FORCED AFFECTION

Cute dinos.. :) Illustration by: Liz Climo

1:29 AM POST

Ang lousy ng title. Halatang walang maisip. Hindi pinag-isipan.

Kakatapos ko lang maglaba. Hindi naman ako napagod. Considering I slept for five hours yesterday, I was hoping to sleep earlier than 11pm last night. But I didn't. Maybe because of Sting Energy Drink I had earlier kasi I was too sleepy!

I will allow 30 minutes of my "awake" time to post here. I wanna say Dear Diary, but it's not nice to read that way. Hindi naman din pwedeng Dear Blog because I will sound literal. Public blogs aren't supposed to sound like an escape to reality. I don't know. You cannot lie in here naman din, and tell people how happy you were yesterday because you saw your crush and shared seat sa Mini Stop. I guess it doesn't work that way. Number one because I don't have a crush. Number two, I didn't go to Mini Stop to sit and ponder and eat and number three, I am not happy.

MR. TOOTHIE

I mentioned last night that I went back to drawing right? I sketched this little fella sa sketchbook ko, and I vectorized him today. This is what Mr. Toothie came out. I am into bunnies today. I don't know why.. :)

CHEESEDOG

I was bed-ridden for five days. The culprit? Some airborne virus the doctor called "measles." My sisters and I are eating merienda last Saturday. I am happy just spending an afternoon in our living room. I hate staying at my sister's bedroom. I feel terribly sick all the time.

I wanna go back to drawing and writing. I feel left out. I also went back to reading books. I am currently juggling The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I read those when I am tired of doing Enjoy Philippines' 4th Edition Booklet.

This is my favorite part of Cheesedog's. :)

.

I still lack details, pero I will work out on this soon. I guess I'll start studying human anatomy and never stop drawing. Sa ngayon, I draw directly on Illustrator and missing out a lot of details and curves. Anyway, I think vector naman depends on your style.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA: CUPCAKES, CAKE POPS, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES AND CHOCOVRON

Shameless plugging..

We are also selling these stuffs. My personal favorite is le Cake Pops! Trust me! Super saaaaaraaaap! My sister's making these personally. She's also selling personalized cupcakes! Pero seriously, if she's not my sister, I'd buy her products over and over and over again.

Okay, it's my pick. Not Santa's.. :)

Like her page on Facebook: The Sweet Life by Camille
Contact number: +63 916 373 5162 | +63 932 469 5162

BECAUSE GREEN ECO BAGS ARE MAINSTREAM

Yep!

Me and my friend, Aica will start selling Katya Bags-slash-eco bags this year. Truth is, we are trying to get out of poverty. Thus, the idea of creating retro-like designs for this revolutionary eco bags are in the process. Bakit ba? Walang basagan ng trip!

2nd Design | I used my Camper Van vector from my RestoGo project. Hihi!

Please support our products! Let us all help Mother Nature! In time, ipagbabawal na ang paggamit ng mga plastic bags. You should be proud that you're owning one of our original designer eco bags. Nyahaha! Ang kapal ng mukha! Just kidding! Pero half meant. Mga 80%, I mean it.. :)

Calling yung mga mahihilig mag-beach dyan at magtravel o! And for the people who loves loves loves retro and The Beatles!

If interested, (pag nakita na ang iba pang designs namin) send me a message at patientnumbertwo@yahoo.com to order. And to all our supportive friends, you know our numbers. :) call us, maybe?

WHAT'S UP LE ME?

This blog seriously needs an update. Parang pati header ko, need na din. Blech! What's up with me lately? Nothing much. I bought a new shoes to replace my trusty 2009 Chucks, I replaced it with some checkered slip-on shoes (para makatipid sa oras sa pagsintas ng sapatos) and what else? I'd rather not talk about it.

AUGUST
August wasn't good to me. August has been a bitch and I can't wait to kick its butt this month. But wait, how? Forget about August? Fuck August. Imagine this friends: I weigh about 180lbs because I am chubby and now? I lost 10 pounds in two weeks. First picture was taken June. The next two are taken recently.. I am not wearing pants! :D you know what I did? I skipped dinner. And one hour walk every night. Top that!

