A friend suggested I check out the INC (Iglesia ni Cristo) Museum even if I’m Catholic. “It’s beautiful,” said my friend, an INC member. “There are artworks and other interesting stuff.”
The day I visited happened to be the museum’s formal opening, with a four-piece Manila String Machine playing lounge music.
Present at the opening ceremony was visual artist Romulo Galicano. “Are you the curator?” I asked in jest. “No,” said Galicano, “just invited.”
The four-story INC Museum is replete with the Philippine-born Christian religion’s history and development—blown-up vintage photographs of its humble roots at the old Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Co. in Punta, Sta. Ana, where INC founder Felix Manalo first preached, to numerous snapshots of its current presence in 152 countries and its humanitarian projects.
There’s an interactive globe, which, at the touch of a finger, shows information on INC churches worldwide.
Apart from paintings and murals by INC artists, there’s a regal portrait of Manalo by Galicano himself.
It’s worth a look, if you’re in the area before a night out.
INC Museum, 25 Central Ave. New Era, Quezon City; open Tuesdays-Sundays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; tel. 0905-4006525
What’s special about Amarilllo
A new dine-and-drink place in BF Homes Parañaque is Amarillo on President’s Avenue. What makes it special is that owner Kearney Amarillo, one of the country’s best singers, also personally created the menu.
On a recent visit, my friends and I loved the “callos” and grilled squid, washed down with red wine.
Kearney performed some rarely sung classics, including “Rhythm of Love,” “No Love in the Room,” “Put a Little Love Away” and “If I Ever Lose This Heaven.”
Amarillo is inside Purple Tree Bed and Breakfast, which means guests don’t have to step out to have good meals and drinks, with live music to boot.
Amarillo, the Purple Tree Bed and Breakfast, 35 President’s Ave. BF Homes Parañaque
The Eggmen, Avalon
It’s difficult to perform in a tribute band without sounding baduy. It takes genuine talent, for instance, to play an all-Steely Dan repertoire—which is what the band Black Cows does with aplomb.
It has encouraged Black Cows founder and keyboardist Wowee Posadas to form a couple more tribute bands—The Eggmen, which plays all-Beatles classics, and Avalon, which performs all-Eagles hits.
Looking forward to catching Avalon soon at 19 East.