Middle East, 2011

Wow. I totally forgot about my blog. It's been crazy, hectic, and all around mad! I've been living my life like there's no tomorrow. Since my last entry, I've done things and been places that I never have before. I'm living the dream, and it's pure awesome in a can. :D

Last November, I visited the Middle East with my photography partner, Parc Cruz, for the first time in my life. We were asked to hold a workshop there. From Manila, it was a straight shot to Abu Dhabi, where the stopover was around 4 hours long, then we continued to our final destination, Kuwait. When we got there, I had no idea what the place was like, and who to meet. After running around the airport like headless chickens for a few minutes, two guys finally came up to us and introduced themselves as members of PINDOT, the photography group who invited us there. They were Filipinos based in Kuwait, and wanted to show us what Kuwait was all about. So we went to McDonald's for breakfast. Go figure. Ha!

But honestly, it's a trip that I'll never forget. I absolutely LOVED Kuwait and the hospitality of our hosts there. From day one, they made sure that all our needs were met, and that we were comfortable and happy. Our accommodations were really nice, and the weather was perfect! It was the start of Winter in Kuwait, so the temperature was hovering at around 19-21deg in the daytime and around 8-10deg at night. It was wonderful!

Kuwait is in the middle of the desert, but along the Persian Gulf. Prior to visiting, the only idea I had of Kuwait was what I saw on TV during the gulf war of 1990. Destruction, chaos, suffering. That's all I knew. But my visit changed my entire view of the country. The place was definitely NOT what I thought it would be like. The roads were beautiful, lights were bright everywhere, shops were open, malls were plentiful, and the city was just really great. Progressive. I rather enjoyed the fact that we didn't really come across any form of racism (except for that one national who thought we looked like criminals. LOL!) or bigotry during our stay. Our hosts were especially nice to us. In fact, I felt like they had been my friends for years, when in fact, that was the first time I had met them. Cheers!

The workshop itself was s success, with around 20 participants. There were Filipinos, Kuwait nationals, Arabs, and a mix of different ethnicities. The workshop was a collaboration between digital artist Parc Cruz, International Designer/Stylist Rocky Gathercole, and I.

The rest of our stay was spent going around the city, seeing the sights, trying the food, and just experiencing Kuwait. On our last night there, the temperature dropped to around 8deg and we spent the evening smoking Hookahs at the bayside. Wind chill factor! It got REALLY cold, and we were out there shivering our asses off, smoking hookahs. FUN! Hahaha!

Before I forget, let me tell you abnout the CARS! I'm a petrol head myself, and the cars I saw on the road over there made my jaw drop! Everyday cars were Dodge Chargers,
Chevy Camaros, and other muscle cars. The regular joes were driving around in drop-top Beemers and Mercs. We would occasionally come across some flying Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but the most exotic car I saw over there was a Rolls Royce Phantom. *eyes bulge* The funny thing about the cars though, is the way people over there drive them. It seems that cars in Kuwait have 2 speeds - wide-open-throttle and stop. Tires were screeching all over the place, you could smell burning brakes, and the roads were covered in tire burns... and that was in traffic!

When I left for Manila, our hosts from PINDOT even made it a point to not just drop me off at the airport, but even to stay there with me until I got on the plane. Talk about hospitality! They even gave me some trinkets and stuff as remembrances of my awesome stay in that awesome country.

Once again, I would like to send out my heartfelt thanks to PINDOT for the great trip. I will never forget it as long as I live!

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Time

It's been a while (a rather long while) since I've written anything here. I've been... busy. With work, with friends, with life. The endless workshops out of town, the endless nights out with friends, the endless hustle and bustle of everyday life. I've been so preoccupied with living life that I forgot to write it down. I think it's important to write things down. It's a way of remembering events, names, feelings. I like writing things down because it helps me organize my thoughts, and in effect, my priorities.

I've been living my life like there's no tomorrow, and i try to make every day count. I'm always out with the people I care about the most, and I make sure that I have a good time with them. Even if it's just for a while. You never know when something will make the present change. You never know when you'll see your loved ones again. You can plan for it, of course, but sometimes plans change and things just don't happen as you predicted.

