Acuatico Resort

Went to Acuatico Beach Resort, Laiya Batangas, last March 28, 2009, with my family (not to mention a separate trip with friends, weeks before that) The place was heaven! thanks to Kris & Tracy for recommending this paradise. Anyway, with picturesque views like this place, it brings out another photo op. So there I am, shooting the day away with my Nikon D90 (which was named by Bie, si Seth daw) Check em' out! Seth's captures.

Morning Stroll : My cousin and I decided to make the most of the sunrise by strolling the stretch of Laiya shore.

Trees & Sand

Bottled Electric

Bottled Color

Earth Hour: March 28, was Earth Hour. So electricity was shut down and torches were lit.

Gaze

Doorwait

On The Rox

Yellow Blue

Got A Catch!

Our Resort

Infinity Pool

The trip was bitin, since we have to check out early the next day. The more we want to take advantage of the place, the less sleeping we need to do. So I had a drowsy drive back home to Manila. Thanks to Lady Gaga's music, I managed to stay up and kept my eyes on the road.

Into The Photo Blog

Hi,

Since my new found love for photography, i feel that i need to chronicle the photos i'll be taking so i can track my progress (if there's any) and also, so that it's more fun looking back at it. with stories and all. So, here begins, my new blog reconfiguration!

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File transfers: Negatives to CD, etc.

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ordeals of the health

I hate to start an entry on such a negative note, but I'm still fatigued with all the medication I've been taking to treat my MRSA bacteria. It's really frustrating to have such a sickness wherein the culprit continuously learns a way to fight whatever antibiotic I take, and makes a way to regain its strength. I have been growing boils on my buttocks and sometimes on my legs for quite some time now (I think it started February this year) and until now I'm being haunted by its regular recurrence. I'm taking my 6th set of antibiotics, Clyndamycin, for a week now.. and hopefully this will defeat and eradicate this shit out. 

MRSA symptoms include, fatigue, BOILS!!! (this would be the T-rex out of all the lizards!) fever, chills, loss of appetite and for some, cough. Right now I'm still experiencing mild fever and coughs. Its terrifying to know that this particular bacteria is almost incurable since its wise enough to survive through any treatment. Im deeply praying to fully recover from this. Your prayers will also suffice.

One of the good things about life is its wondrous unpredictability... only, this unpredictability can also work against us. One of this is our HEALTH. Just these past months I have been hearing a lot of friends, acquaintances, and family members who either die from sickness or are sick as of this moment. Famous people such as Francis M. , Christina Applegate are also undergoing treatments for their cancers. My uncle, tito Oscar, also is under chemotherapy for treatment of his bone marrow cancer. He never smokes, drinks alcohol and has been living in Saipan for years which is a very un-polluted place. There are also no cancer histories coming from my grandparents and from family members way back. So, for people as healthy as him acquiring these sicknesses is still a mystery to me. Going back to me, I have been very religious in taking my Vitamin C and the fact that I'm still getting fevers and these types of bacteria is mind boggling. 

All I'm saying is, you'll never know what will get you and no matter how cautious  you are in the way you live, this life's wondrous unpredictability will one day come across, and when that day comes, we, as people, should always be prepared mentally and spiritually. 

back from the grave

Now waddayahnow! im back from the grave, in to the blogging world again. I really find it difficult to update blogs, especially if time wont allow it. Plus! it takes a while to re-access this blog since a lot of updates were made by google and blogger. Which made signing in impossible for me.

Anyway, a quick update run down:

I quit my job.

Im trying to run our family business now.

I just recovered from a bacteria-related sickness.

Therefore, Im thin again! grrrrrrrrr!!

Leaving Ethan Allen was a decision influenced by a lot of things. First, all my friends there left already. Second, I just came into realization that its time for me to accept my obligations as an only child heir. Third, I've had enough of those troubling clients and the pressure in keeping up our sales quota. Fourth, I would love to get a chance to watch The Buzz again... haha!

Whats next? Right now I'm plainly a shadow to my mother. I follow her everywhere and Im starting to learn the business she's doing. Im also starting to improve our photo shop's interiors... and now I have plans to start a bakery also....

