shuffling here and there

The past months in photos (or, My Excuse for Not Posting Anything Decent Here Lately).

I'm not allowed to post photos until after the groom and bride have posted the pics themselves. Heh.

My li'l sis' pre-nup photo shoot, which was shot in the outskirts of the metro, kept me busy looking for pegs and doing a bit of post-edits. First stop was Thunderbird Resort in Bingonan, Rizal; then it was at Jardin de Miramar in Antipolo, where the couple will be holding their wedding reception.

The weather was considerate enough to let us have enough natural light. Sadly, no blue skies were in sight that day. 

***

At work, every single one of us at Real Living was running around like headless chickens because of our first ever major event, the Real Living Space. 

It was a one-week event last September that showcased the model units and function areas of the Trion Towers in BGC. These units/spaces were patiently and meticulously designed by seven designers who were very nice enough to work with us despite the short lead time. The result? Real Living Space was a resounding success! All the hard work really paid off, thanks to our partner stores, sponsors, the designers, the Events team, and our publisher Tom. The event may have been very challenging to put together (birth pains!), but the feedback we got told us that it was all worth it! Thank God!

***

This setup was on the second floor of our church, and was supposedly for the "buffet" table, but we all ended up transferring downstairs for a bigger space.

  As my sister's matron of honor, of course I took the initiative to throw a shower party for her, with a big help from our EBC churchmates. And being the managing editor of a magazine that promotes creativity in the form of interior designing and styling, I was inspired to come up with a tablescape that features photos of my sis and her fiance, tucked inside DIY cloches made of reused empty bottles (thanks to Tala for lending me a few pieces). These cloches surround a bigger bottle that holds a twig, where paper flower balls in yellow and red hung (thanks to Dagny for giving me those pretty balls!). Tea lights completed the Shabby-chic setup, and it was such a pleasure to actually see how my sister liked what I did. Hee! (And with that first tablescape "stint", I am motivated to do more at home for special occasions and gatherings!)

This month is looking extra busy for me; aside from matron-of-honor duties, our (seasonal) band, Ice Cream Assassins, snagged two gigs to prepare for (after a year of inactivity, haha! Well, we're not really that active in the music scene given our day jobs, but we try to grab hold of gigs that come our way). And of course, the Christmas is just a couple of weeks away, and Francis and I have yet to prepare the house for that. And the thing I dread most? Christmas shopping, because I'm pretty sure we'll cram again this year. In fact, we haven't even polished our Christmas list yet. Argh! But yes, I promise to not make these as another set of excuses to lag behind blogging.

Wish me all the best!

when work feels like work (haha!)

Okay, so work has been taxing lately. I'd like to believe that it's all because of this big issue that we had to come up with (a.k.a. birth pains), and the hard work that comes after that in order to ensure a good follow-through. 

But here's the thing: despite the many all-nighters, the weekend work, the hectic schedule and the plenty of sidebars we have to come up with in order to make every issue (starting July) more jam-packed with bite-sized information--not to mention the quite rigorous mentoring we've been undergoing for the past couple of months--I still feel a sense of fulfillment after every turnover date. 

Seeing this pretty thing on my desk makes me feel like all the back-breaking work is worth it after all.

So yes, let me switch to my Managing Editor Mode and beg you all to grab a copy of our 10th anniversary issue this July. Our team's sleepless nights spent in the clutches of anxiety will pay off if this baby flies out of the newsstands faster than you can say "Real Living". 

Thank you!

a (temporary?) respite

Finally, work has been forgiving these past few weeks. I guess it's a well-deserved respite after months of back-breaking load. I know it'll pick up again soon, but I guess (actually, I hope) that our team is better-equipped now to handle stress. Still, we can only handle so much. Nevertheless, I am grateful for this manageable work load.

On other, happier news, Francis and I are looking forward to Baler. A friend of ours (who's also his colleague) is getting married there this May. I'm so stoked about the trip that I've been searching the web for things to do and places to see in Baler. Plus, I'm excited about the prospect of learning how to surf, though I most likely will not even try. Hahaha! I'm not even close to being a decent swimmer (I only "know" how to swim if I'm in 5-feet-deep waters; any deeper than that, I'll drown!). It's weird, I know, but the idea of surfing entices me, especially after seeing the movie Soul Surfer. 

