Dina's Debut

We took Dina (my new cam) to her first assignment, to shoot a wedding. A discovery: Sweet Pea takes  better photos than I do. She took the best and sharpest photos of the night :)

Paco Park Manila. I thought I was supposed to be the cord sponsor,  it turned out it was just my imagination.  I was really the candle sponsor and I had to give the cord back :)

The three musketeers - Marvin, Glen, and Rah.

The newlyweds Myra Alas and Lucky Cornel. Congratulations and best wishes!

The Reception was at a 7107 Islands Luxury Cruise Ship, Pier 6, North Harbor, Manila

Portrait of Sweet Pea,. I was also  trying capture a "bokeh." 

Pier 6 North Harbor view from our ship. Sweet Pea took this photo. She's walking tripod. Sharp even at a long shutter speed handheld. I tried to replicate this but failed miserably. Nice steady hands Sweet Pea :)

Dina didn't fail us. She delivered beyond our expectations... 

Ciao.

-Rah

The Unboxing of Dina

It started with just a wish as I couldn't afford one. But after months of saving up,  just around my birthday and Christmas, I join DSLR owners and Nikon users with the arrival of my new camera.

It was long debate, a good 6 months or so on what camera to buy. The debate intensifies every time prices get better and better. One of the main issues of course is  the great divide between Canon and Nikon. It's an issue every new dslr buyer has to resolve for himself. One has to consider that he is buying a whole system not just a single camera. 

I chose Nikon in the end for two main reasons:

First, most of my friends and relatives who own a dslr shoot Nikon. I can learn from them. I can also borrow lenses from them.

Second, the camera felt great in my hands. I like the way the buttons and dials find their way to my fingers.

So far I am very pleased with the results. It has exceeded my expectations. DLSRs are easy to use now a days compared before. 

Now... how do you power this on?

The lens supposed to go here right? Now... is it clockwise
or counterclockwise?

Now that I have the lens on, how to do I remove this
lens cap? Clockwise or counter? Hmm...

Now for the strap, jeez... sweet pea do you know
how to do this?

Point and click. There there.

I am having fun taking lots of photos with my new cam. I'm learning everyday.

Photocredit: Sweet Pea.

Credits: cseamus for letting me borrow his Nikon film style cam.

The Birth of "Dina" the Camera

I dub her as "Dina!" Her birthday is officially December 4, 2010, 4:00pm.
This  was the first picture she's ever taken (below).  Dina's second shot was an all black photo. By covering the lens, the seller wanted to prove there were no dead pixels. She's so fresh out of the box.

This was Dina's very first creative shot featuring Bimby the dog (above). Bimby seemed to have been hypnotized by an isaw.

Dina is definitely better than any point and shoot I have ever tried. Her colors are accurate. Sharpness. Oh yes she's very sharp. I promise to love you with tender loving care Dina. [O]

Theft

My favorite book ever is  Taxation Law Reviewer by Master Balbas. The notorious professor who eats his students whole. He's the hardest  and most taxing professor in Shaolin Temple like school and passing his subject is an accomplishment on its own.

But I will not see my favorite book again. My book, my watch, my voice recorder, notebooks and umbrella were all inside my new bag (gift from Sweet Pea) when it was stolen two (2) days ago in McDonalds Lepanto. Since my mailman bag seemed like a laptop bag, the thief probably thought I had some expensive computer with me. My book and notebooks are all priceless and definitely more valuable than a laptop.

Guys, always be extra careful when eating in McDonalds Lepanto corner Recto. It is not a safe place. Their guards, managers, and crew are always inattentive, lost, and ignorant. Most of all, their close circuit camera and tv are inutile. Walang kwenta, dehins gumagana, japeks, fake, dummy lang.

So guys, now we know.

Unfortunately, this incident will be charged (oh how expensive) to my experience. We must always presume that the jologs looking people in Manila are ALL  robbers, thieves, and potential criminals. I know, "every man is presumed innocent until proven guilty," but lets just assume otherwise. We become "safer" that way.

Lastly, let us review the elements of the crime of Theft.

Under the first paragraph of Article 308 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, we must prove the following essential elements beyond reasonable doubt to prosecute the crime of Theft.

