counting down the days

Because I was tasked with reviewing Natalie Imbruglia's latest album, Glorious, The Singles, I had the chance to revisit her songs that I've since liked. And because of being away from him for three weeks now, one of the songs in the album came to life and hit home. Verbatim. Even if it sounds a tad too mushy.

So this is for him.

You were right
And I don't want to be here if you're gonna be there
Was that supposed to happen?

I'll hold tight
I'll remember to smile
Though it has been a while
And without you does it matter?

There's no room
No place to start
When our souls are apart

I want to travel through time
See your surprise
I'd hold you so tight
I'm counting down the days tonight
I just want to be a million miles away from here
I'm counting down the days

How've you been?
It's just the usual here
And days are feeling like years
And every day's without you

Now I cry just a little too much
When I think of your touch
And everything about you

I feel cold
I'm in the dark
When our souls are apart

I'm counting down the days
I'm counting down the days
I'm gonna be you surprise
I'm gonna hold you so tight

I just want to be a million miles away from here
A million miles away from here

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.

in anticipation of Heroes

Mad TV rocks!

(Season 2's just a few sleeps away!!!)

escapism

There's this sudden, urgent need to repost this:

Because I no longer want to be constrained.
Because I no longer want to be a mere puppet for unreasonable minds.
Because I don't want to be forever saying yes.
Because I want to speak my mind.
Because I don't want to be boxed in.
Because I believe in creative freedom.
Because I know I can do better.
Because I am not a slave to other people's daft wishes.
Because I feel like I'm sinking deep into the muck of complacency.
Because there are better things for me.
Because I'm no longer happy here.
Because I could be happier.
Because enough is enough.
Because I no longer want to.

I just badly need to break down; then I'll be fine.

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.

it's getting hot in heeeeere!

Nagiging ganito ba talaga kainit sa Japan?!?!?

ride with me

(So yeah, am presently in this stage that gets experienced by anyone at one point in his/her life. Join me in my emotional roller coaster and maybe we can enjoy the experience together. Bleh.)

With my very recent re-acquaintance with dear, old asthma, I only had one question in mind: Why? All these years I thought I've already outgrown the dreaded monster of my childhood, with only very mild attacks once or twice a year. Until last week. You know how it feels to struggle to suck in every ounce of air you can, but much to your fear and panic, the air doesn't even seem to reach your poor lungs? If you've seen Shyamalan's Signs, you'll definitely know what I'm talking about–that scene where Rory Culkin's character was desperately and painfully trying to breathe while his dad was clutching for his son's dear life. It's like that. It's real. And it's still with me.

I attribute my unpleasant reunion with the Big A to the fact that we let one of our dogs stay inside the house. We had to isolate dear Clapton from his sis Ginger to avoid further complications (and expenses). For the love of our dogs, Big A had to visit me.

Now our two beloved canines have had a dose of their own distressing experience. I'm just a bit tired to talk about it here. Suffice it to say that the family had shared a heart-breaking experience when the vet visited them and diagnosed Ginger with a life-threatening disease, and that Clapton had to be confined for a couple of days. We're just hoping that both dogs will be fine soon (Clapton seems to be, at least). And the sooner they get better, the longer I'd live.

Then comes this big change. I'm not big on changes, especially when they involve a very cozy part of my life that I've gotten so used to for so long. Have that cozy part stirred and I might as well jump off a cliff. Hay. So what the heck am I yapping about?

It's Francis' new, shiny job. Finally, he gets to be a real engineer. And being a real one means having to go to field works that defy the law of reasonable proximity. And come this Sunday, he shall be packing his bags for a month or so assignment in Cavite.

Before anyone of you reacts violently and begin calling me an over-reacting, über mushy girlfriend, lemme explain. For almost 9 years now, Francis and I never experienced not being able to see each other for more than a week. Sure, he's had field work assignments that took him to different places, but that's only for a maximum of about five days.

