“Last August 26, 2010, Thursday at 6:25pm, a raging fire blazed through Barangay Navotas West and Barangay Sipac Almacen. The said fire lasted for 6 hours and turned both communities into rubble and ash in that span of time leaving 1,400 families or roughly 6,000 individuals homeless.

The people affected are informal settlers living along the coast of Manila Bay. A majority of their homes are made of the humblest of materials and rest on stilts over the coast. They all live in constant danger cause of regular typhoons there and they are in constant risk of fire due to the tight living accommodations as well as a lack of space for even the smallest fire trucks to have access to.

Since the tragedy, these people are temporarily living in the Navotas Sports Complex and two public schools within the vicinity of the city hall compound. In an ideal situation, the victims should relocate to a safer environment but the city government currently doesn’t have the capacity to do so.

Lots of work and community rebuilding ahead.”

Some pictures to show you the aftermath of said fire:

1,400 Navotas families lost their homes last Thursday

Mud and rubble where Navotas families used to live

Evacuees taking temporary shelter at the Navotas Sports Complex

Almost 6,000 people rendered homeless

This woman survived the fire, but not without injury Many more survivors like her are in need of food, water, clothing and medicine.

I call this Interactive Sunday Reading because, perhaps, you would be inspired to take action and make a contribution, spread the word – yes, even a ‘retweet’ will make a difference.

The relocated families are in dire need of food, water, clothing and medicine. Kindly contact Pat Agcaoli via 09219882565 or just drop off your donations at the Navotas City Hall, M. Naval Street, Sipac.

May your Sunday be one of generosity.

<3,

KT

My very first Preview mag writeup by then-Preview staffer Isha Andaya

It was a short and sweet writeup that was published in Preview’s May 2003 issue. It documented one of my big breaks in the industry, when I won Best Styled Jeans at the Levi’s Type 1 Jeans Stylist’s Party thrown by my beloved Direk Robby Carmona. (The event also happened to be his birthday celebration.) You’ll see that I was too small for the jeans Direk sent me, so I had no choice but to turn it into a dress. That event, and that article, opened a lot of doors for me. (I’ll share the story behind that event another time.)

That article is even more special than it appears to be because it marks the first time I ever worked with this amazing girl named Isha Andaya. Isha, at the time, was just starting out in the industry, and she was part of the Preview staff then. I remember being on the phone with a very sweet-voiced person on the other end of the line, asking if they could borrow my creation and shoot it for the mag.

Isha the Avatar

Isha went on to do more work for Preview, later on fulfilling more accomplishments in the fashion world, in such an unassuming, low-key way that made me respect her even more.

Little did you know that after her stint in Preview, she made her mark as well as part of Tita Lulu Tan Gan’s team, being Tita Lulu’s right hand for a while. That it was Isha who helped Tita Lulu set up L Manila, her Greenbelt 5 store. And that once-upon-a-time, Style Bible was made up of a team of One. This fantastic website would not be the phenomenal success it is today without the efforts of this very dedicated woman. The kind of dedication she has for the things that matter to her is evident in the many roles that she plays in her life. She is a great editor, entrepreneur, colleague, mentor, friend, girlfriend (yup, sorry boys, she’s taken), sister, cousin, classmate, random kind stranger you will meet.

Today she is ‘My Editrix‘ (how i fondly call her). I’m her most delinquent blogger here on Style Bible, but she is too kind that she gives me space to live my life and write when I want to.

Happy Birthday Ish! I thought I’d say all this while we’re all alive and well My gift for you is to blog again.

The Lovely Presence That Is Isha

with fondness,

KT

Another Sunny Day: A Tribute to Belle and Sebastian

I’m gigging at Cafe Saguijo again tonight with my friends from Lilystars Records. It’s a special installment of their POP Shoppe series paying tribute to very influential indie superstars from Glasgow, Belle & Sebastian.

You’ll be hearing renditions of B&S hits from my rocker friends The Camerawalls, The Gentle Isolation, and Your Imaginary Friends (who happen to be real). I’ll be playing a couple of their more obscure selections, because, as it is in life sometimes, all the good ones are taken LOL.

I wonder who’ll be playing these B&S favorites tonight?

Click here to view the embedded video.
‘I’m A Cuckoo’, from their Dear Catastrophe Waitress album

Click here to view the embedded video.
You’ll prolly recognize this from the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack, ‘The Boy With The Arab Strap’.

