Deceit

Cover up your face
With tons of makeup
To hide your nature
And wear a mask of
Eyeshadows and blushes.

Coat your fiery tongue
With saccharine lies
To woo your colleagues,
To coax your friends
And seal the deal.

Dress under layers
Of fashionable plumes
And build an armor against
The scathing attacks
Of your own insecurity.

Splash a myriad of colors
On your personality
And let the chameleon
Take over, pleasing anyone
But yourself.


-Katherine Lopez
20 March 2011

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I would like to thank fiveloaf, louisedouglas, and bendedspoon for giving me this award:

RULES:

1. Thank the person who awarded you and link back to them in your post.

2. Tell 7 random facts about yourself.

3. Pass the award on to 15 new found bloggers.

4. Contact each blogger you want to pass the award on to and let them know you’ve done so, and let the giver of your award know you accept it.

I won't pass this award yet. But I'm going to share seven things about myself. Here they are:

1. I love using organic beauty products. I love Human Heart Nature, but I hope more of their products will also be available in shops I frequent. :)

2. I haven't played the piano for quite a long time now, so now I'm a little scared to touch the keys because I'm afraid I won't be able to play good music anymore. But there's only one way to find out, and that's to sit down and play like I used to.

3. Friday is my favorite day of the week.

4. I love four seasons juice. That's my favorite juice flavor.

5. I love my wavy hair. I don't want to have it straightened.

6. Piano music, particularly Yiruma's, clears my mind and calms me down.

7. I can't swim. Haha! :))

Shopaholic

She steps into this world
Of shoes, bags, clothes,
This empire of everything
Fashionable.

Like a model on a catwalk,
She strides on its
Newly polished floors,
Surveying her choices.

Each window display
Screams for her attention,
Draws her in, pulls her,

Traps her in a black hole.

She tries that dress on,
Those sexy heels,
And oh, that bag,
She has never seen it before.

Oh, so many finds
In the upper floors,
Earrings, necklace, sunglasses,
The perfect shade of lipstick.

Her heart is never content,
Even as she dishes out bills
And leaves with a dozen goodie bags
In each hand.

Her feet feel sore
After hours of walking,
But she’s bound to come back
Maybe tomorrow?

-Katherine Lopez
13 March 2011

Live to Dance Finals

I was watching the finals of Live to Dance this afternoon on Star World. And boy, the acts nailed my eyes on television. I didn't want to miss a number. They were all amazing and so deserving of a spot in the finals.

Here are my three favorite acts. I chose them because I found them inspiring and moving. These acts made me want to get up and dance as well. Here they are.

1. White Tree Fine Art



White Tree Fine Art's performance was simply awwwwwww. This husband-and-wife tandem made ballet look like it's so easy to do. The way they moved - so light and graceful yet so precise - was captivating. As one of the judges said, they built a world of their own, and they're inviting people in through their dancing.

2. Kendall Grover



When I watched Kendall at her audition, she instantly became my favorite. She reminded me of my favorite finalist in Got to Dance UK, Emily. They both dance contemporary, and I love how they show mastery and precision in each of their moves and being fluid at the same time. Emily's performances include a lot of gymnastic stunts though, while Kendall's always show her personality. I want Kendall to win.

3. D'Angelo and Amanda



OMG! I don't know how to describe them! To say they're amazing is an understatement. Their performance just blew me away. Love it love it love it! Now I'm torn between them and Kendall. I want them to win, too! They're young but they soooooooo dance like professionals, probably even better than the contestants I've seen in So You Think You Can Dance. And they got a standing ovation in their performance in the auditions and in the finals. So well deserved. Their tango was so strong and intense, and yet they didn't look like their trying hard to be adults. They still maintained their youth and freshness. And I love how Amanda wasn't wearing heels, not even low ones. I hate seeing young girls wearing heels. I don't think it's appropriate for their age and for their still developing muscles.

So who won? It's.... D'Angelo and Amanda! OMG! Congratulations to the two of them. I wish to see more dances from this duo. If they dance like that now, how would they dance when they're, say, 20? They're so wonderful, and I hope their talent would inspire and touch more people.

A Woman

Whose gentleness can calm
Even the fiercest of storms
And the most restless of souls.

Whose intellect can outwit
Even the most cunning of creatures
Who take advantage of her.

Whose strength can carry
A baby in her womb
And the world's weight on her shoulders.

Whose hands sew and mend
A child's dress, broken hearts,
And family ties taken for granted.

Whose resilience enables her
To stand tall and be proud
Of what she has gone through.

Whose brilliance inspires others
To seek their own brilliance
And start an empowering flame.


-Katherine Lopez
08 March 2011


*Written in celebration of International Women's Day. Happy Women's Day!

Beauty in Mica's art

Beauty comes in many forms, and those in the creative industry have various ways of depicting or capturing it. Each of these ways is a form of art - a painting, a stunning photograph, a harrowing sonata, a moving poem - that deserves even the tiniest bit of appreciation. By recognizing the beauty present in these forms, we acknowledge the talent of the artist behind those works and his or her ability to connect to us through the things he or she does best.

I am not a visual artist, but I am captivated by paintings, drawings, sketches, and photographs, especially if they were created by young, budding artists. I feel that there's something in their works that communicate with me, or something I can relate to. Or maybe, I'm simply amazed by their talent and that is reason enough for me to love their works.

Take a look at these works. They're by my former classmate in Math, Mica. She's a fine arts student majoring in visual communication. She's I think two or three years younger than me. Anyway, I follow her two Tumblr accounts and I love her works. Here:

From Project 365 v.2



"Pause" (left) and "The Edge" (right). Visit Project 365 v.2 to see her other photographs.

From Project 365 of Graphic Arts



"Tee Bag" (left) and "The Perfect Fit" (right). Visit Project 365 of Graphic Arts to see her other illustrations.

My dearest said her illustrations can make for great t-shirt designs. I say, why not? If I see them on shirts, I would definitely buy one of those.

It won't be long before she graduates from the university. She can land a job in advertising, or in a publishing company (like where I work now). I hope, in whatever job she lands on, she doesn't lose her own style. I wouldn't want to see her talent be wasted. :)