Second Wave of RETRO Convention 2019 at Ali Mall

Retro Convention (RetroCon)2019 second wave had another successful trade fair, exhibit and show held at the iconic Ali Mall from March 30 and 31, 2019. This was organized by the same team behind the popular HistoryCon and supported by management of Ali Mall and Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

crowds and booths

First Wave

The first wave was held last March 22 to 24 with Binibining Pilipinas 2019 candidates and Araneta Center management were on site to meet and greet their well wishers and collectors. The first wave also pave way for the reopening of ALI X, Ali Mall’s new wing that is home to all things vintage that are for sale.

(old vinyl magazines, posters, photos etc…)

Nostalgia

We would remember that some of the old time serious collectors would have stalls, hosted swap- meets and hang-out area (tambayan) within Ali Mall.

collectors/dealers

Mr. Elmer Padilla (Boy Tsinelas)

Mr. Elmer Padilla is more popularly known as “Boy Tsinelas“. He originally hailed from Catbalogan City in Samar province and decided to relocate to Imus, Cavite province in order to seek better pasture. He started to craft some well loved action figures by using old flip-flops as a medium to makes both ends meet.

He caught a netizen’s attention and posted his photos on Facebook, and was reposted in several pages around September 2017.

His crafts were presented to Mr. Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) an action figure from Filipino artist Elmer Padilla – Thor star Chris Hemsworth got one as well.

Table Bourse

There were at least 50 table bourse dealers with different kinds of unique items ranging from old magazines, photos, banknotes, coins, wood carvings, stamps, first day covers, antiques, tin robots, kewpie dolls, tektite, car plate numbers, soft drink bottles, stuff toys, game consoles, comics, books, rosaries, emphameras among other stuffs.

retro metal/diecast toys

Atty. Jose M. Escaño

There were other interesting actives like on the spot raffles, traditional games that were played on streets like tatsing, teks game cards among others.

tatsing game

Saw some familiar faces, friends and co-pickers within the group. There were live performances and on the spot auction for those looking for vintage items.

live performers 

Another highlight are the different comic artists and on the spot sketching activities. Unlike other events, It is open to the general public and there were no entrance fees!

Kawangis Komiks and a Komikero /Comic book Artist

retro plastic toys

Kewpie dolls

There will be another event slated on April 14, 2019 SUNDAY at Ali X Auction dubbed as ” Grand Antiques and Collectibles Exposition“.

Big Promos Awaits Boy Kanin’s 6th Anniversary

Unlimited rice ( kanin), exciting new dishes, more restaurants awaits customers and KA-Tropas at the 6th anniversary celebrations of Boy Kanin.

Franchise Asia 2019

Franchise Asia Philippines Exposition 2019 held from March 29, 30 and 31, 2019 at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Boy Kanin’s team

Food Cart Concept

Boy Kanin was created as a food cart concept which was made to cater to the needs of the hardworking Filipinos employees. Started in 2012, Boy Kanin is the brainchild of Mr.  Antonio Z. Atienza and Mr. Ronald Callao. They hope not just to feed hungry stomachs but also to remind us why we always return to our homegrown cuisine. Rice base meals were popular across different segment of the society

Boy Kanin’s employees and staff at their booth

6th Anniversary Treats

 visitors at Boy Kanin’s the booth

Boy Kanin’s exhibition booth is located within second level of SMX Convention Center. It is small replica of their free-standing restaurant stall.

The company currently had 83 branches in different locations all over the country. They are targeting at least 160 branches by the year end.

The exhibit booth is one of the imposing structure at the exposition with hundreds of visitors and guests who enjoyed playing games and won exciting raffle prizes such as limited edition mugs, caps, tumblers and free meals!

Well-Love Dishes

top-bottom: Boy kanin’s Pork Barbecue, Boy sisig, Sizzling Liempo, Chicken Pinoy Barbecue

Starting late April 2019, Boy Kanin will be launching their unlimited rice ( kanin) promo in all of their branches nationwide. This will enable rice loving Filipinos to eat at their heart’s content.

