One of my resolutions for this year is that I need to post more! Whether its blog posts or Flickr posts, I just need to share my work with everyone. I’m seriously backed up on images that I need to start uploading a little at a time. Fall quarter at school really held me back. I was slammed with work. On top of that, being a part of the Pioneer Newspaper has taken up much of my time. Of course, that’s not to say that I didn’t love every minute of it. The Pioneer has been an awesome opportunity for me. The staff and Dr. Terrell have been great. We’ve had a lot of good times with only more to come.

My last assignment was the Mistah FAB and Lil B concert on campus last Friday night. “Swag! Swag! Swag!” is what I heard half the time I was there. Honestly, I thought the turnout was alright considering the space allowed. It was in the new union multi-purpose room. When I first walked in the room, it was DARK. The only lights were random colored bulbs on a black cloth draped behind the stage:

But as soon as the hosts and performers got up on stage, mini spotlights came on which made it a little easier for me to take pictures. Thanks to Mr. John Sthol for hooking me up with a VIP wristband, I was able to get a lot closer to the stage. I’ve got to give it up to Mista FAB, he really made the show. Most of the time he was up there I was just bobbin’ my head to his music instead of taking pictures. All in all, the night was cool. I was there with Stephanie, Campus Editor for the Pioneer, because she was writing a story for the event. Here’s some pics from the night:

Alright, I’ve got to stay motivated and keep the pictures coming. Next time I’ll talk about a photo book I made about Lake Chabot. It’s sort of a mix of documentary/landscape, but basically it’s just cool pictures. There’s something about the book I can’t say here, but if you want to know just ask. Here’s the cover:

My blog is still going through some changes so bear with me for now. But keep coming back to check out what’s new! Habashwee

The Black Seeds are an 8-piece band that originated in Wellington, New Zealand. I highly suggest that you give them a listen. I promise, you won’t be dissapointed! Here’s a few pics from their concert in SF at Slim’s (taken with my trusty s90) :

You can check out the rest in my Flickr Set.

We played sloshball (softball/beer), football, dodgeball, frisbee catch, and the highlight of the night, BEER PONG! It was all fun. Thanks to Trixi and Brian for letting us use their house and enourmous backyard! Good times

The rest of the pictures you can find here in my Flickr set.

You can see some more images of Devin on my Flickr set.

You can see more of my pics from the rally on my FLICKR set. Alright, until next time, habashwee!

You can check out more at my FLICKR. Until next time, habashwee!

This project was put together by The City of Hayward Mural Art Program. I think there goal here was to help eliminate graffiti and vandalism in the streets of Hayward. So far they’ve done a beautiful job. There’s more than just utility boxes though. They have wall murals on the sides of buildings as well. These are just a few of the utility boxes I’ve seen. You can find more on my FLICKR page. 

For the month of January and February she’s been able to tolerate the pain. She says that it comes and goes. She was transferred over to the medical facility at UCSF for her check-ups/testing/therapy. In the beginning of March, the pain got worst and intolerable. It was harder for her to breath and even harder for her to eat. Her weight was dropping at an unhealthy rate and she was looking more pale everyday. Regular chemo wasn’t working as much as it did before. So the doctors decided to start giving her experimental drugs/chemo.

She’s been traveling back and forth from San Leandro to UCSF with my uncle almost every other day for a while now. On Friday the 19th, after receiving her scheduled chemo, she was rushed to the ER because her blood count was extremely low. I was on my way to Jourdan’s house for a jam session then got a call from my uncle at the hospital telling me to tell my mom that my auntie was rushed to the ER. His voice was shaky and nervous and immediately I knew something wasn’t right. I went back to my house and contacted my mom. Right when she got off work we rushed to the ER.

When I saw my Auntie that night, I couldn’t help but cry. How do you bear to look at someone very close to you and your family on a hospital bed with an I.V. and tubes everywhere, looking so pale and skinny, and trying to hold on to dear life? She’s only 32 years old. She’s so young with plenty of life left to live, but this cancer is taking it all away. At first the doctors told us that she had no more than six months to live. Then a day later it’s no more than three months. And then just recently, they said that they’ve exhausted all of their resources to help her and there wasn’t any more they can do other than help her stay as comfortable as she can be.

