Fey Regatta

Diablo Rig

2008-07-02T00:47:00.004+08:00

In preparation for DIABLO III, I have given myself a goal.... Hopefully by October and before Decemeber I could get this.

Tagaytay Weekend Adventure

2007-12-11T00:15:00.000+08:00

Ok, so I admit it... I have this inclination of calling these kinds of vacations as "weekend adventures." No biggie, it's all good. Hehe. Last weekend, Me and Baby went with two of her best buddies, Norman and Corinne, on a trip to Tagaytay. It was a long drive, good thing Corinne had a zippy space wagon and a good driver. Hehe. Anyways, we ate at the mile high diner (which I think has some truth to its name because we were at some altitude, enough to make our ears pop.) The food was expensive yet...argh I just realized that I'm a lazy blogger... so I'll just describe the pics... Nyahaha... *evil grin* All pics taken by me... except the ones I'm in, because I wouldn't be able to take a picture of myself without a tripod or anywhere to but the camera on... although that would be possible.

This would have been better if that guy and that jeep was not there. But they make good accents nonetheless. As the sign says it's a garden. I really big one. I didn't believe that it was real the first time I saw it.

It's a duck. NOT a goose, not a garden gnome. And its REAL too. Hehe... It's really white and really clean looking... plus I like the green-ness of the grass - so I took the shot. Hehe... *Quack!*

Gotcha! Are you holding his hand? Hmmm? Hmmmm! o_O haha... just kidding. I call this the bubbly pic... because its so bubbly! Even though I don't see any bubbles around. Hehe. That's Yunisee, Norman (back of head) and Corinne from left to right. Corinne likes her picture taken and Norman would kill anyone who takes his. Baby wants world peace more than anything else (aside from me, I guess).

Yuppie! That's us. That's Taal lake in the background. I didn't realize that it was sooo far away. I thought Tagaytay is Taal lake.... but nooo. It's just a high place where you can view the lake. But is cool.... literally.

And this is where we stayed... "maliit lang" (it's just small). YEAH RIGHT! Hehe...

Spidermen!

2007-11-23T21:31:00.001+08:00

Andaming spidermen! I cant get over them talaga. Andamiii! OMGness! Spidermen! Spiderman! May black, may red! May black. May reeeed. Andamiii! Waaaw... So much! I am overwhelmed... Waaaw. Kuha ni baby ko to... I love my baby! Hehe...

Patola Wars

2007-10-27T20:24:00.001+08:00

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Post Ulit

2007-10-20T00:42:00.000+08:00

Gawa ni Venz...

Itong pic na to kuha ko noong summer... translation: "dapat nabili na ang lahat na nahili niyong fish."

Schidyul Bords... Awooo

2007-10-03T12:34:00.000+08:00

At last, a new post. Haha. Just my sched. My break is long. I don't know how to write anymore. My column, hope is not lost... I will get to you after I finish my long list of procrastination. *grin* :D

<3 <3 <3 ---`,--<@

2007-09-05T00:01:00.000+08:00

Happy First Monthsary Baby ko!

I guess the time was right for us to say We'd take our time and live our lives Together day by day We'll make a wish and send it on a prayer We know our dreams can all come true With love that we can share With you I never wonder--will you be there for me With you I never wonder--you're the right one for me I finally found the love of a lifetime A love to last my whole life through I finally found the love of a lifetime Forever in my heart I finally found the love of a lifetime With every kiss, our love is like brand-new And every star up in the sky Was made for me and you Still we both know that the road is long We know that we will be together Because our love is strong I finally found the love of a lifetime A love to last my whole life through I finally found the love of a lifetime Forever in my heart I finally found the love of a lifetime

Hit or Miss?

2007-08-16T23:15:00.000+08:00

This photo updates to show the weather within our area of responsibility.

Will there be classes tomorrow? We will return after these lengthy commercials and crappy reports for an update on the tomorrow's weather.

It seems that the media is using "Egay's" slow movement speed to their advantage. I'm tired of waiting so I made a blog entry.

By the way, for those of you who are praying for more rain, the Church has urged everyone to stop. We had enough rain already. I only wish that classes will still be suspended tomorrow, be it rain or shine.

Click here for an animated image... (this also updates daily)

UPDATE: wala ngang pasok!

Crookster Exposed

2007-08-02T21:00:00.000+08:00

Due to public demand, here is Crookster aka Venz, kala ko si kuya Nico... ooops. Hehe... Lifestyle Channel Shot. No Photoshop, I hate Photoshop, keeps on hanging up. Hehe.