ZARK'S BURGERS

Archer's Nook, 2464 Taft Ave., Malate, Manila (632) 392 1211
(Mon-Fri 10am-10pm / Sat-Sun 10am-9pm)
Avg/person: Php 250
Best Seller: Jawbreaker


Can you believe it? This is the tastiest burger my eyes ever laid on! Yung mustard at mayo pa lang, sarap na sarap na ako. What more pa with the actual juicy burger? The place is small for a crowd like us; big and hungry. Hell, I don't care! I am about to taste the juiciest patty ever! I think I have an idea what Crabby Patty tastes like!

My friends and I went to Zark's for dinner one rainy Tuesday. We waited to be seated along with the other excited crowd of students two doors away from Zark's entrance. It's where they keep their customers waiting and entertained with colorful sets of pantone-themed chairs inside a 25-degree room. I was about to turn back when my friend says it's worth the wait, so okay, let's wait.

SOME INSTRUCTIONAL MAGAZINE AND COOL BLACK BOOK

Earlier this morning, Sir Alfie handed me this.. I got more reasons to love Enjoy! :D hehe.. Sweet guy..

TROLLING AND GAGGING

My brain is sick with all these paper stuffs in school. I know I am running out of time with my homeworks, but I need a break. Away from thinking. So, I was left alone in the office again and taking advantage of the inernet.. :D INERNET. Slang ako e. Haha!

I found another way to entertain myself every morning when all I want to do is to just go back to sleep and stare at my computer monitor for minutes. Even when my eyes are open, I am hibernating. And I am badly in need of a vacation. So, to take my alienated self back to reality, I started 9gagging.

TO MY FUTURE SPECIAL SOMEONE (IN CAPITAL LETTERS)

A guide to dating. I am creepy when in love but not really.. :)
FOR STARTERS

Let me start by introducing myself to you. I am Di Licop and I just turned 25 last May of 2012. I graduated with a degree in Mass Communication, took a course in Print and Media arts and currently taking Web Design class at DLS-CSB. I am working as a full time Graphic Designer at Enjoy Philippines and working as a part-time Travel Coordinator with Travel Factor. I have an online portfolio at pinterest, and you can ask my link and I will give it to you in a heartbeat.

I come home late because most of the time, I spend my 6PMs just staying inside the office. I browse tutorials, I read blogs, I gather ideas from awesome illustrators around the world because I am trying not to procrastinate during the day because I always ran out of ideas. (Lame excuse)

Last night, I learned how to swim like a dog. You know, the basics and I found out that when I inhale and hold my breath for 10 seconds, my body will lift itself up in the water. Haha! Ano daw? But hey, I was able to float and wiggle my hands and swim back and forth for 7 minutes straight. I watched the sky last night, and I saw a shooting star. Cool!

ON SWEETNESS A.K.A THE LAMBING

I am extra sweet with unlimited toppings at no extra cost. I'm just like that.

ON MOVIES

On special times, I want to watch a movie. I do not require you to take me out always. But I will appreciate if you will burn or send me a copy of the latest movies or the TV series I follow and watch it with me on a Friday night. Let's walk along Ayala Avenue and find some place to sit and let's share earphones instead of watching it on full volume. You don't complain and you never say: "I can't understand this kasi naririnig ko din yung paligid ko." The word "noise" is out of your vocabulary because the only thing mattered to you ay ang shared earphone. Haha!

ON SATURDAYS
Most of the time, I am free on Saturdays. I don't make plans on how I want to spend it. I just live with the moment. Ideally, I think about us walking at Bonifacio Global City or slump to the floor and read a book while you do your thing and send me a message from time to time. (Or you can share the floor with me lang. Sweep it if you want. Haha!)

ON GIFTS
Send me an empty cup from Starbucks with your doodle, a table napkin from a restaurant with our names, surprise me with a wacky photo of yours. (Of course, you did that intentionally for me.) I am easy to please. I need your thoughtfulness, not the material things that your money can buy. Don't send me flowers. Don't send me Php 500 worth of gifts. I live by the rule: Committing spontaneous act of kindness. A card or a piece of paper with long message is enough to show me how much you love me. Arte! But really, nothing beats the personalized greeting cards diba?



ON TIME
I do not demand for time as always. Because I understand that we are both working. What I need is your time when your mind is off your work. If I can't fit in your busy schedule during the weekdays, I am pretty sure that there's 8PM until midnight (or earlier.) Time is the most essential part of the relationship I say. You don't spend time with me because that is what you think I want, but it's what we both need.

