Zerothreetwo Conversations: Interviews With The Creative Class

When making life changing decisions, it can be a daunting task. The tendency is to delay the choice, or find the comfortable way out. The question I like to ask when confronted with these decisions is, "What is the worst that can happen?" The answer is usually not so bad.   In the case of Jacklyn Uy, the question she asked herself before making a big leap was, "What are you afraid of?" Fast forward to today, she is doing what she loves. She is a family lifestyle photographer, capturing those in-between moments with parents and their children. And she started Deedoe Design, an avenue to share her passion for illustration.   In this episode, we talked about how we are all slashes, making a leap towards doing what you want to do, the beauty of family photography, learning about illustration, and appreciating mothers.   Enjoy the podcast!     SHOWNOTES Creative Live Chase Jarvis Click in Moms Patreon The7.ph What a girl wants Raymund Isaac ECUAD - Emily Carr University of

I decided to take up photography in my mid twenties. Late learner, but I'm glad I took it up. When I got my first camera, I roamed our house looking for interesting subjects to shoot. Eventually I got bored and looked online. I gravitated towards street photography. I read as much as I could, but more importantly, I took to the streets.   I may not go to the streets to take photos anymore, but I still have my love for the craft. When I discovered Michael Chitru Credo, @streets_of_cebu, I made sure to follow. His love for the craft showed in his photos. These weren't random photos of strangers, there was real thought and craft in each photograph. Also his prolific nature made for new photos almost every day.   Because of the podcast, I was happy to meet Michael Chitru and have an honest to goodness geek out on street photography. We talked about how he got his start in street photography, possible projects in the future, what's it like to walk around downtown, and more.   Enjoy the podcas

When I first started cycling, it was a way to commute from point A to B. I quickly learned that cycling is a ton of fun. So late last year, I decided to buy myself a Gravel Bike. The idea was to use the bike to explore Cebu.   As I continued with my cycling journey, I learned more about the people in cycling. When I decided to join the Cebu Epic 2019, an 80km mountain bike event, I noticed that Chyrel Gomez was one of the organizers. Then I remembered that she was one of the first people who I knew that cycled as a commute. I followed her on Strava, then I found out that she owned a couple of QOM's. This girl is for real.   I promptly reached out to her and we talked about cycling, about being a woman in a male dominated sport, about how to get more women into cycling, and the upcoming Cebu Epic 2019.   Enjoy the podcast!   SHOWNOTES James Altucher podcast 21 Kilometer Coffee Cuckoo Cloud Concepts Gizelle Faye Sembrano - Bunagan AltSpace Coffee Runroo - rose Sugbo Mercado

I used to dream about being able to dunk like Vince Carter. That was something that didn't seem like a reality at all. For whatever reason, I equated basketball athlete to professional athlete. Growing up, I didn't get a sense that there were other sports and other athletes out there. I was just stuck on basketball.   In the end, that was probably not to my advantage. Don't get me wrong. I love basketball, but in terms of my skills, it wasn't the best use of my time. What if I got into other sports? Like cycling or triathlon?   For Filipinos, if you are a gifted athlete and have the will to train for hours on end, why not be a triathlete? That's something that I started thinking about in my conversation with Kristiane Lim. He is the real deal. Routinely finishing on the podium of the many triathlons in the Philippines, I knew he would be an interesting guy to talk to.   In the episode, we talked about the importance of rest, training with heart rate zones, cycling in Cebu, and many more. &

One of the stumbling blocks of a creative is knowing when to do their creative thing full time. When is the right time to say, "I am good enough and I want to see if I can make a living doing this." It's a tough question to answer for many people.   This is what I had in mind when Qube Gallery gave me the opportunity to talk to some of the artists they flew in from Manila. Reen Barrera, Terence Eduarte and Jepoy Santos (Mister S) were incredibly generous with their time and stories. I learned a lot about what it is like to make that switch to a life of art. And I got a glimpse of what it was like to be living that life in Manila.   In this episode, we talked about their art, about their journey from employee to artist, about the art community in Manila, and learning from employment.   Enjoy the episode!   SHOWNOTES Camping Trip in Qube Gallery Reen Barrera Terence Eduarte Jepoy Santos (Mister Sasquatch) Magic the Gathering Cards Bart Bros (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode) Wyn

