The Magic Continues for a New Generation of Potter Fans (and the old ones are happy too!)

After seven books and eight movies, you'd think that the world is content with how Harry Potter ended but with the release of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" and of course "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them" (which just grossed P126.42 M in four days!) we know that Muggles just can't get enough of J.K. Rowling's wizarding world. 

Last Halloween I saw a number of folks dressed up as characters from Harry Potter, from kids who were not even born yet when the books came out. (Their parents probably put them up to it but I'm sure that they've come to love the movies as well) to adults who wanted to bring the magic to the work place. Indeed the magic which J.K. Rowling has created for what now seems like generations is surely far from over. 

The cuties clad in Gryffindor colors? Daughters of my former English (and Economics) High School teacher and I can say that Miss Gaye has those #ParentingGoals down right! 

We just saw "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" last week (movie review here) and I tell you it was indeed a reminiscent trip down memory lane as the movie 'read' so much like a "Harry Potter" book. It's on its second week in cinemas now! Make sure to see it!   

The lovely folks from Sky Cable's Digital Marketing went on a "Harry Potter" theme for their Halloween Party. Complete with "Undesirable No.1" posters! 

This little cutie is about to have his first birthday and guess what the theme is? :D

So no, I don't think we have seen the last of that Potter magic and if "Fantastic Beasts" were any indication I think we're still on for more! And as a Potter head I couldn't be happier. 

Indeed, Rowling has helped redefine literature and children's literature as we know it. Now, Harry Potter is a discussion which both adults and children can enjoy. 

Thank you to Miss Gaye and Chie for sharing your photos! 

As if we needed more evidence of Potter love, there is a Harry Potter themed cafe along Maginhawa Street, Nook Cafe. we've been meaning to visit but haven't yet, one of these days for sure! 

Building Worlds with David Hontiveros: A feature on the PhilippineDaily Inquirer

The blog has new purpose and that is to give a more pronounced presence for my award winning Uncle on social media (I'm his Social Media pimp so to speak- Social Media Manager is a better way of putting it also :p)

I mentioned on a recent post that my uncle - Author, writer and comic book writer - David Hontiveros will be featured on this Sunday's Philippine Daily Inquirer Sunday Magazine, I picked up a copy of the newspaper this morning and unfortunately the feature wasn't there. I've been informed that there was a delay in the printing and that it would be available on the November 9 edition but no need to be sad since there is already a digital copy of the article available!

(Yehey!) I would recommend that you still get the physical copy though - I'm old fashioned that way (still prefer physical copies of albums over the digital downloads). 

Many thanks to Ruel S. Vera for the feature- there were a lot of things that I didn't know - that my grandmother read horror stories and that my grandparents took my then 8 year old uncle to watch "The Omen" which was rated R back in 1976. Were my grandparents cool or what?! 

You can read the feature here: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/176022/building-worlds-with-david-hontiveros

Photos from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

Digital Photographer Philippines 7th Anniversary

With fellow shutterbug Pogs Francisco 

While Paul wasn't really sure on what to blog about during the Digital Photographer Philippine's 7th Anniversary since he was not really able to take advantage of the whole event because we had to rush to Marikina in the afternoon to cover a car show, I will do my best to write down a few thoughts on the event, even if this niche is entirely his. 

I think what attracted us to attend the event or to at least even check it out was that it was a whole day jam packed with photography related activities. There would be booths, displays and lectures from admired photographers and the best thing about it? Everything was for FREE!!! 

While 'free everything' was a phrase that would certainly attract the hundreds upon thousands of photographers, amateur, hobbyist and professionals alike. It was really a good gathering of people who share the same passion for photography.  It was also a good place to have gear envy. Yup! 'Gear Envy' is a thing ladies and gentlemen and my husband has it. Paul showed me once a hilarious article about how it is to date and to be with a Photographer and one of those is that they don't get 'other guy package envy' but they get 'gear envy' instead and being at the Digital Photographer Philippines 7th Anniversary block party was a sure way of getting overdosed with it. 

