My Modeling Stint in Germany

I am a frustrated model.  Naks!

Looking at magazines, I've always wondered what it's like to become one.   But never in my life did I expect to become one (though only amateur).   And it happened while I was in Germany, in Saarbruecken in particular.    It was Annielyn Deocampo who introduced me to Anita Nowack  or Tita Anita, as she is fondly called by the Filipino scholars who get to visit her.   I was thrilled and at the same time nervous.  I've never posed for something like modeling.   I don't even know what to do so  Tita Anita and Annielyn has to coach me and Tita had been very patient.   It was really like professional because I get to sign a contract, as it is a requirement for all models whose pictures are submitted to Dreamstime.com.   When I told my husband, he ask if I had a fee.  I told him, none.  But I don't need it as it is my first time and the experience that it gave  me is  already rewarding enough.    We did the shoot twice.   The first one was outside the house and the second one was inside where we did costume change.   It was two short shoots but I realized how hard and tiring it is to be a model.   Don't move.  Don't blink.  Smile.  Don't smile. Stare.  Eyes close.  Eyes open.  Change clothes.  Change hairdo.   Etcetera.   Etcetera.    

But then again, seeing the photos being publish in the website gives you the satisfaction that it was all worth it.  I even have some regrets later, that I should have been more relaxed.  I should have played with my poses more during the shoot.  I don't know if I get to pose for a modeling project again.  I don't know if that would be my first and my last modeling.  But I was glad I got to experience it.   And I thank Tita Anita for the opportunity and the confidence you gave me to become one of your models.   

I check my photos at Dreamstime.com from time to time to see how many views or downloads the photos already have.  It always makes me wonder - who could have downloaded my photos?  What did they like about my photos?  What did they do with my photos?  Will I one day get to see one of my photos in a magazine?  Or in a billboard?   Hmmm... that remains to be seen.   

Below are just two of my photos. 

For more photos of me (wink!), click the links below :

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-asian-beauty-image735768

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-exotic-eyes-image999177

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-flowers-therapy-image1567573


http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-mask-therapy-image1740020

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-ethnic-woman-image3170885

Disney's UP - what's in it for me?

With the wedding anniversary fever still on me (it is still  May), I would like to share with you a Disney movie that really struck me after watching it (with Pat of course) and has immediately became on top of "my favorites" list.   The movie is called "UP".

It is the story of an old man (Carl) who is to be evicted from his home because of some neighborhood developments.  When the time comes that he already has to go to the  home-for-the-aged, an idea struck him.   He tied his whole house with lots and lots of balloons which eventually made the house  go up.   The photo below says what I mean.  His adventure started from there, with the company of an 8-year old Wilderness Explorer (Russell).

However, what I really love about  the movie is not the adventure of Carl and Russell, but the life of Carl and his wife, Ellie.

Ellie and Carl

First of all, Carl and Ellie reminded me of Pat... and me.   Carl and Pat are both big compared to Ellie and me.  Pat and Carl wear eyeglasses.   Ellie and me doesn't, except only when Ellie was already old, which also is probably what will happen to me when I get old, hehe.

Revilla and Pat

(Picture taken at Tangub City during Christmas time)

Carl is the quiet type who loves listening to Ellie.   Ellie is the more jack-of-all-trade type, and Carl assists her.   Carl and Ellie don't have a child.    Pat and I don't also have a child yet.  But, as with Carl and Ellie, Pat and I enjoy each others company, very much.   We like to do things together like planning our trips, designing our dream house, doing service to the less fortunate, and even doing household chores   :-).      

My adventures in life in which Pat was with me included my first time to ride a zipline at Macahambus, Cagayan de Oro City.  And all my other zipline rides in Iligan City and Bukidnon.   My first time to whitewater raft in Cagayan de Oro and so many other first times in my life that happened, courtesy of Pat.

Below are some photos of the trips/adventures Pat and I had done together.

 A trip to Cebu in 2005.  We visited the Noel Ancestral House in Carcar, the Lapu-Lapu Shrine and stayed the whole day at Plantation Bay Resort courtesy of Pat's uncle.   In 2004, during our honeymoon, we also visited Cebu and went to Taoist Temple and The Top.

My very first time to go to Marawi City (I cannot anymore remember when).  It was a weekend and Pat had some visitors from Davao City who visited Maria Cristina Falls and wanted to see MSU Campus in Marawi City.   He asked me to join them so I could see Marawi.  At first I was hesitant because of the stories I grew up with regarding Marawi.  And I told Pat that my father wouldn't probably let me go.  He said we won't tell him.  Just after we've been there already.  :-)
Well, of course, Pat is my husband and I always like going somewhere with him.

