More! More! More!
Instead of doing my usual movie watching, decided to look around the stores for items on display for the
Photoworld Asia 2010. Was able to buy a dome studio (good for product photography), lens brush, white balance disc.
Our host in Cebu also came to Manila to attend the seminars of the Photoworld. We invited him for dinner at
Gerry's Grill, Glorietta 5. We had fun. Too bad, Tilak and Dewey is not able to make it.
During our lively repartee, one of us said he bought a dry cabinet. That did it! Two of us bought a dry cabinet with 20% discount after dinner. Hehehe!
31 January 2010, Sunday
Looking at where I would be placing in my room my new dry cabinet, decided to get a bigger size. Thus, immediately went back to Glorietta to change my order... c",)
Photoworld Asia 2010
Finally, would be able to visit the stores at
Glorietta who are part of the
Photoworld Asia 2010.
After office, a friend with her friend, went to Glorietta. Was able to buy that long-awaited tripod bag, tripod strap, even a carbon fiber tripod and tripod head. We went to Glorietta 4's Art Space where on exhibit are collections of cameras of the chairman of the event. Also on display are rare pictures (it even has a picture of Dr. Jose Rizal and Del Pilar). Group pictures of camera clubs affiliated with the
Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) are also on display, including our office's camera club, a new member.
After, we had dinner at
Pizza Hut Bistro.
Cravings
It's the start of the
Photoworld Asia 2010. Would love to go to
Glorietta to check-out what camera accessories I can buy given the discounts offered. Since I promised to help with the AVP for the pre-nup, will have to wait another day to check-out the stores.
Went to
Cravings where we had dinner and did our thing. Really took some time because when it's about to go home, the mall is already closed... =P
Laguna Travel Photography with Mr. Harvey Tapan
I was able to tag along with the trip to Laguna with the
Harvey Tapan.
Woke up really early as we should be leaving our Makati office by 5:30AM. Pick-up Harvey at Alabang and be on our way. He already listed our group's itinerary.
Sampaloc Lake
Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery
Bunga, Talon Waterfalls (where we had our [packed] lunch)
Nagcarlan Church
Liliw Church
Magdalena Church
Pagsanjan Church
We had our
merienda at Dura Fe (said to be known for their Dura Fe
pancit).
We tried to capture the sunset but unfortunately, we were too late. Thus, decided to just call it a day. Stopped at Petron gas station where we had dinner at Rose Bulalo.
One thing is sure, we had a fun day with Harvey. He is passionate about his work and loves to share his expertise. Too boot, the girls were swooning over him. LOL
25 January 2010, Monday
The lens (EF-S 17-85mm) I lent to an officemate was broken. Brought it to Canon service center... :(
Pre-Nup
It's our office's camera club's meeting. Would assist them as election of new officers would be held. Am not supposed to be a member of our office's camera club because it recently affiliated with the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF).
After the meeting, a number of us went to the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) because of the promise to take pictures for the pre-nup AVP of a friend's friend. It would be her gift for the couple. Since we are a handful of photographers, it came across as a workshop instead of a pre-nup shoot. Hehehe!
Just one request of the couple is to have a picture of their silhouette on a setting sun...
Cebu: Day 4
It's The Day. The day why we are in Cebu for... the
Sinulog Grand Parade. We would be taking
Cebu Pacific Flight 5J582 (ETD Cebu 2315H). But first, would enjoy the day.
When we left the hotel around 8:30AM (parade starts 9AM), there was still a drizzle. But the heavens smiled at us since the sun peaked. The boys separated with us as they don't want to walk the Sinulog route, which we girls did. I find it more enjoyable as there are lots to see, not only the performers but also the people along the parade route.
We were able to complete the route in time for lunch, where we did at our hotel's restaurant. The guys already had their fill and decided to stay in the hotel and while the time, while we girls decided to go to the
Cebu Sports Center to catch more of the performers. And then, around 4PM, the rain fell! Those guys are lucky... hehehe!
