Albay in Google Earth

In the most recent Google Earth update last month, several towns and one city in the province of Albay now have high-resolution satellite imagery. These newly high-res areas include Ligao City, Guinobatan, Oas, Libon, Tiwi, Manito, Jovellar and Malinao. Camalig is also on high resolution but is partly hidden by clouds.

Among Albay's municipalities and cities, only Rapu-Rapu, parts of Polangui, and Pio Duran remain in low resolution. Legazpi City and Daraga first went high-res back in June 2006. The city of Tabaco and the towns of Sto. Domingo, Bacacay and Malilipot followed suit a few months later.

Browsing Google Earth is one of my favorite time wasters. Exploring both familiar and unfamiliar places through satellite imagery is what I call Google Earth sightseeing. It certainly provides a different perspective of the world around us. A great blog about Google Earth sightseeing is Vista Pinas, which features Filipino sights as seen from satellite images found in Google Earth and Google Maps.

Here are some screen grabs (click to enlarge) of newly high-res areas in Albay. Screen shots won't do justice, though. The best way to view these satellite images is through Google Earth.

Ligao City

Guinobatan

Manito

Jovellar

Tiwi

Maligayang ika-110 Araw ng Kalayaan, Pilipinas!

Photo by marbleplaty

Waiting for 'The Echo'

Now that post-production work on 'The Echo' has wrapped up according to director Yam Laranas' blog, I can't wait for the official release date of this film. They have already released the teaser poster last month as well as some stills and so far it looks great.

The anticipation is further heightened by two positive initial reviews of the Echo so far. Todd Brown of twitchfilm.net, in the first review of the film, takes note of the impressive cinematography and sound design. Beyond Hollywood describes 'The Echo' as "... many things - both art-house and commercial, both subtle and shocking — but one thing it certainly is — it’s a gem of a ghost story".

I loved 'Sigaw' when I saw it for the first time last year that I even blogged about it. I hope 'The Echo' will succeed in the cutthroat world of Hollywood and becomes another triumph of Pinoy talent in the international scene.

Update [06.13.08]:

The teaser trailer for 'The Echo' has just been released. Check it out:

Escape to Santa Magdalena

Day Two of our Sorsogon escapade initially didn’t look promising. Because of the typhoon brewing hundreds of miles out in the Philippine Sea (which also induced the thunderstorms of the previous day) we decided to give up our expedition to Tikling and Calintaan Islands, and opted for a jaunt in the beaches of Santa Magdalena instead. From among the many beaches in the town, we chose Olango Beach in Brgy. San Rafael.

After a butt-numbing 1-hr tricycle trip from Bulan to Santa Magdalena, we arrived at the beach just before lunch. We promptly feasted on our baon of inihaw na buraw (grilled mackerel..told you we couldn’t get enough of this. haha), sugpo (large shrimps) simmered in Sprite and garlic and ensaladang talong at kamatis (Eggplant and Tomato Salad) - both cooked by the harlequin vampire. Although we were all eating with bare hands while crouched on the sand under an abandoned cottage, it was a lunch fit for a king!
Olango beach is like a two-tone paradise - the sand is a mixture of golden and black, and the water is a blend of green and aquamarine. Because of the storm, large waves crashed relentlessly on the sandy shores, the force of which easily caught us off-guard and rolled us around like rag-dolls. We had a great time just rollicking in the sand and bobbing up and down with the waves while perched on a toy flotation device. The water was clean and crystal-clear. The clarity actually made it look deceptively shallow, but it was in fact a good 10-15 feet deep just a few meters off the shore.

We tried going to the off-shore reef to view the corals and probably ‘harvest’ some latô or edible seaweeds but the current was strong and it was getting late in the afternoon. Besides, because Santa Magdalena is quite far, we had to do an ‘Amazing Race’ run to the port of nearby Matnog town– the southernmost tip of Luzon - to catch the Samar-Manila bus that will get us back home. I guess Talie must have been thinking about us at that very minute because, whaddyaknow, up came a pink bus to take us home. Haha.
Even though we weren’t able to reach our goal of stepping foot on Tikling and Calintaan, our short but sweet Sorsogon escapade was well worth the time and aching muscles. I can’t wait to go back.

Check out some more snapshots from Olango:

To the ‘Moon’ and Back

I have always loved getting on the road and discovering new places away from the monotony of the familiar. That’s why I try to seize every chance that comes my way to go to places I’ve never been to. Often, even in the least well-known of destinations, there awaits a wealth of experiences. Last Saturday, our gang of misfits (Yona, Leonel, Peach, BT and Lyn) literally went to the ‘moon’.