A month–and the very big possibility that it might even take longer than that–is absurd. Plus, there's also that looming possibility of an out-of-the-country assignment. That's even more absurd!

It would take me long before I can finally cope with this big change. How's the every night phone calls? The three or more times a week meet ups? Movie dates? Jam sessions?

Me?

I know, I know. This is for his career growth. And yes, for our relationship, too. Sometime, sooner or later, this change is bound to happen. It's just that with all that's going on (read: I'm still not writing full-time. I'm still stuck in this limbo.), managing to handle this big a change is the least thing I should worry about. But that's not happening. I worry about it every single day now. In fact, it even scares me. Like part of me feels that being miles apart would eventually translate to growing apart. NONONONONONONONONONONO! The Lord help us! But I also know we're better than that. I'm just not really good at handling things like this.

So there. I'm a bit lost. And being able to breathe normally would do me good during times like this.

it wouldn't be love

He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.
Men clad in soldier's garb sat on the ground near the trio...
Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill... faces tear-streaked.
All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.
"It must be done..." he said, and withdrew.
The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful..."
The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love."

- Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm

Copied this from my sis' blog.

repost

Just want to repost and share some treasures I discovered...

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
-Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Little Prince

"Shakespeare worked without knowing that he would become Shakespeare."
-Colette

"Men are shallow...your sex organs are outside your bodies so you can’'t feel as deeply as we do...between the thrust and the spasm, it's all over for you guys. We are the fortunate ones...And biologically, we are the lucky ones. Our sex organs are inside us. So we can feel more deeply. Sex affects our entire being. It strikes us in the heart. In our very core. For us, sex and love come together. Like a two-edged sword. The day a woman enjoys her first sex-love encounter, she’'s cut in two. But the guy remains the same. He spends the night, a hundred nights, with a woman. Then he goes away. His life and body don'’t change. But a woman'’s body does. She can conceive. And carry the fruit of those hundred nights in her body. Nine months long...Look upon it as a curse or a joy. It depends on whether one is loved or not, doesn'’t it? But curse or joy, the fruit grows in her. And never quite departs from her. Not even after an abortion."

"The hamsters were still chasing each other on the merry-go-round in a perpetual circle game...No escape. One’'s fate is the cage. One’'s life and thought are predetermined by one’'s birth in the time and place."

"...each woman, a strand of coloured thread, weaving her loved ones into the fabric of her life, adding texture and colour."

"There are in our lives moments which our memories cannot recapture in words; only a recollection of fleeting fragile feelings to which we have dare not cling, in case, in our eagerness to grasp at permanence and possession, we lose the very thing which keeps alive our hopes and dreams. So we stand absorbed in the contemplation of these luminous hopes, holding our breath, because we know that fulfillment and forever do not belong to this transient world."

"And that'’s the thing about memories, fragments of social insignificance..."

"So that’s how we lose friends...through phone calls which go unanswered, through marriage, silence, and generally, through bumbling of one kind or another."


"to be without feelings
is to be safe;
to be aware,
to feel deeply
is to court danger
to oneself..."
-all quotes from Suchen Christine Lim, A Fistful of Colours

"You hold out your hand for an egg and fate put into it a scorpion. Show no consternation: close your fingers firmly upon the gift; let it sting through your palm. Never mind; in time, after your hand and arm have swelled and quivered long with torture, the squeezed scorpion will die, and you will have learned a great lesson: how to endure without a sob."
-Charlotte Brontë


"They have but pieces of the earth,
I’'ve all the world in thee."
-Katherine Fowler Philips, “To My Excellent Lucasia, On Our Friendship”

"My love
knows no destination
And has no goal:
I think only
of meeting at its limit."
-Ōshīkōchī no Mitsune

"Having met you as in a dream,
I feel I would dissolve, body and soul,
Like the snow that falls,
Darkening the heavens."
-Anonymous

"You said you would not
Forget me —those were but words;
All that still remains
Is the moon which shone that night
And now has come again."
-Fujiwara no Ariie

"If it were death to love,
I should have died—
And died again
One thousand times over."
-Lady Kasa


"Wherever the bird with no feet flew
she found trees with no limbs."
-Audre Lord, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name

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.

leaving tonight

As promised, here's the girl's POV.

