ARtKITEKTO

Closing a Book's Chapter

2007-08-14T15:52:00.000+08:00

After two years of using BLOGGER as my blog, I am finally moving.

Yes, I'm moving to i.ph, a blog host I find better and easier to use, with better tools to boost too, with its own section of photo hosting, and gives someone like me with little background on html and web codes to have more artisitc freedom with the existing templates that they have.

Anyway, I won't be leaving this blog totally since I will still use it to host my comics drawings and any other thing related to my comics. But all of my rantings about life, personal things, poetry, football and photography will be hosted on my new site.

So if I'm on your blogroll or in any way connected in your site, please update your links to my new blog which is here:

http://artkitekto.i.ph/

I'll see you there!

The Fullerton

2007-08-08T13:31:00.000+08:00

Built between 1924 and 1928, the Fullerton Building was named after Robert Fullerton, the first Governor of the Straits Settlements, and was opened on 27 June 1928. Its first tenants included the General Post Office, the Singapore Club and several government departments.

In 2001, the building was re-opened as a high-end five star hotel. It was totally refurbished on the inside but its original exterior has been preserved.

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore has 400 rooms and suites which either overlook the atrium courtyard, or face downtown Singapore's skyline, the Singapore River promenade or the Marina Bay. The hotel's 199-square metre Presidential Suite even has its own elevator, and a glass-enclosed veranda.

Designed with the business and leisure traveller in mind, The Fullerton Hotel has a 24-hour financial centre with the Bloomberg Professional service that provides financial reports and world news, and 15 meeting rooms equipped with conference facilities.

The hotel has a 25-metre outdoor infinity swimming pool, fitness centre and a luxury spa. The hotel has five food and beverage outlets, which include Jade, a restaurant serving modern Chinese cuisine; Town Restaurant, an all-day international dining restaurant; The Courtyard, which offers afternoon tea and lunch choices at the hotel's atrium; San Marco at The Lighthouse serving modern Italian cuisine on the top floor of the hotel; and the stylish Post Bar which serves a wide range of signature cocktails and wine. Ballroom and conference facilities are located at the basement.

The Fullerton Hotel has won major travel and architectural awards such as the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List award and the Architectural Heritage Award from Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority.

More images HERE.

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I already purchased a new scanner last weekend (finally) so I have already scanned and uploaded a bunch of strips for my webcomics. The latest is what's shown above (under the site logo) and it will automatically update itself every Monday. :)

Art in split second

2007-08-02T13:36:00.000+08:00

We all know the value of time. Even a factor of a minute is gold especially if like me, you commute by bus or train. And it's frustrating to see your bus or train went off just before you reach the loading platform. Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.

Beauty is relative with time. The finest wines are getting better as they age, while women are at their loveliest at youth. Flowers bloom with seasons, and trees shed at fall.

Sometimes though, beauty come and go without us noticing it, within our everyday lives. It happens in a split of a second, and then its gone. Beauty that dies as soon as it bore life. Thanks to imaging, we can freeze time and capture moments.

More of this set of images HERE.

No Place I'd Rather Be

2007-08-01T15:40:00.000+08:00

What I like about Singapore, apart from the almost 0% crime rate and very efficient public transport, is that they really treat their National Day the biggest day of the year. They look forward to it, prepare for it, and the government spend insane money to celebrate it (Even making a 30,000 people capacity floating stadium at Marina bay just for it). People from all walks of life here talk about it with enthusiasm, and with their family celebrate the culmination by watching the National Day Parade, an extravagant show that Singaporean anticipate year after year, with glee marked on their faces. Sadly, I don't see that kind of enthusiasm back home in the Philippines. Many people don't even know the date of our independence day. And I think I'm not mistaken that there are many more people that can identify Manny Paquiao than people who knew how to sing the National Anthem correctly.

Anyway, this 9th of August, Singapore will once again held its 42nd birthday, and I am writing this not because I'm already becoming a Merlion patriot, but because I want to share you this year's Singapore National Day Parade song. The reason is that it's one of those songs that let you thing of your roots, especially if you're like me, are plying your trade overseas. This simple but beautiful song--sang by Kit Chan-- speaks about the longing for a homeland, even after seeing the four corners of the globe.

