A Canadian who can’t speak French, Chinese by heritage, Filipino by birth. m: edric.chen@gmail.com Heb 11:6Tumblr (3.0; @edricchen)http://theedricchen.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5405iXyki1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5405iXyki1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5405iXyki1qa7afro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>A lot of things are too good to be true.</p> <p><em>—<a href="http://alysha.tumblr.com">Alysha</a> in a sequin jacket.</em></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/24419245263http://theedricchen.com/post/24419245263Tue, 05 Jun 2012 04:12:54 +0800Alysha Nettlos angelesPortraitPhotographyRooftop<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5327hy9j81qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5327hy9j81qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://meetmy-tommygun.livejournal.com">Camille.</a></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/24394294059http://theedricchen.com/post/24394294059Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:48:15 +0800Camille PilarPortraitManila<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4zd1gvZZH1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4zd1gvZZH1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Well, come into my dreams.</p> <p><em>—<a href="http://alysha.tumblr.com">Alysha</a> in a long black dress.</em></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/24251723823http://theedricchen.com/post/24251723823Sat, 02 Jun 2012 16:49:54 +0800Alysha Nettlos angelesPortraitphotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4xepby9bb1qa7afro1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4xepby9bb1qa7afro2_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Sometimes, we all want to hide from the rest of the world.</p> <p><em>—<a href="http://alysha.tumblr.com">Alysha</a>.</em></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/24186817217http://theedricchen.com/post/24186817217Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:34:45 +0800Alysha NettPortraitLos Angelesphotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4vlehc21h1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4vlehc21h1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>It’s all a test. That is the bitter truth.</p> <p><em>—<a href="http://reeseypeasy.com">Reese</a>.</em></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/24120911532http://theedricchen.com/post/24120911532Thu, 31 May 2012 16:47:55 +0800Reese LansanganManilaPortraitphotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4tquydZSt1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Framing <a href="http://alysha.tumblr.com">Alysha</a>.</p>http://theedricchen.com/post/24054966124http://theedricchen.com/post/24054966124Wed, 30 May 2012 16:42:03 +0800Alysha NettDouble ExposurePortraitLos AngelesLAphotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4rn1ntfGu1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Isn’t it surprising how life is so different from how we perceive it to be? Or how we want it to be?</p> <p><em>—<a href="http://kryzuy.com">Kryz</a> under the stairs.</em></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23988875025http://theedricchen.com/post/23988875025Tue, 29 May 2012 17:00:08 +0800Kryz UyLevi'sManilaPortraitphotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4mxd5dkLp1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>42nd St and 7th Ave.</p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23797590724http://theedricchen.com/post/23797590724Sat, 26 May 2012 22:53:29 +0800nyctravelphotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4kfjm8kdv1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4kfjm8kdv1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Me (Left) and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twYinl4eQNs">Rico Blanco</a> (Right).</p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23725704990http://theedricchen.com/post/23725704990Fri, 25 May 2012 17:01:10 +0800Rico BlancoFilmManilaphotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4ijj3Jo2i1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4ijj3Jo2i1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4ijj3Jo2i1qa7afro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Some things we never lose, no matter how hard we try.</p> <p><em>—<a href="http://misspopquiz.tumblr.com">Raiza</a> wearing a hoodie.</em></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23663954145http://theedricchen.com/post/23663954145Thu, 24 May 2012 17:02:23 +0800Raiza PopquizManilaPortraitphotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4g0k1hxDB1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4g0k1hxDB1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4g0k1hxDB1qa7afro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4g0k1hxDB1qa7afro4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>A lot of times, I wish for outcomes which could not be for me. In the end, nobody really knows.</p> <p><em>—<a href="http://meetmy-tommygun.livejournal.com">Camille</a> in black and white.</em></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23601045652http://theedricchen.com/post/23601045652Wed, 23 May 2012 17:01:00 +0800Camille Pilarpilar pedrosa pilarManilaPortraitphotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4ctfiYx9D1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4ctfiYx9D1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>The view from the hotel room. I had to sleep on the floor but it was worth it.</p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23536358269http://theedricchen.com/post/23536358269Tue, 22 May 2012 17:01:51 +0800NYCTravelEmpire State Buildingphotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m49alsMsvH1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m49alsMsvH1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m49alsMsvH1qa7afro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m49alsMsvH1qa7afro4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m49alsMsvH1qa7afro5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://paulhighness.com">Paul.</a></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23476194479http://theedricchen.com/post/23476194479Mon, 21 May 2012 20:03:38 +0800Paul JataynaManilaFashionphotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v05pqTvp1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v05pqTvp1qa7afro5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v05pqTvp1qa7afro4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v05pqTvp1qa7afro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://kryzuy.com">Kryz</a> in a sea of green.</p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23220875373http://theedricchen.com/post/23220875373Thu, 17 May 2012 17:01:06 +0800Kryz UyManilaFashionphotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42hxsYfLq1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42hxsYfLq1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42hxsYfLq1qa7afro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42hxsYfLq1qa7afro4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42hxsYfLq1qa7afro8_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42hxsYfLq1qa7afro9_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42hxsYfLq1qa7afro5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42hxsYfLq1qa7afro6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42hxsYfLq1qa7afro7_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>May 14th was probably the first and last time I would ever witness a graduation ceremony at one of the Ivies. 