Everything Under The Tropical Sun

Happy Birthday, Teach! I know you’re on a plane from Thailand right now so let me be the first to greet you ONLINE. And as a tribute, I’m going to go on a “Teacher bashing time…”

A few weeks ago, Teach and I were chatting and he had me check out some photography equipment sold at a local photography store (The Photoshop) near our office. Since he was in Dubai, I was thinking that these things he asked me to check out were most likely cheaper here.

The great friend as I was, I called the shop right away to check on the availability of: 1) UH-200 Bracket; 2) 36″ Shoot-through umbrella; 3) 6.2′ Stand. Only the UH-200 wasn’t available. Instead, there was a UH-400. Told him about what I found out and he said that the UH-400 will do and he said to go ahead and have the items reserved. So I did.

He was trying to work out the payment so I gave The Photoshop another call if they would accept international credit cards wirelessly. They said that they had to physically see the credit card and that it couldn’t be done over the phone. So I offered to pay for the items first. I mean, he really sounded like he was interested in them and they weren’t really expensive so I really intended to get them for him.

He was really bummed to find out that I would have to pay for it from here and will end up owing me money. So I told him that I had a paypal account and that maybe he would like to send his payment to me there. He agreed. Gave him my email address and then he went ahead and wired the money.

After working the transaction out… I was feeling quite proud about being able to help a friend out… he went and said: “Advanced Happy Birthday, TEACH! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!” Stupid guy made me buy all those things for myself! ARGH! I really hated that he tricked me! I don’t mind getting gifts but it’s not the place or the time to give me any (it’s our secret why).

I got the equipment about 2 days later and true enough, his instinct to give me those things triggered me into playing around with lighting. Though I still prefer natural lighting, my fears in delving into the unknown has subsided. I’m still trying to figure out how to use it and I can’t pretend to know that I’ve learned enough to feel confident but at least I’m trying. Photos of my test subject (a.k.a. my husband) will be posted after this entry and the con turned out to be another lesson from my teacher and best friend.

P.S. Isn’t it funny that Teach was born on Friday the 13th and it’s another Friday the 13th… and he just turned 33 years old? Well… it’s just an odd coincidence if you ask me.

I’m so proud of my Teach. He’s one of my best friends and we talk practically every day. Sharing mundane everyday things happening in our lives and a week without chatting with him seems incomplete. To think he lives thousands and thousands of miles away and yet it’s so comforting to know that in spite of the fact that it years went by before we started chatting again (which is what we did when we first met: in a chat IRC chat room – embarassing to admit that now but it’s true), we just picked up where we left off.

He’s always tried to teach me things I wouldn’t normally try to learn on my own. He encourages me to do the things he knows I love and but just afraid to try. Though he is a very intellegent person, he’s a paradox on his own. He knows he’s smart but thinks he’s not smart enough. He knows he’s got skills but wonders if it’s just in his imagination. Among my best friends, he’s the most paradoxial (is that a word?) among them.

One thing I admire about him is when he focuses on something, he usually excels. He’s recently taken up photography (just shy of a year ago) and the heights he has reached is just simply amazing. His level of learning is so awesome that I believe he’s the fastest learner in the world! He encouraged me to take up photography as well because he knew that it was something I was into when we first met (but let it go to pursue my give-in-to-peer-pressure teenage life). Isn’t he just the best? He’s so supportive.

He would sound off how bad he feels because he thinks his photography hasn’t improved. I think that was maybe about 3 months ago… but now, he’s so proficient in the language of photography that half of the things he’s trying to teach me gets deposited in my subconscious bank. Something to be accessed when the need arises. He’s getting paid gigs and he’s not even started with his portfolio! Imagine that. He’s getting all these sophisticated equipment which is more than fine but the great thing is, he knows how to use them effectively! There are so many photographers out here who keeps buying expensive studio equipment, lenses, the best DSLR and they take horrible pictures!

