Back when the hood was young.

It was during the night of my little brother's birthday. I decided to look back at the old photo albums from our childhood. From one photo album to another, I found some photos when we and my friends in the neighborhood were young kids. (DISCLAIMER: I can't post these photos in public. They may kill me if I did. Haha.) These were great times, we played together outside our homes, played a lot of games from basketball to LEGO, among others. We even played in the rain.

Back then, our home was one-storied, far smaller than our home today (still lies on the same spot as the old one) and admit it or not. I was one chubby dude. I remembered, I finished a whole pizza when I was 9 or 10 years old. I used to be a drummer boy (If I'd continue further, maybe I could have been a part of the UST Yellow Jackets today and would have cut my hair bald. Hehe). There were even photos of my neighborhood just when we moved the houses just being put up and look the same. 

I also found photos of my 7th birthday down in Filinvest 2 with my family, friends and most especially my classmates in Grade 1 at St. Matthew College in San Mateo, Rizal. (Well I had a birthday-mate in my class, so we kinda split on those who came along.) Though my time was short there (spent a year there) and I admit was bittersweet, it was all worth it. (I even found my copy of our class picture, two years after a old classmate of mine posted his copy on Facebook and tagged us out. I thought it was gone and out of sight, but Thank God I found it.)

Grade 1-Maagap Class Picture at St. Matthew College

Photo ©Karl Carandang

For now, I'll keep on looking for those photos, if I can buy time looking out for these old photos. These were great memories. I forgot most of these things, but photos give me those flashback moments which make me remember what happened then. Looking back at those photos made me think of how far we have traveled and stepped up in our lives. It is true that a picture is really worth a thousand words.

"A dream collage is pictures of your goals. It is like your future photo album." - Bo Bennett

"A photo is a creation." - Eva Herzigova

K-Smoove

The once in a year spectacle. This time I'm now legal.

On April 30, 1994, a dude from Quezon City was born. 18 years later, he's now a legal gentleman. Today, I celebrate my 18th birthday. At this age, I can now vote for the elections in 2013 and I am entitled to a lot of other privileges as a proud Filipino citizen.

To celebrate the occasion, I decided to throw a simple house party in my humble home. Together with my family and friends. My friends in my neighborhood came as well as some of my classmates in college. Unfortunately some of them were unable to join the party for personal commitments. I don't blame them for being unable to come, because these are commitments they need to fulfill.

We had lasagna, fried chicken, a birthday cake and ice cream for the occasion while enjoying the beats from some of my favorite tunes from artists/bands like Parokya ni Edgar, Westlife, Rivermaya and many of my favorite songs. My home turned into a computer shop as they were playing computer games along the way.

Well to cap the afternoon, I went out to buy my favorite Starbucks Frappucino® Coffee Jelly in Venti size and saved 50% from the original price as it was the first day of the Happy Frappucino Hour, and for the first time, I used the name "K-Smoove" on my cup. 


Another year has come and pass. It was also a time for me to look back at what has happened for the past 18 years of my existence. Even though I grow another year older, I will continue to be the dude who lives a fun, fulfilling, friendly and simple life. A dude who has no vices. The guy who is addicted to basketball, travel, anime and many other things. I will continue to be a steward to my family and PEEPS. I'll always be "The Walking GPS".

Okay then, I am happy to say to each and everyone.

THANK YOU!

MARAMING SALAMAT PO!

DANKE SCHÖN!

MERCI BEAUCOUP!

ありがとう!

 

I like to thank my family for putting up the feast today, as well as to my 2nd street PEEPS for coming over today and enjoy another birthday with me. To two of my TROPA-Guise PEEPS Deece and Ryan (who came all the way from the south of the metro) for coming over to my place. Though we were not complete, we had a lot of fun today.

I like to thank the PEEPS who greeted me via text on my cellphone, greeted me on my Facebook by wall post or PM, tweets on my Twitter. I hope to meet you guys in person very soon (especially my batchmates around UST) and to see the PEEPS who I haven't seen in a very long time.

To my birthday-mates Albie, Peter, Camille, Mapps and CJ. I'm sure we had a good one on our birthday celebrations.

And most importantly, I would like to THANK GOD for the blessings I have received in the 18 years of my existence in this world. I wish for more HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to come in the future.

Photos ©Karl Carandang

I FEEL BLESSED AND THANKFUL!
K-Smoove