This is the third Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode!   Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. In order for the podcast to grow, I'm always experimenting with different formats and topics. So if you were looking for a nice break from the usual interviews, you'll enjoy this one. So something shorter, and more easily accessible.   As with previous AMA episodes, this is an inside peek as to the inner workings of Zerothreetwo Conversations. Let me know how you like it. Or how you don't like it.   If you are interested in listening to previous AMA episodes, here's a link to AMA 1 and AMA 2.   Enjoy the podcast!   SHOWNOTES   Bryan Onglatco (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)   Zoom H5 handy recorder   Shure SM58   Rescue a Hero (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)   Christian Linaban (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)   Bobby Olvido (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)   Franz Deadways (Zerothreetwo Conversations episode)   Edel

These are exciting times to be a musician. A million years ago when I was in a band, it was difficult to see a pathway towards being in music full time. It was the weird period of when it wasn't clear what outlets to put music online, but at the same time, everyone was pirating music via Limewire.   Fast forward to today. There's Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, etc. All these are very real ways for musicians to make money. Don't get me wrong. It's not easy, but the blueprint is there. If your music is good, there are avenues to get it out there, to get people to listen, to get clients to book you, to get attention, and to even get paid.   This was crystal clear to me after my interview with Carlisle Tabanera. He isn't someone with a song who has lucked into having a huge hit. But if I were a betting man, I would put money on him. With the rate of his releases, it's only a matter of time till one of his songs explodes in the mainstream. But despite not having a crazy hit song, he is still able to make

Have you taken a look at the music scene recently? There's a ton of great music out there. A lot of those  songs also happen to be sang in Bisaya. It's easy to forget, but there was a time when we didn't have a name for the genre of pop music sung in Bisaya. When Jude Gitamondoc coined the term, he thought he was simply naming a songwriting contest, but the term stuck and everyone started using it to describe a genre of music. The word "Vispop" was widely adopted and currently holds a firm place in our culture. Unfortunately, this term/genre/group/contest isn't without controversy. Behind the scenes of the music, there was drama brewing. Jude eloquently wrote a piece that helped propel this controversy into the limelight. He called it My Vispop Journey. In this episode, we get into the weeds and talk about the genesis of the Vispop dispute, explain the outrage of the artists, and take a look at the key people behind the scenes of this story. Enjoy the episode!        SHOWNOTES ht

This is part two of my interview with Russell John S. Manaloto. If you haven't listened to part one, you can listen to it here, "This Song Saved My Life" with Russell Manaloto of Faspitch and Urbandub.   I've always wondered what it would be like as a professional musician. More than the music, that choice is really about embracing a way of life. I'm so grateful Russell was willing to share what it was like to move to Manila and live life as a working musician.   In this episode, he talks about his gear, reflects on the state of the music industry, talks about his time gigging in Manila, and breathing through your nose.   Enjoy the episode!   SHOWNOTES Line 6 Gearbox Toneport UX2 Cables and Space Line 6 Helix Line 6 Pod HD 500x Zoom Multi stomp MX 50g GC Rock Board Seth Lover  Tower of Doom Nemesis Group Skin - Faspitch  Tube Screamer December Avenue Curbside Cables and Space Dimebag Darrel Walk by Pantera Draven WilaBaliW  Bisaya Music Fest Big Bang Kaloy Uypu

We don't realized it, but everyone has made art that genuinely touches another person. For example, my kid has drawn stick figures of our family that made me feel joy and pride. But there aren't many people who have created art that has touched thousands potentially millions of people.  I tried to keep this in mind when I interviewed Russell Manaloto, songwriter, musician, and music producer, notably part of Faspitch and Urbandub. He's in the rare situation of having many people paying attention to his music. I tried to get a sense of what that is like. When talking to Russell, it's easy to sense his love for the craft of music. He can talk for hours about songs, the intricacies of gear, different sounds, and the philosophies in music. I'm happy to report that we did just that. In this episode, we talked about the decision to be a full time musician, how he became part of Faspitch, how domestication was a huge challenge when they moved to Manila, and many more. Enjoy the episode!     SHOWNOTE

