The future

I love my baby cousins! They're the best models! They're so "artistahin", it's crazy! I can't believe my cousins have been auditioning for commercials already. They also take voice lessons and they seem very serious about making a career out of it. I was so dumbstruck during my cousin's seventh birthday party, because she completely took the stage like! She was dancing and singing so confidently like a pro. Did I say she's only seven? I remember, when I was their age I was pressured to perform by my parents. I had stage fright and I absolutely hated the extra attention. Their generation is so different from ours. It's so entertaining to see my cousins performing at their own will. They clearly know what they want - to be famous. Maybe just for now. But, who knows? That's how all stars emerge.

Casa Bonifacio

My Tito Rey's house in La Union is breathtaking! Whenever I go to La Union to visit, I always look forward to laying at the poolside chairs, while looking out at the peaceful sunset. Of course, the Balinese furniture also largely contributes to the laid-back aura of the house. Last January, I couldn't resist taking pictures of the exquisite works of art. It's so inspiring how much attentiveness to detail was put on to these fixtures. It's amazing how our hands can produce such extravagant things! My mother always said, "In order to produce something awe-inspiring, you need passion, persistence, commitment, and your full effort." I hope to embed these qualities deeply in my system one day!

P.S. It's so ironic that I'm posting about furniture, when my family business initially started as a modest furniture business, but with passion, persistence, commitment and effort, my grandparents brought it to new heights. I guess the fascination with furniture continues to run through my blood. Now all I need is to instill these qualities in me, just like my grandparents.

Soul Sisters

I miss my soul sisters - Mish and Isara. I've been so blessed to have them with me in Canada for the past four years. It's amazing how long we managed to be so close after all those years! Most of my first year friends have vanished, but you girls have remained with me till the very end! I can't imagine surviving Canada without you two. Our bond is undeniably special! Even distance can't break us apart.

Sisters forever! Love you girlies! I miss you every single day! :x

Remember this photoshoot we had for your combined birthday party? Those were the days, huh? I enjoyed being behind the camera as much as you two enjoyed being the models. We had an amazing dynamic!

FACES

When I was young I was fascinated with faces. I spent hours and hours drawing different faces from my own head. Yup, I was quite an imaginative kid. Every time I drew a different character, it somehow ends up looking somewhat like me. Of course, this is not a new phenomenon. A lot of artists end up unintentionally painting themselves. It's definitely not vanity, it's simply inherent. Faces have been the primary focus of my early works so naturally, in photography, faces became my favorite subjects. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by lovely people with different features that exude different kinds of beauty. I particularly love taking candid pictures of people in their natural environment (a la Brigitte Lacombe). It's incredibly difficult to capture people's genuine expressions that somehow contribute to their own peculiarity, like Julia Robert's laugh, Drew Barrymore's smirk, or Dakota Fanning's stare. Reproducing the essence of a person is timeless photography, which I believe Brigitte Lacombe masters effortlessly. One day I want to be just like her - the master of her own craft.