Looking back, 2012 has been a really good year for me. With family, academics, friends, new-found friends, extra-curriculars, new possessions, and experiences, I can truly say that it has been a crazy, mesmerising, surreal and enchanting ride. And I thank God for all of it.
Hailed as, and self-proclaimed Ms. Congeniality.
When I shifted to Comm. Arts, I had to take classes from different blocks and year levels. At first, I was afraid and shy as hell because I was used to being part of a single block when I was in the Accountancy department. I was confined to the idea that I will be out of place, that I would sulk in the dark corners of each classrooms that I get into and wait for someone to talk to me. It turned out that these people are actually the ones who initiate the simple talks that turned out to be deep ones. The whole experience made me communicate and connect with other people in all walks of life, I learned how to adjust with my environment and I discovered that I, with my kind of picky taste, love where I am at the moment.
Celebrating my 18th birthday with all of my closest friends.
Being the shy person that I am, I opted to not have the traditional debutante ball. I wanted it to be intimate, informal in a sense that it’d not have a program flow— just spontaneous ones. Because I am a person who craves for spontaneity. And with the help of my parents and my crazy sister, my dream birthday party that looked like a children party came to life. And I couldn’t ask for more, except the presence of some of my friends who weren’t able to come, and of course, my Dad who was at Europe then. I never wanted to be the centre of attention, I hate it when people look at me and draw their attention at me. It’s not because I’ve a low self-esteem, it’s because it makes me happy whenever I see the people around me that I care the most happy. Kind of hypocritical? Why, that’s me. And it’s kind of evident with the kind of party that I had then. I’d also like to really, really, thank my parents for letting me spend my birthday separately with my friends and relatives because it’d be a burden for me to entertain both. Thank you, mom and dad. :) And for making me the happiest girl that night, especially to my Accountancy friends who had their Midterm exams for their majors the next day but still managed to attend my party. And I’d also like to thank my dear friends for joining me to the Hot Air Balloon Festival the next day!
An escape to the beautiful place called Bohol and spending most of my days last summer in Manila with my lovely family.
Like I said before, I love spontaneous events. The Bohol trip with my family wasn’t a planned one. It was just my sister fooling around and begging for everyone to go to the beach that this trip took place. I wasn’t excited, to be honest. I actually wanted to go to abroad, specifically go back to Hong Kong because I wanted to go shopping and the scorching heat last summer made me feel so bad then. But I was glad that I did not ask them to go there, because Bohol’s indeed an enchanting place. I fell in love there; with the beaches, the people, the nature, the food and Bohol itself. It really is an underrated place, and I’d prefer for it to be so that it’ll preserve its beauty unlike other beaches that are already polluted and such. I’d book a flight back to Bohol any day.
Being a legit Broadcast Journalism major.
As an irregular student, I longed for the sense of belongingness in the department. At first, it wasn’t easy. I wasn’t able to hang out long enough with my new-found friends because I had a crazy schedule that’s not the same of theirs, so I had a routine back then that’s kind of like: home-school-home-school. But when third year stepped in, I became part of a single block— the Broadcast Journalism majors. My high school friends know how much I complain about not feeling my course because at first it was just laid-back. But when we got into our third year, I choked on everything what I said. Our professors literally killed us with all their requirements! I am not even exaggerating here or something. There’d even come a time when I had to stay up for 72 hours, draining every amount of energy and ATP that I have in my system just to be done with all the deadly deadlines and stuff. We had to make films, magazine shows, publish our own magazine from scratch, ride the boat and endure the almost 3-hour ride just for us to do an ocular visit, go home at around 12am, and go around the city just to be able to accomplish all our work. That’s why I kept on saying that Comm. Arts is really not for the weak. Not only you’d have to extract all your creative juices just to produce a beautifully directed film, but you’d also exhaust every, every amount of your energy. But at the end of it all, I can say is that, we are winners, up to this date. These whirlwind of experiences made us strong, patient, responsible, and at the same time, appreciative of what each and everyone of us can do. And it also made me appreciate my mom and dad’s efforts more whenever I had to bring half of my classmates at home for the shooting, editing and the whatnots.. My mom even allowed me to have my guy friends in my room. (Which I thought wasn’t even a remote possibility back then!) I couldn’t thank my parents and God enough for letting me experience all of this.
