Churros are Spanish fried-dough pastries dipped in chocolate that are traditionally eaten as breakfast in Spain. In the Philippines though, Pinoys are crazy over churros, usually eating them for snacks.

There's this small churreria called La Lola that sells churros packaged in a huge cone with the option to eat it with or without a chocolate dip on the side. We went to their branch in Megamall located at the 2/F Mega Atrium.

I am used to having short or U-shaped churros but La Lola's churros are long and straight, fried only upon order. You can order the classic ones (P110, medium size, 6 pieces) and a separate order for the chocolate dip (P60 for medium size) which is quite disappointing. I think churros and choco are an automatic pair.

They also have churros dipped in dark chocolate (P195 for 6 pieces), churro ice cream sandwiches (P145) and Xuxos (stuffed churros with choice of nutella, speculoos, dulce de leche or strawberry jam). These, I have to try yet. Churros is a heavy snack so two pieces are enough for me. If you're not wary about eating greasy snack, this one's a good deal.

I was floating with optimism when I entered 2015 back at home in Davao City. We just came back from the New Year’s Eve mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church, a family event that has become a tradition, and it was made more fun because for the second straight year, Mayor Digong Duterte chose to attend mass there. He spoke in front of the churchgoers and he was strong about his stand on not running for the Presidency.

Trying to hide my fascination by posing at abandoned building with graffiti in Berlin, Germany.

Three hundred sixty-five days later, on the same pews I kneeled on a year back, the rain was pouring heavily. I must've been tens of kilos heavier, I had slightly no idea. How would I know, I lost count during the year. This time, no Mayor Duterte to speak about Federalism in front. In a year's time, I changed cellphones twice and I became a coffee drinker. I don't know if I'm going regret it but I've been drinking coffee since I came back from Baguio a few weeks ago. Fortunately, I cut on alcohol this year so I guess that balances my unhealthy lifestyle. 

The rain was cinematic, a symbolic change of skin - leaving the past year behind, cleansing your baggages and having a new you. You know, all that cliché when a new year starts. It was different for me, though. I don't consider 2016 as starting anew but a continuation of what I started in 2015. I had a lot of leftovers from the past year and I have to carry them over for 2016. I chose to because I needed to.

Posing beside the huge Berlinale logo at HAU 1 in Berlin.

I started 2015 with a huge anticipation and excitement over going to Europe for the first time. I was accepted for Berlinale Talents when I applied for it, on my first try I have to brag, in 2014 while on a train from Hoi An to Hanoi in Vietnam.

Experiencing winter, seeing and actually holding a snow, meeting filmmakers from around world, being in a major film festival, seeing Darren Aronofsky, Howard Shore and Wim Wenders in person, everything was overwhelming. Exploring Berlin, having my Before Sunset moments in Prague, reminiscing Before Sunrise in Vienna, meeting an old friend in Budapest, trying to work out a develop a relationship in Köln, musing on oneliness in Paris, exploring Amsterdam. The trip was magical. 

The grave of Edith Piaf in Cimetière du Père Lachaise, my first stop right after I arrived in Paris.

It depressed me that Jim Morrison's grave is too modest for his status as a legend.

Surprisingly, coming back home almost broke didn't bother me. I had the happiest time of my life in Europe but I kind of doubted myself after a week. I think I should’ve saved a little more before the trip so I would have something to spend because I was uncertain about getting a project when I arrived. For a while, I contemplated on going mainstream but I held my horses.

I took the opportunity of editing the 3rd season of “It Takes Gutz to be a Gutierrez”, a reality show on E! Entertainment Asia. I heard horror stories about the production process of that show in their first two seasons and I heard that this family is hard to work with. I had nothing to do then so I took the offer believing it would finish within a month or less. I worked with a funny Scottish director, Steve, and a few Pinoy crew and Gutierrez’s matriach, Annabelle. Five gruelling and stressful months passed me by and I regretted every moment I worked on that show. I’ll spare the details because she makes a worse enemy and it’s not worth it.

