flight of ideas

Last February 19, 2009 at Le Souffle at The Fort, Ipanema launched it’s Gisele Bundchen Seeds Collection.  The collection’s theme — SEEDS, emphasized the role of seeds that grow into trees, maintaining the balance of our rainforests.

Together with the launch of this new collection was the presentation of an eco-friendly project, “Walk the Green Mile”. It’s a walkathon project partnered by Haribon Foundation and ELRO Commercial and Industrial Corporation, exclusive distributors of Ipanema flip-flops. Every purchase of Ipanema flip-flops will allow you to participate in this  advocacy. Not only that, part of the money from these Ipanema purchases will be given to Haribon’s ROAD to 2020 projects, the aim of which is to plant and grow more trees in 1 million hectares of our local rainforests (some of which are very badly deforested…tsktsk) until year 2020.

I’ve once participated in a tree-planting activity in the Ipo Dam watershed, and it reminded me of the irony of how fast people cut down trees, and how long it takes for a new tree to grow in its place. Not only that, statistics show that only 10% of the trees planted during these activities will survive and grow. Imagine how much help our forests need to heal, and you can help in many ways.

I’m not really the type of person who would buy an expensive pair of slippers, but I’ve been using the Ipanema GB Seeds Thong Fem for a week now going to the office (Thank you Ipanema!) and it’s super comfortable! (I can definitely walk a long distance wearing those) So it’s actually a wise buy. And with them supporting an advocacy so important to our lives, why not?

So for those who want to join in this cause, and be fashionable at the same time, let’s Walk the Green Mile on March 21, 2009. Registration opens at 3:00 pm at the parking lot near Le Souffle, and everyone starts walking at 5:00 pm.

The hope of a big change comes in a small seed. Be part of this change.

Btw, I wasn’t able to take photos during the launch, but Markku did

Wala lang, di ko lang maisip na kulot na ulit ako…hahaha =P

On a flight to the past
I tug on a chain
That binds my being
To happy stories of pain

I want to run
Want to break free
But I don’t know how
It’s a lock without a key

Now I’m far away
Swept away by a song
My only wish
Is for the shadows to move on

My 2008 was filled with lots of ups and downs, lefts and rights, sad, happy and happier moments. Always, the greatest lesson at the end of every year is gratitude and humility. I cannot be thankful enough for the wonderful year that was, and for the many lessons I’ve learned.

I’ll save the stories of 2008 for some random day in the future and just share what my family has been doing the past few hours. My mom was watching Harry Potter on DVD, and my dad joined in after watching Pirates of the Carribean upstairs. I and my siblings have been playing online games on the laptop, something silly but nonetheless, you’d never see us this close most of the time, so I’m enjoying it.

Then I took a break from the games to cook ham. I never thought it would be so hard…hehe. My brother helped me after a short while. Now, we’re feasting on ham sandwiches and our house is filled with smoke. Not from the firecrackers, but from the ham which almost burned at the stove. I’m just so happy to be with my family, and my pangga (thru cyberspace)…nothing can top this.

Happy New Year everybody! Godbless you all!

I was looking through some of my photos, and found this:

Hehe. It’s my pangga. This was one of the very few shots I took with my cam during Mimi and Karl’s Pre-wedding BBQ party in Bora. He looks like he’s asking me what’s up.

Obviously, I haven’t been blogging too much. Neither have I posted any photos I’ve taken from different events and places – except this.

Honestly, to say that I am busy is an overstatement. But, yes, my hands are a little full right now with some activities I’m doing for our church congregation. We will be having a team building activity this Saturday and I was the one who made the module for it. Not to mention, I’m also the one making all the materials needed.

These days, when I’m not at work, I’m usually at the grocery or the bookstore buying materials or things I need to make them. There were also a few nights when I was in a meeting discussing the progress of the module with the program committee. Lately, when I get home, I open and stare at the computer until ideas strike me. If I’m not doing any of those I’ve mentioned, I’m somewhere with my pangga on a date

Not everyone knows that I’ve worked as a guidance counselor before. Part of my job is designing and implementing group dynamic activities and seminars. I’m not sure if that’s where it all started, or if it was in college, during my PSYCHo days (hehe), but I’ve been fond of making activity modules and trying to come up with all sorts of analysis and interpretation for them, depending on what the requirement is. Kahit walang koneksiyon, ginagawan ko. hehe So there, that explains why I am doing all of these.

Anyway, I think I need to get back to the module. Kailangan na ilabas ang super powers sa pag-iisip. It’s almost crunch time, and I definitely don’t want to be crushed

That’s how Mimi called it.

