Do you believe that 2012 is the end of time? For me it is better that we must always be prepared for we do not know when that time will really come. I believe that there will be judgment day and end of age. There is no such thing as the so called ‘end of the world’ written on the sacred scriptures. All I know is that there is an everlasting life if you will be chosen.

There will be tribulation and those who will not be chosen as first fruit will really suffer a lot. I remember there is a group in United States who already practice living life a hard way and they live only simply. They are not using any modern equipment like car or tractors in their farm field. They are using horse as their vehicle and cow in the farm. Well at least they are not dependent on gas and fuels since all they need are horse supplies.

All we want to do is to be prepared always anytime that our Savior will come again.

A few months ago, I was wondering about the shooting crews scattered along the helipad side of Fort Bonifacio. I was able to pass by it almost three times every Tuesday of the week. I thought it was a new movie or “teleserye” on TV until such time when I saw John Lloyd Cruz’s Greenwich Pizza’s commercial. The advertisement was shot exactly in the place were I was passing by almost everyday on the way to my son’s school. It’s the same spot where we usually bike around and jog.

The added enhancements and software development on the production enable to make the place look somewhat different. This advertisement shows John Lloyd saving his male friend from being possibly bumped off by a car.

I started my avocation in photography more than ten years ago using a full manual film camera back then. With the absence of digital camera and photo enhancement not really used during that time, I would have to rely on the apertures, shutters and f-number of our camera. I started on the basics of photography.

Our creativity or artistry in taking photographs, composition and exposure were all in natural means. My mentor in photography believed in natural and actual way of taking photograph as the best compared to enhancements made on the computer.

That’s what made me admire Mark Oristano, one of the best headshot photographer in Dallas. He is the same Mark you heard as the broadcaster in Dallas Cowboys games on radio. The Dallas photographer believes in his mentor that what other photographers use right now with the help of photo enhancing and editing made the photo great but like me that is not true. What made photographs perfectly great is proper and best lighting equipment partnered with techniques and artistry.

Actors, models, business executives or those who simply want to have their Dallas headshots to be dramatic, artistic and professionally done make it comfortable with their hand. With the help of their stylist that will make you look great and with professional photographers, I am sure you can have a perfect photo of yourself.

I already saw the printed results of the pre-nuptial photos I took for my sister in-law and her fiance (and now husband) in Boracay. Although I am generally satisfied, I still really want to make them look better. I am still dreaming of owning an external flash. If only I have that, maybe I could make the outputs better.

Maybe I should save enough to buy it for her wedding. I really value every photo I have taken even during the time that I was still using film camera. I also bought an album not just for photos but also for the negatives. Now that I am using digital camera, I always see to it to have it save on my hard drive as well as burn it on CD. I also upload it online and hopefully I will have it saved on large capacity and fast compact flash drive. Captured unforgettable memories can only be taken once that’s why I put importance t it.

I am very eager to know about old restaurants in the Philippines. Last week I was able to see a teaser from one of the programs in a local television featuring the oldest restaurants in the country located in some old street of Manila. Sadly I missed to watch that show that’s why I will have to find out what are those things you are about to see if you will visit and dine in one of the oldest restaurants in the country. Most of these restaurants are located in Manila. Hopefully it doesn’t change the way it was looked some 50 years or more ago.

Some of these restaurants still showcase those things that are featured during those years. Through them you get to see things that were use before are still present. But most of all, the flavor of the food are the same as what they were a long time ago. With the advent of digital signage from the modern fast food chain and restaurants, you will really miss to see some hand painted signage, drawing and billboards and hand written menus usually old restaurants were using before.

In my next post, I hope I will feature oldest restaurants I already visited like:

1) 1888 AMBOS MUNDOS / TOHO FOOD CENTER TOHO ANTIGUA (Recto Manila)
2) 1894 PANCITERIA SAN JACINTO New SAN Jacinto Food Center CORP. (Quezon Avenue)

3) 1920 MA MON LUK (Quezon Avenue )
4) 1929 RAMON LEE FRIED CHICKEN (Sta. Cruz, Manila)
5) 1936 ARISTOCRAT (Roxaz Boulevard)
6) 1940 ONGPIN MANOSA (Ongpin, Manila)

7) 1949 RODIC’S & LITTLE QUIAPO
8)1950 SAVORY (Escolta, Manila)

9) 1955 WAH SUN (Recto, Manila)

10) 1920  I’l Ideal Bakery and Restaurant (Silay, Neg. Occ.)

My wife sings and plays the piano. It goes without saying that she is really a music lover. One of her dreams is to own a grand piano someday and it is also my dream to give her what she has been dreaming of.

For now, she is fond of collecting wooden or figurine miniatures of musical instruments. She has a miniature grand piano, sax and guitar. I am thinking that the best holiday gift ideas that could make her happy would be additional musical items to her collection.

Every time I have a chance to visit one place or shop around I always look for some miniature musical instrument that I could give her especially if there some memorable moments to celebrate. That’s why I am so amazed when I was able to see crystal grand piano with bench from Crystal World crystal figurines. This could be a perfect gift to her this holiday season to add to her collection. This will be something different and special from all of her collections which I know will really make happy.

I know this gift is a precious one for my wife but at the same time, I could let this holiday pass without a gift for my son as well. I am sure he will be very happy also since he loves collecting die cast cars. I am sure this Crystal World’s Web-Only Specials classic car will do. Anyway they have available gifts under $50 crystal collectibles, too.

I want to thank the wonderful people of TopGear Magazine Philippines especially to the editor-in-chief, Mr. Vernon Sarne. For the second time around as of December 2008 issue, my son’s photos were published in the Letter of the Month section.

I could never explain the feeling when you see your son happy seeing his picture featured in his beloved TopGear Magazine, the magazine he loves to collect and read since he was two years old and continues collecting for almost three years now.

My son always brings the December 2008 issue and shows the magazine to his friends.

To Vernon and all the people behind TopGear, more power and thanks again!