Distilling Thoughts

Fun

2012-01-11T00:33:00.005+09:00

It's more fun in the Philippines is the recently launched slogan of Department of Tourism. I think this is one of the few effective slogans that gained public interest. It triggered the creativity of the Filipinos and the results can be seen online. Just search "itsmorefuninthephilippines" on twitter.

After seeing the floods of awesome images, I searched my photostream and looked for photos that I could use for this tourism campaign. One problem though, I didn't know how to place the wordings on the photos as I don't have a photoshop software. But thanks to pixlr and May.

And since I came from the Visayas, most of my images were taken in our island. My way of saying, it's fun in our island too. Every June, Mudpack Festival is held at Mambucal, Negros Occidental.

Bacolod City is known as the City of Smiles as MassKara Festival is celebrated every October.

And of course, who can miss the Island of Boracay?

And our island is known for sabong!

Hope you enjoyed my contributions!

It's about time for you to visit and have fun in the Philippines.

Book the next flight available. I can be your tour guide, if the price is right. LOL!

totomai

2012/01/11

Review

2012-01-01T03:55:00.001+09:00

Goodbye 2011. Hello 2012.

counting 366

constantly changing choices

onward 2012

As a tradition of Distilling Thoughts, my first post of the year is a recap of my popular shots in flickr. Admittedly though, I wasn't that active as I only posted 218 photos this year. I promised to post at least one photo per day but it didn't happen.

Anyway, here's my top 11 photos of 2011. Some are not even a personal favorite of mine.

1. Spring

Flower shots are also popular in flickrverse and this was no exception. This was my most faved photo in 2011.

2. Stopped

Taken during the March 11 earthquake. This photo was featured in flickr blog thus making it my most viewed photo of 2011.

3. Sunflower

As I mentioned earlier, flower shots are very popular.

4. Underpass

This was my popular black and white shot. Taken in Norway.

5. Windows

My popular minimalist shot.

6. Oriental

One of my personal favorites for this year. This is one of the photos that made me love Japan.

7. Flute

Aside from photography, this is one of my few hobbies.

8. Lifted

This scene welcomed me after the March 11 earthquake.

9. Misspelled

I love Copenhagen

10. Halloween

I never missed this event since returning back to Japan

11. Weave

A figurine depicting one of Japanese traditions

This year, I also registered at 500px and this is my popular shot (Kybele)

More clicks this 2012!

Happy New Year everyone!

totomai
2012/01/01

34

2011-12-29T01:06:00.001+09:00

I just turn 34. Six more years and I will stop counting my age because as they say life begins at 40. That would mean that I'll spare everyone from my yearly birthday shots. Honestly, I don't think I can maintain it forever, so a decade of it is more than enough. What I am talking about? Here's the flashback of my 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd.

For my 34th, I'd like to think that I was born to shoot. So for this year, I hope that lots of photo opportunities will come my way. And not for free. I may be dumping my engineering profession as long as my passion could keep me alive. My contract will end this March 2012.

My 33rd was a good one with the exception of the March 11 scare. I was able to go places (personal and business trips) thus the Gold Card in less than a year. Also, invested in one indie film that fortunately didn't flop at the box office. Health wise, everything was normal not only for me but for my family as well. Thanks to everyone who became a part of my 33rd.

I wish my 34th would be as good as my 33rd. Or better. I'll be counting the days until my 35th.

/totomai
2011/12/29

Kybele

2011-12-17T20:56:00.001+09:00

While I was finalizing my itinerary for Europe, an idea suddenly popped up – a fashion / model photo shoot. I showed Kat my portfolio and asked her to help me find model(s) who will be interested in posing in front of me. She found a very much willing and interested Kybele. Her portfolio opens with “ “Hi. I’m Kybele and I am awesome” and with that I immediately contacted her and presented the concepts I had in mind. It’ all about COLORS! Her excellent port is consistently on the dark side so I thought it would be a good chance to add some vibrancy.

inkpot's now empty
colored blood stains forever
a part of one's soul

On my very first day in Copenhagen, not minding the jetlag, we had the photo shoot. Armed with the never-been-used-2-day-old Nikon D7000, I met Kybele at the train station and off we went to the beach. That day was particularly cold and I was feeling guilty of having her wore the sexy-asian dress I brought. She said she was doin’ fine. Secretly, it was I who was shaking!

The first part of the shoot was doing well until the rain started pouring. Kybele maintained her composure and was a real professional. No time was wasted that even the comfort room turned into an instant venue.

As soon as the drizzle stopped, we walked our way to an abandoned building. As we marched towards the next location, I got a chance to know more about Kybele, and how did she get involved with modeling. Quoting her own words.

I never intended to be a model, but about four or five years ago, I met my good friend Thomas. He was specializing in candid and street portraiture, and the pictures he took of me playing with his two children (who are sort of my pseudo-nephews) were some of the very first pictures of myself I actually liked. Two years ago Thomas wanted to get into model photography and I was sort of the only young female in his group of friends, so it seemed natural that I should step in.

I was shaking, self-conscious and deathly afraid of letting him down at our first real shoot. It was freezing, but we managed to get some OK pictures out at Sydhavnen, an area mainly consisting of docks and industrial warehouses. I have loathed my body my entire life. Modeling has changed that completely. It is wonderful to feel like my body isn’t completely useless; that maybe I’ll never run a marathon, but that I am able to create shapes and feelings and perhaps have an impact on someone once in a while.

I am very much interested in deserted buildings. And shooting inside it was just pure bliss. She was kind enough to give me instructions to greet the locals who are also inside. I scanned the area and couldn’t help but admire the graffiti and vandals all around. A perfect location.

She surprised me with lots of clothing, accessories and stuff. She was well prepared while I, on the other, wrestled with the camera settings. I chose the spots as Kybele enthusiastically flaunted her model persona. She was very serious with the craft but easy to photograph. I think all photographers would like to have a client like hers.

She works as a part secretary and part tattoo model at Meatshop Tattoo. That explains her skin arts. Meatshop Tattoo is one of the physically largest tattoo shops in Copenhagen and aims to be a place where people can hang out without necessarily getting tattooed the moment you walk in the door. All tattoos are drawn freehand and we tattoo with both machines and handpoking.

It was all natural lighting, as I am not and will never be a fan of flash photography. I made sure she knew it beforehand. She knows what kind of model she is and what field she wants to focus on. And I admire her for that. I hope the 4 hours shoot produced shots that could add flavor and diversity on her already amazing portfolio. Check Kybele on Facebook. On Modelmayhem. On Deviantart

And if someday, I will be given the chance to shoot her again, I’ll do it in a heartbeat.

She’s Kybele. She’s awesome.

/totomai

2011/12/17

Calendar

2011-12-05T23:57:00.001+09:00

I am not really sure if this deserves a blog entry or not but since I am having difficulties in choosing the 13 photos for my 2012 desktop calendar, I better put all the choices here. It will be easier for me to review and eventually pick the lucky 13. (Or maybe you can help)

This will be the 3rd installation of POETRY IN PHOTOGRAPHY - my desktop calendar. Before the end of 2009, I wanted to have a more personalized give away thus the birth of the idea. Little did I know it was a bit expensive, if summed up (1500 yen per calendar). That's why for this year, as much as I want to do what I did two years ago, I can't. I'll be printing only one (or two max) and if anyone wants to order it, just approach me.

I plan to have it printed this weekend or the next. Just before the holidays and Christmas vacation. All of these photos are taken this 2011. There will be few more days to go but I don't think I'll be having another chance to shoot. Let's see!

I'll choose the 12 from the above and I am pretty sure this will be my cover page with a POETRY IN PHOTOGRAPHY as title.

Place your order now! Just kidding!

/totomai

12/05/2011

Pause

2011-11-30T21:05:00.005+09:00

For the past few weeks, I kept on hearing the words ASAP, submit and priority that even my dreams weren’t spared from their apparitions. I could only wish that my world would pause for a moment and let me catch some air. That is, if I’m still breathing. The joy in taking a break!

blowing off pressures

forgets negativity

fake but sapid world

I just returned from an 18-hr business trip from Seoul (yes, including the travel time). That was probably the shortest business trip abroad I had in years. It was also my 10th visit to Korea for this year alone. I am getting used to traveling as required by my work but that short trip was a bit too much. Quoting the words from one of my bosses, “You have 24 hours”. He may be right but I won’t be giving all my time working. And he knows it. THEY know it.

Sometimes joining my friends in drinking and karaoke sessions could momentarily remove the stress away. It is a therapy of sort even there are instances that I found out myself talking to the beer glass when my friends started talking and singing in Japanese. And if they talk about work, well, I couldn’t understand it.

Badminton on weekends also tells me that I am still alive. Indeed. That I am not fully work-occupied. My contract says I should only work 5 times a week. That I can still have the time to enjoy. These are the times when you don’t want Mondays to arrive and the work-sleep routine to take over.

Occasional massage is also good!

My only consolation for working hard this year is the much awaited (already approved) vacation this holiday season. It may be short but that would be enough to rejuvenate my wilting energy. No work-related calls please. (I just found out that I have another business trip as soon as I return to Japan).

The next time I hear ASAP, submit and priority again… I'll take a deep breath, then

Pause.

totomai
2011/11/30

Germany

2011-11-13T16:17:00.004+09:00

Germany. The third stop of my Euro-trip after Denmark and Sweden. Few weeks prior to this trip I saw the film Goodbye Lenin and it gave me, in one way or another, an idea on what to expect in Germany. Before arranging my trip to Germany, I contacted Hinghoi, my former officemate in Thailand, who is currently assigned in Germany to be my tour-guide of sort during my 3-day stay.

From Copenhagen, I took the train / ferry (which I didn’t know at first) directly to Hamburg. I reached Germany around 1200H, 6-hour later than her arrival time. We had a quick lunch at the station, went directly to the hostel, left our bags and surveyed the area around Außenalster or Outer Alster Lake with maps in hands. Another chapter of walkathon series commenced.

The hostel is located at the heart of Hamburg so it was all walk for us. Since I only had a limited time in Germany, we hurried from one place to another. Oh shoot, I can't even remember the names of these places. I tried googling it but to no avail, and I am getting impatient already. This is the problem when you write a travel blog one month later. There was an ongoing exhibit dedicated to Japan - and yes, it caught me by surprised. Being in Japan during the March 11 earthquake, the showcase was somewhat directed to me. Arigatou! (ETA: This is the Hamburg Rathaus, thanks Hinghoi!)

Just a few steps from Rathaus, was Alsterarkaden. I think this is one of the popular tourist attractions in Hamburg. We spent couple of good minutes here. At first glance, it looked ordinary but the longer you stay, the more you appreciate its cinematic asset.

Wanting to relax our legs, we joined the Hamburg tour on the Port of Hamburg. It was a good way to end the day, but I was a bit disappointed with the tour itself. I was expecting to see something exciting but nothing showed up.

I can't remember the detailed activities we did on our 2nd day in Hamburg but I knew we went back to the Port of Hamburg and walked around the area. Actually our second day was more of a recap on what had happened the day before. Fast forward to Berlin, Germany.

First stop was at Brandenburg Gate. There were lots of tourists on the entrance since the other side of the gate was restricted during that day. The marshals informed us that the pope was visiting Berlin thus the tightened security. Reichstag was off-limits too. Since I only have approximately 8 hours in Berlin, we hurried to the Berlin Cathedral after having glimpses of Neue Wache, Konzerthaus Berlin and Fernsehturm Berlin.

bound by an hourglass

breezed through while sprinting on air

fading speed of sounds

How I wish I had enough time in Berlin or should have stayed 2 days in Berlin and 1 day in Hamburg. Maybe next time. As we sprinted against time, we found ourselves in Berlin Wall. These graffitis are very symbolic and each part of the wall has something to say. I think everyone is familiar with the history of Berlin Wall.

I promised myself to go back to Berlin. I believe there's still a lot to see and in case I'm already done with Berlin, I still have the other parts of Germany to explore. That day was very hectic that I almost forgot to pee. In Europe, a quick comfort costs a euro, be sure to have one in your pocket. Always.

That was exhausting! Yes, even in writing. Whew!

Danke!

/totomai
11/13/2011

Halloween

2011-10-31T21:59:00.002+09:00

It’s becoming a sort of personal devotion that even a headache couldn’t stop me from going. I went all the way down from Chiba to Kawasaki, a 1.5 hr travel by train just to witness the Kawasaki Halloween Parade, my 4th time in 3 years since returning back to Japan in 2008. The event is held during the last Sunday of October and since I am always free on Sundays, I don’t have any reason to skip the spectacular costume parade. Funny but I can still identify some participants from previous parades.

The parade usually starts at 1430H but I always arrive at the venue 1-2 hours earlier. This would give me enough time to take cool portraits of the participants dressed in outrageous Halloween outfits and painted with exaggerated make-ups. Each year they show-off their creativity and I must say they don’t disappoint. Sometimes I wonder how much time and money they spend in order to put their ideas to life. While the place is turning into a multihued concrete kingdom, I start my shooting spree. Even the spectators weren’t exempted.

It’s difficult to exactly classify their costumes. At first, when I heard of Halloween Parade, I thought everyone’s donning scary, gory and creepy stuff only. I was wrong. Some are into mythical characters. Daytime fantasies. Cosplay. Name it. You got it. I particularly like this type of characters. They are pleasing and light to the eyes. Kawaii desho?

Of course, the parade is not complete without the traditional skeletons, monsters, vampires and zombies of the underworld. Honestly, I find them difficult to shoot, but I guess they are still interesting and oftentimes, crowd favorites.

I’ve been promoting this event to my friends and fellow photo enthusiasts over the years. And for the past 2 consecutive years, I serve as guide to two of my long-time flickr friends, one from Germany and the other from Japan. By the way, anyone can dress up and join the parade. This is not only open to Japanese but also to foreigners and, believe it or not, pets.

And yes, I am looking forward for next year’s celebration. That is, if my contract will be renewed. But for the meantime,

HAPPY HALLOWEEN みんなさん！

totomai
10/31/2011

Malmö

2011-10-23T14:55:00.002+09:00

Since Sweden is one of the closest countries to Denmark, it was mandatory to include it on my itinerary. But due to a very tight schedule, I and Kat decided only to walk around the city of Malmö. Half-day was enough to recognize the appeal of this city --- its minimalism.

I am a fan of anything minimalist. As many always say, less is more. I didn't expect Malmö to be this poetically simple but I must say, this place is a photographer's haven. You need not know the tourist spots here since everywhere is an attraction itself. Don't limit your eyes to what is published, instead explore more as real-life slides appear before you.

But to be honest, our main intention was to visit the spectacular apartment building, Turning Torso. It is a popular attraction due to its unique design and the fact that it is the tallest building in Sweden.

And since there's nothing to do after seeing it and still had lots of time left, we decided to walk around Western Harbour. Along the way, architectures are showcased to impress. Again, minimalism as its finest. And that harbor is a perfect location to cap the stroll.

A view of Öresund Bridge can be seen from a distance. It is the link between Sweden and Denmark and was built just ten years ago.

photo by Kat

Malmö may be a small part of Sweden but it has huge offerings to visitors and locals alike. As the sign below stresses, Diamonds are everywhere and they can be found in various forms.

I got one little jewel and serves as an inspiration in celebrating Distilling Thoughts' 5th birthday next year.

Malmö is a little light in Sweden shining very brightly and will continue to shine as long as visitors keep coming. If you want to have a relaxing trip, away from city's chaos, I highly recommend stopping at Malmö. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Sweden's own backyard

limbers up throughout the world

a precious jewel

Tack, Sweden! Until we meet again and hopefully, I can have a look at your other parts.

totomai
10/23/2011

Copenhagen

2011-10-15T19:17:00.009+09:00

I assumed it was also summer in Europe. I was right, but not the summer I expected. It was cold and autumn-ish. How can I survive the next 16 days having brought only summer clothes from Japan? And with that question in mind, my Europe trip began. First stop -- Copenhagen, Denmark. It was also my first time to meet Kat, and was expecting to see her carrying a placard of “Welcome Totomai” while waving a Danish flag. She didn’t. Boo! A quick look at the neighborhood before both of us went to our respective commitments as I went to shoot Kybele (hope I can blog about it too) and she on an event she organized.

The following day marked the start of my walkathon days in Europe. If only I knew, I could have done some preparatory leg exercises. Walking around the city instead of taking a bus or train was way, way better and gave me the chance to see more of Europe. It's my first time to be on this side of the world, and I am not ashamed to say that I was in awe that I sometimes forgot to click my camera.

glossy paper dreams

turn to real-life canvass

chocolates and beers

First stop was at NY Carlsberg Glyptotek. Luckily for us, it was free admittance on a Sunday. The place was very interesting, it was home to thousand powerful sculptures of ancient era. The past was well-represented and one should stay here for a day to appreciate all that's being showcased.

Walking further, we were led to the Copenhagen's number 1 tourist attraction -- The Little Mermaid. The small statue was indeed popular as tourists and locals alike swarmed the area in order to get a souvenir shot with her. Me included. Tourists posed with wide grins on their faces but if you look closely, the mermaid's face is contemplative and hurting like that of a brokenhearted. No sympathy extended!

The sculpture pictures her as she sits and looks out over the water, after having gotten legs and come on land, never actually having married the prince, and reminiscing over her childhood and lost life in the sea, as a mermaid. more here

On the way to above spot, we got to chance to have a glance on other tourist destinations. Among them is the Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the whole world. Should I go back to Copenhagen again, I will pay it a visit and will ride all the possible rides that may bring me to early 1900's.

