Month: October 2013

JUST BECAUSE

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MSK_7578Sometimes you do something just because you feel like it.  You don’t look for deeper meaning or a bigger purpose.  You do it because you want to.

And that’s exactly what I did today.

I met Shayla Sanchez a few months ago when we were both involved in the Butuan Balangay Festival.  Shayla is a photographer with Boudoir Dolls and Imagine Nation, as well as a blogger for wheninmanila.com.  I was always intrigued with the idea of doing a boudoir shoot.  Inday would have gladly done one in a flash.  But not me.

Until today.

Having lost weight and inches thanks to my new workout program and most recent Travel Poor Diet program, I was at a point where I finally felt confident enough to sit down in front of a camera without channeling Inday.  So I booked my schedule with Shayla, reserved a room at The Picasso Residences, and there was no turning back.

I let make-up artist Kaycee Ann Lim work her magic on my tired face and she managed to transform me into someone who doesn’t look like she hasn’t had more than 4 hours sleep a night for the last 3 weeks.  Shayla and I discussed what I wanted the photos to show.  I wasn’t ready for garter belts and lace teddies for me.  (I don’t think the world is ready to see me in garter belts and lace teddies.)   I just wanted to show a hint of what’s hiding behind the sarcastic barbs and snappy retorts.

And so it began…

Shayla brought along her colleague Madoka to help with the shoot.  I guess the more photographers, the more chances for lucky shots.   It wasn’t easy, at first.  I was shy and reserved.  With music playing in the background, I summoned my inner Tyra and got to work.

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And as Pink asked Who Knew, I smiled and smirked, hugged and shrugged, looked up, down and side to side, laughed.  When Natasha Beddingfield declared I am Unwritten, I closed my eyes, sat up, sat down, leaned back and forward.  Every now and then, Shayla would try to show me the pictures from her camera, but I was too afraid to look.   Eventually, thanks to Shayla’s directions and words of encouragement, I was able to relax.  And pretty soon, I was even coming up with my own poses.

I would take a quick peek and got myself ready for the next pose.  Then, after four costume changes and using various corners of the hotel room, we were finally done.   They downloaded the photos on my computer and, once I was alone in the room, I took a peek.

I was surprised to find that those years of eagerly following every episode of America’s Next Top Model, Make me a Supermodel and The Face finally paid off.  There I was. And the photos weren’t half bad.  There even some very good ones in there (if I do say so myself)

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And finally the fear and trepidation were replaced by a huge sigh of relief followed by a shy but sure round of applause.  This was a really great idea.  And on those days when am feeling like the world isn’t being very nice to me, I can look at these pictures and smile.

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Sometimes you do something just because you want to.  And you’re really glad you did.

That’s all for now….bow.

SOMETHING GOOD

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The birthday girls with the birthday cake.

The birthday girls with the birthday cake.

Just like Maria, “Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good” to have been blessed with friends and family who braved the rains and traffic, who patiently sat and waited as the evening’s entertainment was delayed by torrential rains, who stayed up past their bedtimes on a weeknight to surprise me with a totally unexpected birthday party.

Wasn’t really up to celebrating my birthday with a bang this year, was going more for a whimper. I was just planning to have quiet dinners with small groups of friends.  And I was also deeply embroiled in planning a surprise party for one of my oldest friends.

Well, it seems, I was the one who was surprised.  The party that I was planning was hijacked by my friends and turned into a joint surprise party for my friend and me.  I walked in, ready to warn them that the guest of honor was just making a quick stop in the restroom, when I was greeted by a loud, “Surprise!” and was shocked to see the group looking at me expectantly.  It didn’t really sink in until I saw my brother and sister-in-law, plus old work friends gathered along with the crowd that I invited for the other surprise.

There was even a cake given by my Flight Attendant friend who couldn’t join us due to her work schedule.  And a cake made just for me, with my picture and a purple purse and boots.

It's so me...and it's Purple!!!!

It’s so me…and it’s Purple!!!!

To say that I was surprised is an understatement.  I am astonished, flabbergasted, stupefied and truly, truly touched.   In a year where the bad has, on occasion, overshadowed the good, it was great to feel the love.

To all those who planned, plotted and partied with us, and clapped for me when I sang…THANK YOU, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART and THANK YOU, THANK YOU FROM INDAY’S BOTTOMLESS HEART.

We went back to our Dance Hall Days and partied like it was 1999.  We proved to everyone that We’ve Got the Beat.  These are the Days we’ll remember so Don’t you Forget About me.   I am Lost in Emotion and I have No More Words to tell you just how happy you’ve all made me.  I want to Rock with You forever because for me, each one of you is…GOLD.

That’s all for now…bow.

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY

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Today my mom and I were late for our usual village mass so we ended up going to another church instead.  It was more crowded than the one I usually attend and it made me realize all those little things that annoy me when I go to mass.  And it just confirmed why I only like going to mass in certain churches at certain times.

 

  1. Why do people rush to the front of the line during Holy Communion?  It’s not like the mass will finish any earlier of you are first, fifth or last in the line.  And I hate those who walk next to the existing line in hopes that someone will let them cut in.  I only see this happen here in the Philippines. 
  2. If you’re going to talk during mass, the least you can do is keep your voice down.   Hey, I too engage in a little chit-chat in the middle of mass, but I make an effort to talk in my “inside voice”.  Today there was a couple behind me who were chit-chatting about their gimmick the night before as if they were in the middle of a noisy restaurant. 
  3. Yes it’s good that you bring your kids to church, but it’s not so good that you let them run around and play and even scream.  This little girl was running around church today chasing after her friend, and everytime they caught up with each other they would scream.  And the parents would just smile at them.  There’s a park outside, make them run out there.
  4. Mass time is not snack time.  Yes I know that sometimes kids get hungry during mass.  That’s fine.  But I once heard mass and got confused when I heard paper rustling behind me.  And what did I see?  This couple standing behind me were eating McDonald’s burgers and fries.  DURING THE MASS! Ok so we were standing on the steps in front of the church, but still!   And what annoyed me even more? One of the kids who hangs out in the church parking lot begging for change went up to them and asked for food, they shooed him away.   They were already being disrespectful to the church and they were even being selfish.  They should have just eaten their burgers in McDo.
  5. Does it still count if you spend the whole mass outside the church, smoking and chit-chatting with your friends?  In Christ the King in Greenmeadows, there are always groups of people who just stay outside the front of the church with their cigarettes and talking animatedly with their friends.  I don’t even think they are aware of what is going on inside the church.

I know, I’m in church, I should be more forgiving of my fellowman, but some people just make it so hard….

I guess I should pray for patience and the ability not to sweat the small stuff?

That’s all for now…bow.