Catching the Catchlight

Reading Again

2011-10-03T23:18:00.001+08:00

I'll start reading books again and I'll start with this one. This is a gift from my boss before she migrated to Canada.

Lighter

2011-10-03T23:13:00.000+08:00

Had a light Friday at work last week. Just took some snaps of my workmates. Work feels lighter because of them.

I'm currently hooked

2011-08-30T02:22:00.003+08:00

Just hanging around...

2011-06-27T21:06:00.011+08:00

Where have I been?
Read the title.
What have I been doing?
Work, work, work, work, shoot. And then some.

Portraiture

More portraiture

Then vacation!

Personal Project: Wall Photos

2010-10-09T15:54:00.001+08:00

When I woke up this morning, I noticed my room looks very messy. So many wires here and there, magazines on top of the television, magazines and papers on top of the printer, clothes on the floor, clothes on my bed, clothes hanging on the door of the closet, receipts everywhere, etc., etc.

Although my room is very cluttered, I kind of like it this way. I hate to keep things in drawers cause it's so much trouble finding them. If only I could think of a way to remember where is which. Maybe I should print a table that indicates where I kept my things. Hmm...

Anyway, I thought that if I can't organize my room, at least, I should add beautiful things to the mess. I'm a photographer after all. So I'll be printing some of the photos I took and post them on my wall. Only I don't want them to get dusty. I'm still looking for a way to cover them up aside from the usual plastic cover.

The Observer

2010-10-09T14:59:00.000+08:00

I was stuck in traffic last Thursday. Surprisingly, I wasn't bored. I wasn't even complaining. I just enjoyed watching people and what they were doing. I just took out my camera and started snapping away, not minding about the settings and whatsoever.

First few photos were of the parking lot that is also a jogging spot for the residents nearby.

...always tempting me to take a vacation.

2010-10-06T20:34:00.000+08:00

Donut Day

2010-09-16T23:01:00.000+08:00

Went to Gonuts Donuts for a late snack. I had Krispy Kreme earlier that day. No photos of KK though.

Love Makes The Kitchen Go Round

2010-09-16T22:49:00.000+08:00

Just sharing some photos I took at home.

Making vs Taking

2010-09-14T21:46:00.001+08:00

On my way home today, I heard a man saying "Maganda yung pics nya. Pero kaya ko rin yung ganoong kuha. Madali lang 'yun." Emphasis on kuha.

When you push the shutter release button on your camera, how do you normally call the act? Majority calls it taking a picture, like the man I heard earlier. But for me, I like to call it making a picture.

I believe that photographers are makers as opposed to takers. There is a huge difference between the two, obviously. For me, the difference lies in the thought process just before the button is pressed. Taking is like a greedy process of acquiring something without exerting effort. Making, on the other hand, involves the photographer's thought on how to capture what can be seen. Simply put, there is an effort involved.

Next time you see a photographer press that shutter release button, remember that a lot of thought and pre-visualization has been put into that image to look like that.

I am...

2010-08-25T11:22:00.000+08:00

Because I spent my Friday night at home...

2010-08-21T09:30:00.001+08:00

I wanted to feel productive because I spent last night at home. Haha! Just trying out the new brushes I downloaded. I didn't intend for the design to look this way. I just used the brushes again and again. I'll be posting thought out designs in the future.

By The Curb

2010-08-15T20:50:00.000+08:00

Model: Angelo Piedra
Make Up Artist: Bernice Cid
Photographer: Nardz Pasco

Headshots

2010-08-15T20:47:00.000+08:00

Model: VJ Jose & Angelo Piedra
Make Up Artist: Bernice Cid
Photographer: Nardz Pasco

Revisiting The Past

2010-08-15T20:41:00.000+08:00

Model: VJ Jose & Angelo Piedra
Make Up Artist: Bernice Cid
Photographer: Nardz Pasco

Rewind

2010-08-12T22:29:00.001+08:00

Model: VJ Jose & Angelo Piedra
Make Up Artist: Bernice Cid
Photographer: Nardz Pasco

Mes Yuson

2010-08-12T15:56:00.000+08:00

Model: Mes Yuson
Hair and Make-Up Artist: Tres Simbulan
Location: Sikatuna, Q.C.
Photographer: Nardz Pasco

Grace Jusay

2010-08-12T15:23:00.000+08:00

Model: Grace Jusay
Hair and Make-Up Artist: Tres Simbulan
Location: Sikatuna, Q.C.
Photographer: Nardz Pasco

Lakbayan Update

2010-08-12T15:09:00.000+08:00

I checked my multiply account the other day. I found my old Lakbayan results. My grade was C-. I retook the test and this is what I got.

My Lakbayan grade is C!

Lakbayan is a site that calculates your score based on how much of the Philippines you have encountered and to what extent. Check it out at Lakbayan!
Created by Eugene Villar.

At least I improved. I'll be surprised if it went down. Is it even possible?

I must admit that I haven't had much out of town trips this year, at least compared to last year. I am now feeling how hard it is to earn money. So this is what my parents were telling me all along. Geeez! I haven't even recovered from my last trip, which was more than a month ago. I told myself from now on, I'll be the kuripot guy. I've been somewhat successful. Although it is a bit hard, especially when I see a camera gear that I want to buy, I am able to control myself, at least for now. Haha!

I Miss Film

2010-06-03T23:52:00.002+08:00

This is not the kind of film I use for my RF.

I haven't used my RF for a long time now.

I couldn't find bnw films anymore.

I like to use bnw films more than colored ones.

I want...

2010-05-30T01:13:00.001+08:00

...pansit canton and pandesal with cheese and mayo.

Eunice's Dance Recital

2010-05-27T20:07:00.002+08:00

I attended my girlfriend's sister Eunice's dance recital last Sunday. It was their final performance for this summer dance lessons. It was a great show! Jap also danced there as he was one of the instructors. Here are some of the photos I took. By the way, I had a hard time adjusting to the lights. I should have shot raw. Click the photos for a bigger view.