Tomorrow I'm leaving the country, and I won't be back for two weeks. Who knows what I'll find when I get back? Will all my friends still be here? What about my loved ones? We can never tell. I'm writing now to tell you all that I love you. I love each and every person who's been a part of my life and has helped me grow into who I am now. I love all my friends who are there for me day in and day out, in good times and in bad. You guys rock. I love you all because you understand me. I love you all because you tolerate me. I love you all because you've given so much of that precious gift to me. Your time.

Nothing in the world is more precious than time. We all have a limited amount of it in our lives, and once you've spent it, there's no getting it back. That's why I appreciate the time given to me so much. I know that whoever has spent time hanging out, drinking, biking, shooting, talking with me and even just reading my words has spent his or her valuable time on me. And that's a big responsibility. I try to make sure that the time you do spend is worth spending on me. I know that it's not the case all the time. I know that I can be boring sometimes, or I can talk nonsense at other times, but I still appreciate that you do spend the time on me. I don't know how I can repay you for the time you spent. It's the most valuable gift you have ever given me. All I can really do is say thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

What is the square root of Ku?

What is the square root of Ku?

Answer here

When I was a kid, I used to think that a tooth fairy would come into my room, look under my pillow, and find a tooth. The fairy would then proceed to take that tooth and put a dollar bill in its place. What did you believe in as a kid?

When I was a kid, I used to think that a tooth fairy would come into my room, look under my pillow, and find a tooth. The fairy would then proceed to take that tooth and put a dollar bill in its place. What did you believe in as a kid?

Answer here

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What's your favorite movie, and how do you relate it to your own life?

What's your favorite movie, and how do you relate it to your own life?

Answer here

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Good times with so-so friends, or so-so times with good friends?

Good times with so-so friends, or so-so times with good friends?

Answer here

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What's your favorite form of exercise?

What's your favorite form of exercise?

Answer here

Reblogged From My Multiply Account: Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary Oct 24, '07 11:35 PM

It seems that everyone is breaking up this year. I personally know of around 5 or 6 long term couples who have called it quits in 2007. I came from a long relationship as well. It's not easy to let go of someone who has been such a big part of your life. My last relationship was more than the 6 years we spent as a couple. We met way back in highschool and became best buddies in 96. A grand total of around 12 years of friendship. It was devastating when we broke up. I was drunk for a month and a half. Literally.

But i got over it. And you have to. Sometimes you feel like everything in this green earth is against you. But deal with it. It's part of being human. Emotions are what makes us who we are. We aren't robots. Feel. That's what we do. After everything that you've been through, stand up. Dust yourself off and start walking again. Raise your head and be proud that you got out of it. That you're alive.

Then one day, you find yourself laughing. Smiling. Having fun. Liking someone. It's the same emotions that got you into all the trouble in the first place. You suddenly remember how bad it felt the last time that things didn't work out. You never want to go through that again. But you look around, people love you. They laugh, smile, have fun with you. You suppress the confusion. Suddenly everything else fades out and all you see is one person. And you're in love again.

White car with pink interior, or pink car with white interior? :D

White car with pink interior, or pink car with white interior? :D

Answer here

System Revamp Part II

I recently switched my photography system to Nikon from anther brand.  A no-brainer, really.  Support is everything.  And until last week, I've been using Windows-based PC's for all my computing needs.  I've gone through at least 6 desktops, and 2 laptops since I joined the digital age. Windows was second nature to me, and I probably could've navigated it in my sleep.

I'm now using a Mac.  It's the industry standard when it comes to post processing and presentations.  I've been thinking about making the switch for a few years now.  And I finally did it.  With some generous and loving support from my dear mother over in Canada, I was able to buy a 15" MacBook Pro with an i5 core.  I've had this computer for little over a week now, and all I can say is WOW.  Apple really knows what it's doing.  Forget the haters, forget the anti-capitalist morons who say that Apple is using perceived value to jack up their prices.  I'll tell you now - it's worth it!  I've never had the peace of mind that I do now.  If for that alone, it's already worth the price tag.  But of course, it's also a monster at multi-tasking, has awesome battery life, and it's very easy to use!

