Pauline Alvarez

Pauline is a concoction of sorts; she is mostly made up of acrylic and watercolour -the whole spectrum of coloured mediums, collection of films from every era, the graphite friction on your paper, the spark in an idea, the spontaneity in creative photography, the blogger in social media, the paradox in your words, the pixels that make up a digital work, the voice that lights up an event, and a whole lot of discovery and exploration with what it truly means to be alive.

[sci-fi-gifs]

Blade Runner (1982) Directed by Ridley Scott

[archxangels]

vintage stamps

[fracturedporcelaindoll]

Beautiful~

[heywriters]

btw the majority of your life will be lived as a adult. yeah i don't make the rules. go have fun in your 40s or 70s or whatever. no one expects you to accomplish everything at 17 or 27. you've got time and in the meantime get some life experience, it will pay off

[chesnaughtlover]

"no one expects you to accomplish everything at 17 or 27"

[heywriters]

straight up? whoever's pressuring you to get married, run the rat race, pump out a few kids, and own a Benz before 30 is toxic. you will burn out that way. I'm assuming it's your relatives, but if you think society at large cares what you do? nah, lol. I've seen society and they're far too obsessed with their own problems. even if they're projecting those problems onto you, they're still not your problems.

the best thing about thinking or even knowing that people in your realm are obsessed with your lifestyle is telling yourself "lol freaks, watch me do whatever i want anyway." take your damn time for your sake, not theirs

if you don't reach some imaginary high score by that significant-to-you-only age, life goes on. there is no flashing "game over" sign and a clock set at 00:00. the time will still be there

[incure]

As Consciousness is Harnessed to Flesh, Susan Sontag.

[pngsforthepeople]

pressed flower pngs

[wetheurban]

May you release the habit of being stuck, waiting for the "right time." May you start creating it with your choices.

[thepaulineanatomy]

I regained access to my Tumblr

September 30th, 2017 was 6 years, 2 months, and 26 days ago, which is 2,278 days. Saved posts, notes to self, drafts, oh my goodness, my drafts - brb. Going down this rabbit hole of nostalgia 🕳️🐇

[thepaulineanatomy]

BAGUIO 2017

A much needed escape from the city, let me share with you a narrative of my recent weekend in Baguio through photos.  Hopping in that midnight bus was one of the best decisions I’ve made to de-stress and to simply take a break. I’ve made it a point to not be online during the most part of the trip and to not worry about getting ‘perfect’ photos every time so I could fully immerse myself in the moment and just enjoy. I left my heavy DLSR Camera at home and opted to bring my new OPPO F3! I’ve been an iPhone user since forever, I still have my iPhones with me but I used my new OPPO during this trip for a change and so that I could try it’s infamous camera out. SPOILER: I wasn’t disappointed. Check out some of my favorite shots: As you can see, there is a reason why the OPPO F3 is called the #selfieexpert-this explains the onslaught of selfies in my camera roll. Pretty impressive.

(Just woke up look from a 4 hour bus ride lol)

Tried out the bokeh effect lol

My new phone also has this ULTRA HD feature which I use whenever I wanna capture the details more.

This one is in Burnham Park, the Wide Angle feature is a favorite!

Stay tuned for more photo heavy posts! I’ll be revamping the blog soon as I can squish in web design to my busy schedule. Have a great weekend!

[thepaulineanatomy]

“I saw that my life was a vast glowing empty page and I could do anything I wanted.” ― Jack Kerouac.

Hi, it's a bit tricky to let ourselves be vulnerable and unguarded. We're a bit iffy when it comes to going outside of the familiar. The deadly thing is, we'd rather stick with a familiar pain than a foreign one. Well, it is both detrimental, so we'd rather stick to something that hurts at least it isn't too strange right? I think we need to do something about this. We're afraid to fuck up. We're afraid to mess up. We're scared that we might never reach whatever it is that others— family, friends, society, may expect of us.