1. It is a taking of a personal property;
2. The property belongs to another person;
3. The taking was done with intent to gain;
4. The taking was done without the owners consent;
5. The taking is accomplished without violence or intimidation against person or force upon things.


For the thief who stole my black Girbaud bag, potahena, I hope your balls get smashed! Crime doesn't pay. You may get away now, but you will eventually get caught. And when that time comes, I will laugh loud, and will throw a street party. Remember, "what goes around comes around."

It's useless to feel bad for the loss of my favorite book now. Good thing I can still replace what was taken from me, although expensive and hassle. It's just that sentimental value, it's priceless.

Lucky Birthday

siopao debut

For many many years now, I usually feel melancholy blues during my birthday season, but this year it did not happen. Yes!

On the eve of my birthday, Sweet pea and I made Siopao. We bought the ingredients and followed the recipe. I admire Sweetpea's skill in following measurements to the letter.  It's a skill I don't have. I usually just estimate the ingredients and ruin the meal. But for my part, I helped knead the dough , wrap the asado in the siopao bun, and steam the siopao.

While waiting for the siopao to cook, we scratched the instant lotto scratch cards we bought that night using our lucky coin. We won 100 Pesos! I'm quite lucky this year. I'm saying that, not just because I always win in instant scratch cards, but this year, a lot of fortunate events really happened to me.

At 12 am,  November 25,  I opened my gift from Sweetpea :) She gave me a really cool camera bag, a very pretty one I should say :) Now if I can just put an actual camera in my new cam bag. :) I haven't bought the camera yet. It seems all the stores have run out of stock.

Thank you Sweetpea for making my day very special :*

Jeez, I'm old. Yes! :)

.

Birthday Balloon

Last Thursday was my birthday. I'm old. I'm not cute anymore. Sad.

I wasn't expecting any gift from my parents last Thursday, but what my mom brought home was really sweet. No, it's not anything expensive, it was a balloon in a shape of a fish, knowing that I like fish :)

She thought she bought a fish shaped balloon, but when she got home, she realized that it's more of a shape of  helicopter. It really made my day. She's so funny.

Birthday

Yey! Birthday ko na! :) punta kayo sa bahay namin sa sunday 8:00pm magpapakain ako at magpapainom :) Serious to.

PiggyBank

I want a nikon camera

Two (2) days to go before my birthday! :) You are invited to our house for an eat all you can treat.

I opened my piggybank last night to check my savings and wow, isn't that a lot of cash. I can survive a year with this stash. I was thinking, "is it right to spend all of this money on a new camera?" I am starting to think twice. Parting with money like this will hurt.

Six (6) months ago, I just wanted a cheap point and shoot,  but now with the flourishing of the imagination,  so much choices, overlapping features, and price increments of just  a couple of hundreds to step up to the next higher model,  it has come to a point of confusion. I know I should not buy anything I cannot afford, but I should not haste on an important decisions either. I am not planning to upgrade my camera for the next 10 years. That's why I am not taking this lightly.

It is hard when you have to base an important decision on  reason and intuition. I need a clear mind.  "Just do it" should be checked by "When in doubt - don't," or maybe I should just wait a bit.

The Death of NU 107

N.U. 107.5 is dead. Fewer listeners equals fewer advertisers equals fewer income. That's why if you turn your radio dial to 107.5 what you will hear is a corny jokester station playing baduy-style music.

Fortunes change, that is true with radio stations. It wasn't NU's time to die yet, but  it lost its appeal because it failed to reinvent itself. NU forgot the rock scene is evolving - it is just  not about the heavy metal sounds and emo-people anymore. NU thought their formula had been done that way for many years therefore it must be good and should stay the same. Wrong.

Maybe it was also NU's neglect of the local music scene. There are so many upcoming Filipino artists, yet NU gave them very little airtime and recognition. No new talent spawned. That's why you will notice that in NU rock awards the same bands win every year. To maintain its "sosyal" image,  NU chose to give more airtime to foreign bands that were simply  too bland for the taste of  pinoys.

