All set for the outreach

Our group is all set for the coming Feb 4 outreach. I am happy because of the outpour of people who wanted to help us in this activity. A lot of our friends and officemates were gracious enough in giving money, effort, prayers just to push through with the activity. We’ve even solicited more than enough for the scholarship program of PEARLS. My boss donated money for one scholar, which made me really happy. :-)

We called ourselves D' HOPEfulls for obvious reasons. We have high hopes for this country and for the Filipinos. This is the first activity of our group and we wanted to do more. We do not look at the little effort, only the big impact it could create.

Last week, with the help of our very passionate and able friends, we were able to pack the hygiene kits for 200 kids. We will distribute this on Feb 4. The kit contains shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, face towel, etc. which the kids in Ulingan could use everyday.

This week, we taught Origami (the art of folding paper) to our group and the other volunteers who will join us during the outreach. We will teach this to the kids of Ulingan. What I like about Origami is that it keeps you focus and "no scissors needed" as what I usually say.

Origami...cranes, balls...we will also teach them how to make paper box so that they could put the cranes and the balls in it.

As of today, we still continue to receive donations and pledges. We told them about Project PEARLS so that even though we're done with the Feb 4 outreach, help and assistance will still continue to pour. We also told them about the Saturday feeding program which they could regularly participate in.

Again, thank you Sidney Snoeck for introducing PEARLS to us. You are are blessing to us. I am also in great awe for what you have been doing for the Filipino and for this country. Thank you!

K-A-R-E-N

I met a girl named Karen. She is 75 percent Chinese. I don’t know her surname just her first name as shown in her name tag. She’s a bank teller. I have been going to this particular bank for five years now and I always see her. Going to this particular bank irritates me because of the poor service. The queue is killing me. They have adopted this new computerized system of queuing that is quite unbearable for me.

But somehow, I found a way to divert my boredom and irritation by looking at Karen. She was the first person I look for whenever I enter the bank. I don’t know what it is about her but I am drawn to her. Her kindness and enthusiasm warms my heart.

Two weeks ago, I had the chance of having a more-than-a-glance encounter with her. I was making a transaction and she was the one who attended to my inquiries. My instinct was right. She’s a nice person. Maybe she’s nice to all the clients but I sense sincerity in the way she talks to me. It’s as if we’ve known each other for a long time. She asked me about my work and asked if I have vacant hours. I told her I am being paid to write down my thoughts. In between I could drink coffee and talk to the walls. She smiled. I don’t know what she was thinking but I believe I had caught her interest.

This morning, I saw her again. She was surprised to see me. I was (more than) happy to see her. I asked her if she’s fluent in Mandarin. She said “yes”.

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postscript:

"something within me is not right. i could not exactly tell what and how it started but i feel it growing worse everyday. it's like my heart is bursting every time it hurts. the pain does not compensate for anything. it heals and breaks on its own." ~ letter to coffeebeans (2-1-12)

A day with the Ulingan Kids, please support us!

We will sponsor one Saturday for the Ulingan Kids in Tondo on February 4. Please help us raise the funds we need. We will also distribute hygiene kits to 200 kids for them to use.

All proceeds will go to Project Pearls. To know more about their programs and their advocacy, please visit their site at: www.projectpearls.org

Ulingan Kids in Tondo and meeting Sidney (yea, the famous Sidney Snoeck)

“The lives we touch will touch many others. When you bring encouragement, humor, hope, fun and positive energy, you touch lives you have never met. That’s the Ripple Effect. Life is short and time is precious. Waste not a single minute.” – Michael Potter

Oki and I met Sidney on a Saturday morning to go to Ulingan, a slum and garbage dumpsite community in Tondo, Manila. Sidney picked us up together with the other volunteers who would joined the outreach. We got there on-time. Oki specifically told me that Sidney would not wait for late-comers. I smiled and said, "of course, we should be there on time. Filipino time is always on time!"

Everything I know about the PEARLS Project, I first heard from Sidney and then from Oki when she reiterated that we should volunteer and so I searched about it. It was from here that we decided to sponsor one Saturday to feed and teach 200 kids and (perhaps) sponsor at least a scholar. To do this, we would solicit from friends and people we know. All proceeds will go to PEARLS. This will be on Feb. 4. Oki asked me to make a poster for this activity so that it's easier to solicit and spread the word.

Everything is in order (as of the moment). A lot of our friends had already signified their interest and pledges for the activity. I will post the poster here soon.

