To life, with love

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Currently, Dressed for Dreaming

Dear reader, 

Thank you for dropping by, though I have moved to a new home for over a year now. I journal at http://dressedfordreaming.blog. 

Do send me a shoutout! :)

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Mt. Batulao Hike

I recently joined another open-hike organized by the Loyola Mountaineers, this time up Mount Batulao in the south, as well. Funny story, because out of the thirty-or-so people who signed up for it, only seven confirmed to go. Of the seven, one cancelled, so there were only six participants--the bare minimum it takes for a climb to push through. Fortunately enough, there were enough of us to continue. 

After a cab ride to the station, a bus ride to Tagaytay, and a tricycle ride to the jump-off point, we were ready for the ascent. 

Ascent

What makes this climb distinct is its straightforward, open-view trail, to which one enjoys the view during the journey as much as the sight at the peak. The downside is being under the excruciating heat, especially when hiking at noon. There were plenty of rest stops, however, that sold ice-cold drinks and other refreshments such as iced candy and mais con hielo. Thank goodness the wind decided to fan our way that sunny morning. 

Assault

My natural fear of heights made this climb one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. Certain parts of the climb were too steep that ropes were supplied to help us get through. I’ll never forget the ‘rock-climbing’ phase, only, we had to climb down with no support. With 20 kilos on my back, I braced myself in a sitting position, and carefully stepped on rocks to secure my footing. I cried, and I wanted to go back, but I realized that I’ve already gone far to turn back, and that I had to keep going to not be a dead weight to the people with me.

I regret nothing. That day, I conquered myself. (Although I don’t think I’ll be climbing mountains anytime soon.)

The Peak

...And well, the view was certainly worth it. 

Camp-site

We arrived at the campsite early afternoon. Since we had plenty of time in our hands, we decided to kill time by playing card games before setting up our tents. After which, we prepared for dinner. Our group-mate went for a challenge, and made risotto that evening. Mmmm, dinner was never that good. 

Sunrise

Some of us woke up a few minutes before 6 to catch the sunrise, and so, as usual, I decided to take some silhouette snaps. Unfortunately, I could only capture so much of the wonder of seeing a sunrise from a mountain. 

Breakfast

I was tasked to make breakfast for our group. I admit I was an amateur, managing only with chicken-longganisa and tomato paste on penne pasta. I’m sorry, guys. I can’t afford to experiment where there’s no other food source around. (Haha)

Descent

Going down was more of a breeze, as we went back on a different trail. As we arrived at the jump-off point, I couldn’t have been happier to stand on flat ground. 

As soon as we retired, we cooked lunch by one of the sari-sari stores where the buses stopped, and played a few rounds of card games while waiting for our ride home. It was my first time to climb in a small group, but I’m glad we did. 

Well, there you have it. I had fun, but perhaps I'll be taking a break from climbing mountains for a while.

Stay Inspired! Hannah

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Hello! Could you share with us some tips on how to really manage time to exercise, sleep enough hours, and still do well in school and orgwork? Do you have strategies, or set schedules for non-negotiable personal time? :) Thanks! You look like someone with a lot of promise. :)

Hello, there!

Thank you so much. I answered a similar question before. Click here to see it. :)

Just to add to what I said, though, I do believe personal time is important--if not crucial--to effective scheduling. There must be time allotted for rest, personal quiet time, and building relationships with people we love the most. Work is just work, but personal development is fundamental, and something that must be taken care of before anything else, because it affects how work will be done. 

Hope this helps! :)

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Art Fair 2015: In Snaps

I’ve always wanted to go to the local art fair. And so, a few weeks back, my friends and I decided to make it happen. 

The Art Fair is a convergence of modern Filipino art practitioners, where people can enjoy both viewing and buying their work. Below are a few photos of some of the works we came across.

Since we went on a Saturday, the place was packed, and we didn’t have much chance to take more ‘artistic’ photographs. Haha! Below were a few attempts, however. (Excuse the lighting, the photos were edited wrongly by accident.)

Below are a few of my favorites works from the exhibits. 

