THE END: MY PROJECT 365.

January 4, 2010 at 3:04 pm | Filed under joyful girl, photos

I was pretty hungover on January 1, 2009 when I (after realizing the date) decided to plop myself down on my bed (that has no heated mattress pads hrhrhr)— still wearing the same clothes (well, I changed my socks) I had on at the Playboy Pajama Party the previous night— and snapped a photo of myself. I had attempted and failed Project365 in 2008 and I wanted to give it another shot. Yo, what do ya know? I made it.

(People keep asking me reasons why I started this project, who inspires me, where I get my ideas etc etc. Honestly? I don’t have the answers. I started for no apparent reason and I kept going because I enjoyed it. I wish I had something more profound to say lolz.)

My 365 finally ended last December 31st. It was a wonderful feeling, albeit a little sad concluding something I have been doing every single day for a whole freaking year. I was getting ready for work this morning and while it felt good not being obligated to take a photo, while it felt lovely not having to panic thinking of something over my coffee, my morning was lacking. It’s going to take some getting used to, I guess. Look at me, making a big deal out of this, heh.

I’ve noticed that a lot of people I know (both online and offline) have started their own Project 365. I think it’s a terrific thing and I wish I were crazy enough to do a Year Two (because I know I will feel a little left out what with everyone taking daily self-portraits). Instead, I’ll be doing 52 Weeks for 2010; less pressure, not so time consuming, higher chance of success.

Having completed my 365, I guess I’m kind of in a position to dish out advice for current 365ers. I only have one:

1. Just keep shooting.

Uh-huh.

Check out my entire 365 set here.

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Winning a dSLR from Fizzer.Ph

December 22, 2009 at 4:14 pm | Filed under joyful girl, photos, the internets

Three hundred fifty five days into my Project 365 and two cameras later, I finally have a dSLR.

About two weeks ago, I joined fizzer.ph‘s first/Twilight contest: take a Twilight-themed picture of yourself, make it your primary photo on fizzer, and get friends to vote for your photo. Up for grabs was a Canon 450D + kit lens.

I was so in.

The photo I submitted:

You can’t see it cos it’s small but I’m actually ~*~sparkling~*~ heh. I dusted my face with some shimmery bronzer I’ve had for ages (good thing I didn’t throw it out).

With about 12 days left in the competition, I wasted no time campaigning for myself. I got a little over 400 stars in less than 24 hours! I had to start over, though, as my initial photo needed some editing but I got those votes back (and more!).

To everyone who signed up and voted for me, to everyone who helped spread the word, to everyone who got their friends to vote for me: I am very very thankful. You d00dz have no idea how much I appreciate it. I am a very giddy girl now hrhrhrhr. I can’t wait for Wednesday night (start of the holidays, end of my job search LOLJK) so I can finally sit down and spend some quality time with Baby Girl. I want and need to learn everything about her!

(Yes, I name my things. Yes, my 450D’s name is Baby Girl. My Powershot Pro1 is named Bad Boy and the boyfriend’s dSLR is named Big Boy. They both needed a little sister.)

Anyway, photos!:

I look like a gremlin. Christian from fizzer handing me the box!:

Baby Girl sitting on my office desk:

IMG 0001:

Today’s photo is a cliche:

Thank you, everyone (♥♥♥♥♥♥♥) and thank you, fizzer!

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I’M A WORK OF ART!

October 29, 2009 at 6:56 pm | Filed under joyful girl, the helga manual

Early this year, I was contacted by a local artist asking for permission to use one of my photos as reference for a painting he was working on for his next exhibit (whew, long, badly-written sentence right there). I can’t say that this sort of thing happens to me on a daily basis and I’m not one to be overly possessive of my face/photos (or in this case, my lips and left hand) so naturally, I said yes.

This was some months ago and I’ve sort of forgotten about it until the artist contacted me a couple of days ago. Apparently, that particular piece was first to sell at his last exhibit and “is now held by a famous art collector”.

Yeah, I’m a little giddy.

The artist’s name is Ronald Caringal and the exhibit was called “First Impression Lusts”. Lifted from his site:

The next show takes on how physical urges create such an impact on one’s character and sense of being. Man’s desire for physical intimacy and sex is sometimes watered down and delegated to mere craving. What is supposed to be a very intimate physical manifestation has become a meaningless act of self-satisfaction. The difference between man and animal is that even though we share the same urges, ours carry meaning. We can crave food but it is a need that has to be sufficed regardless of craving. What separates us is our ability to be humane.

