Calling The Universe

My addiction for creating videos using my laptop's video editing software just doesn't stop. I made a video on Century Bangus as an entry to Nuffnang's contest in which Iphones are up for grabs! It's a blog writing contest but I made extra efforts to make a video of it. Here's a call to the universe to make me win. Oh please, please, pretty please?

My contest entry is posted at my other blog here.

Experimenting With Vaio Movie Story

I've been using my Sony Vaio for almost a year now but it was only yesterday when I decided to create a video using its Vaio Movie Story, a video editing tool. There are templates that are ready to use, you just have to add the pictures and videos you want to appear on the storyline and the editor will arrange the scenes. You can tweak it afterwards. I used the pics on our recent photoshoot by Bon Aserios and some video clips taken with my Nokia E71.

I am getting hooked on editing videos that I have to constantly remind myself I still have tons of things to do. Anyway, here is my first attempt at video editing using Sony Vaio:

Field of Dreams

A shot I took using my trusty Nikon D40 and kitlens. This was during our photoshoot last Saturday with photographer Bon Aserios. He edited the pic. It was a Japanese-themed pictorial in which I did the makeup for our model, Audrey.

I have another scheduled Geisha shoot and I understand my clients' fascination for such themes. Photographs featuring Japanese scenery are always so rich and colorful, which brings Akira Kurosawa's film, Dreams, to mind.

I really hope to revive my passion for photography soon. I wish I could have the 50mm lens that Bon recommended.

Here is the original version of the pic:

For more photos from the shoot, please visit http://bonaserios.com or http://vanityclinic.com

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Urduja's Lullaby

Cagayan de Oro used to pride itself for being such a safe place from natural calamities. It was the typhoon in January 2009 that heralded things were about to change.

Suddenly, streets are flooded, vehicles are stranded and people lose their homes. We are no longer a disaster-free city. Although our families' places are safely tucked, it worries me when I travel during these times. I experienced soaking my car in the highway and its automatic engine flickered. Thank God, it didn't give up totally and still safely brought us home. I made a mental note not to brave the flood next time.

Two days ago, another typhoon hit this side of the country and caused landslides in some nearby towns.The pour of the rain was mild yet steady. It went on for two days, immersing Cagayan roads in muddy water once again.

My hubby, who was on 24 hours duty, reported that the hallways of the hospital were being flooded. Outside, the water was ankle-length when he had his dinner.  I remember how we feared heavy downpours at the Radiology Department because the ultrasound machine needed some rescuing each time.

I was at my brother's house looking after my niece who was down with fever. Just to make sure it wasn't dengue and so I could avoid the possible flood along the highway, I stayed for the night. I would have been a  cool, restful sleep had I not been worrying when the rain would stop.

There was no AM Radio at my brother's home so I was constantly checking my phone's internet for updates but then as expected, twitter, facebook and other social networking sites are only  packed with info when Manila is involved. The gentle yet treacherous sound of Urduja singing dozed me off eventually.

Image Source

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Efren Penaflorida: Modern Day Hero

Another proud moment for Filipinos. Our bet to the CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Penaflorida was declared as the winner during the All Star Tribute at the  Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Online votes made him the ultimate hero, besting 9 other nominees from different countries.

His advocacy to educate the street children through a pushcart was the heroic act that put him in the list of nominees of the annual CNN awards that recognizes individuals with selfless humanitarian acts from all over the world.

I personally salute him for his efforts to care for others who may be difficult to deal with. Not all children are cute. I had bad encounters with rowdy street kids but people like Efren go out of their way to reach out to them. It entails great sacrifices, patience and passion to accomplish his tasks without expecting for monetary gains. For that, he is indeed the modern-day hero that our society needs. The coveted plum has $100,000 cash reward but he will be using it to fund his organization called the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) to continue his advocacy.

 My husband and I voted for him  a couple of times and  we are happy that he got the recognition that he truly deserves. May his tribe increase and we hope that he can inspire more young people to make a difference. Here's hoping that the politicians running for the 2010 will not use him for their campaign and instead take from him what selfless service is all about.

Free Spa, Anyone?

My beauty blog is holding a contest, in which a free spa treatment worth P1700 at the Terra Wellness Spa at the Discovery Suites is up for grabs.

Joining is simple, just help spread the word by blogging about the contest on your blog in at least 60 words. Mention the words "Terra Spa" and "The Doctor is vaIN," place the link of your blog entry to vanityclinic.com's post on the contest and you're on your way to winning a luxurious pampering.

Entries will be raffled and the winner will be announced on November 30, 2009.

I'm Back!

After almost a year of not updating this site, I have decided to return to the blog that started it all.

It seems almost everything I post here mobilizes the universe to give me what I want. From the ideal husband to the digital cameras, the law of attraction worked every time. Even the $8,000,0000 check I previously posted did materialize... several zeroes were lacking, though. After blogging about the "secret" check, I got a call offering an P8000 monthly deal. Well, at least it got some digits right even if the $ sign was replaced by Peso currency.

After revisiting my original home in the web, I realized that the last post was titled award-winning. Somehow, that dialed the universe hotline and made my beauty blog win at the Philippine Blog Awards.

I decided that my blog holds some power and it doesn't deserve to get abandoned.With all the emo posts I infiltrated this site before, I need to reverse its effects and bring more positive vibes to the world.

Will it be too much to ask for a perfect health? .. and wealth to come with it? Universe, I'm back so please heed my call.