It’s a holiday at this side of the planet. What’s the best thing to do today? Well, my friend and I are going to the office and work overtime. Yes, work overtime. Why?  Aside from the fact that we will receive a double-pay, we just want to be more productive with our time because we usually do nothing special during the holidays.

So I’m going to continue my work with the Penthouse interior design. The image above is the second floor lounge of the 3-floor unit. The furniture pieces are from B&B Italia and Minotti. I have to start designing the ceiling and complete my veneer swatches.

I’ll be meeting with some engineers and designers for the project this month. I’m a little anxious about it but I believe I can pull it together. And I’ve heard I’m scheduled to go to the site any time soon! Wish me luck, guys!

Yes, I’m finally flying to Manila in a few hours. I’m so excited now, can’t sleep actually. If I want to stay in Manila, I should probably get a job (which, in all honesty, I’m really planning to do). 

I’ll be staying in Makati with my relatives and (hopefully) I’ll be able to go to Laguna to check on the project. Wish me luck, guys!

February 06, 2012 @ 11:55AM 

 My twin and I were at home when we felt the earthquake. 

I was in my room, waiting for some videos to load, when all of the sudden my table began to shake. At first I thought it was because of my own foot (my shaking mannerism). But then I noticed both of my feet were not touching the table at all. The shaking strengthen and I noticed the chair I was sitting on was rocking from left to right.

I said out loud, “Earthquake! There’s an earthquake!”

My twin who was at the dining area heard me and said, “Yes, an earthquake!”

I thought of posting about it on Facebook than run out of the house! (I’m SO embarrassed to admit that!) But I clicked my laptop to hibernate and run to the dining area. My twin was still on his laptop, typing away in his CABAL online game that we were experiencing an earthquake.

My instincts told me not to panic because the earthquake was not that alarming (in our area). But it was strong enough to last 3 minutes and shake tables and chairs. When the quake stopped, I immediately switched on my laptop and logged-in to Facebook. Because I could post anything, the News Feed was full of “EARTHQUAKE!!!” updates.

By 12:05PM, we felt an aftershock. My twin decided to remove the huge hanging mirror in our dining area. The aftershock lasted for 10 seconds or less. I could even hear the tremor. 

12:30PM There was someone knocking on our gate and I was relieved that my other brother (the eldest) just got home. He told us, before he left school; people from building came rushing out. He didn’t know there was an earthquake because he was commuting. He thought at first there was an ongoing hostage drama or something.

I emailed my Dad to tell him we were alright, nothing really serious happened in the area. Then I SMS my sister, asking her if she was OK and if she wanted to go home. Minutes later, the college I attended announced classes in the afternoon were suspended. My sister’s school cancelled classes, then all schools and colleges followed suit.

I received a SMS from my sister, telling me she was on the way home. She got home around 3.00PM. I was glad my family was safe. I was glad that the earthquake happened in broad daylight (when everyone was awake). We must be more prepared especially (according to the news) aftershocks are expected in the next months. I’ve realized these are trouble times; imagine if earthquakes happened at night?

I’m now done with the design for the farm house. The total area of the design is 1160 sq.m. The house features 4 bedrooms, a porch, a two-car garage, a big living room adjacent to the dining area, a kitchen and other utility and storage rooms plus a “uncommon area” for a farm house [can’t tell you guys what it is, sorry!]. I’m not allowed to post the floor plan or the elevations on here.

The construction would probably start in the coming months, I’ll keep you guys posted. If the client approves everything, then detailing and other architectural and engineering stuff will commence immediately. I’m hands-off with the engineering/structural part though, sticking to the architectural detailing.

In the mean time, I have to renew my passport. Gotta fly back to Singapore probably this month or on March. Opportunities knockin’ on my door!

So yeah, I’m still awake. Busy designing the farm house. I got message from the client telling me everything he wants me to consider for the house, which is actually a good thing. He wants a “large front” which actually mean a wide patio/porch and vestibule in the entrance, 3 to 4 bedrooms with toilets each, a grand living room, a kitchen with dining and a two car garage. And I just knew that the lot is BIG. [Ah, architecture, I’m beginning to appreciate you more!]

I was thinking instead of paying me money, and since the client is related to me by blood [lucky me!], maybe he could just buy me air-tickets to Manila and a concert pass to the Evanescence concert this February!!! Well, yeah, I’ve calculated: the air-ticket + the concert pass is lower than my actual fees! Hmm…maybe I should also ask for pocket money, Manila is such a big city. What do you guys think?

Gotta focus and finish everything before the deadline! And I thought my 2012 will be boring…guess I was wrong! I’m so happy for this opportunity. Keep ‘em coming! :-)

Hello guys! I got good news for y’all! I was ‘commissioned’ to design another house in the province! [Let it clear, I’m not yet an architect, my Dad’s the architect.] But the client likes my ‘design taste’ (as he place it) so he wants me to do the designing! I think that’s fine (for a graduate to design) according to the law of the land, as long as there is a real/licensed architect behind the project.

I can’t promise to update you guys about the designing. Maybe after all the construction is done! Wish me luck, everyone!