introspection

My Happy Beginnings

2010-07-19T10:47:00.004+08:00

I am now blogging here... www.myhappybeginnings.blogspot.com

Surigao Del Sur Escapade Part 1

2010-04-05T11:33:00.000+08:00

We departed for Surigao Del Sur at around 1:00 am last April 1, 2010, Holy Thursday from our meeting place McDo Bajada, Davao City . There were eight of us, Edwin, Jacquie, Skit, Gina, Dexter, Amai, Michael and myself. We rented a van (L300 Mitsubishi) which unfortunately had a defective air conditioning unit which we didn’t notice much since we were all excited and the air was still chilly. We stopped by Nabunturan for peeing and eating. We slept most of the way and were awakened by the bumpy roads when we entered Bislig proper at around 5:00am. When we got to Mangagoy, we had breakfast at their public market. We proceeded to Bgy. Barboanon at around 6:45 am and approximately arrived at Tinuy-an Falls at 8:00am. The roads going there were not cemented but were not that rough. The first thing that greeted our sight even before we entered the place was the first tier of the falls.

We then paid the entrance of P10 and P100 for the cottage and entered the place and saw the 2nd tier of the falls which dwarfed the first tier. We climbed up the man-made stairs to see the 3rd tier. There were 4 tiers, but only 3 were visible and because of these tiers, the falls earned the nick “Little Niagara Falls of the Philippines”. All in all Tinuy-an Falls is around 55 meters(180 ft) high and a width of 95 meters which is said to be the widest in the country. One can’t help but be awed by the splendour of the cascading waterfalls and the equally magnificent foliage with century old trees surrounding it.

The place is well preserved and clean and one can bathe in the cool water until your skin wrinkles. The water is cold at first but once you get in you don’t want to get out  At around 12:00 noon, we didn’t bring any lunch so we were forced to leave the place.

We returned to Bislig City and had lunch at an eatery named Bags fronting the Bislig Municipal Hall. We then departed for Hinatuan at around 2:00pm and arrived at the famous Enchanted River after an hour. The road was covered with lime so the ride was not that rough. There is entrance and the cottage fee but you are free to give cash donations. The place looks smaller than the pictures but the hues of green and blue of the river were as brilliant as the pictures. The place is also well preserved and clean. We only get to bathe on the side of the river since it is very deep while experienced swimmers dived and frolicked on all parts of the river. The river is a bit salty and they say that underneath the caves surrounding the river is where the sea meets the river thus the color and the taste. It was beginning to get dark so we left at around 4:30 pm.

We arrived at Terraza Victoria in Barobo at around 6:00pm where we stayed for the night. The place was neat, cozy and affordable. The owner and the receptionist were very accommodating. We had dinner at a local eatery where the lechon manok costs P180. We were expecting that most eatery would serve crabs or seafoods but we were disappointed and were told that we have to travel an hour to go to Lianga where a place serves eat all you can seafoods. We slept early at around 9:00pm because were all exhausted. To be Continued...

Goodbye 4k and Cebu Pacific Promo

2010-03-30T11:45:00.003+08:00

I googled up the words "Cebu Pacific Sucks" and guess what? There were 13,500 results. I guess if you have complaints against the airlines then you better take a number. I have a flight tomorrow bound for Manila, I was supposed to spend the Holyweek at Baguio but due to some financial constraints, I had to cancel the trip. I bought the ticket last January during promo, the fare was 50%, so I paid only P2,000 round trip (times 2 because Blow was supposed to come soP4000 all in all). Anyways I called up the Cebu Pacific Davao booking office yesterday but they referred me to Manila or Cebu since my ticket was bought online. I only had the chance to call up this morning. So I called up and inquired if I can rebook the flight, the operator said yes but there will be some fee. She asked, when is the flight date, I replied tomorrow. Then she told me that she can no longer accommodate my request because re-booking should be done "more than 24 hours prior to the flight date". I told her that the flight is tomorrow afternoon, technically it is "more than 24 hours". But she insisted that it is no longer qualified. I told her it , I still have 25 hours but she still said no. She asked for my name, I replied thanks and ended the call.I could just see no point in continuing our conversation. I use to be a big fan of their promo fare but not anymore because of what happened and because of similar complaints from friends. Sayang ang P4,000 but it's not worth the heart attack and the highblood pressure.

Creative Writing Workshop

2010-03-29T11:33:00.003+08:00

In my pursuit to become a better blogger and writer, I attended the Creative Writing Workshop for Bloggers and Non-Bloggers last Saturday ,March 27, 2010, 8 am – 5 pm, at the Training Rooms of the PLDT Davao Branch. The workshop was organized by the DavaoBloggers group headed by the superwoman Ria Jose. The speaker was Mr. Rene Lizada, a writer,SunStar Davao columnist, Toast Master, and educator. I learned a lot and I had fun participating in the activities and mingling with the fellow participants. The fee was only P300 and it already included lunch and snacks.
The workshop have greatly inspired me and re-awakened my passion for writing be it in the form of blogs and etc.
My congratulations to the organizers for the successful activity!

Pilot

2010-02-24T14:22:00.000+08:00

Everyone wants their love story to have a happy ending. Well, I don't! Simply because I don't want my love story to end :) That's why I titled this blog " My Happy Beginnings" instead of "My Happy Endings" and besides every ending is a new beginning and vice versa so endings always comes from a beginning....now I'm making things complicated when all i wanted to say is that I title this blog "My Happy Beginnings". Period.
I created this new blog because I believe that I am welcoming a new chapter in my life. Blow and I have decided to tie the knot that have loosely binded us together through the years. We are ready to throw cautions to the wind and finally succumb to the call of marriage. I know this is not gonna be easy and we are still unsure of what to expect but the most important thing right now is that we have faith in US and we want to build our own future together...come what may. So bring it on!

Valentine Weekend

2010-02-17T15:19:00.000+08:00

Last February 13, 2009 ,I had a date with the person I love most in the world. I’ve loved this person for what seems like forever yet we’ve never even watched a movie together. So last Saturday I watched Percy and the Lightning Thief with this person i love the most in the world.....myself. It was my first time to watch a movie alone. I thought it might feel weird and I would feel self-conscious but it was basically OK. I was able to concentrate on the movie. The only glitch was that I had to hold my pee since I was afraid to leave my things behind or thought that if I’d bring it along i would have difficulty finding another seat when I get back.

Last February 14, 2009, Valentine’s Day, I had a date with the third person I love most in the world …Blow (second place being my parents). We attended mass at St.Jude and afterwards I told him I don’t want to eat at restaurants because most of them are full. I told him we’d just take out some food and have a picnic somewhere...my requirements are quite simple, I want to lay on the grass, look up at the stars, eat a bucketful of chicken and just be with him. We thought of going to Samal but it was already 6:00pm so he took me to Riverfront Corporate City (entrance to Crocodile Park) and we chose a spot and laid a blanket and had our private picnic. We were actually not sure if picnicking is allowed there and we were expecting to be chastised by some guard but nobody approached us and the idea of doing something “prohibited” made it more exciting 
All in all I had a swell weekend.

Bear with me

2010-02-04T16:37:00.007+08:00

I was a happy child and had an almost idyllic childhood but I grew up to be a bitter and cynical adult but there are times when the child within fights to come out. Here’s one of that moment.

What are the chances that you would find a pair of something like a stuffed toy perhaps…a male and female version of it in an ukay-ukay(flea market?)? I bet the odds are pretty slim considering that the items in question are not even popular like Snoopy , Winne the Pooh or Hello kitty). And I’m willing to bet more that the odds are even slimmer when the two items are located in different heaps of used stuff toys and are found almost a year apart. Around March of last year I bought this cute little male bear with a button at his back from an Ukay2x Stand at Uyanguren St.. I pinned him in my favorite sling bag from then on. Then last Sunday when Blow and I were passing by Palma Gil St, we just finished taking snaps at People’s Park and I was craving for Mais(corn)so we decided to check the vendors outside People’s park and noticed this heap of stuffed toys. I was tempted to browse among the pile since it was a bargain at ten pesos. Imagine my elation when I found an exact female version of the stuffed bear! The She-Bear! I immediately bought and pinned her to my camera bag. I just felt so excited like a kid at Christmas morning because I know there’s only a small probability of finding both items that I can only attribute it to destiny ;) The two bears are really destined to be together! Maybe because I brought along the He-Bear with me and there was some kind of magnetic reaction…maybe they used to be real perons …Okay I need to Stop! Let’s just say that I’m really happy to have found them both because now they’ll be together.

See? Don’t they look adorable? He wears a blue hooded shirt. She wears a pink hooded shirt. He wears….err…he’s actually naked below the waist (I’m planning to sew him a denim shorts). She wears a denim skirt. She wears a ribbon and is a bit chubby. ( Blow says she’s chubby like me :P)

Sleeps with Butterflies

2010-01-20T09:08:00.005+08:00

I've been trying to search for the title of this song that I keep hearing on the radio during the "90's Hits Flashback" but as much as I try to figure out the lyrics of the song I can only discern the words "Flyyyyy" and "Butterfly". So I tried to search for the song "Fly Butterfly" but there are a lot of unrelated matches. I had the nagging suspicion that the song is Sleeps with Butterflies by Tori Amos but when I looked up the lyrics it seems different from the song so I gave up my search. Then this morning the "mystery" song was played again on the radio(it's 90's hits every Wednesday on the station that I listen to) and I caught the lines "Fly on Boy" and then I Googled it again and came up with a narrower search result which included the song Sleep with Butterflies by Tori Amos. I decided to download the song and what do you know, it was the mystery song! Finally, I can listen to the song over and over again.There's a haunting quality to this song that is unique to Tori Amos and it keeps one captivated.
If anybody is interested, below is the lyrics and I was able to download the mp3 from this site.

Airplanes
Take you away again
Are you flying
Above where we live
Then I look up a glare in my eyes
Are you having regrets about last night
I'm not but I like rivers that rush in
So then I dove in
Is there trouble ahead
For you the acrobat
I won't push you unless you have a net

You say the word
You know I will find you
Or if you need some time
I don't mind
I don't hold on
To the tail of your kite
I'm not like the girls that you've known
But I believe I'm worth coming home to
Kiss away night
This girl only sleeps with butterflies
With butterflies
So go on and fly then boy

Balloons
Look good from on the ground
I fear with pins and needles around
We may fall then stumble
Upon a carousel
It could take us anywhere

I'm not like the girls that you've known
But I believe I'm worth coming home to
Kiss away night
This girl only sleeps with butterflies
With butterflies
With butterflies
So go on and fly boy

Siesta

2010-01-15T20:20:00.003+08:00

I love the splendor of the sunrise and the majestic hues of the sunset. However my favorite time of the day is not during these times. I love it when the sun is not trying to show off its amazing colors but when it’s just sitting quietly with its warm orange-y glow. I love midday or the time after lunch when the world (warm areas that is) is feeling drowsy after a heavy meal and the warm temperature. Siesta time for most Filipinos whether they’re at home or at the office. I remember when I was still elementary and I would go home around lunch during the exam week. It feels so peaceful walking along the streets and houses where most children are asleep and parents are at work. It is the time of the day when I feel most relaxed because I have nothing to do except watch TV, play and nap. Now that I’m working, I still try to get my power nap during lunch break.

Anyways, when I was trying out the 50mm f1.8 lens (which doesn’t autofocus on D40 by the way) I was looking for subjects to shoot and when I went outside the house, I saw the sleeping cats in our dirty kitchen and took pictures of them. The pictures look lousy but it did trigger some nostalgic memories of those warm afternoons thus I decided to post them. This is my first photo set…hopefully there are more to follow and hopefully-er I’d be good at this.

Learning the basics

2010-01-03T19:49:00.005+08:00

The problem with me is that I want to try new things but I'm impatient to learn the basics. Like cooking, I don't want to slice, chop and peel. I didn't even bother to learn the difference between broil and boil (spelling?) yet I want to be a good Cook. When I realized that there are a lot of good cooks I got discouraged. I also get hurt when they criticize my self accalimed masterpieces. So what I did was...I gave up and left the cooking to the experts. I have come to accept that I am not a Cook but a Food Critic.

Now that Blow is into photography I am interested to learn it too but I don't want to be bothered by the technicalities like aperture and metering and etc. I was foolishly expecting that when I hold the camera I would know exactly what to do but again it's not the case. I also get discouraged when here I am a newbie... still learning and there are a lot of professionals out there. So I re-evaluated why I wanted to learn Photography in the first place. It's not only because Blow is into it. I am interested because I want to capture moments not just images. I want to freeze the very essence of a place or thing or people into frames. I want some remembrance that I can look at again and again when I'm old and gray. Driven by this goal I have resolved in this new year to take a new approach into becoming better if not the best in anything I do.I am willing to learn the basics. Be patient and accept criticism. And most importantly never compare my accomplishments ( or lack of it) to others, a wise man (James) once told me that Photography is not about Social Recognition but about Self Fulfillment. So Go Floraine, Click Away!

