Of Practice and Dedication

Practice does not always make perfect, rather practice makes permanent.
No matter how many times we practice, if we practice the wrong things, we still will not be the best. The key is to learn the right things and keep doing them until you master them.

I have been living with this principle since I learned it from a mentor. Whether I am practicing for business or my craft, this same principle applies.

My friends and I were practicing a dance for our upcoming Christmas and Thanksgiving party. I love practicing with them because I can see their dedication in learning the steps without losing the fun and enthusiasm of the activity.

As they say, how you do one thing is how you do everything. I like being with people who takes things seriously but also knows how to have fun, whether it is about business, or just learning a step for a dance. 

Dedication is not something you choose to do when you want to. It is a lifestyle, a lifetime decision to be the best in whatever it is that you do.

May you have the dedication to always be the best. Buenas dias.

Of Music and Musicians

I have been blessed to be surrounded by talented people. Today was the rehearsal of my best friend Patricia Robles' wedding. It is just amazing that we have in our reach, some of the most gifted people in music.



My look for the day: Plaid top, buckled belt and khaki shorts

L-R (clockwise): keyboard, guitar, music sheet & ipod

Charmaine Loise Clamor and Cyrene Chube on vocals, Kris Ramirez on Piano and Carlo Juan on both guitar and vocal. The bride and groom, Patricia and Raphael would be singing as well. Collaboration is one of the most amazing concepts ever invented. It brings out the best in everyone.

relaxed look, time to have fun with friends!

The guitarist, Carlo Juan

The groom, Raphael Mercado

It is amazing when you are working with professionals. The amount of energy and work that they put into what they do is just admirable. When Charmaine sings, it's like the whole world goes on slow motion and she becomes the center of it all. When Cyrene sings, it puts a smile on your face and joy in your heart without you knowing. When Katie plays, the keyboard comes to life and its music touches your soul. As with Carlo, he can play the guitar in such precision that you'd wonder if the sound is coming from just a guitar. They are an ensemble of talented artists.

Whenever they start singing and playing music, my world would stop and I am transported to another world where music would tell a story of love and faith and happiness. I am so excited to hear them on Patricia's wedding day.

The singer, Charmaine Loise Clamor

The singer, Cyrene Chube

The pianist, Kris Ramirez

The mass commentator, Mafe Pastorfide

The bride, Patricia Robles

Music is such an amazing thing. It is a great way to express how you feel. It is a message that is both expressed and understood by the heart.

May your life be blessed with good music and wonderful friends. Buenas dias!

In Following Your Heart

No, this is not about romantic love, but love still.

I believe that each one of us have dreams. That "I've always wanted to be, do or have" kind that we have always wanted to achieve in our lives. Sadly though, not everyone gets to fulfill their dreams. Maybe because they've given up, or they tried once and got hurt that they never wanted to try again, or they never had the courage to even try.

I am talking about following one's heart, doing what one loves despite everything else and choosing to fight for one's dreams.

my photo shoot look - khaki polo, skinny jeans with brown leather belt

Just recently, a good friend of mine, Charmaine Loise Clamor, asked me to take her picture for she needs it as requirement for an audition in an upcoming Broadway and West End musical. I agreed to do it excitedly. Of course, it would not be as fun if I would not be working with talented people such as Mel Nunez, our make-up artist for the day.

I admire Charmaine's courage. She has an amazing voice and is a very talented singer. I believe that she was born to sing. But one must first step up, be brave enough to really want it, to be given the chance to live their dreams. Making things happen is not easy but it is always worth it.

Mel Nunez prepping our beautiful model, Charmaine Clamor

I am not a professional photographer but my love for this art led me to venture into this world of looking at life through my lens. Here are some of the pictures from the shoot. Hope you like them:

I just love the effect of mirrors and minimum lighting

Charmaine's sexy look: dark smokey brown eyes, nude lipstick

Blurring the background to highlight an off-center subject

Charmaine's fresh look: minimal eye make-up, pink lipstick and blush

I believe that God does not put the desire in out hearts without giving us the possibility to put it into action. He gave us the talent to be a singer or an artist or whatever it is that you love to do, because that is what we were meant to do. Our life's purpose is doing what we love. It is fulfilling our heart's desires. It is following our hearts.

A lot of people thought that when you follow your heart and go for your dreams, it will be a lonely ride. It doesn't have to. Success is best accomplished with a great team. I am thankful that I have great people to share my dreams with. Moments like these are etched into our memories because they are experienced with friends:

with my friends: Charmaine (model) and Mel (make-up artist)

When asked how I can be thanked after the shoot, my honest reply was: "to be given the trust of taking the pictures is thank you enough for me". As for my friend Charmaine, I pray that she gets the part. She'll be amazing on stage, I just know it.

It is not often that people get to do what they love and love what they do. I have that in my life. My dream is that every person can have the chance to do what they love and what makes them happy. But first, one must know what they want to do. Mine is capturing moments, Charmaine's dream is singing on stage, what's yours?

I hope that you will give your dreams a fighting chance. Buenas dias!