It was a bittersweet goodbye to the Ethan Allen family. I'm surely gonna miss my colleagues, old and new. And the crew there whom I already consider my second family. But on the sweeter side... Im STRESS FREE!!!

well... that's it for now. Now that I have the time in my hands, i would probably update this blog more often.

Ciao!

hi bloG! how are you naman?

haha! been caught up with work so much lately kaya no updating of blog came about within the past few months. and besides, nothing much is happening to me thats worth chronicling. (di ko kinaya yung word nayun ah) except that just last week, me and my officemate sab, went to the US embassy to apply for a visa for us to be able to attend the training that Ethan Allen will be having at Danbury, Connecticut. (just like what Dianne & Shella went through a couple of weeks ago. its a 2-week training, and then a 5-day extension sa new york, but that's for leisure na! YEEKEE!!) Syempre, of all the ordinary days we have in a year, tlgang September 11 pa kami nasched for an interview. and its a terrible anniversary for the americans to relive dba?

and so we went there. sab was early, so she got in line ahead of me. i arrived just in time for the screening of passports before people enter. it was drizzling that day. so syempre ako naka black polo, tucked in sa slacks, pero may hawak na bulaklaking umbrella. (perfect look for issuance of a visa!) tapos, in a couple of minutes, sab went out of the line, to where im standing, saying her photos may be invalid coz one of her ear was being covered by her hair. so rush muna sya sa nearest fotome booth... actually there are vulture photographers waiting na for innocent preys na hindi inaaccept yung mga id nila. you can see them clustering in one corner waiting for people seeking help. kaya yun bayad sya 200 for her id..pero was able to get back the line on time. so we went inside... deposited our cellphones.. screened by guards and went to the waiting area. as our passports being checked, sab's passport was rejected since it has a mild defect on the lamination. so from there, she has to go pa to DFA pa. so, as shocked as we both are, we were separated early that day! not knowing how to deal with the rest of the time we have.

ako i proceeded na to the waiting area where you are suppose to wait (duh?) for your number to be called. and after minutes of fidgeting cold feet, my number was finally flashed. and so I went to the finger scanning booth na. the american girl behind the booth was speaking in tagalog. she was repeatedly saying "keh-lee-weh" which is suppose to mean kaliwa, or use daw my left hand first. she was repeatedly speaking in that manner so it was funny listening to her uttering those words.."keh-lee-weh" so placed my left index finger to the scanner and was questioned: "what's wrong with your fingers?" (apparently she could not read my finger prints) ako naman sabi ko "skin allergies ma'am" and she replied "hmmm..let me see" and so she reached out through the hole on the glass and looked at my finger. she told me: "hmmm.. well its clear enough for me to let it go... but take good care of your fingers ok?" ako naman was like "WHEW!" just when I thought i would be rejected from that point palang. so i was happy she considered me. (di bale, i will take my fingers to a "finger spa"... if there is such a place!) haha!

so after that funny moment.. i went to the US consul booths na... (which was like the heaven's gate for me) not knowing if i will achieve salvation or suffer the fires of hell. so from that stage i was without a doubt.."a nervous wreck". so I sat on the far back side of the waiting area... behind a post where i cant see the numbers being flashed. so everytime may nagaalarm... i have to stand up and take a look at the numbers... so upo tayo ako ng upo tayo.. making me look like the most nervous person in that room!! and so, nagflash na number ko saying proceed to "window 4". hoping i will get to meet an angel looking consul who looks positive in approving me, rather than an old looking evil woman, who has been in the embassy for centuries and will be grilling me like hell. but fortunately, it was a young fat white girl with curly blonde hair, who looks... hmm.. nice enough. so she started questioning me like "what is the purpose of my stay...what is a visual merchandiser..what is focus global" they ask questions that you wouldn't expect, so there isnt really a perfect way of preparing for this. I was able to answer straight forward and truthfully naman... (which is the key of getting a bigger chance of approval) so the lady halted the interview and stood up. ako naman was like... (ok? WHATS HAPPENING?) and then I realized, a solemn prayer pala was being played thrugh the speakers and they were having a silent moment of tribute to the 9/11 anniversary. and so i also bowed down, (pretending I am also a US citizen deeply contemplating for that moment) but inside me was a screaming monster shouting "APPROVED NA BAKO OH HINDI??" and so after the prayer the lady told me: "we were just commemorating the anniversary of the september 11 attacks" ako naman said "yes ma'am i understand that!" and after that, the lady was discussing to me na the next step after that..proceed na daw to the next booth, handing me this yellow form (which was like the golden ticket in american idol) and to schedule na daw a date for the delivery of my visa. kaya ako naman ecstatic (nagttumbling nako sa isip ko!) but i cannot show it at that moment so I discreetly went out the room carrying my pink floral umbrella.

