RIZALEVEL UP

Neither new clusters nor wet weather would prevent the Consulate and Fil-Com from joining Rizal Day 2020 events ...  

...and just to keep up with Canberra PE/CRANIAL AGAIN's elevated production values, we even had drone shots!

(well, actually.....)

(yeah, i don't think we should call my man a drone; public service is its own reward)

DISTANCE SEASON TO BE JOLLY

Sadly but not surprisingly, the annual holiday greetings of the Department's posts and offices have mostly moved away from the glorious photoshopped scenes of yore. 2020 being what it is, salutations around the world have gone heavy on Stay Safe themes and imagery -- but at the same time managed to give out good vibes and seasonal cheer! So for group poses you had the "Social Distancing Indoors"...

...the "Social Distancing even though Outdoors"...

...and the "Social Distancing even though you can't tell if Indoors or Outdoors because yay Photoshop"

Also...lots of masks! As in, you can tell the levels of local mandates! From must-wear-masks if "Inside Together"...  

...or "Inside Apart"...

...all to way to "Outside Apart"...

...and even up to "Outside Might be Photoshopped so Cover Up Just to be Sure"... 

...as well as the "Inside/Outside Stay Masked but I guess you can also Take It Down for a Second if you're not confident about your Smize" gray area.

And all the new digital design tools and toys have given rise to all sorts of novel greeting formats, such as my new favorite "Separate-Yet-Connected" mosaics...  

...the inescapable Zoom meeting photo...

...plus GIFs, of course...

...and all the way to a merry mosaic/zoom/gif mash-up! 

And while ever-improving production values and skills will inevitably push the medium towards more slick and savvy filmmaking...     

...my heart will forever belong to the true "Indie" artist

"Indie" as in...what exactly's going on here?

END THE VIOLINS

Early on the LLDD-Baby had taken to the violin and gotten pretty good at it, regularly performing in front of her school as part (and sometime shredding soloist) of their junior squad

Even with lockdowns and a transfer to zoom, the kid soldiered on and worked her way up to senior strings (and birthday parties!)

Alas, by the end of 2020 her heart was no longer into violin (it was always you ballet and minecraft), and we had to sadly announce to the press that the office Christmas party would be her farewell tour

   

Ironically, there'd be no more violins, but the LLDD-Hyphen-L still brought out the guns

OK ZOOMER (BATCH CHRISTMAS EDITION)

12 batchmates in 10 countries over 10 time zones and I still somehow end up as the only/oldest guy who doesn't know how to work the camera/is under witness protection 

(*in computer-distorted voice* yes, Your Honor, these are the 11 individuals who harassed me out of my afternoon nap to talk about late-night parties, blind dates and bathrobes and other matters age-inappropriate to me)

HOLD MY BREW

While our Cultural peeps continue to crush it, shout outs too to our Trade section for its own ongoing and gorgeous-looking promotion of PHL tastes, especially the mouth-watering drinks and desserts perfect for the just-arrived Aussie summer/holiday season     

Today’s ☀️ weather calls for a refreshing, all natural drink made from brewed tea with lemongrass. @bayanibrew #tea #proudlypinoyinoz #philippineproducts #filipinofood #pinoyproducts #pinoyfood #gawadkalinga

Posted by DTI Sydney on Saturday, November 21, 2020

Posted @withregram • @entree.pinays Meet the Abraham family. Led by co-founders and parents, Jaypee and Victoria, @...

Posted by DTI Sydney on Saturday, November 21, 2020

Posted @withregram • @chefmikoaspiras Recently had the privilege to create drinks and desserts using Calamansi or the...

Posted by DTI Sydney on Thursday, November 26, 2020

WE'LL DRINK TO THAT, MATES!