THE GIRL BEHIND THE PEN

Photography Portfolio

Note: All photos are taken by me unless stated otherwise. These are the collection of the photos I took for some companies like ABS-CBN, APT Entertainment, Inc., personal and business purposes.

You may also view my blog here. I’m more active there! 🙂

www.cielofernando.com

Cody Simpson in Manila (For ABS-CBN Lifestyle)

David Archuleta in Manila (For ABS-CBN Lifestyle)

Taki

Taki’s 18th birthday

That’s My Bae Miggy

That’s My Bae Kenneth

That’s My Bae Joel

That’s My Bae Kenneth

That’s My Bae Miggy

That’s My Bae Tommy

That’s My Bae Kim

That’s My Bae Jon

Gen Q Korean BBQ Opening

Macao Imperial Tea

Tittos MNL (For ABS-CBN Lifestyle)

Barcino

Soru Izakaya (For ABS-CBN Lifestyle)

How it Feels Like Being Lost Again

For the longest time, I thought I’m way past behind my insecurities in life goals. I left my first job because I thought, it’s making me hate myself for being stuck there when in fact, I was at the floor of my “dream job.” Now, I am here in the same field but in a different perspective which I didn’t expect I’d be in because number one, news is not my thing. I don’t care what or who I am in the company. I felt secure. I felt contented. I felt happy. I felt sure.

And as I am typing this, this is the first time in few months that I felt lost again. Being left out. Not with the people I am with now, but with life itself. Because of that one post I saw, it reminded me of how it feels like to be lost and down again. It feels like there’s a huge baggage at your back trying to push you down whenever you attempt to lift it up.

I realized, the thing about achievements is being self-fulfilled and contented with what you did, do and will do even if you think others are getting ahead of you; way faster than you do. I told myself: “know this, no matter how long it took you to get that dream, the most important thing is that you will get there.”

What Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach, Taught Me

After more than four decades of waiting, the Philippines has come to reach its most coveted victory in the Universe. It’s been a week already since Pia Wurtzbach was crowned as the Miss Universe 2015 yet, most of us are still not over with it.

It took her three attempts to bring home the crown that every beauty queen is aspiring for. From her first try to join the Binibining Pilipinas in 2013, she ended up as the first runner up while on her second try in 2014, she went home with nothing. But this year, Pia proved that third time’s a charm because she bagged the title Binibining Pilipinas-Universe. Meaning, she will represent the country in the most prestigious beauty pageant in the universe.

Knowing her story, I realized something. Successful people are the ones who know what they want and do something about it. For Pia, she wanted the crown so bad that it didn’t stop her to chase her ultimate dream. Look at where she is now, the elusive crown is on her already. Because of her good example, she has inspired many people. And I have to admit that, I am, too. With her journey to victory, she taught me some things:

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1. Never settle for something good. Go for the better. The best, rather. I’ve always believed in this and keep on telling to the people who think that I dream too big: Mangangarap ka na lang din naman, bakit hindi mo pa taasan? I don’t see the point of success if you’re out there with the “good” when you know you can have better.

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2. It’s okay to fail sometimes. And I mean it. Everybody fails, though some are afraid to admit it. Failure is inevitable and there’s nothing you can do to change that except to embrace it. Some people lose hope and become unmotivated when failure blocks them. But guess what, the more you fail, the stronger you get. Don’t fret if you’ve failed many times already because it just makes success that much sweeter. To succeed after multiple failure is one of the best feelings in the world. You’ll feel a great sense of satisfaction because you know that everything you went through was all worth it.

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3. Don’t ever stop, because the moment you stop trying, that’s the moment you failed. There’s nothing wrong with trying and trying and trying all over again. Your road to success will not be easy as one, two, three and it will never be. So what if they tell you that you’re trying hard? Let them and be it. Try hard because you want it so bad. At the end of the day, everything you’ve worked for will pay off.

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4. Be confidently beautiful with a heart. Show the world what you can do. Be proud but not arrogant. Just like Pia, being confidently beautiful with a heart will win you so many things and your dream is part of it.

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View a different version of this article here.

Girl Meets World

They say, when you start working straight from college (I mean really straight), everything will go on and on and on… and on. You will not gonna experience so many things that your college buddies who chose to take a time off first before working.

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That sun-kissed tan from the beach… that DIY workshop you’ve been wanting to attend to… that “me time” somewhere while reading a good book… or those days spending for your blog. Oh man, you’re gonna miss these so bad.

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When I was in college, I had the urge in my vein to work already after I stepped on that center stage. And fortunately, I was offered immediately, even before I graduate, to work in a prestigious company that everybody (okay, most) in my field dreams of.

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On my first day, I was this excited girl who can’t wait to see her own desk and meet new people from a not-so-strange environment. First few weeks has gone by so fast. But the succeeding weeks, the demanding schedule and tasks followed me. I realized, what people keeps saying about working after college is true. Once you’re trapped in your chair and computer, you no longer have the time to do the things you want like before. No time excuse has become my usual line whenever I’m asked to hang out.

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I’ve been in this stage where I really want to stop for a moment and… go home. Every time I tell this to people, they always advise me to take a break. It sounds easy but it’s really hard to do. Knowing that our schedule should be flexible and we’re not tied to a strict Monday to Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM, our work really demands us to be in the office 24/7. I am not overreacting. Literally, 24/7. And I know that. Life in Media is very demanding and most of the time, exhausting. #TheTruthAboutOurWork

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Although it’s not easy for me to juggle every single day away from my family and the things I love, at the end of the day, there is something that is pulling me to stay still. My dreams. My goals.