Aliana

2010-05-25T00:08:00.001+08:00

This was taken months ago. I just didn't have the time to upload. Good thing I was able to shoot enough photos before we were shooed by the super guard there. These two are my favorite from the set.

Model: Aliana Cedula
MUA: Aliana Cedula
Location: Fort, Taguig

I'm Back!

2010-05-24T23:19:00.001+08:00

After almost two months of being invisible, I'm finally back!

I'm inspired once again. I'll be doing different kinds of projects from now on.

But ciao for now!

Birthday Breakfast with Clique

2010-04-11T19:14:00.002+08:00

Sarah planned a surprise for me! I usually detect if she's planning something, but this time I really didn't see it coming. Maybe because it was so early that my brain isn't functioning well yet.

I really had fun with the guys!

Thank you Sarah for arranging this one!

With My Girlfriend

Pat and Kia

Caly and Dex

RJ and Jojo

Birthday cake! Birthday cake!

Kia

Mall was still closed

Pat

Eastwood Bridge

Bangs

Bangs again

Mowdel?

Caly and Kia

Shades of Gray

Caly, Me, Kia

This is not right.

By the fountain

Group hug

Candid?

Pleasure? Haha!

Candid Nardz

Candid Dex

Candid Caly

Candid Kia

Candid Pat

Candid Oz

One with the flowers

Thanks again guys!

Apocalypse Now

2010-04-07T15:25:00.002+08:00

Since office resumed, I haven’t been able to spend much time browsing the net in the office and at home. Work will continue to follow me home until all these craziness is done. I probably won’t have time to blog for the next few weeks. I was able to write this short post because of the power interruptions in the office. Thanks to that I was able to squeeze in a short nap too!

I'm really looking forward to out of town trips this summer. My mind is on vacation while my body is in the office. Office should have summer breaks, yes?

I Got Tired

2010-03-29T01:16:00.002+08:00

Extremely tired.

I played basketball this afternoon. After around 15 minutes into the game, I was huffing and puffing already. What the hell? I have to get back in shape. Sports is far better than going to the gym. Gym is boring. Nothing much happens. I'll try to get into sports more from now on. I'll finish my gym subscription first. Basketball is first on the list since I don't have soccer or futsal shoes yet.

Can I Pull This Off?

2010-03-25T23:13:00.001+08:00

In a few weeks time, I'll be subjected to a lot of stress once again. I said 'again' because this already happened before. I'm really hoping I'll do better now in balancing the tasks. I think I can accomplish all the tasks this time. What do you think?

I'll be doing not one, not two, but three audio visual presentations for the regional conference this coming third week of April. The schedule that permitted all of the presentations to be finished just in time for the conference is very tight. One day for the shoot, one day for photo editing, and one day for video editing. That's a total of three days for the shoot, three days for photo editing, and three days for video editing. In all fairness, they did try to lessen the work load for me. The video they visualized was not that time-consuming, which means I'll be able to finish the three videos if I work on weekends and lessen my sleeping hours every night. I doubt I'll be able to finish all by just working during office hours. They asked me if I could work on Saturdays and Sundays. I can offset the hours I was able to render on these days to whichever weekday I like. That's a good enough deal for me.

Because of this upcoming maneuver of mine, I'm thinking of treating myself to some items I've been wanting to purchase for some time now.

I don't know if I was brain-washed into accepting the job or if it is really do-able.

The question remains, can I pull this off?

Paying Attention

2010-03-23T10:30:00.001+08:00

On my way home yesterday, I noticed a guy and a girl having an argument. It looked like they came from the gym since they were still a bit sweaty and were carrying huge bags. From their body language, it seems like the guy did something wrong and was trying to apologize. They slowed down after crossing the street. I couldn't help but hear what they were talking about.

Girl: Kaya kita pinapunta dun para maglaro. Hindi para kumausap ng kung sinu-sino.
Guy: Eh wala...(A hot girl passed by)
Girl: (looked at the guy) Oh ayan na naman. Nakatingin ka na naman sa iba. Ano ba naman yan.
Guy: (couldn't say anything)

In all fairness to the guy, the girl who passed by was smoking hot. But he stared. And in the middle of an argument too. Lame bro.

Tortoise

2010-03-22T21:48:00.000+08:00

I am trying to watch a movie on my laptop. Trying.

Every five minutes, the movie transforms into a slide show. I want to throw my laptop out the window. I'm really thinking of buying the Windows 7 OS. If not for other planned expenses, I would have gotten one sooner.

I stopped watching already. It might ruin the experience for me. I'll just wait for Sarah to get home and then I'll hit the sack.

Malfunctioning

2010-03-22T15:56:00.000+08:00

For about two months now, I've been having difficulties hearing from my left ear. I didn't pay much attention to it because I thought everything would go back to normal after a few days. Three weeks in, still the same. It's not that I can't hear from my left ear. It's just that at times, it's difficult to hear what a person is saying when there are other noises around. Sometimes, I'd just stick my finger to it and wiggle it a bit and it would go back to normal. But after a few minutes, the problem goes back.

Recently, I stumbled upon a blog post about the same ear problem. For the hearing to be normal again, a surgery was needed. I don't like the sound of surgery. I'm not afraid of undergoing surgery. I just find it so much of a hassle.

Anyway, I've decided to go to a doctor this week. Hopefully, it's nothing serious.

I.Am.Productive

2010-03-20T23:57:00.002+08:00

One of my goals this year is to hit the gym regularly. See related post. Although I was a bit late in starting my training, I congratulate myself nevertheless. The hardest part for me was the first jump. I'm not used to train by myself. I really think it’s boring. Thirty minutes on the treadmill and all I see is the same Makati skyline getting darker and darker. Then another hour or so for other weight loss activities. In weight loss training program, I don’t get to use the big machines yet, maybe just a few. Boring. But I think I have adjusted to it now.