5,858 students gathered under a gloomy sky at the Franklin Field for Penn’s 256th Commencement. When I first entered the stadium, I was in awe. I’ve never seen anything like it in a university.</p> <p>Penn is really a forward-thinking school. Somehow, the few hours I’ve spent in the institution has really opened up my mind. Apart from this event, I’ve visited my brother twice while he was still a student. To anyone who thinks education is equal or relatively similar across universities, I can assure you it is not. People who are fortunate enough to study at a great institution are set up to be innovators or to simply be the best in their chosen fields.</p> <p>Environment matters. Diversity and merit are highly valued at Penn. I believe there are more universities like it but there are also so much more which are not. Penn has an accomplished and good-natured president in the form of Amy Gutmann. She reminds of J.K. Rowling without the English accent. I almost wanted to believe that I was witnessing a graduation at Hogwarts.</p> <p>Another surprise was the commencement speaker. His name is Geoffrey Canada. He works to end poverty by giving disadvantaged kids in Harlem a chance to finish school and to do better in life. That’s brave. The one thing I remember most from him is when he said that the losing team needs winners to continue the fight. Yes, the war to end poverty is a losing fight. The fight to give quality education to all children, not only in America but across the world, is a losing fight.</p> <p>Many of the battles we would rather fight are those where we have the advantage. We all want to win. We all want to be praised for being at the top of our fields. We all want the accolades. There is a lot of discouragement being thrown at people who choose to walk the narrow path. You’d usually be called names or be thought as taking life too seriously.</p> <p>I don’t mean to sound like a clanging cymbal but doing good that will change the world for the better is meant to be hard. It’s also meant to win in the end. Everything society is built upon is for the common good. If people with leverage will not have faith that good will win, then the world is lost.</p> <p>When someone purposely takes all the distractions of life away, what he will see is that evil is winning. What this world needs are people who will work together to make things right. In the words of Amy Gutmann: “Cultivate beauty; Create community; Build Harmony.”</p> <p>Heroes are made only when they are up against insurmountable odds and somehow, just somehow, their side manages to win in the end.</p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23157628888http://theedricchen.com/post/23157628888Wed, 16 May 2012 17:01:00 +0800UPennGraduationTravelStoryboardFamilyphotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v0f6vVwV1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v0f6vVwV1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v0f6vVwV1qa7afro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v0f6vVwV1qa7afro4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v0f6vVwV1qa7afro5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://reeseypeasy.com">Reese.</a></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/23095978622http://theedricchen.com/post/23095978622Tue, 15 May 2012 17:01:00 +0800Reese LansanganManilaFashionPortraitphotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3tcfkHvZO1qa7afro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3tcfkHvZO1qa7afro4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3tcfkHvZO1qa7afro1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3tcfkHvZO1qa7afro2_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3tcfkHvZO1qa7afro5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Most things are so near. It doesn’t take a adult to figure out how twisted this world has become. It does, however, take a child to point out how far we are from the right road. It’s so easy to tell ourselves that we are on the right one. After a little while, the telling signs we used to be so concerned about become another nuisance and consequently become invisible in the eyes of our hearts.</p> <p><a href="http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma05/dulis/poetry/Cummings/cummings2.html"><strong>(i do not know what it is about you that closes</strong><br/><strong> and opens;only something in me understands</strong><br/><strong> the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)</strong><br/><strong> nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands</strong></a></p> <p>What are you after in life? The only thing this child can tell you is that life itself is enough. What are you excited about? If a rose in full bloom is to you just a statement of fragile love, then the life you seek is empty in and of itself. It rests only upon using things to convey your innermost being. Do you not see the intrinsic beauty of the rose itself? Would you not dare uncover your own?</p> <p>Preoccupation is the occupation of those who are afraid to live. I seek not to be loved for what I do but to simply love and do. If it takes a lot of masks to be seen as befitting of anything, then I would rather be the monster I truly am. </p> <p>When you tell yourself that you must acquire something or someone to fill a void in your soul, you are making an excuse. You are telling the world that a wrong can be made right with just an object that sparks your desire. It is an unfair exchange for no other but you. The only thing you possess is intangible. After all, only the choices you make speak of who you are.</p> <p>That is why it is important to gauge the things that make us happy. And, it is most important to be joyful in any circumstance.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.mrbauld.com/ee.html">To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.</a></strong></p> <div><em>—<a href="http://meetmy-tommygun.livejournal.com">Camille</a> as herself.</em></div>http://theedricchen.com/post/23030681288http://theedricchen.com/post/23030681288Mon, 14 May 2012 17:02:09 +0800Manilacamille pilarportraite e cummingsphotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3uzllyY1C1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3uzllyY1C1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://kryzuy.com">Kryz</a>, her shoes and my socks.</p>http://theedricchen.com/post/22893228328http://theedricchen.com/post/22893228328Sat, 12 May 2012 17:01:29 +0800Kryz UyFashionManilaphotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3rp6atTHv1qa7afro1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3rp6atTHv1qa7afro3_r3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Beauty can be blinding.</p> <p><em>—<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/jesYCH">Jessica</a> outside. Made possible by <a href="http://www.philstar.com/articlelistbyauthorname.aspx?authorname=bea%20j.%20ledesma">Bea</a>.</em></p>http://theedricchen.com/post/22833518332http://theedricchen.com/post/22833518332Fri, 11 May 2012 17:02:27 +0800Jessica YangManilaPortraitBea Ledesmaphotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3roctOqEf1qa7afro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3roctOqEf1qa7afro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://misspopquiz.tumblr.com">Raiza</a> hides among the leaves.</p>http://theedricchen.com/post/22771938559http://theedricchen.com/post/22771938559Thu, 10 May 2012 17:01:45 +0800Raiza PopquizManilaPortraitphotography