journal – GUREZU

Weekly Journal: Flightless Bird and Endless Raining

Published on July 22, 2018July 30, 2018 by Gurezu2 Comments

This entry covers July 18-July 22, 2018.

July 18, 2018 Wednesday

Huh? It’s Wednesday already? What happened to Monday and Tuesday? Haha! The passing time is really getting on my nerves!!!

I actually know what happened last two days. I woke up, get to work, go home and chat with my friends about the Chiong Murder Case. Tuesday was the same. The documentary “Give Up Tomorrow” really hit the sensibilities of the people in social media. I know there are a lot of things going on in our country: extra-judicial killings per se but I guess, people now realize that weight of being wrongly convicted. In the case of Paco, its already 21 years and its still counting. Who won’t be afraid. ? Having talked with people who believe he is innocent and guilty, having read the commentaries and Supreme Court files, I think I am ready to release my own verdict soon.

Here’s the documentary aka horror story. Try watching it and ask yourself. Is Paco really innocent? Does he deserve death penalty?

But for the mean time, what happened today was this

1. I WAS NOT FEELING WELL and I stayed in the dorm all day. I edited my pictures from Luljetta Hanging Gardens and my album in our Levitation Photography Session. This is the result of my edit for today.

Obviously, levitation photography is a technique that will make the subject look he’s floating on air. Our model in this picture was an officemate. He’s our videographer actually but can pass as a model as you can see! Haha! This photoshoot was done last month. Talk about procrastination! Ahahaha!

July 19, 2018, Thursday

Woah! It’s Thursday already? Seriously are you kidding me?

Nothing much has happened today. As usual I went to work. It was raining all day. We can see outside through the glass walls and damn there was 0 visibility. I was supposed to attend a photography seminar and yet again, I would not dare to deal the Edsa traffic because of the rain. And besides I got an issue to solve.

Yesterday I was absent right? Now my office mates are jokingly asking me what happened to my “job interview” yesterday. I told them I really did not feel well and I stayed in my room. So they concluded that I just had a Skype interview then hahah! They don’t really believe me haha!

My friends and I did not talk about Paco anymore. Yesterday we discussed that we should move on already. Whether or not the allegations are true, nothing will happen if the case would not be re-opened. Major tv station seems not to mind the chaos happening in social media. They used to catch the latest thing but they seem eerily silent about it. Hmmm.. Meanwhile the reviews for “Jacqueline Comes Home” finally arrived and all of them are saying its a trash movie. That it did not portray even the Chiong side accurately. But well, movie is really like that right?

I went home, ate my dinner then open my laptop to continue my levitation photography editing. I’ll be sharing the full set soon in another post. For now, I’ll be sharing a silhouette photo that I also took during the same session. I edited this in Adobe Lightroom using Rufosque preset.

It’s 2 am already. I’m still awake and awfully hungry. I’ll grab something to eat then hit the sack! I predict I’ll be having a hard time waking up tomorrow and regret that I did not sleep early. Hahahahah!

July 20, 2018 Friday

1. WOKE UP LATE. REGRETED SLEEPING LATE.

2.WORK

3.RAIN. FLOOD.

4. MATCHA GREEN TEA FRAPPE

5. EAT. GO HOME.

6. IT’S LATE AGAIN. 1:11 am. But the great thing is its Saturday tomorrow. I wonder how long my sleep for tonight.

July 21, 2018 Saturday

As expected, I woke up at around 1pm. This is way past breakfast and even late for lunch. But I deserve all this sleep. I don’t feel guilty. But still, I could warp my body clock a bit. Nothing beats waking up early and getting lot of shits done before lunch.

Suppose to be, today I have a reunion outing to attend. But because of the weather and bad flood, it was cancelled. Good thing because this weather is making me feeling lazy for adventures.

I decided to take the first meal of the day in a nearby cafe’.

I have paid the bill when a mysterious song began. I can’t grasp the lyrics but the melody is so sweet and romantic. I pictured myself suddenly in a middle of a night, slow-dancing with a tall man. It was not sark becausethe night was clear and there are fireflies flying and dancing around us. I must find that song!

I was about to record some bits of the song for later research when it faded away and replaced by a Katy Perry song. I approached the staff of the cafe’ and ask what was the song. He said he did not notice or aware what the song was before katy pery. And also the pkaylist was shuffled in spotify. We looked at rhe playlist so we could figured it out. I even hummed the tune to narrow down the choices. We played two songs before the mystery was sokved! I took a photo of the screen to take a note of the title. It was Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine. Hmm the title sounds interesting

I bid goodbye to that helpful staff.