Being able to exercise gives me a good feeling. I feel productive. I am doing something worthwhile instead of wasting my time in front of my computer every night doing nothing important really. I know it would take a very long time before I reach my desired weight, but at least I know I'm getting there. (Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keeep swiiiiimmmiiingggg!)

This morning, my girlfriend and I went to Q.C. circle for a short run. I thought this would be a good idea for a change of scenery. We started a bit late so the sun was already greeting everyone. I don't want sun while running so our supposed short run was cut even shorter because of that. I think we were only able to run six to seven rounds on the oval. I was feeling a bit dizzy already. I don't know if it's because of the heat, or because I just started exercising again, or because of my elevated BP. I didn't want to push my luck so we decided to stop. Next time, we should definitely start earlier.

In the afternoon, my friend and I went to La Mesa Ecopark to check the location. We are planning something that I couldn't reveal just yet. I hope we succeed in this project. I'll post it here when it's done.

Here are some of the pictures:

I can say my Saturday was productive, although it hasn't ended yet.

Lazy Cat

2010-03-19T13:27:00.003+08:00

This week was unproductive. Since my boss was not in the office the whole week, the work load was light.

This was my work flow:
- Arrive at the office around 8am
- Surf the net for a while
- Check office e-mail
- Try to work, but data not yet ready
- Surf the net again
- Send out some unnecessary office e-mails
- Surf the net again
- Eat lunch while surfing the net
- Brush teeth
- Surf the net
- Check if data is ready, not yet
- Surf the net
- Send an e-mail to my boss summarizing the updates for the reports
- Leave the office at around 5pm

I didn’t include the frequent naps in between because the list would be much longer. I was close to staying at home this morning when I realized that I won’t be doing much in the office anyway. So I clocked in. Office today is like staying at home, only with pay. I know, surfing the net during office hours is prohibited, but I think I’ll go crazy doing nothing. Can you blame me?

I still have one more day to turn the week around. I have plans the entire day tomorrow so hopefully my week wouldn’t end the same way it started. I see weekends in a different light now. Before, I usually stay home and rest. Now, weekend is my opportunity to do the things I couldn’t do during weekdays.

Photos courtesy of:
http://imageshack.us/
http://www.saidaonline.com/en/

David Beckham tears Achilles' tendon

2010-03-16T08:50:00.001+08:00

This is plain sad. David Beckham is one of my greatest idols. This is so unfortunate. He trained well to be able to play for the World Cup and now this. Goodbye to his dreams. Sad.

Do I need a compact camera? (Warning: Photo Geek Post)

2010-03-15T14:20:00.007+08:00

I THINK I need a compact camera.

I thought of this because I realized that I haven’t been productive in terms of my photography this year. At least, so far. This isn’t because I can’t think of or find anything interesting to shoot. This isn’t because I don’t have time to shoot anymore. And certainly, this isn’t because I’m tired of taking photos anymore! So why?

One of the reasons why I got into photography is because I wanted to capture the beauty of the world. I want to share to others how I see the world. I enjoy traveling so much so I make it a point to bring my DSLR with me during out of town trips. No problem here. However, I can’t afford to always travel. It’s very expensive. Aside from that, I pay utility bills now. Yes, you heard that right. I pay the water, telephone, internet, and, just recently, my cell phone bills. So, sometimes, I’m just stuck here in the metro working every single day.

Q: Can I be productive in terms of my photography while working my ass off in the office?

A: Of course I can.

Right? Well, it depends.

You see, DSLRs take stunning photos but at the cost of being too bulky to lug around everywhere. I can’t bring it with me all the time. I'd have to bring two bags: one for my office and gym stuff and one for my camera. You can always put you camera in your office and gym bag. Yes, if I wanted to destroy it. It’s not practical for us commuters in Metro Manila to have several big bags. You know why.

So to answer the question ‘Why?’ above, I guess it’s because I don’t have my camera with me all the time. And lately, I haven’t been to any out of town trips. And I rarely have photo shoots.

Q: So do I need a compact camera?

A: I DON’T KNOW!!!
Q: Will I be more productive if I have a compact camera?
A: I STILL DON'T KNOW!!!
Q: Am I wasting your time with this blog post?
A: Yes.

Since I’m too lazy to work this morning, I browsed the net for affordable yet reliable (at least according to the reviews) compact cameras. Affordable because I don’t want to blame myself too much if I end up not using the camera that much. G11, GF1, and LX3 are not part of what I consider affordable.

Here are some:

Panasonic FX38 – P11,000

Fujifilm Finepix F200EXR – P13,999 (Although, this is bordering the expensive bracket already)

Canon Powershot A2100 IS – P13,800

Of course, I also have to take into consideration the opportunity cost. If I buy a compact camera, I’ll be one step further away from buying a strobe (AB 800) or a lens (24-70 f/2.8) for my DSLR.

Q: What are my other options?

A: a) Go out and shoot when I get home; b) Shoot something inside the house; c) Shoot anything every weekend.

Option A is impossible for me since I’ll be coming home from the gym. Too tired to function by then. Haha!

Option B is possible. Hope the lights arrive soon.

Option C is possible although harder to achieve.

I’ll try to do both B and C first then I’ll decide if I’d still buy a compact camera.

Photos courtesy of:

http://blogs.zdnet.com

http://digital-photography-school.com

http://letsgodigital.org

The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

2010-03-07T12:05:00.002+08:00

Awesome, awesome commercial. This was aired during the last superbowl. Craig Allen and Eric Kallman did a terrific job with the help of the folks at Weiden + Kennedy. Here's another video of how they did it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDk9jjdiXJQ&feature=player_embedded Great set by the way! I could imagine how much effort they put into this. Great job!