Shame on its management for converting NU to a cheapster baduy radio in the tradition of "kailangan pa bang imemorize yan." But then again, we can't blame them. As investors, they care about profit more than art. Maybe it is time to realize that "the home of new rock" is just old  and has lost its being "rock." NU is dead, what can we do? Nothing. That's life, sometimes we die.

My First Attempt on Photoshop

Only seven (7) days to go before my birthday. Since I am planning to buy my  first camera, I figured out I need to learn a new skill. Yes - Photoshop!

Here it is, my first attempt to learn it. (sorinaman! oo na! ikaw na magaling :-) I still have a long way to go though.

I tried to recreate the "magazine" effect. The left picture is the original photo. The right is the "photoshoped" version. I need a mentor. I still have a lot to learn. We'll take it one day at a time. ^_^V

Photocredit: Sweetpea.

Break a Leg

Two days ago, I went to Quiapo to visit a famed camera shop that was said to be offering the best deals for cameras. You see, it's my birthday next week and even though I did not have the money yet, I wanted to check on the best camera deals around. I took the train from Anonas to Recto and from Recto, I transfered to line 1 from D. Jose to Carriedo.

In the D. Jose station platform, the next train was approaching. When the train doors opened, the train car was full, but this certain girl insisted herself inside but couldn't do so. After a few seconds, the warning buzzer activated and the train door started closing. Since she cannot get her self in, she stepped back. When she stepped back, her right foot got caught and was trapped between the  platform edge and the side of the  train.

Since I was the closest person to her, I held her back to prevent her further fall. I yelled at the guard  to stop the train. I gently pulled her back to untangle her trapped leg. In a matter of a split second, suddenly, everyone was trying to help including the guards. Realizing that she's already safe, I quietly stepped back and allowed the people to do the rest of the rescue.

She probably won't remember me. I probably won't remember her either. I just felt really happy that nothing bad happened to her and that I did what I could.

You know, looking back, I realized that maybe angels are not those mythical naked babies with wings. Maybe, angels are those special kindness in our hearts that do not expect anything in return.

Birthday Wish

My birthday is coming up and my wish for this year is to buy self a new Nikon D90. My love for photos started when I got intrigued with people having photographic memory.  Photos are frozen memories. I want to remember everything. Since memory is not my strength,  the best camera I can buy will surely be a lifelong  investment.

It has been six months since I first dreamed of a Nikon D90 for my birthday. My birthday is ten (10) days from now. I have saved some money but honestly, it is not even close to the purchase price of my camera.

I can take more time and buy my camera after my birthday, but that would have already killed the excitement. To tell you the truth, sometimes I am tempted to buy the downgraded cheaper version of my camera which is the D5000, but that is not the camera that I want.

Being in the right time at the right place creates magic and enchantment. That's I what I want. That's what I need. I want to create that one magical enchanted experience. My birthday. My camera. My moment.

I know. I just can't afford my camera right now -- but I'm still waiting for a miracle.

Death of Fish

I just so happened to have maintained a small community of fish. A mix of sword-tails, mollies, janitor fish and kataba. That's all in the past tense now because right at this moment - they are all dead.  At the rate of one (1) casualty fish per day, they all...slowly... perished. Something killed all of my fish. I don't know what, but I did everything I can to save them. I bought all fish meds, did water changes, turned on all oxygen sources. I did what I can and by golly I'll do it again.

I don't know why I care so much about these fish. Fish don't show emotions. Fish are never loyal. They are "atheists" so to speak. They are just there for display. They are just trying to survive, just trying to get along.

Maybe it's because of ownership - the feeling that they "belong" to me. Maybe it's because I want to play god - I want them to depend on me just like how we depend on God.

Could it be that I was partly to blame for their death? If so - I killed them. God killed them.

On Direction

 It's about direction, not necessarily speed.

Wind is often described by two characteristics: wind speed and wind direction. Wind speed is the velocity attained by a mass of air traveling horizontally through the atmosphere. Wind speed is often measured with an anemometer in kilometers per hour (kmph), miles per hour (mph), knots, or meters per second (mps)  Wind direction is measured as the direction from where a wind comes from. For example, a southerly wind comes from the south and blows to the north. Direction is measured by an instrument called a wind vane. Both of these instruments are positioned in the atmospheric environment at a standard distance of 10 meters above the ground surface.

