And that's how it goes, Kids...

I have so many favorite scenes from How I Met Your Mother from the very beginning and this scene from Season 9 Episode 21 ha hit me. I love how HIMYM always catches my heart and teaches me a lesson.

It's true in its most very essence that we loose touch of the people we used to hang out with and care for. As we grow and have our own paths walk in different directions, we meet more people and we go to lots of places. And we care. Whenever we find someone or something that we like most more than the ones that we hold onto, we cling onto them and loosen up on the other. It is not like a one sided situation. We all do this. Lucky for those who can handle both and weigh each at the right amount both at the same time.

Let's say when we're in high school we cling so much on our friends feeling like it is the end of the world for everyone. Crying during our graduation, calling while texting while chatting each other every after class, and hanging out even on weekends. It funny how everything feels so easy and how every time it is the end of the world for each and everyone when we were younger. Then came in college where at first we are afraid that we might get lost and that we wanted our old life back. It's like a jungle full of wild animals and wild flowers and wild everything. No comfort. No permanent shelter. All you want was for everything to end that fast. And then you keep touch. But when you find the comfort that you were looking for with no uncertainty, you suddenly somehow get a loose on the grip of the past because well there's the comfort. Slowly. Because comfort makes us happy. It is so easy to walk outside but really hard on walking while bring the package with you.

In some cases, people take their packages along with them but their packages doesn't want to tag along. Or most of the time they grow each other, only apart. It's true; it is so easy to walk out on someone's life. We lose touch. It's sort of hard to bring everyone you meet or everyone you consider as friends forward with you because eventually not all of them will think with you the same. Only to work this out I think everybody needs understanding. Everything is not always about you.

We all found our own selves and own plans with different people as we go along our life's journey, but what we can do is to understand that this is happening and always to remind ourselves that we have to make them feel that we are existing in their lives and vice versa. It's up to us who we keep and who we let go and who will only be in our memories because just like what Ted said - we have to do something about it.

AdPhotog Exhibit

I am taking up Advertising Photography as an elective this semester. It was a really fun class especially during class activities but like any subject it also gives us stress. I am learning a lot from our professor who is a videographer and photographer in profession under Mayad Studios (go google go!!). Recently, we have been tasked to take some shots of photos under the theme of Architectural, Campus Life, and Studying for our entry in our class exhibit held last Lasallian Week. Each student must have atleast 1 photo in 2 out of 3 categories chosen in order for them to get an exemption in the midterm exam. Chosen photos were automatically be in the exhibit. Wait, did I explained it well? Haha Good thing is, I've been exempted! Heee 5 of my photos had given a chance on being exposed sa madla! Haha

Here are my entries along with my short foreword posted on the exhibit:

MA. LEOBHEL ANN A. CUETO    MKA 42

"I like reading fiction and written stories. I go for things that always have something to tell. Maybe that's why I go for those kind of photos, candid. Something that tells a story --- the kind you would want to coordinate with words so you could make your own novel or short story. Like still-film. Like still-life or love. Sometimes stories aren't enough and words could only go so far. I just don't go for technicalities --- I still get confuse in combining aperture and Shutter Speed."

Sorry for my editing skillssss I really am not for editing. Hahaha

Do more and more and more!

On the nineteen years of my existence in this happy world, I am proud to say that I have done quite a few awesome things:

1. I am not a dancer but let's just say it happens that I just know how to dance.

Ever since elementary, I am always part of the school's program during events; I dance and make giling giling all the way. Haha I don't have the real confidence but I quite have the skills chos lang eh kasi the teachers would always pick me along with my friends sorryyyyy :p I have danced to the tunes of Nobody (Wonder Girls), Bulaklak (Viva Hot Babes) HAHAHA yes your laughter is acceptable. I've also tried doing cheerdancing when I was in a junior. :p

Intrams`09 from Leobhel Cueto on Vimeo.

This was a dance video during intrams, 2010. It was a joined performance of selected students from first year to fourth year. We weren't allowed to do cheering competition that time for unknown reasons so we did some hip hoppin'. Find me and my chubby chubby chubby self! Hahaha

But I don't want to take dancing as serious and so I left it in high school.


