Regina Building, Escolta Street

Almost forgot my Tuesday post, that’s how crazy this day was, what with massive rainstorms and traffic jams and buses falling off highways.  Good thing I have a ready sketch to put up!  Had a sketchcrawl with the Urban Sketchers Philippines group last Saturday, touring Escolta street in Manila and sketched the Regina building.  On Escolta:

At the far end of Escolta is one of the most beautiful streetscapes in the city with two breathtaking pre-World War II buildings facing each other: the Regina Building and the Perez-Samanillo. The former has a neo-Classical air akin to the government buildings in New Delhi. The latter is a masterpiece of Philippine Art Deco architecture. It was designed by Juan Luna’s son, Andres Luna de San Pedro. One can detect in this splendid edifice touches of Angkor and even Meso-American motifs.

Urban Sketching : Venice Piazza in McKinley Hill

This was actually done two weeks ago, when Aissa and I sought shelter from the heat in the Venice Piazza at Mckinley Hill.  We had a schedule brownout from 8:00am to 2:pm, so we had lunch at Pho Hoa and coffee at the Dunkin Donuts cafe.  I picked the cafe specifically because it gave me a good view of the statues on the facade of the main entrace to McKinley Hill, which looked pretty from afar.  Upon close inspection the statues were unimpressive, though that didn’t stop me from sketching them.

Urban Sketching : San Sebastian Cathedral

Went on a sketchwalk with the Urban Sketchers Philippine group last Saturday, which was a lot of fun.  I haven’t been to the San Sebastian Basilica in decades, so it was nice to explore that area.  The gothic extravagance of the cathedral was pretty daunting when I tried to sketch it from up close, so I moved outside of the cathedral to the 7-11 across the street to get this particular view.  The sketch on the left is of one of the 11 boy scouts that died in a tragic plane crash while on their way to a Boy Scout Jamboree in 1963.  Sadly, it wasn’t the boy scout that drew my attention, but the giant hand behind him.

Quiapo Church

Took a trip to Quiapo Church a few weeks ago, and did some sketching.  A pro tip for anyone wanting to sketch the church as well, the best location to do it is Mang Inasal or Jollibee.  Mang Inasal provides you with a full front view of the church, while Jollibee is to the left of the church, giving you a good view of the clock tower.  Initial sketches were made above, and the more composed sketch is below.  I actually didn’t finish the painted sketch on the spot, since I didn’t have time (plus my hands were getting tired) but made the outlines of it on the spot and completed the rest at home.

DS travel guide mockup

Street Art Manila : NIG CIS

Spotted along the ortigas/C5 overpass.

Street Art Manila : C5 Nuno

Spotted along C5. That Nuno gets fucking everywhere.

Street Art Manila : washed out Nuno

Spotted in a parking lot near UA&P. Colors were a bit washed out for some reason, probably because of poor lighting.  4th in a series of 4.

Street Art Manila : Danger D

Spotted in a parking lot near UA&P. 3rd in a series of 4.

Street Art Manila : Dronebit

Spotted in a parking lot near UA&P. 2nd in a series of 4.