Nope, not Earth’s satellite but the town of Bulan in Sorsogon (the Bicolano word for the moon is bulan). The trip almost didn’t push through because of last-minute hitches but our gung-ho group could not be stopped. With the goal of venturing into the treacherous San Bernardino Strait and on to the unspoiled Tikling and Calintaan Islands in Matnog, we journeyed on to Bulan, our first stop, even as a thunderstorm threatened. We arrived at Bulan early Saturday evening and trooped right away to the ancestral house of Yona’s mom.

Bulan is a surprisingly charming town with wide, well-lighted streets laid out in an orderly grid pattern. The place is very clean and tidy -- no wonder Bulan was feted as one of the cleanest and greenest local government units. The town feels like it is in the threshold of urbanization but still holds on to the leisurely and unhurried pace of provincial life. There’s even a quaint seaside park complete with hole-in-the-wall restos, promenades and cottages.

But what is definitely memorable about Bulan is the food. Because it is a coastal town facing the teeming fishing grounds of the Ticao Pass, Bulan is rich in marine products especially fresh seafood. At dinner, we couldn’t get enough of the huge steamed kasag (crabs) and inihaw na buraw (grilled mackerel) that Yona’s aunt prepared for us. The seafood was so good that the bulalo and chop suey (with shrimps) were all but ignored. We must have eaten too much kasag and buraw because we were pretty much stoned for the rest of the night. Haha.

We capped the night with a few beers and calamares at Sabang Resort, Bulan’s seaside park and a round of videoke back at Yona’s place. We all had a great time in Bulan and I definitely want to go back even if only for the seafood! :-)

Here are some more snapshots from Bulan:

3D Model: Beach House with Infinity Pool

The sweltering summer heat inspired me to create a new 3D Sketchup Model. This time, a modern Beach House complete with beachfront, garden and infinity pool. Like my other 3D models, I made this beach house without any clear vision in mind. Every detail came from scratch and just flowed naturally as I played around with Sketchup's myriad features. So please, be gentle to the newbie. :-s

The house is a two-story structure with an interesting interplay of geometric figures. I used stone and wood materials that give the house a solid but homey look. Since it's a beach house, I put in wide windows to let in the expansive views of the sea. I also used a lot of glass to take in as much natural light as possible. There's a wide multi-faceted bay window at the back to take advantage of the excellent beachfront location.

A flagstone deck connects the main house to the infinity pool with a whirlpool tub or jacuzzi. A balcony at the second floor is a perfect location for lounging around while watching the sun set or breathing in the sea breeze. I also inclued a lush tropical garden with fruit trees and gazebo to the left of the house.

Here are some more screenshots of my 3D Beach House model (click to enlarge):

Overhead view from the back, above the waterfront

View of the house from the beach

Deck and infinity pool

Back view

Right-side view

Left-side view

Next time I'll try to experiment with elevations and probably start doing interiors. This 3D Sketchup Model is available for download here. You can also view my other 3D models here.

My Mobile Phone History

I was browsing through a gadget blog when the idea for this post came to me. Since I've owned only a handful of mobile phones (which means I don't really have to write a very long post) and each mobile phone has a story behind it (no matter how inane, hehe) I figured I'd give it a shot. I'm not really a mobile phone freak. I had my first cellphone when I was already working (the only way to reach me before that was by calling our home phone or texting my Mom. lols), and I don't really change phones to keep up with trends. So, here's my mobile phone history (cue in the music, please lol)

Nokia 3210
Dec. 2003 - mid 2004
Current location: Unknown

My very first mobile phone was the heavy and chunky N3210. Yes, the phone that almost weighs like a brick and can actually double as a weapon. It was a hand-me-down from my brother. No, wait - I think I actually bought the damn thing from him. Haha. Although the phone served me well, I really hated lugging that brick around. Anyway, the phone must have really disliked me too because one rainy night while I was commuting to the office, It quietly slipped from my pocket and left me forever. So far, It's the only phone I lost. RIP.

