Anticipating...

No, it's not something motherly as you're probably thinking! Hahaha! Sorry naman, but I just can't seem to contain my anticipation for the 6th installment of the movie about the boy who lived. *wink*

This is my favorite trailer of the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince which will be showing worldwide on July of 2009. This trailer shows more of the Harry-Ginny affair, as well as more hair-raising visual effects that makes me anticipate for the movie much. (And I know the same goes for all HP fans out there, aight? ^_^)

Sigh.

I.JUST.CAN'T.WAIT!!!

Of Shutters And Apertures

There’s not much to talk about, save for the fact that I just had my 1st day of a 5-Saturday Basic Photography Workshop conducted by FPPF (check out their site here) at Fort Santiago that’s located at the very heart of the walled city of Intramuros, Manila. Good thing the sky didn’t pour that day, giving us ample time to take practice shots at Fort Santiago since lecture finished early. To cut the long story short, check out the collage I made as part of my humble attempt to come up with a photo story.

At the end of the day, I can sum up day one of the workshop in three’s: (1) I had FUN; (2) I met a LOT of NEW people, mostly serious hobbyist and aspiring pro shutterbugs; and (3) We have 10 photo assignments to submit next Saturday. (Yay!) Looking forward to next Saturday! ^_^

P

Yesterday afternoon, our team had its quarterly update for Q1 of 2009. You all know the drill - group updates of what were, what are, what will - and must - be; group activities, an open forum between the team leads and subordinates, and a so-called "inspirational" talk from the leaders. In short, it was an informal brainstorming activity compressed within a 5-hour timeframe. There was just a part of the program which I didn't quite get: why did the word "promotion" keep coming up during one of many looong (and all-too-often dragging) speeches of one of the leads? I mean, if I had come up with a score tally of the number of times the "P" word was mentioned, I would have ended up with a sum of greater than twenty. And no, I'm so not exaggerating.

Here's the thing: one thing that any supervisor (And even managers, for that matter.) should keep in mind is that it's not always about moving a notch higher from your current position or rank as a staff. Sure, a bigger paycheck would help during trying economic times like these, but it's never a guarantee for someone to share the same enthusiasm at work and earn enough zeal in a subordinate to make him or her work towards a common goal parallel with that of any supervisor. Really, it takes a hell lot more than that. It’s true when they say that it’s not always about the money. You can’t treat people as a bunch of hamsters in a race to the center of the maze where, instead of the carrot, the “P” word is waiting instead. I, myself, don’t get up at four in the morning every freaking day during Mondays to Fridays thinking of ways on how to get a darn promotion. Truthfully, it does cross my mind occasionally, but my work life does not revolve around some minuscule adjustment in my paycheck.

More than just money figures, we people at the workplace need a morale boost more than anything. We need something that will make us believe that we are not wasting precious hours of sleep and the time away from home for nothing; that at the end of the day, more than appreciation for whatever output we were able to deliver, we get the respect and consideration we deserve – not just merely as subordinates – but as a contributor and team player.

All Boxed Up

The long weekend provided ample time for me to do some spring cleaning action in my room, and that’s when I chanced upon a dusty metal box that has been left aside in one of my closets, untouched for five years. I immediately recognized it; it was the box filled with some of the fondest college mementos which I collected during my four years in the university – studio shots of me with my barkada taken during freshman year and every year thereafter, graduation pictures, baccalaureate mass and graduation rites, chocolate wrappers, a pack of DJ Mix cigarettes, roll-on perfume, recollection and retreat letters from friends and classmates, receipts and recorded sound effects used during the Shakespeare comedy which I directed and starring half of the class, tags of my very first set of corporate attires used during my OJT days, a half-empty lipstick (My very first!), padlocks used during PE time at the university gym, 3.5” diskettes of school projects, bottle caps, pen, bracelets given by my girls, laboratory ID, X-Men trading cards, love letters from an old sweetheart, and lots more.

All boxed up! ^_^

*Sigh*

While it took me some time to recall the story behind some items, the poignant memories are those of the pictures and letters that I can’t help but reread each one of them. Some of the letters were funny, others were touching, and then there were those that made me cry and laugh at the same time. It was in college that I found some of the few people whom I can really call my friends. At a time when we were very experimental and we found ourselves in sticky situations against our better judgement, we stood out for each other, thus making us each other’s best allies. And even now that we have gone out of the confines of the university, the friendship has always been there and the lessons learned have remained etched into the person that we are now. BCS 41, as our section is *ehem* fondly called by our professors and peers, is truly one of a kind. I feel lucky to have been part of such a perky and diverse class, and I know I could not have belonged anywhere else.

The before-and-after-five-years effect. :)

I spent half of the day looking at each content of the box until it was finally time to put them all back inside the box. Who knows how many years the box would be left untouched again. Four? Five? Decades, even. But the years don’t really matter, actually; the memories stay in the heart where I keep them. Always. :)

A Decade and Counting

On that Good Friday of 1999, I was a bit bored after two days of lounging at home sans regular programming on TV, plus taking into account the humid weather of summer. That same afternoon, there was a commotion in the compound, as my lola was rounding up the members of the family who will be joining the evening procession in the parish. I've never really joined a procession before, so I became curious and asked permission from my mom if I could join. Fortunately she allowed me on the condition that my elder cousin will tag along, and thus began a decade of my Good Friday devotion to my parish.