--
Leaving Tonight
Vocals: Sunshine Selga
Lyrics/Piano: Francis Funa
Copyright 2007


Thought I could hold on to the words
we've said, but I've moved on
to where the moon could hide.
And I am leaving tonight...

Caught between an open dream
and a hand to feel the sky
of silent waves.
It begins to fade
from my eyes.
I don't know why.

And I won't leave behind
sketches made with memories.
But I can't look back this time.
Tonight, I'd leave.

A walk in time, alone in circles,
and back to lose it all.
Too late to make things right
cause I am leaving tonight.

A word to take before it breaks
along these twisted lines
you had undone.
But there is none,
no words to give no rhyme.

No need to wait for the moment
the stars would close their eyes.
I can't look back this time.
I'm leaving tonight.

frozen visions

So this is one of the few songs I've written, topic of which is based on two friends' sad story. Well, after being together for quite sometime now (around 8, I think, but they're a few months older than Francis and I), they had to part ways.

This is the guy's point of view. Will soon post the girl's.

--

Frozen Visions
Lyrics/Vocals: Sunshine Selga
Arrangement/Keyboards/Synths: Francis Funa
Copyright 2007


All I see is black.
All I hear is the shattering of frozen visions I don't even want to see.

The moon is crying, dying with me every night
as I lay in this desert of fragmented pain,
half-broken by the empty words chasing each other from your lips.

All the why's and how's are now the ashes that the wind
blows away and you can no longer chase.
I am the horizon that you will never reach.

I let myself drown in this sacred prison.
Here I feel sanctified.
Far from your eyes, I feel sublime.
I can breathe again just for a fleeting while.

The moon is crying, dying with me now.
I want to lay laughing with the desert's pain.
Maybe you can finally hear this strangled agony I keep.

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.

another sad story

Somehow, this song gets to me. It's probably because of the sad, sad lyrics. Oh yes, and Kelly Clarkson's voice, too.

Hmmm...maybe we can cover this, Francis? I'm just not so sure about the high parts. Hahaha!

my first love is back!!!

How I wish I were the couch...

So okay. I'm trying so hard to stop myself from screaming and doing 17 cartwheels.

Hotness David Duchovny is back in the boob tube, baby! He stars in the new drama series "Californication" as Hank Moody–a writer struggling to balance his role as a father, as an ex-boyfriend and as a sex-and-drug addict...

Wait.

Sex addict?

Does that mean there'll be lots of hot, beautiful women getting in bed with MY David? So there'll be lots of bed scenes?!? That'll mean lots of weeping for me!

Noooooooooooooooooo!

So I guess I'll just have to close my eyes. Or pretend he's just playing detective with Scully. Oh well. At least I get to see him again. After a long hiatus, it's about time! (But I admit that he looks older now. And hotter. Ahahaha!)

Now let me just get back to screaming. And I think I'll do 26 cartwheels.

i fell too much in love...

The Baguio night sky is as magnificent as the place.

Finally, I've uploaded those gazillion of photos from our recent Baguio trip.

Went with Bubs, A, Mems and Francis last weekend for a much-deserved vacation; never mind if that's just for 1 and a half day. Left Manila on a Friday night, arrived in Baguio at 2am the following day, and waited 'til we're all drowsy. Come 9am, we were off to prepare to meet Mari-an, our friend/official tour guide who made us ate leaves the rest of that day. Haha! But all went well. To start off the pseudo-vegetarian lifestyle, we went off to Tomay farms, a little farther away from the famous Strawberry Farm. The owners of Tomay have been very, very kind to treat us to free lunch and a complimentary trip to their wonderful place. We were supposed to watch the sunset at Tam-awan Village, but there was a heavy downpour. We just decided to let it pass at Arko ni Apo (thanks to Bumbo's hospitality), which is just across Tam-awan.

