Fashion 101: My fashion style?!

I saw this ad and was so fancied by the porma of the guy. Photo credits to the owner.

When you have your own family you tend to regard yourself as the last priority. This is definitely true in my case. I've been so busy catching up with our bills and my projects in building the house.

It's been three years of neglecting my fashion sense. I have problems too. My fancy with ukay-ukay has gone sour. I can't even bear entering an UK shop. I also did not feel the need all these years because I hate my big belly. Nothing looks good on my big tummy. I have only been borrowing clothes from my brother. He works abroad and I'm settling for the clothes he does not bring. 

As part of my plan for 2013 to be "back in the game!", I set rules. 1) I was into sale pants as far as I remember, which means my jeans are always past season. Therefore, my plan was to have 12 pants ( one month each) this year which at least few of them, not bought on discounted price. Today is June and I have 5  new pants so far. Actually, I have to catch up for one pair for this month. 2) Ultimately, I am going to shed off pounds to have abs this year. No compromise! Abs. I don't intend to be the macho guy around but to be pleasant enough for fashionable shirts.

***

Sorry for the selfie. I am posting some of my photos through the years.

These are my office uniform fashion. We have the official uniform which are pairs of polo and slacks.
We do Field work so we have alternative uniform which are more comfortable shirts and denim pants.

These are what I mentioned about my pahiram-ng-damit-kuya fashion. 

***

Lately, my wife usually panics about dress codes of the events she has to attend. Firstly, she has no time to shop for these requirement. She would text me about what smart casual, evening summer, sports and the likes are. I also have affairs in the office which require me to have formal, semi-formal and summer outfits. My wife would be amazed how I give attention to following those require attires.

I've been into vintage shirts lately.

I have been into vintage shirts lately. We frequently go to the mall and I see that there is "mall fashion". It is sort of declaring "I bought this last time and I'm buying again". The pang-mall clothes are usually shorts and shirt. I just have problems with wearing shorts. I can't stand wearing shorts and shoes and when I wear shorts them with slippers, the get up looks pambahay. I also have concerns that we might go to other places that require long pants and shoes.

Vintage shirts from Artwork were my last purchases. I am basically in scarcity of polo-shirts so I have problems if occasions require smart casuals attires.

***

So what's my fashion style?

The shirt is my greatest ukay
find ever.

As much as possible I have to follow what's in. In pants I'm still into skinny and re-cut pants. I see people of my age who are not. I just don't want to get stuck on certain era despite being in my 30's. In evaluating what to wear, I look at people of my age on how they look. Christian Bautista, Piolo Pascual and Dennis Trillo are of almost my age bracket. They can get away with fads because dress for shows. For ordinary people, it is more awful see not dressing appropriately with times than not dressing with age. As I see it, mid 30's is not so old. Anyway, I have my wife to tone me down when I dress too young for my age.

This brings me to the complaints I hear from my office mates about their sons' fashion style which are too fit  and quite revealing clothes. Then, they would realize that is so close to how I dress up. Their sons are in their early 20's.

***

Fashion is part of the theme of this blog so expect to have more posts about it as series. I will be exploring fashion, getting up and looks in general. It's just the first post so it focuses on me.

Richard Guevara the Photographer

This is my shot. I cover for the office's regular activities and events so ang orientation ko supposedly is journalism style ng photography. I have to capture the action. This photo has daya. It was shot from a regular digi-cam and I enhanced it. 

Matapos ang pagka-haba habang panahon di pa rin ako nakakabili ng DSLR Camera, kahit ung pinaka-mura lang.

Web definitions A digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that uses a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSLR_camera

One indication of success, however you define it, is when you get invitations for speaking engagement, serve as judge in contests or ultimately, get featured in a magazine or newspaper. I envision of how I am going to be asked of my accomplishments. I got invited in small time singing and beauty contests few times and it excites me how am I going to be introduced. At the jury table, I was approached by a student, then she listed down where I work or how I could pass as an adequate person to asses beauty. The program was a disaster and it ended without mentioning who -along with other judges, we are.

