[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.

[Project 297] Week 29

09.20.10
Day 195: Dreams Do Come True

Spent the entire day in a land of tomorrow, of adventure and of fantasy. We originally planned to visit Disneyland on a weekend. But according to Franz's officemate, it wasn't the best idea coz it could get crowded during weekends. Good thing we took her advice. Didn't have to wait in line for most of the attractions. Hihi.

We first tried Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters ride. It's an interactive ride where you go on a space mission to defeat Evil Emperor Zurg and his minions. Using a hand-held laser blaster, you shoot lit targets and rack up points. I reached level 5 so that makes me a Ranger 1st Class. Hehe. It was a lot of fun, we should've ridden the ride over and over!

Saw some people entering the Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy so we decided to check it out. The staff warned us that it's a rollercoaster ride and I never thought it could get that thrilling. It is a wild rollercoaster ride through a galaxy filled with ghostly images and skull-shaped nebulae. For me, it was scarier than Enchanted Kingdom's Space Shuttle because the track was barely visible and I didn't know what to expect. We plunged in a series of tight turns and sudden bumps; Felt a little lightheaded when we got off.

Chose to get on a slower and gentler ride. It's A Small World is a boat ride through a collection of singing dolls representing kids from around the world. The colorful display was pretty amazing. There was even a small bahay kubo with dolls singing, "Kay liit lang ng mundo, ang mundo natin..." Left this ride with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Ahihi.

We then jumped into Winnie the Pooh's hunny pot and joined him (her?) on his (her?) many adventures. Sorry, I'm still a bit confused with its sexuality. Haha. It is another slow-moving ride with a story to tell. Really didn't understand the story coz I was busy taking pictures of the sculpted figures, which all turned out blurry. Haha.

Watched Mickey's PhilharMagic, which is a 4D film filled with a whirlwind of magic and music. The film revolves around Donald Duck trying on Mickey's Sorcerer's Hat, the magical instruments coming to life, Donald losing the hat and passing through scenes from The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Aladdin, etc. while trying to get it back. The effects and the surround sound feature of the theater made it all the more engaging.

Attended an awards show called "The Golden Mickeys" where golden Mickeys are awarded for different categories. The dialogues among Bebe, Mickey and Minnie are in Chinese. Though there's a screen on the right side of the stage showing English subtitles, I really didn't care about what they were talking about. Hehe. The show featured performances from Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Woody, Jessie, Quasimodo, Tarzan, General Li, Mulan, Lilo, Stitch, Sebastian, Belle, and the Beast. Whew, that was quite a list.

It started to drizzle so we rode a raft and rushed to Tarzan's Treehouse. It's a walking tour past scenes from Tarzan's life. From the time Kala adopted him to the time he lived with Jane. It started to rain real hard and we got stuck in Adventureland. Had to purchase raincoats so we could continue walking. At $45 HKD, it wasn't a welcome expense. Boo.

Headed back to the Main Street to do some shopping. Had I not given myself a shot of tranquilizer, I could've gone crazy with all the Mickey Mouse stuff around me! Haha. With no signs of the rain letting up, we decided to call it a day. Don't think the parade and the fireworks would still push through because of the bad weather. Major major bummer. But it was a super fun day nonetheless! :)

More pictures here!

"Gusto kong magpunta sa Disney
Magwi-wish ako kay Genie
Para maka-jam si Mickey
Sa Disney, Disney, Disney!"
--- Disney, Tanya Markova

09.21.10
Day 196: Back To The Grind

We'll be back in Manila in couple of hours. Tomorrow I'll be back to the grind, tackling this crazy thing they call work. Why are vacations always TOO short?!

More pictures here!

09.22.10
Day 197: Full Moon

Theme: Bilog Ang Mundo.
There's nothing like the brilliance of a full moon on a cloudless night. Took this shot while I was walking down our street. The street lights weren't working so I only had the moon to light my way. Unfortunately, that's the farthest my lens could reach. With the moon looking just like a blob of bright light. Boohoo.

09.23.10
Day 198: Donut Buy

Theme: Bilog Ang Mundo.
I just slept all day and wasn't able to eat anything for lunch or dinner. Just bought this donut from the MRT station and this would be my first bite for the day. Hmm, wonder what our free food for tonight would be.

09.24.10
Day 199: Bucketful Of Sunshine

A bucket of plush toys for my inaanak! Sophie, pwede arbor nung Mickey? Wehe. :P

09.25.10
Day 200: Sophie's World

Attended Sophie's Christening at Christ the King. We almost didn't make it because of the traffic. (Fine, because I woke up late too. Hehe.) Was able to catch the candle lighting part of the ceremony. Better late than later, right? Hehe. The reception followed at Buma Seafood Restaurant in Tiendesitas. I so love the mini fondant cake that they gave out as souvenir! Yummy! =P~

Dearest Sophie, welcome to the Christian world! Sending hugs and kisses your way! XOXO! (Highschool?!) Nyaha.

09.26.10
Day 201: Gumballs

Theme: Bilog Ang Mundo.
And it started raining gumballs...

