#lrt2

© Paolo Dala

Against Time

My day job is piano player. For a couple of decades now I’ve made commercial albums and spread that litter across the world, over which I’ve tread time and again, putting the tour bus in reverse and backing over it repeatedly until some people can sing a few lines of my songs. Meanwhile I’ve carried my camera along the way, pausing to print my black-and-white images in my dark room, and more recently in a light room, littering my friends’ and family’s hallways, drawers, and closets with prints. I am inspired by photography of all kinds, even ones with colors in them. Spending time with you and your photos over this month is my idea of a good time and I’m honored to be your guest editor this month. Anyway. Enough about me...

Anachronism is a word of Greek origin, meaning “against time” (not to be confused with an acronym - an abbreviation turned into words, like NASA). As an example, let’s imagine a photo of a movie actor playing Napoleon, who’s texting between breaks in costume on his iPhone. That has classic anachronistic absurdity. An absurdity such as an anachronism can help illuminate who we’ve become, what has changed, and what has remained the same.

As a songwriter, I’m given to see art in terms of its story, and I think an anachronistic photo gives us a lot of potential for a story. The element of novelty might well be the point, or it might only be the tip of the emotional iceberg that draws us in. As far as I’m concerned, photography itself could be said to be “against time.” It might defy time, or distort time, but It doesn’t actually freeze it, because our perceptions are ever evolving and we won’t see a photo the same way as we age. Playing with time through an anachronism has potential to exaggerate how the viewer feels about change, in the world and in themselves. I’m looking forward to seeing what we come up with. I say make ‘em silly if you like. Make ‘em novel, sad, or even frightening. But let’s not forget the possibility that we might, even by accident, tell a story.

LRT2 2021 Fare Matrix

The Light Rail Transit Authority of the Philippines formally released the updated fare matrix for the LRT-2 in line with the opening of the east extension (Source): New LRT2 Fares for 2021 Here’s a text version of the new fare matrix (figures are in Pesos, ₱) for stored value ticket holders: Station Recto Legarda Pureza V. Mapa J. Ruiz Gilmore Betty…

Mabibilang ko sa aking kamay ilang beses ako nakasakay ng LRT 1. Para saakin, ito ang pinakamaayos at pinaka-inaalagaang linya sa systemang tren natin. Nakipagkita ako sa aking mga kaibigan sa Robinsons Manila. Paalala sa sarili. Bumaba sa United Nations, at huwag sa Pedro Gil. Pedro Gil kase ang itinakda ng Google Maps. Nakakalito rin dahil kapag tina-type ko ang “Robinsons Place Manila” sa Google Maps, ang lumalabas ay hindi yung mall, pero isang bus stop sa labas nito. Pareho lang naman ang distancia ng dalawang istasyon sa mall, pero mas maluwang ang daan mula sa United Nations. Dito ka rin dapat bumaba kung gusto mong bisitahin ang Museum of Ideas. Hindi ko pa ito nadadayuhan pero parang interesante ang konsepto. Museum of Ideas. Ano ba ang isang ideya? Anong kinaibahan nito sa sining, o sa teknolohiya, o sa kultura, o kahit sa kasaysayan?

Hindi namin ito dinayo ng aking mga kaibigan ngayong araw na ito. Nanood kami ng sine sa Robinsons Manila. Maaga pa noong natapos ang palabas, kaya nakasakay pa kami ng tren pauwi. Sabay kami patungong Roosevelt, pero nauna akong bumaba sa Doroteo Jose. 

Noong nakaraang taon, sumakay rin ako sa LRT 1 pauwi at nahabol ng grupo ko ang huling tren papuntang Santolan. Pinakahuling tren na iyon. Tumakbo pa kami para habulin. Mga studyante kami. Ayaw namin gumastos para sa taxi.

Tumatakbo rin ako ngayon. Naririnig ko na ang LRT1 sa taas, pumapasok sa istasyon. May nakaharang na nagaakbayan. Nag-excuse nalang ako at tuloy takbo. Pero nasakabila pala yung dumating na tren. Nakakainis. Pawis na pawis akong nakaabang sa plataporma.