But you know what? It doesn't matter.

What if you're happy with having a nice job in a corporate world? What if you're happy with being a freelance artist with no day job? It doesn't matter as long as you're happy and you aren't stepping on other people just to get to the "top", whatever that means. Success, it's subjective. Whatever that means to you is different to another. Most people (Not all okay), usually ask, "Ay Art, may pera ba dyan?" It's them talking, and you can instantly see that their focus in life is monetary. We all need money to get through the day, but don't let money be your master and you, a slave. Don't be enslaved by society and its social constructs, by all means, go and be different. If you're not much of an internet person, then good! if you are online savvy then good! We are limiting ourselves, eh? Let us not do that.

There is so much freedom and so many ways to live a life. I do not want to be limited by labels (although helpful in identifying, but do not want to be constrained) and uniformity.  Start by messing your feed up, mess it up real good. Change your wardrobe often, who cares if you wear black most of the time and suddenly you wanted to mix and match patterns, paint like Picasso then Rembrandt next, read about the galaxies and universes, read about mermaids and pirates, then read about old English literature as well, try skateboarding, if it doesn't work out there are a hundred more things to try out. Go to places that aren't tourist spots and name them yourself. Write whenever you want on your journal, write your fears and burn them, look anxiety straight in the eye and say "I will live my life at my own pace. I am happy with the now", hug your dog/cats and talk to plants, they are great listeners.

There's so much beauty in everyday. Free yourself. Slowly, I am emancipating myself from this. It's hard of course, most of the time your prison is your own mind. But we'll get to enlightenment.

(photo ctto)

[thepaulineanatomy]

I once said to myself, I'd like to travel the world and taste all kinds of food from different cultures.

And included on my list is to experience authentic Italian food. I'm so glad to have been invited by Verace Ristorante Italiano, wherein Verace means genuine (as what the owner informed us) on April 6th to take feast in genuine and authentic Italian food prepared by an Italian chef, Master Chef Giovanni. I brought my cousin Andrea to join me for the "A night in Italia" dinner. When we arrived, Ms. Rachel welcomed us so gleefully. We were also welcomed by the owner, Ms. Monet. And exchanged greetings with the lovely people from Zomato, as well as CJ and her boyfriend who were also invited in the event. The place has this home-y vibe. It is really cozy and comfortable with nice interiors, although they are still making changes with regards to this as they continually improve the design to meet their desired ambiance.

Andrea, my one and only fab personal photographer, and I took portraits in the garden of Verace while they prepare the food. Verace takes pride in preparing fresh food, they are not frozen or on queue for “reheating” they inform the customers that there is really a waiting time of around 20 minutes as Master Chef Giovanni prepares the sumptuous dishes on the spot. 

First, they served the appetizers which include Melanzanie Ripiene (Rolled eggplant, cheese, and fresh tomato sauce), Parmigiano Fritto (Deep fried italian cheese), and Calamari Fritti (Fried Calamari). My senses and taste buds were exploding; it was truly a delight of different flavours inside my mouth. And upon writing this blog post, my tummy rumbles and I wish I could go back immediately to Verace! I've already tasted a lot of Calamari but theirs was different, it 's 100% fresh. Also, their DIP is SUPERB. It's a different take from the usual mayo. You should try it out! I also used the dip for a mix and match with the Melanzanie Ripiene. I love eggplants! I like frying them and using soy sauce with chili, so I was delighted to know that cheese and eggplant could be a delicious combo. I'll definitely order this at Verace on my next visit.

