One Last Photo

Here's one last image from 2009. Towards the later part of the year, I haven't been able to update the blog. I'll try to attend to it much regularly. Also, I'll practise more to produce technically better and consistently creative photos in 2010. :)

I wish everyone a learning-filled and prosperous year ahead! Cheers!

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Back to Quiapo (Late Post)

Mid this year, I returned to Quiapo with a conspicuous DSLR camera. (Earlier, I shot around Quiapo and Divisoria with a point-and-shoot. Click here for the entry.)

A few shots after taking out the camera, a sampaguita vendor acosted me, "Oi, Anong kinukunan mo?" ("Hey, what are you taking a shot of?")


I told her, "Ay, practise lang po. 'Wag kayong mag-alala 'di po kayo nasama." (Oh, it's just practise. No need to worry, you weren't included in the shot.")


Another asked her what I said. The vendor replied, "Ah estudyante. Project." (He's a student. It's for a project.)

I smiled.


*As told, the sampaguita vendor wasn't in any shot. That's a different vendor in the last photo.

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Wishes do come true...

I am borrowing another blogger's style of unravelling gifts through a series of photos. This is one of the best presents ever, so special that I was compelled to do such an entry.

I felt like Carrie with Aleksandr Petrovsky's ribboned giftbox. My hands (slightly) trembled as I pulled out the bow...



I knew what they were when I held one. But my excitement by no means didn't lessen.


Bunny! (I was hopping in my head. But truly, I was melting.)


...And friends! :D


Wishes do come true... Thank you for the incredible thought and for making the season extra special. :)

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Welcome to my Apartment

Repairs, refurbishing and redesigning my flat (well, the first floor) are finally done. Take a peek at my humble abode. (Image above: Light fixture from a worn out electric fan)

As previously posted (click here), the supposed theme is a fusion of industrial and colonial. I think I need a little bit more of industrial... But in any case I achieved my objectives, which include creating a very green home and spending less than the cost of my laptop.


Photo Wall. One of the first things one will see upon entering the apartment are these photos. They represent people close to me and signify important events. The sketch of myself was done by designer Kermit Tesoro when he sat in class.




Living Room. Elements in this room came from everywhere in Metro Manila. The trunk from a second-hand store in Kamuning, the chair from Our Home in North EDSA, the candy jar from a store in Chino Roces, ceramic pieces from Mayon... At the same time a lot of the pieces were DIY projects such as the trunk's base, the zebra print bench and the chrome lamp.




Dining Area. The Parson's table was one of the first DIY projects. It was deconstructed from an office desk. Its shelves were repurposed as side tables/ mini shelving. The drop light was crafted from taffeta ribbons and rattan rings as there is a dearth of source for shades.

The wall sculpture features photographs from my favorite photoblogger Noel Y. Calingasan and the branch from the tree the family needed to let go last new year's. And much like living trees, the sculpture intends to grow more postcards and photos and change every season...


The Kitchen. The kitchen was my least favorite part of the flat with its decrepit counter and sink until the renovation. Family and Friends would agree that the kitchen was the biggest transformation with a new counter and inclusion of an island in the space plan. The island was one of my father's old desks for his typewriters.






Staircase Landing. The last pieces to be included were the mirror and the ottoman at the staircase landing. The mirror's frame is made from aluminium can bottoms collected from the School of Fashion and the Arts while the ottoman is a reupholstered piece (see original here).



Finishing this project is majorly tedious yet one of the most self-actualizing things I've done. Heartfelt thanks to all those who helped and encouraged. :) Now, it's time to maintain, perhaps add some more detail and go on organize the second floor. A walk-in closet/ workroom sounds good...

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A lot has happened...

...Since the last post. When I had time and planned to update, misfortune and opportunity came. Typhoon Ondoy delayed several of my activities including the preparations for my flat. I got flooded waist-deep.

When I woke up, the modem and router were already submerged and my camera Winter got soaked inside the bag. The ottomans were floating on ankle-deep water, which was fast-rising. Fortunately, the neighbors helped me bring up my sofa (which was the heaviest piece), and only the modem got damaged.


I only took a few shots of the flood (what's posted) and that's after securing everything. The newly painted walls bubbled and chipped. Some wood warped. But evrything else was OK. One good thing which came after the flood was finding this stool in a street corner near the grocery, where they were throwing stuff.

And after the flood, projects came and I started teaching at another school. A Foblow post got nominated in the blog awards (didn't win but it was a good experience). Also, I made time to review my undertakings and decided to streamline.


So the flood really was a turning point for me. I'm looking forward for brighter and happier days.

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Apartment Preview

More of a teaser actually as I still want to keep the pieces, textures and other elements under wraps.

My closest and those who are connected with me via Facebook know that I've been obsessed fixing up my apartment. I've been doing so for various reasons ranging from the practical to personal.


The planned style is a fusion of industrial and colonial. I hope I achieve a decent interpretation of the look as everything is under a tight budget. So far, all costs (that includes major electrical repairs and reconstructions) are less than the price of my humble notebook. And as much as possible, efforts have to be green, i.e. eco-friendly.


