Travel has always been that far-off if not unattainable dream for most people. It allows us to break away from the time constraints and savagery of the bustling, polluted cities. It urges us to find ourselves during still moments by the sea. And it even grants us the chance to escape from our own selves through an unbelievable immersion in cultures so interesting, complex and different.
[So you can] imagine my excitement when I heard my parents were planning a two-week trip to Jordan, Israel and Egypt. My heart leapt and I knew I just had to tag along. Who can pass up the chance?
Like everybody else, I have been secretly (and unconsciously) building a bucket list of destinations: 100–more or less–places to visit before I die. Not that I want to leave Earth just yet. But surely, anyone who has dreams and wishing for a fulfilling life wants to explore what secrets and hidden beauty our planet has to offer. So when the opportunity presented itself, I knew I just had to join the first plane out of Manila and into Middle-East-slash-Asia-slash-Africa [and finally witness what wonders the world has in store].
I have lots more to share! :) To read up on the rest, please grab a copy of Expat Travel and Lifestyle Magazine’s Special Anniversary issue in your local bookstores.
In the meantime, I would like to share some of my favorite shots from the trip. The Holy Land is truly incomparable :) Oh, try clicking on the pictures for some Bible passages! MORE THOUGHTS HERE
Easter Sunday just came to a close, so I’d like to share some pictures of our little road trip (yup, I’m Catholic) around the much unexplored countryside in my home province of Rizal for Lent. While we wanted to visit a total of fourteen churches to complete the Stations of the Cross (Via Crucis) for Visita Iglesia, I still think we came up with a pretty decent number in less than a day of driving around and getting lost.
Visita Iglesia, which translates literally to “church visit” in Spanish, means to explore churches with prayer, meditation and full acknowledgement of Jesus’ sufferings. It is a Holy Week tradition of Roman origin, which is practiced by a number of Filipino Christians by visiting at least seven churches usually starting Maundy Thursday.
Our province, which is just east of of Metro Manila and subdivided into thirteen municipalities and a city, is named after our country’s national hero Jose Rizal. Personally, it evokes simple, provincial charm with small dashes of Manila-like urbanization scattered all over its generally mountainous terrain. There are many Catholic Churches and religious destinations spread out in Rizal, here’s nine:
1. Our Lady of Antipolo Shrine – Antipolo City
P. Oliveros St., Antipolo City 1870 Rizal
Call 697-0274/696-3110
Parish Priest: Most Rev. Gabriel V. Reyes, DD
The Antipolo cathedral, which was built by Rev. Juan de Salazar, is home to the miraculous virgin of Antipolo–known to many as the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Nuestra Señora dela Paz y Buenviaje). It is said that the religious icon saved the Spanish galleon “El Almirante” not only from the destruction brought by fire and the seas, but also by pirates and British and Dutch blockades.
This church is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo (formerly Archdiocese of Manila), which includes the expanse of the whole Rizal province, Marikina City and a section of Pasig in Metro Manila.
2. St. Rose de Lima Parish – Teresa, Rizal
Brgy. San Gabriel, Teresa 1880 Rizal
Call 344-1153
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Bienvenido C. Miguel, Jr.
Named after its patron saint St. Rose of Lima, the church used to be a mere kamalig-like structure (Tagalog word for barn) that was destroyed during the Japanese occupation. After the country’s liberation, the old chapel was reconstructed and eventually replaced by the larger church to accommodate the growing number of Catholic faithful.
According to its marker, there was a legend of a woman thought to be St. Rose who was seen walking around the fields when the image of the patroness was lost. When the image finally reappeared on the chapel’s altar, traces of amor seco (love grass), a kind of perennial weed, was seen on its clothing.
3. St. Jerome Parish – Morong, Rizal
Turentigue St., Brgy. San Jose, Morong 1960 Rizal
Call 653-1259
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Lopito P. Hiteroza
Undeniably one of the town’s more popular landmarks, the church, which is sometimes referred to as Iglesia de San Geronimo, is a neo-baroque architectural stunner with a school adjacent to its left and a view of the Morong skyline.
Built by Chinese craftsmen in 1615, the newer parish replaced the first church that was destroyed by a fire in 1612. The frontispiece and the bell tower were built by one Bartolome Palatino of Paete sometime between 1850-1853.
