Picture Perfect : Through A Lens, Clearly

As a frustrated (professional) photographer, I have dreamed of having a photo taken by me published in a magazine.  This was included  in the list of my "Things To Do Before I Die" which I wrote in 1998 and in 2001, hehehe...

This month, exactly on September 11, 2012.  I had this dream accomplished! Sort of, hehehe...

Some  years ago, I chanced upon a section of the Manila Bulletin.  Picture Perfect.  Where they feature photographers as well as photos by professionals and amateurs/hobbyists send by the readers.  I have collected some issues as I thought of one day seeing my pictures on it. hehehe... Then years, passed. I forgot about it. 

Last year, I again got the yearning to see one of my pictures in Manila Bulletin's Picture Perfect.  So, in October 2011, I made an inquiry to Ronald Jayme if a picture taken from a point-and-shoot camera is fine as an entry.  He then replied "Point and shoot is ok for as as long as you have a good capture, wala sa camera na."  I got so excited.  I thought of looking into my photos and check on which ones to send.  Then again, I forgot about it.  Actually, fear has let me forget about it. hehehe.. I was then too scared to even send a picture. 

But in August.  August 21, 2012, I finally got the guts to send not just one but three photos as my entry to Manila Bulletin's Picture Perfect.   :-)

My first picture :  Angry Sky 
Taken in November 2010 at Zamboanga City

Second picture :  Pensive Badjao Boy 
Taken in November 2010 in Zamboanga City

Third picture :  Sunset Walk
Taken in October 2011 during the Worldwide Photowalk in Iligan City

After sending my entries, I checked my emails everyday for 1 week for any reply from Picture Perfect.  But didn't get any.  I kind of got disappointed and thought maybe my entries where not good enough.  

But on the 10th day, August 31, 2012.  I unexpectedly got an email from Rafael Paredes.  I got a bit excited when I saw the subject of the email as "Picture Perfect".  :-)

When I opened the email this is what he wrote :

Hi Revilla.

The editor passed on your email to my column, Through A Lens, Clearly. Can you share if you are still a student or already employed? Also, how long have you been enjoying photography?

I will wait for your response.

best regards,

Raffy Paredes

I have to read it over and over again.  I don't know what to do.  I was like, does this mean my entry was accepted?  Even from the email, I still didn't know.  I probably got over excited, hehehe...I forwarded the email to Pat and asked him his comment.  He just told me to send a reply.  So, I replied and gave some information about me. 

Then again, I waited for another email from Raffy Paredes.  But got none for a few days.

And on September 6, 2012, I received one of the greatest news ever.   An email again, from Raffy Paredes.  And this is what it said :

I was reading it in the office.  And I couldn't contain myself.  I wanted to shout and jump for joy.  But I didn't.  I just sat there. Stared at my computer screen and read the email over and over again.  With my head screaming and my heart beating fast.   Then by coincidence, Pat called me.  I planned on surprising him of the good news.  However, due to over excitement, I told him.  hehehe... But then telling him was good as it also got the tension out of my body. hehe.. Pat and I then wondered which photo was selected. 

Since then, I couldn't wait for September 11 to arrive.

September 11, 2012.  At 10:00am I went to the News Stand  to buy the Manila Bulletin issue.  But couldn't find one.  They said it has not yet arrived.  Maybe at around 11:30am.  I went back to the office and asked my officemate to buy 2 copies for me before he returns to the office after lunch.  

At 12:30 pm, Pat called me.  And announced that he has already got a newspaper and seen my entry!  Waaaaaaaaahhhhhh!  Nauna siya nako! (He saw it first!).  He then told me which photo was published and read to me the write-up.  :-)


At around 1:30 in the afternoon, I finally got hold of the copy of Manila Bulletin.  And this is what I saw :

The Pensive Badjao Boy was featured!  Yeheyyyy!

I was so happy!  I immediately scanned the page and made the scanned copy my computer's wallpaper background. :-D


Pat suggested that I reserve a copy of the page and have it framed.  :-)

I know that my dream is to have a picture taken by me published in a magazine.  This is a newspaper.  But I don't mind.  For me, a published photo is a published photo.  And besides, Manila Bulletin is a nationwide newspaper.   And having accomplished this made me realized that :

1.  Conquering one's fear and taking action is the key factor in achieving your dream.  If I didn't submit an entry.  I will never know. Ever.
2.  Since one of my entries was featured, then now I know I have some talent in photography which I will have to further develop.  :-)
3.  This will not be my first and last entry to Picture Perfect.  I definitely will send another.  Next goal is : Photo of the Week.  :-D

4.  I will then submit an entry to a magazine. Starting with a national magazine. Pat suggested the Mabuhay magazine.  :-)


Well, that's it for now.