The man your man could smell like is Isaiah Mustafa by the way. And he's on a horse.

One of them lovely Sundays

2010-02-24T15:36:00.003+08:00

After my inaanak's birthday from my previous post, I went to Eastwood to pick-up Sarah from work. We did a little shopping in SM Marikina and went straight to the new spot of Banapple in Katipunan.

Inside Banapple

It was about 83 times bigger than the old one on the other side. It also has an al fresco area at the second floor.

Waiting for the food

Design for VDay
At last! Here comes the food!

One of my favorites in Banapple

Looks deadly. Haha!
For the dessert,

Cheden!

Banoffee Pie

Until we meet again!

Baby Kenzo's Birthday Bash

2010-02-22T21:57:00.006+08:00

Kenzo is my inaanak. As you can see, he's also superman. He'll be a basketball superstar in no time. You see, I gave him a basketball ring and a ball. That'll develop his shooting skills. Haha!

Happy birthday Kenzo!!

Libis, Q.C.

21 February 2010

Click the photos for full view. Thanks!

Here I come!

Give me some love!

What are you lookin' at?

Don't you know who I am?!

With Tito JR

Now with Daddy RJ

Happy family! :)

Smile!

You're making me mad!

At home in dad's arms

Bida ang sarap!

Isa pang chickenjoy?

Daddy RJ thanking all the people who came

Watch Out

2010-02-22T13:51:00.001+08:00

Stuck

2010-02-17T21:28:00.004+08:00

I was stuck in traffic last Friday. I had my camera with me so I took some shots while waiting. It's usually like this in Makati. When the clock hits 6 and you're still in the area, expect to be in your car for at least an hour. Better to dine somewhere and let the traffic subside before leaving.

More photos inside.

People walking

People chatting

Lights of Mandarin

Raffy & Elaine

2010-02-16T22:46:00.009+08:00

They are one very happy couple. Even though you can literally see the nervousness on their faces during the preparation, they still tried to be very nice and accommodating to us. The wedding was held at Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in JCS Village. The reception was at Dad's, Saisaki, and Kamayan Restaurant.

More photos inside.

The Wedding Photographer

2010-02-16T21:50:00.005+08:00

I'm learning how to shoot weddings.

Shooting weddings the right way doesn't just boil down to producing superb photos. You have to capture every precious moment around you. This is why you have to be aware of what's happening around you all the time. This is where a second and a third photographer come in handy. You have to capture everything from the nervous look of the bride during the preparation, to the teary eyed groom upon seeing her bride walk down the aisle for the first time, to the tears of joy of the parents during the couple's exchange of vows, to the sweet smiles of everyone upon witnessing the couple's first kiss, and that genuine look of love in the eyes of the couple. These are all very vital parts of the ceremony. This is certainly one big event they will treasure in their lifetime so you couldn't afford to make a mistake. It's simply unacceptable.

This is what I am trying to master right now. I'd like to believe that I improved already. I'm hoping to capture more of these emotions on the next wedding I shoot.

If you want me to shoot your or your friends' wedding, just send me an e-mail at meinardpasco@gmail.com or text/call me at 09178299262.

Intro to Strobes

2010-02-10T23:21:00.002+08:00

Since I was asked to do a product photoshoot for my current employer, I was offered the privilege of using the mini studio in the office. Note that this was my first time to use 'big lights' for my own shoot. I was able to test some strobes before but it wasn't my shoot.

Here's my lighting set-up:

1 Visatec Solo 800 B with softbox right (key) at around 1/4
1 Visatec Solo 800 B with reflective umbrella left at around 1/6
Pretty simple set-up.

More inside

If you saw my rant status messages in YM at one point last month, this was probably the reason for it. It's not because of the task itself because I really enjoyed the shoot. It's because I was asked to do a lot of stuff that should have been done by at least two people. I mean, photoshoot, editing the pictures, editing the video, add to that tons of revisions...Hey, I'm just human. The result? A mediocre presentation. All was rushed. But it was good enough for the time given to me. Special thanks to my very sweet girlfriend who helped me edit the photos and the video. We were up all night for two consecutive nights. Thanks for this baby! I couldn't have done this without you.

Anyway, here are some of my sample shots.

Pen

2010-02-05T01:30:00.003+08:00

I was asked to cover an event at the Manila Peninsula last Tuesday.

It hasn't changed much from what I remember in high school. We held our graduation ball here. It brought back good memories.

Squeak!

2010-01-31T12:01:00.013+08:00

I've been very busy for the past couple of weeks. Spell s-a-b-a-w...

Anyway...

this is my mouse in the office. It's kinda girly but it's the last stock they have. I use a laptop so I still had to request for a mouse.

It's small, it's green, and it has colorful lights.

My mouse at home...

CHEDEN!!!

Hello Little Chef!

Ratatouille

Like I said...spell s-a-b-a-w.

I'm sleepy

2010-01-19T23:25:00.003+08:00

I've been working on an audio visual presentation for some time now. I'll be presenting one part of it tomorrow to the boss. I haven't finished half of it. Haha! Gotta work work!

This is going to be my friend for tonight.

Iced Coffee

Now go to work!

Gavin's First Birthday!

2010-01-14T20:42:00.002+08:00

I enjoyed covering this event because of the cute kids! Haha!

More photos of the little ones inside.

Is it time?

2010-01-11T23:04:00.007+08:00

...for an upgrade?

My Laptop

My laptop has been failing me lately. If I were to sign it up for a one-on-one race, the tortoise would probably win hands down. My laptop has decent specs. 1.8 GHz dual core, 2.5GB of RAM, etc. I don't know what causes it to slow down. I thought maybe because I have so many files in my computer. After I erased files to free up space, it still wouldn't perform better. I already used disk clean-up and disk defragmenter, but to no avail.

Because of this, I thought maybe it's time to reformat my old friend.