St. Jerome’s is famous for its impressive facade, octagonal belfry– whose large bell’s lifting still remains a mystery because of the seemingly impossible ascent through the church’s narrow staircase–and the bullet holes and pockmarks in the church walls left by a gun battle between Spanish Guardia Civil and Katipuneros (Filipino insurgents) during the 1986 Spanish Revolution.
4. St. Joseph Husband of Mary Parish - Baras, Rizal
San Jose St., Brgy. San Juan, Baras 1970 Rizal
Call 330-1598
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Romarico V. Hilario
Dating back to 1595, St. Joseph was the first church to have been built by the Franciscan order in Baras and is one of the oldest in the region. Made from dark adobe, it has balustrade trimmings atop its belfry and near the cross on the triangular pediment, a seeming checkerboard for a wall exterior and tiles from the Intramuros ruins. The interior is home to rich contrasts, like the golden fixtures against the exposed wooden beams.
During a renovation in the late 1960s, a huge stone altar was said to have been discovered underneath the sanctuary. The altar, which is presently used, along with the sanctuary, sacristy, church interiors, facade, grotto, roof and columbary has been preserved and restored.
5. San Ildefonso de Toledo Parish – Tanay, Rizal
MH DEL Pilar St., Tanay 1980 Rizal
Call 654-1015
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Noeh E. Elnar
Located at the heart of Tanay, this 405-year-old church has bore witness to a number of interesting historical events.
Named after Archbishop Ildefonso of Toledo, Spain, the Church of Tanay was initially built as an independent parish in 1606 and later on transferred to San Antonio, with its thatched roof made only of cogon grass and wood. The present church was completed in 1783. Fransciscan lay brother Fray Pedro de Talavera, who founded a mission in Pantay, served as the first priest.
Story goes that the aged icon of La Purisima Concepcion (which translated loosely refers to the image of “immaculate conception” of Mary) was the only survivor of a Church fire. Hostile Aetas, who were indigenous inhabitants of the area of Monte Tan-ay, gutted the church and forced the Spanish regiment of one Captain Juan de Salcedo to immediately retreat.
The miraculous image, which was reportedly discovered and attacked by spears by Chinese rebels during an uprising, supposedly caused the spears to rebound and kill the men. The remaining rebel allegedly committed suicide after witnessing the event, hence the site “Pinagbigtihan” (Place of Hanging) in the area.
San Ildefonso is also among the five Jubilee churches of the Antipolo Diocese.
6. Parokya ni Santa Maria Magdalena – Pililia, Rizal
Brgy. Imatong, Pililla 1910 Rizal
Call 654-4836; 654-2881
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Jose Victor D. Nepomuceno
Also known as the St. Mary Magdalene Parish, the parish’s inscription recounts how Franciscan priests first ordered the construction of the church in 1583 under the patronage of St. Mary Magdalene using cogon and bamboo. This led to a better and improved infrastructure but a fire burned down the first church in 1632, and eventually gave way to the building of a stone church sometime 1670-1673.
Outside, the marked difference between the belfry and upper, and lower bodies of the church is noticeable. Inside, the entire stretch of the church’s wooden ceiling against the colorful tiles leading up to the altar easily draws one’s eyes towards the equally impressive golden altar and sacristy, while the ceiling-high stained-glass windows illuminate the interior with various shades and hues.
7. St. Michael the Archangel Parish – Jalajala, Rizal
Ciriaco Villaran St., Brgy. 1st District, Jalajala 1990 Rizal
Call 401-4858
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Gerald G. Metal
Named after the archangel and patron saint of Jalajala, St. Michael the Archangel Parish seems a wee bit out of place in this list of Church destinations. It is a small church, as opposed to all aforementioned, but it is also the lone Catholic church in the area (if the information from the resident we asked was reliable).
After getting lost, God or probably our guardian angels pointed us to this area to find our former parish priest and now St. Michael’s primary steward, Fr. Gerald Metal, to ask him for directions.
Residents of Jalajala celebrate the archangels’ feast day through fiestas (town festivities) and fluvial parades annually. They generally regard the angel–whose famous armored image is usually seen wielding a sword (sometimes, a spear) and crushing Satan–as having brought them various miracles, such as interceding to help save them from the havoc brought by gusting wind and heavy rains of recent typhoons.
