WELCOME to the inaugural issue of East by Southeast, a quarterly webzine dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of the Asian arts, design, culture and tradition.

Philippine summer is over and our seasonal ablution has at last arrived. To an agricultural country like ours, the raining season signals the time for planting. As a person born in the year of the ox, I have a natural affinity for mother earth. It is at this time of the year, that we oxes are most useful and busy in preparing the ground for rice planting. With this publication, we are similarly planting our seeds for the future and we look forward to cultivating it with love and devotion that it may produce a beautiful if not a bountiful harvest.

In Asian tradition, rice grains are auspiciously and ceremoniously brought inside a new home before settling in. This is also what we are doing here. We would like to think the various articles about rice, our grain of life, endows our new cyber home with this fertility symbol.

In this inaugural issue we turn the clock backwards as we move forward. Here, you can read about the rice goddess of Thailand or take a look at the rice gods of the Philippines. Imbibe the luxury of a five-star resort amidst cultivated rice paddies or learn about the many varieties of rice and how to cook them. The Chinese stone statuary used as rice ballasts in Prasart's garden is also a delight.

I first met Prasart Vongsakul through a common friend back in 1982. We striked an easy friendship because of our shared passion for antiques and flowers. His shop at the Peninsula Plaza in Bangkok was always a pleasure to visit. We salute his way of sharing and his concern for his motherland's patrimony.

Prasart with his kratong at a party to celebrate Loy Kratong Festival.

Another featured personality in this issue is Edith Oliveros. Edith and I have known each other since I was a student at the Philippine School of Interior Design. In her own way, she has contributed immensely to the interior design profession in the Philippines through her educational involvement. In the interview, she shares her thoughts about her profession and herself.

Color is a powerful communicating tool. When I started doing these pages some months ago, I was inspired by our favorite summer dessert, the halo-halo. The Philippine version of this crashed ice concoction uses ube or purple taro, the nangka, leche flan and other sweet toppings. The colors of these sweets are reflected here and I hope you find these pages just as kewl as our halo-halo.

MABUHAY or as the Thais would say, SANUK !

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Due to unforseen circumstances, there is a delay in the production of our second issue. Please bear with us and thank you for your understanding.____________________________Editor/Publisher