Nokia 3330
Nov. 2004 - Dec. 2005
Current Incarnation: Ma's other mobile phone

I replaced the ill-fated N3210 with another hand-me-down, a 'pre-loved' Nokia 3330 bought for a princely sum of P1,000. Yeah, I know I'm a cheapskate. Haha. I went through a lot of good and bad times, upheavals and lulls, while I had this phone, all sheathed in black with an electric blue backlight. When I eventually decided to move on with a 'new' phone, my mom claimed it as her own. I still use it sometimes when I 'steal' load credits. *grin*

Motorola C650
Dec. 2005 - Oct. 2006
Current Location: Somewhere in Legazpi

My colleague Mydz (who by the way is the real cell phone aficionado, lols) sold this phone to me back in mid-2006, yet another pre-loved phone. It was my first color phone with camera. The phone was OK except for the stupid joystick that kept breaking. After spending too much for repairs, I just had to get rid of it. I don't remember to whom I had it sold, though.

Nokia 2100
Oct 2006 - Dec. 2006
Current Location: Unknown

I found myself phone-less after I disposed of the C650. With funds running low, I had to settle for a low-key, second-hand Nokia 2100 that my co-worker was selling. This phone is memorable because I had it with me while that deadly typhoon was raging back in Nov. 2006. My brother claimed it when I had a new phone. I don't know where it is now. lols

Nokia 6680
Dec. 2006 - Feb. 2008
Current Location: Somewhere in Greenhills

Mydz (again!) was the middleman when I bought this phone from my colleague's sister, who turned out to be a batchmate back in HS. I know, another second-hand phone. hehe. The N6680 was the most expensive phone I shelled out money for. I had to pay for it in installments though, so it wasn't really that heavy on the pocket. I had fun tinkering with the N6680 with its Symbian 60 OS, 1.3MP dual camera, and 3G-capabilities. The phone also served me well as an MP3 player. My only gripe was the phone's hefty size.

Nokia 5310 XpressMusic
Feb. 2008 - Present
Current Location: Somewhere under my pillow

I didn't really intend to replace the N6680 because it was still working fine. But a quick sidetrip to Greenhills woke the impulse buyer in me (that place is evil, lol). I was immediately attracted to the 5310 with its sleek design. Placing the 6680 and the 5310 side by side convinced me in favor of the latter. So I traded in the old and bulky for the sleek and slim. I'm glad I did because the phone is just perfect for me. It's lightweight and thin but durable and still offering the features I need especially the MP3 player and camera.

So there, you've just wasted a few minutes getting intimate with my mobile phone history. Haha. How about you, what is your mobile phone history?

Twenty Five

As of today, the 27th of April 2008, I have wasted 9,132 days or equivalent to 219,185 worthless hours or 789,067,050 squandered seconds. lol. Yes, today I turned 25. No big deal really. Except that I am now a quarter of a century old and I have approximately 45 years to go before I bite the dust (that is If I maximize the life expectancy of a Filipino male). Haha.

Kidding aside, I'm thankful that I've reached another milestone in my life. It's a special day not just for me but also for my eldest brother. We both share the same birthday with our departed great-grandfather. Happy Birthday, Kuya!

I'm also thankful that I'm in good health, my family is doing okay, I have good friends and even though life is still full of snags and hitches, I think I'm chuggin' along quite alright.

Here's hoping for the best in the next 25 years. Cheers!

***
A huge thanks to the entire USAP Marketing Department - Legazpi for the gifts, and also to Phoebe and Jirl for the birthday posts they wrote in their respective blogs. I'm touched. Hehe. Thank you. :)

Photo credit: xjaemaex

Every Day is Earth Day

They took all the trees
Put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Big Yellow Taxi

Joni Mitchell

I know it's a day late but caring for the earth should not be given attention for only one day. It's time to shake of the indifference because everyone's well-being is at stake, whether we care or not. If you want to start caring but don't know how, here are 50 Ways to Help the Planet.

Legazpi on SkyscraperCity's Banner

Legazpi City made it to SkyscraperCity Forum's banner for today, 17th of April 2008. SkyscraperCity, fondly called SSC by members, is a forum dedicated to architecture, development, urbanity, photography and travel with over 180,000 forum-ers from all over the globe.

SSC has a very vibrant Philippine sub-forum which has become a rich source of information about various developments in the country - from up-to-date news about upcoming skyscrapers in the Metro to spellbinding photos of unspoilt beaches and islands.

Legazpi is only the fifth city featured on SSC's banner, which changes daily. The photo, taken by Arnold Faller, is a panoramic view of Legazpi with the majestic Mayon Volcano in the background. You can view the original photo here.

PicLens: 3D Image Viewing Experience

If you love browsing through media-rich sites such as Flickr or deviantART, here's a cool add-on you can install in your browser to enrich your image browsing and viewing experience. Now you don't have to just click through online photo galleries or a boring parade of small thumbnails. PicLens by CoolIris transforms your browser into a cool, full-screen 3D picture wall.