I'm no expert, so don't take my word for it.  I'm sure haters all over the world will unite and burn me at the stake for my opinions.  But that's all they are - opinions.  I'm not doing a comparative analysis.  No technical jargon in this entry.  I'm not measuring any speed of this or that.  I'm just saying how the laptop makes me FEEL.  And I feel great. :)

When it is raining, what is "it?"

When it is raining, what is "it?"

Answer here

Going Yellow

I've been teaching photographic lighting for a little over two years now.  My hobby-turned-profession has taken me to different places, I've met many different people, and I've learned a lot of new things.  I've taken fashion shots for magazine covers, food shots for restaurant and hotel menus, event coverage for company websites, lifestyle shots for developers' billboards, product shots for entrepreneurs, and many other commissioned shoots.  Many people have helped me along the way, and I can't even begin to thank them all for the support and helping hands that they have unselfishly given.  There's the secondary photographer, the assistant holding the reflector, the makeup artist, the stylist, and many other people directly involved with the shoots.  And then there are the people who have helped me in another way.  The small pep talks, the introductions to prospective clients, the referrals, the little favors.  These people have helped me become who I am today. 

Recently, I've received a little more help from someone.  And that someone is a little company known as NIKON.  I've been a Canon user since the beginning, and that decision was based mostly on what system my friends were using at the time.  The prevailing thought when I made that decision was "who has more lenses and accessories that I can borrow?"  And the answer was, of course, Canon.  I also leaned towards them because of the local service centers that provided support for your camera woes.  Through the years though, the makers of the system that I was already heavily invested in did little in the way of direct support to their professional clientele.  When I would go to their service center to get my camera repaired or cleaned, the least I expected was a service unit that they could lend me so that I could continue with my craft while they took care of my gear.  Nil.  Zip.  Nada.  I've asked more than a few times if I could test some lenses or test some other units, and all I managed to get was a verbal parry camouflaged as a joke.  It was frustrating!

Nikon Philippines (under Columbia Digital) got my partner, Parc Cruz, as an endorser a few months ago, and we've been endorsing the brand at our workshops since then.  Nikon would also come over and give away some items to our participants.  Our posters had their logo on them as well, so it was a win-win situation.  I had a dilemma though.  My system was Canon.  I was having a very difficult time helping Parc endorse Nikon while I was using another competing brand.  A few nights ago, my predicament would change dramatically.  I got a message in my Facebook inbox, and guess who it was from?  Nikon. They welcomed me to the family and asked if I could drop by their office on Thursday.  I thanked them and told them that I'd be glad to go meet them. 

When I got to their head office, I met with their CEO, and two people from their marketing department.  We talked about plans, how we could mutually help each other, and how to grow together as company and endorser.  After  a few hours and some signatures later, they loaded me with a sort of "welcome package" consisting of some items that would send me on my way into the Nikon universe.  A shiny new D300s Digital SLR, a prime lens, and some other accessories were in the package.  They also threw in some Nikon paraphernalia like bag tags, a keychain and a calendar, to mention a few.  I was awestruck with the showering of items and toys and thought to myself, "now THIS is support."  I've yet to get used to the controls of the new camera and test out its capabilities, but I know this early that this is the start of a beautiful relationship. :)

Multiplying Money

Yesterday, I was with my friends Parc and Reo.  We dropped by a car audio shop and took a look around.  I needed a wooden spacer to install my new speakers, so I asked them if they had any.  Junior, the owner, asked me to come back the following day so that he could make some to my specifications.

