- Aug 2, 2017
"History repeats itself history repeats history
an empty word we forget so easy
to say we’re fighting for something worth
nothing does"
Hannah Keziah Agustin
A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of making an illustration for one of The Polaris Project‘s Burn Book poems, for their Stay Furious slam poetry event. Stay Furious is an event happening on August 19 in Venture Space, Mandaluyong, PH. The Burn Book will be an accompanying booklet of compiled poems and artworks by young Filipinos addressing the ugly truth happening in our country today, and the anger in the desperation of liberty from it.
This certain poem by Hannah Keziah Agustin really caught my attention and actually had me thinking about it for days. I feel like the poem speaks from an eye who’s viewing the picture on a much wider perspective. It has the voice of someone who believes in the power of action to create change, but also of someone who’s been able to stop and reflect on the events that seems to be tied to a loop. Can we really say that we are fighting for something, when something just keeps happening over and over no matter how hard we fight for it to change? On the other hand, what is life if you have nothing to fight and live for?
- Jun 28, 2017
But since 2016 really sucked the heck out of everyone, my sister and I vowed we’d make the most of 2017. And we managed to push mom and dad to book a 3-day vacation in Boracay (something I want to consider an achievement).
We got there around noon, so the first thing we did was eat lunch hahaha–but right after, we went straight to the beach (because duh!).
We stayed at Astoria Boracay along Station 1, where I heard has finer and softer sands than stations 2 and 3. True enough, it does! It was like flour, tbh. The last time I was in Boracay was more than a decade ago, so it was almost kind of my first time as well. And the sunset did. not. disappoint.
So basically everything was good and well the first day. The water was perfect, the sand was perfect, the sunset was divine, and I couldn’t wait to enjoy them the whole day the next day. But I’ve never been exactly “lucky” with vacations–there’s always something happening, TRUST ME. And for this trip, it was 1) the films I ordered did not arrive on time for the trip so I had to use my DSLR instead, which turned out to be a blessing for the next mishap: 2) Mother Nature dropped the monthly red bomb on me. ZZZZZ
So I just took videos and photos around while they enjoyed the beach. 🙃🙃🙃 (but hey, at least I got some shots here and there and that’s a fair win to me either way!)
(ya ok, liar)
I mean, OBVIOUSLY I’ve been taking portrait photos again, but whatevs, I couldn’t go further off the shore. (huhuhuhuhu) And I’m gonna admit there was a little bitterness that my mom was actually rocking her low-back one piece (yaaaass mom!!), and I was by the shore wearing shorts and reading crime fiction.
- May 31, 2017
I haven’t had the chance to write about this for the past couple of months because finals season, but here is another long-overdue update.
Last April 19 was #aDAA17 (Adobo Design Awards Asia), where the best designers in the region are gathered to compete and be judged by a jury composed of some of the world’s best designers. A.K.A., the competition I wouldn’t even dare myself to join because I am but a humble lil peasant who is not worthy lol. But some of my professors came up to me and asked me if they can enter my brand identity project on behalf of the school. I said yes because I figured “lol as if it can qualify to get in– good luck losers” (just kidding, I luv u Ms. Niña!). So when I heard my work qualified as a FINALIST, I already felt like a winner!
Even if I think I may never be able to properly process the whole thing because it’s Adobo!!! The leading creative publishing company in the Philippines!!!! And the competition was not just for the Philippines, but ASIA ??¿?!!!¿!
This will forever have a huge impact in my life. Because years ago, a couple of bullies told me that an introverted loser like me will never get anything in life.
And to think I almost believed them.
PS. I just want to thank a couple of people— my family and friends, who always believed in me (especially my best friend who never fails to hype me up lol), and Ms. Niña Herman, who has taught me so much!