A few days after I joined a photo hunt over NicoleB's blog, my Multiply online friend Aimee sent me a personal message saying she found another photo hunt, which I might want to join as well. I see no reason why not, so I checked out Kristi's Blog for the information.

Just like NicoleB's, participants for Kristi's photo hunt need to take pictures of twenty-five items, all of which has to be taken within this month of June. She did give the participants a chance to use two archived photos, so with that, I joined the hunt. Here are my set of pictures:


1) View From Above - When my sister met me up at the Mandarin Oasis in the ground floor of the Gateway Mall, she told me she was able to see me from the topmost floor of the mall. So after taking my last shots of the oasis, we went to the topmost floor. I was thinking of taking a picture of the oasis from above, but the sun rays were a hindrance (my reflection could be seen from the glass wall). Good thing there was an art gallery near the office of the Mandarin Suites, and seeing this view, I told myself, "I finally found my view from above." The dome shaped building to the left is the Araneta Coliseum. {Taken 22 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


2) A Macro Shot - Macro photography has been the reason why I got interested in photography. Aside from flowers, my favorite subjects are insects... including ants. Our hibiscus plant has been home to thousands of these ants, and instead of getting angry at them, I just turn them into models. {Taken 21 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


3) Laughter - Honestly, this has got to be the hardest picture to take. It's just too difficult to take pictures of people as they laugh (for they do stop upon seeing a camera), so for this one, I had to interpret it in a different manner. While eating dinner, I first carved a big mouth off a meatloaf and placed it in front of my brother as I take a picture of it. However, the meatloaf was a bit small and it looked more of a smiling face than a laughter. Then I remembered a little joke a forum friend posed, I tried to do the same. I asked brother to pose like that while I place my fork in front.. and after I took the shot, I showed it to mom and said, "This is how your son looks like if he's in prison." Mom burst into laughter... so I guess this could pass up as a laughter shot. {Taken 29 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


4) Relaxation - The very first picture I took during the course of the hunt. We all know cats are very laid back pets, they just seem to relax and enjoy their sleeping space so much. =) This is my cat Teddy as she takes her afternoon siesta. {Taken 05 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


5) A Celebration - After three months, the Christian Life Program of CFC Singles for Christ, a Catholic Organization I belong to has just ended. As we welcome new members into the community, the elders didn't forget to serve cake as a symbol of celebration. Actually, I was just hoping to take a picture of the cake for my blog, but my dear friends Jacque, Jomai and Vic wanted to blow the fire in the candle. I guess it looked way much better like this than just a cake.
{Taken 13 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


6) A Sunset - When I took up the challenge, I thought I would resort to archives for my sunset shot. It was because the first few weeks of June had been nothing but rains. I kept on hoping for the rains to stop so I could have a decent sunset shot. This wasn't the first sunset shot I took for the month, but I chose this as my sunset shot for this hunt because I loved the details in this photo. I was very happy I was able to take this shot because the day after, a typhoon visited the country. Had my sister and I decided not to go to SM Mall of Asia to check the sunset by the bay area, I am sure my sunset shot wouldn't be as nice as this one. {Taken 22 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


7) Sun / Lens Flare - Of all the items to be hunted, this was the item that I took way too much pictures of. Whenever the sun would take a peek, I would make sure I have my camera ready to test that shot. Using three cameras available, I would just take picture after picture and choose among it. In the end, I chose this. The sun sets in front of our house, and it was a fiery sunset last night, and seeing the whole sun from our terrace's window, I grabbed all three cameras and take pictures set after set. The shot from the cell phone won in the end. {Taken 29 June 2009, using Sony Ericsson K800i cell phone}


8) A Bridge - Because I live in the city where bridges aren't abundant, I decided to just take a picture of this small bridge from the Mandarin Oasis inside the Gateway Mall. It was quite difficult to take a picture of this bridge as there were many people in the oasis and there were plants blocking the view, but I had to do what I had to do, so I said my excuses, stood up in the bench, and took a shot. {Taken 22 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


9) A Shadow - Supposedly, I am sharing a picture I took of my sister's shadow from the SM Mall of Asia Bay Area. As I crop the picture, I had this feeling that the shadow was way too small, and that my sister's image was much more of a focal point of the image, so I checked my June folders for a shadow picture. Other shadow related pictures of my sister from the same folder was of her hand forming a heart, but the heart shadow was hard to distinguish. So, I got up, got the bible and the flash light, took off my ring (which is NOT a wedding ring as I am still single) and took pictures. Surely, this was much better than the first image I had. {Taken 30 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