Anyway, our first experience in Ulingan was exhausting but definitely rewarding. I have no problems with poor sanitation, lack of water, dust, rats...but I was having a rough time getting through the thick, black smoke coming from the Ulingan factory. But anyways, I managed.

I encouraged Oki to go there again before our Feb 4 outreach, if time permits. I fell in love with the Ulingan kids. They are so "malambig" (sweet) ... but my heart breaks for their conditions. They seem to be contented with what they have amidst the extreme poverty and the health risk caused by the ulingan factory. I wish there would be medical missions for PEARLS. I wish I could do more!

Oh, did I just mention I met Sidney already? After eight years, he said, we met in the flesh! A nice fella as I have expected him to be. He doesn't like his photos to be taken, but I guest I was too stubborn to follow such a request (or was it an order?). I also met his adorable son, Bryan, a nice-looking kid who speaks Dutch, French, English, Filipino, and Bicol. He plays rugby! :)

Extending horizon and changing perspective

I have extended my horizon for my own comfort. Not extending it too much because I love my status quo.

Most of my friends have either moved into another country, got married, well established in what they do. My best buddy is now a mom (a dream come true). Someone just got two interviews for a well-compensated jobs at ADB and IRRI. Someone just bought her 2nd car. Someone is opening her own business line. Where the heck am I? Stuck in my own comfortable but "unchallenging nook".

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, I love what I am doing. I may not have (all) the money to afford a new car and or a new house...as my salary does not even compensate for my vices (photography, traveling, etc.) but I get by. It's just that, I feel like I need to be somewhere else. Did you ever get that feeling wherein you feel like you are not supposed to be where you are? But then again you do not know where you're supposed to be. Crazy shit.

Yesterday, the boss informed me about a foreign travel. "Rayts you will be our official representative for this activity." I smiled ( a formal, casual one). The same smiled I gave him when he told me I will be on a one-week official trip to South Korea.

I've been eyeing to go to this country and I have it in my hand right now. In November, if every thing pushed through, I will be there. Walking between those Great Walls, and if I get lucky, (perhaps) it will be winter when I get there.

I guess somehow, I need to change my perspective. And perhaps see what's ahead.

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You clasp your hands, close your eyes and let your heart speaks

One thing I could clearly remember from my childhood is that I was a prayful kid. Influenced by a religious mother, praying was the first thing she ever taught me and my two siblings. I enjoyed praying when I was a kid, it was like talking to an invisible friend and he's grantings my wishes. Then I grew up. I had problems believing in the unknown. People whom I called authorities in the field started blocking my incurable quest to know and to question things. Blind faith was something I could not reckon with. Then came college and every thing was messed up. I was no longer that prayful kid and my mother called me an heretic, worst she called me a follower of Satan just because I refused going to church.

Later in life something happened along the way. And I started praying again...enjoying my quiet time. Sometimes, I think I have been praying too hard that I have been getting immediate answers.

Except for this one thing that I’ve been praying for (a long time). It seems to bounce off heaven’s door.

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[postscript]

* masyado ka lang bang makulit na ganoon na lamang niya pagbigyan ang kahilingan mo? O sadya ka lang malakas sa kanya?

* A close friend of mine gave birth to a baby boy yesterday morning. This is how she informed me via SMS: "Rayts, he came out na, this AM. healthy." As simple as that. This gave me a five-second smile. I got excited. Her dream of becoming a mom to a baby boy came true. We shared the same dream, mine I think is far from happening...at least not any time soon.

hang-ups and baggages

I was at PowerBooks the other day. I had no money and no intention of buying any particular book. I just needed to wind away my time because I was early for this group meet at Figaro. As I was looking over the books, I found Doris Lessing’s “The Golden Notebook” which has a rather interesting quote at the back (or at least, it was something that struck my curiosity so I picked it up). I wanted the book.

For one, Lessing is British. Second, it’s a work that explores mental and societal breakdown or what Lessing referred to as "inner space fiction". Third, it’s included in TIME Magazine’s 100 best English-language novels (1923-present). But like I said, I had no money and had no intention of buying any particular book. Perhaps tomorrow.

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[Random Thoughts]

You know what they say about keeping things to yourself so as not to create fuzz or issues to other people? Well it’s true. But for me, I keep things to myself because I am afraid of people judging me. I tend to say things I don’t mean to say all because I want people to always feel good about themselves (even at the expense of hurting or belittling myself).

