World's Reflection

Photoshoot for MS

2011-08-14T15:48:00.004+08:00

Tarak Ridge

2011-08-14T15:27:00.005+08:00

TARAK RIDGE

Mariveles, Bataan

Jump off point: Brgy. Alas-asin, Mariveles

LLA: 14°30.357′N, 120°30′E, 1,006 MASL (ridge); 1,130 MASL (peak)

Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days, 5-6 hours

Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3

BACKGROUND

You may actually choose to scale the very summit of Mariveles, but it is Tarak Ridge, on Mt. Mariveles’ west face, that has gained much attention. Its craggy landscape, sharp rocks, and steep location may have given rise to its name, Tarak, which is somewhat of a cross between ‘Tabak’ (hunting knife) and ‘Tarik’ (steep). There is a scenic, 270-degree view of Bataan which includes the islands of Corregidor and neighboring islands, as well as Manila Bay all the way to Cavite.

The trail is divided into two: a first part involves wide trails, at times dense grasslands – which are during summer months burned in kaingin. The typhoons in 2006 damaged sections of the trail, including one which now needs the assistance of a rope to be crossed. This first part takes three hours and ends in Papaya river – a rest station and water source. Then the next part involves woodlands, steep trails in which you can hold on to branches and roots for support. After 90 minutes, you’ll find yourself in Tarak Ridge. Set up camp here, then go for the optional assault on Mt. Tarak (El Saco and Tarak peaks). By the time you return, it’s approaching dusk. The sunset is colorful and dramatic.

info c/o PinoyMountaineer.com (http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/08/tarak-ridge-1130.html)

Photoshoot for Chloe

2011-08-14T15:14:00.002+08:00

Stylist: Chloe Bejar

Make-up: Chloe Bejar

Model: Irene Aquino

Clothes: Oxygen

Sentinel Prime

2011-08-14T15:07:00.001+08:00

Mt. Manalmon

2011-08-14T14:18:00.008+08:00

MT. MANALMON

San Miguel, Bulacan

Major jump-off: Sitio Madlum, Brgy. Sibul, San Miguel

LLA: 15°15.11'N; 121°1.22' E; 196 MASL

Days required / Hours to summit: Half-day / 1 hour

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2

BACKGROUND

Part of the historical Biak-na-Bato National Park is an outdoor destination called Mt. Manalmon, in San Miguel, Bulacan. Although merely a hill, strictly speaking, Mt. Manalmon possesses novel landscapes, including those of Madlum River, whose rock formations compensate for an otherwise unremarkable environ. Also, nearby sites such as the Bayukbok Caves (a 2-hr exploration from the River) and Madlum cave (historical due to an 18th century relic) can be coupled with a trip to Mt. Manalmon to maximize the Biak-na-Bato experience. Also, complementing Mt. Manalmon is another elevated ground called Mt. Gola; instead of turning right at the bifurcation, going left would lead to this peak, which is also a good vantage point.

info c/o pinoymountaineer.com (http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/10/mt-manalmon-196.html)

Discovery Weekend

2011-08-14T14:04:00.004+08:00

Lent 2011

2011-08-14T13:29:00.007+08:00

MMJ&R Wedding

2011-08-14T12:50:00.007+08:00

GK Team Annual Planning: Somewhere in Visayas

2011-08-14T11:24:00.015+08:00

Mt Pinagbanderahan

2011-08-14T10:45:00.010+08:00

Mt. Pinagbanderahan, a historic site which literally means "where the flag was hoisted" - alluding to its significant role as a beacon where the Philippine flag was raised in the Philippine Revolution - and thereafter it witnessed the American and Japanese flags being raised in its heights before finally the Philippine flag reclaimed its proper place in 1946. The historical relevance, is therefore undeniable. At 366 MASL, it takes 1-2 hours to climb up the flight of stairs that leads to its peak.

