red-letter day

February 15, 2008 marked a turning point for Big Dipper: it was when we successfully delivered CIDA's Gender and Business books on time, despite the limited time we had for design and production. Even if this was not our biggest account, it was significant because the funder was a foreign government which required suppliers to meet "international standards." The satisfaction expressed by CIDA over our work is a positive affirmation, almost like a seal of good housekeeping. The Canadians believe that the Philippines is ready to "graduate" from the ranks of developing countries and for take-off, as reflected in their plan to progressively redirect aid to more needy countries within the next five years.

Above is one of three cover design studies that we executed for the design competition, the only one which didn't see print. Drawing inspiration from the successful visit of Jackie Kennedy to Canada in May 1961, which cemented ties between the U.S. and the host country, I asked artist Borriz Caparuzo to adopt for the studies the shade of red used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on their uniform.

This project has sentimental value as well, since one of the first words I uttered as an infant was "Nanada." Canada was where Mom took up graduate studies in Social Work/ Community Development.

She and Tatay would send tapes to each other. In our 45-D apartment, Tatay would press the record button on a black tape recorder and ask me, "Where's your Mommy?"

While playing with my toys on the cool floor, I would distractedly answer, "Nanada."

I was around two years old: this is my earliest memory.