MB was in LB last weekend. He told me that their whole family was having a double-celeb for K and his dad. He said I could pass by the resort if I have the time. I said I’ll try. I told him it was my brother’s birthday. At the back of my mind, I had no intention of going. And then he asked: “Di ka na dumaan?” I said (in a joking manner): “Sabi mo lang naman dumaan e. Di mo naman sinabi yung pangalan ng resort”. He retorted: “I thought kung dadaan ka tatanungin mo kung saan.” What is wrong in this scenario??? Haha. My friend said, it was all on me. I am the problem. She told me, I do not know how to read a hint. Until now, I could not see the "hint". heck, if you asked someone to go somewhere, I think it's nothing but natural to immediately say where you wanted that person to go right? right? (or maybe my friend was right). I am the problem.

The other day I was craving for a slice of Uno’s cheesecake. Yesterday, it’s gelato-on-stick (pistachios). I wonder what will I be craving in the next few days.

We’re having this outreach program this coming Saturday. I was quite happy on the turnout of people who wanted to help us. I never thought I would come up with sponsorships for 43 kids. I still have a few pledges on my account and donations in-kind. Happy, happy. People are genuinely kind.

I am beginning to feel edgy about my thesis proposal. Looks like I need an overhaul and…FOCUS. Brrr!

All the pretty horses

She loves rock music and keep it loud even with earphones. You fear that one day, she’ll have a problem with her sense of hearing because of that habit. Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Pepper, Nirvana, Eddie Vedder. What are the odds? She loves books and traveling.

But most of all, she loves all the pretty horses and have been a great rider.

I am all that. Except that I’ve never ridden a horse.

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Last night, I went to see the movie, “Shaolin”. I thought it was a Jacky Chan film, it turned out that he was only playing a supporting role to Andy Lau. I never really expected much from the film as I just went there to be entertained. I never really had a plan of watching it. I just want to treat myself to a movie after going through a rigid exam. Surprisingly, I went home satisfied. The film imbued some nice realizations. Some really nice things to think about. What goes around, comes around.

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My boss confessed something that made me go through a lot of thinking lately. She asked: What do you value the most, loyalty or friendship?

We do what we do because of a certain conformity to what we think (and believe) is the best (or what is right). Not only because of self-preservation but because it is the right thing. But sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing.

New year, new shoes

If you had asked me before, I would have disagreed. But just today, I realized how important shoes are. I am speaking figuratively here. And why suddenly I wanted a new pair of shoes, a red one, I do not know. I just resolved myself into thinking that: “New year means new shoes. And it has to be red.” I may have subconsciously inculcated Oki’s urge to have a red shoes. She’s been whining about getting a new pair of red shoes since last year and I must have kept it at the back of my head. But I don’t like those girly shoes. I was never a fan of high-heeled shoes. I just want a comfortable shoes like the loafers or sidewalk surfers type.

I was at the university awhile ago and I noticed how instinctively I was looking down while walking at the hallway to look at the students’ shoes. Most of them have new shoes. Must be their Christmas gifts. There were loads of red shoes! =)

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I am imbibing this mantra (came from a P. Coelho book):

“When you go after what is IMPORTANT for you in life, don’t take NO for an ANSWER!”

I am NOT taking NO for an answer. Aja!

This is the best diversion when you are "emotionally ill"

I started attending yoga classes last month, merely for the heck of it. An officemate, Miks, has been attending yoga classes and encouraged Oki and I to try it also. Oki has been wanting to loose that extra pounds so she got immediately interested. I joined merely out of curiosity. I tried it before when we were invited for a free session and I liked it but I was not able to sustain it. Until this opportunity came again.

I just had my sixth session today and it felt good. I am still a beginner that is why I am still having difficulty in keeping up with some of the (intermediate) routines but knowing my high tolerance for pain, I keep on pushing myself to my limit until I get to hold the difficult postures in a given time. As they say, be patient with your body, listen to it...in time those unflexible muscles will flex and bend, they are meant to.

I am attending two yoga classess in a week and I am hoping each day that I will be able to sustain it. So far...so good.

In yoga, your body and your mind must be in sync. They are supposed to be. Otherwise, you'll fall on your knees and your balance falter. I have been faltering and falling in my previous sessions. I laugh at myself and realized that the problem with me has always been my lack of focus.

