Kasambuhay Habambuhay

At last, kahit walang tulog at sunod-sunod ang naging mga pagrampa ngayong weekend, natuloy pa rin ang ultimate experience ngayong Saturday! 

Kasama si friendshipJeremiah (who's on his way to Saudi next week) and Makito (a newly returned missionary), our feet were off to SM Megamall for the KASAMBUHAY HABAMBUHAY: A Short Film anthology, as part of the centennial celebration of Nestle Philippines.

Matao sa mega dahil Independence Day Sale din. Partida pa dahil 2 oras palang ang tulog namin ni maia. Quarter to 6PM ng makarating kami sa cinema lobby at mahaba na ang linya ng mga taong all set para sa 7:05 screening. So hindi na surprising ang dami ng tao na naghihintay. Sa may table ng ticket reception naka post ang..Ticket distribution for 9:30 screening will start on 7:30

Pero kahit ganun, makulit pa rin ang mga tao dahil paulit-ulit pa rin silang nagtatanong tungkol sa ticket at sa susunod na oras ng screening. Dahil kailangan pa namin mag-antay ng 7:30, sinamantala muna namin ang free taste ng Coco Cruch, nakadalawang round din ang mga patay gutom. Hehe.

Ilang saglit pa ang lumipas, pinalad kaming palihim na bigyan ng tatlong ticket ng isang babaeng staff. Akala namin noong una ay para sa 9:30 pa yun, hindi pala dahil ang ticket na inabot nya kay maia ay para sa 7:05 screening.

Hindi kami binigo ng sampung short films na tig-sampung minuto bawat isa. Sympre, hindi mawawala ang Nestle products sa bawat short film, nagpapakita ng role ng Nestle sa buhay ng Pilipino. Astig ang production quality ng mga shorts. Astig din ang stories at “magnificent” ang performances ng mga artists. Ilang bigating artista ang kinuha ng Nestle sa bawat film which is good dahil pasok sa banga ang casting. Ang iba naman ay pamilyar na mukha na sa industriya ng indie and short film, o di kaya naman ay suki na ng Cinamalaya. Kapansin-pansin ang pagka-energetic ng mga viewers mula palang sa unang short na kinatampukan ni Ms. Comedy Icon Eugene Dominggo sa The Howl & the Fussyket. Nasa likuran naman namin ang isa sa mga gumanap sa "Cooking Mo, Cooking Ko" na tawa din ng tawa sa mga pinaggagawa niya. Nakadagdag pa sa mabagsik na cinamatography ang pagiging digital theater ng cinema 3, ibig sabihin, hindi film ang gamit na medium, kundi digital format.

MY TOP FAVORITES

TINGALA SA BABA - Henry Frejas

This satire film shows a very simple story yet upholds a very powerful message. Natuwa ako sa mga batang gumanap dito. Natural ang arte. Para bang walang camera sa paligid. Excellent cinamatography din. Even the soundtrack speaks for the story. Medyo pumalya lang sa continuity ng sinag ng araw which is somehow a typical challenge sa outdoor shoot. Pero sa pangkalahatan, ang pag-uusap ng mayamang bata at mahirap na bata sa gitna ng kanilang "common ground" ay matalinong konsepto ng short film. Wish ko lang tinamaan ang mga "rich kids".

OH! PARA SA TA U WA YEAH! - Jeorge Agcaoli

Gusto ko to because of its charm and music. I love musical films. And I know how hard it is to make a musical film. And how hard it is to shoot sa isang uma-andar na vehicle. Nice naman dahil the editing is seems to be very perfect and subtle. Ang istorya ng Nestea Iced Tea TVC campaign ay well-established na, and it gave a good advantage to catch the hearts of the audience in putting it into a short film masterpiece. 

The best line? Interesting ka daw sabi ng ate ko, tulad nitong book ko (Jillian holding a children's book). -Haha

SILUP - Jun Reyes

Nagustuhan ko ang SILUP dahil una, ang kabuoan ng istorya ay nasa dulong lahat. Pakiramdam ko, ang buong kwento ay nasa huling tatlong minuto ng pelikula. Pangalawa, nakipagtitigan ako sa kaisa-isang eksena ni Ms. Gloria Diaz. Higit 2 minuto din siyang hindi kumurap. Palantandaan ng kanyang kahusayang walang kupas.

