The week that was (October 21 - 27)

Sunday: Got up a little bit late at almost 7:00am hence I wasn't able to take some shots at The Manila Hotel in the morning. I wake my wife and baby for breakfast at Cafe Ilang-Ilang (I'll write a blogpost about it). When we got there, we simply enjoy the food as well as take some family portraits and probably, we stayed there for two hours before we walked along the poolside. By 10:00am, we were getting ready to check-out of the hotel when Migmig fell asleep as she was suppose to have her bath at a big bath tub. Anyway, I took a bath on the tub before getting dressed. We took a cab going home and got there before 12:00pm. I took a long nap as I get started to feel tired and dizzy. I got up at 2:30pm as my wife and baby's turn to get a nap. I went online to kill boredom and try to update myself for around an hour or two before going back home. When Migmig was up again, I took her out to nanay and let her spend the rest of the afternoon before having snacks at Chowking. Though I don't feel well, I still took a bath since taking baths at hotels don't make me comfortable before going to sleep.

Monday: Got up early so I could go online and try to finish some of my entries. My daughter got up a few minutes past 8:00am so I took her out for some fun in the sun. The morning rush again as we head off to The Medica City for my baby's check-up. We took an LRT2 ride to Cubao before getting a cab straight to the hospital. We were in luck as we didn't have to stay in the hospital as we had our lunch at SM Megamall. We picked Inasal Chicken Bacolod as our pitstop as we were really hungry at that time. Then my wife had to do some errands on her sister's tablet so I took Migmig somewhere to get her pre-occupied. Then we spend the rest of the afternoon at Starbucks with my wife having a hot drink while I had juice from Mondo Juice. Migmig fell asleep for almost 2 hours before she got up as we decide to go home and enjoy the rest of the evening there.

Tuesday: Got up at almost 6:00am as I have a scheduled interview with Perimeter along Makati Avenue. Once I got dressed-up, I had breakfast at Jollibee first before taking the LRT2-1 connection. LRT-2 ride was fine but I had to get myself cramped at LRT-1. When I got to Buendia, I took a jeep and to my dismay, I forgot my resume at home (Toinks!) XD. Good thing there was an internet cafe nearby so I just had it re-printed and went to Perimeter's office. Just in time, I was able to get in to their office. The lady at the frontdesk hand me over the application form and I fill it up and submit it back to her along with my resume. She was the one who initiated the interview as well. The interview went fine with some lapses on my part when I was asked if I had questions. I finished at 10:30am so I went to  my old office in Makati to get my clearance form and have it signed. It didn't took me that long as all people that I need to find were there. After handing my stuff to Greif and my Clearance to Grow, I head off to Greenbelt to have lunch at Cafe Havana (again!). I remember the text message I received that my laptop is ready for pick-up. I got home at around 3:00pm and wasted no time in getting my other stuff ready so I could go to NEO Service Center along Shaw Blvd. When I got there, I was the last customer on queue so they had to put the hard drive back  and have it tested before the final paperwork has been made. Then I went to the nearest Starbucks to have coffee and kill time as well as think and strategize for the week ahead. I felt sleepy with the caffeine in my system so I decided to go home and enjoy the rest of the night. ^_^

Wednesday: Got up at past 5:30am to start my day. I was able to finish some of my blogposts as well as read Sunday's paper on a Wednesday morning. XD Migmig got up at past 9:00am so I didn't put her to sleep at this time. All of a sudden, I had this urge to download all my files from my multiply site straight to my PC. Its around 16,000 files but most of them were pretty small so I think I could handle (I think XD). I cool our room so Migmig would be able to sleep in the afternoon. I was able to put her to sleep at past 1:00pm and she got up at almost 4:00pm. We spent some more time upstairs as her aunt and uncle were pretty busy. By 6:00pm, I went out to have some snacks before going to SM Centerpoint to buy some wet wipes for my baby before coming back home. I went online for a couple minutes more before we got to bed at past 11:00pm. 

