star city

last friday we arrived at the venue of the musicfest several hours early. had sometime to wander around and take pictures. this one is the display in front of the starcity fairgrounds. this is where i had my first rollercoaster ride years before!

respite

november. it's the time of the company's annual music fest. so during the middle of the month we got this project that needs to be shown during the event. it's good to be doing animation work again as opposed to doing animation for avatars ( i.e. animated icons ). but its kind of scary too, because you have to continuosly improve or at least maintain your standard in animation. and that's hard considering the caliber of animators i work with. that's why i sometimes hesitate to introduce myself as a 3d animator.ha,ha like they said salvation is free, but your salary, that you have to work for.

it's also a blessing that my sister came home for my exhibit. because with all these things going on, she insists that we accompany her on her 'outings'. that's the reason why last sunday i found myself on the way to villa escudero. i slept most of the time, regaining consciousness just before we get off the south expressway.


church, san pablo, laguna. early morning sunday. on the way to our destination.

the place is okay. it's just that i'm more partial to nature treks, swimming pools or the beach (last time i used my snorkels, i think i was watching the movie 'into the blue'. at home). that's why i spent most of the time before lunch swimming in the pool. the water is cold and since we were there before the crowd, i was the only one using it.


view of the river from the coconut pavillion


rafting pier. there are rafts available for the guests.

since it was sunday, there was a cultural show presentation. and though the sound system is below standard, the talent and enthusiasm of the performers more than make up for it. my dad enjoyed the show and even my sister was moved to comment that the performance was better than the one she'd seen in lincoln center.


dad watching the cultural show.
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on the jeep going to the office this morning, i saw this woman putting on her makeup. she's not just retouching it ( he,he got that word from my female friends ) she's putting on the whole caboodle. cheeks, lips, eyes, they all got her attention, even in the uneven ride of the jeep. i was thinking of waiting for her to finish just to see her transformation after all that layers of paint. ha,ha.

out of the cave

one thing i realized while working on my paintings for the exhibit is that i tend to shy away from company. oh, i still go to malls and all that but i don't think i would be able to hold a decent conversation. maybe it's because i like to look at the people passing by and wonder about where they've been from, where they're going and all that. or maybe it's the freedom of just deciding where to go without trying to consider what your companions would like to go to or do.

so now that the exhibit opening has passed, i feel like a kid venturing out on the streets again after days of beeing cooped inside the house. have you ever felt that way? remember those moments when you know the storm has passed but you still have no classes. the kids tentatively wandering out of the still wet streets, until after awhile there is this crowd of kids playing 'agawang base' or 'siato'( he,he at least that's what they do during my time ).

it's with this feeling that i found myself buying my new 'toy'. last friday on my way to a meeting, i passed by the megamall branch of columbia photo. they were having a bodega sale there and i saw the point and shoot digital camera that i've been saving up for, going for less than its regular price. i'll write about my impressions on shooting pics in digital later. but i'll end this post with a pic i've taken while trying to learn the ins and outs of my camera. saw this group of old people singing along to the accompaniment of the piano at alabang town center last sunday. unlike my karaoke-singing neighbors in quezon city, these old guys sing in tune. go lolo! go lola!

aftermath

well it seems that i survived the exhibit opening intact. arrived late. no lights at the gallery because of a downed high tension wire. left my eyeglasses inside the adventure. have to squint at every person who enters the place to see if they were my guests or part of the writers group. met a former teacher from fine arts - "you ought to know how to explain your works". learned a spiritual lesson in all that. but it took me sometime to see it. he,he i'm a stubborn old dog.


under grey skies, 2005