After that I packed my things and booked a trip to Glorietta mall. I need to do some errands related to ny finance then have to do some shopping.

I am lucky that viral pianist grandpa was here at the mall.

I saw him in Facebook already because some appreciative audience uploaded his video and it went viral. Lolo is like a casual mall visitor. It happens that there is a piano display which is free for anyone to play with and he decided to take the sit. After that, he visits here more often. Lolo is not only good but full of energy in his performances. One could not help but sing. He’s so approachable and even accepts requests. Now, he enjoys playing this piano regularly and everyone can now support him by giving money in his small “Marks and Spencer” bag beside the piano. I won’t mind because he gives performances nothing short of spectacular.

Of course I can’t let this moment pass by without my own recording of this Amazing Granpa…and some of my singing too with bits of “yehey” and “wow”.

Can’t Help Falling In Love

Quando, Quando, Quando

I think I finished three songs before I moved on. I have to buy new bb cream, lipstick and some toiletries. I also in the mood for new clothes. I alot monthly budget for that.

This me in the fitting room with the blazer I ended up not buying.

I finished my shopping with a small time hang-out in Starbucks. It was not in my plan but the the rain was heavy and my mobile phone battery was almost drained. I charged it in Starbucks while I drink another cup of hot coffee. After that I booked a ride back to my original home.

My sister and mother were having dinner when I arrived. My sister immediately ransacked my shopping paper bag . They teased me because I bought new lipstick again!!! My sister opened it and applied the lippie immediately. She liked it.

While upstairs, my sister and I talked about random funny things we saw in the internet. I opened my laptop and researched about that mysterious song that captivated me today. I also made my sister listen to it. To my surprise, the song lyrics looks like it is not a love song at all. The lyrics doesn’t even make sense if you don’t spend time thinking deeper about it. It’s deep. One can have its own interpretation. Where it is a love song or not, it’s up to you.

Here’ s a lyric video. Another trivia, its part of the OST of Twilight movie series. I’m not a fan that’s why I don’t know.

I got an interesting interpretation of this song from songmeanings.com

IMO, there are dual, yet similar, themes running through this song: (1) an individual’s loss of innocence/idealism; and (2) the degradation/dissolution of the mythical “American” dream.

The first verse sets our protagonist as an innocent child (quick, wet, diving too deep) – newly born, baptized, full of energy/enthusiasm, carefree. We get a glimpse of what’s to come through the “blind” eyes of the adult world whom the child can already see seem focused on material things (“plastic toys”). The “cops” (his own adulthood) crash the party and he’s forced to grow up and give up his pure youthful enjoyment of life (cut his baby hair). Thus, he begins his quest to find his meaning/life in this adult American landscape. For me, it also brings to mind the end of the idealism of the peace/protest movement of the late 60’s…the system crushes the uprising…the hippies cut their hair…and wander off…going on to what?

Well, the second verse tells us exactly where our protagonist’s journey has landed him…a big fat safe spot with the adults of his youth. He’s achieved the “American Dream”, or has he? Now all talk and no action. He curses himself and the wrong/injustice he sees around him, yet he idly sits and watches these “poison rats” (the establishment, big business, corrupt government) slither by and destroy his ideal world. He bides his time in his magazines, finding pleasure in viewing some advertisement of folks fishing in some idyllic river. He is not out there himself, but even if he was, he would be merely pillaging/ruining/sacrificing a place of nature (“blood of christ mountain stream”).

It’s a really depressing song, but it’s certainly beautiful.

How about you? What could you interpret with this song? I would really love to know!

July 22, 2018. Sunday

I got a lot of things to say today. I think today was productive. But damn I was not able to sleep properly last night. I think I’m not used to sleeping in my original home anymore. I went back early to my dormitory because I badly needed sleep. It’s 9:54pm now as I write this. I want to write more but my body needed rest. By the way, I have done some editing and uploaded it in Facebook. Here are they.

I also did a capsule review of Marugame Noodles. I decided not to write a separate wordpress blog post for the mean time because my mobile photography was not so good. I did not do justice to a great-tasting food.

https://web.facebook.com/Gurezu/posts/1037039793115816

And I haven’t shared my the full output of my Levitation Photography edits. Here it is, uploaded since yesterday. I’ll be writing a separate blog post of my editing photography and editing process for this. Check it out soon! And please follow my Facebook page Gurezu Blog too!