Sorta Year End Report

2009-12-29T15:21:00.003+08:00

of my life of course.

This year I challenged the meaning of two words, Irrevocable and Forever.

Irrevocable

Last January, I tendered my irrevocable resignation at my job for four years. I had a new job which I didn't like at first. I regretted my resignation from my first job but I can no longer undo my decision thus I continued with the new job and slowly came to appreciate it. I learned a lot of things professionally and about myself during my stay there. I met a lot of people who have now became good friends. I was beginning to enjoy myself and my job when I got a call from my former boss. I was given an opportunity to get my old job back with a couple of new perks. I had a few hesitations but in the end decided to return to my former employer. Now 11 months later I am back to the company where I tendered my irrevocable resignation. Irrevocable is not unchangeable after all.

Forever

I have firmly hold on to the belief that Friendships last forever. That when two persons vowed to be good friends and commit to the friendship then its bound to be eternal that they can overcome any challenges that comes their way. However after losing a couple of so called best friends I am beginning to lose faith in the words "Friends Forever". Friendship ends because people change and with this personal transformation the value they place on friendship also changes. People change, feelings change...I have learned to accept that Forever is just an indefinite period of time. It's not eternal.. I still feel lucky though that a few precious friends are still around and I'm hoping that they wouldn't be so careless in throwing away the bonds we shared.

Turning 30

2009-12-14T21:12:00.002+08:00

I just turned 30 years old at around 1:00 am this morning. I was expecting to be awakened by some alarm from the biological clock that's ticking inside my body but nothing of that sort happened. I slept peacefully and was awakened by my cellphone alarm clock at my usual wake up time. I used to think that turning 30 would be such a big deal and that it would feel sooo old. I saw it like some huge milestone in my life where I have achieved a lot of things like being CEO,getting married, having a baby, traveled the world, swam the seven seas and so on and so forth where half of my mortal life has already happened. Now that I am here, I realized that my life and dreams are way from being over. I still have a lot of things to experience and new dreams to achieve. Life is a never ending quest after all and a new adventure has just began. So cheers!Like my cousin Mayrose told me, 30 is the new 20! :D

Volatile

2009-12-07T23:07:00.004+08:00

Just when I thought I've reached balance in my life, I have made another life changing decision. I'm in transition right now in my career and I'm juggling two jobs at the same time..

Mon, Tue, Wed=Company A
Thu,Fri-Company B
Sat=Company A

What kind of insanity have i gotten myself into ...again? I wouldn't go into details at this point since nothing is definite yet...it's still so volatile...no liquid or gas is taking the shape of a container..yet .But soon I hope things will get stable and the dust will settle down so my heart can return to it's normal rhythm and finally I hope to achieve that most longed for...balance.

Multitasking

2009-10-19T13:26:00.001+08:00

I can't seem to get a single task done nowadays without being distracted by other things. I seem to feel this need to do two or three things simultaenously. Example right now, while at work,I'm trying to finish up a report but I feel this sudden urge to prepare a report for our business and browse the net and make this blog entry.I'm not sure if this is multitasking or just getting distracted or even procastinating ;) It's just that when I start doing something, I remember another thing that I need to do and for fear of forgetting to do it, I want to start it right away thus ending up with juggling various tasks at the same time and stressing myself out. Prioritize Floraine!

The Search for the Perfect DSLR

2009-10-16T08:32:00.002+08:00

I've always taken an interest in photography because I love to take pictures of places I've been to and freeze moments in frames so I can look at them every now and then. I share this interest with Blow who believes that he has an artistic eye and dreams to be a professional photographer one day. Thus the search for the perfect camera began. These were the decision points that we went through:
1. Point and shoot or DSLR?
Since Blow wanted to be a pro we opted for the DSLR.

2. Canon or Nikon?
We spent several months debating this one.We asked friends and lurked on photography forum, even posted a survey. At first we chose Canon because most of our friends use it but we ended up choosing Nikon because of it's attribute that I wouldn't enumerate here :)

3. Brand New or Used?
After meeting up with sellers of used cameras, we decided that it was much safer to buy a brand new camera with the warranty and all because you can't be assured with a used camera how it was actually handled by the previous user unless if you personally know the person.

3.What Model?
If we spent months just debating over the brand can you imagine the time we spent choosing the specific model? Surprisingly we just spent over a week because of budget constraints. Our dream camera was a D80 because it is a semi-pro camera plus all it's fancy features which we also searched over the net and learned from friends but the stores are no longer selling it, I even called up Henry's at Hidalgo and contacted supppliers from different areas(Cebu, CDO and etc). The next choice was a D90 but we can't simply afford it. We can use the credit card but we don't want to be burdened with debt over the next few months plus we have to buy lenses and other stuffs. In the end we ended up buying an entry level camera which is a phase out model, Nikon D40. We almost bought D60 and D3000 but again after serious thinking we chose D40 among them. We thought that we would just have to invest in the lenses.

Whew! I'm glad that part was over. Now we're moving on to actually taking pictures and we have so much to learn.We have no fancy notions that simply owning a DSLR would make us photographers, owning a DSLR is sooo common nowadays. We just want to be true to what we truly love to do...documenting life...as we see it.

Imburnal

2009-09-16T12:29:00.003+08:00

I watched my first Davao made indie move last Saturday at the Crocodile Park (near the Gallery of Davao).So how did I find the movie? What movie? hehehe Seriously, it was visually entertaining and the music which accompanied the scenes were pretty captivating but I didn't totally get what the movie was all about. I did not understand the message that the movie was trying to convey. Maybe because it was not told in the usual "linear" way and the movie was experimental and unconventional in its approach. I was a bit surprised to know that the movie won a lot of awards not only in the Philippines but in Korea also among others. I found this review of the film which achieved to put into words the things that i wanted to say. Despite not understanding the film, I still salute the people behind it including the viewing I attended and it shows that there's a lot of home grown talent in Davao and we have a lot to expect from the film industry and should be open to "new" things.

Simple Pleasures # 2

2009-09-11T14:18:00.003+08:00

Yesterday I was on a meeting during the most part of the day and when I got back at my desk I found this personalized slipper shaped keychain with my name on it(pix to follow). It came with a note that said "For you..ala lang". It was from Shanelle,my officemate and I was deeply touched by the gesture and it completely took me by surprise. I love receiving gifts of all kinds. I'll be happy just to receive a paper clip. What I love the most about receiving gifts is the thoughtful act behind it. When it's given without any reason except for the pleasure of making somebody happy...of just wanting to paint a smile on somebody's face.

Holding Sand

2009-09-04T15:11:00.002+08:00

Relationships of all kinds are like holding sand in your handHold it loosely
with an open hand, the sand remains where it isThe tighter you grasp it, the
faster it trickles through your fingers

I know this quote by heart and lots of others about love and relationships. But only now do I understand the full meaning of the quote. Blow and I have been together for 2 years and 3 months. He is my first serious relationship. I believe we’re good and happy together. It's not a perfect relationship but we're both striving to make it work.We come from different backgrounds but we have the same values and enjoy the same things. I have nothing to complain about him. He’s a saint and that’s no overstatement because only a saint or somebody insane (ahem) could put with me and my moods. We never broke up though I’ve told him countless times before that “we’re over” after a few petty quarrels. I usually start our fights because of my insecurities, past issues, expectations and jealousy then he gets mad because he thinks I don’t trust him. Our fights don’t last for more than a day, we usually settle it before the day ends when we’ve both calmed down. Lately the fights have been frequent and he’s getting fed up with me…his patience is almost running out that’s why I need to change fast. I was thinking things over and the "sand" quote came to mind. I realized that after meeting Blow, I got too carried away with being “us “that I forgot about “me”. I made him the center of my universe and got used to always having him around and doing things together. My friends became his friends. I became clingy and dependent. I made him the source of my happiness and I can’t understand why he can stand on his own and be happy without me. Now I realized that I need to find myself again and recall how to be happy by myself and not depend on other people for it. I need to realize that there’s more to life than having a relationship. Now I’m learning to loosen my grip slowly on the sand before it’ll trickle down.

Tech Savvy...not

2009-08-09T19:35:00.002+08:00

As much as i'd like to believe that i'm a tech savvy person...i'm clearly not. There are a lot of features on my cellphone and laptop that I don't know of but I managed to discover a few that I am proud of myself *pats herself* First I discovered that I don't need to buy the smart or globe broad band connection thingy that looks like a flash disk because my trusty SE K770i can be used for internet connection with the same rate (P30 per hour I guess). And next is that I don't need to buy an LCD projector to ahmmm project/enlarge my bootleg series/movies from torrent because all i needed was a cable since my laptop is Svideo ready so voila! I can now watch Leverage on our TV set :)

Old Flame

2009-07-13T21:33:00.002+08:00

I just got back with an old flame. I hope Blow wouldn't mind. But knowing him, i'm sure he would mind because i'll be no longer giving him my undivided attention. I even forgot that today is our 25th monthsary.Forgive me I'm only human...just one look, a touch here and there, a little caress down the spine and a sniff...the emotions came rushing back to me. How i miss books and reading! Not that it's been a longtime since i've read a book...it has only been a week hehehe The last book I read(actually re-read) was Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman. But I haven't been passionate about reading for quite some time.Before, a day never goes by without reading a book and when i'm not reading i'm thinking of books i want to read or possess. Anyways now after reading the book lent by Dom, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (Review to follow), I fell in love all over again with reading. I got so posessed that I became bid-happy on ebay, I placed a bid on 4 books and now my only problem is how to pay for them :hD As Alanis would sing, "I'm broke but I'm happy ..."

Simple Pleasures # 1

2009-06-30T22:31:00.003+08:00

I want to bring this blog to life. It badly needs CPR so i thought of starting with writing short lines and phrases about my simple pleasures. Ordinary things that brings me great amount of joy.
Here's number 1.

I like it when he lays his head on my chest and drifts off to sleep just listening to my heartbeat.

No Popsicle In Sweden

2009-06-28T21:37:00.003+08:00

My friend was in Sweden for a week. I was happy for her for the travel opportunity and all and I'm also happy that i have a chance to finally have a Popsicle CD since it is their native country! So i asked her to look for one but after visiting three records store she found none :( I thought it was as easy as looking for Eraserheads album in our records store but I was wrong. Popsicle CDs are out of stock. Well i'd better try ordering it online and maybe ill have better luck. For the meantime i'll content myself with listening to the mp3s.

Two

2009-05-13T21:33:00.005+08:00

Here's to us for turning this good enough into something great and hopefully lasting. Cheers!

Holding on

2009-05-10T15:34:00.003+08:00

My blogmate and real life friend jae of My flipflops and notes has finally decided to close down her blog. I have also been toying with the idea of closing mine but I can't seem to find the heart to do it. I know that i've been neglecting it but I'm still hoping that someday i'll find time to update it regularly. I'm not giving up on this blog yet. Aja!!! :D

Break

2009-04-11T21:43:00.006+08:00

It’s been a loooooong time….really2x long time. So many things have happened.

1. I quit my job and found a new one.
2. I planned to quit my new job to return to my old one and had an interview with my old job and ahmmm nothing’s happening yet.
3. Spent Valentine’s at Manila ahem Luneta park.
4. There’s the usual demands of MBA classes.
5. Joined forces with my friends and now I finally have my own boutique! Hippie is now offline as well as online. We did almost everything from cleaning to painting to designing to watching over the store. It was

So many things have happened…wait I said that already. It’s just that my life seemed to take some crazy turns but still I ended up where I think I’m supposed to be. I’m not sure yet but all I know is that I’m happy where I am right now. And now it’s time to take a break from the whirlwind of events and just savor the things that happened.

