Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas (Passionately in love with the Philippines :-))

Happy Independence Day!

Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya

Sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila

Gaya ng pag-ibig sa Tinubuang lupa?

Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.

Pagpupuring lubos ang palaging hangad

Sa bayan ng taong may dangal na ingat,

Umawit, tumula, kumanta't sumulat,

Kalakhan din niya'y isinisiwalat.

Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog

Ng may pusong mahal sa Bayang nagkupkop,

Dugo, yaman, dunong, katiisa't pagod,

Buhay ma'y abuting magkalagut-lagot.

Bakit? Alin ito na sakdal ng laki,

Na hinahandugan ng buong pagkasi,

Na sa lalong mahal nakapangyayari,

At ginugulan ng buhay na iwi?

Excerpts from Andres Bonifacio's "Pagibig sa Tinubuang Lupa" - a lovely, fiery poem about the deep love a martyr has for his country. I hope we are all worth the lives that were lost fighting for this country's freedom

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Vintage and cute. Just the way I love it.

Postcard Friendship Friday #03

I received this lovely retro card from a fellow postcrosser from Russia. I instantly fell in love the moment I saw it. The two chubby babies are absolutely adorable-- and is that a skunk? Odd. Not only is the photo pretty, the back side also has a beautiful intricate design printed on it. This is easily one of the prettiest, and most unique card in my collection.<

Other things I love about: the highly detailed and shiny flowery border; the unusual cut at two of the corners; and the  fact that the back side is not plain white  but a lovely beige completing the vintage flavor of this beautiful card.

Lean

I freakin built two tables.

Well, sort of. I assembled it.
I deserve props for understanding the one-page instructions manual (with a couple MAJOR mistakes and some important stuff that they just FORGOT to say. >o<)

Carneval de Paris, 1895

Postcard Perfect #1

I'm sure the lady is pretty, but the shimmer of the golden champaigne holder at the table draws my attention more in this Edelfelt portrait. It's really stunning. I also like the crimson red shade of the wall and the subject's ginger hair. This is my second Albert Edelfelt postcard. It's called "Carnevel de Paris" and was done in 1895.

Albert Edelfelt is a Finnish painter with absolutely stunning creations. He lived late 19th century and has lots of portrait paintings of women. I really would love to receive more postcards of his works. :)

For more visit postcardperfect meme

Straight guys in Tutus. Sexy. :D

Postcard Friendship Friday #02

This is one of those 'wtf' cards that will leave you puzzled, and more importantly, intrigued. It's really cute though. :)

Seriously, who does not think this is cute?

Look at them all chill while in their crazy, feathered tutu and tights, not giving a damn. I almost find it sexy. Nothing like a man who can rock a tutu, it's most likely pink too. Add the cigarette...yep, I'm sold. They're hot

No, wait.
Maybe not.

They're most probably ballerinas, seeing the ballet shoes they're wearing. Although I don't think their stance scream "pro dancer". Hmm. They don't appear all-out gay too (I guess). I would love to think they're straight guys living a strange fetish-fantasy at some exclusive New York bar. Haha.

NVM.

The photo was taken by photographer Elliott Erwitt in New York, 1956.

A Really Old Postcard.

Postcard Friendship Friday #1

I found this gem at a small collector's shop in one of Manila's large malls. The coin dealer's shop is tiny and can be found at the top floor of the usually crowded SM Megamall. Up there, the number of shoppers significantly decrease and the type of people you would usually see range from art lovers, stuff collectors and enthusiasts. Sometimes, there are rich housewives searching for pieces to add to their collection, and also the occassional lost soul-- that would be me.

I walked past and saw the small tray of postcards and immediately went into hyper search mode. Then, I found it. This particular postcard had no definitive "Wow factor" to it at first glance. At second glance, I realized it could add to my black-and-white collection. But I thought about it for the third time and found no real reason for me to cash out on a piece of torn, gray, weathered and used postcard from Germany. Hey, Germany afterall, has one of the most number of postcrossers in Postcrossing, so nothing fancy about another old DE-postcard.

But then I see the meter stamp and it reads "11-8-34". That makes it pre-World War II. And it's from Germany, no less--

"I wonder if the sender is a jew..."

So yeah, my most expensive postcard is torn, weathered, gray, used but unreadable, and it's missing a stamp. It's freakin' priceless.

crayons and sausages and such

It was Friday night at six and the train station was full of people hurrying to wherever. Our train came. It was -- and I quote the bible -- filled to the brim. This is one of those moments I am thankful for the separate car for women. The two of us made our way into the sea of people and each found ourselves a square foot of air we could squeeze in (a square foot of air? oh well, you get what I mean). We were quiet until the train started moving and inertia and discomfort got the best of us.

Me: We are like clothes hung in a closet.

C: Specifically, we are inside Paris Hilton’s closet.

Me: In the words of Paris, 'that's hot.'

C. But wait, clothes in a closet only face one side. That’s not an accurate metaphor.

Me: OK, then we are crayons in some kid’s crayon case.

C: Oh right! I like that.

Me: If it were my crayon case you’ll be the blue.

C: Why blue?

Me: Because I like blue.

C: Aww, that’s sweet.


Me: No, I didn’t mean to be sweet. You’ll be blue because I probably would use blue a lot and thus it should be shorter that most of the crayons. *giggles*

C: Yeah right. Let’s get to the next metaphor.

*Arriving at Ortigas Station.*

C: We are like sausages in a can.


Me: No, that’s not a good description of this situation.

C: Why not?


Me: Obviously because sausages in cans come in uniform lengths.

C: Oh right…They also come in uniform diameters

We were trying so hard not to laugh for fear of having someone’s hair, elbow or ear come in contact with our open mouths.

Me: No straight guy will be unwilling to trade places with me right now, what with five different pairs of boobs pushing against my body

C: Oh God, you didn’t just say that out loud!