MOUNT RUSHMOST

It is now hard to comprehend the professional system and the regulations that seem to persist as to how and why Architecture is what it is. Say one Architect graduated, got his degree, passed the bar, took an oath, and practiced. And as he continues to do so and decides to pursue his or her career or path to be what he or she longed to be, reality sets in. Suddenly the noise became louder, the news became stranger, the preachers look devilish, the leaders look stupid, the kids looked undesirable, stares and streets and properties and food and garbage and weather. Now, of all the skills one has acquired after, be it on any other profession, one should decide from several options presented which path to focus on. The word that comes to mind is 'Specialization'. Are you good at this and that or everything other than that. Like climbing up the stairs to Mount Rushmost, you should just proceed.

SWEETPICK TO SPACESHIP AND BEYOND

A lot has just happened and continues to be so. Think about how many confusing websites one should grasp into forthwith. Blogs, posts and all written, published, and unpublished wide technical subjects. From "Sweetpick to Spacehip". There is no stopping until the heart is pomping. Right?

TRILLION PESO MAN

The idea that something  eventually happens that could change how things are put into motion, is one reason to be optimistic.  You'll never know.  The belief that someday the scenery would change and would bring forth the enlightening of everybody's minds. 

It'll start with the resource.  A surplus of resources, could take a form of a funding, reservation, manpower and management.  An abundance of something that has to be set free.  Like a spare change from everyone's pockets.  That could reach a very large amount.  An amount that could create a new town, city.  Say a Trillion pesos. A Trillion Peso resource that does not involve a bank.  Say a Trillion worth of goods and services.

Strange.  And the government intervenes...

PROJECTING A PROJECT - A VAGARY (PART I)

Less than a hundred square meter lot area.  A progressive type residential building.  Two storeys with roof deck.  On some place unfamiliar.  No guaranteed commission and no preliminary written or verbal agreement.  All talk from an architect friend.  More talk is necessary I guess.  More to discuss.  He's in haste.  He'll be leaving the country after around twenty four hours he says.  

The Registered Architect was reassuring.  He sent me the technical description for the lot.  And so it was drawn on CAD.  He says he can't open the files sent.  The lot was just drawn on PDF.  What else could he have been preoccupied with? He must have a lot of things on his mind.  A lot. I do too. Lots.  Different kinds of lots.

He had to take me there, to the site I guess.  There as I said, it was unfamiliar territory.  Buildings were closer to each other.  Closer than they could ever be.  Taking advantage of firewalls, using all consuming the property's extent.  Residential buildings or Commercial, I am not sure anymore.  Why? Why this small? 

Therewith upon simple inspection, the place was clearly abandoned or I'd say uninhabited.  I requested some site photos of the existing structure. We had to leave.  The client called him.  He told me it's good.  The client was concerned about the project's elevation.  He says it like there's something else better to do.   Like the present was consuming him.  Right, he was leaving tomorrow.  Yes he is.  I'm not sure what he's really thinking.

He says he gave my number to the client.  And so we left with his new vehicle.  A black pick-up truck.  (Toyota Hilux) And I thought I bought my mobile phone with me. His wife was at the shotgun seat, he was driving.  As usual, I'm the passenger.  He says we wont be able to meet his client.  And so we went for the mall.  They apparently left something there. Just to pick it up I guess and go somewhere else to eat or have lunch.  I told him it's fine.  He needed my services and at the moment I feel I need something to work with. 

But as I said earlier, the area was just a hundred square meters.  And there's an existing structure on it.  Another case of demolition.  And there goes the Demolition Permission.  Permit.  Firewalls on the right and left side as well as on the back.  He is into the project though he looks like it was something to discard.  To pass on to someone else.  It just happened to be me.  

There's really nothing to worry about.  At least at the moment, there isn't any for me. But wait.

FOURTEEN HENCE

Goorting faster bitter and muonted.  Is remording this debarcleing momenting grasslappering croun? The builded and the wurst meering unworthlessnessance of the wourldent. Jast at yrselfvness.  Maintenants arring acrossing the mourtains and volleyed.  The ungainsayable changeness of the fillings rundabout the feelings.

WALLED OUT WORLD (PART I)

Walls. The Famous Walls.  It represents the separation of two sides. The most perfect way to form divisions. It is as it is, and evidently is, a somewhat necessary building structural part or component for the regular Filipino residential community.

We call them firewalls, pader, fences, and bakod or bakuran.  We treat them as a declaration of the extent of our property.  Something that buffers us from the environment that isn't ours technically or legally.  The kind of thing that shields us from the outside environment's responsibility.  It gives us an illusion of seclusion or isolation.  The usual four corner lot, with landmarks (muhon) on each endpoint.  To claim ownership, property validation, and proof of wealth.  The lot.

So it is perhaps easy to point out which household have it hard and easy, whichever how you perceive them.  From the lowest bamboo fences,  to the highest, thickest walls and firewalls, it shows.  It shows the most secretive and the most open.  The walls reflect the household's if not the whole community's character.   It brings a message to the passer-by, its neighbors and its eventual visitors. 

