Litratong Pinoy: Lila

Magandang araw mga ka-LP! Sabi ko nga papanindigan ko ang paglalahok ng mga takipsilim na larawan sa buwang eto. Ngayon naman ay ang Lilang Takipsilim.

Kagaya ng dati ay kuha pa din ito sa Lobo, Batangas. Pagtatabihin ko ang tatlong larawan para makita niyo ang kaibahan:

Ang tatlong larawan ng takipsilim na ito ay kinuhanan ko sa loob ng isang araw, ilang minuto lamang ang mga pagitan. Kung interesado kayo sa lomography, marahil ay ang mga larawang eto ay magandang halimbawa nito. Gamit ko ang Holga ko na kamera at rolyo ng film. Diba’t ang galing ng pagkakaiba-iba nila samantalang wala naman akong espesyal na ginawa kundi pindutin lamang ang shutter ng aking kamera? Wala lang naaliw lang ako. Pramis sa isang llinggo hindi na takipsilim ang lahok ko. Haha!

Para po sa mga nagtatanong kung ano ang Holga, eto po ay isang toy kamera na gawa sa plastic na ginagamitan pa ng film, kumbaga eh low-tech na kamera. Haha! Magandang Huwebes sa inyong lahat mga ka-LP!

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Like what I’ve said, I was going to stick with posting twilight photo entries this month. This time it’s a Purple Twilight.

This one was also taken in Lobo, Batangas. I posted all three photos so you can see the difference. These three were all taken on the same day, with a few minutes interval, using the same camera and same roll of film. I guess this could be an example of Lomography and its unpredictable effects. I’m really amazed with the outcome because I didn’t do any tricks here, I just pushed the shutter button of my camera.

Happy Thursday!

Edited: January 29th, 2009

Greg Laswell

I’m loving Greg Laswell! I love his music and his style… cool! I’m sure some of you are already familiar with his songs because some of them are used in different TV shows. I don’t watch much TV lately except for movies and news. Anyway, I discovered him when I searched the web for the movie Veronika Decides to Die and saw the trailer using one of his songs. I really love the book by Paulo Coelho and I’m really curious about the movie. You can see the trailer of the movie here.

Come Undone
by Greg Laswell

Sleep my love while I come undone
And I’ll brace myself when you’re done, when you’re done
Sweet dreams my love, take them all, take them all
While I absorb you and what you’ve done, what you’ve done

You never gave it wind
You never let me in

You shine like winter under sun, under sun
You kill me with Christmas, prum pum pum, prum pum pum
And I hope you find the day that you came undone
While I absorb you and what you’ve done, what you’ve done

You never gave it wind
You never let me in

Whisper till the coffee comes
Whisper till you come undone
Whisper till the film starts
Whisper till I fall apart

Edited: January 22nd, 2009

Litratong Pinoy: Kahel

Magandang araw mga ka-LP! Paninindigan ko na ang paglahok ng mga larawan na takipsilim hanggang sa katapusan ng buwan na ito. Parang ngayong linggong ito, ang aking larawan ay tatawagin kong Kahel na Kalangitan.

Ito ay kuha pa din sa Lobo, Batangas gamit ang aking Holga na kamera at Fuji Velvia slide film na pina cross-process. Isang linggo ako don sa Lobo at wala namang ibang gagawin don kundi kumain, mag-swimming, matulog at mamalengke. Haha! Minsan din ay nagpupunta kami sa SM Lipa pero nakakatamad din dahil halos apat na oras ang biyahe, balikan.

Maligayang LP!

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I’m gonna carry on with posting twilight photos for my entries for the rest of the month. For this week, I’m gonna name my photo Orange Colored Sky.

This was also taken in Lobo, Batangas using my Holga camera and Fuji Velvia slide film that was cross-processed. I spent one week in Lobo and I had nothing else to do except eat, swim, sleep, and go to the market. We also went to SM Lipa a couple of times but it was tiring because it was about a 4 hour trip to and fro.

Happy LP!

Edited: January 22nd, 2009

Tables

Usually, moms are the ones who decorates the house right? In my family’s case, my dad is the one doing all the decorating. I grew up not really noticing this and my mom never complained until now. She’s just happy with her being the boss in the kitchen. And to us, she is the goddess! Nothing compares to her cooking and there are certain food that I won’t it if she’s not the one who made it.

Anyway, let’s go back to house decorations. One kind of furniture that my dad is particularly fond is table. We have tons of tables around the house, almost in every corner. Some small and some huge which requires about four people just to carry it.Now, I find myself getting more interested with tables, not that we need more but some needs replacing already. So, I browsed the net for tables, coffee tables in particular, we don’t have much of these.

I saw these wooden coffee tables and I really like this Corsica square coffee table.

This reminds of the table that I was talking about, the huge and heavy one, except that this one looks much less bulky and lighter. And I really like the dark color. I like earth tones and natural look when it comes to furniture and house decors and this color will match most of the pieces in our house.