Aside from the mouth-watering displays you would also come across fellow shutterbugs who have the camera body or lens that you would just kill for but of course instead of being a green-eyed monster throughout the event you can just take it as a chance to learn from industry experts and from fellow enthusiasts. 

Digital Photographer Philippines is the country's leading photography magazine and together with Industry giants in the world of photography have organized this event and block party for all the enthusiasts out there and apparently there are a lot - given the huge turn out of shutterbugs during the event. 

There were long lines to be conquered, freebies to be acquired, knowledge to be learned and prizes to be won no matter how slim the chance. 

Models. Models. Models. Yup there were definitely a lot of those. 

Models and Photography go hand in hand and in a way what is beautiful (skin deep or otherwise) is always coupled with a camera clicking away. So yes, there were a lot of models walking around being followed and photographed in an almost papparazi like fashion but hey what do you expect right? This is a Photography event and there is such a thing as a 'wall of photographers'. 

Unity in Diversity

Back in college, Ica and I were members of the school publication organization.  This is one of many articles written by my wife back then.  I believe this was used an editorial piece.

Writer's Block

iCa Hontiveros(ica cheng)

Unity in Diversity

The world is becoming smaller and smaller each day.Travel is no longer an expedition to the unknown. Breaking news can bediscovered through the click of a mouse. There isn't much difference with theclothes of a girl in Tokyo, to a girl in New York, to a girl in London or to a Pinay Fashionista anymore.Seemingly, we are becoming one with the world. And with it we are loosing ouridentity.

One concept I learned from High school is 'Unity inDiversity'. With which comes into my mind a tapestry, woven with the finest andrichest colors. Each color has a unique identity different from the rest of thecolors. Each thread is unique and different. Yet when all these colors areinterwoven and intertwined with one another, they create a masterpiece. There isbeauty from their difference; so as there is wonder as they come together.

We are like these threads; each one is different,each one is unique. I believe that we should all learn to accept and embraceeach other's beauty. I did not use the word 'tolerate' because this connotes aforced acceptance only.

Of course, differences will always bring clashes andmisunderstandings. But always remember that once you say are better thansomeone else just because you cannot appreciate who they are and what they arelike, then you are no different from Adolf Hitler.

Hitler believed in a 'supreme race' –the Aryan race,the tall, blonde, blue-eyed Caucasian with a long pointed nose; so much so thatall other races were inferior and so much so that countless Jews were brutallykilled in concentration camps just because of Hitler's idea of a supreme race.

This is one of the oldest storied of mankind. Sometell of drastic fates that of the Africans who were treated like animals asthere were traded for slaves in Europe and in the New World.

Even in our own history, the Spanish looked down onthe Indios, on us Filipinos, while we Filipinos looked down on the Chinese. Inour own country, the mentality of Regionalism has prevented us from becomingone.

But the acceptance I am pertaining to goes beyondregion or nationality. It goes much deeper than that.

We are all like the obnoxious popular snob who wouldlook down on anyone who is weird or different. Why would we look down on peoplewho are different from us? Why must we ostracize anyone just because they don'tfit into the norms of popular culture?

Can you imagine if we were all the same? If we alldressed the same, if we all liked the same music, the same food, the sameleisure, the same hobby, what a boring life this would be!

We are all different and we can all offer differentthings. Each of us contributes to something new and unique. And this helps makethe tapestry even more beautiful and alive.

So think about the last time you looked down onsomeone just because he or she is different. You are just proving how shallowand close minded you are.  You are onlycontributing to bringing dullness in this world.

We should all work hard to make that tapestry come alive.We should appreciate each unique color. We must accept each and everyindividual. We must have an open heart and mind. We must learn to accept andappreciate each one for who they are. Only then will the tapestry come fullyalive. Only then will there be Unity and Diversity.

-Writer's Block

Editorial Page

Flambeau

July-August 2007