A world of Sanso at Galerie Joaquin
You cannot miss Galerie Joaquin at The Podium. When we dropped by the gallery this week, the walls were hung with vivid canvases by Juvenal Sanso. His brilliant pictures of Brittany and his blooms are eye-catching, steeped in deep hues of blue and green and equally vibrant yellows and oranges. It’s not surprising that Sanso’s beautiful artworks are prized by many collectors. Wouldn’t you want to own one of his works, too?
Established names carried by the gallery include National Artists H.R. Ocampo, Jose Joya, and Arturo Luz, the late expressionist Onib Olmedo, Tam Austria, Mario Parial, and Lydia Velasco.
The gallery’s Melody Marquez says a number of up-and-coming artists have also attracted the eye of collectors. Edwin Tres Reyes has a series on shop houses that has evolved from a static, linear almost architectural style to one that is inhabited by people. Dominic Rubio is known for his images of colonial Philippines that are peopled with Ilustrados and indios with elongated necks. The style has caught the fancy of collectors so much so that the artist has been receiving commissions for portraits executed in this same style. On the other hand, Jovan Benito’s canvases poke fun at socialites, giving them playful wide-open eyes.
Whatever your interest in art, you are sure to find something to catch your fancy at Galerie Joaquin.
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Galerie Joaquin-Podium is at Unit B12-13, lower ground level, The Podium. For inquiries, call Melody A. Marquez or Rodel J. Jacintos at 634-7954.
A gift for every occasion at Humor Post
At Humor Post, every day is a special occasion. That’s why the store has a collection of anything you can possibly gift your special someone with to lift up his spirits. If you want something nice and soft to hug, it has a selection of cute, charming plush dolls in all sizes. (Of course, the bigger, the better.) Kids and teeners will just love its collection of colorful notebooks and diaries, pens, assorted school supplies, and unique name cardholders, as well as bag and cell phone charms to add much needed pizzazz to your look.
Its new line of items for 2008 includes an exclusive collection of Nici dolls. Choose from lovable crocodile, enchanting unicorn, fluffy giraffe, and cute sheep. Each mascot comes in a variety of products, from plush dolls to accessories and even pillows.
There is also the Marimaru line, which follows the adventures of a cat pretending to be a sheep. The mascot is in black and white, and she figures in a variety of products: plush doll, watch, notebook and other collectibles. You’ll definitely be bowled over by her disguises.
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Humor Post is at the second floor of The Podium. Call 631-8165 for inquiries.
Enhance your fortune at World of Feng Shui
Every time a new year rolls in, it’s time to take stock of what it holds for your luck. Those who are avid practitioners of feng shui read up on how the year will affect them, finding the weak points in their natal charts so that they can boost their destiny and reduce the ill effects of a bad star.
At World of Feng Shui, you can find a cure or a booster to shore up whatever aspect of your life needs to be enhanced in the coming year. At its branch at The Podium, store manager Peter and his staff are experts on finding the best charm to enhance your life. With the Year of the Rat commencing on Feb. 7, he says those who are born in the year of the rat, horse, rooster and goat will have a rough time this year, a good reason for them to invest in charms that will improve their fortune.
Although World of Feng Shui has regular customers who are knowledgeable in feng shui, a number of first-time enthusiasts do drop in with specific inquiries. Peter says he and his staff are glad to help them, advising them on whatever queries they might have. Isn’t that a wonderful way to start the new year?
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World of Feng Shui is at the ground floor of The Podium. For inquiries, call 914-7888 and 914-7112. Visit its website at www.wofs.com.
Music to get you in the mood at Astro Plus
Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be an error.” In many Filipino homes not an hour passes by that we don’t hear a hum of a melody or a complete tune. It may come out of the radio, from a mother who is earnestly lulling a baby to sleep, and even from your kid brother as he is doing his homework.
At Astro Plus, you can get almost any kind of music to fill your day. It has an extensive selection of CDs from OPM and foreign artists. Choose from the latest releases of Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, Natalie Imbruglia, Jennifer Lopez, Avril Lavigne and Barbra Streisand. And that’s just the list of female singers. The male acts include Justin Timberlake, Westlife, Andrea Bocelli, Ryan Dan, Akon, Boys II Men and the Eagles. Among Pinoy acts, there’s Richard Poon, Kris Aquino, Kyla, Nina, Christian Bautista, Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, 6CycleMind and Sharon Cuneta.
The sea of CDs before you can be confusing, especially if you’re looking for something new. Each week, Astro Plus posts its Top 10 best-selling CDs for the week. For the week from Dec. 31, 2007 to Jan. 6, Raymond Lauchengco’s album of Eighties hits played big band style topped the chart. That’s surely music to the ears of many music lovers.
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Astro Plus is at the fourth floor of The Podium.
The magic of Filipino artists at Art Circle Gallery
On any ordinary day, someone walks into Art Circle Gallery at the lower ground floor of The Podium to admire its collection of Philippine scenes. Its selection of artworks brims with countryside scenes, harvest scenes and fiestas that are rarely seen by city dwellers. Although the gallery does carry art pieces in a variety of styles, they all have a sense of Filipino-ness to them.
Art Circle art consultant Ritzmond Suriben says their collection of harvest scenes by Lito Barcelona are quite popular among balikbayans looking for something to remind them of home. The paintings of Vigan houses by Larry Memije also hark to times past.
The series of women by Jef Dizon that are set amid a jungle setting has evolved through the years, now using pastel and muted colors that are definitely eye-catching. It makes you ponder: Are these women barrio lasses out on a lark or nymphs out to do mischief on a wanderer lost in the forest?
The cheerful canvases of Manny Baldemor are staples, too. Their images of villages at work and fiestas speak of everything that Filipinos are known for.
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Art Circle Gallery is at Unit B1, lower ground floor, The Podium. For inquiries, call Ritzmond Suriben at 633-3659 and 634-3305.
A collector’s haven at Opera Fine Art Gallery
Who knows more about collecting art than art collectors themselves? That’s the reason behind Opera Fine Art Gallery, one of the newest art galleries at the lower ground floor of The Podium. Owned by an art collector, the gallery features art pieces that have been culled from his own personal collection, as well as artworks his experienced eye deems interesting to first-time and established collectors.
One of Opera’s main artists is Marcel Antonio. The gallery is readying a handful of Marcel’s bigger canvases for a forthcoming major show. It isn’t surprising to find his paintings are among Opera’s popular pieces. His canvases of clowns executing various circus routines bring cheer despite his somber palette of colors. On any day, you could drop by the gallery and marvel at his works.
Other major artists in Opera’s collection include the rare Nena Saguil, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Manny Garibay and Norma Belleza. Another popular artist is Ivan Acuña, whose abstractions are drenched in gold and a variety of colors for a vision of opulence.
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Opera Fine Art Gallery is at Unit B11, lower ground floor, The Podium. For inquiries, call 633-1291 and 0917-5321322.