NONCHALANT

After a long and tiring day, most of us just need the comfort of our bed, or good food. Some of us rely on the entertainment brought to us by TV shows or watching a movie. But sometimes it’s hard for us to fit that to our schedule because we’re either too busy at work, and running errands. 

Good thing Smart Prepaid is launching a new product called Video Prime.

#SmartVideoPrime lets you enjoy a massive amount of content from iWantTV, or iflix that comes with free subscription and big data for streaming all-in-one.

Video Prime gives you the option to choose free subscription to either iWantTV, or iflix big data for streaming. PLUS! it’s very affordable, so convenient and with all the shows and series you can choose from you can definitely take some time off and BINGEWATCH ALL THE WAY with #SmartVideoPrime!

THE GOLDEN MILE (The Landmark 50th Issue) 

Photographed by Jarnne Brian Escalona

I can still recall every tiny detail from the first time I scheduled a quick photoshoot for my online blogazine, Tumblr Mag PH (now RadarPH). It was November 2012. I was a fresh grad, and just started working as a multimedia assistant. It was an issue that celebrates the meaning of being a woman. A tribute to all ladies of Tumblr Philippines who are truly inspiring, successful, and are known for their chosen field of expertise. I asked a good friend of mine , Riji Anne Mae Canog, beauty queen, and a member of the UPLB Street Jazz Dance Company, to grace the cover of this very special issue. My friends and I have always wanted her join the prestigious Binibining Pilipinas, and Asia’s Next Top Model.

Riji is a chameleon. She can sport different looks and give life to it with her captivating aura. For our shoot, I just asked her to look androgynous, and rugged. Out setting, a not-so-public venue…inside a shopping mall. The biggest one in Calamba, Laguna. She was so into the idea of walking around the mall, posing, turning heads, catching attention, making a scene, while I take pictures. Riji don’t get ready, she stay ready. I was excited, at the same time giddy that it all happened one fine evening, right after my work shift, at the busiest place in Calamba. I got all the shots that I need for the issue in less than an hour. It was the very first time I met Riji.

On my way home, I was browsing all the photos from the shoot, and I think to myself, I would like to keep doing this. I will keep doing this. The thrill of making a scene in a crowd, the fun that it brings me getting to know these amazing artists, and bloggers whom I just get to interact with online and learn from them… these are just some of the things that pushed me to take a break at work, and find time to schedule an actual photo shoot for this online project. To meet different young visionaries, talents, people of the arts, and personally take a glimpse of who they really are.

Ushering our landmark 50th issue, is a resident Tumblr blogger, and quite a storyteller, Jerard Eusebio (http://jerardeusebio.tumblr.com/). In this issue, we’ll give you a view of the different dimensions of this pretty-faced “moreno” from Laguna, and why he is our pick to represent an issue that celebrates freedom and transformation.

I would like to thank our guest editor for this issue, social media maven, Melvin Tordecilla (http://beben-eleben.tumblr.com/) and our associate editor, Raphael Balbaboco (http://paelbalbaboco.tumblr.com/) for crafting this collectible of an issue with me. Also, working for the very first time on a RadarPH cover and editorial, our photographer Jarnne Brian Escalona (http://jjarnofhearts.tumblr.com/).

Deeper than the Dark (photographed by Jasfher Callejo)

Follow Jasfher and check out more of his beautiful photographs: http://chentryx.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/jasfher/

NEW NORMAL 

Born as Abraham Joseph Nuevas, AJ is a 22-year old Bachelor of Science in Entertainment and Multimedia Computing student at the University of the East- Manila. I just came across one of his beautiful artworks online and tried to stalk the artist behind it. Soon i realized, I knew I’ve seen this guy before. True enough, after asking him, I first saw him during last year’s Graphika Manila at the SMX Convention Center. He was this cool-looking guy in a very interesting outfit which at first i thought was a Korean. Aside from making digital portraits of his favorite characters and personalities, AJ loves to read.