I have yet to do speaking engagement. In our office I get to have the task of asking the accomplishments of our guest speakers. There is even a rule of not asking the person himself. I have to get it from the secretary or any of the staff. Anyway, the magazine feature is a planet afar from reality. 

I would simply love to be introduced as Government Employee, Part time Instructor and a writer. If they happen to know that I have a Master's degree that would be fine but I won't be the one tell them If they don't.

Interests would give layer on my personality like I manage blog, or I won a prestigious writing contest or I'm into photography but not a photographer.

***

I will never be a photographer.
I intend to buy a DSLR camera but I don't intend to be a photographer.

There are things I won't do had I acquired one.
1. I will not do pre-nup pictorials and wedding coverage. Everyone does that and I don't think I would make any difference.
I am a follower of Daphne.ph and her previous journal where I read that she had photo journalist on her wedding. I really loved how her wedding was covered -as I remember. I can't find them now. She must have made them private now.

2. I will not do portfolio of a local contest.
I just won't.

3. I will not put a mark RGuevara Photography on my photos especially those uploaded in Facebook account.
I met someone and upon introduction, he said that I have a namesake who is a very brilliant photographer. He's from Bataan also and I hear praises for him. So it would not be a very good idea if people gets upset in cases of mistaken identity. Having a screen name may be an option. Anyway I have three more names as choices.

4. I will take pictures of penitensya and senakulo. that's totally gross.
I just won't.

5. I will not get an affiliation from a photography club - especially nude or body painting sessions.
I just won't.

So what will I do?

I manage blogs so I have to come up with interesting visuals to complement my writing. I was greatly inspired by what I saw in TV interview. I can't remember exactly who. I had Senator Chiz Escudero in mind but I checked the internet but there was no trace that he's into photography. The next person in mind is Atty. Raymond Fortun which I confirmed that he's into Wedding photography.  He got into Photography because he gets upset about not capturing important moments in his family life like the exact moment of pinning of medal or handing of diploma on his children's graduation. Elmo is only one four years old. I'm sure that there are still lots of graduations and firsts that I can capture.

I do field work and there are lots of things I see that I must have taken pictures of. I really like structures, interior design, landscapes and furniture.

I  grabbed works of friends who are into photography where I can draw inspiration.  Euphemism for persons I am envious of.

Melanie V. Diaz
She's a classmate in grade school. if you'll look at her FB account, 1 million na yata pictures niya dun. I've been doing publications for our office which I need pictures of Bataan. I sent a message to ask permission to use her picture. I got a very welcoming response. She'll take you to a journey through the places she has been. It not just because that she's going to lots of place, the magic is how she showcases the each of them.

chicago botanic garden

discover bataan

 henna tattoo 101 the indian way

 sidetrip to vietnam

Roy Dela Cruz
Among my high school classmates, he is the one on photography. I think I am (FB) friends with most of my batch mates but he's the only one who does photography. He must have another account for his works or not keen enough on showing most of them. His FB account is not that generous but for those few albums posted you'll get to know his style. The best work so far (according to our batchmates) is how he covered our high school reunion. 

His account describes the right picture "trying to make my own self portrait,,,,,... wala magawa..."

this is one of his first works as described in his FB account.

Rowell Renosa
He's my brother in law. He captures family moments such as thosse found in my other blog. 

the photoshoot queen felicity.

Israel Matias
He is a cousin of my brother in law. I just know he's a photographer so why not add him on the list. These are two of his works. I think he does it for profession kasi may label "iam photography". 

***
Anyway, this is just a blog post - not a contract. I might still change my mind.

Reasons not to attend High School Reunion

How do you feel about the fact that you attended a High School that no longer exist?  Or the building where you had your High School years is now a shopping mall?

***

I expected that at a former classmate would ask why I did not attend the high school reunion.

"When? Was that last Saturday? I lost track of the date" was my rehearsed answer when someone actually did.