Refreshed

2007-07-26T19:36:00.000+08:00

itsgreen

Another image from my archives... still from the last Builder outing. Its been so long since I've posted something. Sorry for the wait. I wanted newer shots but I didn't have the time to go out and shoots some new stills. But hey, here's a fresh looking one, nevertheless.

Kangkong stalks and brandy are in no way related, yeah I know. But the wet kangkong stalks looked so fresh and the [already] empty bottle seemed like a pretty good accent that it was really hard NOT to take one quick macro snapshot. We we're doing a lot of "shooting" then so this was just another one of the 671 photos we took during that vacation. I didn't bother posting all of them though, I'm a bit too lazy for that.

Uhm, hello world? I'm still alive! Just too busy doing schoolwork and stuff. Hehe. Expect new photos by next week. ^_^

Through the Ages

2007-07-16T23:50:00.000+08:00

Centuries Apart

This tree and this old school might be centuries older than the tricycles that pass through these streets. Hmmm, just a thought... no evidence to back that up. This is Sta. Barbara Church by the way, one of the oldest churches in Panay - or so they say. Hehe...

Sta. Barbara Church

Colorful Pala Sila

I just zoom in a little and I get a totally different image. (see first pic) Haha, colorful trikes. ^_^

Last Rays

2007-07-15T20:28:00.000+08:00

Last Rays

Can you lay your life down, so a stranger can live?
Can you take what you need, but take less than you give?
Could you close every day, without the glory and fame?
Could you hold your head high, when no one knows your name?
That's how legends are made, at least that's what they say.

We say goodbye, but never let go.
We live, we die, cause you can't save every soul.
Gotta take every chance to, show that you're the kinda man who;
Will never look back, never look down,
and never let go.

*Exerpt from "Never Let Go" by Bryan Adams, ending theme of "The Guardian."

I watched The Guardian this afternoon so I got inspired to dig through my collection of photos to find a good image for this song. This one was taken while I was waiting for a plane at Iloilo's new Airport. I called it Last Rays for obviouse reasons... hehe. The sun may have set but a new day will soon follow, hope will shine again so never look back, never look down, and never let go. ^_^ (Im so inspired) Hehe.

Oh, by the way. Have you ever wondered why they dim the cabin lights in an airplane just before landing? Well, I recently found out that they do this so that passengers could adapt to the darkness incase the aircraft crashed on landing. Eyes which are exposed to bright light take a few moments to adapt when exposed to sudden darkness. Ridding the passangers of this temporary blindness could save lives.

Paru-paru sa Bukid (Butterfly ba to?)

2007-07-11T21:40:00.000+08:00

Tutubi

This is a tutubi, er intsik-intsik in Ilonggo, or dragonfly for most of you... This was taken a few weeks ago while we visited Pangasinan, I think it was some kind of team building activity. I dont know, I was too drunk to remember (pare!). ^_^ Anyways, while everyone was taking some R&R I was off practicing my photography skills. This one was taken using a canon IXUS 750 (aha... at last I know what camera I'm using). I used some digital zooming here because these pasky little creatures fly away whenever I move too close. The yellow, brown, flesh thingy is a garden hose by the way. No its not an arm, a leg or whatever. I used macro focus mode, no flash... its was mid noon anyways. The natural light was more than enought. Here's another pic. I'll make it a habit to post only a minimal number of pics per day so that I could post a lot of entries. Uploading too many photos can be a bore. Angle and zoom is not too good on this one. No photoshop edits in both photos, sorry tamad.

back of tutubi (this is a very creative title)

Minimalist Clothing

2007-07-09T21:17:00.000+08:00

I'm the king of the world?

I don't know, but I think UP's oblation statue reminds me a lot of Leonardo di Caprio's famous Titanic Movie scene. ^_^ This picture was taken while we we're stuck in traffic in front of UP Iloilo (my brother's current high school). A new flyover is currently under construction here, hence the heavy traffic. I think that's a fig leaf covering his you-know-what. I'm not sure. Hehe. Why couldn't the oblation statue be female? Huh? Huh? O_O

Grammar Check

2007-07-09T01:28:00.000+08:00

New Iloilo Airport

Editors, feast on this...

High School Life

2007-07-08T00:51:00.000+08:00

My Ball!

