Filipino Singer/Songwriter Jad Montenegro: Songs based on Emotions

By: Jesse Pizarro Boga

Jad Montenegro had it in her: her knack for music.

“I was in a whole bunch of bands and went to gigs whenever I could,”  she said, flipping her red colored hair, which appears to be her source of youth.

She’s now 27, but her passion for sounds, words, and tunes make her seem like she never grows old—as if she’s always been that geology student in UP Diliman who jumped from one band to another doing the things that she loved.

“I was rhythm for a pop punk band called Apollo Creed for a while. Then I was lead guitar for a band called Glory Days of Summer,” she narrated. She went on mentioning her stints in an all girl band and in a goth band. When she found herself working in Cebu City, she played solo at bars every weekend.

And when she finally came home to Davao she started her own self-titled band and humbly took off sky high, leading the independent music scene in the city.

Her continued love for music led her band to finish recording her original songs and independently released it in an extended play (EP) titled Fixed Points and Pendulums. Here, Latitudes talks to Jad about inspiration, her music, and the craziest thing about being an independent music artist.

Filipino Books for the Lazy Reader

By: Jesse Pizarro Boga

It's never too late to make reading a habit. If you have short-attention span like me, consider the following Filipino titles that turned me from a lazy reader into a mad page turner.

The secret: each book houses short stories that are equally entertaining and interesting. These titles are sure to make you forget the Internet jargon “TL;DR” (too long didn't read).

Take your pick. And if you have a book title to share, leave a comment below.

PicLyf, a Filipino photo-based social network

By: Jesse Boga

Is PicLyf something I’d want to add to my social networking routine? Yes.

This Filipino-made photo-based social networking site has all kinds of awesome in it. It’s almost hard to believe that, for someone who spends alot of time on the Internet, I’ve been missing the fun all since the site was made available to public just October of last year.

Top 10 Must-Haves to Survive (& Look Good) in the Philippines

By: Jesse Pizarro Boga

It’s always summer in the Philippines! The lifestyle’s here is laid back and carefree, the people around are exceedingly friendly, and the beaches (oh yes!) remind you of paradise…always.

And while you make your way around the archipelago (preferable island hopping), it’s important to keep in mind that a sunny day will become your bestfriend. So ditch your trench coats, leather jacket, and boots! Arm yourself with tropical fashion must-haves and make your trip smooth sailing (with a glass of fresh fruit juice in your hand, of course).

In this feature, we list down 10 of the must-haves in your luggage when travelling to the Philippines.

Jun Rodino Artajo: Filippino Fashion Designer Steals the Show

By: Jesse Pizarro Boga

He’s a fashion blogger when he’s facing his computer. He’s an active Lookbook.nu user when he’s trigger happy with his camera. He’s a fashion design instructor when he’s at the Philippine Women’s College of Davao.

Jun Rodino Artajo seems to be doing to too much. And he doesn’t know when to stop.

And why should he? He’s definitely going places (in fabulous outfits, of course) now that his life in the fashion world has taken off after he waves in a design contest that’s said to be a gateway to the fashion industry.

His creation called Dreamweaver was selected as one of the top 50 (out of 2,500!) to strut the ramp of Meguro Gajoen Hotel for the Japan Fashion Design Contest. And being a finalist wasn’t just what he ended up with: Dreamweaver zoomed past the others as it won second place in the competition, beating designs of fashion students and designers from France, Russia, Belgium, and Germany.