CONCLUSION
I don't spend much. I don't think that eating out (always) is ideal. I don't think watching movies every other week is sweet. What I really need is your genuine love, respect, trust and care. I know you want that too. And when I nag, I only want to make lambing or I want you to do the same. What can I do? I am just a girl.

A FEW STEPS AWAY

I am crossing out a few items on my Bucket List and I am also getting my own domain on Monday. That's another step on creating my own CSS/HTML site whatever. Happy Birthday to me!

Excited lang ako. I kept my faith. And it happened.

Moodle

THINGS TO BRING WHEN CONQUERING MT. PINATUBO

February, 2012


"After swearing of not going to climb any mountains for the rest of my life, I will conquer a volcano tomorrow (after 12 years). It is my first assignment as a part-time coordinator with Travel Factor so okay lang. I am excited and nervous all at the same time! I am a little worried too, because I know that trekking is not my thing. But when I look back sa trek to Bomod-Ok falls in Sagada last 2010, sisiw na tong Pinatubo."

So, I wrote it all back one day before my trip. And I tell you this: hindi sisiw ang Mt. Pinatubo! I underestimated the power of Mt. Pinatubo, huhu!

"That trek to Bomod-Ok is slippery, and frustrating and exciting! Maybe I can get away with this one too. Besides, it will not hurt to try something new, right? I am just sooooo excited with 4x4 ride! And the stones.. :)"

That trek to Bomod-Ok is slippery, but Mt. Pinatubo is rough, and tiring for a 180-pound-girl-allergic-to-exercise. And hooray! I got away with it, after spending a total of 38 hours without sleep, 5 hours of trekking up and all the way down, 6 hours to and from Capas, Tarlac and 1 hour of lazy lunch at the crater. Hagardo Versoza! :(

WHAT TO WEAR

• Comfortable outfit includes dry-fit shirt, short (avoid denims, seriously!)
• Sandals with socks (to avoid painful blisters) or trekking shoes. But I would recommend the sandals kasi mababasa ang shoes dahil may mga streams of water na dadaanan. 
• A hat

WHAT TO BRING DURING THE TREK

• Sunblock protection
• Mosquito Repellant
• Jelly Ace (I would recommend you buy the Jiggles na brand dahil kahit isang kamay lang ang gamitin mo, with the use of your teeth, okay lang.)
• A light backpack with lunch / power snacks and water. If you drink water so much, 1.5 liters of water would be enough. But I must warn you though, habang tumatagal mas bumibigat ang backpack. So if you are inexperienced on trekking but need to bring these things with you, you can ask your guide to help you out. :)
• Rain poncho / umbrella and something to waterproof your bag just in case of rain.
• Camera (Waterproof your gears too!)
• You can swim at the crater. You might as well bring extra clothes.
• A friend.. :)

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE 4x4 RIDE

• 45-minute rough and bumpy ride
• Nakakaantok pa din ang ride

Hahaha! So, okay. I hope it helped. Super konti lang ng tips because I will leave the rest of the Mt. Pinatubo experience up to you. 

DIVE DONSOL: IN AN OPEN SEA

In ze open sea yeah!

.
The more you travel, the more you want to do something to protect the earth. I appreciate trees more, I appreciate the people who work hard to save and protect the natural habitat. Even if I missed the Whale Shark (Butanding) only by seconds, I felt happy knowing my new-found friends saw these gentle creatures up close. I realized that even I missed a lucky experience with nature, the happiness and excitement of my friends can bring me to tears.

That kind of happiness brought about by earth's wonder is overwhelming. But happiness from a rare encounter is... I don't know. I am sooo lost for words already.

That one shared moment along with other people in an open sea. That moment when our boats was rushing to join the others who happen to saw the Whale Sharks' shadow first. That moment when you want your friends to dive first. That moment when I dived and rolled under the boat and was trying to save my own neck. That moment when I swam up and saw one of my participants came back to reach and save me from drowning. The moment when Justin also missed the Whale Shark because he came back for me. The moment I said sorry because he missed the encounter and he said: "It's okay. I still have more time ahead and that my parents deserve to see the Whale Sharks more because they provided good education for us." That 21 year-old boy is an angel. Everything happened so fast!