And there's the Amalienborg Palace. A part of it was under construction during walkathon stop-over. It was also the point of the cycling event thus the security was tight. We left after a few clicks. Nobody's really there except the royal guards marching from one end to the other.

I initially planned to include more photos and places for this entry but I better not to. I'll let the curious ones visit Copenhagen and discover the other gems of the city. My few days in Copenhagen were well-spent and will always be remembered. Clichéd as it may sound but this experience is already locked in my system. Frozen. Painted. A million thanks to Kat, as well as to her very accommodating and kind-hearted family and friends for everything. Words, as they say, are not enough to describe how appreciative I am. I think I better stop as I keep on throwing one cliché to another. Or hand me another can of Carlsberg.

Tak!

totomai
10/15/2011

Leisure

2011-09-16T09:10:00.002+09:00

Finally. I am having a vacation. A 17-day break from work (hopefully, no interruption) is all I need to keep my sanity intact. Besides, I've been experiencing headaches, allergies, rashes for the last few days and I can only blame work-related stresses for those.

Even though every year, we are granted by our company for the annual leave, I felt I was about to explode due to sudden increase in work load and responsibility that I asked my superior to grant me / approve my (a) vacation. He understood, and signed the application for leave form.

Ah, I can definitely call this one a leisure. LEISURE. And I am looking forward to see my friends and discover new places from other side of the world. This would be interesting and educational. and AWESOME. And for the very first time, I'll blog, shoot and distill thoughts with my new travel companion, Nikka. Ricah will still join but Nikki will guard my apartment.

(I'll carry the black heart too)

As I said over and over again in various blog entries here, I hate flying but I think, this is one is definitely worth the travel. My sleeping pills are ready!

See you Nihon on October 2.

totomai
09/16/11

Ibaraki

2011-09-04T23:09:00.003+09:00

The BER month just started. And while almost everyone is looking forward for my birthday (just kidding), for the holidays of course, I am anticipating the arrival autumn. It's still my favorite season. If only we could have it for a year.

Last year, together with my fellow expats, we went to Ibaraki Prefecture to see a more colorful fall than that of Tokyo's. It was a long ride from Chiba but it was a much longer ride from Kawasaki. No complaints whatsoever especially with this view shouting Irasshaimase! (いらっしゃいませ！) Welcome to Ibaraki! to us.

the weeds of summer

paving way to royalty

autumn's enchantment

Our first stop was at Ryujin Great Suspension Bridge. It is suspended 100 meters above Ryujin Dam. The walk on the other side of the bridge is enough to lose some unwanted fats.

Above

Below

Took a quick lunch or else we're going to miss the bus to Fukuroda Falls. Lots of tourists were already there making it difficult to take photos of this majestic falls. We squeezed our way to the center and was able to take some souvenir shots.

Ibaraki is a paradise in orange and brown. A must-visit place especially during autumn season. I heard that some parts of it were affected during the March 11 earthquake but hopefully I hope everything's back to normal.

I shall see you again, autumn. Very soon.

/totomai
09/04/2011

Shadows

2011-08-27T10:49:00.006+09:00

Fast-paced.

breathing cautiously

shadows of life, in and out

wheat-colored chances

That is how I describe life in Japan. That was my initial reaction when I was first assigned here in April of 2003. That description is still applicable, at least for me, even after eight long years. I am getting used to it and I think I was able to catch-up its hurried pace. It took some time to adjust but once I went with the flow, everything seemed fine. Well, not all the time. I am still human after all, if you know what I mean.

Everyone’s like a shadow in Nihon. Sometimes you see, sometimes you don’t. It’s amazing to see almost everyone in a hurry, leaving me in wonder at the same spot. Too fast that I need to play it back on my mind to see if I missed something or not. This was the inspiration of the video I made (all clips taken by my iphone4) and this summarizes my life in Japan, in slow motion. A bit lonely but that wasn't my intention. Haha!

It’s tedious to think that you are always catching with time. The only way to escape from these pressures is to pack your bags and hide in a place where life is in slow motion. A place where you can just sit back, relax and appreciate everything around you. Just realized that for the past 8 months, I've been going to business trips. I am looking for that vacation as it was already approved by my superior. Maybe he realized I am going insane. It will be a short break but would be enough to re-charge my energy and save my sanity.

I am loving Japan despite its accelerated lifestyle. I can even think of myself settling down here. Just don't ask me if I am already fluent with Japanese language. That would make me want to leave Japan right away!

/totomai
08/27/2011

Conception

2011-08-14T12:22:00.003+09:00

For the past months, I have been squeezing myself of coming up with fresh ideas for photography and blogging but all I always end with nothing. If only creativity can be bought in the market, I'll submit myself for a lifelong supply. In that way, my photography and blogging won't be stagnant. But I guess that is not always the case.

Last month, I joined two photowalks with my friends and in one or way, those activities rekindled the fire within that almost died. I was able to shook off the webs from my cameras and was able to write an entry or two. I guess concepts will just come out naturally and there's no need to force "those ideas" to pop out of your brains. You will be saved from frustration and disappointment then.

whispering silence

standard curing time produced
creative juices

What did I gain from those walks? THIS.

Maybe it's not entirely fresh, but I'll take it. I haven't checked the entire blogosphere to verify if something like it is existing.

It just occurred to me while exploring Yokohama and Tsukiji about merging or letting my blog and photography co-exist as a travel photo blog. I know it won't be easy but I guess it's a start of something new for my blog and photography. An idea just to make it going. Yes, I plan to wear those shirts in every places I will visit.

A step forward for Distilling Thoughts as well as Nalalabing Hibla, I hope.

/totomai
08/14/2011

Tsukiji

2011-07-29T19:44:00.005+09:00

I can still remember how my mother always leave me in front of the wet market entrance every time she buys our food supplies. I don’t really know exactly the reason why she did it, maybe because she didn’t want me to go inside while carrying all the school stuff. I was in kindergarten then. She used to pick me up from school after her work.

That was ages ago. As I grew up, I enjoyed going to the market. I and my brother would often volunteer to wake up early, head to the market instead of our parents. Such memories flashed back after I, together with my friends here in Tokyo, went to Tsukiji Market last Saturday. Our mini-photo walk started from 2230H at Yurakucho at ended around 1130H at Tsukiji Market. That’s how crazy we were. We arrived in Tsukiji around 4 am and was greeted by an announcement that tuna auction is not yet opened to the public since the March 11 earthquake. Tuna auction usually attracts hundreds of foreigners and locals. And with that we have to wait for five more hours before we can go inside the market. But it was getting busy already.

I was very sleepy but I still managed to shoot. I was sleep shooting and sleep walking most of the time. The place was getting busier and busier by each second. Lots of people are coming in and to our surprise, there was already long queue in one of the sushi bars. Mind you, it was still 5 am. We were hungry but we didn’t fall in line. Instead, we went to a nearby café for our breakfast. And then it was 9 o’clock, time to wander around the market. Geared-up with our cameras and lenses, we aimed on every subject worth capturing. I was trigger happy. But later on, I become more interested on what’s happening around. From the Harry-potterish improvised vehicles to the way customers negotiate to seller to how everything was arranged that I forgot to click my shutter.

whirlwind of people

throws uncomfortable stare

market confessions

What impresses me the most was how they slice the tuna. Just by looking at it, an oriental feeling can envelope you right away. The movement of the butcher, the knives are in perfect harmony. I was in awe. On the store walls you can also see news articles, photos and accomplishments of the shop. How I wish the tuna auction was open to public that time. It would have been more awesome. A few days later, a news article came out that says Tsukiji Market is open to public again. However, its quality control is too strict that some parts of the fish are easily considered as waste right away. Here's my friend Rad's entry.

It was a long yet a very enriching day for me. Aside from another glimpse of market life, my friends taught me on how to be confident in asking strangers for their photos. Some people are not comfortable to be photographed so it’s better to get their nods before shooting to avoid trouble. Would that mean I will taking less from behind shots from here on? I don’t know. The photo below sums up this experience. A hard day ends with a reward.

Would I do this kind of photowalk again? Definitely whether I could get any sleep or none at all.

totomai
07/29/11

Yokohama

2011-07-09T23:29:00.003+09:00

Last week, I and my friends went for a walk around Yokohama area. It was just an out-of-nowhere plan but it turned out to be a rewarding experience, after all, it's been a while since we last saw each other. What was intended to be a photo walk became a never-ending eat-a-t(h)on.

We always meet around Tokyo and Chiba so we decided to go to Yokohama this time. Yokohama was my first home in Japan way back 2003 until 2005. Despite living in Chiba since 2005-2006, 2008 up to the present, there is something about Yokohama that's very special. Maybe I am just biased since my life in Japan started there.

Instead of showing the architectures, or other tourist spots in Yokohama, for this entry, I decided not to go with usual. Last Sunday, made me realized, and I am declaring it now that Yokohama, is the City of Love in Japan.

two souls meet on earth

respecting destiny's wish

two one-winged angels

Lots of couples are sharing sweet moments together at Yamashita Park. And while I was checking all the photos I took, I was surprised to see lots of couple shots.Must be my shutter's fault. Ah, they didn't really care about the scorching temperature.

I have been saying to my friends that I wanted to abuse my cameras since months had passed without using them. Last Sunday, I was on a paparazzo mode. You just don't know how much I like taking candid shots / moments than posed or staged ones. Candid shots are more real, more natural. Photographs aren't lying about it either.

At some point I feel that I am invading their privacy. In order to be not much guilty about it, I just shoot from behind. Actually, from behind shots is one of my favorite photography subject. One of my friends told me if I approached any of my subjects and tell them that I took their photos. I could have send the photos to them in return, she further said. It was a good idea, I thought. I will try it next time, once I got the strength to talk to strangers.

Last Sunday experience reminded of the photo above which I took last 2006. And its significance? Probably someone had already declared Yokohama to be the City of Love. Or not. Yet.

/totomai
07/09/11

Blown

2011-06-27T21:01:00.003+09:00

Three more days to go and June 2011 will be history. It looks like days are being blown away in a very abrupt manner. Sound familiar? That was almost the opening line I had on my last month’s blog. It’s becoming more and more difficult to write something especially when you are pre-occupied with other things. I am a bit busier these days and I still think it’s better than having no work at all. I don’t want to be in a state of bumhood once again.

Oftentimes, I usually take a vacation in June but it was impossible this year. After my business trip in US last May, I visited a local refinery here in Japan for some field work. That’s how my month of June started. And three weeks later, I went to Singapore for a training / workshop of our equipment. I totally forgot to file my vacation leave. I didn’t have any plan to write a blog until I saw this picture on my desktop. It screams home. Hopefully, I can go home this December. Or else. Haha!

A few days ago, some of my fellow photo enthusiast-friends pop up the plan of a photowalk. Everyone seems interested with the idea but nothing is definite yet. I really wanted to abuse my cameras once again. It’s been ages since I last joined a photo walk or a photo activity. I brought my camera when I went to Singapore but since my mind is more focused on my job, I was pretty disappointed with my shots. Thus, I need an activity wherein it's only about photography and food, of course.

I am finally giving Distilling Thoughts a new look. I should have changed its lay-out last March on its 4th birthday but I didn’t have the energy to do it. It was always plan, plan, plan and then blown away by other priorities. I may change the lay-out again but right now I just to see simplicty in my blogsite. I know, I am not very good in this aspect but I am trying. Choosing the appropriate template for this blog is already a challenge.

I hope this new lay-out would be more reader friendly.

Don’t worry, I still shoot, blog and distill thoughts. Even in dreams.

Welcome to my new thoughts distillery. Suggestion is very much welcome.

/totomai
06/27/11

Quickly

2011-05-31T19:54:00.003+09:00

Despite the fact that it has 31 days, the month of May, for me, was the quickest month this year. Today is the 31st and I thought yesterday was only May 1st. Time really flies.

For this month, I only spent 5 days in Japan office and the rest of the days were for business trips. I stayed in the US for more than 20 days and 2 days for on-site work in a Japanese refinery. Both were great venues for continuous learning and career development. Being a process / chemical engineer, one has to seek improvement and development of existing processes and the likes. I may not be that experienced yet but I am willing to accept everything that comes my way as a challenge and hopefully I can be very useful in the near future. Or if not, I’ll just have a career change as a photographer.

winking through the days

days and nights overlapping

endure the busy life

Talking about photography, I wasn’t able to shoot that much. I missed lots of photowalks already due to some commitments and priorities. I usually bring my Ricoh GRIII and I rarely use my Nikon D80 and I have a one-year old unused camera. Yes, it is still inside the box. I wonder when and where I am going to use it. This month I also received an invitation from Getty Images but until now I wasn’t able to reply to them. Legalities are quite complicated and I don’t want to spend much time trying to decipher everything. I am also planning to publish a photography book but until now, it looks like only a dream. Can anyone help me? I suck at editing and lay-out. Oh, I want to try glamour photography again.

I was totally foreign to blogosphere this month too. I wasn’t able to read blogs nor write an entry. I kept on thinking whether I was awake during this month or I was into some slumber of sort. That’s how you feel a one month seems to be one day only.

Just to be sure, is it really June tomorrow? Please confirm.

I can't afford to wink again or I will totally miss June.

totomai
05/31/2011

Budtime

2011-04-17T14:54:00.002+09:00

SPRINGTIME IN JAPAN. I always associate hope and new beginnings to spring. And Japan needs strength to rebuild and move on. It's been more than a month since the March 11 earthquake and Japan, unfortunately, continues to experience countless aftershocks. Hopefully, everything will be still soon.

once a shackled earth

broken and rocked forever

be still Dear Japan

Despite of getting a pollen allergy during this time, I still look forward to it. Along the streets, you can see buds growing and trying to carpet the sidewalks. It would be concrete paradise anytime soon, in my prefecture of course.

Also, it is about time to abuse my webbed macro lens. Shooting blooms with macro lens it's a time travel of sort. It brings you to another dimension, showing off details that can't easily be noticed by our eyes.

Sometimes, you have to appreciate the small things around you. You may miss an golden opportunity if you only look forward to big and easily found items. Ah, spring. Thank you for painting the town in pastel.

During spring, sakura (cherry blossoms) in Japan is very popular, both to locals and foreigners. There are lots of sakura varieties but, yeah, shame on me, I can't really name one kind. I took an emergency leave to the Philippines for a week and when I returned to Japan I was surprised that sakura was already in full bloom. Considering that sakura only shows-off for a week (or two), I decided to go around the neighborhood one Sunday afternoon and these are all what I got.

It was good to see lots of Japanese in the park, enjoying the spring season. Most of them are with their family and friends, having BBQ, picnic. It was a picture of normal Japan. For a short time, no trace of tragedy on their faces.

Japan is on its way to recovery. Sooner than everyone thinks.

For the days, months, or years to come. I can only hope BE STILL JAPAN.

Help Japan, if you can.

Gambare Nihon!

/totomai
04/17/11

Distillations

2011-03-19T23:21:00.004+09:00

Distilling Thoughts turns four. And there's no better way to start another year of "distillations" but for a cause.

It's been a week since the March 11, M9.0 earthquake shook Japan. As a result, threats from nuclear plant trouble, continuous aftershocks, power and food shortages had been felt and experienced. Japan is needing all the help and support it can get from local and international communities.

I am currently living and working in Japan and consider it already as my second home. Japan has been very good to me and in my own little way, I will try contribute help for recovery. To the readers of this blog, if you plan to help Japan in any way, please do. Please check the site below.

H E L P J A P A N H E R E

Photography is one of my hobbies; through it, I have captured some of Japan's assets. As an appreciation for the help you've given, I will be sending you an A4-sized print of a photograph of your choice from my favorite shots of Japan. See below photos.

If you want other photos, please check MY FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM. I don't have the original files of some photos though since most them were lost after my HD crashed.

As of the moment, I only plan to print and deliver (to any part of the world) 10 photos. That means the first 10 readers of this blog who can show me the proof / receipt of donation (any amount), can receive the photo of their choice. I would appreciate if you can place in the comment section the photo of your choice. I will handle the printing and delivery (no frames will be provided though). Just contact me at totomai@gmail.com

Thank you very much.

HANG ON JAPAN

totomai
03/19/11

Aftershock

2011-03-13T23:31:00.004+09:00

Being in Japan for several years, I am used to small tremors. I can still remember vividly the very first time I experienced a small quake in Japan. The office started to shake and I am getting ready with my bag to run out of the office but my Japanese officemates were still busy doing their jobs calmly. I stayed put and continued working too.

Fast forward to last Thursday, March 10, 2011 at around 0620H, I was awaken by a tremor. I told my officemates that it was a more effective alarm than my ordinary clock but I am not looking forward to it.

Friday, March 11, 2011 at around 1500H. I was in a conference room having an internal meeting when the place began to shake. As usual, we (three Japanese and two Filipinos) just ignored it. But this was a different, we realized. The tremor continued and it was getting stronger and stronger by the seconds. Many things were running on my mind. I kept on thinking about my family in the Philippines. As the quake grew bigger, I grabbed my things and then I heard my boss shouting to open the internet and check the location of the earthquake. I was dumbfounded. I was running for my life. When I went out of the room I saw some of my officemates at the ground floor area with all their belongings, ready to go home.

Just when we were planning to go home, our administrator asked everyone of us to stay inside the office as JR lines (transportation services) immediately ceased its operations. You can't believe how crowded the train stations were. Most of the stranded commuters returned to their offices, and others to drinking bars and karaokes. Everyone was becoming more and more paranoid with each aftershock especially as night time loomed. That was the longest night ever. Praying and hoping that no more earthquake to happen.

