An AWESOME Experience

Last Saturday (March 26, 2011), I went to Intramuros, Manila to submit our club entries for the PhotoWorld Cup.

What is the PhotoWorld Cup?

The Photoworldcup (PWC) is a non-profit organization under the umbrella of FPPF. It comprises of different camera clubs around the country. PWC meets every last Saturday of the month, during these meetings, clubs will be required to submit entries on specific theme. The entries are judged and at the end of the year the best club will be recognized and awarded with trophy and cash prize. The best photographer is also awarded with a trophy. During the competition, judges are requested to talk about the submitted entries, a process where members can learn some useful tips. - http://www.photoworldcup.org/

I was assigned to represent our club (Ayala Alabang Camera Club). With the supervision of the Contest Committee, it is my responsibility to collect all the entries, screen them and then submit them. The top 20 photos which will be chosen will be our entries.

Unfortunately, only 6 members were able to submit their entries. Luckily, some of the members had more than 3 entries. (A photographer can only submit three (3) entries. In case a club hasn’t met the maximum number of entries yet, and a member has more than three (3) pictures at hand, he/she is allowed to submit such entry into the contest, however, any credit or point that said picture will get shall be given only to the club and not the individual photographer. Each club can only submit 20 photos.)

Our entries:

President Aly Reyes - 7 Entries (Seafood Kare-kare, Pusit, Sisig, Siomai, Pancit Canton, Inihaw & Goto+Bbq.)

Bingbing Bautista - 2 entries (Lechong Manok & Bangus)

Dino Perez - 3 entries (Tocino, Biko(?) & Shinganling)

Mike Natividad - 4 entries (Leche flan atbp, Banana Cake, Banana Cake with Kondensada, Pancit Malabon(?))

Paolo Cayco - 2 entries (Isaw and Bibingka)

PJ Enriquez - 2 entries (Lechon and Ube)

Total: 20 entries

My entries:

Isaw!

Bibingka!

Since it was my first time to attend the monthly meeting, I was really nervous. Thanks to PJ Enriquez (co-member, AACC and the PWC Chairman), he was able to guide me on what to do.

I can say that it was really an AWESOME experience. I was able to talk to people who share the same passion for Photography. Yes, I am just a newbie, but thanks to them, I was able to learn some tips which will be useful in the future.

Photo Heaven!

The contest has four rounds. During the first round, all entries will be displayed. The judges will place a poker chip on top of the photos they like. The photos with poker chips will proceed to the second round. During the second round, again, the judges will place again their poker chips on the photos they like. Only 30 photos will be chosen. For the third round, the judges will choose the top 12 photos that they like. And for the fourth round, they will decide which photo is the best among the rest.

There were 441 photo entries. It was like HEAVEN! Anywhere you look, you can see photos. Not just ordinary photos, but GREAT PHOTOS!

Yes, I saw a lot of beautiful photos. But I was rooting for our club entries (Pinoy Trait: Love your own). Unfortunately, three of our entries were disqualified. Down to 17 entries. Every time a judge passes by one of our entries, I was praying, “LORD, PLEASE, SANA MAPILI!” After the first round, only 4 entries (Aly’s Pusit Entry & Seafood Kare Kare, PJ’s Lechon, and Dino’s Tocino.) made it. Unfortunately, both of my entries did not qualify. Oh well, another experience learned. J (Siguro kulang ang aking prayers.)

For the Top 30 round, only one of our entries made it – Dino Perez’ Tocino Entry. I said to myself “YES! May isa kaming entry na nakapasok!”

For the Top 12 round, Dino’s entry still made it. J I was really excited! I even texted my brother (Lian Cayco) just to share the good news. In the end, Dino’s Entry placed 5^th out of 441 entries. Woohoo! Not bad! (Sa loob-loob ko, tumatumbling na yung puso ko sa SAYA.) J

Top 12 Entries:
1. Framed Shots Camera Club
2. Nayon
3. Alpha Camera Club
4. Alpha Camera Club
5. AYALA ALABANG CAMERA CLUB - DINO PEREZ - TOCINO ENTRY
6. Framed Shots Camera Club
7. *Sorry, I wasn't able to get the name of the camera club*
8. Nayon
9. My Camera Club
10. Sprazzo Camera Club
11. Lenti Photo Club
12. Imahe

Congratulations, Dino Perez!

Yey! Another AWESOME experience for me! This made my passion for Photography grow even deeper. OH YEAH! J

Have an AWESOME life!