I found the PicLens interface quite fast, easy-to-use and intuitive. When you install PicLens, it adds a small 'play' icon on the images which you can click to open the superb full-screen 3D experience. Here you can drag, click, scroll and zoom through images with ease.

PicLens view of My Flickr gallery

PicLens is best viewed on Mozilla Firefox but it is also available for Internet Explorer and Safari. It works with a growing number of websites including Facebook, Friendster, and Image Searches for Google, Yahoo, etc.

For Firefox Users, click here to install PicLens. Visit the PicLens website for more details.

Stoked at CWC

The CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) is only roughly two hours away from my city but today is only the first time we've been there. And we're glad we did. CWC rocks! To the uninformed, CWC is touted as the best wakeboarding cable park in the world today. This makes CWC and CamSur the mecca of wakeboarding enthusiasts from all over the globe.

Even though we had to wait a few hours for our turn on the cables and boards, it was all worth it. It's my first time to do extreme sports and I'm not even that athletic. Haha. We were stoked to see all those wakeboarding virtuosos doing their stuff on the lagoon with such skill and agility. But as newbies, we had to go through kneeboarding first. Kneeboarding "is an aquatic sport where the participant is towed on a buoyant, convex, and hydrodynamically shaped board at a planing speed".

It was fairly easy to do but quite tiring especially on the arms and legs. My first time on the kneeboard was a disaster. Haha. Let's just say I learned my lesson to keep my shorts tight enough. Hahaha. Too bad we only booked for an hour. But it was quite an experience and I definitely want to go back and finally learn how to wakeboard. Now that would be really cool.

Check out our photos at CWC:

Picturesque Paguriran Island

A little gem of an island is tucked away in a quiet corner of Bacon, Sorsogon - the picturesque Paguriran Island. Last Thursday, the Web Marketing Department went on a road trip to Paguriran. Of course, with the wanderlust itching in me, I had to be there too. Hehe. The Content Dev Dept. had been planning to visit Paguriran since mid-January, but a series of events kept us from going.

Paguriran is a tiny group of coral and rock islets located off the white sand beaches of Sawanga in Bacon. It is accessible from the adjacent beach by wading through crystal clear waters, the depth of which may range from ankle to waist depending on the tides. Within the island, coralline and granite crags enclose a shallow lagoon that is perfect for swimming (you have to watch out for sharp corals, though).


Meanwhile, the highest point of the island is a rocky promontory that provides a spectacular vista of the beach, the deep blue Albay Gulf, mainland Sorsogon and surrounding islands. It is said that the island used to be a sanctuary for marine turtles or pawikan. With its spectacular beauty, Paguriran Island is definitely a must-visit if ever you are in Sorsogon.

Check out my Paguriran Island set on Flickr for Hi-Res images.

Loco over the Chocolate Hills

No trip to Bohol is complete without the requisite visit to the Chocolate Hills. There are over 1,776 of these mysterious conical hills rising from an area of 50 square kilometers. It's almost an otherworldly sight if we weren't so familiar with it since we were kids leafing through textbook images of these famous hills.

Geologists have theorized that the hills were formed due to the uplift of coral deposits thousands of years ago and the result of the action of rainwater and erosion. It got it's famous name from the grass cover that turns brown during summer. The Chocolate Hills have been declared as a National Geologic Monument and is currently shortlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Meanwhile, Bicol also has geologic formations that resemble the Chocolate Hills when viewed from the air, though more irregular in shape. These hills are usually visible to airplane passengers especially when the plane is about to land at the Legazpi Airport. These undulating hills look like sand ripples to me rather than conical hills though. Here's a great photo of the undulating hills with Mayon Volcano in the background (click on image to enlarge)


Image courtesy of h8ns

Loboc: Feast for the Senses

Loboc Church Interiors & Chandelier

Laid back, off-the-beaten-track, and idyllic – these come to mind when one first sets foot in the town of Loboc, Bohol. A seemingly forgotten hamlet tucked between green hills and the mighty river, Loboc appears sleepy and forlorn. This impression of dusty inactivity is pleasantly dispelled with a visit to the Museo de Loboc, located behind the ancient limestone church of St. Paul. This is where the famed Loboc Children’s Choir holds their practices.

