lagoon sketch

Here's my second sketch. Madumi. Pero ok lang. Hindi ko talaga keri ang mga punong yan.

Somewhere at Lagoon

parola sketch

My first landscape sketch for LA1...my first ever decent traditional work and my first try at sketching. Apparently my second sketch, which I'm working on right now is less presentable. Trees are challenging subjects.

street children education ppt

Just some things I've done for a powerpoint presentation about our experience in teaching street children. The rest of my slide backgrounds are in my deviantart account.






Photos are from FIVEPRIME.

Paper was digitally done.

one beef and mushroom meal

Last Friday I went to Jollibee Philcoa to eat breakfast. I was craving for beef tapa and at the same time looking for a place which will help me relax so Jollibee was the best place. To cut the long introduction, I saw these 3 siblings who sat one table away from me. I noticed them right away because the kids were noisy. I noticed that they were poor. But I wasn’t really thinking about how they were able to afford eating at Jollibee because I was minding my readings. When the eldest arrived, who was probably around 15 years old, I just saw that she only had one plate in her tray. I couldn’t help myself from spying; I was wondering whether they’d share just one meal. But yes, all four of them shared one Beef and Mushroom meal which fills just about 1/3 of my stomach. I was moved. I wish I was able to give them something, but I was just not too sure what held me back.

sana naging mayaman na lang kami. pera lang ang nagpapaikot ng mundo

Dear Lord,

Gusto ko na pong gumaling. Ayoko na pong mapagod. Ayoko na pong maging burden sa kanila. Ayoko na pong maging dahilan ng kalungkutan ng nanay ko. Ayoko na pong maging alalahanin sa kanila. Ayoko na pong isipin kung gaano katagal pa bago ako makaipon ng pampaopera sa sarili ko. Ayoko na pong isipin na baka kailanganin ko na ng operasyon bago pa dumating ang panahon na may pera na ako.

Hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit kailangan kong pagdaanan ulit ito sa panahon na alam kong wala na kaming pera, kung kelan nag-iisa na lang ang nanay ko sa pagharap dito. Hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit ganitong sakit pa ang dapat meron ako – sakit na lumalala habang tumatagal, sakit na i-didisable ka sa mga simpleng bagay na kailangan mong gawin, sakit na kailangan ng milyon para gumaling.

Napapagod na po ako sa napakaraming bagay. Napapakod na akong mapagod. Napapagod na akong malungkot nang patago sa kanila. Ayoko na po. Gusto ko na pong gumaling.

Please, Lord, kung hindi man ako gagaling sa milagro, wag na po sanang lumala. Kayanin pa po sana ng puso ko ang halos sampung taon ng paglalakad at pagakyat ng hagdan. Wag na po sanang umabot sa punto na hindi ko na kakayaning lumakad at tumayo kagaya ng isang pasyente ng doctor ko. Ayoko na po.

Ang hirap palang tanggalin sa sarili mo ang isang bagay na pinangarap mo nang sobra sobra. Hindi ka makatulog sa kakaisip na sana makuha mo yung gusto mo. Pero sa kabila nyan, hindi ka rin makatulog sa kakaisip na hindi tama na ito nga ang makuha mo dahil hindi lang naman ikaw ang apektado.

Kasalanan ba kung pangarapin pa rin ang isang bagay na mahirap matupad? Kasalanan ba na hilingin pa rin ito sa bawat minutong naiisip mo ito? Kasalanan ba na maging kasiyahan ang isang bagay na magpapahirap sa sitwasyon ng iba? Kasalanan bang mangarap nang sobra-sobra?

Nakaka-guilty rin pala ang patuloy na hilingin ang isang bagay na totoong makasarili. Hay.

one afternoon rush

There are always surprises you find among children. To this world, children are among the most curious beings. To other people, children are movers of some of the greatest learnings we’ll never see inside the classroom.