February 18

2009-02-19T21:57:00.000+08:00

February 18, 2009, 02-18-09
Nothing really special about the date except for the fact that I received two text messages..one announcing the birth of a healthy baby girl and the other the death of a father. It seems like for every death there’s life or maybe it’s the other way around…for every life there’s a death.

still searching

2009-02-11T21:48:00.005+08:00

left an old job
found a new one
but still haven't found my self

Last day of work

2009-01-19T15:19:00.004+08:00

Today is my last day of work in S___. I don't feel anything except relief. People have been asking why I'm leaving and my common reply is, I can no longer find any reason to stay and that's basically the truth. I've been with the company for four years now and the first 3 years was fun. I actually enjoyed working and even look forward to report each day but things have changed. Most of my colleagues have resigned including most of my bosses and the last year was hellish. I have to drag myself to get up every morning to get to work and if i really can't then i'd look for reasons to be absent. I'm usually present every Mon and Tue because I'll be downloading Heroes and Dexter and Thursday too because of my online business....in short I come to work because of the unlimited and speedy internet connection hehehe I'll surely miss the internet and my officemates and I'm grateful for the experience and everything that happened. I'm looking forward to my next job though I have a few apprehensions because the internet connection is slow and it's farther from my house that i have to wake up early. Good luck na lang! :)

Poetry Night 2

2009-01-17T10:57:00.002+08:00

August Rush

2009-01-13T16:51:00.005+08:00

I just watched August Rush on DVD last weekend. My friend George gave me a copy of it a couple months before but I forgot to watch it. Blow saw it recently on HBO and said the movie was great including the soundtrack. So finally last week I watched it and I wasn’t disappointed. The movie exceeded my expectations because it’s about one of my favorite things in the world…music. The movie was released last 2007 and it stars Keri Russell (Felicity), Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Freddie Highmore and Robin Williams.

The story of a charismatic young Irish guitarist and a sheltered young cellist who have a chance encounter one magical night above New York's Washington Square, but are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, August Rush, orphaned by circumstance. Now performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger, August uses his remarkable musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth.-IMDB

The movie is a bit of a modern fairytale and greatly reminds me of Oliver Twist. It’s inspiring, heartwarming and has a cool soundtrack. This is my favorite line from the movie spoken by Wizard (played by Robin Williams) which for me captures the essence of the movie"You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars."

Rating:

Holiday Reads

2009-01-12T11:20:00.003+08:00

The cold weather with occasional rain showers during the long holiday was the perfect setting as I was tucked in my bed with books. I received 4 books as presents from generous friends and from exchange gifts. I got Double Cross by James Patterson from Ruby, American Gods by Neil Gaiman from Julius, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee from Armie and Twilight by Stephanie Meyer from Leah all the way from Dubai.
On top of those books I read The Devil and Miss Prym by Paolo Coelho,Atonement by Ian McEwan, What Maise Knew by Henry James, The Lake House and Maximum Ride by James Patterson and Fear of Flying from Erica Jong. I haven't finished them all yet. I actually still have a lot of unread books that i've hoarded. I need a another long holiday to finish them all. The purpose of this post is simply to brag LOLS

Ravenhearst 2

2009-01-09T11:25:00.005+08:00

Happy New year! Happy New Game! All my reflections and thoughts during the holidays were erased from my mind once I got hold of the Ravenhearst 2 game from MCF which is an absolute master piece! I've waited for this game for almost 3 years. It's about being a detective and solve the mysterious disappearances around Ravenheast Manor and you have to find hidden objects, solve puzzle and etc. The graphics, soundtrack and storyline are really creepy. The puzzles are challenging and sometimes i'm too impatient to solve it that I resorted to cheating. It's better to cheat than to skip is my motto in games and in life. Weeee!
Okay i'll be more coherent once i'll finish this game :)

Resignation

2008-12-23T15:12:00.002+08:00

This is my 4^th resignation…and possibly not my last with my restless personality. I want to go quietly this time. Fade in the background if possible. I don’t want tears and sad goodbyes. I just want a smooth transition from one company to the other. Let me recount my other resignations

The first one was filled with applause. It has been a tradition in that company (adapted from the Japanese) to applaud the person who will be leaving. So on my last day, when the clock struck 5:00 pm and I got up to leave, my officemates clapped and cheered. They’re happy that I was finally free from the prison where I’ve been sentenced for almost 3 years hehehe A despedida party followed with sad farewells and promises to keep in touch.

The second one was heartbreaking. I got so attached to my subordinates. I consider them all as my younger brothers who had it harder in life. I can’t help but cry. I cried for like a week. I visited them every now and then because I missed them so much but eventually I moved on.

The third one was funny. I worked for the company for only 2 weeks and I didn’t like it so I left and feigned sickness. I lied to a doctor to get a medical certificate and asked my mom to deliver my letter. I can’t face my ex-colleagues until now and the very memory of what I did still makes me cringe.

Now we’ve come to the fourth one. I’m not sure how this will turn out yet but hopefully I get to fade quietly into the night ;)

when i'm not thinking about you

2008-12-19T10:03:00.001+08:00

empty,
my mind is
enveloped by darkness
black as midnight
deserted
by thoughts
and rays of sunlight
nothing astir
except echoes
of a not so distant past

29

2008-12-15T11:04:00.003+08:00

I celebrated my 29^th birthday 3 months earlier when I bought a watch as an advance birthday gift to myself :)
Dec 6, we had a triple bday celebration with Nov-Dec Bday celebrants, Ailyn and Rhea at Mang Del’s with our officemate and friends.
Dec 11, I received a long awaited book from Bookmooch, The Devil and Ms. Prym by Paulo Coelho.
Dec 13, we had an overnight with the Alfonso Squad (will explain this name on a separate post) at the Yellow Gate Rest House at Buda for our Christmas/ Birthday party.
On the eve of my birthday, Blow gave me a pair of sandals (sanuk) which I’ve been hinting for the last couple of months J
Simply being with the one you love.
SMS Birthday greetings started to come in despite the fluctuating Signal.
On my birthday, the Alfonso Squad went to the Green Valley falls where we hiked and bathed.
Received calls from friend abroad…I was truly touched because they still found time to call despite the time difference and the distance.
When I got home we had a simple family dinner with my family. My mom baked me a cake and cooked my favorite pasta and dishes.
Received gifts from friends and loved ones.

Advice from my 28 year old self

12. Do not spread yourself too thinly. Do not multi-task too much. Take it slow to enjoy the things you do.

13. Lists and reminders are the antidote to forgetfulness.

14. Think of happy thoughts everytime you feel depressed.

15. Do not speak or act in anger.

16. Be kind to customers ;)

17. Be considerate of people’s feelings

18. Travel, travel and travel.

19. Spend wisely and save! Stop buying slippers!

20. Evaluate your priorities in life.

21. Put your words into action.

22. There’s no such thing as having too many friends. Don’t close your doors to other people because you think you have enough people in your life already. Each person is a present.

23. Continue joining clubs and circles.

24. Pursue your dreams of being a writer/poet. Practice some more. Learn.

25. The adage “The more you give, the more you receive” is true so do it. Be generous.

26. Relationship needs work and commitment.

27. Take care of your health.

28. Do not be afraid to take risks.

29. Be always thankful of your blessings.

It was truly a very happy birthday . I realized that one’s birthday need not be limited to one day only…you can actually celebrate it a few months or days earlier or you can celebrate it everyday. That’s what I plan to do this year…to make everyday special and find joy from the simple and ordinary things.

A Bazaar Experience

2008-12-12T14:24:00.002+08:00

This is an overdue post. This is the part where I’m supposed to process my Bazaar Experience/ Direct contact with buyers. It was a complete learning experience. The things I’ve learned through online selling amounted to nothing compared to selling out in the open.

Day 1

The bazaar was supposed to open at 5:00pm so I went to Davcon with my Kuya at 3:00 pm. When we got there all the booths were already set up and guess what the booth next to mine is selling? Sandals also! Sandals that are shiny and new complete with sizes and boxes and everything. I almost did not display my stocks because I felt so awkward esp. with everybody staring at me and while I was displaying customers were already asking about the prices. I panicked because I haven’t placed the price tags yet. I hurriedly displayed my goods and tried the best I could to make it look presentable. That day, I only sold one bracelet :( I got so depressed that I made up my mind not to return the following day. I actually cried because I was so frustrated but my supporters cheered me up and gave me words of encouragement so I returned the following day.

Day 2 to 4

The following day things started to pick up. I sold some items and have a couple of orders. This went on for the following days. Despite the bouts of rain people continued to pour in. Friends paid us a visit which I’m very grateful of because they’re all very encouraging (Thanks sooo much!). Blow, my brother, my sister in law, Ruby (guest storekeeper) and me took turns watching over the booth. Our competitors (the booth next to us selling sandals) were all very friendly and supportive that they even ordered a couple of sandals from us. The part I enjoyed the most was the breaks because there are a lot of foods available. I think what little profit we made went to the food. All in all, the bazaar was fun, tiring and eye opening. Definitely we’ll join again next year! Aja!

Christmas Bazaar

2008-11-26T12:46:00.003+08:00

I’ve had trouble sleeping these past few nights. There are a lot of things on my mind esp. about the upcoming Xmas Bazaar. Our (Blow and I) online store (www.hippiestore.multiply.com) will be joining the Davao Convention and Trade Center Bazaar this coming Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, 2008. I have been selling hand painted shirts mostly couple shirts, sandals (abaca wedges), bracelets and other thingamajigs that Blow and I can think of for almost a year now. Most of our customers are our friends and officemates. We’ve been planning to have our own boutique but we could not afford it at the moment plus it’s a very competitive market so you really have to sell something that’s unique and has an edge over the competitors. We decided to give a bazaar a try since it’s just a four day thing and we can afford the rent. It was really a blessing because the mother of my classmate was looking for a co-exhibitor and we found each other. She’s the principal exhibitor since her business is already registered and she’s been to exhibits before. She’ll be selling handmade Christmas decorations so it doesn’t compete with our products. I’m really excited yet anxious about the bazaar since it will be my first time to actually sell products out in the open. I have apprehensions if we can actually sell anything, make profits or just break even. But they say that in business you have to take risks to succeed. So here’s to success or ~~failure~~ learning experience, cheers!

To those who will be in Davao at that date, please do come and visit us. I will really appreciate it even if you won’t buy anything but of course I’ll appreciate it more if you do ;)

Poetry Night at Matina Town Square

2008-11-21T08:54:00.001+08:00

Poetry Night at Matina Town Square on November 22 (Saturday). The madness starts at 8PM. Presented by the Davao Writers Guild.

Hope to see you there. Spread the word.Reposted from Dom's blog.

Everything Happens for a Reason

2008-11-18T10:50:00.003+08:00

Last week I borrowed a light green shawl from my officemate because I was planning to wear it with a dress for a wedding. I changed my mind though and brought the shawl back yesterday but my officemate was absent so I kept it in my desk.
This morning while I was on my way to work, I noticed a strong smell of shea butter and something citrus-y. It greatly reminded me of the smell of my shampoo. When I was on the bus, the smell was still there and there’s a nagging suspicion forming at the back of my mind so I tentatively touched my hair and alas my suspicion was confirmed! I failed to totally rinse the shampoo off my hair. When I arrived at the office I immediately went to the bathroom and washed off the shampoo and guess what I used as a towel? The shawl of course! See, the universe was conspiring to provide me with my needs LOLS

The Man Who Can't be Moved

2008-11-17T13:23:00.002+08:00

The first time I heard the song “The man who can’t be moved” I thought it was Keane singing “Somehwere only we know” .But then I learned that it’s a song from an Irish band named The Script. You can’t deny the similarity in the vocals and the melody. I was about to dismiss this song as another rip off but the song kinda grew on me esp. when I intently listened to the lyrics. The song reminded me of a music video from Radiohead..damn forgot the title but it was about a guy who suddenly laid down in the middle of the street and was causing a disturbance and people were wondering why he was lying and they tried to convince him to get up but he wouldn’t. At the end of the video everybody was lying in the street including the policeman. It was cool. It made me think of possible reasons why they would lie in the middle of the street esp. when the song has nothing to do with it. It was one of the best music video …now I remember…Just was the title of the song. Anyways, back to the song The man who can’t be moved. The song is about a brokenhearted man who was hoping that the girl would come back to him so he stayed in the corner of the street where they last meet…blah blah blah. It’s pretty straightforward but it appeals to the romantic in me and it’s kinda cool so I’m gonna download the other songs from The Script. Check their song and see if it has the same effect on you as it has on me :)

Watch the video of the song here

Vertigo

2008-11-10T17:11:00.001+08:00

Last Saturday morning, when I woke up my world was spinning round and round…literally! I had an attack of vertigo. I know many are unfamiliar with this disease, I suppose my boss, my professor and classmates were thinking that I’m making up this disease. But it’s real and it feels horrible. Vertigo according to wiki medical:

Vertigo (from the Latin vertere, to turn, and the suffix -igo, a condition, i. e., "a ride of LaRonde about"^[1]) is a specific type of dizziness, a major symptom of a balance disorder. It is the sensation of spinning or swaying while the body is actually stationary with respect to the surroundings.
The effects of vertigo may be slight. It can cause nausea and vomiting and, in severe cases, it may give rise to difficulties with standing and walking.

