The format: 20 images x 20 seconds. Speakers must tell their story through 20 images. They have 20 seconds to relate their story to each image. This is how a PechaKucha talk works.
PechaKucha was started by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, principals of Klein Dytham, a Japan-based architectural firm, who wanted to pioneer an approach to a presentation that cuts to the chase in an engaging but also challenging manner. When first rolled out In 2003, it struck a chord and spread like wildfire, with PechaKucha events sprouting in hundreds of cities around the world, including Manila. PechaKucha Night Manila has been running since 2008 and was originally organized by JJ Yulo, Cres Rodriguez Yulo, Michelle Barretto and Janice Crisostomo Villanueva. The new team of organizers, SpaceFabrik, mommymundo, vitaminB, and Pinoy Eats World, has done four runs of creative and insightful gatherings. This 2020, they brought together a fresh lineup of speakers from various fields: architecture, urban planning, real estate, education, film, fine arts, martial arts, mental wellness, and lifestyle consultancy, at Acceler8 by UnionSPACE last February 6.
Despite the lack of a collective theme and a diverse range of speakers, PechaKucha succeeded in consistently reminding its audience that creativity is boundless and takes on many forms. We at BluPrint wish to take a stab at the 20 x 20 format of PechaKucha as we recount the highlights of the invigorating session last February 6. Away we go!
We first heard of PechaKucha Night Manila through Ed Simon, the resident photographer of BluPrint, who we fondly call Sir Ed. He sent this poster to our Viber group chat last February 3, three days before the event.
Our editor-at-large, Judith Torres, then replied: “Guys, pechakucha is super fun. One of you girls should attend. ” We were undecided at first, thinking it was the night before a three-day architecture and design festival we were covering. The two of us ended up going with Sir Ed anyway.
Before we contacted the organizers, we looked up PechaKucha online and fed our curiosity. We learned about its origin in Japan and how it eventually got to the tropical shores of the Philippines.
Finally decided and briefed about what transpires in a PechaKucha Night, we contacted one of the organizers to inquire about media passes. However, we did not receive any replies.
Sir Ed then got in touch with SpaceFabrik’s principal, Stephanie Tan-Branquinho. She replied on the same day, reserving four slots for the BluPrint team.
We booked a Grab car going to the venue. It was a good thing that we left the office earlier to avoid the abominable Metro Manila evening traffic. We got to the venue in time.
Hosting this year’s PechaKucha Night Manila is Acceler8 by UNIONspace. Acceler8 is a flexible coworking space that offers coworking seats, dedicated desks, office suites, virtual office options, meeting rooms, and event spaces. Photo from Acceler8
People were only starting to arrive when we got to the hosting venue. We registered and got each of our complimentary wine stubs. To get the best photo angles, we chose to sit at the last row of the first set of chairs. Photographed by Gabrielle de la Cruz
Guests poured in when the clock struck eight. We even saw friends from the architecture and design industry. When the venue filled up, the journalists in us kicked in and readied our recorders and notes.
“If you’re interested to declutter your home, what’s very important is you know what your ideal room or house looks like. It’s important to know what you want in terms of color, in terms of texture, in terms of material, because at the end of the day, if you know what you want, you can truly spark joy from within,” says Renelyn Tan-Castillejos, a KonMari consultant.
“Philippines is now one of the largest office markets in the world, compared to China and India, with1.7M sqm office space transactions last year … We are hopeful and optimistic since we are at the golden era of infrastructure, in the next 2 years, a lot of seaports, airports, will unlock the tourism industry,” Mikko Barranda of Leechiu Property Consultants said.
Buck Sia of Zubu Design Associates concluded his talk: “Anything in life, just like good architecture, is based on strong convictions on a certain belief.”
Jiujitsu MNL’s Meggie Ochoa said, “Every sport has its own audience, every sport has people who are interested in it, so what we do is to capture the audience through the sport and then we raise awareness on issues through that captured interest.”
“I think the advantage of being a young artist is that you’re not pegged down by what people think you should paint yet. There’s not a particular style or subject matter that I have to do. You do you. Whatever inspires you at the moment, whatever you feel resonates with you most, do it because you never know where it could lead,” visual artist Mykie Concepcion said.
Independent film producer Alemberg Ang concluded his talk: “I got to scratch two things off my list, but unfortunately, I’m still poor. I guess at the end of the day, fattening my wallet has to take a back seat in nourishing my soul.”
“The thing I love about all these movies that are coming together is that they’re creating these scripts of how you go through life and you enjoy your cities and you sometimes wonder, is there a soundtrack at the back of my mind, am I choreographed, or am I really defining my own future? Great cities allow you to think both,” said Sylvester Wong of AECOM, who did half of his presentation doing improv.
Mental wellness advocate Mavis Fuentebella shared, “It’s not that there’s something specific that I want to say. I think if anything it’s for everyone to find their voice. I think we all have something to say and our life is our way of saying it.”
SPIT Manila’s Gabe Mercado said: “We don’t define creativity as art or anything like that. We say that kids can and should create and we will make whatever you want possible. We believe that children learn through believing and having the freedom to do it.”
“A story can now come from anywhere, whether in theaters, online, or in streaming, and this country has just as many interesting stories to tell,” shared Corinna Vistan-Takahashi or Marvel Studios.
Fin. That’s all for our PechaKucha Night Manila experience. Photographed by Steve Halama on Unsplash