I also saw these console tables and realized I need one for my room. And I’d love, love to have this one:

It’s called a Malang console table. It’s simplicity makes it look really beautiful and elegant! I don’t have a dresser in my room because dressers are too bulky and it’ll eat a lot of space of my small room. But this one will be perfect! I can now imagine a lot of uses for this… I’ll put some of my favorite books below and maybe my audio CDs too and my favorite DVDs… I’ll put some candles and my incense burner at the top… and the drawers will be handy for small things that I frequently use.

Now, how to convince my dad…

Edited: January 21st, 2009

Quiapo Again

My schedule for the day was to go to Globe to pay for the shoes that I bought from Ebay.ph, go to Quiapo to have some photos printed, then go to Tayuman for my client’s album.

I usually ride a jeep going to Quiapo because firstly, I’m on tipid mode, so cabs are out of the question. Secondly, there are few buses going to Quiapo from my place and I don’t want to wait. Thirdly, I don’t want to ride Fx taxis because I’m scared of holdapers, not that they can get much from me. Haha! And it’s just one jeepney ride from our village to Quiapo so it’s okay. I dropped by Globe Center first at the UP-Ayala Technohub to pay for my shoes using G-Cash. Bad news was, they don’t have G-Cash yet on because they’re a newly-opened branch. So, I rode a jeep again going to BPI Quezon Ave branch and that’s where I made my payment. Good thing I wrote down the account details of the seller before I left the house.

While in Quiapo and waiting for the photos to be printed, I walked around the shops to look for charms for my cellphone. I didn’t find anything I liked and ended up buying other stuff. You can find them here. When I went back to the photo studio, the guy from the album supplier was there too. I told him I was going to their place afterwards but I was kinda wishing he’d just take the photos from me and my intructions so I didn’t have to go to their place anymore. Haha! Tamad talaga eh. Of course, that didn’t happen because I still had to wait for 45 minutes for my photos and he left already.

I took a jeep going to Tayuman, making sure I sit on the ride side so I could see where I was supposed to get off. I’m still not familiar where I’m supposed to get off so I had to keep a close watch. Funny pa kse I don’t know how much the minimum fare is so I always give a P10 coin when I pay the mamang jeep. Always! Haha!

After Tayuman, I headed home already. This time, I took a cab because I was tamad na to ride a jeep because it’d take me two rides and I had to cross the streets twice and walk a long way going to my house.

Now, I can’t wait for my shoes to arrive… hopefully tomorrow.

Edited: January 19th, 2009

Photos from My Cous’ Wedding

I haven’t seen all photos yet, especially the ones from my cousin’s photographer. Here are a few though, from my cousin’s camera. Sorry to disappoint those who are waiting but I don’t have any serious close-ups. Haha!

The bride (my cousin) and the groom

My nephew and niece

My nephew and me after the offertory

The Santos Clan
Top Row L-R: Uncle Bert, Tito Eddie, Kuya Chris, Marc, Ate Marion, Carlo, Cleng, my mom, Diana, Tita Letty, my dad
Bottom Row L-R: Meg, Matthew, Ariz, me
Not in photo: Kuya Wowie and Tita Itt

Edited: January 17th, 2009

Litratong Pinoy: Asul

Magandang araw mga ka-LP! Kung naalala niyo, ang lahok ko nung isang linggo ay Pulang Takipsilim. Para sa ngayong linggo ito, ang lahok ko naman ay Asul na Bukang Liwayway.

Kuha ito noong nagpunta ako sa Palawan kasama ang mga kaibigan kong sina Carl at Jimmy noong 1999. Eto ay sa Port Barton. Hindi kami masyadong nakatulog noon dahil sa sobrang lakas ng alon. Ang narentahan naming bahay noon ay nasa tabing dagat at nakaangat sa lupa. Sa sobrang lakas ng mga alon ay umabot ang mga ito sa ilalim ng aming bahay at dahil doon kung bakit hindi kami nakatulog masyado. Nung medyo humina na ang mga alon ay nakita namin ang napaka-liwanag na buwan. Bumaba kami sa tabing dagat para kuhanan ito ng larawan.

Kung nais niyong mabasa ang aming pagbisita sa Palawan noon ay maari niyong bisitahin ang isa ko pang blag dito. Salamat sa pagbisita!

Edited: January 15th, 2009

Talking to Carl

I talked to Carl earlier today through YM. This made me happy… we haven’t talked for a looooong time and I missed him! Talking to him always comforted me. Even if his full attention is not with me, hearing his voice and knowing that he’s on the other end of the line makes me feel safe… like nothing can go wrong. And he makes all my troubles melt away. I haven’t seen him for a long time now too, except in his photos in Facebook. Last time we saw each other was February last year, I think, when he paid a surprise visit. He’s coming home on May and he’ll be staying here until December, before he gets back to Kansas to start his Phd. I’m glad for this.

