Cebu Blog Camp 2011!

I know I haven't blogged in ages, plus I still have pending blog entries, but I can't wait for next weekend, so I just have to post this.

It's my first time to attend the annual Cebu Blog Camp this year, and became aware of this through Hendri, who had attended last year's blog camp.

Of course, I just had to attend. One of the primary reasons could be... well, I've been blogging for as long as I can remember. I started blogging way back in 2001 (yes, 10 years ago!), and I guess it's pretty apt to attend after 10 years of blogging. I'm pretty much an old-school blogger, as I love writing long entries without even bothering to create tags of any sort, and despite the fact that there are already convenient ways of microblogging, I still settle for old-school entry-writing, no matter how short some entries could be.

Second, it would be a good opportunity to travel and meet new people. My goodness, I'm finally going to Cebu, hahaha!

Next, the topics to be discussed are pretty interesting and useful. There will be talks on photography (shoutout to my DSLR camera sponsor for this trip, hahaha), travel and social media marketing. I think I saw a few other topics in the program as well, so it makes me even more excited. The lectures would be such great help to spruce things up in my blog.

Fourth, the event sounds really promising. My curiosity made me so persistent to go. Who knows, after the blog camp's over, I turn this into an annual trip.

One final reason is... Hmmm... what else? Well, it's nice to do something random and something that's not part of your routine every once in a while. And this is it for me right now. I'm traveling to Cebu alone just for the sole reason of being part of this event.

Oh, by the way, I'll be staying an extra day in Cebu, just in case anyone's there who's willing to adopt me and take me around the place, hahaha. I did hear that we'll might go island-hopping, so I sure hope that pushes through.

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The Cebu blog Camp is an event organized annually by the Cebu Bloggers of the Blog and Soul Movement which is the educating leg of the Philippine Blog Awards Inc. which has been running for already four years. This is the largest gathering of bloggers in Cebu.

THE CEBU BLOG CAMP 2011

is co-presented by

 

Bronze Sponsors

Geiser Maclang Marketing Communications, Inc.

 

Media and Institution Partners

Official Web Browser

Official TV Media Partner

Official Online Print Media

Official Photo-Social Media Partner

DONOR

Academy for International Culinary Arts

Wow, a brief post on a simple thought.

While we were talking, you said certain things that made me think. Which of them rings true? Which ones were the jokes? And could they be half-truths? Haha, I'm just being cynical.

I missed you. Like I said, tagal na tayong di nagkukwentuhan. So there were updates, serious talks, even some gossip, and joking around, even though the time was pretty limited.

Thanks for the time today. Looking forward to the next time I see you and hang out with you, as you had promised. See you real soon. And your treat next time, hahaha! =)

Not much, really.

This past week has kept me occupied, and I'm glad for that. I'm grateful for the things that have been happening, for friends both old and new, and all the things that I'm learning every day.

First, some quotable quotes.

In Peaberry Cafe with Erik...
Me: (on what to order) Handa na ba ako for something cold?
Erik: ...like my heart.

Ano buh.

Anyway, after work and a short nap yesterday, I went to CCP early, because I knew that if I stayed in Makati, I might do some unnecessary spending on food and whatnot in the malls. So I was off to CCP so I don't have to see so much that I have to spend on. At first, I decided to stay in the LT lobby and possibly catch a few minutes of sleep there, but once I settled down on the carpet, I found the place really hot. So I left and decided to check out if the air conditioner at the Silangan Hall was on, so I could possibly stay there for a while. Once I reached the 4th floor, I heard voices (well, just one voice, really) coming from Silangan. When I walked over to take a peak, it was Carlos Celdran, conducting his Living La Vida Imelda CCP tour. It was also hot in the venue, and everyone was fanning themselves with whatever they had with them. I ended up staying and listening, even though I wasn't really part of the tour. I even separated myself and just sat on the steps leading to the hall.

One of the ladies in the back of the group then turned to look behind her, and when I saw who she was, I was surprised to see that it was my former Playshop classmate Jolina! I haven't seen her in years, and it was great to see her again. We quietly said hi to each other before we both turned our attention back to Carlos.