The more exciting part about the Baler trip is that it's also a sort of company outing, so everything is practically free! Isn't that cool? I really wish it's already May. Sand and surf, I'll be seeing you soon!!!

frustration is eating me

I am a person who is usually in high spirits. But there are days when things get to me, and the past weeks have been really stressful, and it's not even physical stress. Lately, I feel like every time I go to work, I should always be strapped up for some battle.

I've been in this job for almost five years now, and this is the only time I've felt this frustrated. Sure, I've had a fair share of frustrations for the past years that I've been working, but it's different when you're frustrated and let down by people who you rely on to come up with fair and sound decisions. It's like a slap in the face.

It makes me feel guilty for feeling this negative towards others, and I hate myself for feeling that way. I was told that I have the right to how I feel, and I know I do; it's just that as much as possible, I don't like harboring ill feelings. Still, I remind myself that hey, I am entitled to feel this way especially because I know I'm right (and that I'm not the only one crying foul) and because I am seriously affected by all the crappy things happening.

But I'm already tired--of feeling frustrated, of trying to get the point across. I'm tired of barking at the wrong tree. It's all futile. What is the point of raising my voice if it falls on deaf ears? Worse, if those same ears only hear the voice they want to hear?

I feel bad for those who feel the same way as I do. But as for myself, I guess the only thing left to do is to embrace indifference. That, or ride the wave. I guess I'm more inclined to go for the former. So from now on, I'll do my very best to leave these behind and just surround myself with happy, fuzzy things. I can only rant so much. Now it's time to find serenity in oblivion.

when it rains, it pours...and then it lets up

On our first day: we're not even halfway done yet

See how cloudy it was?

The past week was hellish for me. My anticipated beach shoot turned sour, and it all began when our Brazilian model backed out the last minute. We had to find a replacement model, but it turned out even she had a previous engagement the afternoon of our first shoot day. Since we had no other choice, the team just decided to push through with the shoot (all was set already) and just reschedule the shoot setups.

Just when everything was looking good the second (last) day, it rained--hard. To think that all our setups that day had to be outdoors. I was already on the verge of drowning myself had it not been for the fun crew we had with us. It was so hilarious we forgot that we're already all ngarag. But thank God that before lunch time, we saw a hint of sun. We grabbed the sunny opportunity and eventually, we were able to finish everything. Sadly, though, we weren't even able to take a quick dip. I suppose that's because we were all tired and were not willing to just take a quick dip--we needed more than an hour to wash away all the stress from our system.

Long story short, I got home feeling super exhausted (physically and mentally). I just had to check my Twitter account before hitting the bed, and lo and behold, a surprise greeted me.

It was as if God was saying "Hey, cheer up! Here's one reason for you to." Even for just a few minutes, I felt exhilirated. Indeed, God has His ways of making things better after a bad, bad week.

taking pride

Three things I love about this project (in a previous post, it was referred to as The Project):

1. I get to write with my byline
2. I get to take photos and have them published, and
3. I get to travel for free.

I must say that if there's one project I love doing, it's this. Here are my published goodies! Please click on the images to enlarge.

Masigasig April 2008
Words by Mari-an Santos; Photos by Melissa Gamad and yours truly!
Wee! (Took the plaque, beach, and food shots)

Masigasig December 2007:
Words by Sunshine Selga; Photos by Mark Ang

Masigasig November 2007:
Words by Sunshine Selga; Photos by Mark Ang

So please do grab a copy of Globe Masigasig, which comes free with Entrepreneur; or go to the nearest Globe Business Center to get a free copy.

More exciting assignments in the coming months (there's Bohol, Albay and Baguio!), so that means more Masigasig folio soon!

pen and paper issues

Thanks to Sam, Cinds and Mari-an
for these purty notebooks!

Christmas brought me three shiny, cute notebooks. It must be a way of telling me to sit down and write again. Pen "cryptic" lines of poetry and submerge myself in the beauty of free verse. I'm afraid it's been a long while now since I've written a decent line or two. I should really jumpstart the new year with at least one set of decent syntax.