I haven’t seen the complete new collection of photos but Teach showed me ONE shot he took and it was awesome! I’m so proud of him. But I’m not surprised that he’s doing so well. It’s always in him to excel and he has excellent focus. He’s reached a whole new level and I’m so happy for him.

I had a very interesting chat with one of my best friends, Neptune last week… She said that her mom’s coming home to visit next year and that she’d talk to her husband about her going too. I didn’t really want to hope too much because it’s been over a decade since we last hung out with each other and I really miss her.

We weren’t always close. When we first met, we didn’t really hit it off right away. It wasn’t until that fateful summer of 1993 when practically everyone we knew left town to spend the summer in some fantastic place having the adventures of their lifetime. While Neptune and I stayed on in good ‘ol predictable Cebu. I didn’t have Neptune all to myself though, she joined a jungolf program at the local country club and as bored as I was, I took up tennis (*sigh… I miss my figure way back when) at the same country club.

We saw each other after her her first 9 holes of golf and after my tennis lessons. That was our daytime routine that summer. What did we do you ask? We just talked… and talked… and talked. She’s such a clever and witty woman even back then when we both didn’t know any better. She’s funny and there were no boring moments. EVER. Come to think of it, I can’t really remember how we were able to entertain ourselves that summer but somehow we did because to this day, I still remember that it was one of the best summers of my life.

We’d go out at night… go to this popular (and the only) dance club in Cebu. We really weren’t drinkers at the time but we loooved to dance! It didn’t matter if it was just the two of us. We danced our asses off. But we mainly kept coming back because of this guy (Nep’s crush) who was a really good dancer.

We had all kinds of stupid antics that summer too. In the usual teenage fashion, we met with random guys… prank called most of them. But didn’t really do anything drastic… mild stuff. Hee hee! Those were the days.

That summer came and went but what Nep and I took with us is a friendship that has lasted through the miles. School started, Ann came back and we were a trio again. We graduated high school, went to our separate universities. All the while, we kept in touch as often as we could (except for Ann and I – we went wild in Manila) and Neptune left. I think it was in the middle of our 2nd year in college when they (with her family) left for the States.

We haven’t seen her since. That was almost a decade ago, I think. But the great news is, I was chatting with her the other night and she’s coming home!!! Finally! She’s bringing her kid with her and I could hardly contain my excitement. She’s coming home summer of next year.

Another summer… we’re all so different now yet still the same in so many ways. Finally, another memorable summer I could add to my list. It’s been a while.

We have a long weekend coming up and my husband and I decided to fly to Manila to visit Ann and her family. It’s been a while since we last went there. November last year was the last time we were there.

This time there’s an occasion, it’s Amara’s birthday. Their youngest. For some odd reason, I ended up being the godmother for three of her kids (she has 4… a boy, a set of fraternal twins, and Amara). For a while they couldn’t remember to which twin I was the godmother to. So for years, we just considered that I was the god mother for all three. And when no. 4 (Amara) came out, they got my husband as Amara’s godfather. Just to say that they’re not playing favorites. Hahahaha!

As if there’s a difference.

Of all my boyfriends, my husband has been the only one that they both really, really liked. Though Ann has never been the type to really discourage me from going out with someone she thinks is harmful to me, it was obvious if she didn’t really approve of any of my EXs.

She’s been a great friend. Her and Neptune (who lives all the way in Florida now) are the closest women friends I have from way back. We’ve been friends since high school and have been through a lot since then. We’ve managed to stay in touch although there were times that there were HUGE gaps in terms of years when we communicated, but whenever we did manage to find each other, we’d end up talking like nothing changed.

We always told our BIG news to each other first. When they both found out they were pregnant, two of us always knew first. Neptune even told Ann and I she was pregnant before she told her husband. We’ve always considered ourselves best friends even through the distance between us.

Since it’s practically impossible for me to fly and see Neptune, being with Ann is the next best thing. She’s still an hour away by plane but at least it’s only an hour. I’ve missed her, Juno (her husband), and the kiddies so much! I can’t wait!!!

Me, Neptune, Ann (Over a decade ago.)