Urban Sketch

122-3556-7 – Maria Uson, Ed and the old legislative building

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Maria Uson and Ed

On 16 July I joined Urban Sketchers Manila for a meet up and to join in the Centennial Trails event at the National Museum of the Philippines, which celebrated 100 years of the Old Legislative Building (which is now the museum). My first sketch was done during the introductory talks, which was followed by a guided tour with a researcher who explained the architectural history.

The old legislative building

We then went outside and sketched the front of the building from nearby the Gomburza monument – which I sketched back in Feb 2024 (see sketches No.2590-91).

Thu-16-Jul-2026

122-3553 – Diver on the ceiling

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This is the second sketch I did in Doha at the “Food Park” dining zone (on my way back from Iraq), where I had something to eat. According to Gemini AI (which often gets things wrong), the dining area is designed around the theme pearl diving (which Doha has a history of), and the diver is supposed to look like they are surrounded by a deep blue sea while diving for oysters. I can’t find any pictures of the sculpture online and (as often seems to be the habit) the artist is not credited anywhere I can see.

Fri-10-Jul-2026

122-3548-9 – Lounges on the way to Iraq

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PAGS lounge

Here are the sketches I did on the way to Erbil, Iraq for work. The first is at the PAGS (Philippine Airport and Ground Services) lounge. I was surprised to be bumped up to business class – the travel agent had offered an upgrade with a hefty extra cost and I said no thanks, but somehow I ended up in business class anyway. So although I always feel a little uncomfortable with luxury and being waited on, I took advantage of the free coffee and breakfast before leaving Manila.

Another lounge

The second sketch is of the Al-Mourjan business lounge in Doha. The PAGS lounge was much better – here there was only free coffee and no food. This sketch ended up almost abstract. By this point I was pretty tired, so that’s my excuse.

Tue-7-Jul-2026

122-3546 – Meal out

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On this day we had our lunch out after having done some shopping (I got some new glasses) in the morning. This elderly couple looked as though they were dressed up for a day out…they probably looked over at us and saw another elderly couple (staring at them, and not dressed up!).

Sat-4-Jul-2026

122-3542 – Powerplant and disclosure day

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By coincidence I ended up at the Powerplant mall again (after having met my friend there the day before) – because it had a showing of the movie “Disclosure Day” – one of the few still showing it because we were late in deciding to go and see it. What a rollercoaster ride! The movie started a bit slow but Spielberg knows how to keep you riveted to your seat and the two-plus hours zipped by. The ending was a bit disappointing but I can see that it would be impossible to find a satisfying way to wrap it up. I sketched this while we sat and had dinner at the Roti Shop before the movie.

Sun-28-Jun-2026

122-3539-41 – Poblacion Barangay, Museo ng Makati and people

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Poblacion Barangay

Here are the other sketches I did when I joined Urban Sketchers Manila at the Rosas ng Sampiro festival in Poblacion Barangay of Makati City. This is an annual cultural and street-dancing celebration by local schools, that honours the city’s patroness, the Virgen dela Rosa de Macati (an 18th-century statue at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish, apparently brought from Mexico via galleon in 1718).

Museo ng Makati

I first drew a group of fellow sketchers and then went up to the balcony of the Barangay Hall where I sketched the view and the crowds of people. The costumes and performances were fantastic, but they moved so fast that I couldn’t capture them in a drawing.

People at Rosas ng Sampiro

Sat-27-Jun-2026