Teddy Sanctuary

I haven't been active here lately because I haven't been able to take pictures for a while. So I told myself to shoot anything this morning because I missed handling my camera.

I woke up great this morning after a few days of not feeling well. Thank God! ^^


This is my current sanctuary for sleep. (We tend to sleep wherever whenever in the house lately. So I got back to sleeping in my old room though I and my stuff don't necessarily stay there.) I like how the curtain's color reflects the sunlight. Perhaps I look like a sepia overtone when I wake up in the morning in this room.





Teddies and other stuff toys guard the sanctuary. I even played with Ger (the bear) and the curtain in this shoot. I think he liked it. (Ger I mean.)



***

There's no place like home whatever it may look like, how quirky or chaotic the people around you may be. It's still the sweetest place on earth.



Yeah, I know there are homes that aren't so sweet like the others. I know because mine isn't that sweet too. Nevertheless, we should love our home, our family, our sanctuary. Our home is where we can find utmost peace in ourselves.

Good night and sweet dreams! xoxo ^^

Magsilbi Kang Liwanag (Be the Light)

Naalala ko sa temang Liwanag ng Litratong Pinoy ngayong linggo ang kwento ng isang posporo at ang mensahe nito: Ang liwanag na matagal na nating hinahanap ay nasa mismong mga sarili natin.

***

Because of this week's theme, Light , in LItratong Pinoy, I remembered the story of a matchstick and its vital message: The light that we desperately search for is already within us.

Tech Tags: digital photography, chandelier, lights

Put Your Head on My Shoulder

I love hankies. They're a comfort to my empty hand.

However there's a superstition or a belief (I don't know where it came from actually) that you shouldn't give a hankie as a gift because it symbolizes tears therefore the recipient would have more time to cry, more time to grieve on sad stuff.

But we can altercate that by saying, we're giving a hankie so she (girls are more prominent weepers) can wipe away her tears. We're lending a friendly gesture, a shoulder to cry on. I think it's very sweet whenever I see someone cry and a friend offers his/her own hankie. That's a very personal moment indeed. (Except when the hankie looks overused and you-know-what. Hahaha.)

Good evening! Wipe away those tears and smile. :)

Go for the Gold

Lahok ni Neri sa Litratong Pinoy para sa temang "Ginintuan." English translation below.

Sa katunayan ay hindi naman ginto yan, di po ba? Subalit ang mga medalya naming magkapatid ang siyang ginintuang simbolo ng lahat ng paghihirap ng aming mga magulang. :)

Maligayang paglilitrato, mga kapatid! Pasensya na sa maikling post dahil may pasok pa bukas. Hehehe.

***

Neri's entry in Litratong Pinoy's theme for this week, "Ginintuan" [Golden].

Actually this isn't gold, isn't it? Nevertheless the medals my sister and I achieved are the golden symbols of all our parents' hardships and sacrifices. :)

Happy shooting, my friends! Sorry for the short post because there's still work tomorrow. Hehehe.

Tech Tags: digital photography, gold medal

The Bag, The Watch and The Foot

The title explains itself. Hahaha. XD

This is the result of plunging yourself into a throng of people then thinking that it's not worth it. ^^

Princess on a Leaf

Sorry for the rice on the top. We were about to eat lunch on the banana leaf when I thought I wanted to take the banana's pic on the banana leaf. Banana on banana, ei? ;)

That's a senyorita banana taken from my uncle's mini-field. (Sorry, I don't know how to type the 'enye' :S)

I can't find a thought-provoking analogy here so I'm off to enduring another PMS attack. :(

Ciao and have a happy week ahead, guys! ;)

Tech Tags: digital photography, senyorita, banana

China?

Looks like china but is it? Click image for its true color. ;)

This is an example of the adage: Don't judge a book by its cover.

We can apply two different analogies with this...

One, not all that glitters is gold. (Which is actually another adage. Hehe.)

Two, for something to be special, you have to believe that it's special. (From Kung Fu Panda! Just to connect my fave line. XD)

Tech Tags: digital photography, accessories, headband,bangles, quotations, Kung Fu Panda

Identity Crisis

Sorry but the image didn't capture the exact color the stuff toy really was because it was just taken with my phone. The green turned out yellow. As it is, I have to tell you that the cat looked like a turtle when I saw it in the department store.

We think we know ourselves fully but it's not really the case. Sometimes we have spots that we overlook and most of the time, we forget that life is really a journey towards ourselves. ;)

Good night, everyone! ^^

Tech Tags: digital photography, stuffed toy, department store

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

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

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

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

Sunog na Kilay (Burnt Brows)

Ikalawang lahok ni Neri sa Litratong Pinoy

Pagsusunog ng kilay --- isa sa mga natatak na matatalinhagang salita sa akin.

Hindi ko kasi mawari kung ano ang kinalaman ng kilay at sunog sa pag-aaral. Marahil noong unang panahon nang naka-kandila pa ang ating mga ninuno at malapit sila sa apoy para makapagbasa sa gabi. Kaya siguro nasunog ang kanilang kilay. Sa antok. ^^

Hindi ko rin kasi maalis sa isipan, kapag nabasa ang katagang 'nagsusunog ng kilay', ang eksena ni Jose Rizal at ang kanyang inang si Teodora Alonzo sa tapat ng gasera. Dito mag-uumpisa ang alamat ng gamu-gamo. (Pero hindi ko na iyon ikukuwento dito ha.)