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You’ve been very busy lately you didn’t even notice I was watching you closely

When I was in Suwon, I walked the long road from the International Technical Cooperation Center (the place where we stayed) to the E-mart. It was a 15-20 minute walk. To get there, I had to climb an overpass. Half way through the overpass, I lingered and savored the moment. From there I could see the Suwon traffic and realized how busy life has been that sometimes I forget to stop and smell the air. It was an interesting sight, a bit different from the typical, chaotic, bustling Manila traffic. In Korea, it was all too orderly, spacious and less flurry. It rained a few hours ago so the street was wet and the air was fresh. I could have stayed there for hours but I had to buy groceries.

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Yesterday, Pat, Etch and I went to the hospital to visit our godchild who has been suffering from leukemia. He’s turning 2 this October and he’s been sick since he was a baby. His mother was talking to us about his condition and all the time I was staring at my godchild and I wanted to cry. His body was covered with blisters—a manifestation that he’s suffering inside. I was thinking, all his life he has known nothing but the feeling of physical pain. I think pain is the only thing he recognized. For awhile, I sincerely wished I could have at least have half of his pain…or maybe we, the godparents, could take a piece of his pain and bear them instead of him. Geezus, he is just a child. I’ve been praying hard these days. Mr. Brightside taught me how to pray. I used to pray but it was all too selfish…it’s all about me and how to deal with my own demons. Now, it’s all about other people and their happiness.

Everything has a history

Yes, even this book.

I just finished reading “The Bridges of Madison County” last night and as I was browsing through the cover, I remembered how I have acquired the book.

I was with my cousin. He needed to buy something in the mall. I came along out of ennui. We passed by a bookshop that sells previously owned books. Instinctively, I asked him if I could look around and maybe buy some time. Somewhere in that corner, I found a hardbound copy of RJ Waller’s The Bridges of Madison County. I have shied away from watching the film because Clint Eastwood was in it. I adore Meryl Streep so much, but I dislike Eastwood. I haven’t totally figured out the reason for loathing him, but as a child, I hated seeing him on television .

So anyway, I opened the book and found this charming note:

…and one can tell a lot about the history of this book just by reading such simple note.

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I've only read 5 books last year, so shamingly that I promised myself that I will finish my book challenge this year. Oki said we should lessen our tv time and read more books instead. She's reading Bukowski in the middle of reading books on accountancy and some other "alien" stuff (Math and anything with numbers are all "alien" to me). But with the soaps and PBB, I don't think I can. The only time I could watch tv is when I come home from work. And then sleeping takes over. And then work again.

Anyway, I try waking up early in the morning these days to accomodate the "need to read more books". I learned that it's also the best time to read since the brain can easily absorb the information.

I am reading JM Coetzee's Elizabeth Costelo and the first word that comes to mind is: ABSCOND.

That sleek-looking, carbon bronze thing

When I came home last weekend at LB, I was greeted by this sleek-looking, carbon bronze Honda City in front of our house. There was no plate yet except a tag that says which branch the car was bought. So after years of longing and wanting, my brother had finally bought a new car. Did I say new?

So anyway I immediately checked the stance. I don’t know anything about cars but by the looks of it, I loved what I was seeing. I love the color too. I thought it was all rustic and brown but my brother said it is “carbon bronze”. I checked it in the Honda website and he was right. That is what they call it.

My brother is a seaman and most of the time he is out of the country so my mother had often argued with him on the idea of buying a car. “Who will drive that when you’re not around?” she scowled. “A second hand is not a bad idea.” I was just listening to them. But at the back of my mind I was screaming out loud: “Me, me, me! I will drive it!” But then again, I don’t even know how to drive. Geezus.

Except for my brother, the only one in the family who knows how to drive a car and has a license is my younger sister. But she’s all bucolic. She took driving lessons two years ago and got her license there after but because she doesn’t own a car, she could not practice what she knew. Besides, I don’t trust her driving skill yet. But compared to me, she's an A-minus.

So finally, I had the guts to tell them what’s on my mind. “I will take driving lessons!” They all gave me the weird look. And I don’t blame them. First of all, I am not good with directions; I get lost easily. Second, I am clumsy most of the time. Third of all, I am far from being vigilant. Fourth of all, I am easily rattled. There are more of that but I could not think right now. So what I am basically saying here is that, I have all it takes NOT to be a good driver and they knew it.