The Loboc Children's Choir practicing

Hearing their angelic voices wafting from out of the aged capiz windows makes one realize that Loboc has a vibrance all its own, evident in its musical traditions kept alive through the years. There’s something about Loboc that charms its way into one’s soul: a Pinoy pastoral scene that is at once both familiar and alien.

Loboc River Cruise

Meanwhile, just across the wide river from the church, the popular Loboc River Cruises carries tourists upstream in festive flat boats. In the river cruise, one can enjoy Bohol’s cuisine in sumptuous buffets while a bucolic musician croon a mix of old classics and Visayan love songs. The hour-long cruise takes tourists deep into the green heart of Loboc with occasional festive songs and dances along the riverbanks. Loboc - certainly a feast for the senses.

Lunch @ Loboc River Cruise

Bohol Wildlife: Tarsiers & Pythons

The tarsier is the indisputable star of Bohol's wildlife. The first time you see a live tarsier, it will certainly win you over with its sheer cuteness. Barely the size of a small kitten, the furry tarsier clings on twigs and branches, stoically gazing at the world with their huge eyes. They are actually nocturnal so that explains their somewhat lethargic behavior during daytime.

Here are some quick facts about the Tarsier from the WWF, where it is listed as one of the Top Ten Species to See:

• The Philippine tarsier (Tarsius Syrichta) is one of the smallest known primates, measuring about 6 inches in height (although they looked much smaller) and 115g to 130g in weight.
• It is said that the Philippine Tarsier has the largest eyes, proportionate to its body size, of any animal on the plant.
• The eyes of the Tarsier are huge, giving it very acute night vision that makes them good night hunters (they subsist on insects and small reptiles).
  
• The tarsier's eyes are fixed and unable to move like our eyes. To compensate, their heads can turn 180^o and the large ears are constantly moving and picking up sounds.
• It gets its name from its elongated tarsus or ankle bone.
• It is believed to be over 45 million years old, one of the oldest land species to continuously live in the Philippines.

From the undeniably cute to the downright creepy, Bohol has it. Another unique animal is stealing some of the limelight from the irresistible tarsiers - Prony the Python. Despite the funny name (derived from Sofronio, the owner's name), there's nothing to laugh about Prony, a ginormous, 24-foot reticulated python considered as the largest in captivity.

Captured from Bohol's rainforests back in 1996, Prony grew to such abnormal proportions because of the love and care provided by her (yes, Prony's a female) owners, who consider her as family. They actually feed her either a live pig or goat every month. There are souvenir photos available showing that grim scenario. We weren't able to see Prony in action because she just lay there like a huge shiny blob of snake leather barely moving a muscle. It would have been cool to see her devour a pig.

But on second thought, We'd rather not. Haha. We're perfectly fine with Prony just lying there peacefuly while MariMar entertains us with some Prony anecdotes in his/her baritone voice. (Right Talie? haha) I have seen the crocodile in Albay Parks and Wildlife gobble some chickens and it certainly isn't a pretty sight, LOLs.

Read more about Prony the Python here.

Breathtaking Bohol: Sanduguan

Quick brush-up on Philippine History: It was in Bohol were local chieftains Datu Sikatuna of Bool and Datu Sigala of Loboc performed the Sanduguan or El Pacto de Sangre with Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi back in the 16th century. The sanduguan or blood compact was a pact of friendship sealed in blood.

It is touted as the world's "first treaty of friendship between different races". The guys supposedly drank droplets of each other's blood mixed in with wine. A monument marks the spot where the blood compact was made. It is located along the road with a spectacular view of the sea.

There is actually a minor controversy over the exact location of the sanduguan. But I don't really care about exact locations. Besides, this supposed pact of friendship kind of paved the way for the Spanish to start their conquest of the Visayan islands. The rest is history, so they say.

Breathtaking Bohol: Panglao Island

Bohol – the mere mention of the name conjures textbook images of the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, tranquil beaches and the historic blood compact between Sikatuna and Legazpi. The mental images finally became tangible reality for my friends and I last March 8-10, 2008 when our Bohol escapade (which almost seemed doomed to indefinite postponement) eventually pushed through. There is much to see and experience in Bohol that it is but natural to have a series of posts dedicated to it.

First stop in breathtaking Bohol is the alluring Alona Beach in Panglao Island - where crystal-clear turquoise waters gently lap the creamy-white sandy shores. This is the quintessential tropical beach paradise. It is the perfect place to just forget all the cares in the world, bask in the sun with your toes in the sand, and let the rhythm of the waves lull you into a trance. As a beach person, I consider the Panglao escapade one of the best highlights of our trip

Of course, words wouldn't be enough. So, here are some snapshots of the Bohol Beach Club, Panglao Island.