A big part of the Cebu experience is the food and drink. We're lucky to have an incredible variety of restaurants, cafes and bars. Anything from Filipino to Italian to Korean food and everything else in between, you name it, we've got it. Expect to hear more insight on these topics in the podcast.   This is why when Kahlil Corazo told me that he recorded a conversation with coffee trainer and cacao enthusiast, Vassily Lissouba, I told him to send me a copy of the recording. I learned so much from listening to the two of them talk. I asked Kahlil if I could publish the interview on Zerothreetwo Convesations. Fortunately, he said yes.   Chocolate happens to be my weakness. I love chocolate a little too much. Just ask anyone from my immediate family. And honestly, I've fantasized about retiring in a coastal town, opening a small cafe, and hanging out by the water. The contents of this episode is filed under the good to know once I have my own cafe.   In this episode, we talk about the coffee

When I record an interview, it usually comes out a month or so after I record it. This helps me keep the podcast organized, allows me to focus on other things between interviews, and is a good cushion between posts. But if you've follow the podcast, you know that we talk about the creative industry in Cebu. One of the most known creative industries in Cebu happens to be in music.   With the VISPOP controversy looming, it was almost impossible not to talk about it with guests. Fortunately, I happened to schedule an interview with someone right dab smack in the middle of the industry, but at the same time, he had no real ties to anyone other than himself. Paulo Varela happened to be one of the perfect people to give an outsiders view of the controversy.   In the beginning, we talked about Paulo's many experiences hosting and organizing events. His knowledge about the in and outs of the industry is unique in a sense because he has been doing it for years, but at the same time, he isn't necessarily

  I can still remember when hip hop was still very underground. In my generation, it was unusual to see someone wearing baggy hip hop clothes in the mall. They were the true underground. Over the years, this musical genre has become more and more mainstream.   There was a short stint in my musical life when I listened to rap. So don't consider me an expert or anything, but that's precisely why I wanted to interview John Leo Pornea. In Cebu, it would be safe to say that he is one of the pillars of the rap community. Under Rapollo, they've managed to carve out a safe haven for all the rap fans and artists.   In this episode, we talk about the start of the hip hop community, who are the upcoming emcees, the mindset of battle rap, and a peek into their culture.   Enjoy this episode!   SHOWNOTES Rapollo Zigie Respect My Roots - 2012 Calle Fuerte Fliptop Dirtbag dan Mistah Lefty Eminem Fruity Loops King Cobra Productions Loonie Maestro Range Marshall CVCebu 8Mile GI

When creating art, in this case music, the hope is to get a message across. Sometimes, the best way is to say it out right. But in many cases, there's so much more to be said when the message is packaged in a thoughtful way. This is especially true when it comes to lyrics. Writing lyrics that touch the heart, but at the same time, make you laugh and smile is a gift.   This is something Jerika Teodorico has shown time and time again when she writes a song. I could simply say that she is an award winning songwriter, but that would be selling her short. She has the ability to write music that can truly move you. Her songs make you smile, it make you laugh, and even cry (I learned from this interview that she seems to cry a lot). What more can we ask from art?   In this episode, we talked about how she crafts songs, the origins of many of her songs, where she started, and what she hopes to accomplish.   Enjoy the episode!     SHOWNOTES Vispop 2019 ArtistKo Jude Gitamondoc not

In the big scheme of things, we're all trying to make a difference. Most of us are trying to do so by making a difference in our lives, but as you get older, you quickly realize that the true path to purpose is finding it in the service of others. Many don't know where to start and what to expect.   I ran into Lianne Sala in a kiddie party a few months ago. I knew she had an NGO called Sistemang Pilipino (SP), but I confess, I didn't know much about it. So we chatted and I realized that she would be a great guest for the podcast. Fortunately, Lianne said yes and that she would bring along her partner in SP, Aurelio Maria R. Rodriguez, to help in the interview.   The both of them opened my eyes as to what it takes to not only start an NGO, but to keep it running. There's so much that goes on behind the scenes, so much struggle, but at the same time, so much reward. Of course they talked about what they are going through, but my favorite moments are when they talked about the people they helped thr

