National Coloring Book Day Philippines 2015

A week ago, I hosted the first ever National Coloring Book Day event here in the Philippines. Together with my partners and sponsors, we welcomed everyone at The Warrior Poet Art Cafe inside the Cubao Expo compound.

But before we get to that in details, let me first talk about how it all started.

I first learned about adult coloring book when my officemate, Muffie, gave me a surprise gift for my birthday. By the way, Muffie and I share the same birth date. Yes, we were both born on June 16. I use to think she's like my coincidental twin.

Muffie editing our bookmark samples with her Birthday cupcake from Cuppacakes

Anyway, that was the first time I've ever laid eyes on a coloring book for adults. It never cross my mind that there was such a thing like this. I flipped the pages over and over and when I kept it aside, I couldn't take my mind off it. They were the most beautiful designs I have ever seen. I knew immediately I had to finish work early so I could start coloring atleast one page.

My first colored page from Creative Haven Mosaic.

It seemed difficult to do the first time you try your hands on it. Sometimes, you'll even feel intimidated or overwhelmed by the designs. But I shook off those feelings. So every time I get a chance, I color. Day and night, I painstakingly try to finish my first ever colored page. After a week of hard work I showed Muffie my finished page. She was ecstatic! She marveled at my color combinations. I was seriously happy.

Since then, I started bringing my coloring materials to work. When we all go for lunch I'd still bring my stuff. Sometimes, while I eat, I color. Some other times I just don't eat at all just to have more time to color. But, readers, don't do that. That's wrong. It's not good for your health. Not good at all.

Shortly after my 2nd finished page was when Muffie and I started taking coloring more seriously. And by this time we've already joined an international group on Facebook called Coloring Books for Adults. Also, by this time Muffie and another co-worker have already purchased a coloring book for themselves. And before we knew it we were already forming a mini-group of coloring fanatics!

My 2nd work

My 3rd work

By July 9, 2015, Coloring Book for Adults - Philippines was formed. As soon as I've created the group page on Facebook, I learned that our international counterpart was going to conduct a Natioinal Coloring Book Day on August 2. I acted almost immediately the moment I knew that we only had 3 weeks to make things happen.

Atlas, we came to this.

National Coloring Book Day Philippines 2015 - Official Poster

 Together with our international partners - National Coloring Book day, Dover Publications and Meet up and awesome sponsors - Craft Carrot, Frou Frou Crafts, Kolorista and Girl Travel Factor we made the impossible, possible.

Dover Publications provided us with the National Coloring Book Day Edition sheets that were given for FREE during the event. They also tied up with Meet Up to serve as official online event planner for everyone who wants to host "meet ups" or events. I applied as the host for Manila, Philippines. And after series of email exchanges with Amanda from Dover Publications they gave me the official host title for the National Coloring Book day in Manila, PH. Wew!

I learned about Craft Carrot from a former office mate who posted on the group page about an event in Ayala Museum where they are going to be a part of. I looked them up and learned from their website that they've got a widest array of pens, paint brushes and other coloring materials I have ever seen. They have items that are most of the time not found at the local supplies store. Carrot Craft is your number choice for specialty arts and crafts retailer in the Philippines.

Jaelle Andrada-Albaniel of Frou Frou Crafts is like our local handmade accessories and coloring books queen. Yes, that's right. She makes handmade coloring books. I think before the event, Muffie and I had this silent burning anticipation to meet her. We wanted to let her know how amazingly talented we think she is and how much we want to support her in the local scene.

Kolorista is my brainchild. With a little help from my boyfriend, Vince and Muffie, Kolorista came to life. We offer hand-painted clipboards, so you can easily work on your coloring book sheets and Kolorista tie-dyed shirts for souvenirs.

Girl Travel Factor is Muffie's very own blog. She's a travel bug you see. But she's a brilliant photographer too. When we're out of town with the team, you can expect that she'd be out there, either snorkeling for sea creatures or taking photos of everything under the sun.

And speaking of photos. Let's end this post with some of the photos that Muffie took during the event. Enjoy look at them and we hope to see you at our next event. Cheers!

National Coloring Book Day 2015 Edition Sheets. These were the give aways for all the event attendees. We hope you were able to get your own copy. They're absolutely beautiful.

National Coloring Book Day Philippines 2015 at the Warrior Poet Art Cafe

Me & Vince wearing Kolorista Tie Dyed Shirts with friends

My brother and my sister at the National Coloring Book Day Philippines 2015 event. My brother tried to join the On-The-Spot Coloring Contest but couldn't finish his work on time. Sorry bro, better luck next time.

This is Jennifer, an officemate and the August Artist of the Month in our group. She got herself a gift pack from our awesome sponsors Craft Carrot, Frou Frou Crafts and Kolorista. Congratulations!