Watch it for yourself below.

Skycraper Nightshooting

2007-07-30T12:38:00.000+08:00

I was having a meeting last Friday at Clifford building around Raffles Place that lasted to early night. When I came down, the stark silhouette of the tall buildings against a dark royal blue sky interests me. It's a good think that i brought my handy Nikon D40 (I prefer this over my D70 when I'm mobile since it's small and light) so I took some shots. I could've made things brighter, but not having a tripod limits me to around 1/15 shutter speed and 4.5 aperture setting.

More of these shots HERE.

Tales of Two Churches

2007-07-24T12:04:00.001+08:00

The above image is that of St. Andrew's church. An Anglican church said to be founded by Sir Stamford Raffles himself. This is a very famous church located in downtown Singapore, flanked by modern buildings from side to side. Being a famous landmark, the church has been photographed from all sides countless of times so turning an original photo is a challenge and the least I want is to turn out another generic image the same of the many tourist that visits the city. I discarded the photos I took from the church's facade and just look around until I found this spot just outside the gate. It still shows the church but with the tree it becomes more dramatic. Most of the time, trees at the front acts as distruction, but I think it worked on this particular piece. And the fact that it is in silhoutte gives the viewer more focus to the church itself. It also seem to lead the eye upward, to the apex of the church's lit tower, which for me is the one strong focal point of the structure. It also, together with the dark atmosphere, helped camouflage the other buildings surrounding that would be distracting to the view.

This is an image of another church (a catholic one this time), the church of St. Teresa in Kampung Bahru. I go here to reflect and meditate. I like going to this church because it is a bit secluded (but really far from my place) and there's a sense of serenity when you're on its grounds. I took this photo just as dusk sat in, giving that royal blue colour to the sky fading to a darker hue above. Again, I didn't put the whole church in the photo, instead concentrated to what I think represented it most.

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This is a bit late but I wanted to thank both Ipanema and Carey for including me in their "Thinking Blog Award" list.

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I also wanted to apologize to (few) people who has been reading my comics and didn't see an update for two weeks now. My scanner has been broken and haven't scanned the new pages. I was supposed to shop for a scanner last weekend but my son's birthday took place. hopefully I can get a new (and better) one this weekend, so I can upload a new one this Sunday night.

Happy Birthday

2007-07-23T17:16:00.001+08:00

I wish I Could
(Collin Raye)

Looking out my window
See you playing in the leaves
It's amazing how a little boy
Means all the world to me
When I tell you that I love you
I love you more than words can say

Smile, say cheese pretty-please
I wanna take your picture
How'd you ever get so big
I gotta take your picture
Hold on to the memory before the whole thing slips away

I wish I could save these moments
And put 'em in a jar
I wish I could stop the world from turning
Keep things just the way they are
I wish I could shelter you from everything
Not pure and sweet and good
I know I can't, I know I can't
But I wish I could

When you kiss me for no reason
It goes straight to my heart
When I feel your arms around me
I almost fall apart
It's time for bed you whisper
Daddy, we forgot to pray

I wish I could save these moments
And put 'em in a jar
I wish I could stop the world from turning
Keep things just the way they are
I wish I could shelter you from everything
Not pure and sweet and good
I know I can't, I know I can't
But I wish I could

And when I watch you sleeping
All my worries fade away
A little bit of heaven glows on your angelic face

I wish I could save these moments
And put 'em in a jar
I wish I could stop the world from turning
Keep things just the way they are
I wish I could shelter you from everything
Not pure and sweet and good
I know I can't, I know I can't
I know I can't
But I wish I could

Above is a song by Collin Raye that has since became my unspoken anthem when I became a father four years ago. Being blessed is a very profound thing. And each passing day since then I've learned things so insightful I've never even thought of before. like becoming happy with a single smile, or how a simple hug could mean the world, or how telling stories or watching a small person pray at night can make your heart flutter.

FERGUS RAYE, a very happy birthday, son. Your birthday is always a special day to celebrate the gift of "YOU" to the world. Thank you for being a catalyst, an inspiration and educating me how simple things could mean so much.