And as explained by my doctor it is caused by over fatigue, stress and too much salt intake. This is my third attack, the last one was two years ago. Good thing I still have medicines left from the last attack but I think it has expired because after intake the dizziness stopped but I got this terrible headache. So I just slept it off and my mom told me not to read books, watch tv and open my laptop…strain my eyes because she firmly believes that it’s because of my eye abuse…so after sleeping for hours…I had no choice but to sleep some more.

This disease which is not exactly a disease but a symptom is real. Boss, Ma'am, classmates..I’m not making this one up :)

Vanishing Island

2008-11-06T09:40:00.007+08:00

Still on with the Digi Scrap Mania. Well, I'm really loving it. It makes me feel productive. I love it that I wanna blog about it. And that makes me love it more because my blog would be updated.
Here are two additional digi scraps (omit the S and it's crap! ;) ). Both pictures were taken during a weekend outing last Oct 25 at Vanishing island which is located in between the islands of Samal and Sasa/Tibungco.
This one features my dear friend Rhea, who was the generous host during that weekend outing.

And this one features Blow, my twin!

Digital Scrapbooking

2008-11-04T15:25:00.007+08:00

I've always loved to keep mementos of events, places I’ve been and of my family and friends. I keep shells and sands from my beach trip. Movie tickets and receipts from my memorable dates. Garlands from my graduation and etc. My room now looks like an attic filled with those mementos. I have slum books, photo albums, photo frames, jars of sands, shells, figurines and scrapbooks and etc. Recently I’ve been trying to organize my scrapbook because there are a lot of embellishments available because it has become pretty popular lately. But like every other thing I do, I’m only good at starting things and not really finishing them so my scrapbook is now dusting in the corner of my room, unfinished and untouched for several months now. And now I’m starting something again. I’ve been learning Photoshop and decided to start my Digital Scrapbook. I want to start first with the people in my life and then events.
Here’s my very first creation...an amateur attempt. It features my friend Ailyn taken at Masao, Mati last year. She taught me Photoshop and is my accomplice in downloading scrapbook kits and etc. I actually got the idea of a digital scrapbook from her. This is my way of thanking her of the Photoshop tutorials and of course of the friendship.

P.S. There's more to come :) I’m still trying to decide where I’m gonna upload my digi scrap.

Spell B-i-t-t-e-r

2008-10-30T13:57:00.003+08:00

Blame it on those social networking sites. You get connected to your ex-es whether you like it or not. You’ll get to see updates about him and the new friend he adds or the new photos and his current relationship status. “Married” it says now and I don’t know what drove me to check his photos…all 400 of them. From the preparations to the church to the reception and even during the pre nuptial pictures. Yes I’m over him…so over but there’s a part of me that wish he wouldn’t have been so happy. That the pain he caused me would be a curse upon him for the rest of his life. Yes, I’m definitely over! I was looking for flaws in the photos…for some bloopers like spilled wine on the bride’s dress or face perhaps. But her face was dry and the dress was perfectly white with all its laces and trims and intricate details. The weather was also dry not even a drop fell from the sky. She must’ve danced the famous “sun dance”. They both look happy and fine and shiny like a couple from a dream wedding. I failed to find any flaw not even in the cake…. Which was what I wanted in my own wedding…tiny cupcakes. They also had balloons and confetti that I also wanted. Great! When I’ll have cupcakes and balloons and confetti in my wedding they’ll think I stole their idea.

I’m over …over in a sense that I don’t feeling anything for him..love or hate yet I can’t still find it in my heart to be happy for him…them. And what really irks me now is that I can’t probably have the dream wedding that they had and I'm irritated with myself why I’m even comparing my life to theirs in the first place.

But I’m happy…I really am…that’s why I braved to look at their photos in the first place because I know I’ll feel no pain anymore but the bitter taste in my mouth seems hard to get rid of.

Life for Sale

2008-10-24T14:34:00.000+08:00

Last Friday I learned two things. First, that sometimes doing your job well can cost you your life and second life can be bought by a mere couple of bucks. I’m getting ahead of my story, here’s what happened.
Last Friday around 8:00 in the evening, an officemate called me to inform me that Kuya Aweng, one of our colleague and presently our section’s team leader was shot while driving. A motorcycle overtook his vehicle and the driver turn around and fired his gun, a single shot which went to Kuya Aweng’s shoulder. Then the motorcycle took off. He was with his family and his wife immediately called 911. He was rushed to San Pedro Hospital but after several minutes attempt of revival he was declared dead. When I learned about it I rushed to the hospital but I was too late. Apparently some people got angry at him because he was implementing controls in our trucking system. They were disgruntled because they can no longer make extra bucks from the fuel that they steal from our company. Where’s justice in that? And here’s more, they also threatened the other supervisors in our department saying that they’ll be killed next. We are all afraid here because a similar incident happened in another company in the same industry. 4 people were killed exactly a week apart.
It happened a week ago and until now I can’t seem to accept his death. We are not that close personally but we work alongside together everyday. I just can’t understand why it happened and I’m afraid of what might happen next. I’m angry why some people take killing lightly. It seems that life to them is cheap and dispensable. When they don’t like you…they’ll hire somebody…bang! Your life is over. There’s not much I can do except be vigilant and pray.

Birthday Gift

2008-10-15T15:01:00.003+08:00

I love giving gifts and surprises to my friends and loved ones. I admit that I have an ulterior motive for doing this, I want to receive gifts and surprises too and I hope that by doing it, they’ll do it to me in return. Amen! So much for thoughtfulness and generosity J I've always prided myself for being original and creative. I don't want to just go the mall and grab anything so I'll have something to give. Each gift is well thought of and most of them are handcrafted. I would usually give hand made cards, bracelets, Today is Blow’s birthday and I wanted to give him something unexpected. I already gave him an advance birthday present a month ago when I chipped in cash for his Sanuk. Last year I gave him a pair of Havaianas and a long stemmed rose. This year I was planning to give him 28 gifts because it’s his 28^th birthday but I ran out of time preparing so I bought him a Sudoku puzzle book instead because he mentioned that when he have nothing to do at work he would answer crossword puzzles and sudoku in the newspaper. If he have internet access, I’ll recommend playing online casinos.

at the crossroad again

2008-10-08T13:04:00.000+08:00

I am yet again at a crossroad. Those who know me might say “Raine, you’re always at a crossroad”. That’s quite true especially when it comes to what I want to do with my life. I am thinking again of quitting my job and look for better opportunities. I don’t want to work anymore. It pains me to wake up early in the morning and go to work. I just want to wake up late. Surf the internet, download Heroes, Dexter and etc Go places, travel. Read books. Go out with my friends. I’m not a career oriented person and my dream in life is to be a plain housewife or be a nomad traveling from one place to another. But I’m not born with a golden spoon and actually have to work for a living. I’m seriously considering quitting my job and start my own business or maybe pursue an online career in blogging, online tutorials and etc. so I have full control of my time. There are a lot of possibilities yet I’m scared to make the big jump from being financially secure to the “unknown”. I believe that I have a promising business selling stuffs but I know I can’t rely on it full time. I can take it to the next level by having my own store but I’m afraid of borrowing capital coz I might not be able to pay it back. I know I am a wimp by not taking risks but I just want to be realistic. It’s really hard when you’re torn between what you want to do and what you are supposed to do, between your dreams and your responsibilities. I just fear (there’s that word again) that if I’ll continue on being a corporate slave I might wake up one day and wonder what happened to my life. I fear that I won’t be able to do what I want. But the irony is I can’t actually do what I want without doing what I don’t want to do. Great! I’m now talking in riddles.

...to be continued

Something in common

2008-10-06T10:55:00.002+08:00

It would be nice to be in a relationship with someone who shares your interest. I love reading and I wished before that I’ll end up with someone who’s also a bookworm. Unfortunately, Blow doesn’t share this passion. He only read books or magazine with pictures or drawings in it. It’s probably because he’s an artist and read artsy Lits which mostly have pictures or drawings. Sometimes, I would daydream about the endless conversations we could have about Harry Potter, Alex Cross, the recent books I’ve read and so on and so forth. We could talk on and on about it. Sometimes if I can’t help it I would actually talk on and on about a book I’ve read but mostly the conversation is one sided punctuated with his occasional "uh-huh’s". It’s a bit frustrating at times but I bet he also feels the same way when we would visit exhibits and I would only admire paintings or installations with vivid colors. I appreciate art, but I don’t “get” it most of the time. We both love the bookstore though, that’s "something in common", but for different reasons. He would buy his supplies of acrylics, brushes and browse the art books. I would check the latest books. Yesterday we went to National Bookstore. I ogled at the hardbound books for sale..all at P99! As I was checking the books, Blow would hand me books he finds interesting and then I told me him I’m looking for mystery, suspense.. crime books. He then looked for it and hand me one each time he comes upon books with murder or kill or death on the title. He even handed me a Jonthan Kellerman book because of the “Keller” har!har! I was deeply touched by his support. It made the book selection process a lot easier. It came to me then that recognition and acceptance of differences bonds two people closer even more than merely having something in common.

The Butterfly Effect

2008-09-29T16:31:00.002+08:00

"You don't screw with time.It's called the butterfly effect, you step on a butterfly today, 3 years from now a million people are wiped out"-Angela Petrelli, Episode 2, Season 3

I never realized how obsessed I am with Heroes until last Saturday. During my class in Production Organization and Management my professor was discussing about the Earth's immune system, nature and etc. I raised my hand and asked , "Ma'am, is it true that when you step on a butterfly today, 3 years from now a million people are wiped out? I heard it's called the butterfly effect." She replied, "I don't think so since we step on many insects almost everyday, it's just normal". I paused for a few moments to reflect on her reply, I was thinking of a retort when I realized that Angela Petrelli was referring to Time Travel! Good thing my professor doesn't watch Heroes LOLs

Season 3

2008-09-25T16:33:00.001+08:00

I want to take this opportunity to inform everyone that, Heroes and Dexter Season 3 has now began and that despite my busy schedule and my nth quarter life crisis…I 'm never too busy to download. Go torrent! Go Rapidshare! Weeeee !!! ;)

Published

2008-09-23T13:09:00.003+08:00

My cousin Boyet left me an offline message yesterday. He said "Cuz, I saw your poems in Davao Sunstar last Sunday.Congratz" I immediately asked Blow to find me a copy. Good thing his office subscribes to Sunstar so we were able to see it with our own eyes. It feels weird to see it in print(Ode to a boxer and Musings on a bus ride). When I wrote it the only publishing I had in mind was through this blog. I had illusions before in submitting to Youngblood but I can never seem to string enough words and can never seem to find a good topic. Anyways, I owe it all to Dom for submitting it to Dagmay (the Literary Journal of the Davao Writers Guild which appears every Sunday in the Weekend Sun Star Davao) and for believing that my words are fit enough for public consumption. He didn't even omitted the F-Word hehehe Salamat kaayo Dom!

Hello Acer!

2008-09-12T17:15:00.003+08:00

A month ago my office unit, an HP laptop was judged to be beyond repair. The monitor was very dim and the techies said that it would cost P32,000 to replace the LCD. They said it was probably because I dropped it which I did…a couple of times actually. They wouldn’t issue me another laptop unit so I decided to buy my own. Good thing there are installment plans or else I couldn’t have afforded it. There are no fast cash payday loans available here...too bad. I bought an Acer Aspire 2920z! I love it because it’s only 12 inches and much lighter than the 14 inches HP.The only drawback was that the OS installed was Vista. Vista is flashy and all but it's slow.I wanted to install XP but I’m still giving Vista a try. Anyways the games I installed were compatible so I’m happy.Happy monthsary to my Acer!

