Why I Love Collecting Photographs

I am a photography addict and a shameless hoarder of memories from keepsakes with handwritten notes, receipts and of course pictures! In this digital world, the ease of having a memory card can give limitless joy of clicking still moments and convenience of storing it using social media accounts. Lately I have been struggling with updating our family albums with pictures on print; backlogs from previous travels, special occasions and random shots that requires time and effort to sort and be saved on the 'develop' album.  Nothing beats seeing memories in pages and pages of pictures or displayed on a 5x7 wooden frame that line up when you enter the house. It gives out a certain connection whenever it's displayed as if one is never absent or be visually reminded of a memory.

Here are a few good reasons why I like to print photos:

Treasured Items
My grandparent's house is a treasure trove of pictures and memorabilia. When we were young, my siblings and I would secretly open a chest full of albums and would be so engrossed seeing the life our grandparents and their parents lived. It conveys a message of being a part of their life without actually meeting them in person. I would want the next generation to experience the same and be filled with stories of the past as we owe it to them too. And pictures get valuable over time!

Changing Times
Social media accounts like Facebook or Instagram are a few of the platforms one can view pictures using even the most basic Android-based smartphones but nothing beats touching a glossy paper with a photo of a family opening gifts on a Christmas morning, a self-portrait in an explored location, a random shot of a landscape that sparks emotions and gives new life.  Photographs in albums or on a frame are viewable no matter what.

Sharing Memories
Whenever I have files developed, it brings everybody together. Who doesn't enjoy flipping through photo prints by hand and reminiscing stories with each other? Everyone loves to look at pictures and best of all you get to bond over it with food and a bottle of beer!

Carpe effin diem!

My mom taken using a Holga 150, color slide with light leaks!

There are really some days when life reminds you to slow down and reflect on what's really important in this world.

Routine and Daily Indulgence

i love this new set-up!

When days really get to you and work seems to consume every bit of your creative self, you tend to miss the carefree life when the only thing mattered was feeding yourself with.....tie-dyes, music and colorful things. Oh I miss the life of a college student!

Day 1- Journey to Batanes

I think essentially the meaning of life is probably the journey and not really any one thing or an outcome or a result. I think it's kinda the process and I think that if you can find happiness in the process then maybe that's it. CHARISMA CARPENTER

What makes this family trip to Batanes nothing short of amazing is because of the journey.  The success of arriving to the destination cannot be achieved without the course of going through obstacles such as pre-travel jitters, vater's frequent trips to the bathroom and dealing with the nerve of flying in a small plane!

Snorkeling in Miniloc Island, El Nido

Snorkeling is probably one of the highlights when we were in El Nido. Imagine the excitement I had the moment we docked at Miniloc Island Resort. My mind was mentally jumping for joy! The rich blue water was so clear and inviting that you'd want to jump in and swim with the fish! 

How to get to Mararison Island

Here's a simple guide I've come up for friends who are interested to visit the island of Mararison.

Roadtrip to Roxas City

Last weekend was spent on a road trip with the family to Roxas City! I get to drive, which is one of my favorite things/ skills to do. Haha! So we left Antique by 5:30 in the morning and planned to have breakfast at Mcdo when we arrive in Iloilo City. I  ate a little at home since I don't want to get hungry during the drive.  I had two slices of bread with peanut butter (my favorite!) and dark coffee.

El Nido Cove Beach Resort

Entering the resort's compound, we were welcomed by trees ... and more trees that seem to make you 

forget your worries left behind at work. It sure made me forget that I have stomach problems bugging me and the only thing you can think of is what lies beneath that forest. As the bus slowly head on the small path and made a stop, everyone gave a sigh of relief. We are here. And so, the journey to

THE destination stops for the night. 

Welcome to El Nido Cove Beach Resort..

Journey to El Nido

Traveling an hour by plane, six hours by bus and fifteen minutes more to this destination makes one weary of the long bumpy ride adding that you have a major case of hyper acidity and diarrhea and a bit feverish because of dehydration.

Armed with immodium, kremils, paracetamol and of course bonamin to cure the major discomfort that I didn't expect to hit me for the first day of the journey, I felt like a loser. I took paracetamol nonstop hoping to end the fever until we reach El Nido town so that I can enjoy the rest of the trip. T'was a major bummer. The whole time during the bus drive I was really determined to get well and so I tried 'self-healing' by sleeping. I slept and slept and slept and drank gatorade minding that grumble in my stomach would stop. Thankfully enough I wasn't able to puke unlike when we left for Palawan at the airport that I couldn't contain myself not to. I had to let it go. During the plane ride I ended up collecting barf bags of my seatmates in case of an 'emergency'.

Resting my head over the right glass window, groggy from the medicines I took, my eyes would flutter open and would catch a glimpse of a zigzag road, sometimes a mountain full of trees, a sea of blue until I was fully awake and realized the drive wasn't even halfway to the destination. And so, the sleeping continues. Thank goodness the group rented a bus for the whole twenty four of us which can accommodate forty eight people and with the long drive, it gave us a chance to stretch our legs especially for the older ones, watch tv and bond together in one vehicle compared to splitting the group to different vans. Most of the 'young ones' occupied each lane giving ample space to lie down on our backs and a more reason for me to sleep comfortably (hehe).

