To anyone making changes: you will fail. I don’t say that to discourage you, but to release you from the fear of failure… because if you already know it will happen, then there’s no pressure to avoid it. Failure is an inevitable part of change, and in fact it should be celebrated—without failure, we’d learn nothing. Fail, fail often, and learn. Then you’ll be better equipped for the next attempt. Find joy in every attempt, in every victory, in every failure, and the change will be a reward in itself.

Leo Babauta on The Elements of Change

Welcome back, Luna! You don’t know how much I missed you! ♥

With me. *up*
Without me. *down*

Unfortunately, that was just it.
Like perpendicular lines that meet at a right angle — once. /geek

I know you’re out there somewhere. My dreams are all about you. Baby, we could walk through fire. Your power I desire. Loving from a distance ain’t got no resistance. Behind your made up face your secrets embrace.

It’s love that feeds the fire. In for desire I dive endlessly and I can’t stop believing love will be there; love will feed the fire. In for desire I dive endlessly, I can’t stop believing. Love will be there, be there some day.

Intense emotions on air.

“Moves Like Jagger” performed by Sabrina Orial
Words and Music by Maroon 5

Direction and Cinematography by
Daphne Oliveros + Lloyd San Diego

Editing by
Angelo Angustia

Produced by MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines)
Thanks to Mark Bonifacio, Mike Esteves, Christian Pangan, Adeb Rabelas, Jec Ferrer, Angelo Maniquis, Jorge’s Portrait Studio and everybody who helped! =)

Magnum is the first hand-held ice cream specifically targeted at the premium adult market. The Belgian-dipped ice cream on a stick is known as much for its rich taste as its pleasure-driven media exposure.

Magnum is a leading international ice cream, selling 1 billion units worldwide each year. It is well known in markets from Italy to Malta to Australia.

Just in time for the sweltering heat of summer, Magnum ice cream penetrated the Philippine market on Tuesday, February 28.

Filipinos can now get their hands on the ice cream bars in supermarkets and 7-11 outlets across the country for P50 each. Magnum is available in singles or in packs.

Lifted from Rappler.com

Months later, he calls you again and asks how you’ve been. You’ve been fine without him, and you have gotten used to not receiving calls at night. He acts like nothing happened and he tries to start an interesting conversation. You are confused of the situation, and therefore are a little indifferent. He notices, and asks why you’re acting weird. You tell him that you’re fine. You didn’t tell him what you’ve been through because you don’t want him to know that you liked him. He asks you if it’s because he suddenly stopped calling. You deny and try to change the topic. He cuts you off by asking, “Why, what were you expecting?”

How will you respond?

And it stopped there.

The other day I found him walking along a street near my office. I also learned that he works at the building next to ours. I am trying my best not to think of it, but I keep on remembering the song and the events of that evening plays on my head at random. It was real. It was nice.

Is this a coincidence? Just coincidence? Or am I just making a fool of myself by trying to make sense of the situation?

And this should stop here.

I got these two interesting trophies when PROGENY won Best Documentary (right) and Cinemaster’s Choice (left) in the Documentary category of POV (Piling Obrang Video) 7. POV is an inter-school video competition by UP Cinema.

The trophies used to sit on my desk at my first job but I brought them home when my previous company moved to a bigger office with smaller tables. They’re back in the office sitting at my new desk at my new job. They guard my area and make sure that whoever steals a packet of Swiss Miss from my table will get diarrhea.

I came home from overtime work at 1 in the morning then found food on the table.

Whenever I’m sick of what I’m doing and I feel like I’m about to give up, I know I have to see these three fine ladies. They never fail to remind me that even if I fail, they would still love me for who I am — that is enough reason to encourage me to keep on pushing and exploring out of my comfort zone.

Seafood Blackout is Squid in Olive Oil. You can now imagine what happened to my teeth. Nevertheless, it tasted G-R-E-A-T and the trouble of looking weird while eating it was worth it.

WARNING: Ladies, do not order this when you’re on a date.

