Connection

I'm blessed to have wonderful friends here in Singapore.

Isa sa mga kalaban ng mga Pilipinong tulad ko na nagta-trabaho sa ibang bansa ang pag-iisa at kalungkutan. Dahil nakahiwalay kami at malayo sa pamilya at mga kaibigang nakasanayan naming kasama sa Pilipinas, kailangan namin ng panibagong pakikibagay. Parang first day of school lang. Sa simula, mag-isa ka at walang kasama. Kapag hindi ka masyadong sociable at tatahi-tahimik lang, baka tuluyan kang maging 'outcast' sa klase.

Maniwala man kayo o hindi, pero mahiyain talaga ako at isang introvert. (Ayaw mong maniwala? Suntukan na lang.) Usually I don't get along with people quite instantly. Pero ewan ko ba, naawa ata sa 'kin si Papa God. That's why I feel so blessed, in my almost three years in Singapore, hindi ko ata naranasan ang mag-isa (unless intentional). I've been blessed with so many good friends in this foreign country.

Last Sunday, I celebrated my 30th birthday at a blogger friend's place. (Thanks Feeblemind!) Ang tanda ko na! But I must say, it was one of my best birthday celebrations ever. What makes it extra special is that, it was attended by my closest friends here (friends from work, blogger friends, Couchsurfing friends, church mates, etc.). Nakatipid din ako sa pagkain kasi isahang libre na lang sa kanilang lahat. :)

Turning 30 is not that bad after all. I'm really looking forward to this new decade. :)

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Gusto kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng nagpadala ng picture greetings para sa birthday ko. Sobrang pinasaya niyo ako! (Mababaw lang ang kaligayahan ko. Hehehe!) Dahil diyan, pipili ako ng tatlo hanggang lima sa inyo na nagpadala ng picgreet na sobrang nagustuhan ko. Just check your e-mails within the week, then I will try to meet up with you sa pag-uwi ko ng Pilipinas. I will either give you a gift, or treat you for lunch or dinner or coffee or beer. Kaya kitakits tayo... this week or next week. :)

Moving forward, this is the compilation of all the picture greetings I've received this year. Salamat ulit sa lahat ng nagpadala! Special mention din kay Joshy & Traveliztera for sending in their audio & video messages. I will also post them here soon! :)

Pulubi

Pwede pang magpadala ng picture greetings!

I'm extending the deadline up to March 25. Sa Friday talaga ang birthday ko. Lima pa lang po ang nagpapadala, maawa na po kayo sa matanda (I'm turning 30.). Penge na po ng mga picture greetings. :(

You may send them to me via e-mail at gasulero@yahoo.com. For more details, CLICK HERE! Salamat! Salamat! Aabangan ko 'yang mga ipapadala niyo! :)

Photography

I bought my DSLR a few months before I went to Singapore. Bumili ako hindi dahil pinangarap kong maging “photographer”. Bumili ako dahil inaya akong mag-Ilocos trip ng isang kaibigan kong miyembro ng isang photography club. Hindi pa kasi ako nakapunta ng Ilocos nun, at ayoko namang ma-OP sa trip.

I became part of this photography club eventually. Nakasama ako sa ilang photowalks nila at madami din akong nakuhang tips and advices from the other members. Masayang hobby ang photography, but at the same time it can be quite frustrating as well dahil una, it’s an expensive hobby at pangalawa, hindi lahat ng shots ko eh lumalabas na maganda sa sarili kong paningin. (Yeah, I’m my worst critic.)


Kasama sa paglipad ko papuntang Singapore ang aking Nikon D40 + Kit Lens. I’ve used it in some of my travels and hang-out moments. Nakakatuwa dahil I’ve received some positive feedbacks and commendations from friends regarding some of my shots. Wala pa naman akong natanggap na harsh criticisms, but usually I receive some pointers from others to help me improve my so-called ‘craft’.


I must admit, dumating ako sa point na medyo nawalan ako ng gana sa photography. As I’ve said, it’s an expensive hobby. My kit lens is so damn frustrating and limiting! I’ve been wanting to upgrade, but the thing is, it’s not a priority for now. Kung marami lang sana akong pera…


I love portrait photography. I like taking pictures of people’s faces. Nakakaaliw kapag naka-capture mo ‘yung emosyon ng isang tao sa litrato. On the contrary, I’m not a fan of landscape photography. Hindi ako masyadong bilib sa ibang ‘landscape photographers’ ngayon. Pare-pareho sila ng subjects. Kung hindi buildings, puro bukid, burol, bulkan, talampas, ilog, beach, garden, monuments o historical sites ang kinukuhanan nila. Nothing new. Nagkakaiba lang sa post-processing. Pagalingan na lang sila sa paggamit ng Photoshop.