I shot “I love you. Thank you.” in August of 2014, one of the films that is personal to me. We worked on finishing the film until April 2015. In contrast to Gutz, I had the happiest days working on this film. It was my baby waiting to be born, pouring much of my soul in it. It premiered at Bangkok Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in June, competed at the World Premieres Film Festival a few weeks after, was shown to jampacked screenings in UP Dililman Cine Adarna and UP Los Banos, then at Q! Film Festival and Ayala Cinemas last October.

A still from one of my favorite scenes of "I love you. Thank you."

The process of doing “I love you. Thank you.” taught me to listen to others even if I disagreed to most of their decisions. The film is a product of team work and yes, there’s no I in TEAM! I had to consider three more heads in deciding the fate of the film.

At the Awarding Ceremonies of the World Premieres Film Festival in Manila.

With the actors of "I love you. Thank you." Joross Gamboa, CJ Reyes and Prince Stefan.

The film didn’t quite had the takeoff that I expected it to have in 2015. We made a few wrong decisions and priorities here and there, talked to the wrong people but I believe in the film’s power to make it big. Bigger than it should’ve been last year and I’m carrying this baggage in 2016. #143TY is a big thing just waiting to happen with the right timing.

After all the hurdles we faced, this film taught me patience and resilience.

A still from "Chasing Waves".

“Chasing Waves”, the film that I shot in 2014 and was finished in 2015 had its World Premiere at the Southeast Asian Film Festival in Singapore last April. Thanks to Philip Cheah, the festival’s programmer, I was able to go back to Singapore with a renewed love for vinyl when he took me to the best vinyl stores in Singapore. It made me kind of regret not buying the vinyls in Vienna (Teuchtler Schallplattenhandlung where Before Sunrise was shot). 

At the Singapore Art Museum.

"Chasing Waves” taught me to be humble. It is a small film not screaming of attention. The shoot open my eyes to the inadequacies of our government. It gave me the drive to do my part to stop the abuses most of our lumads go through everyday. To be the voice in behalf of the oppressed who are not fortunate enough to be provided with the basic social services.

Outside the Singapore Art Museum where Chasing Waves was screened.

In September, the film competed in Split Film Festival and I contemplated on going to Croatia to attend the festival and experience Europe’s autumn but my funds and Gutz held me back. It was also shown at the CinemaRehiyon in Cebu City where I also did a side trip to Oslob and experience whale watching.

Playing around with actress Ging Hyde on our back to Cebu City from Oslob.

I believe that Chasing Waves is a Mindananaoan film that deserves more audience and I hope to bring it more screening venues in 2016.

I didn't go to the awards night thinking I wouldn't win but Martin, Hamog's producer called me to get my trophy. 

I came back to edit for Cinemaone Originals, another film for Joel Jover. This one stars Zaijian Jaranilla, Terry Malvar, OJ Mariano and a few first-time child actors. I was lucky enough to win my second Cinemaone Best Editing trophy and what a comeback that was! Working on “Hamog” taught me to trust my instincts and fight for what I think is right.

I never imagine myself directing commercials because I thought they're too glossy for me but ABS-CBN Global gave me an opportunity to shoot one for online release slated last Fathers’ Day. I got a taste of corporate dynamics as I went through the briefing, shooting and all that ad agency thing.

With the cute kid of that myRemit commercial.

This shoot was particularly memorable for me because it was the first time I snapped on an actor. It was raining already and we were slated to use the Clark International Airport until 5pm only and we still had two more sequences to shoot. It was 4pm, I was pressured by the producers to finish the sequences, lest we’d pay the extension fees and the actor was not cooperating. Well, he couldn’t deliver what I wanted. Out of stress, I shouted at him and snapped and regretful as I was after, I couldn’t take my words back. I was too embarrassed to face the people from the agency and I didn’t know how to convince them that I didn’t work that way.

