Thursday, December 31, 2009

Moving Forward To 2010

Depending on when I finish writing this entry, this would either be my last post for 2009, or my first one for 2010.

The year 2009 was sort of a "mix bag" for me. It had its fair share of ups and downs. This year marked many adventures and blessings, as well as trials and hardships (Ondoy comes to mind). For whatever it's worth, here are some of my highlights for 2009:

- US Trip (got my MacBook and iPod while I was there, and saw the Grand Canyon and the Golden Gate Bridge)

- Promotion at work (well, it was actually last year, this year it was just for formality)

- Hong Kong (where I popped the magic question to Roxanne)

- Isabela

There are still some more, but I guess the one above are what I consider the best for this year. As for the trials and hardships, I want to start the new year on a positive note, so it's best not to dwell on them anymore.

So what's in store for 2010? I feel that this is going to be a special year. If all goes well, this is the year where we finally tie the knot. I also feel that a lot will change for the better for me, that's why as early as now I'm trying to visualize how to manage the new year, what actions to take, and for some reason, what new gadgets to buy.

So with that, I will end this post and enjoy some pasta and ham. Happy New Year!!!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Isabela: The Pictures

Farm scene.

Dirt road.

The lake.

Beast of burden.

St. Ferdinand Church.

As promised, here are some of the pictures from Isabela (Echague and Ilagan, to be precise). You may check out the rest by clicking here.

Enjoy and Happy New Year!!!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Isabela: The Experience

Would you believe this place is just a short hike from Roxanne's house? Really cool!

Okay, at the expense of sounding like a broken record, here it goes again: my camera went bonkers for the nth time. I was literally at the mercy of my camera during my stay, thankfully it decided to cooperate on moments that mattered, like the photo taken above. It's back at the service center, and I'll write something about it when I hear from the guys at Canon.

So back to the story. I was my first time to visit Roxanne's home town of Ilagan in Isabela, and I was fortunate also to visit some of the adjacent towns, like San Mariano and Echague.

Isabela isn't your typical tourist destination. It's a classic example of the rural scene in the Philippines. If you play the likes of FarmVille on Facebook, then you could probably relate to what I'm saying. And I love this rural feel. The animals, the rice fields, the trees that shape the landscape, and the stars at night, all of these contribute to the serenity of the place. This is simplicity at its best.

I must admit that I'm a total city boy, that what I call home consists of tall buildings, heavy traffic, and accessibility to malls. But once in a while I enjoy the calm that the likes of Isabela has, that quiet aura that enchants you and takes all your worries away.

I really enjoyed the Isabela experience. Mingling with Roxanne's relatives and seeing how she grew up makes me love her even more. And that was just the first of many visits to come.

I'll post the pictures soon, Multiply is down anyway so I'll take my time.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

George And Pris

The happy couple.

George and Pris have been together for a long time. I've known George since 2004, and he was already with Pris at that time. I guess this is one of the testaments on how much this couple jives together.

Mass was celebrated at the historic San Agustin Church in Intramuros, followed by a reception at the nearby Villa Immaculada.

And of course, this post wouldn't be complete without a link to the pictures. Here are the ones from Gelsen, while here are the ones from my camera (Jayson took some of the shots, thanks bro). We're still waiting for the photo boot pictures, I'll post something about that once the gallery is online.

Again, congratulations George and Pris. May God bless your union.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Weddings And Cameras

Weddings


Congratulations to George and Pris on your wonderful wedding. Pictures coming soon.

Cameras

I finally got my 400D from the service center last Wednesday. Weird thing is that after a month of being checked in, they found nothing wrong with it. I decided to pull it out for the meantime, since I don't have any backup to use.

I'm actually tempted to upgrade early, since there's this three year warranty program for selected units purchased before the year ends. But I'm also trying to save up, since I've spent more this year. We'll see, I hope my 400D "stays in shape" for the meantime.

And as for Canon, I still believe they're one of the best in terms of service quality. Very polite representatives and specialists.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Photos From Hong Kong

View of Hong Kong Island from Harbor City Mall.

