Several thoughts ran through my head last Friday - I wanted to check out the Photoworld Asia 2010 in Glorietta Mall in Makati City, but the distance of the mall from our house made me double think about it. Since I already told Joey I will be in Makati on Friday, I decided to push through with it, because if I cancel again, he might not talk to me ever again.

Arriving at the Activity Center of the mall, I was hoping to see the gallery of photographs (as mentioned in their poster), but I didn't see any. Instead, I saw booths after booths of different camera stores. I cannot really relate to it because I am not really into shopping anything about photography. Good thing the Canon booth had models, which photographers in the area - me included - took pictures of.

Checking the Canon booth, I felt each and every camera on display. I am very overwhelmed with how much DSLR cameras and lenses cost, but I was more overwhelmed seeing so many people sporting their own cameras. Like what I said in my previous posts, I am at a crossroads when it comes to what camera to buy, and I have been checking this point and shoot camera for a while. It does look a lot like and it has features of DSLR, but the only thing was that the lenses cannot be changed. It does have a powerful 20x optical zoom, making me feel this is an "all in one" camera. However, I am still torn because of its price. I just hope by the time I am ready to purchase one, I can decide what to do.

By 6PM, Joey came to pick me up. After a long six months, we have finally met. We "met" online last July, and since then, he has asked me out on a date, but I kept on rejecting him because I was afraid of going out on dates and meeting up people. Rejections I have had in the past somewhat made me place an imaginary wall preventing myself to go out on dates, and I was really guilty that he has experienced my own rejections. Still, he would always ask me out every Friday nights. Talk about persistence! :) He's working in the city, and since we're both in the same place, might as well meet.

From Glorietta, we walked to Dela Rosa street. While walking, he gave me two options where I wanted to eat dinner - the bistro or the food court of the Enterprise Center. I told him I used to work at the Enterprise and I have eaten at their food court countless times already, so we went to the Bistro 110. He ordered a pizzadillo for us, and while he ordered bottles of beer for himself, I was already happy with my glass of water.

He and I talked a lot - from funny things to serious things. I felt so guilty that I declined his invitation over and over, and I was happy he understood me. Still, he gave a run down of "lectures". Anyway, he told me that somewhere in the past, we talked about me having a drink if we do meet, but the bistro didn't have margarita. I settled for a glass of Banana Bailey's Shake - which was delicious.

A band performed, but we only listened to three or four songs because he said he had to be home early for he has so many errands to do come Saturday. I live very far from the place, so getting home early sound so great in my ears. We walked along Makati's streets to where he parked his car. We exchanged jokes, stories, and we even walked hand in hand. It was really great.

Inside his car, he asked where he could drop me off. I told him he can drop me off in any point along EDSA, because it's where I can get a bus that would take me straight home (well, just outside the neighborhood basically). We were all set to "go home," until I started singing to the song playing in his car. Then, I danced to the tune, and he said that I was so fun to be with. Well, he was really fun to be with, too. He would throw jokes at me from time to time, but he just said he wanted me train me to be less sensitive.

I have no sense for directions, but I did notice that we were heading south. I told him my direction was north - he just said he wanted us to be together a bit longer. Oh sweet. Well, by the time he U-turned going north, traffic built up by the time we reached Ayala. His plans of dropping me off to Philcoa was suddenly changed to Ortigas, because we were already stuck in traffic for nearly two hours already.

It was really great that I was able to meet him personally. I know I caused him so many stresses, but I was happy that he stayed to be a friend of mine. I hate to burst your bubble, but he and I are just good friends. He is not really into entering relationships, but he did tell me he will ask me out again next time. I eagerly await for that time. Thanks for everything, Joey. It was so nice meeting you.

*** Jenn ***

First up, I apologize for not blogging much - our PC's having problems (yes, it's not fixed yet) and I am having a hard time juggling the things I needed to do. I have so many old stories to share, but since I don't know where to start, I will just run a "thank you" post to converge it all.

• To mom for the HBC gift cert, which I used in buying a new cheek blusher.
• To my brother's gf for the tubes of lip gloss.
• A fun time church hopping around Manila with shutterbug friends.
• Seeing the cosplay royalty (Alodia Gosenfiao) in person.
• More make-up from mom.
• Calls from friends Dandy and Eddie.
• Invitation to Philipp's wedding.
• Invitation to Kei's birthday.
• Invitation to do a photo walk in Antipolo and/or Wawa Dam.
• Winning a Starbucks cap and lace from Jonel's contest.
• A new job for my sister.