The peak is s a perfect vantage point to view Mt. Banahaw (W), the islands of Marinduque and Mindoro (S), as well as the major towns and cities of Quezon, like Lucena, Pagbilao, and Tayabas. Moreover, environmentalists have acclaimed the excellent biological virtues of this peak, saying that it is a unique example of a lowland rainforest and that the karst vegetation found in the hills.

Beach Wedding...

2011-03-04T18:44:00.005+08:00

GK Mural Painting

2011-03-04T18:32:00.005+08:00

Gawad Kalinga (GK), which means to "give care" in Filipino, is officially known as the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nation-building movement.

In the Philippines, Gawad Kalinga is building empowered communities by people with faith and patriotism; driven by a culture of caring and sharing, dedicated to eradicate poverty and restore human dignity. more on (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gawad_Kalinga)

By Rosch

2011-03-04T18:22:00.004+08:00

Models: Christine and Maica Hermoso

Stylist: Rosch Flores

Makeup Artist: Harman

Mt. Marami Climb # 5

2011-01-21T01:22:00.009+08:00

MT. MARAMI

Maragondon, Cavite

Jump-off point: Brgy. Ramirez, Magallanes, Cavite

LLA: 405 MASL

Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 4-6 hours

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3

If Pico de Loro were a blockbuster movie, its sequel would be Mt. Marami, set in the same location and sharing the same characteristics. Matching Pico de Loro's rocky tower are two grand structures, surging up from the slopes: the summit of Mt. Marami, a massive, monumental composite of rocky pillars; and its guardian, the smaller Silyang Bato.

for more details visit pinoy mountaineer site @

http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/09/mt-marami-405.html

Nazareno 2011

2011-01-18T00:32:00.014+08:00

My most expensive photo shoot so far. These shots cost me my Omnia 2...

Bicol Trip 2: (This is not the last time for sure)

2010-12-26T17:02:00.015+08:00

We've visited Bicol again for my friend's wedding. We left Manila at around 9PM of December 18 aboard Penafrancia's Lazy Boy Bus and arrived Naga at around 5:30AM the next day. We've booked ourselves for 3 days 2 nights in CBD Plaza Hotel (http://www.cbdplazahotel.com/) in Naga which is right across the Bus Terminal. The Hotel is clean, modern and best of all, cheap. I paid Php 1,200 for the entire duration of my stay there.

Day 1: CWC: Lago Del Rey

Day 2: Wedding & Party!!!!

Day 3: Naga Tour, CWC: Wicker Park and Cable Park

Naga Cathedral

Old Penafrancia Church

CWC: Cable Park

CWC: Winch Park

SM Naga

I'll be back in Bicol this coming February 2011. I will stay in CWC, then probably we'll have a sidetrip to Sorsogon to see the gentle giants of the sea.

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-22T18:30:00.002+08:00

Mt Cristobal Climb #4

2010-12-22T18:06:00.007+08:00

MT. CRISTOBAL

Dolores, Quezon; San Pablo and Nagcarlan, Laguna

Major jump-off: Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Dolores, Quezon

LLA: 14.064° N 121.428° E, 1470 MASL (600m gain)

Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 4-5 hours

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3

http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/09/mt-cristobal-1470.html

The greenest and cleanest trail I've ever seen in all my climbs.

Quality Time with Family

2010-11-10T08:55:00.013+08:00

Wedding

Mt. Samat

Sisiman

All Saint's Day

Villa Escudero

Anawangin

Pico De Loro Climb #3

2010-10-22T13:29:00.010+08:00

Ternate, Cavite

Major jump-off: Magnetic Hill, Ternate

LLA: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E; 664 MASL

Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 4-5 hours

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3

Centuries ago, the Spaniards aboard their galleons to Manila Bay noticed the form of a giant parrot, perched in the forested mountains in Cavite. They named it "Pico de Loro" - "Parrot's Peak" Today, mountaineers who visit Pico de Loro discover that it is as enchanting as its name. High on Cavite's highest point, they could behold the rocky tower that the Spanish sailors once saw as the parrot's beak, and they could gaze towards South China Sea where the galleons once sailed, all the way to the historic island fort of Corregidor. Gusts of sea breeze reach the peak, refreshing hikers after a four-hour climb. The peak's rocky outcropping is dramatic, and sharply contrasts with the plains of Cavite and the waters of South China Sea.

info from: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com

This is so far the best climb I've ever had...