While we were eating, we were talking about how we Filipinos already have a distorted notion of what "Italian food" is. Basta pasta, Italian food na. We were enlightened that day. A lot of restaurants claiming that they are "Italian" were sort of a dismay to the what an authentic Italian restaurant is. Many of us know large scale Italian resto's (I won't be mentioning names but I believe you already know), they are American-Italian, French-Italian, and/or Spanish-Italian. So that left us wondering, what now? What truly is the authentic Italian restaurant? Verace claims that it is the authentic and genuine Italian restaurant in the South. Need not to go far, we have a true Italian restaurant here with a Master Chef born and raised in Italy. Ms. Monet mentioned, how can a restaurant claim that they are an Italian restaurant but if the chef isn't even Italian? She says that, she can cook Italian dishes but of course, her taste is Filipino so the way she cooks Italian food will be biased and will have alterations. But her husband, Master Chef Giovanni, cooks EVERYTHING. I am amazed by their passion. He has had offers before  in big-time restaurants but  at the cost of altering his cooking. He wanted to stay true to his passion, to cook authentic Italian dishes. We all are aware that most food chains only show photogenic food with big portions but disappoint us once served in real life. I am not afraid to claim that Verace Ristorante will not disappoint.  As a food junkie and for the love for food, you will be shocked at how affordable their prices are whilst serving superior dishes.

Next, we were served my all time favorite, PIZZA!!! Hear, hear, my taste buds are already tainted by main stream pizza. But upon tasting their Tartufata, Four Cheese, and Pizza Insalata, my pizza prowess was refreshed.

Also did you know that the true Carbonara isn't served with cream? It's just eggs and parmesan mixed with the pasta?

Okay maybe some of you already do know but I upon knowing that, it seems like I haven't had a real carbonara ever. I'm glad they served something different, Spaghetti Alla Norcia and Linguini Allo Scoglio. Take a look at the photos! Isn't t just super inviting? After the pasta course, we were served Risotto Parmigiano (Italian rice with Parmigiano cheese, garlic, and white wine). Something you should order if you'd like to have rice!

And for the main course, we had Pollo Alla Verace (Roasted chicken with herbs served with a bucket of potatoes), Ahhh, we were already full by then but I couldn't help it. The chicken was extra juicy and tasteful. It was kinda drizzled by herbs and a bit of pepper.

We paused for a bit before the dessert arrived, we were all raving about how affordable the prices are! It was an awesome experience, getting to converse with people who already has a lot of experience in life and has traveled to foreign lands. The people from Zomato were really kind and awesome! Which brings me to make a Zomato account. Yay! Stay tuned for more food raves! Finally, the dessert arrived. If you've followed by Verace foodventure on my snapchat: alvarez.pauline, you'd catch the snaps and vids of the food! Their Panna Cotta is PERFECT. After all the different flavors from the Italian feast, the dessert wasn't too sweet, and as we Filipinos say it hindi siya nakakaumay. My favourite is the strawberry Panna Cotta, then the chocolate and last but not the least is the caramel Panna Cotta, I will definitely try them out once I go back to Verace. I don't go around promoting something I don't believe in. And I'm inspired by the passion of the people that make up Verace. I'm happy to have been invited, til our next meeting! Thank you Ms. Rachel, Ms. Monet, Chef Giovanni, and Verace as a whole for having us! Experience authentic Italian dining! Relax and enjoy sumptuous dishes, Visit Verace Ristorante Italiano at 43 Rose Ave. Pilar, Las Pinas, 1740, Metro Manila Photographed and post-processed by Andrea Genota

[thepaulineanatomy]

I’m getting busier and busier! And this is not the mindless, empty kind of busy. It’s the meaningful, fulfilling type of busy. Busy building my dreams, busy designing the life I want, busy focusing on the sterner things in life that are not actual things-- the substantial and purposeful, the simple, eternal and unseen.

Be preoccupied in filling your heart, mind, and soul with creativity and experiences.

Get busy living and being.

We’ll never figure out this beautiful ephemera that is life, I’d rather be busy doing something, failing, and trying than to always be waiting and not have done anything at all.

Hello month of April, you are electric. I am excited for you!