[Project 297] Week 28

09.13.10
Day 188: Do I Look Weird?

Theme: Weird.
They say toys are for kids. And I beg to disagree. Coz at my age, I still enjoy buying toys. Action figures in particular. Not to be played with but to be displayed in a shelf and looked at.

I love my Pinky Street collection. I have my Super Mario Brothers, my Simpsons family, and of course Mickey Mouse and his Disney friends. I also have action figures that aren't famous characters, which I buy either because they look really cute or really weird. Like these two weird-looking kids. Good thing I dunno anyone who look like them. Hmm... On second thought, I think I do. Nyaha.

09.14.10
Day 189: A Good Kill

I kill mosquitoes using an electric racket. I especially love the little sparks and the loud cracking noise they make before they explode and turn to dust.

While trying to get some sleep, I saw this mosquito flying low across my monitor. It is one of those striped mosquitoes believed to be Dengue carriers. The racket wasn't within reach so I relied on my Jedi-like reflexes for the kill. Pak! Now i'm gonna get my racket, pick this tiny little devil and drop it to its electrifying death. Burn, you @#$%&*!

Derick, this kill is for you! Hehe. ;)

09.15.10
Day 190: Weird Taste

Theme: Weird.
When I posted what I had for breakfast a couple of weeks ago, many commented on how weird it was, or I was for that matter.

I bet you've tried dipping your fries in vanilla sundae and drowning your pizza with ranch dressing. That's kinda weird but it tastes good, right? Try butter and sugar sandwich, cheese and sugar sandwich, peanut butter and butter sandwich, and peanut butter and banana sandwich. How about mixing Coke with Sprite and Royal with Sprite? I've yet to try Rootbeer with Sprite but I think it will go well together too. I eat corned beef, tocino, longganisa, chicken and ginisang ampalaya with mayo. But I don't like to spread mayo on bread.

Who you calling weird?!

09.16.10
Day 191: All Packed Up

After having second thoughts about pushing through with this trip because of the hostage crisis that left eight Hong Kong nationals dead... All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go! ^_^

09.17.10
Day 192: Hong Kong Misadventure

Wasn't able to get some decent sleep. Stocked up on the ZZZs while on the road, while waiting at the airport and on the plane.

We landed at around 6:30pm, ten minutes earlier than the ETA. To get to our hotel, the instruction was to ride an A21 bus coz it'll stop right in front of Burlington. Pretty simple. When a bus stopped in front of the A21 signboard, we immediately grabbed our bags and hopped on. It was too late when we realized that it was an A22 bus. Toink.

Told the person sitting right next to us that we got on the wrong bus and that we're headed to Tsim Sha Tsui. Asked where we could get off but she wasn't able to give us a clear answer. She told our problem to her family and began discussing it among themselves. It seemed like we're getting farther and farther away from our destination. Lagot na.

When the bus stopped at Park Island, all four of them were talking really loud. Panic mode kung panic mode. We later realized that they were talking to us. Haha. Apparently, they saw a line of taxis and were instructing us to ride one. We've no plans of burning cash for a cab but we got off anyway.

Asked a guard for directions and he told us that we could ride a bus to Kwai Fong and from there we could take the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui. Whew, sana pala nag-MTR na lang kami from the airport. Nyaha.

09.18.10
Day 193: Explore Hong Kong

Our first stop was the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery - a Buddhist temple located in Sha Tin. To reach the temple, we had to climb 431 steep steps lined with a variety of golden statues. Was kinda creeped out with the thought of them coming to life at night. Hehe. But I kinda enjoyed spotting some statues with funny looking faces and weird poses. One looked like Pipoy, one was a little conservative and one was openly gay. Hehe. When we reached the temple, it was worth all the effort. Everything was designed with such intricate details. The walls inside the temple were covered with around 12,000+ little golden buddhas from floor to ceiling. And it is interesting to note that no two Buddhas are the same. On our way down, there was a couple of Buddhist monks standing by the foot of the stairs. Hmm, so they could come to life even when the sun is still up. Hehe.

Next stop was the Avenue of Stars at Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. It is an attraction similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Except for Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, all the other names were unknown to me. :/

We then looked for the Clock Tower, one of the famous landmarks in Hong Kong. First noticed the colorful lanterns displayed on a pool of water. Later realized that we were already at the clock tower. Sayang, could've taken a better shot of the tower with its reflection on the reflecting pool. Ala Taj Mahal. But the lanterns were pretty cute and photogenic too so who's complaining? Hehe.

Jumped on a ferry going to Central to start our quest for Noah's Ark. Aside from the giant replica of the ark, there's also a museum and a park inside. Watched a short film about the Great Flood as recorded in the Bible. How God punished the people for worshiping worldly gods and how He saved those who believed in Him through Noah. Another film was about climate change and the possibility of another Great Flood in our time.

The ark was really an impressive sight. But I was more amused with the collection of various ark figurines displayed in one of the exhibit halls. Taking photos was prohibited but when I saw this Precious Moments themed figurine, I just had to take its picture! See how cute it is?

