post drumming: hangovers, reality, and finding that groove

Gong Xi Fa Chai! A new year in the Chinese calendar, and I haven’t done much since I started the new year – no shoots, no projects, no concepts but plans, plans and more plans. I am not quite, sure but lately I have become lazy or maybe I have become choosy over what I want to work on but as one of my daughter goes – Meh! But anyway I will be writing on my updates.

What’s new and what’s happening to the Asylum?

•          Aside from acquiring a new staff, a new direction is to go bolder, with my shoots, meaning more risqué. I like to work on pieces that show glamour, sex, and a lot of skin, that of voyeur point of view – and a lot of more storytelling now than just my typical point, direct and shoot. I want to push myself as photographer, and with this new direction, it would really flex my portfolio to push my confidence in interaction as a photographer and my model without stretching the perv-photographer.
•          I would be working on being part of the Asia Pop Comic Con 2016 as a media partner, and I hope I get the bit.
•         Events less, private shoots more – meaning I would no longer be going to BOA, Otaku Expo, Toycon more on NEXCON, APCC, Fantasy Quest and other selected events but focusing on clientele to do shoots that I want to take my time and work on. I would redo my Lolita, and do another City of Pines Tour this year.
•        Different style of editing – yes with my new staff, I will be turning it over to a graphics artist in which I can trust in doing the dirty work. Fixing what I can’t do or manipulate.
•         I would be traveling more, and shooting more on volunteering models – Yes I have chosen this route ever since I got inspired meeting people I met from Baguio, and surely there are other provinces who has cosplayers that are warm and accommodating as them.
•         Lastly, I will be back soon on my Social Networks. Ever since my phone killed itself, I would be acquiring a new unit to interact with the people of the world again.

This may be the shortest entry I may have written, but I want to thank JC ZALA Travel and Tours, for helping me in my travel to Kalibo – of all the trips, I am thankful that I have a travel advisor helping get to my father’s homeland. Without their patience and understanding – I am grateful for their help. Based in Zamboanga, I was acquire what I need with a few hitches then and there on my part, but I want to plug them – should you need to travel around the country, they will gladly arrange it for you.

That’s it for now, I may write more food and movie reviews soon. Stay tuned.

a new year spares no casualities

It’s been a while since I wrote a personal piece in which a lot has happened this 2015 – what began through rediscovering who I am in my father’s homeland, finding strength in family to a homecoming of a series of events… I have lessened myself in doing my own themed shoots, only of which I have piloted successfully on my own are my May Ink, Lolita and Rainy Day shoots. In place I had made myself active in various events from being an opening act for Nexcon 2 to a wandering geek at Asia Pop Comic Con, being a media partner for Asia Cosplay Meets Philippines, and made a statement for dress to impress in Fantasy Quest 4. I also established myself being part of the Baguio community, thus I made a name, a brand and its taking its baby steps to baby walks – I am getting there. Last December I was supposed to end it with a bang with End of Days – sadly got cancelled out with the number of participants I had, which wasn’t substantial to cover the day. I made myself suffer to going to Ozine which was chaotic as usual. It was no fun as I had few shots because I was mainly exhausted by just going in and out of the convention. And that pretty sums up 2015, fun, chaotic, wet and wild.

This 2016 I am going back to what I do best, which is just focusing on fashion and cosplay shoots that I can handle – and being active only to major events. There is a lot to reflect on for this 2016 – and I guess my resolution for the year is simply, Keeping my mouth shut more, Really make things work, and Leave expectations behind me for less disappointment but foremost my biggest resolution is to got stop acting desperate. Lately my loneliness has gotten much worse, and worse is subscribing back myself in Tinder in hope for love. I got clicks there and then – but I still long for that physical connection. I guess my desperation of wanting a partner in life, is making me crazy. The every wanting thoughts of marriage, church bells and having a child of my own is clouding my thoughts – and the insults of my office are going to my head. I did have my regrets, the past relationships I have had who made me who I am is no rash insult to wanting more in life. Relationships goals pop up here and there, the days become colder, I hope for only things to get better.

What happens now? I got to keep continuing being positive, got to keep on surviving by being better than I was before. I shouldn’t dwell much on things I cannot control. Come what may, was always been my motto, but this time, take charge and not hesitate, will be something I shall live by. So 2016 give me the best, and I will take charge and do the rest.

of rain and more rain

Maria Garcia, Sillykompeito

It’s already August, and the seasons has changed, so rapidly, that I could hardly keep up, it almost like felt like yesterday when I did the fundraising event for my mom, The Asylum: Lolita. I cannot help and overwhelmed on how thankful I am, and happy to the people who strongly participated in it. 

I still get that high when I look back and remember how this shoot went, despite 40 plus who confirmed on my invite, I still got a substantial number who came. 4 photographers came, and one who did not properly introduce himself, 7 cosplayers or rather I had 7 who came. We began past lunch time, I had to wait for the others if they were really coming, I got the pleasure of working with Maria Garcia, whom I got to know for dressing up as Cat Woman and Harely Quinn, and foremost became my second In-House model for the Asylum and it was an honor for me to work with Stylebible.PH and freelance Preview magazine photographer Stan Dela Cruz. In which he provided me so much learning, insights in the fashion photography industry, and what his life was like – getting to shoot for the love of it, and how also shares his distastes on some events. It was a learning experience for me and Maria, to learn from a master, or a patient teacher, on how he truly supports that Lolita is the next fashion thing or to look out for in this country. In a couple of hours I was joined by Amgine, June of PXL, Karen Kim and another photographer who is known as Stray Cat.  From Sailor moon Lolita to goth, to the sweet to the punk, it was fun and the sudden bad clouds pressured me to wrap things up quickly. The skies weren’t cooperative down the line, but I got a number of good photos taken from the pointers given by Stan, which really upgraded my skill set.

Nonetheless, I had fun having to see old friends again, and meet new ones, how my South Cosplayers supported me and joined in.

    

The House of Dolls: Rainy Season Edition

Come this August 15, I will apply of all what I have learned and apply to a fashion shoot, together in partnership with BGC MyCity.com, I would be hosting a rainy season fashion wear shoot. It something I am excited for since, this is where I feel more comfortable with in directing because I know what I want, or what looks I am going for. So far 30 have confirmed in attendance through my e-invitation, and I have to see who will really deliver on that day. I am looking forward the most is working with Maria Garcia again, and see what we photos we can come out with.

It has been busy day and week for me as I try fixing my South group, and balancing my work like to my personal life. I have been keeping myself preoccupied. I am also working on to saving money for the next three events I will be bringing myself too – and I hope I can finally bring this brand to a recognizable one, meaning to say that The Asylum shall be known and someday able to be take in more partnerships, more projects to cover and work on.