Light painting

Thank God for bosses who support your passion for photography. Yesterday, some of my officemates and I attended a photography seminar at CCF (Christ’s Commission Fellowship, if I’m not mistaken) in Ortigas. Sharing his expertise was wedding photographer Andy Samaniego.

I am pretty happy about it because it refreshed my mind with what I’ve learned at another photography workshop at Jesuit Communications in 2006. In principle, I already know what aperture, shutter speed, exposure and focal length are. I’ve been trying to use these things since then, sometimes with some measure of success, and most of the time with utter failure.

But it was only yesterday when I finally understood how these things work together to make the perfect picture. Now all I need is practice.

Next Saturday, we’ll be back at CCF to study basic Photoshop. I never really understood the importance of tweaking your pictures to make it better. But when Andy showed some of his shots to us, I was amazed at how dramatic shots can be made even more dramatic with Photoshop. But of course, the basic ingredients for a great photo are still imagination, a creative concept and a great shot to start with.

What got my heart skipping a beat, though, was when Andy brushed on the technique of light painting. He gave the example of his car, and how he used artificial lights to give drama to the photo. I can’t really explain it well right now, but if you were there and you heard what he said, and you become sold on the idea of using light to “paint” the shot, then you’ll be as excited as I am to learn!

We’ll be attending a lighting seminar, also at CFF, on the last Saturday of May. That is, if circumstances allow me. Something good is supposed to happen on the 19^th (can’t tell you what), but if it doesn’t pan out, then this lighting seminar, my Basic Chinese 2 class, and grad school are sure to salve the hurt of my thwarted plans.

Pray for me.

The day I had my fill of secrets, fun and food

Yesterday was my second office outing in my two years and eight months of employment in Ateneo, and I must say my decision to stay overnight at Yo and Mo Farm Resort was a good one. Days before, I debated with myself whether I should stay for one night (group A) or just go for the daytrip (group B), since I had to finish my requirements for graduate school admission. But because I finished the draft of my essay anyway, and all I had to do was tweak it, I opted for a day and a night spent with my officemates (well some of them anyway, as the others had to go home and attend to personal affairs).

We assembled at the Xavier Hall lobby at 7:00 a.m. The trip from Ateneo to Tanay took one and a half hours by coaster. Upon getting there, we were treated to a light snack of half a sandwich and a serving of potato salad. Then we walked a bit and spotted a Goldilocks-like house, took some pictures and went inside. The house, it turns out, was where the owners stayed. It was also the spot where guests can play billiards, so it was totally okay with the owners that we went there late in the afternoon to play. But I am getting ahead of myself.

So after admiring Goldilocks’ home, we went on a 1km hike around the farm. We passed a lot of trees and plants and two hanging bridges. We burned a lot of calories. Some of my officemates took advantage of the fruit-picking opportunity and went back with guyabano and calamansi.

The hike left us famished, so we gobbled chips. Of course my officemates had to point out my penchant for sanitation in jest (no eating of chips on a communal bowl/bag for fear of germs on other people’s hands; a slight feeling of disgust when people dip pieces of chips their mouths have already touched on the communal bowl of salsa). But it was alright. That’s the real me, anyway.

Lunch was a feast of seafood chowder (I think...), fish fillet, Korean beef, and buttered vegetables. Dessert was maja blanca with a lot of corn. Yum.

After lunch, A. and I felt sleepy so we slept a little. But before that, I tried reading a book my cousin gave me, but I guess I was too tired to absorb the thoughts in it, so I gave in to sleep. We slept for about two hours.

When we woke up, it was “merienda” (snack) time. We ate noodles, bread, and chips. A. and I discovered that while we were asleep, our officemates went fishing. L. caught a big one. It was fried to a crisp in the evening. Yum.

A., Ly., and I decided to play billiards, even if we weren’t good players. Wala lang, just for fun. Ms. H. and Ms. S. saw us, and Ms. H. was kind enough to teach us some tricks. Well, the basics, actually. As I told you, we can hit the ball, but we’re no good at geometry and strategy. Then they left with the group of day-trippers (group B) at around 5:00 p.m.

Then L. came along and played with us for a while. Since we were talking about stuff when she came, we decided to ask her advice on some things—things which concern the lives of 20-something unmarried girls.

Mang L. and E. unwittingly provided the comic relief some time after. Of course they didn’t know what we were talking about before they came, and we intended to keep it that way. Then it was time for dinner. We watched “27 Dresses” while eating.

A., Ly., and I went to our room after to talk some more. There, more thoughts were shared and secrets spilled. It was one of the rare times I saw my officemates in a different light.