(End of 1)

THE VACUATION

The Resolution - (The Overkill Project) Part 1

In a city wrecked with indifference, crab and colonial mentality,  flood by global warming, clogged sewers, garbage, slums, drug abuse, broken families, prostitution, juvenile, crime and unbalanced wealth, Filipino communities on all districts and barangays were transferred for a month at undisclosed obscure locations to live as equals.

The Vacuation, is a 30 day isolation of all local communities held annually was sanctioned by the local government to enforce and improve their way of living. It is also a way of mending and strengthen family ties.  Meddling with every neighboring towns in the city districts, every community has to leave their household to give way for every critical spot on every barangay to be inspected and evaluated.

Provided that these houses were handled with utmost care while everyone is away for The Vacuation, their private properties were kept safe as much as possible.  The Overkill Project will have to check the Villages, the Subdivisions, the Drainage, Plumbing and Water Supply, the Electrical and Power installations and other utilities. It does include washing and cleaning out every pavement, streets, alleyways, walls and improper structures built. As well as other improper growth of unwanted natural plants and trees.

It has been agreed upon by every leading constituents of the city to engage in such activity so as to bring solution to the unbearable devastation and unrest brought about by the community itself.  It has also been agreed upon that a host city will have to take care of the target city's population.  Every men, women and child as well as the pets will have to be taken care of.  The leading Architects, Planners, Psychologists and other Professionals will have to handle the temporary exile of the community for which they were only given a month to engage and execute the cleansing of the target city or community.

This is envisioned to help for the development and the clear thinking of every household, every citizen is to be accounted for and shall be guaranteed with their safe return after a month of vacation.  Every citizen of the city will have to vacate the premises.  They will have to leave unnecessary belongings behind.  Like their own houses, their cars, and other private property. Founded by great local thinker RH Hudyat Kulisap, and vehemently supported by every leading professional, government and non-government institutions, The Resolution promises to give  fellow citizens a fresh perspective on their lives.  "It will all just be like a cruise, a vacation to Neverland, and upon returning home will be a life of paradise."

The Resolution is funded by the Government, Medical and Business institutions to protect the citizens from further unrest, prevent disease, unwanted natural and artificial illnesses, improve physical and mental health.

(End of Part 1)

RESIRED

you know my reasons
the bed is gone
fed to the moon
black as none
calling me on

where is my
white

move my arms
to feel you
open my eyes
try see you


in yr hush tones I  will listen
I will try listen
if you're in trouble
I'll try

I can try to
I'll try to grab

don't know if you should know
the river
the rivers

it's in
my mind
my heart
my all
my life is over

I was told

GRASSHOPPERS AND WATERBOMBS

Can you remember the last time
You were starving

And there was no food to eat 

You’d just settle for a glass of water 

A bite from the leftover bread 

And waited for mother instead

Can you remember the last note you wrote

The words and pen afloat 

Can you remember the last time 

It felt good to be sick in bed

Can you remember the smell

Of unsharpened pencils and new books
Erasers and envelopes.

Fresh uniforms and scissors

Can you remember the last time 

You spoke your name 

Can you remember 

How it sounds the same

What has happened

What have I really learned 

Can you remember the last time 

You were so lonely

The sight of your mother’s face 

And the silence made you so happy

Can you remember school 

How it made you feel safe 

In groups or threatened 

By classmates and fast friends 

Can you remember the last time 

You sung so freely 

That nobody cared 

How you sounded

Can you remember the scent 

Of grass at the playing field  

Every after class 

Ran all over 

Swimming on the green
Waves of laughter

Can you remember the last time

You stood and waited for the bus to come

That takes you there

And away from home 

Can you remember how light it felt

To be young and sorry, so free and careless.

Anymore

Can't
?

SENATORS ABLAZE

Blaze up you senators and leaders you.  You congressmen and mayors you.  Presidents, kings, queens, and judges.  Fathers, mothers and children.  And all that breathe. Giving in to the tempting desire of mislove.   Your powers of persuasion, and your seats and status you keep.  Burning fire you instill deep inside your learned convictions.  Reality's nonsense reason.  The obsolete notion of the lesser evil.  Unending reforms, of laws and regulations.   That which you say is true, the thought you sprung forth the nation you claim to keep safe and serene.  Goes lamer and lamer everyday.  Politics creeping into obsoletion.  Forms of governments and empires and kingdoms.  Its Armageddon creeps in.  Of every government's playing field.  Of intrusions, control and prophets. Scientists and engineers numbing power. Of every poet's theft and activist's lies. Of advocacies and built-up games.  Of history's lessons and religion's collective.  Of goodwill and hatred among men.  Balanced chemical imbalances, economic and residual ups and downs. Of excuses and the guilty people's innocence.  Creatures.  

Insanity and Rapture. Think and the hungry.  Go Home. Spirits up to the sky.

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