Where is the passion for personal art?

I can't remember the last time I really took time to do something for nothing. It's true what our professors back in college told us: "Take advantage of this time (university years) doing artworks for your own satisfaction because when you start working, almost everything you would do would be for the company, client and money." True enough…

It's more than two years since I've graduated and more than two years since I last held a brush or pencil to actually draw something. Looking back to those years when you only worry about plates and passing the minor subjects, I realized that I haven't really gone somewhere. I still take things for granted. I still do things because they are required. Not that I don't enjoy doing them but the passion is not exactly there.

This is two of the last works that I seriously did. I don't find it impressive but it's close to my heart since it's my brother and sister. So I guess this two are among my few, or if not only, special works.

This one is my favorite. Denisse was just about 4 years old then and loving the camera.

I want my own Digital SLR so I could get back on creative track. Hopefully, by the end of September I could produce something "special" again.

Another Fun Run!

Red Cross Takbong Alay Sagip Buhay Fun Run 2006. This is my second fun run, just less than a month after Milo's… and it was sure fun!!!

I went home early Saturday night after my salsa class so that I could get at least 5 hours of sleep, but for some reason my energy was in the highest level and as much as I tried to sleep, I just couldn't. So I decided to just stay up and wait for the clock to strike 3. At 4am, I was off to Quezon City Circle. I thought they were going to postpone the run again (for the third time) since it was raining really hard. But I guess this time, nothing would stop anyone from running.

Nothing could beat running 5 kilometers under the rain, from QC Circle North Ave entrance all the way down to UP's oblation and back. I've always wanted to run in the rain and during the run, I was laughing like crazy. I don't know, it just made me so happy. It's like I was so free, I could run on the road without caring if my white t-shirt was dripping wet. A few have the opportunity to do so.

I was hoping for a sub 35 minutes and until now I'm still feeling really disappointed why I didn't ask the person at the finish line for my time. It wasn't like Milo where they took everyone's finishing time. They only had the top 10 finishers'. Dang! I don't know how I did, but I'm certain it was under 35 or even 30. There were still a lot of people behind me and and I know I only walked for a minute and a half and my pacing was pretty good.

I can't believe I commuted home to Pasig all the way from Quezon City still wet carrying a hideous, cheap, green plastic bag (my finisher singlet, a bottle of mineral water and some Fita biscuits from Red Cross)! Well, it was worth it. Can't wait for the Adidas run in September though. I'm doing 10K again…And please, I need to buy a new pair of running shoes! My big toes are getting tortured…

STRUGGLES, MEMORIES, WISHES…

Soon it will be three months since the heart has been buried, and since then the soul never stopped weeping, the mind became too afraid to see the light. Together they were in an endless vigil, never even thought about the end of it. For quite some time the soul would go into a short journey, in desperate need for an option, yet still bringing the baggage from the recent past. And eventually, he would go back to where it all started, go on with the vigil while the mind slept in disturbing silence, in hope for memories to fade. But restlessly he dreamt of images from the heart and chose never to sleep again…

DREAM:
On a Friday night after months of inconsistent depression, unwillingness to get up for work and numerous sleepless nights, I quickly turned my computer off at exactly 6:00 pm and headed to the elevator. It had been raining hard since yesterday and I had some new DVDs for the weekend. Typical Friday night it would definitely be, a movie with myself and a pint of chocolate ice cream and two frozen fudgee barrs.

I was briskly walking along the Dela Rosa walkway, trying to beat my regular 7-minute walk from Enterprise Centre to Landmark Pasig-FX terminal. I hate it when it rains so hard with the wind blowing to my direction. I really need to replace my old Vans shoes because I could already feel the water through my socks.

Three minutes and I was in front of Powerbooks Greenbelt, as usual bustling with employees on their way home. I manuevered my way into the crowd and when I got past Landmark's entrance, the way started to clear up. 4 minutes, 58 seconds. I know I can beat my own record, maybe a 5.5.

So I sprinted with my backpack jumping behind me. Few steps before reaching the stairs down to the parking lot when suddenly my viewing angle changed. I saw things from worm's eyeview but it didn't last long. I gathered all my strength to get up, ignoring the hands that were trying to reach out for me. I knew I should never wear these shoes when raining! The soles were smooth from over usage.

(more…)

Salsaton Class

For anyone interested in taking up Latin Hiphop/Reggaeton/Salsa, here's some info from my mail inbox:

Imagine dancing salsa with reggaeton music! Blend hip hop with
salsa! Grupo Filipino Salsa offers four sessions (4 Saturdays) of
workshop dancing salsa with hip hop breaks. The workshop is preceded
with a facilitated group dancing latin hip hop, followed by a step-
by-step guide on how to dance salsa appropriately with reggaeton
music. Facilitated group dancing starts at 5:30 and salsaton
instructions start at 5:45 pm. 50% discount awaits those who will
register before or during the orientation on August 26, 2006. 75%
discount will be given to couples (must be of opposite sex).

Contact Person
Name: Ares Andres
Phone Number: 523-8265 to 66
E-mail: grupofilipinosalsa@yahoo.com

————————————————-
Grabe!!! I'm advertising the group… I just really enjoyed the sessions so I hope you guys would also find it interesting. The people are great too…

Attention: SAMANTHA ECHAVEZ! Sign up this time so we could have new moves when we go clubbing.

Sick…

This isn't exactly a good composition but I'm sick when I did this!

Anyways, I wasn't able to go to work (again! 2 consecutive days since yesterday.) For some reason, I always have trouble falling asleep at night and when I wake up in the morning, I feel like all the energy have been sucked out of me. I don't know if it's because I dread going to bed because the next thing that I would do is to wake up and get ready for work, waste another 8 hours doing nothing really productive and challenging with earphones permanently glued to either side of my head, drowning myself with the same playlist.

The sun's finally out but the weather remains quite cool which is really ideal for running. But here I am… stuck in the house with numb limbs, eyes half-shut, tummy in revolt, head feeling like being unmercifully pounded, mind going crazy with all thoughts of him…

Yesterday, I tried getting some sleep before running at 5pm, hoping for the throbbing headache to go away. Few minutes before 5, I was feeling quite ok. After a kilometer, my tummy was already dragging me to the bathroom. I had nothing to throw up but a few spoonfuls of pistachio ice cream (the egg sandwich I had for breakfast and lunch had been definitely digested 5 hours ago.) It was so disappointing! I haven't run in a track since last Saturday and the Red Cross run is already next Sunday. I walked the second kilometer and tried running slow on the next two. That was the worst feeling… I didn't want to push myself too hard or I might not be able to run good when I need to.

I think I was dehydrated (cuz I rarely drink water when I'm at work,) hungry (had two egg sandwiches for breakfast and lunch and hadn't eaten much for the past few days cuz I didn't have the appetite,) and depressed (a monthly recurrence which I'm still trying to work on.)

As much as I would like to go for a run today, I might as well stay here and hope to be better by the end of the day. Oh, it's Salsa night tomorrow! Yeehee! Now, that's something to look forward to…