8. Regina RICA Sanctuary – Tanay, Rizal
Sitio Aguho, Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal
Call 985-3878; 401-2036
Open 8-5PM, closed on Tuesdays
This place took probably most of our time with maps and random directions-asking from strangers (aside from Sta. Ursula Parish in Binangongan, which we found closed after driving around countless times due to the one-way streets). Sitting at the peak of the mountains of Tanay, Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia or Regina RICA (which translated means “rich lady”) is home to the 71 ft-tall statue of the Regina Rosarii (Queen of the Holy Rosary), also known as “Our Lady on Top of the Hill”. Masterfully sculpted by Jose Barcena Jr., the icon’s construction started October 7, 2009. It was blessed on March 19, 2010.
The 13.5 ha land, which is managed by the Dominican sisters of Regina Rosarii, holds the second of three Regina Rosarii statues in the Philippines and is blessed with three waterfalls, organic gardens, a creek, an endless view of blue skies, gorgeous flowers and greenery, rolling hills and a huge chapel on the road to completion (and lots, lots more). Do check out the Pasilungan (Ilonggo for “shelter), Kakahuyan (Tagalog for “woods) and the Sulod (which in Ilonggo stands for “enter”) and other similar spots within the compound.
Aside from its iconic statue (and stunning gate), which impressively draws tourists and pilgrims, this sanctuary is held to be a place reserved for retreats and healing. The security is quite particular with the dress code, noise and picture-taking so yes, please follow the signs.
9. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish – Cardona, Rizal
Cardona 1950 Rizal
Call 652-0019
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Bonifacio V. Chavez, Jr.
Just fronting the Municipal Hall of Cardona, the parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary is part of the Vicariate of St. Jerome and a place of worship for the predominantly Catholic municipality. The cross sitting atop its bell tower glows bright blue and usually lights up the night sky. The church is also currently under the stewardship of Fr. Bonifacio Chavez, Jr.
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#2 Make friends with Stan the T-Rex and pals Aedi and Astronaut Guy
Aside from praying and meditating this Lenten Season (which is very important!), lazy Sunday afternoons can be spent with family or friends at The Mind Museum at Taguig.
Tagged as the first world-class and interactive science museum in the country, The Mind Museum, which opened last March 16, is an exciting downtime destination where kids and kids-at-heart can learn about man, our blue planet and the tiny, tiny atoms and molecules that make up the Universe…infinity and beyond! :)
The museum has a colorful Science in the Park playground (themed Music, Water, Living and Math). It also boasts of five impressive main galleries: Universe, Earth, Life, Atom and Technology, which are housed in a stand-out, futuristic two-story building in the heart of Bonifacio Global City’s blue chip compound.
The museum is reportedly a Php1 billion project funded by various private and corporate sponsors and whipped into shape by both foreign and local companies and talents, like the National Geographic Channel and the architects of Lor Calma & Partners.
Entrance fees are quite hefty, especially with students as the museum’s target demographic. Tickets sell for Php600 for adults, Php450 for those who go to private school and Php150 for teachers and public school students. With all the hands-on display and high tech gadgets on deck however (note the touchscreens and my personal fave, the laser harp!), visitors do seem to get the bang for their buck. The biggest downside to the museum’s interactive feature though is that a number of exhibits no longer work, apparently due to too much “rough play”.
But since lamenting over the fact that a number of kids today go on field trips in malls (yes, seriously!), we’d much prefer seeing them only slightly disappointed and getting creative in order to see and make do with the what-should-have-beens.
Visits are supposed to be in three-hour slots or (all day, depending on your ticket), but two hours is more than enough to explore the entire gallery. Mind Movers, aka geeks with microphones, are also available to help out but most people really prefer clowning around learning in their own pace.
A cafe selling some Cibo sandwiches and drinks can also be found in the second level but with all the food strips surrounding the Mind Museum, it would be better to walk around the city streets for a much yummier break from all the intellectual stuffs. Ohh, and don’t forget to check the schedule and see the Spaceshell show! And souvenirs!
Visit the Mind Museum at Taguig
JY Campos Park, 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Philippines
Call 909-MIND (6463) or email inquiry@themindmuseum.org
Limited tickets at the gate, better to buy them online :)
(Inkdependent reserves its right of ownership over the photos in this post unless otherwise indicated. Please do not copy. We hope you’d rather comment instead.)