You see friends, I don't just work for Travel Factor. I travel to meet people. To experience what nature has to offer. But what happened in the open sea, is a rare experience with a selfless individual. And I give out my sincere thank you to Travel Factor for such experiences and to WilJus Manrique for grabbing my hand.

Complete Donsol post to follow.. :)

ASK ME

Daisy duck look

I WILL IF YOU WILL

Do something awesome for the environment. Get something awesome in return.

Yes guys, I am serious here! 

Earth Hour came up with this awesome idea that challenges people to do their part saving our planet. It's cool right?

I was watching Kung Fu Zen late last Saturday when National Geographic Channel flashed this awesome Earth Hour 15-seconder commercial and I thought, why not? But just this morning when I was browsing for a decent image hosting site, I landed on Earth Hour's youtube channel. Tadah! I made my pledge! I am avoiding using plastics and straws for nearly one and a half year already and I asked my friends to do the same thing. Ginagawa ng iba, but I don't know with the others.

With this, I hope they are up for the challenge.

Karen requested to dye my hair green instead of blue. So yeah, I am coloring it green! Please help me to accomplish this people!

TOOTHACHE

Is so bad!

This is the first time in my 26 years of existence na naexperience ko ito. Technically first. Kasi alam ko na ngipin ko na talaga ang masakit. Last December of 2011, I was rushed in Baguio General Hospital because my right face was extremely painful and i don't know why. The doctors told us na magkakaron lang ako ng wisdom tooth.

Siguro connected ang sakit now at nung December. NagDolfenal na ako pero sobrang sakit pa din. Kapag hinahawakan ko yung tooth kung saan masakit, pounding ngilo ang pakiramdam. Sobrang sakit. Guess what Baguio Gen Doctos? No wisdom tooth!

The reason why I posted this, kapag tinanong ako ng Dentist kung anong klaseng sakit o kung pano nagstart and I can't talk, atleast I have this post to show her.

Sent from my iPhone

YOU

I am stalking your facebook account. I can't get you out my head.. You make me happy and sad. What else? Ang cute mo. Sana kaya kitang ibulsa o bilin sa mall. Tapos bibili lang ako ng isa kahit kaya kong bumili ng sampung ikaw.

Yung isa na yun, aalagaan ko. Gagawan pa kita ng lalagyan na punong puno ng malalambot na unan. Para lagi kitang nakikita at kasama.

Kaya lang syempre, hindi pwedeng mangyari.. :(

Ang cheesy ng Sunday. Kaya dapat lagi akong may lakad! Calling all my friends!

BOOKS: 344 QUESTIONS

I am browsing for more creative references today as I stumbled upon this catchy title - 344 Questions? The Creative Person's Do-It-Yourself Guide to Insight, Survival, and Artistic Fulfillment written and designed by: Stefan G. Butcher

Pretty long but attention-grabber title..

..

Your answers are what matter here

I enjoy answering questions. Oftentimes, I find it personally fulfilling too. Why? Because I get to assess my difficulties in life and as an artist, (emo kasi) there are times that I will plaintively discuss personal issues with my closest friends. And from there, I will start again from scratch and build my life again and again and again.

So there, it's actually better if you print the whole thing and scribble on it as messy as you want. No limitations! Tear it, use it as your tissue paper, hang it on somewhere, have someone answer the questions for you -- You can practically do anything with it. I printed a pocket-size copy for myself, planning to book-bind it and take it with me anywhere! Especially on beach bumming trips. It will definitely come in handy. :)

Insane questions! :))

I guess I need crazy stuffs like this to keep me from being n'sane!

TRAVEL FACTOR TRAINING TRIP

Travel Factor's part-time coordinators Batch 3 / Team WAF.. :)
at Xtremely Xpresso Cafe in Subic

Cool people. :)

MATABA

Shane can't get enough of me.. :)

ANG ILLUSTRADOR NG KABATAAN APPLICATION FOR 2012

Poster by James Abalos

Ang Illustrador ng Kabataan is now open for new members!

Requirements:

Accomplished application form HERE

1 illustration based on the story “Anong Gupit Natin Ngayon”

5 sample illustrations from your portfolio

Deadline on February 29, 2012, 5pm

Email the requirements at hello@ang-ink.org

IPOD

Crazy about iPod.. :)

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

Shane greeted me in such a sweet, unique way last New Year.. Sooper!