Today, I decided to save some gas and bike going to Junior's shop, which is roughly 15kms away from my place.  When I got there, the spacers were done and they looked perfect.  Junior was still out to lunch, so I whiled away some time looking at his wares.  By the time I was on my way home an hour later, my backpack was around 8 lbs heavier, my wallet was a LOT lighter, and I was happy.  I ended up shopping for all the necessary wires and fittings to "future-proof" my car audio system.  8 meters of Ryan Audio gauge 4 wires, 12 meters of Audiomax gauge 16 speaker wires, Stinger RCA cables, a Ryan Audio distribution fuse block, and two pieces of half inch wooden spacers.  My initial Php300 purchase of wooden spacers turned into a shopping spree worth a little more (ok, ok, a LOT more).  At least I saved a little money by riding my bike instead of driving my car there.  Hahaha!

That got me thinking... how did it happen?  I wasn't sales-talked into it.  I don't really NEED to have these expensive items to get my audio system working.  But I made the purchase anyway.  Go figure!  Maybe I was thinking that I would eventually upgrade anyway, so I did it right the first time.  Maybe that's just me trying to justify the purchase.  But whatever!  I'm smiling! :D

RCBC Rooftop Helipad

Parc Cruz

Helipad

I was highly fortunate to have been invited to shoot at the rooftop helipad of RCBC Tower, in Makati.  Access to places like this are very limited, and highly exclusive.  One of our friends was able to pull some strings and get a permit to shoot at this awesome venue!

We got to RCBC Plaza at around 5PM.  After a few minutes clearing up our permit and waiting for our group to be complete, we were ushered in and led to the service elevators of the Yuchengco tower.  A few more minutes and some transfers later, we were finally at the uppermost area of the building.  The helipad was great, but the view from the top was just awesome!  All around, we could see the metropolis sprawling in all directions.  Cameras were brought out, tripods were set up, and shutters began clicking.  The shoot had begun.

People were scattering in all directions, some in groups or pairs, some by themselves.  Wide lenses, telephoto lenses, large apertures, small apertures, long exposures, fast shutters, and all sorts of angles were being used.  We were having such a great time!

Around three and a half hours later, our memory cards were full and our bodies were aching.  But we were all exhilarated!  We were all very happy with our captures, but we were all hungry at this point.  We decided to eat out at Kanin Club in Ayala Triangle Gardens.  Dinuguan, Callos, Kangkong, and a lot of different dishes were on the table and we all had our fill (and more!).

We went home in high spirits and with full bellies. It's been a while since I had a fun shoot, and this one made me appreciate the joy that I felt when I first got into photography.  It was a worthwhile experience and I hope I get to do it more often. :)

Looking Up

Nightscape II

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Broken: Reblogged from my Multiply account.

*This is a reblog of an entry I made a little over 2 years ago in my Multiply site.

Everything can be broken.

bones
skin
tissue
nerves
nails
windows
plates
vases
plastic
wood
metal
and even alloys.

But the easiest thing to break is a heart.  Hearts are very fragile.  I've had mine broken.  I thought that I wouldn't get back from it, but I eventually did, with the help of a lot of time and a lot of friends.  That is why I try my best to take care of someone's heart.  I do my best to not break a heart.

The problem with me is that I love too much.  I give everything, and I don't hold back.  That just sets me up for a much harder fall.  I guess I just find it unfair to love halfheartedly.  I love with all my heart because I want her to feel what it's like to be loved entirely, without holding back.  I love with all my heart because I know deep inside that it's how I want to be loved.  I love with all my heart because she's worth it.  I love with all my heart because it's what the heart was made for.  I love with all my heart because it's the only way I know how.