DOWNTOWN - Stephen Ngo

Katulad ng SILUP, paglalaruan din ng DOWNTOWN ang paniniwala mo sa mahabang panahon at pagkatapos sa dulo ay tila ba biktima ka ng maling akala. Ang popular na tawag dun ay twist. Isang kapansinpansin na kapangyarihan ng DOWNTOWN ay ang pagpapamalas nitong gawing tila ba matiwasay at malamig na lugar ang China Town. At ang huling dayalogo sa dulo na, "tara na, uwi na tayo," ang bumuo sa kwento. Kudos para kay Stephen Ngo, na hindi ko kilala.

Actually, hindi ko namalayan na tapos na ang 100 minutes. Nakakaaliw. Sa maiikling kwento, pang matagalang epekto ang dala. Iba na talaga ang marketing strategy ngayon. 

CSP: Philippine Red Cross Shelter Project

As part of the National Day of Service celebration, latter-day saints of the Antipolo Philippine Stake spent the whole Saturday  to Philippine Red Cross Shelter Assistance Project in Teresa Rizal. The event aims to provide help and assistance to local people working to build their own houses at no expense on their part. Over 200 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( known as Mormons) volunteered to this historic event. 

APRIL 16, 2011 - It was a bright and sunny Saturday, merely perfect for a summer getaway. But my friends and I have something more important else to do. We just thought its the better way to jump start the Summer Vacation in a very productive way. Weeks earlier, our ward Bishop announced our National Day of Service project, and the first thing that came in our minds, (or maybe just me, hehe), oh well its another day of cutting wild grasses, cleaning a dirty street (which will get soiled again after an hour) or just taking away old electoral posters along highways. But no, this time it sounded quite interesting. Its not because young adults are expected to join the service project so they can join the upcoming Young Single Adults Camp this May, but when our Bishop discussed what we will be having as our community service, it got more inviting. =)


Philippine National Red Cross is a premier humanitarian organization in the country committed to provide quality life-saving services that protect the life and dignity especially of indigent Filipinos in vulnerable situations. Leaders of the Antipolo Philippine Stake have worked with PNRC to provide one day of volunteer activity to help the local people of the shelter site build their own community. 

The site is located in Teresa Rizal, about 2 kilometers from the interior national road, with short-cut to Cogeo lower Antipolo as said by people living there. Obviously, the place is far from landmarks and business establishment. We even had difficulty in our network reception. The people who lives in the site are victims of typhoon Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi, 3 of the most destructive typhoons in 2009. These families are randomly selected from their previous address once a cluster (an area with 10 single detach shelters) is completed. Most the workers in the site, as I've discovered, are being paid Php 150 per day along with the hope of owning a shelter for their families. That is, you dont literally work for your own house, like what Gawad-Kalinga do. You build houses for other families so once your names are chosen you would have your own house previously built by other workers. Its like a post-paid or pre-paid scenario. The job to build a house is tough, not a joke from whatever point.


Here are some of our captured moments:

More than 200 latter-day saints from different parts of Antipolo gathered to receive their designated assignments.

Some folks enjoyed the service under the tree. =)

President Ardon lead the service with more work, less talk.

Before putting up the foundation, one must  break the ground first.

The site's water system.

Digging up the canal.

One of the local residents posed for a photo while observing the service.

Local people did everything to get better tv reception.

That one is posted daily.

A young girl taking a view from their window.

A young child observing the volunteers do their job.

Manong vendor took the chance to sell his ice cream!

Aside from us, there were also military volunteers working in the site.

Missionaries spent the weekend for the National Day of Service.

Elder Quorum working on the wrong side of the wall.

Mas mahirap palang i-correct ang nakatagilid na pundasyon kesa ang itayo ito mula simula.

The event lasted until afternoon. A representative from Philippine Red Cross gave a meaningful message to the rest of the volunteers after the service. The National Day of Service is a social welfare project of the Church's 50th Year Jubilee Celebration this coming April 30 at Araneta Center. Broadcast of the celebration will be available via satellite on selected Stake and District Centers nationwide. Approach a mormon friend if you're interested to see this historic event.

