[Project 365] Week 5

01.24.11
Day 24: In It Together

"Hawak-kamay
Di kita iiwan sa paglakbay
Dito sa mundong walang katiyakan."
--- Hawak Kamay, Yeng Constantino

01.25.11
Day 25: Boxed

"I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone."
--- Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Green Day

01.26.11
Day 26: A Step Closer To Fine

It's been 40 days since lola died. I wanna thank everyone who called and texted during those trying times. All the kind words and prayers were greatly appreciated.

Our faith teaches us to believe that when we die, we go to a better place where there is no pain and suffering. And I believe that. But I still pray that one night, lola will appear in my dreams and tell me that she's happy now. Coz I don't want to just believe. I want to know.

So until that dream comes, I will just be a step closer to fine.

01.27.11
Day 27: English 101

Thanks Teacher Mae for taking us back to the good old days of classmates and school! :)

Q: If a group of fish is called a school, what do you call a group of frogs?
A: An army of frogs!

To use it in a sentence: I've been kissing an army of frogs but still no prince charming...

01.28.11
Day 28: Haberday Kandisu!

Kokoro attended a birthday dinner she wasn't invited to. Bakit ba? Hindi naman sya kumain. Wehe.

Happy birthday, Candzzzz! :)

01.29.11
Day 29: Sophie @ Seven

Our plan to visit Sophie finally pushed through. Ang taba-taba at ang cute-cute!!! Roxie told us to visit in the afternoon to catch her awake. But it seemed like our timing wasn't good coz Sophie was sleepy the entire afternoon. Haha. And at last, we were able to taste Roxie's specialty! Sarap ng spaghetti! Pweydi! Hehe.

01.30.11
Day 30: I Love You But

"Sarili ay di maintindihan
Hindi ko malaman ano ba ang dahilan
Ng pansamantalang paghingi ko ng kalayaan
Minamahal kita pero kailangan ko lang mag-isa."
--- Cool Off, Yeng Constantino

[Project 365] Week 4

01.17.11
Day 17: 50° 60° 70°

I miss doing art projects. The kind that would have me painting, cutting stuff, putting things together, not minding if get some glue on my hands or glitters on my face.

So when Mico asked me to help him out on his school project, I said sure in a heartbeat. Gave him a little lecture about his spending so much time on Facebook and then cramming for projects and homeworks late at night. Tried to hide how much fun I was having and act a little tired and sleepy just to drive him to guilt. And I want him to forever be grateful for my "sacrificial" act of sisterly love. Hehe.

01.18.11
Day 18: Zip It

I used to own a pair of zipper earrings. Not those huge colored metal zipper kind that you may have imagined. It was a tiny silver zipper. Wala lang. Gusto ko lang sabihin. Hehe. Nweiz, I just remembered one of my high school classmates saying:

"Anu yan? Kapag ayaw mo makinig sinasara mo yung tenga mo?"

Well, I wish it really worked that way. I wish I could just pull the zipper up my ear and ignore people I don't wanna hear another word from. Hell, I wish I could just have the guts to tell some people to just zip it!

01.19.11
Day 19: All Star

I'm a Chuck Taylor's girl. But unlike Bianca Gonzales who is swimming in her collection of 200+ pairs, I could only dabble in my little puddle of 5 pairs. Hehe.

Fell in love with this Dennis Juan Ma designed pair a couple of years back. Love the illustration and the color! Dunno if it's still available on the market though. Please, if anyone knows where I can buy this masterpiece of a shoe, please, please, please let me know! *_*



01.20.11
Day 20: Ichi-Ni-SAN-Yon-GO

Today we drove to Rockwell to try Sango. I remember Bes Sensei recommending this Japanese burger joint during our Nihongo class but I never got around to trying it. The place exudes a homey atmosphere with an LCD TV playing Japanese music videos and a shelf full of manga books and Tokyo fashion magazines. We ordered 5 different kinds of burgers. The Master Cheese Burger was tasty, thanks to the special sauce. The Chicken Teriyaki Burger tasted good too. The Fish Burger tasted just like all the other fish burgers I've tasted. The Kimpira Burger was different and interesting, but not something I would order again. The Yakiniku Rice Burger was the best among all we've tasted. The rice bun was a bit chewy and the beef was tender and marinated well. Oishikatta!

