Commons Sense: Mindfulness, Creativity, and Connection

What does it mean to slow down in a world that rarely does?

That question lay at the heart of Commons Sense, an open house hosted by the Creative Commons by Altomonte Projects in an afternoon dedicated to pausing, noticing, creating, breathing, and rediscovering a deeper sense of presence within ourselves and with one another.

The event brought together artists, facilitators, wellness practitioners, and curious participants for a series of interactive experiences that celebrated mindfulness through creativity and everyday practice.

The event opened with welcome remarks from Creative Commons co-founder RL Altomonte, who invited everyone into the space and shared the vision behind the Creative Commons as a place where creativity, learning, and community come together.

Participants then explored a diverse range of sessions throughout the afternoon. 

Ken Miclat of Café de Angelo encouraged participants to experience coffee preparation as a mindful ritual with Poetry of the Pour, an invitation to slow down and appreciate the beauty found in simple, intentional acts.

Karlo Marko Altomonte led Acting & Self-Awareness, exploring how theater cultivates presence,
empathy, and a greater understanding of ourselves through mindful observation and authentic expression.

Ashtanga Yoga Baguio introduced guests to the Mysore method through The Practice That Meets You and Beginning Where You Are, demonstrating how yoga can become a deeply personal and sustainable practice. The experience of slowing down continued with an Introduction to Sound Bath and Meditation led by Danni Addug, where participants were invited to settle into stillness, listen deeply, and experience the restorative effects of sound and guided meditation.

            

Creativity took tangible form through Andrea Fe Gomez's Making Meaning from Fragments, where participants transformed found images into expressive collages, while Kreative Mood invited guests to reflect through Found Objects Journaling, discovering stories and meaning in everyday objects and memories.

Rounding out the day's offerings, Paolo San Juan and Kristina Lesley Caburao presented The Art of Getting Ready, exploring hair, makeup, and personal styling not as routines of appearance, but as mindful practices of self-care and self-expression.

More than a collection of workshops, Commons Sense was an invitation to experience creativity not merely as something we produce, but as a way of paying attention to the world around us. It reminded us that mindfulness can be found in movement, in stillness, in conversation, in making art, in preparing a cup of coffee, or simply in taking the time to be fully present.

At the Creative Commons by Altomonte Projects, we believe that creativity flourishes where curiosity, community, and presence meet. Commons Sense was a celebration of that belief—and a reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful thing we can do is simply slow down, pay attention, and reconnect—with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.

Staying Power: Celebrating Courage, Growth, and the Creative Journey

Staying Power marked the culmination of a remarkable journey undertaken by two young performers as they explored voice, movement, storytelling, and self-expression through the Teen Theater Lab at the Creative Commons by Altomonte Projects.

In an intimate showcase attended by their families, friends, and alumni of previous Creative Commons workshops, the two young ladies took to the stage with courage and authenticity, sharing a story not only of performance, but of perseverance, confidence, and the quiet strength it takes to keep moving forward despite fear.

The showcase unfolded in three interconnected pieces, each reflecting a different aspect of their growth as performers. It opened with a devised movement piece that introduced the audience to Rudolf Laban's Eight Basic Efforts, the movement principles the students had been studying throughout the course. These expressive movement qualities became the physical vocabulary that shaped their powerful interpretation of Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman, allowing them to embody the poem with intention, energy, and individuality.

The evening concluded with The First Scene, an original devised work inspired by their own experiences entering the workshop. Looking back at the uncertainty, hesitation, and excitement of that first day, the piece served as both a reflection on where they began and a celebration of how far they had come.

More than a showcase of theatrical skills, Staying Power was a testament to the transformative power of creative learning. It reminded us that theater is not simply about performance—it is about discovering one's voice, building confidence, learning to collaborate, and finding the courage to be seen.

We congratulate our latest graduates: Fevi Gabrielle De La Cruz and Daena Valbuena!

At the Creative Commons by Altomonte Projects, we celebrate not only the techniques our students acquire, but also the resilience, creativity, and self-belief they carry with them long after the final curtain call. We are proud of these two young performers and excited for all the creative possibilities that lie ahead for them.

FO(u)R WOMEN

L-R: Karlo Marko Altomonte, Program Director, Maia Katerina Bautista, 
Dona Mariz Bullong, Darlene Hanna Marino, Roxanne Chanfing
and associate facilitator Mai Fianza-Sarmiento 

The first batch of the Acting 101 Class for Adults took to the stage last night with Fo(ur) Women featuring a theatrical sketch chronicling their journey though 4 weeks, 12 sessions of acting exercises and lectures, filmed short monologues and "Metro," a short play about four friends getting lost, and finding themselves, in a foreign city.

The showcase also featured a talkback session with some of Baguio's local theater artists/directors including Ferdinand Balanag, Lynette Grace Bibal, Dennis Gutierrez, Andre Inso, and Markneel Balgos. Brava, Maia, Dona, Darlene and Roxanne!

Below are scenes from the main feature of the showcase:

YOUR SUNDAY RESET

 

Last Sunday's event by Journal Social Baguio, YOUR SUNDAY RESET, an afternoon of slow living, creativity, and genuine connection, filled every available space at the Commons Cafe so much creative energy as participants gathered to journal, swap stickers and stationeries with a yoga session in between.

Caffeinating and nourishing the journal-ists were Cafe de Angelo and Cafe Cueva, our residents at the Commons Cafe (which, by the way, is open daily from 10AM-7PM).

Do you have an activity in mind and need a space for it? Check out the Creative Commons by Altomonte Projects at 10 Maya St., Dizon Subdivision, Baguio City.