A Christmas Carol
It is a holiday. Time to tick-off a few from my Christmas list...
First, stopped by
LBC to have my photo entries delivered (well, the instruction per photo contest is that the images should be mailed to them).
Then, went to
Spectra to try the wireless microphone I asked to be repaired. (Note: Should buy a 9V battery.)
Been eyeing that
Pacsafe laptop backpack. So, stopped by
The Travel Club and bought it as my Christmas gift to myself. (wink) Anyway, the Pacsafe products are not included in the promo of The Travel Club on December 4 and 5, 2009.
Finally, went to
The Landmark to buy toys as Christmas gifts for the kids, and have them wrapped.
So, it's movie time while the gifts are being wrapped. Watched Disney's
A Christmas Carol, with the voice of Jim Carrey. Odd... but the Scrooge character kind of looked like Jim Carrey. There were lots of kids in the theater but I don't think the movie is really for kids. Can't pinpoint it...
After which, went to
Bench to buy more gifts, and
Carolina for ribbons. Picked-up my wrapped gifts from The Landmark,
merienda at
Delifrance, before proceeding home.
Not bad... as slowly ticking-off those in my list. c",)
New Moon
After several weekends doing my passion (that is, photography), am back to my weekly haunt--movies! c",)
Decided to watch
The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Based on the novel and sequel to Twilight, Bella is devastated when Edward, a vampire, leaves her for fear of the danger he brings to her life. She then became self-destructive, gaining the attention of Jacob, who have a secret of his own.
After the movie, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
Italianni's. Then, proceeded to relatives... ;)
For Christmas
Have to have things printed in preparation for the opening of our next exhibit on Friday. Thus, went to Ayala Center around lunch time to do my business.
Went to
Fuji in Pasay Road to have the exhibit's opening panel printed in 10R. Then, had lunch at
The Landmark's food court. Since it is Wednesday, bought some groceries with discount. Picked up the images I have printed yesterday at Fuji-Glorietta and went back to The Landmark. This is where I saw The Nativity figurine. Prefer the Holy Family than the Santa Claus, for Jesus is the essence of the season..
Oh! Also bought yesterday a fiber optic Christmas tree for our house.
Thunderbird, Again
This is it!
Borrowed my brother's driver, Manong, for our trip/shoot at
Thunderbird-Rizal.
Left the house around 1PM, stopped by
Ever-Ortigas to buy some water and food, before proceeding to the resort. On the way, saw an accident between a jeepney and a motorcycle.
Upon arriving the resort, rather funny, the security guard at the parking lot remembered me. He even commented that I brought my car. (Took the shuttle before to check out the resort... hehehe!)
The manager also remembered me. Hmmm...
There were already two photographers there, hoping, too, to win the Thunderbird Photo Contest.
Decided not to wait to get dark (to try getting images of the resort at night) because the route we took is steep and lots of zig-zag. In fact, on the way back, saw another accident--between two motorcycles.
Stopped by Ever-Ortigas for
merienda. Also stopped by at
Glorietta to buy a birthday gift for my
inaanak and have dinner at
a Veneto Italiani Ristorante.
Camera, Flowers and a Shoot
Today's the last meeting of the year of our office's camera club. We have Mrs. Edi Huang, Chairwoman of the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, and Mr.
Caz Ferguson, a Fil-Am photographer based in Hawaii. For this month, it was "back to the basics". We have also grouped the members and assigned mentors.
In the afternoon, it would be an Ikebana shoot with the
Tilak Hettige. Mrs. Perez gave the demonstration for the Ikebana and Tilak guided us with the shoot.
Canon Photomarathon 2009
Today is the
Canon Photomarathon 2009 to be held in Tagaytay. Already borrowed my brother's driver, Manong, and his car for this event. I was supposed to pick-up two friends at SM Makati around 6AM before proceeding to Tagaytay. One was not able to wake-up even if his alarm sounded around 3AM. Too bad!
The photomarathon is supposed to start by 8AM. Was able to arrive at
Tagaytay International Convention Center around 7:30AM. Just in time. 15 minutes later, they opened the registration to those who failed to list earlier to replace the no-show.
And I thought my converted infrared will be accepted... Duh! Should have brought my infrared filter. Anyway, still took a quick shot using it.
Oh! Before we started the photomarathon, they asked us to change the date of our cameras to November 14, 2011.
THEME 1:
Envy thy eagles for they can fly the open sky;
Everything so huge would seem to grow smaller as they recede from the eye;
A wider perspective would be a breath taking experience;
Especially if its captured through our magnificent lenses.