Belle and Sebastian is currently in ASIA – they just finished their show in Bandung, Indonesia and they’re off to Singapore to play a show this Saturday at the Esplanade.

Our partner at INTERCEPT! Productions, Joff Cruz, king of Kingassault Records, flew to Jakarta not just to watch the ‘mind-blowing’ show last night…

Belle and Sebastian curtain-callin' in Indonesia last night (photo courtesy of Joff Cruz)

… but he got to hang out with the band too!!! *weindiefansalldiedofenvy*

Joff Cruz of Kindassault Records & Intercept! hangs out with Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian

And so we will live vicariously through Joff this time, as we sing our hearts out tonight, B&S-style.

Headed out the door now,

KT

The truth is, there is no Sheila. Nor are there any creepy crawlies around. Sheila and the Insects (SATI) is a band that I like. In fact, I like them so much that I bugged them to fly (LOL double the pun) over here from Cebu this weekend, just so I could share their dandy music with you.

KT Presents: Sheila and the Insects Live in Manila! 930pm at Cafe Saguijo. Opening acts: The Camerawalls, Kate Torralba, Paranoid City. 200 gate + free drink.

SATI has been around for sometime now, and theirs is a sound that brings happy times to mind. In late 90’s, I had a pop-alternative band called Hard Candy (take note, before Madonna’s sweet album), and we shared the intimate Cebu band circuit with bands like SATI, Franco (yes, THAT Franco who’s going to make it up to us for not being with us tonight!), Damian Paniki, Cattski, Squall, and more.

This was a time when Gabby Alipe, now of Urbandub fame (that sweetheart, up to this day, still calls me Ma’am!), and my stylist friend Angelo Kangleon used to work for Alex Phatboy Lim’s groundbreaking online indiezine called Neoground. (Now, Alex is a rock impresario of sorts with his Sonic Boom events & music outfit.) The highlight of those days was the San Miguel 1st Cebu Music Awards in 2000, wherein the “best and brightest” local bands competed with one another for a slew of awards.

Among the big winners were our band (to this day, some people still speculate that my spangled outfits, exposed bellybutton and Corr-wannabe violin skills made us win, LOL), SATI, and Franco. The kind people at SMB (via Rey Dacalos, now a popular events photographer in Cebu) saw our promise and organized a little Visayan tour for our ‘gara-on’ (if you’re Bisaya, you’ll get it) triumvirate. We played in Cebu, Bohol and Dumaguete, and though the tour was short-lived, our love for the music wasn’t – and to this day, we PLAY.

Count on me to go off-tangent! ( Hmmm, it’s fun to reminisce about those times, I just might share an embarrassing post devoted to that whole experience in the future.) Now, back to SATI.

Drat, I’m out of time.

I’ll share with you some cool links instead while I practice my ailing Wordpress skillz:

There is a Sheila and The Insects Facebook page for fans to add, and the Sheila and the Insects official blog for updates and insights from the band members themselves.

Today, the boys were featured in Philippine Daily Inquirer’s SUPER Section – here’s SATI in a nutshell.

And for an SATI earful, check out their Last.fm page, or if you’re more old-skool, their MySpace.

For your convenience, I’m posting their videos here too:

Click here to view the embedded video.
The maudlin “Maude”, from the movie soundtrack of Threesome.

Click here to view the embedded video.
“Your Comedy”, SATI circa 2001, which you might like if you’re into The Cure, The Church, or the Psychedelic Furs.

The boys from SATI guested on DJ Hilary’s Jam 88.3 show this morning, and they offered free hugs to audience members who will get in their galoshes just to catch this very special gig.

Thanks to USTREAM, we saw DJ Hilary grilling the boys online. Look at Orven's head during a shining moment.

SATI's latest incarnation includes Ian Zafra (guitars), Jerros Dolino (drums), Orven Enoveso (vocals/guitars), and Wesley Chiongbian (bass)

SHEILA AND THE INSECTS LIVE IN MANILA was made possible by Cafe Saguijo, Splintr.Com, Inquirer Super!, Jam 88.3, Spot.ph, Isla Musika Rehearsal Studios, Carlos Celdran Tours, and JT Manukan.

So, see you guys later? You betcha!

SATI-sfied,

KT

FOLK YOU BABY ONE MORE TIME! (No allusions to Britney.)

