Tag Archives: entertainment
Musical strokes
Musical strokes Olivia Olarte-Ulherr / 12 July 2013 He is not your typical artist. Ako, Filipino — a blindfolded nation. He does not shy away from attention nor does he shun everyone out in his creative moment. Tom Alvarado is exactly the opposite. He is gregarious, loves to entertain and involves his audience as he sings while painting his creation. Dubbed as the “Filipino Singing Painter” by Philippine ambassador Grace Relucio-Princesa, Alvarado’s fame snowballed overnight after appearing at last year’s celebration of the Philippine Independence. He impressed the ambassador with his own rendition of Filipino singer, Freddie Aguilar’s, Bulag, Pipi’t Bingi (Blind, Mute and Deaf) while painting a portrait of a woman on canvas, rhyming each stroke with the lyrics and dramatically finishing off with the Philippine flag. The portrait, Alvarado’s “mother painting”, is now kept on display in his gallery in Dubai that also serves as his office. This year, Alvarado has been invited once more to showcase his talent and display his artworks at the Philippine embassy. This time, he interpreted Anak (Child), also by Freddie Aguilar, and painted a mother and child on canvas. Asked how he prepares for his show, Alvarado said he doesn’t. “I don’t practice. I think about what I want to do and paint on the spot,” said the 50-year old quirky artist. A businessman by trade and mindset, Alvarado has denied his innate talent from flourishing in the early years, focusing instead on entrepreneurial ventures and jobs that offer a more stable income. But his aptitude came to fore one day. While working as a security guard in a municipality, he passed off the time sketching a portrait of the then Philippine president Corazon Aquino in coloured pastel. His creative work did not go unnoticed and he got promoted as the provincial artist, painting murals on local stage productions. Despite this breakthrough and the opportunity to work on his art, which centres on abstract and surreal themes, his economist side came back knocking. And sure enough, he traded his burgeoning painting career into a different artistic and enterprising path – as handicraft artist. “I went into handicraft in the 90s and started exporting Christmas decors from paper mache. I dabbled in mixed media using poly resin which I form as angels and fruits. I stayed in the export business for about seven years,” related Alvarado, who managed to break the Asian and European market. However, China’s emergence into the market with cheaper products has halted his chance of progressing further. “I am goal-oriented. I planned to get married at the age of 25; at 30, I said I will be a millionaire and I achieved those. Now at 50, I hope to conquer another milestone,” said the artist. And he did. Not only was he a successful entrepreneur, having his own home decorative painting business – Candor Decor – in Dubai, he is also the first, if not the only Filipino singing painter in the UAE. Two careers that he balances very well. As a businessman, he hopes to pass on his talent in mural painting to his younger employees and open-up branches across the UAE and give his compatriots employment. As a painter, he plans to focus on his art fully this time around. Alvarado said he compares his strokes with that of Pablo Picasso’s surrealism with his somewhat distorted representation of his imagination. Bayanihan — a nation’s undying love for colours. — Supplied photos The self-confessed “weird” artist said he does not have any usual subject but expresses what is in his mind, including its clutters. “My art has one trademark, the eye, which you’ll find in all of my artworks. This symbol eye is the spirit, which means that I can observe everything,” explained Alvarado. What characteristics can you consider have brought you to where you are now? “Being humble and simple,” Alvarado said simply. olivia@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Malls line up activities, extend operating hours
Malls line up activities, extend operating hours Staff Reporter / 12 July 2013 Malls in Dubai and Sharjah are hosting special events throughout Ramadan to welcome shoppers and visitors. Reflections of the Moon … at the Dubai Mall. The Dubai Mall announced a series of attractions for visitors under the theme ‘The World Gathers Here for Goodness.’ Visitors have the opportunity to view rare art pieces dating back several centuries, as well as the World’s Biggest Book highlighting the biography of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Nasser Rafi, chief executive officer, Emaar Malls Group, said: “The holy month of Ramadan is a time to reflect on solidarity and foster camaraderie amongst friends and families.” The mall’s décor has been inspired by the Holy Quran and created by Emirati artist Mattar bin Lahej. One of his masterpieces is the collection of nine unique sculptures in the shape of the moon, the ‘Moon Reflection,’ that will be on display at the mall’s Waterfall Atrium, where each sculpture will represent a different phase of the moon and will be dedicated to a specific verse from the Holy Quran. As part of the Ramadan activities the mall is continuing the tradition of providing visitors with daily Iftar packs with mineral water, dates, and a Ramadan calendar, distributed complimentary at all Guest Service Desks. During Ramadan, The Dubai Mall has extended operating hours daily from 10am to 1am, while the food and beverage outlets are open from Iftar until 2am and restaurants on the Waterfront Promenade to be open until 3am. The biggest book in the world at the Dubai Mall. — Supplied photos Sharjah’s Mega Mall has also lined up several fun filled activities and promotions to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. Family, friends and shoppers get to experience the spirit of the holy month by visiting Ramadan tents, placed in Water and Garden Courts. The mall is offering shoppers a chance to savour delectable treats with dates and Gahwa being served. Ladies can get their hands painted with attractive Henna tattoos in the Water Court tent. Visitors can also benefit by receiving a free health check, hosted by the Ministry of Health as a part of the Health Awareness Campaign. The campaign takes place from July 18 to 20, July 25 to 27 as well as from August 1 to 3 from 8pm to 12midnight.— muaz@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Out in the heat without a shade
Out in the heat without a shade Staff Reporter / 12 July 2013 Commuters waiting at bus stops, carrying bags and shielding their faces with sunglasses and scarves is not an unusual sight. But, what is being done about the lack of bus shelters at key traffic junctions in the city? Air conditioning of all shelters has not yet been achieved, and most stops do not have tinted glass to shield them form direct sunlight. When Khaleej Times asked the Roads and Transports Authority why there were neither sunshades nor a place to sit at many stops — including the one opposite Deira City Centre which is used by hundreds of passengers daily — acting director of planning and business development Essa Al Hashemi said: “We are currently installing shades in most of the heavy passenger generation points. Waiting platforms at bus stations will be totally sun-protected during hot months.” He assured Khaleej Times that “robust criteria has been developed to ensure effective utilisation of current shades and many reallocation and installments have occurred to cover the main bus stops including Al Ghubaiba, Al Qouz, Al Karama and Gold Souq.” Miriam Khan, a 32-year-old receptionist at the head office of a beverage distillery in Deira says she faces a problem getting buses because her office was away from the main route. She said she took the metro to work from her Karama home. “But I have to change to the bus. At one stop, the bus comes to the metro station at Baniyas, so I don’t feel the heat … it’s alright because of the air conditioning in the metro, but my neighbour who has to go to office in Ghusais says she has to be even careful about what she carries for lunch, as waiting for a bus in the heat ruins the food.” While the RTA has in the past promised to expand the number of air conditioned shelters, Al Hashimi said: “superior design and technology are adopted for the AC shelters and more than 650 such shelters are located across Dubai. RTA has planned to expand this project to cover other bus stops categorised by passenger volumes and availability of infrastructure.” Dubai buses The Dubai bus fleet consists of 1,574 buses that operate on 22 Dubai Metro Feeder routes out of the 86 inner routes covering 85 per cent of Dubai’s urban districts. The Dubai bus fleet covers over 5,759,116 kilometres (as of February 2013). Service volumes are adjusted on Fridays and public holidays in relation to the passenger demand. Around 309,992 passengers travel per day. The bus fleet made of custom-built and equipped with comfortable seats dedicated for ladies and children, air-conditioning, special needs facilities, electronically operated destination display system and computerised fare equipment. nivriti@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