when i was walking to the parking area which was beside manila bay.. i was saying "USA HERE I COME!) but a part of me was also saying "SAB!!! ASAN KA NA!!??? WAAAH!!" so when I got home, I called sab na agad, asked if she was able to go to DFA na and fix everything. she said yes, but her passport will be issued not later this week pa, and so she has to reschedule another interview. so ako was feeling half happy, yet half anxious pa! hopefully if sab got it all right, we will be leaving na this october 9. and besides, like what we were thinking before our interview... we prefer to be denied together, than to be approved alone!! waaaah!!!! still keeping my fingers crossed.

superman in imax

watched superman returns in IMAX yesterday! weehee! hurried home form work to catch the movie i was anticipating since last month. imagine that we bought tickets last sunday for this week's sunday screening. (the whole week was sold out) to think the tickets cost a pocket-draining 350 pesos for a 2 and a half hour movie. anyway, as we enter the imax theater, as expected, the hugeness of the screen and the venue was overwhelming. i dunno about the "screen-is-8-storey-high" press thing (mere hyperbole), i think it was a bit exaggerated at that aspect, but the screen was really gigantic! when the first previews were shown, and with the magic wonder of the 3d glasses, i felt that i am inside the screen and that the letters of the movie titles flashing were sliding below my feet. what magic optical illusions can do these days!combined with ear drum-busting surround sound system ofcourse. the preview of the trex movie was the amazing part of it... they made the rocks from a quarry seem like its actually crumbling above you, and branches from the trees almost scratching your face... and ofcourse who wouldn't be awed by the horrendous face of the trex protruding out of the screen and seeming almost inches away from your face. it was so incredible!

anyway, so the movie starts, and as expected... the "UH-OH" feeling of having another potential obsession to such a gorgeous actor... brandon routh, is realized again. and so I was right. im totally IN TO him right now! urrrghh.. why do they make perfect looking people like that that always gives me reason to drive myself crazy?? why oh why!?!

the feature presentation was also great... ofcourse setting aside the fact that I havent watched any superman film before... i am familiar with the basic story plot tho, like and superman's history, what he's up to and his nemesis. I didnt even care if the story was good, as long as the actor is an eye candy, then satisfaction granted already. hek! hek!

the 3d effects of the movie wasnt that "whoa-ing". it was a total of 20 minutes of 3d action scattered into different parts of the movie.. so an annoying symbol indicator flashes once in a while, during the movie when its time to put the 3d glasses on and to take it off... i totally would appreciate it more if they consolidated the 20 minute 3d scenes into a one portion of the movie, (the best scene ofcourse; which for me was when he's carrying the landmass) to avoid the hassle of interrupting audience once in a while. im actually looking at my parents everytime the symbol shows, assuring if they got their glasses right.

so there, thats my review of the Superman Returns and the Imax theater... the movie was average, the actor was hot, the imax theater was huge, the 3d effects need improvement... oh and the trex preview was jaw dropping!

rest days

Im wisely utilizing every free time im getting from my work schedule, that's why whenever time allows, i grab the chance like a mountain puma.

during weekends, i try to squeeze in a lot of lakwacha whenever I can, kaya last saturday, after work...since my sunday schedule starts at 1pm pa... dianne and I went to krisna's place to play poker. (well, twas my first time to actually play poker with pot money, since most of the time I play online.. ha! loser!) but before that, we stopped by at sm mall of asia to eat muna, with dots.. kakamiss nga the bondings eh.. atleast now we can bond na in other places like mall of asia aside from g4, since Im bringing a car na (naks!). My second visit to the titanic mall was more convenient and pleasing than the 1st. ofcourse minus the rampage of people I've encountered then, which was also like the 3rd day after its opening, we actually went home that day cursing the mall, never to return there again. but hey, im back there and I say, nakakaaddict na sya, since mas konti na tao this time.. and the restaurants there are really nice! dami choices and quality food tlga. its really nice to hang out there na... its like an expanded greenbelt 3.. and when i say expanded, tlgang "galit-sa-flooring-yung-architect-expanded!" so before pa sumakit yung legs namin kakapili ng resto, we decided to go to a retro diner, Gram's Diner... beautifully conceptualized resto... sarap pa ng food! so yun, buntis na kami pag labas. nice din the interiors...brings back the olden days... "vintage!" when waiters were serving in skates, and jukeboxes were blasting boogie tracks...