Shooting Lessons

2008-09-12T17:00:00.002+08:00

A couple of weeks ago Blow and I watched his cousin on a shooting tournament at Laud in Diversion Road. It was fun to watch but I get startled every time a shot was fired and you could just imagine how jumpy I was with all the guns shooting at once. Blow wanted to learn how to shoot and his cousin offered to give us shooting lessons. So the following Sunday we went back there. I just tagged along but haven’t really made up my mind if I’ll join in the lesson or not. I was planning to just watch but it looked fun and so I tried. The first thing that came to mind when I held the gun which was a 45 caliber was how heavy the gun was. I was really nervous and my hand was sweating profusely. When I fired my first shot I was taken aback by the impact of the recoil and despite the ear plugs I can still hear the gunshot which means it is very loud. My first shots were off target but the next few rounds I was improving. My hits were now on the Alpha zone...yay!
If only I could have a cash advance I would love to buy my own gun…perhaps a 9mm because they say it’s much lighter. Oh well I’m really looking forward to our next lessons :)
Vids here.

musings on a bus ride

2008-08-14T11:18:00.001+08:00

As I sit here beside you
I realized how our lives are enmeshed
intertwined like our hands now
That when you’ll let go
My hand can still scratch, hold, touch
go about it’s routine
do what hands normally do
but it will always grope for yours
Seek your sweaty palms
Miss it’s warmth
Feel empty with the spaces
in between my fingers which
your long tapered fingers
with dirty uneven nails usually fill

Dream Quote

2008-07-29T16:14:00.000+08:00

My dreams have become weirder and weirder. I would dream of movies, TV shows, commercials. These are all original and mere products of the imagination of my subconscious. Last night I even dreamed of a quote, The solidity of women lies in their generosity. The dream was so vivid that when I woke up the words were clearly marked in my mind. In my dream I was in a classroom and I have to read a quote from a book in front of the class. I was so nervous that when it was my turn, I forgot the page that I was supposed to read so to avoid embarrassment, I made a quote on the spot. It was really weird because the quote doesn’t make any sense, neither does my dream. Well anyway, I hope next time I would dream of a poem or a novel. Or it would be much better if I would dream of lottery numbers or even of winning in a casino and then waking up with a bucket of cash.

Trashed

2008-07-23T16:33:00.003+08:00

The first thing I did when I got to the office was go to the bathroom and ahmm do my business. When I was about to throw my tissue in the trashcan, I noticed a crumpled letter. I can read out the words "kaya", "seryoso" and "i love you" and concluded that it was a love letter. Thousand possible scenarios raced through my brain on the story behind the trashed love letter. I was really tempted to pick it up so I can read the whole thing but propriety and hygiene or lack of it stopped me. Thus leaving me to wonder not only what happened to the owner of the letter but also what happened to the love letters I wrote and gave my ex loves. Did it also end up in trash just like how our relationship ended? Was it treasured and reread every now and then to reminisce the past? I made it a habit to keep letters for posterity's sake so i'll have something to show my grandchildren.

missing

2008-07-16T11:27:00.002+08:00

The worst way to miss someone
is to see them everyday
yet knowing that you
can no longer
do the things you used to do
go to places you used to go
be what you used to be

Stargirl

2008-06-26T15:53:00.001+08:00

I made a friend last night. Her name is Stargirl. She was the perfect antidote to my predicament. She was the right person to have at that moment. I was feeling disgusted with myself for being such a brat and treating other people like planets that should revolved around me..the sun. I was doing some thinking on how to sort out this planetary deluision. To be un-selfish and think more of others feeling before myself. And there she was. She fell from the stars and right into my lap. She’s a lot different than me more so because she was the very essence of me. The me that I should become. She has no sense of self, no ego but she was the most whole person I’ve known. She taught me a lot of things. She taught me the power of random acts of kindness. She taught me how individuality could bring people closer. She taught me a lot of things that I can’t recall all of them. Our conversation was more of feeling than words. She spoke right through my heart in a language that sounded more like drum beats. We only spent a couple of hours together but the glow she emanated remained with me until now. I’m afraid that a few of her star dusts rubbed on me and I know I’ll never be the same.
*******************
In a cookie cutter world, an imperfectly shaped gingerbread man looks like a star.

Mooched!

2008-06-24T11:05:00.003+08:00

Hi I’m Raine and I’m an Addict.
Ok so this post will be about books again! But don’t tag me as a book blog…not yet. In time I know this obsession will fade but then again it might not. Anyway, I got my first book from bookmooch yesterday. I mooched this from Elizabeth in Australia. I think the shipping fee she paid was more expensive than the book but still she sent it. Thank you!! My dad sent me an sms that the package has arrived. It felt like Christmas morning! Weeee! I was so excited to get home but I have work so I told my dad to open the package for me and check the condition. He texted me that the book was in excellent condition. When I got home my eyes zoomed in on this sight, Salman Rushdie’s Midnight Children!

Anyways, I wanted to announce that I am accepting book donations. Books of any kind and at any condition. Fiction books of course and not Textbooks or Encyclopedias or Porn Mags. I am trying to collect books to trade so I could read all the books in the “1001 must read books before you die” Please help an addict out.

To donate, leave comments or email me at florainea[at]gmail[dot]com ;)

Bloggers and Grammar

2008-06-18T16:05:00.003+08:00

I attended the Davao Bloggers Party last Saturday and it was a blast! It was so nice to meet those lovely people esp. Ted who offered to buy books for us and Lany who was my former neighbor... I was happy that she still recognized me. Ok I’m not gonna go into details about the event coz I’m sure you’ll probably read about it in 20 other blogs. Also I have no photos to boast of so there.
A friend asked me if the bloggers activity includes a crash course in grammar because she noticed that some of the bloggers can’t even string proper words together. Ouch! Her words actually hit a nerve. I am guilty of this because I still struggle with my grammar and spellings and I’m afraid that everytime I hit the publish button the grammar police would pop out off my screen. I told her that some bloggers might not be that mindful of correct and proper grammar because most of them write in free flowing fashion. Blogging is thinking out loud in printed words and others like me type the words even while the brain hasn’t finished processing the whole thought yet. Sometimes I still edit after I plublish the post…oftentimes I don’t.. which is clearly shown in my posts. I guess it’s no longer an excuse that English is not our first language because why chose to write in English in the first place right? Anyways after what she told me I tried to be more mindful of my grammar and spelling and punctuations….ahmm maybe in the next post :)

Mariposa

2008-06-18T10:42:00.004+08:00

This is what Blow gave me for our 1st, don't ask me to explain what it's about though ;)

on karma and Bookmooch

2008-06-14T10:51:00.004+08:00

A friend told me that the oracles have foretold that the year 2008 will be a karmic year. Meaning we will be reaping what we have sown this year. If you’ve been killing people for the past few years then you will be killed…or something like that. She asked me if I agree with this, I told her that I haven’t had any particulary bad or good experiences lately and everything is pretty normal or average just like every year. She told me perhaps that I have good karma. I didn’t give this karma thingy much thought until this morning. I realized that books seem to be pouring from every direction. Just before lunch I am a proud owner of Love in the Time of Cholera and 100 years of Solitude by Gabriel Marquez and what did it cost me? Almost nothing…so ok I have to trade The Devil Wears Prada and a Sheldon book but compared to a Gabriel Marquez? It is to me, almost nothing. Thanks to a friend who's selling second hand books.Plus a Salman Rushdie book is coming my way and a couple of others absolutely free, Thanks to Bookmooch. I believe that these books are replacements for those that I have lost. There were sooo many books that were borrowed and not returned to me*sigh* I won't go into details because it will only depress me.

Back to bookmooch, it is such a great site to trade books because it is international. You can trade books with anyone across the globe. You just have to shoulder the shipping fee for the books that you will be sending. I have problems with book storage and wanted to relieve myself of old books that I have outgrown like Sidney Sheldon, Patricia Cornwell and a couple of historical romances (which features Fabio). I didn’t know that someone somwehere is willing to trade foe this books. Bookmooch is such a treasure trove for book lovers so be sure to check their site. This is not a sponsored post , I just love bookmooch :)

Davao Reader's Circle Update

2008-06-13T14:16:00.004+08:00

The Davao Reader's Circle (DRC) is officially alive online! Please check out our site at http://www.davaoreaderscircle.kom.ph/ .The site was made possible by Dom our most active member on and offline(and future club president *hint*). You can check out the books swapped, book reviews, announcements and updates there. Our next meet up is scheduled on June 21 at Kangaroo Coffeeshop, Hope to see you there :)

Help-less

2008-05-28T14:28:00.000+08:00

What would you do if you see your friend get physically hurt by someone? Would you sprint to the nearest phone booth and change to the S costume? Or would you forget about the custome and just help your friend? I did neither. I actually did nothing. I just stood there frozen in place and stared in shock at the scene unfolding before me.
The friend was an officemate and the “someone” was her husband. They had an argument and the hubby slapped my officemate, called her names and pushed her to the ground and striked her again and again. I wanted to interfere so badly but Blow stopped me because we might just complicate things and we don’t want to intrude in their marital problems. We wanted to report the hubby to the authorities but we were in an isolated island and there was nobody to report the altercation to. The couple left in the middle of the night which left us all to speculate about what happened to her. The next day I talked to her and she told me she was okay and they were able to patch things up between him and her husband. She told me that it was the first time that he mistreated her and that she threatened to leave her husband if it will happen again. I offered her help and words of advice. She assured me though that she’s fine and that she’s really okay. So, I let her be.
I just hope that she won’t end up dead though because I’ve seen so many frightening cases of domestic violence on TV and read about it on books and on the papers. The victim oftentimes feels that he or she doesn’t have any choice or gets blinded by their “love” for their partner that they just accept the abuse in silence.
This whole thing will probably haunt me for life. Until now I keep going through the scenes in my head wondering what I could have done to help her. But sadly I realized that as much as I want to help her even want to fight her battles for her or make choices for her I can’t because it is after all her life. As much as we want to help there are just people who doesn’t want to accept it or maybe they need to go through their problems on their own.

Reader's Circle

2008-05-26T10:46:00.004+08:00

Yesterday I attended a Reader's Circle at the KopiRoti coffee shop along with fellow book worms. The activity was a brainchild of Aicha who got inspired by the comfy reader’s lounge of the newly opened coffee shop, Kangaroo. She thought of reading good books for free so she thought of creating a readers circle where book lovers could swap books. So she told her friends to bring three books that they want others to read and meet up. One of her friends, Chi, told me about it and I brought Rhea along. We were supposed to meet at Kangaroo but it was closed so we went to KopiRoti instead. So there we were, Aiha, Jesh, Chi, Rhea and Me. We talked about books of course and even if it was the first time for some of us to meet there was an instant camarederie and we were comfortable enough to confess our obsession or rather passion for books. It’s really nice to meet up with people who share your passion..oh wait! i think I’ve said that before about my first blog EB.
There was a very good and varied selection of books there from Isabel Allende to Jerry Spinelli and much much more. I envy the others for knowing that many authors and good books. I am a bit prudent when it comes to exploring books and authors. Oftentimes if I read a good book then I would read all the books of that author before exploring other authors. And I would only read new authors if it comes highly recommended from a trusted source. I’m looking forward to reading the book I borrowed, Balzac and the Little Chinese seamstress by Dai Sijie.
Also, it was comforting to know that I am not crazy after all because sometimes when I go to second hand book shops like BookShop or BookSale, I get this feeling that I’m gonna find a book that I’ve been looking for. That a book is waiting just for me to find it. That the book and I were meant to be.It feels like magic LOLS I thought it was weird to feel that way but when I told the others about it they assured me that I’m not alone. So I’m not crazy after all or even if I am, atleast I’m not alone :)
We’re planning to meet every other Sunday so leave me a comment if you’re interested to join us. The next meet up is scheduled on June 8.

P.S. Please join our yahoogroup, Davaoreaderscircle

Dream house

2008-05-24T13:03:00.002+08:00

A few months ago, Blow and I were talking about our dream houses. He told me that he already have a drawing of his dream house. I asked him to show it to me. I forgot about it but was surprised when a couple of days ago he handed me a folder and said to look at his dream house. I opened the folder and saw a floor plan with complete details of his dream house. I can’t help but be amused because I was expecting a perspective drawing or just a rough sketch and not the actual floor plan with all the details. Guess he must have really given his dream house much thought. After that we discussed about doing a floor plan for the second floor of my parent’s house. My mom told me that when I get married, I could have the second floor while saving up for my own house. Blow and I discussed about it and we both wondered if we need to reinforce the existing beams and all to support the second floor. We have heard several horror stories of houses and even large infrastructure collapsing down due to poor engineering works and etc. That’s why it is very important to secure legal documents during construction works and sign a contract with the contractors as security to all parties. One should consult lawyers about this matters and someone knowledgeable about the California construction law or the construction laws of wherever state you may be.

Saving

2008-05-22T20:10:00.002+08:00

In relation to my previous post, I really have a hard time saving up my hard earned money. I posted before an article from Colayco about The basics of Cashflow that deeply impressed me yet I just can’t put the principles into practice. I am human and a very weak one to resist the temptations of the material world :) Seriously, right now I’m thinking of having my own house but my monthly income is not enough that’s why I’m considering applying for a payday loan or any kind of loan. At my age I really wanted to have my own space not just for myself but for my future family. I wanted to have my own stuffs and decorate my own house the way I want it.