I learned early on that one of the main reasons why my brother bought a new car was because he hates waiting and riding a taxi from the airport to the bus terminal going to Laguna. He usually takes the late flight (sometimes, a red eye even) so it’s but natural that he is pissed when he had to commute all the way to LB from the airport and he’s all but tired and suffering from a jet lag. He would yank at my mother saying, “Look we’ve been waiting here forever. This is why I wanted a car! So what my mother would usually do is to rent the van of our neighbor (including the driver) for 2000 pesos just to fetch my dear brother to the airport. So that he wouldn’t get pissed. :-D

“So Kuya, I will take driving lessons and get a license so that I could send and fetch you to the airport anytime that you like!” He was in a good mood. I was excited. We both get our ends that way.

Driving lessons will start…March. (*crossing my fingers*)

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my book challenge (2010)

I won't make this hard anymore. I've never completed this challenge since I started it in 2007. I started with 12 and increased it to 24 books and failed, so this time, I will just stick to the previous challenge.

12 books in a year maybe a small number for (voracious) readers but it remains to be a challenge for someone like me who always lacks the time and opportunity to sit and finish a whole.

But I will try to get this before the year ends. 12 books in a year! More than that will be heaven of course.

JANUARY
1. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

This book is thin. Good for one-sitting. Love how RJ Waller weaves the story. I have not seen the film, only because Clint Eastwood was in it. So I was able to conjure a different image of Robert Kincaid in my mind. Not the face of Eastwood. I don't know what to think about the affair but I was sure it was "genuine" more than the heart can tell. Honestly, I love the sentiments. I have underline every nice quotes in the book so that I would not forget.


FEBRUARY
2. Elizabeth Costello by JM Coetzee

There is an intellectual discourse in every page of this book. I was entangled. Coetzee has really a way with words. The book is so intelligent. I had to go back to some pages because I have lost for awhile. But disgressing is far from the mind of Costello. It's focused. It made me question a lot of things...issues that never bugged me before. It did now. The first Coetzee book I've read was YOUTH. A nice coming of age story. Very enticing.

3. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima

I've always see myself reading a Mishima book. I've been curious about him since the time I've read a Kawabata's book. A teacher and a protege...with one fate. Quite drastic if you think about it but then again, at least we know now where all these intransigent of ideas are coming from. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea is the first Mishima book I have ever read. I have 4 of his books in my shelf but I have never come down to actually sit and read one. One thing I can say, nothing will prepare me for a Mishima book. The Sailor is perverse. So strange in fact that it opened a pandora of questions in my head. But the ingenuity of his style is there. I just can't seem to digest the words fairly well. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe for the next book.

MARCH
4. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

I have been meaning to read this book for the longest time. This is only the second Gaiman book I have read after Anansi Boys which I genuinely liked. I like the ability of Gaiman to weave seemingly "unreal" creatures and situations and make (feel) them real to the eyes of the readers. And I was hooked to this book. I would have not put the book down but I had to eat and sleep so I could continue reading. I love the juxtaposes of "reality" versus the world of the gods and the creatures he created in my mind. It's like, to me...they were real.


APRIL-JUNE
5. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

An officemate saw me reading this book. He said: "You're only reading it now?" I said "Why have you read it already?" He gave me a quick smirk and chortle. "A long time a go. I think you were the only one who have not read it." That was a spite of course. I never liked his attitude but then again, such attitude inspired me to finish that hefty book. It took me 3 weeks though. Time...I wish I have more of that these days.


JULY - OCTOBER
5. Random House Guide to Good Writing by Mitchell Ivers

Someone let me borrowed his copy. I had to read. I need to read and finish.


Currently, I am reading this book:

my 365-movie challenge (2010)

I started doing this in 2007 and for the 4th year, I am doing this again--watching at least one movie a day or 7 movies in a week hoping to reach my 365th movie after the year ends. Tv series will (still) be included, 2 hour episode = 1 film.