It's about direction, not necessarily speed.



http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7n.html

Pedagogy

I passed by the grades school corridors and found a bulletin board dedicated to teaching students how to study. I just wish my teachers taught this to me when was in grade school . I would have been a better student.

1. Manage your time.

2. Study Actively

3. Make a Study Outline

4. Consider ways of studying

5. Stop when you feel confident.

Climbing Mt. Pulag

"It's very important in life that we keep on challenging ourselves. It is very important to keep on adding value to ourselves. It's very important to keep on sharpening the saw. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. "

It was the fifth of December last year when Sweet Pea and I endeavored  to climb the highest mountain in Luzon. We saved our allowances for a month and joined Travel Factor for an expedition of a lifetime.

Major jump-off: Ambangeg, Kabayan, Benguet

Level and days required: Level 3, 3-5 days
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 3

Mt. Pulag is the second highest mountain in the Philippines, the highest being Mt. Apo. It is considered to be the playground of the gods.

Preparing our backpacks with mountaineering essentials, tent, food, camping gear...

 

Meet up at a certain bus station in Cubao. Destination... Baguio.

In Baguio, a chartered jeep was waiting for us to bring us to the  Ranger Station, another three hour journey in winding roads of the mountain province.

In the DENR Protected Area Station, climbers get to be oriented on the history of Mt. Pulag, the do's and don'ts, and what to do in times of emergencies.

If you get to the summit of Mt. Pulag, you get to leave something at the "memory lane" corner of the ranger station. The Ranger Station is another three hours of uphill rough roads from the DENR Protected Area Office...

The trek begins.

Camp two. Setting up our tent.

Off to the peak! Checking on our night gears. We have to trek at night to get to the peak before sun rise. At this point, we had very little clue what to expect.

It was extremely cold. There was literally ice on our wet jackets. It was -3 degrees and I am not kidding you.

Summit oh yes, 1.5 KM nalang! wooohoo..

We are very thankful to Chips Delight. We don't know what it is made out of,  but it gave us the extra boost we needed. Hungry, tired, sleepy... Chips Delight saved us. We would not have made it without Chips Delight. Only Chips Delight will do! Now, Chips Delight send us more of that stuff! :)

Tay, Ma, Ryan (my brother) Anje (my sister) WE MADE IT at the TOP of Mt. Pulag! This climb is dedicated to my family.

Finally, we reached the peak before sun rise.  Here you see, the sun is about to rise above the clouds. It an astonishing sight.

There there... breath-taking. This is life. I live for this kind of things - the beauty and drama. Of course you have to make sacrifices if you want to reach the top. More than 14 hours of travel time by bus, jeep, and by foot is no-joke.

This is my favorite photo. I didn't even know I have taken this very unique pic until I've reviewed my photo folder again days after.

Look at the clouds. We are above the clouds, like a sea of cotton candy. I fancy swimming/flying in there!

The trail back to camp was still astounding! I never expected the  grassland trail to be golden as this.

As a proof you made it to the summit, you get to leave your picture at the Ranger station's memory lane.

Bucket List:
1. Climb a mountain.-DONE!
2. xxx

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea

September 25, 2010

Dear Sweet Pea,

Happy Birthday!

I know, it rained on your birthday and a lot of our friends were not able to come to the little party we prepared. We got stranded in Espana for hours, the streets were all flooded. But all is well that ends well, we were able to pull it off anyway together with Vincent, Anje, Ace, and Angel, (we already know who our true friends are *wink).

I was pretty glad that I did not buy that watch that I was supposed to give you as present. I was glad I secretly learned that it was not your type. So, instead, we spent the money on a shopping spree. You got to choose your gift(s) and we both enjoyed the experience. On your special day, someone also gave you  very lucky charm bracelets that are suppose to keep you very lucky for as long as they can. Remember that it is very important that you do not let anyone wear those but you. The lady whom the bracelets were bought from performed secret rituals to summon the lucky spirits to be in those bracelets :)

There's just one thing I don't like about birthdays, and that is - we have to get older. I kinda wish we don't have to get older so we can live together forever. But if birthdays mean we have to get old, It would be my pleasure to grow old with you. heart heart xoxo. Rah.