At last I'm done with our Hong Kong pictures. Instead of doing a day by day or place by place gallery, I decided to choose some of the best and just group them all together. All of the pictures here and a lot more are available on my Multiply gallery here, and for our friends, some not in the gallery are posted on our Facebook accounts.

So many cameras, so little pocket money.

It's hard to choose a favorite destination in Hong Kong. I really love the feel of the island. I love Victoria Peak and the view of the island from above, Ocean Park and it's many attractions, and my first time at Lantau was a blast.

The famous red taxi cabs of Hong Kong.

My camera started to act up as we headed for Lantau on our third day, and on our last night it went totally kaput. But I'm thankful I was able to shoot everything that I came for: the view of the city, the Buddha, the cute pandas, and of course pictures of us on our second anniversary. It's also great that Roxanne's camera didn't fail us, we also have lots of shots there.

The Buddha at Lantau Island.

The view inside the cable car at Ocean Park.

Jellyfish rocks!!!

And one last thing. I didn't have too many pictures from Disneyland since my camera was on the verge of failure, but I was able to get the best shot from our stay. At exactly six in the evening on the tenth of November, I proposed to Roxanne. And the rest is history.

The best photo of the bunch. Priceless.

So there you have it. We really miss Hong Kong, and we hope we could go back there soon. Please visit my Hong Kong gallery for more pictures. Happy weekend.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Goodbye G5

Thanks for the memories.

My G5 on its fifth year of service. Read more here.

I called up Canon this morning to follow up on my 400D, and get a quote for my G5's repair as well. Turns out the cost is no longer practical, just add a few more and I could already get a decent point and shoot. So after almost six years of taking pictures, it's about time to retire my Canon Powershot G5.


I still blame myself for leaving it in my check-in luggage during our US trip, which caused a dent and damaged the LCD. But it turns out the camera's optics are also in need of replacement, so I guess this is really inevitable.

And maybe it's time to upgrade as well. The new G11 is smaller, has a bigger LCD, and has cleaner images at higher ISO (I can't go past ISO 100 on my G5). And from our recent trips this year, I realized that having a small camera can really be handy.

I remember when I bought my G5, I wanted this camera not only because I wanted to learn the basics, but because I wanted a tool that will last me five years. And it did. Even when I had my 400D, I would still use the G5 very often.

My Flickr G5 gallery is full of memories captured by this little beast. And for that, I will always be thankful to my G5 for documenting a part of my life.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

7th Animo Run

I made it to the finish line. Thanks to Gelsen for the picture, you can see more from his gallery here.

I did it, I ran and survived the Animo Run. Okay, I lied. I walked, and I took my own pace. I didn't realize 5km is that long.

Yesterday was my first time to join such an event. Gelsen has already invited me to several marathons in the past, but not being a morning person I decided to skip them all. I guess that extra dash of green and white made the difference on why I tried the Animo Run.

I might join the Animo Run again next year. Other marathons? Well, I guess I'll stay with jogging around the park for now, and see if my mind and body will be up to it.

Oh, and since we're on the topic of sports, congratulations to Manny Pacquiao once again. A true symbol of Filipino pride.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Back From Hong Kong

Not exactly the way I wanted to shoot it, but at least I still got the shot.

Oh boy, back home again. Roxanne and I really miss Hong Kong, seeing those bright lights for the last time on our way to the airport made us realize that reality is just around the corner.

So far, nothing much has changed in Hong Kong. Taxi cabs are still red, and neon lights are still, well, neon. But there are also some changes. The MTR seems to have more lines and stations now, including one exclusive for Disney. And prices aren't as cheap as I imagined. Or maybe I'm not really after anything that's why I say so.

Now for the bad news. My camera acted up again, thankfully I was still able to use it during our trip. Today, it has gone kaput and is back at the service center. It is really time for me to upgrade. I also realized how handy a small camera can be when traveling, so I'm also thinking of getting a small "prosumer" camera in the near future.

And now for the good news. They say a picture paints a thousand words. I'll let the photo below do the talking.


That's about it for now. I'll post more about Hong Kong soon, including the pictures from our trip.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

My Day In 50mm


Well, not exactly 50mm, since on a camera like mine it becomes 80mm (see crop factor). Sometimes I wish it could be wider, like Gelsen's Sigma 30mm f1.4.