“I always make sure that I have a book with me everytime I go out. I’m also into writing ever since high school. I think it’s important to have something that you can use to channel what you feel. I’ve written a few stuff that you can read here: https://ajnuevasart.wordpress.com. I also like watching spoken word poetry videos. There’s something about listening to people reciting poems that I like. I actually wrote two slam poems that I performed in two separate events.”

In this exclusive interview, AJ talks about doodling, his close encounter with LA Aguinaldo, his love for the arts, and obsession with matcha.

Take us to AJ’s younger years. When you were a child, what did you dream you’d become?

I remember telling my mom that I want to become a scientist when I grow up. I used to watch a lot of cartoons when I was young. My favorite characters were Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory and Jimmy Neutron. I think it’s either television has influenced me at a very young age or I’m that curious about a lot of things (like most kids).  

When did you discover your knack for the arts? For digital painting?

I remember doing arts as early as my elementary days. I would draw almost anything but mostly cartoon characters. I have this one sketchbook filled with Clow Cards sketches (yes, I’m a fan of Cardcaptor Sakura). But I got serious with arts when I was in my junior year in high school. I discover this thing called “doodling” in Tumblr. You just basically draw anything that comes into your mind and I got engrossed into it. My dad and my sister bought me Moleskine sketchbooks and I filled them with it.

           During my second year in college, we’re required to take computer graphics. Part of the syllabus is digital painting. We were asked by our professor to make one portrait that would serve as our final project. It was my first time making one during that time. Unlike my other projects, I didn’t feel pressured doing it. I didn’t think about the grade that I would get from it. I actually enjoyed doing the whole thing. So it all started there. I find myself doing more pieces after that.

How often do you go to your drawing board and work on an artwork?

I don’t have a specific schedule to follow. I guess whenever an idea pops up in my mind that’s the time I would do the conceptualization and start doing it.

What are your obsessions?

I’m sort of obsessed with anything that’s matcha flavored. From food to drinks down to dessert. I could eat two servings of matcha bingsu and I wouldn’t mind asking for another one. I’m quiet obsessed with eating nuts too. I would eat a lot especially when reviewing for exams because I guess it keeps my brain functioning (or not) . I also have this odd obsession over psycho-thriller themed books and movies. That’s why the story that I wrote for our thesis film is about a detective with split personality disorder. There’s something about our minds that fascinate me. Our brain is powerful that it can do all sorts of things, whether good or bad. And the choices we make tell us who we are as a person (I know it got deep that quickly).

Artists you look up to and what is it with their art that inspires you?  

Two of them are Jeremy Geddes and Erik Jones. Jeremy’s works are so eerie and mysterious. He would always show astronauts, floating girls, building in ruins to name a few. Looking at it gives you this chill at your spine (well I guess for me.) I like it how he makes ruins and destruction still look beautiful. His art somehow teaches me that there’s always beauty in everything, it’s just a matter of how we perceive and see it. While Erik’s works are always a combination of colors and geometric shapes. I like it how he incorporates his painting with geometry and they complement each other well. They both inspire me to challenge myself to experiment, break boundaries and you know, do better art.

Out of all the artworks you’ve done, which one is your favorite/or probably the most special and why?

I actually have two. The first one is my painting of LA Aguinaldo which he noticed when I posted it on my Instagram. I had the chance to give it to him in person. He was such a nice guy and giving your art to someone who appreciates it is something I could say special for me. The second one is my painting of Darna that was exhibited at UP Manila. It was my first art exhibition that I joined in.

Future plans. Do you see yourself putting up an exhibit of your works? 

I just want to make more paintings. It’s one of the things that I really love doing. I also want to meet new people and make friends with people in the industry with the same interests. And yes, I want to join more art exhibits or set up one for myself in the future.

We see you also have a cool taste when it comes to fashion. I’m obsessed with the way you dress up. Yes I’m kind of stalking you haha. Tell us something about it. 