My new tent assembled for the first time

The Birthday boy, Charlie...

Night Shot of the Summit

Night shot: view from the campsite.

Campsite 1

Campsite 2

Butane stove.

Dinner

Summit @ night

Picture taken after I've dropped my Camera

Water or Vodka???

Campsite

My Vantage point from the summit. In front of me is the Monolith. You can climb up to the monolith's top if you have enough upper body strength to pull yourself up the wall using a rope...

Daybreak on top of the summit

Friends who dared to climb the Monolith

Team Pico De Loro: Take 20

Water Falls...

Panorama shots

Mount Makulot Climb #2

2010-09-28T15:45:00.009+08:00

Mount Macolod, sometimes called Mount Makulot is a mountain located in north-west of Cuenca, Batangas, Philippines.

This mountain is a tourist attraction to the municipality. The mountain is about 600 m (2,000 ft) tall and it is also located next to Taal Lake.Mount Makulot, a 600-meter (2,000 feet) high volcanic rock wall, is said to be part of Taal Volcano’s crater rim. Some scientists[who?] contend that Taal Volcano was once a massive volcano before a violent eruption caused the slopes to cave in. This caused water to rush in, forming a lake that left only the tip of the previous peak exposed, and that is now known as the current Volcano Island. The slopes of the previous volcano now formed ridges surrounding the lake, with Mount Makulot as the highest volcanic cone on the south side, Tagaytay Ridge on the north, and at lower level, the lakeshore settlements surrounding Taal Lake.

Start of our hike to the summit of Mt. Makulot. We've started at around 1800h and we've reached the top at around 2000h.

Dinner

Birthday Celebration

Foggy Camp Site @ 0530h

Breakfast!!!

Margaux Cortez in Indios Bravos

2010-06-21T11:01:00.002+08:00

Mt Sembrano

2010-05-20T23:36:00.004+08:00

Metro Manila Skyline

2010-05-16T22:08:00.004+08:00

New Hobby (April 2010)

2010-05-16T22:00:00.002+08:00

Lent 2010 (Orion, Bataan)

2010-05-16T21:52:00.004+08:00

Excerpt from my Lent 2010 Album

Davao ICON (February 2010)

2010-05-16T21:46:00.002+08:00

Anawangin January 2010

2010-05-16T21:37:00.002+08:00

Cycling Time Trial Tournament

2010-01-31T22:30:00.008+08:00

Cycling Time Trial Tournament was held in Macapagal Avenue today. Here are some of my shots...

Team Franzia

2010-01-09T22:38:00.005+08:00

The Black Nazarene is a life-sized, dark-colored, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ held to be miraculous by many people, especially its Filipino devotees. Its original carver is an anonymous Mexican carpenter, and the image was transported by a galleon from Mexico. The image is currently enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines where novena celebrations are held every Friday throughout the whole year. Roman Catholic tradition holds that the Black Nazarene came from a boat that caught fire, turning it from its original white into black or charred complexion. The Black Nazarene is carried into the streets for procession in a "Caroza" or carriage.

The feast of the Most Holy Black Nazarene is celebrated every 9th of January while novena masses begin on the first Friday day of the year, in honor of its weekly novena mass held every Friday. During the annual public procession, only the body of the Black Nazarene is displayed in procession to the public, while the original head portion of the statue is retained in the Basilica of the Black Nazarene within the high altars of the church. The Black Nazarene is also famously noted for its devotees who walk the procession streets barefoot, without shoes or sandals as to imitate Jesus Christ on his way to Mount Calvary.

