Floral-themed invite for Claro and Clarissa's wedding. Used several brushes to create the borders And feature design for this piece.
January 27, 2017
January 26, 2017
Moon Child
I don't know what I feel anymore. Perhaps, I'm not feeling anything at all. Again. One moment, I'm in the midst of extreme desperation for death. The next, I'm filled with false hopes of an enchanting illusion.
In this life, it's not an impossibility to have a mental illness. It's one of the few things everyone probably shares. And everyone probably hides. People just deny its existence. People still refuse to believe it, thinking it's a taboo subject you never discuss with anyone. So everyone, despite being unstable, quietly suffers. Tucking themselves under their own sheets every waking day. Embracing guilt and isolation without a second thought. Until they forget they are not in need of a helping hand. Hoping the cure is denial. Wishing time will do its part in the process of healing.
But it doesn't go away. It never does. It comes back time and time again. Haunting you without a warning. Disturbing your sleep without recourse.
It needs no explanation. Most of the time, it cannot be explained. It is just this sudden pain of existing. Fast, it turns the blue skies grey. Shattering the thin walls of sunshine you worked so hard to build. It's fear. It's emptiness. It's a mountain of nothingness. It's real.
(artwork by mark david)
January 13, 2017
Horror Movies for Breakfast
I woke up today hating the world more than I did yesterday.
I cleaned the house, like usual, and made myself coffee.
Coffee and cookies were nice. I ate breakfast in bed, with my laptop open, crying.
I thought, 'I cannot believe I'm still capable of crying.' I've been feeling really shitty again, lately, and yet, I could not shed a tear. I went numb; I could not even cry. Today was different, though. I've been crying.
These past few months, I've been thinking of running away from the only place I once thought would always be my safety net. I've ran away from everything. It's nothing personal. I love them, deeply. It's simply because of who I am as a person.
I was quite a runner, you know. I did marathons, too. But not the athletic kind.
Whenever I felt like a place was starting to suffocate me, I developed a repressed urge to leave. Like I do at a party, with a job, or a toxic friend. I called it 'suffocating', instead of 'running away from responsibilities' or 'refusing to be an adult'. Because it sounded better. It felt better pointing fingers, despite knowing it was all you all along. Like they did in horror movies.
I shut my bedroom door so they would know I didn't want to talk.
I know, it's a bad feeling. I know I will also be the one to suffer the most, because I have been dependent of them for as long as I can remember. But maybe, it's the kind of suffering I need, so I could grow.
Or maybe not. Maybe I was just trying to dig more holes, because the holes I've created have become my norm, and do not affect me anymore.
My coffee was almost gone.
I've been lost for so many years, and I'm the one to blame. But it's so difficult to change when you think everything about you is what makes you awful. When you think it is your existence that causes all the sufferings. When you think there is only one way out, and it's not pretty.
I've just finished breakfast. It was good.
(painting by andie dinkin)
January 3, 2017
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Home of Restored Ruins
This haven is one of the places you would love to actually visit. Aside from its history, it is simply a beautiful sight not only for the eyes, but as well as for the mind and soul.
We visited Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar on a Christmas break. There were light rains during our travel, but the heavy rain poured when we arrived at our destination (there was a storm signal during the day of our tour). Despite the weather, people were still flocking to Las Casas (which was not surprising). The entrance was quite disappointing. Don't get me wrong, though. They were having a lot of renovations; there was clutter, and mud. However, the walk to the reception area was the only glitch to what the park could actually offer.
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan is a heritage park and open-air museum with over 25 Spanish mansions. Owned by Jerry Acuzar, houses in the resort were dismantled and reassembled. Known for its glorious architecture, the place is also a famous vacation spot. Activities for entertainment, recreation, and relaxation are available for guests to enjoy.
DAY TOUR & ACCOMMODATION
The family opted for a day tour because we only had a day to spare (sad, I know).
Most basic, and preferred day tour package costs 999 PHP per adult person. Children are given a fifty-percent discount, and toddlers are still free of charge. Inclusive of a welcome drink (bottled water), a vicinity map, cold towel, and entrance fee and use of the beach area. Other day tour rates are more expensive because of the meal inclusion.
No reservations are needed for a heritage tour. With an hour interval, morning tour starts at 8:30 AM until 11:30 AM. Afternoon tour begins at 1:30 PM, and ends at 4:30 PM. So you can walk-in any time (or you know, between those hours so you will not wait long).
While accommodations are priced from 6,000 PHP up to 150,000 PHP (I'm not even kidding).
A map would be provided at the reception. But no map was needed to realize how enormous the park is. On a sunny day, walking would be fun to savor the journey. But since our visit was on a rainy afternoon, we chose to ride the jeepney service from Casa Lubao—one of the shuttle's pick-up point.
If you're too tired to walk from one point to another, they have two jeeps circulating the park. Or rent a calesa!
We met with our tour guide, and she was very accommodating. We were given raincoats for the tour, because walking would be involved. But some guests (one of the families in our group) rented a golf cart. So, pretty sure bicycles were up for grabs, as well.
As expected, the majestic mansions and traditional houses were amazing. Its magnificent architecture would just put you in awe. It was difficult to believe that these houses had been dismantled, moved, and restored from ruins.
The interior did not disappoint, as well. The wooden floors, capiz windows, ceilings, and other fine details sculpted in every corner were mind-blowing. These were all rebuilt to match the original structure. Incredible.
Houses were also complete with antique furniture, old-home appliance, paintings, and portraits of then owners.
HOUSE RULE
It was a basic protocol for guests to remove shoes before entering any of the houses. Comfortable footwear that were easy to remove would be a good choice. But wearing socks would be better.
