Project 721

You handpicked your songs for your mp3 player. I have been loading Moses, my black iPod Nano (1st generation, baby!), with songs from all over the planet. It has the most diverse playlist with Japanese songs, classic compositions, pop songs, electro, soundtracks, and all other genre. Thing is, I have been immersing myself with all kinds of music but I noticed that I always find myself waiting for the next song, choosing which one will suit my mood. HAH! Times change! I should've been just creating ten thousand playlists instead. I've been reading randomness lately and I stumbled upon the thought that if I chose my songs, I would definitely listen to it and not press the next button.

Okay. Plan was I'll choose Shuffle Songs option in my player and live listen through whatever's playing there. Whether She&Him is playing while I'm jogging or when BEP's cracking my earphones while I'm studying.

Britney Spears - Telephone

Yes, it's the song Lady Gaga and Beyonce rocked the world with. The song with a killer music video that is almost ten minutes long but worth every minute of it. Well, Lady Gaga looked better before her The Fame Monster days (remember "Just Dance" and "Poker Face?"). Now, she looks like....

Lady Gagita feat. Haronce



Rumor has it that Lady Gaga wrote the song and asked Britney Spears to record it but she said otherwise. Those events always happen, when the original artist declined to record what would be the next big thing. Mary J. Blige was asked to record "Umbrella" (which eventually went to Rihanna) and was the first person Jay-Z had in mind to sing "Empire State of Mind." I admire Mary J. Blige for declining "Umbrella" because she said it was too mainstream. You go, girl!

So Britney made a demo of the song for whatever purposes she had in mind. Maybe she got bored I don't know. I'm a Britney fan ever since she hit me baby one more time. Haters go away.



Of course, when there's an original version, we cannot help but compare. This is too techno and Auto-Tuned but perfect for dance parties and Britney Spears Day (it's still on its way on becoming a real holiday).


MORAL: There are no accidents. First love never dies.

The Charmed Ones

The triquetra is a very cool tattoo design. Haha.

You probably know this series from your hippocampus, from your spinal column, from your bursa, from your spleen, from your vena cava. That is if your parents allowed you to watch television when you were younger, or when you sneak out to watch tv.

The Charmed ones. The three Halliwell sisters - Prue, Piper, and Phoebe with their basic (because they grow stronger and evolve) powers of psychokinesis, being able to freeze time, and the power of seeing the future or the past.

Witches. Good witches. Well, they cast themselves as witches because their lineage says so. They're still stuck at that label. They don't consider themselves "special," "gifted," "mutants," "evolution," or something just like the other people with powers. Witches who use potions and a spell book sans the magic wand? Hmm. Makes them stronger than Harry Potter. Mwahahaha.

Cherry Bomb and the Turista

Cherry Bomb! Chchchchchcherry bomb!

Okay, I'm not the biggest fan of The Runaways but girl bands kick-ass. I just posted this because I'll probably be watching this when it gets released whichever comes first - cinema or torrent. Ha! Download heaven.

However, when I saw this movie poster, two three things came into my mind.

1. Dakota Fanning has evolved! She's not the little kid talking to pigs and horses anymore. It's like she had a growth spurt just for this movie. She looks really nice in here and I know she can complement that with her acting skills which her co-star greatly lacks.

2. Kristen Stewart looks like a drag queen here. Haha! Or maybe this is just not her best photo in the bunch. But heck, they released this anyway so she has no choice.

3. I want to watch this movie whether it will be junk or not.

And then there's another thing, the more important thing. I've been wanting this hairstyle for so long. Well, since I'm the sun at the moment, I've been really making up with all the summers I have passed on by for academics. Now, I've been catching up with some other kind of learning. Learning and experiencing nature. 

I used to watch slasher movies and other thrillers just because I watch movies like crazy. When I saw this movie, I predicted the plot and the ending without batting an eyelash. Yet, Melissa George showed me a dream. I'm just sure that I need to get a job first before having my hair braided like this. Otherwise there's a high probability that I would show up in job interviews sporting cornrows. 