The afternoon heat faltered the air conditioning system of the bus or maybe it was just me with my feverish self and everybody was a bit tired from the journey as well, but as the bus slowly entered a mountainous rocky area, a cousin excitedly announced that we were near. Everyone got giddy and eventually were in high spirits again. The bus drove on a higher part of the mountains giving us a good view of the sea and the destination that we are all so determined to reach.

At last we got to El Nido town, our eyes scanning the area as the bus passed by a small town setting surrounded by limestone rocks, foreigners hanging out outside the hotels having their beer, others carrying their huge backpacks walking along the streets and signs of different island adventures make way. . The feeling of being there was an accomplishment as the drive was really a long one and seeing the place was surreal, giving an impression of a raw, remote and authentic island life.

The night's accommodation was another fifteen minute  ride outside the town proper. I got groggy again so I slept for ten minutes more (haha). The bus driver slowly made a left turn to a sign that says, El Nido Cove Resort. Yes, we have arrived!

inside the Cherry bus

the view during one of the stopovers for a restroom break

How 'blogging" helped me cope with grief

If you have read my first post you'll know what i'm talking about.

After my first experience of death, the purpose of life has been a total blur. I remember being angry that time. I easily get envious of complete families and during affairs I would shut my mind from feeling the happy mood. I guess it's normal to feel that way, it's better to shut everyone out and deal with grief in my own terms. One outlet that helped me express what I felt was through "blogging". There wasn't Facebook that time, only Friendster and Multiply and the only connection I have with the outside world was through the latter that I was able to share the saddest day of my life.  People's responses gave me heartwarming comfort. Messages of hope and encouraging words came from anonymous readers and somehow it eased the pain but there's always that empty feeling afterwards.

Due to the struggle of wanting to express myself, I started a blog. As days went by, and mostly days where I felt confused and angry I would resort to writing on my online journal. I knew someone would eventually read my rants by accident but I just sort of wanted someone to hear me, to throw away that sadness, the anger, confusion and the tears into the unknown and not expecting any return from it. I was selfish when it came to my feelings and fighting it was much harder than I thought. And so I gave up fighting. If I wanted to cry, I write myself all the emotions until tears fall down my face. Everday I would read my previous posts, then cry until I feel relieved. Somehow the habitual reading of my own blog entries tired me out that eventually led me to read other people's blogs. Fashion blogs to be specific. And so daily rants slowly turned to optimistic posts and then to outfit shots. Lol. Perhaps I got inspired by colors again, diverting grief into something new and fresh. And so I would take photos of me in my work clothes. The same things that fashion bloggers do except theirs was always on the top. I admit that was pretty trying hard of me and until now you can see some posts of it here in my blog Haha. 

Year after year the topics and interests that I share changed. From the original blog, I transferred some contents to a new one and eventually into this new url.  In the six years of struggling, am okay now. Although i can never erase the fact that I still miss my mom and will miss her for the rest of my life, I'm not saying that I don't grieve anymore. Maybe it's turning that grief into a more expression of life through the things that I do..hobbies or interests.

There's this verse from the bible that kept with me. And let me share it here.

	To every thing there is a season,
	And a time to every purpose under the heaven:
	A time to be born, and a time to die;
	A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
5	A time to kill, and a time to heal;
	A time to break down, and a time to build up;
	A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
	A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
	A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
10	A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
	A time to get, and a time to lose;
	A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
	A time to rend, and a time to sew;
	A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
15	A time to love, and a time to hate;
	A time of war, and a time of peace.
	—Ecclesiastes 3:1–8

There's a much deeper sense of life now and I owe it all to the Higher Being for everything. Amidst the physical absence of my mom, I know she is still here continue inspiring us. An Assumption nun once shared to us, "Your mom is more present now than she was in her physical body. Her love for you grows in each one of you."

I understand now. During that process of grieving, mom was present in all things. Unawarely I would share about a certain hobby and later would I realize that it was what she usually does at home and by noticing those little things, it gave me huge comfort.  What really helped me cope was knowing she is everywhere and sharing about it to the world to see. Reminding me of her through the colors that I wear, the choices that I make and making her a part of my daily life. Sometimes I feel sad for the future knowing she's not here but perhaps, looking beyond her physical form gives purpose to the meaning of life. There's a more reason to paint, to draw, to do stuff, to be happy, to fulfill her dreams and mine.

So if you find yourself in a dark moment in your life, try writing it down. Have a journal or start a blog!      Great things might come out, we don't know. :)

Watercolor florals

A Sunday afternoon watercolor sesh in my room.

Personalized my 3in1 leather pouch

I got bored one afternoon and decided to do something. I have a few hobby crafts stashed at work and during my break time I would pick up my drawing notebook and scribble something random. It's also effective when you're on the phone, your hand just wanders on the paper forming patterns and shapes while conversing and unawarely your mind translates it to something.

Anyhoo back on that one boring day. I just remembered that we have metal letterings (used to stamp initials on leather,paper or metal using a hammer) for sale in store and voila a lightbulb moment came to mind. Got my My Gilded Nest 3-in-1 leather pouch/ wallet and decided to stamp my nickname on the flap cover using those metal letters. Happy to see the end result.
Tadah! Personalized!