ALIENS IN MANILA & LEE ROY – ART THAT LOOKS BEYOND OUR WORLD

 

Published on November 2, 2024

 

 

 

INTRO

 

Walk through Manila’s urban neighborhoods – from Escolta to Cubao, from Poblacion to Pasig – and you’ll spot them: shimmering silver figures with big black eyes, long limbs, and faces that seem to be staring up at the sky. These are the Aliens in Manila – the iconic art project of Filipino visual artist Lee Roy, who uses otherworldly characters to make us look closer at our own city.

 

 

 

PART 1: WHO IS LEE ROY?

 

Short Essay: The Artist Who Welcomed Extraterrestrials to Manila

 

Lee Roy was born and raised in the heart of Manila, where the skyline is a mix of old Spanish houses and glass skyscrapers. As a child, he’d lie on the roof of his family’s home in Santa Cruz, staring at the stars and wondering if there was life beyond Earth. "I never felt like I fit in," he once shared in an interview. "So I started imagining friends who were just as ‘different’ as I felt – aliens."

 

After studying fine arts at the University of the Philippines, Lee Roy began his career as a graphic designer, but he always felt drawn to public art. In 2008, he quit his desk job to paint full-time – not in galleries, but on the walls of Manila. He wanted to create art that would make people stop rushing and look up, just like he did as a kid.

 

Today, Lee Roy is known for his playful, thought-provoking work that blends science fiction with Filipino urban life. He doesn’t just paint – he builds sculptures, designs street installations, and even leads workshops where kids get to create their own alien characters. For him, art is a way to make the impossible feel real.

 

 

 

PART 2: WHAT ARE THE "ALIENS IN MANILA"?

 

Significance of the Project

 

The Aliens in Manila series features tall, slender extraterrestrial figures – some painted on walls, others as life-sized metal sculptures. They’re often silver or white, with smooth surfaces that catch the Manila sun, and their eyes are always wide open – as if they’re observing everything around them.

 

The significance goes far beyond "space art":

 

- A symbol of "otherness": In a city where many people feel like outsiders – from migrants to young dreamers – the aliens represent what it means to be different, but still belong.

- A mirror to our world: Lee Roy’s aliens don’t just look at the sky – they interact with Manila life. Some hold jeepney signs, others sit on park benches next to people, and one even sells isaw at a street stall. They remind us that "strangers" can become part of our community.

- A call to wonder: In a busy city where we’re always focused on work or chores, the aliens make us stop and ask questions – "What if?" "What else is out there?"

 

 

 

PART 3: THE STORY OF THE ALIENS IN MANILA

 

How Extraterrestrials Landed in the City

 

It started on a hot night in 2010. Lee Roy was walking home from a friend’s house in Escolta when he saw a blank wall covered in posters and graffiti. He’d been carrying a can of silver paint in his bag, and on impulse, he painted a small alien peeking out from behind a street lamp.

 

The next morning, he returned to find someone had drawn a small sipa ball next to the alien, as if they were playing together. A week later, another artist added a second alien holding a halo-halo cup.

 

"That’s when I knew," Lee Roy said. "The aliens weren’t just my art – they belonged to Manila now."

 

He began painting more aliens across the city, each one tailored to its neighborhood. In Cubao, he painted an alien fixing a jeepney’s engine. In Intramuros, an alien wore a barong tagalog and stood next to a kalesa. In 2015, he built his first metal sculpture – a 7-foot tall alien holding a sign that read "WELCOME TO MANILA – WHERE EVERYONE IS AN ALIEN SOMETIMES" – and placed it in Liwasang Bonifacio.

 

The project grew to include workshops for street kids, who painted their own aliens on walls in Tondo. One 10-year-old participant named Kiko painted an alien helping his grandmother sell vegetables – "He’s not from another planet," Kiko said. "He’s just someone who wants to help."

 

 

 

PART 4: WHY THE ALIENS MATTER

 

The Importance of This Art

 

The Aliens in Manila project has become more than just street art – it’s a movement that touches lives across the city:

 

- For marginalized communities: In areas like Baseco Compound, where many people feel invisible, the aliens remind them that their stories matter. A mural of an alien teaching kids to read has become a local landmark.