Merry Christmas 2009!!!!

2009-12-23T01:25:00.003+08:00

Street Reborn..

2009-12-23T01:09:00.004+08:00

Singapore: Tiger of South East Asia

2009-12-10T16:09:00.009+08:00

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island city-state located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands. At 710.2 km2 (274.2 sq mi), Singapore is a microstate and the smallest nation in Southeast Asia. It is substantially larger than Monaco and Vatican City, the only other surviving sovereign city-states.

Before European settlement, the island now known as Singapore was the site of a Malay fishing village at the mouth of the Singapore River. Several hundred indigenous Orang Laut people also lived along the nearby coast, rivers and on smaller islands. In 1819, the British East India Company, led by Sir Stamford Raffles, established a trading post on the island, which was used as a port along the spice route.Singapore became one of the most important commercial and military centres of the British Empire, and the hub of British power in Southeast Asia.

DAY 1: Sentosa > Airforce Museum > Marina Bay

Day 2: Boat Tour > Jurong Bird Park > Singapore Zoo > Orchard > Singapore Flyer

Day 3: Orchard > Botanical Garden > Marina Square > Clark Quay

All Saints Day 2009

2009-11-03T14:53:00.012+08:00

All Saints' Day (in the Catholic Church officially the Solemnity of All Saints and also called All Hallows or Hallowmas[1]), often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown.

Roman Catholic Obligation

In the Catholic Church All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning going to Mass on the date is required (unless one is ill or elderly). However, in the United States, All Saints Day is not considered a Holy Day of Obligation when it falls on Monday or Saturday, as well as having no obligation at all in Hawaii.

In the Philippines, this day, called "Undas", "Todos los Santos" (literally "All Saints"), and sometimes "Araw ng mga Namayapa" (approximately "Day of the deceased") is observed as All Souls' Day. This day and the one before and one after it is spent visiting the graves of deceased relatives, where prayers and flowers are offered, candles are lit and the graves themselves are cleaned, repaired and repainted.

Former President Cory Aquino's Funeral Procession

2009-08-05T20:20:00.017+08:00

Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was the 11th President of the Philippines, serving from 1986 to 1992. She was the first female president of the Philippines and was Asia's first female president.

A self-proclaimed "plain housewife", Aquino was married to Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. (1932–1983), a leading figure in the political opposition against the autocratic rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. After her husband was assassinated upon his return from exile in the United States on August 21, 1983, Aquino, who had no prior political experience, became a focal point and unifying force of the opposition against Marcos. She was drafted to run against Marcos in the 1986 snap presidential elections. After Marcos was proclaimed the winner despite widespread reports of electoral fraud, Aquino was installed as President by the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution.

Aquino's presidency saw the restoration of democratic institutions in the Philippines, through the enactment of a new Constitution which limited the powers of the presidency, restored the bicameral Congress, and renewed emphasis on civil liberties. Her administration was likewise hampered by several military coup attempts by disaffected members of the Philippine military which derailed a return to full political stability and economic development.

Aquino died on August 1, 2009 from colon cancer.

I arrived in Intramuros at around 9:45AM and I walk directly to the nearest 7-11 store. I took my heavy breakfast and bought a bottle of water to rehydrate myself along the way. The heavy rains fall and flooded the streets of Intramuros. I have no choice but to move ahead according to plan. I need to move around the Cathedral to get a good spot for taking photos.

You can click on the photos for higher resolution.

The flooded streets of Intramuros...

I arrived in the Cathedral around 10:15AM.

I saw this little girl selling yellow Sampaguitas.

People waiting outside of the Cathedral with their banners.
The church gave communion to people in the street.

The arrival of the PNP battalion in front of the Cathedral.

"The Law applies to all, otherwise none at all"

Taking photography to the highest level. A photographer taking photos on the roof of the Cathedral

Father Catalino Arevalo

Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim

The National Anthem...