Ngunit sa panahon natin ngayon, nakakalungkot mang isipin, ay mayroon pa ring mga bata sa Pilipinas na nagtitiyaga sa nauupos na gasera o kandila para makapagbasa ng kanilang mga aralin. Mayroon pa ring mga batang kailangang maglakad ng kilo-kilometro at dumaan sa mga bundok at ilog para makarating sa kani-kanilang paaralan.

Hanga ako sa mga batang ito dahil hindi ko alam kung magagawa ko pang mag-aral sa ganoong kalagayan. Mahirap man kami pero hindi ko naranasan ang ganoong tinding pasakit para lamang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral.

Sana'y hindi magsawa ang kabataan ngayon upang magsikap sa pag-abot ng kanilang mga pangarap.

***

Neri's second entry in Litratong Pinoy

Pagsusunog ng kilay --- one of the [Filipino] idioms that stuck in my mind. (Literal English translation: burning one's eyebrows.)

It's because I don't understand what eyebrows and fire have to do with studying. Perhaps in the olden days when our ancestors used candles to read at night, their brows get burnt. Due to sleepiness. ^^

When I read the term 'nagsusunog ng kilay', I also can't help but think of the scene where Jose Rizal and his mother Teodora Alonzo were in front of a lamp. This scene will start the legend of the moth. (Which I won't be telling here.)

Yet in our times now, saddening as it may seem, there are Filipino children who still use lamps or candles to read their homeworks. There are still children who walk a few kilometers and cross over mountains and rivers just so they can go to school.

I admire these children because if I were in their place, I don't know if I can still have the guts to study with such conditions. My family might be poor but I did not experience such hardships in order to finish schooling.

I hope that today's youth won't stop reaching for their dreams.

Tech Tags: digital photography, studies, book, candle, Jose Rizal, Teodora Alonzo, moth,legend

If It Fits

I'm a sandals fan. I go for comfort.

I remember the movie "Hanggang Ngayon" starring Regine Velasquez and Richard Gomez. Richard's father told him there that the right partner is like a pair of tsinelas (sandals). Even if you wear shoes at work or at play, you'd still want to wear those comfy tsinelas. You'd always yearn for your tsinelas.

Another foot-relationship analogy comes from my ex-boss. He said that marriage is like shopping for footwear. Dating and pre-marital relationships are like trying out the shoes (or sandals, what-have-you's). Marriage is the actual buying. No return, no exchange.

Tech Tags: digital photography, marriage, relationship, sandals, footwear

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

So after our visit in Bayanihan Park, let's head back home. :D

This picture is one of my early takes in shooting... at anything. Hehe.

Yup that's our "trap" door, er, gate. XD
I was shooting at anything and everything in our small frontyard and I came upon our rusty gate. Our beloved rusty gate. I showed this image to my parents and they were repulsed. I loved it. (Not their disgusted reactions, but the shot.) ^_^

Funny how we see the same thing but have different perceptions, ei?

Have a happy Wednesday, everyone. May we see beauty despite the ugliness that surrounds us. Ciao! :)

P.S. Don't worry, we're painting the gate since yesterday. Details on that tomorrow. ;)

[Update 19 June 2008]

Details on the Project Paint Gate (PG). Sorry to redirect you to my personal blog because it's a mighty paint story, which cannot fit here in my photoblog. Hehe. Hope you can hop there for a while. Good day! :)

Tech Tags: digital photography, gate, rust

Darts

This dart board can symbolize a lot of things.

But for this post, the board can be likened to a heart. Pierced by every individual that comes by. Yet the game goes on. And at the end of each game, the darts come off the board. Ready to take their place again in another match.

Tech Tags: photography, darts, board game

Back-to-School

It's the first day of classes for most schools today. (Therefore it's also my sister's first day as an official teacher. :D)

But of course, I'm not affected by school stuff for four years already. *sigh*
When I was young, I loved the smell of new books and was excited to read them all. I glowed looking at my new notebooks and fought with myself over which notebook goes to which subject. Those were the only complications in life then. *sigh again*

So how's all this back-to-school reminiscence related to the picture? Nothing much except that these angels were taken from the top of the Main Building in Holy Angel University, my alma mater.

Eight years. Eight years I've stayed in the university. Four of which I met some of my life-long friends. Another four of which I rode into the roller coaster of love. Haha. Funny how I did not mention studying here. XD

Let's stop this reminiscing already before it gets worse. Hahaha.

Tech Tags: photography, statues, school, angels

Yellow - Green

This pic brings into mind a long-time running joke.

Green, green!
Yellow?
May I know blue's on the line please?
White a minute!

Hope that didn't ruin your day. Haha!
Happy weekend! :)

Tech Tags: digital photography, green, yellow, joke, phone

I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a little teapot, thick and stout;
This is my handle, this is my snout.

I can't find any symbolism for this picture in my head. What do you think?

I was playing with the super macro setting of my camera, thus the picture of the cozy teapot and cup.