Back In Afters

I met with Ice and Vincent yesterday at Afters for some good ol' get together since we haven't seen each other for quite a while. We got to talk about stuff that's happening with each of us; Ice's wedding and her preparations as well as how her fiance proposed, Vincent's growing business (among other things hint: gym time!), my status at work, why we should visit Makati Med, a good business venture for Ice and Vincent with me as their first test subject, future plans and us getting old, my brother's kid, plus a new term for someone who doesn't look good in pictures as well as in person. Can't post it here though but it's really funny (laughing a little as I type this). Oh, Ice got MangoRed to be their wedding photographers and she got them to tell horror wedding stories one of which was really gross. Let's just say someone had an extra cushion for the whole event.

After a quick lunch at Congo Grill, we went back to Afters to hang around, eat some affogato, and try some of the new gelato flavors, snickers, chili chocolate, and gelato popcorn! Popcorn for me is the best but I also like the chili chocolate. It's better than the sili flavored chocolate bar that I've been eating because the gelato is a lot colder and smoother, balances out the heat from the chili. Ice was also able to try being a cashier for one transaction, something she's really looking forward to, and you can see that she really likes it based from the photos below.

If only Afters was near my office, I would really hang out in that shop because of the ambiance. We were actually surrounded by students that afternoon who were studying and some groups of people just hanging out the same way did. That's how cozy that place is. It's not loud, not that bright, good music,  wooden floor, the smell of coffee, plus gelato and some cakes.

It might not have been that long of a get together, and we're actually missing Carissa because she has some obligations since it was Sunday, but it was a day that I'm thankful for. It was a day of realization and relief accompanied with a lot of laughing.

choco lavacake with a shot of espresso. Sugar high! But it tastes really good.

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Photography Idols: Nicoline Patricia Malina

My latest Photography Idol feature is Nicoline Patricia Malina. If I wanted to look at fashion photos, I know which photographer's page I'll visit. She's based in Jakarta Indonesia and has done editorials for big fashion magazines such as Elle and Esquire. When you see her photos, you know they're worthy to  be printed in magazines and be shared to others because they're just gorgeous. She has a mix of studio and ambient lighting, colored and b&w in her portfolio. She knows her light, that's for sure! Below are some of her past and present photos but I suggest you visit her website and browse through her gallery. (I especially like the first 3 photos)

Nicoline Patricia Malina

(Indonesia)

Website | Facebook | DeviantArt

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Smashing Pumpkins in Manila!

Even if it was raining really really hard and traffic was so horrible (an hour and a half on a usual 7-10 minutes stretch of a road), I braved it all just to watch the Smashing Pumpkins concert last Wednesday and guess what, it was all worth it! I'm not that of a big fan of the Smashing Pumpkins but when I heard their songs during my MTV years, I got hooked even though at that time I was in to RnB and HipHop songs. That's how strong and awesome their songs are and I know that if ever they come here, I will definitely watch their concert! And that's exactly what I did.

When I arrived in Araneta that night, all I can see was a wall of water and a lot of people hanging to their umbrellas and I thought, with this rain, a lot of people will be missing the first concert of Smashing Pumpkins in the Philippines and that's exactly what I saw when I got inside the coliseum. But when the show started at around 9 PM, the crowd more than doubled! I guess I was just early. There was no front act, it was all the Smashing Pumpkins from the start to the finish and they gave one heck of a show for their Filipino fans! AND I WAS THERE seating in the lower box with a good view! It was so awesome to listen to them live! Oh, I didn't bring my camera because it was raining and I don't want to risk not being able to see them, so I'll post the pictures I found on the web (reference on the end of this blog post) and some videos shared in Youtube.