We talked about life… what’s going on with him… what’s going on with me. He even talked to my niece and nephew! And we sang to each other a lot. Haha! I missed that too! And like always he irritated me a little. Haha! I think a conversation with Carl will not end without him making me inis. He always does that though I know he’s just teasing me and then he’ll end up laughing at my reaction. I think he likes that. Haha! No matter how serious I am, he always finds something funny in what I’m saying or my reactions.

One funny part of our conversation earlier today was our bet on who’s gonna die first between the two of us. I’m betting on me and he’s betting on himself. I told him that when the time comes that he’ll decide to get married, I’m not going to attend it. I said I’d die first before he gets married and I’m going to win his bet. His response was he promised he’ll kill me after his wedding so I’ll win the bet. He’ll let me win just so I attend his wedding. And then he realized that I’m going to win the bet even either way because he’ll kill me too out of madness if I don’t attend his wedding. Haha! Brutal ba? Well, that’s Carl and me. I had to explain to him that I’m not really fond of weddings. He argued with me and questioned why I attended my cousin’s wedding and why I’m going to attend my other friends’ wedding this coming Saturday. Haha!

Then I asked him if it will be okay if we just see each other once when he goes home. And I demanded no surprise visits and that he visits me alone or with his girlfriend only. None of our friends can tag along. Haha! I’m pretty sure he gets the idea who I’m referring to… the one and only AA. I said I will not cook for him if he does that.

We talked for at least two hours, mostly about nonsense. He was still in school and doing some DNA work. I sang while he worked. Haha! Then sometimes he’d pause and sing too. Carl and I could talk for a long time about nonsense, well mostly me talking about nonsense. But he always try to make sense of what I’m saying and really thinks about it and try to decipher it, no matter how petty or silly or weird it is. He always gets me. And he’s the one who knows my voice well. He can tell how I’m feeling even if I say just one word. That’s Carl! And I miss him again already!

Edited: January 14th, 2009

My Cousin’s Wedding

Yesterday was my cousin’s wedding.

I cried when she walked down the aisle. First, because I always cry on every wedding that I attend. Second, because she was crying too, or rather, she was trying hard not too and it showed on her face. Her mom and dad are separated and I’m hoping that she cried because she’s happy and not because of the complications resulting to her walking down the aisle alone.

I was a little disappointed with how everything was organized and executed but it didn’t matter anymore. I’m just happy for her with the way her life is working out. See, she got pregnant out of wedlock and the father denied her baby and even attempted to make her drink meds that would abort the baby. I’m not ashamed to talk about this because I’m proud of how she fought for her baby and how our family accepted the baby. And I’m really thankful for her husband for the way he accepted and how much he loves both my cousin and my niece.

It was just a simple wedding and their main reason for tying the knot is so that her husband could adopt her daughter and already use his surname when she goes to school next school year. My cousin is really lucky with her husband!

And I looked girly! Haha! I really hate dressing up for events like this because I’m not really confident with my looks. But this time, I was really pleased when I looked in the mirror. I looked a little pretty and girly and I didn’t look manang. Haha! But that’s my point of view, I really didn’t know how the others saw me. My family and my relatives just teased me because I was wearing makeup (just a little). I don’t find myself pretty and all my adult life, only two people found me pretty and they didn’t even tell me directly so I never believed them. Haha! One was my best friend’s mom and the other was my best friend’s barkada.

Anyway, I’m just really thankful for my cousin’s wedding. And to the newly weds: I wish you all the best that life could offer because I know you really deserve it! I love you cous!

I’ll post photos soon.

Edited: January 11th, 2009

Interview

Just back from a job interview. Hmmm I just realized now that the position was for a part-time tour coordinator and all the while I was thinking of part-time assistant tour coordinator. Anyway, I took the cab going to the office because I wasn’t really familiar with the Madaluyong are and I didn’t want to be late for my interview because I got lost. And the sun shone for me today.

Honestly, I don’t how I did with regards to the interview. It was informal but the interviewer asked me what I’d do if placed in some problem situations that could be encountered during the tours. I couldn’t think straight and answered with what came to my mind first and I was at a lost for words.

The interview lasted for about 30 minutes. I met up with my sister first at the Robinson’s Mall in Boni before I headed home. This time I took the MRT and while waiting for the train there was this stinky smell… I had to smell my shirt just to make sure it wasn’t me. I had to let 3 trains pass by because they were full and as I was about to ride the next one I saw a familiar face. I thought I saw Andre but I wasn’t sure if it was him so I just boarded the train. I haven’t seen him for years now but I’m about 80% sure it was him so I texted him when I was seated already. And it was him! It felt good seeing him again even though I didn’t get the chance to talk to him or at least say hi. And he did grow taller, just like he told me.

Today’s a good day, well except for the interview. I really hope that my answers somehow made sense and I’d get the job. Aside from that, I’m happy because I saw my friend, Andre.

Edited: January 9th, 2009