Report
From now I’m going to be researching art spaces around Southeast Asia for three months.
First of all, I’m heading to Manila, in the Philippines.
It takes five and a half hours from Haneda International Airport.
During my flight, I watched “BAKUMAN” (a Japanese movie about manga artists), and in a flash I find myself in Manila.
Hello, from freezing Japan!
The moment I get out of the airplane, I am hit by the hot and humid air, filling me with a sense of nostalgia.
I had last visited Manila at the end of 2014 with other members from Art Center Ongoing, but just as before, I am greeted by the humid air, honking cars, and exhaust fumes; unchanged.
This is Southeast Asia.
In Manila, I’ll be staying at the members of 98B, Mark and his wife, Ms. Mayumi Hirano’s house. (Mark is married to a Japanese curator / researcher, Mayumi Hirano.)
A young artist named Gerome comes to pick me up from the airport.
I can recognize him easily, thanks to the (great) info that he would be wearing a green Bob Marley T-shirt. Gerome is a nice guy in his mid-twenties, he seems full of hope and has kind eyes.
He will be helping me to navigate my way around Manila for the coming week. I feel a sense of relief.
After a two-hour taxi ride, I arrive at Mark’s house.
This is the entrance to the house, the legendary place where 98B first begun.
![](https://alternativeasia.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/1-15.jpg)
Going down stairs to get some drinks from the shop.
![](https://alternativeasia.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2-16.jpg)
This is a famous beer in Manila, “San Miguel”
(This one is San Miguel Light), with Mark.
![](https://alternativeasia.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/3-16.jpg)
Mayumi and “super kawaii” Yoji.
![](https://alternativeasia.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/4-16.jpg)
Nice to meet everyone and looking forward to my stay.
Feeling very tired, I talk with Mark about how best to travel around the Philippines starting from tomorrow.