Generally,  why would someone miss occasion like this. I list down few reasons.

1.  You're not really excited to see old friends and look back to old times.

They say high school is one important phase in one's life. It's either you always remember the memories positively or badly. I've had frustrations over the things I was not able to achieve in high school but I must have moved on after 18 years. 

2. You feel you fail in comparison with your batchmates.

The thought that your classmates would mind your misfortunes and failures in life proves that you have a problem. The feeling that both of you are going to compare each other's success is an indication that you're not really a good friend with them. One reason to attend a high school reunion is to see a friend.

3. Years have passed and you just don't feel explaining what happened in between.

Thanks to social networking site for keeping updated at your batchmates lives. If you did not feel chatting or messaging them what goes on with their lives, you must have somehow read their status or browsed their albums. The same goes with them to your FB account. there's no need to explain since reunion would just be physical gathering when in essence you're cyber-connected all along. 

4. You're basically happy to find out that there is more important schedule set beforehand.

The most difficult task to achieve in organizing a reunion is to set a date -thus accommodating everyone's request. If you're in the minority of having an appointment on the scheduled date, just don't feel betrayed that you're one of the sacrificed few to give way to the majority.

5. You hate to realize who you were and who you are not.

High school which is equal to adolescence, is the most troublesome part on life. You may still have unresolved issues on own on. If this prevents you from showing up to the occasion you may look for the solution for your insecurities.  

6. Reunion is such a happy event that they will enjoy with who are there than resent not seeing those who did not show up.

7. There is just no explanation.

Left - the legendary pinoy henyo, I suppose. Right - I should have been standing in between

 the two best looking classmates. Actually, I am the third most handsome in the class. 

***

I waited for few more days to look at the pictures in our  group account. They looked genuinely happy seeing each other even without dance numbers. Noticeably, the number in attendance is low considering the entire batch is composed of four sections (40 plus each). Similarly, there were many classmates who want to come up with good excuses for not attending the reunion.

Just this morning, I got a message "Bakit di ka umattend ng reunion, hinahanap ka namin?".

***

One of the postscripts of the reunion is a classmate who went back to the school. It some kind of a home coming for him. He works in Makati so it's such a big deal for him to be back in school.

I work in our hometown ever since so there is no problem going back to that school. I even have transactions with the school as part of my work. I even applied for a job in that school but not got admitted. I work in an office adjacent to the school. It's now a university and the secondary level has long been phased out. Abot tanaw ko lang sa school araw-araw but that is not the reason why I am not that keen on attending the school reunion as a balik-tanaw. 

Umattend na lang sana ako so I don't need to explain.

Unfinished Work

I don't make stories. I write stories.

That preoccupied my school vacations. Around Grade 6 to high school, I was so engrossed with Filipino movies that I made up my own showbiz world. I wrote stories and transformed them into comics styles. There were characters assigned to this comic strips. I had two production companies that compete with box office and TV rating. I was also in charge which company grossed better. The stars also had endorsements, intrigues, own TV shows and press releases. Towards the end of vacation, I had two award giving bodies where the main stars of the two production outfits may split winners for the best actress or one may get a grand slam.

I was able to do this because I grew up having a typewriter in the household. My father had a home office. I also remember other pupils/students in the neighborhood would visit our home to use the typewriter for school projects. Then, there was a computer. I've always wanted to have a computer then so that my pieces be computerized and to do my comics through computer graphics. When we had one. I was doing others things already and had long stopped running my imaginary production outfits.

I was not able to save any of my works. Or, I actually disposed them to forego that area of my life. I was taking accounting in college then that made it difficult to continue. I might have matured by then that I felt I was missing other things by staying at home writing and drawing these stories. 

This is an example how my comics looked like 

17 years ago. this is not original. I redrew it. 

This might explain why my talent never get me

anywhere.    

