Rick Riordan

(This is a late post, I forgot to post this when I finished the book ((three months ago)) 

   Aside from John Green, Rick Riordan is, in my opinion, the best author on planet earth (and Olympus). Rick Riordan has been one of my favorite authors (and best friends) since fifth grade. I remember accidentally reading the third book in the series before the others. I read 2 chapters and was instantly fascinated in the world of Greek Mythology. Percy, Annabeth, Grover, Thalia, and NICO (yes, we have the same name) were also my best friends. Journeying with them, fighting monsters, saving the world, keeping the Titans in check, fueled my happiness. They made the world a better place, both in the book and for me. 

   Not too long ago, we were shopping at Target and found The Lost Hero. I remember being super bummed out because I had just finished reading Rick's first Percy Jackson series. After reading a really good book, almost every reader asks the question, "What do I do with my life now?!?". I had this predicament. After skimming through the book and seeing ANNABETH on the top of several pages, I immediately begged my mom to buy it for me. And she did. I got carried away. I waited every year for the next book. I met new friends Jason, Piper, Leo, Frank, and Hazel. We went on lots of adventures and saved the world countless times. 

   Recently, Rick ended the second (and final) Percy Jackson Series. Leaving me with Post Percy Depression (yes, that's a thing). I just wanted to say thank you to Rick Riordan for the great times and new friends, thanks for the unforgettable adventures. 

Christmas 2014

   This Christmas was filled with music, laughter, and happiness. Im glad I got to spend it with loved ones.

   We woke up on Christmas Eve excited and super giddy (my family has this tradition of opening presents the night before christmas). My parents, sister, and I went last minute christmas shopping. And of course, madness. People crowded every corner of the mall, rushing to get what they wanted. Everywhere you looked it was like a sea of people. After delicious (and much needed) ramen, my father and I went to Toy Kingdom to get presents for the (not so) little ones. It was the busiest place in the mall, so of course, madness. After what seemed like forever of standing in line, we finally finished. We headed home for dinner; pasta, ham, mojos, and this super good fajita thing that I fell in love with after one bite. We gathered near the TV and watched the VMAs. I was amazed by all the different personalities and types of music sitting next to each other, laughing and having a great time. After that, we opened presents! I surprised everyone with gifts. Seeing smiles on their faces made me the happiest person on earth.

   The next day (Christmas Day) we woke up to MORE PRESENTS! We had one of those Christmassy moments where we run to our parents and informed them that it was, in fact, Christmas and that Santa had came. We forgot to clean the table, leaving the dinner from the night before there. So we inferred that Santa, instead of eating cookies and milk, ate fried chicken and mojos. We got dressed and headed to Park Homes (my grandma's house) to have dinner and exchange gifts. We played this really fun (and challenging) game called HedBandz, a reversed version of charades.

 

PNSB Christmas Party 2014

   Today was an amazing day filled with unforgettable experiences and good times. We attended the Philippine National School of the Blind's Christmas Party. We played games, danced, and had the time of our lives! 

   Pretty much all the kids there were blind or had a hard time seeing. They touched my heart and made me realize how fortunate I am. We started off with a raffle. Every time the winner was announced the kids would go crazy, cheering, shouting, jumping up and down. Seeing them happy made me happy. After the raffle they danced. They surprised us with their super cool dance moves. 

   Next came the games. We played "The Boat Is Sinking". My brother, Mike, and I guided and grouped the kids. But after awhile I joined in on the fun. The announcer would say, "The Boat Is Sinking, group yourself into..." And then we'd run to each other, hug, and sit down. Then we had another raffle. After, they played an interesting game where they had to connect themselves using a string. They had to put the string inside their clothes and literally connect themselves. And of course (like Gus in TFIOS) I thought of its metaphorical resonance: we're all connected, we're all human, physical appearance and disabilities mean nothing. We're all the same. 

   This next part was probably the highlight of my day. They danced the tinikling (a traditional Filipino dance). Blind kids dancing the Tinikling! I had only danced it once, so when they called us up to try it out I was a little nervous. But I (surprisingly) quickly got the hang of it. I surprised not only myself, but everyone else. It was an amazing experience. 

   All in all today was a grand day. We made lots of new friends. They showed me that I'm very fortunate and lucky to have the life I have. Putting smiles on their faces touched my heart. I will never forget today.