Back to the story, yesterday I decided to bring my camera and nifty-fifty to work. Gelsen and I were supposed to do a photowalk on our way for lunch, but bad weather sort of changed our plans. We were still able to take some pictures, but to maximize my camera I just took photos of the things I saw in the office. Random stuff that is.

I'm beginning to love this lens again. It's really small and light, plus the bokeh and colors it produce are just awesome. I just wish it could be a bit wider.

Anyway, please check out my gallery here. I didn't bother do post processing, just resized and posted them right away. I feel like I could do more damage if I altered some of the settings.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Hong Kong!!!

View from Victoria Peak, circa 2005. I want to do this shot again, only wider.

It's November again. Every tenth of November Roxanne and I celebrate our anniversary, this year it's our second. So on Saturday, off we go to our country's nearby neighbor, Hong Kong.

I have been to Hong Kong twice already, but this one will be special since I will be with Roxanne all the way. It's also special because this is the first year I'll be out of the country more than once. Yahoo!

I'm excited to return to Victoria Peak, and probably do a redo of the photo above, well, maybe wider. I'm also excited to visit Lantau Island to see the giant Buddha, and if we're lucky, we may get to visit Macau.

So now I'm starting to pack my clothes, and use the remaining days before our departure to fix stuff at work.

And to Roxanne, happy anniversary honey. I love you so much.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Debbie's Birthday 2009

One more post before the long weekend ceases.


Photographing children can be unpredictable. They move around a lot, but on the other hand they pose and smile whenever they see your camera pointed at them. It's hard but fun.

Last week Debbie celebrated her second birthday, and it was a chance for me to practice photographing kids. Having an external flash gun was a big bonus to doing this, especially when it communicates well with the camera (E-TTL II).

And I also had the chance to play around with Canon's Digital Photo Professional software. In a lot of ways, it's similar to the more expensive Lightroom, but does the job pretty well, especially for Canon RAW files.

So that's it for now. Tomorrow works starts again, but thankfully there's something to look forward to for next week. Stay tuned for that. For now, please see the rest of the pictures here.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Time To Stop Procrastinating

I think Xantino's a better blogger than me.

Almost a month with no activity in my blog. Not that I don't have anything to say, it's just that I felt lazy blogging these past weeks. It seemed like sleeping and reading other blogs were much more fun that updating my own online journal, add to that work and the daily errands that I have to perform.

But of course, I always found time for photography. I've been trying to learn flash photography, and it's not as easy as it seems. Well, thank heavens for E-TTL II for making on camera flash a bit more bearable. But I really want to learn off camera lighting. People like Zach Arias and David Hobby make it seem so easy, yet I'm far from mastering the technique.

I'm also trying to find my own workflow in post processing pictures. Using Canon's Digital Photo Professional software (which comes free with every Canon DSLR), I think I'm on my way to achieving my own style, all I have to do is train my eyes more in correcting skin tones.

I realize that I still have a lot of pictures left unprocessed, some still from my US trip several months ago. I know I'm not really obligated to show these to the world, but what's the fun in photography if you don't share what you've done? It's a form of self gratification, and a way for me to see how my work has improved over the years.

For now, I'll share this: night shots of the Skyway here in Makati. I've always wanted to shoot this, but there's always something that gets in the way (usually the need to sleep, hehehe). Thankfully I had the chance to turn this plan into reality, and hopefully I can repeat this again (best if I do it with friends).

Please see the rest of the pictures here.

So I guess that's it for now. I'll try to post more pictures in the coming days.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Let There Be Light

My setup for my test.

It took me a long time before finally getting a flash gun for myself. Almost two years in the making, if I'm not mistaken. I have mentioned many times that I want one of these, but I only got one now seeing from my friends how useful these things can be.

I got myself a Canon Speedlite 430EX II from Digital Walker Zoom (thank you Sir Charlie and Sir Dickoy) last Wednesday. Their promo for PiPho members like me was just too tempting to resist. I also got myself two sets of Eneloop batteries from Watson in Hidalgo last Thursday. They say Eneloops (made by Sanyo) are great because of its ability to hold its charge for months.