Goin' Greek

2007-07-16T10:35:00.000+08:00

There's something about being Greek that makes them "sexy". I mean, they generally engineered how we look at beauty, set the standards in building construction and established the platforms for politics (most notably democracy), architecture, mathematics, astronomy, art, poetry and literary masterpieces. They made their gods with perfect bodies and whose quintessence is still celebrated by the greatest sports occurrence that carries its collective name.

In high school I learnt about Ptolemy and Phytagoras, and marveled at how they managed to create theories that is made foundations for modern astronomy and mathematics, amazed how the philisopies of Plato and Aristotle are still studied by today's statesmen, the admiration for a lawmaker named Solon by forging a free Athens, and thought with awe how a blind poet can tailor the two most popular book of tragedy and comedy of all time.

Back then life was more simple. And while most other kids my age oggle with "Hustler" in their private time (I did too, sometimes), I sit back in my room weaving in my mind my own tales of Greek armies fighting for freedom and pride, before putting them in paper in comic form. Doing this is a self-healing process for me. Actually it does something more. It gave me my kicks. It made my body inject more endomorphins to my brain while i was at it and I feel good. And like candle with fire, my mind and hand will just synchronize with unknown rhythm sailing into never, never land.

Until...
Bag! bag! Bag! (door knocking)
Me: Yes?!?
Younger brother: Mama said it's your turn to wash the dishes!

Maaan!!!

Water on Cup

2007-07-11T16:22:00.000+08:00

There's something about water that fascinates me. It's gentle noise relaxes me, and the soothing image it brings are something I crave for in a bad day. This is just my coffee cup in the sink anyway. Freezed @ 1/3000 a second.

More of my mediocre attempts HERE.

Mother and Son

2007-07-02T13:46:00.000+08:00

"For a mother the project of raising a boy is the most fulfilling project she can hope for. She can watch him, as a child, play the games she was not allowed to play; she can invest in him her ideas, aspirations, ambitions, and values-- or whatever she has left of them; she can watch her son, who came from her flesh and whose life was sustained by her work and devotion, embody her in the world. So while the project of raising a boy is fraught with ambivalence and leads inevitably to bitterness, it is the only project that allows a woman to be -- to be through her son, to live through her son."

--Andrea Dworkin

Closing Up!

2007-06-28T11:12:00.000+08:00

Some Macro shots I've tried in my Nikon D70 with a Nikkor 50mm lens reverse.

fergus' battery- operated toobrush. This is really small.

Since losing weight, Jean's wedding ring has become lose.

Beauty in the most unexpected way

Strands of my body scrubbing net

Tip of an old faucet cap at the back alley

The WEBCOMIC REPUBLIC

2007-06-18T11:11:00.000+08:00

Yes. That's the name of the webcomic group that is launching this week (with the logo at the left), in which my Webcomics-- TRISTAN(above)-- is a part of. In part of this, i am also officially launching my webcomic in this blog too. What you will see above is always the newest update of the comic, which will be updated every week. If ever you missed an update, you don't have to worry since all you have to do is click on the comics and you will be directed to its host, The WebcomicsNation site, where you can read and see everything from the start to the most current update.

What's more? You can actually put my webcomics in your own blog (if you're too lazy to go here) by postign the snippet code below the comics, and it will update itself from there!

Webcomic Republic is comprised of 6 creators. We are:

The Blurb! Jonas Diego
Delivering your comic book goodness on a daily basis!
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Adult

Crest Hut Butt Shop Gerry Alanguilan
An online daily diary webcomic by Gerry Alanguilan.
Genre: Humor, Real Life

Class Comics Ariel Atienza

School has never been this good…or this mad!
Genre: Humor

Tristan Rey Villegas
Fantasy, action, and high adventure…the good stuff!
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure

Kathang Isip Laguna Teddy Pavon
The story of a people in search of freedom.
Genre: Fantasy-Adventure, Action, Drama

Life Again Laurento Jovito Fua
An undead’s quest to learn his mysterious past.
Genre: Mystery, Horror, Slight Humor

So after you read my webcomic update here, hop to these other blogs for some more free comicbook goodness in the web.

