I've pushed the pause button on my life in Manila. I've momentarily uprooted from that plot and am currently planting seeds in London now. Read about all of my (mis)adventures here.
Cheers. :)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Sunday, September 6, 2009
For you who has taken flight
I remember the very first time I had an actual conversation with Alexis. It was at an Italian fast food joint across UA&P and I couldn’t believe it was happening.
It was the summer of 2006. I had recently graduated from university and had no idea what to do next. My life was at a standstill but I didn’t care. All I cared about was the fact that I was having lunch with a person who, prior to that meeting, I had only greatly admired from a distance.
I remember being quite taken with him. He was charming, witty, passionate, and immensely intelligent. But what stood out the most was his ability to make me feel at ease, joking around as if we had been lifelong friends when in fact we had only met a mere five minutes ago.
Alexis was the kind of person who was unhesitant to extend himself and sincerely connect with strangers. Those who had the pleasure of knowing him all recognize how welcoming he was. He had a refreshing quality of being genuinely interested in the opinions of others, no matter if the opinion had more “umms” and “uhhhs” than real insight.
That was how we met. And I’m incredibly glad that he listened beyond those ridiculous amounts of “umms” and “uhhs” and gave me the very exquisite pleasure of calling me his friend.
The very recent tragedy that had taken you and Nika away has a lot of us wounded and almost too tired to begin again. We may never be rid of the grief but trust that someday we will be dreaming outrageously again - just like you did, just like both of you did.
Thank you, Alexis and Nika.
Photo by Chris Yambing
It was the summer of 2006. I had recently graduated from university and had no idea what to do next. My life was at a standstill but I didn’t care. All I cared about was the fact that I was having lunch with a person who, prior to that meeting, I had only greatly admired from a distance.
I remember being quite taken with him. He was charming, witty, passionate, and immensely intelligent. But what stood out the most was his ability to make me feel at ease, joking around as if we had been lifelong friends when in fact we had only met a mere five minutes ago.
Alexis was the kind of person who was unhesitant to extend himself and sincerely connect with strangers. Those who had the pleasure of knowing him all recognize how welcoming he was. He had a refreshing quality of being genuinely interested in the opinions of others, no matter if the opinion had more “umms” and “uhhhs” than real insight.
That was how we met. And I’m incredibly glad that he listened beyond those ridiculous amounts of “umms” and “uhhs” and gave me the very exquisite pleasure of calling me his friend.
The very recent tragedy that had taken you and Nika away has a lot of us wounded and almost too tired to begin again. We may never be rid of the grief but trust that someday we will be dreaming outrageously again - just like you did, just like both of you did.
Thank you, Alexis and Nika.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
A Lesson in Buoyancy
Do you know what the ultimate gauge is to determine whether your weekend truly ruled? Your weekend truly ruled if your head is firmly convinced that it has metamorphosed into a helium balloon come Monday morning. No amount of pleading, coaxing or severe whacking is convincing this head that it isn’t made of rubber latex and filled with compressed air. (Hmm. That might be a point of contention.) So what’s a person to do? Why, sit back and enjoy the view from the clouds, of course.
Just like these gang of balloons did. (Now that is a magnificent use of The Segue.) I’ve noticed that there’s been a proliferation of balloon-themed visual gems floating around recently. From the Miss Dior Cherie commercial that Sofia Coppola helmed,
...to the incredibly charming engagement photos taken by this pretty awesome photographer named Max Wanger:
...and ultimately to this pretty amazing music video from Grizzly Bear:
Further clickage into the depths of the internet world brought me to the source of its greatness. If you’ve got 30 minutes to spare, watch The Red Balloon, a silent movie that made waves back in the 1950s. If this won't bring back childhood memories of grinning from ear-to-ear at the mere sight of a round red balloon, you're better off inhaling a whole tank of helium.
Just like these gang of balloons did. (Now that is a magnificent use of The Segue.) I’ve noticed that there’s been a proliferation of balloon-themed visual gems floating around recently. From the Miss Dior Cherie commercial that Sofia Coppola helmed,
...to the incredibly charming engagement photos taken by this pretty awesome photographer named Max Wanger:
...and ultimately to this pretty amazing music video from Grizzly Bear:Further clickage into the depths of the internet world brought me to the source of its greatness. If you’ve got 30 minutes to spare, watch The Red Balloon, a silent movie that made waves back in the 1950s. If this won't bring back childhood memories of grinning from ear-to-ear at the mere sight of a round red balloon, you're better off inhaling a whole tank of helium.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday's Fantastic Five (Lets Try This Again)
Yes, the delinquent blogger is back! The Corporation held me captive for the past months, you see. I’m out on parole for the time being. So lets enjoy my freedom by continuing Friday’s Fantastic Five!
1) This is a great example of the very elusive television commercial with heart."‘Television commercial’ and ‘with heart’ in one sentence?!” you scream in disbelief? Yes. It actually exists, though it is a rare breed. Extremely rare but not on the verge of extinction, yet.
2) A French band that sings in English and makes you involuntarily tap your toes and shake your head - what’s not to love?