Jam got us these very cute Milk Mugs for the Holidays.
How thoughtful! ♥ Thank you, dear!
You’re the sweetest and we missed you =)

Just joining the Department of Tourism in their lastest campaign, It’s more fun in the Philippines!

Concept credit goes to JL Acosta (Thank you!).

T’boli farmers harvesting crops in the morning. Photo taken last September 2011 when I visited Lake Sebu, South Cotabato for a video project with Filip+Inna.

Share it?

Locally, we call this Sinigang na Ulo ng Maya-maya sa Miso.

My knuckles were already red and sore from yesterday’s session. I knew that further training will hurt them, but I didn’t expect my knuckles to bleed. I bruised them from training at a boxing gym with Vanessa this morning.

I started boxing last October with my fitness trainer but I knew that if I wanted to take the sport seriously, I have to eventually train with a real boxer. So when Vanessa told me that she enrolled at a boxing gym, I said that I would love to tag along.

It was my first time today to train inside a boxing ring and with a professional boxer. My trainer was a dark-skinned bald man who is probably in his 30s. I call him Kuya Jeff. The first round was quite intimidating because he was very stern and I felt that he was pretty disappointed with what I previously learned. Kuya Jeff hit my arms whenever they made a wrong move — like a piano teacher hitting her student’s fingers with a ruler. I appreciated that he kept on pointing out my mistakes and I was happy that he was able to correct them and teach me proper boxing footwork in the following rounds. He even offered an extra round (they usually do eight for beginners) where he surprised me by dancing Tango (literally) on the ring while we were sparring! Kuya Jeff stomped on the mat and clapped his mitts as we moved along.

The ring defined the experience for me. Being on a platform surrounded by ropes helped me focus on my punches. In every round I felt like I was locked in a different world, only to be reminded of reality whenever the buzzer goes off. I wish we had boxing rings and punching bags at my gym too.

I had so much fun and I’m happy I learned a lot of new things in one hour (Thanks Vanessa!). I’m definitely going back next Saturday for another session. This time we’ll be bringing some friends with us and I hope that my knuckles are already healed by then.

I started the year slow but I went out today to check out some cross trainers because my purple Nike running shoes are getting old and worn out. They’re still okay to use but I’ve been experiencing some pain at the soles during boxing and circuit training. My trainer has been telling me to switch to cross trainers because I think I’ll stop justifying. I’m a girl. Shoes are kryptonite.

I’m a loyal and confused Nike-Adidas fan.

I liked both so I got both. They are very nice and comfortable to wear. I thought it wouldn’t hurt much if these will last for another 3 or 4 years. I also got myself a new hoodie and some new shirts to use for the office. I never thought I’d be spending my Christmas bonus on a Post-Holiday Shopping spree but I’ve been very frugal last year and I think I’m due for some pampering.

These new shoesies should help to get me back on track. My week-long break just added a couple of fat-pounds to my weight. This year will be exciting. I shouldn’t be sleeping around. I should be out there running and moving around some weights!

I am lucky I was able to get up during the countless times that I’ve been let down this year. Some great and life-changing things happened to me. I had new projects, a lot of learnings and a career shift. People were coming in and out of my life. There was a promising multimedia partnership that I started then left. I battled hard with my roller coaster weight. There were first rendezvouses that weren’t followed up. I had some realizations that hit me hard in my head. There was a saturation point I never thought I’d reach. I traveled extensively down south to Mindanao and had the best adventures, but I have traveled down emotionally as well. I am glad to have taken risks and I cannot regret anything because I have learned from my misfortunes.

I never thought that I’d be able to handle that much shit in just 12 months. And I never thought leaving the year would be this memorable that I had to write about it. I am excited in leaving my downs behind and I am looking forward to a fresh start.

I’d like to think that all of my experiences this year just happened to prepare me for an exciting 2012. A bad so-so year cannot stop me from keeping my hopes up for the new year.

Hello, 2012. I’ve been waiting for you!

