CREATIVE JUICES

T hey are the ones who give life to our favorite characters. Without them, I think life would be dull. Admit it, figuratively and literally, they give color to our lives. With such powerful hands, they bring our wild imaginations closer to reality. It’s high time that we turn the spotlight on the humble cartoon animator. I’ve recently had the pleasure of sitting down with one of Disney’s more prolific animators, Mr. Adelfo Manao, and finding out what makes a good animator tick. Toni: How long have you been drawing? Did you have any special training for this or was drawing merely a hobby which you’ve parlayed into a job? Adelfo: I’ve been drawing since I was young. I guess it’s both an inborn talent, and a hobby. I didn’t attend any workshop or classes. I practiced by myself. But if you wanna know how long I’ve been in this profession, that would be 17 years and 8 months. I’ve been a cartoon animator since January 1988. I’ve managed to hold onto this kind of job but it wasn’t a...

Kay daming sakit na ang napagdaanan Halos hindi ko na nga mabilang kung ilan Ngunit pagdating mo sa buhay ko lahat ay nagbago Nagbigay ka nang panibagong pag-asa dito sa puso ko Alam kong ang ibigin ka ay bawal Dahil naging kasintahan mo ang aking kaibigan Batid ko rin na baka masaktan Ngunit mapipigilan ba ang puso ‘pag nagmahal? Kay saya ng araw ko tuwing tayo’y magkasama Kahit sikreto ang lahat ng ito kahit sa aking pamilya Tiniis ko ang bawat kaba sa dibdib Kahit makasama ka lang ang tanging kapalit Ngunit ang pag-ibig na inakalang kong totoo ay tuluyang nagbago Makailang sandali lamang akong nawala ay nag-iba ka na Ang dating mainit mong mga ngiti ay nanlamig na Kaya pala… may iba ka na Lahat na halos ng nagawa mo ay pinalampas ko Ngunit sa kabila nito ako pa rin ay niloko mo Nagkasundo tayong muli ngunit pangloloko ay inulit mo Ano bang nagawa ko bakit mo ko ginaganito? Halos isang taon na rin tayong ganito Sala sa init, sala sa lamig palagi tayo Nauubos na ang nadarama ko para s...

Nag-aagaw ang dilim at liwanag at makikita ang anyo ng dalawang tao, babae at lalake sa may burol. Nakahilig sa balikat ng lalake ang babae habang nakatanaw sa papalitaw na haring araw. Apatnapung taon na silang pabalik-balik sa burol na iyon. Sila ay sina Inang Rosa at Tata Isko. Kilalang-kilala sila ng kanilang mga kababaryo. Kapwa sila nasa may sisenta ang edad at mula pagkabata ay bulag. Beinte anyos ng unang magkakilala ang dalawa, taga kabilang baryo si Tata Isko. Naging madalas ang pagdalaw ni Tata Isko sa baryo nina Inang Rosa dahil nagaangkat ng mga panindang gulay ang kanyang ama at siya ay tumutulong, sa kabilang banda naman ay tindera ng gulay ang ina ni Manang Rosa at gaya ni Tata Isko, ay katu-katulong siya ng ina sa pagtitinda. At dahil dito ay nagkakilala at nagkapalagayan ng loob ang dalawa. Magkasintahan pa lamang ang dalawa ay madalas na silang tumungo sa burol upang bantayan ang bukang liwayway na siyang ipinagtataka ng mga taga-baryo, dahil paano nga naman nila mas...

Chat room is defined by netalert.net as “ A place on the Internet where people with similar interests can meet and communicate together by typing messages on their computer.” But how far would this messaging take them? I was in our house last Saturday while watching this documentary show in which one of their topic is all about this specific internet café’ in one of the most busy and crowded streets in Manila and where students can usually be seen loitering at. This Internet café can be found along Avenida. At first sight, it looks just like your typical cyber café. The location is very strategic since different schools and universities surrounds the area and it’s is the perfect place where students can make their assignments and projects after school. But is that only the main motive why this place is selling like hotcakes especially to the male species? It’s really true that looks can be deceiving because behind the café’s cubicle, reveals the deep dark secrets of their regular patr...