Another accomplishment for my 38th year here on Earth!  :-)

Play The Piano, Meet the Alaska Players

In the "Things To Do Before I Die" post I listed the things that I would want to do before I die which were written in 1998, 2001 and 2003.

Today, I am going to identify 4 things that I have already done since 1998.   

http://www.cooperpiano.com/piano-player-blog/?Tag=piano%20lessons

1.  Learn to play the piano and own one.   In November of 1998, I enrolled in Rosas Music Center to finally learn how to play the piano.  I would go to the music center once a week to learn Book 1.

When I was in Book 2, my teacher,  Ma'am Rose, offered me a brand new Yamaha organ to purchase and be paid in installment so I can practice at home.  It was an offer she gave only to me, hehehe...  So, I took it.

She was amazed at how good I am in memorizing the keys because after a few classes, I can already play a piece without looking at the keys.  I was already just looking at the notes. :-) 

However, I was already in the Book 3, in which after completing it, I'd be able to join the recital, when I decided to quit.  I didn't want to.  But I have to.  My family had a financial crisis and I became an instant breadwinner.   I have to sold my organ back to Rosas Music Center.

Until now though, I still have the urge to really learn to play the piano.  And be able to attend a recital. And play in front of a big crowd.  :-)

So, I could say,  this dream has yet partially came true, hehehe.  
      
2.  Learn to play the guitar and own one.  Got to own a guitar while I was studying to play the piano.  but unfortunately didn't get to learn to really play it.  Though I did some self-study a few times using the chords in the Song Hits magazine.  I tried to practice and play completely 1 song.  I just chose a song that have simple chords, hehehe... But then that's it.
 
3.  Ride the rollercoaster (big one).   I have ridden a roller coaster thrice.  So, I will be making a separate post for this.  :-D 


4.  Meet the Alaska players.   I am not really fond of basketball.  But my father is.  Very.  Both NBA and PBA.  So, I grew up watching some games.  On TV.  And live in person.  My father used to be a coach in our place.  :-)  I remember a story my mother told me when I got to see a basketball game for the first.  My father was a player in the company then.  My mother said that after watching the game for a minute, I told her that they should be given a ball each so they will not anymore fight over for one. :-D  You could say, this is my first impression of the basketball game, hehehe.

Johnny "The Flying A" Abarrientos
http://sydrified.blogspot.com/2010/
10/will-flying-migrate-to-alaska_14.html

I had the time of my life with PBA games in 1996.  It was the year that the Alaska Team made a grand slam - winning the 3 conferences for the year.  Everybody at home seemed to be glued to the tube with every game of Alaska.  I had no choice then but to also watch the game as they (and I) get excited, shouted, screamed.  And each of us also had our favorite players.  Mine was Johnny Abarrientos. I even took a photo of him, on TV, hehehe... He was sort of then my crush in PBA. :-)

As I am not really fond of basketball, I don't anymore remember why I wrote "Meet the Alaska players" as one of my things to do.  Probably because it was with them that for some moments I got excited to watch a PBA game.  And I think it was in October 1998 when I was able to see some of the Alaska players in person.  My officemates and I were attending a training in Manila then.  And on a weekend, we decided to watch a PBA game.  When we arrived, I got excited to learn that it was the Alaska playing.  Though I was not anymore interested in watching them play.  I just watched them.  And Johnny was there too.  I was not able to really talk to them but I was seated just a few seats above their bench.  And even though I was not anymore as excited as before, I regretted not having taken a photo of them playing in the court.  And a photo of me with them.  When I got back in the hotel, I realized I should have also let them sign the new baseball cap I just bought from Hard Rock Cafe.  I don't know why I forgot about it and regretted having not done so.  Maybe deep inside I was still really excited to finally see them in person -the very people I cheered on on TV.  And I was not able to think of the next thing to do.  Or the appropriate thing to do.  And it's already been 14 years since and I have not again met any of them.

So, this is it for now.  I'll be revealing more of the things that I have done from the list in my future posts. :-)