That’s all for now. I’ll be sleeping before 10 pm for the first time in many moons. Is this the start of a new life from being night owl to morning person? Let’s see!!!

Bye for now Lovelies!!!

Gurezu 😉

Weekly Journal : Shutter Drag and Conspiracies

Published on July 17, 2018July 30, 2018 by Gurezu9 Comments

I decided to start journaling again because I think I am losing the ability to write. So every day I’ll add bits and bits here in my draft. Hope I can do this consistently.

July 10, 2018. Tuesday.

The meeting with foreigners at work that caused me a bit of anxiety and panic since last week was finally finished earlier. It went great! As usual, when I’m nervous, I covered it up with being talkative and cheerful. It works for me. It works also with past job interviews. I guess its not a downside after all.

Earlier, someone from the past reached out to me in social media. Being associated with that person was one of the lowest point of my life. But I’m glad it did not do much chaos in my life because I still had sense of righteousness back then. But I didn’t regret what happened. I just won’t want to waste my time and emotional energy again now I am in much better place. So I eventually ignored him. That’s the only right thing to do.

I think that’s all for today. I’m going to write about my friend’s short film about “Ang Byahe ni Marlon”. I am so ecstatic for my friend because the film won the best film in the recent “Istorya ng Pag-asa film festival”. Anyway I’ll reserve other info in other blog. Nightie!

June 11, 2018. Wednesday.

This is indeed a busy day at work. Gah!

There is a funny thing that was discussed at work. I told you yesterday that I met some of the foreigner colleagues from the another team I work with for the first time. Earlier we had a meeting again and this time, I met other Filipino members of their team. The foreigners were surprised to know that that was the first time I met the members who are just working at the same building, just few floors away from me. I’ve been talking with them thru skype almost everyday. We work very near with each other and yet, the first people I met personally from their team were the one’s who came from abroad ahahah. Isn’t that ironic?

Anyway after work, we had a photoshoot practice again with my manager. We are trying how to do the shutter drag effect. . It was really tiring but we did learn something on how to set up the lights to achieve it. By the way, since this is still a practice , we didn’t invite a model yet. I am the model for this practice shoot. I was not prepared. Haha .

Anyway I haven’t had a copy of the photos since we need to go home and we were hungry. I will get it tomorrow and post it here. So excited!

July 12, 2018. Thursday.

Busy day today. I was supposed to attend a stocks investment seminar but I was caught up with tasks at work. Anyway my friend finally released some pics from last nights photoshoot. But for the meantime, these are behind the scene photos.

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July 13, 2018, Friday

Gosh. Before I slept last night, I watched a documentary…and I ended up sleeping at 2am. It is entitled “Give up Tomorrow” . This is about a sensationalized case way back 1997 wherein Paco , a half Filipino, half-Spanish was misjudged and misconvicted as the documentary claimed. I got hooked and shocked. It showed how fucked up the judicial system here in the Philippines.When I woke up the next morning, it was the first thing I thought. Paco, by the way, is still serving in Spanish prison. He’s working as a chef at daytime but still sleeps in prison at night.

To tell you the truth, I am convinced that Paco is innocent. The docu is obviously in favor of Paco. But it includes real-life interviews of the judge, the police, the accuse and the witnesses so it was really hard not not be carried away and be suspicious that there was indeed conspiracy! Not only but a lot of people in social media are now expressing their feelings about this documentary.

But I’ll make it a point that I’ll hear other side because that would be unfair. But let’s leave that for now. My friend finally released my shutter drag photos! Yehey!

Photos by Mary Ann Guinto

Photo below: Gerard Dangca

Full album:

https://web.facebook.com/meannguinto/posts/10214268606660697

July 14, 2018. Saturday.

What transpired for today.

I attended Social Media Mastermind Seminar. I arrived one-hour late actually. What I learned? Hmm.. Well my main takeaway was this generation is now more on “stories”. And this generation prefers videos among others. People are more convinced if the presenter is moving and has good stories to tell

I ate at Marugame Udon finally at Glorietta. This Japanese restaurant always have long waiting line. It discourages me every time. But today, I realized I am not that hungry and I have energy to wait. Well, it turns out that even if there indeed long line, they serve really fast. And yes its delicious. What more? It’s not that expensive compared to another Japanese favorite food ramen. I’ll be writing a separate blog about it.