Webcomic Republic Logo
The rationale about the name of the group and the logo is explained by veteran webcomic guru Jonas Diego as below:

I purposely adopted a non-modern looking design sense for the Webcomic Republic reminiscent of the flag/s our forefathers used during the revolution.

The many rayed sun stands for hope and strength in numbers. The red field stands for passion. The character in the middle of the sun stands for the letter “K” in alibata, the pre-colonial system of writing by ancient Filipinos, which stands for “Kalayaan” or freedom but also means “Komiks”.

Vision

To empower Filipino Comic Book Creators by offering webcomics as a viable alternative to print in terms of monetizing and popularizing their comic books and reaching a global audience.

Objectives

1. Help drive traffic to each member’s sites.
2. Create more opportunities for income generation via online advertising.
3. Provide a united face for Filipino webcomics in the online global community.

The Quest for Visual Poetry

2007-06-14T12:15:00.000+08:00

Realization is amusing. It's the shift of thought from the present into the more "higher" level of thinking, analyzing from the facts and conditions that has been going on so far, and evaluate them to make an assessment for future references and goals. It's this phenomenon that make brides run away before their weddings, or make someone miss his flight to do something important-- or foolish.

I was in the Esplanade last weekend, and in the 3 pm sun was busy taking snapshots with my camera. But while taking shots after shots after shots, it dawned on me: I wasn't really satisfied with what I do. I was not happy. I mean, not with the pictures I was taking, since I know it's pretty descent even to the trained eye. What I meant is that I woke up to the realization that I was doing what most of the photographers there doing-- taking photographs of the surrounding nice views and the magnificent towering buildings afar. Is this really I wanted to do? I guess it was the artist in me shouting within the deep corners of my brain, or rather more like an awakening from the constant insinuation of the devil (the somewhat opposite to the guardian angel, get me?)in your head.

I stopped. And I looked at the number of people taking snapshots after snapshots, from the one with the most mediocre camera to the one with the most high- end, state-of-the- art equipment. Though the result will differ (there's a dramatic difference), they will still end up taking the same pictures. Like the ones i took. And that made my intentions cold.

I went home--frustrated. I need to find a better focus on what I will do with the lens. I guess I've been too preoccupied by the beautiful and colourful pictures of the magazines and tutorials I read and learned from that I forgot what I really want to do with it.

I know I have to went on with the camera, but it would be different now. And when I post photographs again in here, it's because it is ME and it mirrors my emotions. Not because I wanted it to end up in some magazine covers or travel brochures or on-line photo polls. It would be there because like drawing or painting, it will be just another unique expression of unverbalized feelings. A fresh breath from the soul. A primal manifestation of outlook and mindset that are unexplainable in any given language.

Caught Time

2007-06-11T11:48:00.000+08:00

More shots...

Photoblogging

2007-06-04T17:09:00.000+08:00

Some SLR Shots...

Fairy Tale No More

2007-05-24T11:02:00.000+08:00

The living room was starkly dark and the only light came from the television on which I was gazing intently to. It was 3 a.m. this morning, and everybody in the house were deep sleeping but me. Alone lazying in the couch, and with a can of Baron's at one hand and the TV remote control on the other, I was completely submerged by the spectacle I was experiencing.

The place was Athens Greece's Olympic Stadium. The occasion was the biggest game in football next to the World Cup, the UEFA Champions' League Final. The finalists are Italy's powerhouse AC MILAN and English giant LIVERPOOL. Each team has won the cup 7 and 6 times respectively. It was actually a repeat of the 2005 final between the two sides in which Liverpool won, staging the biggest comeback in the cup's tournament to beat Milan. Naturally, AC was out for blood this time, relishing on the prospect of revenge with their defeat to the English team 2 years ago.

For almost two hours the game has taken me as if i was a part of it. I am a fan of the two sides that clashed, but more weight of my heart goes to Liverpool. They have created so many chances in the first half and dominated the game, but wasted such chances, sending the ball to anywhere but the goal.

