Flight of Ideas

Definitely their concert’s pushing through on July 26 at the Araneta Coliseum. Below is the ticket pricelist I got from TicketNet.

Ok na ako sa Upper box A or B, basta mapanood ko lang sila. Hay!

TicketNet is now accepting ticket reservations.

When I was in school, we always sang Lupang Hinirang during flag raising ceremonies. Singing the song then was automatic.

Then I went to college. There were no more flag ceremonies, so I seldom heard or sang the national anthem anymore.

After graduating, I went back to school to work. It was a normal morning tune played every morning, until the day I listened to myself sing its lyrics, and realize the great love song that it was.

It hurts to know that there are Filipinos who forgot about the beautiful country we’re living in. They have lost hope in their countrymen and the Philippines. No more passion for a country who once struggled and fought for freedom. Now, the freedom that is ours is slowly drying in our own hands.

This is a post-Independence Day tribute to a country in hardship, a country nearly divided, the country that I love. A country I will continue to hope for, to fight for, and maybe even, as the song says, die for.

Last May 18, on our trip home from Iba, Zambales, we stopped by a stall on the road to buy some mangoes. We were a good distance away, when I realized that my phone was missing.

I asked that we go back. I know that there was no other place I could’ve left my phone but in the stall we stopped by. I was desperately hoping that no one else pulled over to buy…as that could mean some stranger finding my phone and deciding to keep it; or my phone on the ground being ran over by a parking car.

But careless as I may be to leave my phone behind, it was still my lucky day.

This was the lady who gave me back my mobile phone. The same woman who sold us mangoes (and gave us free ones to taste ).

She beamed the moment saw our vehicle, and was waving frantically as we took a U-turn. I quickly went down and approached her. She was excitedly telling me about how she heard a noise and found my phone on the ground. We were calling my phone, and the ringing got her attention. She tried to call me back, but my phone battery died. She was hoping we’d come back, and was so happy that we did.

I was happy too! I kept thanking her over and over for keeping my phone (and returning it to me). I actually regret now that I didn’t get to hug her, cause I wanted to hug her so much! I even forgot to ask her name. Luckily, KC took a picture of her. So to show my appreciation, no matter how late, I’m posting a picture of her and telling everyone how kind she is.

I’m glad that good people still exist, because they just have to! All’s well that ends well, just ask Bong.

For this mothers’ day, I bought my mom nice flowers…

…and put a small note on it.

To surprise her, I left it on her dresser while she was sleeping.

The next morning, she woke me up with a thank you kiss.

Later that day, I was in Trinoma to meet up with my Trina, Chooch and Melo. I know how crowded a mall could be on weekends, especially on Sundays, but the mall was super jampacked with people because of the occasion.

All the restos were full, but we had no choice but to patiently wait for a table at Recipes, even though we were 9th on their list. We waited so long that Trina and I were able to window shop a little, buy her slippers, and take a long, long walk around the mall. We went back just in time as we were next to be seated. By then, we were able to watch and hear some other customers complain about the long wait. One mom even almost bitch-slapped the staff (as I think Kris would put it ) when she apparently saw a group seat themselves on an empty table, even if they were not in the list waiting to be seated.

Talk about a ruined mothers’ day.

So here’s a tip, don’t take your mom, your wife, your lola (most especially), or any mom relative to the mall on mothers’ day. Maybe you can just prepare a special family lunch or dinner and eat at home. That’s less hassle and more bonding for you and your family. But if you would insist, make sure you have made reservations, or at least arrive early so that the restos are not that full yet.

In closing, here are the flowers I gave my mom, placed on a makeshift vase made from a C2 bottle, with her bundles of joy in the background.

Happy Mothers’ Day to all moms! (kahit belated na )

Yesterday, I had my first try shooting a wedding.

It was the wedding of two of my former officemates, Mervin and Bebbet. Markku promised to shoot their wedding back when they were still working together, and when both Mervin and Bebbet didn’t know that in a few years time they’d eventually be tying the knot.

So, I was Markku’s assistant photographer yesterday.

I was a nervous wreck before the wedding. To make things worse, I was also cramming for a church activity I was supposed to facilitate on that same day.

It was a bit overwhelmed during the actual shoot. The fact that it’s my first time and I’m still not technically adept when it comes to using a DSLR made me feel like jelly. But ironically, the rush of the event itself, the presence of familiar faces, Bong, Rose, Mae, Mon and Kuya Ariel of Threelogy, and my ever-supportive, masungit na pangga (peace tayo ‘ga ), eventually calmed me down. E kasi naman, tama bang mas kabahan pa sa mga ikakasal?