So we went back to the hotel, cleaned-up, had an early dinner and waited for the airport taxi we arranged to pick us up and bring us to the airport. We have not met Tilak nor Dewey today but we managed to contact each other through SMS. Thanks to technology. (wink)
Cebu: Day 3
We would be joining Raymond's department who hired a boat to join the fluvial procession. Woke up really, really early as the fluvial procession is to start around 5AM. With our breakfast prepared by the hotel, went to Tilak's place where Raymond will be picking us up.
Since it is still raining, almost all of us, if not all of us, is having second thoughts in joining the procession. But we proceeded anyway. Guess, with His guidance, in spite of the rains, the water is not choppy. Thus, in spite, too, of the gray sky, we "shoot" at our hearts content.
When the Sto. Nino docked, it is only then that our boat went back to our pier, eating the food (including the
lechon) which we brought along.
Raymond dropped us off at our hotels. Only the guys would be having lunch with Raymond's friends as the girls decided to buy some
pasalubong.
First stop was
Taboan where we bought
danggit,
pusit,
dilis and even
langgoniza. Sealed and boxed, we went to
SM-Cebu. Here's where we spent some time, have lunch at
Shakey's, buy the Sinulog CD for Tilak as our gift, coffe/hot chocolate at
Coffee Dreams. That's when we received an SMS informing us the guys would be at the hotel's lobby by 4PM for the solemn procession. That's when we decided to go back to the hotel.
Put our packages in our rooms, got our camera and joined the guys for the shoot. Still raining and our pictures are so-so. That's when the guys agreed to follow us to
Shamrock to buy more
pasalubong (dried mangoes and
otap). Shamrock is just a walk away from the
Cathedral (and the
Basilica) that we suggested to the guys to proceed there if they still want to get pictures. I guess, they, too, are tired that they declined.
Decided to have dinner before going back to the hotel. We had ours at
Mang Inasal. That's when Raymond called and asking where we were and Tilak. Told him that we are already having our dinner, and Tilak and Dewey are still at the Basilica taking images.
We dropped our gift, the Sinulog CD, at the reception at Tilak's place, and called it a day.
Cebu: Day 2
Today would be the day Raymond will bring us around Cebu for some shoot. He will be picking us up at Tilak's place.
Woke up early and walked our way to Tilak's place, bringing along the breakfast packed for us by the hotel. It's still raining (just like yesterday).
Raymond brought us to several old Churches, stopped by
Carcar to buy the rice wrapped in banana leaves, and to the old house owned by the Yu. Because of the weather, we decided to spend some time there as there are a lot of things to "capture" in the ancestral house.
Since we are planning to shoot the Sinulog Festival Queen contest to be held at the
Cebu Sports Complex, we left the old house around 4PM.
The weather is definitely not cooperating plus the traffic, that we decided to go to dinner, instead, at
Ayala Mall-Cebu. While waiting for us to be seated at
Mooon, went inside the mall to buy medicine, another umbrella and a raincoat.
After dinner, we decided against going to the Cebu Sports Complex and asked Raymond to drop us at our hotels. We just watched the contest in our room's TV.
Cebu: Day 1
We would be taking the
Cebu Pacific flight 5J563 on our way to Cebu for the
Sinulog. The group planned to go to Sinulog for the
Tilak Hettige has not experienced the Sinulog Festival. Tilak, with his friend Dewey, was already in Cebu yesterday.
Woke up really early as our flight is estimated to leave at 0800H (ETA Cebu 0915H). Was dropped off by
Manong at
NAIA 3.
As soon as we arrived at Cebu, took the airport taxi to bring us to
Golden Valley Hotel, where we would be staying. Since our room is not yet ready (it would be ready in an hour), decided to leave our things at the lobby and be on our way.
First stop is
Jollibee (hehehe!), right at the corner of our hotel's street. Ate
merienda when I received an SMS message from our office's camera club southern chapter that they hope we would be there by 11:30AM. SMSed Tilak the info and proceeded to
Yes Pension House where he and Dewey is staying.