01.21.11
Day 21: Kyle, What's Your Name?

Met up with Wilmon at 711 in Dela Rosa. Headed to their apartment to visit my godchild Kyle and Franz's future godchild Kean. Anne had to do overtime work and wasn't able to join us.

Unlike other kids, Kyle wasn't shy around visitors. He kept on running and playing and turning and running some more! Super hyper! Good to know that he really enjoys playing with the remote-controlled Mickey Mouse I gave him last year. Hope the same goes with his new toy truck. :)

At 2 years old, he could pronounce English words pretty well. And with an accent too! Hehe. According to Wilmon, he learned that from all the children shows he sits through the entire day. Galing!

"Kyle, what's your name?" (Huh?)

And he looked at us funny. Haha.

01.22.11
Day 22: I Feel Infinite

Finished reading The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It was such a good read. The latter chapters got me turning pages. And I also got a couple of good songs off Charlie's mix tape: Asleep by The Smiths and Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. Can't wait for its movie adaptation!

"Can the child within my heart rise above?
And can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?"
--- Landslide, Fleetwood Mac

01.23.11
Day 23: Face Value

Finally got hold of the new 20 peso bill. I like its modern design and the younger and more gwapo Manuel Quezon. Hehe. Can no longer transform him into Batista, though. :/

[Project 365] Week 3

01.10.11
Day 10: Painting With Lights

Been feeling a little off since I got back to work last week. Like I'm around people I no longer know. Sometimes, I don't feel like myself either. Things that once were, seem to be no longer. It's weird and it's sad and it sucks.

Been thinking a lot about the kind of life I wanna live, all the adventures I wanna have and all the things I wanna learn. And the more I think about it, the more I realize how short life really is. How a lifetime is not enough to experience it all. Makes me wanna live like the stars in the universe that explode with a bang. They have a short lifespan but they burn brightly before they die. I wanna burn brightly before I die. Whatever that means.

I think I wanna quit work and start living the LiFe. But in order to live the LiFe, I need to have enough money to cover all my expenses. And to have enough money, I can't just quit work.

I think I'm fucked up, am I?

I guess going on a two-week vacation can do that to you. Or am I going through a delayed quarter life crisis?!

"Life is not what I thought it was 24 hours ago
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And I'm not who I thought I was 24 hours ago
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You."
--- Twenty-Four, Switchfoot

01.11.11
Day 11: Going Banapples

Everytime I pass by both their branches in Katipunan, there's always a lot of cars parked outside. Everytime I pass by their branch in Ayala Triangle, there's always a lot of people waiting outside the little bakery/cafe. Today, we decided to check out why everyone's going bananas over Banapple.

Ordered slices of Myster-Reese's Pie, Coffee Toffee Roca Pie, and their claim to fame - the Banoffee Pie. Shared the calories with Meds, Jhe and Martin. All it took was one bite from each pie to understand why people are gushing over these sinful creations. Every bite truly is a little piece of heaven! =P~

01.12.11
Day 12: Citrus Sinensis

"Ngunit ang gusto ko talaga
Ay ang orange na dala mo sa iyong bulsa
Mukha kasing masarap
Patikim naman ng aking pangarap."
--- Orange, Parokya ni Edgar

01.13.11
Day 13: Happy Chopstix @ YakiMix

Had our project milestone at YakiMix in Greenbelt 3. 'Twas an eat-all-you-can buffet of Japanese, Cantonese and Korean food. Ms. Rhenee arrived first and was able to reserve a table for us. When we arrived, we immediately swarmed the buffet table. I had a happy plate of tempura, fried tofu, spinach, and more tempura. Then I got a plate of raw food for grilling - slices of beef, bacon-wrapped asparagus, squid, shrimp, crab sticks, and salmon belly. I'm no cook but I really enjoyed the grilling part. Not as much as the eating part, of course. Hehe. Nothing special about the desserts. But still, I helped myself to a scoop of ube ice cream. Fine, two scoops sprinkled with colorful toppings! Haha.