The commercial came out well anyway and I learned to be take control of stress.

In November, Epi, a college classmate, approached me to create a video for the launch of LG’s newest mobile phone, the LG V10 and it was another first for me. I didn’t know if I was credible enough to be a spokesperson for a product but it excited me because it was an opportunity that doesn’t come my often. This project taught me to completely believe in yourself.

November also had me working on another first, this time, working with veteran directors. Directors whose names I had only been reading on the 90s movies that I watched on television. Toto Natividad, veteran film editor and famous for action films, was my editing supervisor for “Angela Markado”, a remake of the 80s film by Lino Brocka starring Hilda Koronel.

It ws direted by comebacking National Artist, Carlo J. Caparas, the famed dirctor of massacre films in the 90s. I rever Carlo J. as a comics artist whose works I used to read while I was a kid. The first time I was introduced to him, I was amazed at his trademarks: shades and hat. He was an amiable man who talked like a artist. He said “mukha kang artist. Maganda yan kasi tayong mga artist, may mood swings. At least, magkakaintindihan tayo.”

In the proess of working with him and Direk Toto, I realized that Carlo J. is a more of a writer who focuses on the story and development of his characters than indulge himself in the technology of editing and visual effects. That's what Direk Toto was for. Carlo J. knows what he wants to see on screen and I consider that a good trait of a film director.

With friends from University of the Philippines at a birthday party.

2015 also marked a new beginning for me as I transferred to a new house, another first where I have to share a condo unit with two friends, Kim and Jam. 

August was a special month because I was finally able to open my heart and tried to get myself in a new relationship. The dating phase was quite fast and I didn’t expect us to end up in a relationship. After my failed attempts to find someone right for me - distance and situation-wise -  I found someone who was ready to embark on a commitment. I was not prepared for it but life has many pleasant surprises. We may different from each other, he from a Nursing background and me from showbiz, but we are learning a lot. It has been four months and we are steady. We vowed to read more books, travel together, get fat together. I have been single for a long time and it may have caught me off guard but it's good to finally have someone to share everything with. I am taking each day slowly and it is wonderful.

At my brother's civil wedding in Davao City.

I went home to Davao to attend my brother's wedding with his long-time girlfriend. Their love story is one for the book, a test of love's endurance. They are childhood sweethearts and I don't think my brother ever had another girlfriend other than Langging. They battled long-distance relationships - once, when my brother stayed in Manila to study college and her, when she went abroad to work. What a lesson on love! I can imagine both of them braving the downs of not being together but they succeeded. Now, they live together separately and I wish they'll have a baby soon.

I rarely take selfies but this one was hard to resist. Taken at Berlin, Germany.

I have been dreaming. I have been dreaming big. But dreams don’t come to you fast. One must have the patience and drive. One has to strive for your dream, reach for it even if others say you can't, cry over unsuccessful attempts, take a break to find yourself then go back to striving to reach for your dreams agains. One cannot stop.

I left 2014 with a lot of hope for 2015 but a lot of my plans did not materialize. I thought 2015 was my year of planting and 2015 would be my year of reaping but it didn’t turn out the way I envisioned it to be. Now, I left 2015 bringing me the lessons it taught me. 

I am ready for 2016. My goals are just within my reach. I just have to try harder. Timing is everything and 2016 will be my time.

The night you left was the night I found what I wasn't looking for. How could I have lost myself when I have everything I needed when I was with you anyway? On the night you decided to never look back where I stood frozen, I didn't wish to go back to where we used to be. The silence was enough and everything made sense - when time was ours to waste, we didn't give each other a chance.

The farther you walked away from me, my tears were the ones that screamed the loudest. I knew I deserved to cry because you bore no regrets, you had no remorse, I didn't die inside.

