Me on Photography

Since I was in grade school, I already loved taking pictures. But I didn't realize it until I started traveling. So I could say that my interest in photography formally started when I sensed how much I love seeing the world, and that was way before the digital era. Being a student that time I couldn't boast nor share my fondness with this art because mainly I couldn't afford it. Not just the equipment itself but the time and money to be spent on developing and producing a magnificent shot. And secondly, that time photography wasn't much of a money making business, hence, people thought of it as a waste of money either as a profession or a hobby.

It has been more than 10 years and now I can say that I could already save up for a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR). But the thing is, right now I won't. Of course money is still a consideration. There are more important things that I should buy right now. However, it's more of the hesitation to join the bandwagon. Everyone's into it and God forgive me, not all of them are good.

Okay, I should stop picking on these in denial people before they call me bitter, because I am not. And I'm not saying that I am good either. So anyway, I'll just share some old pictures I've taken using the good old film camera. I wish I could find more of these.

SANGBAY FALLS (Burgos, Pangasinan)

VIEW FROM THE PEAK (Hong Kong)




OAHU BEACH (Hawaii)




WANDERING ALBATROSS (San Francisco Bay)




GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE (San Francisco)

What 2009 Taught Me

Finally I have the time to write again. It has been a long time since I last played with the keyboard this way and it still feels good.

Last year was a roller coaster ride for me. Test of friendship, knowing the difference between stress and burn out, the power of gossiping and so on and so forth…So anyway, I wrote down the things I learned from my life journey last year. Some may sound vague, but for the people who know me well would surely understand what I mean…

1. Some people still find it hard to believe that a man and a woman can be too close or hang out together and are really, really just friends…Just emotionally involved but not romantically inclined.

2. There are friends who can actually love you and stab you at the same time.

3. I have three sets of friends: True friends - those who know everything about me but love me anyway and that despite the absence and distance, nothing seems to have changed when we’re together again; Everyday friends - those people I see almost everyday and have become special, but don’t know everything about me, and; The Hang-out friends - those people who can give me a good laugh and rarely with dull moments, but I’m actually not sure how far they would go for me.

4. God would not let me face something or even someone I couldn’t handle. And He’ll take me far away (even if it has to be overseas) if things already seem too much to bear.

5. Monsters are everywhere. No matter how much I want to turn my back, I still have to face them eventually.

6. It’s not enough that you’re good, it also matters if you’re likeable.

7. When someone tell you that you’re his friend, it doesn’t necessarily mean that HE IS a friend.

8. One day you’ll just wake up and say “Mama’s right.”

9. The saying that happiness is something money cannot buy is not entirely true, because most often than not, money is the necessary means that leads to one’s happiness.

10. Being single at 30 shouldn’t be difficult. It’s just the people around us that make us feel that it is some kind of a chronic disease that needs special and immediate attention, otherwise we are doomed forever.

I just realized, these aren’t just the things I learned from 2009. The list is actually like a vague summary of last year. Hmmm...

This Is Me

A couple of years ago, two of my friends (Edel & Bok) came up with their own lists of the mottos and quotes they live by, if I remember it right they call it “Mga Panuntunan sa Buhay”. Finally, I came up with my own. Most of them are original so I hope it makes sense.

1. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Until then, stop complaining. (partly original)

2. You always have to be in the know. It’s better to be hurt and angry knowing the truth than be happy with lies. However, when it comes to other people’s lives, the lesser you know the better, and the lesser you talk, the more peaceful your life would be.

3. If your friend takes you for granted, that’s better than stabbing you in the back. True friends stab you in the front.

4.The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget. (not mine)

5. A true friend is patient but it doesn’t mean it’s limitless. If he takes you back, then it’s all good. If he doesn’t, it does not mean he’s a bad friend, it only means his part is over.

6. If people talk about you negatively, live in such a way that no one will believe them. (not mine)

7. Anger is one letter short of danger. (not mine)

8. It’s normal to have a misunderstanding with a friend, but if you’ve had misunderstadings with all of your friends, then there’s something wrong with you. (Normal na magkatampuhan sa kaibigan pero kung lahat nakatampuhan mo na, ikaw na ang problema)

9. Everyone is unique. Everyone grew up in a different environment. Everyone was raised by different people. In short, huwag hanapin ang ugali mo sa ibang tao.

10. To be a good liar you have to remember two things: 1) you have to have a good memory; 2) you’re trusting the right people and you know where their loyalty is. (partly original)

11. If a person you just met talks negatively about his friends, beware because most likely he can do the same to you.

12. You cannot pull someone up when he’s not even trying to help himself (D mo matutulungan ang taong hindi tinutulungan ang sarili nila). Just the same, you will never move on if you’re not even trying.

13. Just do your best and God will do the rest. If despite the efforts you continuously fail, be ready to accept the fact that maybe it’s not meant to be. (partly original)

14. Everything has a reason, sometimes it’s just hard to decipher the signs. Just keep an open eye and an open mind, it’s there.

15. If at the back of your mind something is telling you that something isn’t right, listen hard because it will make sense sooner or later.

16. Tests of friendship include:

a. Having new sets of friends

b. Time

c. Rumors

17. Love means compromise. (not mine)

18. Lying is a basic human nature, it’s the frequency that makes it annoying. (partly original)

19. If a child messed up his life, you can blame his family and environment. If an adult has been miserable for a long time, that’s free will.

20. Don’t spend more than what you earn.(not mine)

21. It’s instinct to protect a friend but sometimes you have to let them stumble and fall for them to learn. Afterwards, you can just tell him, “I told you so”.

22. You are responsible for how the world treats you. If you don’t like what you’re getting, change what you’re doing. It’s up to you to teach people how would you like to be treated.(not mine)

23. If you refuse to let go of the things that make you sad, then it’s going to be hard for you to be happy.(partly original)

24. It doesn’t matter how nice you are, there will just be a time that you will just discover that you’ve been walking around with a knife stuck in your back.

25. Do not choose your acquaintances because you will learn to be flexible. Choose your friends because life is not easy, but you need true ones to make you strong