My Graduation March: The Overture

As this event progresses into my Baccalaureate finale, I am glad to say that so far I have accomplished two out of the three tasks that I need done before the weekend regarding the Grad March.

Arckham helped me secure a Sablay to wear [Thank you dearest!] and I've already attended the practice and pay the Php 200.00 they were requiring. So, all that is left is the dress and shoes. I will hopefully acquire them by Friday. [Otherwise, I am screwed.] 

Anyway, I was also able to hang out with Arckham and we were able to catch up on a lot of things. I also saw some other batch mates from the same course and that was fun. It feels so long since I've seen my block. [I seriously miss those people.]

As everything is being set in motion this week, I cannot help but feel a little apprehension. Though ultimately, I am at peace. I am praying for the best transitions and plans this week. [Pray with me please.]

Oh and before I go, do you think 500 pesos for 10 shots is too expensive? [This is for the official photographers on the weekend.]

Misadventures: Getting Lost

I've lived in Baguio nearly all my life. [So, don't blame me if I'm itching to leave. *sighs*] 

Anyhow, I've always had a good sense of direction and I think I knew this town like the back of my hand. Thing is a few days ago on my way home, I got lost. *laughs* Funny isn't it? Thank you for the surprise, Baguio.

Apparently, there are now two sets of jeeps marked with the general area of my house. One set misses my road and brings you to the middle of nowhere. The other set passes by my road and directly in front of my house. I rode the wrong jeep.

At first it was fine, I mean they will pass close to my house on the way back. So, I decided to wait out my ride. I was looking about and started marking where I was. [Me to myself: This is good, you know that house. This is Furguson. Everything's fine.] After convincing myself I wasn't lost, the jeep hit a dirt road. That's when I finally admitted, I was frickin' lost.

When the jeep stopped, I was atop a cliff. I am thankful though that the driver didn't force me out of his jeep and make me walk. He took me back to a street parallel to my house. [Thank you, Manong Driver. I appreciate it.]

Truth be told, I love getting lost. You experience a place differently cause you don't have a guide or a preliminary impression on the place. Plus, the adrenaline and nervousness make for an interesting combination. This is what first explorers felt and novelty of that feeling is rarely felt nowadays. I actually love that feeling, and that's why I'm inclined to travel and get lost more often. [It's how I got around and discovered places in Metro Manila and gained confidence as a commuter. Moreover, a jeepney strike is a commuter's adventure scheduled.]

I got home after an hour of my impromptu adventure. At least now I know what's at the end of the trail. Haha.

My Graduation March: The Prelude

Yes, I graduated last year. Yes, I am sure. So let me explain.

I am a summer graduate and at the university I attended they only have graduation marches on April of every year. Hence, I had to wait a year to march. [Technically, I find it unnecessary but my dad asked me to. And well, I love my dad.] So, I'm finally marching this weekend. I think it will put a nice period on the whole Baccalaureate chapter of my life.

As with every graduate, I should have the following prepared:

1. Beige, White or Ecru dress that has sleeves and cuts below the knee ala Filipiniana. [aka something conservative] 
2. Sablay [My Alma mater doesn't believe in togas and the hat tossing thing, hence we have our sablay, which is really meaningful.]
3. Php 200.00  on or before the practice this Tuesday. [Cause apparently they increased the rates. *sighs*]

Yes, I should have the above ready. I don't, but I'll get working on that sometime really soon.

I'm making a lot of plans after this week, I just hope everything goes as smoothly as possible. God be with me.

Cheap Burgers

A couple of days ago, me and my sister went out to get her confirmation kit from the university she'll be attending.

Lots of bonding ensued, talked about anything and everything under the sun. I was craving for burgers that day. Specifically the cheap ones close to our old high school. So we headed there and I got myself two. My sister didn't want any. I understood since she just graduated. I miss this from five years ago. *laughs*

Safe to say I noticed the amount increased most likely due to inflation. Those burgers just used to cost about Php 12.00. Nowadays it's about Php 16.00. So about a peso increase since the time I graduated from high school. I guess that's reasonable.

So why am I blabbing on about this? [Cause I want to and] Basically because I love food. I am a certified muncher. I crave for random things at random times. Moreover, I'm a very simple person when it comes to food. I'm not out for the gourmet restaurant serving all the time. I'm also not to picky with the things I eat. If it tastes good and very affordable, I'd eat there more often.

With trip scheduled next week for the Metro, I'm looking forward to food tripping at UP. Yum. I can't wait.

Sunrise Til Noon

First and foremost, April 1, 2010 would have been the first time I've woken up at 4 am since highschool. [I am definitely NOT a morning person, hence waking up early is a feat.] Why was I up so early? Well, I had a photo shoot with a couple of Adings [This is what we call the younger batches.] from my high school.

It was a pretty cool shoot. We started out with catching the sunrise at Minesview View Deck. My first time to catch the sunrise since camping activities in high school. What makes this sunrise special is that, I had a camera with me. *laughs* We also had a chance to take some portraits of Ading J who R kidnapped to be our model.

The sunrise was glorious. The way it permeated the cloudy grey morning and slowly rise into the sky was breathtaking. The rays were wonderful too cause they seemed so soft. It was definitely a good morning from God.

