2009 Panagbenga Festival

...not yet, but I will tonight.

I am hoping to get an 11PM bus ride to Baguio City so I could take part of the 2010 Panagbenga Festival. The grand street parade will be tomorrow morning, so I will just spend the night on the road so I could be there as early as possible. I will be traveling alone, but it's okay... last year I traveled alone as well. When I get to Baguio, I will just send some friends messages so we could meet there.

From Baguio, I will be heading straight to our house in La Union, where I will be staying for nearly a week. I already drafted my schedule, and if it would go my way, here is how my week will be:

February 26 (F) - Travel to Baguio
February 27 (S) - 2010 Panagbenga Festival (grand street parade); travel to La Union
February 28 (S) - Bacnotan Church; Bacnotan Market; Lunch at Midway Grill; San Fernando Cathedral

March 01 (M) - Stay at home
March 02 (T) - Sunset watching at Paratong Beach
March 03 (W) - Balaoan Church; Nips Land; Forest Lake en Cielo cemetery (if sister would arrive in the morning); Bauang Church; Sunset watching at the shores of Bauang
March 04 (Th) - Stay at home
March 05 (F) - Dad's Death Anniversary
March 06 (S) - Sta. Maria Church; Vigan City

On days when I need to "stay at home," I will try to update my sites, and although I won't be going anywhere, I will definitely still do my best to take pictures of things. Sister told me she might take the night bus trip to La Union on March 02, I hope she would push through so she could also visit dad's grave, and at the same time I will be having a companion for the places I planned to visit.

Late February is also the time the City of San Fernando in La Union is celebrating their fiesta... I hope there would be programs so I could take part of it as well. I want to have a jampacked vacation!

I will be leaving by lunch time today because I still have to drop by the bus station to get my ticket, and attend the awarding ceremony for the Coke 2010 Resolutions this afternoon. Next update for this blog will be on Sunday.

Happy weekends!

*** Jenn ***

Yesterday, my friend Zen was here to help me with the PC problems. He has been my shock absorber whenever I would rant about my situation, and being a person who knows about fixing PCs, he decided to drop by and check it up. He was able to give life to our PC, but sadly, most pictures unburned were already gone. I was able to save some pictures in the camera, but the ones left in the camera were very select pictures. I felt really sad that most pictures aren't available anymore, but I am very happy that at least I can still use the PC.

There were still problems left and right. Because the cable of our DVD player has gone dysfunctional, I cannot install programs in our PC. Because of that, I cannot edit my pictures, thus not allowing me to write about things. I am so itching to tell about how my life was in the past two weeks, but I cannot do such.

Anyway, good news was that I am one of the twenty winners of the Coke Zero 2010 Resolutions. From what I read, I won an iPod Nano and a Nike Sports Kit. It was a surprise for me because I just joined the contest just to join it. I already forgot what my resolution was, but whatever I wrote, I am thankful I joined. The awarding ceremony will be tomorrow afternoon, and I decided to drop by before I travel to Baguio for the Panagbenga Festival.

I will be saving much needed pictures in my Flash Drive, so if ever I find a PC at the Cafe with a photo editing software, I can update the sites once again.

*** Jenn ***

After more than a week of being away, I am now able to write an update. Having no PC to use whenever I want to really sucks big time, but I guess I will just have to take all the lemons in and enjoy my lemonade. After all, it's already summer here in the Philippines, and I am really feeling the heat.

This week was my last week here in Metro Manila, for on Friday night, I will be traveling to Baguio City for the Panagbenga Festival. After which, I will be traveling to La Union where I will stay until March 5. Before coming home, I will be taking a side trip to my favorite place - Vigan City. Quite a hectic schedule I got, but I really am excited about it. Just like what I did last year, I will be traveling alone, which is why I am so hoping I could have a pepper spray in my purse so I could be on the safe side just in case. We all know that women are quite vulnerable, and having one in the purse gives us women a protection. Especially now that I will be traveling at night time, although I am pretty confident about taking care of myself, still, it would be nice to have one.

Actually, even the men can make use of this, as they can get attacked, too. It's common for women to be the prey, but it happens, too, that some men can be victimized, too. All of us can benefit from having some personal safety products in our purse or bag.

I am looking forward in having a great trip this coming weekend... all this heat is melting my brain and my morale, I need a change of atmosphere. Baguio here I come! Yey! If you're coming to the Panagbenga Festival, too, hope to see you there.