Saturday, March 12, 2011 at around 0730H. We took the first train which was scheduled at 0630H. It eventually moved at around 0820H. As expected the train was jam-packed and there were no space to move around. Our normal travel from office to apartment is 1 hour, but that one took two hours. Everyone was weary. That was the strongest earthquake I've experienced. 8.9 magnitude earthquake just hit Japan!

After we went out of the station, we looked for a place to eat but to no avail. Some continued to find a place, some just went home with empty stomachs. On the bus, I kept on thinking how my room was after the quake. But after seeing the cracks in our apartment's ground floor, I expected the worse.

And I was right. i guess it was a blessing in disguise that it was a working day. and that the transportation ceased its operation, thus forcing us to stay in the office.

My room was a big mess. See video below.

Aftershock from jacklord in japan on Vimeo.

Lots of things had happened for the past few days that I hope we had skipped March 11, 2011. Many were affected by the deadly quake, tsunami, fire in oil refinery and power plant explosion. Food were becoming scarce. Gasoline too. Most people in Japan were on panic-buying mode and I can't blame them for that. Each one wants to survive. I do too.

Even as of this writing, Japan is still experiencing aftershocks. I can't count how many times I woke up last night because of tremors.

Be still Japan. Please.

/totomai
03/13/11

34th

2011-03-06T17:31:00.002+09:00

Where do i begin, to tell the story of the great love can be goes the first line of Andy William's song Love Story. That was song I often hear my mother sang when I was growing up. It could be their theme song but I didn't bother to ask. Believe it or not, I and my brother didn't know the exact anniversary date of our parents until recently. And how recent was that? January 2011. All these years, there wasn't any anniversary dinner or party as far as I can remember. They were good on keeping that date a secret. LOL!

We are not really aware of how the two of you get together 34 years ago. It might be an accident or fate, I can't tell. All I know that it wasn't an easy relationship. Yeah, though both of you never told the story yet we were observant enough to get a grasp of your union. It could be a soap opera plot.

Mama just turned 40 and Papa was 13 years younger. And Papa was one of the drivers of grandmother's GREEN FLOWER Taxis. Your relationship may be a secret then since the world seems to be against you. But in the end true love prevails. Absolutely there were dramas before you finally said I DO to each other but those not-so-good events made you stronger and blessed you with two problem-free kids.

On your 34th wedding anniversary, I really hope that you remain healthy and free from sickness. It's a common wish that every child long for their parents. Both of you are not getting any younger, and me and my brother are not always around 24/7, so please be very extra careful in all the activities you do.

zooms on the highways

stethoscope counts heartbeats

accidental love

Both of you often say how proud you are after I and my brother finished our degrees. But it should be the other way around. We are so proud to have parents like you. Our diplomas are not enough to compensate the sacrifices you had for the past 34 years.

I really, really hope that we will be celebrating more of your wedding anniversaries.

Love you Mama and Papa!

totomai and dorb
03/06/11

Korea

2011-02-21T22:22:00.005+09:00

South Korea that is. I always thought that Japan and Korea are twins. But the more I visit Korea the differences are becoming more obvious. I was in Korea last week for a 3-day business trip. It was actually my 8th visit, and all of them are work-related. Can I still say, lucky me? Or not. The longest stay I had was for 2 weeks when I was assigned in one of the refineries in the island of Yeosu. I’ve been to Seoul and Ulsan too.

My first visit was in 2008 and was very surprised how fast taxi drivers are. Well, not only taxis were flying on the highways but as well as buses and private cars. I can’t help but compare it to the drivers in Japan. But now I am getting used to it, with or without the seat belt.

I am not a fan of Korean food in general. However, I do like some of Korean dishes – samgyetang, eel, pork bbq and orating. Every is a feast. You’ll never get hungry in Korea as long as your stomach can take in all the foods served including the unlimited appetizers. I usually just stop once the aloe vera juice is served. Haha! I am still biased for Japanese food.

Just like in Japan, karaoke bars and massage centers are popular in Korea too. But Korea karaoke bars are way more exciting. It has something to offer other than singing. Go to Korea to figure it out. Massage rates are almost the same for both countries though. Which is better? Hmm.

Hotels and its all artificial lightings. Honestly, I found hotels to be depressing no matter how well-maintained they are. I don't have other options on where to stay during business trips. But yeah, each night is a very long night.

Just a side note: one of my happier experiences in Korea.

I want to further explore Korea. And hopefully next time it will be for a vacation. Being in a work-related trip limits your chance to discover and of course, take photos of the said country. But I wouldn't mind if I will be assigned for another job there.

I still have a long road ahead of me. Being a full-time engineer. And a part-time photographer.

/totomai
02/21/11

Moshy

2011-02-06T21:42:00.003+09:00

Moshy - their term of endearment. I am not 100% sure about it but I heard both of them call each other Moshy. I don't know the history about behind the term but I found it rather unique and sweet.

I first met Caloy in Thailand, 2007 and he became my instant brother. Both of us were OFWs (worked on different companies though) and were into photography. I am the funny one and he was the grumpy one. I also got the chance to meet his girlfriend, Che, who was in Italy at that time via webcam. Such a sweet girl and instantly became a good friend of mine too.

A year after, he went to Norway and I went back to Japan while Che still stayed in Italy. Our communication was always there, via YM, Skype, text even snail mail. The three of us kept in touch with each other.

Fast forward to 2010. Che returned to the Philippines, I was on a Christmas vacation and so was Caloy. Both of them decided to have a very short vacation to Bacolod City (January 2011). It was the first time I met Che in person and she really exudes an angelic aura. Lucky Caloy! Poor Che! Just kidding.

Their 3-day vacation was interrupted by series of unfavorable events. Our first itinerary was at a local hospital. Caloy was having a battle with his stomach and was totally weak. Second day, the rain didn't stop so we decided to stay only at one of the department stores. Can't believe we spent 6 hours inside the mall. Third day, their last day. Caloy was feeling great and the weather was perfect. It was my chance to show them a part of the city where I live. Off we go to The Ruins.

We had a photo shoot. A fun one. It wasn't really a pre-nup as I really didn't know about their plans. Though I remember Caloy once said that they will get married on 2011. Their faces were screaming LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. And my camera kept on shouting CLICK, CLICK, CLICK!

They have been together for the past 9 (?) years, oh shoot I hope I got it right. Both of them were church choir members then, and that's where their love story unfolds. Distance was never a hindrance to this couple. I'll let them share the rest of their story.

Funny though that few days after that shoot (I was in Japan already), Che informed me that she and Caloy finally got married. A not-so-secret one and was attended only by families of both parties. If only I knew that our shoot was indeed their pre-nup, I could have done better. Damn, I could have pressured myself and could have been my gift to them.

Congrats Bespren and Che! Remember that I am always here for the both you. Thank you for the gift of friendship too. Best wishes!

And as a friend, all I can say is, Moshy, go forth and multiply. ASAP!

/totomai
02/06/11

Haunted

2011-01-30T00:20:00.007+09:00

If I remember correctly, it was during the 80's when I first heard about a haunted house in Negros Occidental, specifically in Silay City. It was an abandoned abode and locals tend to believe that there are ghosts or supernatural beings residing on this ancestral house. A mere illusion. Or not.

I thought it stayed as a "haunted house" but was surprised to know that it was converted into a museum called Balay Negrense. My first visit to Balay Negrense was last Holy Week of 2007. I think during that time the entrance fee was 25 pesos only. There weren't too many people during our visit, thus it made the atmosphere creepier. At some point I was scared. Really.

Some history of the this ancestral house

The Balay Negrense was originally the ancestral house of Victor F. Gaston, a son of Yves Leopold Germain Gaston and Prudencia Fernandez. The elder Gaston is credited as one of the pioneers of sugarcane cultivation in this portion of the Philippine archipelago. A native of Normandy in France, he married a Filipina from Batangas where he initially began experimenting with sugar production before relocating to Negros.

Built in 1897, the structure housed Victor Gaston and his twelve children from 1901 until his death in 1927. more here

I had some weird experiences after the visit which I connected right away to Balay Negrense. After checking the photos I took, I tried copying them to my PC. Other photos were transferred except all shots from Balay Negrenses. I thought I am just scaring myself. A self-made illusion. Don't worry as I was able to successfully copy the pictures after a couple of days.

ghosts of yesteryears

escort travels to the past

preferred on evenings

The second floor is my favorite area since it's the creepiest. From the family pictures, bedrooms, toys, dining room, kitchen. A peek to life of hacienderos. I thought they were one of the powerful families in Negros.

Last 2010, I brought some of my friends to Balay Negrense but this time, the atmosphere was lighter since it's Christmas season and lots of visitors (mostly students) were also there during our visit.

If you are in Bacolod City, have a half-day tour to this place in Silay City. With only a 45 pesos entrance, you'll have a glimpse of the past.

totomai

01/30/10

Eleven

2011-01-03T21:46:00.004+09:00

A new year unfolds. Time to look back to the year that was, 2010.

The number of my blog entries continue to go down. I have 27 blog entries for 2010, that is 20 entries short to last year's. I guess I was just to busy or uninspired to write one.

Some of my popular entries for 2010.

I was able to visit to new countries not for leisure but for overseas assignments. During my spare time, I was able to go around and tried to take photos as souvenirs. Feel free to visit them again.

Taiwan
United States of America

I had a major trouble in claiming my prize money from a photo contest I joined in last October 2009. I won 2nd place but the process of getting that prize was hell.

Unmasked

Just days before Father's Day celebration, my brother broke the new their newly-born daughter didn't make it past 24 hrs.

Crib

This year I also tried to invest. Hoping this would make money. (From my Filipino blog)

Pelikula

Until now I am not sure if I am destined to be an engineer for life or a photographer. I'll find the answer soon.

As for my photography, I think 2010 was the most uninspired year for me. After I lost the photos I took from June to July 2010, everything went downhill. Thanks to flickr though for saving some of them. But I am kind of regretting of placing watermarks. Boo!

However, I was able to maximize my point and shoot camera (Ricoh GR III) and my fish-eye lens, my favorite lens. Based on flickr, here are my top eleven (it's 2011) photos.

1. Spiral

Taken in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (World Game Stadium). This is one of my favorite shots of the year. I love its minimalism feel.

2. Opening

Look closely, its not what you think. Taken in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan last spring. This was taken by my point and shoot camera. Its macro feature is what I normally use.

3. Core

Taken on the same day just like number 2. Taken with the same camera too.

4. Charm

I was invited by a friend to join him on this shoot. Taken in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan. I'll say it again, I am all about natural lighting.

5. Vertigo

I am afraid of heights you know. Taken in Minowa, Japan. One of the wonders of fish-eye lens.

6. Tokyo

Taken on the same day with number 5.

7. Yokohama

Well, I am not really into my fish-eye lens. Haha. Taken in Sakuragicho, Yokohama, Japan.

8. Exposed

Accidental shots can be a masterpiece too. Taken in Kawasaki, Yokohama, Japan

9. Mailbox

Decay has its beauty too. Taken in Oshiage, Chiba, Japan during one of the FTPS meet-ups.

10. Statue

It's not a personal fave and was surprised about how well it was received on flickr. Taken in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

11. Moment

Another personal favorite and one of my entries to 2010 Bayanihan Photo Exhibit. Taken in Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan.

Hoping for a positive and color-filled 2011.

Happy New Year Everyone!

totomai
01/03/2011

33

2010-12-29T06:51:00.005+09:00

Double three. Yes, today I turn 33.

An hour past noon, more than three decades ago, I had my first cry. I was born and a bit overweight then. No need to point that out since I am overweight now too despite being underweight during my school years. I am the first child of Nilda and Cezar who were the happiest parents on earth last December 29, 1977.

They are one of the earliest to greet me. Earlier than my alarm clock. Mama wakes me up with this kiss while Papa starts playing a Happy Birthday cd. I wonder why they are up this early.

And I remember that today, my parents are scheduled for check-up (including lab tests) and my birthday wish is for them to have normal results. This wish is beyond anyone's control but still I am hoping everything will turn out fine. In half-a-month, I will be going back to Japan again and I want to be sure that I need not to worry.

If last year wishes were more about me, this time it's for my family, especially to the two people who give their all to provide me and my brother all the support and needs since birth until now. My personal wishes can wait for a while.

Being 32 was a blast. The past 365 days were spectacular, there may be some low points but it was there to balance out everything. (Maybe this would be another blog entry).

Positivity this thirty-three. Cheers!

totomai
12/29/10

Carols

2010-12-24T19:57:00.002+09:00

Found myself in a Japanese dental clinic few weeks ago. I was nursing a toothache. Despite my constant struggle with the language, the atmosphere was very relaxing. No thanks to the anesthesia. It was the instrumental Christmas carols playing that made me comfortable. All of a sudden, I felt I was home.

Ah, carols dominating the airwaves is a sign of Christmas. With all honesty, I was surprised of what I heard in the clinic since Japan is not known to be a Christian country but still they are celebrating it. Not sure if it's for traditional or commercial purposes.

Yesterday, at the domestic airport, a group of young carolers welcomed the guests and arriving visitors to Bacolod City. It's funny listening to some words pronounced incorrectly. Zoom. It made me remember the years when I joined a group of carolers pestering the neighborhood with our music and improvised instruments. Bottle caps, anyone?

I am home right now. And aside from being with my family, I am enjoying listening to Christmas carols playing 24/7.

What a joyous way to celebrate this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

totomai
12/24/10

Away

2010-11-27T22:30:00.002+09:00

In a month's time, I'll be home again. And yes, I already started my countdown, the very moment my vacation leave was signed and approved.

Being an expat or OFW is never easy, contrary to what others believed in. Working abroad doesn't mean earning money is a walk in the park. Sure, the salary is relatively higher compare to what can be earned locally but there are other factors to be considered. And no, I am not complaining why I work here in Japan, just stating that it's not raining yens here.

One has to battle homesickness, culture differences and if you're unlucky racism. I am not adding the work-related pressures here as it is a part of my contract. It was invisibly written though. I enjoy my work by the way, and I do appreciate that my contract was renewed last July.

However, being surrounded by fellow expats, an antidote for homesickness, it make my overseas life more bearable. We do share the same sentiments and we all understand each other situation. It may be a bit of cliche, or really a cliche, but we are each other's second family. And I am very thankful for that.

I can't wait to set foot to the City of Smiles where I spent most of my life. Can't wait to plant a kiss to my parents who were very supportive of my career and decision. Can't wait to bond again with my brother and relatives, as well as my friends.

Saying thank you to all of them is never enough. Perhaps a little cash would do. Just kidding of course, it's bribery. Sort of.

/totomai
11/27/2010

Differences

2010-11-12T19:11:00.002+09:00

After a long day from work, this anonymous note on my door surprised me.

I was speechless for a minute or two. Not again, I thought. Why on earth I have overly sensitive neighbors and all the sounds coming from my room were closely monitored? Since that complaint I received last March, I have been very cautious not to disturb my neighbors again. From that time one, even how inconvenient it is, I use earphones while using my PC or listening to music, especially at night. And for the record I am not even watching television since most of the times I cannot understand Japanese shows. Though at certain times, I listen to my ipod without earphones but it is on a very minimum level. And I cannot imagine how that sound would actually bother them. And I don’t sing along. The vibration of the A/C or of the exhaust, even the water from the faucet is way louder that the ipod’s volume.

Perhaps, maybe because I am a foreigner and they can easily assume that I am the source of that noise. Or maybe because of what had happened before, making me an automatic suspect. That note (though maybe be written nicely and in English) really left me wondering. This is an apartment, and not an asylum or any music-restricted place, if there’s any. I wrote a reply on that note but decided not to post it to avoid further misunderstanding. Literally, I am living in silence at night.

If only my neighbors knew how I understand their situation when they wash their clothes in the middle of the night. Or when their dogs bark in the middle of the night. Or when they listen to some Japanese shows and get excited late at night. Or when their kids start running around in the wee hours. I did not complain to the building administration or our company’s admin thinking that these are inevitable and they have all the right for it. And I respect that. But here they are complaining right away to the littlest sound coming from my room. We all have cultural differences and as much as possible we should respect and understand one another as long as it doesn’t spell abuse.

I already informed our company’s administration in order to help me with this one. They told me that if I continue to feel uncomfortable, I can move to other apartment. But what if I’ll have the same kind of neighbors again? Same old story.

For the meantime, I decided to stay in my present apartment and will be more extra cautious not to upset them again (but I didn’t do anything). I am afraid though that next time someone will post a note outside my door that I cannot walk around my room after 9 pm.

That will be a different story.

totomai
11/12/10

Spooky

2010-10-31T23:46:00.003+09:00

Each one of us has his own ghost stories to tell. Some of them may be true and some are purely products of our imagination. These stories are parts of our childhood and we cannot deny the fact that until now, there are instances that we keep on re-telling these stories to our friends just for the sake of being scared.

I won't be telling a ghost story here. Rather, I'll share one of my obsessions. I want to go to haunted houses or haunted mansions (of course, with friends). Exploring these places in spite of its eeriness would be awesome, imo. You may ask, why not do it alone? In case of emergencies, it's still better to have a company, right?

a webbed chandelier

flickers and mourns in silence

hushing draperies

veiled bride awaits

incense fills the bolted room

eerie fanciness

/totomai

If I remember it correctly, I wanted to celebrate my birthday last year at a place called "Suicide Mountain" here in Japan but it didn't push through. I can't really remember the exact reason but I guess it for my own good.

Until this very moment I really want this obsession to come true. But I want to be ready when that opportunity comes. And I hope my friends will be too. I won't be doing it alone.

Happy Halloween!

