Be Happy

One of the famous advertisements here in the Philippines is that of a multivitamin. I guess it was because of its tagline - Be Happy. Another known politician in this country used a similar campaign motto during the May 2010 elections - Gusto ko happy ka (i.e. I want you to be happy). I guess it's a common thought that everyone wants to be happy - may it be in one's personal life, love life, career or family life. I also share that thought - I also want to be happy. But I personally think that one's happiness relies on how one defines happiness. For one, I am happy with the simple things - lose 2-3 lbs, a 3-day weekend, good rest from a stressful week at work, digital scrapbooking, travelling to local and foreign places, and a simple hug and kiss from my little one Zion.

For my layout today, I feature my cousin Josie during our trip to Lake Pandin (as part of the Viaje del Sol trip) in the province of Laguna. To be honest (and she might get pissed with this comment), my cousin Josie is not really fond of smiling. She is normally the serious type, mukhang problemado sa buhay type of girl. There should be some good reason before she actually smiles, albeit laugh. It is during this rare occassions, during these more relaxing moments, when I actually see my cousin smile. And I am glad that I've got my camera ready to capture this kind of moments.

By the way, to my cousin Josie, belated happy happy birthday (last October 15)!! Hope to see you smile more frequently. :-D

Journalling: If you want to Be Happy, Be. - Leo Tolstoy

Credits for this layout: Citrus Twist Kit from Sprouting Seeds Studio; WordArt by Bethany Elegant WordArt.

Dare to Explore

For my 2nd layout this week, I would like to feature some more photos from the summer outing I've had with my close friends from my most recent workplace. As I've mentioned in my layout One Last Summer Together, my friends from my last workplace and I went to the pristine island of Potipot in Zambales. In the island, was a big wooden branch that was somewhat strategically placed in one part of the island. It's location was really perfect for picture-taking. We had so much fun taking pictures on the said location. Some of our pics were quite serious, but most of it were definitely wacky.

Journalling: Dare to Explore

Credits for this layout: Jejak Petualang Kit by Jak-ART-a Scrappers available at Aprilisa Designs; Baby Boston Font available at Kevin and Amanda.com; Summer picture with friends from Shy Arizala;

Four Generations

I was lucky enough to be able to go to a lot of places this summer. One of the places I've visited was the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio City. I went there last May with my family. We have been to Baguio several times before, but somehow, each visit is always unique and the experience is always fun and rejuvenating. Perhaps it can attributed the cool climate of Baguio, which is around 18 - 20 deg Celsius (a far cry from the scorching 37-38 deg Celsius here in Manila last summer). This cool climate makes everyone relaxed and less irritable.

One of the places we've visited in Baguio was the Philippine Military Academy. Filipino men and women who dream of joining the Army study and train in this prestigious place of learning. The picture I used in this layout was taken in the said place. The four guys in the family had their picture taken in front of the bronze emblem of the PMA. Four generation of Tarrancos - my Dad Erick, my son Zion, my brother Philip, and my grandfather Lolo Pilo.

Credits for this layout: Sweet Afternoon by Sunshine Studio Scraps; Spring Mini Kit by Kevin and Amanda.com; Amazing Ruler font available at Kevin and Amanda.com;

June 2K10 Calendar Layout

The month of June marks the end of summer here in the Philippines. Rains have started pouring in, and parents start to prepare their kids for the start of another school year. June is also Father's Day month, and incidentally, it is also the birthmonth of my grandfather Lolo Pilo. So for my calendar layout this month, I am featuring my grandfather - Lolo Pilo. Lolo Pilo is my Dad's father and he used to be a farmer in our province in Quezon. After my grandmother, Lola Azon, died, my Dad convinced him to stay with us here in Manila so that he could officially "retire" from being a farmer, and to prevent him from having drinking sessions with our other relatives in the province.

Lolo Pilo has a great reputation for being close and loving to his grandchildren (including me!). I remember our trip to Quezon when I was about 5 years old. I wanted to go hiking with my Dad, my uncles, cousins, and my grandparents. However, the hike was difficult given the muddy and slippery mountain roads. Since I wanted to join the hike (and I was already throwing tantrums), Lolo Pilo carried me during the entire hike and on our way down the mountain. He also killed and cooked one of his pet chickens, when we were there, because he knows that I am not fond of seafoods when I was still a kid. My grandfather would always have a special place in my heart. Let this layout be a small token of my gratitude and appreciation of all the things Lolo Pilo has done for me.

Credits for this Layout: Daddy Number 1 Kit from Jaelop Designs; Miss Mint 2010 Caledar Templates from Peppermint Creative;

Kapurpurarwan Rock - God's Magnificence

It has been some time before I was able to create some digiscrap layouts. I was too busy with some summer family activities, as well as some summer activities with my office pals (hope to create digiscrap layouts out of those summer activities. :-)). Let me make up for those time by creating 3 digiscrap layouts this week. Here's the first.

This first layout is a continuation of my adventure in the northern province of Ilocos, here in the Philippines. The pictures used in this layout were taken at the Kapurpurawan Rock in Ilocos Norte. Basically, Kapurpurawan Rock is a rock formation near the shorelines of Ilocos. The view (both rock formation and the angry sea) is soooo majestic and breathtaking from afar, and much more when you are actually near or on top of the rock formation. I must admit it was a long and somehow tiring trek to get to the rock formation (I actually sprained my right ankle during the trek). It was made harder because the rain poured when we were on our way back to the bus. But every sweat, tear, (and even sprain) was worth it. Looking out onto the angry sea while on top or near the top of the rock formation will make one reflect on God's magnificence as manifested in the grandeur of Mother Nature.

