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2010.08.24
 09:25:51
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I try as much as possible to stay away from politics and just stick to being an artist but SWAT the hell happened? Yesterday evening I was working at home doing the usual design stuffs I do, when I had a buzz in MSN from Adam, my friend in Hong Kong. He asked me if I've seen the big new on the TV, I said "No, I am busy finishing deadlines for our client". However I was going to ignore him when suddenly he asked again in his typical Chinglish manner, "You know Philippine kill Hong Kong people la?". Sure enough this got my attention. So I went to Google, search, read about it and watch the news online. It was like watching scene from movie, the drama is there, tension is building up and then final conflict however as in all tragic story, it wasn't a happy ending. It was another bloodshed story involving our law enforcement, the Filipino Police. The election related Ampatuan killings wasn't even finished and yet another police brutality story. I was late watching it, and thus the shooting was already over. The bus was rattled with bullets, broken door, bloods everywhere and a deceased man hanging from the window. There were 9 Chinese from Hong Kong killed. Then I understood what Adam was saying "Filipino SWAT are stupid, do not know what to do". I can't agree more, there was nothing to proved otherwise, the incompetent of the law-enforcement was broadcast live around the world. What were they doing? How could this happen? Could have they done something else to prevent the killings? This was a horrifying site to watch, and even worst for the Chinese whose family was there. All my symphathy to the fallen victims of this atrocious event. Then came along my realization of what this will bring us OFWs. There's an ever increasing Diaspora of the Filipinos around the world. Estimated at about 10-15% of the entire population left home. This does not mean we do not like our country, we were just driven out to seek greener pasture. Because back at home green pasture are up in the hills, and on those hills are wolves... hungry wolves that claimed lands and spare small to the poverty stricken many. I know this sounds poetic or rather rhetorical but that's the dirty truth. If we want our families to enjoy even a fraction of comfort that rich Filipinos have, we have to seek it somewhere else, thus we go abroad sacrificing relationships and families. That's the irony of our lives and we live by it every day, far and away. As an overseas worker, the single most precious thing we carry is our passport, it gives us identity and belonging, on the other hand one screw up will echo on all of us. The killing that just happened will have great effect on us Filipinos around the world specially for us here in the red soil. We are not going to be viewed as an individual but as a group of untrustworthy people, and thus look upon surreptitiously. There's a guilt by association. It isn't fair but that's the reality. I've first hand experience in this and so does some of my friends. The big question is, what more would this bring us? I am pretty sure this will not pass without reciprocating blow on us OFWs. But I felt more for the thousands of domestic helpers who earn meager income in Hong Kong. They are already at the bottom of the Hong Kong society, how much more now that their citizen were killed on our soil? I know that behind the scene our politicians are scramming ways to apologize for this international incident, but more importantly, how would our government, the new administration would respond to this situation? Will they put the usual pawn... us regular Filipinos at stake in order to appease the Chinese? What is it? we do not know yet, but one thing is certain, in the coming few months this will have an adverse effects on us Filipinos. For one, it will definitely if not halt would bring abrupt low-down on tourism. This certainly scared many foreigners to travel in our archipelago, hell this scared me too. Secondly for the rest of us abroad, we will bear the consequence of international proportion.
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2010.07.15
03:15:22
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I have been in the design field for over 14 years and have gained an amount of knowledge and skills using programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightwave, Dreamweaver, etc. It has also been my habit to document my work so that I can go through it whenever I need to. This has been my practice ever since I started working. So when my younger brother went to college to study fine arts, I started to compile it and created small tutorials for him to learn to and read through my website. It actually grew and had to share it with the rest of the people. Here below are few of the published articles. I am still editing my old tutorials and will be posted later.
So read on....
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2010.07.13
04:21:19
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Today I just received message from Mam Bondad, the head of my former primary and high school alma-mater, St. Mary's Academy. It was a heart warming feeling that through the years people still remember the creative works that I have contributed to the school. I was really grateful for them for nurturing the raw talent I had when I was young. I remember them being very supportive of me. I use to go to art competition from various school in our region and there our teachers will go with us for support. I was fortunate to win almost all of the competition I joined except for one event that a senior from our school won the "Alay Lakad" (student's parade) which was sponsored by the town Mayor. Although I placed 2nd, the fact that we're from same school gives me a pride; of making me feel that the school is in fact not only about teaching and celebrating academics but also nurturing and appreciating arts. During the early 90's on my 2nd year in high school, I remember skipping math just so I can spend more time in the computer room to learn graphic programming with GWBASIC, it was my very first introduction to the media and I really fell in love with it. My fascination grew bigger when on college I saw a movie using purely computer... Toy Story. It was from my early introduction to crude and primitive computer graphics in the school that made me pursue computer aided designing. I had a bag full of memories from that school... it was sad leaving my the town and so is the school where I spent 10 years of my impressionable years. 2 year ago I had the time off from work and went back to Philippines. After almost 10 years I visited Baliuag for a few hours, time do really take its toll. The place really transformed. I barely recognize the street I walked to and from school when I was young. It's now paved with a lot of billboards, shops grazed along the street, it became busier, a bustling town with Church as the center and our Catholic school just behind it. After highs school though I never really know what I wanted to take up in College, but few of the teachers and classmates, knowing that I can draw encourages me to follow what I wanted and so I did. I took up fine arts and did what I can do best, to be creative and think out of the box. To Saint Mary's I salute you for the forbearing years of teaching us about life. 
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2010.07.06
18:39:10
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Realizing Imagination was the theme of my talk which I had fun presenting at the Pecha Kucha Nights last Sunday, 4th of July. I met a lot of creative people. One guy even rap his photography presentation, which is cool even though we don't understand it very well. Many interesting works by other artist, I specially liked the glass arts pictured on the photos below. Thanks to my friends who went there with me and supported this small event and WHO did not throw tomatoes even though I did not sing my way to this presentation like the other guy, hehe! I just hope that I inspire my fellow artist and photographer friends get to show their magnificent works on the 4th Volume of Pecha Kucha, Shenzhen, or any cities were this event is being held. Photos below from Pecha Kucha Nights at Idutang, Shenzhen. 
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2010.06.24
09:28:07
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Hello visitors! Kamusta! Since this is my very first article, I welcome you all back to the ART OF RODNY MELLA, my new redesigned website. As oppose to my old web design I wanted to make this new site personal so I removed all the Google ads. It just makes an unnecessary contrivances that redirect people from my contents. I am going to re-publish my old tutorial articles next week and perhaps with more time I could write few graphic design tutorials. I'll be posting some of my travel photos in the photography page. On Sunday, July the 4th I will be presenting my works on Pecha Kucha Nights to a crowd of artists, photographers and visitors at the LOFT in Nanshan, Shenzhen City. It's a fun creative atmosphere where we could mingle with creative minds, passionate people and get acquinted. I am really glad that events like these are held often because this moulds the culture of this young city. If you want to know about Pecha kucha nights and want to present your works visit their site at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/night/shenzhen/. For friends who wasn't able to attend, I'll be posting the talks and photos here later. Back on the site design, on the left panel as you can see I have MSN online/offline, which means that when i am online you can chat with me. There is also a handy bookmarking system to help you easily share with social networks and online bookmarking of ART OF RODNY MELLA. You can also leave your comments on the articles. Also now I have increased the amount of artworks in my gallery and will still be adding more. Finally, if you need my professional design service you can visit my business website www.dotrom.com. or my contact details in this site. PEACE!!!
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