MORAL: Most people fear the unknown. I have read somewhere that we love looking for patterns and trends because we want to have control and explanation to everything. Well, not everything works for everyone. Some just like the unknown because of its uncertainty, with whatever surprise they're going to get, whether it will be a birthday cake that explodes in their faces or some pot of gold from a visiting leprechaun. Surprises are good, if you're up to it. It's about the thrill after all.

Actually, I just made that MORAL part right there. I just want to post this video. Cherry Bomb! I'm still not a fan of Kristen Stewart. Sorry.

The Secret Spells of the Charmed HornyPotter

Charmed Season 2 Episode 1 is the ultimate test for the Halliwell sisters. The Book of Shadows was stolen by some demon called Abraxas. Now the previous demons and spirits they have driven off are coming back one by one (being casted by the Abraxas), they have to remember all the spells they used to vanquish them. One by one, they have to remember it on the spot or else, they'll be as good as gone.

This is just like what happened to my interview a while ago. Probably the unluckiest interviewee ever as I got the most technical interview I have ever experienced. And upon sharing the questions asked to me, my friends attested that my interview was really... tough and they laughed at me because they probably found the questions preposterous. Who would in their right minds ask me in an interview the questions in my Systems Analysis and Design final exams for both semesters? Define, defend, enumerate, and differentiate. Good heavens.

Or if we play the fate card, maybe the company is not really for me.


MORAL: The Halliwell sisters and the writers of Charmed agree that "everything happens for a reason." And I have been one of its fans. So I'm only left to believe that maybe everything happens for a reason. Actually I just don't believe, I hope.

And how am I coping up with the aftermath of the interview? I'm watching Charmed, downed chocolates like a genuine 5-Star sweet tooth, and hello, that iced tea looks really refreshing. Oh oh, episode 1 of season 2 just ended. Hello, P3 is on the way! The best "club" or bar eveeeeeeer!

I Am the Sun and the Hair

You know how Filipinos are all over whitening creams and having fairer skin? Have you met? Natural papaya in your skin! Avocado and milk, not for dessert, but for whiter, fairer skin! Be fairer in 3 seconds flat! The advertisements can go on and on and all the products will whiten before your eyes. I'm just waiting for the day that there would be Pinoys as white as bond papers.

So what to do? Most of us dread the sun and all its deadly rays. When people (especially girls) see any shade and possible shield from the darkening powers it has, people go there for protection and continuity of their quest to be bond-paper-white-or-fair. Oh well. People always want what they don't have.

And just like some of my entries, I can turn this topic around and make it about me!

So what's the thing right now? The last time I haven't dodged the sun was when I was taking swimming lessons and I have learned my lessons really well, including not swimming from 7am until 4pm, with short breaks in between for food and my mom reprimanding me to stop swimming. I swear my eyeballs were the only fair parts of my skin, with arms, legs, neck, and back all colored like soot.

I have not been the greatest fan of the sun for a long time because I can't stand its brightness (duh I don't look at it directly). When the sun is at its highest, my eyelids need to pried open so I can see anything. And yes, my tennis suffered when I tried playing outdoors. Nooooooo!!!

Now, there's still this thing called sunglasses and I can see even when the sun is up! Hoorah for the inventor of this thing. Haha. I dislike wearing sunnies and caps before, so when the time came that I'm brave enough to wear them, it's like I have tasted freedom. Now that school's out I have been going around the country visiting and experiencing new sights and sounds. I have been stuck inside our house for all I can remember and I'm trying to experience the natural beauty of our country. I also think I ran out of excuses from going elsewhere because I don't have schoolwork or org-related stuff as scapegoats anymore. I used to say that I'm not a beach person, well just because I hate the sun. Now, I don't give a crap about being dark or something. If I get darker skin, oh well, it was truly worth it.

Or is it because I know that my skin color would go back to its usual state after all of my trips and tours. Selfish girl.

MORAL: If there's one thing that prevents or hinders you from doing and experiencing what you want, I guess it's time to face that crap and bury that shiitake mushroom so you could be able to see what's beyond that mountain. 


