Stuck at Twelve

Film.

2012-01-27T11:43:00.002+08:00

Here are some of my favorite shots I've taken!

Monday

2011-09-21T22:23:00.000+08:00

September 19, 2011

A boy clad in blue with a hat on his head sits alone. On aboat in a wave-less sea he sits.

Lightning strikes and the waves rise to towering heights. Helooks up and is frightened. But above it all he sees an eagle and at the sightof the great bird, the waves are frozen in time. Everything is still.

The boat does not rock or move. It stays. The noise of thestorm remains but it does not affect the boat anymore. All the same, the sightof the giant waves scares him.

Again, he looks up. Now there are vultures circling. Theireyes are red and hungry for blood. They have a look in their eyes with adaunting threat saying: you are mine; we’ve eaten a friend, a father, and amentor.

Yet, higher still he knows, the eagle remains––its glorylike the sun, its majesty like no other.

He fumbles on a red ribbon tied on his arm and unties it. Heholds his hands out, firmly griping on the ribbon. And with a tear in his eyereleases it–allowing it to be lost in the waves that surround him.

The ribbon slowly sinks to the bottom of the black unmovingsea. He watches as it is lost in the darkness…

formspring.me

2011-09-12T16:53:00.001+08:00

Ask me something! http://formspring.me/joehenson

Manille.

2011-05-12T14:47:00.000+08:00

Three and a half months in Manila!

Has it been that long already? It's like we just left. But then again, so much has happened-- we've only been here for three months?? Ha ha ha

Sorry for being on stealth mode since we moved back to the Philippines. You can hit me up and let's plan and catch up!

Manila's so big. There are so many people here. Grabe. I can't even... So overwhelming.

And traffic makes everything seem so far away!!

Just realized I haven't taken any "crowd" shots since I've been back.
So this instead, haha.

Anyway, quick update.

I was accepted into the De Lasalle University-- I'll be studying Behavioral Science major in Organizational and Social Development Management. Hehe, try saying that five times.

De La Salle University "Yuchengco " by Philip_V

The more I think about it, the more excited I become. Yes it wasn't my first choice, or second, or even third. But I'm gonna take it. I feel good about it.

I may just shift course next year into Communication Arts (my first choice, though there wasn't any slots left which is why I was redirected into Behavioral Sci) next year. But for all I know I might just enjoy and stay, he he. We'll see!!

I'm also in denial. I'm a soon-to-be college student?? What?? (Both feeling old and feeling young. Odd, I know.)

Fun with Leme(x2)

2011-05-12T14:34:00.000+08:00

The awesomeness of a single awesome application.

Beach.

2011-03-31T20:07:00.003+08:00

☼ ES TAN FÁCIL HACER LAS VALIJAS EN VERANO ☺

(by Gustavo Piola Fotografía)

I want to sit by the beach.

Get burned by the sun.

Relax.

Listen to this song with the sand on my toes.

Have a splendid meal.

Then laugh with friends all night long till the moon sets.

Too late somehow?

2011-02-08T13:41:00.000+08:00

What's up.

I'm blogging from my sister's iTouch and borrowing Internet from the Escosars next-door. (thanks, hehe) I haven't bogged in ages! I feel guitly lest I'm gonna post this whether it's too long or too short. Here we go.

Well, it's actually true this time. We're here for good (fr now); we live in the Philippines again!

We arrived about two weeks ago and stayed with Tita Edna in Makati for our first ten days. Last Friday, we finally moved into our house down south.

In many ways I'm glad to be back in Manila. Though the traffic and terrible air make me miss Penang, there's just something about this sense of new things to come that makes me excited.

As is usually true, moving is hard; goodbyes aren't easy and packing up and relocating, even harder still. But I enjoy discovering new things, meeting new people and rediscovering, well practically everything. I decide and agree that this next season of my life will be great.

I cannot wait to get back in touch with old friends, develop relationships with acquaintances and meet new people!

Random fact, insects seem to love me so. Caladryl has become new best friend.

This for now.

Cheers.

Never get to it.

2011-01-03T15:46:00.000+08:00

I keep having ideas for blog posts, but I never get to it. Bum.

Day Thirteen. Too bad it's not a Friday.

2010-11-19T12:05:00.000+08:00

OOOOHHHH MAAAAN. I already wrote about two paragraphs and I accidentally deleted it. And I can't seem to get it back. Shoot.

I'm not going to rewrite all of that.. ugh.

I wrote that last Tuesday... was pretty bummed that everything I wrote got deleted. (Dang non-MAC computers.) I was just gonna scrap this post but the title's too good to not use. Last Tuesday was my thirteenth day here in Manila.

Anyway, today actually is indeed a Friday. But it is in no way a thirteenth. Wait, it actually has been thirteen days since I saw Megamind with my grandma, he he. Random.

For the non-Philippine residents, I'd like you to know that Christmas songs have been playing EVERYWHERE. I simply can't believe that it's Christmas again. Ok, that was a lie. I can believe it. In some ways, this year has whizzed by. Or not really 'whizzed' 'cause for me, nothing much happened, ha ha. And in other ways, this year seemed to take forever... when you're really busy with stuff, time seems to fly by real quickly. But for me, as I'd had nothing really to do, time inched its way to the end of the year. So finally, it's Christmas!

"Christmas Cup" Taken by Jon Henson.

I'm tempted to say that this was a useless year. But I can't. This year, 2010 was not "useless". Most of the time I felt it was, but now thinking about it, it was far from it.

I experienced so much.

Early this year I had the privilege of working with Patric Chan. Though only for a mere month, I surprisingly learned a ton. In some ways I regret not working more, but I don't know, I guess there's really no use in regretting anymore.

Then February came and I had to deal with being denied a US VISA. That was hard. More than the fact that I didn't get to go to the states with my dad, it was the fact of being denied by a single someone access into an entire country. I'd hoped to finally visit New York. God has his ways, I guess. Before going for the interview, I asked God to let His will be done. To close the wrong doors and open the right ones. So, I asked for it, ha ha. He remained sovereign and kept me in His will.

The preceding months consisted of nothing. Really, nothing. I slept late, woke up late. Ate, but not too much (my appetite seems to disappear when I don't need the energy.) I lost a lot of weight, ha ha.

(Ok?? I just realized that I'm doing a whole recap of the entire year, heh.) I'll stop myself right here.

Aghh, fine. Just briefly though.

July was a total BLAST. Then Sept and Oct were real learning months. I home-schooled Sabina, cooked, budgeted and tried to keep the house in order while both my parents were in the states.

In short I really learned a lot this year. Maybe if I find the time at the end of the year to write a whole "recap" of 2010, I will. But if I end up not doing so, this might be it: my 2010 recap blog.

I'm learning to fully place my trust in The Rock, in the one who never fails. An important lesson I'm taking with me into the new year is the lesson that I'm nothing and He is everything. Time and time again, I'd make plans, try to get everything in order, get things to go my way, but God seems to keep smashing it down, in my words "ruining it". Yet in fact he was just getting me to draw back to Him--look to Him for strength. And what I have to do now is to trust that He has a plan. And more importantly, that His plan is better than mine.

I want a polaroid. And I love Bokeh.

Photo by Brandon Christopher Warren.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I've mentioned, I've been here, the Philippines, for about two weeks now.

I arrived with a plan. And my plan was to apply into the De La Salle University and start studying by January-- studying Communication Arts. I did all that I could. That first day, I entered the Admissions office and handed in all, or so I thought, of the required documents (as stated on the website). As it turned out, I was missing a "Legitimizing Certificate" of my high school records from the Department of Education. So, the next day, we drove to DECS-NCR and when we were there, I was missing another document and had to get my mom to get it from my school back in Penang and FEDEX it to us. It took another week before I got my "Legitimizing Certificate" from DECS. Day after getting it, I went back to the Admissions Office of Lasalle only to find out that they don't offer the course I want on the January intake. I'd have to wait till June!

I checked out other Universities too. I'm too late for UP and Ateneo. CSB requires an "authentication of records" from the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur before December. And UA&P doesn't have any of the courses I want. Bum.

Again, I'm tempted to be mad. But I'll stay composed. And instead, look at the bright side. At least I have more free time? I haven't decided what to do next. Should I just go for the January intake studying a different course? Or should I wait till June (another seven months of nothing-ness)?

I'm considering taking Theater classes and workshops instead. Develop my singing voice, hone my dancing skills and just intern where I can. Sounds like a good idea. But it's a bit intimidating.

For those of you who believe in a higher power, please do pray for me. For the others, do wish me the best of luck!

I will be back in Penang for Christmas. Last Christmas in Malaysia!!

Adventure! C'mon!!

Here's a cool one for you from here. "Camera Obscura -- Abelardo Morell "

And I can't seem to leave without putting a video. I've already shared this one on my Facebook. "Boy With A Coin" by Iron & Wine. I heart Flamenco.

Holy moly, it's like I'm traveling with a child.

2010-11-09T15:08:00.006+08:00

I never got to post that blog entry about my trip to Kuala Lumpur a few weeks back.

It was a great trip. I want to post pictures so I don't need to explain everything. But all my pictures from the past month are on my mom's computer back in Penang, Malaysia.
(Also, in the past 2 and a half weeks, I've spent about 38 hours in a bus and five hours in a plane. AND NOT TO FORGET, Mandy Marcos was in Penang! more on that later...)

So instead, I'll just let you guys know that I'm now in Manila! Yes, Manila, Philippines.

I'm here applying for college and stuff. And depending on where I'll be studying, I'll have to either dorm or look for a place (and a roommate or roommates). Pretty hyped about moving back. But at the same time, kinda getting overwhelmed with even just the thought of moving again; new place, new friends, new everything.

Yeah, let's hang out while I'm here. To Penangites, will be back before Christmas! (And did you know that there's an iMax Cinema coming to Island Plaza?? RIGHT?! There's a 3D cinema now. Isn't that just plain awesome?)

Anyway I've been on tumblr again lately. Here's a really funny one:

Random side notes:
1) About to watch Star Trek on HBO
2) Watched 2 movies since I've been here: "Due Date" & "Megamind".
3) I want to watch Due Date again. Now. Please?
4) Why didn't I put "The Hangover" in my hard drive before leaving the house last week?
5) I have to get a copy of "Scott Pilgrim vs The World" as soon as possible.
6) Curros Con Chocolate is so good.

Maurizio Galimberti, Stefano Gabbana, 2008

I find this really, really cool.
Click on the link above, or here, then click on "Portraits". The whole collection's there. There are some of Sting, and even Johnny Depp. Check it.

Bed time. Please show yourself out.

Off to Kuala Lumpur

2010-10-22T19:06:00.003+08:00

Traveling to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow for the weekend!

First Eaglepoint Malaysia convergence. All three churches (Puchong, Damansara, and Penang) from around Malaysia will 'converge' and have a joint service of celebration. Pastor Steve Murrell, co-founder and President of Every Nation Ministries, will be speaking. Stoked!

Bus leaves tomorrow AM at 0730 hours. Gah, kill me now. Kidding, I'm excited to go. I'm just not looking forward to waking up early.

