A Look Back to 09

A lots of things happened in 2009, some of them good but the rest are plain sadistic and bad. But still, with the current year slowly capping as the start of a new decade encroaches, it is now a time for New Year Resolutions and new beginnings.

January
-Learn the basics of photography with an old film-dependent Nikon SLR camera first, not with my newer D40 cam.

February
-CWS/Community service in Baseco Compound where me and a my pals taught some classes to kid scholars.
-Got hooked on American daytime serials

March
-Housewarming party at Jeco’s neighborly place.

April
-Took some incredible shots around the Metro for my finals paneling in Fotogra: Street Money Makin’ Tactics

May
-Second time visiting the Sibucao homeland in Ilocos Norte
-Start of what could be the longest trimestral year in CSB.

June
-AH1N1 outbreak
-Cancelation of Philippine delegation’s Singapore for CG Overdrive

July
-Goddaughter’s 2nd birthday party
-Started an ill-fated money-saving drive.

August
-Na-ulol sa Budol budol gang
-Lost my camera, money and laptop to a crime syndicate’s modus operandi
-Won my at prize, a jacket. from Max FM

September
-Typhoon Ondoy
-Auditioned for Radio 1. Still waiting if I got the call or not.

October
-Found interest on making films (Thanks in part to Sir Dodos).
-Did 4 films before midterms: Habol, Ulol sa Budol, The Milktea Bottle, and A Bloody Inheritance

November
-Enjoyed the Extra Long Weekend, Baby!
-Had a grand EB with fellow radio fanatics and toured around different radio stations.

December
-Stressful finals month (ending in the firts few weeks of January 2010).
-Finished a very difficult film titled, “The Gift”.

I don’t know what to expect in 2010 but for certain, things will definitely be interesting because of the coming elections. And for the first time, I’m going to vote for the next batch of leaders.

Well wishes to the new year!

Share this post

Si Taba at si Puti

Minsan, habang nakasakay ako sa tren pauwi ay hindi ko inaasahang makita muli ang dati kong ka-eskuwela noong ako’y nag-aaral pa sa mababang paaralan. Tatawagin natin siya sa pangalang “Taba” kasi mataba siya. Nagulat din si Taba nung nakita niya ako kaya nagkamustahan kami’t nag-usap habang pareho kaming lumabas ng tren pagkahinto nito sa pinakahuling himpilan.

Nag-aaral na siya ngayon sa isang kolehiyo sa Maynila, halata sa unipormeng kanyang suot nung araw na iyon. Nagulat lang ako nung nalaman ko na naninigarilyo na rin pala si Taba eh nung bata pa kami ay panay “clean-living” ang motto niya, kahit mataba siya. Bumigay na rin siguro sa peer pressure dala sa kabigatang binigay sa kanya ng buhay-kolehiyo.

Si Taba rin, mangha rin sa pagbabagong nakikita niya sa’kin kahit pakiramdam ko na wala masyadong nabago sa’kin mula nang nilisan namin ang alma mater namin. Inanyaya niya akong manigarilyo rin pero hindi ko tinanggap ang alok niya dahil hindi naman ako naninigarilyo (lalo pa’t masama sa kalusugan ko iyan). Okey naman siya pero siya iyung mukhang atat mag-usok.

Naglalakad kami sa daan nang itinanong niya sa’kin kung saang kolehiyo ako nag-aaral. Sinagot ko sa kanya kung saan at nagtanong uli kung may kakilala ba ako na tao na tatawagin natin siyang “Puti” dahil maputi ang kanyang balat.

Sinabi ko na “oo”, dala nang pagiging magkaklase namin ni Puti. Humingi sa’kin ng pabor si Taba na kung maari ay hingan ko mula kay Puti ang numero niya sa cellphone. Nais niya kasi makausap ang iyung-pala’y matalik niyang kaibigan.

Matalik na kaibigan pala sila? Akalain ba naman?

Si Puti nakilala ko minsan nung unang taon ko sa nilipatan ko noon na eskuwelahan pero siya naman ay lumipat sa ibang paaralan nang di naglaon.

Hindi ako kaagad pumayag sa pabor niya lalo pa’t hindi kami lubos na magkakilala at ganong kalapit na kaibigan ni Puti. At bukod doon baka hindi niya ako naaalala, nakakahiya naman na kausapin siya. Pero nagpumilit si Taba na pagbigyan ko ang hiling niya kaya pumayag na rin ako.

Nawala sa isip ko nga lang sa sumunod na araw ang pinapagawa sa’kin ni Taba ngunit noong nakaraang linggo ko naalala ang dapat ko gawin at nilapitan ko an rin si Puti nung meron kaming klase na panggabi.