Before the struck of half time, as if the Italians has finally summoned the Roman gods to do their bids, Andrea Pirlo's freekick went past the Liverpool wall, and deflected by Fillipo Inzhagi to caught liverpool keeper Jose Reina off-footed and into the back of the net.

The second half was never the same. While Milan grew more confident, The Liverpool lads became more unorganized and paid the price of another goal when Inzhagi poached another goal from a superb pass by the Brazilian playmaker KAKA.

Liverpool did get a goal back through dutchman striker DIRK KUYT, but it was too late by that time. And as the referee's whistle filled the air, Italian celebration erupted while the English are left heartbroken with anguish and despair. The Italians, who first coined the word "Tragedy" in their Roman plays, has unleashed a bitter one to the men from Merseyside.

Not far from the stadium is the area where the ancient Dionysos theatre used to stand. It has hosted all the great plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides but few could still have had such a mixture of joy and misery as this. But unlike the plays and what they did two years ago in Istanbul, no fairy tale ending this time for Liverpool. For the night belongs to Milan.

In a prison cell just opposite the Acropolis, the Greek philosopher Socrates committed suicide when he drank a fatal dose of hemlock. And guessing from every teary- eyed Liverpool supporters present in that stadium, they must have felt like doing just the same.

Captured Moments

2007-05-14T12:03:00.000+08:00

Jean has finally came back from her sister's wedding in the Philippines and brought some pictures. I'm sharing some here.

Happy after losing 23 pounds in 3 months

With Eldest sister Prima

With the Ring Bearer

Ring-bearer Barako

Chancing with some old friends at the supermarket

Fergus adored his baby cousin and has been asking for a baby sister since coming back

With Mom and sisters

Bumping into an old friend from way back.

Bluer than Blue

2007-05-03T11:40:00.000+08:00

Being lonely is a bizarre thing. You can be lonely but not alone. I guess it's that craving within for a companion or a loved one, or both. I knew the feeling. I've been lonely before (well, who hasn't?). Yet when we feel at home and we have the people we've always longed for, you seem to forget that feeling of isolation and desolation that goes along with being lonely. In my case, I totally forget about it. How it feels or how it affects you. for two years straight I've been numb of it... Until now.

It's my second day being alone. Jean and Fergus went back to the Philippines to attend her sister's wedding and will be gone for over a week. At first I was excited since I have a thing or two in mind that I can do while the missus is away, like getting together with some friends and going out together. But then, one by one, the things that I thought were very ordinary, things I actually just took for granted sets in.

When I wake up alone yesterday, There was no breakfast waiting for me. No hot coffee. No croissants or eggs. And since there's nobody to woke me up, I was late and just had a brunch at lunchbreak. Upon coming home, the house is un-lit. There's no tyke rushing towards me to give me a hug and ask if I have a new toy for him when I opened the door. Nobody came over to give me a kiss and ask how was my day at work. No prepared dinner, so I had to make one for myself. After that, I had to wash the dishes too. Well, I used to do all of these work before when I was living alone, but I guess I was so used to the comforts that my wife does for me that it becomes everyday- ordinary for me. And more often than not, it all went unappreciated.

When I went to the bedroom, it's as messed up as it was when I left it that morning. The bed was not made and the usual nice scent wasn't there. Nobody's watching the TV and no teleserye dialogue can be heard. When I took my night bath, nobody's barking at me to off the heater after or prevent me from soiling the carpet. I can draw or sat infront of the game console with nothing to bother me.

... And I don't like it.

Actually it's not as much as not liking because I can live with it. The cooking and the dishwashing and the washing/ ironing/making the bedroom. I can do that. I've done it before and I can live with it all over again, of course with some adjusting needed.

... But not without my family. Because what i missed most are not the chores done but their presence. The hugs, the kisses, the conversations, the banters and petty quarrels. Not to mention joining your wife while she watches her favourite teleserye. Or the laughter that my son generates while we draw and play together. These things are priceless.

So enough with all the thoughts about beauty in solitude. I want the noise back.

As of now, I'm living in a house. And it won't be a home until my family is back. Because it's the family that makes the home and it's always where the heart is.

