What is lost and what is gained with a camera..

I went out with my officemates to watch the latest installment of Harry Potter on IMAX at the SM Mall of Asia last night, and although none of us is a fanatic of the Boy who lived, that experience was really something worth every penny. I was even excited to try watching inside imax theater, so I made sure to bring our digital camera with me, you know, so I can have a memory of the first time I watched on that BIG screen. But I guess I was just too busy laughing so hard with my friends, and enjoying the moment that I actually forgot about my camera altogether.

Somehow, it's sad that I can't post a photo of that experience on my facebook, or I can't even put a picture here in my blog. Surely, it will be a lot of fun if I only took sometime to point and shoot with my camera, then there will be more thread in my comment box. But somehow, I felt like that day was meant to be felt and enjoyed rather than to be shared or preserved. Somehow it felt like a precious second will pass me by if I've let myself pose still in front of a camera, or maybe our smiles won't be that genuine compared to how I saw it with my bare eyes.

With the presence of digital cameras and DSLR made more affordable, I guess people is beginning to have this clamor for framing every possible moment with their favorite gadget. A camera is viewed most essential in an outing, family affairs, group dates, and get together. And although something is gained with a digital camera, I guess some people is starting to be unaware of what is lost within a lens and a shutter.

Hmmm.. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with taking photos, of course we all want a remembrance of that once in a lifetime moment, right? Especially for those functions that happens once a year, or some that won't even happen again, I guess having a camera is a must. It preserves memories, it gives us a proof of something that happened, "hindi lang puro kwento..". But after all the "say cheese!", is it not nice to keep your gadget and just talk and mingle with everyone else?

I guess our mind is blessed with its own way of recording things although some people may have shorter term memory than the most. Our heart has its way of recalling how happy we were at a certain moment. We can even be our own story tellers, we can tell a story that is more vivid than a photograph.

If you'll only consider it, there are things that are better caught with your own memory rather than with a piece of memory stick. There are things that is more beautiful when you see it with your eyes, rather than through a lens. There are sounds, like that of your friend's laughter, that you can't hear from a printed photograph. There are moments that is more meaningful to relive over a simple chitchat that can't be replaced by your comment box. I guess, no matter how handy a digital camera is, your heart is still be best place to keep those memories, those laughters, or that awkward moment.

So flash your sweetest smile not just for the camera, but because someone might be trying to keep a memory of it in his mind. Who knows, he might even keep it in his heart forever.

Disappointments.

I guess being disappointed in small things often hurts as much as disappointments in big things. It's not just about a person being unwilling or incapable of fulfilling promises or simple favors, it's also about the other person feeling unworthy of such favors.

But asking for and doing favors are equally important in building a relationship. It leads us to being someone whom other people can depend on, someone accountable, a man of our word, someone considerate. Asking favor can teach us to trust other people, and helps us to be more understanding when it's not met. It shows how to lower our expectations, and to be grateful when someone delivers.

Even in our work place, it is important to learn to say no when you can't instead of saying "Yes" and back down eventually. I guess we should realize that as a part of a team, or a company, we start building our team work by simply fulfilling our promises or delivering the things we are expected to do in and outside our work place. We all have our limitations, but raising other people's hope only to fail them isn't a good way to earn their confidence and respect. If you can't, say it, it's much better than getting them deliberately disappointed.

Trust is something we earn, and we earn it in both little and big things. So keep your words when you can and try to make up when you can't. I know other people will do the same for you if you will be a good example for them. I guess, "palabra de onor.." is still a filipino virtue, right?

It's a "Me" day! :)

It's Saturday, my favorite day of the week aside from Sunday. While Sunday is a family day, and God's day, we often allocate saturday for our personal gala or bonding with our own group of friends. But since the plan to watch movies with my officemates didn't materialize, I just decided on going solo, as usual. :)

First stop! Sunset by the bay..

I remember the last time I sat down alone on the MOA seaside, it was after my exam and initial interview for SPi, the company where I work right now. After three months, I found myself staring at the sunset again and wondering about so many things, enjoying the view, watching couples and families, barkadas or best friends take their time off while I was there, all alone.

Next! My own piece of heaven!

Back in college, I often spent my time inside a bookstore, specially when the time got too tough and everything was stressing me out. But unlike before, when I only borrow the books I read, this time I decided to buy Eat Pray Love and Have a little faith. Two books I really wanted to read for so long.

One more thing! I also found my brother with his girlfriend inside the bookstore, and I realized how we really are siblings that we both always visit a bookstore when we go to a mall. I wasn't really expecting to see him, especially with his first girlfriend, but seeing him holding hands with her, that really made me smile a lot. :))

Next stop! Naked Juice Bar!

I bought papaya shake at the naked juice bar, but unlike the usual shake which is made with milk and sugar, that one was made of pure papaya and ice but a lot sweeter. It's really refreshing!

The high light! Fireworks while raining.

It's the lighting ceremony for the Firefly's giant christmas tree. Kids wearing a firefly costume, with some light on their butt, performed something while waiting for 7pm. They were pretty cute, but the huge crowd, plus a light drizzle wasn't really helping.

At exactly 7:00pm, the fireworks and the heavy rain started, but instead of leaving, the whole crowd enjoyed the lights and the water pouring out from heaven. I only got my jacket on, and I spread my arms to feel the rain on my face. That was really awesome. :)

Monster Meal at Shakey's..

My other brother was also at Moa with his officemates, so he asked me to join them for dinner. The food was great, at P17oo only, you can have a meal good for 12 people. Not bad. :)

Last stop, Pete's place.

It's a bar with a band performing for the audience's entertainment. The singers were wearing tube dress, showing most of their legs, and their boobs! No wonder a lot of guys were having a good time! But kidding aside, they were a bunch of good singers. And not to mention, funny. :)

The best treat! A good night sleep! :)

After a long day I hit the sack around 1am. A little tipsy from a bottle of light beer and tired from the whole day of having fun. So despite of all the itch on my back because of some allergy in alcoholic drinks, I really had a good sleep. and that was more than a weekend getaway can offer.

So, that ends my "me" day.

I hope you too can have a day for yourself. Yeah, we all deserve a day off. :)

*happy weekend! :)