Thursday: Got up at almost 7:00am, and I'm late for today's activity. I got myself and my gear ready as I head off to Intramuros first for breakfast. Unfortunately, Stall #9, aka Manang's is closed so I had to go somewhere else. I went online for almost an hour before having breakfast at Mc Donald's. I had to buy an umbrella as I forgot to bring one with me plus the rain is getting stronger and stronger. Another unfortunate thing happened is that my big toe on my left foot begins to swell which makes walking difficult. When I got to The National Museum, it was already past 10:00pm (I'll write a blog about this). After spending time there for almost 5 hours, I head off to SM Manila to have my late lunch there at Bonchon. Still nursing my left foot, I had to walk slowly and carefully until I hopped on the next bus to Greenhills. Not sure whether the Non-Print Day lecture series would push through or not, I went online to check for any cancellations but there is none. Then I walk my way to Sir Jo's studio as heavy rain still keep on pouring and my feet were already drenched in rain water. By the time I got to the Studio, I saw only a handful of people. After dinner, the lecture started at exactly 8:00pm with Ms Sofia Genato as the speaker (I'll write a blog about this). I stayed at the studio for an hour after the talk before I took a cab going home. I didn't sleep first as I need to go online and probably, I dozed-off at 1:30am.

Friday: Got up late at 9:00am though my eyes have been open since 8:30am. I forgot to get up at 6:00am to go online and catch-up. I took Migmig out to buy some pandesal but we weren't able to buy any so we got back home instead and had breakfast with what we have at home. The morning was pretty steady as I got online outside for an hour before putting Migmig to sleep at past 1:00pm. She got up at around 3:00pm or so before we went down as I took a bath when my wife just got back from  her trip to Quiapo. She decided to go to SM Manila to do some purchases for her new tablet. I agreed as I haven't had lunch yet and I'm craving for Bonchon again. We got to SM Manila by 6:00pm and head straight to Bonchon for dinner. Then my wife bought a screen protector for her tablet as well as a 32GB micro SD before heading home. I went online right away but my wife put Migmig to bed by 10:00pm so I went out to go online until almost midnight before I went to bed.

Saturday: Got up early this time at 7:00am and I started to go online. Migmig got up at 8:30am so I took her down and out to Nanay for some fun in the sun. We got back home at 9:30am so my baby could have more breakfast. My wife was still sleeping by 10:30am so I let my baby wake her up. By 11:30am, I went upsairs to get a nap until 1:00pm. I was able to put Migmig to sleep at 1:30pm as I was able to go online and use NEO (the other laptop) in our room. She got up at almost 4:00pm as we went down and I had my late lunch and my late bath as I went out again to go online and let my wife babysit our baby. When I got back, Migmig and I went to Llanas to buy something before enjoying the rest of the night.

Non-Print Day Lecture Series: Sofia Genato

It was a stormy day when I got to Sir Jo's Studio last night. I my pants and shoes were soaking wet that I had to dry up first before getting inside his studio. Even there was enough time before the lecture series, I missed most of the "Hunger Games" movie that we were suppose to watch while waiting. 

Little did I know that Ms Sofia Genato was already in the studio even before the lecture has started. 

Sofia Genato by Jo Avila

Ms. Sofia Genato started out as a hobbyist in photograhy. As a self-taught photographer, she started with Maternity Photography before moving to Child, Family and eventually, Newborn Photography. One thing I remember that she said was "Take a lot of pictures, quantity leads to quality". 

She showed to us some of her works that got me really amazed. When I saw some of them, I look back at my project 365 thinking why I didn't think of that? I guess I need to do more practice and my wife needs to give birth so Migmig would have a playmate and I would have a new subject. XD

Here are some thoughts she shared with us during her talk (I'll share some).

1. Get it right in camera.
2. Find the light, know the light. 
3. Look for different angles. 
4. Turn off the flash. 
5. Check the Background
6. Engage with kids. 
7. There is beauty in details. 
8. Know when to say when.
9. Have a vision in mind. 
10. Don't give up. 