10) A Garden - In our neighborhood, gardens are usually located at the front of the house. Some use the space to plant fruit trees, or vegetables, or flowering plants, while some just wanted to keep it clean, just like this one. {Taken 28 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


11) A Park - This was the last image hunted for this set. I was very certain to use an archive for this one because I don't have enough time to go to parks. While editing my pictures this morning, I realized we had internet connection problems. I was told it might resume after lunch, so I went with my sister to take a picture of this small park by the entrance of the neighborhood. {Taken 30 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


12) A Street Scene - Not a very good capture, but it's what I can do for the time being. Actually, a little personal history is also included in this shot, so I decided to use this shot instead. This man has been selling taho (a very soft soy bean curd with caramel and tapioca pearls) for as long as I remember. When I was still a kid, I remember waiting for him every morning as taho is my favorite childhood breakfast food. Everyday, he would carry these heavy metallic pails and walk around the neighborhood to sell. On this particular day, brother called on him because he will buy, and I also went outside so I could take a picture. As I took pictures of him, I can't help but just feel reminiscent of the past. It was just quite funny that here I am, 29 years of age... some of my play mates are now parents, and he's still selling taho. I find it quite cute that some of my parent friends could tell their kids that once we were just like them (the kids) excited to buy the food. {Taken 26 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


13) Signage - One weekend, us three girls (mom, sister, and I) went to eat lunch out and do groceries, when mom thought of passing by the mall's hardware because she wanted to have one of our sinks replaced. As my mom lines up at the counter, I saw an aisle of nothing but signages, and thinking about the photo hunt, I quickly went to the aisle to take a quick shot. {Taken 07 June 2009, using Sony Ericsson K800i cell phone}


14) A Summer Activity - I also had a hard time thinking what to share for this. I thought I'd go for the archives again as June was actually the start of the rainy season here in the Philippines. However, when I saw Aimee's take for this one, I realized that summer activities aren't really just about beaches and pools... it could also be about this - singing the karaoke! {Taken 29 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


15) A Summer Treat - The Halo-Halo is ultimately the Filipinos' favorite summer treat. Summer isn't really complete without eating this food. Literally meaning "mix-mix," this food is made of different food items in shaved ice and evaporated milk. Depending on where you bought the food, a bowl or a glass of halo-halo often times have: slices of banana, cubed sweet potatoes, tapioca pearls, gelatin, red mung beans, kidney beans, leche flan (creme brulee), purple yam, and rice crispies. If that's not enough, you can go for the special treat which has a scoop of ice cream on top. A very heavy snack, but it is guaranteed to take the summer blues away. {Taken 07 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


16) Earth - Like what I said, the first few weeks of June had been nothing but rains, so when the rains finally stopped, my sister and I exerted a whole lot of efforts in cleaning our roof and our garden. As I take out all the dead leaves in the garden, I saw a whole lot of earthworms. Some I placed back in different pots, but I thought of the hunt, so even with a dirty set of hands, I took pictures of that last earthworm I saw. {Taken 08 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


17) Air - As my sister and I exited the SSS main building, I noticed the evolution of the Philippine flag waving so happily outside. Feeling nationalistic, I decided to take pictures of it as my air shot. {Taken 22 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


18) Fire - In the last photo hunt I joined, I used a candle shot for my fire. Well, this one's a bit similar, but instead of the fire in the candle, this one's a fire in the match. Taking this shot was certainly not an easy thing to do - took me nearly 30 minutes to get this one - as the match sometimes dies quickly, or I would be late in focusing the camera. Believe me, being inside a very dark room with a camera on one hand and the match on the other wasn't at all pleasure. =) It was just so difficult lighting the match and focus the camera and take the shot. At most times I leave it up to faith if the shot would be nice or not as the light was just coming from this match. Add to that a mom who's yelling that I might burn the house down, oh man! But in the end, it was a sweet taste of success. I love this shot! {Taken 19 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


19) Water - A lot of things considered to be the water shot, but one weekend, I was cleaning the bathroom and thought of turning on the shower as I clean the floors when I thought of taking pictures of the shower head! Quickly, I went to get my camera, stood on the toilet bowl and took pictures. My sister was watching me the whole time because she was fearing for my dear life - she knew the whole bathroom was wet and I might slipped off the toilet (I didn't put the cover down when I stood on it). Well, it was a great day, indeed... I got my water shot in one piece. {Taken 21 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