Today (yesterday na pala), I went to visit my old high school, Pisay. It was their 15th foundation day and I loved their theme: "Pushing Frontiers, Keeping Traditions." Or something like that. Anyhoo, we played a little Frisbee with my batch mates, there were only four of us at that time, and I got so wet because of the slight drizzle and because of moving and talking too much that I decided to sit at the sidelines and dry myself a little. I observed the activities of the kids around me and saw myself and my batch mates doing the same thing a few years ago. PSHS has changed very little since we left. The field still smelled like wet grass. The corridors still smelled of sweet perfume. The faculty center was still abuzz. The covered walk was still filled with noisy, chaotic scholars. The gym still had birds flying overhead. The same faces smiled back at you at the canteen, the lobby, at the teachers lounge. Well, yes... aside from the newly tiled floors, newly painted walls, bigger trees, and wireless internet, PSHS was still the same place that I left a few years ago. I'm glad to know that. If only we could live such carefree lives now that we're already studying for college degrees.

Calle Real

2007-07-05T23:35:00.000+08:00

This morning, I somehow convinced my mother to drive me around the old city to take some pictures. Of course the drive could never happen without constant nagging about the camera being suddenly stolen, but overall it was a fun experience. Calle Real used to be "Main Street" or "Downtown" before the big malls suddenly sprouted everywhere in the Island. Now, it has an atmosphere very similar to Quiapo. Old yellow buildings, heavy traffic, the ever present threat of thieves. Yet somehow, this place reminds me a lot about my childhood and the city I grew up in. Enjoy Old Iloilo in full sepia colors. ^_^

Calle JM Basa

This building used to be Iloilo International Hotel, way, way, back during peacetime (before the second word war?) according to my grandfather. The building still stands, but its purpose was lost with the times. Now it serves as a front for different kinds of stores and offices. This shot was taken while we were riding along JM Basa Street.

Plazoletagay

I think that directly translates to little plaza. This was taken early in the morning, before traffic starts to clog this busy intersection. If that big TV patrol bill board was not there, this pic would look like the old EDSA - you know... the one without the cars. Again, I hate those wires.

Celso Ledesma

Celso Ledesma? Did I read that right? Just to give you a sense of how old these buildings are, I took a close-up of one with a date written on its facade. This one was built in 1923. Hmm... 2007 minus 1923... that's 84 years. Almost as old as my Lolo. Hmmm. I'll ask him more about this building's history.

Kilometer Zero

When you travel the roads of Panay Island, (Iloilo is merely the capital of Panay, FYI) there are road markers everywhere. This markers tell you haw far you are from the next town and how far you have traveled from the main city. This fountain is kilometer zero. That's the old provincial capitol at the background, restored after the fire.

Old and New

Museo Iloilo is home to many war relics, paintings, old artworks, and much more. You should come visit whenever you're stopping by Iloilo for Boracay or anywhere else. That's the new Provincial Capitol at the background. It was build after the old one got burned. It comes complete with automatic flushing toilets, automatic sliding doors, and fingerprint scanners.

Amber is the Color of Your Energy

2007-07-03T21:23:00.001+08:00

Amber

The sunrise as seen from our moving Toyota Grandia on our way to a resort in Pangasinan. More pics later... tamad.

Leap of Faith

2007-06-29T18:25:00.000+08:00

Kiyah!!!

It's verification day! Stress is in the air. Argh! Pass or fail? One question plagues the minds of all Mapuans. Alas, the die has been cast. There are only two things we could do, hope... and pray. Or you could follow my example and jump off walls kicking phantom air creatures. Piff! X_X

Wallpaper Moments

2007-06-26T21:37:00.001+08:00

After a long week of exams and projects, I finally had some time to breath. The streets were moist from the sporadic showers that marked the start of the rainy season. Ahhh yes, the perfect time to take out the camera and take some night shots of the walled city, Intramuros.

Midnight Green

Dismissal

Dichroma Aqua

Diamond Rain

Connecting People

Solitude

Time Gap

I'll provide the text later. For now... let the pictures talk for themselves.

Doodles

2007-06-25T09:34:00.000+08:00

Yunisee

This image was exclusively done using Yahoo Messenger’s ‘Doodles’ IMvironment. Hehe. I think they look alike. Hopefully. ^_^ I'm usually creative during the wee hours of the morning, just before sunrise. Yes, the clock is right - it's already 3:41am. I only posted this now because I was already seeing double this morning. I just woke up. Final exams later this afternoon. Wish me luck! I hope yunisee woke up (or stayed up) early enought to not miss her first class.

Up Close

2007-06-23T22:12:00.000+08:00

Macro Focus Mode

Macro shots are one of my favorite types of pictures. You don't need a lot of skill to come up with a good one too. All you need to do is select the macro focus mode of your camera (see icon above). Select a fine looking specimen. Move your camera really close (2-5 inches, or so). Half-press the shot button so that your camera could automatically set the focus. And click! you have your macro shot. Here are a few exaples of my favorite shots. No photoshop edits for these ones.