2. I am not good in acting but I have done theatre and is still part of it.

I am a member of Binan Youth Performance Council as of today (but we were on hiatus since we are all busy I miss the theater people and the theatre doings huhu). I think I have already posted a story of how I ended up doing some acting in theatre but let me tell you a brief story; I was in 3rd year high school when my Social teacher who was a Theatre Arts major graduate in UP asked me to join his play because I fit the role of a chubby girl and I asked my mother and she said yes so I said yes.

Mga Kwentong Buhay Sa Harap ng Telon 2: Play #1

I became super friends with the director and the people in the org so later that year I auditioned and became a member along with my other schoolmates who also have been in the play.

Ang Kasaysayan ni Teodora: Isang Ina staged at SM City Sta. Rosa

I am not good in acting. Direk always say that I have the same emotions in everything I say and asked me to work on that. Hahaha

Doing theatre gave me a lot of learning experiences and a new knowledge. It was very tiring but very fun! I remember when I joined AKNTIS play - I had to skip class, go home really late and wake up early in the morning just to go to school and repeat because we have rehearsals at night. I think theatre is really pure dedication. Ahh, I miss!!


3. I am not a singer nor good in singing but I had sang at the back of many people.

Yes. At the back. Because I had once been part of a choir org in our community. Can you believe it??! Haha It was an accidental move way back. I was really just accompanying my sister during one choir rehearsal when the conductor talked to me and asked me to join. Sabi naman nya kasi, "Hindi mo naman kailangan ng magandang boses sa choir. Kailangan mo lang dedication to serve to the Lord and to the church." I want to serve! So the next rehearsal, aba kumakanta na ako! Hahaha

It lasted for years. I had been busy at college my schedule doesn't fit their rehearsal schedule at ayoko naman umattend ng mass to sing without going and showing my face at rehearsals, nakakahiya yun. Oh well, I guess that's it. It had been fun and I gained a lot of peers and friends! Maybe next time I'll be back. :)



And because I have things I proudly did and doing, I have a list of things I want to do:

1. Shoot and make my own short film!

As being the frustrated film director that I am, I am dreaming of doing a short film where I directed and produced! Yes pati pagging producer claim ko na! :p Why not right?


2. Have my own photo portfolio.

And since I am also a frustrated photographer, I am also dreaming of having my own photo blog all about the artsy photos I took on travels or anything that I'll find fancy. Or maybe a collection of portraits of candid people or studios shots!

This is why I am quite excited for our finals in Advertising Photography! We are required to print out our own portfolio! Yey!


3. Publish my own book and call myself as a legit witer!

I have been been eye-ing on doing a book about a collection of short stories with photos. It is big as I dream to be so medyo alanganin pa talaga sya as of today but soon!!! I hope soon maybe before I turn 25 I had already done this!



And as of today these are just few things! Madadagdagan pa 'to, I'm pretty sure and I am so stoked already with the thought of it! What are YOUR list of things you did and wanted to do?? :)

"If you never try you'll never know" - Coldplay

And yes, its ending.

2013 has been a year of firsts... well, for most of the things that had happened to me. :p

January. I got my Baby Boy. My own lovely dog, Brover! One of the best gifts I got this year! <3 p="">

It was my first (and proly last awww) ever to try home made cookies made by my good friend Clydie! Grabe!! Sobrang sarap!!!!!!

First ever bond with my beloved tramps! This was a shoot we did back for Clydie's adphotog final requirement. Can't believe that a year has passed already! At ako naman ngayon ang nag a-adphotog. :p

AdWars costume prep for AdProd finals last sem! One of the busiest and stressful subject ever!

February. And then someone gave me a rose. And had made chorale sang me a song. On a valentines day. A first.

First YMA ever! Theme: Awards night. So that explains the gown. :p

WE WON ADWARS 2013! Hooray moneyyy! Hooray trophies!! Hooray 4.0!!!