HISTORY
The beauty of the place was complemented further by its rich history. The stories each house hold gave the guests a more surreal feel of the past.
On the contrary, dismantling a heritage house from where it originally stood kind of removed a part of its history. Then again, the owner took the extra mile to keep and maintain the story and glory of the mansions. Even if it meant tearing them down from the roots, piece by piece. The houses were rebuilt so meticulously; the way they stood in Bagac seemed like they had been there since the 18th Century. To preserve such ancestry in that way was, I think, more than enough than nothing at all.
But there's more. To truly give authenticity to every guest's experience; view of the mountains, rice fields, and running river are seen; making the picturesque park even more stunning by day.
Lovely sculptures were also displayed at the park.
FOOD
After the tour, we decided to eat at the first restaurant we spot—La Bella Teodora, also known as Casa Biñan. It offers pizza and other Italian cuisines.
The place was elegant. The service was nice. And the food was absolutely satisfying. The rain had stopped, too. We had pasta, bread, cold drinks and wine. Such a pleasant dining experience to match the view. Pasta menu prices ranged from 350-700 PHP.
We planned to walk some more after our heavy merienda, but the weather started acting up again. So, yes, that was cancelled. We failed to visit Paseo de Escolta, Panaderia, La Tiendecitias, and so many more (I cry). Still all smiles. Despite the exhaustion, the trip was worth it. It easily became one of my favorite unplanned getaways with the family.
Las Casas is definitely a museum to not miss. You get to enjoy and relax, and at the same time, learn and see a glimpse of the 18th Century Philippines.
(c)
We visited Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar on a Christmas break. There were light rains during our travel, but the heavy rain poured when we arrived at our destination (there was a storm signal during the day of our tour). Despite the weather, people were still flocking to Las Casas (which was not surprising). The entrance was quite disappointing. Don't get me wrong, though. They were having a lot of renovations; there was clutter, and mud. However, the walk to the reception area was the only glitch to what the park could actually offer.
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan is a heritage park and open-air museum with over 25 Spanish mansions. Owned by Jerry Acuzar, houses in the resort were dismantled and reassembled. Known for its glorious architecture, the place is also a famous vacation spot. Activities for entertainment, recreation, and relaxation are available for guests to enjoy.
DAY TOUR & ACCOMMODATION
The family opted for a day tour because we only had a day to spare (sad, I know).
Most basic, and preferred day tour package costs 999 PHP per adult person. Children are given a fifty-percent discount, and toddlers are still free of charge. Inclusive of a welcome drink (bottled water), a vicinity map, cold towel, and entrance fee and use of the beach area. Other day tour rates are more expensive because of the meal inclusion.
No reservations are needed for a heritage tour. With an hour interval, morning tour starts at 8:30 AM until 11:30 AM. Afternoon tour begins at 1:30 PM, and ends at 4:30 PM. So you can walk-in any time (or you know, between those hours so you will not wait long).
While accommodations are priced from 6,000 PHP up to 150,000 PHP (I'm not even kidding).
A map would be provided at the reception. But no map was needed to realize how enormous the park is. On a sunny day, walking would be fun to savor the journey. But since our visit was on a rainy afternoon, we chose to ride the jeepney service from Casa Lubao—one of the shuttle's pick-up point.
If you're too tired to walk from one point to another, they have two jeeps circulating the park. Or rent a calesa!
We met with our tour guide, and she was very accommodating. We were given raincoats for the tour, because walking would be involved. But some guests (one of the families in our group) rented a golf cart. So, pretty sure bicycles were up for grabs, as well.
As expected, the majestic mansions and traditional houses were amazing. Its magnificent architecture would just put you in awe. It was difficult to believe that these houses had been dismantled, moved, and restored from ruins.
The interior did not disappoint, as well. The wooden floors, capiz windows, ceilings, and other fine details sculpted in every corner were mind-blowing. These were all rebuilt to match the original structure. Incredible.
Houses were also complete with antique furniture, old-home appliance, paintings, and portraits of then owners.
HOUSE RULE
It was a basic protocol for guests to remove shoes before entering any of the houses. Comfortable footwear that were easy to remove would be a good choice. But wearing socks would be better.
HISTORY
The beauty of the place was complemented further by its rich history. The stories each house hold gave the guests a more surreal feel of the past.
On the contrary, dismantling a heritage house from where it originally stood kind of removed a part of its history. Then again, the owner took the extra mile to keep and maintain the story and glory of the mansions. Even if it meant tearing them down from the roots, piece by piece. The houses were rebuilt so meticulously; the way they stood in Bagac seemed like they had been there since the 18th Century. To preserve such ancestry in that way was, I think, more than enough than nothing at all.
But there's more. To truly give authenticity to every guest's experience; view of the mountains, rice fields, and running river are seen; making the picturesque park even more stunning by day.
Lovely sculptures were also displayed at the park.
FOOD
After the tour, we decided to eat at the first restaurant we spot—La Bella Teodora, also known as Casa Biñan. It offers pizza and other Italian cuisines.
The place was elegant. The service was nice. And the food was absolutely satisfying. The rain had stopped, too. We had pasta, bread, cold drinks and wine. Such a pleasant dining experience to match the view. Pasta menu prices ranged from 350-700 PHP.
We planned to walk some more after our heavy merienda, but the weather started acting up again. So, yes, that was cancelled. We failed to visit Paseo de Escolta, Panaderia, La Tiendecitias, and so many more (I cry). Still all smiles. Despite the exhaustion, the trip was worth it. It easily became one of my favorite unplanned getaways with the family.
Las Casas is definitely a museum to not miss. You get to enjoy and relax, and at the same time, learn and see a glimpse of the 18th Century Philippines.
(c)