Two photos taken 20 years and 30 lbs. apart :)(Nope, I'm not blaming the cake for that.)
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may have noticed that I rarely place photos of myself or my family members (especially family members, and the kids). I am guessing this is partly because of having been spoiled during my magazine years with art directors who airbrushed, tweaked, and polished every stray blemish, excess flab, or wayward strand that whatever photo of myself came out in print was guaranteed to be flawless as realistically as possible. (And yes—consequently, I've had to deal with "Oh, you look fatter in person than in your picture in the magazine" side comments in the past.)
These days, I have to do my own airbrushing with the modest skills I've learned using Gimp.
Another reason for not uploading too many self-portraits is that I may have developed a defense mechanism of sorts of wanting to be read, understood, and scrutinized for my personality and the output of my brain—a.k.a. the "real me"—versus the color of my hair and skin.... I only have New York job interviews to blame for this budding insecurity.
Still, I couldn't help but share these two photos taken 20 years and about 30 lbs. in between. I find them somewhat similar, because of the pose, and interesting because my younger self can look like my daughter, if I had one.
These days I can empathize better with women who yearn for the poreless skin of their youth, that once smooth exterior/posterior, and that overall physical creaselessness of ages past.
It look like you are still sporting the same haircut. :P
ReplyDelete"I only have New York job interviews to blame for this budding insecurity."
ReplyDeleteIntriguing statement naman. I would think New York, of all places, would be color-blind...?
Nice pictures though...
Hi, Mich! You're right, haha :)
ReplyDeleteChinachix, well, NYC is a real melting pot of different people, and most are open-minded and impervious to one's ethnic background, as everyone comes from somewhere outside somehow. That's why I rarely ever play the discrimination card. Maybe once (or twice?) I reluctantly realized in the aftermath that the interview focused more on where I was from, how I looked Korean vs Filipino, etc. versus the job at hand :)
I know what you mean! For the first time in my life, I've become conscious of little laugh lines around my eyes! I have to seriously admire actresses who are in their 40s and so completely tight and toned. Takes money to maintain - money time and so much effort! Teehee! Let's keep our fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteHi, Anna! Oo nga! :p I saw a feature on Cheri Gil and Facial Care and it made me think about Marie France (same company). Is it time to invest? You're right, magastos haha! It doesn't help that I've gotten so lazy with my skincare regimen.
ReplyDeleteWell, we're talking about the USA here. Though they say they're the land of the free and everyone can come on over, I've always heard from my friends who went/lived there that racism is everywhere.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I can be racist, too. Sadly. I found this out about myself when I went to London and found myself annoyed at/afraid of/offended by certain people just because of how they looked like and what they wore. Bad, I know. I'm working on it!!!
Meanwhile, Mariel, you look so CUTE! Are you and Alvin going to make babies soon?
Yep, that's a cute girl. Tempus fugit, and we are no longer bulilit.
ReplyDeleteHi, Neighbor! Um, after boarding a plane with a chorus of three crying babies on an 11-hour flight ...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Papa! What's tempus fugit?:)
Am in my early 20s and I'm starting to see signs of age. :) I don't know if I can blame the society's obsession with youth for this, but I already yearn for the taut fresh skin and very active metabolism of my teenage years. :P (Of course, I'd always blame med school for the wrinkles and extra pounds. I should be smiling more instead, methinks.)
ReplyDeleteBut you look pretty even without the airbrush!! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso.. I see the mole!! Love it! :)
Thanks, Riz! :) I used to have more moles on the face, but had them removed 10 years ago.
ReplyDeleteBy the way I've meaning to ask you where you bought your Black & Decker handvac in Manila?
for some reason, i think i'm more comfortable now the way i look than i was when i was a kid. the insecurities are still there, of course (i think it's normal naman to have them) pero i think i looked like hell when i was a kid.
ReplyDeleteand it really helps not be around people who make you feel bad about how you look like all the time. i remember when i was a kid, i had classmates who always would pick on how i looked like-- my hair, the blackheads on my nose, my weight. and these are my friends, ha.
teka, i think that deserves a blog entry of its own. haha!
Hi I just happen to land in your blog from your post in Inquirer and this article caught my attention. You're still cute! Love your pics. And did you study in St. Scho?I did so I recognized your uniform :) Thanks for sharing and I'm not following your blog! And you're not fat!
ReplyDeleteHi, Lipstickaddict! Thanks for dropping by here and the happy comments! :) I went to Holy Family Angeles City, sister school of St. Scho :)
ReplyDeleteHi Mariel! Thanks for the comments! I made a typhographical error on my comment, I meant was I am NOW FOLLOWING your blog LOL!! so sorry!! :) I see, that's why it's a sister school of St. Scho, coz that's where I studied from Grade School to High School, in Manila :)
ReplyDeleteOh, no worries! I figured later on you meant 'now' :) Thanks! Yup! I was supposed to go to St. Scho Manila also for high school, where my cousin transferred, but had to find a dorm so I went to St. Mary's in QC instead :)
ReplyDeleteOh I see :) Thanks for sharing :) See yah around and keep up the good articles :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
ReplyDelete