8/3/08

I have not done anything this weekend but to waste away.

Grid

It all started when I got home at around five in the morning from a long fun shoot and an early morning breakfast at RJ Bulalohan at Mandaluyong. It had been a cold, damp night and the chilly wind suggested it would drag on to the next days.

My waking hours were spent aimlessly wandering online, clicking the remote and for lack of a cool metaphor, sleeping.

Sometimes, the sun would show but it would soon be eclipsed by the thick, grey clouds hovering, tagging along the usual rain and the wet breeze.

Movement is not an option.

P.S. At the attempt of doing something remotely productive, I walked over to the pool and shot an image of this leaf.

8/1/2008

The light leaks in my place.
Dishes unwashed.
It’s 8:00 PM.
Cup noodles for one.

7/23/08

It gives a different mood. Suddenly, it’s not summer anymore.

Husky

There’s A Trail

7/21/08

The first time I went to Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte I told myself that I would go back. And indeed in less than 2 months, I found myself seated near the boat’s bow getting splashed by the relentless waves. The sun was beaming gloriously and it promised to give us an awesome weekend.

Calaguas makes me happy. We have found a happy beach.

Mahabang Buhangin

Remnants

Perfect

I will be back!

Calaguas or Bust!

7/17/08

Rain is pounding on my window
Like an unwanted visitor
Resented, unwelcome and obtrusive
But still it pounds.

Hello milk tea.

6/24/08

After a whole day of encircling some of Coron’s snorkeling sites and islands, we set camp at one of the islands about two hours away from the port. The guidebooks call it Tapachelen Island but the locals know it as Papachelen. I guess the locals are more credible.

Sorry for the heavily cliched sunset photos.

Glint

Boatmen

The Burning Bush

Hovering

This would be the last post featuring my digital images from Coron. Up next, film!

6/23/08

One of the best things about traveling to Coron by ferry is that upon waking up, you are greeted by these huge, imposing limestone cliffs as is announcing that you have arrived.

Crowded House

Naval Blockade

Cliffhangers

Front Row

Coron ROCKS!

6/10/08

Sagada is one of the most special places for me. And yet, I have never photographed it the way I want to. There’s this vision in my head that I just can’t seem to achieve. And so I just tell myself maybe when I return, it will come to me. Until then, here’s what I managed.

Fog Lights

Morning Star

Estribo

Home Court

Spindle

Dalawa

Sagada Weaving

Haloblak

Makamkamlis

SAGADA or BUST!

6/5/08

Haven’t been able to post much for the past three weeks ’cause I’ve been busy with school during the weekdays and traveling during the weekends.

Two weeks ago, I found myself on a 7-hour bus ride to Daet, Camarines Norte. After backing out from the first Calaguas trip due to a non-negotiable business meeting (I need money too.), I finally fixed my schedule to accommodate this up-and-coming island.

We reached Daet a bit early so our guide first brought us to their house where Blaise and I did nothing but smoke cigarettes and drink instant coffee. The others went to the market. The remainder tried to catch sleep. One walked away to explore.

I’m Walking Away

And so in between drags I managed to get some shots.

Poised

Morning Light

From Daet, we were soon rolling on to the town of Vinzons, of which the Calaguas group of islands are actually a part of. There we hopped on a good-sized fishing boat and journeyed on to our final destination, Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas.

Blue Over Green

Mt. Bagacay

I would say that Calaguas would be one of the best beaches I have been to recently. The sand is really, really, really fine and soft. And no, because everybody does this, I will not compare it to Bora. We arrived during a soft drizzle amidst dark, gray clouds but still the water was glowing with a light blue tint, similar to a resort swimming pool. And when we arrived, the beach, the beautiful beach, was all ours.

Fuckin’ amazing!  (Translation: Putsa ang ganda!)

Big Foot

Guarding The Beach

Beach!

Perfect Waters

Calaguas or Bust!

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!