Happy Birthday Dad

Dear Dad,  

   My love for you is infinite. The faults in my stars are vast and numerous, but you overlook them. Sometimes my strings break, you fix them. When I get lost in my own labyrinth and feel like theres no way out, you assure me that there is. You're my hero.

   I remember when I was young you would hold me up on your shoulders. I remember feeling happy, so immensely happy that I'd grab your neck and squeeze the life out of it. I did this because 1. I was falling and 2. I wanted to show you how much I loved you. But that wasn't enough. My love for you is infinite and indescribable. Meaning I'd have to literally squeeze the life out of you to show you how much I love you.

   In short, thank you for being there for me. Thank you for caring for me. Thank you for keeping a smile on my face. Happy Birthday Dad, I love you.

Well Spent Wednesday

   The Salcedo Park has finally reopened! Sadly, the park closed two days after me moved to Salcedo. So we had only been there once or twice until yesterday.

   Yesterday we went to the park and got some fresh air. The park looks brand new. The playground is cleaner, the sidewalks look better, and the grass is nice. We practically stayed there the whole day. I loved seeing my brothers and sister smile while they played at the playground and rode their scooters around the park. While they were doing so, I read. After finishing Paper Towns, which was amazing (John Green has done it again), I reread The Fault In Our Stars. This is probably my third time reading TFIOS, it never gets old. After about an hour we took a break at Coffee Bean, which is right across the street from the park, and had gingerbread cookies. We stayed there till it got dark so we could see the lights that hung from the tree. It was beautiful.

   All in all we had a great day. Were so happy the park is open. And can't wait to go back.

 

Runway Ready

   Yesterday I covered my very first fashion show! I had so much fun taking pictures of guests, the awesome food, and models on the runway. I had a blast!

   Since my mom is a model, Ive been to many fashion shows. But this time was different. This time I wasn't in my normal seat in the crowd. I was sitting with the photographers. It was different, a good different. And I loved every minute of it. I covered the show with Duke Rodriguez, my "mentor". He is showing me all the techniques and mechanics there is. He took the videos and I took the pictures. We were the "Peter Parkers" of the event.

   Pia Gladys put Filipinos on the Fashion Map! She recently attended Paris and L.A. Fashion Week. Two of the most fashionable places in the world! She decided to give us a sneak peek of her Trans-Seasonal line for 2015. And I had the pleasure of covering her show! I enjoyed capturing the models in their beautiful dresses. They walked with confidence showing off my Tita Pia's stunning collection of dresses and outfits.

   I had a great time covering my first show. Congratulations Tita Pia! Cant wait til the next one!

Lotus Biscoff

   Today we attended the Lotus Biscoff Media Launch. It was a great opportunity to practice taking pictures for events. We ate delicious food, had a social media contest, watched a fashion show, and were given goody bags filled with Lotus Biscoffs.

   Blogger Daphne Osena Paez hosted the event. We listened to people speak about the history of the Lotus Biscoff. I learned that it is one of the most popular cookies/biscuits in the world! They are produced and distributed pretty much everywhere except for Antarctica (they're missing out). After listening to their speeches they had a fashion show! Waiters walked up and down the aisles showing off their delicious goodies. They had a social media contest! You had to post a picture of your "Lotus Biscoff Moment". The winner got a coffee machine. Sadly, my mom and I didn't win. But that's okay because they gave everyone goody bags filled with Lotus Biscoffs! I can't wait to eat them later.

   Today was a good day. I got to practice taking pictures and eat yummy food. A day well spent.

Christmas Tree Lighting 2014

   Sadly, the Philippines doesn't not celebrate Thanksgiving. So after Halloween they jump straight to Christmas! Christmas in November! Christmas spirit is in the air! It reminds me of the Marriott Christmas Tree Lighting we attended earlier this month. It was really fun, the food was great, the singers were amazing, and Santa showed up!