---

The New Year brings a new challenge in my career life, something I never expected. I thought all along that IT was solely mine for the taking; apparently, I was wrong. But I should not even be feeling bad about this challenge. I should not cringe and then turn my back to it. A new year calls for a new strategy--face up to the challenge and tackle it head-on. No room for being a coward now. Fight, fight, fight!

counting my blessings

Things seem to be good lately. They may not be totally good (what could really be good when a friend passed away), but I’m happy that they’re looking up.

First, I’m all excited about Monday, the 26^th. It’s our 9^th year together, and I can’t thank God enough for giving us nine blissfully blessed years. Francis and I plan to head to Tagaytay and see what other new places it has to offer. Every year, we try something new as much as possible (though we spent our 7^th also in Tagaytay, but I’m cool with it). Francis promised me an out-of-town celebration because he knows how badly I need to escape from my job’s inhumane demands and chaotic work sched. I was actually looking at some place farther than Tagaytay, but I’m so desperate to get out of town I’d probably be happy just to go to Laguna. (Well, no, not really). So yeah, Monday is something to look forward to, and that rarely happens because I don’t usually get excited over the first day of the workweek.

Second, this project I’ve been working on is extending for next year. Let’s just say that it’s this one project (let me call it The Project) that I get worked up and happy with—perhaps this is that one project we’re advised to keep close to our hearts so we can all be sane and not resign. Haha! During our recent seminar, we were blatantly told that yes, there are indeed crappy projects; but we have to find this one, golden assignment that we’d be so proud of it could save us from insanity. And I really think this is the one. In the two years that I’ve spent in this pseudo-ad agency department, I’m surprised to see myself waking up very early in the morning despite only three hours of sleep just to make it on time for an early morning shoot. Last week, when I was told that there’d be a meeting to plan for next year, I got excited—never mind if it’s a four-hour brainstorming session.

There are actually a lot of things about The Project that makes me feel perky about, but suffice it to say that it has given me the chance to do what I really want to do and make me want to, um, stay. I would want to get into more details but I don’t want to preempt things, so let’s just leave it at that for now.

Third, I’m constantly being bombarded with blessings (in the form of the written word) that not only allow me to make regular trips to the bank, but also makes me feel fulfilled. Even though at times the load seems overwhelming, I really can’t complain. I only have to worry about my deadlines because I think I’m already lagging behind. Gah!

Fourth, a sweet “accident” recently happened: last Sunday, 18 November, was Sing!, a mini-concert prepared by our church’s Young Adults/Praise team (photos are on their way). I was only supposed to perform a solo number in that event; but one of the praise team members had an emergency so she couldn’t make it. Her role was passed on to me, and I didn’t really mind. What I did mind was the fact that I didn’t know the songs in the lineup, and I barely had a day to practice. I only got to actually learn the lineup on the night before the event. But thank God I was able to pick up and there I was, gladly leading a congregation on that night of musical worship service together with my co-Young Adults. It’s just a wonderful, wonderful feeling to have actually worshipped our Maker through the talents He’s given us. Indeed, music is one great instrument that can bless other people.

Fifth, it’s almost the end of the month, which means that Francis’ contract in Cavite will expire. He’d be back here in Manila, and we’d be back to normal. Though I know that in the future, he’d most likely be assigned to some place else, I’m taking things one day at a time. Might as well enjoy bus trips together before another assignment takes that away.

So this is how it feels to actually count your blessings. Happy sigh.

laughing our arses off

So okay. I'm trying to convince myself that Bong's really an Art Director and not a schizophrenic buff man on the loose.

Here are videos for evidence.

(Peace, Bong!)

this is career rape

Je vous ai manqués en Pangasinan...

Being busy the past two weeks is an understatement, but I'm glad that most of those busy days were spent shooting for Masigasig–which brought me to Pangasinan last Sept. 17-18 (with Pat, Cindy, photog Mark and our driver Kuya Jason); to General Santos City just last Sept. 23-24 (with photog Mark); and tomorrow, Sept. 27, to Silang Cavite (will be dragging Bong and Mems, together with photog Ging Lorenzo and makeup artist Jen Balbuena).

