There's something about the name and the face. And the disposition while singing, I guess.

Fitri Cerado, 8-year old musical gift/musically-gifted, born to Filipino parents; based in Indonesia.

So I guessed right except that she is based outside of the Philippines.

But before anyone goes "Not another YouTube "sensation!" – after all there was Fil-Canadian Maria Aragon just before her whose Lady Gaga YouTube video landed her a spot on Lady Gaga's concert in Canada and was subsequently lured to Manila by the ABS-CBN network via a recording contract in 2011, among others (and there will be more such "sensations") – there IS something about the girl on the video that speaks of an alluring inborn, bona fide self-confidence.

I suspect this video will soon go viral because I found the link on Reddit.com of all places; I hadn't been accessing Reddit.com for ages but I get its alerts.

After reading her short bio, the lesson, I suppose, is that talent may end up being not as useful or recognized without parental and community support, guidance and encouragement. Anyway, Friti seems to have had more than she could ever ask for.

Learn more about Fitri Cerado where else but on the 8-year-old's own website* http://fitricerado.com *Dig that.

Enjoy the post-lenten season.

 

Paul Rand (1914-1996) is a designer, not a painter. Well, he's the "Pioneer Graphic Designer," having designed some of the most established logos we know today.

He is a modernist and taught at the prestigious Yale University for 30 years which, on hindsight, was one of those instances that made me dream about going to that school after college if only to get a first-hand experience at his works and writings.

I was introduced to Paul Rand by a good friend from college, Bambi, an archeology graduate and a certified book person who did a great job (although she is convinced that she doesn't) with layouts and understanding good design. With some friends, we set up a small design studio in the mid-'90s.

Rand was a great book cover designer and his theories are those I go back to again and again, thanks to academic archives and other accessible publications on the Internet.

His thoughts on art, however, are very relevant that I wish we had covered him, too, in my Art Theory class back in college.

If "content is king" in the Internet age (I think the Internet is kind of sexist that way), "form is king" in Paul Rand's view. Still a good read nonetheless.

 Paul-rand.com

(I've forgotten where I got this 2-page PDF but credits are to the original uploader. Sorry about that). The image on top is from Paul Rand's website header. The image of some Paul Rand logos are from http://designgreece.blogspot.com

 

 

 

...but coffee drinking, especially of the best, well-bodied kind that delivers some form of ecstasy and let out faith-based damnations, could well be blasphemy, anyway.

Nespresso's new TVC — thank god, this isn't shown on Philippine television or an uproar among the caffein-addicted clergy it will surely cause — features John Malkovich ("God"), this time with George Clooney ("Man"), Nespresso's tried and tested endorser who, despite him having to deflect criticisms over his Nestlé contract, is still viewed as the perfect [hu]man for that "perfect" cup of high-end Joe.

"Clooney Coffee" is actually the best sinful, earthly combination.

And the sequels...

 

There are events one comes upon that help in understanding oneself better, put things in context or simply just blow the soft top layers away for better cognition of one's existence.

It was a profund gathering I attended last night which I got to late and almost towards its end. I admit to having brushed over some of its tenets through adulthood. I admire its concepts but I do not have full insight of its true essence. The brief moment I had last night observing and listening to discussions did offer me some profoud self re-examination.

We all have our personal moments about engaging with the meaning of existence and such, or falling for the perceived attraction of certain paths and courses in the hope of somehow making sense of "living."

I'd since been immersed in other concerns in the past few years that I realized I had not made contact with those personal moments for some time. I may have even chosen to be taken away from those moments, really.

Anyhow, in as much I admit to also be in search of the Way (the Path, or whatever name the concept goes by for other people), my realization today is that I may not be ready in taking it just yet. I have to sift through or let go some earth-bound constrictions which I believe some takers of those paths may have also enveloped themselves in, or totally re-construct my own belief sets to look past them. Whichever.

Some minds are probably more ready and willing at the fore and my heart is profoundly happy that they are and that they serve to inspire me.

At the end of the day, all these thoughts end up pointing to my to own limitations and unpreparedness but has nudged me more to make sensible choices (at the very least) – hopefully moral, humanistic and positive – choices I know will affect future decisions and my relationships in the here and now.

For the time being, I say to you: I'll see you there, too. Yes, let's meet to complete my circle, later — my ever optimistic soul guide and kin. Boundless thanks for being present.

 

 

 

A social experiment too cute to pass up. I appreciate Jewel as a singer and songwriter as years pass. Along with the Paris Hilton campaign video, this one, for me, is a classic via funnyordie.com.

 

I posted to my Blogspot blog a few minutes, of an entry that took all day to finish only to discover that Blogger/Blogspot had been having troubles with uploaded images in what it calls "image backend problems" since late March 2010.

No, it hasn't been resolved and I did post to Blogger's support forum just before this Posterous entry, thus:

"Posted an entry a few minutes ago and did a work-around:

uploading the image to a 3rd-party image hosting site from Blogspot's image source, then linking the image from the 3rd-party site into the post in the hope of circumventing Blogspot's "backend" problem but I still got a blank space where the image is supposed to be.

Otherwise, all other images and videos in older posts appear fine.

Hope the problem is resolved very soon."

FYI.

 

*would have been nicer if the 'spirit' morphed into several people (i.e. races) even in some parts of her solo.

[cross-posted]

Just happen to see the moon rise from the kitchen door just a few degrees higher than treetops. Awesome. Check it out. 616pm.

The Philippines finally gets a limited edition Moleskine notebook called MyPilipinas moleskine in both pocket and large sizes: a result of the collaboration between iconic Philippine shirt brand Collezione, under its Collezione-C2 line headed by its Creative Director Rhett Eala and Moleskine.

I say it's about time. And what better company to offer it locally than Collezione, a local apparel brand known for its durability and dependabilty. Yes, that's right, "dependability". In the 80s, it was the shirt of choice one could wear for many types of informal events. Its clothes were flexible and functional. It was the quiet and comparable counterpart of the imported designer sports tops at the time: Lacoste, Fila, Polo Ralph Lauren, among others, that were the trend especially among the elite.

The Collezione line was in the classic mold. If one were to wear a shirt or skirt today dating back to the 80s, it would still be "now".

Forward to the 21st century and Collezione was re-energized by its "MyPilipinas" line under C2 by Rhett Eala which features the Philippine map prominently on shirts and tops. Launched sometime in 2008, C2's "MyPilipinas" line became the most sought-after wear and all-occasion gift item since.

Like the icon that is Collezione, C2's MyPilipinas line has helped solder its place not just in Philippine fashion but fashion as lifestyle.

It is therefore appropriate and timely that C2 collaborate with the timeless Moleskine notebooks for its Philippine edition. What better time than now.

MyPilipinas Moleskine pocket Php 995.00
MyPilipinas Large Php1,450.00
Available at C2 stores and National Bookstore branches
MyPilipinas Moleskine site collezione-c2.com

*4,800 units of this edition were produced. Moleskine's biggest shop-in-shop outlet in the Philippines will open in April 2010 at National Bookstore' Greenbelt3 branch*
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MyPilipinas notebooks image courtesy of Collezione C2
MyPilipinas shirt image courtesy of Philippine Star