/totomai
10/31/10

America

2010-10-24T10:16:00.004+09:00

Last week, I was in America for business matters which means that I didn't get the chance to explore the places I stayed-in. It was my very first assignment outside Asia. Though I thought it would be a good experience (I've been curious on how America looks like since I started thinking) but it would be a torturous 10-hr flight from Tokyo to LA then another 4-hour flight from LA to Houston. And I am not really comfortable flying. A challenge I hope I'll emerge victorious, overcoming my fear of flying once again.

I didn't get any sleep the night before my flight, that's how I prepare for the coming trip. Sleepy as I was, the moment I found my seat, I immediately went off to dreamland only to find out later that our flight was delayed due to heavy rains. Can't believe I woke up with our plane still on the ground. Now, I am wide awake. It's broad daylight when we arrived at LA. I finally entered US of A. I thought I would have problems with the immigration officer, luckily I didn't. One flight survived.

At LA airport, I had to wait for four more hours before moving to Houston. It was another 4-hour flight and I am trying to stay calm overtime the pilot warns us about turbulence. And the passenger beside me made the scenario worse. She kept on complaining that this is the first time she experienced turbulence on a domestic flight. Thank you very much lady. I survived the flight again though. Woot!

In Houston, I didn't get the chance to go around the city as I have to stay at the vendor's company from 0730H to 2130H. It was all work. But I did get the opportunity to meet with my former officemates (after 4 years) and my high school classmates after 16 years). Houston at that time has this summery weather just like in Japan. I stayed there for 4 days and went to Indiana for another meeting.

The oranged-leaved trees welcome my arrival to Indiana. Autumn in Indiana. Never expected the weather would be way cooler than Houston and I am wearing an ordinary tee. LOL! The breeze was cold that I don't want to go out of the airport. But I have to as I have to catch another meeting right away. Well, I miss to read the mail from the vendor that he is going to pick me up from the airport. I hailed a cab and went directly to the hotel. Confident that I have enough money, I paid in cash. Didn't expect it would be a problem later.

The next day, I went to the vendor shop for another meeting. After spending some time there, I know my business trip is coming to an end. Inside the taxi, I found out that I have only $65 dollar left and that wouldn't be enough until tomorrow. I asked the driver to bring me to any bank / hotel / shops that changes foreign currencies. But to no avail. I panicked. I tried to withdraw via credit card but I just realized that I don't have that option. The cab asked for $25, I only have $40 left (and if I remember correctly, fare from airport to hotel is $45). As soon as I went back to hotel, I inquired if they can lend me $20 and just add that amount to my bill. But they said it's a NO! What to do now? I called the taxi again and asked how much would it cost from hotel to airport, and he said $35!

See, I still have $5 left. The time has come to return to Japan. And here I go again battling with these flights. First flight, an hour flight from Indiana to Chicago. It wasn't really a challenging flight. Chicago underground transport to O'hare is a tourist attraction itself, imo.

After waiting for an hour, I took the 2nd flight, Chicago to LA and then I have to wait for another 3 hours before my LA to Tokyo flight. I am already at the departure area when I realized I didn't pass through an immigration officer. I wondered and asked one the attendants if I missed certain procedures. What a relief when she said that immigration officers only incoming visitors. And I was off to another 11 hour air torture.

Again, I survived the last flight. I emerged victorious against fear of flying and my curiosity about US of A was satisfied. The trip may be short and it's a business one but I was able to enjoy it. I can't help thinking though, that maybe I can go back there for a vacation and away from paper works.

Maybe.

totomai
10/24/10

Humor

2010-09-25T22:28:00.003+09:00

Earlier today, I watched another film by Hirozaku Kore-eda, Wandafuru Raifu (After Life). The film is about where you go after you die. In the movie, it's neither in heaven or hell, instead in a place called eternity where you can only bring your favorite memory. Amazing concept isn't it? And I liked how the movie deals away with overdramatic scenes, special effects and the likes. It's asking you to listen, lighten up and appreciate all the memories you already have and will be having.

The injection of humor in each scene is not forced. It's so natural that it will make you realize that one doesn't really have to take life seriously (literally). All we need in order to survive is a dose of humor every now and then. Loosen up. Lighten up.

Few years ago, I was called as the CLASS JOKER, quoting my classmates, I never run out of jokes even in serious situations. I can manage to make them laugh, smile even under pressure. Well, I don't need much effort in making them smile, after all, just by seeing me is enough to have them roll over the floor. After graduating a decade ago, I still want to believe that I still have that gift.

Simple things can even be a source of humor. From billboards to posters to cards to t-shirts and likes. And talking about shirts, I enjoy collecting them and shirts with humorous prints are very special like this one.

humor's monument

colorful and unfading

everyone's honored

Be a source of joy to every one. It's a gift that money can't buy. Just continuing positivity on this blogsite, distilling away negative thoughts.

/totomai
09/25/10

Passing

2010-09-12T14:18:00.001+09:00

Everything passes, whether you like or not. It's beyond one's control. It's a spontaneous phenomenon that cannot be altered no matter how hard one tries.

These past few days, I try to appreciate all the things that came my way, whether it's favorable to me or not. It is my way of seeing the real earth I'm living in. Being an expat and all that, every day is full of surprises and enables me to learn a thing or two.

The world also offer unlimited opportunities. Grab every chance you have. Enjoy the moments, grab a camera, write a diary, pen a poem. Relive that time until you die.

soar to the moon

flash of two-second canvass

a passing moment

Being a photo-hobbyist, before I used to regret not capturing "that moment" with my camera. It would been a great shot, I often thought. But now, it's making me more appreciative of these faster-than-a-wink-of-an-eye real-life slideshows. Ah, sometimes you just have to sit back, relax with a beer or two and with the camera on the ground (few meters away from you).

Appreciate what you have now. What's around you. And be ready to be surprised by upcoming moments. Be it a good or not-so-good one.

Just be thankful that you are still alive.

/totomai
09/12/10

Four

2010-08-21T22:19:00.001+09:00

Wow, I can't believe I missed my 4th Flickr Birthday. I must have been very busy with other things during that time. Even for a while, I have forgotten the existence of my flickr account. The addiction has certainly died down but I'm still hoping that I will have this interest to continue to post one photo a day to share to my friends in flickrville.

Four years, 1565 uploaded photos, 4 cameras.

Earlier today, while relaxing after cleaning my place, I started browsing my flickr account and it was like a time travel. I can still vividly recall how, where did I take these photos. Seeing these photos again, I thought I should have save them properly. A few weeks ago my external hard drive crashed containing thousands of photos I took for 4 years. I am trying hard to recover these files.

I started with a Casio EX-Z40, Nikon D80, Ricoh GR III and a new one which I forgot.

In celebration of my 4th flickr birthday, allow me to share the 10 most popular photos in my flickr photo stream. Let me take you back from year 2006 to 2010.

Shoe, uploaded May 1 2007, Casio EX-Z40

Bouquet, uploaded Oct 23 2006, Casio EX-Z40

Fantasy, uploaded Oct 29 2008, Nikon D80

At Day's Break, uploaded Nov 13 2006, Casio EX-Z40

Gundam, Jun 27 2009, Nikon D80

Poppies, Apr 16 2009, Nikon D80

Deep, May 4 2007, Casio EX-Z40

Serenity, Jul 15 2008, Nikon D80

Penguin, Sep 26 2006, Casio EX-Z40

Farewell, Aug 5 2009, Nikon D80

Going through my online photo album again, a spark of inspiration enveloped me. Although time is not allowing me to take hundred of photos nowadays and my photography muse is currently in coma, I will try not to stop clicking even it will produce a good or not so good shot. It is a good stress reliever.

And before I end this blog, here's the very first shot I uploaded in flickr. LOL! Indeed, photographs are time travel machines.

Totomai will still continue to point and shoot. In every opportunity that comes his way.

/totomai
08/21/10

Bayanihan

2010-08-09T21:21:00.004+09:00

Last year’s Bayanihan Photo Exhibit, a showcase of photographs from Filipino photographers in Japan, was a success. Since then, a second part was highly anticipated. However, planning for the second salvo was not an easy task. It would take numerous pairs of hands to start the ball rolling. And true to the concept of Bayanihan, more or less twenty hands joined forces in taking the lead to make this event possible. It took almost a year and half since the last exhibit but everything’s now falling into right places. Mark your calendars, and expect to be spellbound by the array of photos from August 11-15, 2010 at Kawasaki Art Garden, Kawasaki-Ekimae Tower River Bank 3rd Floor (same venue of last year’s).

By the way, what is bayanihan? For the curious minds,

Bayanihan (pronounced [bajɐˈnɪhan]) is a Filipino term taken from the word bayan, referring to a nation, town or community. The whole termbayanihan refers to a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective. more here

From the very minute 2nd Bayanihan Photo Exhibit opened the invitation for the submission of entries, there was an outpour of positive replies and support from photographers in Japan and Philippines especially after informing the fact that this exhibit is not only to merely parade their photos but, in one way of another, to be an instrument in helping various charities. Other than the photographers, some offered pledges to realize the group’s objective. This year, photos will be on sale and part of the proceeds will be donated to the chosen charity. At least 100 photos of Philippines as well as Japan will be displayed in A3 sizes.

A visit to the exhibit would mean a visual travel to two countries, visa-less, and with the photos as your tourist guide. And as stated above, beyond these photo displays is the intention of the group to help various charitable institution.

Do you part, SHARE A HAND : IT’S BAYANIHAN.

totomai
08/09/10

Personally, I wish that this exhibit will be as successful as the first one. In that way, we can look forward to Year 3 and can continue to help. Positive thoughts until the closing date :-)

Angels

2010-07-25T23:19:00.003+09:00

If I remember correctly, one of the first prayers I memorized was "My Guardian Angel". I think it was my favorite prayer then as it was recited every day before dismissal. Being in a catholic school, we were taught about the concept of angels, specifically guardian angels.

A guardian angel is an angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity. The concept of tutelary angels and their hierarchy was extensively developed in Christianity in the 5th century by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. More here

The term angels, or guardian angels, is often used as metaphors too. It can be a stranger, a family member, working children, prostitutes and or even pets. Angel can be a title to anyone, depending on the term and intent.

A few years ago, I watched a documentary about angels, or women living inside the cemetery. Some parts of it you might think that it's impossible but it's actually happening. A sad dose of reality.

Cemetery Angels

Three angels from different generations

make the cemetery, their own kingdom,

a place to fulfill their special missions .

Lorena, archangel, the gray-haired one,

gathers and dissolves left-over candles,

reforms and sells, despite a hurting palm.

Lisa, seems angelic in all angles

she dances at night on top of the grave

show’s only for money, not free whistles.

Lorna, the cherubim, does always crave,

seeks for food, cries, begs for penny and gold

no time to play, two old angels to save.

Past midnight, they'll pray, that night's not too cold

and tomorrow, new kingdom will unfold.

/totomai

Lots can attest that angels really do exist. But lots of people don't believe in the existence of angels too. Debates and discussions about this subject matter will never end.

But keep in mind that there are no wrong answers on this one.

/totomai
07/25/10

Profession

2010-07-04T00:07:00.002+09:00

Last Thursday, my contract was renewed. It’s my second year (it should have been my third if I didn’t decide to go back to Philippines last 2006). Further, I just realized that I've been working for a decade and this must be the reason why I’m slowly losing my strands. LOL!

I graduated last 1999 and started working a year after. I worked in a manufacturing firm for two years. Everything was going on the right direction until one day, the company owner decided to permanently cease its operation. I will be jobless then. Oh, I was jobless.

I sent lots of application via snail mails. Believe it or not, online application was not an in-thing during those times. And while waiting for an interview or exam, I decided to be a part-time tutor. At first, it was fun and later I found it to be very exhausting. But it was for this part-time job that I was able to survive.

I promised to myself during those times that, regardless of what company it is, as long as it will be the first one to hand me a job offer, I will accept it right away. It may sound like a desperation act but yeah, I was desperate that time. But I didn’t tell my family in the province about this. I knew I can handle it.

Few months later, I was hired by an engineering design firm. Loyal to the promise, I accepted the offer even the salary was half that what I was receiving in my previous company. And a few days later, lots of companies were calling for job offers. But I decided to stay in this engineering firm. Less than a year of working, I was assigned for an overseas job in Japan. That was my first-out-of-country trip. I worked for three years here.

I quit and decided to work abroad. Obviously, one of the reasons was monetary. I was hired by a company in Japan for a year. Due to some problems back home I decided not to renew my contract.

I was jobless for four months (see, because of bumhood I started writing blogs!).

Out of nowhere, I got a call from a work agency asking me if I am willing to work in Thailand. (Perhaps this was one of my many applications that I have forgotten). I said YES! It was a one year contract and this time, the company decided not to renew my contract.

Back in the Philippines, I received another job offer from another overseas company. I was about to sign the contract when one of my former bosses in Japan sent me an email asking if I am willing to go back there. It wasn’t easy. I’ve been thinking the pros and cons of returning to an old company, the advantages and disadvantages of being in a new work environment.

Decisions. Decisions.

I finally returned to my former company. I am now working with my former company. There were chances and business opportunities given to me outside Japan. So far, so good. I have some personal concerns and issues but that would be another topic. Haha!

Anyway, looking from the very start of my professional life, I can say that those decisions I made, be it desperately or well-thought of, were spot-on. I can’t imagine the outcome of my career if I didn’t take that route. The same way if those decisions lead me to a not-so-okay outcome.

But as they say (clichéd as it may be), there’s should be no room for regrets, only room for improvements, no matter what.

Here’s for another decade of working. Hoping not as an engineer. Haha!

totomai
07/04/10

Clown

2010-06-27T19:50:00.001+09:00

I think in my past life I was a clown. Or maybe I am destined to be a clown. If I won’t be a successful engineer perhaps I can change my profession being a clown.

A funny imagination.

My 3-week vacation back to the Philippines was already fixed when I received a devastating news about my newborn niece. I knew everyone in our family was heartbroken and in pain and being the eldest I have to comfort them in any way I can. I have to be strong for them and every time the tragedy was mentioned, I kept on diverting the topic to lighter ones. Being the family’s clown, you have to cheer them up no matter what the situation is.

a facial ochre

veils sentiments in colors
hidden gloominess

During my stay there, I was able to scan through our family albums and my college yearbook. I saw one of my kindergarten pictures, maybe it was during our Christmas presentation, and I was one of the clowns. I should have scanned that photo (in red and white clown costume).

Also, I was surprised reading some comments on my yearbook page that shouts, “totomai, the class clown” and the likes. So, yeah, I guess I am a clown in my own fantasy world. I always try to be strong in difficult times be it a family matter, or a school one or work-related. It is not a way of escaping from the situation but rather I see it as an opportunity to give the affected a renewed confidence and comfort.

But do you know that clowns have off-days too?

/totomai
06/27/10

Crib

2010-05-27T22:23:00.003+09:00

It should have been a perfect father’s day present for my younger brother. Months of anticipation and excitement ended on a sad and tragic note.

Each time I return to Japan after a business trip, I always call my family back in the Philippines. And today was no exception. The very moment I stepped out of the plane, I called our home and hoping that my mother will break the good news. I was very surprised that one of my cousins answered the phone and in a panic-stricken voice called out my mother. Perhaps they were expecting my call and I had a really bad feeling from that moment on. After my mother took hold of the phone, I asked how’s everything and cracked a joke or two. Typical conversation. My mother in a somber tone told me that my sister-in-law gave birth yesterday afternoon and that my niece succumbed after 15 hrs due to complications.

S I L E N C E.

I tried to ignore what I heard earlier but my mom’s cracking voice and occasional sobs confirmed that it was real. That it was happening. That I am not going to see my first niece, their first granddaughter, alive. I asked, how’s my brother and sister-in-law doing? My mother just cried. It was a 360 degree turn on what we are expecting. Totally unexpected. It was my brother who broke the news to my mother and father at around 4 am of May 27, 2010.

Few months ago, I remembered how my brother shared via email, chat the preparations they are doing. Yes, including my parents and aunt. Everyone is pretty pumped-up. Buying this and that and even trying to utilize some old stuff that I and my brother used when we were newborns. (Yeah, it may be 30 years old but it still usable!). I even schedule my vacation almost at the same time as my sister-in-law’s due date. I missed seeing my niece for 3 days.

Her first crib will be a coffin.

Trying to a strong big brother, I called my brother who is an emotional wreck right now. He was still at the hospital, comforting her wife. He told me that he is now slowly accepting the fact that their daughter was not meant for them. Fate. He is trying to explain to his wife all the things that had happened the past 15 hours. I told him to be strong as his wife will need him the most in trying to recover from this loss. He shared that one of the most painful thing was the fact that they weren’t able to hold their daughter as she was rushed for emergency treatment. He also told me that when her daughter was still under the aid of a respirator, he thought everything would be okay as she her feet moved. But looking at her, he can see that she is struggling and made him utter the words, “baby, kung gusto mo magpahuway, batunon na lang namon”. Listening to his words made me want to hug him. He ended the story, the doctor told him that she is now in peace.

I can feel that my brother is also trying to be courageous, and as much as possible doesn’t want to be that affected. And out of nowhere he asked me if I already receive my ticket and told him I did.

I will be seeing all of them this Sunday again, including the newest member of our family. We will all be complete to send her off to the eternal playground. Permanently.

Rest in Peace, Baby.

/totomai
05/27/10

Inflate

2010-05-16T19:00:00.003+09:00

I’ve been watching Japanese films lately. A lot. This weekend, I watched Kuki Ningyo (Air Doll) and was impressed by the movie.

