The True Gift of Joy

The true gift of joy is given to the giver rather than the receiver. Happiness is so generous that when you give it, you receive it as well. Happy giving, everyone. ^^

Tech Tags: digital photography, aetas, girls, gift giving, Pampanga, charity

Little As You Are

As little as each santan flower may seem, when bunched up they compose a bigger flower. So as each little kindness we do, when taken as a whole makes the world a better place to live in.

The pink santan flowers are lovingly dedicated to Emcee, one of my dearest blogging sisters. Despite us not seeing and knowing each other, she has touched my life with her sweetness. Happy birthday, sis! ^^

PS. I would also like to congratulate my twin sis blogger Enday (we also don't know each other actually) for getting the Idol Blog this week. Yay! Go, kambal! ^^

PS2. Sorry, but I was busy for the past few days, thus I haven't had the time to update. Will also need to re-post most of the entries for the new layout. Sheesh, lots of work, so little time. Hehe.

Tech Tags: digital photography, santan, pink

Till the Last Rose Dies

What do I do, I keep calling out your name
What do I do, I got no one else to blame
What do I do, Every time I hold your hand, it's not the same
What do I do, I think I fell in love with you


Read What Do I Do lyrics

Please play the accompanying OPM song, "What Do I Do", from Nyoy Volante. FYI to my international friends, Nyoy is a famous acoustic singer here in the Philippines.

I remember this sad story that I read from a text message:
A guy gives her girl 12 roses, eleven real and one fake. You see, the guy is about to die when he told her: "I will love you till the last one dies." *sob*

*sigh* I miss falling in love. Haha. XD

Tech Tags: digital photography, white plastic roses, sad love story, What Do I Do, Nyoy Volante, acoustic, Mannos, OPM, song, music

Iced Gems

Good evening, everyone! If you haven't yet noticed, voting for Idol Blog '08 has officially closed for its second week.

Arvin of Damuhan emerged as the winner as we are all expecting. Hehe. Meanwhile kambal Enday and I bagged the second and third place, respectively. I'm so happy with the results for I consider them both my blogger friends. ^^

Thanks to everyone who participated - the contestants for the friendly competition, Marky of Tiklaton for hosting a successful event, and of course the 1005 votes that came from you all who supported and cheered for your respective candidate.


I am ever-grateful to everyone who constantly voted for me and those who even campaigned for my blogs. (Blogs because my personal blog NER was also nominated in another contest for the same week. Whew! Update: It won the customized layout contest! Yay! ^^) The iced gems above are for your sweet efforts that I won't forget. I am deeply touched with the support. Hugs and kisses to you all. ^^

Tech Tags: digital photography, sweets, Idol Blog 08, Damuhan, Enday, Tiklaton

Luntiang Lumot (Moss Green)

Maligayang Litratong Pinoy (LP), mga kapatid! Bago ko umpisahan ang lahok kong ito, nakikiusap lang po ako na sana suportahan ninyo ako sa kasalukuyang botohang nagaganap para sa Idol Blog '08. Maaari po lamang na pakiboto ang Galleria Neri sa poll sa kanang sidebar. Salamat po! Kung gusto nyo pong bumoto araw-araw hanggang July 19, hindi ko po kayo pipigilan. Hehehe.

Happy Litratong Pinoy (LP), brothers and sisters! Before I start this entry, I would just like to ask for your support in the current election that's happening for Idol Blog '08. If you could just vote Galleria Neri in the poll at the right sidebar. Thanks! If you like to vote everyday till July 19, I won't stop your good purpose. Hehehe.



Para sa aking ikalimang lahok sa LP sa temang Luntian, eto po ang lumot sa aming hardin. Literal na moss green kumbaga. Yun lang po. Bow. Hehehe. Speechless ako ngayon eh. (At kung may oras pa po kayo, kung maaari din lang po na pakiboto rin ang blog kong NER sa CarlotaOnline. Hindi ko rin po kayo pipigilan na iboto ito araw-araw hanggang July 19 din. Maraming maraming salamat po!) :D

For my fifth LP entry in today's theme Green, here's moss from our garden. Literal moss green. Bow. Hehehe. I'm speechless right now. (And if you still have time, if you can please vote for my blog NER at CarlotaOnline. I won't stop you from voting there everyday till July 19 also. Many thanks!) :D

An Ordinary Night

No ghosts have been summoned for this picture. (I hope so. ^^')

That's just my ordinary frontyard taken on an ordinary night. The shot was so ordinary so I tried to tweak it using a slow shutter speed and a little movement. So there.

Is it eerie? Or just dizzy? Hehe.

When bored with the ordinariness of life, we should remember that we are the key to extraordinariness.

