5/27/08

We were in Kalinga for less than a day and I had to conduct a seminar within that short 22 hours. Plus sleep and a whole lot of hours spent staring at rain.

These are the only “decent” ones I got.  I shall return to Kalinga.

These Little Piggies

Typical Cordillera

The Mighty Chico River

Kalinga or Bust!

5/22/08

It’s a shame I didn’t have the opportunity and time to shoot in Kalinga because of the torrential downpour and also because of work. It’s a good thing I’m coming back.The only chance to shoot presented itself on the way home because we got stuck in traffic because of the multiple landslides in Nueva Vizcaya.

I was basically shooting with my telephoto from the car window. Pretty bad photography if you ask me.

But it’s better than nothing right?

Girl

Boy

Girl + Boy

Oh well. There’s always a next time.

5/20/08

And so it rained during the much awaited Pahiyas. And it rained hard.

Business As Usual

Red

Green

How Can I Try To Explain?

Orange

Gossip Girls

Impervious

5/19/08

It’s about 4:00 AM. Suddenly, the van we are riding comes to a halt. Our softspoken driver quickly disengages his seatbelt and runs out of the van and disappears from our sight. We could only think that he has found people who we hope, know the proper directions. Meanwhile, all 14 of us are shushed into silence partly because of sleepiness but mostly because of the pitch black darkness of the world outside our metal contraption. I breaked the silence “This is how horror films about tourists start.”

We arrived at Lucban, Quezon at around 5:30 AM and already the locals were busy setting up all sorts of stages and platforms. For the people of Lucban, that day was even more important than Christmas of New Year. It was May 15 and it was Pahiyas.After having a hearty breakfast at Buddy’s we decided to scan the area for best vantage points to have an advantage over the hordes of tourists that are expected to pour later in the day. Amidst brooding skies, we were able to take some “street” shots which weren’t half-bad, we’d like to think.

Good Morning Lucban

Shin and a Regular Yum

Pansit at Buddy’s

Lonely Hearts Club

Lucban Longganisa

Ready to Fiesta

Silip

Hypercolorchicks

Candles

And then it rained.

5/13/08

Since it’s a gloomy day today I thought I’d post something restrained, almost monochromatic.

Blue

With Fuji Reala 100.

5/12/08

My roll wasn’t advancing as fast as I wanted so I gave flowers a chance. This just proves the adage “Never say never!”

Or maybe, just maybe, I was just testing the tones that Fuji Superia 400 brings. Excuses! Hahaha!

Hibiscus rosa sinensis

Looks Like Lillies (Hey that’s 3 “L’s”)

Summer Flower (Hey that rhymes!)

Matang Aswang

Okay, the last one isn’t really a flower. While trekking towards the light house at Apo Reef, our enthusiastic guide pointed out that these seeds are the ones used for making bracelets for babies to ward off evil forces. Although the seeds are already very hard, they are still boiled for about 4 hours to achieve a very plastic and beady quality.

5/11/08

Apo Reef is located right beside an international shipping lane. Although most modern water vessels are now equipped with state-of-the-art sonar systems, having a functional lighthouse still helps, especially smaller, legacy boats.

One More Lighthouse

Imposing

Layering

Mangrove Mania

Shot with a Canon EOS Rebel 2000 + Fuji Superia 400 + 17-40.

5/10/08

There’s been a serious lack of color in Pinas or Bust! lately. Enough with the monochromes!

From the town of Sablayan, Apo Reef is accessed via a 2-hour boat ride. Apo Reef is one of the most imporant reef systems in the Philippines because of its sheer size and diversity. Home to numerous pawikans and migratory birds, utmost conservation practices are implemented by the ecotourism officers in the island.

They even imposed a lights out on us and “almost” cut short our socials. We learned that suppressing laughter whilst spontaneously getting soused with cheap gin is a  feat exercised by the most motivated drinkers!

Oh and planktons glow like LED lights in the water. Fuckin cool.

Following shots were shot with my handy Canon and Fuji Superia 400.

The Fallen

Talisay

The Lagoon

Blue Crush

Roof of a Reef

APO REEF or BUST!

5/9/08

The Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm is unique because it is a functional community which doesn’t feel like a place for criminals. Well, at least in the minimum security levels. When the inmates prove themselves as “changed men” they graduate to minimum security and are placed with menial jobs like farming, carpentry and whatnot.  Certainly better than Munti.

5/8/08

Located within the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

Again, with the Kodak BW400CN.