Lanikai 21C :Finding My First Ukulele

It took me sometime to get myself an ukulele.

I had been browsing the internet for 3 weeks,  reading blogs and forums to see what brand and model i could buy that wont break the bank and also where to get it, what size?

I know how to play guitar. 

But not ukulele.

Some say the transition would be easy. And i was hoping so.After some reaearch.

  I decided to get a concert size to begin with,  just so that my fingers will have a bit of space when i do the chords and not cramp.

I searched then for some good ukulele brands like:  Kala,  Lanikai, Cordoba etc etc. that are good for beginners like me. 

I also browsed  the internet some ukulele shops, the brands they carry and price.

I finally settled for Lanikai LU 21C.

Not that it was the best, but because it was one of those recommended for beginners and i can buy it at a great price  at my trusted online seller in olx.ph for P1900  plus P200 delivery charge and in COD.

The Lanikai lu21c has a nice build. The body is made of Nato wood which they say is similat to majogany. It came with aquilla strings. After spending a few minutes tuning the  ukulele. I played with it for a few hours. i have to say it sounded great. The sound is bright,  loud and not muffled.

Overall i am very pleased with my first ukulele purchase.

I rate it 5/5 as a beginner and would highly recommend it to beginners like me.

Now, eyeing to buy a tenor size as my next purchase :-) 

Puerto Galera - Sightseeing at White Beach

Puerto Galera - is located in Mindoro Oriental , and is considered to be one of most developed beach resorts community near Metro Manila. Definitely it is one of the top destinations of both local and tourist alike. What is attractive in Puerto Galera is its crystal clear water , specially during summer.

This was my first trip to Puerto Galera last April 2012, it didn't surprise me to see lots of people, hey! its summer and as i said this is one the top destinations for tourist and locals alike.

I took a few snaps when we arrived , but somehow i realized  it will be hard for me to take good pictures at the beach.  so i decided to take a nap for the rest of the the afternoon and just take photos during sunset.

Unfortunately, after the nap,  a friend told me the weather had overcast skies. 

It didn't stop me to stroll down the beach and shoot though.

It may have been not the best sunset i've seen ( no red ball sun , no golden yellow skies)  but at a so called "golden hour" , it was enough to pull a dozen few good pictures , after all this what i came for.

And I was happy with what i got , and satisfied enough to put a smile from ear to ear.

When we left Puerto Galera the next day. I though of going back again , not because i did not have enough. but i feel i need to experience the other face of Puerto Galera , the one when the beach bumming season is not at its peak.

Enjoy!

Heres the itenerary:

day1 

5:30am - 8:30  Manila to Batangas Port

9:00am - 10:00 Ride a banka to Puerto Galera

10:30am  - check in at beach resort

11:00am - 12noon - free time

12:00am - 1pm - lunch

1:00pm - midnight  - free time

day2

10:30am - check-out at the resort

1:00 - 2:00 ride a banka back to Port of Batangas

2:00pm - 5:00 Batangas port to Manila.

Aliwan Fiesta - Battle of Festival Champions

I was shooting Aliwan Fiesta since 2007. And i did so , again on year 2008 and 2009 , but i never thought writing a blog out of it until this year's event. I still could remember the time I shot Aliwan Fiesta in 2007, and it was on a very hot summer and yr2008 was the opposite as i was soaking wet in the rain while shooting. Yr2009 was good , but i spent time shooting portraits of the participants and experimenting on slow shutter speed.

 Its been 2 years , and i miss it. There is something in Aliwan that makes me wanna go back and shoot. Maybe because most participants were eager to pose for a portrait shot , or maybe its the energetic and coherent  street dance performance that the participants performed not to mention the colorful costumes.

This year , i was back and this time i wanted to capture the emotion along with motion. Thus, every time  click my camera , i think of "Emotion and Motion". Shifting from a normal lens to a telephoto,  was able to see what beauty , motion , and emotion of  these street dancers has.

So , what is Aliwan Fiesta?

Its a yearly event held in Manila where all its participants came from all over the countries festivals. To mention a few known ones are: Sinulog in Cebu , Dinagyang in Ilo-ilo and Panagbenga in Bagiuo. Its a yearly gathering of these street dancers here in Manila where a street dance contest is held. Thus , this is what we call "the battle of the festival champions" where these participants will showcase their dance moves , costumes and pride for their culture heritage.

                                                 

                                                                  

So, just imagine... Aliwan Fiesta somehow provides you an overview of how diverse and unique each place you see in the Philippines.  

Its really more fun in the Philippines!

Enjoy!!!!