3. The debate about Paco’s innocence are flaring up everywhere in social media. More and more people are watching the documentary Give-Up Tomorrow. This documentary is like watching a horror movie, only it happens or is still happening in real life

July 15, 2018. Sunday

Hiighlight of my day would be I was able to attend church at the “The Feast” with my sister. I was actually feeling lazy because of the rain. And I am so engrossed with reading the commentaries about the Chiong Murder Case. That one really hyped me. I could not deny it. There are more theories spreading. Now it involves drug syndicate and corruption. But anyway I’m happy that I still went to “The Feast” in spite of me being lazy. It really encouraged me that I am not alone this time. The talk for today was about dealing with depression which is very timely right? And I’m happy that the Feast understands that depression is a disease rather than just mere sadness.

Just like what JC Libiran said, when you have cold or cough for 2 to 3 days, it is still not serious. But it went on for weeks or months there must be something wrong! You need to consult a doctor. The same with depression. To feel sad and hopeless is normal, but if it went on for weeks or months , you don’t ignore it. You have to seek help too. I also like that they advised not to say “Kulang ka sa faith. Have faith in God” While this is a sincere advise, it won’t help a clinically depressed person that much. Depression is a medical condition and it needs medical consultation.

If you are not familiar with “The Faeast”, it is a catholic gathering every Sunday. A session comprises of a Mass then worship then a practical talk. I’ll probably write more about it in the future.

Journal: Hello Second Half of the Year!

Published on July 9, 2018July 9, 2018 by Gurezu17 Comments

July 1, 2018

Linggo.

Filipino mode muna tayo. or Tanglish. I want to be my journal as raw as possible. Na-miss ko na maging diarist. Iyong araw-araw na nagsusulat talaga sa diary. Na-miss ko maging spontaneous sa pagsusulat. Iyong hindi ako nag-eedit masyado sa mga sasabihin ko. Ganun. Kaya ito, mag da diary ulit ako. I plan to publish my diary/journal once every week.

So Sunday ngayon. Simula ng buwan ng July. It’s official. Tapos na ang kalahati ng taon. Kumusta na kaya? Dinadalaw na naman ako ng anxieties ko. Bakit ba kasi ang bilis ng oras? Nakakapikon na e. haha!

Anyway nakatoka ako mag-serve as photographer sa The Feast ngayon, the happiest place on earth. Catholic Mass gathering ito. Karamihan ng mga tao pinagkakamalan itong Born-Again Christian Church dahil sa paraan ng pag-worhip. Iyong maingay, masigla, parang may concert lagi. Nakatoka ako sa 3:45 PM session. As usual, kukunan ko si Father, Si Bro. Alvin pero ang pinaka-favorite kong kunan ay mga taong buong puso nagwo-worship na tulad nito.

Saka iyong mga lovers na magkasamang nakikinig sa salita ng Diyos. Hawak kamay na nag pe-praise and worship. #RelationshipGoals ko ‘yan e.

Higit sa lahat, gusto ko iyong mga tumatawa. Sniper ako lalo na kapag nagjo-joke na si Bro. Alvin Barcelona. Kailangan alerto ako sa mga stolen shots ng mga tumatawa.

Ang topic namin sa The Feast ngayon ay News Feed: How to Really Connect. E di ba, ang mga tao ngayon slave na ng social media. Connected na halos lahat sa virtual world pero sa personal, super disconnected na. Baligtad di ba? Sapul sa akin ito e.

Ang gist ng talk e. Social Media is NOT EVIL. It is how we use it. It’s okay to use Social Media as long as we don’t sacrifice the things that is already there. Like relationships. Kung tutuusin daw, ganiyan din nangyari nung nauso ang T.V. People demonized it but at the end, its still up to us. Papa-alipin ka ba?

Pagkatapos kong mag-serve sa The Feast sa PICC, dumaan ako sa Harbor Square. Nagugutom ako. Kailangan ko bumili ng pagkain para itake-out dahil pipila ako para manood sa Virgin Labfest sa Cultural Center of the Philippines. Ito lang ata ang stage performance na afford ko e. Hindi ko kayang manood ng mga broadway. Namamahalan ako e. Ito P400.00 lang, 3 nag-gandahang play na. Since napadaan na ako, hindi ko na maiwasang kumuha ng litrato. Sunset na kasi at ang ganda ng langit. Matitiis ko ba e hawak ko na ang kamera?

Itong Harbor Square, favorite tambayan ito ng mga photographer na nagpa-praktis ng long exposure. Pumunta ka rito ng Linggo, hindi mawawala mga ganitong eksena, photographer na may dalang tri-pod.

