Coming to Vigan this morning, I was on high spirits... until I realized apart from the money I need for the fare going home, I am left with 100 pesos. Still, I decided to go to an Internet Cafe because rain fell and I needed to find shelter.

I will be taking the 9PM bus trip back to Manila tonight. Will resume regular blogging starting tomorrow. To all who passed by my blog, my sincerest thanks.

*** Jenn ***

Greetings from La Union!

I got here in La Union yesterday afternoon after the CFC Singles for Christ Metro Manila Conference in Baguio City and it was great that it is sunny here. When I got here it was raining real hard. I am supposed to stay just until today, but my Aunt Julie asked if I want to go with her and cousin Mhai in Manaoag Church (Pangasinan), so I decided to stay.

I will then be traveling to Vigan on Friday and will take the night trip going back home. See you all on Saturday morning!

*** Jenn ***

Last year, I was very happy to be a part of WordCamp Philippines. During the camp, they already expressed that there will be another WordCamp for this year, so when they already announced that they are now accepting registration for WordCamp Philippines 2009, I immediately went to their site to register.

Due to some aspects, this year's WordCamp is no longer free, but the 12USD fee seemed to be reasonable for me. I really enjoyed last year's WordCamp, so for sure this year's camp will be much, much better.

The Camp is on 19 September at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City.


Another thing to be thankful for was that I found out that my ant macro photo was chosen as the "Photo of the Week" at the Pinoy Republic forum. Everyday, photo enthusiasts are encouraged to post their capture of the day, and among the seven capture of the day, one will be picked as the photo of the week. I recently just joined the forum, and since I still haven't fully categorized all the pictures I wanted to share in the forum, I just post a picture in the capture of the day. I am thankful that they picked my shot.. and I am thankful also for the comments they sent my way.

Like what I said in all my other blogs, I am going to take a leave of absence from blogging. I will be traveling tonight going to Baguio City for a weekend of spiritualism. I will be attending the Singles for Christ Metro Manila Conference, and I am so looking forward to be with other SFC siblings. From Baguio City, I will be heading to my paternal hometown in Bacnotan, La Union, and on Tuesday, I will be heading towards my favorite place - Vigan City - to continue my "Vigan in Sepia" theme. I will be home by Wednesday.

Thank you for stopping by my site. Happy weekends!

*** Jenn ***

The Singles for Christ Metro Manila Conference is going to be this weekend in Baguio City. Because of my financial problems, I was at first not really going to join, but my Househould leader Teacher Rhona convinced me to join because all of us in the household will be going. It was just Andre and I in the household who joined the SFC International Conference in Cebu City last February, so now that the whole household is going to attend the MMC, I decided to join as well. It was sad that our baby in the household - Lorebie - had to back out because their family will be going to one of her parents' hometown, but still, 4 of us in the household going to the MMC means success.

I got this from the SFC Global website... Here's the schedule for the SFC Metro Manila Conference:

FRIDAY, 24 July 2009
8:00AM - Registration
12:00NN - 5:30PM - Amazing Race Tours
3:00PM - SFC Booths
4:00PM - Delegation Heads Meeting
5:00PM - Holy Mass
6:30PM - 10:00PM -Opening Night / Hunters Party / SFC Got Talent / Duets

SATURDAY, 25 July 2009
6:30AM - Breakfast
8:00AM - Holy Mass
9:00AM - Opening Prayer / Session 1 / Session 2
12:00NN - Lunch
1:00PM - Workshops
5:30PM - Dinner
6:45PM - 10:00PM - Evening Worship / Session 3

SUNDAY, 26 July 2009
6:30AM - Breakfast
8:00AM - Holy Mass
9:00AM - 12:00NN - Morning Worship / Session 4 / Praisefest

Our chapter will leave on Thursday night at 11PM. There were rented bus that will take us all the way to Baguio City. Acommodation is not a problem as well - all of us will be staying in one place for the whole duration of our stay. Who will be my seatmate in the bus and who wil be my roommate? I don't know yet.