Maybe one reason it took me a while before purchasing a flash unit is because I originally wanted a 580EX II, the big brother of the 430EX II. It has a stronger flash output, can act as a master device, and has more features than the 430EX II, but it comes at a price.

So why the sudden change of heart? I realized that as a beginner who doesn't make a living from taking pictures, the 580EX II may just be too much for me. If budget wasn't an issue, I would have gotten the 580EX II in a heartbeat. But since I have to manage my cash flow, the price difference can actually get me some much needed accessories: batteries, diffusers, triggers, and maybe a cheap flash for strobist work.

If I could start photography all over again, I think I'll get a flashgun first before upgrading my kit lens. Learning proper lighting can actually make wonders, and I have been to many events wishing I have a strong enough flash to cover them.

I did a little test to show the difference between built-in flash and a dedicated flash gun. Note that this test isn't scientific in any way, and that I still have a lot to learn about flash photography. I tried to use the same settings for all the shots.


In the fisrt picture, no flash was used. Colors turned out dull.


I used the built-in flash for the second picture, at normal power. Notice that there's some shadowing at the bottom of the bear, caused by the big lens I'm using.


I used the built-in flash at full power for this shot. It's overexposed and the shadow at the bottom is much worse.


For this one, I used the 430EX II, and it was pointed straight to the subject, normal power. It's almost the same as shot number two, minus some of the shadow at the bottom.


This time, the flash was pointed upward, also known as bounce flash. This is one of the advantages of having a dedicated flash gun. The beige hue was caused by our ceiling.


For the last one, it's the same as number five, except that I tried to diffuse some of the light by using paper towels. I wonder if it's the same if I buy a real diffuser.

I know, I still have a lot to learn from my shots. I still have to find the right mix, but I know with this purchase I'm headed the right way. I'll do more experimenting in the future, especially when I get my hands on a good flash trigger set. Now I'm on my way to becoming a strobist.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Remembering Typhoon Milenyo

Power failure during Typhoon Milenyo, circa 2006. One of the first pictures to come from my 400D.

We haven't recovered yet from the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy, and another one is about to hit us. Typhoon Pepeng is just around the corner, people have already started preparing (you should see the lines at the grocery this afternoon), and the whole nation tries to keep itself updated on what's going to happen next.

People kept comparing this coming typhoon, Pepeng, to super hurricanes like Katrina in the United States, and Milenyo three years ago. Come to think of it, it was exactly three years ago when Milenyo proved how devastating Mother Nature can be.

Ah yes, Typhoon Milenyo. I remember it was a Thursday, I was on my way to work when one of my office mates called me to tell me work had been called off. I couldn't believe it, it was the first time work was canceled because of a storm. How strong can it be?

Thankfully I got home early. It was surreal. You can hear the wind whistle its might. It didn't have much rain like Ondoy, but it certainly packed strong winds. By nine in the morning, power supply was cut off, we didn't have electricity until the next day.

But we were lucky. Other areas didn't have electricity for two weeks. I even had client calls postponed because their generator ran out of petrol.

And the damage was horrible. Metro Manila was like a war zone. Trees pulled out of their roots. Steel fences bent and destroyed. Some billboards along EDSA didn't escape its wrath. It was one of the worst storms I have ever experiences in my adult life.

And now another typhoon is coming. What a way to cap this stormy week of ours. I hope my next post is a positive one. And I hope everybody a safe weekend ahead.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Another Story From Typhoon Ondoy

This weekend's calamity has turned me into a proactive blogger. Wait, did I use the term proactive correctly? Anyway, I realized that this blog is a powerful tool, I can share not only my stories, but those of others as well.

I've been watching the news since yesterday, seeing how grave the situation is for some parts of Metro Manila. Even celebrities are not spared from distress. But until you hear it from someone you know, that's when you realize how close to home the situation is.

My office mate Raphy lives in Marikina, in one of the subdivisions affected by intense floodwater. Water rose to the second level of their home, leaving mud and debris all over, and ruining most of their furniture. He hasn't slept since yesterday, he told me that at night he kept hearing some of their neighbors scream, crying for help. They don't have electricity, and their car was also submerged (not sure how much) in floodwater. He was also bitten by their dog and awaiting treatment. I guess the fact that he was able to talk to me on the phone is proof that he and his family are alright.