01.14.11
Day 14: Banapple Split

Another entry about food and another day to try out Banapple. But this time, we're not in for the cakes but for their breakfast offerings. I ordered their Creamy Chicken Pie served with chunky potato salad. The crust was a bit sweet and buttery and I love it. The chicken flakes was really creamy. My potato salad had more carrots than there were potatoes but I'm not complaining. Didn't know that the pie itself is good for sharing. Meds and I ordered separate plates and we both got to eat just half of our pies. Also bought an oatmeal cookie. Love it without the raisins! =P~

01.15.11
Day 15: Street Art

Found another alley brought to life by talented graffiti artists. This is one of the reasons why I enjoy walking the streets of my city. :)

01.16.11
Day 16: Crispy Pillows

A visit at Max's is not complete without an order of Veggie Lumpia Bites. Hmmm!

[Project 365] Week 2

01.03.11
Day 3: Paper Cuts

I used to have a number of blogs bookmarked that I read every Saturday. No, they're not owned by famous people (Well, most of it, at least.) and no, they're not about the latest fashion craze or the latest celebrity gossip (Though I admit checking out Perez Hilton once in a while. Hehe.) I read personal blogs. Blogs of ordinary people who write about the most mundane of things. People with stories to tell, people who write just because they love to write, people who write to express themselves because it's the only way they know how. People like myself, I suppose.

I forgot how I stumbled upon Pam Pastor's Nocturnal Angel but after reading a couple of her blog entries, I found myself craving for her writing, wit and humor. I dug through years worth of archived content. I even started buying Inquirer just so I could read her articles. That's me on full avid fan mode. Haha.

I know that she dyed her brother's hair blue on New Year's Eve some years back. I know that her mother had mistaken a vibrator for a massager and actually used it on her face. I know how much she loved, how much she was loved, and how much she was hurt when that love left their hearts. After reading 7(?) years of her life, she felt like someone I know. Sadly, just like most bloggers, it came to a point where she felt the need to keep things to herself. So she did what she ought to do. She killed her blog. She killed the Nocturnal Angel.

Got really excited when I learned that Pam - my favorite blogger, the person who inspired me to carry on writing - has a book out on the shelves. Right after office, with fingers crossed, we headed to National Bookstore to grab my own copy. And I never felt so happy to have Paper Cuts in my hand! Hehe.

I've long toyed around with the idea of having some of my blog entries published in a book as well. Though I've already gotten myself published three times, seeing my name printed on a book cover is a completely different kind of high. I guess that's what most writers dream of afterall. Wishful thinking as it may be, I wanna believe that I can. And that I'll do, eventually.

So while I contemplate sending in some sample chapters to *ehem* publishers, here's a peek of what I would most likely include in my *ehem* future manuscript. Haha.

The Craziness:
More On Being A Moron
Jacko Wacko
Breaking Wind

The Bitchiness:
Meany Me
Judge Not Lest You Be Judged
Silver Toes

The Heartbreaks:
Crash And Burn
Rain On Me
Cigarette Burns

The Trials:
Sink Or Swim
UltraElectroTragicPop
Separate Lives

The Realizations:
Emotions In Motion
Shouldn't Couldn't Wouldn't
Listen To What I'm Not Saying

The Random Thoughts:
Battered Fly
Reality Check
The Opposite Of Love Is Not Hate

01.04.11
Day 4: Back In The Box

What took so many days to put up, took an hour or two to take down.

Took this shot while zooming the camera in and out a plastic bag full of red and gold beads. I so love the motion blur it created! :)

"It's the season for being happy
But the reason is dead and gone
If the reason for being happy
Takes a backseat when the season's done."
--- Fruitcake, Eraserheads

01.05.11
Day 5: Nike Free Run+

I run free from the daily grind.
I run free from my self-sabotaging barriers.
I run free from the chains of worry and fear.
I run free from you.
I run free from myself.

I RUN FREE.

01.06.11
Day 6: Feed Me Candy

I'm done growing plants in my yard. Grew tired of throwing angry birds at green snorting pigs. Slicing fruits with my flaming samurai could get quite messy. So what do I do now?

Meet Om Nom. My candy-addict, cute little monster. I cut ropes; I outsmart spiders; Hell, I even defy gravity just to get the candy into its watering mouth! But seeing Om Nom munch on the candy with mucho gusto is definitely worth all the effort.