To everyone, be safe.

*** Jenn ***

Our PC died last Thursday, and I cannot update my blogs as often as I can. If you guys would want to reach me, you can always send me a text message on my cell phone. I hope the PC gets fixed soon, as I do have a lot of stories and pictures to share.

*** Jenn ***

Last Saturday, we witness as Philipp and Joan exchanged matrimonial vows. Like most couples, they, too, had their share of trials, but as they say, all's well that ends well. I remember when I first met Philipp, they were new in the neighborhood, and he was a very bratty kind of kid that would fight with anyone. As he grows old, he became mellow and quite a quiet kind of guy.

Based on what was told at their reception, they met at the Catholic org, Youth for Christ. Them studying in the same school and taking up the same course, they quickly became friends. There was a joke that it was Joan who courted Philipp, but only they know if that's true or not. A year and a half ago, they welcomed their firstborn, a cute baby girl named Pau-Pau, but they didn't get married right away because they just graduated from college, and their parents wanted them to experience real life first before.

Talks about their wedding came about late last year, and now the day has arrived. Mom was one of their godparents, so I also became her photographer. :) The ceremony was short and sweet, and the priest's message for them concentrated on them looking on the good sides of each other, even if a trial was testing their relationship. I wish for them to love and to hold on to each other. May their relationship last a lifetime.

Best wishes to you, Philipp and Joan!

*** Jenn ***

Last Friday, Puppy and I went to the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall to take part of the 5th Backdoor Ventures Arts and Music Festival. It was the first of three days, and because I have things scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, I can only go to the festival on this day. I just told Puppy about and kiddingly asked him if he wanted to come, and since he said "yes," I was more excited to go.

Pictures from the event:




Traditional music being played to welcome the audience.




Students of the Halili-Cruz School of Dance perform. There were about four routines, and these two pictures I loved the best. A bit dark... I used -2/3 exp for the pictures because the spotlights tend to be very bright.


There was an art gallery featuring different kinds of art - painting, sculpture, photography, decoupage, and drawing. This area was just a part of the gallery, and some were actually for sale. Others were just there for display.


Come afternoon, they held different workshops like this one - an oil pastel art workshop by Felix Sarmiento. Students were very lucky because he raffled off all the artworks by the board. After this, they held a creative writing workshop, and they also had another art workshop for the kids.


The Lady Gaga look-a-likes. I just love how they presented themselves. They were models for the headphones. There were different booths from different companies, showcasing a very wide variety of art and music.

A concert featuring different musicians were scheduled come night time, but since Puppy said he has to leave by 4:30PM, I also decided to leave and go home. Day One has been good, but I am sure they lined up much better activities for Saturday and Sunday (because it was a weekend). It's just fine. Attending one day is already enough for me, especially that Puppy came with me. Big thanks to you, my dear.

*** Jenn ***

Here in my personal blog, I always try to put pictures on every entry because I just love it whenever I can see an image to accompany what I have written. While I have a different photo blog wherein I showcase different images of different themes, I admit I am not much into editing my pictures in a big way. I do resize and change the saturation and brightness at times, but the more extensive photo manipulation as they call it, I still have not really done yet.

At first I thought my friends edited all the cool pictures of them by the billboard, or someone did really tattoed their picture in a muscular man's arm until I realized that there is a site that actually does the fun photo effects for the users like these:


The woman drawn in the image was a picture I took during the Aliwan Festival last April. I loved how I captured this candid portrait, but transforming it into a drawing really fitted!


An effect using three pictures of my sister. I just love it that the people were looking at her picture as if she is a model. She will love this when I let her see this!


A little something for Valentine's Day (which is around the corner).

If you think it is difficult to do this, well, not actually. All you have to do is to choose the effect you want, browse your computer for the picture you wanted to use, and the site would do all the effect for you. In a short, short time, your simple picture will be given a new look.

There are a lot of effects available for pictures. Some were funny pics, for the kid at heart, while these I used were a bit serious to say the least. Either way, feel free to use your pictures or any picture, which you can give to your family and friends. Do know you can always click on any of the pictures if you want to make funny pictures, or create ones like I did. The site has a cool new effect everyday, giving you more choices to suit your preference and your pictures.