FOLK U BABY ONE MORE TIME
Singer-Songwriter Shindig
To RSVP, click here.

Featuring
FANDO & LIS
KATE TORRALBA
OUTERHOPE
HANNAH & GABI
SWISSY
TAO AVES
ENRIQUE DE DIOS
VICTOR ASUNCION (Indios)
MANUEL NICOLAS ALVERO (Ang Bandang Shirley)
ALDUS SANTOS (The Purplechickens)
THE BASKING SHARKS

PENGUIN GALLERY
9815 Kamagong St., San Antonio Village
Makati, Philippines

July 29, Thursday
8pm – 1am
(My set is at elevenish guys, hope you can swing by!)

I’m curious to see Penguin’s new home as well. Originally located near Remedios Circle in Malate, its former incarnation was a favorite bohemian haunt where I got to perform a few times as well. They always say nothing beats the original, but hey, such is life – everything evolves. Here’s a map of the new Penguin so you don’t get lost!

And I may just swing by the gala opening of Manilart 10 before the gig. And why not? It’s “the second international art fair to be hosted in the Philippines, featuring leading art galleries in the country and those of the Asian region.”

Manilart10 at Hall 4 of SMX Convention Center open to the public from July 30-Aug 1, 2010

For the gala they’ll have a killer lineup to entertain the VIP guests in terms of art, music, and cuisine. I hear Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde & Ballet Manila, Grace Nono & the Tao Music Group, and badass DJ Christina Badkiss are performing. And Chef Stephanie Zubiri of Modern Epicurean Kitchen created a special menu for the night!

Perhaps, I’ll be seeing you later.

Looking for an outfit,

KT

I’d never seen a rainbow from that vantage point, but it was too pretty Like it was spilling from the airplane wing, disappearing into the sea.

Unfortunately I’m no Quick Draw McGraw, and my attempt to grab my camera in time was futile. But my eyes didn’t miss the moment, at least!

I will, however, repost someone else’s unforgettable rainbow experience in lieu of that. If you haven’t seen this yet, here’s the Double Rainbow Youtube vid that caused a viral sensation this week (via HuffPost):

Obviously on the Net, such ‘phenomenal’ vids inspire many spin-offs and spoofs, as featured in the CBS interview with Double Rainbow Man himself, Paul Vasquez (via CBSnews.com):

My favorite take on the whole shebang, however, is james Urbaniak’s Double Rainbow Connection remix featuring Kermit the Frog! (via HuffPost):

How Mashing Up Double Rainbow Guy and Kermit the Frog’s Rainbow Connection Sounds Like

Now I know what it’s like to be ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’, literally. I’ll leave you with this, my late grandpa’s favorite, favorite song. We miss you, Daddy Lou!

Click here to view the embedded video.

(It was just my grandpa’s second death anniversary a few days ago. I pulled a Judy Garland and played this at his funeral.)

Sundazed,

KT

All my recent profile pics have been gig posters! (What?!? My vanity disappeared?!?) I’ve been gigging a whole lot lately as a part of prepping for my Long Overdue album – my producer Malek Lopez has been encouraging me to polish the songs by playing them live at gigs more often. (I’ve a huge backlog of gig pics to post here on What KT Did, that reminds me. LOL.)

Thanks to the Photo Booth app on my Macbook Pro (’Mackel Jaxxon!’), I got myself a new FB profile pic, LOL:

KT Seven Years Ago versus Today!

My friend Christie Tan who just visited from New York commented, “Life imitates art” – quite apt, right?

The portrait behind me is one of my all-time faves, taken seven years ago by dear Paolo Pineda for the Preview Best-Dressed Issue that year (my silly mug made the cover!).

We had the shoot at my old favorite but now defunct haunt, Sanctum Unmasct in Intramuros, where I had among my early Manila gigs and made among my good, good Manila friends. I loved that place so much. A lot of wonderful artists blossomed and were discovered there, another vibrant tale to tell.

I remember Butch Coo did the hair and makeup, and it came out great but my friend Sharon Atillo, now of I Love You store fame, can attest to how I came home crying that day. I freaked out, worried about my funky ‘do for the cover shoot, which I had never tried before. (I’ve since become more adventurous when it comes to hairstyles thanks to Hairworks Salon, LOL!)