Siyempre, hindi maipinta ang mukha mo pagdating mo sa opis o klase noong September 1. Bukod sa nag-trend na naman ang #WakeMeUpWhenSeptemberEnds eh, nagising ka sa lakas ng patugtog ng kapitbahay mo ng “Christmas in our hearts” ni Jose Mari Chan. Pagsakay mo sa MRT, ang aga-aga at may naglalampungang mag-jowa sa harap mo. Bumulaga sa opisina mo ang kumukuti-kutitap na mga Christmas lights. 'Yung pabibo mong kaklase naman ay hindi na mapakali at gusto nang mag-manito/manita. Sinukluban ka na ng langit at gusto mo nang isigaw ang "Universe, I get it!" dahil eto’t taon-taon na lang, kinakalbaryo ka sa paalalang malamig na naman ang Pasko mo.

K. Ikaw na ang single. Ikaw na ang walang pag-ibig. Ikaw na ang hindi minamahal. Ikaw na ang walang kayakap sa malalamig na mga gabi. Ikaw na ang mag-isa ngayong Pasko. Ikaw na ang naluluha sa "Pasko na sinta ko". At bakit mo nga pala pinuproblema ang pag-iisa kung isang blessing naman ang maging kasapi ng SMP. Ang totoo niyan, walang dahilan para magmukmok sa sulok kung all by myself ka tuwing Pasko. Lilipas din ang lungkot at bagot. Magigising ka na lang isang umaga, Enero na pala at medyo malayo-layo pa naman ang Valentines para ika-depress mo. Kung single ka sa Pasko, aba't i-celebrate ang pag-iisa!

WALANG MAKAKAPIGIL SA PAGLAMON MO. Christmas Party sa opis tapos may inuman ang barkada, may reunion naman ang buong angkan at high school batch. Walang forever sa pag-ibig pero may forever ang parties tuwing Pasko. Ang Disyembre ay Unlilamon Month kaya hindi ba't karapat-dapat lang na magpasalamat dahil wala kang boypren na magpapaalala sa'yo na lumulobo ka na? Wala kang boypren o gerlpren na alalahaning iiwan ka lang kapag lumampas ka na sa quota ng timbangan. Masarap ang pagkain sa mga Christmas parties kaya huwag mong ipagkait sa sarili mo ang kaligayahang tumaba na hindi dini-depreciate ng jowa ang self-esteem mo.

IYONG-IYO ANG 13^TH MONTH PAY AT BONUS MO. Up to 70% ang sale sa mga malls. Bagsak presyo sa Divisoria. Pinag-ipunan mo buong taon ang pangarap mong bag at sapatos. Kung may boypren o gerlpren ka, hindi mo mabibili ang gusto mo para sa sarili mo kasi wala ka namang jowa na pipigil sa pagka-gastador mo. Pinagtrabahuan mo nga naman ang pera mo, bakit nga ba siya nangingialam?

LEGIT ANG STARBUCKS PLANNER. Karamihan ng couples ay ginagawang joint account ang pangongolekta ng stickers para sa nag-iisang Starbucks planner na hindi naman nagagamit. Ang tamis, di ba? Kapag ikaw lang mag-isa, wala ka nang kaagaw sa custody ng mamahaling planner na makukuha ninyo. Nagpakalunod ka na sa kape, hindi ka pa ma-stress sa kakaisip kung bakit nasa kanya ang planner eh ikaw naman ang bumili lahat ng mga kape ninyo.

BAWAS-KASALANAN. Tradisyon na ang Simbang Gabi pero ito ang pinakamaagang oras para lumandi lalo na ang mga kabataang mag-jowa na naghaharutan sa likod ng simbahan. Kung may boyfriend ka, matutukso lang kayo na pag-usapan ang mga hindi kaakit-akit sa mga paningin ninyo. Kung ikaw lang ang mag-isa sa simbahan, magpipigil ka sa tabil ng dila dahil mahirap naman na kausap ang sarili mo habang nagsisimba. Maliban na lang kung may kasama kang kaibigan na mas mahilig manlibak kaysa sa'yo.