The late Saturday afternoon was spent at the ukay, then veggie snack at marvelous Vocas, then on to SM Baguio (Bayo sale shopping!), then it was off to dinner at the newly renovated Cafe by the Ruins. We were all pooped from the day's trip. Every one was quiet as a mouse come bedtime (well, except maybe for the hyper me; but I've been relatively quiet that night, really).

Sunday, we were up early and feasted on tuyo, tomatoes, longganisa and fried rice for breakfast. It's just sad that Bubs and A had to get going for their bus to Manila, so Mari, Mems, Francis and I were left to enjoy the rest of the day's trip. In the itenerary was Sky, a homey place full of greens and two lovable dogs, Nina and Sushi. (Thanks to Shiila for the warm accommodation and coffee.) Lunch was spent at Little John's (at the Mile Hi Complex in John Hay). I insisted on this, only to get dismayed. There was no fondue available, Francis and I almost sobbed. But the rib-eye tapa still made our lunch. After that, we were left with a few minutes to shop for pasalubongs at the local market. Our bus for Manila would be leaving at exactly 2:20pm. But despite almost committing suicide from huffing and puffing and rushing uphill with luggages in tow, the three of us still failed to make it. Good thing the 2:40 bus could still accommodate a handful of chance passengers (us included). We just had to bear sitting at the back, being tossed about every time there's a bump on the road.

As usual, super bitin. I'm seriously considering to retire in that cold, cozy place someday. You can never fall too much in love with Baguio...

And like I always say, let's allow the pictures to speak for themselves.

no longer bashful

When you're not doing anything while waiting for a creative material to be done, you google yourself.

And to my surprise, here's what I've found.

There, I just plugged myself. Shame on me.

time to pack my mufflers

Oh yeah. It's romance with Baguio once again. It's such a lovely, lovely prospect that makes me want to NOT work. Like I just want to focus on the whole trip and forget that deadlines exist.

Good thing that our team isn't that loaded this week. And of course, how can I forget Ken'ichi!? Time to take him to this trip and see how far he can go. Haha!

I'm more than excited–as in going over the board excited. Never mind if I'm beginning to sound annoying. I can almost shout with gleeeeeeee!

But for now, I need to finish some stuff so I can go home come 8pm. I'm really feeling a bit dizzy (caused by too much excitement, perhaps?)

great, great news! hurrah!

Hurry, hurry! Clickie, click click here!

Congratulations to Francis and Julius!!! Woopeedoo!

P.S.
Julius, if you're reading this, you can now treat Francis and me to a free insurance each. Hahaha!

the journey begins

So there I was, trembling and feeling all sorts of things as I held my new baby, Ken'ichi. I still couldn't believe that I'm actually buying the gorgeous thing. One of my dreams have finally been realized. And no, no one else gave me this. It's all from hard-earned moolah, so I have no one else to "love forever" but myself. Harhar!

Actually, I have Francis to thank for urging me to buy Ken, and for lending me some of his backpay money just so I can stop pining for dear 400D. If it had not been for his prodding, I would've bought the dear cam at a later date. But no, it's now or never. So there, I really will love him forever, yihee (gah, the mush!)!

And so now I'd have to make do with TicTac for lunch.

So before I go on my incessant blabbering, let me also thank Cos and Cel for accompanying me to Hidalgo last Saturday despite the fact that they have a family outing that same day. You guys were great and patient enough. Thanks mucho!!! (And don't worry, Cos, I'm not gonna rob you of your rakets. Hahaha!)

Consequently, I shall be busying myself learning Ken'ichi. But Beren shall not be forgotten. The dude served me well, for which I am very much grateful.