   We were invited by my mom's friend Michelle Garcia. The Christmas tree was grand, very well decorated. Amazing food was served. They had loads of Christmas goodies, including a S'MORES STATION! I stuffed my face with s'mores the whole night! Roasting marshmallows to perfection and sticking them between two crackers and chocolate. It was the best! I never thought one day Id be roasting marshmallows inside a hotel. The Christmas tree was lit by Richard Gutierrez, Sarah Lahbati, and their son Baby Zion. After they lit the tree Santa came with a big red bag slung over his shoulder. My sister and I rushed over to him. He gave us stockings! After seeing Santa we checked out the Gingerbread train. It looked delicious.

   Christmas is definitely in the air. Thirty Four more days left! Can't wait!

Through The Lenses

   Recently I started a job. A job in the field of photography. I did "BTS" or "Behind The Scenes" shots for a WJG Asia photo shoot. I got to learn from and watch professional photographers such as Duke Rodriguez and Cholo Dela Vega. We shot my mom, Mafae Belasco, her partner Lana Johnson, and actress/ model/ fashion consultant Maricar De Mesa.

   Photography, I started having interest when I started my Instagram. There I got to see pictures taken by professional photographers all around the world, I was inspired. I started seeing the world in a different way. Opportunities everywhere, pictures everywhere. Even the smallest speck in the air caught my eye. At the time I didn't have a camera, so I used my phone. I ended up having 3,000 plus pictures in my camera roll. Unable to resist the urge to take a picture of everything. From there on I started my "Photographic Journey".

   Yesterday I got to work with Duke Rodriguez and Cholo Dela Vega. Cholo recently photographed (a friend of my mom) Jing Monis' Hair Magazine or "Hairzine". The first ever of its kind. And I got to work with him... what an honor! I did the "Behind The Scenes" shots for the WJG Asia shoot. Duke shot my my mom, Mafae Belasco, and her partner Lana Johnson. And Cholo shot my Tita, Maricar De Mesa. I learned so much from the both of them. Like the different equipment and how they're used, different settings on the camera, and much more. I watched them take pictures and fix even the slightest details. I also learned that photography isn't as easy as it looks. It takes a lot of time and effort. And patience, lots of patience. Theres fixing all the equipment, making sure everything is perfect and running the way it should be. And then you have to wait for the models to finish their hair and make up. Nonetheless it was a fun shoot, I had a great time.

   In conclusion, Ill say this. Photography is a journey, just like life. And Im taking it, Im adventuring. Its complicated and theres much to learn. But Im excited and hungry for more.

Fishy Fishy

   The other day we drove to Nuvali to have lunch with my dad's friend. The food was delicious and I was stuffed. Filipino food is the best. Though the wifi connection was strong and fast we had nothing to do. So we decided to go outside and check out the lake. People were crowding by the rail. We went to see what they were looking at and couldn't believe our eyes. Hundreds of fish bobbing their heads up and down with their mouths open waiting for someone to throw them food. Some were out of the water on top of other fish. All of them fighting to be at the top.

    We ran to our parents and asked for money for the fish food. They gave us money and we sprinted to the stand in excitement. We dropped the food into the water and in an instant 10 fish popped out of nowhere and fought for the food. Seeing the happy faces on my siblings and uncle made my day. And I discovered a new found love for fish. Though all of my pet fish died of either starvation or over feeding haha.

Filipino Pride

  Recently the Gilas Pilipinas ended their Fiba experience with a 1-4 record. I'm very proud of  all of my dad's friends on the team! They finished with a bang, defeating Senegal 81-79. And shocked the world with their return to the tournament, it's been a while.

  On the night of the fourth game, against Puerto Rico, we decided to watch at Dillingers (a restaurant at Greenbelt, here in Manila) with my parent's friends. They picked us up and we drove there in excitement. It was a "Do-or-Die" game for both teams, meaning the winner would go on in the tournament and the loser would lose their chance of getting a spot in the next round. As soon as we parked we heard a loud roar from a nearby restaurant. We walked past the crowd. Every time the Gilas scored they'd jump up and shout in excitement. The same went for almost every restaurant we passed. You could feel it in the air, Philippine Pride.

    It was a super close game. But in the end they lost to Puerto Rico 77-73, another tough one. All of the Gilas games were close. They were an exciting team to watch. They showed the world what the Philippines can do. And I'm one Proud Pinoy. Puso!