Summer vacation has only recently started and I’m already a bit bored at home. Methinks I have the attention span (and on some occasions, short-term memory) of Dory. So here’s me trying to perk things up by exploring and writing about some of the more interesting places to go to in the Greater Manila Area. Try these out for yourselves and maybe you can recommend some things to do for K and I while you’re at it :)
#1. Play with giant chess pieces in Pan de Amerikana, Marikina.
Weeeeeeell….okaaay, I don’t really know how to play but that shouldn’t hinder either you or me from toying around with the restaurant’s famous life-sized–for kids, at least–chess set. This should give you plenty of room to re-imagine the Wizard’s Chess scene in Harry P and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Food is Filipino. The restaurant was supposed to be named after a giant Pandesal or bread, which was made to a size the Americans enjoyed. It was lunch time so I tried the Liempo (Php45) and Pork Barbecue (Php20) with good, old fried rice–unfortunately, they didn’t seem anything out of the ordinary. The price (most are under Php100) is a big plus and makes up somewhat for that.
From what I hear, the restaurant’s big draw is its famous Pandesal and definitely the mystical ambiance. The entrance alone seems to welcome you to an other-worldly place filled with all sorts of magic and hidden surprises. And by “magic” I mean bridges, tree house, koi ponds, carriages, wall falls, wind mills and lots and lots of streaming sunlight.
I can’t help but make a shout out to the owners/chefs though–maybe you could rethink the menu to fit the ambiance? It would be nice taste something as magical. In any case, the restaurant still feels amazing and seems to be a good place that families and would-be party celebrants would enjoy–perfect for just hanging out and cooling down during the heat.
Visit Pan de Amerikana, Marikina
#92 General Ordoñez cor. Maroon St., Marikina Heights, 1800 Marikina Heights, Philippines
Open Monday to Saturday (6AM – 7PM) and Sunday (7AM-3PM)
Other branches in Katipunan Ave, QC; Wilson St., Greenhills; Bel-Air, Makati Ave., Makati
(Inkdependent reserves its right of ownership over the photos in this post. Please do not copy. We hope you’d rather comment instead.)
Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss; but every once in a while, you find someone who’s iridescent, and once you do, nothing will ever compare. – Chet Duncan
Based on the young adult fiction by Wendelin Van Draanen of the same name, Rob Reiner’s Flipped (2010) is about the awkward and often complicated story of finding one’s first love.
For Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe), nothing could be worse than finding a googly-eyed stalker when you’re in second grade. After moving with his family to classic American suburbia, he finds himself briefly locking eyes with new neighbor Julianna Baker (Madeline Carroll) and sharing a moment that would spark what Bryce calls “the beginning of more than half a decade of ‘strategic avoidance’ and social discomfort”, obsessive sniffing and hugging and endless playground taunts. By sixth grade, Bryce finally conceives a plan to shake off Juli. However the plan backfires and leaves Juli, whose smart, independent and rebellious spirit, to focus on Bryce’s dazzling blue eyes and heart-melting smile all the more.
But like leaves that turn, Juli’s feelings change as she realizes that Bryce may not be the perfect boy-next-door that he seems to be. Bryce fails to live up to her expectations but with the help of his grandfather, he finally overcomes his immaturity and succumbs to the iridescence of the tree hugger he thought he hated.
Heart-warming and exceptionally acted, the movie, which pushed back the modern tale to the fifties, takes its viewers back to their childhood and lets them reminisce on the feelings of being–or at least thinking of falling in love for the first time. The thing that probably sets the film apart from some its counterparts, is its more mature take of puppy love. Reminiscent of “Little Manhattan” and perhaps a younger version “500 Days with Summer”, Flipped successfully charms its audience with a sweet yet not overly nauseating he-said, she-said teen romance.
The twin accounts by Bryce and Juli are perfect in setting the overall tone of the film and provides a balancing effect to the sometimes obscured point of view of one character.
Callan and Madeline have an amazing chemistry and are well-suited in their roles as the awkward and not-quite couple finally coming into terms not only with their true feelings for each other, but also about themselves.
Aidan Quinn and John Mahoney, who portray Juli’s father Richard Baker and Bryce’s grandfather Chet Duncan respectively, were particularly glowing in their performances as the wise and supportive ears to the teens. Quinn’s loving attention to his on-screen daughter stood out and provided one of the more tender moments and interesting life lessons of the movie, giving it a more solid and mature foundation of what true love and our general impression of life should really be about: a painting (that) is more than a sum of its parts.