The moment they stepped on the stage the crowd roared and the band started singing like they're saying "let's get things started!" and everyone just continued shouting, me included. Their first set was the entire Oceania album, well that's what their tour was about. As they stared playing, the tall black curtain behind them fell revealing a big white balloon where videos were projected, it's so simple that it's so cool. You have a big videos to watch that goes a long with the songs, well, they're not really music video material, more like those made up videos you see in youtube that looks look like random images. I have to admit, I only listened to their new album 2-3 times before the concert and I liked a couple of songs. There are some songs that for me sounds like the old school Smashing Pumpkins but I'm not really that reliable to say what's old school and new about the band's songs. What I like about their songs are the tunes, specifically 1979, the reason why I want to learn how to play the guitar.. (I'm more of a tunes listener). But after I heard them singing it live, I started to like the new album more. Of course the crowd weren't that much ecstatic about the new songs because I'm sure they haven't heard of them that much as well but every end of the songs was cheered with applause and a lot of "WOOOOOO!". I heard some people in the back singing to some of the songs but I know everyone is waiting for the band to sing their hits.

First Set (Oceania Album)

• Quasar
• Panopticon
• The Celestials
• Violet Rays
• My Love is Winter
• One Diamond, One Heart
• Pinwheels
• Oceania
• Pale Horse
• The Chimera
• Glissandra
• Inkless
• Wildflower

Then came the second set that everyone was waiting for and crowd shouted even louder and clapped even harder. More and more people started singing with the band as the Smashing Pumpkins sang their hits and old songs. It was just amazing to watch and listen to those songs that I only heard from speakers and seen on the TV. Billy became more chatty to the crowd on this set as he thanked everyone who came that night. He asked everyone, have they noticed the rain and then he said what he noticed was power! Then the band started playing their hits. At one point, Billy asked the crowd who here are true Smashing Pumpkins fans and everyone just shouted. Then he asked, who here is born after 1987 and he got a mixed reply of laughter and boos. I was laughing myself. The band laughed as well although I'm sure there are "kids" out there in the crowd enjoying awesome music. There was also a part where Billy told Jeff that Filipino men are very lucky because we have here very beautiful women here and then he proceeded to sing Soot and Stars which was dedicated to Filipino women. Everyone just having a great time! I myself forgot my worries and the thundering music just drowned my stress away, I was just enjoying the moment seeing the Smashing Pumpkins perform.

Second set

• Space Oddity
• X.Y.U.
• Disarm
• Tonight, Tonight
• Bullet With Butterfly Wings
• Soot and Stars
• Luna
• Today

Photo by Mark Terence Sy

Of course we had our encore and I was still waiting for 1979 and Perfect because they didn't sang those songs on their second set. After the second set, the people were shouting more and they were stomping their feet making the whole Araneta shake. I thought that it wasn't loud enough, the band deserved more! But I realized that the audience have been shouting the whole time and I'm sure they're a bit tired. But when the band came back on the stage, the crowd roared like we all just arrived. The drunk/really-big-fan guy in front of me was waving his hands all over the place as the band sang through their encore. 

We were also given a special treat as Billy said that "On a normal night, that would be the end of the show, but this is not a normal night" (watch the 1979 video below) then proceeded to play more songs. The crowd roared once again delighted with what they heard and people continued to sing with the band. The concert ended around midnight with 28 songs in total. Imagine that? It was really something special for the Smashing Pumpkin fans. Billy said on Tuesday on a tweet that they'll be back for sure and when they do, I'll be there to watch them again and if the weather is a whole lot better than last Wednesday, I'm sure the whole venue would be so full of shouting fans. It was a really stellar performance from the Smashing Pumpkins and I'm sure the crowd enjoyed it. I know I did. I don't care that I didn't have my camera back then, all I know is that I experienced Smashing Pumpkin's first concert in the country and it was awesome!

Encore

• Zero
• Ava Adore
• Cherub Rock

Extended Encore

• 1979
• Stand Inside Your Love
• Muzzle
• Black Diamond

If you want to listen to the whole Oceania album, you can stream it on SoundCloud. My favorites are The Celestials, Pinwheels and Inkless.

Below are the some videos of the concert posted in Youtube for you guys to enjoy.