Everything went back last year when my students told me they were shooting a film as a school requirement in English subject. I then asked what their story is. It was entitled My Bestfriend's Boyfriend. The "No Other Woman" genre was so hyped for them to consider it as their peg. I gave myself a challenge to write something out of the plot they gave and promised not to read their script nor watch their finished film not unless I am done with my version. It tells a story of a rich college student who has everything except the man she loves, who happens to be her bestfriend's boyfriend. Her bestfriend turned out to be a long lost half-sister. 

That was when I went back to writing stories. I searched the correct format of a film script. Anyway, my plan to join Carlos Palanca awards was long overdue -13 years past due. My comfort zone was script style but I have problems with length. The requirement is around eighty pages. I never tried doing short stories and now I have to. It's so easy to fill up twenty pages.

For the past months I have been so much into writing but I forgot this one thing. I was looking for something from my files when I scanned through My Bestfriend's Boyfriend document in my folder. I remembered my unfinished story. I don't even know how to go through it.

***

MY BESTFRIEND'S BOYFRIEND

(the unfinished version)   

Ako si Marla. May bestfriend ako na - sori pero preempt ko na ang dapat na climax, kapatid ko pala. Supposedly sa ending pa malalaman na half sister kami ni Julia. Bahala na ang writer sa gusto nyang twist sa huli.

1. Sa school ay kausap ni Marla ang registrar.

Registrar

I’m so sorry but you have to fix your records. We can not accept that you don’t have a middle name.

Marla

Ma’am anu po ba ang dapat kong gawin? Wala po kasi ako talagang nakagisnang ama.

Registrar

There’s nothing I can do.  Go to NSO and ask for an advice.

Marla: Maam?!

Registrar

I have lots of other things to do. Just go.

2. Naglalakad si Marla ng inapproach siya ni Hero.

Hero

Marla, wait. Malungkot.. any way, why are you sad?

Marla

Wala napuwing lang ako.

Hero

I didn’t say you’re crying… pwede ba sad muna?

                                      

Marla

Pwede ba iwanan mo muna ako.

Hero

I can’t stand seeing you like that miserable.

Marla

Upo ka, ok.

Hero

You are a damsel in distress and I’m Hero.

Marla

Remember, ang boyfriend ko. Bestfriend mo. Si Jim.

Biglang kumidlat. At natakot si marla napayakap kay Hero.

Marla

Hero, paumanhin.

Dumating na si Jim

Jim

Anung ibig sabihin nito?

Hero

oh, dude. Takot pala si Marla sa kidlat.

Jim

ah ganon ba.

Marla

Eto hinaharass na naman ako ni Hero. Joke,

Hero

Dude naman. Kanino ka ba maniniwala.

Jim

Eh di sa yo.

Marla

What?

Nag-iba ang eksena at naging maikling kuwento ang format instead na script pero same story pa rin.

Mag-uumpisa ang kuwento na buo ang pamilya. Bumukas ang van pababa ang pamilyang magswi-swimming sa beach resort. Teka, isara ulit ang pinto ng van at i-rewind. Paatras pababalik ang van mula sa bahay ng pamilya. Hindi pala yan ang gusto kong umpisa ng istorya.

Bumalik sa eksenang aandar na ulit ang van. At nang umalis ito sa kanto, naiwan sa eksena ang binatilyong may hawak na kabibiling pandesal. Extra lang pala ang pamilya sa van kanina. Si andro pala ang bida. “Ha ako ba ang bida?”

“Akin na nga ang mic. Gusto first ko first person ang narrative”

Ako si andro.

***

I can't remember how I envisioned this to end. Should I want to continue such projects I better learn how to do computer graphics. 

FURNITURE SERIES 2: Cobonpue Inspirations

I don't know the legalities of using the designs. Evidently this resembles like the YODA, my favorite Cobonbue design. I am definite about having available pieces like this and was confirmed by the owner (sorry but through eavesdropping ) of Oo yah Milk tea house  that he got this from Angeles City. 

I don't watch television on weekdays. On weekends I find myself following what my son wants to watch. He's GMANews TV addict. Last Saturday, I unexpectedly chanced upon 100 % Pure Pinoy when the episode is about furniture. The world stopped in a snap and I abandoned everything to see that episode.

