I remember it was quite a busy week sometime ago. I was mentally and physically spent after working like a mad dog in the office. I had a long list of to do’s that seemed almost impossible to finish and at the same time kept getting longer as the day went on.

It was like getting caught in a loop of unfortunate luck that there’s no use moving backwards or forwards. A hamster on a wheel. That was what it felt like. I mean, of course, I was working my absolute best at whatever task came my way. I treated it with dedication and precision. It felt good no matter how tiring it was back then.

But then I realized that my off-duty hours were getting the short end of the stick. Come weekends or after-work, I had to double my efforts making sure that I am using my time as efficiently as possible and that I am enjoying every waking minute out of it. Well… I did, in fact, managed to do some of that. But then, truth be told, it wasn’t always the case. You see - I also had to catch up on my sleeping. In stereotypical Asian perspective, that’s considered lazy and even, to a worst extent, the subject of online shaming. An idea I really objected and rejected. So let me be the first, maybe in some ways, to admit the fact that (A) I needed my sleep and therefore entitled me to catch up on it; and, (B) I really don’t care what the opinion of a faceless majority thought about what I do or don't do. My life belongs to me.


So there I was... all glassy eyed with my book on the bed, waiting till the sleep fairy will take me someplace interesting and enchanting good enough of a story to be told and retold. Then suddenly, I started drifting away, weightless into the air – my feet barely touching the ground.

I didn’t even remember closing my eyes at that point. I suppose I was too distracted with my aching muscles that my mind took the liberty to head off to slumber land.

[To be continued… This is the first part of a two-part series. Watch out for the second part of this story!]

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Photos via Danbury Library, Florian Simeth

At first glance, it all evokes emptiness and separation, stillness and realism. It’s as if the paintings that show so little say a lot of what’s not there. But then if you look even closer – and you’ll see it. Not just in the paintings per se, although it does have the ability to affect you in the most profound manner. But it also allows you to look at yourself intuitively – on how you can relate to the art in one way or another and how it gives you the means to confront reality at its finest moments.

I first came across John Register when his work got featured in a little-known gem of a film from Curtis Hanson. It served as a mood fixture that parallels with the storyline of the lives of the characters. I wasn’t at all bothered that much at an early point – I guess perhaps, I was too engrossed with the drama that’s happening onscreen. However, after the end of the film and patiently sitting through the end credits – there it was and I saw as his name rolled by. John Register. And by that time, I was pretty sure that’s one name you would hardly forget. It really ‘register’-ed and boy did Google helped me pique my interest level several notches high.

I was mesmerized. Hooked. I admire Register’s aesthetic sensibility of showing rawness in a most minimal way. As cliché as this may sound, and you pretty much hear this all of the time but dare I say it that “less is more” resonates a lot in his body of work. An empty chair situated close to an huge impressive window makes quite an impact on how you see things that others may see differently. It creates a tangible effect that in order to simplify your life from its chaos and complications, you have to strip yourself from your worldly possessions. Be bold to take risks and be resilient to changes.


And though it is part of my bucket list to see his paintings in person sometime in the future – one thing is for sure; John Register has definitely left an imprint on me. How he managed to create an experience out of his paintings leave a lot to the senses. Like you and I along with the world, we take notice and we carry on.

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To read a full bio of John Register, check out his retrospective.

To experience the world according to John Register, visit this dedicated gallery.

Photos via Magnolia Editions and John Register: A Retrospective

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Love can be a very hard topic to write about, let alone discuss about it. The four-letter word that has us on a string, prompts us to act inexplicably and messes with our decisions. It is potent at best and disturbing at worst. The different definitions of what love is and why it matters make it compelling to share to people.

As a kid, I recognized love in its primal form… family. My parents, my siblings, my grandparents (which unfortunately – I didn’t get to have a lot of time spent with) and my extended relatives. The comfort and care that’s readily there round-the-clock, 24/7 in all its unconditional glory. Despite running into a few mischievous acts kids normally get into – my parents, while instilling in me a sense of discipline and a little bit of (ahem!) scolding, they’ve always explained to me that what they’re doing comes from a place of good intentions. That straightening me out early in life is a way to keep me well-behaved and avoid becoming a troublemaker growing up. Apart from that, the amount of nurture I get from them are immeasurable especially during sick days. The diligent monitoring of body temperature, making sure that I took my medicines in a timely manner and have eaten my meals… It’s this kind of deep-seated affection that makes me feel better quickly that even medicines sometimes pale in comparison. Through which I can gratefully say, that’s what love is for!


Then came the painful adolescent years (and yes, let’s be honest – adolescence and all it’s raging hormones were always an exceptionally trying stage), where figuring out who I was, what was important to me and trying to fit in, were the usual norm. This is where the role of friends takes a greater slice of the pie when it comes to time and attention. My friends were the consoling force when it comes to coping with adolescent issues like school and getting good grades, personal identity, guys and relationships. We went through these pressures in the same wavelength, carefully treading through the complicated twists and turns of life the way an adolescent does. Friends were there to listen and advise, hang out and laugh with, talk and have fun with. Mind you, the attention and presence they provide is completely beyond leaps and bounds – and that was way before the age of Facebook and other social media what-have-yous. For this, I can say with all honesty, that’s what love is for!



So when maturity knocked, I opened the door with open arms ready to face the next challenges to come. I’m now a grown-up with grown-up problems figuring out some grown-up solutions. But the formula for love is still the same – it never changes, at least, the way I see it. Yet trying to dissect the anatomy of love in a guy’s perspective is no easy feat. Not even a real genius can understand the intricacy and delicateness of love between a guy and a girl in a relationship. It’s a work in progress with little room for success sometimes but enormous room for failure (sad to say!) from time to time. Being in a relationship creates the ultimate balance especially when a guy’s personality complements with mine. It’s like finding the missing part of the puzzle I’ve had trouble sorting out my entire life. The experience of sharing together similar or opposite interests and a deep friendship within the relationship leads to a sense of purpose and fulfilment. It’s almost like being inside a cocoon where both people find belongingness to each other which I think is the most beautiful thing. But then, like all beautiful things, there are beginnings and there are endings. The cocoon starts to break. What used to be similarities between two people becomes a wedge driving them apart. I’ve been here before and it can be quite difficult. Though I’m not one to bash at guys – it does help to put distance and time away from the experience and see it from a different angle. When I started picking up the pieces, I’ve learned to appreciate every moment, bad or good, of the experience. And that’s when I figured, my heart has grown bigger too and next time around, it has so much room for someone who’s more deserving of it. Yes, I can sincerely say from my heart and from my head – that’s what love is for!



So, in the spirit of the month of February and St. Valentine's Day, let love be the centerpiece of our lives at whatever we do, whoever we’re with and whenever time of day, month or year. There’s no truer emotion that makes us more human. And for what it’s worth, that’s what love is for!

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Photos via JD, Joëlle T., Makena Zayle Gadient, Leo Hidalgo