#6: Truebrewing

Tea lover or not, you’ll definitely want this!

Here’s a fact: I am not a tea lover. I’ve never been and I don’t think I ever will be. The taste of leaves touching my tongue—I just hate it. It makes me feel like I’m drinking some kind of potion that will change me into something who-knows-what.

As a result, I’m not enjoying the benefits of tea. The body cleansing it does and other marvelous effects on the system.

Thank heavens, I found a new way to drink tea. Well, it’s not actually new because even before, anyone with a curious and experimental side can do it at home. But the advent of tea cafes offering milk and green tea blends and other tea concoctions has helped many get a taste of tea. Well, that’s a bit of an understatement because you’ll absolutely crave for more.

So, when I’m not busy, or when I just want to relax after a stressful day at school, I go to Truebrew and drink a milk tea blend.

Truebrew is a coffee and tea café along A.B. Fernandez Ave. in Dagupan City, just beside the UCPB bank. My friends introduced it to me a month before and I have loved it in an instant. The place is good and relaxing. You may spend your time sitting on the cozy couch while sipping your favorite, or you may use the table and sit on cushioned chairs when you’ve got to tinker on your laptop. Probably to finish some work or browse the Internet. Yes, you can get connected because the place is a WiFi hotspot.

 Talking about their blends, they’ve got a lot of flavors and varieties to choose from. I’ve already tasted five of their milk tea blends—Wintermelon, White Chocolate, Black Caramel, Caffee (caramel and toffee) and Milo Float.

I’m not really good at describing tastes, so I’ll just do it by associating each flavor to a trait or attitude. Wintermelon is for the curious. White Chocolate and Black Caramel are for someone who wants to reak away from the regular. Caffee will be the favourite of someone who has a big sweet tooth. And for the young at heart, Milo Float is just perfect.

More flavors are in store for your palette, so I suggest that you try it out. Tea lover or not, there’s a perfect brew for you. So go on, sip from your own grande or venti of tea blends.

How would you know?

If you're taking too long thinking about what will happen when you do something, then you're wasting your precious time on doing that which results in nothing. Take risks. Step forward. After all, plans are meant to be carried out; not to be kept as souvenirs from somewhere you haven't even gone to.

Why, are you afraid that you won't get the result that you expect? So what? A thousand chances for the right decision are still in line. Taking risks and getting bad results is better than sitting for quite some time thinking about what you will get and getting nothing at all in the end. At least, you tried. You can prove how strong you can be when you stand from a bad fall.

Just shut the hell up and act because...

-How would you know how exciting it is to be lying face down from up above and zipping across your way from the top of the hill down to wherever the cable ends if you would just cuss because of your fear of heights?

-How would you know that you could awe someone around with your singing even with those flats and sharps if you wouldn't hold that microphone in front of your mouth and sing your heart out?

-How would you know that you could create a masterpiece out of those creative juices in your head if you wouldn't even make a stroke with the pencil you're holding?

-How would you know that you could persuade someone into agreeing with your thought provoking and well laid out arguments if you wouldn't utter a single word in front of your audience?

-How would you know how deep the swimming pool is if you wouldn't plunge into it?

-How would you know that you could reach an unfamiliar place alone if you wouldn't even lift your ass from where you're sitting?

-How would you know that you could be the most graceful dancer if you wouldn't groove those feet?

-How would you know you could edit a video, or a photo, or an audio if you wouldn't grab that mouse and perform some basics?

-How would you know how wonderful a world a novel creates if you wouldn't flip its pages?

-How would you know that he/she is the right one if you would focus on your silly doubts and irrelevant confusions?

Here's the catch: There are loads of things you can do and be good at, and you will never know unless you try. Come on, you only get to live once and you don't even know when The Time will come. Regrets come rushing in at the end of the road, when there's nowhere else to go, when there's nothing left but your silliness and stupidity.

So, get yourself to work. Time is too precious to waste on endless planning and empty thinking.

