Sabong Tattoo at the Cow Palace

We just concluded another tattoo expo at the Cow Palace. It wasn’t as good as the last one but we got by.



I got excited because one design I did way back got inked for the first time.

A pinoy asked me If I have an image of sabong or cock fight. I showed him the drawing and he said that’s exactly what his friend was looking for so he ran and called them.

Two friends came. They’re all around 60 years old. Darius saw one of them wearing a shirt with the Philippine map printed in front. Darius hollered, ‘hey! wer’d ju get dat shirt?’

‘Pilipins, Pilipins.’ Why?’ The guy answered feeling a bit agitated on how Darius approached him not even saying ‘manong’ ‘po’ or ‘ho.’ You know how mainland pinoys see Fil-ams as hambugs or ‘mayayabang.’ Darius is a Fil-am who understands tagalog and ilocano but cannot speak it. Darius answered, ‘oh, because I have one here’ pointing to his temple. The Philippine map was tattooed on the left side of his forehead.

I noticed the guy calmed down because he only got the map on his shirt while Dee’s (Darius) got it on his forehead.



The guy liked the cock fight design and got it inked by Ariel. I did the design as outlines only then Ariel filled in the colors. I really made it outline only so that the tattoo artist can play with the colors.

The guy was very particular with the colors. He showed us a cell phone picture of the kind of cock or rooster he wants.



I know the other one is ‘talisayin’ but I didn’t know what they call the red one. ‘Talusapi’ he told me which my brother commented that’s bad luck because the name suggests ‘to loose.’ Talo or talu means ‘lost’ or ‘loose’ in tagalog.









I was really amused when I met the 3 sabungeros because I know their kind. My father used to own a cock fighting farm back in P.I. They remind me of my father’s friends with their polo jack, sparkling white sneakers, pomade and blue jeans. We hit it off right away.

I translated quite a few names in baybayin or alibata. We have this printed guide where there are Spanish letter translations. You won’t find Spanish letter translations in the internet like ‘ra,’ cha,’ fa,’ ‘ca’ or ‘ja.’





I also learned how a consonant can be just the consonant like instead of ‘ba,’ it will be read as ‘b’ only by adding an accent. Without accents the character will always be read as BA, KA, DA, GA and so on. Accents make the characters read as BE, BI, BO, BU or KE, KI, KO, KU.

Our group was international meaning there were two Irish, a Brazilian, Korean, Mexicans and Filipinos.

Ricky, a Mexican-American whose whole body was filled with Mexican pride tattoos told me, ‘hey Mel I can tell you’re a nice guy.’ I told him ‘yes, I always try to be.’ ‘No, no.’ he said. ‘I can tell you have a good heart just like most Filipinos. That’s why I have 3 stars and a sun tattooed on my arm.’ He showed me the tat. A small sun and 3 stars in a sea of Mexican pride tattoos. That made me feel proud and good.



I was only able to go Saturday because I had to babysit Friday and Sunday. As always, I enjoyed the company and the experience.

Nonito Donaire

I’ve been a boxing fan since the Ali, Frazier and Foreman years. That was during the seventies. I’ve been following the sport regularly because you cannot escape it specially if you’re Filipino. The Philippines is a boxing fanatic country. Boxing is the main sport that puts our country on the map. It gives us great pride and honor.



Even when I migrated here in the US, I was still able to watch the fights because my brother in law is a huge boxing fan. I’ve seen Roach fight before he became a great trainer. Of course there was Duran, Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and all their fights were classics.

But I didn't get too excited because there really wasn’t a Filipino boxer that dominated the sport during my time. I was in between Flash Elorde and Manny Pacquiao so I didn’t really have something to crow about but not to put down Rolando Navarette, the Espinosas and the Penalosas. They have my respect but I did not get excited compared to Pacquiao’s era.





Not only did Pacquiao transcend boxing but Pacquiao made me believe in his ability just like the all time greats like Pryor, Arguello, Duran and Leonard. He’s one of them and he’s a pure blooded pinoy.