*First 3 photos by Magic Liwanag and last photo was by Mark Terence Sy

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Camera Options ... Sony RX100

gearpatrol.com

I don't want to make two consecutive Camera Options posts but I just have to add this to that list because this is exactly what I'm looking for! Have you heard of Sony RX100? Well, it's the camera that is pictured above and it's one fantastic P&S camera because it's the answer to my dilema between Canon's S100 and Fuji's X10. I'm having trouble deciding between Canon S100 "pocketability" and Fuji X10's sensor capability and lens. But now I have a solution and that is this camera, the Sony RX100!

gearpatrol.com

So imagine combining those two cameras I mentioned before and you get this lovely Leica-ish RX100 and more! It's widest aperture is f/1.8 on it's wide end 28mm (only in 28mm though) and has a 1" sensor size! Yes! Double that of Fuji X10! Why I'm making a fuzz with the sensor size is because having a larger sensor means more depth of field on your photos and better low light capability. All in one sleek package that can slip inside your jeans pocket or any pocket for that matter. I've read reviews about it and it looks like the RX100 is a dynamite of a P&S camera. Sony has set the bar high for these kind of cameras for sure. I decided that I'll be getting the Fuji X10 tomorrow but then I read about this fantastic camera a moment ago and saw the photos and I know that this trumps my other choices.

theverge.com

Of course there are drawbacks, no hotshoe for external flash. The aperture of the lens drops to f/4.9 on tele compared to Fuji's f/2-f/2.8 lens. No optical viewfinder (although I really don't mind) and others are saying, no tilt-screen but I'm not bothered about it either. Oh, it's also pricey at $650. (Ouch!). Fuji X10 is priced at $599 and the S100 is definitely cheaper. The part with the lens is my only concern, but high ISO results from reviews are really good for this p&s camera.

theverge.com

This is definitely an option for me! I was ready to get an X10 then I saw this and I changed my mind. But as I'm writing this, I had another change of heart to go back to the X10 because of the lens and physical controls. I really like the lens of the X10 because of it's wide aperture on it's lens, it's not constant but it's definitely faster than the f/4.9 or the f/5.6 of other P&S cameras. Now I don't know which to get... and I don't have a camera for Tuesday...

click on the images above to read the reviews from The Verge and Gear Patrol. Also, you might want to read Steve Huff's review of RX100.

Update. I just noticed in some comparison photos, the RX100 is bulkier than the S95 or the S100. So if you put this in your pocket, people would think you're happy to see them. :)

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Camera Options... Canon EOS M

theverge.com

I'm sure you've heard that Canon has recently unveiled their newest camera, the Canon EOS M. I've already posted my first impressions (based on specs and articles on the web) about the EOS M on Slide and Tap. Also, this is an extension of my previous blog post Camera Options For Me (And You) where I share what cameras I'm looking forward to.

There is already a lot of information about the EOS M posted on the web from tech and photography websites. No need for me to summarize it. What I'll talk about in this post is the significance of this camera especially for Canon users and why I'm adding this to my options for a camera.

tunakko.net

Size and Portability. One of the biggest points to owning an EOS M. This is in comparison to a DSLR that I can't even bring everyday with me. It's not really safe to bring a DSLR with me everyday and even if I want to, I can't bring it with me to the office. No cameras allowed. A camera that is relatively small as the EOS M can change this. Sure it's not entirely pocketable especially when a zoom lens is attached but it's no DSLR to the eyes of the public and security guards.

cinema5d.com

Image Quality. Unlike the typical P&S cameras, the EOS M uses an APS-C size sensor, the same as those on entry to mid level Canon DSLRS, and Canon's latest DIGIC 5 processor. That's why it's not totally that small. The models that were mostly reviewed were pre-production models but if the current DSLRs that uses the same sensor and image processor can be used as basis, then I can safely assume that the pictures coming out of this camera will be fantastic.