NGAAAA. Hmm, sweet. :)

01.07.11
Day 7: Sabi Nila

Sabi nila, malalaman mo daw kung sino yung mga totoo mong kaibigan sa oras ng pangangailangan. Yung mga panahon na hindi kayo magsa-saya, hindi kayo magtatawanan, pero alam nilang kailangan mo ng kaibigan, kaya nandyan sila.

May mga kaibigan kasi na kasama mong tumawa, pero hindi mo kasamang lumuha. May mga kaibigan na kapag kalokohan ang usapan, buong atensyon ang ibibigay sayo. Pero kapag seryosong usapan na, halos mamalimos ka pa ng atensyon. May mga kaibigan na alam na malungkot ka kapag nakasimangot ka. May mga kaibigan na alam na malungkot ka kahit nakangiti ka.

Sabi nila, malalaman mo daw kung sino yung mga totoo mong kaibigan sa oras ng pangangailangan. Tama sila. Kasi ngayon, alam ko na.

01.08.11
Day 8: A TOSH To Good Life

Had dinner at TOSH with Jeff, Ariane, Andie and my godchild Ahyie. Ordered mozzarella sticks and strawberry milkshake for the kids. But we ended up eating most of it. And they prefer rootbeer over the "pink drink". Hehe.

It's crazy how quick time has flown. Andie had already started school and Ahyie will soon be going to school too! Also learned a few things about them. How they would eat rice without the viand and pasta without the sauce. And that Ahyie has an open third eye. How she would see "people" who aren't really there. Like a man sitting on the stairs in their previous apartment. Or a bunch of kids when they drove by ULTRA, ground zero of the Wowowee stampede. Or the lady who was standing by my side as I ate my cream dory. Waaaaaaaahhh.

01.09.11
Day 9: Metanoia

"Kung iisang bagay lang ang alam mong gawin ng tama, e di gagalingan mo na diba?"

Watched RPG: Metanoia with Mico. The animation was impressive. Found it really amusing to see CGI renditions of a tricycle, a sari-sari store, and a mouth-watering plate of daing na bangus! Hehe. And the street games scenes were so much of an eye-candy too! Can't help but recall my batang-kalsada days. Hehe. The story was simple, yet inspiring. The voices of Zaijan, Vhong and Aga were kinda distracting though. They should've changed their voices a bit to help the viewers detach the actors from the characters. But all in all, as Zero would've said it, ASTIIIIIIG. \m/(-_-)\m/

[Project 365] Week 1

Thought I'd give my One-Photo-A-Day Project another shot. Though I failed to complete Project 297 last year, it was something that I really enjoyed doing. It gave me a chance to play with my camera, to explore things that I find interesting and it gave me an excuse to go to places I might not otherwise have gone to. But most important of all, Project 297 got this almost forgotten blog up and running again. And yes, with 229 photos to boast of. Hehe.

I really don't know if I'll be able to complete the project this time. But what I do know now is that I wanna write. And that I wanna take photos. So here goes another attempt. Wish me luck. :)

~o0o~

01.01.11
Day 1: Manigong Bagong Dekada

Countdown to 2011 at Eastwood City.

We first had dinner at BluFish/The Flying Pig. Ordered a platter of Beer-Battered Calamari, Fish Pesto Paella and the Queen's Platter - a plateful of baby back ribs, barbecue chicken, sausages, potato wedges and bacon basmati rice.

After dinner, Dino and I watched the concert while Mico stayed inside the mall with our parents. 'Twas my first time to catch Freestyle without Top Suzara. The music is still good but I like Top's voice more than what's-his-face's. True Faith is truly a band to fall in love with. And Medwin really, and I mean REALLY, looks a lot like Dhan. Hehe. Arnel Pineda rocked the stage at around 10pm. I wish he did the last hour coz the crowd was so hyped up during his performance. Side A took the stage after, which made my mom really happy. Hehe. Solenn Heussaff was also there as Coke Zero's newest endorser. Pretty, pretty face that made both guys and girls stop and stare. *_*

The fireworks display lasted for about 5 minutes and wasn't the kind that will make you go WOW! Then again, it's not every night that the sky gets painted with colors. And it ain't the Pyrolympics. Hehe.

Happy new decade, everyone! May the next 10 years bring love, peace and joy beyond measure to us all. :)

More pictures here.

