to start off 2010, i had the opportunity to visit my ethnic roots, the Philippines. The family, the culture, the FOOD!… no words can express the enjoyment i had for the brief time was there. I can also say that this trip has even strengthened my aspirations to become a physician… but ill elaborate more on that in a later time.

I will be displaying a series of blogs dedicated to my travels to a diverse and marvelous country undermined by what is displayed by television media and its true essence covered up by travelling brochures… the Philippines in its natural state… or at least in the Cebu region.

…stay tuned!

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Before my trip to the Philippines, an acquaintance of mine, Grace had an interest in photography. So, she requested that I would give her a small lesson on it. Given that this outing was more a learning experience, I decided to do some work on a new style of editing. The area we shot at was in Ybor City, which has a strong historical background in itself. Because of the historical aura of Ybor, giving my photos an antique/sepia look would seem proper.

While we were walking around, we kept running into these old pianos around the street.

Just keep on shooting.

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Tis a New Year, meaning new things, new adventures, including a new business card. It’s a little shy, but once you get to know what it entails, then it’ll become a wonderful asset to you!

It looks sexier in person anyways.

I’ll admit I will not be able to blog as much as I want to due to my other endeavors (medical school mostly). But stay tuned for some photographic shoots of 2010 and a new site layout… as soon as I figure out this darn code.

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I normally don’t vent like this, but wow…. a lot has happened!!!!

After much thought and reminiscing, 2009 perhaps was the most eventful year of the 22 years I have been alive. Even the word “eventful” is a major understatement on all the things I have been put through and experienced in this particular year.

… Starting up photography again… graduating @ USF in 4 years with a chemistry degree… finding work after graduation… becoming alumni of a fraternity after leaving your legacy… realizing what real life is like, despite being in transition from undergrad to medical school… seeing the true sides of people (ugly and beautiful)… life and relationships… realizing how patience is a virtue…. I honestly can keep going on how 2009 really molded me to the person I am today. I don’t know whether or not the person I am now turned out to be positive, or have become cold and bitter.

I end 2009 by going back to the Philippines (my ethnic roots) to visit family and relatives… but mainly to reminisce and absorb the events of 2009 and think about what is ahead of me in 2010.

… Life throws curveballs at you, I didn’t realize life threw that many in such a short time…

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The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) had a charity event to raise funds for their organization. A friend of mine invited me to this event (thanks Michelle). Its the usual filipino event, food, drinks, and dancing…. too much talking though…

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for all you photo enthuasists out there: personally, i am not much of a high iso shooter. regardless of the lighting, I only go up to ISO 400 because i want the crisp shoots without all the noise. but you can only push aperature and shutter speed so much. so i decided to do some experiments with ISO to see if it fits my taste… even if the environment was literally pitch black for a photographer.

i spent my saturday night with a friend to go to kassie’s b-day dinner. it was a very relaxing/chill time meeting new people and having nice convesation. i also met someone who got into the medical school i want to go to so she gave me nice words of advice and encouragement.

… good times

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A couple of fraternity brothers and I pulled together a weekend in Orlando primarily to attend Halloween Horror Nights (which I was very impressed with this year), but added a couple of other things to make it more enjoyable. We got hooked up with a deal with a room on the 7th floor of the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. This hotel was by far the best resort I have ever stayed in (and I’ve been in resorts in Costa Rica and the Philippines). The hotel had a Floridian theme in which there were 3 areas that resembled locations in Florida. The first is the everglades, the second was Key West where we attended a Bacardi Rum tasting event (SWEET!!), and the third was St. Augustine (where we had our hotel room in). The thing that caught my eye was the 3 jacuzzis that operated 24/7. Just imagine being in the warm cuzzi with your favorite drink with 55-degree wind-chill good times. I also met a few people just mingling around, including a group of ladies enjoying a bachelorette party weekend.

We also went to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, which I will elaborate, on more in a different bog. Enjoy the pictures from the hotel and food and wine festival décor.

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