A lot still has to be done. But I'm learning much and equally surprising myself.


OK, that's enough photos. :P The grand reveal soon.

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Fopaper | Ikea Maneki Neko

Foblow is an official/ a qualified nominee to the Philippine Blog Awards this year. Just received the email this morning. Ikea lucky cats, work your charm! :P


A maneki neko (lucky cat) iPhone/ iPod Touch wallpaper awaits after the jump.

This long line of cats were beckoning good fortune outside an Ikea distributor's showroom. Hence, me calling them "Ikea lucky cats." :)


Fopaper is a category in Foblow showcasing wallpapers for the iPhone/ iPod Touch. Feel free to download and set in yours! Click here for more.

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Fotrait | Kimmy Dora

“Pwede ba mag girdle sa loob ng bathing suit?!” (Translation: “Can one wear a gridle inside a bathing suit?!”), commented a flabbergasted Eugene Domingo during the presscon of her first lead movie, Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme.

This was the reaction of the screen and theatre actress, and now “bagong reyna ng komedya” (T: “new queen of comedy”) to a question from one of the members of the media. Laughter stormed the room, and true to her comedic prowess, Eugene used the moment to further wet the crowd’s entertainment appetite.

Kimmy Dora is a comedy on twins with opposite personalities both played by Eugene. Their differing behaviors lead to side-spliting conflicts, switcheroos and whole lot of craziness.


In the movie, Eugene wears a swimsuit boldly asking leading man Dingdong Dantes, “You find me sexy, don’t you?” She also reveals that she had a kissing scene (shot three times for different angles) with Dingdong. When asked how it tasted (yes, the press can be very direct), she responded, “Parang lang Bear Brand Choco!” (T: “Just like Bear Brand Choco!”), the milk product she is endorsing.



When asked if she was more of a Kimmy or Dora, she tells that people think she’s more of Kimmy but she has bits of both. But as delightfully observed by the crowd, more of Kimmy came out when she delivered punchlines.

Kimmy Dora is Eugene’s first starring film after years of successful supporting roles. “...Hinog na ako. ‘Pag hindi pa ako gumawa ngayon baka mabulok na ako, ‘di ba?” (T: “...I’m already ripe. If I don’t make one now, I’ll end up rotten, right?”), she interjects with sense and humor. Eugene asks in the end, “Give me a chance... to show you what I can do.”


The presscon was held last Thursday August 13 at the function room of C&E Publishing in Quezon City.

Kimmy Dora, written by Chris Martinez, directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal and produced by Spring Films, opens on September 2.

:: Click here for other Fotraits.

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29

For lunch today, I decided to head to the Mall of Asia. I was terribly hungry (It was around 3:00 PM.), saw Red Ribbon and decided to treat myself with one of their combos with a slice of cake.

Some force found a way of reminding me I'll be turning a year older in a few days.



I wasn't thrilled. The cookies and cream cake didn't turn things around...

And yes, people looked at me wondering why I was taking a picture of the cake.

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Pairs of Photos

I think some of the best experiences come in pairs such as events that contrast and highlight each other, and perhaps those that complement each other creating a better story.

Here are more photos from the trip to the University of the Philippines Los Banos (previous post here). Set in pairs, these images show stark contrasts such as the living and the dead and heightened reactions such as creepy and creepier.

Encased and Released. At the lobby of UPLB's Museum of Natural History are three clear cases featuring live stick insects. The attendant suddenly opened one and got two out. To our surprise (except for the very brave Marty - in photo) we stepped away. Those are Marty's fingers inches away from the female (left) and male species.



Mythical and Dead. In front of the campus' library is this flying Tamaraw. In the museum are the skeletal remains of the real specie endemic to the Philppines. Wikipedia notes that the Tamaraw or the Mindoro Dwarf Buffalo is "critically endangered."



Foot and Head. Behind Marty is the ginormous foot of a Kapok tree. (He is still in the running to become Los Banos' Next Top Model.) Below is the skull of a sperm whale. (Somehow, my friends seem to be in a funeral...)



Green and Gay. I like this shot the most from our UPLB trip. It feels so peaceful. There is so much green in the campus. (Well, it's at the foot of Mount Makiling.) Too much green in fact that the museum's sign was covered by some shrubs and by a van. We got lost, leading to my favorite utterance from the trip, "Ano ba yan... Dapat pink yung font!" (Translation: "What the... The font should be in pink!") :P


Thanks to Gab for tagging us along and giving us a brief escape from the city.

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Bottled Up

Shots from a recent trip to the Museum of Natural History in the University of the Philippines Los Banos.

Veiled Mushroom

Cobra Curves

Fishes in Coffee Jars

Ascaris Worms



Bottled Child

According to the Laguna government website, "The museum established on September 30, 1976 has more than 200,000 biological collections of Philippine plants, animals, microorganism and other biota that showcase the rich biodiversity of the country."

More about UP Los Banos at http://www.uplb.edu.ph/. More photos of the trip in the next post.

Photos taken using the Canon 1000D

PBA09qp7nops

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