The Verdict
I know this isn’t a necessary post, but I figured might as well blog about it because it was quite the learning experience as well!
First of all, a huge THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to everyone who supported me! As I said, it really meant a lot. It took a lot of built up courage but I don’t regret one bit of it. You guys provided my strength. Yihee!
Tbh, I’ve never really been in an online poll before. Say, I’ve ran at elections way back, but online polls are definitely a million times the competition! Seeing your status everyday (hehe, I get a little competitive sometimes. You can’t blame me, I wanted it bad!) compared to a one time big time election drop? Stress Drilon, teh. Pretty wild, but I tried to abide as I remember a quote saying
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
So even though I didn’t land the internship, to be able to be considered as a finalist (Thank you, FIPH!) and get an overwhelming amount of support; may it be votes, shares, retweets (omg hi Crissey and Thomasian communities) or morally (I owe you a lot Fru, Geeni and Madel), I’m more than grateful to everyone who stood and believed in me, most especially my family. The dream’s still on, but maybe there’s another gateway, something more special that God planned for me.
One day when I’m old, start back reading this blog and stumble upon this; Hello future self! Remember this crazy times? :)
Today
Astonish Fashion and Art Magazine —-wait for it—- Volume One. Pretty rad cover for an starting mag, don’t you think? If you know me personally, you would know about the overflowing growing stack of magazines I have in my room that ranges from Fashion down to Entrepreneurship. Every now and then, I take a leap of faith by purchasing starting magazines in the hopes of new content exposure and new added perspective.
And it didn’t disappoint <3
Also, I scored Elle Magazine Nov 2011 issue with Emma Watson on the cover for almost half the price!
Aaaand, after almost a year of delay and hours & hours Ala stone age mode of waiting— I finally got my driver’s license!!
How was your day? :)
Good Times
I can’t even remember when was the last time we went out (Edit: okay I think it was on Zala’s last birthday- but that was still too long ago!) and even though we weren’t complete (Zala, We missed you!), a day of catching up needs a part two!
Fru got the hot seat of the day. We care about you so much, it angers us! 
Instagram photo from Iya. Hello, Pat! Thanks for letting us stop by ❤ Haven’t seen you since HS Grad! >:D<
We went to Iya’s house after roaming around Ortigas for dinner, Idol Marathon, Monopoly Deal (I still claim I won 2/3), HS reminiscing and bonding. One of my fave spontaneous dates <3
Hot Import Nights Manila
03.25.12 Hot Import Nights Manila with my sister at World Trade Center
Pimp my ride right before my eyes!
Somebody placed a number “53” on my car. What can’t people understand with “hands-off”?
Meanwhile, while chillin’ at the back of my ride…
Of course I was kidding. This is really my car. It’s a legit LV :)
My back-up car, the Ferrari
and the interior of my other car, the Lamborghini :)
Don’t you hate it when your Ferrari runs out of gas and you have to use your Lamborghini?
Nah i’m just kidding with you all. This is really my ride.
Ok no gags involved anymore. Ladies and gentlemen, meet my flaming hot wheels:
HAHAHA I had fun swooning over these cars, but I’d really like to have my own car too when the right time comes. Meanwhile, libre mangarap!
May the odds be forever in your favor.
03.23.12 Last day of classes!
(Photos are by N, PP by me)
As many people look forward to this day by planning sem-enders waaay beforehand, it was more of a day that totally caught me off-guard in everything. Deadlines were eating up one another (We had 36 units for this sem, can you even imagine the workload?) and it was madness. Nevertheless, I’m just happy I got through it all now. It definitely stretched my multitasking skills at the unexpected. Time Management skills, level up!
Solemn Low High Five!
I stayed at R’s place for a while after school to prep up (Thanks for the “adoption”!) then L’s mom (thanks tita!) gave us a ride to MOA. Had late lunch at Pepper Lunch (I just had to say that) then watched The Hunger Games!
The movie was AMAZING. It was like a real Bionic Commando’s game- only more hardcore!
Blue Wave after MOA then changed location to Harbour Square.
Chilled at Starbucks after then I went to a spontaneous sleepover at my sister’s condo. Thanks for the lovely last day, guys!
FINALLY, I’M AT PEACE. Summer, you don’t know how much I longed for you.
New set of wheels + Newly updated playlist = Adrenaline rush all over!
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!
CHEERMANIA ‘12
01.27.12 yup 3 weeks late hahaha /badblogger /busybee oooh I love Cheerdance competitions! The energy, the swag- it’s like stepping inside a Step Up Movie!