It's time to be trigger-happy. Hurrah!

movie raviews

Autobots, roll out!

Transformers rocks! If you haven't seen it yet, you're missing a lot, so better run to a theater nearest you! Imma watch it again. Woohoo!

Light Yagami (left) and L/Ryuzaki

This Japanese movie, Death Note, which is based on a manga, also rocks. I have to thank Cindy for introducing me to this 2-part movie...

Swoon! Swoon!

Woot!

If not for Death Note, I never would have met the new love of my life, Ken'ichi Matsuyama. (No, actually, I've already met him in Nana, another Jap film. He's sporting a blonde hair there, but he looks nicer with dark hair. *blushes*) He plays L in Death Note. Eccentricity is hawt! Here's his interview for the movie. (Yeah, yeah, it's in Japanese. So what?! haha!)



Go find a copy of Death Note! Hurry! (Also in animé.)

ooh! the limelight!

This photo and the others were taken during our shoot for our new company ID (as mentioned in my previous post here; just scroll down a bit.)

So this is how it feels to be a model. I think I shall change careers now. Hahaha!

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!)

glammed up cam-whoring

So our department just finished our photoshoot for the new Summit ID. It's a pretty fab ID,

I must say; thanks to Ateng's genius and highly creative mind.

Empty plates after the shoot.
(L-R: Cindy, Iza, Alonz, moi and Pat)

Glad we had a reason to meet up: my makeup. Hahahah!

Of course, since this is our chance to shine (after working behind countless photoshoots), the girls opted to hire brilliant Archie's services (he's a Maybelline makeup artist), and voila! we girls can pass for a Preview cover (LOL)!

Seriously, I fell in love with Archie's masterpiece on me. Now I have to learn how to achieve that smoky-slash-goth look.

And so after the shoot (courtesy of Daddy Ocs–thanks, Daddy Ocs!), most of us kept the makeup and hairstyle on. Hey, we only get to be this made up once in a blue moon, so why not flaunt our gorgeous look! Hahaha! (Here's proof!)

We can't wait to see our photos and our new ID (and the outtakes, too, for Friendster/Multiply/Flickr/My Space/Blogger/LJ purposes). Yay!

P.S.
So this is how it feels to be at work this time of the day (1:30 am). But I'm not whining–a few hours from now and we'll be on our way to the lovely City of Pines! May we have a safe and fun trip!

and i shall fall in love again

It'll surely be foggy up there! Woopee!

I had to re-read the text message I received this morning to prove that I'm not hallucinating or turning insane.

I got a Baguio assignment for this supplement we're publishing.

A BAGUIO ASSIGNMENT. A cover story.

Never mind if it's just a day trip (Baguio for a day trip?), just as long as I get to be in sweet, sweet Baguio and breathe the cool air. And never mind if that entails a lengthy interview and a write-up written in Tagalog (help me!). Oh my, I can just faint with joy now.

For the past months, I've been pining to go back. And now the Lord answered my prayer just when I least expect it. And I get to go on this trip for free! (With me are my art director Cindy and photographer Harold Tapan.)

I shall be content with a very short trip for now. A longer stay will come my way in the near future (I hope).

This is serendipity...

the calm before the storm

Let's ride! (With Kuya Jan, fresh from Qatar)

And so my cataclysmic journey begins...a few days from now. Perhaps this is one of life's humongous challenges thrown right on my lap, and I have no other choice but to accept it (with a gagged mouth?). I just hope and pray that the coming two months would be gentle on me. I need as much help as I can, especially from my colleagues. And this "doom" should not drag on for more than two months.

Forgive my pessimism. I can't help it. If you were tasked to "pilot" your own department, even if it's just a temporary thang, you'd feel the same way, too.

So as if to prepare myself for the dark days ahead (nervous laughter here), I enjoyed going out as much as I can the past weekends. While there's time. While I am still capable of feeling happy. Haha.

