Tindahan Ni Mana Kordapya

I’ve always loved colors! I love them popping out of magazines, posters, clothes, banners, etc, etc. Bold shades of red, blue, green, orange, pink, and violet are absolutely stunning! I most especially love them popping out of photographs - strong, radiant colors are always eye-catching.

Now, I have never owned a camera. I am blessed to have parents who love photography, and it is always most convenient for me to borrow their equipment. I get to choose between a Canon 350D and a 40D; different lenses; monopods or tripods; and everything else that they call accessories.

For years now, I have been satisfied with just using our Sony Cybershot. I learned a few tricks here and there in editing photographs - to make even the most dull ones come out spectacular!

Using the Canon cameras, however, proved to be a different experience altogether - experimenting has never been so much fun! Contrasting colors of bottles are more emphasized; imperfections of butterflies are visible, yet they still look beautiful; the prints of the decor are more striking; the colors of the flowers are absolutely radiant. Travels are more cherished now as my captured subjects are presented more beautifully, more vibrant.

Who knew I could take pretty pictures? I didn’t! I was just too busy having fun, and getting lucky with my shots! Now, I’ll just have to wait for Santa to go buy me my own camera. Harharhar

More photos here.

Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours (LGTT) was borne primarily out of the need to promote travel and leisure tours to yet untapped and undeveloped tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) - comprising the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran; and, secondly, to provide linkage as well to other established leisure and travel agencies both domestic and international.

Spun off as a distinct travel agency separate from that of sister company Family Tours Educational Program (FTEP) - which caters more to domestic educational tours - Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours also handles airline ticketing services as well as other travel arrangements for both domestic and international tourists. LGTT is a duly-authorized agent of Philippine Airlines (PAL), the nation’s flag carrier.

Working hand in hand with the Regional Department of Tourism Office and the Tourism Departments of various Local Government Units in Region 8, LGTT has established pioneering inroads towards further development and promotion of the regional tourism thrust in this part of the country.

Our tour packages offer a wide variety of domestic tour destinations and are designed to ensure a unique learning as well as pleasurable experience. Packages are carefully arranged for quality, exciting destinations and interesting itineraries.

Aside from airline bookings and ticketing, we provide services for hotel accommodations, bus, car, van rentals & other travel necessities.

Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours also handles tour packages to other destinations in the Philippines.

http://leytegulf.callezaragosa.com

My good friend, Roshelle Han Asoy, is a recent graduate of the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. She showcased her first ever collection at their graduation fashion show held at the Trinoma Activity Center, September of last year. From her Art Nouveau collection, she was nominated for Best in Casual Wear.

In November of the same year, Han asked me to do a photoshoot for her second fashion design collection. So, we checked our schedules, and made an appointment for a Sunday shoot at the Leyte Capitol Building. We brought along another good friend, Abigail Liza Nemenzo - who modeled for us; Han’s brother and their Yaya to act as assistants.

The Glam Collection by Manicqueen is a mix of formal and casual wear - created for the trend-setters, and those who definitely want an oomph! in their closets. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, Han’s designs uses textures and accessories that a regular person wouldn’t normally use. Her artistic vision, and strong desire to create jaw-dropping pieces, however, has proven to produce very unique creations that more and more people are starting to pick up.

And because of the freedom that a lot of cosmopolitan ladies see in her designs, Han has her hands full of requests for her glamorous clothes. You can now see her clothes worn at chic fashion parties in Manila; or on a mother and daughter glam tandem for the baby’s birthday bash!

You can see more of her designs at http://manicqueen.multiply.com and at http://wildcherrylipz.multiply.com

The Fashion Institute of the Philippines was established in the year 2003. They have, since then, produced quality graduates who are now big names in fashion - operating their own shops and boutiques, or working here and abroad for various fashion and design companies.

http://fashioninstitutephil.com/

Throughout the years that I have been traveling - may it be with family, friends, or both - I have tried a diverse mix of accommodations. From camping, town inns, luxury hotels to pool villas - I’ve tried them all. Diverse as they are, all these experiences have definitely been memorable.

Two hotels, however, will forever have a place in my heart. These hotels take the top two positions in my favorites list.

In 2007, I took two trips to Manila. Weeks before leaving, I searched around online for a nice hotel around the Ortigas area, and found the site of Astoria Plaza Suites. The photos of the hotel’s rooms made my jaw drop, and I decided instantly that I wanted to stay there.