Labelled as Mel, the clingy one.
With all the crazy busy schedule that we had last semester, I still managed to meet up with some of my best friends back in high school and even college. I was thankful for Bea because everytime I needed an escape from the world of college, I’d always run into her if there’d be an opportunity for us to meet and feel like high school once again. Potin, on the other hand, who’s always busy and MIA, thankfully still finds time to spend with her best friend who’s super clingy over her. Haha! Oh my elusive best friend, I’m really happy that I got to spend some time with her this year despite of her telling me that between the both of us, I’m the busy one. Heh. And with my Accountancy friends, who I, admittedly, have kind of grown apart because of our schedules not allowing us to see each other. On our last school day for this year, I got the chance to hang out with them finally! And it made me realise that these girls never fail to make me laugh non-stop, as in literally. I could only hope that we would get to that again once in a while. I’d like to think and believe that they’re the ones who would stay permanently in my life.
A life-altering interview with Lolo Lito, the candy man.
When we were doing our magazine, we considered making a write-up for the well-known candy man all over Angeles, Lolo Lito. When he shared his painfully beautiful life story with Borge and I, I couldn’t help but think how lucky most of us are now these days. Lolo Lito had and still is, enduring a lot of trials in his life, but ironically, is a very happy person. His smile is just contagious, it makes my heart swell knowing that such good-hearted people experience these kind of hardships in life; that in his old age, he still has to sell these candies every night. It makes me happy that he has really a positive outlook in life, that despite all odds, despite the universe conspiring against his will to be in an okay state with his family, he still keeps his feet on the ground with his arms stretched up above as he turns all his problems to Jesus. That’s why a lot of people love him and care for him. I hope one day, he’s gonna be okay. And I’m truly eternally blessed to have my name written all over his notebook where he scribbles the names of the people who have helped him through the years. I will always pray for you, Lolo Lito.
The birth of The Road To Sunshine.
Ever since I was in high school, I was part of the blogging scene. Only, I had no permanent blog. Not until this one came. Back then, I was really afraid to express my thoughts in public. I always set my blogs then in private, having passwords and stuff that’ll not make any one soul in the cyberspace read it. So when I shifted to Comm. Arts, one of my friends pressed me to have a blog that’s set for the public to read. And surprisingly, I considered that suggestion then voila! This came to life. I would also like to thank Bea for making my header and layout because she knows how much I hated HTML. I could only hope for this blog to endure and for my dear readers to at least get something from my thoughts? Hehe. And I’d also like to thank my dearest guy best friend who keeps on encouraging me to write, Manuel… I hate you so, brother. I’d mention you here because you might be lurking. Hahahaha. And to my best friend, Potin, too. For making me realise that writing is really my first love. You know me too well, Monica. And for my sweet sweet Mother nature, for criticising, like you said, constructively, my wordplay on this blog. I love you so. Thank you for making me a grammar nazi. Hahaha.
Going back to the place where it all started: St. Scholastica’s Academy.
Every year, I would find a time to visit my dearest Alma Mater for 11 years, St. Scho. I love going back to this place and being in the same corridors several years ago. It made me value how much this school had inculcated within the depths of my being, my awe-inspiring teachers who have pushed my limits back in high school just for me to realise what I am really capable of because they trusted me and my abilities. It’s the place where I met most of my lifetime friends, those who I know I’d confide into no matter how much the distance we have now because of college. It’s the place where everyone felt like not alienated by anyone, because we were a big family there. It’s truly our home away from home.
Seeing my favourite book come into life and have it justified by the film adaptation.