Much thanks to my EBC chums for the fun times!

Guess what we're trying to cover here....

Videoke hits and empty plates courtesy of Kuya Jan

With Ptr. Roi at another kainan (Doc Norman's baby's dedication)

With Doc Norman and family

Girls, bend it to the left!

Photo op with Kuya Sandy (the one standing, in stripes) before he left
for his work abroad

Cheeky girls at Serendra

Thanks to Kuya Jun for the Mc Do treat!

More photos here and here.

because it IS worth passing up

A couple of years back, I was offered a position that would take me to a two-month training in US (with clothing allowance), not to mention a tempting paycheck and a fab title. But I turned it down. Without batting an eyelash. No amount or degree of persuasion made me change my mind. I told myself, "Why would I accept that handsome job offer when it would take me to a different path, just when I finally realized what I want to do?" And so I did walk away, smiling.

Yesterday, I was confronted with a similar scenario. But this time around, it was a more handsome offer–something I would've easily said "yes" to. Something that would allow me to buy perhaps more than one 400D. Something that would make my CV very much impressive.

Instead, I said "no". I felt proud to have said so. It was probably the best decision I've made this year (so far). In the same breath, I delivered my argument/reasons for not accepting, and I can say I delivered it with grace and confidence. I felt so proud of myself!

Happiness. It's all about happiness and finally going for what I've always wanted to do: write. Write and be able to take the credit for it. Though the opportunity for me to practice writing fulltime hasn't presented itself yet (I'm praying it would come soon, though), I believe preparing myself for it as early as now is crucial. Why would I beat around the bush when I already know what I want, what I'm meant to do? Why waste time?

I am jubilant and grateful to know that my friends and my family support me for having said "no". Because really, not everything is about the money nor the title. Not all doors that open lead to a pretty prairie. And I can proudly say that I've closed a door even before it led me to a cliff.

memory gaps

I keep on forgetting to post about this link. I felt sheer joy because our band made it to an article in titikpilipino.com when we and other amateur songwriters/performers had a stint at the Best of KATHA last March. So yeah, this is oh-so late.

And for the record, we are not "Francis & Sunshine Band". It's just that we haven't decided on a decent name yet. Not until now, that is. Haha! But whatever name, we still got mentioned! Yowza!

(I wonder if I they have a better, more flattering shot of me. LOL)

durrr

Not in the mood to work. That's the bad thing when I go on an out-of-town trip. My senses tend to remain on vacation mode long after I've come back to the hustle and bustle of working life.

And this seems to happen often, lately. Even though I haven't been on a vacation/trip.

Maybe it's time...

this is stardom!

Pat and I are the new models for Globe, as seen in their Masigasig supplement, bundled for free with Entrep May ish. Wahahaha!

Heroes forever!!!

"The future isn't written in stone."

OH MY.

To all Heroes fans out there, you better get a load of the last ep for the first season. It's one heck of a great show.

I can't wait for the next season.

OH MY.

let me just rant for a bit...

I feel like I have to let this off my chest.

As per my recent blog entry about not voting...well, I decided to vote. I had this intrapersonal argument, and the possibility of better leadership (nevermind how small that is) thru voting won.

But I failed to. I have myself to blame. Got to the precint too late. Fortunately for my sis, the poll watcher of her precinct allowed her to vote after she begged to. But my pleas to the poll watcher of my precinct, which is just a few steps away from that of my sis', had deaf ears. Turned out it was the poll watchers' prerogative whether or not they'd allow you to vote come past 3pm. We should've listened to my mom, who kept nagging at us to hurry up before the precinct closes at 3.

My utmost frustration here lies with the fact that I decided to vote. Had I not, I never would've been that frustrated and dismayed. Add the fact that I find it a bit unfair that they let my sis cast her vote and I was left standing there teary-eyed and feeling nauseated. (Yes, I did vent all the frustration to Francis as soon as we got back home. And yes, I did sob.)