A Great Story of Marriage

My husband is an Engineer by profession, I love him for his steady nature, and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.
Three years of courtship and now, two years into marriage, I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of me loving him before, has now transformed into the cause of all my restlessness.
I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship and my feelings, I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy. My husband, is my complete opposite, his lack of sensitivity, and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage has disheartened me about love.
One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce.
“Why?” he asked, shocked. “I am tired, there are no reasons for everything in the world!” I answered. He kept silent the whole night, seems to be in deep thought with a lighted cigarette at all times. My feeling of disappointment only increased, here was a man who can’t even express his predicament, what else can I hope from him? And finally he asked me:” What can I do to change your mind?”
Somebody said it right, it’s hard to change a person’s personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him. Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered : “Here is the question, if you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind, Let’s say, I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death, will you do it for me?” He said :” I will give you your answer tomorrow….” My hopes just sank by listening to his response.
I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting, underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near the front door, that goes…. My dear, “I would not pick that flower for you, but please allow me to explain the reasons further..” This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading.
“When you use the computer you always mess up the Software programs, and you cry in front of the screen, I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs. You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you. You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city, I have to save my eyes to show you the way. You always have the cramps whenever your “good friend” approaches every month, I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy.
You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom. You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your eyes, I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails, and help to remove those annoying white hairs. So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand… and tell you the color of flowers, just like the color of the glow on your young face… Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do… I could not pick that flower yet, and die.. ”
My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting… and as I continue on reading… “Now, that you have finished reading my answer, if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk… I rush to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread….
Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone…
That’s life, and love. When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and dullness.
Love shows up in all forms, even very small and cheeky forms, it has never been a model, it could be the most dull and boring form.. . flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear on the surface of the relationship. Under all this, the pillar of true love stands… and that’s our life… Love, not words win arguments.



Link http://academictips.org/blogs/great-marriage-story/

From One to Five ( continued)

Ewan's birthday celebration at home
September 6 , 2008

Happy 5th birthday Ewan! as relatives and a few visitors greeted Ewan as they come into the house. It was just only a small and simple family gathering and with some close friends and a few neighbors.

The celebration started at 4pm with Ewan leading the prayer before meal.

I remember how i smiled seeing Ewan lead the prayer , making the sign of the cross with his left hand , and reciting the prayer before meal , the usual prayer they do before recess at school.
Here's how we prayed:

"In the name of the Father , in the name of the Father , the Son , the Son , the Holy Spirit , the Holy Spirit . Amen , Amen."
"Bless us Oh Lord , Bless us Oh Lord..."

repeating every word twice.

I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear , after we prayed.

We asked him to make a wish before he blew the 5 candles.

Its quite amusing to know how our son who's now grown up. Its hard to imagine how time flies so quickly. It was like last year he was One and now he's already Five.

I remember we used to call him "baby" or Baby Ewan before when we like to call his attention, now we already call him "Kuya" or Kuya Ewan.


Before when i call home from the office , i usually talk to my wife only.
Now , things have changed , he calls me in the office , and all the time asking me to bring pizza (his favorite) when i go home.

Sometimes, he calls and asks me what he is watching on TV , and even if i'm only left guessing since i'm in the office.. i can only think of his three(3) favorite TV/DVD shows he watches often.



We'll , if its not Animals or Horses , he is watching his ever favorite "Thomas and his Friends" train stories.

For me as a parent , never had i looked back thinking if i have missed anything as a parent,
Nor did i put any expectations on my kids ,or any wishes.

But as for Ewan's birthday wishes before blowing his candle.
I never bothered to asked him , he would not tell me anyway.

Only he knows it in his heart.


--EDS

From One to Five

Happy Birthday Ewan!

Friday, September 5, 2008

It's Ewan's 5th birthday.

What an exciting day it was for us parents . Me and my wife Joie planned Ewan's birthday to be celebrated at his kinder school. It was the first time he spent his birthday with his classmates and teachers.

Two(2) weeks before this day. We didn't expect Ewan to tell us his wishes for his birthday.
When he went home from school , all of sudden , he told us that he wanted balloons , cakes and goodies for his birthday.
This was the first time ever he told us this kindda stuffs.

Thus, a week before his birthday Joie prepared a list for Ewan's school birthday party.
-- party caps
-- goldilocks cake and candles
-- a quarter pint ice cream
-- chicken and spaghetti from Jolibee.
-- party goodies for boys and girls.
-- party invitation

I was tasked to get the names of Ewan's classmates at school for the invitation. I asked his teacher to provide us with the list for his classmates for the birthday invitation.
Of course, I also asked the his teacher what time will be the start for snack time of the students. "12:45 to 1 PM", the teacher replied.

D-DAY
12:00 noon , my wife ordered the cake at Goldilocks.

at 12:30 PM, The Jolibee delivery guy arrived at school to deliver the chicken and spaghetti we ordered(a day before).

12:45pm we were all set waiting outside Ewan's classroom, waiting for the teacher to inform us that its time for Ewan's birthday celebration.
Sure enough , at 1pm the teacher signaled us to come inside.

Its kind of a heart warming experience to see Ewan's classmates so eager for the celebration.
After singing the birthday song , while we and the teacher's were serving food , one student would say "teacher , where's my ice cream?" or you'll hear Ewan suddenly burst "What a wonderful day!".
Ewan's teacher informed me that there is a bag full of gifts from Ewan's classmates.
Its very touching to hear when his teacher telling us that her class has the most very active "kulit" students, but she's happy to see that her students really had concerns for one another. Citing some example that one student said "teacher... where's my gift?", as if asking the teacher not to forget on giving the gifts to Ewan.
Of course my wife had a "heart to heart" parent to teacher talk about Ewan's progress in school.

After Ewan's birthday party , while at home , me and my wife were really happy for the fact that we granted Ewan's wish for a birthday celebration at school , plus happy to know that our son will surely grow up to be a responsible and caring person as what we wished him to be.

Trully , What a wonderful day for all of us.


( to be continued.. for Ewan's post birthday celebration at home)