The remains of the former President being transferred on the Truck.

The Aquino Family...

Confetti was falling as the PNP arrange the former President's coffin.

The Funeral procession begins...

This is one of my favorite photos...

This is how Manila Bay looks like this morning. Huge waves due to the incoming storm...

I decided to go home when I was in Quirino station. I ate my lunch in the nearest McDonalds and changed my shirt...

Arcee, Chromia and Jolt

2009-08-02T15:30:00.005+08:00

Arcee and Chromia in Bike Form:

Chromia

Arcee

Jolt

Autobots

My Jazz and Sideswipe

2009-07-02T16:07:00.007+08:00

My Opti and My Bee

2009-06-28T20:47:00.008+08:00

At last! after a month of searching for a Leader Class Optimus Prime, I finally got one today!!! I passed by the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Official Roll Out in one of the malls here and it's my lucky day!

Vehicle Form

Bumblebee

Optimus

Summer 2009: ILOCOS TRIP

2009-05-09T21:46:00.018+08:00

The Ilocos Region or Region I (Ilokano: Deppaar ti Ilokos, Pangasinan: Rihiyon na Sagor na Baybay na Luzon) of the Philippines is located in the northwestern region portion of Luzon. It is bounded by the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley to the east, Central Luzon to the south and by the South China Sea to the west.The province of Pangasinan composes 58% of the region's population, 42% of its area and 61% of its economy.The region is composed of four provinces, namely: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Its regional center is San Fernando City, La Union. The Ilocanos compose 66% of the region, the Pangasinan people compose 27%, and the Tagalogs compose 3%.

My friends and I left Manila, Thursday night around 9:00PM, while my previous co-workers left Cavite at around 8:30PM. The Cavite guys rode the coaster while my friends and I used the Van. We met in one of the gasoline stations along North Luzon Express Way (NLEX) then we hit the road in a convoy since then. We arrived in our first pit stop at around 7:45AM the next day.

Our First Stop: VIGAN

The City of Vigan [spanish: La Ciudad de Vigan / ilocano: Siyudad ti Vigan] is a third class city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is the capital of the Province of Ilocos Sur. The city is located on the western coast of the large island of Luzon, facing the South China Sea.It is a World Heritage Site in that it is one of numerous Hispanic towns in the Philippines, and is well-known for its cobblestone streets, and a unique architecture that fuses Philippine building design, and construction with colonial European architecture.

Second Stop: BALUARTE

3rd Stop: SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH

San Agustin Church in Paoay Ilocos Norteis one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines. This is the official designation to a collection of four Spanish-era churches in the Philippines, upon its inscription to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.

Day 1's last stop: SAND DUNES

Before we went to San Agustin Church we dropped by the Marcos Museum. Then we headed to the Malacanan of the North, Sinking Bell Tower in Laoag and finally in Sand Dunes.

Day 2: PAGUDPUD

We arrived in pagudpud at around 9:00PM of Day 1. We were all exhausted on the 24 hour roadtrip that I didn't even notice that our room was right in front of the famous Saud Beach.

Pagudpud is a coastal resort town on the northernmost tip of Luzon in the Philippines. According to the latest census, Pagudpud has a population of 20,385 people in 3,804 households.The town is bounded to the south by the town of Bangui and to the east by the Cordillera Mountain Range, the town of Adams and the province of Cagayan. The South China Sea lies to the west and north. The town rolls over mountains, hills, valleys and flat coastal land. It lies 45 miles north of Laoag City, the provincial capital, and about 350 miles north of Manila. They reside in 3,804 homes that are spread across 83 square miles. Most make their living through farming, fishing and subsistence retailing. Tourism is a growing part of the economy.