-Paolo

An AWESOME Quote

An AWESOME quote from Gandhi.

"LIVE as if you were to die tomorrow. LEARN as if you were to live forever."

This AWESOME quote means that one should not worry too much about what's going to happen tomorrow. Instead, live for today, enjoy the present moments. We must always enjoy our life to the fullest because no one knows when our time will be up. HAVE FUN and ENJOY LIFE! :)

The line, "Learn like you're gonna live forever" means that you will never be able to know enough knowledge, there is always more to learn no matter how long you live. Our world is dynamic and ever-evolving. Every moment, there are discoveries and developments occurring - both within ourselves as well as the things in our external environment. Basically, learn as much as you can because there is always new knowledge to learn. Those people who stop learning throughout their lifetime can never reach their full potential. We must always bear in mind that we should therefore learn all we can so we can continue to grow, evolve and ultimately, reach our highest potential.

LEARN. GROW. EVOLVE. HAVE FUN. ENJOY LIFE!

Have an AWESOME life!

- Paolo

An AWESOME Story

I just wanna share this to all of you. I got this from my friend, Jearry Berg Roperos (Thanks JB!).

"Feeling appreciated is one of the most important needs that people have. When you share with someone your appreciation and gratitude, they will not forget you. Appreciation will return to you many times." Steve Brunkhorst

Hmmm. This gave me an idea. What if I do this during the graduation of the Kinder II students of MCJCS where I am invited as their Guest Speaker? >:D

Oh well, Enjoy!

Have an AWESOME life!

-Paolo

A little appreciation wouldn't hurt, right? :)

AWESOME story, isn't it? :)

An AWESOME Random Thought

Every time I look up in the sky at night, I see stars, twinkling. I can say that they are like the people of this world, all emitting different types of light. I swear that I will do my best to stand out in that crowd, and shine brighter than anyone else..

I can do this. AJA! :)

Good mornight!

Have an AWESOME life!

-Paolo

An AWESOME Hobby

Okay, I AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED. Yes, you read it right. :)

UNEMPLOYED. BUM. PALAMUNIN. TAMBAY.

So, instead of staying at home doing nothing, my brother told me to join their club, The Ayala Alabang Camera Club. At first, I thought I made a mistake in joining the club. But after yesterday, where one of my entries ranked #7 out of 73 (the other entry was ranked 33), this made me completely change my mind.

I was really shocked when my entry was included in the top 10 photos. To tell you the truth, I only made them just for the sake of having two entries. I consider them both as a “MAIRA WORK”, meaning, “MAIRAOS LANG”. But thank God, the judges liked both of them. Neither one of my entries got a failing score. Woohoo. Not bad for a newbie! :)

My entries last March 1: Theme: FORCED PERSPECTIVE

The Shoe Elves (Models: Miko and Stefano)

Alice in Wonderland-ISH (Model: Eurese Tales)

I am really thankful for my brother for giving me this opportunity. Without him, I won’t have a camera that I can use. Oh yes, he gave me his old DSLR. Woohoo.

My entries last Febuary 1: Theme: National Historical Landmarks

Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine

Luneta

Weee. As the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect”. I promised myself that I will do my best and aim for that number 1 spot. :) I will definitely beat you, Leandro Cayco. *Insert evil laugh here*

Have an AWESOME life!

-Paolo

An AWESOME Start

Hooray! This will now be my new blog site – a perfect venue for my thoughts and feelings. I deleted all the posts in this blog so that I can start fresh.

During the emergence of blogs three years ago, I was one of the people who immediately joined the trend. Honestly, I am not a VERY GOOD writer. And also, I am very lazy when it comes to writing. :) But this time, I will do my best to update this blog site.

With the help of blogs, it has become easier for us to communicate with other people, even those who are across the globe. Some people use them as an online journal. Even corporations use this tool to be able to communicate with their audiences/consumers. In 2009, my classmate (Noel Domdom) and I made a Thesis about blogs when we were in college entitled “Blogging as a Public Relations Tool in Promoting Advocacy in Selected Foundations in Metro Manila.” According to the study we made, a blog is really an effective tool that has improved the way we communicate to other people (in the case of the foundations, these blogs helped them maintain the image they have in the society as well as promote their advocacies).

Oh well, I hope I can conquer my laziness in writing. This blog will be my online journal. :)

Have an AWESOME life!

-Paolo