Now let me ask you:

First, given my statements above, matatawag ba akong isang ‘photographer’?

Second, considering my criticisms on others, am I credible enough to make a judgment on these so-called ‘photographers’, may they be ‘amateurs’ or ‘pros’? Is my opinion enough to separate the so-called ‘photographers’ from the ‘hobbyists’ or 'enthusiasts'?

Honestly, I myself dunno. And I don’t really give a damn. I don't really like 'labeling' people.

I’m just a regular guy who likes taking pictures.

And I do appreciate other people’s works, regardless of what camera they use, what their backgrounds and personalities are, how many years they have been into photography, whether they had some training or just do self-study, whether they use auto or manual mode, whether they make use of Photoshop or any other post-processing software, etc. etc.

If I like your photo, then I will tell you straight in your face.

If I don’t, well that’s another story.

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Speaking of photography, nasaan na ang mga picture greetings niyo?! Malapit na ang birthday ko! Hehehe! For more details, CLICK HERE. Salamat in advance! :)

TARGET: Weight Loss

Guess who’s back in the gym? ME!

After several months of doing nothing but eat excessively, drink beer and stress myself in the office, I finally decided to work out again. I badly need to lose some weight! I've been looking terrible and feeling terrible lately, and I need to do something about myself being ‘OBESE 1’. This so-called weight classification is affecting my self-esteem. :(

I’m not getting any younger (turning 30 this month), and I need to take care of myself. These flabs need to BUUURRRNNN!

P.S. Thanks to those who have already submitted their birthday greetings. To those who haven’t, you guys still have time to send some lurve up to the 23rd of March! For more details, CLICK HERE! :)

P.P.S. To my SG Friends, takbo tayo sa MacRitchie Reservoir kapag weekends! :)

Enough

I met someone last week. She’s Australian of Chinese descent, and been working here in Singapore for four months now. She’s not happy about this country so far. She wants to go back to Australia.

According to her, she finds it impossible to break out of the world of excess drinking, shopping malls and fancy dining in this glittering city. It was fun during the first few months, but she started to wonder, “Is this all there is to life?” She’s had enough of that lifestyle that is so dependent on the flow of cash. She wants simplicity, and to have more authentic experiences in life.

I immediately connected with her because I can somehow relate to her sentiments (except for the drinking part lol). I already came to the point when I'm getting sick and tired of all the superficiality and materialism, of senseless bickering and complaining, of unappreciation and maliciousness in this world. Maybe it comes with age I dunno. (Picture greetings?) I’m actually thinking of eliminating those that are not anymore essential…

Anyways, I’ve hanged out with her a couple of times this week. The first time was last Thursday when I met her at Lucky Plaza. The second one was yesterday at Botanic Gardens where we, together with some newfound friends, were supposed to play Frisbee but decided to just sit on the grass and talk about stuff. And we had gyoza for dinner at Orchard!

Too bad she’s leaving by the end of this month. I hope that before she does, she'd have a better opinion of the Lion City.

L-R: Australian, Italian, American, Filipino, Singaporean

Weekend Trip

Last weekend, I went for a day-trip to Johor Bahru with my Eurasian friend. The city is located in the southern part of Malaysia, and just right across the causeway from Singapore so it's not really far and quite accessible. I wasn’t really expecting that much from the trip as I’d been there once before, but I dunno, somehow the trip was made fun and definitely exceeded my expectations.

I guess sometimes it’s not just where you go that matters. It’s also who you’re with. :)

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Gust0 k0 s4n4ng m4g-kuw3nt0 tungk0l s4 b4b43ng k4s4m4 k0 s4 l4r4w4n p3r0 n4huli k0 n4 siy4 mins4ng n4gb4b4s4 ng bl0g k0 g4mit 4ng G00gl3 Tr4nsl4t3. K4y4 n3xt tim3 n4 l4ng.

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Wala pang

nagpapadala

ng picture greetings

para sa

birthday ko.

:(