So when I was confused as hell back then with the Accountancy vs. Comm. Arts drama, I was in the middle of reading this book by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being A Wallflower. There was this one scenario that was kind of a signal for me to finally make the big switch and choose letters over numbers when Charlie was told by his professor that one day, he’s going to write his own book. That was one of my infinite moments in my life. I clung on to the book like it’s my own piece of literary Bible, I held on to it through the years and upon seeing one of the movie stills last October of 2011, I was enraged and at the same time happy because I didn’t want the spirit of the book to be violated by the movie adaptation. And just a few months ago, when I was in the cinema witnessing three of my favourite fictional characters come to life, I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I loved every bit of it that I bawled my eyes out not caring if anyone was laughing at me whenever they hear me weep over some scenes in the movie. Hahaha! I loved the fact that Stephen Chbosky himself directed it and wrote the screenplay for the movie. I was just disappointed that they changed the tunnel song and they didn’t include some of my favourite parts in the book. But at any rate, seeing it come to life was an infinite moment for me. I love you, Charlie, Sam and Patrick. Okay? Okay.
Mother Nature, officially a senior citizen.
It still amuses me that mom now has a senior citizen card with her. It also amuses people around her upon knowing that she’s already sixty. To me, she’s just like my big sister. With all her crazy quirks and antics, it makes me feel the luckiest daughter in the world for having her as my mom and I’m so lucky to have a mother who will endure my kind of personality. I love my mother to bits, I’d do anything for her and someday, I’d make her and Daddy proud because they deserve that after all the hard work they’ve devoted for us to be happy. I pray for her health and Dad’s too, because they’re not getting any younger. I want them in my life till infinity and beyond. If there’s life after infinity, that’s even better. I love them so.
Acquiring my baby, The Sunshine Factory.
I wasn’t happy and content with the netbook that my Dad gave me several years ago because I’m not able to do a lot of things there, so my parents bought me a MacBook Pro. I’d like to believe that I am not a spoiled kid right here, but I’d just think that my parents think I deserve this because of all the hard work I’ve been putting with my academics. When asked by one of best friends as to what shall I name it, I can’t remember if I/he said for it to be The Sunshine Factory since it’s kind of the source where I spread all my sunshiney vibes in this world. I pray that it’ll last for a long, long, long time with me. I don’t want to be labeled as the destroyer in our family. Har ha.
High school never ends.
I am so blessed to have high school friends that aren’t drifters. I know they are, why, they got to be, a few of those who will stay in my life. It’s always fun to catch up with them everytime the universe allows us to because with them, there’s no drama. It’s pure fun and sheer bliss all the time. Sometimes I even ask God what have I done to have them in my life as my beloved friends.
The CineKabalen 2012.
We tried. And I personally believe that we succeeded. Gusto Da Ka, to you our dear film entry for CineKabalen, right back at you. Idon’t have to go on and on about our experiences here because I made a separate blog post about it already, hey. But just for the heck of it, this has got to be on top of my list… Next to something and something. Hehehe.
Posting a picture of me, hooray, Mel!
Thank you, 2012! Thank you because you’ve been amazingly awesome for me despite all the shenanigans that I had to go through, the weight gain that I am now suffering with, the cluttered room that I now have, and the bittersweet twists and turns you had prepared for me. I’ve also earned two of my most beautiful gifts this 2012, my dearest silhouettes, Pandora and Adonis. And this year made me a whole lot wiser, I guess. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve owned you, 2012. Thank you for this marvellous joyride. Thank you, Lord.
(Written on December 31, 2012; 12:35 AM.)
2013, I will also own you. I must. Please be a wonderful year.
Cheers to 2013, my dear readers!
December 25, 2012.
Happy birthday, Jesus! Merry Christmas to my lovely readers!! :)
Whoa, this year has been moving way too fast, right? World, please let’s take a moment of silence and breathe. I cannot believe that it’s almost 2013 already. A couple of years ago, a lot of us were anticipating about what might happen in 2012. Others even thought that 2011 is the last Christmas celebration here on Earth. But evidently, those things aren’t true because we’re still here celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth.
It’s been said that Christmas is really the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the season of giving, it’s the season of merriment, it’s the season where families gather to have their Noche Buena, it’s the season when people feel extra mushy to their loved ones and friends, it’s the season of commemorating Jesus’ birth, our Saviour.