I'll be staying with Jack Chong, Luis with Jun Kheng, Jenny with Jun Gan, and Sabina & my mom with Mr Frank and his family. Ha ha, kinda funny that we are, in my mom's words, being farmed out.

By some time next week, I'll probably have another post about the whole experience. Either abridged or... well, unabridged. Stay tuned!

Song I've been really addicted to the past few days by Oren Lavie "Unhidden Track: Quarter Past Wonderful":

formspring.me

2010-10-22T18:22:00.001+08:00

Hit me with your best shot(s): ask me anything! http://formspring.me/josetonio

Secrets.

2010-10-19T17:32:00.007+08:00

I was fixing my stuff today. Throwing away what I didn't need. Keeping what I wanted. Long story short, I found this. 'Twas an English assignment, I think. September 2009.

This is super "OA" (as we would say in the Philippines) or over done. It was supposed to be a Descriptive Writing composition. Again, I'm not so sure, he he. Anyway, here it is.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A man saunters down an empty road. His head is down to the ground, his soul downcast. Happiness has become a stranger; faithful friends have become foreigners. With every aching step he takes, the suffocating emptiness weighs the once-jovial-clown down.

Where have the days of sunshine, skies of colourful hues and fresh summer breezes gone to, questions the foot-fitted creature of misery and sadness. Who stole the twinkling stars from their place, the owls and crickets that bring life to the scheduled darkness?

In and out, he takes a breath and plods an inch further. Rats dance round his feet and trash flies fly. To his left a diseased half-bred German Shepherd rots and before him, a decaying city street. Everywhere he fixes eyes to, death and decay are all he sees.

Left, right. Left, right. Where is this man going? On down the road he continues. He walks until his socks are soaked with red, his body rich with stench. And soon, a rumbling is heard. From my stomach, he presumes and into a diner he enters.

The lights are way too bright, dull in an odd way. Corny music stings and deafens his ears. The lead singer sings about all the wrong things and the acoustics are terrible.

"Switch that damn music off!" he demands. In an instant, like a blood-sucking leech, all eyes are glued to him. He comes to his senses after an awkward silence and apologizes for his impudence.

A tall slender redhead with 4-inch high heels then escorts the man with brown, wavy hair to the far corner of the diner, to the right of the kitchen away from most of the customers. "Can I get you anything?" the ethereal voice questions.
"Coffee. Black. Get me bacon and waffles with no syrup and extra butter."
The waitress smiles a coy grin and as she retrieves the five-page menu she says: "Is that all?"

Instead of an answer, a blank stare from greenish-gray eyes with thick black eye bags is all she gets. "Very well then" she mutters as she retreats. "Jackass" the man hears as she walks away with that over-done model's stride.

The food arrives way too late. The butter is hard and the waffles stale. In response the man simply exhales and without bothering to loosen his scarf of fold the sleeves of the white woolen sweater that fits him perfectly--custom made concluded the broker across the room--he gulps it down. Cuts it in half and swallows without chewing. His plate is empty in four bites.

Images flash through his his head like pests infesting a downtown apartment. Pictures and still frames invade his vision. Then like it was being squeezed out, a fat tear accumulates in the left corner of his right eye. Down his cheek it itches. I miss them, he lips. Secrets, memories from decades ago haunt him...

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I didn't even finish it. I don't remember if I even handed it in or not. Now thinking about it, I probably wrote this during a free period, he he. Hope you didn't get bored. :)

Photo: "The Empty Streets" by Andre Bob

Photo Booth

2010-10-13T16:05:00.000+08:00

Here's my first Photo Booth post. Heh.

Been at home with Sabina the past few weeks.

Excited for a few things... glad that even if my plans don't work out, His plans are better.

There are stories everywhere...

2010-10-08T15:33:00.002+08:00

"There are stories everywhere," he told the horses. "Everything has a story untold."

"That girl for instance," he said. "What girl you ask? That girl with the flowing gown of velvet pink. That girl with the sparkling anklet on her left ankle." He stopped talking and jumped over the small stream.

They walked on. Heavy breathing and deep panting from the three of them. The skies grew dim, the wind howled bringing a sharp piercing chill. He kept his eyes forward: on something just by the side of the stony path. Then he continued,

"That girl with the rosy cheeks and soft face.

"That girl trapped in the flower..."

(Inspired by shoepastryheart)

Postcards

2010-10-07T17:06:00.006+08:00

I received three postcards yesterday.

"Pen-mail"

"Santiago De Compostela, España" from María Miguens Fernandez (Spain)

I don't think I've mentioned it yet in this blog that I collect postcards. Well, there it is: I collect postcards!

I joined this postcard project site, Postcrossing, a few years ago but only really started using it last year. The concept of the site is actually very simple and it's tons of fun. I urge you to check it out if you're not lazy.

Though none of these postcards were sent via the website. I found two of these people from the postcrossing directory, but we're sending outside the project now. I've received and sent each of them more than three postcards each already. Pretty cool.

From the site alone, I've received a hundred postcards. My total number of postcards is unknown (not because I have so many, but because I've never counted, haha). But even though I have a lot, I still get giddy when I receive a new one. Sending is fun too.

"Wanderlust" from Elle Battung

(US postcard, sent from the Philippines)

"Braga Costa Verde, Portugal" from Pedro Cubal (Portugal)

I'll post my favorite postcards soon!

Here's "Love Lost" by the Australian band The Temper Trap live in KEXP.

Cool [Upside-down] Things + Justin Timberlake

2010-10-05T21:18:00.006+08:00

Now playing: Let It Fall by Lykke Li

Here are a few more stuff on the web that I've found a tad bit interesting. OK, a little more than just a "tad bit". Most of these are pretty rad.

Invisible Shoes by Andreia Chaves
This low-cut boot reflects its surroundings making the earth part of your wardrobe. Regardless of being environmental or not, these pair of shoes make you feel like your helping stop global warming. This interesting design is part an innovative collection of footwear concepts. I for one am excited to see her concepts materialize in the near future. (I wonder if people will wear them too?)

Fully Functional Upside-down House, South Korea. I always thought that these kind of stuff never made it past the drawing board. But, believe it or not, these houses are not just mere art installations but are fully functional. More at Modern Met & Spot Cool Stuff.

Wizard of Oz-much? Korean tattooist Kim Joon's "Tattoo & Taboo" is now on display at the Sundaram Tagore Gallery in Beverly Hills. His work is vaguely explained here.

I haven't been feeling very well the past couple of days, I've been feeling somewhat like this:

This is one from the collection of Stephen T.C. Morris in flickr. I like the concept. It hazily expresses how I sometimes feel--as if things aren't "straight"; as if things were abnormal and distorted in an uncomfortable kind of way; as if I were sick and felt like throwing up... Check out more of his stuff. Some are also pretty comical. Like this one:

Talk about getting your head dunked in the toilet, aye. Proud to say that I cannot relate.

Not to forget, here's one of Justin Timberlake with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots doing a homage of HIP HOP hits. Got this from JT's twitter page. He. Is. Oh. Some. ohhhsome. Idol.

Stone In My Heart - Graffiti6 (Lyrics)

2010-10-01T12:54:00.003+08:00

Stone In My Heart - Lyrics

Graffiti6

Verse 1

With a rose in her hand
And the candle on her chair
She put her hand on my hand
And with teary eyes she said

Precious time we had together
With a stone in my heart
I looked up and she was gone

Chorus
Makes me stronger
Makes me wiser, oh right
Makes me stronger now
Makes me wiser

Verse 2
Meet me at the gates, my love
Down by the lot tonight
In a sequin dress she said
Everything will be alright

Precious time we had together
With a stone in my heart
I looked up and she was gone

Chorus
Makes me stronger
Makes me wiser, oh right
Makes me stronger now
Makes me wiser, oh right
I said hey-yea

Verse 3
With a rose in her hand
and the candle on her chair
She put her hand on my hand
And with teary eyes she said

Sometimes Lord, it's hard not to lie down
With a fire in my heart I stand up
And I am strong

Chorus
Makes me stronger
Makes me wiser, oh right
Makes me stronger now
Makes me wiser, oh right

Makes me a stronger, wiser man
This time around
Makes me a stronger, wiser man
This time around

With a stone in my heart I stand up and I am strong

I do not own the rights to any of this. I couldn't find the lyrics to this song anywhere, so I wrote it down. And I'm not a hundred percent sure if this is completely correct. Enjoy!

Weirdest Animals and Others

2010-09-30T14:25:00.001+08:00

Find Number One:

"Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum Clock stopped in time"

By Ko Fujimura

The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is in the city of Nagasaki, Japan. The museum remembers the explosion of the atomic bomb that devastated Nagasaki at 11:02:35am on 9 August 1945.
The first atomic bomb museum was built in 1955 to show the world the horror of the bombing and the need to eliminate all nuclear weapons. The present museum was opened in April 1996 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bombing.

For more information about the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, click here.

Find Number Two:

Thought film was dead?

"...there is a very real resurgence for film.”

Porta 400 is not made for printing. It is designed to be scanned.

Read all about it in wired.com.

Find Number Three:

The other day I was helping my sister with her school work and one of her exercises was to write about her favorite animal, or an unusual animal. So, I googled "Weird Animals" and stumbled on this site: http://divaboo.info/.

It had a list of the "25 Weirdest Animals" according to them.

Here are a few of the really cool ones.

The Star-nosed Mole

Axolotl

A Mexican neotenic mole salamander

The Aye-aye native to Madagascar

The Blobfish

found in the deep waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania

Yeti Crab

See the rest here.

Find Number Four:

"There are more Barbie dolls in Italy than there are Canadians in Canada" (The Book of Useless Information)

(source: Oh Yeah Facts)

Find Number Five:

by Russ and Reyn

Here’s a fun weekend project! Shadow play.

Set up a light (a big bright one!), grab a couple of friends, and snappity snap.

(Source: photojojo)

Last, Find Number Six:

Giles Barbier, L’ivrogne, 1999-2000 Techniques mixtes, 600 x 300 x 300 cm. Collection du MAC/VAL, musée d’art contemporain du Val-de-Marne

(via iheartmyart)

Had 'em developed.

2010-09-30T01:08:00.000+08:00

So, had the fisheye pictures developed! Check it!

HatYai, Thailand.

At the 3rd largest reclining Buddah

Klong Hae Floating Market, Thailand (wasn't supposed to be double exposed)

Before eating the Scorpion, hahah!

We took a Tuk Tuk to the beach.

Jonathan Henson, Songklha Beach

Cindy Leow, also at the beach.

Songklha, Thailand

Night Market.

More pictures here.
Lastly, this was from Jenny's camera. Something went terribly wrong and I love it.

September Update. (And Senti-much?)

2010-09-28T13:30:00.002+08:00

I've been home a whole lot lately.

Like, A WHOLE LOT.

I've been out of school for almost a year now. Since then I've been at home, traveled to the Philippines, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur several times, and as I've mention here, I also worked for a while.

If you asked me this time last year what I'd be doing now, I most probably would've told you that I'd be studying in the US. Well, that didn't quite work out as I've hoped, hehe. Not that I wasn't accepted into any of the Colleges or Universities, but I actually never completely, fully applied to any of them.