Middle-aged Hideo lives alone with an inflatable doll he calls Nozomi. The doll is his closest companion. He dresses it up, talks to it over dinner, and has sexual intercourse with it. However, unbeknown to Hideo, Nozomi was created with a heart. After Hideo leaves for work each day, Nozomi dresses in her maid's outfit and explores the world outside their apartment with a sense of child-like wonder. more here

The movie was slow-paced but I think that was the intention of the director so as to be in the situation of the Air Doll, which was awesomely portrayed by Korean actress Bae Doona. Out of curiosity, I checked the other works of the director, Hirokazu Koreeda, and was surprised to see that among his other works were Nobody Knows and Still Walking, two of my favorite Japanese movies of all time. I can say I am now a fan of Koreeda-san and I will try to watch his other works too.

Empty. I loved the metaphor and symbolism played here, the air doll being physically empty and her neighbors being empty inside as well as Tokyo being a soulless city despite its bright lights. It was an emotional journey to Nozomi from the very moment she first realized that she has a heart until to the very end of her plastic life.

At some point of the story, it was shown that she fell in love to one of her co-employees, Junichi. Despite being an inflatable sex doll, she was not spared from falling love. But still she was very much aware of her limitation. You can feel her when she said “I'll do anything for you... That's what I was born for”. As mentioned above, Bae Doona was really effective playing her part. She seemed like a child in a fantasy world but slowly losing her innocence in her new found world. And later her painful realization, “having a heart was heartbreaking”.

She was in love and despite being “cold”, she felt warmth to Junichi. But even a fairy tale doesn’t necessarily in a fairy tale ending.

Tremble

touches the skin of a volcano
warmth and longing;
feels the tremors of your heart
until it spews out my name

/totomai

I’ve been in Japan (on and off) since 2003 and sometimes I do feel that despite the hurried pace of city life, the blinding lights of the city, some areas and places have an empty aura. And after watching this film, I thought, yes, it may be empty or a bit soulless but it is up to someone to put life to it.

Quoting to end this, It seems life is constructed in a way that no one can fulfill it alone.

True.

/totomai
05/16/10

Unconditional

2010-05-09T11:38:00.004+09:00

Today is Mother's Day. I woke up early, grabbed my mobile and called my mother in the Philippines. I blurted out, Happy Mother's Day, Ma. She laughed and thanked me and said that she hopes that she will still be given more chance to celebrate Mother's Day. Of course, I re-assured her but I immediately changed the topic as not really into this kind of conversation. It’s a habit of mine to call her every Sunday.

Unconditional is my description to a mother’s love. Actually, it is beyond words and no adjective can aptly describe it.

A few years ago, I was in Cambodia and this picture melted my heart. Against the heat and waves, this young mother is trying to paddle safely her child. At first glance, I thought this was wrong, but after thinking deeply, I asked myself what if it was a case of emergency and that she must transport her child to a clinic or hospital and that this was only her way of doing it.

In Japan, I saw a news clip about omiai. One of the issues tackled was how mothers of single Japanese convened or assembled, carrying resumés and photos of her sons and daughters hoping that she could find the perfect match for her child. This is still practiced in Japan.

Just from two examples I mentioned above, a mother’s love is really unfathomable. As I said, earlier it is beyond words.

As you celebrate this day, don’t be embarrassed to express your love to your mother. A simple I LOVE YOU, MA is way greater than any material thing you can give. Happy Mothers’ Day to all the mothers in the world.

Ma, Palangga ka namon!

/totomai
05/09/10

Kaoshiung

2010-05-08T16:11:00.003+09:00

Taiwan is always associated with Taipei. And for this blog, I won’t be talking about Taipei, instead I’ll share one of Taiwan’s lesser-known city, Kaohsiung.

Kaohsiung (Chinese: 高雄; old names: Takao, Takow, Takau) is a city located in southwestern Taiwan. It is enclosed by Kaohsiung County, and faces the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into eleven districts. The city is one of two special municipalities under administration of the Republic of China, which grants it the same status as a province. By the end of 2010 the city will be merged with Kaohsiung County to form a larger municipality. more here

I was assigned for some supervisory works in one of the refineries there and asked a one-day off from my superior. That gave me the chance to go around the city. Thanks to Tina (a college buddy) and her husband Nel for the impromptu tour.

Ah, Chinese foods never fail to amaze me. In every corner of the streets you can see lots of stalls selling various kinds of foods and delicacies. From duck to snakes to stinky tofu. Name it and you’ll have it. I particularly feasted on the sea foods.

Kaohsiung has this new MRT to boost for. I was chewing a gum when I entered the station and the officer politely told me that it is not allowed. Sorry, I wasn’t able to see the posters about it. I obliged. One of the stations, Formosa Boulevard, is a tourist attraction itself. The ceiling is a delight and details on it are visual attractions.

Earlier that day, we also went to World Games Stadium. Great architectural details on this one and it is relatively new. Perhaps the maintenance team is doing a good job. But there is one sculpture that really caught my eye, it may have some symbolism but I couldn’t find any related articles about it.

In motorcycle, we roamed around the city. Yes, despite the rain. Lots of tourist attractions were already closed we just settled for a few. One of them was Tuntex Sky Tower. It is said to be the tallest building in Taiwan before Taipei 101 was constructed.

ex-bamboo forest

reigned by able dynasty

mesmeric city

Next stop was in Love Pier. This may be dedicated to couples in Taiwan. It was kind of dark when we went there and the park was about to close so we didn’t get the chance to explore the place. It has a bicycle ramp with lights on the wooden floor, too bad it was already off when we arrived.

If I remember correctly, we went home at around 2 am. The rain was longer being cooperative so it was a wrap already. I checked-in in one of the city inns while waiting for my flight back to Japan.

If ever I will return to Kaohsiung again, I guess I need a day or two to completely visit all the tourist spots there. Try visiting Kaohsiung instead of Taipei for a change. And yes, Kaohsiung has an international airport too.

Actually, I think I like Taiwan more than Hong Kong. It could only be me.

/totomai
05/08/10

Update

2010-05-01T22:58:00.002+09:00

Two days after I posted Unmasked, a blog entry / rant about not receiving my prize 5 months since the winners of a local photography contest were announced, I received an email from EPSON REP (ER) that my prize from NIKON is already ready for pick-up. I am not sure if any of those two firms read my blog that prompted them to do action or just purely coincidental.

April 14. Part of the email says,

I received a text message from Nikon yesterday stating that the check is ready for pick-up. Thus, he said that the winner should be the one to claim it. I informed him that you are not in the Phils.

Now, NIKON wanted me to claim the money personally. I replied citing that I already forwarded my bank information late last year to them (EPSON) since NIKON plans to deposit the money.

April 15. Got two emails from ER.

I just found out they will surrender the check to us here in Epson. Let me get back to you regarding this.
-------
I'm waiting for feedback from Nikon. They initially want someone to pick-up the check. We'll see if we can just be the one to do the bank transfer. FYI.

Everything was still unclear. I didn’t reply this time.

April 20. I received an email from another EPSON Rep (AER) stating that they already brought up the issue again with NIKON. I thought, it is not yet settled.

I was informed regarding the prize from Masskara Photo Contest.My apology on this matter.

The prize comes from Nikon(Columbia Digital) and not from Epson. I have already brought up the concern to them and in order for this to be settled immediately. We have asked NIKON to deposit your price today. Again my apology.

I replied, asking them to inform me if they have deposited the money already.

April 22. I received another email from AER

My apology for this incident sir.I will arrange it personally sir for this to be resolved immediately. I will accompany them to deposit your prize. I personally thank you for the patience you have given to the situation. I assure you that these things will not happen again.

I told AER that my brother informed me that an additional 16K were entered to my account. I asked AER to confirm if this money came from NIKON and to inform me if the prize money was deducted by some tax or something, and by how much.

April 23. AER told me again that the prize came from NIKON and not from EPSON. In the email, AER included NIKON REP (NR) for them to answer my query.

Dear NR,

Kindly ask your staff to email (me) re the details on how did you compute the deduction of taxes.

AER

No reply. Nothing. Last April 27, 2010, I followed-up again and told AER that maybe the tax deduction was 20% (4000 pesos) that is why I only got 16000 pesos. But no reply from both parties. Until now. Or perhaps they are still calculating it.

Anyway, I am still thankful to have received the prize money I fairly won five months ago. The hassles brought by this contest in claiming the prize money won’t be forgotten easily.

Of course, I would like to thank everyone for the support and for sharing my blog post to their personal sites / blog sites. I still believe that this not-so-immediate action done by the sponsor was due to the fact that they were able to read my previous blog as well as your comments.

totomai
05/01/10

Unmasked

2010-04-12T22:27:00.004+09:00

I won a local photography contest, ranked 2nd out of 179 entries. Winners were announced last November 5, 2009. But until this very moment, I haven’t received the prize money of 20,000 pesos (equivalent to US$450 or 40,000 Yen).

behind smiling masks
inner colors dimmed and dark
emotions unmasked

Last October 2009, I went home to attend my brother’s wedding and at the same time, to experience the revelries of MassKara Festival. I saw a poster about a MassKara-related photo contest. To make the story short, I joined and submitted my entries and other requirements before my flight back to Japan. Bodyshot Photography is the contest organizer (though on articles it says PhotoPROS, Inc) and informed me that all entries will be exhibited at SM City Bacolod from Nov 2 to Nov 8. Judging and announcement of winners will be on Nov 5.

November 7, 2009. My brother went to SM to check whether the exhibit is still on-going. And then he thought that one of the winning photos was mine. He went home immediately, took his camera and sent me this photo. It was my shot. I told him that maybe the organizers will send a notification mail or will make a call informing that I won. Nothing. No call. No mail. For the past 14 days.

I started to think that maybe it wasn’t my photo after all. Perhaps somebody submitted a very similar photo to mine. Since I didn’t receive any notification, I googled the theme and lead me to this site, Winners of MassKara Photo Contest. This is the only confirmation I have. My only evidence even with my name incompletely written. It was my photo and made me wonder why I haven’t received any sort of notice.

Moving on, I instructed my younger brother to call Bodyshot Photography for confirmation. After asking my brother loads of questions, they confirmed that I won but advised my brother to wait for the official notice / call from the sponsor since they didn’t have the prize money yet. After three days, my brother called again to follow-up the status. This time they told him to check the Negros Daily Bulletin, a local newspaper, since they will be publishing the names of winners soon. Since then, my brother bought newspaper every day for two weeks. Nothing. Negative. I told him, just call them one more time and asked them about the status. He obliged. The organizer told him to contact EPSON, the main sponsor, for the said prize.

Next chapter. December 10, 2009, I sent an email to an EPSON representative (ER) and after some introduction, I ended my mail with

“In this regard, I would like to know how can I claim my prize? Or will EPSON send some notification to the winners?”.

And within minutes, I received a reply from her, thanked me for participating and congratulated me for winning. That was my second evidence. A good start, I thought. A little later, she informed me that she contacted NIKON for my prize money. Come again? From EPSON to NIKON through Columbia Digital. According to her, NIKON is in-charge of my prize will be contacting me as soon as.

December 14, 2009. ER asked me for my account number and bank information as required by NIKON guy (NG). She ended the email with

“Maybe I'll just email you once Nikon has deposited the prize already”.

I was still hopeful and sent the required details immediately.

December 27, 2009. I inquired about the update. The next day, ER told me that she’ll follow up with Nikon and will give me feedback ASAP.

Then it was 2010.

January 11, 2010. I followed-up the status again to ER. She was surprised that NIKON hadn’t contacted me yet. She thought everything was settled.

January 18, 2010. Another follow-up was sent.

January 29, 2010. This time, she gave me the email of NG. I told her I’ll wait for another week before I’ll email NIKON. Still no word from the sponsor.

February 10, 2010. I decided to email NG, summarizing what has transpired between me and ER since December 2009. But I haven’t received any reply from him. Zilch. I emailed him again last February 15, 2010 asking for some acknowledgment. Nothing. I am not sure if its too difficult for him to hit the reply button or he is just too lazy to do it.

Feb 19, 2010. I informed ER about this (although she might very well knew since she was included on those emails). I told her that I am already getting frustrated. The EPSON rep told me that even she transferred division already she still followed-up NIKON every time I sent an email.

March 8, 2010. I sent another follow-up mail to ER. No reply from her. Sent one again last March 22, 2010. A part of her email, baffled me actually

“I really don't know what's happening. Epson gave the prizes to the others (the ones we were supposed to give prizes to last year already)”. So, all winners received their prizes other than me. WOW! "

March 22, 2010. A friend of mine contacted EPSON via its website and was able to talk to ER. She reiterated that NIKON was in-charge of my prize.

March 23, 2010. ER informed me that her colleague will have a meeting with NIKON and will raise this issue.

March 25, 2010. A rather disturbing email came from ER.

“We followed-up with Nikon and they said it's being processed. No date was given still. :(“

April 3, 2010. I expressed my frustration and puzzlement about this. And last April 4, 2010 I received an email from ER.

“I'm honestly personally frustrated as well. It is truly surprising that they cannot award this right after the announcement of winners. Epson has done it. We have awarded our winners. I'm truly sorry for this.

I really have no means of doing anything more. All we can really do is follow-up with Nikon. I don't know what to say. They have been telling us since the first time you emailed me that they are processing the payment already. “

That's it. That triggered me to write this blog entry.

From here on I don’t know how to follow-up anymore as more or less I will be receiving the same replies. In 6 months time, Bacolod City will be having its MassKara Celebration again yet my prize money is still in limbo.

And as mentioned earlier it seems that I am the only unlucky winner of this event as everyone else received his / her prize.

This is my first win in any photography contest and thought it would be special. But it turning out to be the other way around.

Who is to be blamed here? I am really disappointed and frustrated about how this contest was handled. As a participant I have done my share and organizers as well as sponsors should do theirs too. First, the organizers should have anticipated issue like this and have done any counter measures to avoid it.

To the sponsors, this is one of your marketing strategies. Your names are displayed on the posters and I guess that’s one way of returning the favor from your sponsorship. Once you commit, have your word to it.

I am not yet sure what would be my next step in order to claim the prize. Yes, that 20,000 pesos which I won fair and square.

Any advice?

/totomai
04/12/10

Resurrection

2010-04-04T17:39:00.001+09:00

Happy Easter!

Earlier today, I attended the Easter Mass. I don’t attend Sunday Mass that often but I always see to it that I join the Easter Eucharistic Celebration. During the homily, the priest raised one question, who among you is afraid of the future? Some raised their hands, some didn’t, including me. Actually I am not really afraid of the future instead I worry more about death.

Just when I am thinking about death, the priest concluded his homily saying, life doesn’t end when you die. You still have another life with God. The concept of resurrection, which I think is the essence of Easter. As a Catholic, I have this belief in mind since childhood and it is not changing until this very moment. I am not really familiar with the practices of other religion but I still believe do they celebrate Easter too. I may be wrong though. :-)

awareness of faith
with or without religion
a life-taught knowledge

When I was in high school, I was a catechist to kids. I serve as a mentor to them basing on what I have since living this life. Experience is a great mentor and it will continue to be one as long as I keep on breathing. I am honest enough to admit that I am not spiritually mature but I think I did a good job in teaching these kids about religion.

And maybe these kids, if we meet in the future, can teach me too about life, religion and faith.

/totomai
04/04/10

Refreshed

2010-03-21T14:42:00.004+09:00

Much of my energy was extracted from my recent business trip. In occasion like this, I usually resort to Thai massage. But I couldn’t see any massage parlors in Korea that offer that kind of massage. I settled to a sports massage. The masseuse, thinking I’m Japanese, asked me in Nihonggo, itai desu ka (is it painful)? I replied, daijyoubou desu (it’s fine). But later, I told her I’m not Japanese and kindly talk to me in English.

This week, I am preparing for another business trip. This time in Taiwan. It will be my first time to visit the country. So that’s two countries in a matter of week (Korea and Taiwan). Ah, the demands of work. I am not complaining and I don’t have any right to complain. Actually I’m enjoying it, a cool way of learning things. Seeing the actual products is a realization that not all are mere blueprints.

As long as have my massage after each business trip I am fine.

an exhausted look
comforting pressure power
a refreshed aura

Earlier this year, I treated myself to a Deep Tissue Massage (DTM). Actually I never heard this kind of massage until one of my friends shared her DTM experience. (offtopic: it was her boyfriend who introduced her to DTM).

Deep Tissue Massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue or fascia. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, such as athletes, and patients who have sustained physical injury. It is also not uncommon for receivers of Deep Tissue Massage to have their pain replaced with a new muscle ache for a day or two. Deep tissue work varies greatly. What one calls deep tissue another will call light. When receiving deep tissue work it is important to communicate what you are feeling.

I was forewarned by my friend and I readied myself to handle the pain. Before the massage, Rick, the therapist asked me series of questions, from work habits, health problems and the likes. DTM is more of a customized massage. He tirelessly explained all the points too, why he is doing this and that and what is the effect after. But I admit I dozed off at some point during the massage. It was such a relaxing two-hour experience. By the way, here’s the link to Energy Room.

After the session, he asked me if I find it painful. I told him, no worries, I love pain. LOL!

My current equation is (Demands of Work + Massage = Re-energized Totomai).

Next in line: Acupuncture.

/totomai
03/21/10

3

2010-03-07T19:08:00.002+09:00

Distilling Thoughts turns 3. Today.

Though there’s a steady decline on the number of posts since it started, 72 for 2007, 60 for 2008 and 47 for 2009, this blog is still alive considering it suffered a Coma early last year. Each entry, coupled with photographs, has a personal touch in way or another. One thing is for sure, I am responsible in what I wrote, not to offend the readers as much as possible.