There was an unfortunate incident with our College’s (CFAD) costume, though. It didn’t arrive on time before the event took place. Nevertheless the entire routine still stood up for itself and the audience’s energy overwhelmed, so it’s all good!
CTHM (College of Tourism and Hospitality Management) reigned at 3rd place. 
Quick dance intermission from the UST Yellow Jackets. Awesome hilarious time! 
And yes, hindi lahat ng Yellow Jackets kalbo. Hahaha!
GO USTE!
Props to this guy from the College of Music. I think he twisted his foot real bad in the middle of the routine but he still went through it even though he had to limp back and forth! Fighting spirit, you’re doing it right ✔ 
College of Arts and Letters, 2nd placer. Love their get-ups!
And the 3-peat Champions, College of Commerce! Kudos to everybody this year!
Velada Tomasina
01.25.2012
The day that UST made time-travelling possible.
“Velada Tomasina, a living tableau that shows the University of Santo Tomas in the perspective of the cultural milieu of Old Manila at the turn of the 19th century. It seeks to bring us back in time through period costumes, songs, dances, poems, and festivity. We will transform the Benavides Park into the Old Plaza Santo Tomas in Intramuros with the replica of the buildings and standees of some notable alumni including Dr. Jose Rizal”
-Velada Tomasina Fb
^Above photo by Mr. Josemari Llorente Bautista. Here’s some of our professors chanelling La Solidaridad Photojournalists. Check out the tobacco prop and film cameras. Tres cute!
Imagine class pictures used to be like this!
Kalesas all over the campus. I love my epic school. Viva Santo Tomas!
Not-so-Little Miss Old Hollywood
“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen on her eyes, because that’s the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty of a woman is reflected on her soul.”
- Audrey Hepburn
Last Saturday (01.21.2012) was Janica’s 18th Birthday ft. her Old Hollywood Glam Debut! I was pretty late (blame the traffic) so I missed the her entrance and the entire entrance vid where they showed Ja’s transformation. Sadface. But I made it at the opening prayer!
Father-Daughter dance. Can I just say that Ja’s family is the cutest? They always stop and smile whenever I turn my camera on them. Haha, just like Janica!
Ate Alexis. Love their gowns!
Janica with her boys her 18 Roses! Last dance went to her baby brother Elijah and it was ze cutest!
I’m a part of the 18 Lollipops, inspired by a scene from the Wizard of Oz where the Munchkins from the Lollipop Guild gave Dorothy lollipops to welcome her. In short, I was a munchkin!
You have to strike a pose synced with Janica after giving your message. I did the buwis-buhay Lady Jaja pose- in 5 inch heels! FIGHT!
Medley song number from the Lady Jaja herself. Yes You’re on the right track, baby, you were born this way!
The night consisted of good laughs, overdue bondings and lots of picture-taking!
Thanks for the wonderful time, Janica! You’re Eighteen and even more Fierce! ❤
Of mysticism, tranquility and soul-searching
A few kilometers past east of Manila, a mountainous province hovering on the western slopes of the southern part of the Sierra Made Mountain Range can be found the beautiful yet humble land of Rizal.
Now, now, don’t yawn!
The adventure starts with the scenic views from your car window: Sierra Madre mountains to your left, overlooking Manila cityscape to your right. It may not be as solemn as the sound of seaside waves, or as luxurious as of a trip abroad; but it’s equally breathtaking and surprisingly, a soulful trip!
Sunset View Castle Hotel along Sumulong Highway (from Cainta). It’s located beside the noted Cafe Lupe (overlooking Manila view + live music performances) and the newly opened Wensha Spa. Stay here and live the life!
That awkward moment when tumblr make your photos waaay less vivid
Antipolo Church! Travelers from all places make it a point to pay homage to the “Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines” every once in a while. We used to hear mass here back when I was a kid, and my dad will take photos using his film SLR. Time passed and the Church still looked immaculate as it had been. It felt good to be back. Suddenly, nostalgia.
Hinulugang Taktak Falls
Regina Rica Marian Pilgrimage in Tanay, Rizal where you can find a 71-foot Mama Mary Statue and celebrate mass underneath it. The place is maintained by Dominican nuns.
Last stop: The Dike in Tanay, Rizal where residents often go to fish, jog or watch the sunset.
A few notes:
- Thank you Kuya Em for lending me your Nikon FF! It was a (small as it may seem) dream come true (to shoot all day with a Nikon and a FF). Definitely learned a lot on the other side (since I’m a Canon user) :)
- I actually photographed these on different dates. Extended fun!
- This is also a school plate.
Truly, an escapade worth remembering ❤