Personally, Christmas makes me super happy. We have a small family and annually, both our clans don’t get to gather for the Christmas celebration per se because others live in Manila, Bataan, Apalit and some other places that we just opt to celebrate it exclusively and intimately with our respective families. Then when lunch time comes, everyone would either go to our place and celebrate Christmas, so in the end, it’s all good and merry. :)
Before Christmas, I spent my day watching two movies: Pitch Perfect and Liberal Arts. Pitch Perfect, I thought, was going to be tacky and the typical musical-type of movie but I thought wrong. I love Anna Kendrick’s voice! Plus they used two of my favourite songs that aren’t really that well-known which made me really happy and sad, at the same time. The songs were Punching In A Dream and Bulletproof. Liberal Arts, on the other hand, made me so proud of Josh Radnor. I mean, I know him for a long time playing the role of Ted in How I Met Your Mother but when I was watching the movie, his movie, to which he wrote and directed himself, I found myself loving him more as a person. The movie was so intelligent, it wasn’t trying to be too much implying and to top it all of, it broke my heart to pieces because of its beauty. I appreciate the arts, I appreciate everyone who appreciates the arts, hell, I fall in love with just about anyone who appreciates the arts that’s why for those of you who are head-over-heels for the arts, do yourself a favour and watch this movie, please.
And then I helped my Mother cook for our Noche Buena. It would’ve been better if Dad’s around because he moves really swiftly in the kitchen since it’s his kingdom and all, but Dad’s still in Europe so that also means that he missed this year’s Christmas with us since he’s still busy doing a lot of stuff out there. Sad, but we understand. And then we had to go to the mass, half the time I was listening to Father’s sermon and looking up the sky admiring the beautiful moon and stars that illuminate the night, and half the time I was also squirming over cutesy babies that are very very squishy I wanted to cuddle with them. Right now, I just realised that I NEED a fat cute baby to make me really happy! Hahahaha.
I’m supposed to be sleeping already but I decided to rewatch The Perks of Being A Wallflower for the third time. I remembered when I first watched this with my friends, I had to really catch my breath when my favourite parts of the book come to life through the big screen.. Oh well. I guess I still need a lot of tissue rolls here. And a fat baby would be of great help, too.
Sorry for my ramblings, it’s just I really am happy today. I hope you are, as well. :) Please, please don’t forget to pray and don’t forget the real essence of this season.
Oh boy, I really do need to get my butt back in the gym. My weight is up again. Sorry Kuya Arnel! I miss my trainer. :( Hahahaha.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS, Tumblr! Let us all be super happy!
Last December 1, 2012 I was reminded yet again that I am where I really want to be. And I do know what I truly want in life and that I’m enjoying every bit of it. It was the screening and awarding for the second CineKabalen Kapampangan Film Festival for the year 2012. It was amazing. It still kinda feels surreal.
At first I wasn’t sure if I could go to the said event because it was on a Saturday and it’s scheduled to be held at our university and that we have Saturday classes anyway, I wasn’t positive that I could go since we had a family thing right after.
And then it occurred to me that this kind of thing doesn’t happen everyday. It’s not everyday that I get to see our work, our team’s work that we started from a simple attempt of joining the film festival, come to life. It may not be on big screen but viewing it from the projector is more than enough. So I decided to go and ditch the family thing. After all, I remembered when Jade and Manuel went to my place last sembreak to plan for this. I remembered when we practically had no idea if we’re going to push through with making this film happen, when we had casting problems for the role of Ana, when I was finally able to work in one project with one of my best friends Charis, when we had to endure the long travel time from our place to Porac so that we could shoot, when the whole team would go to my place and we’d all help each other edit the film, when I literally didn’t sleep at all so that I could stich all the video and just polish it and found myself dumbfounded when iMovie crashed and we lost most of our audios, when we were all silent while we were trying to find a solution for it, the joy that we all felt when we retrieved the files, when we were late for the deadline of submission and we all thought that it’s the end of it all but we ended up submitting it that night anyways… Those kinds of things. And then I decided that I’d go.
Excuse my dementor-like face, grace under pressure the total opposite way! Hahaha.