Windows 7

I'm seriously considering to upgrade to the new Windows 7. Some of my friends say it feels faster. But I read in some magazines that it just feels faster but it has no significant speed advantage over the older Windows Vista.

I have to really think about this since buying an original OS will surely burn my pocket.

Windows 7 photo courtesy of http://windowsmania.wordpress.com

Welcome Home

2010-01-10T03:04:00.003+08:00

My family and I ate lunch at Pancake House to start the year. I missed eating at Pancake House. There was a time when Sarah and I would always eat there during weekends. Lately, we are trying out different restaurants for a change. We would list down all the restaurants we're going to dine in this year.

(Going back) As usual, I ordered their famous Pan Fried Chicken. Delicious as always! To say their chicken is big would be an understatement. It is humongous! I forgot to take pictures of the chicken. I was really starving!

I took photos of our "dessert" instead.

More photos inside.

Pour that blueberry syrup!

More!!!

Spread that yummy goodness!

Ready for my tummy! :)

Batangas Down

2010-01-06T22:36:00.006+08:00

Went to Batangas first weekend of January. Stayed at Taramindu Beach Garden Inn.

More of the experience after the jump.

Not super nice view.

Not super nice sand (Sand, I hate you!).

Not super nice food.

Not super nice weather.

But it's all worth it... because of the super nice company!

This Year's List

2010-01-05T22:25:00.007+08:00

Every year, I make a list of my new year’s resolution. I can’t remember what exactly were included in my lists for the past years but I know my list this year is unique compared to the former. Also, every year, my resolutions would only last up to the third or fourth week of January. After that, I completely forget about it. It’s not that I stop doing them intentionally, I just……forget. I thought maybe I should post it somewhere that I normally visit so I would always remember. I can’t find a better place to post this list than my blog site.

This year, I decided to focus on what I’ve been ignoring for a very long time now, my health. This consciousness came about when I heard news everywhere about young people dying because of high blood pressure. Some refer to this as the silent killer. You won’t notice it if you’re not careful enough and then…BOOM!...it hits you. Some of you may know that I have a high blood pressure. This is the reason why I was struck by the chain of events that I heard. I have to start to live right today.

More after the jump.

My Three Simple Rules for 2010

Train right
Sleep right
Eat Right

Train Right. For the past years, I’ve been hitting the gym from time to time. When I was still in the college, I would always work out during summer vacations and then stop whenever school starts. I resume to work out on sem breaks then stop again when school starts. I stopped working out because there were so many requirements that I have to accomplish for my classes. Since I’m presently working already, I control my time before 8am and after 6pm. That means it’s up to me what I want to do with my free time. I will hit the gym at least thrice a week. Lack of exercise will make me gain more weight which is a probable cause of my hypertension.

Sleep Right. If you’re one of those people who are still up at around 2am (let’s say on a non-working day), then you’ve probably seen me still online on YM. I sleep late even when there’s nothing else to do. I just surf the net and watch series or movies. On a regular working day, I usually sleep at around 1am. I’m supposed to wake-up at 6:30am so I won’t be late for work. That means only five and a half hours of sleep for me. Not good. Noooooot good. I will sleep at 10:30pm every night.

Eat Right. I eat rice, I eat meat, I eat vegetables, I eat fruits, I drink water, I drink juice, and I drink milk. I eat almost everything. The problem is I eat a lot. I’m having a hard time eating less. I experience headaches every now and then if I don’t eat a lot. A lot for me would start at two cups of rice and two servings of viand. Anything less was considered inadequate. Lately, I was able to lessen my food intake. I hope I would be able to sustain this especially since I’ll be hitting the gym thrice a week.

Photos courtesy of:
www.sxc.hu
www.blog.elfster.com
www.affiliates.art.com

2010 Goals Part 1

2010-01-01T23:19:00.004+08:00

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L

I don't know if I can get my hands on one of these soon. This one's very expensive. I'll be using this as my walk around lens. Just like the function of my kit lens but sharper. The only problem is it's heavy. My neck would probably be sore if I lug it around the whole day. It's also very useful for weddings since it's a zoom lens. You know, so I wouldn't change lenses from time to time. Being a fast lens, it would also be perfect for indoor shoots.

* Photo courtesy of www.cameraworld.co.uk

Medya Noche

2010-01-01T22:31:00.002+08:00

When I was younger, my family used to welcome the new year by lighting our own fireworks. As I grow older, I became more interested in just watching them. I thought it was a waste of money so I'd just watch other people's fireworks display. Haha!

Of course welcoming the new year wouldn't be complete without the food. I don't eat as much anymore. I just got my favorite food. If you know me very well, this would be a piece of cake for you.

Find out after the jump.

What esle did you expect?

Paired with bbq

JR + Anne

2010-01-01T02:03:00.016+08:00

I attended my niece's wedding last Wednesday at Christ the King Church. We proceeded to Glass Garden after for the reception. Their wedding was wonderful! Congratulations JR and Anne! Good luck on your life together and stay in love! :)

I'll just share some photos I took. Enjoy!

While waiting for the ceremony to start

More photos after the jump.

Anne

Added a film-like feel

After the wedding

Picture first before heading to the reception

Say cheese!

Congratulations to the newly weds! :)

Complimentary food upon entering the reception venue (Yummy!)

Floral arrangements

The Japanese-Inspired Cake

JR and Anne

First Dance

JR dancing to the beat of Jai Ho!

Go Anne!

Pasta

For the chocolate fondue

Video coverage

What do you know? Sarah got a Starbucks GC for winning the most romantic wish for the bride and groom! :p

You can view the complete album in my multiply site.
http://meinard94.multiply.com/photos/album/138/JR_Anne

Start the year right!