Life of a video editor

Viewing my life from afar, it seems perfect. All the smiles and laughter, the good grades and achievements, the strong personality I show—they can be deceiving. But watching it closely, it has a lot of imperfections.

My life is like a flawed video clip. A series of cuts has to be done to eliminate the unnecessary elements. They have to be weeded out. A touch of effects has to be applied to patch up the mediocre parts and make the good areas better.

But no matter how much you try to hide the imperfections, they can still be seen once the video clip is scrutinized well. They cannot disappear totally. They’re all present, things you cannot detach from reality.

Am I hiding my imperfections? No…and yes. I’m not the type of person who sends double meanings about my personality. I’ve shown people my weaknesses and never have I been ashamed of them. I admitted my wrongdoings and did my best to rectify them. But like everyone else, there’s still a skeleton in my closet. A bunch of things I wish I never did. Or, do I?

I will never try to justify them, but I will not look down on myself, either. Because like a flawed video, my life still has a chance for improvements.

A touch of magic

I’d been out of my blogging being for a while all because if the busy schedule I had these past days and one thing that ate most of my time was video editing. I’ve got to work a lot on that because of the talk show we are producing which will air in October.

Having experienced video editing for a year now, I don’t consider myself a pro, but I would love to pursue a career in the world of video clips and audio and sound and visual effects should I decide to live my life in the background—a hundred yards behind the spectacle of my dream of becoming a broadcaster. I got to learn a few tricks on my own, experimenting on clips after learning the basics, and I know I will learn some more being a natural explorer that I am.

Well, basically, that’s how I learned video editing (and many other things)—experimenting. Like purchasing a new toy, or a new gadget, you must read the instructions first before using it. In my case, to make life easier, I asked my friend about the basic things I had to learn about the software such as the tools and their corresponding shortcut keys, the name of the panels, formats and other essential details. I did the rest on my own.

Does this show you how complicated video editing can be?

Through the years, I’ve learned that you can never get to learn something unless you try it yourself. You can never master something unless you touch it and let your hand manuever through it. Simply saying that you want to learn something does not give you the knowledge and skills you have to acquire. You’ve got to do it. A friend of mine said she wanted to learn how to edit videos, but couldn’t because she didn’t own a unit to work with. But actually, even if you don’t own a unit, you can learn how to do it if you really want to. And the first step to that is act. Execute what you say, and you can perform magic yourself. Try it and explore. Don’t get stuck to your stock knowledge. Real learning is applying the knowledge you acquired.

Two months ago, my status message on Facebook read, “I wouldn’t get bored sitting an office if all I had to do is edit videos.” That remains true. It might be exhausting due to the fact that you have to watch a single clip over and over to extract the best part of it. Sometimes, you’ve got to watch closely the mouth of the person speaking on the video to match it with the audio (if you’re getting another visual of the same scene from another camera rolling from a different angle). But, all the hardwork and headache pay off when you watch the output. It sends you to cloud nine when you realize you’ve created a whole story out of fragments. You feel like you’re in euphoria when you’ve transformed flawed videos into something that awes many people.

#5: Feasting on films

The splatter s of the raindrops on the roof awoke me made me jump out of bed.

Oh my God. What time is it?

I snatched my phone from the bedside table and checked the time.

10:30 am. What?! I’m already late for school!

Without thinking twice, I immediately grabbed my towel and prepared for a bath. Then, as if waking up from a daydream, I suddenly stopped on my track as a realization hit me hard in the head.

It’s Saturday. No school.

Thank heavens! I got some time to rest after a whole week’s worth of seemingly infinite school works that almost made me a nocturnal being.

I got one hell of a week, so time to reap my reward for the hardwork I poured. Walking back towards the bedroom, I switched my personal computer, browsed through the movies I saved on it and clicked the play button.