Goodluck to me! :-D

January (31 days)

1) Inglourious Basterds (USA)
2) Fish Tank (UK)
3) Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 (USA)
4) Avatar (USA)
5) Sherlock Holmes (USA)
6-18) One Tree Hill (USA, season 6, 24 episodes)
19) The Hangover (USA)
20) Julie and Julia (USA)
21) The Blind Side (USA)
22) Paano na Kaya? (Philippines)

February (28 days)
23) Cape No 7 (China)
24) In Love We Trust (China)
25) Dorian Gray (UK)
26) Imprint (Japan)
27) It's Complicated (USA)
28) Cinema Paradiso (Italy)
29) Seventeen Years (China)
30) The World (China)
31) District 9 (USA)
32) Up in the Air (USA) --------> love this film. love everything about it. :-)
33) Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (USA)
34) Old Dogs (USA)
35) So Close 3 (Hongkong)
36) An Education (UK)
37) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (USA)
38) Invictus (USA)
39) Valentine's Day (USA)
40) The Princess and the Frog (USA)
41) Case 39 (USA)
42) A Very Special Love (Philippines)

March (31 days)
43) I Miss You Like Crazy (Philippines) --------> watched it alone, and i cried..dammit! :-/
44) The Ironman (USA)
45) Elephant (USA) -------> This is the reason why I love Gus Van Sant flicks. It evokes a certain feeling. Not always good but nevertheless intense!

April (30 days)
46) Ironman 2
47) Hansel and Grethel (Korea)
48) Here Comes the Bride (Philippines)

May (30 days)
49) Here Comes the Bride (Philippines)
50) Shrek 3 (USA)
51) Noy (Philippines)

June (31 days)
52-62) Pasta (Korea, 20 episodes)
63) The Karate Kid
64) Eclipse
65) Knight and Day
66) Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor (Japan)
67) Miyori in the Sacred Forest (Japan)

July (31 days)
68) The Inception (USA)
69) Hating Kapatid (Philippines)
70-77) You are Beautiful (Korea, 16 episodes)

August (31 days)
78) Expandables (USA)
79) Splice (USA)
80) Despicable me (USA)

September (3o days)
81-91) How I Met Your Mother (USA, season 1, 22 episodes)
92) Splice (USA)
93-103) How I Met Your Mother (USA, season 2, 22 episodes)
104-113) How I Met Your Mother (USA, season 3, 20 episodes)
114) Some Kind of Wondeful (USA)
115) Mrs. Winterbourne (USA)

October (31 days)
116) Wall Street 2 (USA)
117) The Town (USA)
118) Eat Pray Love (USA)
119) Life as We Know It (USA)
120) RED ------> awesome, love the high-octane, fast paced sequels!

November (30 days)
121-132) How I Met Your Mother (USA, season 4, 24 episodes)
133) Social Network (USA)
134) The Ghost Writer (USA)
135) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
136) My Amnesia Girl (Philippines)
137) My Amnesia Girl (may nanlibre!)

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2009 Bright Leaf Photo Exhibit

We were at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino in Manila last Friday for the 2009 BrightLeaf Agriculture Journalism Award. One of my colleagues, Miko won the "Best Agriculture Feature Story" for the national category. Her winning piece, “When fish catch a cold, the rest of the world sneezes” highlights the effects of climate change specifically in the fisheries sector. Her article came out in our Digest, which made her winning extra special for me since, this our first time to join and we already got an award. I am (so) proud of what she has achieved. If there's one person among our writers who is suited to receive the award, it's her. She's a great writer. She's thorough and insightful.

There was a photo exhibit at the lobby, which I languidly looked over and over while waiting for the program to start. It turned out that 5 out of the 10 entries I sent were included among the photos exhibited. I will try to feature them here in my next post. Obviously, I didn't bag any award that night, but the thought of having my photos displayed and being gawked at along with the other great photos is enough for me.

Anyway, this year's Bright Leaf Photo of the Year was taken by Edgardo Espiritu titled, "Spice Scarecrow"

It's funny but I have a similar photo entry. Well, almost the same concept, minus the birds flying. I love the timing of Espiritu's shot. Sometimes, taking great photos comes with luck. And boy, was he lucky. Not only did he bag the 50,000 pesos, he won a new Lenovo laptop and a trip to Lombok, Indonesia. Awesome. :-)

settling, unsettling...most often than not it's UNsettling

"Between early morning and late afternoon, it's usually unsettling for me." ~ rtdc

It felt like ages since I made my last entry. But then again it was just five days ago. The thing is, I used to write (almost) everyday and mygulch has been my outlet-- a habit that I can not get out of my system.

Every morning, I already have this note in my head, what topic to write and how short and long it would be. The photo will just have to come along with what my mind says.

But given the workload I have right now, blogging is becoming a luxury for me. A vacant time that I have to justify every now and then because even my so called “free time” is not free anymore. But no, I am not complaining.