This guy again made me a coffee jelly. Only for me.

Was awarded 'Bawal Mabadtrip Award' during our victory party because we won AdClash. Eh kasi daw ako daw ng taga control ng emotions kapag haggard na ang lahat. Hahaha

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Fr. Roa, our Ethics professor, gave me this menthol candies. Wala lang. Ching and I still consider that we are his favorites kahit madaldal kami sa klase nya. Haha

JMA Year End party. This was very memorable. It was a goodbye for our seniors.

He gave me then a home made blueberry cheesecake.

I got bangs. Again.

Someone wrote me a letter typed in a legit typewriter!

OJT days. And so I found my OJT drink buddy.

It was the first and the last na complete kami. May. Pakatagal na.

OJT days. I got to drive from Laguna to Cavite and vice versa.

He also surprised me with a styro full of iced candies last June.

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Ching drew in her hands with the use of pentel pen. I find it artsy.

First ever to try Garrett's popcorn fresh from SG! This was THE BOMB! And the packaging was super awesome!

Made a new set of friends. For a while.

Pagsusunog ng kilay sa philo proof.

JMA Event - first ever to be assigned sa tech booth. Eh I was usually sa registration eh. Mleh.

Carnival themed shoot for a movie at the univ!

6pm. Birthday view.

Watched 'Ang Nawawala' at Alumni Audi! Saw Marie Jamora also! Finallyyyy!!

I came back..

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This was a view from the 37th(?) floor of Crown Regency Hotels and Towers Cebu. It was so surreal! I had been to Cebu before but it was my first then to see such a view! Ahhhhh!!!

The guy I was talking about knocked on our hotel room at 12mn, got his cellphone back, read me a cheesy letter, gave me this rose plus a bunch of sweets and a balloon, and says his "good morning".

My memory of Chocolate Hills..

He surprised me with balloons and flowers and cupcakes on our last night in Bohol.

After our grad photo shoot! Sayang make up eh.

I was and still is an addict to dutchmill!

Impromptu shoot at Ayala Tri w/ Ching and Sai. I love bonds like this with these two!

Had a date with Kim. It was a first. Deep, sort of. Haha ano daw?

GOLTS 2013! I joined again!

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First dog day out ever with my best buddy to be with in this kind of dates!

I got sort of drunk. It was a first. And I swear, would be my last.

Starbucks nights.

A date with my former dormates! It was Martin's first to introduce his lovely girl, Joanne.

Someone came to our house for a visit and handed me a rose.

It was his first to bake cookies. He gave it to me.

And there. I found not just only a best friend but someone worth keeping.

Bond with these two was always the best! This was when I was being anti social because of a book, this was when we go on a roadtrip at nabangga namin ang kotse. Haha

My first love came back for the holidays.

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What happened this year has been a whirlwind. Calamities had stormed out the country, a lot of people had lost their homes someone had lost lives of their loved ones. I actually don't quite know how to react or to say on this matter. This is so sad. I am really lucky that I had been able to post my year end blog post for this year pa. All we can do is offer a hand of help and prayers. I wish for a good and a really peaceful 2014 for all of us.

On a personal note, as what I have told during the first paragraph above, this has been a year of first. I had been able to do things I hadn't done before. I had experienced a lot. I gained new knowledge. Learned and got hurt for a bit. We all do. It was also a whirlwind for me. Of feelings and emotions. Self assessments and a lot of self checking just to make sure if I was feeling alright and that I was on the right track. This was also a year full of kilig. I got quite the attention I hadn't have got ever. It's like in cloud 9. But gladly, at the end of the year, I may have given another challenge to face so early for next year, I was able to do things I am happy I had done. Okay na ko dun. Sabi ko nga, I always aim for happiness. We all do naman.

Anyway, hoping to leave all the bad feelings behind 2013! I am not quite sure what's ahead of me for 2014, but whatever what's in store for me... bahala na. :p Cheers! xx

The cut.