What better way to fill up an episode like this than to feature Kenneth Cobonpue. Of course, around two-thirds of the Philippine Population knows the basic. He designed for the film Ocean's Thirteen and further to the couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. I have seen Kenneth been interviewed couple of times but that day was different. I bragged to yaya that I know him (not personally but because I'm aware of who he is) and brought out my magazines that featured him.

The course of the episode explained the inspirations behind his famous chairs. One of the notable designs is the dragnet which is likened to a fisherman's net. The other designs are equally familiar. I've seen them in resorts and in furniture stores in Angeles City. That made me wonder about the legalities of using the those designs. The show likewise pronounced that Cebu is the furniture capital of the Philippines and not Angeles City, Pampanga as I thought.

I've been to numerous furniture stores in Angeles. They are generally kind to clients like me. I would usually say "Naninigin-ningin lang po. I don't have much money to spend on expensive pieces. If you would just let me see the less expensive ones". I did not see something like the dragnet or bloom but basically the likes of voyage, mermaid and my favorite yoda. I mean, I love the yoda. I remember almost buying a piece when I find something like it. Then, I realized that I have to buy a pair - the other one for my wife. Buying two pieces would cost me a fortune.

In Balanga, there's one tea house which has yoda as the seats in the place. The day I decided to have this post, I rushed towards the tea house to take pictures.  Too bad there were clients who are having a business meeting. I'm just too shy to pull the chair to have it in better view. Another thing to be so shy about is sound of my phone upon camera click. I settled to having picture of the seat the way there are.

I wished hardly for their meeting to end that I can approach the service crew so I can arrange the pieces for the pictorial. While waiting, I could not help listening to the people around. From there, I realized that one of them is the owner of the place. I pretended to read a magazine featuring Venus Raj. I've read the story couple of times so that meeting was more interesting to me. Towards the end, one of the clients paid attention to the yoda.

"Ang ganda naman nito, saan mo binili eto? magkano ito, mga P500 isa? "

"No that's P3500 each and I got it from Angeles."

*** 

The above blog description says : My mother always told me then that I have to take up fine arts in college... About thirty years later, my closest association with that statement is having an office mate whose daughter is a fine arts graduate.

She's Ana Patricia V. Bernardo and here is one of her designs. Admittedly, I am very envious whenever her mother talks about her work which is basically what I for once in my past dreamed of. What I like about her is her genuine excitement whenever she gets praises on her FB account. So I won't do that. Kidding.  

an Ana Patricia V. Bernardo design grabbed from her FB account.

Today whenever I have an idea for a furniture, I'm thinking that I might be doing something wrong or contradicting a particular rule because I don't have formal education for it. Cobonpue was from Pratt Institute in New York. Bernardo is a yuppie whose holds a degree from University of Sto. Tomas. Anyways, I remember than art is an expression but just the same they have the appropriate learnings.

Part of the feature in that episode I mentioned was a successful designer who has a different background - Clayton Tugonon. The personality is not that familiar. I believe he's in the rank of the famous designers but I probably bought design magazines not on issues that feature him.

I got this description of him from furnitureandinteriordesignatadamsmith.blogspot.com

Clayton Tugonon is one of the designers working for Snug but also has his own company 'Classical Geomerty Trading'. Clayton Tugonon has no formal training in furniture design he is trained as a barrister and has a BS in Biology. However he has always been designing and followed his dream to have his own company. Clayton tries to express the spontaneity of play in his designs, the result is ingenious application of materials and creativity, his work combines bold form and silhouette with stunning finish and surface design.

He serves as an inspiration to those who wants to venture into the industry. That does not include me -anymore. I am just happy about designing for personal consumption. I am paying attention to my ideas because we had parts of our house demolished so I basically have materials to experiment on. Once these are gone it would cost me a lot for executing these ideas. We are also fortunate and quite torn having numerous pieces passed on to us from the old house. Fortunate, that they blend well with the vintage look I want and of course it is expensive to buy custom made that looks like them. Torn because we cannot dispose what we don't want for sentimental purposes.