On Friday night, there will be a Hunters Party. All are requested to wear a safari hunter's costume, and the best male and female in costume will win free registration for the next SFC International Conference in Davao City next year. That sounded like a good prize, but sadly, I might not be able to go with the costume. I just cannot find any Lara Croft / Indiana Jones inspired costume. Yesterday, I was with mom and sister, and we cannot find any costume! I was able to see an African looking shirt... maybe I will just wear it.

As for the Workshops on Saturday, there were workshops for 1-3PM, and another set for 3-5PM. For the 1-3PM workshop, I took

"I Will Survive!" Emotional Survival Skills
Often we feel weary with the same cycle of hurt, failure, frustration and depression. We do not understand why we continually feel this way. We want to feel complete and capable at work, in our service and with our relationships. But sometimes we do not know how to overcome these negative feelings. Using God’s frame of mind, this workshop is based on a new cutting-edge psycho-spiritual approach to dealing with and managing our mental and emotional states.

-- I chose this one because I may seem okay and happy on the outside, but deep inside there's something in me that's broken. I want to help heal myself, and I think this workshop will help me a lot. I was happy because I will be classmates with some of my SFC siblings in the chapter for this workshop.

For the 3-5PM Workshop, I chose:

5 Decades, 15 Promises
Whatever Mary asks, she receives. When we pray the Rosary, we invite her to pray with us and for us. And, as we pray faithfully and devoutly the Rosary, we are assisted in fighting evil and temptation, as well as living in true peace. The Rosary is a treasure of graces. When we recite it, we obtain its promises of a grace-filled life. We need to understand and appreciate these promises so we know how to apply them in our daily lives and at the moment of death. We will receive these promises, because Jesus can never say no to whatever His Mother asks.

-- I chose this because I pray the rosary and yet parts of it I still don't understand. I want to fully understand it, so when somebody asks why I pray the rosary, I will have a much definite answer.

I am now in the process of making a check list of things to bring for this trip. After Baguio, I will head straight to our house in La Union, then will go to Vigan before going home. I pray clear skies this coming weekend. To all who will attend the SFC MMC, see you all there!

*** Jenn ***

At age 11, I was already wearing eyeglasses. I have been teased as the "four-eyed Jenn" by my classmates, but regardless of how they call me, I will always be thankful for my eyeglasses. Being a student had to sit at the back row - because I am big and my surname starts with V - it would be difficult for me to concentrate in my studying if I cannot see what was written on the board. Because of my eyeglasses, I can see clearly and I can focus more.

I noticed that younger kids are now wearing eyeglasses. As early as 7 or 8, I see kids going to school wearing eyeglasses. Of course, these kids cannot wear contact lenses yet, so to parents with kids who are now wearing eyeglasses, you can now check out the $ 8 Rx eyeglasses from Zenni Optical. Trendy eyeglasses need not to be expensive. In fact, even if these eyeglasses are cheaper, they have been featured every now and then in different media. Actually, you can check out Zenni Optical on TV!!!

Now, parents don't have the need to complain about having to replace their kids' eyeglasses every now and then because of their kids' mishandling. High Five to Zenni Optical!

This week for Music Monday, I feature a song from Marit Larsen.

I could try you with a waltz
I could try you rock and roll
I could try you with the blues
If a song would do

I could sing it high or low
When I let you go you know
I thought it was for the best
Now it is so obvious

So here it is, here it goes
I could try rock and roll
I would change your life forever too
If a song could get me you
I could make it high or low
Sing it on the radio
If that is what I need to do
If a song could get me you

I could run for miles and miles
I'd take off and I'd start flying
I could cross land and sea
If you just believe me

I should not have hurt you so
This old house is not a home
Without you here, there's no use
I've got no time left to lose

So here it is, here it goes
I could try rock and roll
I would change your life forever too
If a song could get me you
I could make it high or low
Sing it on the radio
If that is what I need to do
If a song could get me you