Oh well... so much for political hullabaloos.

tali tales

Sooo breathtaking...

Lesson learned: Never laugh your heart out when the sea water is up to your chin, lest you risk swallowing a cupful of saltwater with urinary deposits. Ew.

Last Saturday's Special Pub outing was a bang (though Francis wasn't there to join the craziness. Hay...) Our group headed to Tali in Nasugbu, Batangas. The beach, at last. It's been a couple of years since my last trip to the beach. Honestly, I wasn't really that excited at first, what with all the work load dumped on me. But I can't deny the excitement a few hours before the big day. Getting out of bed at 3am just to make it to the 5:30 Philcoa meet-up is a big effort, considering I only had to deal with 3 hours of sleep. Hitched a ride with Cleone and hubby Jonas, together with Iza, Jonas, Bubs and beau A, Mems and Ateng, who we picked up on the way to Petron SLEX. There, we met up with the others and went on a convoy to Tali.

Upon reaching Russ' place, we were itching to just hit the waters. But we had to settle down first, so we proceeded to have our brunch. Sadly, I wasn't able to eat my heart out because I don't like eating before going for a swim. I get tummy aches. Weird.

Come about 11am, we were off to the beach. Here's the proof of all the fun, scandals, and everything in between . And more from Pat's multiply and lomo-happy Jonas.

Oh, and I learned how to skimboard. Weeee!!! Here's the proof (thanks to Jonas for this lomo shot):

Yes, that's me. Wooohooo! Thanks to Russ for the skimboarding lesson.

P.S.
Thanks to: Russ, for letting us break into his house; Pat, for volunteering Russ' place (harhar); Regie Uy, for sponsoring the food and the raffled off oven toaster (Eric got it); Kuya Jason, for driving us; and to mamu Inns and her bro, for cooking the yummy food.

i'm all over

Lately, I've been wanting to do (and be) a lot of things. It's like I'm at this point in my life where I want to accomplish a lot–things that are substantial, things that would allow me to grow as a person, things that would make people around me ummm...happy, at the very least.

I want to travel and take decent photos and write. I remember a friend telling me to just live a bohemian life (that would be sans the drugs and sex), and I found myself seriously considering it (even if my friend meant that as a joke). But then again, I'm not one to go for a full-time freelancing career (call me insane but I just can't imagine working without having colleagues and without an office to go to). Perhaps an MWF office job and the other days would be devoted to a bohemian lifestyle? Haha!

Traveling is something I've come to love. Assuming I have all the resources to go around the world, I'd do so, starting at this very moment. When you travel, you immerse yourself in a different environment with all-together different realities from what you've been accustomed to. When you travel, you get the chance to be part of somebody else's life–be it for just a fleeting moment–and you also let another person be part of yours.

Of course, it would be silly not to translate what you see, feel, smell, and hear into something more tangible, like a photo. As cliché as it may sound, a photo does speak a thousand words (that's why I don't find it necessary to tell the tale behind every photo I take). The memories and experience you have had are etched in something you can always go back to in case you forget, something you can share with other people. Add the luxury of the written word and you can perhaps compose poetry or prose, which would in turn make others experience somehow the feelings you felt when you went trekking that winding road on your way to a quaint village hidden among the greens.

Imagine if I get to do this every day, I'd probably be broke but I'd be way too happy to even care (now this is where sponsorship comes in!). I can be a lone vagabond, but I think it would also be pretty to have a companion (more like someone who can carry heavy things for me, like my cam and tripod, for instance; this is where Francis comes in. Haha!).

I want to someday put up this charity institution for the aged, especially those on the streets. I want to at least have them experience a good life while they still can. Being old and lonely and homeless is something anyone wouldn't want to be especially when you only have a few years to live. I can't imagine the lolos and lolas breathing their last breath sprawled on a dirty sidewalk, with only an empty stomach and a tin can to hold on to. Being a lola's girl, I would always have a soft spot for the elderly.

