antipolocity – On Purple Wings

Burrow Cafe in Antipolo

“Enjoy the little things”

Photo credits: https://urbanmoms.ca/parenting/its-all-about-appreciating-the-little-things-in-life/

And I thought I’ve had enough of Antipolo. That tranquility I felt being inside that 386 years old church, a historic landmark, the Antipolo cathedral, that buzzling sound of the market while you’re buying native dainties like “suman” (rice cake), “kalamay” (a sticky sweet delicacy), cashew nuts and more. The idyllic vibe of Vieux Chalet, the abstract beauty of Crescent Moon Cafe and Gallery where food and art are typically combined, and not to forget the picturesque Pinto Art Museum, even the famous “Hinulugang Taktak”. Yet, there’s more. Recently, Jen, my travel/foodie buddy, asked me to block-off one weekend to visit a homemade affair: the “Artis Artisan Bazaar”.

Since it featured a line-up of products I intend to sell soon, It’ll definitely be helpful to me, give me additional knowledge, stir my senses, meet fellow artists and much more.

Antipolo usually take more than 4 hours of my time just to get there, but getting there, it is always worth it.

Photo credits: https://www.instagram.com/artisartisanbazaar/

These pots are so cute! inspires me to paint pots too!

Calligraphy! The girl on the photo is the artist herself. =)

We didn’t just enjoy shopping from this charming bazaar, we need not go out of their vicinity to find someplace to dine since there is “Burrow Cafe” which serves great food at the same time.

It is a “feel-good” place, achieving the ambience of transporting you to another place or time, because it is literally rustic and the drizzle during our visit created a truly country-feel like vibe. I wasn’t able to capture the falling leaves from that floor to ceiling glass window, it was dreamy.

They’re menu isn’t too complicated, the attendants offered to try some of their best sellers. It is creatively presented like you’re reading the menu from a book. So innovative. What I got is the Tender beef tapa (yes, they’re literally tender) =). While Jen had Anise Roasted pork rice bowl. We shared a slice of their Pumpkin (Calabasa) cake, believe me it tasted like Pistachio cake for me. It was really good! =) I also enjoyed a healthy drink, I had Avocado shake and Jen had Calamansi shake since it’ll do her good being sick for days already.

There are greens all around. The soft sound of rippling water from the brook completed the placidity I don’t usually find in my daily grind.

They have cool merchandise too.

And colorful hammocks too!

I wish to do more of this. =) Not the hammock thing, but to visit places that are new to me, like a respite from the ordinary patterned life. It is so relaxing, moments when your mind goes blank and all you feel is the moment itself, it realigns you to your inner self. #oldsoul

From the root word itself, Burrow Cafe is literally located under the ground. =)

Burrow Cafe is located at 113 Beverly Hills Ave, Beverly Hills Subdivision, Antipolo City. You can call them to make reservation at: 0917-622-9795, or email them at: burrowcafeph@gmail.com for further inquiry.

For your convenience, they prepared a map as your guide:

Pinto Art Museum – Your portal to one of Philippines’ greatest Art collection.

I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.”
~Vincent Van Gogh~

If you look at my blog site, my Facebook page, my Instagram and Pinterest account, you will instantly conclude that I am an artist by heart.

When I took up Interior Design, I have witnessed genuine artists. My classmates, my Professors and their colleagues.

We were exposed to museums, art galleries and exhibits. Some of which are ours where each student represents one creation.

I did not dare to categorize myself with them because I am not good at freehand drawing like my other classmates. However before graduation, our mentors since we’re freshmen identified the strengths of each. I in particular, my mentor claimed that I have tons of ideas to create original designs, that I am very detailed and that an artist never required excellence in freehand drawing so I can still excel with doing abstracts. And I tried a few times. She also enumerated what occupations would fit us. I remember her saying I am a free soul since I did not limit myself with established borders.

I did not end up like a Professional Artist. But it was good enough for me (just to mend a broken heart for not being a full-time one) that I was able to utilize my degree at some points in my entire career life. I did booths for exhibits, sleepless during ingress, commended for a beautiful color scheme by a former boss. He asked me to reproduce more sets, however, I only did them from the remaining fabrics that were already discontinued. So I can not clone that one anymore which eventually annoyed him. =(

I did window displays of Merchandise shops. Took charge of the the interiors and exteriors of a significant part of a theme park where I used to work, spear-headed annual competitions, emulating Broadway hits and won thrice. And as stupid as I can be sometimes, my designs were even stolen twice. These are some of my pride.

I love art. I love colors. Bright ones. Sometimes I love the soft pastels too. I am inspired by gifted hands and tried to do them in my own special way. DIYs, reproductions, tweaked in such a way you will be allowed to own it.

So anything that has to do with Arts. I am in that leaning. I am like a child who won’t stop asking her mom to give in to what I am wishing for.

One of the galleries I really wanted to see is Pinto Art Museum.

p23 — We’re here, finally, after four long hours of traveling.

It was a bit hard on my part since I have to spend 5 hours to get there by commute. A total of 4 rides.

And then finally, I was able to visit it by chance on a Sunday. Which we realized isn’t wise to do since the place is a bit cramped. Considering you have to savor each piece, those works of art laboriously brought to life by renowned artists.

Jen and I had to wait (long) for our turns to revel on each piece and she ran out of patience and asked me if we can leave since she is no longer enjoying. I actually feel the same way but I tried to ignore it since I am in between enjoying the place and running out of patience at the same time.

I might suggest to the management the possibility of limiting the number of visits per day and maybe manage the galleries in such a way that bystanders won’t linger just so to give chance to others. Or it’s just a wishful thinking as I remember visiting this theme park with more than 10,000 guests at that time. Should we limit it or not might be a major concern.

I also asked Jen whether the “Pinto” is the surname of the curator or they are literally referring to the word which is “Door” in the English language. It is the latter.

I have collected several photos with “doors”. And archs, stairs, windows and of course with the different art works carefully distributed in each gallery.

You will find there everything related to the Arts:

Sculptures

Photography

p17 — Negatives lighted from the back. And most of them are Saints..

Drawings

Paintings

Conceptual Arts

Crafts

p24 — This one is inside a glass cabinet..

Junk arts

p19 — Thought it was a man’s ribs then I saw that padlock.

Historical and religious items

p15 — There’s a chapel to welcome you at Pinto..

And even Architecture

And nature in all its’ beauty.

A day is not enough to revere in their pulchritude.

And so we will make a second visit. A planned one. =)

This blog is like a gratitude to the curator who assembled hundreds of different masterpieces. It is beyond question, one of Filipino’s pride. Thank you for promoting a world-class prowess.