Side note, I don't know why some people don't understand why we're glad that Canon used an APS-C sensor on this camera stating that the Sony NEX came first. We're not really saying that it came first, we're just glad that Canon didn't use a smaller sensor because we all know that sensor size does affect image quality (although now, smaller sensors are catching up a little to DSLR sensors).

www.dpreview.com

Those are the main reasons I'm adding the EOS M to my camera options. The compatibility to EF and EF-S lenses of Canon's DSLR lineup is a big plus. This is like the Olympus OM-D E-PM5 interchangeable lens system but with a more discreet look because of the almost-S100 form factor. I don't mind the lack of an optical viewfinder, I can live with that. What I'm worried about is the battery life. But we'll see come October or Q4 of this year when the final EOS M camera will be released to the public. As early as now, I can recommend this camera because I know that I might get this one in the future.




PS: I might get the Fuji X10 this week *wink* 

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Photography Idols: Ezgi Polat

My featured photographer today is Ezgi Polat. I know very little about her other than she lives in Germany but what I'm sure of is that she's really really good in taking photos. They may seem random or just everyday portraits but when I look at them, I know there is something more behind each picture. Hers are simple, non-vibrant photographs that makes very good use of available light. Yep, she sees good light and she sees it well. Something I want to learn as well. She shoots film (I don't know if exclusively) and I'm not sure if she does digital post processing but her final images looks spectacular! I want my life to be recorded in photographs and I want it to be done this way.

Ezgi Polat

(Germany)

website | DeviantArt | Facebook | Blog

*images from her Facebook and DeviantArt

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Looking For the Perfect Messenger Bag

My bag and my planner

Among other things that I'm doing right now, I'm also on the hunt for a perfect messenger bag. Of course perfect being subjective. I've had my Celio messenger (?) bag for more than a couple of years now and it served me well through a lot of rains and hellish heat in the metro and it's still in good condition, aging quite well. I think it's not real leather or else it would have cost more but it feels like one. Even the shoulder strap is made of the same material and is comfortable even without a shoulder pad. The buckles aren't rusting and isn't smelling metallic even after being subjected to the weather. It's a really small bag, able to fit my planner and a small foldable umbrella. That's the thing though, it's too small for me now, I need a bigger bag that can carry more stuff incase I need to. Before I thought going small is OK, and it was, but now I changed my mind.


This all started when I saw a thread in The Verge forum talking about laptop bags. Actually even before, I've contemplated on getting a bigger bag because there are times when I had to carry another bag because it couldn't fit on my daily bag. That thread reminded me to do so. My requirements for a new bag are 

• Should look good on both casual look and with corporate attire.
• Material should either be waxed canvass or leather.
• Preferably with a shoulder pad.
• Should be able to fit a small bond paper without the need to fold it.
• Can carry a 13-inch laptop. (that 13-inch laptop is another story)
• Optional, can double as a camera bag.

I have set my eyes on a couple of bags because of their looks but I don't think I'll be getting any of them because of one reason, price! True enough that expensive things looks gorgeous! So these bags are mostly my baseline on what my new bag should look like.

alterthemood.blogspot.com

Billingham's Hadley Small (Or Large but that's 15")
I've always wanted this bag ever since I saw it featured on DigitalRev. It's actually a camera bag but doubles as an ordinary everyday bag but simply pulling out the sleeves. Don't you think it looks good? Because I think it does. Doesn't look like a camera bag at all. Stealthy in that sense. Leather plus Fibrenyte material and brass fittings equals really good quality and screams in price as well. Another downside is it's too small to fit a 13-inch laptop unless I pick up an 11-inch Macbook Air.

www.onabags.com

Ona's Brixton
Another camera bag with that looks. I actually had a camera bag like this before so I know how it feels to carry a bag like this. It's not as flexible as the Billingham Hadley Small because the pads are built into the bag though I can remove the separators to make space. This can fit a 13-inch laptop together with a DSLR and a couple of lenses. It's made of waxed canvass to protect it from the weather and has brass buckles as well. Price? Expensive.