01.02.11
Day 2: Silver Year

Attended Tito Jun and Tita Zeny's silver wedding anniversary held at their rest house in Tagaytay. After the renewal of vows ceremony, a short program took place. The food was super yummy! I swear I could eat shrimp every single day! =P~

We then went to Taal Vista Hotel to get a good view of Taal volcano. After taking photos in almost every nook of the hotel, we decided to head back to Manila. Not without boxes of buko pie and packs of espasol, of course. =P~

More pictures here.

Winning Shot

Yippee! Won myself a pink plush film camera and a roll of Fujifilm Superia! ^_^

Here's my winning shot:
"Always Look Up!"

Taken from my first ever roll:
Behind Fish Eyes (08.02.08)

Thanks Jennie Castillo for giving away this cute camera! ^_^

Rest In Peace, Lola.

Nung mga bata pa kami, laging bumibisita si Lola Soly sa bahay. One tricycle away lang kasi kaya after lunch ay nasa bahay na sya. Kapag narinig ko na yung tricycle, excited na ko. Kasi alam ko na may pasalubong ulit sya samin. Hello Panda, Yan Yan, Choco Mallows, Potchi.. Madalas din nya kami bigyan ng pera ni Dino. Malutong na 10 or 20 peso bills. At coins para ihulog sa red piggy bank namin. Naaalala ko pa na bago nya ibigay yung coins, sinasabon nya muna at binibilad sa araw. Inaalam din nya ang serial number ng pera na binibigay nya. Nagkukupitan kasi kami ni Dino. Hehe.

Si Lola Soly din ang laging nagpapa-tulog samin sa hapon. Required matulog. Kapag hindi natulog, hindi makakalaro sa labas. May mga araw na natutulog talaga ako. At may mga araw din na hindi talaga ako madapuan ng antok. Kaya ang ginagawa ko, nagbibilang ako ng 1-100. Feeling ko kasi noon, matagal na oras na ang lilipas kapag nakabilang ako ng ganun kadami. Pagkatapos, aakting ako na parang bagong gising. Paunat-unat, papunas-punas ng muta, pahikab-hikab. Minsan pinapabalik nya ako sa kama. Minsan naman hinahayaan na lang nya ako.

Matigas ang ulo ko noon. Kapag may sinabing bawal, lalo kong ginagawa. Bawal daw ako uminom ng softdrinks. Pagdating sa school, ginagawa kong tubig ang softdrinks. May araw na umuwi akong may hawak na Zesto Cola. Pagkakita ni Lola Soly, pinagalitan nya ako. Sabi ko, juice lang yun. Nagalit sya dahil ginagawa ko daw syang tanga. Akala ko kasi hindi iisipin ni Lola Soly na softdrinks yun. Zesto kasi. Akala ko kapag Zesto, juice. Ako pala yung tanga. Hehe.

October 2004 nung unang na-stroke si Lola Soly. Tatlong araw syang na-confine sa hospital para ma-monitor ng mga doktor. Wala naman nakitang problema kaya pinauwi din sya kaagad. After 1 week, na-stroke ulit sya. Naapektuhan na yung speech at motor skills nya. Nung ma-discharge sya sa hospital, napag-desisyonan na sama-sama na kaming titira sa isang bahay para maraming mag-aalaga at magbabantay sa kanya. Kumuha kami ng physical therapist para tulungan sya na maibalik yung dati nyang kakayahan na kumilos. Kaming magkakapatid ang nagsasalitan sa pag-assist sa kanya kapag kailangan nyang mag-exercise ng braso at binti. Binigyan din sya ng mga gamot para sa utak at sa pag-regulate ng blood pressure.

Hindi ko na maalala kung kailan yung third stroke nya pero doon nagsimulang manghina si Lola Soly. Hindi na nya kayang maglakad ng mag-isa, hindi na masyadong malinaw yung pagsalita nya at unti-unti na rin syang namayat. Ganun pa man, nagpapasalamat kami kasi hindi na naulit yung stroke niya sa loob ng ilang taon. Lagi namin sya sinasabihan na magpalakas sya para makagala ulit kami sa mall kasama sya.