May you live an extraordinary life. ;)

Que Sera Sera

When I was just a little girl,
I asked my mother what will I be
Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?
Here's what she said to me:

Que sera sera, Whatever will be will be
The future's not ours to see, Que sera sera
If you will notice there are two girls in the picture, one clinging to his father on a bike and one overlooking the street while in an SUV. (Is that an SUV? I'm no good with autos. Hehe.)

But when they grow up, who will succeed?

Ahhh, a cobweb of possibilities. :D

Pliant Like the Bamboo

I.V. Mallari likened the Filipino people to the bamboo in his poem "Pliant Like the Bamboo." (However I can't find a copy of it now. Sorry.)

The Filipino character is similar to the bamboo because it has flexibility, endurance, and harmony with nature. It bends with the wind, but can survive a storm. Just like the bamboo, the Filipino nation goes along with the forces of nature and politics. It copes with "fate" rather than fights against it. The Filipino mind is pliant in the sense that it is open to new ideas. Although the Filipino is trusting, he is also capable of standing up for his own beliefs. He will not tolerate betrayal and oppression. Filipinos in general are protective of their hard-won independence, and they will fight for their freedom at all costs.

Source: Philippine Islands

I truly agree that the coping mechanism of Filipinos is like the bamboo. Though sometimes are coping becomes "forgetting." Comment stops here. Hehe.

Tech Tags: digital photography, bamboo, Filipinos

It's A Small World After All

When you think that you're so small to take on the world, you have to realize that there are little things that you still can do to make a difference. ;)

Happy Sunday, guys! Please do support me by voting this blog in the poll at the right side. Thanks so much! Mwah! ^^

Tech Tags: digital photography, Fil-Am Fest Exhibit: Replica Maritime and Aviation, airplanes, SM Clark, small boy

Uncommon Valor

I thank God for the invention of optical zoom. For without it, I couldn't have seen the precious little thingies we have above, especially the helicopters.

As I left you last Wednesday with two plane replicas from the Fil-Am Fest Exhibit, we're cruising now to an assault ship. But where is the ship? Here it is.


Do you see here the items in the first picture? :D

USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.
The ship's motto, "Uncommon Valor," is based on Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz's words when he spoke eloquently of Sailors and Marines who fought at Iwo Jima: "Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue."

Iwo Jima and the Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployed March 4, 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was also in 2003 that the USS Iwo Jima was deployed to the coast of Liberia as part of JTF Liberia.

I don't know why Iwo Jima sounds familiar to me. Perhaps from history class, my waterloo. :D

Nevertheless, it's motto should stir something in us.

Why is it that the essential virtues that we should have, like valor, are becoming uncommon nowadays? :(

That's something to ponder on this weekend, ei? Happy weekend, guys. :)

Tech Tags: digital photography, Fil-Am Fest Exhibit: Replica Maritime and Aviation, airplanes, SM Clark, helicopter, USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz,valor

Sexy Siesta

Ikaapat na lahok ni Neri sa Litratong Pinoy. (English translation below.)

Maligayang LP sa inyong lahat! Ang tema ngayong linggo ay "Balingkinitan" at nahirapan ako rito dahil hindi ko pwedeng isali ang larawan ko. Bwahaha! XD

Sumagi sa aking isipan ang kasabihang "korteng Coke" dahil sa ka-seksihan ng bote ng Coke... noon. E pa'no ngayon, andami na ng hugis at laki ng Coke... may sakto, litro at "in can" pa. Kaso walang Coke sa bahay at nanghinayang akong bumili sa suking tindahan para lang kunan ng larawan, maliban sa nagtitipid ako. Ang natirang bote rito ay Pop Litro pero di gaanong balingkinitan ang korte nito. Kaya naghagilap na lang ako ng kaaya-ayang korte sa aking baul dito sa laptop.

Ang larawan sa itaas ay nakunan nang nagtatrabaho pa ako sa Makati (gamit na naman ang aking cellphone) at napag-isipan namin ng ka-opisina kong si Jen na subukang kumain sa Cafe Central. Sa tinagal-tagal kasi namin sa Valero, ni minsan di kami kumain dun. Kung kailan palipat na kami ng opisina sa Karrivin, dun pa namin nagawang kumain dito at nalamang masaya pala. Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol din. :D

Tuwang-tuwa ako sa kulay at baso ng Kiwi Italian soda ko. Hay, nakaka-miss. :(

***

Neri's fourth entry in Litratong Pinoy.

