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.

#3: Playing GTA

Grand Theft Auto is not new, but for someone who isn’t a game enthusiast, it will always be. I’ve known it for a number of years now, and yet, the missions in the game are all new to me.

So, when there’s nothing to work on, I click the application and enter a virtual world of stealing cars and accomplishing missions.

I have two versions of the game on my computer—San Andreas and Vice City. There are four (or five?) already, but I do not know where to get the other versions (perhaps somebody out there can help me?).

What I love about this game is that I can be a rogue for an hour or two. Of course I don’t want to be a bad guy in real life, I don’t want to commit sins and spend my precious life behind bars, so might as well get the experience from a game. Also, I’ve found my drive in playing this game from my love for action movies. I love doing those chasing scenes and firing guns—just in the game.

You can shoot the police when they're chasing you.

The cheat codes make the game more exciting. With a few taps on the keyboard, I can obtain items that I want to acquire. I can also be instantly rich by just typing a code.

Steal and drive fancy cars around Vice City.

You can steal police cars and do vigilante missions.

Type "J-U-M-P-J-E-T" and get this jet on San Andreas. That's my favorite, actually.

Drive around winding roads and highways and perform insane stunts--just like in actions movies.

The game’s really exciting. Just don’t steal cars and kill people in real life. What you do in the game must stay in the game.

#2: Reading novels

"No matter how busy you may think you are, you must always find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance."

-Confucius

If you want to be taken to another world, portraying a different character, one you’ve always wanted, day dreaming won’t be enough. You need descriptive words carefully arranged in a manner artistically fit for narrative and are figuratively jumping out of the paper to really feel that you are in another world. A world inspired by life’s experiences and realities and made more beautiful by imagination.

My love for reading novels started in second year high school. During break times, I would go to the library and skim titles of prospective finds. When a title caught my interest, I would borrow it.

The novel I most recently read.

The first novel I read back then was something about a frightful summer. I just forgot the title and the author. The plot went on with the main character (a girl) meeting another girl who pretended to be her cousin whose parents died when they lost their house to a blaze and who turned out to be a witch (it was found out that she wasn’t appearing in photographs).

The passion grew more when I read such famous titles as “Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden and “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons” by controversial author Dan Brown. All of these have movie adaptations which make them more interesting.

I also sank my intellectual curiosity on the world phenomenon Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I would always snub it before, thinking that the series was just a nonsense children’s magical fantasy, but when I read all seven books in second year college, I realized that the epic tale of Harry Potter was more than just a children’s story book. Since then, I’ve become a Potterhead. I so love the plot I always imagine myself as Harry James Potter, cursing death eaters and counterattacking Voldemort’s Avada Kedavra with Expelliarmus (yeah, I’ve memorized several spells I read in the books).

Great things happen out of the ordinary. Harry Potter sprang to life when J.K. Rowling started writing his story on tissue paper. Making my heart race when the climax comes, reading novels has always been an entry in my “to do” list when I’m not busy. It always ignites my imagination and carries me to different worlds I can only dream of. I will never stop reading. And someday, I will write my own novel and fascinate other bookworms like me.

#1: Eating 'tokneneng'

It’s pretty clear that I cannot use my size and weight as proof, but believe me, I love food. That is why whenever I have nothing to do, it’s the first thing I look for. And talking about eating when not busy, the first that comes to mind is tokneneng.

For those who don’t know what tokneneng is (perhaps they come from a very wealthy family and the street food they know is the one that’s coming from fastfood chains, or there might be foreigners reading my blog whose curiosity has been ignited), it is a boiled duck egg colored orange and covered with water-and-flour mixture which will then be dip-fried.  Sold on carts along sidewalks, it has become a regular snack of many.

And I’m one of those who have fallen in love with this protein-rich delight. In fact, it has already become my comfort food, giving me a jump in my heart and my taste buds some kind of pleasure it craves for after a day’s hard work. Dipping it in vinegar spiced with red chilli just makes it more delicious and undeniably mouth-watering. 

Add to that the happiness you get, not just from the food itself, but from that moment of eating it with your friends who have also been looking forward to spending quality time with you.

And the best drink to gulp down after consuming a mouthful of tokneneng? WATER. (Burp)