Doseng Pasasalamat

Gaya ng lagi kong sinasabi, eksperimental ang 2012 para sa akin. Ito ang taon kung kailan kumawala ako sa personal kong kahon-- isang pagrerebelde para sa ikauunlad ng aking sarili.

Maraming taong dumating sa taong ito: Ang iba ay literal na dumaan, ang iba ay tumambay, ngunit marami ang nagtagal. Maraming sumalo sa eksperimento. Marami rin ang nagpasalo. Kaya't ngayon ay pasasalamatan ko ang ilang mga tao na labis ang naiambag sa paglago ko para sa taong ito. 

 Sobrang salamat, Camille, dahil nagkaroon ako ng kaibigan na kagaya mo. Sa'yo ko natutunan kung paano maging rational at prudent. Ikaw yung nagturo sa akin ng maturity, at ikaw ang nagmulat sa akin sa totoong mundo. Salamat kasi kahit noong bata pa ako, nagtiwala ka na sa kakayahan ko. Salamat kasi ikaw yung kauna-unahang tao na nagsabi sa akin na madami akong kayang gawin. Kung wala ka, hindi ko alam kung ano ako ngayon. Salamat! Mahal kita at si Mandy!

12 Best Memories of 2012

Sobrang daming memories ng 2012. I admit, kulang yung 12 para sa countdown, pero dahil 2012, kailangan. Lol. Eto yung 12 memories na feeling ko, sobrang tumatak sa akin. Hihi.

 Sobrang saya kasi, this year, naging parte ako ng shoot ni sir Elvert for Pintig. Best memory yun kasi, first time mag-shoot ni sir sa PLM and it was such a big privilege to be a part of it. Sobrang nakakainspire si sir. and sobrang overwhelming yung tiwala niya sa akin kaya nga ginawa ko din lahat para maibigay sa kanya pabalik yung tiwala na yun.

 Officially, Sandinawa. Highlight of the year. Hello PR Majors Family. Ang laki ng back story kung bakit ako nag-exam, kung bakit ko ginusto itong path na ito, kung bakit kahit na mahiwalay ako sa best friends ko eh, nag-go ako.

12 Best Photos of 2012

2012 is a milestone for me. This year, I acquired my own camera (Voltz, a Canon 60D) and it let me explore the wonderful world of photography. I cannot say anything more about the photos, but yes,  I selected my 12 best shots for this year. Now, take a look at it. =)

12. Silhouettes and Fire (RAW)

Taken September 3, 2012 | PLM

I love this photograph because the sky is overly dramatic and the Gusaling Lacson is just so photogenic. Hahaha!

Dear J

Dear J,

I don't know what happened to us, but all I know was that we made ourselves happy for a short while. But when you left, you were still happy, while I was left weeping over the sweetest of memories we made together.

Your forever lasted for one month. It was the shortest forever I have ever experienced in my life. Thank you for that. For a month you made me feel that I am important and that I am unique and that I am loved. Your efforts were overwhelming. No one has ever done so much for me. I never thought someone would fetch me up at a bus stop on a midnight. Or would ask me to have dinner on a midnight. Or would check on my activities on a weekend. Or would actually ask me to spend my weekend with him. You were the first guy who visited our house. You knew mom and dad and we didn't care about their whereabouts. I told them we were friends. Because more than lovers, we were friends.

In Pictures: The MAKE YOUR MOVE's Post-Disaster Relief Operations and Storytelling

Last August 19,the MAKE YOUR MOVE's Post-Disaster Relief Operations and Storytelling commenced. Twelve volunteers offered their precious time to help and the 135 Families of Isla Pulo happy. It was a very fun and fulfilling experience for me as the initiator, and for them as volunteers who went to the lone island for the very first time.

Now here's a summary of what happened, in pictures.

Umpisa

I am a very courageous person. I always take challenges as hard ways of teaching a lesson, and they make me a better person. Giving up was never part of my vocabulary. Not until memories went back.

Kung merong kahinaan ang bawat tao, iyun yung pagbalik ng mga alaala. I never battle with memories because if I do, I will end up losing my sanity and worse, myself. 

URGENT: MAKE YOUR MOVE!

The monsoon is raping the entire Metro Manila and the nearby provinces. While we are affected, we have to understand that we are still blessed. We have a safe shelter. We have second floors (in case the monsoon penetrates the first) and we have internet.

We are lucky so we have to make a move.

Yours truly is the initiator of the HELP Minda-NOW! Project, a relief operations that aimed to help the Sendong victims in Cagayan de Oro City. This initiative garnered 3 sacks of used clothes and immediately turned over to the Center for University Extension Services of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (having PLM as the drop-off point)

Note: It was supposed to be turned over to GMA KF but because of the distance problem, I just dropped it off to the PLM-CUES.