 ***

The magazine feature says something about Kenneth, living, breathing design  and the likes. I am sure he has hardships too that are downplayed in the magazine and television features. I'm not living a life full of regrets and forgone dreams. I could have just dreamed of too many things for God to provide all of them. It keeps me happy knowing I am trying to taste the pieces of them. Anyways I already have few successful and not-so-successful projects in the past  like the wooden bench press where I do my sit ups. Today, I have my one favorite design which I now officially name as Wilfredo (sounds like a pasta bowl of KFC). Wala lang, gusto ko lang Wilfredo. He's an uncle and there's no story about it.

This is wilfredo. I got an old patungan ng cabinet and transformed in it a vigan tiled bench. the alulod is not part of the design. Naipatong lang sa ibabaw. 

I got this picture from Bataan Tourism Office where I got a casual interview with one of the staff. The First Lady of the province was said to have purchased this along with other Cobonpue inspired designs from furniture manufacturer in Angeles City. This Angeles based manufacturers could have been affiliated or have tied up with Cobonpue. 

MACRIMEL Caramel (the story of Papemelroti wannabie)

Values Education. In one of my high school tests, I surprisingly got an incorrect answer. Where should we display picture frames and family portrait? Answer: Bedroom and not living room.

Therefore, sa totoong buhay 98% of the philippine population is wrong. Anywhere we go, we find graduation photos and portraits sa sala ng mga bahay. Having a house of my own, I might (might pa lang, I can still change my mind) follow what I learned in high school. Personal pictures should only be displayed inside the bedroom. Actually, I already have one hanging in my room - my graduation picture wearing a sablay. 

So what should be hung in the living room? Abstract. Barrio Fiesta ala-Amorsolo. Sunset. Mother and child. As a child, I remember that there was a painting inside my grandparent's room which further led me to think that we were really rich. I used to still see it in the warehouse long after both of them were gone, but I could not find it lately.    

I am going for the vintage look so I got this greeting card from Papemelroti and intend to have it framed. Imagine, I kept it in a book for three years pending the completion of the construction of the house. The card is a picture of pinoy-looking Mary and baby Jesus. That's mother and child. What's interesting is that the Mary in the picture looks like my mother.

***

I visited Papemelroti store hundreds of times and was fancied by their items. But all along, lugi sila because I only bought few times. I am really engrossed with the aesthetics that would blend well with how I envision my interior design. Specializing in recycled paper, their name seemed to come from play of syllables coming from root word paper. Basically, it's quite a common knowledge that Papemelroti comes from first syllables of the names of the owner's children. Patsy. Peggy. Meldy. Robert. Tina.

"Ro" is Robert Alejandro, a journalist and partly my idol. Aside from being a Marvin Agustin look alike, he's much of my long lost who-I-want-to-be - an artist and journalist. I used to draw as a child but never prospered into something big. I got my aspirations in journalism from my sister and my closest association to it is handling the office's newsletter.

***

This reminds me of Macrimel or Chiekylyn. Macrimel is Mar-Elen, Cris and Mel, a contruction firm established by my father (ang yaman may construction firm!). Chiekylyn is RiCHIE, RicKY and MaLYN, a barangay basketball team managed by my father during his hey days. The former is composed of our real names and the latter is from our nicknames.

The construction firm no longer exists but we make fun of it once in a while. My kuya insists that it sounds like a brand of candy or coffe - Macrimel, Caramel. He then, had a basketball team Gelo15 (his son's name) instead of Chiekylyn. My sister owns a business which I can't remember at the moment. It's also  a combination of her daughters' names. We really don't have plans about business except for the solicited support for the farm - which is basically the compound where our new old house is/was located. We stand by each other for the children and pamangkins. One of the things I'm always proud of my family is that hindi kami nag-aaway away na magkakapatid.