This is Joenell, our On The Spot Coloring Contest Winner. He also got himself a gift pack from our awesome sponsors Craft Carrot, Frou Frou Crafts and Kolorista. Congratulations!

My Sharpie, Typography, Hand-Written Letterings Habit

One day I bought 3 Sharpie pens in Black, Silver and Gold. I don't really have anything in mind to do with them when I bought them, but I just bought them. I know I wanted to something creatively and I wanted to use a Sharpie, but I never thought I'd do something like this.

It's called hand-written lettering. Typography? I'm not exactly sure. Anyway, when I bought my Sharpie pens it was the week before the Holy week. So I had a lot of preparation done. Like these:

My first hand-written lettering for Vince and I

Lyrics from one of my favorite songs Space Oddity by David Bowie

I did this when I got sick and couldn't come to work. Can't remember if I showed this to my boss, he would've been impressed.

Done during the Philippine National Day of Valor.

When Holy week started I still came to work. So, since I couldn't be able to go to churches and pray I did a lot of these instead:

Monday

Tuesday

This Wednesday theme is awful.

Thursday

Lastly, Friday

 Cheers to creativity!

Pet-Friendly Hotel in Patar Beach Bolinao, Pangasinan

The title is the giveaway here you know.

I had been on the look out for pet-friendly places to go to around Metro Manila for so long. Of course the usual places will come up - UP grounds (too bad you can't let your dog go off the leash anymore), Marikina Riverbanks, Eastwood Citywalk, Tiendesitas and BGC grounds.

But the thing is, almost all of these places I mentioned are filled with people. People who may not be fond of having pets around. I know it's all right, but I feel for them. I mean, when I'm not with my dog and I ate at an al fresco dining, I wouldn't want other people's dogs to be messing around my availed personal space. I mean, come on! Don't just let your dog wander, tighten up the leash a bit so to make sure he stays close to you.

Anyway, last year, my friends and I went for a weekend getaway in Bolinao. Vince gave me the idea that Boom is the type of dog who loves to swim. Goldies are rescue dogs remember? They can even save people from drowning. So that's it. Forget about the pet-friendly parks, restaurants and malls. We're taking Boom to the beach!

Vince and Boom in front of G Hotel

G Hotel is a beach front hotel facing Patar Beach in Bolinao, Pangasinan is one of the few hotels out of town that allows guests to bring their pets around. This is where we went along with Boom, my Golden Retriever, so he can try for the very first time how to swim. Bolinao is a 5-6 hours drive from Manila. I think it took us about that time because we had a couple of stop overs to let Boom out of his cage for a while. There were really a lot of things that Vince and I did to make sure that Boom is prepared or this trip. Because going out of town with a pet dog is first time for all of us. Here are some of them:

1. House trained him for about a month (because I never really seriously house trained him before). 

2. We made him ride the cab with us for longer hours so we can observe how he reacts while in transit and if he can last the long ride. 

3. Combed his hair well every night so he won't shed a lot of hair while we're sharing a dorm type room with friends. 

4. And most importantly trained him to listen to my voice, to be obedient, to pay attention and to do as I command. 

Although, swimming is our main goal for Boom, we couldn't really anything about it yet of course. Unless we have swimming pool. Which we don't. Here are some photos I took around G Hotel. I took a lot of panoramic shots - which I know you will too, if you've been there - because the scene is exquisitely beautiful.

G Hotel beach front

Vince and I loved our weekend getaway in G Hotel. I think Boom loved the place too. The dorm type room we got is so spacious Boom could walk and jump around without hitting anybody. It has 6 bunk beds and 2 queen sized beds with the most comfortable mattresses I had ever slept on. There were lots of tables outside too. Although we almost had the place to ourselves, I think even if this place was fully booked, people won't have trouble moving around. I haven't told you the best part yet. UNLIMITED BREWED COFFEE!!!

The unlimited brewed coffee served in G Hotel is something we need to talk about. People, this is serious. I mean, when I start talking about coffee in a totally unrelated blog post like this, it's something. It's definitely something ridiculously serious. Ok, sorry. Anyway, the G Hotel coffee is absolutely perfect. It really made me a lot happier about my stay. Every morning I wake up and I drank that coffee, I felt great. I literally felt great. I came home dreaming of owning that pot of coffee that I totally forgot to ask what brand of coffee are they using. That's another reason to come back, right?

There are so many ways we can show love to our pet. Whether it be by giving them treats, giving them a hug, scratching their tummies and all. But we preferred it this way. We wanted to show Boom how much we love him by giving him the chance to explore and have fun. We want him to learn new things and experience new things. We want him to be active and stay healthy as much as possible.

Most importantly, we want him to be really happy.