Hello 2010! :-))

Countdown by Widgia.com

I won't bore you with my litanya of how 2009 sucked big timefor me. I think I've said that a couple of times in this site. Two things are certain though, I am stronger and better. I have learned a lot, met a lot of people, opened my eyes to a different world. Charge everything-- good or bad-- to experience.

And I have to say that I'm hopeful for 2010. My year picked up a bit this December...it could only get better, right? I'm excited for what God has for me next year! I trust in His good, perfect, pleasing will.

Here's my new year's resolution: I won't just sit around waiting for that something to happen, I will make that something happen. Which means, less daydreaming and more action! I know, new year's resolution never really worked. SO maybe should call this one my action plan. Hmmm?

I've reconciled with a lot of issues. Let go of my excess baggage. Less bitter. Less sarcastic. Happier. More positive. I'm off to a good start, right?

*What you just read may a bit incoherent...blame it on the a..a..a..alcohol! Have a great new year celebration everyone! Have to do a lot of shopping pa...and oh, today is also my mom's birthday! Yey! She claims she's 35 and some fall for it coz she really looks young. People are amazed when I tell them she's my mom. I don't look like her, I don't look a Manuel or a Felix. I'm a Ligwang through and through. I would have loved it if a bit of my Manuel or Felix blood manifested. Okay, I'm blabbering here...HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! Keep safe. :-))

xoxo, d

Someone say snap?

That's three, people! Three of my havaianas snapped in one week. What are the chances, right??? I couldn't be more frustrated as I have no more flip flops here in tugue. I can't live without flip flops, its my default footwear! And I don't really like the two pairs of havs I have left in Manila.

Maybe it's the cosmos telling me to buy Ipanema, afterall, they're my client. Still, that's three thousand bucks down the drain. Thank goodness I have Grendha sandals for my everyday errands here.

Awkward!

Ever been in that situation where someone said they love you and you were dumbfounded, not because you were knocked off you feet, but because you've got nothing to say back?

Will you say Thank you? Be honest, and say you're not in the same place? Or just laugh it off as a joke?

I opted to do the last one. Awkward!

Hey, it's Christmas! :-))

Maybe it's just me, but I seriously don't feel the "Christmas spirit" like I used to. Maybe it's because of the tragedies that we've just had as a nation or maybe it comes with age (Yikes!). But Christmas is still CHRISTmas. It's a time to celebrate Bro's birthday. Time to be with friends and family. Sheesh! That sounds so mawkishly hokey! But there's truth in there, eh? Let's just take this holiday as it is, and enjoy! I'm starting to enjoy mine as the never ending foodfest and laughfest started already! With that, let me share my favorite Christmas quote and poem!

Merry Christmas y'all!

FocusMedia Christmas Party '09

The FocusMedia Christmas party went better than we expected. The theme was Fashion Night bordering to costume party. Everyone pretty much prepared for it. I guess I'm quite guilty for not really dressing up much. I planned to go as Katy Perry but work got in the way I wasn't able to do much shopping. I went for a simple little black dress with the headband as the accessory! :-)) Everyone was just beautiful and handsome!

The best part of the night were the performances. We were divided into three groups. Our group did a sort of banana split. Dinno and I played Bhoy and Khrissy aka Boink and Crazy; then the girls did a dance show-off and the boys did a bro, brod, bru (still including Dinno, may matinding pangagailangan sa pera eh! Lol. Peace!) Our group won only second place because there was a dead air with the dance number (may excuse?? can't still accept! Haha) but Dinno won as the performer of the night.

Another highlight was the "pass the bouquet" game with cold hard cash as the bouquet. :-)) No one went home empty handed. It could only get better for our company! Yay! :-))

Meet Familia Zaragoza

With nothing to do after the party...we decided to play our alter ego: The Familia Zaragoza! :-))

after Birthday thoughts

...went home at 4 in the morning, missed work and slept for 12 hours! I love it!

...my friends and I went out to celebrate last night. It was for my birthday and E's as well. We had so much fun. Booze + great company= laugh trip all night long. What is it they say about alcohol, it kills the weak brain cells and all that's left are the "intelligent" brain cells. Lol. And I felt absurd that I've been ranting. I was just lookung at the glass half-empty!

I think I'm off at a good start. Maybe this year will be a good one. Know what, I'm going to claim it! THIS will be my year!

xoxo, d

Birthday thoughts

What I planned to do on my birthday?

Go somewhere unfamiliar...alone!

That may sound sad but there's something about this idea that appeals to me. I seriously planned on doing that this year. But because of grown-up stuffs I couldn't just leave. (May ganon? Lol)

I don't see the point of celebrating getting old. Not when you're nowhere even halfway to where you imagined yourself to be when you're 23. I just can't help saying this again for like the nth time--but yeah, this is the worst year of my life! Can you believe that, I'm still in my early 20's and I've had "the" worst year. Please don't tell me that this is just the beginning. Yeah, I know, what's worst for me may just be normal for others. But trust me if you knew the details of how my year went, you'll agree with me. So let's not thread that road. I'm turning 23 in a few seconds and boy how I wish I could stop time. But remember what Paul Ellis said? "The world ain't slowing down for nor one." So here I am looking at the clock and wishing that when the clock strikes 12, my luck will change for the better.