I was pretty determined to get out of Asia and in to the Land of Opportunities.

I was pretty sure that if I stayed here, I'd be stuck here for the rest of my life.

But things didn't really play out the way I wanted 'em to.

God had a different plan for me.

So, in the mean time I will wait.

The current plan now is to apply for the January intake (Third Trimester) at the De LaSalle University in Manila. The entrance test is in November. I'm hoping to get into the Communication Arts Degree Program.

The problem is I've been out of school for so long, I'm really rusty with my studies--I'll have to start practicing my math; get my brain to start working! Blogging's helping a lot with my writing. Trying to get used to writing again.

My "Mr Clean" pose 1993 (2yrs old) and my smile 2010 (19)

Both my parents are in the US now for their 24th Anniversary.

I'm in Penang with the all my siblings, including Sabina.

Jonathan & Jenny are both on their last semesters, Jon for his Degree in Tourism, and Jenny, Diploma in Mass Comm.

Luis is in his final year in High School.

And Sabina is in second grade and home-schooled.

Since my mom's in the states, I'm her replacement teacher. Hah. Forces me to be productive. (She's currently reviewing her Filipino "T" words such as tinidor)

TFCA kinder besties: Vitto and Bea Fabregas 1996 (5 years old)

Bea and Vitto Fabregas, Me 2003 (12)

Haaa, I've been at home a lot and on the computer even more.

I was looking at old pictures and felt like posting 'em.

The second and third pictures are of Me, Vitto and Bea. We were classmates in Kindergarten and they've been really good friends since then. Though none of us have lived in the same city since we were seven, we still keep in contact! (Well also because Bea and Vitto are cousins, hahah, I'm the odd one out I guess.)

These next two pictures are in Montemar, Bataan, Philippines.

Undoubtedly my favorite beach!


Joseph Salud, Elle and Sam Battung, and me. I'm guessing 2001? (10 years old)

The year Sabina was born. 2001.

It's definitely not the nicest beach out there, but it has the most memories.

There was a time (around the time when Sabina was born) when we'd be there every single holiday. Summer, Halloween, New Year's! We'd be there at LEAST twice a year--with the same people.

I miss those days.

Rocco Puno, Karl Gibson, Me, Marty Espino, Robert Hechanova 2002 (11 yrs old

Same gang, same place! Rocco, Mark Ong, Me, Marty, Robert. 2005 -- before Penang

Lastly, this was my first 'barkada' (group of friends that you always hang out with). We were all football teammates in MFS (or AFS, same thing). And, up to this day, every time I'm in Manila, I make the effort to meet up and hang out with them--they always make time too, hehe!

I'm excited to move back to Manila. Penang's great. But there's no place like home, I guess. Though I know it'll be different. I know I can't just appear and things will just be the way they were. I mean, I'll be in College! I'll be driving (that's if I even have a car to drive) and people change. People who were friends may not be friends anymore, and people I ignored may end up being who I hang out with. Add to all that, I'll be staying in a dorm. The first month or so that I'll be there, my parents will still be here in Malaysia.

Things will be different

I've really been into Graffiti6 lately. Here's one for you:

"Stare Into The Sun". Official music video.

Spencer Spinner: The Crafty Spinner

2010-09-28T10:30:00.001+08:00

Spencer Spinner is a crafty spinner.

He spins his saliva better

than all the other twisterettes in Jack's little noggin'.

Spencer Spinner, also known as Spinny-Spence,

wins all the knitting, sewing, and

kneading competitions in all of Dreadlock Curve.

He's never seen a gray day--not since the last cleansing.

Spinny-Spence married Olivia the olive bug

and had many little suckling knitters--thirty-five to be exact.

They bought a house at the edge of Dreadlock Curve

and raised their buglings away from all the fuzz and buzz

of downtown Scalp.

Black Hole

2010-09-27T14:30:00.004+08:00

Here's another one from last year.

-------------------------

There is a black hole in the deepest depths of my soul

Slowly suffocating my very liveliness

With common acquaintances, a long-sensed vacancy I try to occupy...

But the gesture comes to no avail.

Yes, I do know.

And I do try to reach up...

Though the speech that is meant to reach the unreachable

Is only but diverted back;

Pulled not only by gravity

But also by the hurts and let-downs

That eat up the very core of my mimicked identity

Kings and poets, heroes and heroines

Martyrs and saints, captives, no-bodies

All speak of an undying Love; the undying Love

I say: I do believe, I do believe.

Yet, why is it that the throbbing pain is still felt so frequently? Why are so many of my sleepless nights filled with despair and loneliness?

Oh, God of Heaven, Ruler of the seas

Creator of the skies, Maker of the universe,

You are Love, that's who you are...

A friend and shepherd, the best there is

A lover and a father, I need you to

Be close to me forever, please

Do not allow this mere collection of roughly ordered words

Remain as they are

Let them reach your very heart,
I pray

That you set your eyes on me.

Please do not, I beg, turn Your face away.

With even just your littlest finger,

touch me; hold me... a little bit closer

That I may taste again, feel once more,

Your comforting, fulfilling Love.

'I am here' You say: 'I am here.

'I will never leave you nor forsake You'

I am not worthy, I say

But You love me anyway

This promise is old; ancient it is.

But still You say: 'I will never change.

'I am the same yesterday, today and forever.'

Can this be true? Oh, can this be true?

That he will stay no matter what

When all is faint and all is lost

When troubles come and triumphs go,

Will He still remain?

Yes, He will. Yes, He will.

Dangerously Cool. The New iPod Ninja.

2010-09-26T00:01:00.009+08:00

Look at what I stumbled upon.

Forget about the new iPod touch, or the multi-touch screen of the new nano, or even the iPad and iPhone 4.

Get your hands on the NINJA!

Now,

ISN'T THIS THE COOLEST THING EVER??

I found it in the "Recommended items" in GoogleReader (You should start using Google Reader if you haven't yet. It's heaven.)

Anyway, Cult Of MAC also blogged about it and said:

Never letting a good opportunity go to waste, Scoopertino reveals that Steve Jobs recent incident at Japan’s Kansai International Airport was actually a field test of Apple's newest product:
"iPod ninja fits into that sweet spot between the iPod touch and a small handgun,” says Apple spokesperson Ted Wetmore. “It gives you peace of mind. You can either enjoy your music on the device — or you can fling it at anyone who looks at you funny. With a little practice, you can take down a foe at 50 feet.”
However, there is a dark side to the new iPod. As iPod ninja sales boom, some blogs are already reporting a “death grip” problem even worse than the one that plagued iPhone 4. If you hold iPod ninja in a certain way, you may require immediate medical care.
“There is a learning curve,” admits Mr. Berry, “and Apple does recommend the use of a protective case.” [Scoopertino]
Credit card, photo ID and criminal background check required for purchase. This could have the potential to be a real killer product…
[via iPhoneSavior]

I followed the links and found it was originally from here.
Just imagine. Oh, I want one.

(This isn't out... yet! hehe)

101 Dreams - Part 4 (Last one)

2010-09-25T15:24:00.002+08:00

My Dreams.

Seventy-seven to One-hundred-one

[77-101]

(Fulfilled dreams are "bold")

Directions to this exercise are here.

Dreams [1-25]

Dreams [26-50]

Dreams [51-76]

Listed down last March 25, 2010

(This is the last set in the exercise "One Hundred and One Dreams")

77., 78., & 79.

Sponsored clothes from Springfield, Urban Outfitters & Lacoste for everyday clothes.

80. Really nice, COMPLETE kitchen (then I'd have to have a house too, haha)

81. iPhone 4

82. Jet

83. Hellicopter

84. Speedboat/Yacht

85. Nice wallets and bags

86. Trip to Europe with friends for a birthday celebration

87. Have multiple foundations in multiple locations around the Philippines

88. Them Reef slippers (Hahah)

89. Own a cafe by the beach

90. LOTR Extended Blue-ray collection

91. Co-own a boutique hotel

92.-97. Learn & speak fluent Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German & Chinese

98. Go skiing and snowboarding

99. Release an album

100. Cameo in multiple European films, short films and Indie films

101. Visit Israel & last but not least, India.

To be completed.

Now it's your turn...

101 Dreams - Part 3

2010-09-22T10:30:00.005+08:00

My Dreams.

Fifty-one to Seventy-six

[51-76]

(Fulfilled dreams are "bold")

Directions to this exercise are here.

Dreams [1-25]

Dreams [26-50]

March 25, 2010

51. Learn to surf and get a chance to surf in the best surf spots

52. Bungee Jump

53. Sky Dive

54. Hike/explore New Zealand (MIDDLE EARTH!)

55. Visit the different cities of Australia

Photo trips to:

56. Vietnam

57. Cambodia

58. Burma/Myanmar

59. Taiwan

60. Island hopping in the Mediterranean

61. Visit Hammerfest (the northern most town)

62. See the Northern Lights

Northern lights in the town of Hammerfest, Norway

63. Swim with whales and sharkes

64. Snorkel and scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef

65. Kiss the Berlin wall

66. X3 BMW for everyday driving

67. Own an Audi

and

68. a Convertible Porsche

69. Own a vineyard in Spain

Autumn evening on the vineyards in La Rioja, Spain. (via. Ignacio Lizarraga)

70. Get into a good acting school in New York

71. Be cast in a Burton Film

Co-star with:

72. Helena Bonham Carter

73. Johnny Depp

74. Write a successful Fantasy/Sci-Fi Novel

75. & 76. Backpack South and Central America

...to be continued [Part 4]

I feel bad for this blog... (And about Thailand)

2010-09-21T13:44:00.001+08:00

... I really do.

I keep telling myself to blog consistently, but I never do.

Anywho! I just got back from Hat Yai, Thailand and I had fun. It was my first time in Thailand.

We hired a van that came with a driver that drove us (No, duh) across the border and into the city of Hat Yai about an hour and a half from the Malaysia-Thailand border.

We left Penang last Thursday morning– at about 630am, 7am? We watched the sunrise from the van and the air-conditioning was cold. The trip took about 4 hours. By the time we reached Hat Yai, it was almost lunch. So we just checked in and walk around town looking for Green Curry but instead had Pork Leg. By the end of the trip we'd had Pork almost every single meal (Yes, it's that good! Like really good Crispy Pata!!) and we never found our Green Thai Curry. Fail.

The girls Jon and I accompanied were Jenny's classmates. They had to film a documentary for their final project in school. Jonathan and I were supposedly gonna be their "body guards" but at the last minute, something came up and Jenny couldn't go anymore. But since we'd already paid for the transportation and hotel, we (Jon and me) still decided to go even if Jenny wasn't with us and we were the only guys, heh. So I guess we were their body guards?

The entire trip didn't cost more than RM400. Of course it depends also on how much shopping you do--I barely shopped. I spent most of my money on FOOD. Gosh, we ate A whole LOT (of pork, hahah!). We stayed at the Golden Crown Plaza. And went to Songkhla twice. The second time we went we took a tuk-tuk (A really small, tiny version of a Jeepney). Now that was fun, sticking our heads out the windows and hanging from the back

Me and Cindy Leow

We spent the entire Saturday afternoon there and got badly sunburned. OK, maybe not that bad but my back and face were really red and my arms and legs got really DARK. The next day our backs or faces didn't hurt. I didn't peal, so yeah, it wasn't that bad.