I believe no one has died for not having participated in consummation.

I believe that any action taken without taking into account that it is done unto another human being, any action taken that is not rooted in respect and appreciation is dehumanizing.

The works show women alongside tempting food or presented in equivalence to as a blunt equation of what certain male perspectives amount to. Sex is a pre-packed commodity and market niche nowadays. We have come to use it so blatantly. It is offered so haphazardly. Sometimes men look at women in the same light as they would a delicious looking ice cream sundae. Watering mouth and all. Diminished brain activity. Some women share the same guilt. We may never escape our urges, for they are also much-appreciated privileges, but it is possible that these urges can be reasons to empower ourselves with satisfying deeper human needs.

The works are done in oil on canvas with assemblage.

He turned this:

Into this:

it was the moment she became too hot to blow

Shit’s awesome, I tell ya.

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CHICANE IN MANILA!

September 29, 2008 at 12:55 pm | Filed under events, joyful girl, photos

When I got wind of Chicane coming to Manila last August, the first thing I did when I got home from my drunken Godskitchen weekend was transfer their whole discography to my iPod (ok, so more like just three albums). I’ve been a huge fan of theirs since, like, forever (fine, since I discovered house and electronica when I was in college) and I’ve always regretted not being able to see them when they were here a while ago (stupid call center schedule, really). I almost didn’t go last Saturday due to some social obligations (if you must know, the brother’s girlfriend had her birthday slash despedida party that same night), but when Rico offered me his other ticket, I took it as a sign from the universe and told myself: “You’re meant to go, Helga. You’re meant to go.”

Or maybe something less dramatic than that.

And OMG, it’s a good thing I went because thanks to Nokia, Jayvee, Fritz, Phoebe, and Rico (to quote Jayvee: this blogging thing *insert big smile here*), I was lucky enough to be at the pre-gig press conference and be in the same room with the band.

INTERVIEW WITH MYX. PHOTO CRED GOES TO JAYVEE.

JAYVEE, RICO, HELGA. PHOTO CRED GOES TO PHOEBE
(HEE, SHE TALKED MAKE-UP WITH FEMALE VOCALS, NATASHA BROCKLEBANKS. READ IT HERE).

BEST. EVENT. EVER— not once during the concert did I sit down. My kilig was so apparent that night because I couldn’t stop hugging myself and squeezing my purse and well, dancing. I can’t thank Nokia (and Rico!) enough for putting us in Nokia VIP (VIP section nearest the stage), giving us a great and hassle-free Chicane experience. There were some technical difficulties and even two instances of dead air, but seriously, I don’t care. The band pulled through and predictably ended the night with No Ordinary Morning (as Nick Bracegirdle said during his Myx interview: “You guys love that shit, don’t you?”)

CHICANE ON STAGE! PHOTO CRED GOES TO PHOEBE.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Cat5e Keystone jack

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FRIISPIRIT FRIDAY!

September 15, 2008 at 5:50 pm | Filed under events, joyful girl, photos

LAUREN BEATING MY ASS IN A GUITAR HERO FACE-OFF.
WE WERE PLAYING AEROSMITH’S COVER OF ALL THE YOUNG DUDES HERE.

Upon, Jayvee‘s invitation, I dragged Drew and Allah to Friispirit last Friday for a night of Guitar Hero, Rock Band, beer, and munchies. It was my first time at Friispirit (located at One Burgundy Plaza’s ground floor along Katipunan Avenue. It’s the building where 7-11 is) and my first time to try out GH and RB and ZOMG, it was so much fun, my fingers were sore ’til the next day!

ME SINGING. I SUCKED AT IT, BY THE WAY.
I TRIED OUT THE DRUMS AND I SUCKED AT IT, TOO.
I SHALL STICK TO SKANK-DANCING.

I was only able to play Mario Kart, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band but Drew and Allah played this Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 mini game where you throw balls of paper at the teacher while his back is turned. If the teacher catches you, he’ll throw an eraser at you, so you either hide your Wii OR you can snitch on one of your classmates. I heard Lauren got an eraser thrown her way.

Now before things get boring: I forgot to ask about Friispirit’s fees, but according to a couple of friends who used to go there, it costs PHP 500 to register as a member and it’s PHP 75 per hour per Wii stick to play. Prices may have gone up, though. I’m definitely going back one of these days, seeing that I can’t afford a Nintendo Wii or the Rock Band peripherals right now.

More pictures here and here.

So cute: Ladybug steam cleaners!

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