Roxy's Rebirth, Part I: Slowly But Surely

Kicker 12" L5 Subwoofer

Roxy will be undergoing a slow transformation.  Since I've decided not to sell her, I'll do all I can to get her in tip-top form.  Slowly but surely, she'll reach show car quality.  As a baby step to her upgrade/transformation, I've enlisted the help of my good friend, King and installed a kick-ass Kicker subwoofer.  12" of bass goodness!  I drove over to King's house Monday night and we got to installing eh subwoofer straightaway.  When King saw the sorry state of my previous wiring though, we decided on rewiring the power supply, routing the beefier cable from the battery, through the firewall, down into the driver's side kick-panel, along the scuff plates, under the rear seat, and into the trunk.  We also installed a fuse near the battery for safety.  It took us around 2 hours for the install, and we were excited to hear the low frequencies from the speaker.  I turned on the engine, switched on the head unit, and KRRKK KRRRRKKKK KRRRRK... something was WRONG!!!  We thought we had the RCA cables installed wrong, but when we checked, it was perfect.  We had to retrace all the steps and were stumped.  We tried every which way and setting on the radio, to no avail.  After around an hour of adjusting and experimenting, King (with his sheer genius) finally found the culprit.  My head unit's RCA out was grounded!  He did something (I've no idea what he did), and THUMP, THUMP, BOOOOM!  I had bass!!!  We finished around 11:30 pm and I headed home happy and thumping. 

On the way home, I noticed that my speakers inside (a mishmash of different speakers accumulated and swapped in over the years) were busted.  They still played, but they were garbly and were nearing death.  So Tuesday night, the night after installing the subs, I was back at King's place, installing a hand-me-down set of midrange speakers in the front doors of my ride.  I got there at around 8pm, and we set to work.  I took out both the door panels and we proceeded to take out the old speakers.  The new speakers were about to go in when... they didn't fit!!!  Argh!!!  We tried many different configurations and after around 2 hours of fiddling, we were finally able to coax in the speakers and reinstall the door panels.  I turned on the radio and... voila!  Subs, midbass, and voice!  It actually sounded halfway decent!  And it was LOUD.  King and I were both amazed that the stock speakers off of a Toyota Revo could sound so good! 

So after 2 consecutive nights of getting our hands dirty, our creativity flowing, and our backs hurting, Roxy's initial phase of rebirth was complete.  I'll have a better system professionally installed eventually, but for now, this do-it-yourself install is definitely worlds better than my previous sound system!  There's something about setting up your ride with your own hands that really feels awesome.  And there's nothing like seeing your car having that little extra something above the rest.  I can just imagine the feeling of owning a show-quality car.  Slowly but surely, Roxy will get there.

Cinematica 2011

Hundred One Events & Exhibits...

presents

One of the Best Photography, Lighting & Post Processing Workshop

CINEMATICA 2011
by Ku Manahan & Parc Cruz

Date: January 23, 2011 (Sunday)
Time: 9am to 5pm
Venue: UP Bahay ng Alumni - William M. Valdez Room
Workshop Fee: Php2.5k (includes lunch, snacks & workshop materials)

COURSE OUTLINE:
- hands on workshop on basic ambient and controlled lighting
- basic guide on production shoots and model shoots
- tips on selection and output of best work
- post processing techniques

WHAT TO BRING:
camera with full manual controls (DSLR)
laptop with at least photoshop CS3
notepad and pen
extra shirt

for reservations, please call or text 0927.250.71.60

I Can't Do It

ALkuHOLIC with Roxy

I said that I put my car up for sale because I wanted a more "mature" car.  I can't do it.  I just can't bring myself to sell Roxy.  I posted ads in November, and there have been inquiries.  Lots of them, but only over the phone.  I tell them the truth - really nothing to fix, except for the fuel gauge and maybe a new paint job.  But in otherwise perfect condition.  No one was coming over to look.  Then one day my brother asked me "how come you're not putting a FOR SALE sign on your car?"  And that's when it hit me.  I can't.  I just can't.  I love Roxy too much.  She and I are one, really.  Partners in crime, through thick and thin. 