Songkhla Beach

Here are a few places of interest:

The third largest reclining Buddah


Klong Hae Floating Market


Klong Hae Floating Market view from the bridge

Night Market - Eating again, haha!

And of course, the highlight of my trip was eating a scorpion! That same night we also ate maggots, grasshoppers, crickets, and two types of beetles. Though, nothing came close to this.


Before tackling the mountain, haha

'Twas a good trip. Let's go again?

Off to Thailand, tomorrow.

2010-09-15T23:06:00.001+08:00

So, I'm off to Hat Yai, Thailand!

Monk Morning Walking in Hat Yai (via. Paco Alfonso)

Gotta get myself back to the ground.

2010-08-23T00:03:00.001+08:00

The past month has been a real blast.

Man.

Gosh, ha ha.

Grabe talaga.

Dude (or dudette), I can't even begin to describe how much I've done, and how fun it's all been.

Alright, a quick summary of the past month (month and a half, actually):

First week of July I celebrated with different groups of people here in Penang since I was gonna be in Manila for my birthday.

Dinner at home with classmates and siblings

So that week included watching several of movies, having numerous meals (lunches and dinners), and I had my high school classmates over for dinner (Ms Cindy's Apple Strudel was, is, to die for!). Then, I flew off to Manila on the ninth, just a few days before turning nineteen. (Yuh, I'm nineteen now... shhhhhhuuuuucccckkkksss)

Thanks to the Battung sisters, I was fortunate enough to watch Usher the night I arrived.
They called me when I was on my way to Manila from the airport and asked if I wanted to watch Usher. And it was their treat. Who'll say no to that? (Awesome birthday gift; thanks again!) But, as most of you might know, I'm not the biggest Usher fan. Though, he is undoubtedly really, really talented, and he did a tremendous job! The concert was riot, amazing. Oh, and it was my first 'real' concert. (I know, hahaha.)

The next few days included touring Intramuros, staying up all night for the FIFA Finals (¡VIVA ESPAÑA!) and overdosing people with caffeine, ha ha ha (Sorry, Ina. It was all Vince. I... wait, no pala, I don't swear, hehe).

Behind the Manila Cathedral

Left to right: Me, Elle and Ina Battung, Gail Salvador, Miguel and Nikki Calayan (via. shoepastryheart)

Then, after a few fun-filled days in Manila, we (parents, Sabina and I) drove up to Baguio with one real rowdy, "on-fire" (Vibrantly in love with God. So much so that it shows even when their not talking about it) bunch from Summit Church San Diego. Now, that was OHSOME. We travelled around the whole region (Agoo, San Fernando, Baguio, and they also went to Trinidad when I got back to Manila) and did a whole lot of stuff. We: made new friends, invited, sang, danced, prayed, preached, shared, laughed, cried, and gave lost of 'samples' heheh.

At a high school in Baguio City

Rob Carona, Darin Vey, Ben Fogelstrom, Chris Bair, Ms Theresa Jones, and Ailina Urias performing "Itch"

It was an amazing outreach. So many lives were changed-- mine certainly will never be the same again. God revealed himself to me so much through so many different people. Particularly, through the people from San Diego. I can write a whole 'nother blog, blogS rather, just about the things I've learned and about that whole experience.

Ben Fogelstrom with some Bboys

Joyce Watkins, April Hughes, Debbie Odash as clowns at an orphanage

Nate Jones, Jun Kheng, Me, Andrew Hopkins, and Ben Fogelstrom feasting at "O' Mai Khan"

Tempted to put more pictures but I'll stop and just continue, ha ha.

Anyway, there's a whole album here.

On the 20th of July, we drove back to Manila for the Every Nation World Conference. Oh wow, my passion for the nations was really rekindled! Those next few days were amazing. I got to catch up with countless childhood friends, and I met so many different people from so many different places! I spent a majority of my time with the delegates from India! It was great also that quite a few from Penang were able to come too! (Again, a whole blog on its on about the conference)

Bryan Teoh, Jun Kheng, Joon Han, Rachael Tay, and Brenda Teoh all from Malaysia

At the Photo booth with David, Sonia and Stephnie from India and some LifeBox people from Manila

More pictures here.

Ok, this is getting long. I apologize.

SO, after the conference, we went to the beach! Montemar, Bataan with a few families from Penang, Malaysia and old friends from Manila. Here are a few of my shots. This is the first time I'm posting any of them though. I'll try to get the rest on Facebook soon.

Luis Henson

Luis & Jenny Henson, Ina Battung, Brenda Teoh, Elle Battung

Elle Battung

Then back to Manila after a few days to meet up with more friends, eat more food, and I finally got my [driver's] student's permit. I clocked in ten hours. That was pretty scary: driving in Manila, haha! I enrolled at the A1 driving school at the Alabang Town Center. I even got to Cavite one day, and Laguna the next. Man, the jeepneys and tricycles were nerve-rackingly scary. But it's all good, haha. I get my Non-Pro License when I get back to Manila this November! I'll be back to take the Lasalle Entrance exam. (I'll post another entry soon about the whole school and moving back situation)

Maan Villanueva, Stefan & Mish Suarez, Me

Me, Mark Ong, Robert Hechanova, Marty Espino

Anywho, I'm back in Penang! Got to see my high school classmates again, haha. I'm having a ball now that I'm back. It's hard too cause I know after I leave, I won't be coming back again for quite some time.

I'm excited for the next few months. But now, things are slowing down a bit. And, I gotta get myself back to the ground, ha ha.

P.s. Sorry for the spontaneity and lack of flow. Please excuse my grammatical errors too. If I have something that's pretty bad, please let me know so I can fix it, haha. Thanks.

Excited.

2010-07-06T00:58:00.000+08:00

Manila this Friday!

Uhuru White Water Rafting, Perak, Malaysia

2010-06-20T19:00:00.001+08:00

June 19, 2010

Several hours' drive south of Penang.

Eighteen of us went. Four rafts.

Here are a few pictures of our raft. (Myself, Luis, Jenny, Dad, & Anne + the guide)

"Double Decker". Yes, we were fully submerged!

See. heheh

We flipped over too.

It was a fake fall. We planned it... well, kinda.

Group shot at the mid-way point.

98% of our Neighbors don't wave back.

2010-06-18T22:48:00.002+08:00

Either they’re really unfriendly, or I’m a weirdo waving at my own neighbors— I don’t get it. While in the pool, walking, jogging, running or simply outside our door, whenever I wave or smile at a neighbor, they snob and stare; they look away like I wasn’t there.

What’s worse is when I’m jogging around the neighborhood and they already are looking at me so I wave and say “Good afternoon” “Hello” or “Hi” then they look away or continue looking at me with a “weird” expression on their faces.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m the one’s who’s off…

P.S. I remember at least twice when a neighbor waved back and asked how I was (lest 98%, should probably be around 80%… only 98% sounds better, hehe). She smiled too (neighbor by the pool today, haha).

101 Dreams - Part 2

2010-06-07T15:56:00.004+08:00

My Dreams.

Twenty-six to Fifty

[26-50]

(Fulfilled dreams are "bold")

Directions to this exercise are here.

Dreams [1-25]

March 25, 2010

26. Collection of vintage cameras

27. A really good Video Cam

28. Home movie theatre

29. Surround System

(via. The Movie Theatre Survival Guide)

30. ALDO ferrol

31. A house in Manila

(I couldn't help but post pictures of these places)

32. Backpack - SCANDINAVIA

Entering Civilization (via. mortenprom)

33. Central Asia

Himalayas (via. Katrina)

Buzkashi, Afghanistan (via. Po Lo)

34. Japan

Miyajima Five-Storied Pagoda Cherry Blossoms［ A World Heritage Site］(via. h.orihashi)

35. China and Mongolia

Choir on The Great Wall of China (via. North Sullivan)

Rooftop of the Potala Palace (via. reurinkjan)

36. Russia

St. Basil's Cathedral (via. BudaKedrova)

37. Former USSR

38. Egypt

The Father of Fear ( أبو الهول ) (via. Baris Yonter)

39. Morocco

Morocco "Le Souk !" (via. ...cathzilla)

40. The Middle East

Hagia Sofia from the Golden Horn, Istanbul (via. ricof3)

41. Be a faithful and generous supporter of Missionaries

42. Have the whole Tolkien Collection (Hard-bound, paper back, everything!)

43. SANDMAN Collection

44. All of Gaiman's books, comics... all his work.

45. Gigantic movie library

46. A decent Marvel and DC collection

47. Get to at least the base camp of Mt. Everest

48. Have a house in Greece

49. & 50. Yacht parked in Italy & the Caribbean

...to be continued [Part 3]

A Daydreamer's Question (One)

2010-05-24T00:08:00.011+08:00

Q: Would you rather live till the age of 50 or 250 (or 205 *I had a typo while asking a bunch*)?

I don't really know why I'm asking this question.

It's just one of them random things that I think about.

Would I rather die early at, probably, the peak of my life (Well, 40 is probably the peak of life); at the time when I'd probably have my first grandchild? Would I rather choose to die when I most-likely will finally have enough money to live like no one else and travel like no one else and eat like no one else??

Would I rather die late at, probably, the end of the pop culture (Well, the pop culture is already so different now from what it was ten years ago. And at this rate, I highly doubt that I'd be able to comprehend the slang and jargon of teens in two-hundred years. LMAO. *I had to google the meaning of that one*); at the time when the existence of my very own teeth would seem a distant memory? Would I rather choose to die when most--let me say that again--all, of my loved ones would have pasted, a.k.a died??

Honestly, I don't really know.
The mere thought of me choosing when I'd die is scary. What if I die at the age of fifty but I was actually meant to discover a vaccine at the age of fifty-one? And as a result, the vaccine was instead discovered five years later after thousands of unnecessary deaths. (Although, it is highly unlikely that I discover a vaccine for some disease. But, you never really know right?)

George Clooney is aged 51

Or what if I didn't die when I was supposed to at the age of eighty-three? And because I didn't die, I didn't inspire a certain individual who would've, in response to my death, started a revolution that would've changed the world?

eHhhEhe... this is my mind running wild right here.

"If I were to find my ultimate true soul mate, I'd live till I was 205" That's what Danny said when I asked him if he'd rather die at fifty or two-hundred-five. Pretty interesting if you ask me. I would too if I had someone to share all those long years with. Though, he'd have to explain to me what he meant by "soul mate" (Ha ha ha, you're really the romantic aren't you?)

A few other answers I got:
Bea Fabregas answered "205 is way too long :| and 50 is way too short! but 205 as long as i'm healthy and not this useless old person that sits all day"
And I love Neal Jordan's response: "depends.. do I get to keep my body as it was a 21 year old? :P"
Haha dude, I should've known! Of course, you'd wanna be Forever 21. Anyway, who wouldn't? =p

The ageless Mister Dorian Gray from Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

(I had fun reading this book, fyi.)

