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

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

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":

Secrets.

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...

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

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

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...

"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

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

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.

Weirdest Animals and Others

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.

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?)

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

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

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.

 

Dangerously Cool. The New iPod Ninja.

 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)

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

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]