3)
Created by Spike Jonze and friends, this site documents the phenomenal journey their imagination has embarked on in the creation of a very marvelous spectacle called Where the Wild Things Are. You may have heard about it. In short, it’s a treasure trove of amazing things. I’ve had a really wild time going through the archives and I’m sort of heartbroken that I’m about to run out of pages to click “back” on. This, my friends, is definitely a keeper.
4) A delightfully strange talent is what Hal Hartley is. I love the man. He had me at hello. Click the mouse on your friendliest torrent site and download “Surviving Desire”.
5) And lets cap this list off with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Why? Why not?
1) This is a great example of the very elusive television commercial with heart."‘Television commercial’ and ‘with heart’ in one sentence?!” you scream in disbelief? Yes. It actually exists, though it is a rare breed. Extremely rare but not on the verge of extinction, yet.
2) A French band that sings in English and makes you involuntarily tap your toes and shake your head - what’s not to love?
3)
Created by Spike Jonze and friends, this site documents the phenomenal journey their imagination has embarked on in the creation of a very marvelous spectacle called Where the Wild Things Are. You may have heard about it. In short, it’s a treasure trove of amazing things. I’ve had a really wild time going through the archives and I’m sort of heartbroken that I’m about to run out of pages to click “back” on. This, my friends, is definitely a keeper.4) A delightfully strange talent is what Hal Hartley is. I love the man. He had me at hello. Click the mouse on your friendliest torrent site and download “Surviving Desire”.
5) And lets cap this list off with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Why? Why not?
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday's Fanstastic Five
In salute to the glorious, glorious, glorious day that ushers in my favorite part of the week, I’ve decided to put up a weekly Top 5 list of awesome randomania, fittingly called Friday's Fantastic Five:
1) Norwegian electronica duo Röyksopp’s truly zap-tacular music video for “Happy Up Here” that collected inspiration from one of the most cherished old-school video games known to man, Space Invaders.
Happy Up Here from Röyksopp on Vimeo.
2) Two months back, I came across a couple of very curious photos of dapper chaps and dashing dames, all dressed up with a ton of panache whilst riding their bikes in merry ol’ England.
I immediately thought, “Oh golly gee, what could this be?” A couple of mouse-clicks later, I found out it was the first FGSS (Fixed-Gear and Single-Speed) Winter Dress Club Run or simply called, Tweed Run.
The idea was simple: all dapper gents and elegant ladies were welcome to join the leisurely bike ride through London, provided they show up in the spiffiest attire worn during the era of jaunty capes, cravats and tweed, tweed, tweed!
Simply put, it was “a social ride with a bit of style”.
Here’s another dream to add to the already lengthy list of Will It Happen? Probably Nots: Move to London, buy a fixie and dress up like a dapper English gent.
3)
(Photo: Source)
4)
(Photo: Source)
5)
Goodbye, Manila! So long, Stress! Au revoir, Anxiety! Adieu, Apprehension! Farewell, Fuckaz!
1) Norwegian electronica duo Röyksopp’s truly zap-tacular music video for “Happy Up Here” that collected inspiration from one of the most cherished old-school video games known to man, Space Invaders.
Happy Up Here from Röyksopp on Vimeo.
2) Two months back, I came across a couple of very curious photos of dapper chaps and dashing dames, all dressed up with a ton of panache whilst riding their bikes in merry ol’ England.
I immediately thought, “Oh golly gee, what could this be?” A couple of mouse-clicks later, I found out it was the first FGSS (Fixed-Gear and Single-Speed) Winter Dress Club Run or simply called, Tweed Run.
The idea was simple: all dapper gents and elegant ladies were welcome to join the leisurely bike ride through London, provided they show up in the spiffiest attire worn during the era of jaunty capes, cravats and tweed, tweed, tweed!
Simply put, it was “a social ride with a bit of style”.
Here’s another dream to add to the already lengthy list of Will It Happen? Probably Nots: Move to London, buy a fixie and dress up like a dapper English gent.
3)
(Photo: Source)4)
(Photo: Source)5)
Goodbye, Manila! So long, Stress! Au revoir, Anxiety! Adieu, Apprehension! Farewell, Fuckaz!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
I’ll just be with the monsters.
Any minute now and I’m about to croak from exhaustion, stress, and plain ol’ existential angst. How I long for days long gone, when all I had to worry about was devising a sneaky plan on how not to take my daily afternoon nap or a clever diversion to lure my nanny’s eyes away from the yucky warm milk that's about to be poured down the drain, or which nook, cranny or crevice would be the best place to hide away from scary, scary It.
I would truly give anything just to be able to live again as a child, when all the monsters in my head didn’t equate to the past, or with pressure, fear and anxiety – but more of the furry kind that carried me high up on their shoulders.
Anyway, allow me be a fangirl for a minute: Wasn't that an amazing trailer?! It's been so long since a trailer sent shivers running up and down my spine. Oh my god. This movie is gonna be amazing!!! (Yes, it deserves three exclamation marks.)
I would truly give anything just to be able to live again as a child, when all the monsters in my head didn’t equate to the past, or with pressure, fear and anxiety – but more of the furry kind that carried me high up on their shoulders.
Anyway, allow me be a fangirl for a minute: Wasn't that an amazing trailer?! It's been so long since a trailer sent shivers running up and down my spine. Oh my god. This movie is gonna be amazing!!! (Yes, it deserves three exclamation marks.)
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