Of course I was insecure as hell because it was my first time to join a film production, and I knew that some of those who joined the film festival were damn good and experienced with filming already plus the fact that they used camera lenses that are really good, and of course their skills. But despite all that, I am proud of our film Gusto Da Ka. I am proud of everyone. We’re just 4 in the production team and I’m pretty convinced that a film wouldn’t be successful if it doesn’t have a big production. But, without bragging or anything, I know that our production team, the Snooze Productions, proved that common notion in the field of filming wrong. I know we all worked hand in hand, we were all teaching each other while doing the whole process. And we made it.
When it was time for the screening of all the 17 entries, I found myself enjoying some of the entries made by our fellow Kapampangans. And of course, being a filmmaker (heh, I don’t like labeling myself as that but I’m gonna use it anyway) I also found myself pointing out at some mistakes made by others with their films and I myself admit that we have some mistakes as well but it’s fun doing that because we get to learn from each others mistakes after all. When the projector turned black, and I saw the subtitle ‘It’s her birthday today.’ I immediately knew that it’s ours already, and I literally had chills running down my spine, I had hot flushes as well, but my hands got cold and my knees were shaking so bad and my lips were trembling, I was sandwiched in between Manuel and Charis and I glanced at them both and I was comforted by the fact that both of them are experiencing the same thing with their bodies.
While watching, it was both a mix of reality and fantasy for me. I thought that I wouldn’t be surprised anymore if I watch it on a big screen (projector) since I’ve watched it several times and edited it with my friends but it turned out that having it watched with an audience that are film enthusiasts as well presses all the nervous buttons of my system. Manuel, Charis and I were all aware of everyone’s reactions toward the film and it burns our hearts with love, happiness and gratefulness when we all saw that the audience were enjoying what they see, most were laughing at the crazy antics dropped by Borge’s character, Nico, most people, in my honest and unbiased opinion fell in love with Dayanica’s role, Ana, we found people banging to the song Chill Pill of Quickletsgo! because it’s that catchy, we also found people swooning over the light but lovey dovey feel of our film. And to top it all of, the audience cheered and clapped so loud when the credits were rolling. Our hearts were jumping for joy… And we all wanted to pee at the same time. :))
“Hindi po ako si Dayanica!” Manuel had to get the award for Dayanica. Heeheehee.
When we all saw the entries, it was time for awarding already. I wasn’t expecting our film to win any award, but I wouldn’t lie when I found myself hoping that we would receive just a single award. When it was time for awarding, I didn’t expect that there would also be nominations per category! I just thought that the emcee would mention the winner and just throw the award to the winner… But, yes, there are indeed nominations per category… And out of all the 8 categories, our film, Gusto Da Ka, was nominated 7 times. Seven. We weren’t totally expecting our film to be nominated that much! And there were a lot of entries to choose from as nominees, but apparently the judges (who are big times, by the way) chose our film to be part of it. It was a big deal for all of us when snippets of our film are being shown when the nominees for those 7 categories are being shown because we didn’t expect that much; we are actually content with being part of the official entries for this year alone. But evidently, God has a lot of in store for us. Being part of the nominees and being lined up with the best films say a lot for us. It was sheer bliss. It’s also a bonus that our muse in the film, Dayanica, bagged the best actress award. We were all so happy. We are still so happy.
Congratulations also to the Matas team and to Earl for being the best actor! With Mr. Tantingco. :)
I still feel like I’m floating… After the awarding when we were invited to eat at the Museo I was just spacing off when my eyes were drawn to the sky lanterns up the sky and I immediately nudged everyone to watch the lanterns fly up the sky that night. It was beautiful. Just like what just happened with our team.
With Mr. Jason Paul Laxamana. Thank you sir for letting us pass our film even though it was already pass the deadline and for letting us submit a better copy and for making the CineKabalen Kapampangan Film Festival happen.
The Snooze Productions! I am so proud of us… I love you, guys. :’)
I know that this will not be the last film that we are going to make, and this is definitely the last film festival that we’re going to join. It’s just the first one, and I’m actually excited to show the world what my friends have to show this wonderful world. Filming is marvelous. But to be able to film with your friends makes that even more extra marvelous. Thank You, Lord, for letting this happen.