Chiekylyn will always be part of childhood memories -at least for ate and kuya because I was too young then to remember anything, while Macrimel is a caramel gone sour.

***

Few months ago I inquired from a framing shop about this card. This is because I can't find any picture frame which is square in size. I've been in that shop before to inquire about having our wedding pictures compiled in an album. That day was one of the most difficult inquiries I had in my life. The frontdesk and all other personnel were away. All that I can talk to is the frame worker himself. Susme napakahirap kausap! 

Just the few days ago, I went back and chanced upon pleasant  employee to talk to. Just last night, I finally got it and felt happy about my framed project. This would be just first of the many pictures intend to frame - next project is a painting of a stream, which for sentimental purpose is like what my grandparents had. However, to avoid information overload,  I set a rule. There should only be one frame in each wall.

***

For the purpose of this post, I took the above picture and uploaded to Facebook because I forgot my connector. Apparently I received a comment from my sister.

"Alam mo ba, nang tinitignan ko to sa thumbnails, I was seeing mommy's face!"   

Post Script

I have this concern over the use of "hang" in the office (I am/was associated with many offices, I won't tell which). In a handbook, it used this phrase "hanged streamer". One clarification I found is from www.dailywritingtips.com .

The regular past tense of hang is hung, which would be used in all the examples listed above. However, there is one difference when it comes to hanging someone by the neck. In this case the past tense is hanged which means killed by hanging.

Now or Never

I was given a book mark despite turning down an offer to enlist as sponsor for UNICEF.

"As a father, I can't imagine how life was for these young children living and working on the streets. They are exposed to so many threats and dangers, and are missing out on the basics in life - having people around who love and guide them."

- David Beckham
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

***

The other day I had (as I thought) a client. She started with a robotic dialogue which then turned into an invitation to help through UNICEF. I was asked to choose from photos representing major problem in the world. It seemed like a question-and-answer portion of a beauty pageant that I would end up saying world peace. Seriously, I chose hunger.

The objective of the agent was to get sponsors to pledge for the causes of UNICEF. I don't have doubts about the offer it's just that I'm not in that status to do charity work yet. What stuck to me was when I decline and express my intention to oblige in the future, she said that the offer is once in a lifetime. 

***

Now or never is such a heavy term. I've encountered such a lot of times, one of which cost me around P10,000. I got a text message which says we won round trip ticket to Disneyland, on the day before our scheduled tour to Hongkong Disneyland (our own expense). What a coincidence?!

I went to the venue to claim our prize only to find out that there is an orientation for a club membership. I enlisted and but later withdrew. Up to this day I believe that the offer is legitimate and it was not a matter of scam. I only had been persuaded because of the "now-or-never" offer.

***

This recent event reminds me of opportunity cost - a topic in accounting subject. Practically, we give value to an opportunity forgone. I give big respect to those people who declare that they would not want their lives lived any other way. For all the things that happened to me, I have few regrets. Basically, there are things I could have done differently - better.

As a grown up, one important lesson I learned is that there are second chances but some of them come in other ways. There are things I could never be but there are still that I can be. Now-or-never is partly untrue.

***

I'm not David Beckham so the chance to help or to be of service to others is very limited - at least for now.

I see possibilities that I will. Definitely.  

    

  

Resort-IE

One of the perks of being employed is joining company outings. Such even has been family friendly that it extends to the employees family members. My son and I tagged along to my wife's team building activity (but allowed only on the last day).

I used to get envious years ago when company events would allow to bring family members. I was single then, and would find myself bonding with other equally-lonely single co-workers. 

Anyways, travel activities belong to my travel blog. I am thrilled about the trip where we get to experience buhay mayaman in Kamana Resort Subic Bay Freeport Zone Olongapo City. What made this post worthy is my fancy with the aesthetics of the resort.