Last Sunday, I saw a high school classmate at the Otaku Expo 2010. Since he lives quite near our place, I asked if we could travel home together, and while we were together, we were able to talk about things. He and I are both into photography, and I mentioned to him that I am at a crossroad when it comes to what camera to buy. I told him that getting a DSLR seem to be a far-fetched dream for me, and since Canon has a camera with 20x optical zoom and that users can change its aperture and shutter speed, I was thinking of just getting this. I still haven't decided yet, but somehow my high school classmate talked to me about "the Secret," a book written by Rhonda Byrne. The course of our talk made me take out the book from my closet when I got home so I could start re-reading it.

I remembered a line from the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" I heard oh so many years ago. One character said, "There are no coincidences." I now realized that it wasn't luck or coincidence that I saw him at the event... there was a specific reason why the universe has made us both in the same place at the same time. I learned a valuable lesson just talking to him, and with that, I am thankful.

*** Jenn ***

December last year, my friend Dandy and I planned to meet at the Manila Toys and Gifts show to watch the cosplay catwalk. Due to some family duties, I wasn't able to attend it, but I did promise my friend that I would definitely attend the next cosplay. That day was yesterday, when Otaku Zine - the Anime Magazine staged the Otaku Expo 2010 in SM Megamall Megatrade 2.

The event ran for two days (23 and 24 January), but we decided to go yesterday. I was a bit late - I came a little after lunch, but all was still good as I was able to roam around and take pictures of the cosplayers. I struggled a bit with the setting of my because I had to put it on high ISO. Lower ISO gave me blurred images, while putting on the flash gave me not so good outputs as well. The pictures I had were noisy, but here are just some of the pictures I took:

Alodia Gosengfiao - No doubt the most famous Filipino cosplayer. She was there to serve foods at the Maid Cafe, and she's also one of the judges for the Cosplay contest. It was great to see her in person.

A cosplayer in flamenco like costume.


When Ronald McDonald met the Joker.


The cutest cosplayer.


Oooohh.. big sword!

The sexy policewoman. The place literally heated up when she went on stage.

The main cosplay contest started late, but it was good. I just didn't like that some people (including us) had to sit on the floor. I really had a hard time trying to think how to cope up with numb legs. While I also didn't like that the cosplayers were too quick to make a pass by the stage, and how the mic stand became a clutter in some shots, I did have a blast at the event. I was happy I was able to attend this one.

I had so many pictures taken on the event, but these will do for now as I am having problems with the PC. In time, I will post the album, just look at the pictures once it's up.

To you, Dandy... it was great seeing you. Thanks so much for the kindness and the DVDs. Hope we could watch the next cosplay again.

*** Jenn ***

ps - On the event, I was able to see a former high school classmate who was also there for the cosplay. Thanks for the dinner and the free fare home, Jojo!

Aside from taking pictures of the churches, I was also able to take pictures of people from the streets of Intramuros and Binondo in Manila City. Street Photography is something I am not really confident in doing because I am always afraid that the people I am photographing might scold me for "invading their privacy." But since I was with friends who were also holding a camera and taking pictures, I gave it a try and here are just some I took:


A man at work


Smile! - These street children begs for some mercy on people passing by in front of Binondo Church. But, although these children don't eat three times a day, don't take regular baths, and just live on the streets, somehow they can still give the sweetest smile.


Lola - "Lola" is grandmother in Filipino language. This grandmother stays by the door of Binondo Church to ask for some help. When I saw her by the window, I already wanted to take pictures of her, and I guess seeing us holding cameras made her curious about what we were doing.


Alms - Taken outside the Binondo Church. There was a group of street children playing by the sides of the church, and they did pose for pictures, but after we took pictures of them, they went to what they do for a living - asking for alms.

I found Binondo a good place to take street photography. It pains me to see them doing this, and it pains me to take pictures of them, but this is the reality of life. Life is unfair, as they say... but as the election comes near, I hope the elected leaders would do something about the problem. And of course, I hope the people of this country would give their share in solving the problems. Even though there is a bad side to where I live, I still love my country.

*** Jenn ***

ps - All pictures were taken using Nikon Coolpix P80. Big thanks to my friend Halie for lending me her camera.

16 January 2010

Friends from the Pinoy Republic forum invited us for some church hopping, and because I am a big fan of the churches here in the Philippines, I immediately expressed my willingness to join. We were all supposed to meet by the Post Office Building in Lawton, Manila at 8AM, but I woke up late and I was still by the Mabuhay Rotonda at 8AM. I texted my shutterbug friends to wait for me, and Mark just asked me to go straight to the Manila Cathedral.