Thank you for that! I actually don’t know what I call this style of dressing up. It feels like a combination of street style and laid-back fashion. I also kind of adapting the 80’s fashion style (let’s admit it, they rock). But honestly, the way I put my clothes on varies depending on my mood. I can go from a fashionable school boy who lacks sleep to a tito from Manila wanting a shot of tequila. I actually want to break the norm that our society imposed about how men should style themselves. I guess we’re all free to wear anything we want as long as we feel comfortable and good about it.

3 Weird Facts we don’t know about you.

a. I haven’t tried drinking or even sip any kinds of liquor. It’s been like a promise that I made to myself when I was in high school.

b. I can burp really loud (like really loud). I sometimes think to myself maybe this is one of my few hidden talents.

CHRONICLES FROM GREAT HEIGHTS (an exclusive interview with Louie Danganan) 

Traveling has always been more than just a form of lifestyle and leisure. For some, it is a much-deserved escape from the concrete jungle they live in, or demanding life in the corporate world. For 26-year old Industrial Engineer graduate of Bulacan State University, Louie Danganan, traveling is his ticket to a braver version of himself. I’ve been friends with Louie since the golden years of Tumblr here in the Philippines. But in this exclusive interview, i discovered that he’s got a lot more dimensions in him that people need to know. His knack for landscape, street, & night sky photography, local backpacking, waterfall hikes. His love for photo blogging, reading novels, poetry, indie rock/ indie pop & pop rock music to name a few. 

We’ve known each other a few years back, when we were active on tumblr. When and how did you discover tumblr? 

*Digging into my memory* It was around 2007 or 2008 when I heard Tumblr from a friend and looked it up in curiosity. I have had a few blogs before I stick to the project blog I have today which I started in 2013.

I see you’re into traveling now. When did your knack for it started? 

My interest in traveling got piqued when I was sent for official business trips in 2011 to Visayas and Mindanao. Then further stoked by a 6-day hitchhike trip to Marinduque the following year, my first ferry ride. It was an epiphany to make the most out of my capable years. It is not for life that I am able and hale I thought then that then is the time to do something like it. Travels got frequent and more frequent and here I am still into it.

What is it with traveling you love the most? 

Traveling is many exciting things. That’s what I love about it. I am exposed to the world, and I’m consistently challenged to outdo myself. What I would not typically do in the comforts of home, I find doing when I travel like reaching out to people, listening to their stories and socializing. Another thing is discovery. It gives me sense of accomplishment when I learn about a places despite physical and mental effort it requires. Travel allows me too to creatively express my self through photography while I let loose of myself in beautiful, foreign places. 

How many places in and out of the country have you been to? Which among these places is the most unforgettable and why?

I don’t count. I’m after the experience as trite that may sound. For a fact, I haven’t been outside the country yet for reason that I personally endeavor to explore much of my native land first before I set out exploring other lands/ seas. I’m smitten by our islands, mountains and seas that I’ve dedicated my present blog for personally documenting how fascinating the Philippine archipelago is. And I take pride in doing it.***One remarkable experience I had to say was when I ventured out to do my first (unintended) solo travel to the southernmost tip island of Palawan called Balabac for five days in the summer of 2014. There I met a very good friend, listened to plenty of intriguing and in some occasions, unbelievable stories by my hosts ranging from his good young days of carefree, silly travels, to sea pirates and poachers in that area of Palawan, to crocodiles in local politics and literal crocs in Bugsuk Island, to extra terrestrials during the Marcos era.

Moments from that travel that are etched in my mind: Sailing the glass-like surface of the varying blue and green shades of the Sulu Sea; discovering a pink beach down south - Comiran Island; boat-racing with a pod of dolphins; riding a bogo, a local boat, across a stunning beach just to buy soda from a sari-sari store on the other side of the island; a simple supper of sweet, succulent crabs, fish and tomatoes while being greeted by a low hanging full moon, its yellow glimmer on the surface of the black sea; sleeping in a hut that stood by the white beach so fine, raw and vast it could equal two football fields; chased the sunset by doing nearly an hour of walk to the west side of the island through the inland woods and chased in return by the night on our way back to camp, only the patch of white sand and moonlight serving as guide; greeted by an unseen rustling in the loo in the middle of a pitch black night that turned out to be huge hermit crabs tramping on the floor.  