First Stop: KABIGAN FALLS

2nd stop: Patapat Viaduct

Patapat National Park is a national park in the Philippines. It is located along the sheer coastal mountains of the town of Pagudpud the northnernmost town of the province of Ilocos Norte. The centerpiece of Patapat is a raised viaduct, the national highway, that allows travels wide vistas of the northern coast. The stark white concrete rails of the viaduct contrasts beautifully with the expanse of ocean and the lush greenery of the mountain cliffs.

Final stop of Day 2: Blue Lagoon

We ended day 2 with a party along Saud Beach Resort. The call time for our last day is around 5:00AM so we can go back in Manila as early as possible.

Day 3: BANGUI WINDMILLS

We left Saud Beach at around 6AM on our last day of the trip and headed directly to Bangui Wind Farm.

The Bangui Windmills are located in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The windmills, officially referred to as the NorthWind Bangui Bay Project, was built to use renewable energy sources, thus reducing the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The project is the first Wind Farm in the Philippines consisting of wind turbines on-shore facing the South China Sea and considered to be the biggest in Southeast Asia. The project sells electricity to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) and provides 40% of the power requirements of Ilocos Norte via Transco Laoag.

2nd Stop: Cape Bojeador lighthouse

Burgos has a heritage structure called the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse. It is the highest-elevated lighthouse in the Philippines and the northwesternmost in location (the northeasternmost being Cape Engaño Lighthouse in Palaui Island, Santa Ana, Cagayan). It was established on March 31, 1892 under the Spanish government on a high hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador, where galleons passed by. Its purpose is also to guide ships away from the rocky coasts of the town. It still continues to operate with new lenses run by solar panels. Originally the light was provided by pressurized kerosene lamps, very much like the current " Coleman lamp". In 2005 the old pressure vessels and wicks for the light could still be found in the shed.

Last Stop: Vigan again

We took our lunch in Vigan and bought a few souvenirs and pasalubongs and headed back in Manila. Of course we thanked God for the 3 sunny days that He gave us while Manila and southern part of Luzon was being battered by a typhoon.

We arrived in Manila at around 4am on Monday and I reported back to work 10am the same day. (detailed information about the place are from wikipedia.org)

Lent 2009 part II

2009-04-14T09:44:00.004+08:00

Lent 2009

2009-04-13T00:43:00.009+08:00

Click the photos for the actual size

Our Station of the Cross:

Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time

Lent Procession

My home town in Bataan observes Lent in a very traditional way. There are Stations of the Cross located in different Barangays all over the town. There are elders singing the "Pasyon" (The Passion of Christ) in every station. The processions are scheduled on Wednesday night, Friday night and Saturday night. I missed the Wednesday's procession, so these are the photos of the Friday's and Saturday's procession.

St. Peter

St. John

Santa Maria Jacobe

Sta. Cleofe

Sta. Juana De Cosa

Sta. Veronica

Sta. Marta

Sta. Maria Magdalena

Pieta

Death of Christ

Our Lady of Sorrow

Easter Sunday

February 22, 2009...

2009-03-01T23:35:00.006+08:00

The Merchant

Burst Mode
Act I:

Act II:
Final Act:

Diving The Street Way

My Project Silhouette

Special thanks to Oggie for lending me his 70-300mm Lens. I'll get my lens back from repair this week!

Manaoag

2009-02-28T23:44:00.007+08:00

Manaoag is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 54,743 people in 10,563 households. The municipality is known for its historical image of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, which is venerated in the Manaoag shrine.

Summer...

2009-02-06T17:57:00.004+08:00

My First Try...

Thanks to our group ( Xavier, Oggie, Emman, Jet and Chito) and to our model (Summer)

First Photo Shoot of 2009

2009-02-03T09:35:00.006+08:00

The Last Photo Shoot of 2008

2009-01-31T22:56:00.007+08:00

My Holiday Vacation Part III

2009-01-15T22:10:00.006+08:00

The last part of my Holiday vacation. Taal adventure for the fourth day.

