That British Songwriter That Got Me Listening To Her Music On iTunes 24/7

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, or famously known as Adele, is currently on top of my favorite artist list. There is absolutely no song of hers I could hate. She's is amazing! Her recent album, 21, that was launched around January or February this year was very well received by her fans including me. The album is in every way worth listening to. Among the 17 songs contained in her album, my favorites are the ff: Someone Like You, Rolling In the Deep, Set Fire To The Rain, Turning Tables, Take It All, and Rumor Has It.

Adele - Someone Like You

The most beautifully heartbreaking song.


I heard rumors that Adele will be having a concert in Manila, Philippines this December 3, 2011. Can someone confirm if this is true? Because if it is, I want seats like right now! haha =P

Painting With My 3 Year Old Sister

One afternoon, we got bored and decided to paint. So we gathered not only our materials but all our creative powers and painted till sundown. Here are a few pictures of our so-called "masterpieces". Hope you like it!

The little girl getting messy already!

Do I have to name this painting? I can't think of any. So to justify, this is an "abstract" painting by me.

 The Eiffel Tower in yellow

Who do you think this is? Clue: The Fame Montster. Answer: Lady Gaga! What do you think of my version of Lady Gaga? hahaha!

This kind of rough drawing is what I usually doodle on my notebooks and books back when I was still studying. I turned it into a painting. Like it? :)

And the works of my 3 year old sister, Janica. I asked her to describe each painting so this is what she came up with:

 Las Terrazas (our village) with the pine trees daw...

This is her typical art. It always has flowers, grass, sun, and clouds.

And this is her version of a fish. I can't seem to figure out why. hahaha Nevertheless, it's cute! :)

Cocktails at the Balcony

A shot I took from our balcony, inspired by my dear friend, Duane, who took a shot similar to this one during my graduation party. With a little bit of tequila, citrus fruit juice, and blue curacao mixed together makes pleasurable blue margarita. Cocktails, anyone?

K11: Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan

Last Saturday (August 20, 2011), I was up at daybreak and already out in the streets of my beloved city. Despite the overcast day with only a little bit of sunshine, the atmosphere was very festive. There were vibrant street banners, brightly colored flags, and cheerful people everywhere. Thousands of shooters, bystanders, vendors, tourists, and spectators flock the streets to witness Kadayawan Festival's Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan.

It was my second time to shoot the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan and comparable to last year, I also had an awesome time. However, it was exhausting because I had to do long walks on streets but it was okay. The crowd didn't affect me that much though because usually when a place gets too crowded I sulk. Even so, I enjoyed the presence of being with the crowd, it made the atmosphere much more festive. 

I don't know if I got lucky with my shots but I hope you like it. These are a few I took.

with Jovi, posed for a picture while gearing up

cute little girl

Jovi and Michael

APS peeps Adi, Paolo, and Migo (LR)

Franz getting a 'tourista' shot

with Frankee, fellow photographer

Badaling Great Wall Experience: One Check Off My Bucket List

Dear Reader,

I know we all keep a list of things to do before we die. These things are our goals and ambitions that drive us to achieve that certain thing we want in life. These things may be anything from an object, a dream, a wish, a hope, an aim, or to any thingamajig. Some of us accomplished or attained a few already and some hasn't even started yet. But I have to ask, have you ever had that one check, even just one, off your bucket list?

I know I have, and just recently I might add.

It was last summer when my family and I went to China for quite a long vacation. We visited great cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. We toured the vast Tianenmen Square and Forbidden City in Beijing and explore the concrete jungle in Shanghai. And one of the major, major highlights of our trip was The Badaling Great Wall.

Going back, The Great Wall of China has never been off my bucket list ever since my youth or childhood. I have always dreamt of laying my eyes on such man-made wonder. I knew that I had to go see this marvel. As a graduation gift, I was given the liberty to choose where our next trip would be. Without a doubt, I had to pick China. Hence, when I found out that the trip would push through, I was ecstatic.

Here are some photos with captions that would put my experience in a nutshell.

Instead of hiking from the lower point, we took the cable car to and from the higher point of The Great Wall to save time and energy.

Tourists of different race and nationalities flock The Great Wall! We didn't expect too much sightseers. The crowd was overwhelming. We were literally rubbing elbows with them. Nevertheless, we do not want to blow a hole in such a happy moment. Plus, we didn't really have much of a choice.

A scenic view of The Great Wall taken from the highest point of the Badaling section. It was really amazing.

So this is me, having my photo-op against the wall.

And my dearest family.

I purchased this customized keychain saying "I have climbed The Great Wall" worth 15 Yuan as souvenir from the trip.

My experience was an unparalleled opportunity to strike out that one item, that I wanted so much, off my list. It was great that I had the chance to do it together with the people I love the most. It was an extraordinary period of my life where I was truly happy and fulfilled. Needless to say, I have Climb The Great Wall!


I hope you can scratch some items in your list too! Somehow, you can make your life more challenging and exciting. Just believe in yourself that someday, you can and you will.


xoxo, j

What Light Can Do To Your Photo

I have always been fond of capturing blurry light photos. I like the way it appears as cloudy and hazy, yet somehow focused. Every time I mess around with the settings of my camera and try to capture such image, my creativity transpires. Basically, my desired result is to churn out abstract photos that would drive one to create a thought or an idea out of it.

Throughout the period since I learned how to use the manual setting and capture such image, I have always admire the outcome. I find some of the photos very stimulating and motivating. I'd like to share some of the photos I took from our balcony around 8 o'clock in the evening (see photos below).

As you can see, light can be of many things to a photograph. It can sophisticate and refine a photo, as well as add glare and brilliance. It can also furnish, add finishing touches, and surprisingly even desolate a photo. With it in any circumstance, an abstract photo can turn from nothing into something. And this, I find very thought-provoking.

The colors are psychedelic along with translucent circles having different shades yellow and blue. One may think of this photo as a party scene.

I call this photo the "Enigmatic Blur". Go figure.

For the love of Barney Stinson

This is going to be legen - wait for it - dary!

I'm on the 4th season of How I Met Your Mother and I can't help but worship the awesome Barney Stinson. He is by far, the only character that blurts out the most hilarious one-liners at any time.

This remarkable character has wits, I must say. He has designed strategies and rules on how to hook up with women, get laid, and leave. Not only that, he also keeps a list of all the women he has slept with. He is a total asshole worthy of attention.

Kudos to Neil Patrick Harris for portraying the awesomest guy on television!

Suit Up!

Here are some of my favorite Barney Stinson lines:

From "Single Stamina" (Season 2)
Barney, describing his brother: "He's the awesomest, most best-lookingest, greatest guy ever!"
Lily: "He's exactly like Barney"
Barney: "That's what I just said."

From "The Chain of Screaming" (Season 3)
Barney, reacting to Ted's new car: "Shotgon for eternity!"
Robin: "You can't call shotgun for eternity."
Barney: "I call that I can call things."

From "Lucky Penny" (Season 2)
Describing the simplicity of running a marathon "Step one, you start running. There is no step two."

From "How I Met Everyone Else" (Season 3)
First explaining to Marshall about his unique qualities: "Think of me like Yoda, but instead of being little and green I wear suits and I'm awesome. I'm your bro - I'm Broda!"

How could you not love him?

Fact:
Barney Stinson is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Stinson