I could go on and on and on and it seems glamorous in retrospect. But in fact, it was very simple and spontaneous, at times, unsafe even. Those days when I was stripped off of any personal material preoccupation, my appreciation was higher, and it made the experience truly unforgettable. What is your key takeaway in every travel you have? Every learning experience, the frames that I take home, and the confidence I gain when on the road. I must admit I always get anxious whenever I set out to travel but I believe that taking that fearful leap is how I become courageous.  

5 most essential things you need when traveling. (Aside from passport of course)

As I have not ventured out of the country yet, passport did not make it to the list ((: On top of money and phone, my 5 most essentials are:5. sarong (my all around cloth, blanket, towel, cover, etc.)4. sunscreen3. wipes2. headwear - bandanna or cap1. dlsr & gorillapod.

Your dream destination.

Locally, Babuyan Group of Islands . Internationally, Lofoten Islands, Norway

Which do you enjoy better, traveling alone or traveling with friends? :)

Traveling with one to a few friends.

By the way, what camera are you using?

I lug around a Nikon DSLR D5200 with 18-55mm kit lens. While equipment matters for performance and image quality, I believe the taker’s skills, perspective and motives are most significant in photography.

UNSPOKEN DEFINITES (Maikhoben Franco’s La Union detour)

ULTRALIGHT BEAM (Visions of Hong Kong by Faye Alcoriza)

ONCE  UPON A TIME IN CHINA (Photographed by Dave Gabriel) 

LOOKING EXTRA FLY 

(an exclusive interview with one of today’s well-loved menswear style bloggers, Joseph Ligero)

Style blogging for our local bloggers is never a form of competition where the number of followers dictates the worth and caliber of a blogger. Everything is purely based on one’s love for fashion, their respective sense of style, confidence, and the right attitude. Their population grows, and now, there is no definite age bracket for one to enter the streets of style blogging.

For the 20-year-old Manila-based style blogger Joseph Ligero, it is everyone’s game. The only tool that’s being handed to you, are your senses, and your passion. As he describes his own website, “(it) aims to inspire my readers with regards to increasing their confidence whether it may be in fashion or lifestyle through the numerous posts I share. At first, I was really reserved on the clothes I wear especially the ones I wear whenever I’m in public but later on I finally realized that I would not be able to achieve anything (that involves fashion) if I will keep being my old shy self.”

You’ve seen him first on our Millenial Issue back in January 2016 featuring the magnificent works of photographer, Karlo Torio. In this exclusive interview, Joseph talks about his style mantra, Mr. West, and the best thing about being a style demigod in his own right.

You’re one of the most active mens style blogger right now. How do you manage to keep the ball rolling? How often do you keep your portfolio up to date? Do you have a team with you whenever you work on shoots?

Actually what I really do is — whenever I have nothing to do (which is most of the time when I am not too busy with school work), I try on different clothes I have on my closet and when I come up with something interesting to wear, I immediately schedule a shoot and post it on my blog. I don’t have a specific schedule on when I should post something on my blog. I try not to pressure myself on giving myself a deadline (except for client posts, of course) since it ruins with the whole “creative process” I have in my mind. My “team” comprises of me and my girlfriend. She shoots my outfit posts most of the time whenever I don’t have any photographers or friends who ask me to have a shoot with them.

When did your knack for style blogging started?

My knack for dressing up started when I was in high school, but the blogging began when I was already in college. I discovered David Guison and Mikyle Quizon and realized that I also want to share my style through the use of a blog, and so I did.

How do you define your personal style? And what makes it different from the rest of the style bloggers out there?

Basically, my style revolves around the music I listen to — trap and hip hop. While some see beauty in the mundane, I see beauty in violence, destruction, and darkness which is also my source of inspiration in my personal style. What differentiates me from most style bloggers today in the country is that I make it a point to push myself to think outside the box and explore new styles and not just stick to what the society accepts.