- For Filipino culture: Lee Roy blends sci-fi with local traditions – aliens wearing baro’t saya, playing billiards, or eating lechon kawali. This shows that our culture can be part of big, imaginative stories.

- For the future: The project inspires young people to dream big. Many students who joined Lee Roy’s workshops have gone on to study art or design, saying the aliens taught them that being "different" is a superpower.

 

 

 

OUTRO

 

Next time you’re walking around Manila and spot a silver alien on a wall, pause for a moment. Look at how it fits into our city – how it laughs with us, works with us, and dreams with us. Maybe we’re all aliens in our own way, just trying to find our place in this big, beautiful world.

 

Want to see where the aliens are hiding? Follow Lee Roy on Facebook @LeeRoyArt – and if you spot one, share a photo with #AliensInManila!

 

 

 

BLOG DETAILS

 

- Categories: Filipino Art, Street Art, Public Installations

- Featured Image: A photo of a silver alien sculpture holding a jeepney sign in Escolta

- Comments Open: Have you seen an alien in Manila? Tell us where!

GARAPATA & DEX FERNANDEZ – ART THAT STICKS TO YOUR HEART

 

Walk down the streets of Manila, Cebu, or even small towns across the Philippines, and you might spot them – tall, bug-like figures with big eyes and long legs, painted on walls, fences, and even shop fronts. These are Garapata – the signature characters of Filipino artist Dex Fernandez, who’s turning street corners into galleries and making art feel like it belongs to everyone.

 

 

 

PART 1: WHO IS DEX FERNANDEZ?

 

Short Essay: The Artist Behind the Bugs

 

Dex Fernandez was born in Manila in 1984, growing up surrounded by the city’s chaotic, colorful energy. As a kid, he’d draw on any surface he could find – notebooks, walls, even his own hands. This love for making art part of daily life would shape his entire career.

 

Unlike many artists who start in galleries, Dex began as a street artist. He’d sneak out at night to paint murals in quiet alleys, using simple tools and bright colors to make people smile. For him, art wasn’t something you locked in a frame – it was something you lived with.

 

As he grew as an artist, Dex kept this philosophy. He moved between street art, gallery shows, and interactive projects, but his goal never changed: to make art that sticks to people like glue. Today, he’s one of the Philippines’ most beloved contemporary artists – not just because of his work, but because he makes everyone feel like they’re part of his creative world.

 

 

 

PART 2: WHAT IS GARAPATA?

 

Significance of the Character

 

The word garapata means "tick" in Tagalog – a small insect that attaches itself to its host. At first glance, naming a friendly art character after a bug might seem strange. But for Dex, it’s perfect:

 

"Ticks stick to you – they don’t let go. That’s how I want art to be: something that stays with you, even after you walk away from it."

 

Garapata figures are tall and thin, with round heads, big eyes, and legs that stretch like noodles. They’re painted in bold colors – yellows, reds, blues – and pop up in the most unexpected places: on the side of a jeepney, a school wall, or a market stall. Each one is a little different, but all share that same warm, curious look – like they’re asking "What’s happening here?"

 

 

 

PART 3: THE STORY OF GARAPATA

 

How the Character Came to Life

 

One rainy afternoon in 2011, Dex was sitting in his small studio, feeling stuck on a new project. He’d been thinking about how art connects people – how a single mural can make strangers stop and talk to each other. As he doodled on a napkin, a small bug crawled across his desk. Instead of swatting it away, he watched it move – slow, steady, and determined.

 

"That bug just kept going, even though the desk was ‘foreign territory’ to it," Dex later said in an interview. "I thought – that’s what art should do: stick to you, no matter where you are."

 

He named the character Garapata, and painted the first one on a wall near his studio. Within days, people were taking photos of it, drawing their own versions, and even adding small messages next to it – like "Keep going!" or "This made my day!"

 

From there, Garapata spread like wildfire. Dex painted them in cities across the Philippines, then took them to Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Each time, locals added their own touches – in Cebu, someone painted a Garapata holding a lechon; in Tokyo, one wore a kimono.