Firstly, I am biased as a Bataa-enyo (from Bataan) knowing that we already have world class resorts in Morong. I also have a pre-notion that SBMA Resorts are old facilities of the Bases. I am partly wrong. It stands at par (actually quite better) with what we have in Bataan and it's newly built facility. The promise I saw outside tantamount to the interiors of the rooms.  

My background is a planet afar from architecture but I am impressed as someone who appreciate beautiful structure.  

BAKURAN

Most people experienced being paid for household chores. I was in pre-school when I was tasked to water the plants every afternoon. I took the afternoon class so I do that around every 4pm. I think I was paid P1.50 daily.

We had a large lawn where we grew ornamental plants and fruit bearing trees with special mention to coconuts trees that somewhat made the compound a resort. There was a custom made playhouse and a dog house which is almost the equal size. Those were the things I considered why –while growing up, I thought we were rich. It seemed to me that I live in a hacienda. I realized it was not when I was around 12 years old.

One afternoon while watering the plants along with a playmate, we heard loud screams - one from my lola and others from the helpers who are in panic. She had a heart attack. Up to now, after thirty years I can still imagine how she looked like and how that liquid thing came out of her mouth.

Years later, my father had a stroke (which I mention very often). Times became hard. The compound had to be turned into a poultry farm. The plants and trees were cut down to give way to the kulungan ng manok and hatchery. That did not last and we end up having a hideous yard.

Last year I was able to acquire a house through a loan. The structure itself is fully finished (we had a debate in the office what “fully furnished” is so I avoided using that term) but the garage and small space at the back are not.

Join me in my journey to finding inspiration of developing a fine yard of my own.

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In search for good landscape design, I took pictures as I see them. The above is from a  gasoline station in  Pilar. Before moving to our current place, we lived in my in-laws' house which is few blocks away from the above. It's a new building which is intended as stop over for travellers to-and-from Mariveles, Bagac and Morong. 

These were taken from 3 different places (clockwise). 1) As a beginner in landscaping/gardening, it is an attraction seeing how numbers of plants go together beatifully as a sight. For this, I appreciate that "simplicity is beauty". It only takes two kinds of plant to come up with an elegant arrangement. This sight welcomes town folks of Municipality of Morong, Bataan of their newly Municpial Hall. 2) I've passed by this house several times in my field work but I always hesitated to take a photo because the owner is quite masungit. 3) I think, there is a correct term for outdoor tiles but I can't remember it by now. This is how the vacant area of a local resort in Angeles was filled up. It was where my son's family day was held. the resort has a vintage theme where Vigan tiles were used as indoor tiles. 

I took lots of more photos which would have served as inspiration for our garage.  I even included the veranda of our house in Balanga as an option (center photo of row below). However, I ended up accepting the suggestion of the contractor because of the subdivision's restriction. He was the one who arranged for the entry of construction materials without the necessary permit and cash bond.

Shown here is when we bought the grass. We purchased plants and the grass instead of commissioning a landscape contractor. I am familiar with bermuda, carabao and blue grass, but not what they've offered - Progress.  we were told the it is low maintenance because it does not grow. Insistently, I asked what the grass is. Countless times, i got the answer - Progress and I moved on with my normal life. Months later, I passed by another store of the same type where I read the big signage - FROG GRASS FOR SALE!

Of course, this is a hoax! On the left is Elmo doing gardening chores. The right picture is the model house which is how our house should look like.

Among the plants to be found in the yard, this one has the sentimental value. This one was part of the bouqette I gave to my wife on Valentine's day. Yaya planted it and survived. Wonders!

This is how my project turned out. It is still unfinished due to constraints imposed by the subdivision. I always wanted to have additional outdoor tiles as shown in the left photo. I have to seek for the permission of the field engineer and pay for something. On the right is the brace of an unfiinished tent. We're not allowed to have long span so tolda ang kukumpleto dyan. Apparently, I have problems with contractor. Not that he's deaf-mute because I have aunts and uncles who are so there is no problem communicating with him. The problem is the colors available. He showed sample colors which are baduy. I intend to have white or classy orange but never had sought for other contractors.