[thepaulineanatomy]

South kids braved the EDSA traffic to QC, and it was crazy but to be honest since I don't commute often to QC, it was fun. Haha! Actually, it was my first time to go on a bus ride to QC, cos usually we just use our cars whenever we go to my relatives there. I kinda enjoy bus rides more, it has this vibe of the in transit feels. Especially when you're with friends, and the night is still young, and you don't need to worry about going home.

My friends and I went to Today x Future for Jump Off Vol. 6 and watch Chryse's set and other local DJs, beat makers, and music producers.

Phil and I left around 6:30PM, "kita kita nalang tayo sa _______" but 7PM we're still in Laguna, bless the holy week traffic. We met up with my friend Reisee (grade school bff) at the bus terminal and off we go.

I love that feeling, when the night is just starting and there's a whimsical feel in the air, I'm a young adult already but I still feel a giddy sense of accomplishment whenever I commute (HAHA take note, I've been carpooled all the way to college).  

Also, aren't you just grateful for friends whom you don't get to hang out often but when you do you just catch up on everything and anything and there's no awkwardness at all? HASH TAG BLESS. That's just how my grade school friends and I are.

It's 9PM and we're almost there! We're so probinsyano/probinsyana, I dunno my way around the place by commuting and we're just like "Uy that's Araneta Coliseum!" we hit our land mark hahaha, I don't wanna risk taking out my phone in  such a place and I'm 200% alert and paranoid when I'm on the streets especially since it's one of the sketchiest places I've ever been but yeah gotta admit, it's pretty rad when we're already walking along the pavements of the building façades.

We met up with Mikee, Gelo, and Justin.  And a couple of friends followed afterwards.

South kids unite! Lol. We navigated our way with a lot of walking (damn, I need to hit the gym my legs feel like jell-o)

When we arrived, it's totes different from the usual in Makati. But I love it. It has this ghetto, alternative, trippy, oriental, rustic vibe. Kinda like a Cloud Atlas (the movie, check it out) meets The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus prod setting. It's a lil' pocket of a creative musical universe in the midst of corporate buildings.

I like and support local musicians in the indie-opm scene I cannot specify the genre but I believe you get what I’m saying (which remind me! I have yet to finish my Art Beat Vlog) and have met a lot of them too! The Ransom Collective, Bullet Dumas, Reese etc. but I find myself vibin more with the music of local beat makers, DJs, and music producers. The underground music scene is so raw, genuine. And I'm drawn to it. Especially experimental beats and music. I'll do a monthly feature on them soon! Since consequentially, I've been going to events and gigs a lot.

It's so great to be surrounded with alternative and creative people. I've met an interior designer, a film maker, a musician, an artist, a fabulous drag queen that night. I remember talking to this film-maker, she said she loves doing documentaries and I was really enticed. I told her, "There are times when I feel like I don't belong anywhere but tonight, I feel like I do." It felt like they were characters in a book, or I just see my life that way? Knowing that I’m such a nerd hah.

---

My grade school bff's and I are reunited once again! We were joking around saying: "Grabe, from Frostee to Margarita, from grade school to adult life" <3I'll treasure these two forever, and hopefully we'll get to hang out more often.(Which seems like it cos we plan on being gym buddies!!!)

Everything felt right, I'm grateful for Gelo for always being there. I love our friendship, chill, fun, meaningful and we got each other. Yung friends na, isang text or call mo lang, G na sila? Yup, so glad I have a Gelo in my life!!

And, Justin. If you are reading this I bet you are already looking for your name hahaha.Thank you for being with us on our crazy adventures! From hittin the beach to the city, and yes, next goal would be a plane ride!

And of course, Philip, takes to bringing us to magical places embellished with wonderful creatures. I can't help but feel proud of my boyfriend, he manages to balance his corporate work life and his creative alter-ego.

I'm inspired by his works, his music, and how he carries himself. He stays true to his work and to himself. Which is pretty damn cool. Go check him out at: facebook, soundcloud, instagram.

