Morning with the Masters...

I wasn't feeling very well today. No, I've been feeling unwell since yesterday noontime.

Since the dry cough is still there, I decided to go see the doctor and get some medicine. It turns out that a lot of people have been feeling the same thing. When I reached the clinic, my queue number was 27. The doctor was attending to patient 10. I thought I'll step out first to get lunch and be back after an hour. When I got back at the clinic, I had to wait another hour before I finally got to see the doctor. Good thing I decided to stay while the other patients chose to head back to their offices and wait for a call/SMS from the clinic.

Anyway, my thoughts of a restful long weekend were shattered when I checked my calendar. It was a good thing because I didn't have one, but three(!!!) museum duties. Today was at the National Gallery. Tomorrow, I have a History Gallery and the BM exhibit.

It was too late to back out because it would be difficult to find a replacement.

After taking my meds this morning, I dragged myself to the museum. I thought that since my tour was really early (1030), there would be few people. To my (pleasant) surprise, the ticketing was crowded at 1020AM! I'm always happy to see a crowded museum. I hope it means that people are interested to see art and culture.

The group I led was from a church in the West. The group was about 30 or so people, mostly women and kids. I was happy to see the kids interested in learning more about the art pieces.

After the leading the group, I decided to stick around to check the Reframing Modernism exhibit and I also wanted to look for the Luna and Hidalgo works at the Southeast Asia gallery.

It was such a good decision. At the Reframing Modernism exhibit, there was a panel dedicated to Anita Magsaysay-Ho. I was soooo excited when I saw it. I kept taking photos.

Meanwhile, the Luna and Hidalgo pieces were in one of the grand rooms in the Southeast Asia gallery together with works of other great Southeast Asian artists. I was so mesmerized by the three pieces. I felt proud to be Filipino. I felt proud to be Southeast Asian.

I must definitely go back again. If Tipz were still here, I'm sure I would've been able to drag him to see the galleries. I have a feeling he would've enjoyed the Kandinsky and Affandi pieces at the Reframing Modernism exhibit.

Looking forward to James Jean print in a few weeks...

Some time last week, I received an email that James Jean was going to release a print some time this week.

I took note of the date and set a reminder on my phone. Yesterday and this morning, the alarm for the note went off.

Once I had proper access to a computer, I went online and checked the print that was for sale - Tiger III.

No doubt it was a James Jean. The print was hauntingly beautiful.

I debated for a short while whether I should get the print or not.

What helped me start clicking "Add to Cart" and processing the order were the following: 1.) It's a signed and numbered time-limited edition; 2.) Never to be re-printed; 3.) Who knows when James Jean will release a print again; 4.) The price, including shipping, was affordable considering it's a James Jean.

In less than 5 minutes, I placed an order for a James Jean print. I checked the site again just now and the sale has now been closed. I'm really glad that I decided to grab the opportunity to get my own James Jean print.

The sale was just for twenty-four hours. I don't know yet what the edition size will be. I'm crossing my fingers it won't be more than 100, or at the most, 250. Haha!

I first learned of the Taiwanese American artist when he collaborated with Prada a few years ago. Fully Booked invited the artist to Manila in 2009. I was grateful to have had an opportunity to meet the artist, have two books autographed and have a souvenir photo with him. Thankfully, I have a youngest brother who was willing to accompany his Kuya.

I remember that I was in awe of his prints that were on exhibit at Fully Booked. Who would've thought that I would one day have the opportunity to have my very own James Jean? Early birthday pressie. Haha!