Anyway, as the morning matured, more tourists came to we kinda had to get away. Crowded tourists spots is definitely not a good shooting location. I also don't like crowds. So, we had a quick breakfast in McDonald's Session Road before heading to Botanical Garden (now known as Centennial Park) [It will forever be known as Botanical Garden to me.] We took still life shots and also a lengthy portraiture of Ading J who was a very cooperative model. It was great working with her.

Last stop for the day was in John Hay's Secret Garden and the Bell Amphitheater. This is where we took a voluminous amount of action shots. Our fellow photographer, who happens to also be a member of the Philippine Taekwondo Team, provided us with some very interesting mid-air action shots.

We ended the day with a lunch in the new Jollibee in Harrison Road. We were all happy with the shoot and we also all very very sleepy.

Since, I upload only once a month. The output will have to wait 'til the first week of May. Keep and eye out for those pictures.

Welcome, Alumnus!

Today we received my sister's confirmation kit from the university she's going to be attending. [Thank yous to Arckham for walking her papers] There was a lot to think about in that package. Especially since the university she's attending is one of the top universities in this country and it's NOT cheap. At all. [Yes, I am going to help send her to school. Oh the responsibility of the eldest. *le sigh*]

I also can't believe my sister's in college. That means, only my little brother left and we start making our own lives. Another realization is that I am OLD but still shorter than them all. *laughs*

Even if I've been with her as she ends her last year in high school. The fact that she's growing up too is sinking in just about today when we got the kit from V-liner.

I can't believe how much "tips" [a booklet full] a university gives to "prepare" a high school graduate to the life of a college freshman. I'd like to say to those that prepare all these things, you never know what they need. Every transition will be different, that's what makes freshmen year exciting.

Anyway, she graduated from high school last March 31, 2010. I just want to congratulate her and welcome her to the world of being an alumnus from the high school we attended.

Ate is proud of you sis! Love you! 

Emotional Blogging vs. Inspiration

I actually used to be a very emotional blogger and by emotional I mean every spark of anger, moment of hate or instance of irritation I have. I share it with the world as soon as I can blog about it. Well, not only the bad things but the good emotions too: happiness, giddiness and excitement. One person actually told me that I am no emotional genius. [I tend to agree with this still, but I am learning.]

In this blog, I'm not trying to be that anymore. I started this blog to help me look at the silver linings without necessarily neglecting the black clouds they hide behind. I started this blog because I wanted to start caring and start controlling my emotions. This blog helps me to aim higher and not sink lower. This blog gives me hope. [Warfreak still? A little bit.] 

So, what I do now is write down all the things I can think of blogging when a bit of emotion or inspiration comes along. I have a small notepad for that. Then I give it a day or so then look at that list again. I cross out what I don't feel strongly about anymore and pursue those items that still stick.

This is also the way I differentiate between flighty emotions and inspiration. I find that flighty emotions don't last and that inspiration does. The day I keep away from the list gives me time to think things over. Reflect on the emotions I'm feeling. After all, words said in anger are still words.

I think this is a more mature me. No longer a flighty teenager or a stressed college student.

I'm growing up.

Fighting Back And Fighting Fear

The world is not all flowers and sunshine. I'm old enough to know that. Same way there is a difference between being child like and childish; innocent and naive.

Some people go through this behind closed doors for the fear of judgement from the outside world. Domestic violence is the most neglected violence in my opinion. It is also the hardest to come out strong from. Imagine abuse since one was a child. [Hard isn't it?] Scar atop scar. Pain atop pain.

We have no right to judge them for their action based on our ideal views. They just defend themselves from bad parents. Remove the fact that they are parents, most of us would run to the aid of the child. The only thing a bad parent does is instill fear. Not respect. Or love. Fear. [Not a very good parenting strategy I must say.]

When the child no longer fears you? What do you do then? Sooner or later fear will run out. Respect and Love, those never do.

For the author's note: I'm not inclined to write about all sunshine and no rain. Every artist knows that usually the best pieces come out not from happy endings but reality, status quo and bad beginnings. Well in my case anyway.

Blog readers, this is the piece.

Arrange the Following: Love, Things, Use, People

*Taking a break from the Tumblr updates.*

In the materialistic world we live in the answer to this blog's title would probably be: Love Things and Use People. [Yeap, no change in the arrangement cause everyone would be to busy running after things to even bother thinking about this.]

Let's start with loving things.[C'mon, don't tell me you don't love a certain object at this very moment?] Most of use probably couldn't live without, in the least, a cellphone. Yes, we probably will tell people it's a necessity and that we don't love it. A fact of life. Then again, when it drops to the ground someone is at fault. Your anger flares! If anger towards the person is the first thing you feel, you most likely love that thing.

What about sentimentality? Well, I think sentimentality is well and good, as long as you don't loose sight that it is still an object. After all wouldn't you rather have a relationship to whoever that object is associated with than keeping that object forever? [I would.]