For some reason, I’m mostly attracted to visual feasts--an interesting display of color (and a distinct way of execution) draws me in easily, and so do juxtapositions and so-called ‘hacks’ in pop art. Needless to say, photographs are still my favorites. I’m not really a fan of abstract, hard-to-read artworks (and I guess that shows how much of an amateur I am); I’m more into clear, straightforward pieces.

I had the best time going around the venue with two people I’ve always shared the interest for creativity and artistry with. Although we’re not avid enthusiasts, we enjoy going on art-ventures every now and then. 

I believe art can be for everyone, can touch (or disturb) anyone--tasteful or not. 

I enjoyed reading about how people perceived art in one of the exhibits, most especially the quote below.

I apologize for not being able to credit each artist for the photographs I took. You might want to check out the list of exhibitors HERE. 

Perhaps you would find interest in going to the next one, because photographs can only capture so much. Immerse yourself in the talent and skill of artists all over the world (and be amazed at the works of local artisans, too). 

Stay Inspired! Hannah

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Evening in Bokeh

A friend asked me to be a muse for her thesis video shoot a few months back. It consisted of three layouts, and mine was a date-night look. Needless to say, I absolutely love the make-up (thank you, Nicole Ceballos) and the stills my awesome photographer-friend Agnes took with her prime lens. 

Thank you for having me, Maxine! Continue to use your passion for good. :)

Stay inspired, and always remember that better than any outward appearance is the beauty of the inner self. 

Hannah

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

North and Friends

On a recent holiday, I went on a trip to Anvaya Cove, Bataan with my long-time friends. It was a busy school week, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the sights away from the city. 

Scenery.

Lunch.

Gazebo. 

By the Pool.

Silhouettes. 

Banana-boating. Totally worth a stiffed neck. 

By the Shore. Here are a few photos of my friends! 

Sunset. In my opinion, the best part of the trip was catching the beautiful sunset with my friends. Below is a not-so-good shot of it. I’m sorry. 

There’s nothing like a short getaway with the best people. Thank you for having us, Amanda! 

Stay Inspired! Hannah

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Hi, Hannah! I just want to ask what camera/s are you using? And the lenses as well?

Hello!

I use nothing but my Sony A6000. I absolutely love it because of the color (I no longer edit my photos most of the time) and wifi connectivity. It’s a relatively new mirrorless-camera model, one of the best today. All my recent photos are taken with that. I seldom use my phone camera for blog posts. 

I use nothing but my Sony’s kit lens, too. I love it because it’s slightly wide-angled. 

Hope this helps. :)

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Do you like reading? If yes, what type of books do you usually read?

Hello there! Well, I'm into reading, but I was never a bookworm (if bookworm is what you call someone who can't survive a day without a book in hand). I've read a few classics and best-sellers for school (and for fun) before. But if you ask me about what I choose to read at the moment, it would probably be business books because I'm trying to prepare myself for the career path I choose to take. I'm currently halfway through Kiyosaki's Cash Flow Quadrant.When discerning books in general though, I enjoy anything that provides a different angle / contrary to commonly accepted knowledge today. For instance, I just read a book about North Korea called Nothing to Envy for my writing class, and it was brilliant, in an eye-opening way. If you haven't already noticed, I'd rather read non-fiction, but classics are always welcome. :)

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Tagaytay: Portraits and Landscapes

These photos were taken on a holiday trip months ago. Meet my siblings, and the a few landscapes.

Stay Inspired! Hannah

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Where have you interned before and what was it like? :)

I’ve worked for quite a number of companies / brands before. I’ve experienced working for social enterprises, a bank, a consultancy firm, and an online newsletter. My work ranged from doing hands-on work such as facilitating activities, to exercising my creativity through writing. What I like about internships is that they provide me practical training and education without any commitment, unlike actually working for a company. 

I like that I was exposed to a variety of job descriptions due to internship / working stints for different companies. It allowed me to immerse in different fields / departments in order to help me ultimately choose / narrow down to which one I want to pursue for good. The experiences provided me a broader perspective, opened up a myriad of opportunities, and allowed me to meet passionate, inspiring, and talented people whom I still keep tabs with until today. 