Last stop: The Peak. There was a long queue when we arrived at The Peak Tram. Good thing it was fast moving. They say it is a scenic ride but we sat on the wrong side of the tram. All I saw were walls, walls and more walls. Hehe. Went straight to Madame Tussauds, which houses wax statues of famous personalities. The wax figures looked unbelievably real. I may not see Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp in person, but their wax counterparts were good enough for me.

We then climbed the Sky Terrace, which is the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong. The wind was blowing hard that it seemed like my eyeballs were getting blown away too. I swear, I was always looking straight at the camera but whenever I preview the picture, my eyes are always kinda looking somewhere else. Haha.

More pictures here.

09.19.10
Day 194: Explore Hong Kong II

Went to Ngong Ping, which is located in Lantau Island. To reach the island, we rode a cable car from Tung Chung station. I first wanted to get the crystal cabin that's equipped with a glass bottom to experience the ride with a bird's eye-view. But because of the price difference, we later decided against it. Got the standard cabin instead, which was actually a good choice since most of what we saw were just mountain tops.

Ngong Ping village is a cultural themed village. The structures, the activities, everything boasts of the area's rich culture. I love the architectural design of the temple. Even the roof and the columns were teeming with details.

First entered the Monkey's Tale Theater. It was a funny film about greed, gluttony and friendship. Good thing the characters didn't have any dialogues and their actions were enough to tell the story.

We then followed Buddha's path to enlightenment in Walking with Buddha where we followed the life of Siddhartha Gautama. The interior of the place was very nice. Too bad cameras weren't allowed. :(

Walked at the Piazza, which is some sort of a link to all the tourist attractions in Ngong Ping. The Giant Buddha is situated atop Ngong Ping plateau. Braved the 268 steps to reach the platform where the Buddha is seated. When we reached the top, there were six devas surrounding the Buddha. Here's a 7th deva offering a mango passion fruit juice. Hehe. From the top we saw the Po Lin Monastery, which was our next destination.

Just like the 10,000 Buddhas monastery, it also has a colorful exterior and interior. If only I could capture every detail on my lens. Hehe.

According to Franz's officemate, we could find Jollibee at Central. It is where we went for our late-lunch-slash-early-dinner. Hehe. Felt like I was back in Manila. I could hear a lot of Tagalog. No need to struggle when placing my order in the counter. Hehe. I was craving for Chicken Joy and Jollibee spaghetti. The chicken tastes the same. But the spaghetti was a bit bland. It didn't taste like Jollibee's spaghetti. It just tasted like our neighbor's birthday spaghetti. Hehe.

We then met up with my parents at Sham Shui Po. There weren't much to buy there and they were already closing their stalls so we decided to go to Mong Kok instead where we walked and shopped to our hearts content till our feet hurt.

More pictures here.

[Project 297] Week 27

09.06.10
Day 181: Ambigram

Theme: Upside Down.
You could turn me upside down and inside out. Strip me to the bone if you must. But I won't be phased. I'd still be me.

09.07.10
Day 182: Bakit Baliktad Magbasa Ng Libro Ang Mga Pilipino?

Theme: Upside Down.
We are all proud to be Pinoy everytime Pacquiao beats the hell out of his opponents, everytime a Filipino athlete bags a medal or lands a good spot in any competition. But how many of us refused to be identified as a Filipino after the bloody hostage drama that took place in Manila? How many of us said, "Nakakahiya maging Pilipino" or "Ayoko ng maging Pilipino" after watching the news? As Bob Ong puts it, "Sila ang mga taong de-perdible ang pagka-mamamayan, ikinakabit at tinatanggal, depende sa ihip ng hangin." And more than the bashing of other nationalities, it is us being ashamed to be Filipinos that hurts our country the most.

09.08.10
Day 183: The Thing That Sleeps

Theme: Upside Down.
First morning after working night shift. While most people are getting out of bed, I'm just getting in it. And that very much sounded like a Train song. Hehe. It's difficult to get some shuteye especially when the sun is up. But thanks to my eye mask I could sleep all day long, albeit as Mike Enriquez. Err, The Thing. Hehe.

09.09.10
Day 184: Reflection

Theme: Upside Down.
New World Hotel's reflection in Greenbelt 5's breeding ground for mosquitoes. Hehe.

09.10.10
Day 185: To Die Is Rest

Goodbye to a mentor and a dear friend. Thank you for everything you've taught me, for believing in me, and most especially for the friendship. I know that you're now wrapped in the loving arms of our Creator. And I'm sure all the angels will love you as much as we did. We'll miss you. Rest in peace.

As I'm writing this entry, there's a whiff of flowers in the air. Drew, I know it's you. Hanggang ganyan lang ha? Wag mo akong gugulatin. Hehe.

09.11.10
Day 186: Gloria Maris

Tin just got back from Dubai for a month's vacation. She treated us to a pleasant dinner at Gloria Maris. It's really nice to see old friends again and I really miss hanging out with them. Too bad Roney and Ate Lotis weren't there to join us. Tin, thanks so much for the dinner and the pasalubong! Have a safe trip to Bicol! :)

09.12.10
Day 187: Blizzard Treat

Theme: Upside Down.
My favorite ice cream served upside down! =P~