Bumili ako ng paborito kong Yello Cab MyMix. Iisa lang lagi combination ko. Charlie Chan + Hotchixx + kahit anong pizza. Constant iyong unang dalawa. Inubos ko iyan habang nasa pila ako ng CCP Box Office. Kasehodang nakaupo ako sa sahig! Chance tickets lang ito. So may chance na wala. Uuwi akong luhaan. Nangyari na sa akin iyon sa mga nagdaang Virgin Labfest.

Pero sinuwerte ako 😉

Ito na ang masasabi ko sa aking mga pinanood. Presenting, my capsule reviews!

A. Labor Room: Kwento ng mga babaing nag le-labor, nakunan at overuse nurse and doctor. Nakakatawa ang atake nito pero sinasalamin nito ang kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ng mga hospital ngayon. Napasaya ako at the same time, natakot na ako manganak sa Pilipinas. Bigyan ko ito ng ★★★★

B. Tulad ng Dati: Nakalaya na si Kuya at nagre-union na sila ng kapatid. Hindi ko siya feel noong una. Parang ang awkward ng usapan nila at paligoy-ligoy. Iyon pala may dahilan kung bakit ang awkward nila. Although hindi ako nagulat sa twist, nakakaloka pa rin ang ending. Isa na lang masasabi ko, fearless!
Bigyan ko to ng ★★★.

C. Ensayo. Kailangan magpraktis ng dalawang senior citizens para sa kanilang performance. Kaso may kissing scene ang script. Ito ang pinaka-light sa tatlong plays. And batikan ang mga aktor. Si Bembol Roco lang naman ang isa sa kanila. Napaka-cute at nakakatawa ng play na ito. Ito yung play na magtuturo sayo na kahit matanda ka na, pwede ka pa kiligin ulit at lumandi! Bigyan ko to ng ★★★★

Ang highlight ko sa mga napanood ko ay nakakita na naman ako ng dalawang aktor na naghahalikan. Kasama iyon sa storya talaga. No hold barred ang mga shows dito. One time nga, about sa panahon ng Hapon ang play, talagang hubo’t hubad ang isang aktor. Buong play! Talagang magaganda ang mga istorya ng mga play dahil piling-pili ang mga script at napapanahon. Alam niyo ba, dalawang beses na ako nagpasa ng script para sa festival na ito. Kaso hindi napili e. Hindi ko na alam kung kailan na ulit ako makakapagpasa. Isa ito sa frustration ng buhay ko. Ang saya lang kasi, kapag napili ang script mo, magkakaroon siya ng direktor at mga aktor na magbibigay buhay sa kuwento mo. Astig di ba? Iiyak ako kapag nangyari ito. May mga napipili rin kasing script dito na nagta -trabaho halimbawa sa IT industry. At mahilig lang din talaga magsulat. Hay, kailan kaya ako papalarin?

Pero hindi lahat ng storya dito, sobrang malalalim at FEARLESS. Meron din pa-cute lang. Iyong patatawanin ka ng sobra. Katulad nung play ni Bembol Roco gaya nga ng naikwento ko sa review. Yes! Bembol Roco lang naman, one of the finest actors sa bansa. Pangalawang beses ko na siyang napanood dito ng live. At grabe, magaling talaga siya. Napatawa niya ako ng bongga.

Nahiya ako magpapicture hehe.

Medyo malungkot lang ako kasi kadalasan kasama ko bff ko na si Mitchi saka si Santi sa panonood ng mga ganito. Kaso nasa ibang bansa si Mitchi. Si Santi naman e hindi puwedeng bumiyahe dahil maselan ang kaniyang kalagayan ngayon. Gayunpaman, sanay naman ako mag-isa hahaha! Mejo nag mukmok lang ako ng 5 minutes.

Ayun, pagkatapos umuwi na ako ng bahay. Grabe 11:00 PM na ako nakauwi. Nag-empake na ako ng gamit kasi ba-byahe pa ako sa dormitory. Lunes na naman kasi bukas. Grabe pagod ko. Dala ko kasi laptop ko saka camera buong araw. Pagkauwi, bagsak na ako sa kama.

Bye world!

Ayun, balak ko sana from July 1-7 ang post na ito kaso ang haba na pala. HIndi ko na alam gosh! Ang sarap magsulat ng ganito, chill lang. Walang paki sa sentence construction. Till next journal entry blog!!!

PS: Hanggang July 15 ang Virgin Labfest sa CCP! Nood na! FOr schedules and guides, check niyo itong link na ito mga beshies.

Another PS! If you want to attend “The Feast”, reach out to me. Promise masaya talaga doon. 😉