Our very first trip outside the country - Hongkong - in June 2009.  We went there with Pat's niece and her family.   We visited the Giant Buddha at Ngong Ping, the Ocean Park and Disneyland, Avenue of the Stars and Victoria Peak.

 

 Ozamis City in December 2010.  We went to Tangub with Pat's officemates to visit the Christmas Capital of the Philippines and stayed overnight in Ozamis City where we toured a little the following morning before returning to Iligan.

 Bukidnon in March 2011.   Again, I went with Pat together with some of his officemates to watch the Kaamulan festival.  We also visited the Dahilayan Adventure Park and the Monastery.

 Bohol in April-May 2011.  The latest trip we did.  We were with his sister, Ate Leah, a nephew and nieces.   We visited Tagbilaran, Panglao Island, Balicasag Island, Chocolate Hills and other tourists attractions.

Other places we've been to are Davao City, Samal Island, Camiguin  and Boracay.  I will share the other trips in another posts.  :-)

Celebrating Anniversaries

Today - May 18, 2011 - is our wedding anniversary.  It is our seventh.   Wow, Pat and I are already together for 7 seven years.  

We celebrated today just by ordering food and ate at home with Al (Pat's brother) and Aj (Al's daughter).  But Aj arrived late, so she ate alone.  Pat and I bought fish fillet, camaron rebosado and pork sinigang.  And had blackforest cake (from Goldilocks) for dessert.   But it was ok as we already had a pre-anniversary celebration last April 28-May 2, when we travelled to Bohol with Aj and met up with Ate Leah (Pat's sister) and two of her children.   We had fun and sure was like a second honeymoon.  :-)   (This will be another blog, for sure.)

Our dessert.

Pat and I celebrate our anniversaries differently every year.    Last year, we ate out, just the two of us at Fontina, courtesy of Bro. Dr. Abel Gomez (Pat's fraternity brother ).    In 2009, we had a trip to Hongkong but did that as a triple celebration.  Pat's birthday is in April, my birthday is in July and our anniversary is in May.  We went to Hongkong in June.    So, I could say, we had a sort of grand celebration in 2009.    

In 2006, we celebrated it separately.  I was in Germany then, attending a one-year training.   It was sad since we were physically apart.  But thanks to the technology, we chatted on the internet for hours. 

In 2005, our first anniversary, we had a double celebration with my parents since their wedding anniversary falls a day after ours, May 19.   We reserved a table for four at Cafe Hermoso and had dinner.  

Now, for 2007 and 2008.   Hmmm...    I can't remember what we did on those anniversaries.   Maybe we just ate out or ordered and ate at home.   Geee.. this should be a reason why I should keep posting in my blog in the future, so I won't forget the things we did on our anniversary.  

Next year we plan to do again an out-of-the-country trip for our triple celebration.  We are eyeing Beijing.   We're starting saving for it.  We don't know yet when we will be going.  We will wait for a promo tour or promo fare of Cebu Pacific Air.  

I always look forward to celebrating our anniversary, be it grand or simple.   I thank God for the past years He has given us and at the same time, I anticipate the coming years Pat and I would be together.  

Happy anniversary to my one and only gen, the love of my life.  Thank you for loving me.   I love you.   :-) 

My A-ha Moment

It's now May 2011.   How time flies.  It's been so over a while that I have not posted in my blog.  My last post was in November 2010.  6 months. WOW!

I can list the reasons to justify why I have not yet posted anything since November.  Like, I didn't have the TIME (sheesh, probably the most overrated excuse ever!) Or maybe, I didn't have anything to blog about.  Gosh!  I have many stories to tell running in my mind.  But all are still in my mind.  No action. No blog post.

So, what really is keeping me from blogging?  I've been thinking, pondering on this for months now.  So what is my big WHY?!

FEAR.
I am afraid nobody will read my blog.
I am afraid readers would criticize my writings.

HESITATION.
I am not sure if I am doing it right.
I am not sure if my writing is good enough.
I am not sure if my topic is ok.
With the many topics running in my mind, I don't know which topic is appropriate to write about.

My husband told me a few years ago what his professor in college once told him, "to just write as if you are talking to somebody."   When you don't have to worry about the grammar and the vocabulary you will use.

And yes, as I have read many books by Bo Sanchez and other authors, I realize my husband's professor was right.  Bo Sanchez writes as though he is just beside you in a bench talking to you.

So after months of fighting over myself,  I have finally decided :  to write anything that I feel like writing about.  I'll write what I think.  I'll write how I feel.   I'll write my experiences.

It's my blog.  It's my world.