But the bright side of the story is that Raphy and his family tried their best to help their neighbors. They tried to rescue some of their neighbors trapped in their own home. He even applied first aid to one of his cousins who accidentally stepped on a fence (water was that high).

These stories give us hope, that after such a tragedy life must go on. Actually, I admire people who went to work today, to help with the continuity of life. To the people at gas stations and garages helping people like me; to taxi drivers and other PUV drivers who help us get home safely; to people in the malls, even though they're shorthanded, they still try their best to serve us; and to all those doing their part in helping: I admire these people. I myself still don't know how to do my part. I just hope in a way sharing this stories can make a difference.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Lessons Learned From Typhoon Ondoy

Our car at the service center. It will stay there for a while. From the outside, everything seems to be fine.

Dirt from floodwater accumulated in some parts of the interior.

That red thing in the middle is the airbag indicator. It shouldn't light up when the engine is on.

I can't scoop all the water out. Thanks to Jollibee for the bucket, comes free when you order six pieces of fried chicken.

When it rains, it pours. That's probably yesterday's biggest lesson from Typhoon Ondoy. To be honest, everything would have been fine for me yesterday, if not for the "bright" idea of parking the car outside our building. It was already raining when I brought our car there, I didn't expect it would end up in catastrophe. I wish life is like a computer, where you can hit Ctrl+Z (or ⌘+Z for Mac guys) whenever you make mistakes.

Is it really my fault? Lots of car owners were as shocked as I was yesterday, some long time residents even said it's the first time that it flooded there. But I guess what ticks me off is that I could have done something sooner.

Now our car is with Honda Makati, prior to going there I passed by a gas station to check how much it usually costs to have my interiors detailed. I wasn't too happy with the price they quoted me, so I guess I should prepare for some expenses to come.

Yesterday I had an earful from my mom, and it really brought my day down. But at least today I got a little appreciation for doing the right thing, which is to have the car checked as soon as possible. I guess having an old car means being worried while driving, while having a new one entails worries while it is parked.

I hope I didn't sound self-centered with this blog post. I just want to share my experiences, and why it's such a pain when your car is flooded. I know a lot of my fellowmen are in distress right now, my prayers are with them and the speedy recovery of our nation. I'm thankful that I'm still fortunate that what I experienced this weekend is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what others are going through.

Caught By Surprise (Typhoon Ondoy)

Okay, a little primer: I'm staying in Makati right now (across the Skyway actually, but that's another story), and I have my mom's new Honda City parked right outside. It usually doesn't flood in this area, well, until just now.

The flood was knee high, and much worse is that flood water entered my mom's new car. It took me a while to get the car to higher grounds. Actually, I had to brave the rain and floodwater to get to the car, and had to hire a few of the local guys to push my car to safety.

To say the least, this has been one bad Saturday. I had bad experiences with floods in the past, one of which I posted here. But this one takes the cake. I didn't have peace of mind the whole morning, worrying about my mom's car, and having quite an earful from my mom and dad. I know they love me, and I love them as well, I just feel guilty that I sort of let them down.

But after watching the news, I guess I'm not the only one suffering from bad luck today. Typhoon Ondoy caught everyone by surprise, even our own NDCC admitted they were not prepared for this. Many motorists are stranded all over Metro Manila, most of them advised to leave their vehicles and seek shelter. And some residents are forced out of their houses due to floodwater entering their homes. So I guess I'm still thankful that my experience is not as bad compared to some of my kababayan.

So my mom's car is now safely parked on an elevated area, and I have scooped most of the water inside. Hopefully if the rain clears tomorrow, I can have the innards of the car assessed and cleaned.

Oh, and to give you an idea on how high floodwater was (it already subsided), here are some videos I took using my phone.








Tuesday, September 22, 2009

My 400D Is Fixed (Again)

Another silly test shot.

Hopefully this is the last time my camera sees a technician.

I just got my 400D from Canon this afternoon, after its third visit. This time, the shutter mechanism was replaced, but the labor costs were waived.