So apparently, the wanderer in me is oh so satisfied...and craving for more. Can I just get paid writing and traveling (and taking photos?). If only...

But due to the excruciatingly busy workload that the new assignments brought to me and teammate Sam, I haven't had time to blog about these past trips. In fact, I just started resizing the photos for upload. (Lotsa photos will be up soon.)

So in the next few months, if I'm not visible in the blogosphere, that means work is raping me and I'm all wasted.

This will be the death of me.

it's very welcome

A view from Quezon Island, one of the Hundred Islands
in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Image from wikipedia.com.

Stress, loneliness, and a pint of depression have been getting the best of me lately. So I guess a Masigasig writing/shoot assignment in Pangasinan comes at a good timing. This time around, it's not a day trip (unlike the Baguio assignment; which reminds me–I have yet to scan and upload my 2 Tagalog cover stories. Yey, Tagalog! Challenging, I say. And this Pangasinan article is a break from all the recent katalinghagaan, because it'll be in English).

Cindy, Pat, and I, together with our fotog Mark Ang and reliable driver Kuya Jason, will head off to Lingayen on Monday, leaving Manila at 6am. Then it's back to reality on Tuesday. That's another trip to look forward to. Working for Masigasig is a breath of fresh air–a much appreciated break from all the suffocating semi-advertising work.

And this Sunday's gonna be a good day. I get to see Francis after a week of limited chat on the phone and 144 hours of missing him (no one dare tell me how mushy I am).

I can somehow handle stress from work. But the stress from missing him? I'm not so sure.

Oh well. Let's just see what the following week has in store for little me. For now, I better head home. Staying late at work almost every day this week is torture to my brain cells.

when we're asked to perform miracles

When extremely stressed, just laugh it all off.

No need for me to run thru the gory details of putting together a decent shoot. It's enough to say that I had to work during the weekend to pull off this particular shoot. Oh well...

So anyway, here's the link of that painstaking shoot. And here's another one (relatively peaceful and fun) the day after that.

coffee dew

Because:

1. presently, the metro (and other parts of the country) is being ravaged by typhoons one after the other
2. despite the fact that we're allowed to go home earlier than usual, most of us in the department are still working our arses off to beat deadlines
3. I'm pretty bored and busy at the same time...

I am posting this. I hope some coffee shop takes notice.

(And may I quote Francis : "It's William Wallace (yes, Mr. Braveheart!), Tori Amos, Cynthia Alexander and Dave Matthews spending an afternoon in Starbucks...")


--

Coffee Dew
Lyrics/Vocals, Backing Vocals: Sunshine Selga
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Rainstick, Drum Programming: Francis Funa
Copyright 2007


I was sitting at a café, one day
It was a rainy afternoon as people pass me by,
trying to get warm, the smell of coffee blends in the crisp, damp air.
It reminded me of you, making me feel like I’m home.

Like the rain, you fell in my arms
Like the sun after a storm, you have shone on my life.
Like a cup of coffee in this cold November,
an aftertaste of your embrace.

I wait for the rain to stop, as strangers seem to go on with their lives
And I recall how we once were strangers trying to paint our dreams in the sky.
Mem’ries of smiles, raindrop kisses from you
I can’t wait to say how much I love you.

you've got to hyde your love away

"You don't do crosswords."

"How do you know?"

"They're for fun."

"[Goodness], really?"

Now I think I'll get hooked on Jekyll. This is all Cos' fault. He keeps on giving me DVDs of sweet, disturbing series.

But first I need to stop slacking off. Typhoon's not an excuse. (Hah! I'm being so pretentious! Slap me.)

i think i inhaled laughing gas

From the mini-shoot we had with Cos this morning, up to this point, I've been a giggling school girl. (And I'm also having this hugging streak. But I choose who to hug. Haha!) It's probably because it's Monday, which means my body is still not up and running for work. Therefore, this entry will all be blabbery.