Through her talk, probably most of us would pursue to be professional photographers one way or the other. I hope I could turn pro someday. ^_^

Looking forward to attend the next non-print day lecture series ^_^.

Swabeng Trip: A Historical and Educational Tour at The National Museum (Teaser)

For thirty-three years, I've never been to The National Museum until early today. I'm living in Manila for almost three years and yet, I keep on passing by this building whenever I go to work to to the mall.

Taken from their Facebook Page

Good thing I was able to take advantage of their "Free Entrance" to the museum in celebration of the Museums and Galleries Month as well as policy on taking pictures using DSLR was lifted so I made sure to make one day free so I could make the most out of it.

Since the National Museum has two buildings (Museum of the Filipino People and National Arts Gallery), I had to make the most out of my time (and my CF Card's space) and head of to one building after the other.

Anyways, I'll let you enjoy some of the photos I took there (straight from the camera, unedited as I have to do research if its ok to put watermarks on them). also, credit goes to The National Museum and its artists though I am the one who photographed them. I'll classify it into two groups. 


A. Museum of the Filipino People

B. National Arts Gallery

Believe me, every Manileño Filipino should visit The National Museum once in their lives (or more). I plan to go back there as most galleries were under renovation. 

Oh, I forgot to let you know that this is just a teaser XD. A detailed posts is still in the works. 

The week that was (October 14 - 20)

Sunday: Got up a bit late and took Migmig down by past 8:00am. We just went out for a walk before we got back home. After putting her to sleep, I was able to go online and get ready as the three of us took a cab to Makati to have some fondue at The Old Swiss Inn (I'll write a blog about it). After eating, we went to Ayala Triangle Garden to let my daughter play to her heart's content. I took some pictures of her as well before taking the three-bus route going home. By 8:00pm, all three of us got tired but still enjoyed the rest of the night before going to bed but not without buying milk for my baby first as she ran out of supply already.

Monday: Got up as early as 6:45am as I have a scheduled interview at 10:00am. I had breakfast first and got dressed for the interview before leaving home at 8:00am. I took the bus going to Ortigas then took another to Pasay Road. I had to walk for about 5-10 minutes before reaching the place I had to go to for my interview. When I got there,I had to wait for a few minutes before my technical exam. And my technical exam was pretty bloody as I can't recall most of the questions there I used to know. after the exam, the recruiter told me to be back at 1:00pm and its only 11:00am at my phone. I went to Greenbelt 3 to buy a magazine before having lunch at Cafe Havana (my second time). I got really full after eating as I walk back to the building for my interview. It was a short one and lasted for about 15 minutes before they inform me to wait for a call. After my interview, I'm off to Alabang to pick-up my UNO Collector's Issue only to get disappointed when I got my copy. There were no difference in the first UNO I bought a few weeks back. With plenty of time to spare, I visited SM Southmall which I haven't been to in almost a decade. There were a lot of changes since I got there but what I like most about it is the row of restaurants at the back. Some of them I think can only be found there as I promised myself to take my family there when time permits. I left SM at 5:00pm and got home almost 3 hours later. The day was really tiring but I'm looking forward to do it again when time permits. XD

Tuesday: Got up at almost 7:00am as I went online to do some stuff. My wife and daughter got up a bit late at 8:30am. I took Migmig out and went to the bank to do some transactions (paying a voucher) before going back home. After Migmig's bath, I put her to bed only to get up after less than an hour. I had no choice but to keep up with her pace and went down so my daughter can have lunch. I had some snacks outside before I took her up again and put her to sleep. I was surprised she slept again and I did too. When I got up, I went online for a couple of minutes before going out to visit Nanay. Practically it was a boring day that is not.