S itting here on my bed inside my room, I suddenly felt the urge to sleep because I’ve been up for almost a week now beating deadlines and fixing things that are needed to be done. I saw my multi-hued calendar and tore a page of it to reveal the real month for today. Duh! My emotional side struck again, sometimes I hate this feeling. It’s already March and I can’t hide the fact that I’m feeling kind of strange for the reason that I don’t know. Out of the blue, I just took out all my albums and started scanning its pages. (Sigh) Here I go again…my album contains all my pictures since I started schooling, from Nursery up to now that I’m already in 4th Year College . Imagine, 17 years of studying, can you visualize how many pictures I have by now? Every picture tells a story and it’s so funny to look back then. The transformations that I’ve undergone, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally were really amazing. As I closed my album which I also consider the “Book of My Lif...

Sometimes, in our relentless effort to please other people, there comes a time that we’re already limiting our own happiness. We live up to others expectations knowing that what we’re projecting to other is not really us. The world is a big theater where all of us are actors. We hide our true selves in a different mask. While in the front stage, we show to others that we’re strong but once we go to the back stage, we sit there, sulk in one corner, thinking how worn out we already are. Sometimes, I wish that the world were not that complicated. How I wish life was simple like before. It’s very hard to show to others that I’m okay when I know I’m not. To smile while holding back the tears welling from my eyes. And to stand up when I’m all laid down on my feet. If only I could retreat from my problems I would, but I know I can’t, they’re expecting a lot from me and they’re not used to seeing me like this. I have to wipe away my tears and hold my head up high even though my head’s screamin...

“Love, love, love is such a beautiful thing…you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and then won’t remember a thing.” A friend once wrote in his diary. That very line made me ponder of what really is love. Love never ceases to inspire our minds whenever we write. Get a magazine, book or a newspaper and I assure you that you’ll find at least one article related to love. Almost all the poems being published is all about it, so many that sometimes it gets so boring, but being a Filipino and romantic by nature, we still do read them. Love is human nature. So what really is love? Even people during the ancient times have tried to explain but seldom can they define it. Do you still remember the first time you wrote in a slum book? What did you write upon encountering the question “What is love?” Are you one of the people who wrote cheesy definitions like “Love is like a rosary that’s full of mystery”, “Love is blind” and the safest answer, “Love is God?” Hey, don’t chuckle, it may seem so corny but it’s th...

Sitting there in your chair waiting for your name to be called to receive your diploma, the scene of you inside your own office room, answering e-mails in your laptop and you walking along Makati towards your parked Black Jaguar, flashed in your mind. Then a tap from a friend’s shoulder zap you back to reality. All of a sudden, you began to get frantic thinking what lies ahead on your future? Would you be able to get a job right away or would you just add up on the thousands of bummer out there? Would you be able to proudly say to everyone that “Hey World, I’m now a full-pledged Yuppie!” or… “Hey World, I’m now a full-pledged Yuckie!”? Read on and get the lowdown that’ll help you distinguish if you’re really a Yuppie or a … Yuckie. You’re a real Yuppie if: · You’re walking along Makati wearing your best formal clothes. · After office hours, you can be seen with your colleagues at a nearby Starbucks in your office. · You earn at least 15,000 a month. · You ride a cab on your...

Below is the feature article I made for Blush Magazine, our school project.I Interviewed one of my clique who was then the school's representative for Campus Diva. Sugar, thanks for the pix from Friendster...I owe you one. ;p T he recently held Search For Ms. Campus Diva last October 1, 2002 was such a blast. There were 24 schools who vied in the said contest and Blush was lucky enough to interview one of the winners for Ms. Campus Diva. The 3rd runner up gal from Siena College of Q.C. Now, let’s get a little up close and personal with Phyllys. Full Name: Phyllys C. Flores Nickname: Sugar Birthday: July 29, 1982 School: Siena College of Q.C Blush: Since when did you started singing and who influenced you? Sugar: I started singing when I was 4 years old. Almost all the members of our family know how to sing, especially my mom and my aunt. They always find time to hear me sing and make me participate in our family gatherings. B: Have you undergone any workshop in singing? S...