Like my blog url, my life is like a flight. Not only of ideas, but of faces, laughter, tears, adventures, photographs and lots of wonderful memories.

So much has changed in a year. Coming from a very stressful, fast-paced, corporate HR world, I now landed a job near home, in a small wedding photography office, where I found a much needed escape. Before, I used to wonder where my career would lead me to. Instead, I followed a path which led me to a career that I did not foresee myself being in. I’m in a work that’s refreshingly different, and that is slowly awakening my sleeping “right brain”.

I’ve also been to so many wonderful places this year like Zambales, Mt. Pinatubo, Batanes, and the latest in Boracay (where we celebrated Mimi and Karl’s wonderful, unforgettable wedding). And even if I know that I can’t beat Leia‘s Lakbayan grade, I’m happy I get to wander around the country every once in a while.

I also got to do my share of good deeds for others. Together with Markku‘s Pisay ’96 batchmates (my batchmates na rin…hehe), I’ve been able to help organize and participate in different outreach activities like hold a christmas party for streetkids in UP, teach kids in Ibang Klase, an alternative class program for kids living in front of the Pisay Campus; conduct a medical mission for the Dumagat tribe in Sierra Madre (with UP ORG), and plant trees in Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan (with the help of UPM). I also went to a birthday outreach celebration for my friend Angge in St. Rita College Orphanage in Paranaque.

I also got my DSLR last May. Bought it from Jayvee for a very nice price. And I love it so much even if it’s not brand new. And because I have my DSLR already, I got to shoot my first wedding with Markku. Bebbet and Mervin were our officemates in SVI. Bebbet is now in the family way, a sign that we should finish their wedding album soon.

Not to forget the many new friends I’ve made this year, Markku’s batchmates, blogger friends, wedding supplier friends, etc. And of course, I can’t forget all the reunions and gimiks that I’ve attended with my ever lovable friends.

I also had my first ever anniversary with my first and only boyfriend, Markku! hehehe I just want him to always remember how happy I am to have him in my life now…and that this is the second birthday I’ll be celebrating na hindi na ko single..hehehe

So there, and to think that there are moments when I’d question my boring existence here on earth, hehehe Well, all I needed to do was look back and count how many blessings I have received, and I am reminded of the best birthday present I have — MY LIFE.

Happy Birthday to me.

***I don’t have time left to post old photos and link everything…but maybe one day after today I will.

…of my ideas will resume one day.

I could rename my drafts folder as Archives because of all the unpublished (unfinished) entries I have there.

I should shape up.

A rainy day. I stepped into the office dripping wet. Almost half of my jeans were soaked and my jacket’s the same.

Good thing I left a jacket in my chair the last time.

Of all the days I could have, I had to forget my key today. When typhoon Karen was stronger, and no sundance can stop her.

I didn’t try to do the sundance though, maybe I should have?

I had to drop by Kris’ house so I could borrow her key. She was looking at me like, “Are you seriously going to the office today?” I told her a client might come pick up their photos so I should be here.

Deep inside, I thought why the rain had to come when it was no longer a holiday?

The moment I stepped down the trike, a familiar feeling swept over me. I was at Starbucks. I was just talking to you about it last night, about that day in August last year. Office was called off, and you picked me up. You told me you wouldn’t want me to go home in such bad weather. We were a new couple then, barely a week old. And I almost died of happiness! Before driving me home we stopped by Starbucks, the same one near my office now. And I can’t help but smile remembering how I felt being near you that time.

And now, a year after, it’s raining again. And though you’re not here to take me home, or to talk with over coffee, that same warm feeling of having you in my life stays.

And I’m sure it will for a very, very long time.

Meet Lili, my new baby.

She’s a surprise from my pangga for our anniversary. (one of the surprises pala ^_^ )

Here she is with Chichi and Lilai.

And here they are looking at their mommy’s roses

Thank you so much pangga!

It was a year that felt like a lifetime, and I was excited. I had so many wonderful plans months before, but ironically, I was left with one night to prepare something nice for Markku on our anniversary.

After work, I took a quick trip to the grocery and bookstore to buy supplies for my he”art” project, a goodie bag for my pangga filled with 12 things he likes/needs, with 12 sweet little promises/notes.

Not minding my mom’s teasing look, I worked diligently on my project at our dining table.

Cutting paper was a breeze for me. Thinking about what to write was the more difficult part.

But it didn’t take long for the ideas to come in. After all, when you’re inspired, saying what’s inside your heart does come easy.

Happy first anniversary to us pangga!