Then I decided to take a shower. When I came out, M. was there, so by then, we were four unmarried girls talking about...stuff. Then L. (married), Ms. J. (married), and T. came. The conversation, of course, got more interesting.

The two boys were sound asleep while all these things took place. They had a lot of beer in their bodies, anyway, which they needed to sleep off.

Our convo ended at around 1:30 in the morning.

The next day (today), we had a quick breakfast, got ourselves ready, and took the van back home.

Tomorrow, we’re going to see each other again, and I bet the way we see each other won’t be the same anymore.

That girl with wanderlust

I've always assumed I didn't have much of an identity here at the office...until today. All of us at the department were eating Ms. H.'s birthday treat of noodles, barbecued pork, and puto when somebody really smart pointed out that since we were all in one place already, then we should start planning the office summer outing together.

So ideas were bounced back and forth: a beach trip (but some people don't want to get sunburned), a cultural/ food trip at historic Binondo (but some people don't fancy walking under the sun, and they find culture trips boring), an uber-expensive buffet lunch at Circles plus a day off from work (but some people thought it was too ordinary), a day at a country club in Tagaytay (but some people have been there already), and a lot more.

We obviously did not agree on anything, due to our varied interests. Therefore, Ms. H. thought that the best solution would be to assign a "committee" that will think of possible destinations that will fit our (office) budget.

Guess who's in the "committee"? Me. But thing is, I only have great travel plans for myself but I'm not sure if I can plan for other people. Because if I were an authoritarian ruler, I would insist on going on a cultural trip with lots of good food to boot. Like a museum trip plus a city trip where the architecture is great plus, food food fooooood...like dimsum at Chinatown!!!! Squee!

But of course, we are a democratic lot so everything must be done for the common good. L. and I brainstormed this afternoon. And we're crossing our fingers...

Aviary in the Ateneo

When I was a college freshman, I signed up for a class called "Aviary in the Ateneo" at the Alternative Class Program (ACP). ACP is supposed to be this one day every year where students get to pick a non-academic class they're passionate about. Not that I'm passionate about birds. It was just that my friend Anna, whom I've known since high school and who was my college blockmate then, thought it could be a great class.

Note that the operative word was "could." We both did not know anything about birds. And neither could we believe that there were actually birds in urban Ateneo. But we had to give it a try. Or rather, Anna had to give it a try.

We were supposed to be at a certain place in Ateneo (I forget...you'll know why later) at (gasp!) 5:00 in the morning. When I learned that it was a 5:00-on-the-dot kind of thing, I secretly released a nervous gulp. 5:00???!!! Noooo wayyyy!

But I signed up for the class with Anna, anyway. I knew I won't be there at 5, but I pretended I'd be.

On the appointed date and time, Anna--who's usually late--was actually there. I was hoping Anna will be too lazy to come, too, but it turned out she was supremely interested in birds. She went there at 5, waited for me, and tried to enjoy bird-watching when she figured out I won't be coming. And she enjoyed it!

I knew she was a bit mad at me, but Anna doesn't get mad too long. She simply isn't the type who'd be. She's soooo nice. So I was forgiven.

I never saw birds during my four years of stay as a student. However, one summer morning in 2006, a few months after accepting my current job here in Ateneo, my editor pointed out the happy chirping of birds, and how the previous day, she watched those birds flit from one tree branch to another.

I guess I was a pretty lame person to share such a story to, because when she shared it with another officemate, a graphic artist, through telephone, they were both excited up to the point where our graphic artist officemate even went up to our room to view the birds through our window.

At first I couldn't relate with them while they were bird-watching. But as I watched some more, I began to see how cute and colorful birds can be. I saw birds I did not even know existed in Ateneo. These were beautiful birds, the kind you'd see in books about, well, birds.

Months later, while taking the Holy Week Triduum at the San Jose Seminary, I saw those birds again, flying freely. The seminary area was surrounded with trees, like a mini-forest, and I realized that birds could indeed live in Ateneo. That birds love it in this university. And that there really is an aviary in the Ateneo.

* Photo taken by Teya, in the summer of 2005, from my office window

A campus all to myself (well, sort of)

So it’s summer and the campus is quiet again. Katipunan is unclogged with cars and getting to work is a cinch. Students are on vacation, probably in some place swanky and cool, like Boracay or Bali.

This is also the time to put our vacation leaves to a deliciously delightful use. Or to plan a fun office outing. A lot of offices are “closing shop” for a day or two this summer for that yearly R and R. I wonder where my department is going this year. I'm excited!