Happy LP, everyone! This week's theme is "Balingkinitan" (usual connotation: sexy; dictionary definition: slender) and I found it difficult because I can't post my picture for this. Bwahaha! XD

This brought into my mind the [Filipino] term "korteng Coke" (Coca Cola-shaped) because of the sexiness of a Coke bottle... before. But how do we use it now when there are lots of Coke shapes and sizes... there's "sakto" (a petite size), "litro" (1-1.5 liters), and even "in can." However there's no available Coke in the house and I didn't want to buy one in the nearest store just so I could take its picture, plus I am in a tight budget. The only bottle here is a Pop [Cola] Litro but it isn't sexy enough. So I searched for a shapely form in my treasure chest of digital photos.

The picture above was taken when I was still working in Makati (using my cellphone still). I and my officemate Jen decided to try it out in Cafe Central because in our long stay at Valero, we haven't eaten there yet. Ironic because we only ate there when we were about to move to a new office in Karrivin and found out that it was wonderful in Cafe Central. At least, it's better late than never. :D

I was delighted with the color and glass of my Kiwi Italian soda. Sigh... I miss those days. :(

Tech Tags: digital photography, Cafe Central, Valero, Makati, Italian soda, kiwi, penne, pasta,Coca Cola, Pop Cola

Fil-Am Fest Exhibit Take-Off

Sorry, I wasn't able to post yesterday. Something came up in the afternoon and then my sister needed to use the laptop last night. Therefore, I owe you two pics for today. :D

Last Sunday, I noticed an exhibit near SM Clark's Event Centre after doing our groceries. On further inspection, I was amazed at the replicas of ships and airplanes displayed that it was a pity I didn't bring my camera. (I couldn't because I wouldn't be permitted to go inside Hypermarket.) But why do I have these pictures now? I came back. Hehe. :D

I don't think there was a tour guide for the little exhibit so I presume that it was a celebration for the Fil-Am Friendship Day last July 4, which is also the US Independence Day, of course.

It was rightful that the exhibit was done in SM Clark, especially for the planes below, because if we go back to our history, Clarkfield was the previous US Air Base in the Philippines. (While Subic, which is in Zambales, was the Naval Base.)


I like this vibrant red plane.


Brings into mind Harrison Ford from Air Force One (the movie), ei? I liked that film. :D

More replicas in the following days. Except tomorrow because it's LP day! ^^

Tech Tags: digital photography, Fil-Am Fest Exhibit: Replica Maritime and Aviation, airplanes, SM Clark, Pitts, US Air Force (USAF), Harrison Ford

Pace Your Race

My internet connection now is so slow; I can't upload my supposed photo post for today. So here's a picture I took on my first "in-transit" photo shoot a month ago, which was previously uploaded already.

Of course, the jeepney will soon overtake the bicycle in front of it. But what's important is that the bike rider will get to his destination, as slow as it may be compared to the other automobiles behind it.

We have our own pace to accomplish our goals. Don't fret. :)

I hope I can get to my usual blogging and blog-hopping activities later when my connection goes back to normal. Sorry, guys, if I can't visit you right now. I am currently at pains posting this short article, so you can imagine how browsing can go into oblivion.

Have a happy Monday! Start the week with a smile. :)

Tech Tags: digital photography, bicycle, jeepney, San Fernando, Pampanga

Resting

I'd be on a day-off tomorrow so I won't be posting here then. I'm thinking if I'd be taking Sundays off regulary, since... why not? ^^

Actually I'm the type that needs more rest in order to be productive. I've done that at work, so why not practice it in blogging, ei? All work and no play makes Ner a dull blogger. (Plus I have to catch up on other activities aside from blogging. Shh.) ;)

I've done a lot of overtime work in the past years, so I guess I can tell you that it's not healthy. With or without pay.

You'd just end up with more effort but less results. Rest.

And, once in a while, date yourself. How can others want to be with you when you don't even like being with yourself? ;)

Why'd I say that? I'm planning to watch a movie by myself later because I enjoyed the last time I did. However though I want to watch both Wanted and Hancock, I have to choose only one because of the time constraint. What do you think?

Have a happy and peaceful weekend, guys. See y'all on Monday. Ciao! ^^

Tech Tags: digital photography, bag, overtime work, rest, productivity, date yourself, Wanted,Hancock

Nasaan na ang Bahay Kubo? (Where is the Nipa Hut?)

Bahay Kubo



Bahay kubo kahit munti
ang halaman doon ay sari-sari
singkamas at talong



sigarilyas at mani
sitaw, bataw, patani
kundol, patola, upo't kalabasa



at saka mayroon pa labanos, mustasa
sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya
sa paligid-ligid ay puno ng linga.


This was supposed to be my LP entry for the theme Tatak Pinoy yesterday. However I would have written a melodramatic LP post again (such that the hut represents the current situation of the Philippines) so I chose the cross-carrying Kapampangans instead.

I have always loved the barrio --- the fresh air, lush greenery and simple life.