I can say that I have been with 3-4 classes of children – classes B, C, D, and E. I’m not sure how to classify them accurately because of some gray areas in who are rich and poor in this country. Most especially, it is because being poor had already become like the normal situation here.

My nephews and nieces are among those who belong to classes B and C. They have the newest gadgets for kids, they have branded clothes, they are driven to and from highly paid schools. The orphans and other kids in RSCC are among those from classes D to E. Among those classes also are the kids whom I’ve spent one Monday afternoon with.

Those kids show the same glee when they play. But their similarities stop there. Although the kids possess almost equal level of curiosity, they ask questions about different things. They also differ hugely in the way they deal with other people, with strangers. Most importantly, they differ in the way they value every little and big thing.

I know, in a way, I used the kids at the park that afternoon for my photography subject. In a way, too, they’ve used me because I have the camera to take pictures of them which the loved. I also do not deny the fact that there were moments when I wanted them to just stop touching me and my camera – the tips of their fingernails were black; their hands were black; their faces, arms, and legs were covered with dirt; and their clothes were too filthy. But the kids were too happy to have someone take their pictures that it was impossible not to feel happy as well. It was impossible not to like them even though they were so aggressive that they kept grabbing my camera ever so often. I never needed almost all of their pictures because they kept posing here and there. I do not need posing subjects. I wasted one roll of film for them worth 150% of my daily allowance because I felt that I have to. I felt that it was the very source of their joy that moment that it might be so frustrating for them to have the camera shut down.

Eventually they asked me to tell them stories and jokes which I turned down because I just couldn’t do so. I’ve never read anyone a story, nor have I joke around kids well enough. So we continued moving around the playground area with all of them taking their poses and calling me, “Ate! Ako naman!”

I asked them questions like “magkakapatid ba kayo,” “ilang taon na kayo.” I did not ask their names because I know I won’t be able to remember them anyway since there were too many of them. I continued asking random questions and later I learned that the most stupid question to ask them was “nag-aaral ba kayo” or “anong grade mo na.” They could not answer my questions. Only those who do go to school looked at me and answered. I was so insensitive. I felt stupid.

After I’ve consumed the film (with them doing the countdown with me), I asked them what they want to eat. I was amused with this one kid who asked me, “Ate mayaman ka ba?” I said no of course. Later I learned that being rich for them meant having 10-20 pesos on your pocket. I insisted that I’d buy them bread but they said they just wanted “ice tubig.” So I just bought them both.

Before I left, I promised them I’d bring them their pictures. I know kids hold on to promises for quite a long time so I must come back. I hope they do appreciate black and white pictures, though. I’d bring a digicam then so that I could give them colored pictures next time. I promised myself as well that I’d try to bring story books for them just so I could tell them a good story when they ask for it again. I hope I’d make good friends after this.

Remember when I said I love kids only when they are cute and clean? Well let me change that. I love kids when they are lively. I love kids when they are happy.

bridal shower: a first

Dahil ikakasal na si Ate Katty, may shower party! So ayon, umattend kami ng shower party, cowboy style!



May bulaklak,

may wedding dress,

may cake,

may condoms,

may saging,

may talong,
AT (!!!) may macho dancers! Pero walang pics sina macho dancers syempre! Hehehe!

Belle de Jour planner i won

I won a Belle de Jour planner! It’s a viewers’ promo from Velvet in which viewers are asked what Velvet show they are looking forward to see this 2010. Since I want to have a planner (FOR FREE!!!), I joined the contest and three days after I received a text message saying I won.




I still prefer the coffeehouse-style planner rather than a girly/fashionista-style planner like this one. I specifically like the Starbucks 2008 planner that has earth-toned prints and sketchy look on pages. But who doesn’t want a free planner, right? So…I still love this one I have. Thanks to Velvet!

the apple green CPU

We’ve been using the laptop as our main computer for months because the CPU broke down. Finally, my sister bought a new one.

Here’s our new CPU with the new desk that is just so heavy!!!





It’s cool isn’t it?