after nun, we drove to coastal then to the express way, all the way to bacoor cavite! sounds wrong diba? well...that is what really happened. nagulat nalang kami, may talaba na for sale sa sidewalks... out of metro manila na pala kami! haha! we're lost! pero after ilang u-turns and side stops, we were on the right way.. whew!

so ayun, we arrived at krisna's house, mga 9pm na ata... we imagined right away how krisna's going to react the moment we get there... "HOW ABOUT SOME SENSE OF PUNCTALITY HERE!" kaya inunahan na namin sya.. so yun, we went up their terrace...we found bonx.. and thats it.. no other people.. kaya kahit konti lang kami... it didn't stop us to play... 200 was the pot money and didi was the dealer! (a very indelicate dealer I must say.. haha!) and I won! the 1st round! well, also the last round... umuwi na agad si boinks! so yun... nag pusoy dos nalang kami while dianne slept ahead of us na (talk about utilizing the free time!) and we had a heart to heart talk...dots & krisna...twas nice to have finally talked to you guys! hehe *wink*

slept at 4am. woke up at 10am...went to work 12nn..

so today it was my day off naman... went to sm asia ulit, with my mama and my tita naman! im telling you nakakaaddict yung food lane dun facing manila bay. galing ng choices of restos and varieties of food and ambience! we ate at gumbos... new orleans ciusine..chuva chuva! sarap nanman ung food... may libre pang appetizer since its just their 2nd day... yummy yung shakes nila... their concept naman was a new orleans mardi gras na party, where ladies collect and wear colorful beads after flashing their boobies to men... of course dito, without the flashing part.. (thank goodness!) we also went to the imax theater to buy some superman tickets... july 9 na yung nabili namin..which is sunday next next week pa! so yun...cant wait!

tomorrow is another work day!

cars

I have just watched yet another pixar-disney movie today, and I reckon its a movie worth blogging for.

Being an avid follower of the disney and pixar tandem masterpieces for the past years, I say the big duo does it again. Taking in consideration how high the bar they've set for more of their up and coming CG animated films, since every year they kept reinventing and topping the previous years' films, "Cars" is another movie magic that Im sure CG film-fanatics like me will be applauding for. With the perfect equation of Pixar's almost true-to-life animated effects, and Disney's superb way of story telling, this movie is a feast for both the eyes and heart. Who could've thought, after giving life to toys, bugs, monsters, fishes, and superheroes, Disney and Pixar would have the guts and the ability to create a story about personified cars making us laugh and cry at one sitting. I mean, I seldom cry in real actor movies, but to cry in animated ones...enough said.

Though, admittedly it's not as good as finding nemo and the incredibles (those 2 films are almost impossible to top), you can still say its one of Pixar-Disney's best, and it will not disappoint moviegoers both adults and kids. It's still catchy, the characters are still interesting, the setting is still original, and the story is still incomparable. I mean, as for me, Im gonna have to watch it again, and get myself an original dvd copy of it, first in line! As for their next CG movie for year 2007... im so concerned and anxious as to what the big movie machines will be doing again. I mean, if you ask me, I'm running out of ideas as to what story to tell after a very interesting concept has been shown. But not, Disney and Pixar... just before the movie CARS rolled, they showed a quick teaser of supposedly the next year's blockbuster CG movie again. Its, Ratatouille (rat-ta-too-ee) its about a food loving sewage RAT, beneath an upscale PARIS restaurant, who couldn't stomach eating garbage, like other rats do. I mean talk about good story plots!! its another hilarious movie to anticipate.

dianne's bday / n1q reunion!! part 4

dianne's bday / n1q reunion!! part 3

dianne's bday / n1q reunion!! part 2

dianne's bday / n1q reunion!!