 

 

 

PART 4: WHY GARAPATA MATTERS

 

The Significance of This Art

 

Garapata isn’t just a pretty character – it’s a symbol of connection in a world that often feels divided:

 

- For communities: Garapata murals turn blank walls into meeting points. In Manila’s Pandacan district, a Garapata wall became a place where neighbors leave notes for each other – lost dog posters, job leads, or just kind messages.

- For young artists: Dex uses affordable paint and simple tools, proving you don’t need fancy equipment to make great art. Many SHS students now paint their own small Garapata figures on classroom walls.

- For culture: Garapata is uniquely Filipino – it speaks our language, uses our colors, and lives in our spaces. It shows that art doesn’t have to come from other countries to be meaningful.

 

 

 

OUTRO

 

Next time you see a Garapata figure on a wall near you, stop and look closely. It might be just a painted bug – but it’s also a reminder that art is everywhere, waiting to stick to your heart.

 

Want to see more of Dex’s work? Follow him on Instagram @dexfernandez – and if you spot a Garapata near you, tag us with #GarapataArtPH!

 

 

 

BLOG DETAILS

 

- Categories: Filipino Art, Street Art, Contemporary Artists

- Featured Image: A photo of a yellow Garapata figure painted on a Manila street wall

- Comments Open: Share where you’ve seen Garapata!

coffee simulator

Coffee Lab Simulator

Choose your beans, brew like a barista, and see exactly how it will taste!

Beans

Grind

Brew

Cup

Bean Type Arabica Robusta Liberica Excelsa

Roast Level Light Medium Medium-Dark Dark

Grind Size Extra Fine Fine Medium-Fine Medium Coarse Extra Coarse

Water Temperature 80°C - 85°C 86°C - 92°C 93°C - 96°C 97°C - 100°C

Brew Ratio 1:12 (Very Strong) 1:15 (Strong) 1:18 (Balanced) 1:20 (Mild) 1:22 (Very Mild)

Brew Method Pour Over French Press Espresso Cold Brew AeroPress Moka Pot

Add-in / Extra None Milk Sugar Cinnamon Vanilla Coconut

LAB RESULT: COFFEE ANALYSIS

Predicted Taste & Quality Report

Acidity Level:

Body / Texture:

Flavor Profile:

Lab Notes & Observations:

Overall Quality Score

Try a Pacman Game

Score: 0 | Use Arrows or Joystick

TRY Again

5 Easy Songs to Sing for Guys

Summary of Biag ni Lam-ang

Points in reading Biag ni Lam-ang

o    Lam-ang's birth and extraordinary strength.

o    His adventures and bravery.

o    His courtship of Ines Kannoyan.

o    His death and resurrection.

important parts of the epic

Lam-ang was an extraordinary individual who began speaking at a young age and resurrected from the dead. Some of his remarkable adventures included swimming to the deepest part of the ocean to retrieve a golden seashell, defeating the giant Sumarang in a duel, and being swallowed alive by a sea monster before resurrecting. Lam-ang won the heart of Ines Cannoyan by having his rooster and dog perform feats of strength that impressed her parents, who agreed to the marriage if Lam-ang could provide a dowry worth double their wealth. According to the epic, Lam-ang was resurrected after being eaten by having his bones wrapped in cloth by his wife while his magical pets used their

The epic poem Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang) teaches that people should face life's challenges with bravery and perseverance. 

Explanation

Biag ni Lam-ang is a pre-Hispanic epic poem from the Philippines. It was originally passed down orally, but was first recorded in 1640 by Pedro Bucaneg, a blind Ilocano poet. The poem is about the adventures of Lam-ang, who is known for his bravery and courage

 BIAG NI LAM-ANG (Life of Lam-ang) is a pre-Hispanic epic poem of the Ilocano people of the Philippines. The story was handed down orally for generations before it was written down around 1640 assumedly by a blind Ilokano bard named Pedro Bucaneg.