Only a few of the 60-something carrozas that participated in the Good Friday procession in Imus Cathedral this year.

Admittedly, at first, I did it to sate my curiosity and nothing more. A couple of years passed, and I began liking it and was fascinated as I watch people from different walks of life - men, women, children, the elderly, priests, lay people - gather on the very night of Good Friday to light candles for the colorful carrozas adorned with flowers that participated in the procession. Eventually the fascination gave way to a feeling of joy and a sense of fulfillment. And now that I'm older, the act has so much meaning for me than it ever did a decade ago. Spending an entire year in the hustle and bustle of work and leisure, joining the rest of my community in offering a few hours to the Church and her faithful servants is something I do, not to ask of anything from the Lord, but because it's the least a sinner like me could do for God in all humility and thanksgiving. And I know God listens to His people; it has been a decade of starry nights and a healthy community for the Diocese of Imus during Good Fridays. My only wish is that God would always give me the health to go on with my devotion for more decades to come. Who knows, I might even pass down the tradition to my children and grandchildren.

Kanto Boys Fever

Just when I thought the Kapamilya 2009 Summer Station ID was a big hit, I chanced upon the other version of the music video, this time featuring 100% Kanto Boys. Papa Lloydie's moves are so kwela! I sooo love it!

And just in case you wanna sing slong to the song, I'm posting the lyrics as well... Enjoy!

(pap-pap-para-pap-pap-pap
para-pap-pap-pap para-pap-pap 2x)

Vhong:
Sa pag tingin mo ako’y na uuhaw.

Luis:
Sa init ng yakap mo ako’y ma tutunaw.

Billy:
May magic ang kupas ng iyong kamay, sa
kilos mo parang sayaw higit ko hihiyaw.

All:
Umaagos ang pag-mamahal sa iyong bawat GALAW

Chorus:
Tayo na at Gumalaw-Galaw sa Tag-Araw, Gumalaw kana,
Gumalaw kana, GALAW-GALAW sa Tag-Araw.
Let us SPREAD our LOVE and CARE, Everyday and
Everywhere. Gumalaw kana, Gumalaw kana, Galaw-Galaw
Sa Tag-Araw, tayo na at Gumalaw-Galaw sa Tag-Araw.
Gumalaw kana, Gumalaw kana, Galaw-Galaw sa Tag-Araw.

(pap-pap-para-pap-pap-pap
para-pap-pap-pap para-pap-pap 2x)

John Lloyd:
Ang bawat kilos mo ay makabuluhan,
We can make a better way for
Everyone.

All:
Pag-ibig na itatanim,
Ligayang aanihin, wala
Ng mag-kukulang, wala
Ng away.

So kung pwede lang
I-tuloy ang Galaw-Galaw

(repeat chorus)

(pap-pap-para-pap-pap-pap
para-pap-pap-pap para-pap-pap 2x)

Bridge:
Tag-araw o tag-ulan
At kahit na kailan pa man
Kayang-kaya natin to KAPAMILYA, KAPAMILYA AHHHHH….

(repeat chorus except last line)

GUMALAW NG GUMALAW SA TAG-ARAW!!!

Excited For B.O.F.

Who would not have known back in the days when, once upon a time, Manila was taken by storm because of the love-hate relationship of Dao Ming Si and San Cai? (Believe me, I myself was a HUGE fan when Meteor garden was all the rave!)

Taiwanese Adaptation: Meteor Garden

And of course, the Japanese would not want to be left behind, so they came up with their very own TV adaptation of the popular manga…

J-Drama Adaptation: Hana Yori Dango

*Sigh*

But just when we thought it’s over, the BEST is yet to come...

K-Drama Adaptation: Boys Over Flowers

It's coming SOON on Kapamilya network.


PS:

WAAAAHHHH!!!! Am just so very much damn excited!!!!

Oh, and if there's going to be a Pinoy adaptation for this one, I wouldn't know what on earth to think anymore!!!

Can't Get Over

Okay, I know that by now I should be way over this, but can you blame me for being a little too dreamy over Derek’s elevator proposal to Meredith? After all, I've been a religious follower of the whole MerDer affair - from their too-many-to-count break-ups and make-ups, steamy sack sessions (LOTS of it, actually.), memorable quotes, and that seemingly-innocent-but-naughty elevator that's witness to it all.

*Sigh*

It just makes me wonder if my very own McDreamy could be out there somwhere.

Could be.

^_^

LDR

Long-distance relationship… hmmm

I haven’t really given the idea much thought since God knows when

But now that I’ve mentioned it, there’s a lingering curiosity in me on whether I can ever find enough will and [faith] to make such a relationship setup work.

Just wondering…

As in JUST wondering.

;)