Mga bagay Na-Enjoy noong Q2: The Touch Grass Edition
A new release from the maker of Smaller and Smaller Circles, an Old bookshop Closing, and a Gig from the Music arm of Fliptop
Books
On F.H. Batacan’s New book: Accidents Happen and Where the Bodies Are Buried
Her books should come with a Trigger Warning. She will grab your hidden insecurities by the throat and lay it out all in the story. That story where (SPOILER ALERT) an Ozempic-like drug was poured to the water supply and caused an Epidemic. Fat people shall inherit the earth. Genius. Yes I want to do what the two characters did in that story. That Poor AFAM who looks neglected but makes intelligent conversation and would trigger the most softhearted person into taking care of him. However he turns out to have done something very grave as told by his neglectful wife with a questionable history, so who would you believe? What if the confrontation did not happen, the Kind-Hearted person would be ignorant and be taken advantage of all along?? Wait, was that Incest that I read just now?
If during the Author Talkback, she wanted people to feel anger when reading her stories, I feel like a sort of acceptance that yes people can be dangerous and dark this way. I just pray that I never run into them. Her stories teach you a lot about reading people. And the way she writes about psyches then being revealed in the Talkback that she was formerly working within “the Intelligence Community.” It just got me saying, Ah, kaya pala, that’s why she can write these things.
Do I recommend it? Of course! If you can take the darkness that is.
Catching it Before it Closes: the F.Sionil Jose’s Solidaridad Bookshop in Ermita, Manila
It really is a shame that it took a viral news article that its being sold for me to visit this Bookshop, when I’m just a 15-minute jeepney ride away. It’s a treasure trove. All the rare Filipina books and foreign titles in this bookshop, tastefully curated. Seeing books that I already own and wanted to as part of their collection feels like an affirmation of my taste. I wanted to buy everything but settled for these two titles.
I’m amazed that Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil’s Woman, Enough reads like something you can read on Substack these days, and she was already writing these essays the year my 74-year old mom was born. Move over Joan Didion, Pinays were here first. Someone already thinks like a woman from 2025 way back 1951. And then here’s How to Ride a Train from Ulaanbatar, priced at a hefty 1,445 pesos. Even more expensive than a Hardbound book, really got me intrigued as to the gall they had pricing the book this much. But really who goes to study in Shanghai and write about their experiences right?
Music and Gigs
Linya-Linya Presents: Tayo-Tayo x UPRISING Hip-Hop Night (May 30, 2025, Linya-Linya HQ Libis, QC)
I commend Linya-Linya for their community efforts like this one. They’re basically a statement shirt brand with witty one-liners but they collaborate with other Artists (Rappers, Musicians), stand-up Comedians, Journalists, and Brands (Booksale) the owners admire. Ali Sangalang one of the owners is apparently a Battle Rap fan and has been a long time supporter of FlipTop, and so creating an event like this with FlipTop’s “Music arm” was inevitable.
If you’re someone who notices basically Hip-Hop artists are the rockstars of this current generation (given that person is not into K-Pop). You’ll hear artists like Hev Abi or Loonie at your local Convenience Store or Jeepney ride, rapping about love, sex, doobie, gangs and the struggle of making it. But this was not the kind of Hiphop I heard from the likes of Kemikal Ali, APOC and KJah. If anything HipHop in its core is also poetry, and its always a trip when it hits. Appreciate spaces like these where you can enjoy HipHop music where you’re not fearing for your safety. (I know I’m probably thinking in Stereotypes but it is admittedly a Male-Dominated Space).
Particularly appreciated Kemikal Ali - he’s been doing it since the 90s and the angas and the groove is still there.
Gold Fellas and the Diamond Dame - Mox Lotus, Curtismith, Six The Northstar
I guess I prefer my rappers Conyo, Clean, Non-Threatening and Sexy-looking in Glasses. LOL but I have been a long-time follower of Curtismith who has always had the Conyo-rapper chip on his shoulder, being HipHop is mostly about “the struggle” and originating from low-income neighborhoods. But of course English and speaking it well will always be associated with the Upper Classes, at least in the Philippines. Anyway, back to the album! Combine British Spy Aesthetics-think James Bond-Dramatic Violins, Mystery, Beats, and Orders from the Speaker Box. Blends really well with
Community Gatherings
Mend and Mingle: A #LovedClothesLast Meetup (May 31, 2025)
In Manila, if your clothes need mending you’ll usually have your neighborhood sastre where you bring your clothes to and come back for it a week after. I’m part of those who do not have this luxury, so when local Craft store Common Room Posted an Event from Fashion Revolution PH where they’re inviting people to Mend clothes, I took the chance to go and actually learn how to do it. And the Women of Fashion Rev PH were nothing but generous, they lend me everything! Fabric Scraps, Embroidery Hoops, they even fixed the other pair of pants that I brought with me using a Sewing Machine. And the stories and the Chika were flowing too, and partida, we only met each other during that meetup. And the conversation can start with something as simple as: “So magkakabarkada ba kayo dito? Paano kayo nag-start?”
Runner-ups that deserve a mention - I do watch/consume these:
Podcasts
Film Development Council of the Philippine’s Behind the Reel- A series of Roundtable Discussions with Different Types of Film Workers: Directors, Actors, Cinematographers, Script Writers, Producers, each of them with their on Wisdoms
Lumpia Bytes - As their channel describes: “No fluff & no frills, just real conversations on tech, AI, entrepreneurship, & the future. We’re here to help fellow Filipinos in the tech industry gain real-world insights, hear diverse perspectives, & stay ahead, so no one gets left behind.” I’m quite biased because the hosts are former colleagues of mine but that doesn’t mean that their Inputs don’t make sense. One of them actually studied AI and Marketing in MIT.
Series & Movies
When Life Gives You Tangerines (Netflix)
Sinners - Sabog yung utak ko sa Concept and sa Music. Vampire Movie with a Historical slant? Critically Acclaimed and rightly so
K-Pop Demon Hunters - Animated Film that also sends a message on “Vulnerability”. That seem to be the buzzword these days. Probably need to write about that some time.