The boy meets–gets to know and finally flips over–girl-next-door seemed inevitable enough. But the journey from point A to point B was exciting and quite exhilarating to see, specially to those who are open to remembering or perhaps, looking forward to the one “still walking around with (their) first kiss.”
(Inkdependent does not claim any ownership over the photos used in this post. The images belong to their respective copyright owners and were used only for illustration purposes.)
You know it’s the start of summer vacation when people are obsessing over the most random things and posting their pictures and by-the-hour by-the-minute Facebook updates over them. (Shout out to the Magnum and Simsimi craze taking over Manila…I still don’t get it, please enlighten me.)
My summer has been pretty mellow so far. Just going back to my daily–minus the stress–routine by running errands, getting my TV doses, attending my special brother’s Moving Up ceremony and finally hanging out with K. While I’m dying to go to the beach (and that’s saying something since I’m not a “beach person”) and just about anywhere outside the congested and polluted city, it was really nice to sit down and talk to a close friend over scrumptious burgers and a shake.
We drove over BRGR: The Burger Project, a foodie joint in Maginhawa St., Quezon City, which opened around July 2010. We were actually headed to Pino Resto Bar–but I figured since we were already in the area, we might as well try the famous burgers I’ve been hearing quite a few raves on.
The small restaurant, which is co-owned by PJ Lanot and Chef Edward Bugia (who also owns and manages Pino and Pipino) among others, is known for letting its customers whip up their own burger recipes. Burger Project slips are on hand, so diners can simply tick the box for their ingredients of choice. If they’re not into that, they can take their pick from any of the six Designr Burgers, like the Western Bacon Melt, Tokyo Pop and the Sloppiest Joe, and have fries or onion rings on the side. Just the names sound delicious, don’t they?
Chef Bugia also promises that their ingredients are fresh and “made from scratch”.
K and I settled in the table just in front of the counter as we await my Carnivore Girl and her—say it with me–Dunno What Waaaaaa??! (Did I get that right? Hahaha!) It’s exciting and in a sense, quite practical to select our ingredients. This way we can customize our burgers to our diets….or lack of it…and know the price of our food before my Angus Beef even hits the griddle.
Just look at that masterpiece will you? Hahahaha, I can’t imagine just how much cholesterol I gave myself that night. This Carnivore Girl is made of 100% Angus (Php125), Poppyseed bun (freeeee), melting Cheddar (Php35), crispy Bacon (Php25) and Egg (Php20) and some special Teriyaki (Php15). It looks larger than this photo gives it justice. But I daresay the juiciness here jumps out and the meat is well-complemented by the sweet and salty taste of the cheese and especially, by the smokey flavor of the sauce. Downed with a rich Vanilla Milkshake (Php145), that brings my bill to Php365.
My only reservation is that the taste and volume of the burger can get overwhelming by time you eat half, so it’s probably best to slice through the whole thing and ask for a doggy bag later.
Here’s the–hahahaha–Dunno What Waaaaaa??! With a strange Wasabi Mayo (Php15) and Teriyaki Sauce (Php15) twist and Mozzarella (Php35) , K finds these to be a great combo albeit the mushroom tasted quite bitter and the 100% beef patty (Php95) and Poppyseed were a bit crumbly.
This burger joint is definitely a deserving foodie hot spot. With efficient and polite service and well-lighted and well-ventilated interior, it’s no wonder people flock to Burger Project for a taste of its burgers. I hear the only major complaint is that they don’t have other branches (which is pretty positive “complaint” if you ask me). Parking spaces are also a bit of difficulty–especially at night–since the restaurant competes with its neighbors. But seeing as this is Quezon City, that’s really more of a given. Try it for yourselves next time and tell us what you think :)
“InkDependent Ratings!”
- FOOD + SERVICE + AMBIENCE = Overall Rating -
Visit BRGR: The Burger Project
122 Maginhawa St., Teachers Village, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Open 11AM – 12MN daily
(Inkdependent reserves its right of ownership over the photos in this post. Please do not copy. We hope you’d rather comment instead.)
Well hello! Long time, no post.
I’m feeling a bit let down that these weren’t included in a publication I submitted them to. I really wanted to share these with others to help me relive and remember the inexplicable happiness my college Photo Journalism class–well, outside the room anyway–has given me.