Mabait pala itong si Puti, humble kahit mukhang maangas. Nalamn ko pa nga mula sa kanya na kaklase niya noon ang isa kong matalik na kaibigan nung grade school kaya may “common friends” kami. Nabanggit ko na rin sa kanya ang tungkol kay Taba at pinaliwanag an rin niya sa’kin na nagkita na rin pala silang dalawa ilang araw matapos ang huling pagkikita namin ni taba. Binanggit na rin daw ni Taba ang tungkol sa’kin kay Puti kaya medyo alam na rin pala niya na kakausapin ko siya.

How ironic, ‘no? Nangyari na pero ang magandang dulot nito ay medyo lubos ko na rin nakikilala ng unti-unti sina Taba at Puti: ang kanilang pagiging matalik na kaibigan at iba pa.

Isipin na sa iisang lungsod naman sila nakatira, hindi kaya mas mainam kung sila mismo ang magkausap? Hahaha, eh di hindi na nahirapan pa’tong si Taba na magatubili na hingan pa ako ng pabor na kausapin si Puti.

Okey lang. 🙂

Share this post

Photoshop Set: CASTING CALL! NAGHAHANAP NG ARTISTA!

WANTED ACTORS
——————————————————–
1 Male Actor and 1 Female Actor
(Non-MMA and Non-CSB students are welcome)

Must be available at the either of the following days:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
(Between December 1-22, 2009)

Locations:
SDA
Condo ng may condo (TBA)

*A copy of the script will be given for each actor

Contact me at 09053321814 or email me at jlhabitan@yahoo.com

Share this post

Swimming ng Jamers: Party on a Weekend (The Extra Long Weekend , Baby! Part 1 of 3)

Thanksgiving for Americans, Eid al Adha for Muslims, Bonifacio Day for Filipinos. Although the first mentioned is not a legal holiday for Pinoys while the second was reduced to being a regional holiday in the local level, Filipinos had a reason to celebrate the Bonifacio Day Weekend. It’s probably the first time in a long while that we got to celebrate a long weekend 3 2 days preceding/succeeding the 30th of November by technicality (Regular weekend being usual weekly non-working days) and not manipulated by PGMA.

I have another reason to celebrate the long weekend because I get to enjoy the it on an extended period, lasting until the first two days of December, because I don’t have class during Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the second term (which has yet to end).

I kicked off my Extra Long Weekend with the belated celebration of Jeco’s birthday bash which was held in a private resort in Pansol, Laguna.

I. Somewhere in the Night

“Somewhere in the night, she knows…”

We left Manila around 6pm en route to Manila, arriving in Pansol 2 hours later. Among those who heeded Jeco’s call: Mark, Janelle, Kim, Eswhy, me, MR, Dianne, Nikki and Gene and good thing it’s just us ’cause with just us alone, all of couldn’t fit inside Jeco’s Revo together so some of us ended up riding inside the family L300. In it were the rest of Jeco‘s clan (and another car packed wth more guest).

The place is alright. A large enough pool, a videoke room and two bedrooms. Jeco’s guests though could not all fit within the realms of 3 beds combined hehehe.

II. Jump

“When I say ‘jump’, you say ‘how high?’…”

Interesting part of the night was when everything went into party mode-kain mode-inuman mode-chaka mode and videoke mode all at the same time. There were some booze: vodka, Red Horse, Bacardi, Bailey plus matching chasers. Many of us had his or her share of flaming shots, straight shots, “cup-sized” shots, and “anything-else goes” shots although I politely declined to consume hard drinks. The mere fact that I don’t drink hard and the likes of vodka really gives one heck of a hangover is more than enough stray from it for now. Hehehe.

And yes, an overnight drinking session is never complete without getting quite the kick out of the leisure, yes. But it’s all cool :D.

III. Morning After Dark

Many of us didn’t have any decent sleep the morning after partying throughout the weekend’s midnight run. Wasted, hangover-ish, and extremely tired…We got the chance to get back at least an hour of sleep in Jeco’s Place after traveling back from Laguna to Manila (2-hour smooth drive). Although tired, I tried reserving my desire to hit the sack until later in the day so I spent most of the time from Laguna to Manila listening to 24k as well as The Final Countdown from my cellphone.

IV. Forever Young

“Let’s start in style, let’s dance for a while
Heaven can wait we’re only watching the skies
Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst
Are you gonna drop the bomb or not?”

Coming home tired and hungry, I mustered enough strength to at least get my butt going into Mass in Maysilo in Malabon, had lunch with the rest of the family and even attend to greet my relatives who were visiting to discuss something with my mom. Louie, who was invited but was not allowed to go to the trip with me tagged along and crash my room as I giving myself some due sleep. I did entertain her before completely giving in to my body for most of the afternoon.

In the end, the trip was completely awesome. Enjoyed ever bit of it, even if Jeco’s mom was making fun of me (in a good way :D). Good thing nothing bad happened that has to do with me (no house blessing thank you very much!).

The Party on a Weekend closed, but a new one was unfold the next day.

Next Part: The Tour of Radio

Share this post