Journalling: Mother Nature is God's way of showing man that He provides and is always there.

Credits for this Layout: Tendresse Kit by Happy Scrap; Socially Akward font available at Kevin and Amanda.com;

Fun, Sun, Beach

I cannot forget Zion's first time at the beach. He was barely a year old when my family and I brought him to Camayan Beach in Subic (Philippines). My dad was quite hesitant in bringing his beloved "apo" (grandson) to the beach, because his "apong tisoy" (fair-skinned grandson) might get sunburned and or rashes from playing on the sand. So when we set Zion's beach chair, and when we got him all-dressed up with his beach getup, his Lolo (grandfather) was closely watching him. But as Zion's mother, I made sure my son had a feel of what the beach was like. I allowed him to play, walk, touch, and almost rolled on the sand. I allowed him to waddle a little in the sea water. And to my father's shock (tho' he can't do anything about it because I'm still Zion's mom), I allowed Zion to experience and have fun under the sun. Well.. I just made sure to apply baby lotion and sunblock so he won't get sunburn. A little of everything is not that bad, most especially if it pertains to the sun and the beach. :-)

Journalling: Fun & Sun @ the Beach, Subic, Phils. 02.03.07

Credits for this layout: Viva Carnaval Bundle Kit by Caroline B. available at Kreative Kreations Korner; font: Segoe Script available at Dafont.com.

Remembering HappyTeamLaklak

If there was one set of friends I will always remember, aside from my high school buddies (who are like sisters to me), it would be my first officemates at BPI. We were like in college during training, and adjusting to the real corporate world became easier with them by my side. One memorable experience I had with my very first officemates was our trip to Boracay last 2004. It was my first time to Boracay. And my first time in Boracay was made more memorable because I was with a bunch of people whom I was very comfortable with. I remembered how we saved for that Bora trip (we initially planned for Hongkong but due to booking problems, we ended up in Boracay.. hehehe..). I remember our One-two-three-pass games while gulping fruit shakes at Jonah's, our banana boat ride, our snorkelling (mis)adventures. I will always remember and cherish our gimmick-till-we-drop-nights at Bora while dancing to Squareheads' Happy - which gave birth to our group's name HappyTeamLaklak. And best of all, I will definitely remember (and miss) the sincere friendship and memories I've made with my first officemates. *sigh*

Credits for this layout: Our Friendship Kit from Jaelop designs available at Scrapbookflair.

Of Discovery

It's the 3rd day of our 4-day weekend. I don't want to think about it, but I have to go back to work the day after tomorrow... *sigh*... Oh well... I think I just have to make the most of what remains in the weekend.

Since my parents had to go and visit my Lolo and Lola (i.e grandfather and grandmother) in the province, Zion, his nanny, and I had to stay at home and spend the rest of the day here. Since there is nothing to do, I went through the pictures I have here in the PC to check which are good for digiscrapping.

Since it is summertime (and we haven't went out yet for our family outing), I went through the pictures we had last November during our vacation in Bohol. I chose 3 pictures featuring Philip while he was playing near the seaside. He was picking up corals and fossils that were washed away on the shore and threw these back to sea. It was fun watching him because he was very serious while he was doing this, although there was a time when he got tired of it, took off his shirt and just jumped into the water! =)

Credits for this layout: Secrets of the Sea Collab. Kit from digiscrapbooking.ch.

Trees

Since I was kid, there is no subject that I enjoy most back in high school and elementary other than Literature and Creative Writing. Though I must admit, I'm not really that gifted in the art compared to my writer friends. Nonetheless, writing has helped me express myself and say those things that I can't say in verbally. It has become my outlet to voice out what I truly feel. People who know me well know that I can write my best compositions during those moments when I am very happy or very sad. And one of the pieces of literature that "inspired" me to hone this love for writing is Joyce Kilmer's poem, Trees. I remember learning this poem back in elementary (I just can't remember which grade level). The poem was simple enough to be understood and memorized by a grade school kid like me, but it's meaning is something even adults should learn and internalize - "Poems are made by fools like me.. but only God can make a tree" - Man can create the most fluent verses and the most advanced machines, but only one God has the power to create and give the greates miracle of all - Life.

For this layout, I chose some of the pictures we took while driving along the man-made Mahogany forest in Bohol. The Mahogany trees are so tall and planted so near each other that the higher branches reach out to each other, forming a canopy which provides a shade against the scorching sun to those travelling on the road. According to our tour guide, Ms. Flor, the Mahogany trees here were planted to prevent the floods from reaching the lower areas. Thus, these trees are very much protected and taken care of. How I wish all trees in Philippines are treated this way. =D

Journalling:

Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts its leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives in rain;

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Credits for this layout: Harvest Spice Kit at shabbyprincess.com; Teen Collection and Family History Collection at scrapbookflair.com; Endless Ephemera Collection at raspberryroaddesigns.blogspot.com; Autumn Gold Kit at bohemianart.blogspot.com; Frisson Kit at petitmoineaux.blogspot.com; Cherry Mokka Kit at digiscrapbooking.ch.