It was also a good thing that I was working for the best wedding photographers in town. They’re the greatest influence I have now, and trimming all those photos indirectly trained me to compose great ones too. Not that I took a lot of it though, hehe. So I should thank them.

In the end, in spite of all the stress, I still enjoyed it a lot. And I burned a lot of calories in the process!

Ah, and did I mention that I practiced for this shoot? Here’s Archie, my practice bride:

But, Archie’s definitely not a “bride-to-be”. We’re actually looking for nice, beautiful, tall girls who would be willing to date him, noh ‘Chie?

And finally, I’ll just share some helpful tips from this article that I came across in The Digital Photography School Blog.

Monday: Stalking Ebe at 70’s Bistro

Well, I wasn’t really stalking Ebe, but Markku was joking me that I was.

We have planned weeks earlier to watch Sugarfree and Sandwich play at the 70’s bistro in Anonas. I was looking forward to it as I love Sugarfree so much…and Sandwich rin naman (well, basta I love OPM) and I missed watching gigs at 70’s bistro (one of the places where my pangga and I had our first few dates, yikee! haha =P).

Well, as usual, we were late. But this time, it was half my fault. =P When we arrived, Sugarfree was into their 4th song (I think). Mimi and Karl, Bong and Myra, Jason and his wife were already there. We went to sit beside Jaemark and Jem. Ebe was not in his best condition, but I enjoyed it nonetheless, kahit medyo bitin.

Sandwich played after Sugarfree. After playing some of their new songs, they started taking requests from the audience. With Raymund Marasigan on the guitar and the keyboards, the band played a lot of ‘old’ feel good songs like Melt with You, Wishing Wells and Pare Ko by the Eraserheads, and some that I can’t really remember (hindi ko kasi generation =p). Raymund was amazing since most of the songs were unpracticed and he played them on-the-spot just knowing some of the chords, and occasionally the adlibs and riffs. Basta jamming talaga!

Personally, I like the ambience in 70’s bistro. Parang less ang psychological barrier between the artists and the crowd.Kaya dapat bumalik kami ulit! Next time, I’d like to catch Johnoy and Kakoy, another great duo.

***I bought Jayvee’s 350D! So I now have my own cam! =) I’m actually excited, I want to learn fast and take lots of great pictures like my pangga and my bossings do. ; )

Tuesday: Window sunsets and colored bottles

After the heavy rains in the afternoon, we caught a beautiful sunset outside our office window.

Archie, Kris and I then went to Pacio’s afterwards for dinner. Kris, being the niece of the owner, was kind enough to rearrange the beautiful colored bottles on the counter for me to practice my shots on.

Wednesday: Wedding Essentials Thanksgiving Party

Went with my pangga. I stayed mostly sa Cliquebooth area, dun ako nag-enjoy e.

While we were packing up, Markku, Dax and I tried Cliquebooth jump shots. Ang hirap pala. =P

Thursday: Dinner at Pacio’s

I thought I’d be going home early but Markku went to pick me up at the office. We then had dinner at Pacio’s. Second time this week for me, Kris and Archie.

Friday: Lamierda at Circle C

Finally went home early, but went on a side trip to Circle C before going home. Practiced some shots at home. Can’t resist taking a picture of Soriano asleep on the table.

Saturday: Gaby’s Christening, iBlog4, UP Food trip

It was Tere and Gilbert’s daugther Gaby’s christening that morning. We had to wake up early to be in church at 10am, but we were late. Good thing the christening hasn’t started yet. Had a great time being there and seeing cute baby Gaby and her happy relatives. We also got to catch up with the latest happenings with our SVI friends. And I found out that Gilbert and Tere were an M+K couple, I didn’t know that.

Oh, and we think Gaby wants to be a photographer. =)

After the reception, we went to SM afterwards so I could run an errand for my mom. I was supposed to go home afterwards but Markku got me to join him to meet some friends at the iBlog 4 event in UP.

After the event, we went to accompany some Davao bloggers to taste the famous UP isaw (though, both Markku and I are not to sure if this is the one that’s famous).

We also had dirty ice cream while waiting for our isaw to get cooked.

After this photo, we went to Maginhawa St. to sample the delicious Burritos sold at a store there. After that Markku took me home, then he went to the iBlog4 after party afterwards.

Sunday: Just went to church and slept in the afternoon. I had a nice long nap since it was raining and the weather was a bit chilly. And finally here I am trying to finish this blog entry.

Technically, it’s Monday now so it’s another new week for me! And I am predicting that there’ll be another long one ahead…=)