Day 4: (December 29)

Early Morning at the back of Taal Vista Hotel

Taal Crater (click the image for more details)

By around 5PM in the afternoon, we were set to go back to Manila and by 11PM in the evening we arrived in Bataan.

Day 5: December 30th is a family gathering in my Aunt's place in Bataan.

Day 6: (December 31) is the Bataan Trip. We went to Bataan's Landmark and a secluded beach in Mariveles, Bataan.

180 degrees view of the cove (click the image to see more details)

My Holiday Vacation Part II

2009-01-11T23:41:00.007+08:00

Day 2 (December 27)
It's my cousin James big day. I don't post photos of friends and family in my blog so I can only share a few photos of the wedding here. It's the best wedding ceremony I ever attended. I like the place, the fireworks, the reception, and the choir.

The Church

The Cultural Dancers while serving the soup

Day 3 (December 28)
The day after the wedding, we had our last breakfast in Villa Escudero (their hot chocolate is great) then we prepared to go to Tagaytay. We had a tour and spent another night in Tagaytay before went back to Bataan.

Found this loner in a small artifical pond of V.Escudero

View at the back of the newly wed's room

Views at the back of Taal Vista Hotel

The Ice Cold Pool

Taal Vista's Tree

Taal Vista's New Lobby

My Holiday Vacation Part 1

2009-01-08T00:03:00.009+08:00

Villa Escudero Day 1 (December 26)
It was the eve of my cousin's wedding in Villa Escudero. Villa Escudero is a working coconut plantation founded in 1872. In 1980 the Escudero family opened the plantation to the general public. Since then Villa Escudero has developed a worldwide reputation as a focal point to experience Philippine culture and history in a beautiful rural setting.

Old Manila...

2009-01-07T07:44:00.008+08:00

Again... Intramuros Street Shots

Panoramic View (Click the image for larger view)

Merry Christmas 2008!!!!

2008-12-18T12:56:00.003+08:00

The Place of Contrast

2008-11-06T13:18:00.010+08:00

Still a few hundred meters from the coast of this unusual Cove, our boat’s roaring engine doesn’t bother me from watching in anticipation the quite unusual place in my country gets closer and closer. The landscape looks more like that of the Northern Hemisphere where the weather permits the healthy growth of the pine trees along the icy cold beaches. Although pine trees are common in high altitude places in the Philippines, seeing it near the tropical beaches is too unusual for my sight. The contrasting beauty of the place stunned me longer than I expected. Even before I set my foot in the white grainy sand of the beach, I already planned carefully my shots. Landscape photography is always about good timing and POVs.

I want to dedicate this post to the best SciFi author in the world who is one of my inspirations when I took my engineering course back in college. Michael Crichton (October 23, 1942 – November 4, 2008)

Anawangin Cove is part of San Antonio which is a 4th class municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 28,248 people in 6,483 households.

San Antonio was formerly just a hunting lodge where hunters from the northern towns of the province would stay to rest. The first Ilocano families from the Paoay area of Ilocos Norte arrived in 1830 and founded the first settlement that grew into what is now the town.

I want to thank Xavier for lending me his 2 extra batteries, charger and Sigma 10-20mm lens. I owe you big time with this one. Thank you to BlueLion as well for the tripod. It’s a big help man!

Unfavorable Monday...

2008-08-20T08:24:00.006+08:00

Wawa Dam

Quezon City Day

Life on Track

2008-08-11T12:47:00.005+08:00

Philippine National Railways (Filipino: Pambansang Daangbakal ng Pilipinas), also known by its acronym, PNR, is a state-owned railway system in the Philippines, organized under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) as an attached agency. Established during the Spanish colonial period, the modern PNR was developed only in 1984. It currently operates around 479 kilometres of track on the island of Luzon, where most Philippine rail infrastructure is located. Because of this, PNR has become synonymous with the Philippine rail system. (from wikipedia)

Buhay sa Gilid ng Riles (Life Along the Track)