But one of the reasons I got really excited was that It’s not only Pacquiao that’s making a name out there but there are other top notch pinoy boxers right now.

Nonito Donaire is one of them. I’ve watched his fights in Utube and the first time I saw him fight, deng! I was really impressed. He’s very fluid and accurate. He reminds me of the technical prowess of Mayweather Jr and I think he’s still getting bigger and better. I love the way he avoids his opponents’ punches just by a hair then counters. It’s really the ‘sweet science’ when you see Donaire fight.

I think Nonito has a great potential. He may not match Pacquiao’s legacy but I can tell you that I trust him to lift the Pinoy’s boxing spirit after Pacquiao.

Another thing about Nonito Donaire is that he’s into art too. I am an artist so I gave him some of my hand-painted t-shirts to show my appreciation. I attached my card on the shirts so I hope he calls. Just a wish though.

Once I read in Pacland that he’s having his media day last Saturday at the Undisputed Gym just across the bay, I decided to go and support him.



During his training, I was able to talk to Jonathan Penalosa for a while and he told me (before knowing Darchinyan's loss to King Kong Agbeko) that Darchi was their target. He said that Darchi was trying to avoid Nonito by moving up in weight. Now that Darchinyan lost, I think there’s a big chance that he will rematch Nonito which I can predict Nonito would win again. But I think It’s gonna be up to Nonito because Nonito Donaire could either fight him again or just move on. I think Donaire’s got all the aces now that Darchi lost again. But of course Donaire has to beat Rafael Concepcion in August.

Jonathatn Penalosa told me that his (Donaire) main goal is to reach the weight of Juan Manuel Lopez and fight him. That’s really gonna be exciting and I can’t wait for that to happen. I think there’s a big chance that Donaire could upset Juan Ma Lopez. I know Juanma is bigger and more powerful but I think Donaire has the ability to beat him.



I also was able to take pictures with Dodie Boy Penalosa (another pinoy world champ) and Rachel Donaire and before we left, I told Dodie Boy (teary eyed) that they make me hella proud.

You’ll find my wife and my son Miro in the picture too.

I asked my son if he likes boxing, he said no.

Suddenly I'm Asian

I guess there’s a certain pride being called ‘Asian.’ The Asian region has seen great advances the last couple of decades. Japan has been leading the way for years but China, Korea and India aren’t far behind. Besides these four countries, we also have Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. These three states compared to the big four are minor players but couldn’t be counted out as economic powers of Asia.

Here in the US, I notice Asians have that respect. Asians are mainstream. You’ll always find Indians and Chinese in the TV show Jeopardy and you’ll find them as CEOs and business owners and everybody knows that Asians excel in schools. I don’t have the statistics but I know it by observation. Asians are labeled ‘smart’ because of this.



Filipinos are definitely Asians. Our country lies in Southeast Asia but Filipinos have always been reluctantly called Asians.

The reason I think is that because in our region, we are the poorest. We don’t have that kind of respect that the Japanese and the Chinese have. We’ve been conquered by everybody and I can’t deny that we have one of the most corrupt and incompetent governments.

Filipinos are like the black sheep of Asia. I’ve also heard about the label ‘niggers of Asia.’ We are dis-owned because of the reasons stated above.

Enter Manny Pacquiao – the ‘greatest ASIAN boxer of all time.’

Suddenly there’s no reluctance in Manny Pacquiao being called ‘Asian.’ Suddenly, we are one of them.

Is Manny Pacquiao our vindication? In a way I guess but personally, I don’t care because good and bad, I’m proud to be Pinoy even without Manny. There’s a lot more to being Filipino than meets the eye but it’s a long story.

It’s just funny how suddenly Manny Pacquiao is their property.

Suddenly I became Asian.

Recent Tattoos

Here are some new tattoos that I did.





I'm happy with my tattooing. I know I still have a lot to learn but I think I'm improving. My lines are getting better everytime. I'm still struggling with color but I was able to pull off one colored tat which my client liked.