WISHLIST: AN ILLUSTRATED LIFE BOOK

I know it's January already and I received my wishlist last December, thank you friends and family. But I so want this book so bad! It'll help me be a better designer and illustrator this year. I know you love me guys, and I feel the same towards you. So let's exchange an early Christmas gift for 2012? Hahaha! I love!

I promise to spare you on my Birthday this year and on Christmas if you purchase the new one at USD 27.75 and I will spare you on my Birthday (only) if you purchase the used one at USD 17.59. Shipping is free folks! Order online here at Better World Books Please?

Allright, Tina Bacud! You asked me what I want for my birthday diba? Eto na yun. Kahit maghati na kayo nina Allan, Joice and Aica! Yung bagong copy ha? Hahaha! Demanding much! Pak!

EXPERIMENTATION IN SOUND ART TRADITION - REVERB IN LOPEZ MUSEUM & LIBRARY

In the past four months, visitors to the Lopez Memorial Museum have followed the movement of The Machine of IC Jaucian, whipped out their smart phones to get data – both audio and video-- from the QR code composed by Eric Ambata, and sought to catch sound  as it rippled, bounced, etc  within the metal sheet of Tad Ermitaño’s work.

February 11, 2012, 2-4PM
Fee: Php 100 for Students and Php 120 for non-students

On February 11, Saturday, visitors will have an opportunity to hear from these artists in Artists’ Talk. In discussing their work, Ambata, Ermitano, Jaucian will touch on the graphic take on hell and augmented realities, applications of sound, and how art comes to play in closing perceived gap between science and the imagination, and furthering both.

2011: SURF AND MUSIC FESTIVAL - BALER, AURORA

I had gone mad, I was too lazy to post a blog about my Baler trip last year!
So, I enjoyed this Baler trip better than Calaguas. I don't like kasi the idea of you not doing anything under the scorching heat of the sen.. :D it's like "cook me, and I will love every bit of your heat!"

Dinama ko ang init ng araw dito. As in! I have my dark blue Esprit umbrella (kailangan nakadetalye!) and Brown scarf around me, so my skin's like protected sa sen's UV rays. Arte!

I got me my own surf board. Kidding.

We left Manila on a Friday night, (October 28). We slept inside the bus for 7 hours and I was kind of expecting that we will arrive sa Baler ng 5am. Kasi I thought Aurora is in Quezon Province. Nakipagtalo pa ako with Allan that Baler is in Quezon. I got a dose of my own medicine. Haha! At least when you travel, you will learn - by experience.

LIVE LIFE, REGRET NOTHING

• I took the chance.. I am here. Adjusting and that kind of stuffs,
• I always tell the truth. Because if not, I will find my self bleeding with all my bluffing. 
• Cool, I am not dating anyone. Fuck Valentines Day again!
• One of the hardest word ever! NO!
• I am fucking spending all my hard-earned money over unplanned trips and whatnots. But it makes me happy though.
• I met a lot of cool dudes and dudettes last year. All in random.
• I am always random, eh?
• I love you! There, I said it.
• Yeah, yeah, yeah!
• I always laugh with jokes. No exemptions.
• I cry when I am in pain or I am sad. But to cry without reason? Hell.. Or maybe that's cool sometimes.
• Sorry!
• You mean A LOT to me.. 
• I think that you're a jerk.. :P
• When I was in MFC, I do this almost every hour of the day. I don't do this anymore after I left them last year. Happy soul searching for me again!
• I am trying to live my life as much as I could. I wanna do things my own way. Parang feeling ko minsan, mumi-mid-life crisis na naman ako.
• But after all these years, I don't regret it.

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR: PEN TOOL EXERCISES

The Pen Tool is probably the hardest tool I've ever tried. Back in 2007 when I was introduced to Corel Draw, I kind of cursed it because I need to drag and release and delete that single line I spent some hundreds of era to make. So the only solution for me was to use loads of basic shapes and group them together.

Some years ago, I learned using the pen tool but I still had troubles using it then.

Goodbye Corel Draw X4, Hello Adobe Illustrator!
I fell in love with Adobe Illustrator the minute I made my first vector out of it. It was my school assignment and we traced Garfield. Ang kyut lang! It wasn't perfect but I was able to hide the rough edges by using thick outlines.

After months of practice and with the help of my pen tablet, I can work now using the Pen Tool easily.