My favorite answer though was the answer Nicole YSP gave me. "If by living to 250, the aging process slows down, then definitely 250. But then again, I get so caught up in things like the scary end times and wonder if I'd rather skip that as an old woman, so maybe 50, and I would be driven to accomplish more, have a tragic death, and live on in legacy. "

After reading that, I finally decided that, if I had to choose, I'd rather live till fifty. And also if I knew that I was dying so early, I would drive myself to make the most of my time here, and as she said, accomplish more and have a "tragic" (I would pray for at least a peaceful death since I was dying so early, haha) death and live on in legacy.

That would be a good way to go if you ask me. Living on in legacy is probably the most that the lot of us could ask for. But, again, it would only be worth-it to die that early if we made a big enough impact to live on in legacy. And fact being, only a small handful of us would ever achieve such an honor to live on in legacy.

(Oh, I just remembered that the King of Pop died at the age of 50.)

Yet even if the chances of me living on in legacy are quite slim, I'd rather die early solely for the reason that I would drive myself to make everyday a day to remember. I would cherish my love one's ever more dearly. And I would put a great deal more thought into things.

All in all, death is not a pleasant thought. And I, just like you, would put off that thought for as long as possible. I just amuse myself with these random daydreams and wonder what I would do differently if I only had fifty years to live. I sometimes play around with the thought and pretend that I had a mere month left. Who would I hang out with? Where would I go? What would my priorities be??

As we all know, death is not something we could escape from; it's inevitable. And although we cannot choose when we die (unless of course, we take matters into our own hands, suicide for example), we can choose how we live.

And to me, living like there were no next year, or no next month, or even no tomorrow as the expression goes, seems like the way to go. I'd rather make the most of my time here on Earth than to always procrastinate and put things off as if there were always going to be a tomorrow. Well, 'cause for one thing, there'll come a time when there is no tomorrow, and heck, I wanna make my life count.

Here are the other answers I got:
(ha ha, it's fun to see how some people react to the question)

"OMG @_@ 250... I'd rather be 250 but that would be so sad. Haha." - Nina Peña
"Hmmmmm... So either die young or live to be as old as the people in the bible??? Well I'd rather live to 250 for as long as I'll die with the strength of a 50 year old. hehe" - Lalli Kier
"HAHAHAHA next question please :P" - Maan Villanueva
"250. I don't have a good reason." - Elle Battung
"50. 250 would be too much for me. :) " - Josh Fish
50. I'd rather not see the people I love die. Too heart breaking. - Elle Cabiling
50. im not sure my body would be any use after the age of 100 up haha - Tony Kelly
woah DIFFICULT. It's either, miss seeing your kids grown up, or outlive them by a century. - Rachel Louis
Maybe 50 :)) - Marlo Acosta
50 =P 205 is kinda long. =D - Jason Lyne
That was soooo random. :))
50 nalang but i wont claim it cos i wanna live till i see my grandchildren :D :D just for blogging's sake :) id rather 50 dude than 205... daymmm i wont even have friends alive na (anymore) hahah - Jem Ferrer
tough one man... id say 205 but Id rather die earlier than live for a few years as a vege :P - the rest of Neal Jordan's
Hmmm... good question. 205. But i would not own a mirror. :) You? - Marielle Fabregas

I asked more of you, but I finished this blog before you could reply! I'll post your answers here when you reply! :)

A 250-year-old mummy at Sumapima Village of Baliem Valley

Ask Me Anything via Formspring.me

I just randomly asked the people I follow on Formspring.me and the people I saw on my Hompage in Facebook.com and the people at the top of my head. If you want me to ask you these random questions too, either get a formspring.me account and let me know you have one or just message me so whenever I come up with these random questions, I'd ask you too.
Anyway, I'm a nice guy, really. (Haha! Right Nina?)

New pictures.

2010-05-14T00:51:00.005+08:00

This is my balog entry, a.k.a. my blog entry, for today.

(Sorry, only Elle would get that)

The Sound Board

Today. What can I say about today?

I woke up late then took note of my mental-note-to-self "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day" after which I got myself a bowl of cereal.

Aside from playing lego with Sabina, nothing much happened.

At first I wanted this to be my sort-of "journal". Don't think that would work out as I can't seem to get myself to write what I really feel and think.

I started reading "Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl". I saw it on the "2nd Item at 50% OFF" rack in the bookstore and without even thinking, impulsively as you would say, I bought it. The second book that I got at half price was Roald Dahl's "Danny the Champion of the World". I was hoping that Sabina, my sister, would take fancy and read it. Instead, she said it looked, looks, boring and won't even bother trying to read it. Fail. I did want to read anyway. So it wasn't a total waste.

Anyhow, Anne Frank's story is so... interesting. I haven't finished it yet (and I don't think I'll ever finish it) but... man, I can't even imagine being in her shoes, experiencing what she experienced. She disappeared, or went into hiding, when she was thirteen; she was in hiding till she was fifteen and she passed before she was even sixteen.

Back to me writing a journal: I don't think I can write like her at all, haha. It's so intriguing reading her 'letters' because before she was in the Secret Annex and her first year or so, you can tell she's still a girl. But as time passes, her entries become more complex and her thought patterns change drastically. She had to grow up all of a sudden. In a way, her childhood was stolen from her.

Kind-of like Hit Girl from "Kick-Ass". I don't recommend you to watch it. But just to say, I loved it.

[It's a pity that Chloë Moretz is so young. But six years ain't that bad, right? Eh, it is bad, Joe]

Mindy Macready, aka HitGirl, Chloë Moretz's character in the movie, was also deprived of a childhood.

I realized that so many kids these days must be deprived of a childhood. So many of us probably had to grow up right away.

Anyway, I can't really write as well as Anne Frank.
To all young girls in your tweens, I suggest you read the book; you'll find that you're not alone.

Even for a guy, some... a lot, of the things that she went through (in areas of identity especially) I can identify with.

-----------

Shifting gears, remember that film camera I bought? The one that had an underwater case too? Well, I finally develop (had it developed) my first roll.

The first picture in this entry is from that same roll.

Here are more:

Sabina. I love it!

We had to do this shot twice. I forgot to wind it up and I had to ask her to swim towards me again, hehe.

Luis, front flip.

Note: keep your fingers away from the lens and hold the camera properly. heh.

Sabina's doing the Brother Eddie pose.

And lastly, the sun and our backyard.

What it wouldn’t be, it would...

2010-05-12T15:53:00.005+08:00

I got this from Design You Trust - Part 6. The original post is from Here.

“What captured me the most is the title of this project: "What it is, it isn’t." beside the image of awkward looking cabinet, of course. Then, I realized the text was taken from ‘Alice in Wonderland’, which is written by Lewis Carroll and this project by Ontwerpduo get its inspiration from it.

What it is, it isn’t.
‘If I had a world of my own,
everything would be nonsense.
Nothing would be what it is,
because everything would be what it isn’t.
And, contrariwise, what it is, it wouldn’t be.
And what it wouldn’t be, it would.
You see?’
- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.

To describe the work better, these are exact text from Ontwerpduo:

‘Objects are how we perceive them to be. Our minds make things what they are and for us this is reality. Think of a branch hanging in the water. We see, with the refraction of light, the branch under the waterline in a different angle. But we know that in reality the shape of this branch is different. We learned how to see the world… read the rest and see more pictures here”

Photo credits: "Alice in Wonderland" from here.

101 Dreams - Part 1

2010-05-12T14:35:00.007+08:00

My Dreams.

One to Twenty-five

[1-25]

(Fulfilled dreams are "bold")

Directions to this exercise are here.

March 25, 2010

1. MacBook Pro

2. iPod Classic sports strap

3. Old leather notebook

4. Really nice fountain pens

5. Collection of tumblers and mugs

6. That grayish hat from TopMan

7. TopMan Sweater

8. Adidas Porsche Design shoes

9. Whole lot of Ray-Ban shades

10. Rolex Watch

11. Watch bag full of watches

12. Wardrobe full of designer clothes

13. Jet Ski

14. Whole lot of Kayaks

15. House in Palawan, Philippines

16. Rooftop Apartment in Manhattan, New York
17. Apartment in Paris [France]
18. Place in Madrid [Spain]
19. House in Porto [Portugal]

20. House in the south of France
21. House in Barcelona [Spain]
22. Grand Piano

23. Nikon D90
24. Smena
25. Lomo Camera

...to be continued [Part 2]

Photo credits:

"Zugster Leather Moleskine Cover" by Adam A.

"El Nido, Palawan" by Google

"Porto, Portugal" by Luis Marques

"Grand Piano" by Jerry Ipsen Photography

Tumblr Finds One

2010-05-04T00:34:00.001+08:00

Fritz Panzer, Drahtskulptur für Raymond Carver, 2005
wire sculpture consisting ladder, lustre
chair, floor space 180 x 160 cm, hight 190 cm

(via iheartmyart's tumblr stream)

From Design You Trust .

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I

by Gustav Klimt

josetonio.tumblr.com

Dream, dream, please?

2010-05-04T00:10:00.005+08:00

*Gasp!* Justin Beiber is in the hospital. It seems he fell of a ladder trying to reach puberty.

Sorry about that. I honestly have nothing against the guy, but it was too good to not share. I got it from Neal Jordan. Ha, ha, ha!

Quick update: everyone's back home-- and we love Apple. (Jem, remember that dream you had about us having so many 'gadgety stuff'? I think it's coming to pass!)

--------------------------------
Something to do:

Get a piece of paper and pen.
Number the paper from 1-101.
Give yourself twenty minutes and SHORTLY list your dreams! Long-term. Short-term. ALL.

Example
1. Buy that Zara sweater
2. Speak French
3. Visit all inhabited islands in the Philippines.
4. iPad
5. Work with Johnny Depp and Helen Bonham Carter ...

Now you.
Get creative! Don't stop! No matter how small or big your dream may be. Write it down.

Then (if you're up for it) email me your first ten or twenty. [jose.dhenson@gmail.com]
I'll try to compile your answers and post it here. If you want to be anonymous or if you want me to put your name-- let me know!

GO!!

Note: You don't really have to limit it to 20 minutes. You could take all the time you want really. The purpose of the time limit is to keep you from writing essays for every number!

Keep a look out, I'll post what I wrote on my list. I'll post maybe twenty at a time. (I did it a few weeks ago) Or I'll choose from my list-- haven't decided yet.

This for now.

2010-04-26T00:20:00.000+08:00

I want to make myself a banner for this site. I'll have to have ideas first then though. Before then, here's a picture so there's a little color on here.

The Peculiarity of Silky Sandy

2010-04-25T23:56:00.000+08:00

One sunny afternoon in the mountains of Snowy Tops, a slithering silkworm named Silky Sandy wept.

Silky Sandy was of the royal silkworm family. And down in Vulnerable Valley, Silky Sandy knew everyone and everyone knew her. She not only knew of what happened beneath the ground in the soil but also of what went missing down below.

But on this peculiar sunny afternoon in the mountains of Snowy Tops, the jovial, jester-like worm cried. She cried and cried until her little worm eyes dried. She cried until her skin went arid and cracked. She cried like it was no one else’s business.