If a song could get me through
I'd sing my way, right back to you
Tell me how, to make it right
Tell me now, I'll start tonight
I know I could make it last

I swear to you that if I knew
What I was getting myself into
I wouldn't answer to my fears
I'd never leave you standing there

Just look at me

If you'd only see me
I would prove my love for you
I could swallow half the moon
Just tell me where, tell me when
I will have you back again

So here it is, here it goes
I could try rock and roll
I would change your life forever too
If a song could get me you
I could make it high or low
Sing it on the radio
If that is what I need to do
If a song could get me you

So here it is, here it goes
I could try rock and roll
I would change your life forever too
If a song could get me you
I could make it high or low
Sing it on the radio
If that is what I need to do
If a song could get me you

Marit Larsen gained international popularity in the early 2000s as part of the duo, M2M. After Atlantic Records dropped the duo, Marit pursued studies, while the other half of the duo, Marion Raven, continued making music. In 2006, she made a comeback in music, performing soulful, heartful songs. Her albums aren't available worldwide (I am actually hoping to own her albums), so I can only listen to her songs via YouTube. I hope in time her albums will be released here, too. I really love her songs. Simple, yet wonderful.

This song was part of her album "The Chase." There were rumors that she wrote this song for Isaac Hanson, but that was just rumors. I chose to feature this song because I have been trying to play this on the guitar. I still haven't gotten the groove of it, but I will.

Have a great week ahead, everyone!

*** Jenn ***

Only one blog per person for "Our Weekend Memoirs" blog meme, so I decided to use my personal for it.

Monday last week was the day my friend Charmy gave birth. We weren't able to visit her at the hospital, so when they got home two days after, mom and I visited them. Well, they live just right next to us, it wasn't a hassle at all.

Hearing Charmy's story about giving birth gave me some thoughts about the future. Well, giving birth varies, I know, but somehow I am quite happy that I am still far from experiencing it. At one point I was happy I am single. Heheheh. But of course, there is no greater feeling than having a child. I am not a mother yet, but taking care of a little kitten really made me feel what moms feel (that's a different story).

I didn't really dare carrying the baby as I might hurt the little one. I just let mom carry the baby, and I just smiled for the pictures. The first picture I took the minute I saw the baby in their room, the second picture was taken by Charmy's husband - Jay. They named the baby Jamy (a mix of Jay and Charmy). A very short name for a baby with a long surname. =)

Welcome to the outside world, Jamy!

*** Jenn ***

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Ever since I had my cell phone, I was so happy that it was the phone I chose to buy. It's a cell phone camera, yet it is as powerful as the typical compact point and shoot cameras, only that it didn't have optical zoom (just digital zoom), that's why I still opted to buy a point and shoot camera for my blogging and traveling.

Just a few weeks ago, while waiting for a friend to respond to my text message, I played with the camera and checked the different settings. I knew back then that it had different white balance and effects settings, but I didn't get to play with it that much because I am more into taking pictures the normal way, only changing settings if I want to go sepia (since I don't know how to transfer a colored picture into sepia). I was quite impressed with the different effects, and again this week, I played with the cell phone's camera and took some pictures.


A self portrait on solarized effect. The flash was fired on this shot.


Solarized effect, no flash. I had a mattress laid out in the living room floor where I lay while watching television, and I found our cat Lilith so cute resting on the couch (taking a break from feeding her kitty), so I took a picture.


The electric fan on negative effect. This wasn't the original look of the picture; the negative effect had this bluish tone on the image, but this image I made a pass on Photo DJ (another software included in the cell phone) where I changed the white balance and brightness / contrast settings.

I am not sure if the images would appeal to everyone, but I kinda liked the negative effect. I guess the fascination I have on lomography is making me like this effect. Well, I still haven't tried lomography, but I am hoping to take lomo pictures. =)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

*** Jenn ***