The Process is Art Itself

I believe that there is always a better process to do things. Early, my father thought me that, aside from being industrious, hardworking and prompt, one must have the proper tools to be able to perfectly accomplish goals. Small or big, tools, and not just sheer talent, matter. And for a profession in design and manufacturing, a simple mistake in the assembly line can cause a continuous, complex and an unacceptable outcome - even a minor flaw in sketching can and may compromise the whole project. This is why I consider, art, together with building science as a design category, a product of a perfected methodology.

In local construction, and in my first decade of practicing design, no drawing is as good if not for fine carpenters, masons, installers and painters. It is their interpretation of your lines or curves that will matter after the blueprints have been released. It is a, seemingly, tedious, sometimes redundant, process that will make or break one's design intention. It actually took me the whole first decade to realize that however great an architectural design is, it is only as good as the understanding of the contractor and the deliberation of his workers.

This is why choosing the best contractor is crucial. There are opportunities that a good house builder may not create a fine office and vice versa. Each contractor, like their bids, methods, equipment and workers, is different. For higher-level hospitality architecture, the choice of workers and their skills can be as significant as the selected wood specie, proportion of tenon and brand of sealer. This is again why, even forgetful architects like me, begin to harness remembering not only the exact furniture, metal bead, stone or tile name but the names of expert installers as well. We also begin to realize that within the group of civil workers like carpenters, there are rough and fine carpenters, furniture-makers and craftsmen. Then there are sculptors - the ones who do not make names after successfully befriending rich gallery owners. They are unsung high-level craftsmen who learned to make design art for a living and not for fame, who can not even afford the pieces they make. They are advocates of local furniture art and the interior architecture industry without them knowing it.

They are heroes of the process - the process that, like mountain cycling, is continuously changing, undulating, technical and challenging. If not, the product is just a product.

Cycling Father's Day and Everyday

Today, Father's Sunday and during the start of the June rainy season, I got lucky early to ride the morning without the hassle of tricky drizzle. It was a well-sought window as more cyclists climb up Mangga (a famous 800-footer cycling stop along Sumulong hiway) with seemingly cleaner bikes from, maybe, a wet week or 2 without peddling. It was the usual nice sight and quick climb with grayer skies and a little tarmac shin that even tempted bikers to climb longer, loop Antipolo or ride as far as Bugarin. While I, luckily again, after surviving the big ring today, settled for the usual quick backtrack right after coffee so I can spend more of Father's day at home.

The lucky streak started as early. Even after wrestling a tiring pool party with the toddler the night before, and after a series of rushing deliveries for 2 turnover-ready projects, I was able to get up early, without much snoozing, and even help prepare breakfast. I even had extra time to enjoy the wife's epic milk tea as a fine relief to overeating overly sweet chocolate bars or chancing on leftover wafers neglectedly chilled inside the refrigerator. These, and with unconfirmed ridemates, allowed me to choose a freer destination. It also let me well select an appropriate and comfortable cadence without peer pressure. Though I will normally prefer a leisurely ride with a ride buddy, sometimes, riding solo make one appreciate the clear pristine Sundays a lot.

For a busy cycling father like me, smaller details matter. The weapon of choice for the rainy days is the old, tried and tested rigid aluminum mountain bike. Though it is far more exciting to use the steel Maldea now, I can't really afford time to overly clean a too muddy bike while keeping it totally rust-free. It will also be advantageous for the next race which is expected to be right in time for training more mountains and getting back my cadence. Even if it's harsher, at least, the power transfer on the alloy MTB is much more evident and forgiving - so I get to finish the XCM race as strong, or hopefully stronger, compared to last year. The alloy MTB also does not require a more polished finish too. As long as the brakes are clean and the drivetrain is clear from trail debris, this bike is good to go anytime and ready for all kinds of roads or weather. If I don't get the new wheelset for the CX Maldea in time, I am sure to race the rigid MTB again for Philmofo.

Speaking of weather, although it is addicting-ly fun to ride in all hardcore-looking glory of mist, dirt and mud, we try to avoid being too exposed to wet riding. Aside from avoiding getting sick, it is a lot safer to bike on dryer roads and trails without having to compromise speed and cadence much. By minimizing the risk of injuries too, we can devote more extra time training and having fun. To keep a heads up, I bookmarked this site and check it almost everyday for both work and play. But the common climate sites are fine, except I liked the simpler blue and white satellite photos and I prefer to graph the cloud movements myself and not rely on usually vague weather reports. You can't go wrong with Japanese, I guess, so here is my favorite site and link as my personal default: when biking, motorbiking or even bringing the sedan to work.
http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/region/pacific/1/images/640x480/latest.jpg

The best parts after some serious early morning cycling is that I get to finish faster, stronger and more accomplished. Luckily and even not during Father's day, given the (supposed to be) improved sporting regimen I try to follow now, I still have some strength to sprint with the kid, more opportunity for creative work, still have time to clean the bikes and do house chores - making the wife a tad happier and a level more lenient with new bike parts.

After almost half a year, a handful rides and almost a forgotten password, I am glad to face the netbook again and write something more significant than what appears to be a commercial phone review. I am also glad to announce that after a series of races, the young Galaxy is still intact and now, confidently and without much ado, sits in the middle jersey pocket conveniently - appearing still quite promising, resilient and feasibly ample as I expect my cellular device should be. And aside from the usually reliable Runkeeper app, it also takes able Instagram photos saving me from bringing the precious LX3 and buying another expensive cyclocomputer.

What I am most glad though is that, after turning over some first quarter projects and celebrating Ice's first birthday well, I am able to develop a fine riding habit that works perfectly for a rookie dad-cyclist/budding entrepreneur like me. We were also able to open a small furniture line that focuses on new and austerity pieces that combines sustainable quality with top level design process using the bikes as our main mode of transportation. Hoping we grow a process and develop apprentices that will follow the sustainable path, I guess, it seems to be one of, if not, the biggest design accomplishments to date.

And finally, I guess, with the regained writing-riding streak, the Maldea will hopefully have a decent write up as well.