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Whenever I feel down and unmotivated, I always keep myself thinking what led me here and followed by why am I here. My dreams and goals keep me going through that tiny hole of the needle. And even if it’s really hard, I have to be strong and positive to keep going.

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I have to work hard to play hard. I know it’s hard at first but eventually, everything will pay off.

No one made a difference by staying in their comfort zone.

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The girl once said hi to the world,

It asked her,

Was it nice to meet me?
She answered,
Of course! I’m so glad to meet you!

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You may view another version of this post with photos here. 🙂

Ending Comes With A New Beginning

At this moment, I am still stuck in a phase where my mind grasps the thought that I cannot ask the driver for a student fare anymore and that, I will now enter the so-called real world.

Few weeks ago, I was with so many people dressed in identical caps and gowns at Manila Hotel to attend a very special event. And that day marks the end of my life at CEU.

It may be the end but I see it as a new beginning. Very cliche, I know. For us graduates, as we step at the center stage and take a bow, we welcome the new chapter of our lives. It may be thrilling because there are lots of competencies out there juggling that job interview you’ve been dreaming to have ever since and all you think is how you will ace that. Now, I am grateful to land a job in a well-known media company in the Philippines before I even graduate. Imagine, a college girl already has her job before her graduation. Lucky I am says other people because only few are given this chance but to me, it’s not just luck that I have. I have my confidence and rosary with me. That’s what keeps me achieving things I want.

Pope Francis: The People’s Pope

Image Source

Sweet and genuine. That is how the Filipinos described Pope Francis’ smile during his motorcade along the roads of Manila. Each person has his own way of showing gratefulness to the Pope in visiting the country. They wave their hands and raise it as high as they can to at least feel the presence and touch of Pope Francis.

Filipinos are very excited to witness this most awaited event. We have all been waiting for this moment to see His Holiness. As what history can remember, my age tells the last time that a Papal Visit happened in the Philippines. It was then Pope and now Saint, John Paul II.

Image Source

They say that seeing the Pope is one of the greatest things that could ever happen in your life. And I agree. Although I was not able to see him personally, I feel so calm. I feel so peaceful. I feel safe. I feel so happy. Knowing that he arrived in the country safely, it is enough for me to feel that way. Truth be told, at first, I don’t believe other people who keeps on telling that they feel so light when they witness a rite which involves the highly respected Popes. But when I saw Pope Francis’s face on the window of the airplane he’s riding, my heart skipped a beat. And when he smiles as he waves to the crowd, goosebumps are covering my body. That surreal feeling is what keeps me peaceful.

And when he mentioned in his speech in Malacañang about the Typhoon Yolanda, a river of tears flashed in my memory. Reminding me the disaster that took many lives that just happened a year ago. They are the reason of today’s Papal Visit. Pope Francis came for them.

He is really the People’s Pope.We Filipinos are very blessed, grateful and beyond happy to have Pope Francis visit our country. Image Source

Vanilla Cupcake Bakery

This is so late to post but it’s never too late. Huh? What ami I saying? Hahaha

This time, I’m going to feature Vanilla Cupcake Bakery. I’ve been here two times already and even if I come back here everyday, I’ll never get used to the foods they serve. They are just too good to be resisted.

Vanilla Iced Tea

Apple Iced Tea

Country Breakfast

I didn’t get to take a picture of their Cheesy Ham and Cheese Melt. Oh boy it’s so good! The cheese really melts in my mouth.

VCB will forever have a special space in my tummy and if it seems that it’s too full, I’ll make room for it.

Candy Magazine: Style Files

Okay, so last April, I was so happy to see myself featured as the It Girl of the Week on the website of Candy Magazine (the number 1 teen magazine in the Philippines). It just literally made my summer exciting. So I want to share with you the link of my feature. I hope you could check it out 🙂

Help Me Be the Newest Cream Silk Ambassador in the Philippines

Hello! I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your help to vote for me to be one of the newest Cream Silk Ambassador. As the Philippines’ most trusted conditioner brand, Cream Silk inspires women all over the country to bring out their hair’s full beauty potential (unieliver.com.ph).

Here is the link where you can vote for many. Please vote as many times as possible. It’d really be a big help for me. Thank you 🙂

Keep Doing What You’re Doing

I was sitting in a dimmed-light auditorium yesterday. There were a lot of people inside, all of them were buzzing around. I feel pressured. I can feel the intense heat between me and them though I don’t know them personally. There’s a thing that ignites the anxiety in me and I was not sure what it is.

Maybe it’s the thought of having the same interests with them. Maybe I feel tensed because I know there’s a lot of people inside that same auditorium that are better than I. Maybe because I’m just envious because most of them know what they want to do in the future already. Well, not that I don’t know what I want to do. I was not just sure of what I will do in the future that will make me happy. Then, someone said keep doing everything until you find that certain thing that makes you happy.

It seems to help me. No, it really helps me. From the beginning, I was trying to do everything. I was trying to excel in every thing I do.

But it leads me to a fall down. I failed. Not just once but many times. I thought of giving up because I can’t handle the pain and failures anymore. It’s like, things were crashing my pride. My future. My dreams. My life. I realized, I can’t do everything. I almost gave up.

But I didn’t. I realized, there’s a lot of ways to go. That if I give up, I wouldn’t reach where I am now. I have come this far to give it all up. I learned to accept failures. Well, I have to because in that way, I can fully accept myself, too. I suffered but I grew stronger.

I must say, the person who said to keep doing everything is right. We should not stop just because we failed. We should not stop just because we think it’s not meant for us. We should strive hard to get what we really want to do because eventually, we will grasp it in our hands if we don’t stop.

Like what the 5SOS boys said in their song… don’t stop, doing what you’re doing.

Check out the other version of this post 🙂

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