*** Jenn ***

Last year, I took part of Project 365 - a photography project wherein people have to take one photo a day for the whole year. I failed my first take, as I forgot to take pictures on some days. Even though it seemed easy, this project was indeed challenging, especially on days when photo mojo was too fickle. Still, I re-took the project this year, and with such optimism, I embraced the challenges that were enclosed in it.

I was happy that I was able to complete the first month. Although I took on the project as the way to look up on my life, I can also say that I did put in some thoughts in some pictures I took because not only do I want to have something to look back on, I also wanted to learn more about photography.

There were 31 days for January, and as much as I loved all the pictures I took, here are my top 5 favorites - in random order:


03/365 - Wash Before You Eat >>> Taking a spin on my "water and light" experiment on fruits. I found it really cute to be able to freeze water as it flows.


15/365 - Partial Solar Eclipse >>> Taken around 4-ish in the afternoon, I was happy to be able to catch a glimpse of the eclipse through a little space. There was a big house fronting our house covering the sun, but with persistence, I was able to find a way to see it.


16/365 - Towards Destiny >>> I have told time and time again that if I am going to get married, I hope to get married in this historic church - the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. My time hasn't come yet, so for now, might as well watch as a bride walks down the aisle towards her destiny.


26/365 - The Center of the Heart >>> My take on "leading lines" using the pencils we got for free, and a heart eyelet, which I use in my scrapbooking.


29/365 - Ayala Tunnel >>> Not really a good picture, but I love this photo a lot because it's not everyday that I get to pass by the tunnel, and it's not everyday that someone with a car asks me out on a date. :)

Some things I learned in my first month:

• Joining photowalks is a great way to capture images, as well as in honing my skills.
• Even if I am at home most of the time, I still could take pictures of things from the house.
• Always keep a camera handy. If I forgot my digital camera at home, I still can capture moments using my own cell phone.
• For someone who cannot pose for pictures, I could still take self portraits.
• Know what's going going around. Read blogs, news, and be keen on events that I could attend to.
• Remember that I am a photographer. I should not be shy to take out my camera and take pictures if I see something that interests me.

I admit there are days that I had a hard time thinking what could be my subject, but still... I am happy that I didn't miss a day. Hopefully I won't miss a day for February, too.

*** Jenn ***

For how many months now, our PC is experiencing so many problems, which gives us (the users) problems as well. It freezes and restarts over and over, and not only was our patience running low, we are also starting to get headaches from it, too. While I can personally cope up with it, I am sure there are other people suffering from excessive pain brought about different factors.

I heard of this drug called tramadol, which has been said to treat moderate to severe pain. I think people who feels this kind of pain were people who are recently in an accident, or maybe they are experiencing chronic pain due to different things. I seriously don't want to feel their pain, but I am glad that scientists have come out with treatments for these kind of pain. Headaches can sometimes be too painful to endure, what more the other kind of pains?

With so many things available at the tip of our fingertips, people can also buy online tramadol, which is a good way to do for people who are busy with many things, or are stuck at home dealing with their pain. Nowadays, people rely on deliveries that they can still do more and still get what they needed. Actually, they can also buy tramadol without prescription, maybe because they were doing the transaction online and they were not in an actual pharmacy.

Whether you're dealing with moderate or severe pain and you need to take this, just make sure you read all the things you learn about it before taking it. We have to remember that we only have one body, and we have to take really good care of it. Whatever kind of medicines we take, please make sure you are taking it with utmost care. We all do not want regrets in the end, right? When life gives us lemons, we have to make a lemonade out of it. Solutions to problems are always available to us, but in the end, we choose which directions we would go to.

*** Jenn ***

It was June 2009 when I heard about Kristi's photo hunt. I was able to complete all the listed items, but since then, I wasn't able to join the next hunts because some items on the list I cannot relate to - like autumn and halloween themes. When my online friend Aimee put up her take on the last hunt (December 2009), I realized I had already forgotten about the hunt and it made me decide to join the next one.

The hunt runs every other month, so now that it's already February, a new list has been posted. Some items included in the list are "Something Homemade," "A Symbol of Love," and "Two of a Kind." Some were quite easy to do, while others aren't. I just hope I can hunt all the items by the end of the month. If you're into photography and would like to join the hunt, you can check further details HERE.

However, since I am traveling to Baguio City by the end of the month and would stay in our hometown in La Union until March 6 or 7, I might not be able to post my takes on time. Still, I would do my best to finish it. Come to think of it, I am already thinking of crossing out an item or two today.

*** Jenn ***