UNLIMITED Kanin Promo

Unlike other regular food stalls, each bowl of rice is stir fried and then infused with a cooked sauce of your choice. Their well-loved classic savory sauce of adobo, longganisa, tocino, chicken pinoy barbecue, crispy pata, lugaw, pinoy burrito, you will get a chance to taste authentic home-cooked meals.

Mr. Ronald Allan Callao ( President)

“Over this six-year journey, we’ve been up, and we’ve been down. We’ve won, and lost. We’ve laughed, cried, worried, celebrated, pondered, and partied. But through it all, we’ve continued to focus on building something that we can stand behind and that we’re proud to be a part of. ”

Corporate Partnership

Unknown to many, Boy Kanin’s had several social community projects tucked under their social corporate responsibility. one of which is the annual LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019 bicycle race in which the company is one of the proud partner. Mr. Callo is bicycle enthusiast.

Social Responsibility

Another feat is that for every purchase of their ginger/ turmeric tea. A customer is already helping the indigenous aeta communities in Rizal province in which the company  directly purchase their produce.

The company also partnered with some farmer communities for sourcing their produce from banana leaves, seafood, vinegar, bagoong and rice.

suman with thick sauce and latik

Desserts

Another well-love desserts are suman with gracious toppings of latik (caramelized coconut cream) and thick sauce. This is best paired with kapeng barako of Batangas.

Franchise Packages

There are four types of franchise packages : Floor Kiosk Package, Counter Type Dine-In Package , Small Line Package and Big In-Line Package.

Like and Share Facebook : Tropang Boy Kanin

Those who are interested with franchising, Boy Kanin also had a partnership with BPI Family Ka-Negosyo program.

Contact for Franchise:

Address: #73-A 10th Avenue Barangay Soccorro , Murphy, Cubao , Quezon City

Landline :(02) 352 8130 / (02) 745-0771

+63917 344 3427 Globe
+63923 683 1409 Suncellular
(02) 352-8130 Landline

Email: franchising.boykanin@gmail.com
Website: www.boykanin.com

A Collection of Wooden Urna Containers for Religious Icon

Wooden urns or locally called” urnas” is loosely translated into “religious shrines,”  “wooden niches”, ” wooden altars” that were intricately carved wooden housing for santos, or religious icons.

late 19th century urnas owned  by a private collector in Quezon City

Religious Art Form

This is a form of religious art which was introduced by the Mexican-Spaniards towards the late 16th century and usually made from wood. The design varies from one province to another. Those coming from Bohol, Leyte,Central Visayas, Ilocos, Pampanga and Bulacan are some of the highly sought after by collectors.

different kinds of religious containers for sale ( photo courtesy of Mr. Edgardo Gamo)

With opening of the country’s trade and direct rule by Spain towards the beginning of the 19th century, There were a lot of European styles and influence coming from Macao, Goa and Cochin in making of local wooden containers.

simple wooden urna ( photo courtesy of Mr. Edgardo E. Gamo Jr.)

Most of those frequently encountered were the mass produce ones from the late 1930’s to mid-1990’s. These became common features in most Catholic homes all over the country and these are mostly sold in commercial religious stores or custom made in some wooden furniture stores.

wooden urnas ( about 4 feet tall and made during the middle part of the 20th century)

Premium Wood

Premium religious containers were usually made from hardwood tree species like narra,yakal, molave, tanguile, batikuling, ipil or kamagong.

 seated Christ the King inside the wooden urna

Some would use the common acacia, mahogany, palo china tree species. These are far cheaper by at least 20% to 50% from those premium hardwood species. Prices would also vary with additional carvings, inlaying process, gold leaf ornamentation, installation of glass, paintings, cost of labor and transportation. These tend to further increase the prices of these containers.

processional wooden urna

The ordinary box-type wooden altars that were simply varnished or painted and tend to use plywood at the back. Front side were carved with decorative details such as Jesus Christ’s, Blessed Virgin Mary or “AVM” monogram. Having gothic, neo-gothic design motifs, crosses, art nouveau or art deco ornamentation depending on the era or designs popular among customers were used.