... And I can't wait.

Soon I'll b Saturday Night

2007-04-25T13:24:00.000+08:00

I'm feeling so much like a weekday right now because of all the work, but soon I'll be Saturday night.

And if you're wondering what Saturday night for me, it means this:

and of course, with 4 games to watch from early night till dawn, it's also good that I'm stuffed with this:

Jersey Ga-ga

2007-04-05T14:39:00.000+08:00

I love Football. Anyone of you who has been dropping around this blog (even those who pretends not to, lol) should know by now. And like every other football fan, I love collecting and wearing jerseys of my favourite teams, moreso the ones worn by the heores I adore. I have collected quite a few over the years, though some of it i gave out to friends and family. I did kept some in my closet, and when Jean overhauled my closet last Saturday, I had a chance of taking photos of those I really value the most.

The 2002-2003 Manchester United "away" kit. This was the uniform they wore the last time theycaptured the Enlish Premiership trophy.

A Michael Owen Liverpool jersey when he was still with the Reds. This is a replica of the one he wore when they triumph in the 2001 European(UEFA) cup.

A replica of the Brazil jersey that won the 2002 World cup in Japan.

An England World Cup 2006 kit. Too bad they never made it even to the semifinals.

I like this jersey because this is the first uniform Arsenal wore after they left Highbury as their home stadium and transferred to the London Emirates Stadium. This is also the current Arsenal jersey.

this was the last Jersey Chelsea players wore before they jump-shipped sponsorship from Umbro to Adidas. This was also their centennial kit and the uniform they wore in their second consecutive premier league championship.

Maybe my most favourite (not to mention the most expensive) on the current ones I have. This is Manchester United's jersey to date. They are in really good form and is looking to capture their first premiership trophy in four years.

Lights... Camera... Play It!

2007-04-02T11:27:00.000+08:00

If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

This is a meme' tagged to me by Jac the Stripper. And here’s how it works.

RULES:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Media Player, iPod, etc.-- In my case, it's the built-in walkman in my SE P990i)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing.
5. When you go to the next question, press the next button.
6. Don’t lie and pretend you’re cool.
7. When you’re finished, tag some other people to do it!

Opening credits?
The Real Thing- Bo Bice

Waking up?
My Immortal- Evanescence

First Day of School?
Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol

Falling in love?
You and Me- Lifehouse

First song?
Love Don't Come Easy- White Lion

Breaking up?
Lightning Crashes- Live

Prom?
My Wish- Rascal Flats

Life?
Always on your Side- Sheryl Crow and Sting

Mental breakdown?
Broken Sonnet- Hale

Driving?
Let her Cry- Hootie and the Blowfish

Flashback?
Black- Pearl Jam

Getting back together?
Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd

Wedding?
Sailing- Christopher Cross

Birth of a child?
High Enough- Damn Yankees

Final battle?
In This Life- Collin Raye

Death scene?
The Man I was With You- Jimmy Bondoc

Funeral song?
You'll Be Safe Here- Rivermaya

End credits?
Baby I Love Your Way- Mig Ayesa

That was a bit weird since I don't know if those songs even fit each of the questions but i just followed the instructions.
Ok, so here are thepeople I'm tagging: Carey, Curacha, Ladybug, Neneng, Vanessa and Tin tin. You don't have to do it though if you've already done it, guys.

Godfall

2007-03-29T10:39:00.000+08:00

For some, Tennis is a bore. While others, live for it. Nowadays, Tennis has become more popular, thanks to the athletes who plays like they are going on a catwalk show. But apart from the usual glitz and glamour of the sponsors, we can't deny there's hard talents in those courts.

Nowadays, you can't talk about Tennis without touching a topic about Roger Federer. The FedererExpress, as he is fondly called. you think about him and you think about Sampras and Agassi combined. No, that's an understatement. you can even add Borg and Lendl in the mixture. Crazy, isn't it? Yeah, maybe, but that's what Roger Federer is for the moment. If you compare his greatness and dominance in Tennis to any other sports legends, you instinctively think of Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods or Ronaldinho. He IS that good. How good, you say? how about winning Wimbledon 4 consecutive times, then the US Open and Australian Open three times respectively. The Roland Garros (freanch open) has remained just the only Everest for Federer to conquer before he can be called the greatest ever. A title he almost got twice, if not for a flamboyant Spaniard named Rafael Nadal. He reached 17 consecutive finals and won 56 consecutive hard court matches. He ranked up there for all time finals wins with 46 wins for 59 finals entered.