TapsiTurvy

When I woke up this morning and saw kitchen appliances, plate stacks and other food servers crowding our house, I felt sad. I instantly knew what it meant: My dad's Tapsi Diner has folded.

The business was not that bad, really. It was managed by my ever so industrious sister. The place was conveniently  located on a busy road near a school.  The food was made out of secret ingredients and spices making diners come back for more. The service was fast and friendly. It was my dad's latest business endeavor, but before it can even hit its first year, it had to fold because of swelling cost of running it.

I felt sad for my dad and my sister who really pulled a lot of resources and effort to keep it alive. One problem was the location. Because it was in Antipolo, far from where we live, it was hard to keep an eye on. But most of all, I think there's a lot of improvement needed on the  logistics and accounting side of the business.
  

 

 This was the diner's set up, Silog diner inside and outside there was a cart that serves dim sum and burgers.

(pardon the faulty date)

Panda and Sweet Pea just enjoying the food.

The diner serves home cooked style tasty meals.

The best seller of all, the famous longsilog.

Every business has a life span, but while the diner did not last very long,  we sure learned a lot about the in and outs of the food business.

Meet My New Pet

Our house is like a small zoo. We have a dog, rabbit, hamster, love birds, gold fish, arowana, etc. 0_0

Meet my new pet, his name is Steve. 

I think he's such a pussy! His favorite song? - I Want to Break Free by Queen, and I'm Coming Out by Diana Ross. For Christ's sake, he should face his fears! Most of us crucify ourselves between two thieves - regret for the past, and the fear of the future. 

Bird Poop

Weeks ago Sweet Pea and I got home and stumbled upon this - a pigeon. Not only did the pigeon make tambay (naks sosi) at the apartment,  it also brought us something -- a message probably?  No it's bird poop.

Look Boo, it is a good sign!

I told Sweet Pea, Hon... we are very lucky. This is a sign of good omen. I saw something like this in the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. This is a sign of good things to come. We got water and some crackers and left it under the table where the bird can see it. We hid from a distance and watched the bird made tuka the crackers and water. We even tried to scare the bird away so that it will fly out of the apartment so that it can join its friends, but no, it stayed, and made tambay for the night.  Days after that incident, we tried our luck by purchasing some lotto scratch cards and, believe it or not, we won a series of 20 to 300 pesos. That money we won - I always keep it in my wallet. I always refer to it as "my lucky peso bills." I even wrote the date and that fact on the bill itself! That's just one of the things that lucky bird brought.. I believe in luck. Luck can be acquired and can be created.  I don't believe in bad luck, though. I think there is no such thing as bad luck - only lost opportunities.

Now tell us Mr. pigeon,  what kind of present did you bring us?

Justice for the Victims of the Bar Salubong Bombing.

My father, my sister, sweet pea and I visited Raissa at PGH last Saturday. We brought her white roses and an  inspirational book entitled "Blessing in Disguise." Earlier last Thursday, Sweet Pea and I also visited Rainer our friend who was also one of the victims. We also planned of visiting JoKat but we were informed that she was not yet in a stable condition.

I really admire Raissa's  spirit - her condition is not easy. As you must have known, both of her legs had to be amputated because of that senseless bombing that happened while they were cheering for the barristers on the last day of the bar exams. We did not stay long. When we got there, it was almost past visiting hours. We knew that it had been a long day for her and that she also needed time to rest. She appreciated our visit and bid our farewells. As we left her room, I silently prayed that may Raissa, Ram, JoKat and all of the victims of this malevolent senseless incident get the justice they deserve.

 It will probably take a long time before I can get over the trauma of that bombing incident. Although I wasn't there at the site, I know a lot of the victims and could have been victims of that tragic day. For this, I vowed not to participate in any school activity that involves crowds forever. I think I should get counseling on this. Times like these, I also get reminded that there is really more to life than what meets the eye.  Life is too short -- there's so much we can appreciate in  life - every bit of it, no matter what, no matter how hard it gets.


*pic from raissa's tweeter.