It took them some time, but I'm happy with the service, I just hope I don't have to return there anytime soon. I guess Canon's after sales support is the reason why a lot of Filipinos are loyal to this brand.

Now its time for me to continue my search for my first flash unit. Most likely it would be the 430EX II, but I'm still weighing my options.

Monday, September 21, 2009

The Joys Of Lighting (Impromptu Shoot)

Once in a while, you have to be in front of the camera, not always behind it.


Yesterday's lunch gathering turned into an impromptu photo shoot, this time with me and Roxanne as the subject. I didn't have my camera, but it didn't seem to matter anyway. We all had fun.

George called this one "free-nup", because it was a sort of
pro bono prenup shoot. Actually, it's a practice shoot for all of us. For me and Roxanne, it was a way of seeing how a prenup shoot is done, since Jayson and George had been in one already. For the rest of the guys, it's a practice on lighting techniques.

In the years I've spent in photography, it seems that I'm missing an integral part of it: good lighting techniques. Seeing how yesterday went, proper (or should I say dramatic) lighting isn't an easy thing, but the results can really inspire you. I have always tried natural lighting, seeing this as the way to go, buying fast lenses and not caring about flash units. But natural light doesn't always behave the way you want it to. Of course, flash units are not as useful when shooting landscapes, wildlife, and long exposures. With people though, you can really unleash its power. Same goes for product shots.

This morning, I received an SMS from Canon, my 400D is ready for pickup. Now it's time I consider getting a flash unit, maybe a 430EX II, and some wireless triggers. I have been contemplating on this for a long time now, but seeing how fun it is to shoot with creative lighting, I now want to unleash the strobist in me.

And with all my friends using Nikon, I'm also contemplating on shifting systems. But that's another story.

The guys at work.

Credits to George for the pictures above (more from his gallery here), with lighting help from Jayson and Gelsen.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Today Is My Birthday...

...and I only have a year left to enjoy my twenties. It's about time I review my plans for the future, and reflect on the lessons of the past. On this day, I'm thankful for:

- Roxanne;
- peace of mind;
- friends and family;
- a stable job;
- new gadgets;
- and better things to come.

God bless us always.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

This Is Not Our Season

It's so sad that I haven't blogged for a while, and that my first post isn't a happy one, for me at least.

It's old news by now I guess, that the De La Salle Green Archers, a team that always made it somewhere in the top for the past two decades, ended its season in a low note. I still remember subscribing to Twitter for score updates last Thursday since I was in the office. The rest of my afternoon was somewhat gloomy after the final score was announced, and our fate for this year was sealed.

Again, I'm no basketball expert, so I'll keep my insight to myself. But on a positive note, there's no other way to go but up! There's talent and heart waiting to be unleashed. And our other teams are doing well thankfully.

Thank you Green Archer, this is not our season. But next year might be our year of redemption. Animo La Salle!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Bon Voyage Reena

L-R: Me, Reena, Gelsen, Jayson, Myra, Pris, and George. Taken during her despedida last August 5. More photos from Jayson and Myra here.

Gelsen already confirmed that his girlfriend Reena is leaving tomorrow for Maldives to work for the new Shangri-La Hotel there. So from all of us, have a safe and pleasant journey ahead, and goodluck on your new job.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

On Green Archers Losing Streak: Trying To Keep The Faith

I never liked basketball growing up, I never cared for the sport. But that all changed in 1997, the year I entered La Salle for college, and got a taste of the Animo for the first time.

I wondered what the big deal was with the Green Archers back then, they were bridesmaids to UST for four years. But even with that fact, one can't deny that La Salle has always been a contender. Watching even on TV gives you that sense of pride, especially when your team is winning. I consider myself lucky, that in my five years in La Salle I have witnessed four championships.

For me, 2006 was a dark year, seeing all the other teams compete while La Salle was suspended. I never realized that 2009 would have almost the same effect, seeing the Green Archers lose their games left and right.

A five game losing streak. Scoring less than 50 points in a game. The big possibility of not making it to the Final Four. These are the things that haunts every fan, and possibly the team itself. But is it time to throw the towel and look forward to next season?