***

So, yeah, when I got time to spare, I grab the opportunity to watch good films for of course, entertainment’s sake. I have developed this interest in films a few years back. Watching movies is like reading novels, since both tell a story although in different formats. While novels use mere words that create a new world in your mind, movies use sounds and visuals that take you to the new world projected in your mind as if you were in the scene physically. But just the same, both make your heart race and once you’ve started, you hardly find the reason to stop.

Movies, just like literary works, are a representation of real-life events, exaggerated and carefully arranged in a manner prefect for story telling. Life, however, is not a movie which you can edit, rewind, skip scenes, or pause. You live it now with all its complications without the certainty that the resolution will come.

Life does not follow a script. Scenes do not start at the snap of the clapper and ends when the director shouts, “Cut!” They continuously flow and transpire. You don’t memorize the lines; you speak them spontaneously.

No, that's not me in the picture (winks). I've grown to love the Harry Potter films back in second year college. The series have opened a new world for me. Somewhere I want to be should I have a second life.

Zipping away in Balungao

Work and leisure combined

What I love the most about my course—mass communications—is the privilege to roll work and leisure into one. It never bores me as it does not follow a routine, although the demanding and shifting and popping-out-of-nowhere schedules burn me out at times.

My latest work-and-leisure combo was the taping of my segment on August 16 and 17 for the talk show we are producing this semester for the subject radio and television production, and directing. My segment’s location? The marvellous inactive volcano, Mt. Balungao, in Balungao, Pangasinan, about 25 kilometers (forgive me for my indefinite calculation) southeast of Dagupan City. Since I used public transport system, and transferred from a bus to a jeepney to another jeepney and finally, to a tricycle from Dagupan, through Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Urdaneta City, Villasis and Rosales, it took me almost four hours to reach Balungao. If you have your service, travel time will be cut down to roughly two and a half hours.

My destination, Balungao Hot and Cold Springs Resort, sits on Mt. Balungao which stands 382 meters above sea level. Too bad I did not climb to the peak, but I will when I go back there. My interview with Mr. Gerry Acosta, the tourism officer of Balungao, revealed that the mountain was the usual rendezvous of Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini for strategic planning during the Spanish colonization.

I was with my usual gang—my bestfriend Anissa, Will, Jane and Al. Among the four, only Will is my classmate in the subject. Anissa graduated from the same course this year, and the other two finished the subject two semesters before. But, I had all of them with me because I wanted to share with them the experience on and the wonders of this tourist destination.

Upon our touchdown on the municipality of Balungao, we rode on a tricycle to finally reach the mountain. We, however, did not expect that the ride up the resort would cost us P150. Since we were cutting costs, we decided to just pay P80 and alight at the foot of Mt. Balungao. That meant we had to walk about a kilometer to the resort and endure the strong gravitational pull. Good thing, my weight was not as much a burden as that of my friends, if you know what I mean. Hehe

The entrance to the mountain greeted us with lush green landscape and picturesque scenery. Halfway, the up close view of the well-preserved mountain caught us in undeniable awe and gave us extra strength to move our aching feet.

During the tiresome walk, we were looking forward to a sumptuous meal upon arrival. We, however, were dismayed to discover that there wasn’t enough available food at the resort. No cooked rice, no viands, no nothing; just cup noodles and some loaves of bread. Our mistake was we did not anticipate that and didn’t buy our own food in the town proper. Thank God there were good souls at the resort whom we requested to buy and cook some food for us.

Upon arrival at 4 pm, we put our baggage down in the room reserved for us and rested for a while before we went to the pool side to try out the hot and cold springs.

The Jacuzzi is filled with hot water coming from beneath the ground and is replaced every day. It is high in sulfuric content known to cure illnesses. The five-foot deep pool is also filled with water coming from the mountain, although it is treated with chlorine.

After a long day spent on the road, we laid ourselves to sleep in the air conditioned-room to gather energy for our extreme adventure.

The next day was more fun-filled as we tried out ATV (all terrain vehicle) driving and the famous zipline.