Pedro Bucaneg was a Filipino poet who lived from March 1592 to around 1630. A boulevard within the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex in Pasay, Philippines, is dedicated in his honor. He is regarded as the "Father of Ilocano literature." He was blind from birth and is thought to have written portions of the Ilocano epic Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang). The Bucanegan, the Ilocano counterpart of the Balagtasan, is given his last name.

An elderly woman discovered Bukaneg, a foundling, drifting in a basket in the Banaoang River between Bantay and Vigan not long after he was born. He was baptized as Pedro Bucaneg by the Bantay Augustiner priest after they brought him there. Bukaneg was assigned to study theology and culture at the Augustinian monastery in Manila. In addition to learning the local languages and Ilocano Isneg, he also received instruction in Latin and Spanish.

Because of his proficiency in these languages, the local priests asked him to interpret their sermons and prayers into the local tongues. They wanted him to assist in converting the local populace. As a troubadour, Bukaneg wrote songs and poetry and was adored by the Ilocanos. The locals considered him a seer. Even the Spaniards knocked him for his services. He would have recognized the killer of a servant of a Spaniard on a day in a row of Itneg men by placing his hand on the chest of all these individuals.

He couldn't write because he was blind. While someone else wrote, he dictated his translations, poetry, and songs. Some writers and historians credit Bukaneg with writing the Ilocano epic Biag ni Lam-ang. It's also likely that the Ilocano sang Bukaneg's compositions for generations, preserving them for all time. The Doctrina Cristiana was also translated into Ilocano by Bukaneg.

Characters in Biag ni Lam-ang

Lam-ang- was an extraordinary being, manifesting in his early years when he started to speak, thus enabling him to choose his own name.

Don Juan- father of Lam-ang

Namongan- mother of Lam-ang

Ines Kannoyan- Lam-ang love's interest

BUOD NG OF BIAG NI LAM-ANG

(SUMMARY OF BIAG NI LAM-ANG)

Don Juan and his wife Namongan lived in Nalbuan, now part of La Union in the northern part of the Philippines. They had a son named Lam-ang. Before Lam-ang was born, Don Juan went to the mountains in order to punish a group of their Igorot enemies. While he was away, his son Lam-ang was born. It took four people to help Namongan give birth. As soon as the baby boy popped out, he spoke and asked that he be given the name Lam-ang. He also chose his godparents and asked where his father was.

After nine months of waiting for his father to return, Lam-ang decided he would go look for him. Namongan thought  Lam-ang was up to the challenge but she was sad to let him go.

During his exhausting journey, he decided to rest for awhile. He fell asleep and had a dream about his father’s head being stuck on a pole by the Igorot. Lam-ang was furious when he learned what had happened to his father. He rushed to their village and killed them all, except for one whom he let go so that he could tell other people about Lam-ang’s greatness.

Upon returning to Nalbuan in triumph, he was bathed by women in the Amburayan river. All the fish died because of the dirt and odor from Lam-ang’s body.

There was a young woman named Ines Kannoyan whom Lam-ang wanted to woo.  She lived in Calanutian and he brought along his white rooster and gray dog to visit her. On the way, Lam-ang met his enemy Sumarang, another suitor of Ines whom he fought and readily defeated.

Lam-ang found the house of Ines surrounded by  many suitors all of whom were trying to catch her attention.  He had his rooster crow, which caused a nearby house to fall.  This made Ines look out. He had his dog bark and in an instant the fallen house rose up again. The girl’s parents witnessed this and called for him. The rooster expressed the love of Lam-ang. The parents agreed to a marriage with their daughter if Lam-ang would give them a dowry valued at double their wealth. Lam-ang had no problem fulfilling this condition and he and Ines were married.

It was a tradition to have a newly married man swim in the river for the rarang fish. Unfortunately, Lam-ang dove straight into the mouth of the water monster Berkakan. Ines had Marcos get his bones, which she covered with a piece of cloth. His rooster crowed and his dog barked and slowly the bones started to move. Back alive, Lam-ang and his wife lived happily ever after with his white rooster and gray dog.

TagalogLang. (2025, January 13). Biag ni Lam-ang (Summary). TAGALOG LANG. https://www.tagaloglang.com/biag-ni-lam-ang-buod/

Philippine Theater