Is there a blog language? Are there any rules to follow while blogging? In case, there is one, does one have to be fluent about this language? There may be one, or maybe none at all, but I can say that as long as you are satisfied with what you blog down, I guess its fine. No limits. No censorship. Free.

distilled private thoughts
most precipitates filtered
non-hesitating

Last year, I started another blog, Nalalabing Hibla, it’s in Filipino but I am not that dedicated compared to Distilling Thoughts.

As I always believe that each moment is interesting enough to be noticed, this blog will continue to breathe. It is already a part of my life. Words may be scarce, as sometimes I am running out of words. Sometimes, I find it difficult to express or convey my exact intention and in those times, I am glad I have the photos to support it.

Wow, three years. It all started from a dare, now I am really into it. Thanks everyone for all taking some of your to time to visit this blog and read some of its entries. Last year I thought I’ll be in another country the time this blog hits its 3rd year. But no.

No matter what, I’ll continue to blog. To shoot. To distill thoughts.

Thank you very much.
Maraming Salamat.
Arigato gozaimashita.
Khawp khun khrap.
Kamsahamnida.

More blog post to come. More photos to share.

Happy Birtday, Distilling Thoughts!

/totomai
03/07/10

Mother

2010-03-01T09:15:00.003+09:00

Today is my mother's special day. It is her 73rd birthday. And again, as I always say for the nth time, I will be missing the celebration. I really wanted to be there but due to some job responsibilities, I just can't. Probably by next year I can join them to celebrate the occasion.

I may be far away but everytime I remember this incident, I can't help but smile. I think I was in high school when my mother was about to go the grocery and asked me if I needed something. I told her, "Please buy me Peoples (one of the many newspapers in the Philippines)." After she returned, I searched the grocery bags and started looking for the newspaper. I became impatient and told her I can't find it. A bit annoyed, she went to where the bags were placed, and told me, "You are using your mouth while searching for it. Here it is!" To my surprise, she was holding a bottle of pickles! I told her Ma, "it was Peoples not pickles!." LOL!

While growing up, my mother always told us that her biggest dream for me and my brother was to finish our studies. I am proud to say that we were able to fulfill her dream. I finished by BS Chemical Engineering course, and my brother, BS Economics. Thanks Ma for all the support and inspiration not only during our school days but even up to these days. Also, thanks Pa for everything, but Ma was more vocal about her hopes and wishes to us.

Now as you turn another year, one of our wishes for you is to be healthier all year round, away from allergies thats been bothering you, and on the next years to come. Sooner, you will also have your first grandchild and I know you are already excited. All the best Ma.

Everytime I call you on weekends, its like I am just beside you. From how are you's to just hearing your laughters are enough for me to continue working here in the Land of Rising Sun. This coming May or June, I will be home once again and we will have more time again together. See you soon.

As for the meantime, enjoy your day. Reserve one plate for me, I'll be there in spirit. And who says being a Mamas boy is a bad thing? LOL!

Happy Birtday Mama! Palangga ka namon.

/totomai
03/01/10

Omen

2010-02-23T22:25:00.005+09:00

Not all omens portend to bad luck, some indicate a source of inspiration. Early last week, the last snow of winter painted Tokyo City white, a positive omen, I may say.

running shutters sound
unnatural flashes
photography life

Last Saturday, instead of spending my free time in front of the PC, I decided to join the photo walk organized by Flickr Tokyo Photo Session. I’ve been a member of this group since 2008 but last Saturday’s activity was the only 3rd time I took part of. And honestly, I am glad I did it. I thought it was an opportunity to melt the web off my camera, brought by laziness and winter. The weather was tempting enough to be ignored. Prepared my gears the night before (Nikon D80 + 3 lenses, Ricoh GR III P&S) as well as emptied by SD cards.

Arrived at Shimbashi at noon and met with Kid before going to the meeting place. By the way, we stopped first at Matsuya get energized. Finally we arrived at Hamarikyu Park. I thought this place seem familiar, and I was right, it was the same garden where I first attended an FTPS shoot last September 2008. I never imagined that it’s more than a year since I’ve visited the place. It was great to see familiar faces as well as fresh ones. After some quick exchanges of how are you’s and I am’s it was time to shoot. The weather was relatively fine that at some instance it triggered me to take off my jacket. The plum blossoms are everywhere – it is spring. Not my favorite season though, LOL!

Each FTPS member scattered around the area, though at certain occasions we bumped with each other, took some time off to shoot for some chit-chat. One thing that caught our attention was a couple who are being photographed. They donned a Japanese kimono (female was Japanese and male was English, I think). I am not sure if they were about to wed or they just had their wedding. It may seem to be unauthorized on our part, but we continued clicking our shutters to have a capture of them. It was still a photo opportunity nonetheless.

For macro shots, I used my point and shoot camera. To my surprise, a warning flashed on the screen “MEMORY FULL”. Impossible, I thought as I only had a few shots. I checked my camera and the SD card was nowhere to be found. Haha! For a while I thought I prepared but I wasn’t after all. We missed the group as they transferred to another park, so we have to do some walkathon. The walk was enough to lose some of our stored fats.

Second venue of the photoshoot was in Kyu-Shiba-Rikyuu. The place was a little bit smaller than the first one. One thing I like about the place is clarity of the water reflection, not counting the friendliness of the kois. Only a small part of the garden has early spring blooms. But as they say, everything, everyone can be a photography subject. Once again, all the members secure respective spots and let their shutters blast.

The group decided not to go to Hinode pier anymore as the breeze was getting colder and colder. Instead, the group headed to a drink bar. Of course, all of us deserve to relax, and get to know each other or catch up with some old acquaintances. It was a feast. I thought it would never end. It was a consensus, everyone needed more beer so we transferred to another drinking bar. Sorry, I forgot the names of the bars. Good times.

It was a blast and this would not be possible without the help of the organizers. Likewise, a major shout-out to all of the members for keeping the group alive. Now, I can't wait to join next month's photo walk. Until then.

Arigatou Gozaimashita!

/totomai
02/23/10

Sounds

2010-02-09T22:46:00.005+09:00

During my flight to Korea late last year, Oto Na Ri was one of the featured films. Instead of sleeping throughout the flight, I decided to watch this film, after all I am into not-so-popular films. There were other films but the synopsis of this film got me interested.

Satoshi and Nanao know about each other's existence by the sounds their neighbor makes through the thin wall. Even though they do pay attention to the sounds next door, they actually have never met each other, or make any attempt to meet the other person. The movie tells two separate stories that happen in parallel and focuses on the lives of two people approaching their thirties, and the doubts they have about work, life, and love. more here

I also thought that maybe after watching this film, I could learn more about Japan. And I was right. The movie was simple, as summarized above. It’s about a photographer and a florist being neighbors for a long time but didn’t have the chance to see each other. In other countries, this scenario seems impossible but not here in Japan . For more than a year of residing in my present apato (apartment), I still have no idea who my neighbors are, what they look like. Sometimes the corridors have an eerie feeling same as that of hospitals or chapels. Before I can reach my room, I pass regularly to at least six more doors. The sounds of shower, the smell of curry or the lights inside often tell me that, yes, I have neighbors, and I am not alone on the seventh floor.

On the said movie, there were scenes that the two characters are getting used to the “sounds” of each other. The footsteps, the key chains, the singing and the likes. The movie also showed how annoyed they were if the noise generated by each other exceeded the tolerable level. In order to let this annoyance be felt, one would knock the wall in order for the guilty one to shut up. RESPECT. Japanese are very particular with silence, especially at night time. And living in an apato, you need to be extra cautious. I missed this one terribly.

echo of footstep
leading to eternity
a golden silence

Yesterday, I received an unexpected phone call from a Japanese guy. Since I can’t understand what he was saying, I politely asked one of my officemates to answer it on my behalf. The guy was the landlord of the apato where I stay. He informed my officemate about the complaint of my neighbors, yes, neighbors (plural form). He mentioned two things, one, just before the year ended, I invited some of my friends to celebrate my birthday, we were up until morning but if I remember correctly, we kept our voices at minimum, a little louder than whispers. Though occasionally there was uncontrolled laughter which greatly bothered my neighbors, according to him. It may be more than a month ago, but I guess, they didn’t forget. So no more overnight invitation for the time being.

Second one was about the volume of music from my room. I must admit that I always listen to some music every night, but I thought it’s not that loud. It would be boring if I will only listen to drips of the faucet or the wind outside my window. Music was my company at night. But after hearing that particular complaint, I guess I’ll have to use my earphones from now on. My neighbors may file a petition and will kick me out of the apartment if I won’t listen to their complaints. Being a foreigner, I guess I’ll have to do necessary adjustments, to adapt with their culture and way of living.

But I just hope and pray that I won’t be receiving any complaints regarding the sound of my alarm clocks. If it'll happen, this time, I will cry foul!

/totomai
02/09/10

Sayonara

2010-01-24T20:15:00.002+09:00

As the song by White Lion goes,

Well it's time to say goodbye my friend
I'm glad you stayed until the end
I hope that you've enjoyed the time we spent
Though I know that I will be back again
I don't know just how soon my friend
Until we meet again just think of me
I'll think of you

I thought, here we go again, about time to say farewell to group of friends who will be leaving Japan soon.

Anyway, returning to Japan last 2008, my mindset (aside from work, of course) was to be more independent and not to develop nor establish friendship. I thought goodbye is always difficult to utter come separation time, basing from my previous experience. As you know, being an ex-pat / OFW, everything is temporary. You’ll never know if you will be renewed or when you will be terminated.

But I’m glad I didn’t follow that mindset. I met a lot of wonderful people here in Japan, most of them share the same passion, photography. Yes for giving me a chance to know them even for a short period of time. Actually it’s not really a “decision” on my part to be friends with them, it just came naturally.

Some of them are leaving Japan. Some already left. But all those memories will always be remembered.

goodbye sunny days
chapter closes, new phase starts
sunny remembrance

/totomai

Good luck and onwards to a new adventure. See you again some other time. Just remember the power of internet, it is so much easier to communicate wherever you are. Gambatte!

The scene will change, the time will show
But still I hope that you'll be there for me
I'll there for you

Cheesy. Right. LOL!

SAYONARA!

/totomai
01/24/10

Phoetry

2010-01-09T22:17:00.004+09:00

Well, well, it’s been more than a week since the new year but I haven’t blogged anything. I have been thinking on what to write for the past few days and finally decided to showcase my 10 most popular photos in Flickr last 2009. It is easier this way, after all part of this blog is about photography.

At the start of 2009, I promised to post photos I took in 2009 only to my Flickr account. Of course, I wasn’t able to hold on to that pledge. I uploaded photos I took from 2007 and 2008, because at some point I ran out of photos and lost interest to photography for a month or two.

unending shutters
indurated by seasons
own masterpieces

Allow me to present my photos of 2009.

Taken at Tachikawa, Japan during the farewell party of one of my friends. Perhaps the appeal of this photo was the backlight, highlighting the stems of the poppies.

Taken at Shinjuku, Japan. I thought converting this shot to black and white was a good decision after all.

Taken at Odaiba, Japan. I usually struggle with night photography that’s why for this shot I tried using my 50mm 1.8f portrait lens. This is my most viewed photo of 2009.

Taken at Tachikawa, Japan. I think flower photos are quite popular in Flickr. These two shots were taken the very same day as that of the number 1 photo.

Taken at Chiba, Japan. I used my macro lens for this shot. While everyone was busy during the party, I was busy taking shots of this guitar. Its one of my personal favorites of 2009.

Taken at Tachikawa, Japan. I dedicated this shot to my two-friends. I even made a haiku for them.

Taken at Shinjuku, Japan. I was aiming to take a photo of the tree when suddenly an intruder came rushing. LOL! Glad she did.

Taken at Tokyo, Japan. Sshh. This was taken in our office. I was assigned to take the ID photos of my officemates and during breaks I thought I have to shoot something.

Taken at Tachikawa-Japan. I think this is one of my most successful photos of 2009.
-----

Other thoughts for 2009

Taken at Asakusa, Japan. I took this photo last 2008 and uploaded it this year as a tribute to Pres. Corazon Aquino. This photo hit the front page of Flickr explore.

Taken at Bohol, Philippines. I think around October or November, I was surprised that this photo had thousand of hits per day because I uploaded it last 2007. I followed the photo stats and it led me to Yahoo Philippines website. It was on its front page.

A similar picture of this won 2nd Place in Masskara Photo Contest. But until now, I haven’t received my prize yet.

I decided to have this entry in order to get inspired this 2010. Its already January 9 and haven’t taken photos this year, so yeah, I am still uploading old photos to my Flickr account. I hope this year, I can still capture poetry in my photos --- Phoetry.

Somebody please inspire me too.

/totomai
01/09/2010

Balloons

2009-12-29T03:44:00.004+09:00

Growing up, I always thought that balloons were exclusively for birthday celebrations only. And if you have balloons during your party, you will gain another set of friends, LOL! Those were the days. But if I remember it right, I had balloons during my birthday celebration twice or thrice only. Other than those two, it’s all food, food and food. Ah, childhood memories. I can still recall the words stamped on the inflatable,

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY,
TOTOMAI
December 29, 1982.

Fast-forward to 2009. I just turned 32. And I don’t need these balloons anymore, as I am one living balloon. Ha ha! Each year, I am getting bigger and bigger. It seems unstoppable, like a helium-filled balloon escaping from an enclosed space to the open air. Hoping that someone can deflate me before it’s too late, for health reasons as you know. Or I’ll just pop naturally, what a scary thought.

Anyway, a few days ago, I kept on thinking of using balloons to celebrate my birthday. Since I turned 30, I decided to have a photograph of me in my birthday suit. It all started in Thailand (30th), then the Philippines (31st) and now in Japan (32nd). I wonder where will be the next location. Hmmm. Aside from the fact the balloons bring out the child in me, it reminded me of the sacrifices of my parents in giving me and my brother worth-remembering celebrations, with or without balloons.

Turning a year older is a gift and no one can take that from you. It is yours and yours alone. It means that you must continue your journey. With refreshed positivity, I am starting a new chapter of my life. I am ready to whatever my path offers me.

Happy Birthday, Totomai!

/totomai
12/29/09

Hong Kong

2009-12-26T21:11:00.004+09:00

While everyone was granted a 2-3 week holiday, I was allowed a 2-day rest. Fair isn’t it? I believe so since I went home last October already. Actually I didn’t have any plan at until an invitation from a friend came, a 4-day trip to Hong Kong. I told him its fine but it should be from Thursday to Sunday only. We planned to meet at the airport and will take a cab to the hostel.

wandering beggars
maze through a busy terrain
taste of adventure

Thursday. I arrived 2030H, HK time, a little than the estimated time of arrival. I thought my friend must have been too tired to wait for me as he is scheduled to arrive 2 hours earlier. The clock said 2330H and that’s when I decided to go to the hostel. WHOAH! That was my reaction upon seeing the place. Its very far from what I imagined. LOL! Anyway, after inquiring, I went to our room, knocked for 5 minutes before it was finally opened. He was already in dreamland. BOO!

Friday. Started the day early. Our first stop was Man Mo Temple, it was a small temple and cameras were not allowed so we didn’t stay long there. Next we decided to go to The Peak via Peak Tram, as they say its one of the most popular attractions in Hong Kong. Now I know why. Up there, you can relax and see the skyscrapers of the city.

Next was Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. Well I was hoping a Martina Hingis wax replica was there but to no avail. Ha ha! Going through the wax statues, I can’t help but be amazed by them. They all look real, but lifeless.

As we are trying to squeeze as many destinations as possible for 24 hrs, we then went to Ocean Park. Ocean Park is just like any other amusement parks, sorry, not a fan. There are still lots to like here, the cable car, the Sky Fair, and the festive atmosphere.

The sun may be gone, but our energy is still up. Off we went to Golden Bauhinia Square just outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. It’s a historical place where the handover took place, return of Hong Kong to People’s Republic of China. We stayed there and watched the famous Symphony of Lights.

Saturday. Despite having a long Friday, we were up early for our Saturday trip. Our first destination was at Po Lin Monastery, where the Giant Buddha seats atop Nong Ping plateau. It took years to finish the statue and as they say your Hong Kong trip wouldn’t be complete if you fail to visit it.

After exploring the place, we went to Tai O Village but didn’t stay long enough. Guess we are already too tired, we are just afraid to admit it. Ha ha. Our adventure continued at the Clock Tower and Avenue of Stars and again, waited for the Symphony of Lights to be displayed.
Sunday. Its time to go home. I am going back to Japan and my friend to the Philippines for a month long vacation.

Again, thank you bespren for this adventure. Guess next time, you should check the accommodation before confirming anything. LOL! And maybe next time, European tour will be our next escapade. Happy Holidays and advance happy birthday to both us.

Be safe on your trip back to Norway and see you in 2012. Ha ha!

/totomai
12/26/09

Thoughts

2009-12-05T17:32:00.002+09:00

Autumn’s almost gone. Winter’s approaching. And I’m on the street waiting for the day that I won’t be seeing my age in the calendars ever again. Ah, three more weeks.

distant lighthouse guides
a clearer path to trek on
uncertainty fades

Actually, instead of really waiting to that day, I am looking forward on the activities that I will be doing while I’m still 31. Being in three projects as of the meantime, I am looking forward of going home early, hoping to minimize overtime works or else too much work won’t stop me from reaching that age. But seriously speaking, despite the volume of my workload, I am enjoying my job as a Project Engineer. I may have lots to learn especially about strategizing but I think I learned so much being on this position. Of course, I still like to go back to Process Group, I’m a Process Engineer in the first place.