November 29 nung na-stroke ulit si Lola. Katulad nung nauna nyang stroke, tatlong araw lng sya na-confine sa hospital. At katulad din nung nauna nyang stroke, after 1 week, sinundan ulit ng mas malala. Aftershock, kumbaga. Hindi na sya makausap at lagi na lang syang natutulog. Hirap na yung paghinga nya kaya kinabitan na sya ng ventilator. Sobrang irregular din ng heartbeat nya kaya may dalawa pang machines na nakakabit sa kanya para don. Nakita sa huling CT scan nya na halos kalahati na ng utak nya yung mei bara. Sabi ng doctors, prepare for the worst na daw. Lagi naming pinagdadasal na sana gumaling pa sya. Na sana makasama pa namin sya ngayong pasko. Pero habang tumatagal, lalong lumalala yung kalagayan nya. Kahit masakit, pinagdasal ko na kay God na i-release na Nya si Lola sa paghihirap nya. Binubulungan na sya nila Mama at Tito Arnel na kung sinusundo na sya ni Lolo, pwede na sya sumama. Kung nahihirapan na sya, pwede na nya kaming iwan.

December 17. 4am. Nagising ako sa tunog ng telepono. Naisip ko, dalawa lang naman ang pwedeng tumawag ng ganung oras. Pwedeng tawag ni Tito Rico from US para kamustahin si Lola or pwedeng tawag ni Tito Arnel from the hospital. Ayokong sagutin. Ayokong malaman kung sino yung tumatawag. Pero wala akong choice. Ako yung nagising. Pagsagot ko, si Tito Arnel ang nasa linya. Marami pa syang sinabi to cushion the blow, pero wala na akong maalala sa mga sinabi nya. Ang natatandaan ko na lang nung sinabi nya na wala na si Lola.

Two nights lang yung wake kasi gusto nila Mama na Sunday yung interment. Nakakatuwang marinig yung mga kwento ng ibang tao about kay Lola. Lagi daw syang nakangiti, masayahin at pala-kaibigan. Kinuwento nila kung paano sya naging second mom or second Lola sa marami. Nakakatuwang isipin na marami syang na-touch na tao. Na maraming nagmamahal sa kanya bukod sa amin.

Mami-miss ko yung mga times na habang nagco-computer ako, magri-ring yung bell nya. Tapos itatanong nya sakin kung anong oras na. Rounded-off yung sinasabi kong oras. Kapag 4:10 na, sasabihin ko 4pm. Kapag 4:20 na, sasabihin ko 4:30. Minsan nakakalimutan ko na sinabi ko na kanina na 4:30 tapos next time na magtanong sya, nagtataka sya kung bakit 4:30 pa rin. Hehe.

Mami-miss ko yung kapag tinatawag nya ako sa kwarto tapos ipapa-smile nya ako. Tapos tatanungin nya kung kailan matatanggal yung braces ko. Kasi ang tagal-tagal na daw.

Mami-miss ko yung madalas na pagtanong nya kung naka-lipstick ba ako. Kasi daw ang pula ng labi ko. Tapos sasabihin ko natural yan. Tapos sasabihin nya na mana daw ako kay Lolo.

Mami-miss ko yung mga kwento nya. Nung panahon ng gyera, nung dalaga pa sya, nung nanliligaw pa lang si Lolo. Kahit paulit-ulit, ok lang. Kasi yun yung mga times na matagal ko syang nakaka-usap.

Lola Soly, mami-miss ko kayo. Sorry kung hindi na ako masyado nagpupunta sa kwarto nyo. Kung mas madalas lang ako nakaharap sa PC. Hindi nyo na ako makwentuhan kasi parang lagi akong busy. Sorry kung late na ako nakauwi nung gabi bago kayo ma-stroke. Sabi nila Dino, pinapunta nyo daw sila sa kwarto. Tapos tinanong nyo sila kung ano yung gusto nilang Christmas gift. Tapos ni-hug at ni-kiss ka daw nila. Gustong-gusto mo daw kasi kapag hina-hug ka namin. Sorry hindi ko na ulit yun nagawa.

Lola Soly, we know you're in a much better place now. Finally, kasama mo na ulit si Lolo Marcy at si Papa Jesus. Please continue to watch over us. And please visit me in my dreams. In my dreams lang po ha? Hehe. We love you so much. May you rest in peace.

Home Of No Rock

HUPAW! Hu-hupaw! Hu-hupaw!