Proceeded to our company's Cebu office, ate the lunch they served us (including that CNT
lechon) and did some talk. Tilak also gave inspirational talk to the group. Then, my niece decided to treat us at a coffee shop because it's her first salary. It was Coffee Dreams. The coffee, hot chocolate and pastries is superb. Imagine! Even for Tilak to suggest that it will be our IV place in Cebu!
Then, proceeded to
Magellan's Cross where we spent sometime shooting. Also visited the
Basilica of Sto. Nino where there were already many people praying. We also went to the
Cathedral. This is where Raymond picked us up to meet his friends for dinner at
STK.
We finally saw our rooms after the dinner. LOL
Pampering at Zombieland
My hair pampering day... Hehehe!
After, watched
Zombieland. An action, horror, comedy film about the world over-run by zombies. A group of survivors managed to stay alive. What is funny are the "rules" that the lead came-up with that made him survive. Actually, while going to the theater, one of the moviegoers who is just leaving is laughing and commented "that is one crazy movie". Hehehe!
Planning A Holmes
Started with a planning session with our office's camera club. The planning was at
SM Mall of Asia (MOA). This was made in time since the
Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) meeting would be in the afternoon. The club is planning to affiliate with FPPF. Hope it would not be hard to go to Intramuros for the meeting because of the Black Nazarene Procession.
At 11:30AM, we were finished. In time, too, to go to the FPPF meeting. Accompanied those who would attend the meeting to the FPPF office and was dropped off at
Glorietta.
Good! I would be able to watch
Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law. A serial killer was put to death through the help of London's greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, but he returns to his grave and starts killing again. Was it black magic or science? I like the way the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were portrayed. It was different! They are not staid. In fact, even Holmes is funny. Love it! (Others may not think the same.)
After the movie, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
Italianni's.
Before proceeding home, decided to drop by
True Value. That's when I saw
Swiss+Tech's Bodyguard Survivor Self-Powered Emergency Companion. A good thing to have when you encounter the likes of Typhoon Ondoy. As the name implies, it is self-powered. It can be charged through AC adaptor or through its power-crank handle. It has flashlight, emergency flasher, FM radio, panic button, signalling mirror, compass, cellphone charger and storage compartment for pills, matches, etc.
Not A Crime
While updating my other blog, noticed my link to
Not A Crime. Decided to do my share even if I don't like to have my picture taken.
Oh! After the "shoot", had it "painted".
TOSH
My friend and I have our post-New Year lunch date at our usual haunt at
The Old Spaghetti House (TOSH). Brought her a half-pudding (hope she likes it).
Finally, my tripod is back with me. My friend dropped by our office to swap tripods. Miss it! Hehehe!
Updating Blog
(Writing this at Burger King, Glorietta...)Back in my usual haunt, am at
Burger King updating my blog. The long weekend due to the Christmas/New Year season brought many activities.
Was planning to watch movies, eventually decided against it. Thus, opted to update my blog at Burger King.
While there, noticed the two guys who sat beside me. On the other table is a girl which I think one of the guys is eyeing. While surfing and updating my blog, I can hear that guy talk loudly. He's rather a braggart. Maybe, he was hoping to catch the attention of the girl. Really took a good look of that guy just in case one of my nieces introduce him to me, would vocally tell my niece to dump him! Hehehehe!
(Writing this at home...)Then, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
The New Bombay.
New Year Reunion
It would be our clan's reunion. It would be held in the house of one of my cousins. We had
Gerry's Grill for our caterer. The bonding shared by the kids at Enchanted Kingdom (EK) showed during this reunion. Even the oldies noticed it, and was glad about it.
In our generation, there is no problem for us cousins to bond. But as the clan grows, we really have to come up with activities for the succeeding generation to bond just as we did.
My cousin planned the games which both kids, adults and senior citizens alike participated and enjoyed.
