Rainy Days

   How do you spend your rainy days? A question not asked enough, in my opinion. Do you go out into the rain and splash around in puddles? Do you read books till your eyes can't take it? Do you lay in bed and watch movies till it stops? I decided to answer this question.

   Let's get one thing straight, I love rain. I love being caved in, and using umbrellas, and yes, even occasionally splashing in puddles. But one thing I really, super, duper love about rain is its metaphorical reasonance: without pain, we couldn't know joy. Now I'm not saying that rainy days are painful. What I'm saying is that without rainy and gloomy days how could we determine the dark days from the bright ones? 

   How do I like to spend rainy days? That's easy. 

I place my mattresses against the wall to cushion my back, cover myself with my blanket, and write. 

And if the rain is pounding on the window, I turn on my Nano and listen to the radio (mainly 105.5 ((check them out)). 

Well, there you have it. Rainy days are pretty chill for me. 

   

   

   

   

Well Spent Wednesday

   The Salcedo Park has finally reopened! Sadly, the park closed two days after me moved to Salcedo. So we had only been there once or twice until yesterday.

   Yesterday we went to the park and got some fresh air. The park looks brand new. The playground is cleaner, the sidewalks look better, and the grass is nice. We practically stayed there the whole day. I loved seeing my brothers and sister smile while they played at the playground and rode their scooters around the park. While they were doing so, I read. After finishing Paper Towns, which was amazing (John Green has done it again), I reread The Fault In Our Stars. This is probably my third time reading TFIOS, it never gets old. After about an hour we took a break at Coffee Bean, which is right across the street from the park, and had gingerbread cookies. We stayed there till it got dark so we could see the lights that hung from the tree. It was beautiful.

   All in all we had a great day. Were so happy the park is open. And can't wait to go back.

 

Through The Lenses

   Recently I started a job. A job in the field of photography. I did "BTS" or "Behind The Scenes" shots for a WJG Asia photo shoot. I got to learn from and watch professional photographers such as Duke Rodriguez and Cholo Dela Vega. We shot my mom, Mafae Belasco, her partner Lana Johnson, and actress/ model/ fashion consultant Maricar De Mesa.

   Photography, I started having interest when I started my Instagram. There I got to see pictures taken by professional photographers all around the world, I was inspired. I started seeing the world in a different way. Opportunities everywhere, pictures everywhere. Even the smallest speck in the air caught my eye. At the time I didn't have a camera, so I used my phone. I ended up having 3,000 plus pictures in my camera roll. Unable to resist the urge to take a picture of everything. From there on I started my "Photographic Journey".

   Yesterday I got to work with Duke Rodriguez and Cholo Dela Vega. Cholo recently photographed (a friend of my mom) Jing Monis' Hair Magazine or "Hairzine". The first ever of its kind. And I got to work with him... what an honor! I did the "Behind The Scenes" shots for the WJG Asia shoot. Duke shot my my mom, Mafae Belasco, and her partner Lana Johnson. And Cholo shot my Tita, Maricar De Mesa. I learned so much from the both of them. Like the different equipment and how they're used, different settings on the camera, and much more. I watched them take pictures and fix even the slightest details. I also learned that photography isn't as easy as it looks. It takes a lot of time and effort. And patience, lots of patience. Theres fixing all the equipment, making sure everything is perfect and running the way it should be. And then you have to wait for the models to finish their hair and make up. Nonetheless it was a fun shoot, I had a great time.

   In conclusion, Ill say this. Photography is a journey, just like life. And Im taking it, Im adventuring. Its complicated and theres much to learn. But Im excited and hungry for more.

Filipino Pride

  Recently the Gilas Pilipinas ended their Fiba experience with a 1-4 record. I'm very proud of  all of my dad's friends on the team! They finished with a bang, defeating Senegal 81-79. And shocked the world with their return to the tournament, it's been a while.

  On the night of the fourth game, against Puerto Rico, we decided to watch at Dillingers (a restaurant at Greenbelt, here in Manila) with my parent's friends. They picked us up and we drove there in excitement. It was a "Do-or-Die" game for both teams, meaning the winner would go on in the tournament and the loser would lose their chance of getting a spot in the next round. As soon as we parked we heard a loud roar from a nearby restaurant. We walked past the crowd. Every time the Gilas scored they'd jump up and shout in excitement. The same went for almost every restaurant we passed. You could feel it in the air, Philippine Pride.

    It was a super close game. But in the end they lost to Puerto Rico 77-73, another tough one. All of the Gilas games were close. They were an exciting team to watch. They showed the world what the Philippines can do. And I'm one Proud Pinoy. Puso!

The Law Of Attraction

  I believe in the Law Of Attraction. It was first introduced to me by my mom, who at the time was studying Kabbalah. Here's how it works: think of something you want (whether it be physical or mental, anything). Think hard and act as if you already have what you desire. Then you ask "The Creator", whoever you think it is (I don't discriminate), for what you want. After doing so, you wait. I tried this out a couple of days ago.

  There are these little spray painted graffiti "WHY"s all over Makati. And I've been searching everywhere for them ever since I heard of their existence and how difficult it is to find them. I thought, why not use the Law Of Attraction? So I did. "I will find one, I have found one." I thought to myself. Then I asked "The Creator" and waited. While doing so we were in the car on our way to my dad's radio interview on The Joyride (Wave 89.1). We were about to cross the street when my dad said, "Nico look!". Sure enough, on the first line of the crosswalk was a "WHY". I was amazed. It worked! I've used it a couple of times since then. And I've learned one lesson; ask and you shall receive. Don't ask WHY, give it a try.

Reading

  Majority of teenagers these days think reading is boring. And I find that quite sad. I guess you can call me a "nerd" or a "book worm" because I like to read. I'm okay with that, I like it actually. Most people my age think reading isn't cool. And to that I say, don't judge a book by its cover. They are missing out. Reading can take you anywhere you imagine. You can be whoever you want and do whatever you want. You can be a ghost haunting kids, a man on the moon, a caveman from centuries ago, anything you imagine. All you have to do is choose a book. And when I read all of my problems disappear. Things that bother me suddenly go away. Escaping reality in an instant, for as long as I want. It bring happiness to me. Give it a try, you might enjoy it.

Friends

  Lately, I've been getting messages from friends. Friends here in the Philippines, friends in the States. They're all asking the same question: "where are you going to school?". And the answer is nowhere. I'll be homeschooled. Lots of my friends have been sending me really emotional messages. And I've realized how much I mean to them. I am truly blessed to have the friends I have, both in the states and in the Philippines. My friends in the states are amazing. They helped me get through majority of Middle School. And my friends here, I've known them since third grade. They're like family to me. Thank you guys for being there for me. I feel so loved. And I don't know what Id do without you. You guys mean the world to me.