What’s next? Christmas Parties! Looking forward to attend lots of Christmas Parties where Coke is overflowing. Yes, I am not looking forward to beers and hard drinks, only to cola. Just kidding. Celebrating this season in a foreign land sucks, but I am glad to have lots of Filipino friends here who in one or another lessen up my longing to be back home during holidays. And parties here won’t be complete without karaoke, and I am already practicing my piece, an instrumental one.

I wasn’t allowed to take a long holiday since I already went home last October. Instead, my boss gave a two-day vacation. Thanks boss! I will be out of Japan for four days. I think its enough to refresh me and would do wonders in helping me finish my year end reports, project accomplishments and the likes.

Christmas. It’s a working day here in Japan so no celebration. Perhaps, I‘ll just call my family back home. Hearing their voices will be enough to counter the biting cold.

I plan to finalize my birthday suit concept too. I started doing this last 2007, when I was 30. This year, I want it to be more colorful and full of life. Anyway, it will be fun. If you have any idea, please email me haha!

The remaining days of being 31 are quite packed. I am just enjoying my life.

/totomai
12/05/09

Speed

2009-11-24T21:46:00.003+09:00

Yesterday, after playing badminton, I went home immediately and found myself in an isolated world. Out of nowhere, loneliness visited me on a cold autumn afternoon. Its presence was too strong to be ignored and made me end up watching the film 5 centimeter per second.

At what speed I must live, to be able to see you again? This question summarizes the entirety of the Japanese-animated film. It was just too real for me as I can relate to some parts of the movie.

The plot is set in Japan beginning from the 1990s and ending in modern day, with each segment centered on a boy named Takaki Tōno. It is important to note that the first episode takes place during a time period when cell phones are uncommon and e-mail has not yet reached the general populace. More here

While some may not like the ending, I absolutely enthralled by it, enthralled in the sense that not all stories will end on a happy note. The ending was an open-ended kind of sort, though some of my questions were answered after a second viewing.

As I said earlier, I can relate to Touno’s character. He had all the chances and opportunities to be with Akari but he prioritized his work among anything else. Yet, he still had this feeling towards her that won’t simply go away. Moving on was foreign to him.

The animation was very well done and it some parts it looks very real especially the scenes at the train station. The soundtrack, especially the main theme, One More Time One More Chance was very poignant beyond words. Some lyrics of the song goes like this,

I’m always searching for your figure to appear somewhere .
On the platform, in the windows along the lane.
At a street crossing. In the midst of dreams.
Even though I know you couldn’t be on that place.

Damn, that hits me. Its been years ago since I last saw her but why I still dream and hope that one day will meet again. Thousands of people are always at the train station but sometimes I can feel that I will see her there. At the coffee shop in Yokohama station. The same place I last saw her where the smell of our untouched coffees still lingers.

Yes, she has all the right to change her number, email add or block me. Despite of that, I still went to her place but the door was never opened to me. I just heard footsteps speeding towards to door and perhaps after checking out that it was me, it was if permanently locked.

But why do I still hope of meeting her someday? Sometimes, I think she had moved on already but every time I twll myself about it, tons of what ifs just popping up. Yeah, those what ifs indeed.

Time will have all the answers.

/totomai
11/24/09

MassKara

2009-11-11T22:10:00.003+09:00

Last October, I went back to Bacolod City , also known as the City of Smiles , not only to attend the wedding of my brother but also to finally experience the MassKara Festival. The only time I watched this street parade was when I’m 4 or 5 years old. The next years were just in front of the television set. Bacolod City is synonymous to MassKara and vice versa. The theme of this year’s festival was “Celebrating 30 Years of Smiles”, after seeing this on numerous banners, I immediately thought, I am older than the festival!

After my brother’s wedding, my mind was set to capture the festivities. To be on the streets and be amazed by the flashes of colorful costumes and masks. To appreciate more the music I grew up but now with a different mix and flavor. To abuse Nikki until she complains. IT WILL BE FUN! And indeed it was fun! Non-stop shoot from Thursday to Sunday, and my mother started to worry if I am already obsessed with photography. I told her, not yet, but almost there. LOL! Personally, this is the happiest festival in the Philippines .

How this event started?

The festival first began in 1980 during a period of crisis. The province relied on sugar cane as its primary agricultural crop, and the price of sugar was at an all-time low due to the introduction of sugar substitutes like high fructose corn syrup in the United States . It was also a time of tragedy; on April 22 of that year, the inter-island vessel Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, including those belonging to prominent families in Bacolod City , collided with the tanker Tacloban City and sank. An estimated 700 lives were lost in the tragedy.

In the midst of these tragic events, the city's artists, local government and civic groups decided to hold a festival of smiles, because the city at that time was also known as the City of Smiles. They reasoned that a festival was also a good opportunity to pull the residents out of the pervasive gloomy atmosphere. The initial festival was therefore, a declaration by the people of the city that no matter how tough and bad the times were, Bacolod City is going to pull through, survive, and in the end, triumph. More here

Yeah, it was to hide all the gloominess of the Negrenes during those times. And I thought it was a clever idea to counter the mood. We all need to cheer up and face the future with a broad smile.

Thursday street dance parade was for the school category. I raced through the streets alone and pressured myself that I must get at least one good shot to show to my friends when I return to Japan . Since the pace is a little bit fast, there was no time to check the photos except at home. I didn’t wait for the announcement of results as I don’t want to be squeezed by thousands of people rushing to hail a jeep or a taxi. I enjoyed the first day of the street parade and the songs kept on playing on my mind even while sleeping.

Friday was a let-down. I expected a lot for the MassKara Electric Dance Parade but was just left craving for more. My reaction was, that was it? Earlier that event though, I went to Photographers’ Night. It was an indoor activity showcasing some fantasy costumes and sexy models. And how frustrating it was? I didn’t known how to use my external flash. Can somebody help how to explore the flash? The good thing was I met lots of photo enthusiasts and was able to have my camera clean for free.

Saturday was for the Baranggay category. The number of participants was larger than the school category, which means there will be lots of people (local and tourists) along the streets of Bacolod City as well as the City Plaza , the final performance judging area. With an official photographer’s ID, it was easier for me to access / enter the dancing area. I am not really comfortable in capturing action shots but I was hoping that my camera settings will be just fine. For this day alone, I took more or less 500 photos. The day was particularly hot but I didn’t mind it as I enjoyed every second of it. Lots of photo enthusiasts were there too and we agree that perhaps this is the most colorful event in the Philippines.

Sunday was for the Open Category. It is known to be the highlight of the festivities but this year was particularly different. Most of the participants were from Saturday. Actually I was expecting a lot because during the past years, only the winners of the first two categories are eligible to join and the other participants will be coming from establishments and/or company-sponsored. Sunday was almost a replay of Saturday. But still it didn’t stop the Bacolenos to go the city proper to be a part of the celebration. As for me, it was a great experience. Finally, I can say, I was there everytime I share or invite a friend or two to visit Bacolod .

The moment you hear “Kari sa Bacolod , Dala Masskara (Go to Bacolod , Bring A Mask)”, consider it as invitation to visit the City of Smiles.

See you all next year!

/totomai
11/11/09

Wedding

2009-10-17T14:52:00.004+09:00

I almost missed my brother’s (Dorb’s) wedding last week. My flight back to the Philippines was originally scheduled on Oct 8, the very same day a super typhoon will hit Japan. Fortunately, an officemate of mine informed me about this and I immediately asked my boss to allow me to go home a day earlier.

Arrived in Bacolod on the 8th and every one is on panic mode. The rain was unceasing. Everybody was worried that it will spoil the big day. Haven’t seen my brother so serious and short-tempered. Haha, thanks to Sarah, the bride, who was very calm all throughout.

Oct 9th. Our relatives from Iloilo arrived. They stayed in our house and it was such a great opportunity to bond with them after, say, seven years. Again, we didn’t sleep the night before the wedding. Talk, talk, went around the city just before the wedding was awesome.

Oct 10th. Everyone was up as early as 4 am. Wedding at 10 am. It was the busiest day in our house ever. Wonder if it will be this busy if I get married someday. My brother and sis-in-law stayed at the hotel so they were spared from the commotion. I finished first so I went to the hotel to take some random shots of them. Though they hired an official photographer, I thought it would be better if I can have a remembrance for them.

It was a simple ceremony attended by loved ones from both parties. The eyes of my brother and sis-in-law showed how much they truly love each other. The wedding took almost an hour and another hour was for photo opps. Haha! Saw my father complaining because he was too worried that the guests were already hungry. We then proceeded to the reception.

My brother and sis-in-law was a couple for 6 years before finally saying I do.

Best wishes and congratulations! More babies to come. LOL!

For more pics --> click here.

/totomai
10/17/09

Rush

2009-10-09T02:32:00.006+09:00

The past four days were fast-paced and everything was a blur.

Monday. I was anticipating for my trip to the Philippines on Thursday when an officemate of mine told me about the coming storm in Tokyo, strongest one in 10 years, the very same day of my departure date. Everything was set already including my flight to Bacolod on Friday morning.

Tuesday. Worried that I’ll miss my brother’s wedding should I be stranded in Narita Airport, I printed out the weather forecast and showed it to my immediate superior. I asked permission from him if he could allow me to go home a day earlier than my supposed schedule. He confirmed right away.

I re-booked my flight, called my brother to re-book my domestic flight schedule too. I wasn’t able to buy souvenir items and I started packing my things at midnight.

Wednesday. The rain poured heavily Tokyo. At the airport, I hoped that no announcement of flight cancellation will be heard. During the entire flight, the flight attendants kept on reminding us about the possibility of experiencing turbulence.

I arrived at 1400H and went directly to our office in Makati. Then at around 1700H, I check-in to an appartelle for a night. At 1900H, went to Greenbelt and met a good friend of mine for possible investment.

Thursday. Scheduled flight to Bacolod was 0455H. I woke up at 0400H to my surprise. I arrived at 0430H and was told that I am already late. I was asked to pay for extra baggage too. I was the last one to board the plane and as I’m about to take my seat, a familiar face was sitting near the emergency exit. It’s Senator Noynoy Aquino, a presidential aspirant this coming 2010 election. At the luggage area, Senator Mar Roxas was waiting for him. The latter took a different airline carrier. I heard that they were visiting universities for some inspirational talks. Hmmm.

After lunch, I went out with my father and brother to roam around the city. I have another idea though and that is to buy a Barong Tagalog for my brother’s wedding.

I had four sleepless nights already. Make it five tonight and six tomorrow.

ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

/totomai
10/09/09

Gems

2009-09-26T12:07:00.004+09:00

This blog, Distilling Thoughts, is one of the finalists for this year’s Philippine Blog Awards under the Best Photo Blog Category. This is my way of saying thanks to everyone.

colors of the words
unearth before your dry eyes
sparkly cyberspace

One of my friends, make it two actually, broke this news at plurk. It may sound cheesy, but I do consider this nomination as a personal gem already. And I believe most, if not all, of the nominees feel the same way. Philippine Blogosphere (not my original term) is one of the most colorful and creative blogospheres in cyberworld. And I can attest to that. If you have time, kindly visit the sites of the other nominees and you’ll see what I mean. And not only that, there are other blogs that are not nominated that are worth visiting. Hmm, how can I provide the links? Start looking at the sidebar.

Two years ago, I started this blog as a result of a dare by a friend. We were both in bumhood during those times so we challenged ourselves to write something, a piece or two each week. To compensate my deficient vocabulary, I decided to include at least one photo, taken by me, on every entry I post. And as they always say, the rest is history. Through this blog, I have gained lots of friends and had inspired some to start blogging too, at least I know one. LOL! Special thanks to all the readers and visitors of this humble blog, really appreciate it. Shout-out to those responsible bloggers who nominated this blog, do I have to mention your names? Haha! Thanks for the trust.

Come October 9, the winners for each category will be revealed. No matter what the results will be, I am already very thankful and humbled by this nomination.

Congratulations to all the nominees, the organizers of PBA and of course to all bloggers who continuously make blogging world interesting and inspiring. You just don’t know how you encourage me to do better. You are all gems.

Again, my apologies for the cheesiness of this entry.

I blog. I shoot. I distill thoughts.

totomai
09/26/09

Longing

2009-09-19T00:39:00.007+09:00

From the very moment that my application for vacation leave was approved, I’ve been counting the days until I'll finally embrace my mother, talk with my father and catch-up with my brother. Of course, it also includes meet-ups with my relatives and friends, and shoots with fellow photography addicts. Believe me, it will be a very busy three-week-vacation. And one thing’s for sure, I am going to double my weight. Though earlier today, someone’s about to spoil my excitement, I am still keeping my fingers crossed that my presence is not required in one of the meetings in Korea .

Just recently, autumn is letting its presence felt. The breeze is colder and the mood of the city is starting to be melancholic. Ah, autumn, the most poetic season though a bit infectious as it triggers homesickness. If I accommodate that thought, I would have probably jump off my building but I keep on trying to divert that feeling. Sometimes, I admit I do, especially during early morning. Sometimes memories turn foggy, unclear.

Morning

half-awake, grabbed the fork
felt the coldness of the eggs
silence broken by their encounter

that familiar sound brought
back foggy memories of childhood.

before the cock crows
swish and whoosh of kitchen orchestra
conducted by Ma was our alarm clock.

spiritless, bro and I sat on ladder steps
rubbed our eyes
as Pa fed the roosters
to their delight

forgetting to blink
my stomach complains
images slowly turns foggy

while beating the eggs
for breakfast

/totomai

I will be arriving evening of the 8th, barely 1.5 days before my brother’s wedding. So on the 9th, I expect it to be very busy since most of our relatives from other provinces will be staying in our place. I’ll be helping my brother too on their last minute preparations, of course, after buying the Barong Tagalog. On the 10th, its my brother’s big day, hmm, I am tempted to bring my camera but being the Best Man (for the nth time), I will try to get some shots, preferably I’ll bring my point and shoot camera only. On the 11th, I will try to catch the flight to Davao to attend the pre-nup shoot of my friends Dash and Ai which is scheduled on the 12th. Will be leaving on the 13th and might go to Manila to get my ticket for Japan or just head back to Bacolod . After that, I don’t know what’s next but I plan to have a post-nup shoot with my brother and sister-in-law.

Whew! Guess, I will start sleeping on the 14th. LOL!

/totomai
09/19/09

Eiga

2009-09-06T03:13:00.006+09:00

I’ve been watching Japanese movies lately. There something about Japanese cinema (Nihon Eiga) that’s hypnotizing. It must be the language since I can understand few Japanese words, thanks to subtitles by the way.

Romance is one the most clichéd themes in universal cinema. And most viewers prefer happy endings. Except me, a gloomy ending gives me more satisfaction and contentment. Of course, in real life I wanted it the ideal way. No one wants to end up in an unhappy finish.

What is the key for lifetime relationship? Each one of us wants it to be ideal as possible but its not easy to achieve. Lots of factors are needed to be considered in order to survive the complexities of a relationship.

Back to Japanese films, here are three films I’ve seen that in one way or another dealt about relationships, but with not-so-happy endings. These films are well directed and the cinematography is excellent. The actors are well-chosen and played the parts naturally. Plus, the soundtracks of these films are worth listening even after watching the movies.

Love Letter . Actually I never heard of this film but saw a DVD of it on sale in Thailand. I decided to buy it after reading the synopsis.

Hiroko Watanabe has recently lost her fiancé Itsuki Fujii in a mountain climbing accident. On the day of his memorial ceremony, two years after his death, Watanabe finds his address in his high-school photo album at his parents' house.

Calling You. Tried a couple of times watching this film but I was bored. One day, I decided to see it again and it left me engaged. It has a unique storyline, unreal but might be possible, who knows.

Shy, quiet, and unsure of herself, Aihara Ryo (Narumi Riko) doesn't quite fit in anywhere. Though she wants to make friends, she has trouble speaking up and holding a normal conversation like everyone else. It seems that whenever she talks, the words just don't come out correctly. Gradually, Ryo has gotten used to living life in silence as a lonely and introverted student. With no one to talk to, Ryo also has no need for a cell phone. Longing for friends to talk to, she creates a cell phone in her mind for imaginary phone conversations, and much to her surprise, one day Shinya (Koide Keisuke) picks up on the other side. For the first time in her life, Ryo has found someone she can talk to.

Crying Out Love in The Center of World. Never mind the title, lol. I saw this film on the plane, on my way back to the Philippines. Actually I didn’t like the ending but the their story as students were enough to compensate for that conclusion.

In a small regional town in 1980s southern Japan, Sakutaro "Saku" Matsumoto and Aki Hirose, who were classmates all through junior high school, become high school students and then fall in love with one another. They share audio diaries, go on excursions together, and enjoy summer vacation. However, Aki soon finds herself suffering from Leukemia and begins to weaken day by day, rendering her unable to see Saku or go outside.

As I’ve said, I only hope for not-so- happy endings while watching a film and not in real life. We all deserve a successful relationship after all, right?

ylang-ylangs scent
vibrations of soundless bells
vows at the altar
carpet of showered petals
a promise through sign language

Next month, my brother is getting married and I will be going home to celebrate the occasion. Two weeks after, my friends Dash and Ai will be tying the knot too. Too bad that I will miss this special event. I will try to be there during the pre-nup shoot. Again, Dorb (my bro), Dash and Ai, best wishes and congratulations.