He has been called with so many adjectives throughout his career that sometimes it's even absurd. We have elevated him to god-like status and if this was ancient Greece, he may as well have a place in Mt. Olympus.

But then these past two weeks, the unthinkable happened. He lost. We blink. Thought if it's just the beer or are we seeing a conspiracy by the universe. But it is true. He lost-- not once, but twice! In consecutive tournaments, and with THE SAME man! And it's not even in a final. Last week's lose was at the Indian Wells, and this week at the Miami Masters both on the hands of Argentine Guillermo Canas. We panicked. Think. And we feel better. Because like every other sportsman, greats fall. And Federer--as special as he is-- ain't no exception.

This is a setback, of course. And pretty sure Federer will bounce from this and win more tournaments than ever. But for us, it's just a reminder that like us, Federer too, is mortal.

Art Share

2007-03-26T15:22:00.000+08:00

I'm pretty caught up with work and at the same time trying to finish some comics drawing. So I'll just share some pictures of my favourite painter who had a painting spree last week (school holiday).

In the house...

...and at East Coast beach park, where we had camping.

Greatest 5 HITS

2007-03-15T11:22:00.000+08:00

This is actually a meme from Carey. It called for me to post the best post (this is subjective in every way, of course, since I'm viewing this in my own perspective) from Five bloggers that I'd chose in my blogroll. It's hard since it's like you're being asked to chose a greatist hits from all your favourite singers. What I did is just point randomly and did what I picked. If they were already tagged by others, I just exclude them.

Anyway, Here's the ever-enforced rules:

1. Choose five blogs randomly from your blogroll.
2. For each blog, choose at least one entry (you could add more) which is your favorite post by this blogger.
3. Include a link to this post and explain why you like it.
4. The chosen five bloggers are considered tagged and they will also have to do the same in their blogs.

So here's my take:

1.Insightful Personhood (Aly)
Favourite post: Expectations
Reason: Amidst a world that taks about women empowerment and feminism, it's refreshing to know that there are still women who choose to be homemakers and never regret a second for giving up their career for family.

2. Under the Canopy (Ipanema)
Favourite post: Pole Dancing is Fun
Reason: I guess because this post made me laugh. And I hardly laugh reading blogs-- moreso if it's this anonymous gal's blog. When I go there and read, I expect hard-line current events. So thumbs up for a refreshing read.

3. Gentle & Compassionate (Ghee)
Favourite Post: Cold War on Valentines' Day
Reason: I like how Ghee demonstrated that Valentines' Day is not just about partners and passion. That it's also about bonding with daughters (in her case, shopping!)--about family. Something that I can really relate well.
4. Warmstone (Bing)
Favourite Post: More than the Days of the Calendar Month
Reason: Again, I think I like this most because it's about family and about loving someone irregardless of time and age. Remind me of Adam Sandler's Grow Old with You. And, it has a poem too, and the real bright smiles that has weathered tests through times.

5. Wish You were Here (Señor Enrique)
Favourite Post: Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Reason: Eric is a prolific blogger who draws from experiences and nostalgia and elicit emotions from his readers. it's really hard to pinpoint one post that I like since I like so many from this guy's proses. I chose this post among the rest since I'm a big fan of Pink Floyd and this guy was the subject of maybe my most favourite song of the band, Wish You were Here-- A song that I associate with someone i lose and still gets me emotional whenever I hear it.

Digital DNA Imprint

2007-03-13T11:06:00.000+08:00

I've just discovered IMAGINI which determines your character through choosing visuals. And really, I am impressed how closely it pinpointed some of my traits and attributes.

Below is my widget, a summarized arrays of visuals that made up my Visual DNA. But you can further read how IMAGINI assesses my character here.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™