She did so because in fact, it was no one else’s business; she was all alone up in Snowy Tops: away from the other worms, away from the busy life down in Vulnerable Valley, and away from the fame one inherits as a royal worm.

This is getting dull.

2010-04-24T00:59:00.001+08:00

I'mma hafta start posting pictures and videos.

"Midnight At The Oasis...

2010-04-24T00:51:00.004+08:00

...sing your camel to bed."

Alright, show of hands, who knows that song? If you do, you're cool. Now, if you don't... eh, please go and search it up on YouTube. But for all, both those who know it and those who don't alike, search Renee Olstead's version. ahhh, I love Renee Olstead!

I wasn't allowed to embed the Youtube video, so here's a link instead.

So, that was just really random. I was supposed to title this one "Midnight". Simply because it is midnight and I was just gonna make this one short. Buuutt, me being me, I ended up singing that song "Midnight at the oasis... ". Great, just great.

For those of you who read my last post concerning my terrible tooth ache, also known as my 'mouth misery', you'd be happy to be informed that the pain is gone. Yes that is right, I sat under Dr Lim Wooi Teong's bright, blinding white light and smelt his elastic gloves; I tasted his nasty silver tools, listened to his foreign tongue give orders to the dainty little nurse and endured; Alas, I have survived the Dentist's chair! (Although, I walked out of the Penang Dental Surgery clinic with two fillings filling up one cavity on one of my lower-right molars--but, proof of victory, like a trophy, I'd like to think of them, hehe)

Cute picture I found here.

I wish all problems were just like tooth aches caused by cavities. You have them one day, and after a much-needed trip to the dentist where he digs the nasty stuff out and fills it in with the good stuff, the pain is gone. (Unless of course you have your teeth pulled out or... get braces then that's a different story.) Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that I hope that we could cramp up all the hurts and pains of life into a short period of time, say for a couple of minutes, an hour or even a few days. And after that allotted time, the hurts and problems, pains and grieves that were meant to last us a really long time disappear. But we all know that just doesn't happen. A great chunk of our problems take months to solve, and most of our pains take years to heal.

Say, kind'a like the X-men's Wolverine's special ability to heal rapidly. He still feels the pain but the wound and/or injury is soon gone since he heals with exponential speed! Now if only I could heal that quick! Physically and more importantly emotionally!

From ComicBookMovie

While I was sitting in that chair, the dentist's chair, and tried to distract myself from the pain by listening to the hushed chatter of the people outside, I thought of the different pains people go through and how long it usually takes for them to recover. I thought of those who never are able to recover. And silently, I wished upon my imaginary star, and prayed a silent prayer that we could all possess the mutant Logan's special abilities. But, I know that life isn't that easy; not all tooth problems are as simple as a cavity: some of them go down so deep, it takes several visits before the doc can take all the foul out.

All in all, I'm glad my tooth problem was just a cavity. An easy-to-solve cavity problem.

aghh, I apologize, I wanted this blog to have more... content-- more meaning, ha ha. But what can I say, a blog is a blog and blogs equal nonsense!

Update! My mom and Jenny are away for the night. It's Victory Weekend!
Jonathan is in Taiwan. My dad is in the U.S. of A.
So that leaves Luis, Sabina and me. We are at home and we just watched Matrix Revolution. Haa, Matrix is so good. I'm appreciating it so much more now. I'm gonna have to watch the previous two movies again some time soon. Who wants to join me?

The Matrix (1999), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), & The Matrix Revolutions (also 2003)

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Website to visit today: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ --> TripAdvisor provides recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, vacation packages, travel guides and lots more. TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL!

漂亮的圣心大教堂 From Review: 时尚之都历史之都 on Apr 2010, (A DaoDao Member)

I advise that you subscribe for their newsletters! They send you lists of the worst or best hotels and travel spots with pictures and links. hihi Travel lust.

Tooth Ache.

2010-04-22T17:54:00.000+08:00

I have a cavity. Yes, I do. AHhh, it hurts even now... Sorry, you probably didn't need or more like want to know that. But there it is, out in the open, he he.

Ah! I'm looking forward to my trip to the dentist. I know most people hate the dentist, but I would love to sit under his tools and light and gloves and all sorts of nasty smelling medicines and stuff right now. I just can't wait for him to finish up and finally let me gargle the foul stuff away! Then, I can eat in peace. And SLEEP! Ha, ha, ha, so enough about that *in Rex Navarete's voice and accent: "But enough about me"*

No, I take that back; more about me! I just swam with Sabina and Luis and snapped some pictures with my new camera. (If you don't know which camera I'm talking about check my previous post--I posted a picture). The weather was actually perfect for a swim: the sun was high in the sky, the wind fancied a soft gentle breeze and the birds sang overhead. The fountain was running, splashing as it does all the time and the water, not as clean as I would want it to be, was very refreshing.

Today started late for me, 11.am to be precise. My mom was in the room when I woke and Jonathan was all packed and ready to go. I hurriedly, yet thoroughly, washed my face, brushed my teeth and got dressed. We then, along with Sabina, headed to the airport to send Jon off to Taiwan (Yes Jun, the land of the 'lalas' he he!). He'll be there for about a week. It's a school trip and he'll be doing all sorts of tourist-y things with the rest of his course mates. They'll have to write several reports on the trip, I think. Hee, unfair. Laugh out loud.

After the airport, went to the grocery with my mom, then picked Luis up from school. Finally got hom before four. (ah, my tooth hurts, again.)

So that's today.

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It has been six months since I graduated from High School. Yes, six months.
I'm starting to feel that I must start doing something again (hence the blogging, haha). Yes, I did work the whole month of January for Patric Chan, but I feel... feel like I'm slowly wasting away.

I may be over exaggerating, but at times, that is what I feel. Dad's been in the US since early last month (4th March) and he'll be back next week (1st May). And as I've mentioned, I'm not yet studying (and not working) so I've been home all this while; doing nothing in particular save watch videos, read books and play with Sabina (my younger sister by ten years).

I've been asking God (Yes, I do believe in a higher power, heheh) why I've been just doing nothing. But recently, I've come to realize that me being at home all this while, I guess, was mainly to keep my mom company and to help her out with the daily stresses of home, ha ha. I'm sure there's more to it than that, but I'm content with that reason for now. Aside from waiting for the His perfect time, there's nothing much I can do but be content and make the most of my time.

Well there you go, that's my blog entry for today. I don't know if you people will really read this and take interest in this ramble, haha. But according to your comments, my life ain't, probably, that boring eh?

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Today's highlight:

http://poetzerofilm.com/ --> Having a hard time transforming your ideas to a tangible piece of art? This site is an attempt by several different poets and artists to provide a helpful resource for filmmakers, musicians, photographers, actors, playwrights, and poets. Read more about this site here.

This is it!

2010-04-21T20:15:00.000+08:00

I've been contemplating for the longest time whether I should blog or not. To blog or not? To blog or not? TO DO IT?! OR NOTT. DO IT?? OR???

But really, I knew I always wanted to do it. My biggest enemy was my very own laziness and... yeah, really it's my laziness that I must fight!

If you know me, I'm not really lazy-- I'm a pretty hardworking guy. No, really. Ok fine, you got me: I am a lazy person. But hey, here I am blogging about nothing in particular.

I've decided to just use this blog (stuckat12.blogspot.com) instead of making a new one all together. Decided that there's no use in making a new one if I already had one. Decided "Stuck At Twelve" was a good enough blog name already. Decided that there's no use in trying to rack my brain for a new blog name and title. Also, finally decided that I can create a newer/better blog with a smarter name than "Stuck At Twelve" in the future when I figure what that new/better name will be, right? He he he, simple as that.

For those of you wondering, "Why 'Stuck At Twelve'"? There's a simple explanation to that question. The title of my blog is stuck at twelve because I initially just wanted to fill this blog with nonsense. And clearly, if you browse carefully, it is full of nonsense. I was thinking in the line of 'Peter Pan' and 'not growing up' if you haven't gotten the gist of it yet.

Although I am not encouraging the idea of not growing up and being "stuck at twelve", instead I am encouraging you to keep that inner child! Don't fully grow out of it. Don't fully think straight. Don't fully be bound by limitations and society. Do not fully be serious. Most importantly, DO NOT FORGET HOW TO DREAM!!

So that's basically why I chose the name "Stuck At Twelve"-- I don't want to be fully grown-up!

And you too, keep imagining. Don't fully grow up and forget what it's like to dream... aight?

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Before I go, you should check out tumblr.com. If you haven't yet and have no idea what it is, Tumblr basically allows you to share ANYTHING. Be it music, quotes, videos, links, and of course, pictures. You can share whatever you find in the internet (yours or not) or you could share some of your own stuff.

In tumblr.com/about, it says:

Tumblr lets you effortlessly share anything. Post text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos, from your browser, phone, desktop, email, or wherever you happen to be. You can customize everything, from colors, to your theme's HTML.

You can "follow" other users and browse through what they think is cool. Check mine out here josetonio.tumblr.com .

A few users you should undoubtedly check out are:

lookbookdotnu.tumblr.com --> if you're a fassionista or wannabe fassionista, male or female, follow this blog! It's a collection of the raddest looks from lookbook.nu users.

hollywoodinblackandwhite.tumblr.com --> Absolutely love Hollywood? This blog is dedicated to the beauty and glamour of our idols and crushes! BUT in black and white.

threeneilsaday.tumblr.com --> Expand your imagination! Check out the art and many works of Neil Gaiman. This collection includes quotes from Gaiman's books and comics as well as independent individuals' interpretations his work through various means.

There ARE HUNDREDS of sites you could 'follow'. Just get started by signing up here. Then, visit a site, mine for example, then click on the "Follow" button on the top-right corner of the page. Once you are following the site, their posts will appear on your dashboard! See, that was easy wasn't it?

Alright, I guess that's it for now. On a side note though, I got myself a waterproof film camera. Yellow.

Can not wait to actually start using it underwater! I bought it from the Singaporean brand "4skin" or "FourSkin" in Gurney, 3rd floor new wing (near Switch). A terrible name if you ask me, cool stuff nonetheless.

Teach Me To Fly.

2009-11-03T17:38:00.000+08:00

"Even in my dreams, it's hard to fly.

"I can barely keep my feet off the ground. My freedom seems limited. What was all that fighting for if I can't even sing my heart out-- fly? I feel as though my fears are catching up with me. In fact, they are; I am haunted by what may come." he confessed.

"In my dream," he continued after refilling his silver cup with fresh wine, "A swift runner runs swiftly across the horizon. He climbs the highest peak of the Snowy Mountains just south of Sought After Village without breaking but a single drop of sweat; he doesn't even pant for air."

"Once towering above the earth, he takes a breath, shuts his eyes closed and thinks of times long gone and hopes that are far away. Then, he jumps into the dark chasm whence he came, head first. The cool night blows his dead-black hair and causes his dark cloak to flutter frantically.

"For a moment his worries are left behind, but the bottom draws nearer--death approaches and fear seeps itself back in as one uninvited. He tries to fly; but instead, he continues falling.

"A wet tear escapes his lids and travels across his face and touches his right ear before disappearing into the cold night. And just before impact, the well-built man shuts his eyes, breathes in and tucks his knees in, curling himself up like a ball and spins with prowess and lands modestly on both feet on the dry ground beneath.