I'm still looking forward to my weekend trips with my upcoming island hopping and more beach-loving.

This baby can save your skin. It won't prevent you from being darker when you stay under the sun but then there is this thing called skin cancer from all the UV rays, gamma rays, photochemicals and all.

On Films and Cameras: Goodbye, Holga

If I were to establish a camera shop, focus would be on cost-leadership. Ok. That thought ends there.

Most of the people I have dealt with whether they're buying cameras, inquiring about them, or buying films never fail to tell me, "I really thought you were an older person," or ask me "How old are you again?" I don't know if it's because I look younger or they don't expect people my age tinkering with cameras that still use films, much more selling them. Not everyone born in the digital age wants to stay there.

I posted an ad 2am earlier, selling my Holga camera with some films. Just like the buyer's question, why did I decide to sell it? My Holga still looks nice and all with its original box and instruction manual (of course I kept the Holga book haha). I told the buyer that I decided to sell it because I don't think I would be able to continue it once I start working, because the moment I start earning money I would definitely think twice before spending it on film processing and all, unlike when I was still a student. Funny, she was buying my camera for the exact opposite reason. She's using the film camera as a way of unwinding from work-related stress. I laughed and told the buyer maybe in a few years, when she decides to sell the camera, I would buy it from her.

So, Holga, thanks for the memories and the lessons you taught me. 

Love the sun, shoot from the hip, let loose, don't stress yourself over your photos, and let life surprise you.

MORAL: C'mon life, surprise me and make it sweet. ☺

Tali Beach - Nasugbu, Batangas

April 21-22, 2010

I have been swimming almost three times a week and been practicing the different strokes and turns. I don't have plans on becoming a professional swimmer anytime soon. I just feel like I'm working on borrowed time so I'm making the most out of it. No Regrets - remember? It's like I have been attracted by the magnets of water, sun, and sand. Last week, some of my blockmates and I went to Tali Beach at Nasugbu, Batangas. I have been to Batangas and some of its beaches before but I haven't set foot on Nasugbu, Batangas. As long as I haven't been there or visited the place, I will be present in a heartbeat. (So if you want to go somewhere and is looking for an adventure buddy, as long as I haven't been there, I'm so there.)

Tali Beach is pretty secluded and you rent it by the house. However, the place where we stayed was convenient because they already have plates, cutleries, a working stove, water dispenser, microwave, rice cooker, refrigerator, cable TV, etc. You just bring food and drinks. When you walk to the right side, there's a really small cave, good for taking pictures and all while the left side has this rock staircase.

Your personal beach right here.

MORAL: Our trip was short but sweet, considering that the original number of people was halved because of  job searching - related endeavors. Yeah, I'm still not focusing much energy on job hunting. Blame me. 

How to Smash A Tennis Racquet

EDIT: I added a photo of Vera Zvonareva.

If Marat Safin can smash racquets like he's quality testing them, the female species have someone to present as well. She can bitch like Serena Williams, cry like Anna Chakvetadze, and can be as violent as Dinara Safina or the king of tennis violence, Marat Safin.

Here's a smashing protege, presenting: Vera Zvonareva



Here's a photo of Vera smashing her racquet in a more creative way. I love this person.

And then here's to the Master of smashing racquets like they're made of... jello.



Frustration is a really nasty thing. When you know you can do something and can do it regularly, then you suck up at the most important moments in your life, like let's say you're already on the brink of losing a match with your mental self, frustration tastes like (insert the name of a food you really hate here). And when you're an athlete, particularly a tennis player, smashing racquets or hitting yourself or something else with your racquet is usually the most convenient way to blow off that burning steam.

If you're a professional tennis player, smashing racquets is a very entertaining thing to do. However, if you're not a professional tennis player, that thing is just plain crude and .... expensive. Just shout your lungs out. That'll be better and cheaper. Or hit the net. I know I did.


MORAL: If it works for you, do it. As long as you don't piss off the crowd, they're paying your salary.