And now, I am knocking at your doors again to seek your help and be a part of this new initiative. I believe you an me, if we do something collectively, we can make a change.

So, if you wanna help, you can drop off your goods at:

THE PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA (for Intramuros and nearby schools)

Contact Vberni Regalado at 09157819310

FOR U-BELT SCHOOLS

Contact Christine Ann Celis at  09174055899

What you can give:

• Old clothes
• Blankets, towels, toiletries
• Ready-to-eat food (sardines in pouch, instant noodles, bread or crackers)

We don't accept monetary donations. 

Drop-off date is from August 10-12, and the deployment is scheduled on the 13th of August.

I hope you can be a part of this initiative. Truth be told, THIS IS A RESPONSIBILITY.

Please feel free to contact me (Vberni) at the number stated above. Add me (please send a message) on Facebook and Follow me (@yesitsvberni) on Twitter. You can also send me an email at vberniregalado@gmail.com.

You can contact my partner Christine Celis at the number stated above, send her an email at  christine.celis@me.com Or tweet her (@chr_cel)

Slippery When Wet (A Photo Essay)

Our professor in Photojournalism class, THE Elvert Banares asked us to go out and have a photowalk. It is a great opportunity to challenge our photography skills again, as we fail to impress him with our Photojournalism portraits. 

The theme that was assigned to me was Textures of Life. Then, it really challenged me. I chose Makati as my destination with Shalem and Adrian. While we were on the taxi, the rain suddenly poured. But I guess that is a great opportunity.

And now I present to you, Slippery When Wet. =)

DEWS. Life is blessed. Life is fun. Life has so much to offer.

When we arrived at Makati, the rain suddenly fell so hard. Then I asked Adrian and Shalem to go with me and Eat at Chic-Boy. After two hours, we went to Ayala Triangle and started my photowalk there.

ROUGH IN THE RAIN. A relationship has to end tonight. Or shall it? This partner asks their selves if theirs has to meet the period.

SMOOTH SAILING. Amid the rain, Kevin and us enjoy the good music and food at Distrito Makati.

We went home at 11PM and then we decided to continue our photo walk the next day.

WET AND FUN. These children enjoys the flood caused by the rain, without thinking of the risks of having diseases.

WHO CARES IF ITS WET? The workers exert more effort to finish renovating a part of the structure. They don't care about the rain.

WAITING, ALL MY LIFE. A La Sallian patiently waits for a jeepney.Even if it takes her forever.

SWIMMING IS MORE FUN AT CCP. This kid enjoys swimming in the fountain side of the facade of CCP Complex.

ZZZ. Who says we need home to sleep? They don't.

From Makati to San Andres to CCP, I had so much fun with this activity.

Life is all about feeling the textures.
And for the day, it is slippery. And wet.

Isla Pulo: A False Paradise (Photo Essay)

It was two years ago.

The makeshift bridges we used to cross a two-kilometer path.

A two-kilometer path that was a transit from a busy life to a life of lesser worries.

Lesser worries mean only to survive. Each Day. In a life.

A transit that changed my life.

Then it was two years ago. Now, they were all gone.

Now that only memories have remained, there were no makeshift bridges, or a transit to another life, the choices has narrowed down. In fact, there were no choices at all.

The Tale of the Sunset

THE TALE OF THE SUNSET. The reason why the sky sheds light is to appreciate the beauty when it's still there. But it never hides illumination, for after it conceals the beauty of the sun, it scatters the sparkle of the stars.

Same thing goes with life. We may be left alone, or we may leave someone alone, but it's never the ending. It's never a reason to forget that tomorrows are built to look forward to. Yes, we should face what the present gives us, but when all else fail, let's not forget that we can actually correct it the next day. Let's not forget that everything happens for a reason. That reason may be unavailable and rough and undefined for now, but as the journey continues, you'll realize that yes; it is more of a blessing than a curse.

This is what I learned from the journey to knowing myself. Well, as of the moment, I'm still getting there, to my right destination. I am constantly learning life lessons from people I know, and even from those I don't.

Leap

29th of February is something special. The day, only coming every after four years, should be spent well. So, I decided to make it simple, yet memorable. I went beck to where I am four years ago, and where I stayed for four years. Yep, I went back to my alma mater.

POP TALK: Ang Milk Tea at si Juan Dela Cruz

Bisyo ng mga Pilipino ang pagkakape. Pagkagising sa umaga, magmumumog lang, magtitimpla ng kape, bibili ng pandesal, magbabasa ng diyaryo o makikinig ng mga balita sa radyo, at perpekto na ang agahan. Pagsapit ng tanghali, kasabay ng tanghalian ang kapeng kinagigiliwan. Masarap ring kapares ng biko o suman ang kape sa meryenda at pagsapit ng gabi, kahit bago na lamang matulog, magkakape pa rin. Naging parte na ng sistemang Pinoy ang inuming ito.