I guess not. Although the team no longer controls its destiny, making it to the Final Four is still a possibility. I am never an expert in basketball, so I will not mention anything related to stats and performances and lapses. All I'll do is keep my faith in La Salle, win or lose.

There are still three games left for our team. Let's keep the faith.

Animo La Salle.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Xantino And My Malfunctioning 400D (Again)

A cute face is what my camera last saw.

My godchild Xantino dropped by last Saturday, and to my dismay my camera acted up again. Well, it was able to take some shots before finally conking out, driving me crazy along the way.

So now my camera is back at the service center, and hopefully this time they can get rid of that Error 99 syndrome.

Oh, and thanks to Gelsen for that neat bounce trick using your built-in flash. You can learn more about it from his tutorial here.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Farewell Toyota Rav4

...and I never got the chance to say goodbye...

My Rav4 surviving the muddy slopes of El Kabayo Falls in Zambales nearing the end of its prime years.

I loved my Toyota Rav4. Heck, I still love it even if it's gone. It's the car that gave me confidence to drive, that brought me to places I would never have imagined, and the car I used when I started dating Roxanne. It served twice as a bridal car, have seen muddy and rocky terrain, and memories have been built around it.

But unfortunately, it has also been a source of headaches. Not only does it suck gas like a thirsty desert dweller, old age and the problems associated with it have begun to appear in recent years. Usually, cars with automatic transmission have a good five years before wear and tear starts to show, my Rav4 is already nearing its eleventh year.

In the past I tried to sell my Rav4, but often times I'm just too sentimental to let it go. But now that it's becoming a liability, I gave my brother the go-signal to do the dirty work. And just like that, it's gone. And I never had the chance to say goodbye.

Although a possible replacement is coming in September, I still can't get over the fact that my driving buddy is no longer mine. I got too attached to it, so as some of my friends. But change is inevitable, and it's time to move on.

My Rav4 didn't only leave pleasant memories, it made me a better driver, and more appreciative of how automobiles work. Thank you driving buddy, may you land in better hands.

Monday, August 10, 2009

President Cory's Funeral




I'm lost for words. I had all these words in my mind prior to writing this, I guess all I can say is that I was in the right place, at the right time, to witness history in the making.

I have never seen so much people gather around the streets, just to say farewell to President Cory. It was a sea of people wearing yellow and flashing "L" for Laban, some even came with funny signs (see first picture). But the spirit was there, the spirit that for a brief period united us as Filipinos.

The pictures above were taken during her long funeral procession along South Super Highway in Makati. I managed to get a few decent shots with limited gear (just an ultra wide lens) and fatigue from standing for more two and a half hours. You can see the rest of the shots here.

Again, thank you and farewell President Cory.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Farewell President Cory

Picture taken from here.

I haven't been in touch with what's happening lately, so it came to me as a surprise when I learned about our former president's demise. I wouldn't have know if not for Sunday mass.

I was young and innocent when the People Power Revolution occurred, but I am thankful that I am one of those reaping the rewards of democracy. Sadly though, corruption is still as rampant today as it was during my childhood.

May you rest in peace President Cory. Salamat sa demokrasyang iyong pinamana.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

My 400D Is Back, But Uncertainty Looms

So I got my 400D back from Canon Service Center this morning. I was able to talk to the engineer who diagnosed my camera, and after running more tests, it turns out that my shutter mechanism is beginning to fail. What's worse is that the shutter actuation count is only around 14000, very far from the guaranteed 40000 clicks.

Now I have two weeks to fully test my camera to see if I need a new shutter mechanism. Luckily it's not as expensive as I thought it would be, but it's still a pain to shell out extra dough if ever. Hopefully because of this I can force myself to shoot more and go back to the basics of photography.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

I'm Now On Twitter


I must admit that I didn't understand Twitter back then. But now it seems like a good alternative to traditional blogging, where I can say short things that pop in my head without devoting so much time in writing them. It's a good way of announcing things and saying short tidbits to people close to you, or in some cases, people who find you interesting.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

My 400D Is Malfunctioning Again

A month after coming from the service center, my 400D is experiencing the same symptoms again. It's sad that Canon only gave me a seven (or was it nine?) day warranty for the service that they did.