“Bili tayo ng mocha cafreezio, masarap iyon…” Busog na busog na ako pero pinilit mong ipatikim sakin ang pinagmamalaki mo na Mocha Cafreezio sa Allegro. Ewan ko ba, natuwa lang siguro ako sa hitsura kaya napilitan ako. Sa totoo lang, favorite ko parin ang Mocha Frappe sa Starbucks kaya kahit mas mura ang Mocha Cafreezio na nilibre mo sakin, hindi ko parin iyon ipagpapalit. Lumipas ang mga araw, sabi na nga ba at hindi ko naman iyon magugustuhan, di kagaya sa Frappe ng Starbucks, hinahanap-hanap ko dati. Pero bakit ganoon? Tuwing mapapadaan ako sa Allegro lahat yata ng kasama ko eh sinasabihan kong ilibre ako ng Mocha Cafreezio. Sa totoo lang, paborito ko ang whip cream nila. Weird na kung weird pero halos lahat ng nakakakilala sa akin ay alam na ayaw na ayaw kong hinahalo ang Frappe ko. Gusto ko hanggang maubos ko ang laman, buo pa rin ang Whip Cream. Sa Starbucks kasi natutunaw, sa Allegro, hindi, buo talaga. Ito talaga ang dahilan kung bakit all-time favorite ko na ang Mocha Cafreezi...

Paano ba ako magsisimula...kung di lang dahil sa'yo, di ko ito gagawin...kilala mo naman ako pagdating sa pagsusulat… pagawa mo na lahat sa akin huwag lang ang sumulat…pero dahil special ka kaya heto nagpapakatrying hard ako. Sana mag enjoy ka sa pagbabasa. Tinanong kita noon, kung maaalala mo pa. Sabi ko, “Ano bang gusto mo?” . Sumagot ka agad, “Gawan mo ko ng article.” Sabi ko sa sarili ko ang hirap naman. Paano ako susulat para sa katulad mong isang henyo sa pagsusulat. Baka laitin mo lang ang piece ko. Pero sanay na ako sa mga panlalait mo, actually sabi mo nga di mo naman ako nilalait, nagsasabi ka lang ng totoo. Tanggap ko na talagang pagdating sa pag express ng feeling ay mahina ako mapa oral o written man. Sanay naman akong sumulat, iyon nga lang pagsagot sa email sa office at sa daddy ko. Kung minsan nga pinapacheck ko pa sa’yo mga e mails ko para siguradong tama bago ko ipadala. Alam mo ba habang ginagawa ko to ngayon kausap kita sa phone. Nagagalit ka kapag di ako sumas...

“I can’t, you’re my friend’s ex.” These were the words I usually tell you before just to avoid the question that you keep on asking me. I’ve been through a lot and I don’t think I am ready yet to be on the hot seat again and to accumulate all my friend’s harsh words against me. I can say that maybe I was really cursed. Ever since I fell in love, there’s always a hindrance and I can never be completely happy because on the back of my mind I know that someone’s also weeping behind my happiness. Now here you are again, asking the same question and line that’s so familiar to me. I really don’t know, maybe I was really stubborn, I never did learn through all my experiences. When will I ever learn that there’s really “KARMA”? Well, enough of my taking risks. Before I am really proud of that principle of mine, but now… I don’t even know if I have to feel good for taking risks or what. The first time I gave you a White Rose, you were so surprised and don’t know what to say. Of course we’re sti...

It was just an ordinary day like the days before. I was in my room, lying in my bed, while listening to the radio. Then the phone rang… I immediately picked it up and asked who’s on the line. To my surprise, it’s YOU! I never really imagined talking to you because you’re the least kind of person who would call me. I never even knew that you existed. But not until we became group mates in one of our school’s theater play presentation. Then the phone calls became constant, I could say that we instantly jive because we have lots in common, maybe we’re soul friends… or should I say…soul mates? We usually see each other in school and gave each other occasional “hi’s” and “hello’s” whenever we meet along the corridor. Then the time came when I can’t help but take a second glance at you whenever our eyes meet. Maybe there’s something in you, maybe I’m starting to notice your eyes that also smiles whenever you do, or maybe… I’m falling for you. That night was a very memorable one. I don’t ...