2010-01-01T01:23:00.005+08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!! :) If you had an awesome 2009, I hope it continues this year and the following years. If you didn't like the past year much, I wish you all the best this year! What's important is to KEEP MOVING FORWARD. Yeah just like the motto in Meet The Robinsons!
Meet The Robinsons * Photo courtesy of www.canmag.com

Kaya and Lord Stow's

2009-12-31T00:32:00.007+08:00

I'm working for a different company now. I started around three weeks ago. For me and my former officemates that means we now have to set a specific time if we wished to meet up.

Kaye, Jacky and I ate at Kaya Korean Restaurant at The Podium. The food was great especially since it was Kaye's treat! (Thanks again Kaye!) Sorry no pictures of the food 'cause I was late. Boo!

Jacky bought egg tarts for us at Lord Stow's Bakery after lunch.

Jacky and Kaye
More photos after the jump.

Lord Stow's Egg Tart

Can't stop eating!

Thanks for the treat!

Still up at 3am

2009-12-30T03:10:00.004+08:00

I'm still awake and I'm very very sleepy. I'm still burning the photos of the previous wedding my friends and I covered. While waiting for the CD's, I played Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst with my girlfriend and her sister. Here's a screen shot of the main menu: Return to Ravenhearst It was tougher than I thought. I was able to play the earlier versions of MCF but this one is way cooler than the others. It was fun but I didn't like how the story ended. I have to sleep soon! I still have to attend my niece's wedding tomorrow!

One of those free times

2009-12-28T15:22:00.003+08:00

This was taken in my former office. We had time to waste in the office. Hence, the photo... Enjoy! Haha!

Zambales 2009

2009-12-28T02:13:00.008+08:00

My friends and I were able to take a short trip to Zambales. Finally got that much needed break. I needed to veer away from the the office for a while. We stayed at Trinidad Bay Resort. I highly recommend this place. They have very affordable prices and the crew are very polite and hospitable. It was worth every peso we spent. We went to Potipot Island for their wonderful beach. It's a very small island but it has nice sand. I liked the beach although there's almost nothing else to do there. Perfect if you just want to enjoy relaxing by the beach. Enjoy the photos! The Gang My very beautiful girlfriend At Peace Unwind Thankful The Perfect Sunset The place to be Huge dining area Cool ride! A well and some benches The Gateway Another dining area Leaving already You can view the whole album in my multiply site. http://meinard94.multiply.com/photos/album/137/Zambales_2009

Very Busy Me

2009-11-06T14:51:00.006+08:00

It's been a while since I last updated this blog due to my hectic schedule. Work during weekdays and photoshoot on weekends. Of course, I never fail to spend quality time with my girlfriend.

Here are some snapshots of what I was doing lately:

Attended a wedding

Went to my uncle's interment (R.I.P.)

Experimented with long exposures since electricity is out

Participated in the office halloween party

Visited the cemetery

Impending Doom

2009-09-28T15:26:00.004+08:00

I took this photo before the typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila.
From the way it looked, I thought things would get ugly. True enough. Philippines was devastated.

P a l a w a n 2009

2009-09-22T21:31:00.006+08:00

While surfing the net, I chanced upon Cebu Pacific’s seat sale last June. I immediately informed my girlfriend about it and asked if she wanted to go somewhere we haven’t been to. She’s up for it so we invited her block mates since they’re the ones who are also willing to go.

Destination: Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Here are some of the photos:

Photo Trip

2009-09-10T23:54:00.008+08:00

I’ve been busy for the past two weeks, not with work, but with photography. I’m glad I’ve had several photo opportunities already even though I’m still relatively new to this hobby. I like this better than my office work because I’m able to deal with different subjects all the time. When shooting people, I chat with them, be they models posing for a fashion shoot or beggars asking for alms on the street. I find other people's lives very interesting. My office work is close to clerical in the sense that I’m always dealing with numbers (the numbers just differ from time to time) and the same processes again and again. They are numbers, unlike people who are able to talk to you. Numbers fail to amuse me unless it’s the actual money I’m dealing with. Haha! Anyway, let me share with you the activities I’ve done lately. Photowalk (31 August 2009) Route: Quiapo Church - Sta. Cruz - Binondo - Fort Santiago - Intramuros - Malate - Baywalk

A very awesome tricycle

Binondo Church

Swimming

Funshoot (05 September 2009) Model: Cel I also have a scheduled Photo Workshop in Batangas on 20 September 2009. I get to shoot beautiful landscapes, farm animals, etc. But the best part is...it's all for FREE! My friend just sent me the link in facebook. I read the details and it seems true. Haha! Of course I doubted it at first since there are almost no free anything today. I wasn't able to ask why it's for free. Maybe I'll SMS the organizer tomorrow. That's all for now.

On Planning

2009-08-27T22:06:00.016+08:00

Our department stayed at Astoria Plaza today for our planning session. We spent the whole day there. I thought I would be able to relax, but I remembered I was the one supposed to take note of the minutes. It's okay since I was able to focus on the discussions. I can imagine myself dozing off, especially after lunch, if I wasn't taking notes.

I forgot to take photos of our AM and PM snacks. I was happy with the morning snack - ensaymada and hot chocolate. The hot choco was very good. It was thicker than usual but not so sweet as what you'd expect with thick chocolate drinks. The afternoon snack was a beef shawarma. There's nothing special with it. Maybe because I've eaten in so many yummy kebab places already. This was our lunch: Breaded Pork Chop on Stick

Fish Fillet Curry Roast Beef Dessert Don't know what it is I didn't like lunch much. You can find better food in malls' food courts. This was a buffet lunch but I just had one serving. My officemates said the salad and the pancit was good. I didn't try those because I already lost my appetite. On a side note, my photo shoot will not push through on Saturday. It's a good thing I have a photowalk on Monday so I didn't feel so bad.

Untitled

2009-08-24T23:24:00.013+08:00

Today, something weird happened in the office. I took a photo of my officemate. I looked in the viewfinder and thought everything was fine. When I pressed the shutter button, this is the image I saw on the LCD...