I want to start living a healthy lifestyle. Not that I smoke or drink or do drugs (heck, I'd probably die instanly if I even try a puff). It's just this desire to physically prepare myself for my future family; this want to be prepared and healthy come the time I (we) decide to have kids. And not just that–I have come to realize the importance of health especially in this mega-polluted world. I've been wondering how the Old Testament people came to live until they're more than a hundred years old, heck even 700. I realized that it's most likely because of the absence of DDT and all that kind of pollution we have now. I bet they don't even get colds.

I have to thank this little assignment for making me rethink of living a healthy life (by starting with healthy eating). The operative word here is: organic. By going organic, you not only treat your body to chemical-free food, you also help the environment. And when people actually see you as the living proof of healthy eating, they will, for sure, get into the same habit. And then that's when the demand for organic products would shoot up, which would consequently lower the high prices of organics in the market today. More demand means more supply means affordability. Then we will all be smiling, healthy people. (I just wonder if corruption would be extinguished by organic consumption. I also wonder if I would finally gain weight with organic food. I suppose the latter is more feasible.)

There's also this drive to somehow make something in the music scene. This Francis and I are bent on pushing for. It's been a long time since the band started, and there have been a couple of hellos and goodbyes to new and old members, respectively. Musical differences is often the reason. And since it's been a long while since we started this "crazy" journey, we really do think it's time to push for something bigger, something beyond the now-you-see-it-now-you-don't practices. It's high time to take things to a new level, and God-willing, reach that new level. Perhaps when things are really looking good, everyone in the band would be more than motivated to really commit. So I just hope and pray (and record and write new songs) that we'd really be able to have something that would be worth all our efforts, especially Francis'. The guy has been slaving away lately, running around to have songs copyrighted and tracks recorded. (That's actually what's filling up his bumming around days.)

I want to go back to studying, take up masters in journalism, and feel UP Diliman again. But for me to do that, I have to be in a job that gives me the freedom to do so–a job where I know when I'll be neck-deep in work and when I'll be free to leave early so I can attend to my scholastic pursuits. Apparently, I don't see that happening now. Unless of course editorial suddenly scoops me up from this mire. Hahah!

Oh well, I don't know how to start. There's a lot more I-want-to's running in my little head. But I guess before I even start entertaining them, I have to figure out how to meet my deadlines today. Bummer.

i really can't think of a decent title

A few days before the election, I find myself unconvinced to vote. I'm not really sure about my reasons behind such decision, but perhaps immense frustration over the government is the main factor. I know not voting doesn't help, but right now, I really can't think of any candidate decent enough to hold a position, except for Joker, perhaps. I don't really like feeling this way. But at least I'm not oblivious. As what this quote I read from a shirt (I want) says, it's better to "choose frustration over indifference".

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Photography has already taken hold of me. I do hope things (read: finances) would look good soon so I can grab that baby I've been drooling for. And then it'll be another start of a pseudo-career, which I hope and pray to flourish and be self-sufficient. And then I hope that'll also open doors for a greener pasteur. But I'll keep my cool and take everything one day at a time. I just wish I don't have to hold on for long. (I'm speaking in riddles again.)

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Certain things have not been that good, and I can't exactly go into details. But I know the Lord will never fail my (our) prayers.

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Though some things may not be that good, I thank God for the blessings He's been shoving my way–blessings which would definitely help me realize my 400D dream.

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Since Francis resigned from his 4-year job, we haven't been seeing each other that much. It's just a weird change for me. I've already been used to seeing him over lunch and/or after work, and I've been so used to him seeing me hop onto a PUJ for a ride home. I wish he can get a job very soon, and somewhere here in Ortigas, so we can still have lunch outs and we can still ride home together, even if it's just all the way to Cubao only.