www.jcrew.com

Abingdon's Laptop Bag
This time it's a true laptop bag and this is actually quite big at 15 inches. I'll have no problems with capacity on this one. Same material, waxed cotton canvass, some leather, and brass fittings. Maybe too big for my taste but looks good. Price? Half as those on top but still expensive for me. Maybe if I can see the material, it might convince me. Maybe too formal.

www.ernestalexander.com

Earnest Alexander's Hudson Olive Wax Twill Messenger
I've saved the best for last. This big and pricey bag is made of waxed canvass, some leather and some brass. Same thing as above. It's 16-inch wide and can fit a 17-inch Macbook Pro (I think). This is something I'll use if I want to bring everything with me. This can double as a camera bag by just getting some protective padding for my camera gear. Too large and definitely too expensive as well. I'd rather buy a new lens, or a camera, or take someone to some fancy dinner and still have some left with the cost of this bag. But you can't argue that this doesn't look beautiful because it's so simple, it's gorgeous. From their website We hate flashy logos, We put ours discreetly ont he inside.

So with those bags as my standards, last week I looked around Ayala malls and some other malls that are accessible to me on a daily basis only to find out that no store has any that looks like the bags I mentioned. Celio has a good messenger bag, can fit 13-inch, but not waxed meaning if it rained, the contents will be drenched as well. I think it costs the same as my current Celio shoulder bag. Kenneth Cole does have a messenger bag with good quality, a bit on the heavy side though, both in weight and price. In short, couldn't find any locally. Even online. So I had no choice but to go international and Ebay US have a lot of affordable options for me. Now, how to get them from there to here.. and if you have any suggestions, please do tell me and I thank you in advance.

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The Amazing Spider-Man

wallpapersup.net

Finally got to watch the latest Spider-man movie, the remake The Amazing Spider-man, last night with Petite. We were suppose to watch it last Tuesday but the rains always got in the way and we're literally doing a rain check. Good thing last night decided it stopped, we were thinking that some higher power doesn't want us to watch another big movie because of the way we treated The Hunger Games (in short, I didn't like that movie). Happened to us for a couple of movies before this one.

Now about the movie, I like it! It's simple, not that many gimmicks and it's a proper spider man with a web slinging device, not like the first Spider-Man. (To be fair, at least it was the first). I don't really read the comics so I didn't have any expectations to this movie and Petite was actually filling me with the details about who Gwen Stacy is so I wasn't asking why no Mary Jane. A little funny scenes in there too especially when he just found out he had super human strength. What I know is that the Spider-man character is playful and childish and in this movie it shows. Good fight scenes as well! Not that it needs mentioning but CGI has come a long way. There are also some good first-person scenes in there. It's your typical action hero movie with a slice of drama on the side so if you haven't seen it yet then you'll know what to expect.

In the end, it left me feeling the same way I did after I watched The Dark Knight. True that the Dark Knight has a deeper story than this and the Joker trumps the Lizard but I think this is how it should have been done for Spider-man, although Petite told me that this movie is based on the remake in the comics. I actually want to watch the sequel even if I have no idea who the next villain is. I read it somewhere that there will be a couple sequels to The Amazing Spider-man.

I recommend this!

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Afters Espresso and Desserts

Note: This was posted last February 5. Reposting here.

Vincent recently opened his new restaurant Afters Espresso and Desserts last January 31st and he invited me to their grand opening. Here are some photos from that event. Congrats Vincent and can I already ask for a discount?

Afters Espresso & Desserts 

20 Lansbergh Place, Tomas Morato Ave. cor Scout Castor St., 1103 Quezon City, Philippines

Facebook page

Vincent behind the counter.

New flavors of Yoh-Gee! The brown one on the bottom right most side is pistachio and is really delicious!

Badit helping out in the opening.

The food bloggers invited to the grand opening.

Business talk.

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