Don’t be afraid to be yourself, to actually like what you like, who cares if they don’t like the music that you do? or the art that you appreciate and the art that you make? we spend too much time thinking about pleasing others that we lose ourselves by wanting what others want that we forget to ask ourselves, “what do I really want? what do I really enjoy?” It’s out there, there’s a niche for you. Need not to look far, we’ll create our own culture, our own universe. Visit Today X Future at General Malvar Ave, Cubao, Quezon City, 1109 Metro Manila, open from 5PM to 3AM

© All photos, art, visuals, and content are copyrighted to Pauline Alvarez 2016

[thepaulineanatomy]

Hey everyone! Major alert!!! (Wow I sound like DJ Khaled) Please take the time to read, reading saves lives, and art:

I'm relaunching my page, The Pauline Anatomy, formerly my online shoppe where I sold my DIY crafts. I'm transitioning it into something else--

As an artist, I yearn to learn, discover, and explore. I believe most of us do. I have been receiving a lot of messages concerning inquiries and bookings regarding hosting, sponsorship, collaborations, and my art. But all of these go to my "other" folder which 99% of the time I do not open, the other 1% is by chance when somehow a message request happens to pop up on my iPhone.

The messages go to the "other" folder because we are not friends on facebook, I only add people whom I know personally thus, these messages go to a BLACKHOLE which is lo' and behold, the "other" folder which is piled with a thousand messages. (The messages there just make me anxious; poser notifs, pervs, etc.) Trust me, you do not want your messages to get lost in that blackhole.

I am not a snob, I am genuinely interested in collaborations and photo shoots and being surrounded with creative individuals. Although I have already reiterated in my bio, that you can send me an e-mail for business inquiries and bookings, people tend to overlook it, thus, the chance to create something wonderful has passed.

By sending an e-mail, it makes you look more professional and gives you a certain credibility, and it only shows you're really serious with your inquiry.

But good news! My page, The Pauline Anatomy, will be the space wherein I can entertain and answer inquiries regarding art, music, bookings for hosting, writing, blogging, events, photo shoots, sponsorship and collaborations.

It has a fresh inbox waiting just for you! Go check it out-- https://www.facebook.com/thepaulineanatomy

I hope everyone will know of this, and get redirected to this! I don't want us to miss the chance to create something amazing.

I'm excited for future collaborations.

Let's create, stay inspired, Pauline

[thepaulineanatomy]

I came across an article from the internet, and now that I am browsing through my blog’s drafts, I found this. Just in time, when I needed this reminder the most, I’ve been fickle minded with my decisions for the past few months, yet I’m still navigating my way and putting what matters most on front line. I’ve struggled with depression and I didn’t even realize how depressed I was until it just dawned on me one day.

Read on if you need a little smack on the forehead:

“Do you mind even a little that you are still addicted to people-pleasing, and are still putting everyone else’s needs and laundry and career ahead of your creative, spiritual life? Giving all your life force away, to “help” and impress. Well, your help is not helpful, and falls short. Look, I struggle with this. I hate to be criticized. I am just the tiniest bit more sensitive than the average bear. And yet, I’m a writer, so I periodically put my work out there, and sometimes like all writers, I get terrible reviews, so personal in nature that they leave me panting. Even with a Facebook post … do you have any idea what it’s like to get 500-plus negative attacks, on my character, from truly bizarre strangers. Really, it’s not ideal. Yet, I get to tell my truth. I get to seek meaning and realization. I get to live fully, wildly, imperfectly. That’s why I’m alive. And all I actually have to offer as a writer, is my version of life. Every single thing that has happened to me is mine. As I’ve said a hundred times, if people wanted me to write more warmly about them, they should have behaved better. Is it okay with you that you blow off your writing, or whatever your creative/spiritual calling, because your priority is to go to the gym or do yoga five days a week? Would you give us one of those days back, to play or study poetry? To have an awakening? Have you asked yourself lately, “How alive am I willing to be?” It’s all going very quickly. It’s mid-May, for God’s sake. Who knew. I thought it was late February. 