Working for each company was different, but all of them gave me priceless experience I wouldn’t be exposed to if I only counted on classroom education to learn. The reason why I didn’t differentiate the companies from each other was because my encounter with each one of them was special and unique. I greatly advise that if you still have the chance to, volunteer or work for anything that sparks your curiosity or anything that is related to the career you might want to pursue in the future. 

No buts, no maybes, no excuses. Just go for it. :) 

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

hi! it seems like you're good at managing your time well. how do you do it? :)

Hello, there! I’m sorry for the late response, only now did I have the time to answer your question, ironically. Haha! 

Here’s a short step-by-step that might help: 

PLANNING TOOLS. I use (and abuse) my planner. By abuse, I mean I read back and write on it pretty much every-day, writing down inspiring quotes, interesting experiences, plans for the next day, or week, expenses, and whatnot. I use mobile apps, too, such as Evernote and Google Calendar. They work perfectly well for organized, type A people like me in that they help me create long-term and short-term goals, and mapping out practical ways to achieve them. 

PRIORITIZING / GOAL-SETTING. This is where the brain-work comes into play. There’s a particular saying I like and it goes, ‘it’s possible to be busy--very busy, without being effective.’ Making goals and looking back on them at least once a week help me know whether I’m working towards my priorities and allow me to see whether I need to adjust my schedule to keep me on track. 

ACTUALLY MAKING IT HAPPEN. Planning is just the beginning. The real battle lies in actually being able to say ‘no’ to certain activities in order to make way for goal-related endeavors, as well as taking the initiative to do things I initially planned to do. To be honest, I think the difference between productive and unproductive people lies here. At times, it’s difficult to overcome stubbornness, but I always keep in mind that there’s nothing keeping me from managing my time well but me. If I’m lazy, then I won’t finish anything. But if I push myself, just a little, and a little more, then I’ll eventually get to where I am. Excellence is a muscle, it is trained and developed. 

There you have it! I hope you find this useful. :) 

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

The Undergrad: Portraits

After finishing all my academic requirements, I decided to walk around the campus for one last time as an undergraduate, with my stress-free point-and-shoot camera and a model-friend in tow. Three themes came along in the process: monotony, a stoic face (which Mark happens to be most comfortable with), and having just one figure as the main focal point. We didn’t have enough time to cover all four corners of the college campus, but we were able to shoot in main locations.

Prior to the shoot, I didn’t have an idea what I wanted the photos to look like. I somehow just played with the elements that presented themselves as soon as we started: the harsh light, the shadows, nature as it is, and whatnot. I did not have an intent of conveying anything in particular; I wanted to be as spontaneous as possible, and somehow, I'm happy with the results.

SOM Forest.

Schmitt Hall.

Zen Garden.

Faura Hall.

SEC Area.

Red Brick Road.

Goodbye, college life. You have taught me much--in being a human being, more than anything else.

A few reflections on a future post.

Thanks for inspiring me, Ateneo. Hannah

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Pop-Vintage

Here's an attempt to appear classy-pop, like one of those harsh-flash portraits of the yester-years (sans the grainy finish). 

This look was for my graduation creative-photo shoot, and since I had a Christmas party to attend right after, I took to keeping it 'til midnight. 

Make-up by Nikki Riel.

To more shoots this summer. Hannah

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Climbing Mt. Pico de Loro

About a month ago, I participated in an open climb up Mount Pico de Loro in Batangas. I've only hiked up a mountain once before, hence that was to be my second time climbing (and camping) up a mountain.

We arrived at the jump-off point at about 9 in the morning. Our (back)packs were ready--most of us carrying about 20 kilograms over our shoulders. Below is a photograph pre-ascent (as we were dry, and still energized). 

Ascent

We started going up the trail a few minutes past 9AM, had a few stopovers in between (we loved our trail food--gummy bears, almonds, jelly ace, and more), and had our lunch sometime after 12PM. The weather was perfect: sunlit but breezy. Check out the scenery. 

