Homeschool

Here are the next three months of my life (Or until my money runs out). This project is aimed at the children in Manila who either can't afford to go to school or are unable to attend school for whatever reason. The idea is that I go into the barrios and teach the children of these communities art. Eventually, the goal is to employ young Filipinos to go and teach art, breakdancing, reading and writing to the children. This will not only create jobs, but provide the children with strong role models who were raised in the same environments.

This is the first class that I taught. I stumbled on this massive billboard pasting up pictures. Under this billboard, there were over 12 families living there after they were displaced from their homes when the typhoon hit Manila last year.

The residents were very enthusiastic about helping me paste my photos on the walls, so in return I came back and taught an art class. It may not change their lives, but they had a hell of a good time and shower me with smiles and high 5's every time I return.

Kenjie!!!

It was loud teaching beside a 12 lane highway and under an underpass, but it provided a creative location for the art.

Spaghetti Celebration

A lot of Justin Beiber fans in there. As a thank you, they did a dance routine to his hits.

Heres the finished envelopes with their work inside.

Manila!

Chaos, characters, and a city full of dilapidated walls that act as the perfect blank canvas for photos!!

He said the only way I could put this up would be if he got a picture in front of it.

I brought him a framed picture of this pic. Big Pimpin

From Bogota to Manila, eerily similar in ways.

I asked the owner of this shop if I could put up a picture. With excitement and slight confusion she replied "of course". I let her pick out a picture. She picked this picture and told me that she wanted Muslims to be portrayed in a positive light. She explained to me that this picture could alleviate a lot of tensions between the Muslims and rest of the community.

I don't know if it was a success (the girl on the far right looks sceptical) but I'm glad people think a photograph can be that powerful

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These guys insisted on pasting this pics up. Much appreciated as I got cut on the barb wire on my way up.

Pic of the tree needs to be bigger, but it was fun putting it up.

Welcome to Smokey Mountain. It is a squatter settlement that was built on an old garbage dump. This is the place where 10,000 pesos or $200 US will get someone murdered. People showed me love for putting up the pics and they invited me into their homes. Much appreciated

This guy was the Burungay captain. Basically he calls the shots in the hood. And with those diamond studs in his teeth, who would argue with him???

New Years Dinner

Help from the kids getting the pic and paste passed the barbed wire

Dont fool around in Tondo

Tondo, Manila. This place was straight hood. View from the top of the water tower where most of the steel framework was rusted and falling apart.

A crowd of supporters cheered, threw fire crackers (twas new years) and congratulated me after I was done...and still alive

A long climb up the water tower....

Answering questions about the faces collage

Taiwan

Here are the highlights from my three week trip to Taiwan. My goal was to paste the various pictures from around the world in locations that helped to the enhanced both the setting and the original photo. Enjoy.

Here is the street view of the roof top

Further back

From another roof top

7 years after this photo was taken, I tracked down the butcher

Tools and Transport

The goods getting sorted