Online Shopping

2008-05-22T20:00:00.000+08:00

I have always been a shopaholic. I just can’t resist it when I see a cute blouse or shoe or slippers or just about anything that catches my fancy. I am really impulsive and I can’t control my urge to shop. Now temptation has become more accessible because of the internet. There are a dozen sites that sell just about anything like in ebay or multiply. Since I discovered these sites I have become a chronic online shopper. I’ve purchased books, blouses , Havaianas and etcetera. Sometimes I wonder why my funds are dwindling even when I seldom go to the mall now and then a package arrives and I would remember that I have purchased something through the internet. Good thing that there are fast cash payday loans to help out.

Operation Tuli

2008-05-19T15:06:00.002+08:00

I can't help but laugh when this scene greeted my eyes when I got home last week.

My nephew and his friends just got circumcised at the Operation Tuli sponsored by the local government. Tuli is the filipino word for circumcision. It is the process or removing the foreskin from the penis. For filipinos, Circumcision is not only for health reasons but it is also part of the Catholic ritual...not sure or perhaps just plain 'ol pinoy tradition. It is a painful process according to my nephew that he even screamed during the operation and some of his friends even backed out.Lucky us girls because we only have to get our ears pierced to be considered circumcised...errr right? Circumcision in the Philippines usually happens during the summer for boys ages between 7 t0 10. For the boys it signals the start of their journey towards becoming a man. When you see boys wearing oversized shirts or sometimes skirts and walking like they have a heavy load between their legs then they are on their way to becoming Men ;)

Tuition Fees

2008-05-19T11:07:00.005+08:00

It’s enrollment time! In a few days it’s back to school once again. Parents who have kids at school are probably anticipating the upcoming school expenses. I am a working student pursuing post graduates studies. During the first semester of my first year I paid for my own tuition and school expense. It was really a financial burden but it was something that I wanted to do thus I persisted and budgeted my finances. Fortunately during the second semester my scholarship application with our company was approved thus I worried about the finances no more. To those who are struggling with their finances not only for their schooling you might want to consider making cash advance loan. Many firms are now offering loans, you can check the link for more details.

Babu Santa

2008-05-14T16:25:00.006+08:00

Last weekend we went to Babu Santa Beach Resort at Talicud Island. It was an approximately 40 minutes ferry ride from Sta. Ana wharf. The fare is P50. When we arrived at the resort, there were no other people there except for the caretakers so we had the resort practically to ourselves. We rented a closed cottage for P400. It was ok but it had no furniture inside, good thing we brought tents and sleeping bags. The first thing we did was of course had a photoshoot and then cooked our dinner and ate. We then swam despite the huge waves because there was a storm somewhere ‘til we got exhausted and gathered inside the cottage. There was no tap/fresh water for washing up so we ordered gallons of water brought by a horse for P10 per gallon.There was also no electricity or gen set so we borrowed a lamp from the caretakes to light up the cottage while we drank and got merry :) There was a bit of a disturbance that I will post about soon. The ff. day was basically the same, eating, picture taking and swimming then it was time to go home. It was a hellish ride on the motorcyle ride towards the Sta. Cruz pier because there was no scheduled ferry that day.

The beach and the place in general was just OK, Canibad is still on top of my list but the outing was unforgettable.

Before dusk

the open Cottages

Blow,Kalai,Friday,Me,Joy,TJ

1

2008-05-13T16:00:00.005+08:00

I can never quite put into words the immense gratitude and love that I feel right now for having you in my life. It seems that the countless I love yous and Thank Yous can never be enough. For now I hope it would suffice to say that, I wished for someone I thought I wanted but instead I got someone I needed and I’ve never been happier.

Used Car

2008-05-13T13:36:00.001+08:00

I’ve always love travelling and wanted to go to different places. Travel the world if I can. I wanted to have my own car to make travelling a lot easier. I imagine the places I would go to. The possibilities are limitless if I have my own car and cash for gas, no rhyme intended J I don’t care if the car is new or not as long as it is in good condition and it should be four wheeled drive so i can travel to different terrains. If only I could trade our used car to something more sturdy like the used car san diego where you can get a good deal for your used car. The site specializes in You just have to visit their site and fill up the form so they can assess the service that they could provide or appraise its value if you want to trade it. You can also choose from a wide array of vehicles that they sell.

Probate Lawyer

2008-05-13T11:41:00.002+08:00

Relative to the previous post, if you are engaged in probate law, you have to hire a person who is qualified to handle probate law. In this case a probate lawyer. If you reside in or near Sacramento, California it is not difficult to find a competitive Sacramento probate lawyer. There are a lot of qualified probate professionals who can provide you services such as probate administraton, litigation and estate planning. You can visit their site for more information on the attorney listings and general probate information. It is very important to be able to find a laywer whom you can trust to handle your affairs and one should be experienced in handling a specialized area such as probate law. In another lifetime perhaps you could hire me coz I’ll be a lawyer by then J It has been my childhood dream to be one but I never got the chance to study law. Well I have no complaints coz I’m happy with my chose career now.

Properties

2008-05-13T10:56:00.002+08:00

Last night my mom and I were talking about the properties of my grandfather. My grandfather died at an early age of 56 and he was not able to make a will or endorse the documents for his properties thus mom and her siblings had a difficult time in claiming their lands.Not many person appreciates the value of having a will especially if the deceased has many properties. In these cases probate law is needed to settle the estate of a deceased pesron in terms of resolving the issue on the distribution of his property. Probate estates are pretty intricate and each case is unique. It involves a lot of legal process and sometimes takes a long time to settle but fortunately there are firms who offers cash advances on inheritances which are fast, easy and secure. They have no monthly payments, no cost to apply, no credit which all spells…no problem. Firms like this are really helpful to those undergoing probate estate process.

Caracoles Festival

2008-05-10T09:44:00.005+08:00

Every April of the year the Island Garden City of Samal celebrates the Caracoles Festival. Caracoles means shell and this festival is to give thanksgiving for the Island's rich marine resources. This year they held it last April 28-29. Unfortunately I was not able to join in the festivities but Blow did. He was one of the participants for the Body Painting Contest last April 26. This is the first time that they held this contest and Blow won 3rd place.Yahoo!!! I think he could have won first place but oh well. I can't help but gush and be proud of him like some stage mother :)

<--- Here's a picture of his work of art. I forgot the name of his model though, my bad! It took him 4 hours to do this and he used Acrylic paint. Next year I'll volunteer to be his model so I better work on those abs LOLS

2nd Blogiversary

2008-05-08T09:23:00.002+08:00

I forgot to greet my Introspection blog a Happy 2nd Blogiversary last March 20...so I made a e-cake to make up for it LOLS

I may not update this blog as much as I want to but I never got to the point of shutting it down. My blog has become a sort of an extension of myself and it has brought me good things (Holy sentimental crap!) Cheers to my blog! :))

Sundot Kulangot

2008-05-02T16:04:00.005+08:00

The other day while we were walking around the mall Blow asked me if I wanted some Calamays. Calamay is a sweet concoction of glutinous rice, coconut milk, peanuts and sugar from Bohol. I told him yes since its one of my favorite sweets. I asked him when will he give it to me. He said right here right now and then reached for his pockets and gave me these...

At first i thought that they are key chains but he explained that they are edible and that these cute little things are called sundot kulangot (pick a booger hehehe) and they are from Baguio. Mini-me of the Calamays! Honey i shrunk the calamays ! :) The name might be a bit of a turn off but they actually taste good but not as good as the calamays. They are also a bit tacky to eat since you need to use your pinky or stick to get the food out.

Ali

2008-04-28T11:15:00.003+08:00

(sea monster!)

I have a new pet. A turtle! I named him( or her…I’m not sure where to check his/her gender but I’m inclined to think it’s a male) Ali because I found him in Alimodian road at Antipas, North Cotabato. Ali was crossing the street in his I’m-gonna-take-all-the-time-in-the-world pace and we almost hit him but luckily I saw him before we did. I asked the driver to pick up Ali and we brought him all the way to Davao. When I got home I asked my dad to clean up a spare aquarium so Ali could settle down. My dad placed some pebbles and water and voila…Ali’s new dig! It might not be as comfy compared to some accommodations in Davao but well it would do for the meantime. I’m planning to build him a small pond or maybe bore a hole on its shell and tie him up *insert evil laugh* We fed him rice and bread but I later found out that turtles eat green leafy veggies like pechay and cabbages. I’m still surfing the net to research on how to be a good parent to Ali. . I think turtles are cool…remember “Dude” in Nemo and the teenage mutant ninja turtles? I have always wanted to have one as a pet but my mom opposed saying that it’s bad luck to have turtles at home. Well im not sure about that but bad luck or not I’m gonna keep Ali. All together please welcome Ali to my family :)

Elephant Shaped House

2008-04-17T15:43:00.008+08:00

While on our way home to Davao from T'boli the driver of the rented car showed me this house in Bansalan,Davao del Sur.

It is said to be worth P3.M ...mmmmm why elephant shaped? Maybe the owner dreamed or had a divine message that he would be lucky in life if his house is built as such? Or maybe he was born on the Year of the elephant? Oh wait its not in the Chinese Calendar! Maybe his favorite animal is an elephant or he was an elephant in his past life...the possibilities were endless. There was nobody there to interview so we imagined all we want ;)

state of my heart

2008-04-15T09:43:00.000+08:00

it’s been awhile since I’ve written from the heart
something truly from the heart
not just details of my existence
out of impatience I took my heart out
forced it to speak…or squeak…
whisper o whimper….
compelled it to make a sound of any kind
tried to squeeze emotions from it
but it only continued its unhurried rhythm
tried to stare it down but it only stared back
and then it smiled
And I guess that says it all.

Bohol Trip Details

2008-04-11T09:05:00.003+08:00

Some friends have been asking me about the details of the Bohol trip like how much it cost, how to get there, where we stayed and all the other details. And so I decided to post the full details of the trip. I’ll try to be as descriptive as I can.

Getting there

We took an airconditioned bus to CDO which cost us P500. Travel time from Davao to CDO is 5 hours. Then we took the Trans Asia ferry boat to Tagbilaran which cost us P1575. Travel time is 11 hours. When we arrived in Tagbilaran we had no clue where to go. We took out our handy EZ map (a must bring esp. for first timers) and looked for car rentals. We heard that they rent out motorcycles so we checked out Speed Rental because it was nearest and a friend recommended it. We were able to rent a Honda XR motorcyle for P500 for 24 hours but we have to shoulder the fuel cost(Full tank is only 3 Liters around P200). We did not get any driver because the owner, Hansel said that Tagbilaran is a small city and we wouldn’t get lost as long as we know how to read the signs and the map.

Accomodation

So after we got the motorcycle we checked out the hotels in Tagbilaran. The first place that we visited was Sky Lodge because Hansel said that it was cheapest. When I asked the reception desk if there is a room available, she asked me “Ma’am, short time?” I thought to myself, “Queensland ba ito?” so we looked elsewhere. We passed by Nisa Travellers Inn and inquired. We liked the place because it was “wholesome” plus it was cheap. It only cost us P400 for a twin bed but it wasn’t airconditioned and there is no CR inside the room and there was no TV and ok we were on a tight budget so we make do but it wasn’t too bad coz it was clean and they have this sort of a garden where you can dine. We stayed there for two nights while we explored Tagbilaran, Loboc, Carmen and etc.
Then on our third day we stayed at a friend’s house in Bilar so it was free.
Then on our fourth day we explored Panglao we checked out Dumaluan beach were you can pitch a tent for P200 plus the entrance and the overnight fee but we looked elsewhere because we didn’t like the place that time because it was overcrowded. So we went to Alona beach and liked it because there are a lot of restos where we can buy food. We asked if we could camp out along the shores and the guard said it was ok so we stayed there for free.

Going Home

On our fifth day we returned the motorcyle and rode a bus to Jagna which is an hour away from Tagbilaran and cost us P60. There we boarded the Cebu Ferry which cost us P950

All in all, the trip cost us P5,000 each ..not bad for cheapskate like us. This already includes the pasalubong. Other expenses aside from the food, lodging and transporation are the entrance fees to the places we went to which ranges from P15 to P50 except fot the Lobor river cruise which cost us P280 but it already includes a lunch buffet.
So there, hope that was informative.

And oh we brought along a tripod so we don’t have to hassle anybody to take our pictures.