20) Something Vintage (pre-1980s) - I really thought Fathers' Day was the second Sunday of June, so on that day, I took out an album given to me by my late father. It was an album of his ROTC Graduation in 1972. I was supposed to take pictures of his dogtag, but no one knows where it is now, so I just scattered the old pictures in my bed and took pictures. The album also had one of my dad's old university IDs, and the invitation for the ROTC Grad Ball. This album is now part of my treasure chest. {Taken 14 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


21) Something Made of Glass - Like that of the shadow shot, this one was just taken on the last day. I was editing the pictures and noticed that the first shot of "something made of glass" wasn't nicely photographed, so I roamed around the house to think of a suitable replacement. When I reached the kitchen, I saw this bowl and got interested with the design, so I took it to the dining area to be photographed. It was just interesting that our dining table had sachets of instant coffee, which added color to the strawberries. {Taken 30 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


22) Something Made of Wood - That thing my sister had in her head was actually a necklace made of wood beads. My Nigerian friend Jude sent it in the mail as he wanted me to have a little piece of Nigeria. I asked my sister to be my model, but it was quite difficult to take pictures of the necklace, so in different attacks to get the shot, we sort of placed it in her head as a head band. {Taken 29 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


23) Something That Floats - I first wanted to do a boat origami and place it in a tub. But, the water was giving me a reflection that ruins the shot, so I thought of a different thing. While watching TV, I saw a TVC about an alcoholic drink with slices of oranges in the glass, so I set up to imitate it. Using mango juice in a martini glass, I sliced some calamansi (Calamondin or Philippine Lime) and took a flower from one of our pots. Majority of the flower is submerged, but it still floats, right? =) {Taken 24 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


24) Something Railroad Related - Going to SM Mall of Asia from Gateway Mall required my sister and I to take the Metro Rail Transit from Cubao to Taft Avenue. The MRT Stations has got to be one of the places which are very hard to take pictures of because the security are often times paranoid. Well, who wouldn't be after a bomb exploded years ago, so in order to take pictures, I had to use my cell phone. I took pictures from the Cubao station, but I chose to share this as this seemed to be taken from a different perspective. I took this while in an escalator exiting the Taft Avenue station. {Taken 22 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}


25) Something Round - Prior to this, I already have pictures of some berries and other round objects. But then, I found out my dear friend Charmy (who lives next to our house) is due to give birth in a week, so I asked her if I could take pictures of her. She's such a groovy mama who's willing to do all sorts of poses. Among my favorite shots was this one. It was her idea to pose with the basketball, and upon seeing the shot, it's like she swallowed a whole basketball! =) I wish my friend a safe delivery. She and her husband is welcoming their first born, a son which will be named Jamy anytime soon. {Taken 26 June 2009, using Canon Powershot A1000is}

Wow... I couldn't believe I was able to hunt 25 items within the month! I am proud of myself that all were shot within the hunt period. I really thought I'd use archives for some of the items, but I am happy I didn't have to. It was so fun doing the photo hunt. Will there be a hunt next month, too? Hope so.

*** Jenn ***

June was such a slow month for me. So many events and places I hoped to see, but wasn't able to see even half of it. I blame the economic financial crisis, I blame the weather, but most of all I blame myself. I have been saying to myself "You regret the things you didn't do," yet there were so many chances I allowed to pass. Oh well, life goes on. =)

Last Sunday, mom told sister and I about her picture on the wall of fame in the SSS Main Building, so when sister woke up yesterday morning, she just went, "Let's go!" I don't want to regret again, so okay, I guess it's time for me to go out to unwind, catch a different kind of air, bond with my sister - whom I had a fight with not too long ago (that would be on a different story), and catch up on my photo hunt game, which is giving me the biggest "headache."

Anyway, going out means taking pictures, and here are pictures taken yesterday:



My sister has been used to riding ordinary buses (no air conditioning system), so we took one today. I was holding my camera all the time to capture any things that would capture my interest. Along Fairview road, I heard some school kids trying to wind off time, and when the bus they were riding passed by our bus, one of the kids were making faces, so I turned on my cam and when our bus caught up with them, I took a shot. =)


First stop on our list was the SSS Main Office in East Avenue, Quezon City. Our main goal was to locate that picture in their Wall of Fame, but setting foot inside the building brought back so many memories to my sister and I - I studied pre-school at a school at the back of the building, and my mom would always hide me in their records section so the manager won't see me. I was telling my sister how a very young girl could ride elevators from 2nd floor (where my mom works) to 8th or 12th floor (I forgot) where my dad works. I basically grew in the building, as my parents worked there until both of my parents were transferred to different branches. Sister also recalled this one story during Christmas Party when she got lost. Laugh trip as we travel back in time.

