• K N Y T A I •

During the height of the pandemic, amidst erratic government policies and rising food prices, I was commissioned to revamp the brand design of a family restaurant recently inherited by the younger generation.

Working on the logo went smoothly, but not so much for the menu. I had initially planned to do some food photography, but the cost of ingredients was prohibitive for all 20+ dishes. Eventually, we opted for food illustration instead.

Illustrating food, especially in Chinese cuisine, requires several layers, much like the approach to its ingredients and cooking. It took a while to finish each dish, but I enjoyed the process.

As the wise Cleaner from Toy Story 2 says: "You can't rush art!"

South Mandarin Restaurant is located at BF Homes, Parañaque City, Philippines.

Part 01 : The Cemeteries

Amidst the vibrant chaos of urban life in Manila, one can discover a solemn sanctuary that whispers tales of the past - the old cemeteries of Santa Cruz. As a district veiled in both melancholy and forgotten grace. Its old cemeteries, like missing chapters of a novel, exude a sense of neglect and abandonment.

In this corner of Santa Cruz, the once-pristine graves, now weathered and crumbling, bear witness to lives left untended and memories lost to time's relentless passage. Here, amidst the faded epitaphs and mossy stones, the echoes of forgotten souls whisper, the weight of unspoken stories hangs heavy in the air, yearning for the solace of remembrance.

Image above: Manila North Cemetery

Image below: Manila Chinese Cemetery

The old cemeteries of Santa Cruz are veritable archives of the human experience, where the past's timeless beauty reveals itself amidst gravestones and mausoleums. Here, Manila's history finds a poignant resting place, etched in the city's collective memory of life and death.

“For the forgotten dead, both heroes and nobles, Lacrimosa Santa Cruz, by their tombs she trembles.”

Part 02 : From “Congratulations” to “Condolence”

Santa Cruz, like a faithful companion throughout the journey from birth to death, whispers its sentiments through the language of flowers - a silent communication that speaks volumes.

In the northern expanse of this district, a somber path unfolds, lined with hospitals and medical establishments that gradually give way to the solemnity of cemeteries.

This slender district, resembling an aisle, gracefully escorts you along its hallow avenue, accompanying you until the very end, akin to a devoted guide on this transformative passage of life.

Part 03 : Fuente de Vida

At the southern part of Santa Cruz, where the bustling streets converge in a symphony of chaos and vitality, stands the Carriedo Fountain in Plaza Santa Cruz. Here, amidst the cacophony of hurried footsteps and blaring horns, a testament to vigor and life emerges, defying the somber ambiance that envelops the district's northern realms of cemeteries and hospitals.

The fountain becomes an audacious centerpiece, its cascading waters dance with fervor, a metaphorical rebellion against the relentless flow of time. Its grandeur is a stark contrast to the humble dwellings and makeshift stalls that populate the vibrant streets nearby, mirroring the chaotic rhythm of the surrounding urban theater.

Erik, or better known as, "The Phantom".

Ghost Month • 鬼月 (guǐ yuè) • 29 July - 26 August 2022

The seventh month of the Lunar Calendar in Taoism and Buddhist culture, which is considered to be a cautious month of the year. It is believed that the gates from the underworld are opened on the first day for the spirits to roam the earth where they seek food and entertainment. People pay respects for departed loved ones and acknowledge the presence of the wandering spirits with food offerings, prayers, and burning joss papers.For believers, major decisions from personal to business aspects are often delayed or avoided for this month and vigilance is maintained to prevent any unwanted encounters or circumstances. Or to simply put, staying clear from bad luck.

Ghost Festival • 中元節 (zhōng yuán jié) • 12 August 2022

The 15th day of Ghost Month, the festival, is the most important day. In the evening, people would feast and leave an empty chair around the table for the deceased in the family, treating them as if they are still living. Other South East Asian cultures even offer theater-style entertainment to the wandering ghosts as they believe that by pleasing spirits, they won’t be harassed. Here in the Philippines, visiting temples, praying, and food offerings is a simple gesture to acknowledge the dead and that they are not forgotten.

Read more about the Ghost Month with the following articles:

Learn 5 Chinese Words Related to Ghost Month & Taboos to Avoid

Hungry Ghost Festival

Casa Tribunal de Naturales San Nicolas, Manila

Another wishful thinking of adaptive-reuse on heritage houses! This time, re-imagined as a bike shop-café.

About two centuries ago, before locals settle disputes via TV/online shows for instant justice, a lonely structure squeezed between two high-rise buildings along Asuncion Street was the Casa Tribunal de Naturales. This used to be the courthouse that caters to the natives (Chinese and Mestizos) to settle cases and to detain the accussed that was led by a local gobernadorcillo, equivalent of today’s town mayor.

The first two rooms are lowered detention cells, possibly for each gender. A hallway leading an open patio at the back with a stock room and two restrooms. Second floor was the courtroom, the gobernadorcillo’s office, archive room, and an arms depot at the back. Over the roof are the air vent stacks.

Like many of the heritage houses in Manila, it remains abandoned and rotting in decay, which is at high risk of demolition for another souless rectangular building that caters a car-centric city. This is a call for heritage preservation and bike justice on roads for a pedestrian-friendly future in the city.

Let’s hope! Otherwise, just dream.

References:

• Kaladkarin Diaries

• Center for Filipino Architecture

• Three Centuries of Binondo Architecture 1594–1898: A Socio-Historical Perspectiveby Lorelei D. C De Viana

Been obsessing the 19th century noodle house, "Pansiteria de Macanista y Buen Gusto" since a personal encounter of the structure during the Binondo - San Nicolas tour back in summer of 2019.The establishment roughly translates as "Tasty Macanese Noodle House".

According to historical archives, the three-story commercial accessoria is owned by Don Serverino R. Alberto in 1880. The floor plan showcases the commercial divisions in its design by the Chinese-Filipino community. The former establishment was also mentioned in the 25th chapter of "El Filibusterismo", the second novel of Jose Rizal.

Re-imagined illustration above (for personal amusement) is a study of the first and second floor of what could have been a possible adaptive reuse of the building while retaining the panciteria brand and giving reverence of its past.

To know more about the pansiteria and the rest of the heritage sites, read more on this article.

A city is better experienced when traveling by a pair of feet or by a pair of wheels, while intimately reconnecting our roots free from the walls of a four-wheeled vehicle.