Have you ever been in a dinner table with new parents? Or parents of toddlers? Then you know that we eventually talk about our kids. Raising kids in 2019 is an interesting experience. There's a lot more information widely available to parents, but at the same time, we know a lot less. Today's world is complicated place for raising kids.   It was a joy to talk to Ara Chawdhury about her parenting experiences. Of course, we touched on plenty of filmmaking stories as well, she is after all an award winning filmmaker. But I didn't want to miss the chance to have a recorded conversation about how we raise our children. So of course we talked about our kids, especially since we had a surprise guest.   In this episode of the podcast, we talked about her experience in the film industry in Manila, her story when she gave birth to her kids, how online content is currently taking over, and as I mentioned, parenting.   Enjoy the episode!   SHOWNOTES Miss Bulalacao Sabado, Sabado Operation Pr

Making a movie is one of those creative fields that require so much. You need an incredible amount of talented people to make a two hour piece of entertainment. So many things have to go right, so much coordination needed with production, plenty of logistical challenges, even financial considerations need to be looked at and we haven't even talked about the art portion of creating a movie yet. It really is one of those disciplines that requires you to know a little about everything.   This was most apparent with my talk with Victor Villanueva. He was the director of the hit movie Patay na si Hesus. I knew conceptually that creating a movie was no small feat, but you don't truly understand it till you find yourself in the middle of one. Since I am unlikely to be working in movies anytime soon, I'll settle for the stories that Victor provided.   He shared so much trivia about Patay na si Hesus; that wasn't the original title, there was an extra character that was axed, there was controversy in the

I didn't expect to be reminiscing about my college days, but I should have known better. A talk with old friends always brings old memories.   This will likely not be the first time you've heard my guest's voice. He has graced us with many tracks that have been played all over Cebu. Gabriel Keith Wong is the singer and front man of the Wonggoys. Once hearing their music, it's clear right away why they've made an impact, but it goes deeper than that. After talking to Gabriel, I realized that each song has a real story connected to it. It's not wonder their songs can connect to people.   In this episode, we talk about what it was like in our high school and college days, his relationship with his family, the root of his musical life, and a curious number of random personal stories.   Enjoy the episode!   SHOWNOTES Game Night 10 Year Challenge Luis Quibranza Bethany Rescue a Hero The Line Divides Foc Fashion Undercover Grasshoppers Chase the Girl or Rule the World Wa'y Blema

I can't help but make this podcast a reflection of my interests. Like most people, I like a wide variety of topics, but recently I have been forcing all my friends and my wife to cycling. I can't get enough of it. Not only does it speak to me personally, the benefits of cycling is huge. So I try to convince as many people as possible to get into it.   Cycling is how I first stumbled on to the work of Ian Intong. Ian is a gifted graphic artist and photographer, we even commissioned him to shoot one of the Zerothreetwo Lookbooks, but the work I was most excited by was his documentary called En Masse: 500km Cebu Loop. It's a documentary chronicling five fixed gear cyclists as they bike around the Cebu coast. It took them about 35 hours to complete the 500km Cebu loop. Which is a crazy thing to do, fortunately, we get a sense of what it was like through the documentary.   In this episode, we talk about En Masse, the challenges of the shoot, cycling culture in Cebu, School Girl Classic, and Dirty Puma

It was in the middle of a three hour car ride from Minglanilla on my way back to Mandaue when I realized that my days were being ruined by hours and hours of wasted time in the car. I couldn't stand it anymore. Then I fondly remembered a trip to Copenhagen. Everyone was riding a bike. But I thought that there's no way that would work in Cebu. Fast forward to two years later, my vehicle of choice is a bicycle. There's so much good from commuting via bicycle. I can't talk about it enough. So I realized it would be good to talk to another person who has been doing the same thing for much longer than me. It also helps that he was one of the pioneers of the Fixed Gear community in Cebu, had a hand in the Road Revolution in 2011, and has been preaching the bike as a commute for a while. I talked to Rye Kido. In this episode, we talk about the fixed gear community, his journey to cycling (there were girls involved), the state of commuting in Cebu, and musings about possible solutions. Enjoy!     SHOWNOTES