WALA KANG PANANAGUTAN SA MGA KAMAG-ANAK MO. Kung kilala ng mga kamag-anak mo ang jowa mo at hindi mo siya kasama sa reunion ninyo, tiyak pulutan ka ng mga Titas of Manila. “Kasi Tita, umuwi siya ng probinsiya." "Kasi Tita, may sakit siya." Kasi Tita, may duty." "Kasi Tita, tumigil ka na sa katatanong!" Eh kung wala kang boypren o gerlpren at kung tatanungin ka ng walang kamatayang katanungang “Kailan ka mag-aasawa?”, eh di sagutin mo ng “wala kayong pakialam!” Sabayan mo na rin ng walkout.

WALA KA RING RESPONSIBILIDAD SA MGA KAMAG-ANAK NG JOWA MO. Sa aminin mo o hindi, nakaka-stress ang sumama sa reunion ng mga kamag-anak ng jowa. Kung single ka, hindi mo na rin kailangan magdahilan na may sakit ka. Hindi mo na kailangan bumili ng bagong damit kasi kailangan mong magpa-impress. Hindi mo na kailangan mangawit sa kakangiti para hindi ka masabihan ng suplada. Nakakapagod mag-adjust ng personality para lang makatanggap ng magandang first impression, di ba?

HINDI KA NA MAPUPUYAT SA KAIISIP NG EXCHANGE GIFT. Higit sa lahat, hindi mo na kailangan pa ma-stress sa kaiisip kung magugustuhan ba niya ang regalo mo dahil hindi naman ito ang nasa wishlist niya. Dahil it's better to give than to receive kapag Pasko, siyempre may expectation na siya na bibigyan mo siya ng regalo. Mag-eexpect ka rin. At mag-aaway lang kayo kung hindi mo nagustuhan ang regalo niya sa'yo dahil hindi rin 'yun ang nasa wishlist mo. Kumplikado, di ba? 

Kaya kung inaalala mo ay ang wala kang kayakap sa Pasko, isipin mo na lang na isang araw lang 'yan kumpara sa 364 na araw na natutulog kang sawi at mag-isa. May mababago ba? Kapag sa susunod na taon ay malamig pa rin ang Pasko mo, huwag ka nang malungkot. Turuan mo na lang ang sarili mo na masanay. Isipin mo na lang, marami ang nagugutom sa Africa.

Lessons learned. Philosophy to live by. Angsts that won't grow old. Values to emulate. (These ain't wisdom.)

1. Chill. Life's too short to worry about it.

   

   Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, Thailand.
   September 2013.

2. Do what you love doing and get paid for it.
3. Wake up with a smile. Thank the Lord for another chance at life.
4. Turn rejections into opportunities.
5. Never expect. 
6. Learn a new skill. A new language. A new hobby, perhaps.
7. It's never too late for anything.
8. Make things happen.
9. Create an ultimate long-term goal then enjoy the detours.
10. Love. Even if you're not loved back. Just love.
11. If people have hurt you, move on. 
12. Do not stop improving yourself.
13. Be a traveler, not a tourist.
14. Regret nothing. You made your choices.
15. Laugh. It's the best form of therapy.
16. Cry. It's the best sign you're still human.
17. Overthinking poisons your mind.
18. Never rely on another person's promises.
19. Always have a Plan B, a Plan C, a Plan D even if they're all crazy options.
20. Do not make New Year's resolutions.
21. Save up. A peso/penny a day keeps the worry away.
22. Forgive. But never forget.
23. Eat. Never starve yourself.
24. Pay it forward. 
25. Never forget the one's who were there with you when you had nothing.
26. Always give credit to the people who helped you out and gave you the opportunity to break through when you were still a nobody.
27. Create. Have no limitations.
28. Wonder. Have no limitations.
29. Be great at sex.
30. Learn the tricks of a great kiss.
31. Keep the close friends you've met in your teens and in your 20's. They'll be with you forever.
32. Think of age as just a number. 
33. Do not compare yourself to others. Compete with yourself but do not drag yourself down when  you fail.
34. There's no use losing your temper over petty things.
35. Someone is always better than you. And it's not a big deal.
36. Open yourself to exploring infinite possibilities. 
37. Live.