When they changed venues, I decided to head downstairs to get some water in the buffeteria. Then I noticed Allie standing outside the artists entrance, so I decided to say hi and have a bit of small talk.

Allie: Mukhang ako lang sa batch natin ang nakapag Main Theater, hahaha.

Haha, I love that. It's pretty sad to know that not a lot of people in our chosen course decided to pursue theater in the long run. I guess practicality is more than just an option for them.

And this conversation was related to my next one, when I ran into Jolina and her husband in the LT lobby while they were taking a break before their tour group had to head over to PICC for the next leg of the tour. We were catching up on each other's news, and of course she had asked why I was there in CCP.

Jolina: Parang ikaw lang sa class natin ang tumuloy talaga sa theater.

It was partly true, though Lawyn is also in the industry, thanks to my crazy influences. I guess to most, theater is really more like a hobby than a career.

I can't wait for this coming season. TP's Noli Me Tangere The Musical already made a press release today, announcing the cast.

I realize that I still think too much. I guess it's the Sagittarian in me. But then again, it's also still just me. Sometimes I just let things and thoughts flow from my mind, to my fingers, to a piece of notebook paper, or to a notepad file on my phone, or to this blog. But sometimes I also just start thinking, and thinking even more, then I edit. Like I told my friend, sometimes I don't trust myself in writing what I think and feel right away. I'm afraid I might get too tactless no matter how cryptic I try to be. Heck, I've already lessened the frequent posts in my private blog because I remembered how shocked I was when I found myself angrily typing when a thought was still fresh in my mind. And to think I usually use my blogs and journals to de-stress.

Though sometimes, I enjoy just being candid when I write. That's what made most of my writing style, really.

And once again, that card reading rings true more and more each day.

RPT recital is drawing near. Next week. Oh my. More thoughts on that on another post, maybe tomorrow. For now, I just noticed how the days really fly.

Stop and think. Stop thinking.

It's nearing the end of the Holy Week, and I feel as if it's sort of any other ordinary week, as I still continued to go to work during my regular working days. Sometimes Julie, Faye and I joke about being "money slaves" as it seems that there were more people on the floor than usual during the holidays.

Considering the fact that there were hardly any commuter buses yesterday, Good Friday, my dad was kind enough to drive me to work, so I arrived an hour earlier than usual. So that gave me an extra hour to dial, woohoo! The same thing happened this morning, so I managed to clock in an extra hour as well. Thanks for the rides, Dad!

This past week gave way to a flurry of thoughts in my mind, and I kept thinking about trivial things that I shouldn't even be thinking about. Talking it out with a couple of friends (and a couple of times, with friends involved) helped me sort things out and gave me clearer insight on both sides, and despite my usual skepticism, I told myself that I should just shrug it off for now, as I have no right to worry about things like these.

Sometimes, it annoys me how some people could just stick their nose in someone else's business or conversation. And how some people manage to gossip and joke at someone else's expense. I know I've been warned about people like these, but when I come face to face with these actual people, I seem to think that I never learn. But then again, I also have my fair share of this kind of behavior. Oh well. But still. Arg.

There are some days that certain thoughts come drifting back, but I guess I just have to acknowledge them before pushing them back in the back of my mind again.

Part of Lara's card reading for me at the beginning of the new year is starting to come true. I really now have new insights on that particular aspect Now I just have to follow what was told and stop feeling guilty for my actions.

...for most of the time, I guess. And accept.

But then sometimes there are things that come my way and then I have to think all over again.

Whatever. I might end up re-reading this blog post another time and even edit it.

By the way, interesting how this surprising text came sometime today. What came over you and suddenly asked a random question to start a conversation like that? Hahaha. I actually missed you.

OK, normal days are coming back this coming week. Time to move on. Focus.

Just a few things in mind.

"Ikaw lang ba dapat ang maging considerate as a friend?"

A friend had mentioned that during a conversation today. Interesting, but yeah, that's a thought.

Not much on this entry. Just a few snippets.

There seems to be lots of brooding in the air. I feel it. I know a couple of friends brooding because of each other, and I'm also on the receiving end of another similar situation.

Plus, what's with all these crazy shoutouts in Facebook? As much as I'd want to know, I'd rather not ask.