Wednesday: Got up at 7:00am even if I still feel a little bit groggy from last night. Good thing my daughter is still sleeping soundly despite battling colds that hinders her breathing through the nose. I went online for an hour before she got up. In the afternoon, Then I let her aunt took care of her so I could go out and go online there as our game cannot be accessed on our PC. I had some snacks first as my tummy is rumbling already. When I went back home, she's fast asleep so I went up and took care of her until she gets up. Another boring day but its not as I fix some of my things upstairs before going to sleep.

Thursday: I went out as early as 7:00am to go online for a couple of minutes as our game was still inaccessible before going back to see my daughter already up and awake. I was also able to buy some stuff at Llanas before putting my daughter to sleep after her bath. She got up an hour and a hlaf later while I'm in the middle of doing something online. We both went down before I went out to go online for a few hours more and got home at almost 6:00pm. Migmig was asleep when I got back so I went online for a few minutes before she got up. When we went down, her aunt had visitors so we stayed in the kitchen not to bother them so much with my baby's antics. The night was pretty much the same until we went to bed and get some rest.

Friday: Got up early for me to go online outside and check on our Cafe Land. When I got home, Migmig was already awake so we went out to buy some pandesal so my baby could enjoy the rest of the morning. After her bath, she went to sleep which gave me time to go online. Then by the time she got up again, I took her down to get dressed and for me to get ready as we will meet her mom at SM Megamall. We left at almost 3:00pm as we took an FX going there. When we got there, we had lunch at Secret Recipe while waiting for my wife. Migmig wanted more so I gave her some of my lunch as well. She arrived at almost 5:00pm just in time I'm finished eating. We looked for the tablet my wife has been eyeing for days and she was able to buy it. Then we had its firmware downloaded before we went down to use my GCs from The Sandwich Guy to have our late dinner (I'm thinking of writing a blog about it). Good thing we were able to get a ride home quick as my daughter fell asleep at around 9:00pm on our way home. I went out to go online to complete our Cafe Land games before going back at almost midnight and get some sleep.

Saturday: Got up early for me to go online outside and check on our Cafe Land. When I got home, Migmig was already awake so we went out for a walk. I took her to Jollibee for breakfast and I was able to feed her until she got full. When we got back, her mom was busy preparing our things to bring at the Manila Hotel later.I went online at home and got surprised when our Cafe Land is now working after having problems accessing it on our own PC. By past 12:00pm we left home and got to The Manila Hotel at past 1:00pm (I'll write a blog about it). The afternoon was pretty much okay as I got to take photos of the hotel before we had dinner at Shakey's. After dinner, we made ourselves comfortable before going to sleep on the hotel's king-sized bed. XD

The Philippines turning Karaoke Republic

Almost all Filipinos love to sing, don't you agree? Be it in the shower or in front of a crowd they don't seem to want to get their hands off that microphone. There are outlets who are willing to let the singer in you release all of your talents but usually, the good ones (Karaoke Bars) are found in Timog.

After a hearty dinner at Comida Ilocandia and a soothing massage at Spaoay, we head off to Karaoke Republik to sing the night away. I recall going to bars like these a few years back but I only knew they can have a certain theme. Looking at their walls, the brainchild behind Karaoke Republic is really a Genius for having a different concept.

Their Facade Outside

What's best about this joint is that you don't need to worry about anything. From your list of songs to your barchow, to your rice meals, Karaoke Republic got you covered. 

 

From what Mr. Jay Lazaro (Marketing Head) showed us, its like traveling around the world without breaking your wallet. Most of the rooms have their unique names like Sing-a-Pore, Yeah-Men to name a few. Some of the rooms were even named after the branches of government like the one we stayed at for the night (Songpreme Court).

If I wasn't full from all the food I ate earlier, I could have finished all the food served to us. I got to sing a song just as when most people are about to leave at almost midnight. :D 

I'd recommend this place to my wife's boss the next time they wanted to do videoke with my wife and her office mates.


Note: Photos are from Ms Dems as my laptop is still under repair.