What a year!

Slow and steady, if I were to define how this year went by. It’s been the year where I shifted my focus towards different directions, ignored a lot of things (like this blog), learned new tricks, rediscovered new ones and missing friends.

Unlike the past years where I tend to take my life on a full, trajectory speed and pushed myself to my limits, the past three hundred sixty-five days were a combination of not as eventful yet memorable moments. Here they are:

That's our house in front. Residents near the riverside were already evacuating
 as the waters already rose to neck-level.

1.  THE FLOOD. - Ten years after our village suffered a huge flood, the nonstop raining that greeted us during the new year resulted in high waters. As our house has only one floor, we had to seek refuge to our neighbor's two-storey house and spend almost two days waiting for the water to dry up. What I hate about having to deal with flood is the mess we had to clean up.

One of the kids who survived Typhoon Pablo in Baranggay Andap
holding the school supplies we gave them in January.

2. DOCUMENTARY. - In December 2012, a strong typhoon, Pablo, hit the provinces of Davao which killed thousands of people. Together with two of my filmmaker friends, Coicoi and Yam, I thought of going to Andap in New Bataan, Davao del Norte to shoot a documentary about the survivors' experience in surviving Typhoon Pablo. Andap is the baranggay (village) that was badly hit, wiping out the whole area, leaving nothing but debris of huge rocks and sand. Documentary is something new to me, this is my first and I had a hard time grasping the process of telling its story. Unfortunately, something else took my time away and I completely ignored finishing the film this year.

With my mother and three brothers during my birthday dinner
at Nanay Bebeng's Restaurant, Davao City.


3. RECONNECTING WITH MY FAMILY. - I felt the need to stay in my hometown in Davao City so I could spend more time with my family. I had a small working space built at the back of our house where I spent most of my time conceiving my new pet project. And eating. Boy, how I gained weight during the first parts of the year. 

One of our ads for X Shirts.
Photo courtesy of James Gohetia

4. X SHIRTS. - How can you achieve a dream without doing something about it? With this philosophy in mind, I started fulfilling (one of) my long-time dream(s) of becoming a clothing mogul. The field being unknown to me, I took a step and launched my own t-shirt brand called X. The shirt carries designs of music and film icons as well as witty statement and one-liners.

Even foreigners love X Shirts!
At Matina Town Square weekend bazaar.

5. BAZAARS/STORE. - Inexperienced and with zero idea how to sell shirts, I tried to get into the dynamics of doing the business and it was not as easy as I thought. I did everything by myself - the licensing, the tedious dealings with government agencies, the difficult task of selling the shirts to costumers, putting up a store located where the consumers are the wrong market. I had to learn fast and I am still learning. At times I got tired and almost gave up but the endless trial and error didn't stop me from trying to make this work.

6. A STEP TOWARDS BEING MATURE. - I don't want to grow up, we know that. I hate being an adult. And doing the shirt business was a struggle for me. Since I was alone and doing everything, I questioned my choices and why I had to go put myself through something that was unfamiliar to me where I was already in a comfortable place in filmmaking utopia. But I went back to the reasons why I had to put up the shirt business in the first place: it was another facet of my passion. Business is a foreign concept to me and I had to learn. Perhaps learn the hard. And I'm still trying, that's the best part of it. I know I'll make this work.

With producers Stu Highton and wife Maria and Armi Cacanindin
during the Premiere Night of "Dance of the Steel Bars" starring Dingdong Dantes at SM Megamall.
This was the film I edited in Dubai.  (June 12, 2013)

7. RECONNECTING WITH OLD FRIENDS. - Since I stayed longer in Davao, I spent time rediscovering friendships with some of my elementary and high school friends – most of them are already married – and meeting their families and kids. There’s nothing more rewarding than putting a new bond on friends you haven’t seen in years.