Stylebible’s Isha (who is funnily, editrix to this delinquent blogger) was my sittings editor then – and now looking at the shots, it came out beautifully! I’m getting sentimental as I unearth these old photos! I wonder where my copy of that issue is? That was a major milestone for me! Thanks to Pauline Suaco-Juan & the rest of the Preview team then for that unforgettable opportunity!

One of my fave portraits by Paolo Pineda. I helped art direct this one! I really wanted the 'Babae' painting by Dranreb Belleza in the image, so I suggested that I cover the, er, 'sensitive' part with my head. Thanks to 4 phonebooks from the Sanctum staff, I became tall enough to make it work! Image courtesy of Preview Magazine

Against Sanctum's rainbow-hued windows. I reused this skirt again recently - it still works! Image courtesy of Preview Magazine.

In an M:Phosis top, a KT mini (I still fit into it, can you imagine?), and my fave Sergio Rossis then. Image courtesy of Preview Magazine.

I forget where I got the top, but the belt was a hand-me-down from my mom, and the jeans I had custom-tailored in Chatuchak Market in Bangkok. The shoes are Casadei, i think. I was 20 lbs. lighter here! Arrggghh. Image courtesy of Preview Magazine.

It looks like some things never change. What do you think?

Intermittently yours,

KT

I play a special extended set tonight at Cafe Alfonso (Mezzanine, LPL Center (across Makati Sports Club), L.P. Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati). The gig is uncannily dubbed “The Long Set”, presented by Soniclogo.TV.

Nearly 3 hours of KT Music!

My usual sets at gigs are usually 30-45 minutes, but this time I’m playing for almost three hours! It’s marathon musician time – I wonder how I’ll do since I’ve been down with a fever and a cold the past week (good luck to me). It will be fun though, since I’ll be playing a mix of covers and my originals – and the audience gets to ‘vote’ for which songs they believe should make it on my Long Overdue album. (Which, BTW, is really what I’m calling it.)

I’ve also got a couple of cool surprise guests at the end of the evening to kick my skinny ass onstage. LOL.

I promise an unconventional Wednesday night for whoever is joining us later.

So looooong,

KT

Folk You Very Much Tonight at Cafe Saguijo!

It’s the second part of a series for singer-songwriters, the first one of which was at Green Papaya Art Projects, and I’m very honored to be part of the lineup!

*****

FOLK YOU VERY MUCH
Singer-Songwriter Shindig

featuring:
Roberto Nicolas
Enrique De Dios
John Torres
Hannah + Gabi
Johnoy Danao
Kate Torralba
Outerhope
Fando&Lis

June 4, Friday, 9pm

CAFE SAGUIJO
7612 Guijo St, San Antonio Vill., Makati

P150 w/ free drink

*****

Two of my current favorite acts are on the bill, which are: Benedicto brother-sister tandem Outerhope and Hannah+Gabi, which is the new solo project of Ciudad frontman Mikey Amistoso. His songs make me a little bit weepy but they are so pretty!

And I’ve yet to hear Fando&Lis, another brother-sister duo composed of Khavn & Ledh de la Cruz (such cool names, I bet their parents are cool). Khavn is a renowned filmmaker, poet and musician and I really admire his piano chops, so that’s worth checking out for sure. Another award-winning filmmaker, John Torres, is playing a set too! Dang, these multitalented people!

If you buy my stockings, or my clothes, perhaps it’s high time you patronize ANOTHER ONE OF MY PRODUCT LINES (LOL) which is in the tune department Warning: It ain’t as colorful as you expect! In fact, I am wearing black tonight!

Hope to see you!

Lalalalala <3,

KT

First What KT Wore Upload on Twitter in 55 Days - FIrst What KT Did Blog Post in 63 Days

What KT Wore:

Jumpsuit: vintage KT circa 2004
Belt (hidden): I Love You Store
Cocktail Ring: Joyce Makitalo
Cupcake: Sonja’s
Hair & Makeup: Edgar Dominguez and the Hairworks Team (Hairworks Salon, G/F BSA Tower, Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati 888-4819)

How was Philippine Fashion Week? How’s life? How are YOU?

<3,

KT

p.s. Don’t forget to head over to Mag:Net High Street’s Farewell Party / LAST Rockeoke Gig TONIGHT (not tomorrow night as previously announced) – sorry, Quark and Carlo, for the jejemonic poster edit - I don’t do Photoshop!