My family wanted to bring her to the Philippines so that she can visit her brothers and sisters one last time before she passes but the doctors were against it. She wouldn’t be able to last long outside of the hospital without proper care. Then they tried to get a petition for her family in the Philippines to come to the US, but the process was taking too long. So my dad, along with my grandma, rushed back from the Phillipines (which he just left to go to a few weeks ago) just as soon as he heard about my Auntie’s condition.

For the past few weeks I’ve been going to the hospital with my mom to keep my Auntie and Uncle company. My Uncle hasn’t left her side once. They have two kids, Jason who is 7 and Jerauld who is 2. Jason has been living with us since my Auntie has been stuck at the hospital. Jerauld went with my dad to the Philippines because nobody could watch him here, but he came back the same time my dad and grandma came back. Both Jason and Jearuld haven’t the slightest clue of what’s going on. All Jason knows is that his mom is sick and is resting in a hospital.

The night my dad came back last week, we all went to the hospital. Abigail and I were the last ones to arrive. When we walked into the room it was so emotional. My grandma, whom I haven’t seen in years, couldn’t stop crying. My mom and dad looked like they were in shock. The only loud ones in the room were Jason and Jerauld, yet they still couldn’t comprehend what’s going on. I don’t think anyone wants them to know, at least for now. I feel so fucking bad for my dad and grandma. Within this past year and a half, my dad’s brother died in a fatal car accident. Not very long after, my Grandpa died from a heart attack. Now this situation with my Auntie fighting for her life. Words can’t express how they feel. Since they’ve come back from the Philippines, they’ve been there every night. Until yesterday.

Yesterday was my first day back to school from Spring Break. I just got out of class and was about to grab some lunch then head to work. Right when I got to my car and turned the engine on, I receive a text from Ashley. She said that my Auntie had passed away. I seriously stared at my phone for a long time reading the text over and over again not wanting to believe what I just read. Neither of my parents were picking up their phones when I tried calling them. Ashley got out of school and met me at our house. I picked her up and drove straight to the hospital. Abigail heard the news about the same time and met us there. She waited for us in the waiting room. The elevator ride going up seemed like it took an eternity. I didn’t know how to react or what to do when we would go into the room.

When we got there, it was only Jason, Jerauld, my grandma and my uncle inside. My Auntie’s body was on the hospital bed covered by a plain sheet. My sisters and I walked over towards my Auntie,  then my uncle pulled the sheet down to expose her face. I broke down. I thought I could be strong. Seeing my Auntie lying there lifeless on the hospital bed was the saddest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Soon after us, friends and family came by her and emotions just got worst every time. My parents had gone back to San Leandro to make arrangements at a mortuary. When they came back, the look on my mom’s face just tore me up. The whole room was crying now, except for Jason and Jerauld. We stayed there until about 4:00 pm and then went back home.

My Auntie Jessica was one the closest family members to me. I was the best man at her wedding in the Philippines. She lived with us for a long time before they bought a house literally 30 seconds away from ours. She had a real big laugh, just like my dad’s and mine. Jason and Jerauld really grew on me, they’re like my little brothers. I know I’m going to play a big role in their lives now.  She was an R.N., smart and educated and had so much going for her. At 32 years old, she was too young to die. Everyone was hoping that she’d make it to her birthday in June, but that isn’t the case anymore. Cancer is a bitch, fuck it to hell.

Prayers and viewing services are being set up then soon after my family and uncle are bringing her body back to the Philippines where she’ll be buried in her hometown.

I apologize for writing so much, but I felt that talking about it like this and putting my feelings down in writing would help. If you’ve read this far, I thank you. Easter Sunday is coming up, please keep her in your prayers if you can. Thank you to those who’ve expressed their condolences. My family is going through rough times right now, and all I can do is just try and be strong about it.

I love you Auntie Jessica. Rest in peace…