Dumating na ba sa buhay mo ang pakiramdam na sana ay bigla ka na lang maglaho sa mundong ibabaw? Iyong tipong mawawala ka, wala ka ng mararamdaman pa at paglisan mo ay walang sinoman ang makakaalaala na nag-exist ka pala. Ako, oo, maraming beses na. Pero iba sa pagkakataon na ito. Hindi ko alam kung ano nga ba ang ipinagkaiba ng nararamdaman ko sa ngayon kesa sa mga sakit na dinanas ko bago ka dumating sa buhay ko. Basta ang tangi ko lang alam, gusto ko na maglaho ora mismo dito sa aking kinauupuan. Sawang-sawa na akong gumising araw-araw na ikaw na lang palagi ang iniisip ko. Kung ano ang ginagawa mo, kung sino ang kasama mo at… kung tulad ko ay naiisip mo pa rin ba ako. Malamang hindi na dahil masaya ka na. Hindi tulad ko na pilit pa rin pinaglalabanan ang lungkot na aking nadarama bawat araw. Sa totoo lang, natatakot akong mag-isa. Pinipilit kong maging masaya kapag may kasamang iba. Ayoko na ngang umuwi dahil batid ko na babalik na naman ako sa dati kong mga gawi. Natatakot ako dah...

Nakatanaw na naman ako sa may kalawakan na para bang may hinihintay. Gabi-gabi ay ito ang gawain ko. Napakatahimik ng kapaligiran at tanging mga kuliglig lamang at tiktak ng orasan ang naririnig. Ni hindi ko nga namalayan na alas-dose na pala ng hating-gabi. Puyat na naman ako, pero ayos lang. Mas gusto kong manatiling gising habang ang lahat ay natutulog na. Gusto kong lasapin ang katahimikan ng mundo dahil doon ko lamang mas nakikita ang angking kagandahan nito. Tumingala ako at minalas ang kalangitaan. ‘Di gaya kagabi, ngayon ay mabibilang mo lamang ang mga bituin at sa ‘di mawaring kadahilanan ay nakadama ako ng kalungkutan. Unti-unting nanumbalik ang mga masasaya at malulungkot na pangyayari sa aking buhay. Napabuntong-hininga ako sabay sambit sa aking sarili, “Pagod na ako.” Pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong patutunguhan pa. Para bang wala ng pagbabago ang buhay ko. Nakakulong na ako sa kuwadrado kong mundo, kung saan ang lahat ng aking gawain ay tila naka-programmed, na dito sa mun...

M ost of us have a hard time expressing our feelings, because as we all know, voicing out what we really feel is no walk in the park. More often than not, when we try to say what we want to say, we end up getting tongue tied, or worse, saying the wrong things. So instead of being humiliated, turned down or misinterpreted, we just chose to hide what we feel. But do you know that keeping our emotions to ourselves may result to heart ailments. Well… good news! Do you know that you can actually let loose your emotions without talking to someone? Here’s the lowdown on the things you can do to help you with those bottled up emotions: * Unleash your Creative side. If you can’t say it, write it! If you’ve got a crush on this major hottie in your school, why not try to write a poem about your undying love for him. If you feel really bad, then write a composition about it, maybe you can contribute it to your school paper. Who knows? You might discover a journalist in you. * Do Creative Dramatics...

As a person’s candle multiply in her Birthday Cake, her circle of friends also widens. As what they say, a person counts her age not by years but by friends. Now let’s do some recap… Could you still recall the time when you’re always being scolded by your mom for skipping your afternoon nap just to play with your neighbor? Or how about the instance when you were embarrassed by your teacher in front of the class because you were caught giggling with your seatmate for eyeing your crush seated in the next row? Enter College, whole new set of friends and people you have to deal with. Now can you get the picture? It gets so confusing. With so many friends surrounding you, are you certain that that they’re not in a masquerade? Are you sure that the person whom you’re fond of calling “Bes” is really a bona fide friend of yours? Read on and get the 411 that’ll undoubtedly leave you with the realization that “This Bud’s for me!” T rust is very essential in a relationship. It doesn’t only imply ...

A re his stares somewhat different than the usual? Is he showering you with so much attention lately? Take this quiz and find out if your guy pal is harboring hidden sparks for you. 1.When walking with friends, he is usually: a.Beside you b.Behind you c.Of course, with the cutest girl in the group 2.When you give him a phone call to accompany you to watch a movie, he would probably say: a.“Yeah, sure! When and where?” b.“I’d love to, but I’m not sure yet about my schedule, maybe I’ll go if nothing else comes up c.“ Umm… I don’t know because I’m quite busy these past few days. Maybe you can just ask someone instead.” 3. When he talks, he always gabs about: a. The cute girl he met and how he wished you would meet her. b.Anything under the sun, as long as he knows you’re interested And not bored. c. His dream girl and how he wants to settle down in the near future 4. Aside from money, his wallet has: a. Your picture together with him b. The wallet size picture you have given him and yo...