Bohol

2008-04-02T13:48:00.006+08:00

I’ve read somwhere that it’s not the place that makes travelling memorable but it’s the person you’re with. For me it was both the place and the companion when Blow and I went to Bohol last Holyweek. I found myself in those movies I often envy where couples would take road trips together and pass by those wonderful sceneries. My version…me and my Blow on a motorcycle with him driving (and me holding on to dear life) passing by the the sparkling blue sea with the wind whipping our face and with the sun on our backs. We also passed by under the cool shade of the gigantic mahogany trees …simply awed by their grandeur. The Bol-anons are hospitable, religious and kind hearted. The food esp. the calamay, peanut kisses and sanga (dried sting ray) are delightful treats. Bohol was simply awesome and has a lot of things to offer. Our five days there was not enough. We visited both the man made and natural wonders. We paid visit to the old churches and watch towers, man-made forest, Chocolate hills and Hinag-danan cave. We had lunch at the Loboc River, visited the Tarsiers, butterflies and the bees. We soaked in the sun and sand, sights and sounds and of course the pristine waters of the Panglao beaches. I will definitely come back there, Blow even want to stay there for good. Well, let’s wait and see. Pics here.
****
Another plus thing during our Bohol trip was meeting some Blog friends. I was finally able to meet my dear online and offline friend Jae during our stop over in CDO.She was the one who bought our ferry tickets...salamat jud jae...mwah

And Tey at Bohol who prepared us wonderful breakfast and was generous enough to allow us to shower at his place which offers a view of the Baclayon Church....salamat pud kaayo !

More trips and Ebs to come :-)

alive

2008-03-25T15:47:00.004+08:00

I used to say that I'm stuck in a bubble where the real world is muted out and all I see are distorted colors and images or that life was a stream where I am merely floating and moving along where the current leads me.

I used to live inside my head but now i am happy to realize that I am finally living...in this space...in this time.

Camp Sabros

2008-03-12T11:07:00.011+08:00

I'm sure most of you by now have heard of Camp Sabros...the place in Kapatagan, Digos City,Davao del Sur with the longest zipline in the Philippines. My classmates and I went there last March 2. It was a 2 hours drive from Davao City and upon reaching Kapatagan, we hiked for about 20 minutes uphill to the site because only 4x4 vehicles can go there. There is no entrance fee and they have a mess hall there where you can eat. We only paid P150 for the zip since we zipped by 2, you pay P300 for a solo ride.The zip line is 380 meters long and the moment I saw the people ziplining, i wanted to go home and snuggle comfortably in my bed. As i mentioned and confessed several times before...I am a coward and i'm proud of being one. I can't exactly recall my reasons for being there...and what exactly happened but before i knew it i was headed home and i only have the below pictures to attest that i was actually there. Okay that's exaggerating...when it was my turn in the zipline...i saw nothing because i closed my eyes the entire time hehehe even during the return trip via the cable car. Now i'm not so sure about having the powers of flying because its so damn scary to be up there!

How to get there if one is commuting(adding this in response to Mark's Q)

Ride a bus to Digos then get off at the Terminal

Ride a jeep for Kapatagan or rent a motorcyle

Get off the Kapatagan Checkpoint

Walk to Camp Sabros(20 minutes)

The whole gang at the Entrance

We had to wait below the zip station for the rain to stop before we can zip

Ready...zip...go!

The Cable Car back

We conquered this mound!
Vids here

inspired

2008-03-07T12:32:00.006+08:00

Yesterday I got so pissed with someone that when I woke up this morning my mind was spurting quotes, here are some of them:

Sometimes inaction is the best course of action.
There are battles that you don't have to fight to win

Anyways, what happened was that i got into a verbal retort with a retard...yikes i'm even beginning to rhyme...I had this rare opportunity to have a conversation with a moron who passes himself of as a professional...someone who got no balls enough to admit that he made a mistake and denied saying the things that he said to me before. He made it sound like i'm the one who was at fault.He made me feel like I'm a complete idiot to have misunderstood what he said. I thought it was pointless to argue with him so i kept mum and besides we both know who's telling the truth. Gaba na lang jud!

Buda... again

2008-02-18T13:48:00.007+08:00

Last2x Saturday(Feb 9) a couple of officemates and I went to Buda and stayed their overnight. We rented a rest house at Island in the Sky and the main feature of the house was the fireplace...err truth be told it was the first fireplace that i came in contact with :-P It was that cold there to warrant a fireplace, I think the place is 4000 Meters Above Sea Level so that explains. Anyways, as usual i enjoyed the place and we revisited Seagull Resort and bathed at the man-made waterfalls even if I was freezing my ass off. I wish I could build a house there someday. Here are a couple of pics from that weekend:

The rest house we rented.

The fireplace and me

The whatchamacallit car that toured us all over Seagull Mountain Resort

The man-made waterfalls

The perfect ending ...dinner at Santander, "Hito-an sa Calinan"

Tsinelas

2008-02-06T13:48:00.000+08:00

I am a big fan of flip flops! It seems that I can't get enough of them. I buy them because they're comfortbale to wear but somewhere along the way collecting flip flops became a hobby because of those various designs available. It started with Havaianas and later on I learned to appreciate other brands from Brazil like Praia and Ipanema.Anyways, I was browsing through the Ipanema site and saw this design...

which is really...really... similar to this..

Don't you agree?

So the dilemma here is...what brand should I buy? hehehe Kidding aside, they are too much alike to ignore....you can hardly spot the difference and so i wondered what may have caused this because before each brand have their own unique designs/ trademark. Do they have the same desingers now? Industrial spying? Or maybe they are sister companies.. Mmmmm....

Hating Dubai

2008-01-28T11:24:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday I attended the despedida party of Laila and Grace, two of my closest friends at the office. Actually I was supposed to attend Pheng and Rhea’s Despedida party at samal on the same day but I opted to join the latter. All of them except rhea resigned from work because they will try their luck overseas..specifically at Dubai. I can no longer keep track of how many of my friends went to work at Dubai and those who plan to. That’s why I’m beginning to hate the place coz it’s taking my friends away from me L I feel really sad not to be able to spend time with my friends anymore but well there’s nothing I can do but accept their decisions and cope. I also talked to another friend who’ll be leaving for Australia this year and he asked me if I have plans to work abroad. I replied, Travel yes…but work no. I just can’t imagine myself working and living in another country with a different culture and lifestyle. I imagine how difficult the adjustment might be to work with foreigners..the language , culture gap and all. I am very much attached to my family and chose not to be away from them again. Yes I might be missing out some opportunites out there, to see new places and earn more and etc. but spending quality time with my family far outweighs those.
I wish to be reunited with those friends in Dubai and hope Dubai is taking good care of them but for now…I’m hating the place

Cat Burglar

2008-01-21T12:46:00.000+08:00

Last night when I was about to sleep, I heard some funny noises outside my window which is just beside my bed and so I peered into the blinds and guess who I saw...a cat burglar!

well not exactly burglar coz it's our pet cat ,Orange, but he wasn't supposed to be there. I tried to poke and push him away but he wouldn't budge. I tried flashing the flashlight directly on his eyes but nothing happened except that his eyes turned green.

I was tempted to throw water at him but I can't do that without getting my bed wet and so I let him be and we slept side by side...well sort of. And today I'm having a sneezing fit :-(

My 2008 Predictions

2008-01-08T17:25:00.001+08:00

.../resolutions/wishful thinking/positive thinking for myself :-)

I would have Shaun T’s chick assistant’s abs…hiphop abs yo!
My hair would grow longer which I just had cut short…really short by the way.
My toenails would recover…it suffered from a nail polish over dose.
I’ll ace my MBA classes
I’ll gain more online and offline friends.
I’ll finally meet Jae and perhaps Cheska in person :-D
I’ll own a PSP so I can play all thoooose games in a wider screen than my cellphone.
I’ll learn how to levitate after the yoga classes.
I’ll save some money.
My PPP career would flourish thanks to my guru (Carey)
My small business would flourish
I’ll watch more movies and series.
I’ll finally discover a book to replace the spot left by Harry Potter series
Blow would get a job (hahaha didn’t mean the way it came out )
I’ll travel more...i'll finally visit Camiguin and Panglao or even Hongkong.

A year end post

2007-12-30T21:18:00.000+08:00

I’ve learn to contemplate even in action. That one doesn’t need to be in a semi-catatonic state, alone and staring emptily into space with .”music” to do some reflection. That one can introspect even while crossing a busy street.
I’ve realized that my journey towards self discovery doesn’t always have to happen within me but can happen through other people
I’ve learned that trust is such a fragile thing and it starts with trusting yourself.
I’ve learned to accept that I can’t do everything on my own…that sometimes I have to hold on to somebody’s hand to let go of someone else.
I’ve finally accepted that some friendships don’t last forever. That a childhood bond can sometimes break in this adult world. That two people who grow together can still outgrow each other. …that a friendship needs to be continually nurtured and taken care of to last.
I’ve discovered that sometimes help comes from unexpected places and from unexpected person. That a stranger is a friend waiting to be made.
I’ve learned to appreciate the value of money.
I’ve learned that lying dormant within us are various potentials waiting to be tapped.
Finally that life is such a wonderful thing after all and that love doesn’t always have to hurt.

Happy New Year Everyone :-)

Kelan ba ang Graduation?

2007-12-25T22:21:00.000+08:00

Note: Cleaning up my drafts again..more finished and unfinished post to come :-)

Nanaginip ako kagabi, tinatanong ko daw kung “kelan ang graduation? ” . Hindi ko na maalala kung sino yung mga tinanong ko, mukhang mga kaklase ko ata nung college at hindi ko na rin maalala kung nasagot nila ako. Siguro dahil sa ang Marso ay buwan ng pagtatapos kaya ko naisip yun. Marami kasi akong nakitang mga mag-aaral na naka-toga at may sabit pa na orchids at mga kung ano pang pampakati na halaman sa leeg
Pero pagkagising ko kanina andun pa rin yung tanong sa isip ko. Naalala ko tuloy na 6 years na pala akong graduate sa college. Putek ang tanda ko na! Ito na yung “How do you see yourself 5 years from now?” moment, plus 1 year na nga. This is it! Naisip ko tuloy yung sinabi nung guro namin nung college, habang ako ay nasa silid aralan , nakaupo sa silya, nagsuslat sa kuwaderno ng mga takdang aralin na nakasulat sa pisara(sa wakas naggamit ko rin ang mga words na yun) , sabi niya na pag-IE ka pa rin after 5 years ibig sabihin hindi ka successful. Dapat daw manager ka na o may sarili ng negosyo. Naku patay, paano ngayon to ma’am? IE pa rin ako? Porlayp na ata to. Ibig bang sabihin nito, isa akong malaking kabiguan? Palipat-lipat kc ako ng trabaho kaya ayun lagi akong nagsisimula sa umpisa. Walang continuum kumbaga. Pero, subali’t, datapwa’t…hindi ko pinag-sisihan ang mga naging desisyon sa trabaho o buhay in general. Masaya naman ako kung saan ako ngayon. Wala talaga akong balak na maging CEO o umangat talaga sa corporate ladder. Takot ako sa heights! Kung mangyari man yun, salamat pero di ko talaga kinakarir yun. Wala talaga akong balak na karirin ang karir ko . Pero balik dun sa tanong, kelan ako gagraduate. Hanggang kelan nga ba ako magtatrabaho? Di ko maisip sarili ko na magtatrabaho hanggag sa maging senior citizen na ako. Balak ko magkaroon ng negosyo balang araw. O magka-asawa ng milyonaryo o maging isang superhero. Siyempre nonsense na naman. Pero napaisip talaga ako sa tanong….. at nag-iisip pa rin ako hanggang ngayon …

idle hands

2007-12-19T13:00:00.000+08:00

I think I've finally discovered my true calling. All along I thought I would shine in the music industry, the art world or literature. Instead it was handicrafts all along...making bracelets, necklaces, accessories...borloloy...whatchamacallit. I started making friendship bracelets way back in Highschool to give as gifts to my friends. I never really made it a hobby not until lately. This all started when I decided to buy and sell accessories and then customers started to make request. So I decided to study those accessories, bought some materials and together with Blow, made some. I enjoyed doing it and to my amazement, people actually bought it(naks!). We usually use wires and were still trying to learn soldering and experiment with hot metals instead of mere bending and twisting. Here are a few of our creations (i'm still organizing the other pictures) :-)

Errr...anybody interested, I can make it in any colors or design ;-)

Hello classmate

2007-11-30T00:40:00.000+08:00

I forced myself to make a post ASAP because a classmate, darn I forgot to ask for his name well let’s call him Mr.Globalwiring(because that's the name of his blog) might be reading this. I’m not posting to impress him but I was challenged because he asked me if I regularly update my blog….of course I told him "YES!" so hence this post. I’m getting ahead of my story. This all started when I heard Mr.Globalwiring asking a classmate if she has a blog. My antennae immediately caught the words “blog” and I tapped him on his back (because he wasn’t talking to me) and volunteered information "I have a blog…why?” and then we talked about blogging. I’m actually not adamant about people knowing that I have a blog but I do want to meet fellow bloggers in flesh. I just want to see what sort of creature lies beneath the words. But I prefer if I know them through blogging at first and meet them in flesh later but sometimes we can’t choose how things go.
I actually feel more exposed right now knowing that some of my classmates might be reading this because I’m not friends with them yet and it means that I can’t talk about them or about my teachers ;)
Guys, whatever you read here..remains here….pakopya assignment hehehe

Hippie Store

2007-11-24T21:25:00.000+08:00

Friends...Romans...Countrymen...