It’s time to get serious about joy and fulfilment, work on our books, songs, dances, gardens. But perfectionism is always lurking nearby, like the demonic prowling lion in the Old Testament, waiting to pounce. It will convince you that your work-in-progress is not great, and that you may never get published. (Wait, forget the prowling satanic lion — your parents, living or dead, almost just as loudly either way, and your aunt Beth, and your passive-aggressive friends, whom we all think you should ditch, are going to ask, “Oh, you’re writing again? That’s nice. Do you have an agent?”) Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen. Repent just means to change direction — and NOT to be said by someone who is waggling their forefinger at you. Repentance is a blessing. Pick a new direction, one you wouldn’t mind ending up at, and aim for that. Shoot the moon. Here’s how to break through the perfectionism: make a LOT of mistakes. Fall on your butt more often. Waste more paper, printing out your shitty first drafts, and maybe send a check to the Sierra Club. Celebrate messes — these are where the goods are. Put something on the calendar that you know you’ll be terrible at, like dance lessons, or a meditation retreat, or boot camp. Find a writing partner, who will help you with your work, by reading it for you, and telling you the truth about it, with respect, to help you make it better and better; for whom you will do the same thing. Find someone who wants to steal his or her life back, too. Now; today. One wild and crazy thing: wears shorts out in public if it is hot, even if your legs are milky white or heavy. Go to a poetry slam. Go to open mike,and read the story you wrote about the hilariously god-awful family reunion, with a trusted friend, even though it could be better, and would hurt Uncle Ed’s feelings if he read it, which he isn’t going to. Change his name and hair color — he won’t even recognize himself. At work, you begin to fulfill your artistic destiny. Wow! A reviewer may hate your style, or newspapers may neglect you, or 500 people may tell you that you are bitter, delusional and boring. Let me ask you this: in the big juicy Zorba scheme of things, who fucking cares?”

I’ve been fluctuating in updating this little universe of mine, forgive me, I am still struggling. I place my finger tips on the surface of this square tabs hoping to spill the right words, honest words, but sometimes, the internet doesn’t feel safe anymore. This used to be my safe place, I do hope this still is. My readers, your words, they are like a healing incantation, and you are already a part who I am. You remind me pieces of myself that I have long forgotten, or I may have voluntarily tucked away. 

Okay Universe, fine. I’ll let go. Surprise me.

[thepaulineanatomy]

Hi guys! So here’s what I’ve been listening to lately and I thought I’d share it with you. Music could easily uplift my mood and it kinda sets the tone and vibe of my day. Whether it’s easy listening in the morning to setting the mood for creativity when I’m graphic designing in the afternoon or when I’m writing at night. I’ve also read in an article that music is a great way to trigger memories, so it’s best to have good music during your road trips, steady days, and adventures. So then, by listening to a certain song you’d automatically trigger the good vibes. Here: January Playlist • Influx Tell me your fave tracks! Enjoy!

[thepaulineanatomy]

Hi ate Pau!! I saw your journals. Gusto ko lang itanong kung saan mo nabili 'yung map journal mo? Hihi! I love you :*

Hello! It’s from my reader turned friend, Samantha. It came from London! :)

Ps. I love you too xx

[thepaulineanatomy]

Hi ate pau! Any advice for newbies in blogging? :) ps. You inspired me to start my blog because I loved reading yours and maybe it's time for me to start mine too right? hehe x keep inspiring people! 💕

Hello! Hmm, my advice would be, think of what type of blog would you want to have? what do you enjoy writing and/or sharing? You could start with that, think of it as, what would be the purpose of your blog? would it be to express your thoughts? would it be a food blog? a blog catered for films? the options are endless, go be creative! thank you 💕