I've had problems with my machine but Ariel Cruz told me how to solve that problem. My problem was that my needle doesn't prick the skin consistently. This made my lines break. I thought I had clean lines but 4 of them came back due to broken lines.

The problem was that the screw that hits or vibrates on the spring is dirty. The spark made the spring and the screw black and all I had to do was clean it with sand paper. Once I did this, my machine ran smoothly.

Multo at Tatu

nagpreprepara ako sa pagtatatu kay ludwig sa garahe sa union city... nag aayos ng gamit.

inayos kong mabuti ang mga gamit dahil ayaw kong kaunting sanggi lang ay maglaglagan dahil maselan ang mga ito't hindi pwedeng madumihan.

may kumatok, (tik-tik sa pinto ng garahe) binuksan ko, si arnold. tropa namin na customer ko din. tatlong tatu na ang ginawa ko sa kanya. gusto lang mag hang-out habang tinatatuan ko si ludwig na tropa din nya.

matapos ang mga isang oras na bullshit ay umalis na din si arnold. naiwan kami ni ludwig. si ludwig ay nakahiga sa lamesa dahil sa binti ko gagawin si tatu. pangatlo na din itong tatu nya na ginawa ko.

gamit nya habang nakadapa sa lamesa ang computer ko habang nakikipag video chat sya sa chick nya sa pilipinas. ginagawa nya ito lagi para wag daw syang mainip.

maya-maya'y may kumatok nanaman sa pinto ng garahe. tik-tik ika. sino kaya ito kako, baka si arnold ulit at may nalimutan. binuksan ko si garahe... WALANG TAO. DENG! nagkatinginan kami ni ludwig.

tuloy ang kwento namin at hindi namin pinansin.

umupo na ako at isinusuksok ko na yung needle nang biglang may tumunog sa likod ko. para bang may sumanggi don sa lalagyan ko ng mga pangtatu. lingon agad ako sa likod, wala. baka kako luminsad lang ang lalagyan.

di eto na... ika ni ludwig habang nanlalaki ang mga mata... 'PARE, TINGNAN MO 'TO O (tinuturo yung computer), SABI NUNG KA-CHAT KO, MAY NAGLALARO DAW BATA SA LIKOD NATIN...!!!'

binasa ko ang chat box... nakalagay, 'uy sino yung batang naglalaro sa likod nyo, anak mo ba yan?'

NAAAAYYYY!!!

nanlaki ang mga mata namin ni ludwig.

pinabayaan ko na dahil mag-uumpisa na akong magtatu.

pag tingin ko sa balat ni ludwig, parang balat ng manok sa takot. tayong tayo ang mga balahibo.

haha. ako din takot.

inattach ko yung tatung ginawa ko nung gabing yon.

Two Exhibits in Manila

ASIMILASYON RADIKAL - post-punk aesthetics



Kwatro kantos (England Hidalgo, Mel Vera Cruz, Marcius Noceda and Carlo Ricafort) Andres Barrioquinto, Alfred Esquillo, Robert Langenegger, Romeo Lee and Santiago Bose have an ongoing exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

This show have been in the works for almost 2 years and I'm really happy that it's at the CCP now. I am honored to have my works hanged at the CCP. I have shown there back in 1986 after the EDSA revolution titled Piglas, Art at the Crossroads.

This show is different because there's only a few of us and I'm hanging my works with such great artists as Esquillo and Santi Bose.

I've been saying how Santi changed my direction in art. He's like a big brother to me regarding my art and now my works are side by side with his at the CCP. I cannot ask for more at the moment.

I just wish I could be there but I can't due to money problems and I'm new to my work so I cannot get too much time-off.

Thanks Lian Ladia for curating the show and making this happen.

Here's the link.

Click for photos here.


BLOW BY



Another on going exhibit that me and Kwatro Kantos have joined is this.

I'm stoked that they used both of my images for the postcards. The title for the image on the left is "Barok's Burden.'