The ATV has no gear shift, so it won’t rattle you while driving. Also, the accelerator is easier to control since you just have to push a lever below the right handle. But, of course, you’ve got to release it before gripping the break lest you send the whole thing tumbling over.

We drove along the path we took to the resort the day before.

With a height of 80 meters, this is where the adventure starts.

The best part of the day was the zipline experience. I have to admit, though, that it made me so nervous my heart was beating in fast rhythm. Zipping away on the 620-meter steel cable was what I was most excited about during my Balungao escapade. While gearing up with the harness, I was imagining myself flying in the air and savoring the dancing wind over the scenic view below. I thought it was that simple. You set yourself in position, say I am ready, and off you go advancing to the landing pad, and that’s it. Heck, no. Not until it was my turn. I chose the superman position, so I had to be attached to the cable face down, 80 meters above the ground.

Signing the waiver.

Gearing up for a wonderful adventure.

We just got marked.

I was expecting that I would be set in position while still on the pad, but no, I was put on the edge. I had to hold onto the cable before they would set me in position. That moment sent my heart racing so fast it took me about 20 seconds before I let go of the cable. My body went rigid when I saw the view below from way up high. I’m not afraid of heights; I just had that feeling that when I loosened my grip on the cable, I would fall. My self soothing instinct kicked in and I reassured myself that I was safely harnessed. I manifested my attitude of not trusting too easily again. What made me more uncomfortable was the camera I was holding. I was afraid it might slip out of my hand. In less than five seconds since I was set in position, without even giving me a signal, I was accelerating.

The ride lasted for a minute. When I arrived on the landing pad, I found myself staring blankly somewhere, my knees trembling, and my heart still racing in immeasurable speed. It did freak me out, but I wouldn’t say no to a take two.

With Balungao's tourism officer, Mr. Gerry Acosta.

I just realized that it was my first time to try out something that extreme. The experience makes me think: Will bungee jumping and sky diving freak me out just the same? I damn hope not.

The talkshow titled "Now Trending," for which this segment has been produced, will be aired on a local cable TV network in October.

#4: Strolling at the beach

Little pleasure in an open space

The first time I went to a beach was in third grade. It was in Subic. That was also the first time I got fascinated with the sun’s beautiful reflection on the sea. The sound of the waves at night was melody to my ears.

Since then, I had always wished I would find myself on the beach again, wherever there might be.

Destiny had its own way of granting my wish—although I didn’t like it entirely at first. In 2005, for some reason, we moved from Antipolo City to Lingayen. I hated the idea of packing my things from the place where I grew up, a place I had grown to love, and unpacking them somewhere unfamiliar and foreign. I imagined that the place would be quite far from civilization. It felt as if I were crossing the boundary of the world I had known and moving on to the great abyss, the point of no return.

Mom said that the house we would move in was near the beach. Perhaps, she thought it would matter a lot to me. On the contrary, it didn’t banish my anxiety. Because of my dislike of transferring to another place, I forgot my wish of seeing the beach again.

I never realized that by near, mom meant less than a kilometer. Until one afternoon after school, I went to Lingayen Gulf. When the beach presented itself to me, it was like ice cream served in front of a child throwing tantrums. At that moment, I realized it was not that bad to live in a new place because new great things were about to unfold before my eyes.

It’s a place I have already tied my soul to. It has become my hang out when I have time to spare. Memorable moments were created on that wide space. That’s where I started courting my first girlfriend and that’s also where we marked our relationship official. That’s where my closest high school friends and I used to hang out when we had no classes. That’s where I cry myself out when I am down. And that’s where I go to when I wake up early to greet the sunrise and the morning breeze.

The waves touching my feet are like gentle hands calming me down when tension has risen to an unbearable level. The setting sun reflected on and diffused by the water is my solace. The cool wind touching my face partakes in my happiness. And the open space hugging me around tells me that I am free from screaming unfinished tasks and energy-consuming pressure.

Riding solo on the beach.

Priceless little pleasure.