Finally I am starting to post my sketches done on our holiday to the UK. We arrived at the airport in Metro Manila 4 hours(!) before our flight, anticipating a long process. I wasn’t far off – we had to queue for more than an hour to check in. Then, of course, our flight transiting through BKK was delayed and we had a mad dash to the gate in Bangkok. This sketch was done in the airport when we had something to eat before departing.
Wed-14-May-2025
I did this sketch after we had visited Manila Memorial Park on Labour Day, when we stopped to get some breakfast. Unsurprisingly (as Mang Inasal’s speciality is their Chicken Inasal, a grilled chicken dish marinated in a blend of spices and served with unlimited rice) there was little vegetarian food for me to eat, so I had to make do with deep fried spring rolls. Sketching all these tables and chairs was a challenge I couldn’t resist.
Thu-1-May-2025
Here is the second sketch I did on World Book Day with #UskMnl in Ayala Triangle Gardens. I did this sketch of a restaurant sign that I could see, while waiting at Bacolod Chicken Inasal and drinking my “mais and banana kon-yelo”.
Sat-26-Apr-2025
I did this sketch in Robinsons Manila when we had a quick snack before heading home, after a trip to PGH. This mall is so much larger that when we last went there…we got married nearby many years ago).
Wed-23-Apr-2025
Here is a sketch I did during our lunch after a fairly easy crossing on the RORO from Marinduque to Luzon (despite requirements for an island exit pass…which wasn’t needed and queuing in a holding area, also not needed). These three smartly dressed people saw me sketching them but weren’t displeased.
Mon-21-Apr-2025
The restaurant where I sketched this was out in the middle of nowhere but seemed popular – perhaps because they have a pretty good menu. My wife had crabs cooked in coconut and Bago leaves (or Melinjo leaves, from the Gnemon tree). She said the crabs didn’t have much meat on them but were tasty…I had pesto pasta. Our only problem was that the waiter said our food would take up to 1 hour to be ready, when we sat down! That gave me plenty of time to sketch this.
Sat-19-Apr-2025
Here is another random sketch of something from the fridge. I have a few prostate issues and my doctor recommends eating tomatoes – some studies (note that not all agree) say that the high levels of the anti-oxidant lycopene can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Tue-11-Mar-2025
This sketch was done at Shakey’s down the road from where we live. We set out to drive to Wabi-Sabi Noodle House in Makati, but the traffic was appallingly bad (worse than the usual dreadful conditions), so we just stopped at the nearest eatery. For desert I ate the brownie that is featured in this poster…it was supposed to have salted caramel on it but I think they just sprinkle (far to much) salt on some syrup!
Thu-27-Feb-2025
This is the first sketch in another sketchbook made using 300gsm Baohong Hot Pressed paper. The first of these tall thin sketches was done at J.Co donuts (I always thought they were a Filipino company but it seems they are Indonesian). We went out to the mall firstly for me to post my passport to the UK and secondly to buy some stuff to prepare to join the Luneta Art Fair. The second sketch is the only tall and thin thing I could think of to sketch the following day, which I did while we watched the TV.
Wed-29 and Thu-30-Jan-2025