2017: an opening

Tesselaar Tulip Festival, Melbourne, Australia, 2016

Just as quick I am to express sorrow in the past years when they have not been good to me in certain life aspects, it's only fair to do the same when life turns out for the good.

There were a handful of shitty events in 2016 (more so on a global scale), but allow me to be as unapologetic as I could be: I had a great year in 2016.

On the other hand, I found myself less drawn to write in general, and share things here in my blog.

My fondness for film stayed the same, but the urge to put it into action did not. I shot a lot less last year. I remember shooting 50+ rolls in 2015. It was cut in half by shooting only 26 rolls in 2016.

Anyway, here are some random 2016 highlights:

• Ran two 10-km races
• Joined two open-call photography submissions (I did not get in for both, but submitting my photos was nerve-racking)
• Got my first TLR camera!
• Traveled to four countries
• First time to experience winter
• Got an Instax Wide
• Traveled out of Asia (something I never would have thought)
• Finally bought a Paperwhite after four years of pining
• Participated in my first Emulsive Secret Santa!
• Watched a lot of K-dramas and consequently grew love for something I thought was too mushy and dramatic for my liking (which is ironic because I'm mushy and dramatic just the same haha)
• Gave some people a second chance, lol
• Gave myself a second chance with this blog (and username)

Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted the other day:

To all on the Gregorian Calendar, Happy New Year! A day that's not astronomically significant...in any way…at all…whatsoever.

True. But don't we all enjoy and benefit from the illusion of a clean slate?

Happy new year, my friend. Let's keep this year tidy :)

HOLGA IN BORACAY

The cold months are over. The usual cool breeze in the morning has gradually been replaced by little beads of sweat in my forehead. Summer is not officially back, I suppose, but we definitely feel it is returning early this year here.

I suddenly remembered my Holga shots this morning, for no reason at all. It just magically popped up in my head and what's more obvious to do but revisit them. Coincidentally, majority of my poorly-set shots are from the beach in Boracay, Aklan two years ago, very much giving off the vibe of summer.

Clearly, I didn't know what I was doing with the camera at that time. But imagine my excitement when I saw these shots and knew I got something out of the roll, no matter how blurred they are.

Oh, and before I forget. Boracay, you are missed.

POSTING ALL THESE BECAUSE

I miss Baguio. Have been several times there before but it was only until the last time I went (2011) did I only appreciate the trip to the far north. The late night walk at the Session Road to the hotel after having drinks at La Azotea is unforgettable. The way the cold wind is only felt on the surface of my skin just because my body has generated enough heat from the alcohol made me feel somehow invincible. It’s one of the moments I can easily take out from my memory bank, press play and it’s as if I’m there once again. That’s how vivid it is. It’s one of my go-to memories whenever I feel wanderlust. And;

I want to try film again. This one doesn’t need a description, just look at how (i don’t intend to be self-deprecating, but really, crappy) the photos are.