To have my own business has always been my dream...oh well apart from being a rockstar and being a famous author. I want to quit being a corporate slave and be my own boss. I keep on talking about it and i guess it's about time to actually do something about it. "If not now...when?" is my new mantra. I didn't quit my job yet but I'm trying to start a teeny weeny business of retailing. I'm selling bags, accessories, flipflops and whatever comes to mind(bugas, bulad hehehe) .Someday I want to have my own boutique and name it Hippie...ahmm the name is my boiff's suggestion. He actually shares my dream of having our own business.

Anyways, if you've got nothing better to do...you might as well check our online store, spread the word, share a seat and win a friend LOLs

Grades! Grades! Grades!

2007-11-17T13:44:00.000+08:00

Today is the first day of our MBA classes for the second semester. Since I’ve enrolled it means that I survived the 1st sem and still up for the challenge :) I also got our grades and I think I did ok, “just ok”. I am not really grade conscious because I got trained in college to be satisfied with a passing mark of 75%. Some of our teachers would actually give a grade of 60% so we learned to be appreciative of our barely passing grades but I am actually disappointed now with my grade in on of our subjects. I got 2.1(equivalent to 84%). We had no exams, assignments or written works just reporting, class participation and attendance. I think I only had 3 absences and did well with the reporting but I admit that I lack in class participation. We usually discuss about economics (as the name of the subject suggests) politics, current events and etc. I usually have nothing nice to say about these things so I chose to shut up. There were a few times though that I actually spoke during class but I’m not pretty sure that my teacher agreed with me. He told us that young people nowadays are selfish, apathetic and caught up with their lives and doesn’t care about our country.

I told him that “sir, there’s actually a good side to being selfish and apathetic. I am one of those people sir, I am tired of our country’s political system and I think it’s pretty pointless. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t care for our country. I try to be good with my job and be a productive citizen so at least I wouldn’t end up as another unemployment statistic. I try to be financially stable so that maybe in the future I can start my own business and give jobs to others”
I forgot what he replied but anyways I end up getting a low grade, a classmate upon learning of my grades actually said ‘but you were good in class’ I don’t know maybe she just said that to make me feel better.

Annyways,this is what I hate in school. The line “You reap what you sow” doesn’t apply here. There are outside factors that control the outcome of your studies. You could study really hard but still get a low grade because of unfair teachers! Damn you MOFUs!!! Ok I’m feeling slightly better and I should really be grateful for my grades on my other subject:
Ignatian Leadership-1.1
Business Research 1.2
Business Statistics-1.4

Hehehe kailangan i-post jud…as if! ;-)

One More Chance

2007-11-15T10:45:00.000+08:00

I watched "One More Chance",the new movie release of Star Cinema yesterday which stars Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz. In fairness I was entertained by the film but not in the way expected. I find the lines amusing, I was so amused that I would like to see the movie nominated for Best Comedy Flick for 2007.

Example:

Bea talking to John Lloyd:

Bea: I need space
John Lloyd moves a seat apart and points to the space
John Lloyd: Space? ayan oh space

John Lloyd Breaking up with Maja:

John Lloyd: Ayaw kitang makitang nasasaktan
Maja gets up from chair and closes John Lloyd's eyes
Maja: para di mo ako makita masaktan

Everybody needs a few laughs...go see the movie! :-)

The Basics of Cash Flow

2007-11-12T10:37:00.000+08:00

I am not fond of forwarded email messages because most of them are chain mails, dire warnings on just about any food or product and those with that scary face that pops out. Some are inspirational…telling you to quit fooling around and stop reading forwarded emails and get back to work but then you’ve already consumed an hour out of your productive time reading those inspirational messages J Out of all those emails that I manage to read, this one made the most sense. It made me think about my spending habits. This is from Francisco Colayco, the Robert Kiyosaki of the Phils. Haven’t heard of him or Kiyosaki? Neither have I hahaha but do read on:

THE BASICS OF CASH FLOW

There are those who e-mailed me asking about the
basics of cash flow. I'm really sorry that I assumed everybody already
understands it. Anyway, by demand ... here it goes...
May isang bata... joke lang. The basic is. What pattern do you see if you will get a P100.00 bill and monitor where and how it is transferred from 1 possessor to the other?
How does it flow? The pattern for a typical Pinoy is.
You earn from your work, you spend it on food, gadgets, clothing and other basic needs. Before you reach the next payday, paubos na yung pera mo. But that's ok payday is just a few days ahead and it doesn't matter if I run out of money, I am expecting money again any time soon.
This cycle goes on and on and you make some sidelines or create other ways to earn but it seems that money was never enough. (I am tempted to explain further pero usapan... basics lang). So you can't leave the job that you have because a week without work would affect the cash flow you have to support your family and needs. As much as you wanted to accept another job, the gap would make you pay less for a couple of days, which makes you a slave to your boss.
At least, you have a job to support your needs.
So to illustrate.. .Cash is flowing inside your pocket. Years have gone by doing your monotonous routine. Question... what if you get fired? Or you were forced to retire because there are new and younger people ready to take your place. What would you do? As an OFW, Makati Executive, Top Salesman, Engineer, Attorney, Teacher, etc... What if it all ends? The sweet cash that enters your pocket every 15 th and 30th suddenly comes to a halt.
There are two things you can buy with your money... An asset and a liability. To describe each... An asset brings money inside your pocket; a liability takes money out of your pocket. Another way to see, it is that an asset if you buy one, will bring the money you spent for it back to you 2 or 3 folds. A liability, when you buy it will not give your money back at all.
Sa ilocano... idjay ti kwa... djak maawatan... (joke lang po, seryoso na kayo
eh...) Sa madaling salita... kapag asset, maibabalik ang pera , pag liability,
goodbye sa pera... Ang problema kay JUAN DE LA CRUZ, habang may trabaho
ipon ng ipon at bili ng bili ng liability! I have seen OFWs get back to
the country with gold chains at kung pwede lang limang shades ang isuot ng
sabay-sabay gagawin nya eh... dvd, component, jackets, clothes, inuman, pulutan,
party, pabango... hindi na makalakad sa dami ng bitbit...
At s'yempre mga empleyado natin dito sa bansa na lingo-lingo bago cell phone at mags ng kotse.. hindi na nga magkasya ang damit sa aparador, tapos pag umaga sasabihin... . wala na akong maisuot.
Guys, esep-esep... what you bought... will it bring money back to you? I know what you have in mind... you have to enjoy what you worked hard for. That's right, but think of something that will last... think of your future.
I have seen the worst of people who were abogado de kampanilya,
executive secretaries of top rank business men, people who worked for big
companies, earned a fortune and got a big retirement pay by the millions...
Now.... Wala na.
Why? Because of their cash flow... went in... went out.
I need not to mention basketball players, actors, singers, etc... Check
what is their career path... next after acting, singing and playing... POLITICS.
Kasi, 'yung million na kinita nila, puro liability ang binili.
Going back...
all the liability they bought, ibinenta ng mura! I'm wearing a gold chain now,
which I got from a seaman... he bought it for P35,000 and sold it for 8,000 to
me. Hindi po asset ang alahas! Bakit? Totoo na tumataas ang value n'ya
pero kapag gutom ka na, kahit palugi ibebenta mo! (wala bang aaray?) Cell
phones... dvd players etc. pati bahay at kotse... that's the cash flow of most
OFWs...
The question is ... " WHAT IF THE INCOME STOPS?" Sa Pinoy,
ganito: anak... mag-aral kang maigi, at pag tanda namin... ikaw na bahala sa
amin ha.... Hindi po ba maling-mali. ..
You have to establish
something today that will take care of your future. Teka, teka... eh ano
ang dapat gawin para hindi mangyari yan? You must create a source of
income that will continually make money flow inside your pocket. Start a
business! While you are working as an executive or an OFW, or a professional. ..
START A BUSINESS and MASTER that business till you get out of that company. Para kapag tumigil ang income mo sa kanila... may susuporta pa din sa iyo hanggang
pag-tanda mo!
Now don't tell me to invest my money on pensions and plans...
NO WAY ! Narinig n'yo na siguro yung .... Naku ayaw ko na magbanggit.. .. 'yung
mga nagbayad at hindi nakapag-claim. .. sila pa ang dinimanda at nag-piyansa! !!
HUWAG MO I-ASA ANG PAGTANDA MO SA IBA! GUMAWA KA NG SARILI MONG BALON NG
PERA! KAHIT MALIIT PA 'YAN, SARILI MO AT HINDI KA AASA SA IBANG TAO...
Imagine yourself when you reach an older age... (aruy ko,,, baka yung iba sa
inyo about that age... tabi tabi po...Ako po sa mga nagtatanong. .. I'm 37 years
old. Naabutan ko pa si Michael Jackson at hinele po ako ng nanay ko sa mga kanta
ng hagibis...). You have money that the company gave you as your retirement
pay... what will you do?
You can consume the money till your old... eh kung hindi umabot? Masamang damo ka pala... at hindi ka kaagad kinuha ni Lord.
Eh pang age 65 lang yung naipon mo na budget.
Or maybe, you can start a business and use the money for capital... Kapatid... 9 out of 10 businesses, FAILED... yung isang magsa-succeed, gagayahin pa ng kapitbahay mo instead na mag-franchise sa 'yo... think! At age 50, you are struggling trying to make a business work! What if it fails?!
Eh ano nga ba ang sagot?
The answer is, stop buying liabilities and instead buy assets now. I don't care
if it is a banana-Q store, balot, ice candy or a sari-sari store, etc... start
now! Because, your experience here will teach you what to do in the
future. It's so hard to struggle in business when you are 60 yrs old.
You have to create a source of income separated from the source of income
from your work. That when the time comes that you have to stop working, you will
have your own source of money! Create assets, start a business that will be
there to support you and your family. I AM NOT TELLING YOU TO QUIT YOUR JOB! I'm telling you to start a business while you're working and stop spending your
money on liabilities and start putting them on assets!
Ang pera kapag pinambili mo ng LIABILITY... hindi na babalik... ang ASSET... BABALIK.
Teka... masama ba bumili ng mga magagandang gamit? Hindi! Siguraduhin mo lang na ang pambili mo nun ay galing sa asset mo. The business has to be prioritized!
Mawalan ka man ng trabaho, may negosyo kang palalaguin.
If before, nabubuhay ka naman ng iisa sapatos mo, huwag mo baguhin 'yun... dati, nagdyi-jeep ka lang... 'wag ka na munang mag-FX...
Create assets and lessen liabilities.
Invest and learn now... mag-negosyo! Eh anong negosyo? Any, as long as
you think it is work and doable! I am still looking for partners for my HOME
MASSAGE SERVICE! SPA MAGIC! And my business CAR MAGIC is still franchising. .. (joke lang ... baka sabihin nyo nag pro-promote lang ako eh...But I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT ALL MY BUSINESSES ARE ORIGINAL AND ALL ARE GRAND ASSETS!
I started all my businesses with a very small capital. If I used that money to buy a
gadget, new shoes or any liability... baka wala lahat ng negosyo ko at wala na
akong makain ngayon.
Again, I hope that this BASIC CASH FLOW article
helps.... I wish all of us become financially free!

Photo Attempts

2007-11-09T15:50:00.000+08:00

I am not competitive by nature. I don’t like joining contest or any form of competition because I hate losing. If ever I’ll be asked to join a contest at school or at work, I would act indifferent as if I don’t care to win but deep inside I really do. Anyways, Blow convinced me to join a photo contest for 6th Mindanao Information & Communications Technology Congress. It’s open to professional, amateurs and wannabe photographers. You just need to submit an original photo that’s not digitally edited that’s in line with the theme “Technology and Nature in Harmony”. And so we took random pictures(using Canon Ixus 75) and entered two photos each. To our surprise we made it to the top 20 errr…maybe this is because there are only 20 participants?
Anyways, even if we didn’t win,we did have fun taking the pictures. We got caught in the rain, crashed through a private resort and etc.
Here are the photos that we submitted(first four) and those that we didn't.