Look at the figure in the background

Nahhh...Just kidding. We were just bored after the lunch break. We didn't want to go back to work right away. In the afternoon, I strolled around the office. Since there was a lot of relocation going on, there were no people in the other parts of the office.

Renovating the office

When I got back from my afternoon stroll, this is what surprised me.

Panty Party!

Thongs

These are actually designs of cookies

Cool huh? Not really, especially I'm a guy. Other people might think I'm a pervert. Oh well... Time to sleep. Work again tomorrow! Hope something interesting happens :)

Up, up, and away! (An Impromptu Night)

2009-08-22T11:55:00.014+08:00

Pat called me up around 5:30 p.m. and asked if we already have plans for the night. I was just about to go home then. But I couldn't resist an invite from some of my closest college friends so I called up my girlfriend and told her the plans. She was up for it. We met up at The Block since the cinemas in Trinoma were already fully booked.

Friends and girlfriend lining up at the ticket booth

My girlfriend at the Sky Garden

Kia wanted to paint the walls of her condo so we went to Ace Hardware at the Annex to buy paint.

Escalators at SM North Annex

On our way to the cinemas, we chanced upon Russel. He looks like a real boy.

With Russel from UP!

One last shot before I surrendered my camera to the security guard.

Wearing the 3D glasses A bit disappointed about the movie

Since everyone wasn't ready to go home yet, we decided to go to Starbucks. Unfortunately, it was still a weekday so they closed at around 1 a.m. We were still not ready to go home. We decided to have a drink at Kia's condo unit. Passed by 7-11 to buy drinks. (I didn't know there is a curfew in Katipunan. You can only buy alcoholic drinks up to 2 a.m.)

Using Kia's brand new uber colorful 7-11 umbrella Lots of drinks to choose from Last woman standing...

...because she's still doing her paper due 7 a.m. (This was taken around 4 a.m.)

Lunch Out Thursday

2009-08-22T11:17:00.011+08:00

It has been a tradition in the department to treat the birthday celebrants out to lunch. The celebrant requested that we eat at Komoro Soba. I remembered when I used to eat there often, I would always go with their Katsudon. I thought I'd order something else for a change. So here's what I ordered.

Chicken Kara Age Bento Box

I am not very happy with my food. The macaroni was far from what I expected. It needs more flavor. It tasted as if I was eating just the plain macaroni. The chicken was overcooked. I didn't want to finish my food but the celebrant might feel bad that I didn't like the food in Komoro Soba. Maybe it's just my food because everyone else looked satisfied with theirs. I'll try to eat there again some time. But not anytime soon. Because I wasn't satisfied with my food, I had froyo for dessert. Yum!

Original Yogurt with Mango and Kiwi

It's a good thing there's Red Mango at Megamall!

Room Project

2009-08-17T22:34:00.009+08:00

Just one more thing... This is going to be my project from now on. Presenting...my room! As you can see, it's very cluttered. I'm also planning to re-arrange the furnitures.

Rest Day, New Eye

2009-08-17T21:32:00.007+08:00

Today, I didn't go to the office. I'm not really sick but I wanted to rest. The fact that I wasn't doing much at the office lately probably added to my not wanting to go to work. Imagine wasting your time in front of the computer for 8 hours, pretending to do some work so your boss wouldn't get the impression that you're just slacking off. That's my office life lately. When I woke up this morning, it was raining! A perfect time to spend the whole day sleeping. And so I've decided to continue my sleep. My mom was asking me why I wasn't going to the office. I just said, "Hmm...mmm...ehh..." Then I slept. Haha! You didn't expect me to say that I just don't feel like going to the office, did you? I got a new camera last week. One year overdue, I know, but at least I got one already. It's a digital SLR. I like taking snaps of landscapes but I still lack the complete kit to achieve almost surreal photos. I still have to get a sturdy tripod, a wide angle lens, filters, and a wireless remote trigger. I think that would cost me around P30,000 to P40,000 depending on the brands I would buy. For now, I'm just taking snaps of whatever things interest me. I'm still getting used to the camera. I am actually hoping to have a small shoot. Maybe do portraits of some friends who are willing to pose. Time to sleep. Back to work tomorrow. Boo.

Plantation Tour

2009-08-14T14:50:00.006+08:00

The trip to the three San Fernando plants was just what I needed to be inspired again. I saw the difference between the environment there and the environment in the head office, where I work. I must say that working in the head office is easier because we don’t have to get involved with the operations. But I want to try working there for a short period just for the experience of it. I’m not ready to leave my city life, at least not yet. I’ll get bored with the lifestyle of the people there. I think it’s too simple. Correct me if I’m wrong, that’s just my impression. Maybe, when I get old, I’d prefer that kind of life too. I don’t know. But for now, while I’m still young, I want to remain here in the city with my family and friends. Going back to what I was saying, I was inspired again, mainly because I felt more involved in the company. I felt I was an important part of it. That’s what our president always says, that every employee is vital for the success of the company. It didn’t strike me when I first heard it. Only when I was immersed more in the company did I really understand the meaning behind those words. The plant managers and the other staff introduced themselves to us. I recognize some of the names because I encountered them when I was reviewing a capital expenditure application. One even mentioned that I processed the project he submitted. It gave me a good feeling when I saw that even though we’re miles away from each other, we are working and operating in conjunction with each other. Anyway, the staff was very welcoming and I did appreciate their preparation for our arrival. Everything was in order and they presented the processes in a way that a person not specializing in their line of work would easily understand. I think that was one of the most important things they did for us. Another interesting part of the trip was our lunch! Wooot wooot! Buffet lunch for us again. This time, it was all Filipino food. The food was very good and it was unhealthy! Haha! Yes, very unhealthy. Imagine eating unlimited chicharon bulaklak and all its cholesterol. Add to that unlimited regular chicharon. It’s a good thing they didn’t have lechon. I might not get out of there alive if they did. Haha! I slept most of the time on the road. I stayed up late the night before so I made up for my lack of sleep. It’s a good thing our van was the Toyota Hi-Ace Super Grandia. We had separate seats so I didn’t have to worry about falling asleep on someone. I was a bit disappointed though with the travel time. We only traveled for an hour! Is San Fernando really that close? I felt I just went to Alabang. The trip back was better because we were stuck in traffic upon reaching EDSA. Haha! The trip was just what I expected. It was very informative for us who are working in the head office. We’ll have a better understanding now when reviewing and processing some of their requests. You may notice that I didn’t relay concrete things I learned from the trip. That’s because it’s top secret. Haha! Sorry no pictures too.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