SUMR 011: Intro to Summer 2011

Hello. 

Nakatulog yata ako ng matagal. Bagong taon pa nang huli akong magsulat dito. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit madalas pinagpapaliban ko ang mga nakagawian kong gawain. Hindi naman ako pala-busyng tao. Ayoko talaga ng ganun, yung ginagawang excuse ang pagiging "busy". Eh halos lahat naman ng tao, busy. Pwedeng busy sa pagtambay. Busy sa pagtext. Busy sa pag-iinternet. Ibig kong sabihin parte na ng tao ang may ginagawa or maraming ginagawa. At hindi yun sapat na dahilan para hindi gawin ang mas importanteng bagay, mga mas importanteng bagay. Totoo. Pero wala yang kinalaman sa buhay ko ngayon. Wala akong pakialam sa mga taong abala. Mas lalong wala akong pakialam sa mga taong abala sa pagpapayaman. I mean, hindi naman yun masama. Pero ironic lang na matapos kang magpayaman, mamatay ka pa rin na walang dala papuntang langit.

Summer na ngayon. Naalala ko noong nakaraang taon, matapos tapusin ang halos 2 taon ko sa Sitel bilang call center agent, ginugol ko ang buong bakasyon para sa practicum, or mas kilala sa tawag na OJT, On the Jeep Training, yun yung nakaupo ka malapit sa driver ng jeep at wala kang ibang ginawa kundi mag-abot ng bayad at sukli. Feeling ko yun ang pinaka-malas na pwesto sa loob ng jeep. Hahaha! (tawang wagas) Natutunan ko yan sa isa kong ka-dorm nang minsang umattend kami sa bithday handaan ng isa din naming dating kaboardmate. Balik tayo, ngayon bakasyon ulit. Matagal mapuno ang mga trycycle sa umaga. Ang awkward magsabi sa konduktor ng estudyante po! Lalo kung hindi ka naman naka-uniform at mukha ka nang employee (in a positive way). At ang pinaka-masaya sa lahat, konti lang ang estudyante sa school, parang araw-araw weekend sa PUP ngayong summer.

Oo. Summer class. 

Yan ang eksena ko ngayon. Tatlong units for Obligations and Contracts at isa pang tatlong units para sa Humanities. Yung oblicon ay singko subject. Hindi naman ako bobo, pero si Prof Jimmy Santos na dati kong prof dun ay binagsak lahat ng bading sa klase niya. Malas, naamoy ako. At swerte ng mga kumopya sa kin sa midterm at finals, dahil sila pa ang nakadale ng tres. Okay na kasi ang tres para sa minor na feeling major. Sinubukan ko pa yung hanapan ng explanation kung bakit nya ko binigyan ng TV5 na final grade, at sa kasamaang palad, wala naman siyang maipakitang calculations or kahit anong record. Tsk tsk tsk. Akala ko after 2 years ng absence ko sa PUP ay wala ng ganong prof na tinagurian pa namang "attorney". Meron pa pala. 

Yung pangalawang subject na dagdag boredom sa aking Summer 2011 ay Humanities. Isang kadorm, si marvin, ang nagsabi sa kin na ang Humanities daw ay all about appreciation of arts! Naknang! Eh artistic pa naman ako. Hahahahahaha! May pagsayaw daw dun ng Itik-itik. Kaya pala minsan sa 6th floor, or madalas, may mga nagpra-practice ng sayaw. Meron pa nga akong nakitang tumalon pa sa armchair. Part siguro ng presentation. Nagmukhang PE department ang sex floor, i mean, sixth floor. Naalala ko nang tanungin ako ni Mam Beths, chair ng department namin, kung ano ang kukunin ko ngayong summer, sabi ko lang, humanity po. Eh wala palang ganung subject.

Ang hirap tuloy magdecide kung paano maging productive ngayong bakasyon. Feeling ko marami akong bakanteng oras. Napaka big deal ng bakanteng oras dahil bihira lang ako magkaroon nun. Pero ayoko din naman mag full-time employee dahil naranasan ko na mag work while studying at sakit yun sa pancreas! Haha!

