October to February: There and back again.

PODD Christmas Party @ The Vudu Lounge

December wouldn’t be outdone with the PODD Christmas Party at the Vudu. The Kris Kringle exchange of gifts netted me a poker set, which was promptly used at a family home game two months down the line. Beer was flowing, albeit the two-drink stub we all got. One of our Estonian friends was quoted to have said, “This is the happiest Christmas I’ve ever had in my entire life! (sniff-sniff)” Yeah, yeah, always blame the Filipinos for your fun.

The party was a blast, complete with singing and holiday cheer. And while the food was a fiasco, everyone went home pretty satisfied, loaded down with gifts, and piss-drunk. Post-Christmas party, my wife, Joyce, and I spent some quiet romantic time to ourselves --- We dropped by Flame-It for some burgers. She commented on how good I looked; I complimented her on her taste of clothes. She blushed; and I thanked her for helping me pick out my wardrobe for the night. And we both remarked how Astrid and Peejay looked good together.

Penumbra: Next “Samal Christmas holiday and Poker de Pamilya”

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Luke Tornilla: Bringing home the bacon

In the wake of capturing the inaugural PODD Digital Art Contest bacon, PODD’s Mitch Tedor and Ian Zafra, caught up with Luke Tornilla to talk about his winning entry, digital art in general, and why his mom and dad should have a share of his winnings.

Ian and Mitch: I think your entry seems to tell a story. If you are to make a story out of it, can you tell us what happened before the action in the picture took place and what happens after?
Luke: Hmmm... that's a little hard but I'd like to believe that it happened during the Sinulog when everyone in Cebu is celebrating the mardi gras parade and Sto. Niño is just as glad and so He hovered above the heavens. If you can see, there's the Philippines below Him on the picture.

I&M: You used some of the names from Greek mythology. Is there a relation behind the Cebuano Sun God?
L: Well when I learned that Palmy Tudtud is one of the judges, I thought I should make an impressive work (laughs). So I tried to make up a little story about it (pointing on the description scribbled at the back of his artwork).

I&M: Can you tell us how you got the idea of the Cebuano Sun God?
L: It was first based on the PODD contest theme "Pigs On Parade: The Year of the Fiery Pig"... then everything else has something to do with Cebu. There's the Sto. Niño driving the kalesa, and the orange and crispy pigs inspired from the lechon (roasted pig). It's very Cebuano.

I&M: How many hours per day did you spend on making this art?
L: 1 week. An hour or two after classes and after watching TV.

I&M: How did you get interested in digital art?
L: I got interested with computer games since 4th grade and got my inspiration from there.

I&M: What's your favorite PC game?
L: Prince of Persia

I&M: You said you're currently taking up Management in UPV and it's a bit offbeat from what you usually do or at least what we know of you, why Management?
L: Originally, my direction was to take up either advertising in UPV or economics in UP Dilliman. The latter being my first choice but it turns out that UPV is actually in Iloilo, and not in Cebu. I thought it was in Cebu. But I was still excited and I said 'Yes! I'm gonna be in Iloilo!' But my parents was horrified of the thought that I'd be there so I took up a course that has something to do with economics instead.

Back in elementary, things just doesn't make sense - you wanna be an astronaut and then when you start dreaming towards it, you realize that, ‘Hey wait, there's easier money over there [with my course]’ - so I thought of business.

I&M: What’s your dream job?
L: That's a hard one (laughs). You've been asking me hard questions (laughs again).

I&M: What would you think of your future be like?
L: It will be cool if all things could just come conglomerated. I don't think I've changed that much since high school.

I&M: What's keeping you busy these days?
L: I was enrolled in 2004 and 2005 at the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) taking up computer graphics and video editing. After that I got an OJT in the same school for 2 and a half months. Now I'm busy with school - it's the finals so I'm studying for my exams.

I&M: Did you hear about PODD Corp before the contest?
L: No, I did not. But I do know now that the company does graphic designs, search engine optimization, and web designs. I think PODD is a small, fast, and cool company that can do anything. It's almost like hey-c'mon-give-it-to-us kinda thing.

I&M: Aside from digital art, what else do you do?
L: Photography. I love the last hiking trip me and my dad had (showing a couple of images from his deviant art profile).

I&M: How did you learn about PODD Corp's digital art contest then?
L: My dad buys and reads the newspaper. My mom read your ad and showed it to me and said that I should join.

I&M: How do you plan to spend your prize money?
L: I got some money saved from Christmas, then some from my birthday, and then the money from the contest. I'm gonna buy a PSP (Portable Playstation) with it.

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Ian Zafra
Musician, e-businessman, and writer are just a few of the coats this man wears. Apart from his marketing work with Philippine Offshore Development and Design Corporation, he’s in the thick of rejuvenating Midweek Sessions (which relaunches this Wednesday, 28 February 2007), a weekly pocket music event in the late 90s and early-2000s which became a seminal launchpad for many Cebuano rock bands.

Mitch Tedor
A online marketing specialist, nursing a growing love for digital art, Mitch is one of the youngest online marketing specialists at PODD Corp, and considers chocolate her passion, second to none.

October to February: There and back again.


Halloween, Bloody Halloween
My November’s big event was the PODD Corp Office Halloween party, where my fellows brought their DARKER colors to life.

Quite a few ladies of the faerie kind dropped by; a couple of ghouls sampled the buffet while Sponge Bob cavorted with an apparently dead rape victim --- Celeste swears that she was dead, before Sponge Bob gave it to her.

The Fright of the Night was the irresistible diva of deviousness, queen of all arachnids, the most venomous widowmaker, Erica!






The twist: I missed that one. Won't miss this year's now...


Penumbra: Next, “PODD Christmas Party @ The Vudu Lounge”

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October to February: There and back again.

I was remiss in my duties to this blog. In lieu of months of missed deadlines and poor excuses, here is a series of articles --- blurbs, more like it --- highlighting my mis-adventures from... "October to February, and back again."

"If a May-December Affair exists, why not a March-October?"

My beautiful wife, Joyce, and I exchanged matrimonial vows last March 25, 2006, in Maribago Bluewaters. It was a Born Again Christian rite, attended by most of our closest friends and family. Little did we know then that when her papa called and asked us to visit his family in Basilan so I could pay my respects to his side of the family, we’d be replaying it again, the Islamic way.

It was ceremonial, of course, but its significance was heartfelt. My wife would always tell me that, “A man not only marries his wife, but her entire family, as well.” I am happy --- and thoroughly relieved --- to have Joyce’s papa’s blessings on our marriage. The alternative would be, shall we say --- a very, very, very delicate situation we would all love to avoid.

Penumbra: Next, “Halloween, Bloody Halloween”

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