What’s the best thing about style blogging? While most people would say that the perks of getting new clothes is the best thing, to me it’s the appreciation I get from my readers. The mere tweet or comment I get saying, “Kuya, ang ganda ng suot mo” or “Kuya, ang galing mo po manamit” really pushes me to do more and inspire more people.

3 basic needs/must-haves of a modern style-conscious man.

Clean white shirt. Skinny fit jeans. White sneakers.

Who are your style icons? Who inspires your way of life, be it in fashion, attitude, and personality?

Kanye West. He has inspired so many people like me to be a better person. Through his music, he has inspired me to fall the problems I have encountered and will encounter in the near future. He also made me believe in all my capabilities.

“We’re not always in the position that we want to be at. We’re constantly growing. We’re constantly making mistakes. We’re constantly trying to express ourselves and actualize our dreams.” — Kanye West

Your take on “normcore” fashion trend. What is your opinion on the gender-breaking rise of unisex clothing?

In my opinion, people nowadays associate themselves more with a certain practicality than with unreasonable self-expression. People need to find their own path towards originality.

Sometimes people are unable to keep in mind that they can wear whatever they like. Sometimes it might make them look silly, sometimes it might make them look great, but as long as they don’t go around killing people or whatnot, it really isn’t anybody’s business. Let people wear what they want!

What is your style mantra? And if you are to give an advice to all young bloggers out there still trying to figure out their style status and niche, what would it be?

Just do your thing and wear what you want ;)

5 random things we don’t know about you.

(1) I try to portray a bad boy image, but in reality I have a pillow that I can’t sleep without. I bring it during out of town vacations and whatnot. (2) I am a closet Belieber. Been a fan since One Time. (3) I may find beauty in destruction, but I find it annoying whenever my things are cluttered. I know. It’s weird. (4) I enjoy it whenever people think I’m gay. I don’t know why, but I’m not gay though. (5) I may look “fierce” on most of my photos, but I’m really a crybaby.

CHECK OUT MORE OF JOSEPH’S STREET STYLE LOOKS  AT: http://josephligero.com

COMING IN BETWEEN ISSUE 49

Before 2016 started, I told myself I will travel and see new places. (Sort of) true to my words, 2016 led me back to the warm roads of Benguet (Baguio) last January and set foot on the fine sands and clear waters of Camarines Norte (Calaguas Island) last May. Travelling has always been one of the many things I want to do in life. And I guess, it is everyone’s too.

Now that 2016 is about to end (eight days left), ride with us and welcome yourself to the breaks and pauses of one AJ Nuevas. This young and talented digital artist had created digital paintings of LA Aguinaldo, Newt Scamander, that oppa from Train to Busan, and many more. We will discover AJ’s journey to arts and self-discovery (and maybe ask him about his adorable freckles).

Also, Joseph Ligero will show us his modern turn and take on menswear style blogging. Plus, know why Louie Danganan is the travel blogger you should be following right now.

Radar 2016’s TRAVELGRAM is also on its way with Raniel Hernandez’s dreamy Iceland expedition • Dave Gabriel’s China walks and ways • Israel Lumanglas in the heat and dust of Doha • Faye Alcoriza’s temple-to-temple Cambodia trip • Jarnne Escalona’s trip up north in Sagada • and Maikho Franco’s surfin’ La Union.

Our Rebels list is also back. This time, December 2012 coverboy Dexter Torres and myself will list down 50 bloggers who matter (in reference to our upcoming 50th issue) in our Radar Rebels 2017. (Here’s TMPH Rebels.)

We cannot thank you enough for your usual support. And as we look forward to that road towards Issue 50, we promise to stay true to our words: highlight the rebels of modern culture.

In behalf of Dexter Balita, we all wish you a joyous Yule season and a beautiful beginning this 2017. Explore the world and enjoy this issue!

Your assoc ed, Pael Balbaboco