Beauty goes beyond the surface. These were taken in Quiapo, Morayta, Commonwealth and San Mateo with an Olympus film camera. I hope you like randomness.
(Inkdependent reserves its right of ownership over the photos in this post. Please do not copy. We hope you’d rather comment instead.)
Olivier Dahan’s La Vie En Rose (2007), which literally translates to “life in pink”, portrays the magnificent yet complicated life of a songstress, who made famous a song of romance with the same name. Like the fluidity and commanding presence of the French singer’s vocals, the bio-pic carries the audience to the pain of her childhood and dejections during her singing career.
Edith Piaf, whose life was anything but rose-colored, was the riveting crooner who rose from the depressing suburbs of Normandy and soared to become the “Little Sparrow” that would captivate audiences the world over with her powerful voice.
Growing up, Piaf was exposed early to a dreadful life on the streets with a drug-addict for a mother and a selfish contortionist for a father, who would both later on abandon her to an unusual childhood with a grandmother who runs a brothel and the red-haired prostitute Titine (Emmanuelle Seigner)—who, at least to my opinion, was her best parent.
Titine introduced her to St. Therese of Lisieux and a life of constant prayer and faith that love will come and see her through. However, Piaf’s unconventional yet happy life is interrupted as her father takes her away from Titine and drags her back to the streets. But with a patron saint constantly looking after her, Piaf is thrown instead to a whole new life that will set her on a different track under the limelight.
In a complicated interweaving of time and flashbacks, the audience witnesses Piaf growing into fame and getting lifted off the streets by cabaret owner Louis Leplee (Gérard Depardieu). Leplee introduces the young talent to the big shots of the French music industry, eventually leading her to owners of radio networks, music halls and also to loyal and talented music geniuses that would help develop her potential. One of the more serious blows came soon enough for the rising star. Piaf’s connection with the mafia mixes up her manager Leplee into the vicious complexity of money and gets the “Little Sparrow” involved in a murder that sets her back from her dreams. But with her obvious talent and a little help from past music friends, what used to be Edith of cabarets transformed into the Edith Piaf that ruled music halls and who was flocked consistently by prominent French elites.
Piaf finally becomes the artiste she has always dreamed of becoming and soon transforms into a monster of fame. But with a budding romance with the handsome French boxer Marcel Cerdan (Jean-Pierre Martins), Piaf slowly grows out of her primadonna phase. Tragically however, life throws her another painful blow in the form of Cedran’s death. She would survive grief, but barely, and turns to a morphine addiction that leaves her shrivel and frail albeit still with an immense passion for music.
This movie sees through a tragic portrayal of Piaf from her bottom to peak, and her several dips and rises in between. She was an undeniable talent, rendering some of the most heartwarming and now world-renowned songs. However, the whole Oscar-nominated film would fall apart without the truly outstanding performance of Marion Cotillard who seemed inhabited by the very Edith Piaf herself. Nominated several times for the best actress award, Cotillard wore Piaf like a second skin and delivered a very convincing performance not only as a singer but also as a hurting soul.
Cleverly directed by Dahan, the film took biographical movies up a notch by unconventionally incorporating the song that captured the Little Sparrow at her best—La Vie En Rose.
It actually seems a bit ironic that the creative team chose the song as the movie’s title, especially since Piaf’s life was marked–at least from the film’s treatment–with more hardships than joy. Piaf was successful yes, but she always looked alone–even amidst a group of people–especially since the death of the love of her life and sole person who made her want to truly live and sing. Edith was Edith because she did not have a strong foundation in her youth that would carry her on well and strong during the highs of wealth and fame. The best parent and only true semblance of love for the young Edith was Titine, a whore who works for her grandmother. It seemed an unfortunate yet unsurprising destiny for Piaf, who had a dysfunctional upbringing, to rise into stardom on stage–but not quite of her own life–fall into a deep, dark abyss and die a tragic character.
The life in pink or the la vie en rose in Piaf’s life was during the moments when she was with her true and loyal friends, her beloved Marcel or onstage, when she is consumed by her love for music and rendering a powerful performance. Piaf was first and foremost a singer, but just as she has voiced out, more than the accomplishments and standing ovations one receives, learning “to love” remains and should remain the most important thing in a person’s life.
(Inkdependent does not claim any ownership over the photos used in this post. The images belong to their respective copyright owners and were used only for illustration purposes.)
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