2011 in Pictures

  

One Day

One more day till 2012 - the year which they say will be the end of the world as we know it. Coincidentally, I just finished watching the film One Day. No, this won't be a film review or some philosophical analysis of present implications of the film. 

It's just that something weird happened very recently and I'm not sure how to react. I'm not even sure if a reaction is solicited. Like what I said to a friend, it's more of a natural reaction than a choice. So while watching Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess smooching over stunning backdrops, I can't keep my mind off that certain event. Don't worry, it's meant to be vague. I'm also really confused.

The poster above reminds me of a photo I just hung in my room by Alfred Eisenstaedt taken in 1945 (below).  Beautiful, isn't it? It came from LIFE's The Classic Collection which contains iconic ready-to-frame photos in around six by eight inches big. I immediately bought a frame for it and now it's hanging in my room. I can't even take my eyes off it.

Cheers to 2012! For a new year, and a new life!

Last Stretch Before 2012

It's 10:38pm and I just ate dinner after coming from a meeting in Starbucks Shaw. I'm not sure if committing myself to many ventures will do me good in the long run because I'm exhausting myself too much, but I kinda enjoy the good stress it brings.

Sorry for ranting like a 12 y/o girl but to give you a picture of how my 2011 will end, here are some of my current concerns: we have 60 hours before the Manila Kid billboard shoot and still no pegs; we still have no final supplier for the jackets to be released this January, still no confirmed speaker for a seminar on the same month and deadline for the chapter outlines for our book is due on Friday. Apart from that, I go to work from 8:30-5:30 everyday.

Usually after formal working hours, people go home and rest or hang out with their friends. I kinda forgotten what's it like to have a concern-free evening. Even when I'm about to sleep, I always think of the deadlines and possible ways to go around them more efficiently.

Anyway, I just saw an Anna Wintour special last night in Bloomberg and I admire her determination and brilliance. I hope to replicate her work ethics someday! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Keep those challenges coming!

Carpe Diem before 2012!!!

Keep Mindanao Warm

We’re collecting BLANKETS and SLIPPERS to keep the 22,000 displaced families in Northern Mindanao warm.

We all have old blankets that we can always give away, while a pair of slippers priced at 80 pesos will mean so much to someone.

Bring old blankets, a pair of slippers, or cash donations (in sealed envelopes) to any of our drop off points between December 21-23 and we will take care of getting your gifts to Northern Mindanao.

DropOff Points:
-XANLAND CONDOMINIUM, KATIPUNAN. When dropping off the donations at the table of the guard please label them with your name and specify that they’re for ANNA SAN PEDRO at UNIT P15

-ROTI JUNCTION FOOD STALL at ATENEO BELARMINE FIELD during the Simbang Gabi. These donations can be made any time between 6-10 pm.

VALLE VERDE 5. Please text 0917-537-9475 for the exact address

On DECEMBER 22 THURSDAY between 1-5pm, you can also drop off your donations at COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF, ALABANG TOWN CENTER. Please text 0917-919-8111 once you’re there.

For any concerns text 0917-537-9475 .

Please help us keep the victims of Typhoon Sendong warm by reposting and sharing this message with your friends!

Merry Christmas!

On Fire

Haven't got one drop of caffeine in my blood but my heart has been racing the whole day because of what will happen tomorrow! I won't even go to work because I'm so psyched! At around 7pm, three cars will be deployed around Metro Manila to give out food, toys and chocolates to less fortunate families. This will be the first time I'll be doing this, but A Different Christmas Carol has been around for the last two years since it was founded by one class in my high school three batches lower. Imagine a bunch of high school boys who, out of their own initiative, decided to go beyond themselves to do good to random strangers.

I remember reading from my college's Filipino magazine a line from its current president, Fr. Jet Villarin: "Sana 'pag dinibdib 'yong pagiging Atenista, makita na 'yong misyon, mas malawak kaysa sa sariling pangarap, sariling ambisyon." This really hit me hard because it reminded me of how passionate and idealistic we all were back in college. It's like I want the values of my school to extend beyond its walls and infect the rest of the country. I won't say that my idealism has died down, but it has become more passive these days.

I really can't wait for tomorrow! The brains behind Manila Kid will be helping us together with the friends of the original founders of I'mABosco. Now, excuse me while I wrap the toys and chocolates;)

Ahoy, Mateys!

Eye patch, check! Sword, check! Faux mustache and goatee, check! Hat filled with feathers, check! Pirate accent... uhm, I won't even bother. It was a night of merry making as our company celebrated its annual Christmas party in a pirate ship docked in Manila Ocean Park just a week ago. 

You can tell that the venue was really prepped up with styro cannons and treasure chests, sea creatures sticking out on the walls and fish nets hanging from the ceiling. It's like walking into the set of Pirates of the Carribean without the icy spray of the sea.

Of course it wouldn't be complete with us donning our pirate costumes. Some of my friends had their costumes made, others improvised with what they can find in department stores. Personally, I had to go to Camp Suki just to make sure I won't look kawawa on the event.