I never got to use my camera over the past month, but I tested it thoroughly after having it repaired. I was confident that the problem has been solved, but alas, I'm left without a camera again.

So I'm sending my 400D again to Canon, and I'll try to bargain my way since the problem seems to be recurring. And saving up for a new body seems like a good idea now. Too bad, since I intend to buy a flashgun first, but I guess accessories are next to useless without a working body.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

USA Tour: The Grove And Farmers Market

Mom looking at some dolls (with me in the reflection). I find these dolls creepy, but they sure are popular to little girls here.

I still had that nasty flu over the weekend, and now I'm confident that it's winding down. I guess this is the best time to get back at other pictures from our US vacation. There are still a lot, and I'm trying to finish up on smaller sets first.

Fun tram ride with a quick tour of the compound.

When in Los Angeles, one cannot miss The Grove and adjacent Farmers Market. Located near CBS Television City, these establishments are a juxtaposition of old and new. Farmers Market is known for its numerous food stalls and fresh produce, while The Grove is an ultra modern mall similar to our very own Greenbelt. If my memory serves me right, The Grove wasn't there yet back in 2001, my first visit to LA.

Farmers Market, a historic landmark in Los Angeles.

So that's it. A neat shopping venue in Los Angeles. Please check out the rest of the photos here.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

I’m Sick (And Other Realizations)

I rarely get sick. Wait, let me rephrase that. I rarely get sick and miss work. With the threat of A(H1N1) looming, our office building has tightened its measures by deploying nurses with thermometers and thermal scanners (seriously). Although I’m feeling much better now compared to yesterday, I decided to sit out the rest of the week just to be sure.

With thermometers sold out in most stores, all I can trust is my gut feel. So far, I feel okay now. Yesterday, I experienced some chills and body aches. No coughs and colds, just body weakness. I guess I got fatigued, lately I haven’t had enough sleep, and the weird climate here in Manila didn’t help either.

It’s hard missing work. I get calls all the time (just got one while writing this) and it pains me that I can’t attend to most of them. And even with amenities present, sometimes boredom just strikes. Worse is today is our 20th month as a couple, but I’m so thankful that Roxanne is so caring and understanding.

Asides from that, I’m also thankful because finally I got to have all the sleep I needed, and watch a lot of shows from my collection. But nothing beats having a healthy body, so I hope I get well soon.

---

I’ve been using Globe’s 3G connection as my ISP today, and I think it’s okay, but they could still do better. It’s fast, but I often get timeouts, especially when someone is calling.

I use my Nokia E51 as my modem, with Windows machines you need Nokia PC Suite to do this, while on Macs all you need is a Bluetooth connection.

It’s best to inquire first at Globe’s customer service before trying this. By default, they charge per kilobyte, which is costly. If I’m not mistaken, you text time to 1111 to switch from per kilobyte to per minute charges (which usually amounts to PHP5.00 for every fifteen minutes). Also, set your access point to internet.globe.com.ph if you’re a postpaid subscriber or else you won’t be able to connect. It’s weird because it seems prepaid subscribers don’t have to use this access point, just connect and surf.

---

As much as I’m loving my MacBook, I have to admit I still have dependence on PCs due to work. I still need Visual Basic for our projects, and I’m not sure if most of my Excel and Word files would open properly in NeoOffice (I’m still saving up for either iWork or MS Office for Mac).

Plus I also realized that there are issues with flash based memory (e.g. USB thumb drives) greater than 4GB when used with both systems. I had to reformat my 8GB PQI flash disk twice just to get it seamlessly working with both operating systems.

Thankfully, there are ways to run Windows on a Mac, but not the other way around. Now I’m just waiting for the release of Windows 7 (as well as save up for it) and try it out on my MacBook.

---

Tomorrow is La Salle's first game, against the University of the East. Good luck to the Green Archers. Animo!

---

And to Roxanne, thank you for the twenty months (and counting) that we have been together. I love you so much honey.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

2009 DLSU Green Archers

Credits go to APcom (for the initial announcement) and greenarchers.ph (for the photo above).

This team reminds me of 2003, full of promising rookies. And a lot of these players are young. I am really getting old fast. As always, hoping for another great season.

Animo La Salle!!!