/totomai
09/06/09

Extravaganza

2009-08-31T22:44:00.006+09:00

Everyone was looking forward to celebrate the end of summer. Thousands trooped to Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan to witness the flow of colors and downpour of angel-like dancers, not minding the would-be effect of the scorching sun. That spotlight from the sky may be relentless but the Latin beats, the liveliness of the performers and the applause of the spectators were enough to overpower it. Before the parade started, cameras of all sizes and brands were everywhere! I brought two, by the way. Event like this is a photographer’s fancy.

Last year, I was able to experience this street spectacular too. If you are curious enough, here’s my last year’s blog. The big difference was the weather, last year it rained midway of the celebration forcing us to retreat from our positions. We loved our cameras, you know. This year, the weather was fine but it was too hot to handle. We surrendered and found ourselves craving for ice-cold colas. Most of the participant from last year still took time to join the fun this year.

If there were few familiar faces, lots were rookies to my naked eye. Or maybe they were veterans but I missed them last year.

Actually not only the dancers were new to me, but also other Filipino hobbyists who are currently staying in Japan. It was nice meeting each one of you and special thanks for the seat reservations, LOL! One of the surprises of the festival is this child (see photo below). Donned in samba costume, she danced like a professional and as if she was already grown-up. Not sure if it’s a bad thing or not. But definitely she has the talent.

And if there were from younger generations, the not-so-young ones were well-represented too. Hats off!

For more than 5 hours, we stayed under the sun and from time to time, we stretched our legs to check if we are still alive or totally numb. During these times, displays of colorful and sparkling costumes, from conservative to revealing ones were visual feasts. The hurried steps and the continuous dancing posed a challenge to each one us too, resulted to hundred of blurry shots.

The festivities seemed unending as it continuously blinded us with vibrant colors. The streets were carpets of rainbows.

Samba, like any other dances, is a poetry in motion. It doesn't need any words or syllables to convey its feelings and intent. The beat is its rhyme.

What a way to end the summer season! Too bad though that the current typhoon just took that distinction.

Am I looking forward for next year's celebration? It depends, if I am still here. Haha!

totomai
08/31/09

Cheers

2009-08-23T00:11:00.003+09:00

Our company is celebrating its silver anniversary. Despite the recession scare, our small company (total number of employees is around 70), managed and is still managing to survive, though there were instances that not-so-favorable-to-others decisions had to be made along the way.

After a month of planning, our company decided to push through this occasion, to celebrate its 25th year while exploring Tokyo via cruise. After all, we, its employees deserve a break and for the first time in history we went out of office 30 minutes before dismissal time. Haha!

Tokyo cruise is very popular in Japan especially during the summer season. For two hours, we feasted on the foods and drinks on board. Too bad though, cola was not served. The music played by three performers filled the airwaves. Found it surprising the moment they played Dahil Sa ‘Yo. Tokyo lights were a visual treat to the eyes. The scent of the bay was therapeutic too. I wanted to capture everything but wasn’t able to establish the proper settings of my new camera. For most of the time, I struggled while using Rica. Well, after all practice makes perfect.

allow wind’s embrace
dance to wave’s melody
a silver-bration*

It was a rare chance also for all employees to talk to each other without thinking about the deadlines, schedules, calculations and the likes. It was more of casual and free-spirited conversations. Event like this should be done frequently. This really helps in keeping our sanity intact.

Thanks to the management and organizers for this celebration Wishing all the best to the company for another 25 years or more.

Kan(m)pai!

/totomai
08/23/09

PS

*word playing with celebration and silver anniversary, thus the word, silver-bration.

Blueprint

2009-08-09T22:53:00.003+09:00

I just returned from South Korea, attended one of the many meetings scheduled until this project is completed. A price I have to pay for acknowledging this new position / responsibility. But I won’t be focusing on that but to the question raised by my manager before leaving Japan. Maru-chan, what is your life plan? It caught me by surprised and asked for some time to answer it. I thought he forgot about it, but on our way to hotel he once again raised the question. Professionally and personally, he added.

Do I have a blueprint of my life already? Do I have to make one?

I told him that I don’t know yet and that it’s difficult to plan ahead. He stressed that one should set his goal and must not depend on the flow of time. I got his point but what can I do, it looks like I will never be serious about planning about life ahead. That mentality would seriously create a big problem in the end, I thought.

One evening, I found myself walking along the busy streets of Seoul. Searching for a continuation of my adventure two months ago, but failed. Anyway, while taking a pause and trying to observe the passers-by, that question once again popped in my head. And this time, I tried to entertain it.

What’s in store for me? Are there any new adventures waiting for me? But the more I try to expand that question, the more I get drowned looking for answers. Will I be working as an engineer for most of my lifetime, or will I shift to photography for a living? If I will aim harder, how hard will it be if I fail?

uncertainty flows
ocean of questions awaits
two choices -- sink, float

This morning I woke up and saw my mobile phone beside me. I called my mother and talked to her about my life plan. She told me that I need not worry much as every question I have will be answered in its right time. She joked that maybe I am just pressured with my new workloads. Hearing her words left me reassured that I will be fine. But she added that I must be serious with my work and must know how to set my priorities. How I look forward to these conversations every Sunday. And I don’t mind the telephone bill, but my company does. Haha!

Still sane.

/totomai
08/09/09

Corazon

2009-08-05T00:22:00.006+09:00

A few hours from now, August 5, 2009, former Philippine President Corazon “Cory” Aquino will be laid to rest. She lost her battle against cancer last Saturday.

Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was the 11th President of the Philippines, serving from 1986 to 1992. She was the first female president of the Philippines and was Asia's first female president. More here.

I may not have followed her political career religiously but I can say that she is one of the most loved Presidents my country ever had. Recently, the outpouring support to the Aquino family as shown on media brings back memories to times of former senator and her husband Ninoy Aquino’s assassination and burial and EDSA 1 People Power revolution, the very moment where she became an icon of democracy. It was yellow all over then. It is a yellow Philippines once again.

Yes, yellow is Corazon Aquino’s color.

chased by grave spotlight
survived a mud-caked kingdom
unfading yellow

President Cory, thank you for being a mother to the Filipinos especially when we needed one during those hard times. Rest in peace now, Ninoy’s arms are patiently waiting for your arrival.

/totomai
08/05/09

Eager

2009-08-02T21:16:00.002+09:00

It’s August, just a month had passed the half-year, but it seems twelve months had gone by already. What’s left for the remaining 5 months? I don’t know, I can only wish for the better.

infinite paces
dyed strings pulled hesitantly
windows of chances

Last month, I accepted a job responsibility, way bigger than my current position. It was an offer I hesitated at first but if after reflecting and that I want a venue to further improve my professional career, it’s an opportunity. To this date, the pressure is continually increasing and this will never cease until April 2010, the project completion target date. In this regard, a monthly business trip to Korea is anticipated. If only I could find that umbrella owner during these trips, it will be doubly good.

I am also planning to take a much-needed vacation this October. First, I MUST since it’s my brother’s wedding and second, I will undergo a general check-up in order to find out the results of these frequent headaches. I underwent a medical examinations here already but I find it difficult to understand and the results and its difficult to express what I really feel. I am not fluent in Nihonggo and the doctors are not fluent in English. Go figure. During this vacation, I am looking forward also to witness our city’s Masskara Celebration, it’s a colorful event and a great photo opportunity.

Obviously, I won’t be granted a vacation anymore this December so I will be celebrating Christmas, my birthday, and New Year all by myself ---> AGAIN, for the nth time. Since staying in Thailand, I decided to have a birthday suit shot every year and this year I am planning to do it at Mt. Fuji for a change. It will be a chilling adventure, my 33rd birthday.

Whether all of this will happen or not, I will know the answers in five-month’s time. Happy thoughts until 2010.

/totomai
08/02/09

Hanabi

2009-07-26T23:19:00.004+09:00

If there’s a fireworks display, it means there’s a celebration, most obvious of them all is the New Year Celebration. Fireworks display never ceases to amaze spectators, and it is continually improving.

Back in the Philippines, welcoming New Year will never be complete without fireworks. I am not talking about ‘grand’ fireworks display but just simple ones, among them is the fountain. You can light it up on the road or street as the clock strike midnight. Perhaps, another entry is for firecrackers which are equally popular as fireworks too.

scent of vibrant smokes
explosion of man-made stars
childhood memories

If there’s a place of continuous fireworks display, I would like to stay there. It will keep me young and worry-free, a fantasy as you may say but it’s free to dream after all.

But in Japan, fireworks display signals the beginning of summer. To some, it’s means holiday. But to unfortunate ones like me, it’s still working time.

During the summer in Japan fireworks festivals are held nearly everyday someplace in the country, in total numbering more than 200 during the month of August. The festivals consist of large fireworks shows, the largest of which use between 100,000 and 120,000 rounds and can attract more than 800,000 spectators. More here

The photo above was taken last Saturday. We went to a friend’s house and positioned ourselves at the roof deck to have a better view of the colorful displays. Aside from visual feast, sea of food and drinks flooded the venue. It’s always good to meet old and new friends. It was my first time to take firework shots and I never thought that it can be very challenging. It will test your patience, your reflexes and yeah, did I just say patience? After scanning through the photos I’ve taken, I comforted myself and utter, there’s always next time.

Again, thanks everyone for this photo opportunity. And to all who gave photography tips on how to capture the radiance of fireworks, thank you very much. I hope I won’t forget it any time soon. I can now say that we are all certified photography addicts.

Just take lots of photos, and don’t delete them even if you find some of your pictures unsatisfying. Tomorrow is another day. Just give it a refreshed look.

/totomai
07/26/09

Summer

2009-07-19T22:12:00.004+09:00

There are no small or big plans. Each plan is equally important. I just came back from a beach outing organized and carefully planned by my friends here in Japan. A few weeks ago, I blogged how thankful I am to have friends brought by online forum communities. And our outing last weekend is a testament of this.

Its SUMMER officially in Japan. Not that it was announced or something but it was felt by everyone here and the best way to welcome is to embrace the warmth of the sun and wind at the beach. I am very sorry for haven't been participative enough during the planing stage but my good friends did a very good and well-detailed job to make sure that this will be a successful one. And it was. Thanks guys! (Specifics will be on my Filipino blog soon) By the way, this coincide also to the worldwide photowalk activity.

We went to Shimoda Beach, Izu, Shizuoka Perfecture Japan. The travel took three hours from Tokyo. I think its quite a popular summer destination here in Japan. We arrived there around 0930H and the weather attempted to spoil the party. I am not sure whether someone performed a rain dance ritual prompting the heavens to postpone its evil plans.

Anyway, the place is good considering Japan is never known for its beaches. There are artificial beaches here too. That would mean that Japanese are obsessed with beaches too even if they have to resort to man-made ones so its not fair to compare Japan beaches to that of Philippines' or Thailand's.

whispers of the waves
comforting stranded spirits
a powerful voice

That 2 days and 1 night adventure was more than enough to refresh us from all the stress we got from working 24 hrs a day. LOL! It was nice meeting all of you again. See you soon, and when i say 'soon' it doesn't mean another season.

/totomai
07/19/09

Three

2009-07-11T15:58:00.005+09:00

So, shoot me. One of my resolutions before was to avoid entertaining the idea of buying photography gadgets and accessories, I failed. I have four lenses now, an external flash, a prokit and others. And I think, there's more to come. Such an expensive yet stress-dissolving hobby.

Photography IS and WILL BE a part of my life. It will be a hobby that I won't forsake. Mark my words. Though there are times that I got bored, uninspired and uninterested, but after a while that passion within just come rushing out once again.

Camera

if only i could think
i will find an angle
you haven't tried

if only i could speak
i will scream at the subjects
to participate

if only i could feel
i will complain
for times you mishandled me

if only i could whisper
these words to you
my bestfriend

/totomai

This hobby, I must say started after I discovered Flickr, a site I only thought as a photo storage site. Sooner, I discovered that its more than that. I got addicted, hence, here I am needing a rehab to overcome this addiction. LOL! I am 3 yr-flickr old! I started with a humble Casio EX-Z40, and after her death, with Nikon D80. One thing is for sure, I won't be buying a new camera, unless its a gift. Haha!

For this post, I will be posting my Top 30 photos the past 3 years and after 1,245 uploads, based on favorites from other Flickr members and Flickr's interestingness ranking. After looking through my photostream earlier, it brought back lots of memories and made me realize how I progress in this field. I can't still see my future though, LOL!

1 Shoe

2 Deep

3 Fantasy

4 Shore

5 Beginning

6-30

These photos are very special to me and its an honor on my part to share each one of them to you. One of the reasons I continue sharing my photos is the fact that I was able to inspire one or two to try and explore the colorful world of photography. It's a feeling that cannot be quantified.

As I keep on repeating on my blogs, as long as I can see, I will try to capture everything and each opportunity that come my way. I'll keep on clicking!

Thanks to all my fellow photographers for inspiring me to experiment and go out of my comfort zone. I have lots to learn from each one of you!

More three years and photos to come. I hope. Again, Happy Flickr Birthday to me.

/totomai
07/11/09

Stranger

2009-07-06T22:05:00.002+09:00

I just signed my employment contract recently. An extension of one year, to be exact. It only means that I will be staying in Japan for another 365 days, unless unexpected twists will come my way. So for the meantime, congratulations to me. LOL! So I can finally say, I made the right decision of choosing Japan over Korea , a year ago.

Lots of things happened since the very first second I returned to Japan . Oops, just a warning, this is going to be a cheesy post. It might be. And since I am assured of another year here in Japan , I will not write about the ‘firsts’ I’ve done here the second time around. That would be on another post should I decide to leave Japan once again.

For the past year, Timog Forum, an online community of Filipinos in Japan played an important role in making my stay almost homesick-free. I’ve been a member of this community since 2005 but got active once again last year. Since its an online community, expect it to be filled with faceless strangers talking to you through the power of their keyboards. A cyber family relationship.

cluster of web friends
dealing with faceless strangers
online family

Yes, they be anonymous but they are bunch of respect-worthy netizens. I haven’t seen any of them since 2005 but I developed friendships from few of the members. Even when I left Japan then, we continued giving updates to one another. So when I returned, I decided to meet them. And slowly those faceless friends, are confirmed to real.

Aside from the oldies (my previous contacts since 2005, LOL!) , I was able to meet bunch of photography addicts through this site, one of the many reasons why I am so thankful to TF Forum. Despite making a promise to avoid establishing friendships again (due to employment contract period), I can’t help but to embrace the opportunity of having these friends in the Land of Rising Sun. I felt really blessed to have them. Lucky me! Our friendships are not limited to the clicks of camera nor model shoots. Its beyond that. It includes plurk and facebook. LOL!

Last year was a blast! And this year will be beyond belief!

Group hug, everyone!

/totomai
07/06/09

Gundam

2009-06-28T17:29:00.004+09:00

It was a long Saturday. Woke up not in my apartment, got a spaghetti and coke for breakfast, courtesy of my friends. A day like this made me feel that I am still normal. Normal in the sense that I am not that totally deprived of having a good breakfast. Living alone really has its disadvantage. One of them is cooking. But anyway, that's another story.

After breakfast, we went out to meet a group of friends for lunch. Its still a continuation of our friend's birthday. It was celebrated for almost two weeks. The group decided to have lunch at a Filipino Restaurant in Iidabashi, Tokyo, Japan. Glad that our stomachs were filled-up, we never expected what happened next. LOL!

We were treated for a death march around the city. We searched the store in a different location. But thanks to mobile navigation, we finally found the place after 30 minutes under the sun, drank 2-3 energy drinks and consumed packs of wet tissues. But it was fine to us since he was the oldest of the group. Respect the elder! Just kidding of course.

The group then headed to Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan to see the famous life-size Gundam RX-78. It will be opened to public by July or August but since they can't cover it, its almost equivalent to being opened to public already. Or maybe perhaps, there are other interesting features come those months. I guess it will be a good photo opportunity again.

If you look closely, it was well-made. The details from the structures to lights, are spot-on. An actual-real cinematic extravaganza, I say! I must wait for the day when it will be officially open to public. Lots of surprises for enthusiasts like me are likely going to happen. Fingers-crossed.

Gundam (ガンダム, Gandamu) is a metaseries of Japanese anime, featuring giant robots, or "mecha", created by Sunrise studios. The series started in April 1979 as a TV series called Mobile Suit Gundam, and later became a franchise name with more sequels, prequels, side stories and alternative timelines, published and aired in various media including TV anime, OVA, manga, novels, and video games. Gundam became a collective term for 7 different time lines, all featuring their own story-lines, with a few common denominators and war machines called Gundam. source

If you are into Japanese animation, this place is a must for you. The creators invested a lot of time and money to put this life-size robot into existence. One observation though, the crowd is 90% adult. The adults of younger hearts outnumbered the younger ones. It means that Gundam is really popular here in Japan. If only one can bring this home and have this as a toy. Haha!

With a roast turkey burger, its a wrap for all of us. It was a great time shooting with you guys. You all know who you are.

/totomai
06/27/09

Strands

2009-06-24T12:24:00.002+09:00

I am inviting everyone to visit my new blog site, Nalalabing Hibla (Remaining Strands). Of course, Distilling Thoughts will be here to stay.

Nalalabing Hibla entries are written in Filipino / Tagalog, and I want it to be funny (if I won’t fail on this department), candid, and more personal. It’s basically having the same format as Distilling Thoughts, one word title and one photo per entry. Don’t worry, I won't use the same photos for these two blogs.

I hope you will find some time to visit Nalalabing Hibla. Come and join me in my journey to life just before all of my hair strands are gone. Hope to see you there.

Isang hibla ang naliligtas sa bawat kuwentong nailalabas.

Any comments, suggestion for further improvement of Nalalabing Hibla, or to make it more interesting, is greatly appreciated.

/totomai
06/24/09