They weren't there when I arrived at the the Cathedral, but I was happy to arrive earlier than then, and I was happy that there wasn't any event, which gave people the priviledge to take pictures inside the Cathedral without restrictions. It was my first time to take pictures inside the Cathedral without worrying about church's staff asking me to stop. The only downside was that most of the Cathedral's lights were off, hindering me to capture the awesome architecture inside.
Mark met me a few minutes after, and he told me that he and Derek were part of a photography club, and their club's a part of the ongoing Photo World Cup. For this round, participants were given the theme, "Church Architecture," hence the invitation for this meet up. Mark wasn't able to take pictures inside the Cathedral, because a wedding was about to start.

When Derek arrived, we walked towards the San Agustin Church, but a wedding was about to start as well, and we cannot enter the church, as people involved in the wedding flocked outside the church. Mark expressed his willingness to walk towards the Pasig River because he saw some interesting subjects to take pictures of. Since both churches have ongoing weddings, we decided to go. But, we ate light lunch first at Jollibee were Halie met us.


While eating lunch, Halie asked if I brought an extra memory card. She already told me she would lend me her Nikon Coolpix P80 digital camera, so I would experience how to use a Nikon camera. It's a point and shoot camera, but leaning towards DSLR because the shutter speed and the aperture can be changed. They wanted me to use it on full manual mode, but because I still cannot get the harmony between the shutter speed and aperture, I just used it on P mode, which is the auto mode.

Us four walked to the river, and as we continued walking, we just found ourselves entering the Chinatown. Since the guys needed to take pictures of churches, we went to Binondo Church - a first time for me.

Aside from the church pictures, we were also able to take some street photography. And as if our feet and legs weren't hurting yet, we walked back to the Manila Cathedral, but the staff didn't want people with big cameras to enter as another wedding was about to start. So, we had no choice but to leave and try our luck at the San Agustin Church.


Lucky are we that the San Agustin Church was open to public. A wedding was about to start, so we quickly took pictures. Derek was mentioning about adding drama to the church's architecture, and we thought of the bride walking down the aisle, so we quickly went to the choir loft to wait for the wedding to start. After taking the pictures, we took some refreshments at the church's museum and talked about how the day went - all of us were complaining about aching feet and legs, but all of us were happy with how the day went.

Thanks for the invite, and thanks so much to Halie for letting me use her camera.

*** Jenn ***

I have always been fascinated with how the sun rises in the morning and how it sets come night time. Personally, I think there is a hidden message from God every time it happens, like during sunrise, it is telling me that the day will be good, and during sunset, it is like a pat on the shoulder telling me what a day I just had. I don't know the answer to my question above (yet), but here are just three of best places to see the sunset:


1. UP Diliman - The sun sets fronting the famous oblation, and the drama between the sculpture and the sun is just so great! This picture was shot March 2009.


2. Paratong Beach - Bacnotan, La Union - Whenever I travel to my paternal hometown in Bacnotan (La Union), I always go to this beach, which is just walking distance from where we live. The beach wasn't that good looking compared to the other beaches I've seen, but what made this place really special was that every dusk, it displays a wonderful view of the sunset. Summertime is the best time to check it out as the skies turn fiery red and people can see the sun fading out from the horizon. This picture was taken October 2009, and I set my camera to "tungsten," hence the bluish skies.


3. Manila Bay - This picture was taken by the Sunset Quay over at the Manila Ocean Park. The whole family was eating by the Pancake House, and right in front of us was this spectacular view. The sun was just about to set, and I just love it that the sun rays were bursting from the clouds. There are different points where to check the sunset... whether it is from here, or by the port area, the Harbor Square, the SM Mall of Asia, or by the Manila Baywalk... expect to see a great sunset each and every day! Oh well, except on rainy days, of course. :)

It is really great to see a wonderful sunset, but of course the best part of having to see the sunset was that people can always take a picture of it, as well as having their picture taken with the sunset as its background like my sister did here:


This picture was taken November 2009, while we were at the Urbiztondo Beach (San Juan, La Union) to watch the last day of the Surfing Break 4. Sunsets help people have interesting silhouettes. Try it when you get the chance.

I am still on a look out for places with great sunsets (and sunrises). If I found some places, I will surely take pictures and share it here.

*** Jenn ***