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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