Here I am (below) with some of my Atenean friends (Jill - mermaid, Gillian - pirate, me - Captain Hook / Santa Claus, Olivia - parrot). Come to think of it, in a party with around 300 people, I think 30 of us were Ateneans! It's like a college party all over again.

Well, unfortunately for me, the parrot took home the crown of the best dressed "pirate" of the evening. Via told me that she and her dad were the ones who made the costume!

Below is the big boss, Sir Walter who is looking like Father Christmas himself.

I think the highlight of the night was the mermaid show. Three of these magnificent creatures did some aqua aerobics for like 15 minutes, and I have to say, they look really graceful in that giant tank filled with man eating marine life. Good thing they have their magic to contain these animals. The picture below is a proof of how little 'Little Mermaid' really is. 

Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll be able to still join them next year since everything has been really stressful with work. I just hope that it will be as creative as this year's Christmas party!;)

-photos from Geraldine's facebook album

A Shirt Shared By 50 Kids

The only thing productive I did last weekend, aside from a meeting with I'mAB and occasionally stuffing my stomach with calories, is shopping. I think I've seen enough consumerism for the past days that can last me a year. Ugh! I'd like to believe I'm generous towards other people. For myself, I'm very stingy so I can't help but check the price tag of the clothes which I was supposed to buy for myself.

Earlier this morning, I was thinking of our "A Different Christmas Carol", a mobile gift giving project where we'll donate food and toys to less fortunate kids. I was budgeting how much I'll allocate for around 50 children we'll meet on the streets. P1000.00.

Then I remembered the tribal shirt I saw in Topman worth P1,250! I'll be spending more for something which I'll use like only once every two months. With that money, I'll be able to buy decent toys in Divisoria for as much as 50 street kids. An expensive shirt versus an opportunity to make kids more happy, which one is more worthwhile?

But hey, toys? Won't they be needing grocery bags and/or school supplies more? Well, let's not forget that even though they are forced to work at a very young age, they remain to be children. Can you imagine your childhood without your favorite toys? Life is tough, we get it. So we might as well provide these children with keys into a world where they are free to dream and exercise their right to be kids, even for just a fleeting moment.

Would you rather buy something for your self than be the reason why a kid feels extra special this Christmas?

If you and your friends want to help, don't hesitate to contact me. This Christmas, let's make more happy!

So Far

I haven't updated my blog for the longest time. Maybe it's because I got this job (which I don't really like) so I'm too tired whenever I arrive home to write. It's a waste because I get a lot of ideas during the day but I have no convenient medium to archive them since I'm out of my blogging environment - in my room or in a coffee shop.

If I had to probe deeper, I think blogging has become a chore for me. I forget why I started it in the first place - for me and not just for my readers. Heck, I don't even check grammar. It's a way for me to synthesize what happened during the day, and it keeps me inspired since it reminds me of my priorities. Somehow, concretizing your ideas (or dreams) even by just writing it down makes it more real. I think I need to remind myself of that.

So far, I'm having difficulty adjusting to the corporate environment, even if it's my 3rd month now. Maybe I'm not really fit for it, or maybe I haven't even tried to adjust. I need discipline!

So far, I think we're having a hard time reaching the true potential of I'mABosco. We're doing really well in terms of sales and market awareness, but I think we can do better. I'm actually amazed because James and Mike, two of my partners, are still in school and they remain as dedicated as ever to I'mAB.

So far, we're also having a hard time finding adequate time for Manila Kid. The website launch was supposed to be last Sunday but it might be moved to January 2012 because let's just say I'm too much of a perfectionist.

I read a tweet from DJ Mo Twister earlier this evening: "having a rough day? place your hand over your heart. do you feel that? that's called purpose. dont give up." Purpose, it will keep you moving forward.


There are no shortcuts if you want to achieve something big. It may still be far, but if you take even just one step a day, you'll eventually get there. I just hope it would be sooner and less complicated.

I promise to update this blog more often!:)

Camp Suki

It's one of those nights when people won't judge if you decide to dress up in a red cape, wear fake hair, knee-high boots, a giant sword and hook for hands. Yikes! Captain Hook is my peg for our pirate-themed Christmas party so I went to Camp Suki to find the perfect costume. No, it's not a Japanese garrison where they house pictures of Japanese soldiers and their comfort women, nor is it a house where cosplayers meet (but it's close to that.)

Found beside Mt. Carmel church in New Manila, San Juan, Camp Suki has been a refuge for those who want to dress up like princesses from the Middle Ages, an abominable snow man or a even an extra terrestrial that looks like Shrek.

"Camp Suki is the largest costume resource in the country with a collection of thousands of period dresses, fantastic headdresses, etc. It is virtually a museum of sorts which caters to the whims and fantasies of the customer."

Tip to first time visitors: make sure you have a character in mind because the place is really overwhelming with so much costumes! It will save you a lot of time. Second tip, don't be afraid to change ideas/plans. Feel free to ask the people there if you need assistance because they're very accommodating. They'll even give you some advice on what to pair with what.