( photo courtesy of Mr. Edgardo E. Gamo Jr. )

Mass Produced

Many of these mass manufactured wooden urnas still survived today, although it is getting hard to come by as wood is getting scare. The art of making them also entails a lot of time and labor. According to a wooden furniture maker based in Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City, They would only get a handful of commission work for these types of wooden containers. Most are from devoted Catholics or parishes with expensive life-size religious statues.

A simple 20 inch tall wooden container could cost as much as Php 5,500 roughly US$105, using ordinary wood.

34 x 13 x 13 height inches tall with 19 x 12 inches glass ( photo courtesy of Mr. Edgardo E. Gamo Jr. ) This was made from narra and plywood and was sold in May 24, 2018

Some would opt using acrylic glass or glass display for their religious icons.

simple wooden urna affixed in an old house in Sampaloc, Manila

foo dogs, tea ya kong and religious items were placed inside this wooden urna

The wooden urna above is the center piece at a religious store located in Blumentritt, Santa Cruz, Manila. It is not for sale and was made at least 30 years ago.

According to the staff, the shop stop selling this type of commercial wooden urna for at least a decade.

These are just few of the different types of wooden urnas, People would regard then as part of our religious heritage.

 

 

 

Cactus Fiesta Fair 4 in UN Square Mall

Cactus Fiesta Fair 4 was organize by National Cactus and Succulent Organization of the Philippines Inc. (NCSOPi)  in partnership with UN Square Mall, Manila Bulletin and Agriculture Magazine. The exhibit will be held from April 5 to 7, 2019.

Schedule of Activities

The opening will be held on April 5, 2019 with a simple ribbon cutting ceremonies at past 9:00 am and there will be talks, lectures, raffles, table top competition, live plant auction and sale from some of the exhibits.

In line with this event, Pick a Plant ( one of Singapore’s largest plant retailers and seller of Tillandsia) will be having their booth at the exhibit. For those who will buy plant at their booth there is a chance of getting free tillandsia.

table top competition guidelines

Table top competition set aside two major categories: Cactus and Succulent. The winners of the competition will get cash prizes, ribbon and trophy. acceptance of  entries will be from April 5 at 9:00am to April 6 – 12:00 nn.

pot in a pot challenge

Another exciting competition which is open to the general public is the pot in a pot challenge in which dish garden from size 8 to 10 inches in diameter will be accepted.  The organization had an active FB page with more than 100,000 members, making this one of the largest plant group in the country.

Contact Persons: Mr.Ronald Panelo or Mr. Karl Calica ( +63 995 937 1001) via FB  Email : secretariat.ncsopi@gmail.com.

Please mark your calendar and unlike other plant shows, This does not have any entrance fees !

 

 

 

Spectacular Bonsai Displays at Sanib Pwersa at SM North

Spectacular bonsai, natural stones, ikebana arrangement greeted members, visitors, guests of Sanib Pwersa exhibit held at SM North,The Block in Quezon City.

bonsai on display

This was thru the efforts of three major plant organizations in the country. The Philippine Bonsai Society Inc., Natural Stone Society of the Philippines and Ikenobo Ikebana Manila number 67.

free style flower arrangement

Celosia cristata  was used in this flower arrangement.  It is called cockscomb flower since the shape and color flower looks like the rooster head.

The Gentle Walk of the Giant

natural stones exhibited by Architect Jesus Galahad “Bimbo”  Vergara which won “Gold ” award .  The exhibit was entitled ” The Gentle Walk of the Giant” because the the pattern and unique shape of the stone.

Pong Pagong Knockout

Another big winner is Mrs. Norma K. Villanueva. Her exhibit entitled “Pong Pagong Knockout” won “Gold” award. The natural stone looked like a sea turtle in resting mode.

There were also free public lectures from the industry leaders and it held for free.