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PS: Nag OJT ako sa Sinihan Digitales, Inc. Gumagawa ng mga independent films. Hindi sa jeep. =) Happy summer!

2011 @ Home

Wew. Actually, natatandaan ko pa kung paano kami ng celebrate ng New Year sa pagdating ng 2010. At habang nagsisindi kami ng mga paboritong lucies kagabi, naisip ko lang ang nagdaang taon - 2010. Napakadaming nangyari. As in marami. 

Maraming nakilala, naging kaibigan, naging malalapit na kaibigan, mga achievements, mga awards, mga failures, mga boredom, mga stress at kalungkutan, mga pressure at pagra-rush sa school, sa Church o sa personal na buhay, may part na maswerte, may part na malas, mga nawalang cellphones, tawanang wagas, mga pag-e-emote, pagpupuyat, paggagala, pagtatambay, pagsugod sa baha, at mga assorted na alaala in general.

Inabot na ng 2011 at family namin. At maraming maraming New Year pa kaming maaabutan! Ang prayer ko lang ay maka-survive tayong lahat ngayong 2011 nang partey-partey!!

SEPIA

My proselyting shoes after going home from
 my full-time mission - DEC 17, 2007

I was browsing on my FB nang mapansin ko ang ang date sa lower right ng windows ko. It was dated 12/18/2010. Ibig sabihin kahapon ang isa sa pinakahistorical day ng aking biography.


Hindi ko agad naalala kahapon dahil kasalukuyan ako noong nasa dorm naiinip at naghihintay ng mga cancellations ng lakad ko para makauwi na sa Antipolo. Oo nga pala, sa mga ganitong pagkakataon hindi ko maiwasang mag reminisce, lalo na't malamig ang hangin. Kasabay kasi ng bawat ihip ng hangin ang mga ala-ala, masaya at malungkot na ala-ala. Malayo man ang pagitan at malaki man ang pinagkaiba, saan man ako makarating at ano man ang meron sa kin ngayon at sa mga darating na araw, palagi ko pa ring maalala ang araw na yon.

True Colors

For whatever reason, this video brought tears in my eyes. Seriously.

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors lyrics

You with the sad eyes
don't be discouraged
oh I realize
it's hard to take courage
in a world full of people
you can lose sight of it all
and the darkness inside you
can make you fell so small.

But I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow.

Show me a smile then
don't be unhappy, can't remember
when I last saw you laughing
if this world makes you crazy
and you've taken all you can bear
you call me up
because you know I'll be there.

And I'll see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow.

REDBULL TVC Shoot

Now I can tell the story.

 

The ADPR 4-1N with sir Neo (on the left)

First Saturday of this month, me and my current classmates were just suddenly taken from a far off place we didn't even know where exactly it is. Some said its Bulacan, some said it was Caloocan. Our professor sir Neo had asked us to be part on his client's TV Commercial shoot for "Redbull". Sir Neo was once a 4th year student of Advertising and Public Relations while I started as a Freshman in PUP-Manila way back 2004. Right now, he came back as one of the part-time professors in our department and is currently our instructor for Retail Advertising and Promotion and Seminar on Advertising Trends and Issues.

The production team made us additional people for the TVC doing simple routine like walking, walking and walking, which was, as we found out later on, the major concept of the campaign. Though our effort was free of charge, the prod team made our stay as comfortable as possible by providing us food, snacks and shuttle service. They even promised to be our major sponsor if ever we would be organizing any event in the future, something that's like a music in our ears. Hehehe.

The shoot was held on an empty industrial plant. It was directed by Joel Limchoc under PostManila. Limchoc is also an Executive Creative Director of BBDO GO, one of the biggest advertising agencies in the country. Prior to joining the agency, he spent seven years at JWT Manila where he worked on Unilever and Ford. The project Redbull "Walk" TVC started airing the 3rd week of July on some UHF channels like Studio 23 and on cable networks as well. We were forbidden to post or upload our shoot photos until the time the commercial began airing.

You can check out the TVC below and see if you can find us! Hahaha.