---

Office friend Jonas and his fellow lomographers will be having an exhibit tonight at Mag:net Café in Bonifacio High Street, 8PM. Pat, Cindy and I are going (I still need to coax Francis a little). For those who want to join in the fun, prepare your P150 (or look for Jonas for free entrance. Hahaha! Just kidding!).

---

I want to congratulate my Pangga for landing his new job! Congratulations, Engr. Francis Funa! A 7th placer at the board exams deserves a brand new, dashing job!

Though this would mean changes that I'm sure would give me a hard time adjusting to, I know it's all for the better–and our future. Teehee!

---

Got two meetings tomorrow. Bummer. Can I just disappear from work now! Aaaargh!

---

This is all nonsense. Oh well. I've done my job for the day.

short but sweet

The handsome pine trees at Camp John Hay.

The weather was weepy, which made Baguio even more harder to leave.

Our daytrip assignment to Baguio started at 11pm here in the office. Cindy and I decided to leave for home early last Wednesday so we can prep ourselves (meaning, take a bath and have dinner) before we go back to the office again and wait for 3am. So we just managed to busy ourselves with pending work and Youtube. Come 3am on Thursday, we were off to Ministop to pick up our photographer, Harold Tapan. Then it was the long and winding road to Baguio.

We decided to stop over some gas station along NLEX to grab some snacks and coffee. A few ours into our trip, Cindy and I found ourselves still perky, even at 4am. That's what lack of sleep can do to us–turn us into these giggly girls who seemed to have been drugged. Hahaha! I just hope we didn't cause Harold any discomfort; I believe he was trying to get some snooze amid our giggling.

After a routine of sleep-laugh-sleep, we're finally in Baguio. It was a little past 9am. So as to function properly, we stopped by Pancake House to grab some breakfast before heading to the Good Shepherd Convent.

It was around 10am when we got there. Not wasting any precious time (actually, we want to get over and done with the interview and the shoot as quickly as we possibly can so we'd have more time to go around), we proceeded to interview Manang Julie and Sister Guada, learning about how their best-selling product, the Mountain Maid goods, came to Baguio. We were so grateful to have been served hot cups of delicious brewed coffee and yummy chicken empanada, but we were kinda full from our Pancake House tryst. We ended up slipping the empanada into our bags.

After the chit-chat, it was off to the shoot. I'd like to thank Sister Guada, Manang Julie and the rest of the Good Shepherd/Mountain Maid staff and working students for being very much accommodating and cooperative. Despite the scattered rainshowers, we were able to go thru the whole shoot without any problems.

The official payong girl: Cindy Dy.

Cam-whoring at Good Shepherd's view deck.

Come 12:30pm, we were off to Mile Hi Complex at Camp John Hay to have our lunch at Little John's. Of course, I had to recommend their Rib Eye Tapa and fondue (though there were no strawberries. Sob.). I just hope they like the fare much as I do. However, we had to go back to Good Shepherd to drop off something we forgot to give Sister Guada. Actually, it was a bit late when I was told to give that to her. But since it was mandatory, we had no choice but to go back, cutting short our already limited time to stroll.

Cindy with Mang Bart

With our photog for the day, Harold Tapan

Then we were on our way back to chaotic and hot Manila by 3:30. Along Marcos Hi-way, we saw this accident involving this truck. I just hope no one got hurt.


To ease out boredom and extreme sleepiness, we feasted on the many food we had with us (unfortunately, there was no music to keep us entertained; the radio is broken; listening to my iPod and not being able to share the music with others can be sad sometimes). So now our new routine was eat-sleep-chat-eat. It was raining hard in some parts of the North, like in Pangasinan and Tarlac, but we didn't have to worry about being stranded–we've got our stock of goodies from Good Shepherd (including this yummy giant cookie that Sister Guada gave us).

Back in Manila, we stopped by Petron along NLEX for a KFC dinner. Then...it was back to reality. Back to the grind. Back to daydreaming.

Oh dear fog, take me with you!

Harold said that a rainy weather is what Baguio really is. I say it's true. And I think I left my heart in Baguio. Again.

P.S.
Special thanks to Mang Bart for the patient drive and the office chismis (hahaha!), and to Harold for bearing with our insanity.

(Click me for more photos!)