#45 - Graduation

Even though the school year abruptly ended on the last day of February, we still had a graduation ceremony. The catch--the program was shortened into just 1 hr (No boring speeches from school officials! :P), and only the teachers, graduating students and their parents were allowed to attend. Also, we were all required to wear masks and were seated a meter apart.

Anyway, this is the corsage I wore for the ceremony. Ordinarily, the students from the lower years (1st and 2nd grade junior high) make them, but since they weren't allowed to come to school this time, it was up to us teachers to make them ourselves.

We made about 100 of them the day before graduation and while it was fun, they were really quite difficult to make. And we had to make so many! But anyway, I think they turned out pretty great.

Well, this was the last graduation ceremony for junior high that I get to attend. Next school year, I'll be working at an elementary school. So, I kind of considered this to be my graduation, too. It was really too bad that it was so short, and there wasn't enough time to say goodbye to the students. But in a way, I guess it's better because I didn't get to cry so much. And I'm not too focused on leaving the school that I love, because somehow these days, things like these seem trivial in comparison to the rest of the events going on in the world.

People all over the world are on lockdown, including my own family. I've been trying not to read the news or my Facebook feed because they said that would cause panic, but at the same time, I'm so worried about everyone. And there's no sense downplaying what's happening, because downplaying it is exactly what caused it to be so widespread in the first place. But anyway, there are still things to be grateful for, and I think I'm just going to focus on those.

#44 - Spring in Japan

Cherry blossoms!

I actually took this picture two years ago, when I'd only been living in this country for five days. I arrived on March 25th and it was the peak of spring. When we went to this park in Saitama, it was my first time to see cherry blossoms. This is also the first photo I ever took with the phone I got in Japan. I'd had it for only three days then. But it remained in its box until the day I took this picture.

Anyway, because of the virus, most cherry blossom viewing festivals (if not all) have been cancelled. People aren't supposed to be gathering in large groups, you see. So I think that this year, I'll have to be content with just looking at pictures of these flowers. Not that they won't be blooming in a few weeks. They'll of course bloom, regardless. So I'd still probably see them around during my daily commute and whatnot. But I'm not expecting anyone to suggest having a picnic at a public park soon.

Day 338 - Bridal Bouquet

Wedding day today!

I wasn't able to take a lot of photos because, as the maid of honor, I had a lot of other things to do. And well, we did hire a professional photographer to take photos. But I managed to take a few (less than 10), and at least one of them turned out quite decent. I think.

This is my sister's bridal bouquet. She originally wanted callalilies, but the florist said they were unavailable. No matter. I think those yellow tulips look really beautiful. :)

Congratulations to Z&E! :D

If you'd like to see the photos taken by the official photographer for this event, you can find them here: Driving off into the sunset by Adrian De La Fuente

Day 320 - Spring Starts September

These flowers were on the island in the middle of the road going to the mall in Lower Hutt. My dad and I were walking and we just had to take a photo. Spring's begun! Flowers all around have bloomed. :)

Day 209 - Valentine Flowers

On my way home from the Sugarfree gig (why yes, it was already morning of the next day when I went home), I passed by the Alabang Public Market and saw these. I love how places transform to cater to whatever event is coming up. During Christmas time, a lot of stores that sell toys or Christmas lights materialize in markets. Now that it's just one day before Valentine's Day, these flower shops which usually just sell daisies and other boring flowers that look like they're for funerals, have these cheery rose bouquets. So romantic / exploitative of people's sentimentality!

Day 41 - Purple at the Pond

This morning I took a walk around and the hotel and found this on the pond between the hotel building and the beach. I suppose I could've chosen my other shots of the hotel itself or more beach pictures as photo of they day, but I was quite happy to spot this perfectly bloomed flower.

Day 39 - Sweetness Overload

My mom and I arrived at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia today for a 4-day vacation. My dad was supposed to come with us but he got sick. Actually, my mom is also sick, and I almost went alone, but luckily she felt better in the afternoon and was able to come.

We saw this store at the airport as soon as we cleared Immigration and got our baggage. It sold all sorts of sweets and teddy bears and fake flowers. I don't really know why a store like this is at an airport. Maybe it's for those impromptu airport chase scenes in romantic movies? Hmm... now there's an idea for a story, right there! :)

See my Multiply for more pictures re this trip: Kota Kinabalu 1

Day 37 - Flowers! :)

Flower centerpiece of previously mentioned romantic dinner I helped plan

I have always loved flowers and think that they're one of the best ways to express love. Say what you will about them, how they die, and that that's not a good way to tell someone that you love them, I still think flowers are beautiful, and doesn't everything and everyone die anyway? I'm actually planning on writing something longer about flowers, I'll link it here when I find more time. :)

I took this picture just before my fellow organizer and I left the room to the happy soon-to-be (fingers crossed) couple. Hence, the lack of light. She has a picture of this same bouquet on her 365 Project. Linking it because I think the picture she took is prettier than this one.

And see below more pictures from this event. So you can see the difference in lighting. (I told you flourescent light is unromantic.)