I had my sights set on a 1990 BMW 520 that's been fully restored to perfect working condition by the seller.  I've been in the car, examined it, and it's beautiful. Truly.  I could see myself driving that car everyday, in and around the metro and even out of town.  But the problem is, I can see myself in Roxy too.  And I can't see myself WITHOUT her.  :(  She's my baby car.  Not once has Roxy let me down.  Not once has she needed any major repairs.  Airconditioning is still perfect.  Electricals are A-ok.  The engine, oh the engine!  At 1400cc, it has the perfect balance of fuel economy and power.  It actually has more power than some 1600cc cars.  Just a few nights ago, my friend who was riding shotgun remarked "This isn't a 1.4!"  What he meant was that Roxy was way too powerful for a 1400cc engined car.  That comment made me very very proud.  I've looked after her for the past 11 years, and she's looked after me.  And I want to look after her for the next 11 years and more.  I was ready to sell her, but really... I can't do it.

Cinematica Workshop Tour 2011

CINEMATICA WORKSHOP TOUR by KU MANAHAN & PARC CRUZ (Photography/Lighting/Post Processing) ...Coming to your place this 2011.

We bring the information, tools, and expertise to your doorstep.

expect to see us at the following places...

BAGUIO
BATANGAS
BACOLOD
KALIBO/BORACAY
PAGADIAN
CEBU
ZAMBOANGA
LEGASPI
LAGUNA
DAVAO
GENERAL SANTOS
SUBIC
TARLAC
LA UNION/VIGAN
and CAVITE

For booking & inquiries , please call or text Dexter De Guia 0927.250.71.60

I Broke It

I think I broke Facebook o_O

Roxy : Almost Perfect

Roxy at the wheel hospital

Roxy's driver's side front tire had been leaking air for a while now.  Little by little, the air would leak out, but not to the point of it being dangerous.  I would have to refill it every other day, but that was fine with me. After a few weeks of this though, it got a little irritating, so I decided to bring her to the vulcanizing shop.  Lo and behold, the wheel had a dent and a small crack!  No wonder the air was escaping!  I had to use Roxy's spare wheel (which is the original 14" wheel) while all the other wheels were 17" in diameter!  Talk about stupid looking!

I was using that setup for a few days while I was looking for a place that would repair my rim for a decent price.  One day, while I was biking the backroads near our village, I came across a tire center that offered wheel alignment, balancing, tire mounting, and wheel repairs! :D  So I went home and got Roxy.  I brought her to the wheel repair shop and they quoted me Php1000 for the repair.  After around an hour and a half of soldering and massaging, my wheel was good as new!  :)  Good thing it's near my place, because as soon as I got home, I realized that the center cap was missing.  I got back on my bike and went over to the place, and the center cap was promptly found and handed over. 

So there you have it, Roxy's good as new again!  The only thing I would do is give her a good paint job, and she'll be back to perfect condition.  But I don't want to give her a so-so paint job just to sell her.  I'd rather sell her as is and have the buyer give her a nice paint job OR I could have her painted good and sell her at a higher price.  Hmmmm...  I'll think about it.

UPCAT Passer

Oh yes!

I finally got my UPCAT PASSER baller IDs!  Thank you thank you Nadine Narciso for getting them for me! :D  I bought 5 of them because I wanted to give them away to some of my older friends who are loud and proud UP students!  Woot!  I'll be keeping one on to show how proud I am of PEYUPS.  Now if only AF were to make some... :D

2011 Year Planning and Pigout Session

Our Spread

Last Saturday, Hundred One Events and Exhibits had its first pigout planning session at my house.  I got home at around 7pm from an afternoon spent in UP with old friends.  By around 8pm, our manager/organizer Dexter and his wife (and our very own mamabear) Chelle arrived.  They brought food, and I mean FOOD.  Inihaw na Liempo, Pancit Canton, Lechon Manok, Atsara, and two One-pound Burgers!  It was a FEAST!  The funny part is, they were only feeding four people!

Each slice is a quarter pounder, people!

Our meeting lasted til around 1am, and by that time, we were about halfway through the food.  At least we had leftovers to eat the next day!


It's been a while since 101 Events had a workshop, and it's about time that we got back into gear.  I can't tell you the exact schedule yet, but I know that 2011 is gonna be an awesome year! 

*BUUUURP!!!*

200Kms in a Week!