Psycho Restart

Finally, some breathing space. To say that the past few weeks have been busy is kind of an understatement. It was quite hectic that I can't believe it's already the last week of the month. And this blog is still stuck in February, haha. It's funny my last post is Stop and Stare because my blog literally stopped on its tracks. But with the long holiday ahead, there's simply no excuse that this extended hiatus should continue. Have time, will blog!

Interestingly, restarting this blog on a Good Friday actually makes it come full circle because I started this blog on Good Friday two years ago. So there. Happy Birthday blog, I guess. hehe

Stop and Stare

Stop and stare
I think I'm moving, but I go nowhere
Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be
Oh, Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you're here not there
And you'd give anything to get what's fair
But fair ain't what you really need
Oh, can you see what I see

Stop and Stare
OneRepublic

I've Upgraded to Flickr Pro

I finally decided to get myself a Flickr Pro account. Why? For no serious reason, really. I've been a Flickr user since 2005 and I think it's still the best photo sharing website today. Unlike other services such as Photobucket or Imageshack, Flickr is not just another photo storage facility.

What I love about Flickr is the interaction with other users, from professional photographers to amateur shutterbugs like me. I get a kick out of random people appreciating my humble photos (all taken with an old point-and-shoot digital camera) by leaving a comment or even adding them to their 'Favorites'.

Flickr is also home to a mind-blowing collection of images from around the world (over 2 billion). I can waste hours just ogling at the impressive photos, wishing I can also take such awesome shots. There are also other cool stuff to do with my photos using third-party Flickr toys. By the way, I made that 'Dextr' logo using this Flickr logo maker.

Flickr Pro comes with additional features and privileges not available to free accounts, such as unlimited storage, unlimited sets, unlimited bandwidth, permanent archiving of high-res original images, ad-free browsing and sharing as well as account and photo stats. I like the last feature since I'm a bit of a stats freak.

Please do check out my Flickr photos. And if it isn't too much to ask, don't forget to leave a comment. hehe. ;-)

Back from Hiatus

No, It wasn't really a hiatus. I just didn't have the time and opportunity to blog about anything for the past few days, which all just flew by like a blur. Just to update this blog though, here's a recap of what transpired during the past week.

I was in Pasig together with my fellow team leads for a series of meetings with our company's VP for Marketing and SEO Manager plus the CEO himself, who all flew in from the US. As expected, it was a busy week, so this blog went on silent mode for the first half of the month.

Although we kind of 'dreaded' coming to Manila, I think the week went pretty well. I finally met some of the people I used to communicate with only through PMs and emails. We also had the chance to personally discuss a slew of work-related issues and plans with the upper management. And, best of all, we received a bunch of promises good news that everyone in our Legazpi office needed for them to get pumped-up and ready for this year's challenges and opportunities.

I hope this is a start of something good for all of us, especially for my colleagues who have been really working hard for the past year.

3D Model: House with Tiered Gabled Roof

Isometric View

As some of you may well know by now, I've always wanted to be an architect. As a kid, I used to sketch a lot of houses, from simple "bahay kubos" to grandiose mansions. I loved making my own floor plans where I can create habitable spaces for people. I even made an entire city plan complete with wide avenues and parks. Back then, I would consume several sheets of pad paper drawing my 'masterpieces'. Haha!

That interest has never really waned. That's why Google Sketchup is one of my favorite programs. SketchUp has allowed the kid in me to move on from doodles of houses to 3D models complete with architectural details and textures. Here's one of my recent 3D model creations on SketchUp: a two-storey house with a tiered gabled roof.

Detail of balcony, courtyard and fountain

It's best to call the style of this house as "eclectic", haha. Some highlights include decorative tiles and stucco walls reminiscent of Tuscan villas and a courtyard with fountain that evokes a Spanish-Mediterranean flavor. But the three-tiered slate roof has a slight modernistic touch.

I didn't really have a specific style in mind when I created this model. I worked on the portico first, experimented with the different textures and colors available, then it all took off from there. I think the result isn't that bad, hehe.

Here are some more screen grabs of this SketchUp 3D model.

View of garage and portico

Another view of the courtyard with fountain (and yeah, that's a cocker spaniel near the french doors, hehe)

Tiered gabled slate roof

View of the balcony and garage.

You can download a copy of this 3D Model from here. To view some of my earlier models such as the Legazpi Railway Station and St. Agnes' Academy, click here.