I was a sophomore in high school when I first tuned in to NU 107. It is the station that trained my ears to Mudvayne, Slipknot, and The Used. And of course, to the local "hupaw" bands like Greyhoundz, Queso and Chicosci. I admit singing along to Slapshock's "Agent Orange", knowing every word by heart. Fine, I also admit crushing over Jamir Garcia. Rawr voice, orange messy hair, bilibid-boy-tattoos and all. Haha.

Before Chico and Delamar, I used to spend my mornings with Zach and Joey. I fight off sleep for the Midnight Countdown. I remember sending in my song request during Remote Control Weekend. I always ask for this one song: A Cold and Better Place by The Pin-Up Girls. Lucky for me, they always play it! And I get kilig every time. Hehe. :)

I wore no dark eyeliners, no spiky metal bracelets, no extra piercings. Nor was I brimming with teenage angst. I just wanted to be different. And NU 107 was my portal away from the mainstream. I was so into the heavy riffs and loud guitars and aggressive rhythms. Some people found it too loud. For some it's just horrible, horrible noise. Hell, my mom even called it evil! But that's just the way I wanted my music. Loud and strong. And different.

In less than an hour, the Home of New Rock will be leaving the Philippine airwaves. I'm now watching a live stream of what's happening inside the booth. Rock-jocks taking turns in saying their goodbyes before playing a song that they deem appropriate. A crowd of supporters gathered outside the booth to witness the end of an era. Feels like a part of my life is about to be taken away. T_T

As Francis Brew said in his piece, "This is the Home of NU Rock, because it has been home for us." To everyone who worked behind the station, thank you. The music will live on.

"Take me out tonight
Where there's music and there's people
And they're young and alive."
--- There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, The Smiths

[Project 297] FAILED.

Tinamad. Napagod. Nawalan ng gana. :(

[Project 297] Week 32

10.11.10
Day 216: Dolphins Love Freedom

Ric O'Barry used to catch and train dolphins for the Flipper TV series. But the death of Cathy, one of his Flipper dolphins, turned him around. According to him, she committed suicide in his arms. For dolphins, every breath is a conscious effort. They can end their life if it becomes too unbearable by not taking the next breath. And that's what Cathy did. She took a breath and did not take another. That's when Ric realized that these creatures suffer when kept in captivity. From then on, he spent his years trying to tear down the industry he once helped build.

Every year, thousands of dolphins are being brutally slaughtered in a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan. A group of activists led by Ric was able to document these killings in a gripping film called "The Cove". To watch bleeding dolphins as they were being speared to death and to actually hear their agony is very disturbing and heartbreaking. :(

Inspired by the film's message, an artist named A.G. Saño aims to paint 23,000 dolphins on walls around the country to help raise awareness and protest their capture and killing. The above photo is one of his murals painted on a concrete wall along C5 road.

Have a minute? Help save the dolphins by signing this online petition. :)

10.12.10
Day 217: Birthday Boy

Happy birthday, Furanzu! So how does it feel to be a quarter century old? Hehe. Have a great one! :*

10.13.10
Day 218: Darkness Falls

I'm not afraid of the dark. I'm afraid of what lies within it. Like the Boogeyman. Or Jocelyn Wildenstein.

10.14.10
Day 219: UNO Stacko

Sometimes it feels like a game of UNO Stacko. I laugh and have a good time trying to stack the blocks as high as I could only to watch it fall into a messy heap on the floor. :(

"Nahihilo, nalilito
Nasan ba ko sayo?
Aasa ba ko sayo?"
--- Migraine, Moonstar88

10.15.10
Day 220: G1 Night Only

A star-studded night of singing, dancing, drinking and bonding at Sala, Center Stage. Winner talaga sina Usher and Medwin! Haha.

10.16.10
Day 221: Bag Tags

Weeee! Got my free bag tags from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines! And it's a real treat to see my photos printed on them! Happiness! :)

10.17.10
Day 222: Little Angels

Went to CRIBS Foundation with some of my officemates to care for the babies there. They are all so cute and oh so adorable! How could their parents abandon these little angels?! I only spent an hour carrying them and playing with them but when I got home, I was so tired that I immediately fell asleep the moment I hit the bed. Haha.

[Project 297] Week 31

10.04.10
Day 209: Parol

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
Some houses have started glowing with holiday cheer. Brightly colored parols and Christmas lights are now up, giving life to our dull streets. Hello Christmas! Hello ridiculous Meralco bills!