Situated in Ortigas, Pasig, Astoria Plaza Suites made it easier for me to get to my appointments in Eastwood, Shangri-La, and I also got to visit grandmother in Diliman. The 35-storey hotel has very spacious accommodations that can cater to different types of clients. The contemporary designs of the rooms are definitely something to look forward to. I especially loved their Bedroom Suites - with a living room, dining and kitchen areas, I instantly felt at home! Only our home is far from how nice that room was! And I definitely want something like that!

In October of that same year, my family and I took our first trip to Bangkok, Thailand. We stayed at the Baiyoke Boutique Hotel - a few steps away from Baiyoke Sky Hotel (Thailand’s Tallest Tower). It’s modern and trendy design was truly eye-catching! From the artworks, the door signs, carpeted floor, to the elevator doors - we would see funky designs everywhere! My siblings and I had fun fooling around and taking photos all around the hotel. Even the front-desk staff took a quick time out to join us in our photo op!

Staying at the Baiyoke Boutique Hotel also proved convenient for us. It was just a few steps away from the bustling tiangge markets, and a few minutes’ cab ride to the busy malls. We could shop during the day, AND at night! We could just walk back to the hotel to drop off our shopping bags when they were a handful already, then we would go right back out!

I do love to travel, and great hotels are always plus points in making an experience memorable. I may not be able to count how many hotels I’ve stayed in anymore, but these two definitely made a mark with me.

I have always been curious about the online selling and buying world; but it was only in mid-2007 that I decided to take a peek into ebay.ph. I made a couple of purchases there (mostly for our home); had my share of good and bad transactions; and found myself enjoying despite the fact that I wasn’t physically shopping for items.

A few purchases after, I decided to try looking around Multiply for any interesting buys. I’ve been hearing that it was easier to purchase on Multiply, so why not give it a try? I was surprised to see a lot of sellers - from teens to mommies! And I was more surprised to find out that my teenage sister has actually been buying her accessories from there! This got me all psyched up, and next thing I knew, I was buying little things here and there - for myself, for my mom, for my sister. Later on, I was buying for my friends and other relatives. I even found new friends from my suppliers! It was then than I thought, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to try selling myself!

So, I gathered all my girl friends - told them to bring items they were selling to their classmates and colleagues, and we did our very first photoshoot! It was fun, fun, fun! We were so into our element that we forgot that it was the start of a new venture!

A few months into our buying and selling venture, we have gone from having fashion photoshoots to organizing 3 bazaars just before the end of the year. Come Christmas time, we had more than enough to send out gifts for everyone, and even got to travel because of our income!

I’m truly blessed to have very supportive family and friends. I’ve never felt any pressure in this business - as it was always playtime for us, and we bonded even more.

Thank you ladies, and a few gents! Business has never been so much fun.

http://sundayshut.multiply.com

For years now, it has been a habit of my family to explore destinations around our region. We always look forward to Holy Weeks - as it is during this time that we get a chance to visit a new town waiting for us to be explored.For this year’s Holy Week, my folks chose to take a break, and visit San Pedro Island - off the town of Hinunangan in Southern Leyte. It took us a two-hour drive, and a 30-minute pump boat ride to reach this paradise.

The white beaches sprawling around the island is a welcome respite for city dwellers like us. Exploring the island is an adventure on its own - you can walk on the foot path going around the island, or rent a bike for a quick tour. We had a blast taking photographs, as we found a lot of new subjects as we went around.

The caretakers of the rest house that was lent to us were very accommodating. They served us bountiful meals, and they always see to it that our needs were taken care of. Mind you, there’s no electricity on the island; and there’s no running water either. A generator was provided for us, so we could at least have light, and a chance to charge our batteries; a water pump just beside the kitchen served as our source to wash dishes, clothes, and for us to be able to rinse ourselves.

At night, the Baranggay Captain provided us tuba and Red Horse Beer for a short drinking session - as my brother played the guitar (borrowed from the local kids), and we sang all night to love songs from the 60’s to the present.

It was a relaxing weekend. I never mind having to camp out, nor do i mind not having the other basic necessities around. We always tend to find alternatives anyway.

Fashion and Traveling: these are two of my passions in life.

I’m blessed to be able to combine these two passions, as I go through my life’s journey.

I have hopped from Luzon, Visayas and to Mindanao for work. I have discovered the different cultures as I visited a couple of cities around Asia.

And what I always discover - is that one city is ALWAYS different from the next; even though these cities are in the same country!

There’s always so much to explore - not just it’s culture..but also, my most favorite hobby, shopping!

I’m always delighted at the sights, sounds, smell and taste of every single city that I visit.

It’s always a joy to share stories of experiences, especially showing off goods that I get from each city!

Every piece of clothing, shoe, shawl, purse, or what-have-you bought from another city (other than from where I live in) is always a remembrance of my experience. These are memories that will forever be cherished.