Personal

  • That Thing Called Tadhana with Sid Lucero

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    That’s me with Sid Lucero after watching PETA‘s Arbol de Fuego last March 15. This was one of the few surreal moments of meeting actors in real life. It made my body literally shiver like I was vertically thousands of feet away from the ground on top of Mt. Pulag. I was supposed to take pictures with the actual cast members: Cherie Gil, Bembol Roco and Raffy Tejada (one of my basic acting weekend workshop facilitators) among others. Unfortunately and fortunately while waiting, I saw Sid outside. I was hesitant at first but the adrenaline of the that week just kept on coming. I decided to take the chance and just do it. I asked him for a photo and he didn’t hear me so I tapped his shoulder. Out of nervousness, I just posed for the camera even if he wasn’t ready. He saw the camera and said: “Oh.. Okay.” Hahahaha AWKWARD.

    My friend was using my phone but for some reason the shots were too exposed. She asked us to change positions hoping that it’d solve the problem (it didn’t but good thing it didn’t, I really like the effect). We posed but my friend was having a hard time adjusting the focus of the camera so it was really an awkward couple of minutes. Sid put his arm on my should and I started shaking. He felt it and said “You’re shaking, man.”. I died (and wished that the earth’d swallow me whole).

    I’ve been watching Sid since Etheria (Encantadia’s prequel) and I’ve always admired his acting skills. This was quite an experience. Looking forward for more celebrity encounters. Watch out! I’m going to post my other “celebrity encounters” in the future. 🙂

    Side-note:  Arbol de Fuego was so nice. The performances were great. I’ve never seen a straight play that had more than four characters. Everybody brought something to the table and the script sounded natural considering it was in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Ilonggo. The overall theme of the play was all about letting go. Being less attached to the past to embrace the gifts of tomorrow.

  • Marlon Stockinger: Racing to Our Hearts :p

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    Marlon Stockinger (Personal Website) is a race car driver born to a Filipina mother and a Swiss father. He was born April 4, 1991, making him only 22 years old as of this writing. He studied and was raised in the Philippines until his family moved to Europe when he was around 16 years old.

    Bianca Gonzales talks about 10 things more you need to know about him in this article.

    To quote Marlon in the said article,

    These people from Europe, America, South America, they’re all too good. But then you realize when you win the race, hey, they’re no more special, they’re just from a different country. At the end of the day they’re normal people too. That’s when it sank in that this is possible. With more success comes greater ambition. You just believe in yourself more. It was just a dream, but now it’s becoming reality.

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    (Photo Source)

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  • January

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    In the next two weeks or so, we become as hopeful as a little boy wishing for a baby brother or as optimistic as a high school student dreaming to make the world a better place. We are neither fazed by the wind of uncertainties nor afraid of the heartbreaks of winter.

    In January, we can be anything we want, do anything we like and try to as much as possible make the new year ours.

    Because at least in January, the new year is ours.

    We scribble neatly (or not) in our new planner notebooks a long list of resolutions. We make vision boards filled from construction paper and cut-outs from old magazines.Will we get all of them done for the year? No but at least in January, we do.

    We change our routines and create new personal superstitions. We pass a different route going to work because it’s faster. We try to commit in documenting every day of our lives in a diary. We brush our teeth before going in to the shower instead of the other way around. We realize how much has changed since January of last year and it feels okay. Though there is still regret and bitterness, it is okay because in January, we welcome and accept change.

    We read our horoscopes (western and Chinese). We believe that our luck is changing. We think that we are lucky enough to win the lottery so we buy tickets. We imagine what we can buy with the prize money. How much we will donate to charity and how much we will keep. We look forward to find love for the first time or again for the nth time because in January, everything feels attainable.

    We dream. We plan. We aim.

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  • 2014: New Year’s Wish

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    We have not been updating this blog for quite some time now but since it is a new year, I’d like to make it my personal new year’s resolution. 

    New Year’s Wish

    Every new year, I make a wish. Every time the clock ticks its first second, I look up in the sky and silently fill my heart and mind with a silent prayer. First, I thank God for the past year. Second, I wish for good health and prosperity. Lastly, I pray to find someone that I can love and that will love me in return.

    Yes. Some may call it cheesy. Some may call it shallow. Some may even call it stupid or impossible. However, this New Year’s tradition is what’s keeping me hopeful for the years to come.

    Somehow, I need something to hold on to just to keep moving… even if it’s just a wish.

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