I’ve never worn any Photography-related accessories except for these neat lens bracelets. I fell in love with the design after stumbling upon them on Photojojo. I was lucky to find a local seller who shipped them from Hong Kong. I got the plain ones from him and the one with the red ring is a present from my uncle who bought it from SG.

Cool stuff! ♥

Bumming (and eating) around made me a little guilty about my weight loss plan so I got myself a jumping rope the other day. I could have run around the village today for cardio, but I read that jump rope training is a must for boxers. I’ve been wanting to take boxing more seriously and I thought playing with the rope was a start.

I started jumping in our backyard early this afternoon. After minutes of jumping, my feet hurt and I learned that running shoes aren’t made for jumping around. I took my shoes off and jumped in my socks. Landing on the cool grass underneath my feet felt good. It felt better than landing on a shock-absorbing gym floor.

I jumped for almost an hour and I was really exhausted. The breeze was pretty cool so I decided to lie down in the grass, under a tree. It was only then when I realized that the sky was a pretty shade of blue. The breeze + blue sky combo was perfect. I lay there and appreciated the beauty.

I cannot remember the last time I was this intimate with nature. Being in front of the computer at least 10 hours a day, 7 days a week has kept me from appreciating the beauty around me.

More explosions…BOOM!

I love this bear!!!

If you’ve been looking at my previous posts, you should know by now that I love taking photos of food.

Paella. I’m not sure if it’s somebody’s favorite. It’s just there. Always.

Same goes for the SyCip ham. They switched brands this year and I heard that the firm was raging about it. But it’s still good. Not as good as the old one though.

Goat Paprika. Better alternative to Queso de Bola.

MORE?

Olive Oil & Balsamic Dip with bread, anyone?

Tito & Tita, sweet as ever and still looking young!

Me with the oldies.

I am bothered by the snowflake underneath the seeker of YouTube’s playback controller.

I know it’s for the holiday season but I squirm every time I move it. I get goosebumps as if it’s scraping my screen — like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Yes, I’m weird like that.

Video screenshot is from the cool Meme Proposal.

I can still taste the cheese on the Mt. Fuji Roll.
Just came home from holiday dinner with Angelo & Camo!

Breakfast after a good workout ♥

I’ve been making cookies for Christmas during the past couple of years and 2011 won’t be complete if I don’t make some for friends and family. If you get one from me, it means that you are special and that I’m so thankful that I have you in my life. =)

I had to come up with something using only the available ingredients in the kitchen. Say hello to Salmon in Olive oil.

Great with Fusilli and Parmesan cheese. Yum!

My earliest Holiday present this year is a doll pen from my officemate, Z. This doll kicked out one of my pens from its base. She will be guiding my desk from now on. =)

We’ve got a whole army! Everybody else received doll pens too.

Thank you for being so thoughtful, Z!

You are the fire in my life
Keeping me burning deep inside
You give me something
You give me something
To live for

You are the air I breathe
Keeping my heart beating for me
You give me something
You give me something
To live for

You’re my escape

I told myself that I will only cut my hair when I reach my ideal weight. I have 25lbs to lose. It looks like I have to grow my hair up to my waist!

I tried to make excuses not to be with you that other night but you were too convincing and made me go. I wanted to avoid it because I knew it would be the first and last. I risked my emotions even if I knew how things would end. It ended the way I saw it would, yet I still felt bad of how we turned out. I thought I have already prepared myself. I was wrong. I had so much fun with you and I realized that you had everything that I would ever want in a guy.

You’re too good to be true and too perfect to be mine.

My 2nd (out of 3) Jägermeister with a slice of Apple Pie during our company business (also Christmas) dinner.

“Prove that you work for a German company.
Jägermeister for everyone!”

Ralph

I think I have proven myself after three shots of Jäger followed by a bottle and a half (shared with Andy of SAP) of Underberg (44% Alcohol) and some Irish coffee.

Meh. May pinagmanahan nga talaga ako (Hi, Dad!). I have to start programming myself to be sober for the next couple of months.

Why, hello there.