Kintamani but despite this... Bali's charms, rich culture and religion, artistic natures, and it's tranquil quality spas made the best out of my four day visit.

Hotel Puri Bambu

We stayed in Jimabaran bay which is about 10 to 15 minutes from the Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar. Our hotel (Puri bambu) nestled quietly in an alley about 5 mins from the Jimabarn beach which is popular for it's sea side seafood restaurants and quiet beach.

For four days we had the chance to do the following in Bali: 

1. Walk around Kuta (city) to buy some cheap but quality local products and see the popular beach with surfers
   
2. Go on a whole day trip from Jimbaran to Kintamani volcano up in the north (on the way we stopped by in Ubud which is the center of arts and crafts in Bali where we say many artists)... down to the southern part of Bali to visit the Uluwatu temple (with many many monkeys) where the fire dance was happening
   
3. Have a pampering day at the Da La Spa which totally treated us like royalty for 2 and a half hours
4. Have dinner by the beach during sunset at the Jimbaran beach
   
5. Ride on a glass boat straight to Turtle island to obviously visit the humongous turtles in Bali
   
6. Hang out by the ocean in the classy Nusa Dua resorts

People are friendly, the air is breezy, and the food is fresh... Bali is definitely worth of every cent i spent.

More pictures on my flickr.