"A few autumn leaves are blown away by the soft, graceful impact and not a single injury is inflicted. Disappointment is what he feels. Then, he looks up at me with a sad yet blank expression across his face. He looks at me with gray-colored eyes and I stare back.

"What does it mean, my darling?" he asked. "He that stands alone at the foot of the mount is I; I am he who cannot fly."

Silence filled the room, and the man couldn't help but sob. He looked at his hands then rested his head on her lap. Then he added: "It is when I see his face that I awake; sweat across my face and a cry in my soul."

Oliviana, his one and only, looked at him with her ever-reassuring and loving look. That's why I married her, he recalls, she always looks passed my flaws; She's the perfect listener and partner.

And as the brave warrior waited for her reply, he looked down and wondered what she would say and she looked out the window into the sparkling stars and chose her words carefully.

Far Away

2009-03-28T13:27:00.001+08:00

I heard a story once, a truly splendid tale it was,
Of lost dreams and forgotten memories, over-grown dwarfs and mischief nymphs.

This legend, heard from the whisper of an angel, told of a castle nestled way up in the sky.
A citadel with four looming towers disappeared like the mist.

It's keeper was a peculiar little fellow dressed in purple. A single violet robe, orange sandals and a tall wizard's hat was all this petite young faun modeled.

When darkness reigned, stowed away behind the colossal diamond doors, a princess would remain...

MARIANNE LANE Part 1 (Editing)

2009-01-17T16:10:00.001+08:00

By Jose Antonio Henson
I decided to change it a bit.
ENJOY!

MARIANNE LANE –

PART ONE

The old rooster woke us up with its loud crowing. It crowed and crowed until the entire house was wide-awake. Soon, the manor down in Beach Street was noisy with the screams and laughter of the kids, young and younger, which were running up and down the hallways and staircases of the old mansion.
Today was no ordinary day. Today, all the young ladies of the entire province that were of age to be wed, and the young men of stature, were to be sent to Delcel where they would find a better future.
As the ladies packed the little belongings that they had had, they dreamed of the man they were to meet, and spend the rest of their lives with. The men did almost just that, but as some dreamed of the lady they would call their own, the other’s dreamed of adventures. About twenty were chosen this year; twenty of the most beautiful and smartest of the small town of Klein in the province of Zemimír. And five of them: from Lady Solange’s household.
I dreaded this day for years, it not only meant that some would leave, or that I’d be reminded that I’d never get picked, but it meant that Miss Lane, Miss Marianne Lane, was leaving too. I’ll never see her again and she’ll never know how I felt about her.

“Hurry up, Felipe! He’ll be here any minute now!” Screamed a boy from the hallway. “I need to use the loo! And if he comes while I’m still inside, then I may never see my sister again!”
“Not to worry, Justus. I’ll make sure that won’t happen. You’ll still see Mari.”
“Are you sure? But… but what if he does come while I’m inside, Astinos?”
“He won’t, I promise.” I said as I looked at him straight in the eyes then turned and banged the door in front of us and demanded that Felipe open the door at once.
“If it would help, I’ll stand right here and look out the window. If I see anything come through the gate, I’ll knock on the door, scream at the top of my lungs, or even break this plank of wood down if I had to in order that you see your sister again.”
“Really?” Said the not-so-little boy, but the youngest in town as he opened the door and scolded Felipe for taking so long.
“Yup.” I answered.
“Ok, thanks.” He finally said as he walked in and closed the door behind him.

It was a beautiful morning in Klein. The sun was out and all the birds were singing out their jovial and mysterious songs. ‘Why is it such a beautiful morning?’ I thought. ‘How could the sun dare to shine, and the flowers bloom? What gave these birds the license to open-up and unleash such a captivating note?’
As I waited by the toilet door, I tried not to listen to the alluring tunes the birds were letting out. I was depressed. I didn’t want to feel joy. I didn’t want to know what it felt like to be happy. Mari was leaving and I didn’t have the guts to tell her how I felt!
Despite all my efforts to be negative of the whole situation, the aria finally got through the imaginary walls I had built in my head. I started to hear the melody of the bird then I began to wonder what it was singing about. It was probably singing about its great adventures in the vast kingdom above the earth in the high blue sky, or about its humble beginnings or even about its long, ancient yet peaceful life. I then found myself wishing that I could understand its complex compositions and know how he, or even she, got the chirpy yet dark melody together. ‘If only I could understand.’ I said to myself.

Dong. Dong. Dong…
The grandfather clock struck twelve.
“Justus!! It’s noon!” I screamed and in no time he was running right behind me as we headed out to the courtyard where Master Galbraith was expected to be.
When we got out of the house. Everyone was already there waiting for his arrival. Nearly the whole town was there to send the chosen off.
Breathing heavily, I tried to calm myself and I began to search the crowd for Mari.
I spotted her in the other side by the great fountain, furthest one from the gate. I made my way towards her and when I was almost halfway there, we started to hear a clatter of hooves. They’re here!

The rattling sound of carriages and heavy breathing of the fine beasts got closer and closer. Every drawing moment seemed to be unusually prolonged and a piercing silence began to teem the air. Not a single soul dared to utter even but a word. All were in suspense; the noble Master Galbraith has come again.

Seconds felt like hours in Madam Solange’s front courtyard. Practically everyone from the humble province of Klein was there. All knew that if they weren’t there when the messenger arrived, if they were one of the chosen ones, they’d get left behind and if they were just a citizen, they’d never see the one’s leaving ever again.

With a crackle and a sputter, we watched the carriages come into view across the bend. To my relief, and their dismay, it wasn’t Master Galbraith. The blue sumptuous carriages and relevantly small entourage made it clear: it was the elves from just over the mountains in the North. They too had several chosen ones, and they had come almost too late.
“I still have time!” I told myself. “I still have time to tell her.”
And with no time to waste, I made it past the second half of the courtyard to the great fountain, fifth and furthest from the gate. Just a few meters to the left, there, Mari was standing. Next to a large suitcase, she quickly gave me a big hug.

“Astinos! There you are!”
“Mari, yes.”
“I thought I would never see you again. Where were you? I’ve been looking for you all morning.”
“I… I…” I started to eat my words once again, it happens when I have something to say but just don’t have the guts to spit it out. And Mari, of all people, knew this.

“What is it, Astinos?”
“I, I have to tell you something.”

I took her aside. To a place where no one can overhear us and still in view (we didn’t want to miss the arrival of Master Galbraith), I told her how I felt. It took me a few tries but in the end I was able to get the message through. After I had finished, I waited for her reply. A moment of silence was inevitable.

“So, are you going to say anything?” I asked.

“Why? Why, Astinos? Tell me why!” Marianne finally answered.

“Why? I… I thought that…”

“I mean, why are you just telling me this now? I’ve been waiting for you to say something since… since forever! I’ve always loved you. But you’re… you never say anything! So… And you come and tell me now! Now! When I’m all packed and ready to go the Delcel. Astinos, why?!”

“Really? I… I don’t know. I guess I was just too scared to say anything. I didn’t know what you would say, I thought you’d hate me.”

“Me, hate you? That’s nonsense! If only I had a choice, I’d stay Astinos, it’s what I want more than anything in the world, to be with you.”

“Then, then stay with me, Mari! The two of us, let’s go away, you and me, away from Madame Solange’s protection, out of Klein, off to the other side of the vast water gap. I’ll protect you, Marianne. We’ll start a family; grow old together!”

“Oh, how pleasant that would be.” She answered. But her smile soon faded away.
“Bu, but, but I can’t.” she said. “And you know that! Life is not all rainbows and butterflies, you know. I promised my mother before she died that I would go away with Master Galbraith; find myself a husband from the other side. So you see, I really must go.”

“No, no, you can’t do this. You can’t leave. You can’t just… leave!”

Just then, he had finally arrived. It felt like a fairy tale to me: a really, really bad fairy tale. The kind of tale where everyone dies and the evil witch turns into a queen. The type of tale where birds forget how to fly and bats steal their songs.
The world couldn’t get any meaner… but it just did. If I was really going to do something, now was the time. “I could just tie her down for a few minutes and she’d surely get left behind,” I thought. “But she’d hate me if I did that!”

“I’m sorry, my dear Astinos, but I have to go now. Where’s my brother, I have to say good-bye.”

“Marianne, no. Please, I beg you, just stay!”

“Don’t make this harder than it already is; I’ve got to go!
Master Galbraith is here; the others are heading off now.” She said as she started walking away. “Goodbye, Astinos. I… I love you. I always have… I always will.”

She then ran over to the others, kissed her little brother good-bye. And with a tear in her eyes, she waved goodbye and I watched her disappear into the horizon.

I’ll always remember today; the day I watched Marianne leave; the day I let her slip away. Now she’s gone, gone forever.

Is there a right way in doing this?

2008-11-06T20:31:00.000+08:00

I always wondered how people could just write about how they felt, allowing all to read. It's like writing a journal, but opening it up and showing the general public what your deepest secrets were. Wasn't a journal suppose to be personal? Something that you, and only you (and a few of your "closest" friends in grade school, or even high school), would read...

Well, here I am: blogging!

I guess this isn't really gonna be my "public journal". I have a hard time writing really long and personal stuff... but we'll see how this goes, ha ha.

Well for starters, I love fantasy stuff. I try to write my own, but, he he, you be the judge in that.

Like most other fantasy readers, I love the thought of super-humanity. The idea of being, not normal. I like adventure, deep meanings in details, and well-put plots. I like it when you look at the small picture and it's already very interesting, and you get a feeling of just wanting to stay there. But then when you zoom out to see the even bigger picture, there's more to it and you can't just stay in that small detail anymore. You thought that it was enough, but now there's even more to it than you ever dreamed of. I love good authors who can put so many little details that contribute to the main plot. A plot that has so much meaning into it.

I also love stories where the characters are so human, so ordinary and so stereotypical yet there's something about them that would make them... un-human. Usually they were born with that "something special" and it only manifested now. Or more times than not, it was bestowed on them by someone or something greater than the normal individual one would find shopping in the mall (or walking in the street, but I'm trying to be "up-to-date", you see)

I, like most people, love it when there are also those that are just so inhuman, so out-of-this-world, and they are people we can just never be. These are our typical superheroes. Superman, for example or Legolas the elf.

The problem with reading too much of this though, I end up spending a great deal of my time day-dreaming and wishing that I had that special something in me too. Dreaming that someone would knock on the front door randomly and say that they needed me for a dangerous mission that only I could do, or that I wasn't really a human, but an elf from an alternate world. Or even, that I would find out and discover that I had super powers and would use it to defeat some evil vilan.

I also catch myself wishing that I was born in another time; a time where knights and dragons had duals. A time where kings ruled and princesses were as beautiful as ever. A time when evil step mothers dictated, and swords were the means of fighting. (This is why my blog is called "Stuck at Twelve", ha ha)

Why is this so, though? Why do we all (or maybe just me) dream of such things... things that are not normal. Hoping and wishing with all our birthday candles, coins, and shooting stars that there were something more.