Emo much? Lol.

I just take refuge in the fact that I'll be seeing my friends later. Will laugh all the bad trip away!

You know what, I just need a new perspective. So for my birthday, I'll be singing the soundtrack from one of my favorite movies, RENT. Let's be mawkishly hokey together and sing with me, eh?

♪♫♪♫ 525,600 minutes..how do you measure the life of a woman or man? In truth that she learned, or in times that he cried? In bridges she burned or that way that he died? ....It's time now to sing out though the story never ends. Let's celebrate remember the year in the life of friends...Seasons of loooove! ♪♫♪♫

Re-loving an old hobby

My mom said I've always loved cameras and taking photos when I was a young kid. I've wanted to always hold the camera. I wasn't a cam-whore then. I'd like to be behind the lens. I remember seeing my tito's collection of vintage cameras when I was in grade school and said to myself I would to the same-- I would never sell any of my cameras and that I will also buy old cameras for display purposes. I remember being inspired by a collection of sunset photos I've seen in a bookstore. I remember watching my tito lay for hours in the sand to get long exposure shot of stars. I begged with my mom to buy me a SLR. I remember when I first got a hold of my SLR, I took a shot of everything around me. And I remember walking along the streets of Manila with my SLR in tow to take pictures for a photography class...and enjoying every minute of it. I remember processing my own film...standing in the dark room looking at the pan waiting for an image to appear, hoping I had the right exposure. And when the silhouette turns into concrete image I would grin from ear to ear. I remember saving up for a DSLR. But somewhere, I just lost interest. I didn't touch my cameras (except my digicam when I take photos of myself. Vanity! Lol and of course, of my other vain friends. Tee hee), I gave all the "film processing tools" to a classmate, I would appreciate photos but do not fancy to take one. Then a few months back, I started blog hopping. I came across lots of photography blogs and was suddenly filled with a little bit of envy and inspiration with their creation. Of course, I didn't immediately took action. I let this "want" brew inside first. (what an excuse! Lol) Recently though, I decided to stop hoping to be good at taking photos but actually get my butt moving to take photos. I promised myself I'm going to start saving up for a DSLR again, something I've been obsessing about in the past month but have never really done anything to acquire one. In the meantime, I will practice with my SLR. It's more expensive because of the films and processing but hey I gotta start from somewhere, eh? I've taken it out of the bag and have cleaned it together with all the filters. Will start shooting as soon as I got my expired films. (Yeah, I want to experiment with expired films.)

In lieu of my re-loving photography, I also want to buy toy cameras. My officemate, J, has recently bought a Holga and I think I like the idea of just shooting without looking at the viewfinder. Shooting without thinking. Just point and click. Point and click. I want these toy cameras:

Holga cam in white and red! In that exact same color. But if you're planning to give me one for Christmas, I'm willing to accept it in any color! Lol

Diana with Splitzer

Lubitel 166

Don't they look just so cute? Of course, they're much cheaper than a DSLR. So my dilemma is, should I pool in all my money to buy a DSLR or acquire these toy cameras first then save up again for a DSLR? Hmmm. If you give me any of these, I promise I will use them and not just have them for display. But I would really appreciate it better if you give me a DSLR. I'm not choosy on the model as long as it's a Nikon! Haha.

My new project!

I've been eating....a LOT!

It's the time of the year again for parties, reunions, and all that holiday hoopla. And boy, oh boy, am I not ready. Why? Have you seen the calories and fats that have taken residence in my body lately? Sheesh!

"Depressed much? Eat much!" Yeah, that has been my motto. And blame it on my wanderlust to try out new restos every now and then. I've been meaning to do some dieting but for some reason, food magically shows up infront of me. Blame it on the people around me. Lol. Crash diet worked well for me before, maybe I should do that again. And maybe do some exercise again. Get rid of that butt mark in my couch. I need to lose weight...FAST. I've pulled this stunt before, lets see if I can do it again. Hello, project starvation!

Green in the city

I don't think I've said this enough. But I love living in Makati even with all traffic on weekdays. I work in Ortigas but I chose to still stay in the apartment in Makati. There's something about the city that appeals to me. I'd like to state a few of the reasons, but Jessica Zafra pretty much said most of it..in a more sophisticated way so just visit her blogsite, will ya?

But one thing I've always admired about Makati is how they've kept the parks clean. Go to other public parks in other cities and boy, you'll see signs of vandalism everywhere. You'd be afraid to touch anything for fear of contracting any disease. Nyikes!

This our sidetrip in Washinton Sycip park in one of our visits in Legaspi Sunday market. Its just across Legaspi park. We walked around and hang out in the gazebo for a while where there's a marble Sungka. (What's the english of sunka? Educate me please. Lol) It's really refreshing to see a lot of greens. Makes me miss UP! If you work near the park and feels intoxicated, why don't you walk around the park for fifteen minutes. Or have lunch there. Do it Central park style. Come to think of it, this is the closest we have of NYC's Central Park. Lol.