I guess the summer heat must be getting to us.

Chill muna tayo.

Just blogging away. Just hodgepodge.

When I had said that I don't get to blog as often as before, I admitted that I missed writing. "You should keep writing," a director had said recently when he and I were sitting together with some friends one random night. Apparently he used to read my blog frequently. I have a fan? Ahahaha.

Anyway, so here I am, just randomly typing away another possibly random entry containing hodgepodge of thoughts that I could easily dump into a public post. Well, I actually miss this. I do miss writing in general.

So let's start, shall we? Oh yeah, I already have.

A few evenings ago, my acting teacher had asked if I will be working for a couple of plays next season, and I said that I only knew of the first play of the season. Apparently I was already listed on the roster for the children's play for the same season. And when I visited the office a couple of days ago, I confirmed it. Yep, I was on the list. I have two plays on my list this year, yay.

Then my former CCT trainer contacted me via Facebook chat a few nights ago. She said that our company's looking for new CCT trainers, and she told me to apply. My goodness, it was such a tempting offer, especially because she was encouraging me that I would do well. Plus if ever I pass, the pay would be pretty sweet.

As much as I want to be practical, most especially with money, plus the fact that I do want to give it a shot, I'm afraid that I might have to pass up on the offer. Maybe because I'm still really content with what's been going on lately. Having this part-time job while still having my foot in the theater door has been pretty good to me, especially beginning a couple of months from now.

Oh well, I could still change my mind. We'll see.

I missed this blog.

It's been almost a month since I last posted a blog. Woah. That's how busy I was these past several weeks. I missed blogging, and I even said out loud to a bunch of people one night that I haven't blogged anything in quite some time now. How ironic. And to think that my last before this was also about blogging.

Anyway, while I'm taking a break from reading a few pages from Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest (more on that later), it's time to update.

I finally got to breathe after finishing 3 events in CSB--a full-length play written by one of the students, a dance revue, and a battle of the bands contest (wait, that last one sounded somewhat redundant). They all happened with only one week in between, but the play rehearsals were the ones that got to me because of the last nights, then I had to come to the office early the following morning. Talk about ngarag.

I've been faced, or still facing, a certain strange and awkward situation. I'd rather not elaborate, but I guess I'm just glad that there are things that I found out now from certain people instead of from others. What just irked me was that there were some epal people who first started listening in on private conversations, assuming that it was alright for them to do so. Right now, I'm still trying to figure out how to handle what's possibly been going on, and preparing myself for what could possibly happen so I wouldn't have to go all crazy once we get there.

In my last post, I mentioned a blog camp, and I haven't decided yet about going. I had checked the airfare going there and back, and I guess part of my decision is how much I'd be spending once I get my latest paycheck. Haha, I just found out a few days ago that the person I referred to at work got accepted, so there would be more money coming in as an incentive for that. So I guess I'll have to view my paycheck first tomorrow before I decide, as there are still other stuff that I'm paying for as well.

One of those is (what else?) this summer's workshop under TP. Sir Dennis is back teaching Rehearsal and Performance Techniques, and because I felt hanging after the AC's last session of script analysis class, I went ahead and enrolled for this class. Rayna's assisting, so it would be cool that she'd also be in the class.

So there, we're doing The Importance of Being Earnest for our recital. It's actually pretty cool that the number of characters is the same as how many we are in the class, unlike the last times I was in RPT. I'm actually pretty excited to do this play, especially after having read it through at least a couple of times this week. I still get these bouts of low self-esteem when it comes to my acting abilities, but hopefully I outgrow it soon. Apparently Sir Dennis said that I'm a late bloomer when it comes to acting, and I do believe he's right.

I'm also supposed to be on vocal rest right now. I was sent home from work Wednesday morning, but because I had the battle of the bands event that day (hence the purpose of dialing as early as 4am that day), I couldn't help but disregard the office clinic's EENT's advice to go home and not go to the event. Ack. But I spent one day of vocal rest already, except for the fact that I had to speak for 4 hours during workshop class. Ack, I'm such a bad patient.

Anyway, it's back to the script for the mute little me for a little while before I hit the sack.

To you, the reader, how are you lately? Yes, of course I want to hear from you too.