I've come to the conclusion that it's what we're made of that's to be blamed... our cells, DNA, and our souls.

You didn't think that you were just an accident of evolution did you? What a useless life you would have if that were so. What's the use of defeating evil and dreaming, and accomplishing, and creating and destroying if that were the case?

It's what and who we are that gives us the craving to want more. The feeling of wanting to be great.

But who am I to be great?

Who are you to be great?

Photo 1: Water World By: ChOpaK
Photo 2: Your Savior By: Hash
Written by: Jose A Henson

The Lit Path

2008-11-04T13:49:00.000+08:00

Entangling vines of lies must be cut

Weeds of despair and worry rid of

If there were only a light so hot and bright

One that would dissipate all deception

Even the heat of that of a sun spot

Consumed, my loneliness will be

Is there not one who would show the way?

Is there not a path that is lit with happiness?

There is a road that leads to paradise

A sun-lit lane filled with excitement and joy

It is not the destination that paves the way

But the journey's thrills that motivate the soul

Though the destination may be all that we dream of

It is the keeper that fills all that search

Yes, the path is dangerous

But don't we all crave that high?

Why do we run from the way that we know is right?

Here, the vines are cut

Here, the weeds are rid of

If only you search, then you will find.

Photography: Rode es

by: Jon Henson (tanned)

Written by: Jose A Henson

How I wish I could see!

2008-11-04T10:59:00.000+08:00

Freedom of speech you were given

Yet rigid your tongue remained

Of flying above mountains you dream

Yet you are still as you are

To soar with eagles is your hearts desire

But your soul is forever bound by fear

Your surroundings a colourful meadow,

filled to its brim with captivating scents

But all that you detect is pain and grief

Even if an effort was made to lift your head,

Shame weighed it back down again

You were given the deepest blue to dive into

But the inside of a box has captured your comfort

It's wet suffocating presence kept you in

Is there nothing that can unbound your chains?

Is there no one who can peel off the scales of sadness?

Who will bring joy?

Who will bring love?

Who will show the path that must be followed?

Photography: I'm Waiting For You

By: Mary A.k.a. A Sheep's Mind

Written by: José Antonio Henson

Freedom Too

2008-10-22T20:42:00.000+08:00

Free to fly
Free to jump and dance
Free to sing and
Free to write

Free to run
Free to walk
We've been freed to do more

Free to follow
We are free to think
For we have been liberated

Free to talk
Free to comply
And Free to let our mind go wild

Free to kill
And free to live
Lift up your head
You've been freed to fly

Free to care
Free to long

Open your heart,
You have been loved

So you are now free to belong.

Photography: Freedom Too
By: Jose A Henson
Written by: Jose A Henson

Dance.

2008-06-01T14:16:00.002+08:00

This was originally posted on my blog page in Multiply jose8.multiply.com on the 31st of May 2008. But since this is the blog I now use, viola.

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The dialogues here aren't accurate. But this is how I remember it, heheh. ;)
Also for those of you who don't know, mid March - early June is summer in the Philippines

Sometime during the month of March 2005.

This is gonna be my last summer in the Philippines before moving to Malaysia.
I want to have a fruitful summer. But how? Well, Campus Harvest is coming. But what could I do?

"I wanna do something, Lord. I wanna serve... I wanna do something for you. Should I sing? (I used to sing a lot when we lived in Alabang, but since we moved, I almost never opened my mouth.) Should I act? dance? or even be an usher in Campus Harvest? Open a door for me, please Lord!!"

I really wanted to do something that summer but I didn't know what.
I always wanted to be in Musical Theatre; I just never had the chance.
I asked around... I told my parents I really wanted to... but it just didn't seem to work out.

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April 3, 2005- Open Field Convergence @ the Fort.The manuvers and Gary V performed... first time I found "dancing" cool.
---in my head---
*It would actually be cool if I could dance like that. It's worth the try... I guess I could take classes during the summer. Well it'll be something to do... something that would eat up my time. Who knows... I might actually end up being good at it.

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April 4, 2005
"Pa, what if I take dance classes nalang (instead) during the summer?"
   "Oh sige, (sure) where can you take classes?"

"I'm not sure eh... oh, I think they're gonna be having pala (no direct translation) hiphop classes at the fort... (they announced it alot in church, hehe)"
   "Oh, yan pala eh (there you go). Do you know when it starts?"

Unfortunately I didn't know when it was starting. Heck, for all I knew, it probably started already. So I just asked my dad to ask someone at the fort (I don't really remember who he asked). He/she said it was starting on the 5th of April.
Oh my, that's tomorrow!!

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April 5, 2005- I go with my dad to try out the hiphop beginners class at the Fort.I was early. There was only one person in the dance studio... he was just sitting in the floor. Is he a student? or is he the teacher?

Turns out it was Eauj Corpuz (he was the assistant teacher, Jon Supan was the teacher).
I walked in... hesitantly of course. I mean, I've never danced before, and here I am entering a dance studio! I thought I was crazy.. haha, why am I doing this?? But heck, i thought, better than just staying at home, doing nothing the whole summer.

Anyway,more people came... and it was a real basic "first class". They just let us groove to the music. They tried to make sure we knew how to just "feel" the music, if you know what I mean.
Well, I certainly had fun. Although we really didn't do much "dancing", haha.

After the class, Eauj came up to me and asked if I was interested in dancing in Campus Harvest. I didn't know what to say. The only thing I could think of was Wow, Lord! That was quick!!! hahaha
   "Uh, sure, i guess" I answered
"Auditions started today. There's one more tomorrow, but it'll be in Galle (Our center in Robinson's Galleria, Ortigas)"
   "Oh, ok... what time will be?"

So that's how it started.

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April 6, 2005
I ended up going to that audition. I felt... hahah, stupid. I DON'T DANCE! It's a good thing when I got there, I saw a lot of people that I knew, Voica being one of them.

"Are you auditioning, Jose (Only the 'Voica group' called me Jose then, hehe) ?"
"I'm not sure, haha, are you?"

Well she did audition. I didn't know she was a Jazz dancer!
I didn't know if I was there to audition to be a dancer... or a performer... or even a singer.
I know I was asked by a "dancer" to audition... but I don't dance remember? hahah.
So anyway, I sang "Consume Me" in front of Janelle Antonio, Eauj Corpuz... and, I'm pretty sure there was one more person, I'm not quite sure who it was though. Forgive me, other person, if you're reading this now, hhaha.
Anyway, I sang. Then they asked if I prepared anything to dance. (well duh, I didn't, right?) I told them I didn't haha. They said it was ok cause Eauj was gonna teach something anyway.

So here I was, in the middle of a bunch of dancers... learning a choreography by Eauj. Boy, it was tough... I was glad Voica was right next to me. I didn't feel too bad next to her (not that she's not good or anything. But it was because I already knew her and she's so nice. So I didn't feel like I was alone. heheh (Thanks Voics! I'm just realizing what a big help you were!)

Ok, this is getting kinda long.

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I ended up joining the dance class at the fort and dancing in Campus Harvest. I was busy that summer. I danced 6days of the week. I'm glad I asked God use me that summer...

Haha, I kinda lost my train of thought.

God really revealed himself to me. For one thing, I started to have friends again after moving out of Alabang. And I started to dance! For some reason though, even after that, I didn't want to be know as a "dancer". I honestly don't know why. Maybe because I felt like I didn't deserve to be called a dancer... or maybe I just didn't want to be a "dancer".

Today, I am the dance teacher of the KDU College dance group. I help out/half teach the dance class at the New World Park every tuesday. And I dance for DANZITY DANCE HOUSE.

I kinda stopped learning since we moved here to Penang. But I really want continue learning since God seems to be opening so many doors for me in the dancing world; I'm probably meant to do something here whether I really want to or not.

What I know is if I just continue to follow and obey God, I've got unlimited possibilities. When I watch the videos of Eauj or Madelle, I really wonder why I had to leave the Philippines and be here in Penang, where the dancing scene is just starting. (You guys are so goooood! My Idols man!) God has a big plan though. I believe that with all my heart. Hm, take it from me, God may have you do things you've never ever dreamed of doing. Just obey!

I guess it's safe to say now that I am a dancer, hehe and I'm glad I'm one. ;)

There are so many to thank. So many people who helped me at this certain period of my life, but I guess, Lord, you're the one to thank ;)

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Links:

--Tap Dance Performance VIDEO (Campus Harvest 2005)-- Photos here.

--My First Dance Recital

--My first dance competition 1st Round [Pictures, Video] and Finals [Pictures, Video]

Out of Time?

2008-02-27T01:39:00.004+08:00

Wow. I've never been so busy.
I'm almost never home anymore... and when I am home, I'm have to email someone or finish homework!
My schedule will probably just get busier and busier...

But fortunately, I'm having fun. I'm not stuck at home most of the time anymore. I like going out...

Well, just a few updates on ME. Yeah, for those of you I don't get to see online much.

I'm a form 4 student (Junior Year)
Taking the Arts stream (includes subjects: English, Modern Math, Combined Science, Business Studies, Accounting, Geography, Visual Arts, and Bahasa Melayu (local language here in Malaysia).

I'm also the "El Presidente" of the Student Council of Sri Pelita... and even if our school is so small... it still is tiring.

Hahah, I'm trying to force myself to write this blog so I can update you people (if you are actually interested in knowing).
Though, I used to email people a lot... but that takes up more time.
(I'm might start doing that again... It's more personal... I get to say more stuff.)

Haha, well, I just came from a Ping Pong Competition today (Feb 25, 2008). And for those of you who know me... I'm not the best at it. It was funny. I lost my game. But the good thing is, it was a team event. So my lose didn't really affect anything since Ben Saw and Joel Soo (classmates from Sri Pelita) are so good in ping pong!! We got gold in the end. hahaha, the doubles event is tomorrow! So, lets see how that goes.

Hm, I've been going to the gym too. But only taking the dance/bodypump classes and running... I had a 2 month free trial from winning 3rd place at the Dance Competition last Dec. But this is already my last week. Still thinking if I should register or not.

I'm off to Cameron Highlands this coming Sunday (March 2, 2008). Will be there for about a week for another school camp. I think it'll be fun. Starting to get excited. (the weather's cold like Baguio! I get to escape the heat of Penang!!!)

I'm missing the Philippines
more than ever now-a-days. But thinking about it, what I actually miss is the company of other Filipinos... and.. hehe, other stuff too.

Anyway, you guys could just email me at jose.dhenson@gmail.com .

I'll try to update this as much as posible (read "Possible" in Tagalog, hehe).

Adios.

Ah, and I've been learning Arabic from my Iraqi classmate, Reem.

Kaifahaluk? Arjuk ateeny mota taib hassa! ;)

Just For A Moment

2008-02-05T19:55:00.000+08:00

Clock ticking. Time flying by.
Plans being made. Expectations to meet.
Things to be completed. Deadlines to meet.
I just ain't strong enough. I don't got what it takes.

I need a break. Even Just for a while.
A time to relax; breathe
There must be a fountain... flowing with rest.
Even for a moment, I'd give a lot.

Just for a moment; just for a moment.

Photography: Just For a Moment
By: Jose A Henson
Written by: Jose A Henson