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I just finished layouting and editing the recipe book which is scheduled for launching on the first week of August and it feels like I could breathe now. I already sent it to the authors for the final proof. I just hope the corrections would just be minor.

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I was texting Charl last night asking how she was. I haven’t seen her since she came back to the country and it’s been more than a month already. She said her new business is keeping her busy these days. She has her own car now and she’s learning how to drive.

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My “new supervisor” is less uptight than the former. But I am still adjusting with this whole new set up. People have been calling me “ma’am” either as a joke or as an acknowledgement. I would like to think it’s the latter. Oki said, I should own my new position. I always think otherwise.

My thoughts on the matter?

I really don’t see this “new position” as an accomplishment rather an “unwieldy fardel” – you get more workload, more responsibility minus the monetary recompense. Most of all, I am not much into the limelight, I really like being on my nook all the time, delivering my output on certain deadlines. But with this new title, people come to my cube all the time, asking for my signature and my decision on certain things. It would take awhile before I get used to it. I know so.

Welcome to the world of chaos: My first try at food photography

The weather was unpredictable so we (a colleague and I) decided to set up everything inside the Home Economics (H.E.) classroom of the Food Technologist who developed the 25 recipes.

All the dishes were sweet sorghum-based ranging from the traditional Filipino merienda to the very simple porridge/soups. Although I was hungry all time, I could not make myself eat those dishes. Imagine a soup made from sweet sorghum mixed with moringa leaves or burger patties with sweet sorghum in it instead of beef or pork. But they had to look good and delectable on photos, that was the challenge. Also, the recipe book has to land the printing press barely two weeks from now.

We were given one whole day to shoot everything using a very limited tableware items and manpower to design and fix every dish. How do one make a creative/artful looking dish with just grains and leaves? I felt like giving up. We started at 8 in the morning and finished everything at 11:15 in the evening. At that time, I felt that my astigmatism heightened. Everything in me spelled “pain” that day.

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From the ground

A lot of things have been happening lately, mostly about work, and I always feel like stretching the time just to accommodate everything that I need to do for the day.

I feel like I am always on the ground, lying and languidly sinking. Can someone pull me out?!

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I will have my first food photoshoot tomorrow. I would like to thank Oggie for the tips. I appreciate it a lot.

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“you were there
a few breath away from me
catching glimpses
has been an annoying habit
I think my face flush
an awful lots of time.”

Heck, why did you have to say that we are “a love team” when I knew all along that you meant nothing by it but an awful attempt to joke around. And you said it in the most awkward moment. In front of your dad and a bunch of “strangers”. Woot.

Mount Pinatubo 04: Beholding the beauty of the Crater Lake

From the jumpoff point all the way to the top, endurance was the name of the game. The 5-hour trek meant nothing anymore when I learned that I was already a few feet away from the crater lake. It was around two in the afternoon when I first laid my eyes on the lake. It was sensory overload.

I’ve seen so many photos of the crater lake prior to this, but seeing it for real and experiencing it was way indescribable. The lake was shimmering because of the sun. The vegetation around the crater was lush green. There was a subtle wind blowing from the east swaying the grasses as if they were dancing with glee. I took a moment before I started taking photos, exhausting all possible angles.

From the top west side with the leafless branch and the crater wall framing the shot

From the top east going down the long stairs to the lake shore

From the south-western part

From the hiker's area (from the back of our tent, to be specfic)

From a hole that I accidentally spotted while looking for various angles

late afternoon with crater wall almost fading from the scene

late morning with the clouds reflecting on the water

The mossy crater wall

From the lake shore

Another look

I am almost plunging into the cold water

It's blue. No it's green. No it's cyan. It's turquoise!

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Crim, Etch and I watched the Pacquiao-Hatton boxing fight at the MegaMall yesterday. Crim and I both went from LB and we just met with Etch at the Cinema 10 way passed 8 AM. The undercard bouts were boring us to death so much so that Crim and I took the pleasure of superficially bashing the boxers. Some superficial nonesense such as how Gaudet would win solid to Soto if it was a beauty contest they were bouting for or how Matthew Hatton must have been "too energized" against his nemesis from Mexico, Ernesto Zepeda. Anyway, I decided that a swig of two shots of cappucino would perk my senses. It did.

During the main bout, it was just two rounds and the fight was over. After five minutes and some seconds, Ricky Hatton was knocked out! Jeezus. Crim and Etch almost lost their voices screaming inside the cinema. I was still in awe. "The fight was over? That's it?!"