The Law Of Attraction

  I believe in the Law Of Attraction. It was first introduced to me by my mom, who at the time was studying Kabbalah. Here's how it works: think of something you want (whether it be physical or mental, anything). Think hard and act as if you already have what you desire. Then you ask "The Creator", whoever you think it is (I don't discriminate), for what you want. After doing so, you wait. I tried this out a couple of days ago.

  There are these little spray painted graffiti "WHY"s all over Makati. And I've been searching everywhere for them ever since I heard of their existence and how difficult it is to find them. I thought, why not use the Law Of Attraction? So I did. "I will find one, I have found one." I thought to myself. Then I asked "The Creator" and waited. While doing so we were in the car on our way to my dad's radio interview on The Joyride (Wave 89.1). We were about to cross the street when my dad said, "Nico look!". Sure enough, on the first line of the crosswalk was a "WHY". I was amazed. It worked! I've used it a couple of times since then. And I've learned one lesson; ask and you shall receive. Don't ask WHY, give it a try.

Reading

  Majority of teenagers these days think reading is boring. And I find that quite sad. I guess you can call me a "nerd" or a "book worm" because I like to read. I'm okay with that, I like it actually. Most people my age think reading isn't cool. And to that I say, don't judge a book by its cover. They are missing out. Reading can take you anywhere you imagine. You can be whoever you want and do whatever you want. You can be a ghost haunting kids, a man on the moon, a caveman from centuries ago, anything you imagine. All you have to do is choose a book. And when I read all of my problems disappear. Things that bother me suddenly go away. Escaping reality in an instant, for as long as I want. It bring happiness to me. Give it a try, you might enjoy it.

Okay?

  Yes readers, this is a book review. I don't know how to write a book review, nor has the idea ever occurred to me that I should write one. So here' goes nothing. Five words, The Fault In Our Stars (aka TFIOS). This book has really changed my life. It opened my eyes, and made me realize that I'm lucky to have the life I have. It's one of my favorite books written by one of my favorite authors, John Green. John Green has a gift. He puts billions of words together to make an epic story that will make you cry for weeks. At least that's how thousands of teenagers all over the world think about it. Whereas I, admittedly, cried for five minutes. Okay, maybe more. Anyways, John Green has a way with words.

  The Fault In Our Stars is an amazing story about two kids with cancer trying to survive in a world that is "not a wish granting factory". Hazel and Gus fall in love. They meet at a Support Group and immediately find interest in each other. Hazel introduces AIA, or "An Imperaial Affliction", (her favorite book) to Gus. And the book ends midsentence, leaving lots of questions and thinking. Gus likes the book and immediately contacts Peter Van Houtens assistance. Peter is the author of the book. He drowns himself in alcohol almost every day. Gus takes Hazel on an unforgettable adventure to find answers about the book. I won't tell you anymore because I don't want to spoil it for you. But yes, I would very much reccomend it.

Friends

  Lately, I've been getting messages from friends. Friends here in the Philippines, friends in the States. They're all asking the same question: "where are you going to school?". And the answer is nowhere. I'll be homeschooled. Lots of my friends have been sending me really emotional messages. And I've realized how much I mean to them. I am truly blessed to have the friends I have, both in the states and in the Philippines. My friends in the states are amazing. They helped me get through majority of Middle School. And my friends here, I've known them since third grade. They're like family to me. Thank you guys for being there for me. I feel so loved. And I don't know what Id do without you. You guys mean the world to me.

About Myself

  Hi! My name is Nico Belasco and I'm going to tell you a little about myself. I was born in the Philippines on January 5,2000. I have two brothers, Mike and Moses, and a sister, Nicci. My dad's name is Nic and my mom's name is Kat. My dad remarried so I have another mom named Mafae. I like to read and write, play basketball (which is my favorite sport), Ping Pong, Badminton, Soccer, and  like to swim. I enjoy watching movies and hanging out with friends. My favorite movies are The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Percy Jackson, and Pitch Perfect. My favorite books are The Fault In Our Stars, The Percy Jackson Series, and Because of Winn-Dixie. MY favorite writers are Madison Kuhn and John Green. 

  I was inspired to create a blog by David Guison (a blogger) and absolutelysavvy (a friend of mine). I figured it would be a good way to express my emotions and get things out of my head. I want to become a writer/ journalist. And this is a good way to practice. 

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my first entry. Keep updated for adventures of mine!