Took this image from Palace in the Sky. While at the Palace in the Sky, a dragonfly landed on my shirt. They said it was lucky. Hope it means I win the photomarathon! LOL
We met Abdul here and he joined us in the next leg of the marathon.
THEME 2:
Filipinos no matter where they go, be likely to leave a mark of his hard work and merit. The challenge is to capture his great efforts; impart his message through narrating photos. It can be the fruit or the remarkable deed; for it will surely receive an overwhelming remark on your spirit.
When we saw stores by the road, we stopped and requested permission from the vendors if we can take their pictures. We also went to the market at Amadeo.
Lemarc, who was our photowalk leader during the Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photowalk, joined us.
THEME 3:
Tagaytay is known to be city of character qualities.
Look up and search for these moral traits.
Lay it on a frame and take pleasure in the wonderful practices.
While on the road, keep on reminding Manong to remember the church.
I was right, we decided to go to the church for the third theme. Lucky, too! The church is open for a wedding is ongoing.
Manong became our model, not only by our group, but other Canon-ites who happen to be at the same venue. We all have a one track mind. LOL.
Before proceeding back to the Tagaytay International Convention Center to submit our entry for the third theme, we stopped by Razon's for our
merienda.
Unfortunately, the winners will not be announced that night. We stayed a few minutes after dinner and left.
All in all, tiring... but FUN!
Dragon Tortoise
(This is a continuation of arranging my new office area...)My
Kua Number is 7, belonging to Metal element, West group. My good directions are NW (prosperity), SW (health), NE (relationship), and W (mild good luck). My unfavorable directions are N (mild bad luck), S (quarrel), SE (separation) and E (total loss). My desk is facing North! Oh, no!
Thus, bought a Dragon Tortoise which is said to dispel negative influences of the unfavorable direction. Would put it in the North (for career; East for health; SE for wealth) with the dragon tortoise facing one of my favorable directions. Some books say that it should face your unfavorable direction. Now, which is it?
Also had a crystal to block the invisible arrows.
Back to Makati
Finally, am back in Makati. Obviously, the day is spent unpacking and arranging my desk. Brought with me my compass for some self-feng shui. Hehehe!
Must solve that North direction of my workstation... Hmmmm...
Framed Shots: 7 Virtues (Love, Hope, Fairth, Courage, Prudence, Restraint, Justice)
It's our camera club's monthly meeting. This month's theme is Seven (7) Virtues. We have to show in our image love, hope, faith, courage, prudence, restraint and justice.
Well, it was a good exercise for strobist for me. Did my entries only Friday night. Worked all night, finished around 2am.
After the meeting, was dropped off at
Glorietta. Decided to watch a movie--
All About Eve. It is a comedy film starring Sandra Bullock as an awkward, lonely crossword puzzle constructor who falls in love with a news cameraman, which her parents arranged to have a blind date with. Her date bails out on her; but inspite of it, she keeps following him around for the sake of love. The message is about nonconformity, be what you are, be true to yourself.
Framed Shots: Parc Cruz Workshop
My day would start early as I will be going to Intramuros to attend the Adobe Photoshop Workshop of Parc Cruz. It would be a whole day affair. Learned a lot! Should remember... selection. (wink)
After the workshop, went to Glorietta to attend the anticipated Mass. Then, had my entries for this month's photo contest printed and had dinner at
Italianni's.
Undas 2009
My alarm went off at 3AM. We're to leave the house around 4AM to go to the
Manila Memorial in Sucat to visit my aunt, light a candle and say a prayer. When my
Nanay was still alive, she always does this, that is, visit her eldest sister at her resting place.
When we arrived there, there was no candle nor flower in my aunt's grave. Odd... Unlike last year, there are fewer people who stayed overnight at the cemetery.
After which, proceeded to
Sgt. Mariano Cemetery in Pasay where my
Nanay is laid to rest. But first, stopped at McDonald's for a very early breakfast.
At Sgt. Mariano, the stretch where my Nanay's (and Lolo's and Lola's and uncles') grave is, there were no lights. We were there first to light them with candles. At least, there were already flowers.
Then, proceeded home.
(Will sleep again...)With my nephew and two nieces in tow, went back to Sgt. Mariano Cemetery so that they can visit their
Lola in the afternoon. After which, have me dropped off at
Glorietta 4 to buy a gift for my
inaanak who happens to have her birthday today. Nice! Everyone is celebrating her birthday.. with candles and flowers. (wink)