Now onto using people. This is rampant in today's society. Especially in this capitalistic world, the work force is just a pool of people to be used. Honestly, out of all the bad things I find present in society's everyday routine, using people is what I find most hurtful. The simple thing of your friend being a friend only in time of prosperity, partying and good times. If they fall into bad times, you don't even bother to lend a hand. *tsk tsk* 

Admittedly, I know how it is to feel used. I worked and gave a lot of effort when I didn't want to do evil bidding, they hired someone who will. Well, I don't like being used. [Leaving was the best decision I could have made and I did.] Then there are the insecure doormats who are more than happy to be used just to be paid and chase after the things they love.

The right answer: Love People and Use Things.


If we love people more than things, we find that no matter what state we're in we have friends who will be there. If we use things for the progress and improvement of both relationships and society, we could go far in life.

I'll keep practicing this. I'll keep loving people and using things.

Tumbling Back Into Tumblr

Of course, it was not only my blog that I've neglected while dealing with work but also my photography.

I was so hard to find time and squeeze in some shooting time. I missed my camera and now I am bonding with it as much as I can.

Anyway, I'm updating my tumblr account as of today. I have quite a lot to upload, so I really am sorry for the flood on your feeds for those following me. I also hope that I can get to write some fiction and not just upload photos over there. I basically use tumblr as a portfolio of the works I've done both in photography and writing.

Pop on over to tumblr and enjoy the randomness of that social network.

Over Compensation

I am trying to get back into the habit of blogging. So, I'm trying to make it a point to write as much as I can when I can. So far I think it's going well. [Yes, I hope the quality of my posts do not degrade with respect to the quatity of posts I make.]

Recently, I was able to meet up with a friend that I hadn't seen in a long time. We had coffee and just caught up with what's happening in each other's lives which is well and good. Lots of drama on my end and he is graduating. [Congratulations, W!]

Arckham and I were having a little issue then. [Worry not, we already talked about it.] So, W, being the present guy friend with substantial amount of relationship experience, gave me some relevant advice. [Thank you!]

Though that wasn't the highlight of the conversation in my opinion, it was the topic of over compensation. Apparently, W prefers girls who do not overcompensate. He defines it as using skimpy clothes to compensate for the lack of brain power. [You know, more skin equals less brain] This is quite shocking for me, since this actually makes sense. It's also good to know some guys just don't go for looks. [which I think is rare in the age of Sex Bomb and Wowowee girls. I never like those groups. *Shiver*]

I hope more dudes think about this before jumping into courting girls based on looks. I also hope ladies nowadays also know that guys are also looking for substance and they should too.

After all, invest in your brain. It should be your greatest asset.

Mechs

Well, one thing I love about Arckham is that he fosters my geekiness. [Honestly, I think he is geekier than I.]

Anyway, the latest thing he has gotten himself into is GunPla modeling. You know, all those expensive robots from the Gundam Series you father refuses to buy for you when you were a kid? Yes, he's into that.[Can't blame him though, he has purchasing power now.]

Arckham has been modeling for about a year now. He tried to get me into it around our anniversary last year. To do that, he bought me an HG 1/144 Overflag. Safe to say, Overflag and I have issues to resolve. [It's appendages kept falling off.] I kept away from GunPla since then.

In this post, I told you guys about the day we spent in his house just geeking. He let me panel line a kit he was working on. Seeing him work, I learned to appreciate the craft more. Moreover, we got me a HG 1/144 GN Archer which I am working on now.

This is built just out of the box.

I also joined MechaPinoy. It's the community where Arckham is learning how to properly master his craft. I am now learning from them too. [MechaPinoy peeps, I hope to meet you guys in the future.] It's actually been a long time since I last connected to an online geek community, so this is breathe of fresh air.

I already have a plan and have an end product in mind about Archer. I'm excited on how this will turn out. I'll post updates in Arxy about this project.

Oleander Time

"How many people ask you to come share their life?" 
- Janet Fitch; Astrid from White Oleander, 1999.

This book is inching it's way up my favorites list. It might just end up on the top and be called My Favorite Book. *gasp*

Traditionally, I don't have favorite books, Mainly because it's just so hard to choose from among them which is why the prospect of having a Favorite book is something that is near milestone in importance.

Anyway, this is the second time I've read White Oleander, it was a present from K for Christmas 2007. We share a love for great books. It was written by Janet Fitch. [If you could recommend any other book by this author that is worth the read, comment!]

The characters are very vivid especially that of Astrid. It's about a dysfunctional mother-child relationship. One between a poet mother and a visual artist of a daughter. The mother kills one of her lovers and Astrid goes through the system of foster care that's where it begins.

I love the way the author uses words in this book. The metaphors and the rawness of emotion is balanced very well. The misadventures of Astrid and the reality of how human beings relate to someone not of their own reinforces the idea that you are all you can depend on. The moment you find another to be your co-captain in life you are one of the blessed few.

This book always seems to give me my fighting spirit back. I mean I haven't been shot, starved or have scavenged, her spirit didn't break despite all that and she found her way, perhaps so can I. It also assures me that it'll be okay no matter what.

It's still your life, even when you're not in control. It's what you choose to do at that moment that matters.

Oh and lastly, I can relate to the mother daughter dynamic. Since, I think that's my biggest struggle currently.