In Between Twins

Soaring to a height of 451.9 metres, the 88-storey twin structure is Kuala Lumpur’s crown jewel, capturing the nation’s ambitions and aspirations.

Majestic by day and dazzling at night, the PETRONAS Twin Towers is inspired by Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s vision for Malaysia to be a global player.

The towers resemble the letter “M” for Malaysia. The jagged outline subtly represents one of Malaysia’s famous traditional handicrafts – basket weaving – thus highlighting her strong cultural values.

It is no wonder why people from all walks of life come and visit and take a picture of this icon that speaks a lot about Malaysia.

http://www.petronastwintowers.com

Memories of Bali

I’ve come across a poem by Niko Tiliopoulos that would make you want to go to Bali even more. As for me, this walk on the beach in Bali while waiting for the sunset made me realize about a lot of things.

DON’T GO TO BALI

Don’t go to Bali my friend.

Even if the whales whistle you the way, 

Even if the dolphins dance for you to stay, 

Even if the spirits possess you when you pray. 

Even if the sun is king or the winds are fair, 

Or even if the sea currents take you there, 

And even if you are charmed 

by the gamelan music in the air. 

Or the dancers of barong 

And the outfits of sarong, 

Or the feasts of spice 

And the paddies of rice, 

Or the volcanoes of light 

And the temples of white. 

Come what may in the end, 

Don’t go to Bali my friend.

Meeting the Merlion

There was a legend about Sang Nila Utama, a Sumatran Prince spotting a lion upon landing on an island called Temasek centuries ago. Seeing that lion, he called that place Singapura or “Lion City”. Singa is Malay for lion and Pura for city while Temasek is Javanese for “Sea Town”. 

Combining these two created the icon of Singapore which is popularly known as “Merlion” which have a head of a lion and a fish-like body that blends Singapore’s past with its maritime progress today. 

Looking at this modern interpretation of Merlion with all its lively colors, shapes and lines reminds me of the logo of a school, Meridian Systems Academy back in the Philippines as they face the 21st century.

Their logo, the Aguileon is a combination of the AGILA (Eagle) for wisdom, sharpness and singleness of vision and the LEON (lion) for courage, leadership and burden for community and country. Together they bring excellence with a clear purpose to life. 

What’s in an icon or a logo? 

A logo or an icon is a concept in graphic form that captures the spirit of one’s school or country. A strong logo reflects a distinctive brand or identity. It is the school’s or country’s signature. 

What is your logo? What does it say about you?