"Live simply so that others may simply live." - Mahatma Gandhi

Tech Tags: digital photography, bahay kubo, nipa hut, Philippine folk song, Mahatma Gandhi, Sapa Libutad, Angeles City, Pampanga, province

Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig (The World On My Shoulders)

Ikatlong lahok ni Neri sa Litratong Pinoy (English translation below.)

Ang lahok ko ngayon sa LP ay hindi lang tatak Pinoy, kundi tatak Kapampangan pa! Hehehe.

Kung tutuusin marami akong pinagpilian kung alin sa aking mga litrato ang aking isasali ngayong Huwebes. Pero para maging kakaiba naman at hindi gaanong ma-drama ang aking lahok, eto na lang. (Hindi raw ma-drama pero hindi ba't ma-drama na ang mismong larawan? :D) Pansin ko kasi sa nakaraang dalawang linggo ko sa LP, masyado akong ma-drama, baka akalaing seryoso ako. Hahaha.

Kinuha ko ang litratong ito nitong Mahal na Araw ng nakaraang Marso sa Barangay Panipuan sa San Fernando, Pampanga. (Gamit lang ang cellphone dahil wala pa akong camera noong panahong ito. Ni hindi ako makalapit sa mga nagpepenitensya dahil nahihiya ako kumuha ng mga larawan; ako lang ang gumagawa noon.) Naging tradisyon ko na kasi na dumalaw sa aking kabarkada rito tuwing Mahal na Araw dahil parang fiesta rin kapag ganitong panahon sa barrio.

Maliban sa kasiyahan at kainan sa gabi, syempre andyan ang mga nagpapasan ng krus, namamalaspas ng likod at gumagapang sa kalsada upang maaliw ka. Parang may pagka-sadista ang dating, ano po? Pero hindi naman. Hehehe.

Pero ang talagang pinupunta ng mga turista sa Pampanga tuwing Mahal na Araw ay ang pagpapapako sa krus ng mga nagpepenitensya sa Barangay Cacutud, San Fernando. Sayang lang at hindi pa ako nakakapunta rito dahil walang gustong sumama sa akin. Alas dose ng tanghali kasi nagaganap ito; mainit daw at maraming tao. Hehehe.

Maligayang LP, mga kaibigan! ^^

***

Neri's third entry for Litratong Pinoy

My entry for LP isn't just Philippine-branded, but Kapampangan-branded as well! Hehehe.

Actually I had several pictures to choose from, which I would like to join for this Thursday. However I wanted my entry to be unique and not so dramatic, so I picked this one. (But then ain't the picture itself dramatic? :D) I noticed that I was being dramatic for my last two weeks in LP, that you might think I'm too serious. Hahaha.

I took this picture at Barangay Panipuan in San Fernando, Pampanga last Holy Week of March. (Using my cellphone only because I haven't got a camera then. I was embarrassed to take pictures because I was the only one doing it; so I couldn't even get near the penitents.) It was already my tradition to visit my friend here every Holy Week because it seems like a feast in the barrio during this time.

Besides the merry-making and feast-like activities in the evening, of course there were those who carried crosses, those who scourged their backs and those who crawled on the road to keep you entertained. Sounds sadistic, ei? But it isn't. Hehehe.

But what the tourists really anticipate in Pampanga every Holy Week is the crucifixion of penitents in Barangay Cacutud, San Fernando. It's a pity I haven't gone there yet because no one wants to accompany me because this event commences at twelve noon; they say it's too hot plus a lot of people go there. Hehehe.

Happy LP, my friends! ^^

Tech Tags: digital photography, Holy Week, tradition, cross, crucifixion, Panipuan, Pampanga, Philippines

You Drive

I think I'm getting into the habit of shooting pictures while riding the tricycle. This is the second time I've done this "in-transit shooting" and I really enjoy it. (Though most of the time I only get glimpses of jeeps and walls because, of course, we're moving. Hehe.)

Among all my trike-driver-hand shots, I picked this one because we're head on with another tricycle on the left. See? Trike on trike. :D

So what analogy can we conjure up this time? Hmm...

This brings into mind the notion that we are the drivers of our lives. There's always a map but it's our decision if we consult it or not. There are different highways and alleys we can enter and exit. But the essence of our ride is the destination. Are you on the right track, my friend? ;)

With that, have a wonderful evening and do sleep peacefully. ^^

Tech Tags: digital photography, tricycle, road, driving

Beautiful Old Age

Dried and crumpled, these old leaves look beautiful even beside their fresh and young conterparts.

One should not fear of growing old. Instead it should be embraced; for nowadays, only few live to old age.

One should fear of having not grown in life's wisdom. ;)

Tech Tags: digital photography, dried leaves, old,age, crumpled,brown