Someone's Back Home: With a Twang, With the Gang (And the Photoshoot After)

- April 13, 2013, Saturday.

- After three long years since migrating to the USA, my friend Katherine was finally able to visit us here in (extremely) sunny Philippines. She came back just this Monday, and I know how her jet lag and the sheer number of people wanting to meet her makes it difficult for her to meet everyone up.

- My neighbor Charmaine alerted many friends about a plan to meet up with Katherine today at Robinson's Magnolia. Without hestitating, I knew I had to meet Katherine, since I didn't know when else I will be able to see her.

- I went to RP Magnolia with Charmaine, Riezeryl, and Anabelle. We met Zachary at Starbucks, and soon settled in the Magnolia Ice Cream House, and waited for Katherine and her boyfriend Jourdan to arrive.

Food!!

- Katherine arrived all giggly and excited, and I "buried" myself in Zachary's arms, pretending to hide from Katherine. She did not know I was coming today, so I wanted to "surprise" her. Katherine liked Indian stuff like I did, and I wore something Indian today to make her happier (I hope it did.) True enough, Katherine did not need to see my face just to know who I was. Haha.

- Abigail came to meet us later in the afternoon, and friends Dianne, Dianne's sister Demiee, Vicson, and Bryce later came the latest.

I don't really know why we did this photo, but I'm glad I did. Haha.

- The most of the afternoon was spent literally walking around the mall after Zachary went ahead, and randomly playing tag (yes we played tag inside the mall.) We later settled at the Food Court, though we ate nothing, before the others decided to have dinner.

Together with Dianne and company.

- As for Charmaine, Riezeryl, Anabelle, Abigail, and I, we headed home despite wanting to spend more time with Katherine. We just justified by saying that we had our quality time with Katherine before Dianne and company came. At least dinnertime will be Dianne and company's quality time with Katherine and Jourdan.

- Anabelle and Abigail parted with Charmaine, Riezeryl and I at the train station. The three of us went to my place to do a very last-minute photoshoot for the Thai, Khmer/Cambodian, Lao, and Burmese new years. For those who know me well, it's been my some sort of trend for the past 3 years to have my photos taken during certain special celebrations/events, wearing the traditional outfits of the countries involved.

Experimenting with lighting.

Cambodian New Year (Chnam Thmey)

Riezeryl.

It became her photoshoot while it took me a long time to prepare for the next country.

Lao New Year (Songkan/Peemai)

Thai New Year (Songkran/Peemai)

Burmese New Year (Thingyan)

- Tonight's photoshoot was done more quickly and more easily, since I had prepared my costumes and accessories last night, in an attempt to photograph myself, to no avail. Well, at least having my photos taken today was more fun since I had two amazing neighbors to help me out.

My amazing photoshoot-crew-slash-neighbors

Japanese Photoshoot with my Lovely Neighbor

- March 2, 2012, Friday.

- After a tiring day at work, and a destressing afternoon-to-evening with some theater people, I decided to have an after-dinner photoshoot with my neighbor, since I needed to take better photos of me wearing my kimono, haori (jacket,) geta (sandals,) obi, and yukata.

- It was a deal between me and the vendor that I would send him pictures of me wearing the stuff I bought. I wanted this shoot to be done asap, so I won't have to worry about this in the future. Gladly, my awesome neighbor Charmaine was willing to help me out.

- Charmaine came here around 9, and helped me set up. She took pictures of me, and as a reward, I let her try out the yukata I bought. She was able to fit the geta the other day too.

- I loved the natural afternoon sunlight from last week's informal photoshoot, but the background with my cabinet or door didn't seem nice, so I decided to do this white-cloth-background photoshoot.

- We ended the photoshoot around 10pm, right after I neatly folded my Japanese costumes. I recently learned how to fold a yukata and a kimono properly. Haha. :D:D:D:D

Neighbor Love: Cultural Photoshoot "CNY" Style!!

- January 21, 2012, Saturday.

- The lunar new year will be on the 23rd (this Monday,) and I thought of having a photoshoot at home since my mom would be away for the evening. I asked my neighbor Charmaine and my former-neighbor Riezeryl if they'd like to help out with the photoshoot; I promised I'd serve them dinner if they did. Both of them agreed, and thought it would be an unusual but colorful way to hang out.

- I called both of them to come over after my mom left for the night, and set up my living room as a studio, again, while waiting for both of them to come. I was just about to finish setting up when they came. That ought to have given them some time to rest before the shoot. I also played some music c/o my iPod so we'd be in the mood for the photoshoot. I played various folk/world music to get into that cultural mood during the shoot, and played random modern music during breaks.