10.05.10
Day 210: Just Another

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
What makes Simbang Gabi so special? Feeling the nip of cold air, hearing the faint sound of Christmas carols, smelling the waft of freshly-made puto bumbong and bibingka. But now that these two delicacies have found their way into the malls and are now available all year round, I dunno. Sure, I still enjoy eating them once in a while but they became just another kakanin. Nothing special. Lagyan man ng kesong puti at itlog na maalat.

10.06.10
Day 211: Will The Real Fat Santa Please Stand Up?

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
A whole troop of Santa Clauses can now be found hanging out in malls. Wearing their usual red and white suit, sporting long beards so snowy white and carrying huge bags of presents for nice kids like me! Hehe.

10.07.10
Day 212: Chasing Lights

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
A curtain of Christmas lights dancing to the beat of famous Christmas tunes.

10.08.10
Day 213: Away In A Manger

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
So not in the mood to write anything about this photo. Not in the mood to think. Or even try. Haays. People do get on my nerves sometimes.

10.09.10
Day 214: Christmas In Bloom

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
Poinsettias have long been associated with Christmas because of its flaming red petals and bright green leaves. And they are once again in bloom and on sale at most flower shops! I could smell Christmas!

10.10.10
Day 215: Christmas Shopping

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
That's my mom looking for a new Christmas tree topper. With a sosyal-looking Christmas tree as her backdrop. Hehe.

[Project 297] Week 30

09.27.10
Day 202: H2O

Theme: Chakra Element - Water.
Water breathes life to the world. But it is also a force capable of great destruction.

It's been a year since Ondoy happened and thankfully, I could say that our humble city has fully recovered from the devastating flood and is now standing strong. Sadly though, our country remains unprepared for such disasters. Thousands of families are still living under bridges or atop open sewers and majority of our drainage systems and waterways are still clogged.

I can't help but think, what if another Ondoy hits the country? Heaven forbid, but what if?

09.28.10
Day 203: One Earth

Theme: Chakra Element - Earth.
Freak weather conditions and natural disasters of unprecedented magnitude. We have experienced the adverse effects of global warming and climate change and according to many scientists, we ain't seen nothing yet. We will continue to experience these calamities with greater intensity and frequency if we don't drastically reduce our carbon dioxide emissions. And that doesn't mean we have to stop breathing. Hehe.

Small changes in our lifestyle could help reduce our carbon footprint. Switching off the lights when not needed, unplugging appliances when not in use and taking public transportation to reduce fuel consumption. You can even go a step further and plant a tree! :)

We only have one Earth. Let's take good care of it.

09.29.10
Day 204: Dreaming Out Loud

Theme: Chakra Element - Fire.
It all started with a dream. A part of our house was on fire. There were no firemen, no sirens. There was just me, trying to put out the flames with an empty bucket of water. Woke up feeling exhausted and defeated. I wanted to shake the feeling off but my attempts were futile.

I googled what my dream meant and according to one site, the fire could represent danger, anger, passion, pain or fear. I thought of my family. I thought of work. I thought of people in authority. People who misuse their authority. People who squeeze the life out of others. People who are not only blowing their own horns but who are blowing it too loudly. I thought a lot and I realized what the fire meant.

A fire is only alive as long as it burns. And just when I'm about to put it out, someone comes along with a gallon of fuel. Ugh.

09.30.10
Day 205: Upwords

Theme: Chakra Element - Thought.
I think, therefore I am.

10.01.10
Day 206: Hear My Photo

Theme: Chakra Element - Sound.
One of the things I want to achieve is to be able to communicate sound through a photograph. Am I successful in doing so? Did I make you cringe?

10.02.10
Day 207: Ako Ay May Lobo

Theme: Chakra Element - Air.
A brass sculpture mixed with color-saturated glass balloons by the greatness that is Michael Cacnio. How I wish I could own at least one of his works.

See more of his Balloons series here.

10.03.10
Day 208: God Is Light

Theme: Chakra Element - Light/Dark.
And in Him there is no darkness at all.

"Teach me to trust in You with all of my heart
To lean not on my own understanding
Coz I just forget
You won't give me what I can't bear."
--- Take Me Out Of The Dark, Gary V.