February Fever

So it's February already. Yippee.

I've been enjoying my new work so far. I have a really cool boss who actually discourages me to do overtime work - and lets me stay at the office just to hang out and enjoy the free wifi. I even get to play around with the office DSLR - an Olympus E520, with an external flash that I'm still learning how to use. And best of all - the office is just a few blocks from where I currently live.

And still, I find myself with little or no social life.

Ramblings of a Young Old-Timer

They say that reminiscence is a sign of old age. Now that I'm fast approaching the age of 30, I can't help but agree with it.

I still remember my childhood years - when the television set had knobs instead of buttons. Not that I watched it in monochrome; that was my older siblings' memories. Back then, the family computer is actually a game console. I fondly remember the day my dad brought home a Nintendo, and how we all got into it - except for my brother and mother.

2011: A Whole New Year, A Whole New Blog. Again?

Okay, I admit it: I've been procrastinating on writing. On purpose. Not that I didn't have any ideas lately. In fact, there were a lot of interesting topics I wanted to write about. Some I managed to jot down in my lil notebook, and others ruefully forgotten.

Fact is, I feel lazy. Or maybe, uninspired. Or specifically, unmotivated.

Why do I write? For my own satisfaction and self-gratification? For self-improvement or development? For self-discovery, introspection or mere self-expression?

In fact, I feel tempted to ask myself - is writing really my thing? I mean, I don't get to earn anything for it. The two novel ideas I started working on this year is currently on a hiatus, because I feel like I'm getting nowhere.

I even sometimes wonder if anybody really bothers to read my blogs.

Speaking of my blog, I thought of reviewing what I've been writing about for the past year and felt amused as I stumbled across one of the earliest blogs for 2010. It was a new year's resolution of some sort, intended to challenge myself. And so to evaluate myself:

Three Wise Gifts

I already received three Christmas gifts (a shirt I got from an exchange gift activity, a couple of timely GCs, and a foodie!) to this day, and I feel very thankful - not because I received something, but because what I received was some items I really needed.


Let's be frank: how often do we pressure ourselves looking for a way to give everyone we know something for Christmas - only to end up buying cheap stuff at Divisoria so that it will fit the budget (which translates as your entire Christmas bonus, or worse - your entire ATM balance)? I'm not against buying stuff at 168 Mall, which is now revered as a die-hard shopper's pilgrimage. What I realized - now that I'm back to the simple life below-average income living - was how easily and carelessly spent my money.


But don't be on the defensive! Giving is a laudable act; as they say, "it's the thought that counts," that's why there are no "empty" or "cheap" gifts as long as we put our heart into it.


Yet, have we?


What does it really mean to put your heart in your gift?


It makes me wonder - would it be better to give generic gifts, as long as everyone you know receives something from you? Or wouldn't it be more excellent to see the need, seek God's heart on it, and whole-heartedly give - even if that means bringing a smile to only one person this Christmas?


What really is a gift?


To the persons who gave me my three wise gifts, I thank you with all of my heart. Especially for the banana cake - my tummy thanks you as well.


An advanced merry Christmas to all!

Being Out of the Box: Me & Creativity

Box design by Iris Blanche Plopenio

[The article below is the transcript of my short talk on December 3 during our WINchetto event by the Single Adults Ministry of WINmakati.] 

There are two obstacles for a graphic artist like me. First, there’s the limit of my imagination. And second, there’s the limit of design – everything has to have a purpose. And I can’t help but feel like my brain is inside a box. How creative can I be with only one little box?

The Bernardo Carpio Complex

I sometimes wondered if given the right circumstances during my high school life, I could have chosen the field of psychology for my college degree. I always enjoyed observing people, spending time to understand them, draw out my own hypotheses and analysis, and make lessons from all these.

One particular observation is what I personally would love to call 'The Bernardo Carpio Complex'.

Source: http://komiklopedia.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/mga-alamat-ng-pilipinas/philippinelegends1

A Second Voice

I just got back from the PCEC NYC 1st Philippine Youth Ministries Congress, and I would say that even though I attended it as a staff, I went home refreshed and recharged for ministry. And of course, to start a new blog, thanks to Sir Mighty Rasing.