Lamp Number 5

This is a shot of the trainer that we use in our automation class. I intentionally left only one lamp on to attract more attention to that specific area. This also adds accent to the picture. Macro shots have a very narrow depth of focus (Im not sure if I used the right technical terms, but you know what I mean). Most of the shot is out of focus and only a very small area remains clear. Again this is to shift more attention to a specific area in a picture.

The Last Slice

When taking a macro shot, you must pay close attention to the lighting. Using the flash when your camera is really close to the subject can oversaturate the image and you could end up with a picture that looks like a clean sheet of paper. You may have to take a few shots to get it right. Try to experiment which shots looks best. If your image looks good without the flash, then that's a good shot. In some cases where the flash is absolutely necessary, try to move away from the subject a bit and compensate by zooming in a little. This is a shot cake leftover from some party. With macro shots, even leftovers could look mouth watering.

Sizzler

Here is one example where I did use the flash. Take note that black is one of the dominant colors in this image. Black absorbs light and will make anything in the foreground look darker. See how the flash reflects off the corn kernels? This is why we seldom use the flash when taking macro shots. Another important factor that you have to consider when taking a macro shot is how you would frame the image. This is not a meal served from some hotel. It's just a 60-peso sizzling pork barbeque meal from one of the stores at Gateway's food court. Because we eliminated the cheap looking table and the greasy sizzling plate in order to focus more on the food, the image looks more mouthwatering that it should be. ^_^

Hate Those Wires

2007-06-19T23:25:00.000+08:00

Before

After
Ahhh yes, sunset from atop the old Intramuros wall - what a wonderful experience to share. Also, another photo op for would-be photographers. Sometimes, however, such a perfect scene could be punctuated by pesky power lines that should have never been there in the first place. If I were a better photographer, I could have found another angle or I could have searched for a better subject. But no, I was just some guy with a digital camera, on his way home, who happens to pass by this place at this moment. No time. I stopped for a few seconds, took out my camera, and click... not even the eagle-eyed snatchers noticed that I had a P23,000 piece of equipment stored in my tiny clutch bag.

I took a few simple steps to remove those wires using Adobe Photoshop. I used the 'Spot Healing Brush' (see pic below, hotkey is 'J') tool to let photoshop automatically predict the colors that I should 'brush' on to that area with the wires in order to erase tham. The Spot Healing tool will not work perfectly. Sometimes you need to manually do the task. To do this, select the eyedropper tool (Hotkey is I) and select a pixel near the object to be erased. You just selected a color. With that color, use the brush tool (hotkey B) to paint over the unwanted objects (eg, pimples, power lines). Be sure to use low opacity and/or flow so that your corrections will simply blend on to the background.

Here's another Mapua scene, off topic. This one was not edited in any way. It's a bit grainy though. I find it hard to hold the camera steady for long exposure times. I need a monopad? Hehe.

Ingat ka!

2007-06-16T23:21:00.000+08:00

I wish I could compose an image like this using an SLR camera. This was heavily altered using photoshop CS3. I dont know how photographers adjust all those settings to capture one fleeting moment. Aperture size, focal length, ISO… there are just too many factors to consider for the inexperienced. Thank God for Photoshop. Now, amateurs like me could make an otherwise normal looking image into something worth looking at. Here's the original image. Its a bad pic, I know. Hehe.

I just wanted to show how much one still image could tell. You decide what's the story behind this. Time is 12:55, she seems like she's rushing, ticket at hand, big baclaran sign at the back, a uniform. Hehe... Ooops, I gave away too much there. Im a sucker for spoilers. Hit me. :D

It's coming! It's getting close!

2007-06-16T22:30:00.000+08:00

It's near. I can already see myself buying a new videocard. Aaack. Help! Must buy a new videocard. Wanna know why? See for yourself. Here's a short clip... ahh yes, the good old days. ↑_↑

Just a note to the none-gamers: 'GG' means good game. It's the universal gesture of sportsmanship in multiplayer games. The loser could say it when he admits defeat or the winner could use it either to give the loser a chance to surrender or to admit that he had a good fight. (Sometimes gg is sometimes used to mock the losing players.)

I can't wait for starcraft 2 to hit our shores. I could only wish it would be as popular as DOTA. I dont think the net cafes here would be that willing to upgrade their systems to make way for a new game though. This might die the same way counterstrike condition zero did. But who knows? No one thought Ragnarok, with its pathetic but cute graphics, would be as popular back in its Beta Testing days. I did not get hooked though, only for a couple of weeks. I already got my hands full with my own life, no time to live an alternate one.