- Once set, I started the shoot with a makeshift ao-dai to look Vietnamese. The Vietnamese call the lunar new year "Tet." I held a yellow fan and a "lixi," which is the Vietnamese name for the Chinese "angpao," or "hongbao."

- The next two sets were for the Tibetan "Losar" and the Mongolian "Tsagaan Sar." Both cultures share almost the same practices when it comes to the lunar/ lunisolar new year. For both shots, I presented a hada/khada. A hada or khada is a type of scarf that Tibetans (adopted later by Mongolians,) give out for well wishes, or in welcoming special guests.

- Since I'd be having a major costume change before the next set, I asked both of them to join me for dinner. As promised, I served them dinner, and so we all shared a nice tray of dumplings. I would've served more food, but I was out this afternoon (see last post.) Since there were only three of us, the dumplings were enough for us.

- After dinner, we proceeded with the Chinese set. I pretty much wore what I wore yesterday, and presented a small round tray with golden goodies and decors, while holding a Chinese fan (the ones used for fan dances.)

- I soon changed my attire to my hanbok and magoja for the Korean "Seolnal" or "Seollal." Just before my shoot, I had a short intermission number, by trying to do a fan dance, since a traditional Korean song just played in my iPod. Haha. I presented a persimmon (to represent any round fruit,) which is usually given and eaten during the lunar new year. This is also the same for the Chinese and the Vietnamese.

- The photoshoot for the lunar new year was technically over, but I also decided to shoot my "Songkran" set while we were at it. "Songkran" is the Thai new year, and it will be celebrated in April, together with the Cambodian, Lao, Oriya, and Sri Lankan new years.

- After the Songkran set, I had fun with my friends by dressing them up with my costumes. I knew how Riezeryl had a growing interest in the colorful Thai culture, so I decided to dress her up as a Thai. Since she was already dressed up, complete with the golden mokot (crown,) I dressed Charmaine up as an Indian, with a violet cloth as a sari. Later on, I dressed Riezeryl up as a Korean. Since I had an extra magoja in my room, I wore that, so out outfits would match.

- All of us quickly cleaned up after the shoot. I can't believe how quickly I was able to stash my costumes back in my closet properly, while the other two removed the background cloths from the walls and folded them neatly. Just a jiffy after we finished packing up, my mom came home, unaware of the craziness we had during her dinner out. The three of us settled down a bit after packing up, and talked a bit, before the two left for home.

- I'd like to thank Charmaine and Riezeryl, again, for a wonderful cultural photoshoot. Happy lunar new year to everyone!!

The "Bonggels" Photoshoot: A Sweaty Day

- September 14, 2011, Wednesday.

- Today was once again a Wednesday, which meant the last day to bum before having yucky Thursday night classes once more (the class is only yucky because of the schedule.) I was supposed to go out with a friend today, though my friend had a sudden thesis consultation in the afternoon, which left me with no one to go out with. I soon found out that my friends Lennie and Renee would be having a photoshoot at Renee's house for their soon-to-open online clothing store. I asked if I could tag along, and luckily they told me I could come.

- I arrived at Renee's house after a long walk, holding 8 rolls of white cartonlina on one hand (Renee asked me to buy them,) and a large 7-Eleven Slurpee and donuts on another hand. I was perspiring a lot, and didn't hesitate to site down on the floor.

- I caught Renee and Lennie during the photoshoot. Lennie was the model, while Renee was working the camera. I was Renee's assistant, and was tasked to help Lennie with her poses after Renee told Lennie certain poses that she wanted. In the end, I just sat down and used Renee's laptop to check my Facebook, while upbeat music was playing (to energize Lennie's model-ish mood. Haha.)

- We finished the shoot around 4, and went back to Renee's room to chill and rest our tired bodies. I offered to have some pizza delivered, and played a game of Taboo while waiting. Taboo is a guessing game in which a person selects a card from a deck, all cards containing words. Each card contains one word to be guessed by the team members, and the player should blurt out words associated with the "mystery word." However, there are also 5 additional "forbidden" words written below the mystery word, all of which closely connected to the mystery word, and cannot be used by the player when giving out clues.

- The pizza soon arrived, and we quickly kept the Taboo cards, and ate. We also talked about random stuff while eating, and ended the day at around 6-ish in the evening.

- I hurried home, since I wanted to take a bath so badly, but I had a quick stop at McDonald's after seeing some friends there. At least McDonald's has air conditioning. Haha. I stayed there to have a short chat, and left for home once more. Right now, I have taken my bath, and I feel so clean and unsweaty. Yay for a fun day. :D:D:D:D