9G: The Red Room

I guess February 25 now marks the day that I went back into the DongBang fandom. I never really left but for the past years, I really wasn’t there. I make sure to update myself every now and then but I wasn’t the same fan back in 2007. 2004-2008 were the peak of my fangirl days. It was the time when I would save every picture, download every video, and cry over all the break-up rumors. Then college happened and I suddenly didn’t have enough time to be a fangirl. I never stopped being a Cassie but it’s hard when life is getting more interesting. I suddenly couldn’t afford to just stay in front of the computer as much as before.

Then the lawsuit happened and I suddenly felt like a failure as a fan. I’ve been itching to get back into the fandom even though there are two groups now. I didn’t know it would take me this long to fully understand that I may fall in love with other actors and boy bands but my fangirl heart will always, always belong to DBSK. Nothing will change that, I guess. Cassiopeia Philippines’s 9th gathering is like an epiphany for me.

Anyway, enough with the drama. Saturday has been one of the best days of my fangirl life (April 19-23 , 2012would definitely be the best!). The last time I attended a gathering was on March 2007. Yes, the first gathering! It’s nice to say that I was there from the very start but I simply am not a consistent fan. But like what I’ve told Haszelle, I’ll make it up to the boys somehow.

I was really planning on going but it was Haszelle who made an effort to make sure that I would go. Haha! When I was an active DBSK fan, Haszelle that time still wasn’t into them. When she became a fan, that’s when I was already lying low from all the emotional hurdles of being a fangirl. And now, we’re finally fangirling at the same. It’s fun to be a fan (no pun intended!) but it’s really more exciting when you have someone to fangirl with. She already has a lot of Cassie friends, and she’s truly my only one. Haha.

9G was held at the top floor of Fully Book The Fort. Haszelle still wasn’t there when I arrived so I panicked a little. I attended the KPOPCON3 alone and I didn’t plan to do the same for 9G. I don’t know. I was really nervous going to 9G especially when I started seeing people wearing the CassPH shirt. I know how Cassies can be extremely devoted to the boys and I haven’t be as crazy and devoted to the boys as these girls. I started wondering if a fangirl like me is still welcome. And I am glad to know that I still am. (/crying)

Trese: Popularizing Filipino Folklore Through Komiks

It’s one of my goals this year to read more works by Filipino writers. Though I have yet to fully indulge myself in Filipino literary goodness, I started the year right by allotting a weekend to read Trese, a komiks created by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. I am quite late into getting into the illustrated novels since it’s been around for a few years. I only learned about the graphic novel when they released the fourth book last year. I wanted to buy it immediately but I know that I have to read the first books before that. Sadly, the time I inquired they only had the fourth book. I had to wait for a few weeks before National Bookstore re-released copies of the first three books. But since I was a cheapskate, I only bought the first book.

The first book, Trese: Murder on Balate Drive, introduces the reader to Alexandra Trese, someone who obviously knows how to deal with supernatural crimes. She’s the one person Captain Guerrero contacts when an unusual case pops up. The first book only gives a glimpse on the true nature of her job and shows very little background of how Trese ends up with the job. There are four stories in the book, and once I finished the last one, I regretted not buying the three other books at the same. It’s so easy to read, something you can devour for an hour or so. It’s something you’d end up reading in one seating because it’s really engaging.

I shall call you…

…Yong Choding. Bahaha.

I haz a new lens! Finally, finally! Remember how I said I wanted to buy an 18-55mm? That’s my old kit lens, the one I also broke about a year ago. But I decided to buy a Tamron AF 18-200 because I realized that if I’m going to buy a lens, I might as well upgrade to something better and with a longer range to do all my stalking, yeah? And it’s damn right better! I’ve been using it quite a lot these past few days. Yaaaay. I really hope I get my photography mojo back.

I bought my Tamron lens from Dbgadgets and I must say that I love their service! They’re incredibly easy to deal with, and I didn’t have any trouble in whatever aspect. I agreed to meet up with them last Thursday, and the kuya from Dbgadgets had to wait for me for an hour. Since it was my first time buying anything online, I got too nervous to go to the meetup by myself so I waited for Alex first. And that’s why I was late. I’m really sorry, Kuya from Dbgadgets. I know I’ve already said sorry about ten times but I still feel guilty. Anyway, thank you, Dbgadgets. Heh.

So! Here are some test shots. Can I say I’m in love with Yong Choding? Yes, I decided to name the lens Yong Choding because I’m still high on Goguma spirit. I’m so sorry.

Of course, Alex has to be the first subject. And of course, he didn’t want his picture taken.

Ate, watching We Got Married YongSeo episodes!

An Apple Jelly Drink that I don’t like so much but my sister loves a lot. Yes, that’s our usual set-up at home when she’s here. When she’s not here, I often take the bed. Being the bunso can be sad sometimes. Haha.