Grandfathers and the LRT

My Lolo would visit me and my family, and do carpentry chores around our apartment in his old age. Being the Manila-Quiapo man that he is, he eased himself into learning how to use the LRT to get to places. Their were 5 stations away from ours. I wonder what he would think about in that travel, how he looked at the buildings that sprouted in Quezon City; if like me, he watched as much as the train passes by; or if other passengers would let him sit in their place when the train is crowded, or when his arthritis started acting out, and he’s without anyone to assist him to walk just to be able to get to me and my home.

He was my Quiapo and Manila beacon. When I took up Black and White photography, he made everything alright by accompanying me to Hidalgo, and talking to the merchants himself. When my bassethound Ashli was sick and I couldn’t take care of her anymore because of my collegiate duties, he took full responsibility for my pet, even to the point where he’d buy hard-to-find medicine from far-flung Mercury drugstores.

 

When I feel like I’m at a big, hopeless loss in my schoolwork (or at home), I’d take the LRT and see my grandparents in Manila. Just being in the presence of a person who is unbothered by the complicated faces and phases of the world is enough to make me regain my happy sanity.

 

I really miss my grandfather.

10th CommRes Department Extension Project, I-Con, Investigating College Newspapers

The 10th CommRes Department Extension Project, I-Con, Investigating College Newspapers

As advised by Dr. Fernando Paragas (who ran off to practice with them right after our competition, where he was also our adviser.. and on a Sunday night, too! Talk about dedication! :P)

Enzo, my newfound Canon-buddy (haha!), on top of equipment shelves to get that perfect shot..

 

What they did as so reminiscent of what we did last semester with my batch heading our department’s extension project.

And I thought that that semester was the most difficult, with my Jap 11 7AM class (when you sleep at 2-3), and conference and study duties–but it’s actually THIS one! Thesis proposal, papers left and right, ENVI SCI 1 under the cool but hardcore-GE-EXAMinator Dr. Amador Argete, and my Raket Scientist degree.. LOL.

Comm Res majors who are younger than me and are reading this: In CommRes 165, be prepared to learn and experience SO MUCH of communication, research, UP, and LIFE–all in sacrifice of a significant loss of sleep in your lives.. :D

Prize price

“Woozy”

After the competition–

…I bet I felt as woozy as Chris Tiu that even if a gorgeous lamp chop was in front of me, all I could do was stare up high to the heavens, at Burgoo Greenhill’s ceiling.. Fortunately it’s one of those worthy of the woozy-effect, too..

Team UP Diliman– PRSP Student Grand Prix 2008

3 hours of sleep

3 days of 3 hours of sleep (ok, it’s actually more than 3 days)

3 places/awards our group is vying for as finalist in the PRSP Student Grand Prix 2008

And on the back of our minds, (panic mode) “…we still have other classes!!!”

Competition results? Click me.

 

 

 

… ANOTHER GOLD FOR UP!

Spotlights, shadows, a silver lining

More pictures here.

 

(PRSP 2008 Student Grand Prix preparation, Team UP Diliman, at Landbank Malate Manila)

Kitty in a pinch!

I feel so lucky I have a live, cute, willing, scratch-frenzied kitty at home which helps take out all the negative thingies floating in my head (the culprit is lack of sleep).

All that running’s making me dry

Comm Res event practices / “Dry runs” / rehearsals:

The PRSP Student Gand Prix 2008 finalist group, who will present on Sunday, Sept. 28 and iCon, the department extension research project on college newspapers, which will present on Monday, Sept. 29.

Busy busy busy tired tired tired..

I have to admit though that we’re all learning so much out of all of these.

Plus we’re representing the department. It’s a great chance! For departmental/collegiate/UP pride!

Camp Thesis

Of self-isolation, solo flying, a mountain of schoolwork to accomplish, Stresstabs, coffee, and the innumerable hours our eyes would burn on the computer monitor.

The scent of laundry

Lola rocks

I’m going to create a suspense-themed music video or photo set out of this place. Someday.

Red to evening

After consecutive of creatives-feeding days, it’s time to back to work.

And yes, it’s a Sunday.

In my college, I don’t think there ever really was a weekend rest day.

Graphika Manila 2008

Skipped my ultimate favorite Saturday class just to attend Graphika Manila 2008.

Was it worth it?

Oh YES. Especially when you’re sitting beside (and living with) one of the up-and-coming visual communicators of the industry (*ehem*EHEM*EHEM)! And of course being sponsored by another potential “celeb” information designer, HAHA.. THANK YOU! Though, sayang ang emba passes! Kuya and I still had “work” to do, yeeeuuch.

Tokidoki’s veh-ri Itahli-an Simone Legno, and his..I mean, his designs’ and illustrations’ many many fangirls.

GM will always be inspiring for Filipino contemporary artists, designers, illustrators, creative production people! This year, I was particularly drawn to the messages of Filipino designers Robert Alejandro and Collision Theory, AJ Dimarucot and Caliph8. I was already some sort of AJ Dimarucot fan when I favored this set of patterns he contributed in a pattern book, and kuya told me he was Filipino. When I heard they were going to be in GM… eeeeek! XD

“Kuya” Robert, who also happened to be the host of Art isKool, a former local how-to/arts instructional TV show (like Disney Channel’s Art Attack), urged about considering the advocacy and purpose in our creative efforts. Collision Theory’s AJ and Caliph8 were all like “Follow your passion, or burn out in corporate hell!“.

 

***

Listening to these designers talk about their lives is a sort of enchantment for me– I know it’s a dream, and I never want to get out of listening to their stories, but I’m aware that I will have to, soon.

My brother already is living the time of his life–he loves his work, his work loves him, end of story.

I don’t know yet just how life-after-uni would be like for me. But I know I want to do something similar, something creative, and something that doesn’t involve the terms “officemate”, and “9-6″!!

Serious stuff aside, I sincerely hope there’ll be another Graphika Manila conference next year!

Pilipinas (UP) kong Mahal

Someone once told me I had such a strong sense of responsibility for something I’m not even responsible solely for. I’m only realizing the extent of this impression now. 

I guess it comes with me being educated in the country’s premier and government-subsidized institution, University of the Philippines Diliman.

UP students get to experience multiple worlds simultaneously while they’re there: the one in the college, the one with the blockmates, another with the orgmates, another with the OTHER org, then one with a class with a terror; normal; stressed-out; eccentric; idealistic prof, the one we pass by in daily commute, daily tasks.. etcetera.

We mingle with people of all ages, physiques, specializations, and roles in life. We share the same privileged sentiment of being accepted in this highly exclusive community, where passions and intellects freely fly, and spread faster than fire.

*

Right now, I am putting up with a lot of difficult things where my sanity and physical and mental strength are being tested by the minute. There is no room left for rest.

Because I’m still young, there is always room for mistakes. But because I’m doing this “for UP” I wouldn’t dare screw up at the only few chances I’ve got.

I wonder if kids from other schools feel this need to accomplish something just to measure up to their school, or their family, their country. It’s simultaneously one of the best and worst feelings in the world. Either you prove your worth and make it, or you don’t at all.

 

 

(Building: Landbank, Malate, Manila.)