Mikaela

I did it!  201 grueling kilometers on my bike since last Thursday!  :D  My goal was to do 200Kms from last Thursday until this Friday (tomorrow).  What makes this goal extra challenging is that I don't have gears on my bike.  It's what's called a single speed, just like the BMX you had as a kid.  I've been riding single speed (SS) exclusively for a little over a year now.  On Thursday, I did 53Kms with my friend Bong, going to Makati and back (I live in Fairview).  Then Friday was New Year's eve, so Friday and Saturday were no bike days for me.  On Sunday, logged in 46Kms with my friend Ruelo, going to Greenhills and back.  On Monday, I did a solo bike ride to National Book Store along Congressional Avenue for a cool 15Kms.  Then I got sick... Monday night was horrible.  I was sneezing and blowing my nose and coughing.  Tuesday was worse.  I was bed ridden.  I couldn't get out of bed, and my whole body ached.  I thought my goal was done for.  Wednesday morning, I was feeling a little bit better, and I biked in the afternoon, just because I couldn't stand staying in bed for 2 whole days.  It was hard, but I managed to clock in 31Kms, going around Katipunan and Teacher's Village.  That ride made me feel a lot better.  That evening, I met up with a bunch of my photographer friends for a late Xmas get together.  I got home at around 3am and got to sleep at around 5am.  I woke up at 11, and had lunch with my brother and sister in law.  I was thinking that my goal was just a bit out of reach because Friday I would be busy with a one on one workshop.  But then my brother said "kaya yan, bike ka ngayon papuntang Makati and back." It was then I realized, yeah, no excuses.  I'll do it.

I got my gear ready, and I left the house around 2pm.  By around 3pm, I was along Gilmore.  3:45 I reached Makati.  I didn't have anywhere to go, so I just decided to visit Saguijo, one of my favorite haunts.  It's a bar with live bands along Guijo Street, and it's one of the places I feel most at home in.  I stopped to rest for about 5 minutes then started heading back.  By the time I reached Gilmore again, my back was starting to hurt.  So was my butt!  But I trudged on.  Tomas Morato, Kamuning, Kamias... Maginhawa... UP!  I stopped by Ate Vicky's (our favorite awesomest food cart outside Archi!) and ordered  a big bottle of C2 Iced Tea and a cheesy chicken burger.  I really needed that recharge!  I looked at my odometer and realized that I was still short 11Kms to reach my 200Km goal.  But the thing is, the distance from UP to my house is only around 6Kms!  So what I did was go around the academic oval (2.2Kms) twice and a half to fill in the needed mileage.  Then I started home.  By this time, my thighs were burning because of all the biking I've been doing, and partly because I had just recovered from a flu.  But of course, I HAD to get home.  So slowly but surely, I biked home.  By the time I got back (around 6:30pm), I had logged in 56.63 Kms, bringing my total to 201Kms! :D  I was stoked!  I AM stoked!  I set a goal, and I did it!  And that makes me realize that I can do so many things.  All I really have to do is put my mind to it.  Yeah, I really believe that.  Maybe I'll try for another 200Kms this coming week! :)

Abnormal - A repost from my Multiply site

What can I say?  I've always been a little unhinged.  I sometimes find myself laughing for no reason, or smiling at people who aren't there.  I find humor in the most dire of situations.  I always thought it was normal.  I guess it's not.  My good friend Tseri told me once that she "thought she was normal, and everyone else was weird".  Hahaha!  I totally dig what she's saying.  What is normal anyway?  That which is dictated by society?  Pssssh.  Society wants everyone to go to school, learn to read and write, study, study some more, then study something that you want to do, graduate, then do whatever it is that you studied until you die.  Whoopee.  Sheesh.  Is life the be all and end all?  Are you successful if you become filthy rich and can afford 3 mansions, a couple of yachts and our own island?  Baaah.  I say that success can only be measured by how much FUN you get out of life.  As long as you're comfortable, you give your family a good life, you have FUN, and you don't hurt anyone in the process, you're successful.  You're successful if you love what you're doing to survive.   I mean, look at me.  I've tried the corporate world.  I've tried running a business that I found no interest in. I hated every minute of it.  Nowadays, I'm doing what I love, and I love what I'm doing.  I have less cash than I've ever had, but I'm happy.  I have FUN at my job.  That's what's important to me.  I still get to do the things I Iove doing, although a bit less frequently, but hey, that's life.  I LOVE my job and my life and I feel successful.  If anyone thinks otherwise, please do drop me a line.  Let's talk about it over a few beers.  Cheers!

