Carlos Celdran was the topic of conversation during Sunday lunch at my parents' house and most probably, in yours too.
My mom thought he was good-looking. "Guapo siya ha," my mom reasoned out. "Mestizo, mukhang artista."
My dad called him a hero because he believes it's about time someone told the priests to bugger off.
Yesterday when Jeroen and I boarded a Cathay Pacific flight bound for Manila, we were pleasantly surprised to see Carlos's mug on the cover of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
![Carlos Celdran]()
I just love the facial expression. Some people say, if an ordinary person (say, Poma Malantic) threw a fit during mass, it wouldn't be such a big deal. I say, if they didn't put Carlos in jail, it wouldn't have blown up.
But this is Carlos Celdran—a nationalist, a blogger, a performance artist, a multi-media artist educated at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, a popular tour guide—and much more.
He owns a little gift shop in Intramuros called La Monja Loca, founded the Living Room in Malate, where he hosts art events, forums, talks, and even visiting artists who need a place to stay.
![Carlos and Tesa's apartment]()
He has been married for more than ten years, to one of Manila's chicest, Tesa Celdran.
![Tesa Celdran]()
In a past blog entry, I suggested Carlos Celdran for the position of DOT Secretary. Because I believe we need somebody young, energetic, and creative to market our country and modernize its image. I myself would gladly volunteer to save our country, tourism-wise. I'd be in charge of upgrading NAIA and toilets everywhere—I wish!
So yeah, if you went to Mass today and the priest said in his homily that Carlos is "bastos" and up to no good, let me show you the Carlos we know.
First, with Grace at food tasting, Pepper Lunch, Rockwell
![Carlos and Grace]()
With Senator Lacson whom he criticized on his blog, but gamely posed with upon my request
![Senator Lacson and Carlos Celdran]()
With Team Manila's Mon Punzalan and Jowee Alviar
![Mon, Carlos and Jowee at Team Manila]()
With friends at the Living Room, last year's Christmas party
![At Carlos']()
With blogger Brian Gorrell in Australia
![Carlos and Brian]()
And announcing that I won a pair of Happy Feet sandals in a blog promo.
![I won!]()
So you see there's much, much more to the guy who freaked out during Mass. I don't know anybody who hates Carlos. You don't really have to wonder why he is popular online and in real life—except maybe among priests.
My mom thought he was good-looking. "Guapo siya ha," my mom reasoned out. "Mestizo, mukhang artista."
My dad called him a hero because he believes it's about time someone told the priests to bugger off.
Yesterday when Jeroen and I boarded a Cathay Pacific flight bound for Manila, we were pleasantly surprised to see Carlos's mug on the cover of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
I just love the facial expression. Some people say, if an ordinary person (say, Poma Malantic) threw a fit during mass, it wouldn't be such a big deal. I say, if they didn't put Carlos in jail, it wouldn't have blown up.
But this is Carlos Celdran—a nationalist, a blogger, a performance artist, a multi-media artist educated at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, a popular tour guide—and much more.
He owns a little gift shop in Intramuros called La Monja Loca, founded the Living Room in Malate, where he hosts art events, forums, talks, and even visiting artists who need a place to stay.
He has been married for more than ten years, to one of Manila's chicest, Tesa Celdran.
In a past blog entry, I suggested Carlos Celdran for the position of DOT Secretary. Because I believe we need somebody young, energetic, and creative to market our country and modernize its image. I myself would gladly volunteer to save our country, tourism-wise. I'd be in charge of upgrading NAIA and toilets everywhere—I wish!
So yeah, if you went to Mass today and the priest said in his homily that Carlos is "bastos" and up to no good, let me show you the Carlos we know.
First, with Grace at food tasting, Pepper Lunch, Rockwell
With Senator Lacson whom he criticized on his blog, but gamely posed with upon my request
With Team Manila's Mon Punzalan and Jowee Alviar
With friends at the Living Room, last year's Christmas party
With blogger Brian Gorrell in Australia
And announcing that I won a pair of Happy Feet sandals in a blog promo.
So you see there's much, much more to the guy who freaked out during Mass. I don't know anybody who hates Carlos. You don't really have to wonder why he is popular online and in real life—except maybe among priests.