REFLEKTOR: FIRST MAGIC

The first magic of 2013. Happy New Year!

MORE FUN IN ACTPACO

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! CHALLENGE ACCOMPLISHED!

It was a wonderful term, a fulfilling experiment for my first stint as a professor for Accounting for Partnership and Corporation (ACTPACO). 

First, all of my four classes were full, a population of above forty - attributed mostly to the recommendation of their peers. With that handful of students, I had to exercise proper class discipline (making sure the students were attentive) while exchanging jokes, anecdotes, and conyo talks in between accounting problems (making sure the students were not bored).

Second, my lecture breaks of showing advertisements - radio, print, but mostly television commercials - finally had a name. 30secondTHOUGHTS is the creative ice breaker, given just in time when students' heads were about to explode with accounting theories and computations. The advertisements are compiled in this blogspot.

Third, the Monday-Wednesday schedule was made memorable (and tiresome) thanks to my LS Building - Andrew Building regular sprint. It was a hurried ten-minute dash from one building to the far and opposite establishment, just barely enough time to start the next class on time. I am thankful for that faculty elevator; had it not for that privilege, I would have lined up with other students in the regular elevator and would have started the classes almost twenty minutes late. Gladly, my next term schedule is to be held at the LS Building only.

Next, I celebrated my quartermark this particular term. I gave a bonus quiz to students who attended the class lecture during my birthday as my surprise gift to them.

Finally, one of the most fulfilling part of teaching is letting students know the fun side of accounting and the fruitful reward of learning. That although numbers are a regular source of phobia, one must learn to enjoy the process of learning and computing. That an accounting lesson extends far beyond computations - it can allocate time for creativity and real life lessons. That accounting and boredom are not necessarily relatives. That it was indeed MORE FUN IN ACTPACO.   

BUHANGIN

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Puerto Princesa Circa 2009, Pre-Mohawk

BARAS

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Buhangin, translated to Cuyonon, a local dialect in Palawan

Circa 2009, Pre-Mohawk

REFLEKTOR: SKYLINE SHERRYL

Makati Executive Tower 3, 2012.

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Look closely. She's telling you something.

REFLEKTOR: IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIM

Mount Sinai House Circa 2011.

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What an inspiration heartbreak can become. I took these photos for my friend, who at that time was recovering from a terrible break-up. She is doing great now. But these photos, shall always be in remembrance of her former flame.

REFLEKTOR: THE SKY IS BLUE

Sagan Residence, Circa 2011
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My first godson's first photoshoot courtesy of his ninong. He is now one and a half year old. Time flies so fast. Sky, may utang pa si ninong na regalo. Bawi ako sa August.

REFLEKTOR: CRYSTAL CLAIR

Galas Beach, 2011
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My first hand in amateur portrait photography about a year ago. My high school friends Clair and Glenn were model and assistant, in that order.

THE MORNING AFTER

THE MORNING AFTER

SLEEP
You are there asleep.
Tucked in sheets,
Waves of endless
Pursuit made last night.

SHOWER
You bathe and
Water flows, washing away
Scents of your
Midnight blossom.

SUNNY-SIDE UP

You eat and
Caress the cup’s edge,
Delighting thoughts
Of the dark’s buffet.

SHIRT
You stand still
And I clothe you,
Hiding remnants of
Ways I traveled with.

SHUTTLE
You bid a kiss,
A long travel still.
“At set,” you said,
“We’ll meet again”.

SCRUB
You have left me
To clean these stains,
Some marks of sin
Breathed over lunch.

SECRET
You work and
Your love waits.
Not me; but the other –
I am, thus, a sin.


SIGH
You are then

Remembered,
The skin lingering
With the afternoon rain.

SOUP
You will share with me
Broth for dinner,
Its simmer
Waiting for reply.

SUBWAY
You meet the train
At half past ten,
Two roads still –
Of one to hear you knock.

SHIVER
You are the
Question of this lie,
The ambiguity of
Your return.

SWEAT
You have arrived,
Drizzled in midnight
Shadows, secrets
Not known in light.

SUPPER
You mingle the soup,
Words become your fondle.
“The best”, you said.
“I know.”


SHHH
You flush our sins
With just one kiss,
Promises to drown
By this goodbye.

SHEETS
You drape the path
As we unzip,
Of nights of pleasure,
Of days to guilt.

SKIN
You travel north,
The south I traverse.
In deep, my love,
Shall be the end.

SLEEP
You are there asleep.
Tucked in sheets,
Waves of last pursuit…


… We made tonight.

REFLEKTOR: SHOULDER

Room 803, Malate, Manila

REFLEKTOR: SIMULA

 Siquijor, Circa 2010

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Siquijor is a small island of mystique. It is a just a ferry ride away from Dumaguete City where I studied for my undergrad course but it was only when I was working in Makati that I visited the island for the first time.

I took this picture of my college friend entering San Isidore Labradore Church and Convent, dubbed as the largest convent in Asia, with my then point-and-shoot camera. I knew she was entering the church so I framed the camera to the angle above and waited for her to proceed towards the door - and alas, I pressed the shutter! It was a spontaneous and planned snapshot.

REFLEKTOR: BATIS

   Siquijor, Circa 2010

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Cambugahay Falls in Lazi, Siquijor. One should go here. The water is pristine and the air is refreshing. An immaculate sight. A perfect canvass painted by nature.

REFLEKTOR: SILIP

   Room 803, Malate Manila

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This is the view that accompanies me during the night. It is my own friend, a secret beauty. For in my room, I talk to no one. My roommates do not talk to me nor do I talk to them - this cycle has been going for one year now. So, I vast in this landscape knowing that somewhere in those structures lies a good friend who can actually talk to me and I to him or her.

REFLEKTOR: KALIPAY

 
    Cebu, Sinulog 2011

REFLEKTOR: MANINISID

   Puerto Galera, Circa 2009

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I took this picture the first time I went to Puerto Galera with my college friends back in 2009. On our final hours in the island, I decided to have an alone time and went to the shore to get some snapshots with my then point-and-shoot camera. I spotted these children playing around the boat, diving underwater and swimming with the tides like the ocean was their very playground. I asked them if I could take a photo of them, to which they gamely complied. After the pose, they became a little chatty and revealed to me that their diving skills was a necessary tool of the trade - they dive for peso coins thrown underwater by visitors for entertainment.

Such pity, I realized. A peso thrown away just for a blink of puerile happiness. Why not give the coins directly to them?

It's been three years since I last went to the Puerto. These kids might have grown by a foot by now. I wonder if their fate is still the same though. Diving for coins, for pity, for your momentary joy.