Return of OSB - Putting Pressure On Myself

Me in 2007

Me in 2007

Me in 2010

Me in 2010

For those who know what OSB is, it's back.  Yes.  I've biked a little over a hundred kilometers since Thursday, and I plan to bike another hundred kilometers before Friday.  If I can keep it up, that will amount to around 600-800 Kms a month.  Now THAT's a good average.  Even if I just do 400Kms a month, that would be a phenomenal amount of road covered.  Since I've started biking, I've covered more than 5000Kms of combined geared and single speed riding.  On the single speed (which I've been riding exclusively for a little over a year), I've covered about 1900Kms.  To put things in perspective, a round trip from Manila to Baguio and back is around 500Kms.  I've planned (and scrapped my plans) to bike up to Baguio for two consecutive years now, but I've made it a point that THIS YEAR will be the year that I do it.  I need to get a geared bike.  Either I build a new one with gears or convert my one and only single speed bike to a geared one.  I know I will miss my single speed too much if I convert her, so if budget allows, I'll build a new geared bike from the ground up.  I'm blabbering.   Anyway, back to biking.

I started biking in 2008, when my brother and my dad gave me a bike for my birthday.  I say, it's the best birthday gift I've ever gotten.  Ever.  EVER.  Nothing has changed my life so drastically.  Before I started to bike, I was extremely overweight, out of shape, and short of breath.  I weighed in at a staggering 260lbs.  And I'm only 5'6", mind you.  I started biking and instantly fell in love with it.  I've tried running, I've tried going to the gym, and other sports.  None was as enjoyable as biking.   I couldn't run long distances because my weight put a shitload of strain on my feet (my joints, thankfully have never given out despite of all the excess baggage).  The gym was fun for a while (I particularly enjoyed sweating it out in the Saunas), but I quickly got bored of the repetitive nature of it all. Then came biking.  Oh yes, the one sport that I have truly come to love.  What I love about biking is that there is little to no strain on your joints and feet.  That was one thing.  Another thing is the unpredictability of biking.  I own a mountain bike and it's a cross-country set up (know as XC).  That means that the setup is more for light trail use and also ideal for the streets of Manila.  I was able to go to so many places that my car could not reach.  I was able to see sights not accessible by other means of transport.  Complete freedom!  What a rush it is to pass expensive automobiles and vans stuck in traffic!  Add to this the feeling that you're contributing to a smaller ecological footprint, and you have yourself a winner!

All that biking (plus some sort of dieting) helped me lose 50lbs in around 2 years.  I was down to 210lbs!  But then the biking stopped for one reason or another, and the dieting as well.  I started gaining...  a lot.  And again, I topped off at 223lbs.  I've started biking again, and I'm now at 220lbs.  My goal is that by April, I'll be down to less than 200.  Slow and steady.  Losing too much too quick will leave me with flaps of loose skin everywhere (ewwww!).  Slow and steady is a lot healthier.

The good thing about writing this all down is that I'm pressuring myself to do things.  Like the Baguio trip I took last week.  I wrote down that I'd go, whether I had company or not, and because I had it written down (and published), I had to do it.  No excuses.  And that's what I'm hoping to accomplish with this entry.  By writing down my goal, I've put myself in a position to not have excuses.  No excuses!

Wish me luck!

New Blog Entry on ALkuHOLIC

Ruelski's pad, Marikina

ALkuHOLIC New Year

http://alkuholic.tumblr.com/post/2550567545/blu-frog-ortigas-home-depot-happy-new-year