Artist, Designer, Advocate, Historian, and Educator: I am John Paul ‘Lakan’ Olivares, and my work is inspired by my travels around the archipelago and living with different urban, rural and tribal communities. In these travels, I have searched for the Filipino spirit, which I try to share in all my activities.
In the past, I had never bothered to document my travels, for the following reasons:
- The limited amount of photographs that could be taken with film
- The cumbersome nature of bringing an SLR around
- The need to experience an event, without the distraction of trying to capture it on camera
However, I realized later on that with each experience; I had so much to share to others about the art, history, heritage, and culture of the places I have gone to and the people that I have met. Yet with social media and digital photography, I wasn’t yet so convinced to share my experiences, until I was privileged to travel to Europe. So now this is my simple attempt to share the wealth of my experiences, and maybe inspire others to go experience these places for themselves.
“To me there is no past or future in art. If a work of art cannot live always in the present it must not be considered at all. The art of the Greeks, of the Egyptians, of the great painters who lived in other times, is not an art of the past; perhaps it is more alive today than it ever was. Art does not evolve by itself, the ideas of people change and with them the mode of expression.”
Pablo Picasso, 1923
“Lakbay” means ‘to travel’ among the Tagalog people of the Philippines, whereas “Lakan” means chieftain/warlord, which is the nom de plume that I have given myself.
Keep on moving, Lakan. The sun is in your heart.
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Love your work 🙂
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hi there. I want to offer you something for your website. kindly contact me if you are interested. or visit my website jaypeekong.com
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Thank you very much
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Hello Lakan,
I read your feature on Pres. Laurel Avenue in the UP Campus and I am impressed by the detailed information it contained amd the side bars. Hope to read more from you! I have noted a few points, however, that need to be changed. Pls contact me through my email address below, you may delete this comment as soon as you have read this and noted my email address. Maraming salamat.
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Good day Noel, and a Happy New Year to you and your family!
Please give me you email address, as it is not indicated in your comment. Or you may sent your corrections to jploivares@careeracademy.asia
Thanks
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I’ve seen many historical sites here all over the Quezon City but apparently u missed one historical site here in Quezon City. the Sanctuario de San Pedro Bautista.. This Church is one of the Oldest Church in the Philippines Founded 1590 by the Franciscan himself Saint San Pedro Bautista, maybe can check the history here in google. Thanks
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Actually I am not finished writing about the Church of San Francisco de Monte. As I am writing from district to district, and street to street. And once I finish the New Manila / Aurora Boulevard / Cubao articles, then I will move on to the E. Rodriguez the EDSA articles. After that would be the Kamuning / Kamias / Quezon Avenue / etc. Thank you for sharing your concerns
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Good day Sir/Maam,
I hope you may help me out my father is a sculptor not being too much acknowledged. And I really want to help him out to be nominated as a national artist he created all statues in Marikina City and he is the lead arch. in making the biggest shoes in the world but we dont know how we can nominate him and we dont know any organizations that can help him out. He is Ernest “Bong”Leaño and he is already at his 70s and we really want him to be acknowledge in the art industry and NCCA. Please do help us thanks . God Bless.
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May I have you email address, so that I can ask more questions about your father? Thank you
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Good day Sir/Maam,
I hope you may help me out my father is a sculptor not being too much acknowledged. And I really want to help him out to be nominated as a national artist he created all statues in Marikina City and he is the lead arch. in making the biggest shoes in the world but we dont know how we can nominate him and we dont know any organizations that can help him out. He is Ernest “Bong”Leaño and he is already at his 70s and we really want him to be acknowledge in the art industry and NCCA. Please do help us thanks . God Bless.
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Dear Lakansining, Hope you get this message. I have a painting signed Romeo R Monte,that I know nothing about. It appears to be rice field with a mountain in the background; similar to the one you posted on Dec 16, 2017 on your website. Every time I search for this artist, your name is somehow connected. I was hoping I could possibly get some detail of the painting
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Good day, could you give me your email address so that we can discuss it further? Thank you
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rhonda.abadier@yahoo.com
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I just sent it. Thanks
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Is there anything you could tell me about my painting.? I can send you a pic.
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Yes send me the picture
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What is your email to send photo of painting?
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jtolivares.swu@phinmaed.com
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I love your historical blogs especially the Cubao story as we still live in 8th Avenue since 1948!
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Toto and Philip Yambao were my friends. We were part of the same choir
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Great articles! I enjoyed reading and browsing through them….I grew up in Project 4 and really appreciate an article that brings back many good memories of the community. Thank you, Lakan.
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Where can I buy your book about houses in Broadway
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Still in writing, it might come out in 2020
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I was doing some research about an artist, Estano
A specific painting signed Estano 1963. Your work came up and I ready about a Fatoy Estano.
Do you have any further knowledge about him?
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Unfortunately I am also trying to get data on him, and I am trying to find contemporaries and family members
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Where are the stations of the cross by sieger koeder located?
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The original or the facsimile?
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Great service to the nation in preserving our history. God bless you!
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Thank you for your kind words
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Hi Sir, yes i do, ernestchingleano.08@gmail.com im still hoping you may help us thank you and God bless for all your works 🙂
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Good day, I just sent you an email
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Hello Lakansining – want to reach you out sana kasi I’m planning to track the history of our brgy and its chapel. My email add is poljohnb@yahoo.com po. Salamat!
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May I know which barangay are you referring to? My email is jtolivares@swu.phinma.edu.ph
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Hello. I stumbled across your article while trying to research a beloved painting of mine. It was done by Victor Cabisada in 1965. It’s a beautiful painting of a cock fight. I noticed your article referenced his son several times. I would greatly appreciate any information you can provide me on Victor Cabisada. Thank you.
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Good day Travis, I have very little information of Cabisada so far. I have been trying to contact possible relatives, but no one has responded so far
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Please check the dates on when Our Lady of Miraculous Medal church was established. The construction started in the late 60s, either ’68 or ’69. We are right next to the church and my parents opened up a Sari Sari store at the corner of Legaspi St and Camerino St. During the early 70’s I was a member of the sacristan at the church. The parish priest was Fr. Ramos, who stayed in one of the houses next to us.
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Good day, I did mention that it started as a chapel in the 1960s and established as a parish in the 1970s
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Hola Lakan,
Just read your article about the artwork at Cafe Inggo 1587.
Excellent description of our collections. As owner I am very pleased to have found your writing by accident.
Hope to share with you you the new items since your last visit when you find the time to visit.
Maraming salamat and keep on sharing.
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I will visit upon my return to Manila. Thanks
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Hi! In your post on Ali Mall–the Ocampo in the architectural firm Sindiong-Ocampo is not Fernando Ocampo whose work was largely in prewar Manila, the partner of Architect Antonio S. Sindiong was my father Lamberto UN Ocampo (engineer).
Ambeth Ocampo
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Noted, it seems my source was mistaken. Thank you
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Great historical data!
Many of these historical houses should have been recognised and preserved for future generations. Much has been lost
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Thanks
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Hi there!
I saw your post with regards to the painting in the halls of Sacred Heart noviciate in Novaliches.
I just wanted to make a correction on who did the paintings. It is not the Architect Jose but his father Jose de Ocampo my great grandfather who did the painting.
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im very impress on all the clues & lies
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