2009-08-11T16:47:00.008+08:00

Something interesting happened today in the office…we ate lunch at Saisaki! It was my two bosses’ treat to us for their recent promotion. Congratulations! There were a lot of food to choose from. Being the usual takaw tingin that I am, I squeezed in as much sushi, maki, and sashimi as I can on one of my plates. Yes, plates. I got fried rice, baked salmon, katsu, and breaded kani on my other plate. I also ordered bottomless iced tea, which comes with a free stuffed toy! Surprisingly, while I was finishing my first batch, I was full already. My plates weren’t even that big. How can this be? I used to finish six servings of rice in Tokyo Tokyo. I just ate a small bowl of noodles and a puto this morning so I can’t still be full. Has my stomach gotten smaller? Haha! I wish! I was a bit productive today compared last week. I got so many calls!! Grrr! I hate using the phone. I’d prefer speaking to them in person than converse over the phone. I also don’t like speaking to people before lunch. I’m still sleepy. Haha! Tomorrow will be an adventure day. We have a plant tour! Oh yeah! We’ll visit three plantations in San Fernando. I’m out of the office once again. I always look forward to these kinds of activities. I like to travel. I like being mobile. I don’t like being idle. Consequently, I don’t like being stuck in the office. I don’t like working 8 hours a day in my office table. Anyway, going back to the plant tour, we’ll first be visiting a beer plantation. We’ll be able to taste freshly brewed beer! Yeeeaaaahh meeeenn! According to the plant manager, it’s very good. I’m excited! Next stop is a beverage plantation. I think we’ll be sampling juices here. Third will be a recycling plant. It’s a plant where you recycle things. Err…But mostly PET bottles. I should know this because I handle this business. Haha!

Decisions

2009-08-10T15:21:00.008+08:00

Today, my boss announced that there will be changes in the office taking effect probably next year. Some people will retire and some people will be pulled out to be assigned in a different business. For us regular employees, this means promotion. Now, I am asking myself this question: Am I ready? Am I ready to take more responsibility in the office? Do I want to assume bigger roles in the company? You're probably thinking that I'm wasting a very good opportunity; more so, considering that I am working for one of the most, if not the most, successful companies in the country. This hesitation roots from the level of my interest in the nature of work I am in. I applied for this position because I wanted to see if I would enjoy doing it since I am quite good at it back in the university. A year has gone and I found myself asking if I can endure one more year of work in this company in the same department. Some say that I should give it more time before deciding to say my goodbyes. Maybe they're right. Maybe one of the reasons why I disliked my work for the past year is because it was giving me a hell of a time. I haven't mastered the job yet so I had to work long hours in the office. Sometimes, I even bring my work home and work on weekends. Maybe next time, I would find it easier because I have already gone through it for an entire year. Then, eventually, I would learn to like my job. But what if they're wrong? What if I were meant for a different job? A job that I like better. A job that I am more interested in. What if it's out there now waiting for me, and I failed to take it because I chose to stay in this office for another year? I guess that's the chance I'd have to take. Opportunity cost comes to mind. Anyway, I'm just wasting my time again. There's something I have to do but I don't feel like doing anything right now. I want to sleep! I want it to be Friday already.

Hello!

2009-08-07T15:19:00.014+08:00

I’m starting this blog because I have nothing to do in the office today. I’ll just update this blog when I have time to waste. This is the first time that I literally have nothing to do. Actually, this is my second time. Yesterday would be the first. I know I deserve this rest since I have been working my ass off since the start of the year. Work is extra hard because I am still in the learning stage. Now, I am in the last stage of the cycle. Finally! (Oof! That means my boss would expect more from me next cycle. NOOOOO!) Completing the cycle in the office is like completing a semester in college. Why just a semester? Because I only work DURING OFFICE HOURS. (I like the sound of that.) Unlike in college, I still have to study and do essays when I get home. Being a student is more tiring! Whew! I’m glad I’m through with that. The weather is weird lately. By weird, I mean VERY WEIRD. Imagine this, I woke up in the morning and noticed that it was raining really hard. I was hoping that office would be suspended (In my dreams!). After a few minutes, I got up, ate breakfast, and showered. When I got out of the shower, HELLO SUNSHINE! (Singing in my head: My shattered dreams…) So I brushed my teeth, dressed up, and just when I was about to leave the house, BOOM! It starts raining cats and dogs! (SUS-PEN-DED! SUS-PEN-DED!)

view outside the office

at another angle

But as you can see, I am in the office now, writing this blog, enjoying the view of the plants out the window, swaying with the wind, singing in unison, and being free from the chains of the terrifying office table. Meaning, the rain stopped. (!@#!@%@#!!**#!) Sometimes, I feel the rain just wanted to slow me down so I’d be late for work. For the past few weeks, I actually managed to keep my tardiness at a minimum. Only once or twice every two weeks! (Do I hear a round of applause? Thank you, thank you.) But because of the rain, I’ve been tardy thrice this week already. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE THE RAIN. Just don’t stop pouring until they suspend office.