The koi pond was still there, but slightly much smaller than it used to be. The flower picture was taken near the pond.


From SSS, we took the bus going to Gateway Mall in Cubao. Sister just went to this arcade to have her card replaced, while I stayed at the Mandarin Oasis where I took some pictures. I was teasing my sister for us to go to SM Mall of Asia, and tease after another, we decided to go. We took the MRT (Metro Rail Transit) from Cubao to Taft Avenue, then jeepney to the mall.



We pretty much spent the whole late afternoon at the bay area, where we patiently awaited for the sunset. It was nice that sister and I are very okay now as she became my model in some shots. Well, some people said the sunset here in SM Mall of Asia was more beautiful, but I disagree to that. Well, sunset here is pretty, alright, but the sunset I saw at the Manila Bay Area with K last November was still one of the best.

Sister and I went home past 8PM, and got home at 11PM. Our bodies just hurt so much! Traffic was way bad, but I have no regrets. This was a great day!

*** Jenn ***

Over the weekend, I was trying hard to complete my list of items to be photographed as I joined a Photo Hunt game and time is ticking on me. I still have about 10 items to hunt before the month ends! Because I was just at home this weekend, I just took the liberty of taking pictures of things from our garden.

Our garden didn't have that much flowers and "life" so I checked what's in our neighbors' gardens, and this flower caught my attention. I don't know what's it called, but I found it really beautiful. If only the sun wasn't directly shining my way, I could have taken much more pictures.

*** Jenn ***

17 June 2009

Even before the CLP started three months ago, Ran had already told me that his application to work overseas has been granted. All he has to do was to give the fee and he's good to go. He just delayed it a bit because he was asked to be a facilitator for the CLP and he wanted to finish it first.



Last Saturday, when I saw him at the CLP Graduation / Lord's Day, he told me he's already anxious to leave because some of his friends were already in Saudi Arabia. His main problem was the money, and sad as it is, we (his close SFC friends) couldn't help him as we all know times are rough nowadays.

I was so surprised to receive a text message from Ran two days after saying he's flying to Saudi Arabia on Friday (which was yesterday, 19 June). He said that the husband of his cousin sent some moolah and instead of using it for their allowance (the husband was working in Saudi as well), it was given to Ran so he could fly already.

I told Ran I hope we could gather for the "last time" before he leaves. Andre was willing to accomodate all of us in their house, so I said I would just provide the rice. Daisy said she'd bring in some food to go with the rice. With us SFC friends, it doesn't really matter what kind of food we eat... as long as we're together, we will be happy.




They said Daisy would bring in some tuyo and daing (both are dried fish), and we would eat using banana leaves, but I didn't believe it until Ran and Andre layed out the banana leaves in the table. Daisy was late, but Andre's mom had cooked some tuyo and fried fish. Good thing Daisy arrived just before we all complained of hunger (peace, sis), so dinner time was a boodle fight!

It has been so long since I last ate dried fish. Using our hands to eat, and fighting for that space in the condiment plate was something we all enjoyed. It rained every now and then, so eating dried fish feeling the cold air was so delicious!


Joanne, Mhau, El, and Nino arrived late, so when they arrived, we gave Ran an honoring. In Couples for Christ and its family ministries like SFC, honoring is usually done when a member celebrates a birthday, but since Ran is already leaving and won't be back until after two years, we wanted to give a special honoring this time. Of course, added to that were our message for him. Some were funny, some were serious, but all messages meant one thing: Ran is special to all of us and he will be missed.

At around 10PM, some of us already left. 14 of us stayed and we played some charades until midnight. For as long as we can, of course we wanted to stay together, but at midnight, we all called it a night.

Ran's flight was yesterday noon. I was able to speak with him in the morning and a few minutes before he embarked the plane. I will miss him so much... he's my adopted younger brother - the only SFC friend who knew me inside out. I hope two years would pass by quick so he could come home.

God bless you, Ran.

*** Jenn ***