I knew it. I am really enrolled in a different track and this isn't where I want to belong. I have found about this feeling 2 years ago when one of my closest block mate decided to shift from marketing and advertising to communication arts. I was sort of jealous because she had this courage to step out and start anew again, while me, having big doubts and was really scared that my parents won't allow me and stuff. And so here I am, onto my last year surviving the world of marketing. I am not saying that it's hard and stuff but you know, it just happened that I knew to myself that I am really not for this.

Anyway, since I cannot undo things out I am really planning onto studying again after this. I applied for Creative Writing in U.P. Diliman but I failed that dreadful UPCAT exam, so yeah maybe I should do it. Why not right? I mean, I really am into writing ever since. I am also thinking of venturing into film! I really wanted to be good in film stuffs! Oh, and becoming good in musical/film scoring also since I am really into instrumentals and good music that could be put into something! Yay

Confession: I really spend a lot of time watching random wedding videos and short films in the internet. Sometimes, even movie trailers and when I do love the music scoring, I watch it over and over again! Am I sort of obsessed? Or weird? I don't care! Heck, I really wanted to be a director!

Here are some of my most watched 'artsy' stuff videos..

Red Mask. Directed by Avid Liongoren. This was actually a three part short film.

Red Mask part 2

Red Mask part 3

Sana Dati. A film by Jerrold Tarog. This was an entry at this year's cinemalaya! I love the scoring of this one! Sobrang pinaulit ulit ko sya! Haha Sayang I wasn't able to watch it's gala but I'll wait for it to come out in cinemas!

Sparks by Jason Ho. I love the feels of this one! Very hopeless romatic-ish!

Sparks - Short Film from Jason Ho on Vimeo.

This was MY attempt into film making. This was actually a midterm requirement for my Advertising Production class.

Limerence from Leobhel Cueto on Vimeo.

I want to share my kwento about this project of mine. Haha Well, I crammed this one so if you think I fail, I will accept that whole heartedly. Glad thing my sister and her classmates agreed on being my actors. They were really into it! Haha

Storyline: The theme was to make a story that we could relate on what 'Advertising' means to us. I really wanted to pull something love story-ish in a more teenage way because I really wanted to use my favorite Stars music pero wala akong maisip! Hahaha So I shifted things and made it very teenage puppy love. Mas nauna kong isipin ang storya bago ko sya nirelate sa mismong topic.

Music: It wasn't hard for me to pick the BGMs. I know friends who are indie addicts - because for me indie songs are the most perfect way to use in short films, and tried to ask them. But its still me who had done it. I still tried putting something Stars but Bloc Party did the perfect fit.

Actors: I was at the dorm when I had taught about my story, I texted my sister right away and asked her to find me 2 girls and 1 guy that are willing to act. And she immediately found me 3 persons, including herself! Haha They are good actually. Since my story doesn't have any scripts, it's easy for me to direct them.

Here's me, doing the demo on what should be done - and my actors at the back na not paying attention! Hahaha (feel na feel)

Editing: I am also a frustrated video editor! Hahaha See? I am a frustrated person. :p Anyway, I edited it a day before the deadline. Haha I cram most of the time you see. I used Corel (I forgot the version but I think it's the latest) and it had given me less stress since I had used it naman before. :)

Production: I am so glad that my bestfriend helped me! She also became one of the actors in the video, the "changed" girl. Haha My mother also helped in re-arranging the rooms and convincing my sister to follow my commands. Yehey

All in all, I am not sure about my real score in this one but my film wasn't picked as the best as shown in the big screen when we held our Ad Wars production event (I'll try to blog about this the next time!). But anyway, I got a very high grade so I think I did it okay. Yay!

Right now, me and my friend Ching were planning on making a film. We are still on the process of planning everything out but we are glad we had gathered help and actors already! I'm hoping we could pull this off. I'm am so stoked!

I still sort of wonder right now about my life if I had taken a shift - I would've been taught by Ryan Carlos or Atom Araullo by now siguro. Haha But anyway, I am planning about this. I will be in film! I will be a director! Soon! Soon! Soon! *crossfingers*