Rogue.ph

Sculpted from sand and clay, and carved out of the natural contours of the land, Zeli and Joni Balao-Strugar built their self-sustaining Benguet home purely “on intuition,” inspired by the organic architecture of Hundertwasser and the spiritual philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. Karla P. Delgado spends a misty afternoon with the Croatian-Filipino family at their clay house in the clouds—and leaves with a healthy respect for alternative living.

Since Gen. Ne Win seized power in 1962, Burma has been witness to several protests opposed to his rule. The daughter of the general who negotiated Burmese independence, Aung Suu Kyi returned to the country in 1988 and led a movement of non-violent opposition to the regime. She won the position of Prime Minister, but was prevented from assuming the post—and was subsequently detained by the military junta. Considered by many as a modern day hero, she continues to inspire protests such as the one against fuel price increases last year. Bypassing the big names, Patricia Evangelista introduces us to Min Min, a student protester who spent five-and-a-half years in prison constantly thinking about “how to make trouble” and continue fighting. Three years later, he’s still a portrait of quiet and determined resilience. Photographs also by Patricia Evangelista.

Filmmaker Jim Libiran’s first feature film, Tribu, had the former broadcast journalist going back to Tondo and training his camera on the hip-hop tribes that populate its environs. Even after the acclaim and awards the film has received, he remains enthralled by these local gangsta’s street anthems, ranging from pained confessionals to urban hymns of aspiration. By committing their lives into their rap, he discovers these urchin-poets also proclaim the vibrant nature of their city, teeming and overflowing with stories from its gutters.