8. ABSENTEE FRIENDS. – Something lost, something gained. While I had fun reconnecting with old friends from way back, my friends in Manila have been too busy figuring their own lives they almost ignored my presence. It’s been an empty year for me not having to spend time with them as much as I want to and I learned to understand how people can disappear from your life just like that.

9.  GYM. – I used to unlike people going to the gym. I saw them as a bunch of vain, narcissistic airheads. I still do, actually (this deserves a whole blog entry). But when I realized I have gained weight, I felt the need to lose the extra pounds and be healthy again. When I finally mustered the courage to enroll, I started attending boxing sessions. I had a great time for two months but I had to top because I had to travel.

That's Sherlock, my travel companion in Thailand.
Taken in Jomtien Beach, Pattaya.

10. THAILAND. – I love Bangkok. I love it so much I want to stay there for good. Soon. In the meantime, I had to contend myself with going back there at least once a year. In September, I travelled to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya and Pattaya with a friend. And it pushed me to write the script that’s been going on in my head for a long time. I came back to Bangkok in November to buy dresses to sell for my bazaar.

September 2013.

11. SINGAPORE. – After Thailand, I flew to Singapore for the first time. To meet up with someone I met the year before in Siem Reap. A rendezvous more than a year in the making. A rendezvous for a closure we knew was inevitable (this, too, deserves an entire blog post).

One of the disadvantages of traveling alone is having no choice but take a selfie.
This one was hard to take.

12. MALAYSIA. – Without any expectation of what lies ahead of me, I travelled by land to Malaysia from Singapore and went to Melaka first then off to Kuala Lumpur then Penang. The whole Malaysia experience was a blast! And I say that as an understatement. I met new friends, explored really amazing places, devoured all the food I could put my hands on and did totally crazy things that were off my bucket list. I must say though that Kuala Lumpur was a bummer but other places could prove that Malaysia is truly Asia.

CinemaOne Originals entry "Alamat ni China Doll" directed by Adolf Alix, Jr.
took home awards during the festival including mine for Best Editing.
Photo courtesy of Adolf Alix, Jr.

13. AWARD. – When I got back to Manila, I didn’t plan on staying long but realizing that I missed films, I watched all the local films that I could, knowing that these were not accessible in Davao. I was approached to edit a CinemaOne film, Adolf’s “Alamat ni China Doll” starring Angelica Panganiban. I didn’t say no to the opportunity and boy, I was unexpectedly rewarded for it! I was crazy not to attend the Awards Night though, because I never thought I’d win.

14. SCRIPTS. – By the time I was in Bangkok and got inspired to finish the script that has been toying in my mind, I finally grabbed the momentum and started writing in Penang. I finished the first one, “360°” when I got back to Bangkok before flying back to Manila. “360°” is a dance film that tackles domestic violence. I finished the second one, “Love and Everything After” in Manila, a love story inspired by my travels.

Khao San Road, Bangkok, Thailand.
October 2013.

15. THE FINISHING. – I procrastinate most of the time. That’s my weakness. But this year, I realized that if I’m not going to make things happen, I’ll be left in the dumps, without having to compromise being a free spirit, of course. I’m still struggling with my shirt business but I vowed to make it work.

“360°” and “Love and Everything After” had been in the works for years and I finally finished the drafts this year. I finally returned to editing the “Andap” documentary and I hope to finish it by January this year. I missed filmmaking, the art that naturally runs in my veins. I am coming back to making films in 2014.

And this blog? I need to resurrect it, find more inspiration to write about anything. I am not sure if I can still find the angst that I had years ago but I’m sure there are still a lot to write about. My travels, perhaps. There’s a bunch of backlogs I haven’t posted in here. And photography. I need to go back to photography. And language. I need to improve my French and Thai. And gym. I need to go back in shape. Whoa, 2014 will be a busy year. Bring it on!