            Ngunit sumapit ang panahon ng bagong henerasyon, may lumutang na namang bagong kahuhumalingan si Juan dela Cruz. Ang dating di pinapansin, nasa rurok na ng limelight ngayon. Dagdagan lang ng gatas at kung anong prutas, patok na sa panlasa ng kabataang Pilipino. Ipinakikilala... ang Milk Tea! 

`           Nagsimula sa bansang Hong Kong noong panahon ng pananakop ng Kolonyang Briton, naging parte ng buhay ng mga tao rito ang pag-inom ng black tea na may halong malabnaw o matamis na gatas at asukal. Simula nito, hindi na mapigil ang mga residente sa pag-inom ng popular at mainstream na inumin. Ngayon, ang milk tea na ang nangungunang inumin sa kanilang bansa, na nakapagtala ng 900 milyong basong milk tea na naibenta sa isang taon.

            Dala naman ng mga negosyanteng Tsino sa bansang Pilipinas ang kanilang namana mula sa pananakop ng ibang bansa, umusbong ang industriya ng tsaa sa bansa, nagsimula sa ilang maliliit na puwesto sa piling mga lugar, unti-unting nakilala ang milk teas. Happy Lemon, Serenitea, Bubble Tea, Chatime, Gong Cha, Bumble Tea, at marami pang iba. Halos bawat sulok na ng Maynila ay mayroong bilihan ng milk tea. Marami ang tumatangkilik hindi lamang dahil masarap ang lasa nito kundi dahil na rin sa dala nitong sustansya at benepisyo sa katawan.

            Dahil sa inobasyon, nagkaroon ng iba’t-ibang uri ng milk teas sa pamilihan. Mula sa black tea, ginamit na rin ang iba’t-ibang uri ng dahon upang magkaroon ng ibang timpla ang nasabing inumin. Maaari na rin itong haluan ng mga prutas upang mas maging presentable at kaaya-aya ang pag-inom ng tsaa, lalo na sa mga bata. Kung ang hilig mo naman ay kape o tsokolate, maaari na rin itong isama sa milk tea ngayon. Yakult ba kamo? Aba, meron na rin niyan ngayon sa Pilipinas. Ultimong keso at rock salt, isinasama na ngayon sa tsaa upang magbigay ng tamang timpla at masarap na lasa.

            Ayon sa mga eksperto, ang milk tea ay nakatutulong sa tamang sirkulasyon ng dugo sa katawan ng tao. Dagdag pa dito, marami rin itong antioxidants na nagde-detoxify sa ating katawan. Ang pag-inom ng tsaa ay nakatutulong rin sa regular na pagbabawas ng dumi sa katawan sa pamamagitan ng pagdumi at pag-ihi. Bagamat naharap sa isang isyu noong 1998 at 2001 dahil naging subject sa ilang analyses, sinasabing nababawasan ang epekto ng tsaa kapag hinaluan ng gatas, hindi pa rin nabawasan ang pagtangkilik ng mga tao, particular na ng mga Tsino ang pagkonsumo nito. Kinalaunan ay nagkaroon ng isang hiwalay na pag-aaral ang ilan sa mga eksperto na siyang nagpatunay na hindi nababawasan ang epekto ng tsaa kahit na dagdagan pa ito ng gatas.

            Hindi natin masisisi ang ating mga kababayan sa pagtangkilik nila sa milk teas. Hindi mapipigilan ang pag-usbong ng popular kultura. Kagaya ng K-pop, hindi basta-basta mamamatay ang pop culture na ito, lalo pa’t kakasimula lamang ng pagkaadik ng mga Pilipino rito.

            Hindi malalaos ang kape bilang pinakapaboritong inumin ng mga Pilipino. Sa katunayan, hindi lamang ito basta inumin. Isa itong kaibigan. Ngunit sa pag-usbong nga mga bagong inumin kagaya na lamang ng milk teas, kailangang maging malikhain rin ang nauna upang hindi ito basta-basta na lamang mawala sa kompetisyon. Alinpaman, naging parte na ito n gating sistema. Ang kape, para sa mas naunang henerasyon ng mga Pilipino, habang ang milk teas, para sa makabagong henerasyon. 

Trending: DoT's 'It's More fun Memes'

So, this is my first blog entry, and I don;t want it to be bare or simple but not too extravagant. I want it to be meaningful. 

Just last Friday, the Department of Tourism released two logos as part of their branding strategy.