Joy Isaguirre | Musings of a Blog Convert

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho is one of GMA-7’s top rating primetime News and Public Affairs programs.  It is hosted by none other than the country’s trusted broadcast journalist, Ms. Jessica Soho.

The group i’m currently connected with, Eksena Manila, met with the production staff of the said show, at two separate dates, to work on a segment which will be aired on July 19, 2008.  One of the elements of the segment is Eksena Manila, singing together inside the MRT. 

Behind the Scenes

Armed with a trusty cam, together with the show’s segment producer, researcher, cameramen, and fellow agents of Eksena Manila, we spent Saturday afternoon shooting in different locations.  It was a field day for me, taking videos and snaps inside the train and MRT stations.  Normally, taking photos and videos inside the MRT premises are strictly prohibited.  So you could just imagine the smile plastered across my face while taking snapshots and videos of (almost) everything.  Awesomeness!

On rainy Wednesday, we met with the Jessica Soho team again and did some shoots at Manila City Hall.  The afternoon shoot that was supposed to take an hour or so, dragged on for several hours.  By the time we’re done, i was totally drained and was not feeling well.

Despite the rain and massive headache during the last day of shoot, the whole thing was a great learning experience for me.  It gave me the opportunity to have a look at a normal production process.  This made me realize that am not really cut out for showbusiness! Hehe. Now i’m really thankful i didn’t take that job offer a couple of months back, as Assistant to the CEO of a network. Teehee!

On a more personal note

I made the decision not to go on cam and simply work behind the scenes.  If i show my face on national tv, it will defeat my purpose and duty as EM’s resident videographer.  It is best that i remain under the radar.  Enough said, i will no longer take any questions from this point. Hehe.

About Eksena Manila

Our group aims to break the monotony of people’s routine by conducting activities that would make people smile and that they would not normally see everyday.  To find out more about our group, kindly visit our website.

[jessica soho image credit: GMA7]

It’s third week of July, but i already have schedules to keep as far as December.  Lately, requests/invitations to youth events, fellowships, meetings, music events, blog events have all piled up.  Not wanting to chew more than i could swallow, i’ve made the decision to weigh everything based on their level of importance and relevance.

When i found out that the first WordCamp in Southeast Asia will be held here in the Philippines, i simply couldn’t pass up on the opportunity.  Some of my blogger chums, who happens to be WordPress users will be going, too.  And since the event is free of charge, these made it all the more difficult for me not to attend the event. Yes, i love freebies and opensource!

I started blogging April of 2007, with the sole purpose of updating and encouraging my busy relatives and friends abroad.  I chose WordPress.com to host my blog because (1) it’s free; (2) it’s easy to setup and a breeze to maintain.  With a couple of clicks, your blog will be up and running in no time.  It’s elementary, my dear Watson!

If you want to learn more ways on how to use WordPress, start video and mobile blogging, develop WP Plugins and more, i encourage you to attend WordCamp Philippines 2008 to be held at the Augusto-Rosario Gonzales Theater, College of St. Benilde, Taft Avenue, Manila on September 6, 2008.

By the way, thanks to the Mindanao Bloggers and to the following for making the event possible!

• i.PH: the Domain for Individuals
• Free Online Flash Games
• Wazzup Manila Philippines
• Real Estate CRM
• Real Estate Website Designers
• Orange County Real Estate
• Auto Insurance Quotes
• Lane Systems Inc.
• RedMedia

At Cyma, it’s about bringing people together for a flourishing experience that starts with great food.  It is in this spirit and reason, that my dear friend Tinsky and i chose this restaurant to have dinner and celebrate my post natal day.

Cyma is my favorite restaurant because it’s a place where you can enjoy one of the world’s healthiest cuisines.  Cyma equals simplicity and satisfaction.  The thing i love about Cyma is they know how to preserve each ingredient’s distinct and nutritional flavor.  Take Roka Salata (Tinsky’s and my favorite) for instance, the raw ingredients are of flawless quality and they don’t cover it with forceful flavors, sauces, or dressings.  This is how salad should be done.

Another favorite of mine is Cyma’s Molten Chocolate Cake called “Skolatina.”  If there’s one word to describe it, it’ll have to be “divine.”  Yes, it’s that good!  The chocolate cake is served with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.  It’s a hot and cold combo dessert.  The molten chocolate cake is usually served straight from the oven and if you scoop it up with the ice cream, you’ll get that pleasurable melt-in-your-mouth experience. 

skolatina

Cyma’s Executive Chef, Robby Goco, set out to create a truly great Greek restaurant in the Philippines.  He traveled throughout Greece and the Mediterranean to search the old country for food and wine.  And he definitely found plenty!  I’m glad he brought all those wonderful recipes and ingredients to our own country.  Kudos to you, Chef Robby!

cyma's executive chef robby goco

Fast Facts:

Did you know that Greece, like the Philippines, is an archipelago?
Did you know that Pastisado (in Greece) is Bulalo here in the Philippines?
Did you know the word Oregano is Greek derived, and when translated it means “Joy of the Mountain”?