When my brother and I went there last week for the second time, we were really in a hurry because he had to direct a photo shoot in the afternoon. I think we only had 10 minutes to make up our mind and choose which one to rent. If you really want to experience Camp Suki, dedicate at least 30 minutes to check out and fit the costumes. No one's too old to play dress ups!

I guess the perfect time to visit the place is on weekdays because there are less customers trying out the costumes (they only have one dressing room). It's also good to go there several weeks before your "costume-themed event" just to make sure that you'd get the best costume if there is one theme.

Make sure to check out their cool cash register (which they still use) and the vintage glasses on display!

Camp Suki is located at:

#88 4th Street, New Manila,

Quezon City, Philippines

(beside Mt. Carmel Church)

Tel. No: (63-2) 725-0819

(63-2) 725-4562

Cell Number: 0917-824-6900

Email address: lito_pperez@yahoo.com

http://www.campsuki.com/

Over A Cup Of Coffee Or A Bottle Of Beer

Friends gather in laughs and in tears, or sometimes just to chill. Last weekend, my friends and I celebrated Jarvin's despedida because he'll be reassigned to Cebu for work. I thought when he said he'll be back next year, he meant after 12 months (and that's a really long time!) but it turns out he'll be there only until January. After dinner in an Italian restaurant in Greenhills, we went to this very cozy cafe in Katipunan where the 1980s atmosphere make you forget that you have to wake up at 5:30am the next day.

It's interesting how the topics of our conversation have grown over the years. Back in elementary, we mainly talked about our subjects and teachers. How difficult this math quiz was, why this teacher is so fixated on one student (favoritism) and what your last confession was about.

High school came and the conversation revolved around people and their relationships. Who's with who, how do you court this girl and why the hell did this perfect couple broke up?

College was a whole new arena and this gave people an opportunity to “re-invent” themselves and establish who they really are. Discussions were more idealistic and forward looking – about our future jobs, dreams of traveling around the world and legacies we want to leave long after we're gone.

Now that we're out of school, the idealism brought by college is toned down as the “real” world dilutes it into something more practical. We talk about stability, raising our own families and growing our “retirement fund.” When are you planning settle down/ marry? What name are you going to give to your son? Where is he going to study? How long are you going to stick with your current job?

I wonder what we'll talk about when we're middle aged. Maybe we'll be more health conscious and workaholic by then. By the time we're sixty, we'll talk more about our grandsons/daughters, mistakes we committed in life and our plans to atone for these mistakes.

By the time we're eighty, I'd like to think that my high school friends and I are still intact. We'll go back to the same places where we hung out and converse more. With all the technological innovations we have right now such as emails, cellphones, Skype and God knows what technology after sixty years, nothing can compare with having your friends gathered in front for you, either with a cup of coffee or a bottle of beer.

Planners Through the Years

During our last year in high school, Starbucks opened in Shaw boulevard, making it the perfect hang out place instead of going all the way to Shangri-la or Rockwell. November came and Starbucks released their annual collect-this-number-of-stickers-and-get-a-planner promo, which was then followed by my classmates' obsession of frequenting the coffee shop to complete their sticker cards. I wasn't much of a coffee drinker then, so I got my planner around late December and from then on, I've been in search for the perfect planner every year (not necessarily Starbucks - too mainstream na.)

Perks of having a planner: you exactly know what you did at a certain point in time. So here are the things that I found in my 5 five planners (while sometimes turning the pages randomly).

2007

Jan 26 - I did not sleep to finish our entry for Cine ni Juan.

March 17 - last high school quarterly exam (Algebra and Trigo)

July 26 - my first Ateneo La Salle game. final score: 80-77 (Ateneo won!) 

Aug 2 - Taichi midterms

Nov 5 - Back to school!

2008

Feb 14 - Valentine's Day + Calculus LT

June 5 - ORSEM Day 1 (as facilitator)

Aug - first and last college field trip

Sept - French Oral exams

Dec 22 - high school reunion

2009

Jan 2 - blogged about New Year's resolution

Feb 7 - NSTP OVERCUT!!!

April 19 - visited my favorite high school teacher for her birthday

June 14 - back to school shopping

Sept 17 - accompanied a friend to his first modeling VTR

Oct 25 - Libera concert <3

2010

Jan 8 - Skype meeting with a representative in England for my int'l environmental org

May 7 - officially shifted to Management Economics

July 29 - quiz on derivatives (wtf!)

Aug 20 - Julius and Kevin's party at Fiamma

Oct 25 - start of fashion week

Nov 20 - Blue Christmas

2011

Jan 13 - get graduation photo

March 5 - Trilogy summer sale

April 5 - Bora <3

May 31 - visited Sir Don's wake

Aug 25 - FaDAL OS party at 7th High

Oct 3 - first day of work

Now that 2012 is here, I bought a new planner at Muji. It's always a challenge to find the perfect planner for the year (depending on my mood) and I think that this plain minimalist white planner (with very smooth paper) from a Japanese store will fit my Zen like disposition next year!

Cheers to 2012! (soon)