P = Pearls

When I was in fifth grade, my late father was so happy that I got the third honors in the class that he gave me a set of pearl necklace and bracelet. Because I wasn't really into jewelry, I let my mom keep it for me and I will just get it whenever I wanted to use it. While thinking of what to post as my "P" word, I thought of pearls, but have no image in my files, so I decided to take some pictures. There was a power interruption, so I just used the flash light to make my shots.

*** Jenn ***

Stripes

Hard to find something "stripy" in my files... good thing I spotted this old image. This is my umbrella - my very precious umbrella, which I bought in 2004. It's not as pretty as it was for sure, but nearly five years since I bought it, it's still working perfectly. This umbrella was one of those very few purchases I have made that really lasted long. One of my treasures, actually.

*** Jenn ***

K = Key Chains

I have started traveling since my father died. Because he was laid to rest in the province, visiting his grave from time to time often present a chance to see other places as well. Normally, travelers collect t-shirts with the name of the place where it was bought, but because I am big and shirts don't really look that good on me, the way I get to take home a little piece of the place I have been to was through key chains.

It was just a sad thing that I realized it a bit late - I have gone through many places and I could've bought key chains since then, but it's okay... I still have a lifetime to travel and collect keychains. =) Aside from the ones I personally bought, I have two key chains that were given to me by friends. Hopefully in the years to come this collection would grow and grow.

*** Jenn ***

Sapatos (Shoes)

Ako ay isang tao na hindi mahilig sa sapatos - siguro dahil lumaki akong walang pambili ng sapatos, o kaya siguro mataba ako at ang pwede ko lang isuot ay yung mga "flat" na sapatos at sandalyas, o siguro wala lang tindahan na malapit sa amin kung saan ako pwedeng makabili ng sapatos. Kabaligtaran ko, ang aking bunsong kapatid ay sobrang hilig sa sapatos, kagaya ng aming ina. Sa totoo lang, silang dalawa ay mistulang may kontest kung sino ang may mas maraming sapatos.

{I am a person who's not really much into shoes - maybe because growing up we didn't have the means of buying good shoes, or maybe because I am fat that I could only wear flat shoes/sandals, or maybe growing up there wasn't any near mall where I could buy shoes. My sister on the other hand was very much into shoes, just like my mom. Actually, they're having a little contest (although they don't realize it) as to who has the most shoes.}

Obviously, ang pares ng sapatos na ito ay sa aking kapatid. Minsan, umuwi siya at sinabing bumili siya ng bagong sapatos at gusto niyang isukat ko dahil iyon ay size 9. Kumasya naman, pero kung ako ang bibili ng sapatos na ito, siyempre size 10 ang kukunin ko.

{Obviously, this is my sister's shoes. One time, she got home and told she just bought a new pair of shoes and asked if I could try it on because it was a size 9. It did fit, but if I were to buy this pair of shoes, I would've bought the size 10.}

Noong araw na iyon ay nakahiga ako sa kutson na inilatag ko sa may sala, at dahil ako ay nanonood ng telebisyon, tinamad akong tumayo para isukat. Nagustuhan ko ang takong ng sapatos, kaya kahit nakahiga, kinuha ko ang aking cell phone para kunan ng litrato. Ito ay kinunan ko para sa aking Project 365.

{I was lying on the mattress I put in the living room when she came home, and because I was watching television, I was too lazy to get up just to fit the shoes. I loved the heels of these shoes, so even if I was lying, I took my cell phone, and took a picture of it. This was originally posted for my Project 365.}

*** Jenn ***

Paboritong Alahas (Favorite Jewelry)

Hindi ko alam kung kailan o paano nagsimula, pero mula second year college, nakahiligan ko ng bumili ng mga bagay na hugis buwan. Ang bracelet na ito ay bigay ng high school friend ng aking college friend na si Marilyn. Noong 1997, naki-piyesta ako sa kanila sa Pampanga at dahil kami ni Cinderella ay naging magkaibigan na rin dahil sa mga magazine clippings na binibigay ko sa kanya, iniregalo niya ito noong Pasko ng taong iyon bilang isang pasasalamat. Nakita niya kasing may suot akong singsing at hikaw na ganito ang disenyo, kaya noong may makita siyang bracelet sa isang silver shop sa Pampanga ay agad niyang binili.

{I don't know when or how it started, but since second year college, it has been a hobby of mine to collect quarter moon items. This bracelet was given to me by a high school friend of my college friend Marilyn. In 1997, I went to their hometown in Masantol, Pampanga for their fiesta, and since Cinderella (the high school friend) and I have been friends because of the magazine clippings I am sending her, she sent me this as a Christmas present on that year. She said, she saw me wearing the ring and earrings with the same design, so when she saw a bracelet at a silver shop, she bought it and sent it to me.}

Ang singsing at hikaw ay pareho nang namaalam, pero ang bracelet na ito ay maayos pa rin. Bihira ko na nga lang isuot kasi baka ma-snatch, sayang naman, mahigit sampung taon na rin ito.

{The ring and the earrings have long been gone, but the bracelet is still like brand new. I rarely wear this because it might get snatched.}

*** Jenn ***

Bulaklak (Flowers)

Isa sa mga paborito kong kuhanan ng litrato ang mga bulaklak. Ngunit sa dinami-dami ng bulaklak na aking nalitratuhan, wala nang mas gaganda pa sa mga rosas na ito. Ito kasi ang unang bulaklak na natanggap ko. Akalain mo, sa edad na dalampu't walo, ngayon lang ako nakatanggap ng bulaklak?!?

{One of my favorite subjects in taking pictures are the flowers. But in so many flowers I have taken pictures of, none is more beautiful than these roses, because these were the first flowers I have received. Imagine, at age twenty eight, it was just now that I received flowers?!?}

Ngunit ang mga ito ay hindi galing sa isang sinisinta. Bigay ito ng isa sa mga una kong naging kaibigan sa Internet. Isa siyang napakabait na Amerikano, laging handa akong tulungan sa mga kailangan ko pagdating sa Internet, at kung hindi lang sa mga ilang rason, malamang kaming dalawa ay naging magkasintahan na rin, subalit wala sa aming dalawa ang nagnais na tumira sa ibang bansa, kaya ang aming relasyon ay mananatili lamang sa pagiging magkaibigan.

{However, these were not from a significant other. These were given by one of my first friends online. He's one sweet and kind American, who's always ready to help me when it comes to Internet matters. If not for some concrete reasons, he and I should've been lovers now, but since none of us were willing to migrate to a different country, our relationship will just remain as friends.}

Sa iyo, Stephen.. maraming salamat!

{To you, Stephen... thanks so much!}

*** Jenn ***