………..

Superfriends

Tinsky and i may have hectic schedules to keep but we always find time to see each other. That’s what real friends do! So it doesn’t matter if we had to celebrate my birthday a few days after the actual date.  What matters is we got to spend time together and share good memories over food. We went to my favorite restaurant, Cyma, and the branch at Edsa Shang was packed. Am so glad my dear friend made reservations.

photo credit: tinsky

Even with her busy schedule, Tinsky still managed to get me a wonderful surprise gift and birthday card. Awwww, touch naman ako! Here, have a look at what she wrote inside the card:

My Dear Aj,

Belated Happy Birthday! For our love of food and sweets, please keep the chocolate candles. It also symbolizes our friendship. Light it when you feel sad, tired and hungry. Hehe! Love you friendship! May the good Lord continue to bless & guide you.

Love,
Tinsky

To my superfriend:

God is so wonderful and kind for giving me the opportunity to meet you and be able to share a strong bond of friendship with you. You are the perfect example of a person who is beautiful inside and out. Am not saying this because you’re my superfriend, i can attest to this because i’ve personally witnessed your caring, loving, and nurturing attitude. The moment i met you at work, i knew there’s more to you than meets the eye. When all people could see is a beautiful face, i can perceive a strong, loving, beautiful woman developed by great adversities and refined by time.

It takes one to know one. We’ve both gone through a lot at a very early age, and i could sense your maturity. Your outlook on life definitely speaks volumes. Yeah, i could tell back then, no words necessary dear.

When people would call me friend, i am honored and privileged to call you mine. Ayan, naiiyak na naman ako! Maraming salamat, girl, hindi ko man masabi dito lahat pero hindi ko sasayangin ang mga panahon na ipakita at sabihin sa iyo in person.

It is my prayer and wish that our good Lord will grant you more success and blessings, guide you and light your every step, long life and good health to your entire family, and that Kyle and JP will shower you with more love and continue to take good care of you.

Love you friendship,
Joy

Everyone has a story to tell but not everyone can share it in a creative manner.  With the advent of technology such as the Internet, digital cameras, camera phones and laptops, it has made it easier for people to capture stories and share it with others.  Social networking sites, blogs, and microblogging sites are taking the world wide web by storm.  And these are some of the ways people share their stories in the form of essays, digital images, and videos.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s Flash Creativity Workshop held at Bonifacio High Street under the tutelage of experts like Dean Alfar (creative writing guru), Mike Cabardo (short film guru), and Jay Tablante (photography guru) aimed to teach the proper techniques in utilizing these technologies in order to effectively share a story.

Dean Alfar, with nine Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature under his belt, can undoubtedly inspire and teach anyone to write. Yes, he even managed to convert my high school chum, who hates writing by the way, to start blogging.  If anyone can do it, it’s Dean Alfar!

top left: dean alfar and me. lower left: my high school chum. lower right: former officemate liz buenaflor

Jay Tablante’s passion for photography will inspire you.  To be honest, i wanted to attend Dean Alfar’s workshop but the call to learn how to do justice to snapshots was stronger.  Hence, i found myself in the midst of other bloggers learning photography under Jay Tablante. 

left: bloggers learning photography. right: jay tablante

Of Men and Photography

DSLR does not make you a photographer!  Below is a summary of the lessons from the Photography Workshop.

Lesson 1:
A photographer’s work is only as good as the team he works with.

Lesson 2:
Requirement + equipment + knowledge = photography.

Lesson 3:
Your camera is nothing but a recorder.  Record how light bounces back in an object.

Lesson 4:
Old school is the best school; never take your LCD nor your histogram for granted.

Lesson 5:
The moment you say you’re good, is the death to your so-called career.  You wouldn’t just be a has-been, you’d be a never-was.

Lesson 6:
You’re just as good as your imagination takes you.  Learn to do creative exercises (ie. thought balloons, word play, thematics).

Lesson 7:
Photography should be the last thing you’re studying.  The ‘what’ dictates the ‘how’.  Technique for the sake of technique is useless without concept or substance.

Lesson 8:
Fundamentals >> Technicals >> Concept >> Vision

Lesson 9:
Thou shall not steal somebody else’s light.  Photography is about recording light.

Lesson 10:
Don’t take pictures.  Make images.

Ok, i think i got it.  Don’t steal.  Check.  Record the light.  Check.  Don’t study photography.  Uh-oh!  Ok then. :P  By the way, Jay Tablante says it’s ok to be a sucker for black and white images.  Wooohoo!

left: kabisera menu (taken during the spot bloggers tour at boni high). right: yes, i love black and white. (taken at kabisera)