Campsite

We arrived at the campsite at around 2PM, alongside plenty of other tourists. My group-mates and I immediately explored the area for quite some time, then pitched our tents. 

Look at that view. (And to think we weren't even on the peak yet.)

Peak

I was terribly acrophobic, though I couldn't pass up the chance to go up the summit at least once. I had to do it, or else my trip wouldn't have been worth it. Even though I tried as much as possible to keep myself calm, however, I couldn't help but freak out as I went up on what I estimate to be a 60-degree incline. When I reached the peak, though, I found that the feel of my heart thumping and the possibility of slipping down the grainy path was well worth it. It offers a 360-degree panorama of the entire area surrounding it, and the wind felt like mint and ice water combined. 

(Because we went up on a holiday, the place was crowded.)

(Meet Vince, the guy who patiently took my photographs and calmly led me towards the edges of the cliff for them. He plays a good shepherd, too.)

Here are some (very awkward) portraits of me by the edges (clearly attempting to stop the panic). 

Monolith

A number of meters from the peak was the monolith--a tall rock formation which with a little less room for people to stand on--hence climbers had to be divided into batches. In order to reach the surface, one had to walk (or rather, side-step) through a trail that was only about a feet wide (more or less), and use a rope to assault on. 

Realizing how much of a nightmare it would have been, I decided to pass. 

(A bunch of us scaredy-cats stayed at the peak to watch the others go up the monolith.)

Dinner

After an excruciating descent from the summit (yep, once was enough), we freshened up and prepared to cook for dinner. Our group prepared calamari and longganisa, and we had it wish cups and cups of rice. The experience of preparing a well-cooked, complicated meal on a mountain is certainly one-of-a-kind. 

Breakfast

After snoozing for about 10 hours (yes, I was that tired; although I did wake up a few times from the cold and/or discomfort from the rock-hard surface we slept on), we were up at 6AM to prepare for breakfast. We prepared crispy bacon and scrambled eggs for over an hour, while it took us about 10 minutes to finish everything. Yep, that's life in the great outdoors. 

After breakfast, I decided to get something warm to beat the intensely low temperature. Hence coffee at 600-or-so feet above ground. Because the place is a tourist attraction, the campsite had small stalls that sold over-priced commodities. (But we caved in, as expected.)

Lunch

After almost two hours going down the mountain, we had lunch at base camp--about an hour away from the jump-off (starting) point. My group-mate brought sukiyaki-cut pork chop (pre-marinaded, of course) which smelled like the heavens at that time. As usual, we each also had a huge serving of rice. 

We arrived at our starting point about an hour later, had a quick meeting and a little free time, then departed for Manila as soon as it started raining. 

Hiking up-and-down was painful, difficult, and quite crazy, but it was also refreshing, exhilarating, and breath-taking. And as I sure as heck would do it again. 

'Til my next climb story.

Stay Inspired! Hannah

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Of An Impromptu Photo-date

I had a date with the Pauline Disuanco one afternoon, and this is what transpired. 

Bright Afternoon Sun

Sunset Silhouette

Evening Inside

Thanks, Pauline. I can always count on you when it comes to taking the best portrait shots!

Click here to see some shots I took of her. There's nothing like the 50-mm magic from her cam, though. 

Stay inspired! Hannah

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

Highest award/honor you have received in school? :)

HAHA, funny you ask! I was a merit scholar for playing for our school's basketball team--does that count? 

I really wasn't a bright kid in high school. I was, however, top of the class in pre-school and kindergarten. I don't know what happened after. I kind of regret letting go of my care for academics though--who knows where I would be now if that happened. :(

[hannahdumpsposts-blog]

What do you plan to do after graduating? Are you excited to be part of the labor force? Haha.

All I'm sure of is that I want to be an entrepreneur. I have another dream--to travel for a living (perhaps through writing, taking photos or hosting), too. When I graduate, I'll take the necessary steps to achieve these goals. 

As for your other question, working full-time for a company is not in my list of career options. I want to keep some of my time free to pursue different interests, as I wouldn't want to close any doors so soon.

Thanks for reminding me, I'll write a post about this soon. :)