Si Taba

Unibersidad ng Pilipinas

2008-07-29T13:12:00.004+08:00

Established in 1908, UP started as a small Manila campus with only a few colleges. Over the years, UP has made a reputation for itself as a research and graduate university that produces scientific and creative outputs of the highest quality which receive both national and in international recognition. Today, the University is comprised of seven constituent universities located in 12 campuses throughout the Philippine archipelago. UP’s constituent universities nurture the intellectual and cultural growth of the Filipino through 246 undergraduate and 362 graduate programs. No other academic institution in the country can match the scope and range of the University’s course offerings that include almost all disciplines and embrace all interests and inclinations. 30 percent of its faculty have doctorate degrees and 42 percent have master’s degrees. The rest are working on their graduate studies.

Along The Coastal Road

2008-07-14T10:56:00.004+08:00

Once a well known seafood restaurant, this part of the coastal road retains the title of being the seafood gateway of Metro Manila. Though the restaurants do not exsist today, the market is still open for business.

The Faces of the Coastal Seafood Market

The Reflections of Rainy Weekends of Escolta and Manila

2008-07-10T08:08:00.003+08:00

Memories and Storm

2008-06-28T23:09:00.008+08:00

Paco Park is a 4,114.80 square meter recreational garden area and was once Manila’s municipal cemetery during the Spanish colonial period. It is located along General Luna St. and at the east end of Padre Faura Street in Paco district in the City of Manila, the Philippines. This is where Jose Rizal was originally buried after he was executed in Luneta.

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is located in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City in Metro Manila, Philippines. The cemetery, 152 acres or 615,000 square metres in area, is located on a prominent plateau, visible at a distance from the east, south and west. With a total of 17,206 graves, it is the largest cemetery in the Pacific for U.S. personnel killed during World War II, and also holds war dead from the Philippines and other allied nations. Many of the personnel whose remains are interred or represented were killed in New Guinea, or during the Battle of the Philippines (1941-42) or the Allied recapture of the islands. The headstones are made of marble which are aligned in eleven plots forming a generally circular pattern, set among masses of a wide variety of tropical trees and shrubbery.

Prelude to a Storm. A week prior typhoon Frank hits the country.

A Long Holiday Walk

2008-06-21T18:20:00.008+08:00

It was June 9 this year when we celebrated our 110th Independence day although the actual date of our independence is June 12. This is the continuation of my past 3 posts starting from Quiapo to Intramuros. This post ends the series of photo during that Holiday walk.

The Gadget

Manila Cathedral

Luneta

Cultural Show in Quirino Grand Stand

The Baywalk

The Philippine representative for Monocycle Competition abroad.

Good Luck!!!

To End the Long Walk from Quiapo to Baywalk is it's relaxing Scenery

Intramuros... Where Time and History were Confined

2008-06-17T23:18:00.005+08:00

Intramuros, located along the southern bank of the Pasig River, was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century and is the oldest district of the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Its name, in Spanish, intramuros, literally "within the walls", meaning within the wall enclosure of the city/fortress, also describes its structure as it is surrounded by thick, high walls and moats. During the Spanish colonial period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself.

Faces of ESCOLTA

2008-06-17T13:10:00.000+08:00

During the final years of the Spanish Occupation, Escolta Street had the reputation for being the best of the trade districts in Binondo, Manila, the Philippines. Escolta is famous for having the downtown office of the Manila Times located there. Now, Escolta is already the home of homeless people living on this street. The booming business are now replaced by decaying buildings that showcases the glory of it's past.

Quiapo... A Day in a Life

2008-06-11T00:04:00.000+08:00

My Sunday Walk

2008-05-29T20:34:00.000+08:00

I consider Sunday as the Photography Day. The day where I go out with my photography buddies and walk from Quiapo Manila to PICC in Pasay to take street and urban photos. May 25 is our latest photo session. Here are the reflections I captured:

Ohhhh it's been 10 years since my country's centenial celebration of Independence day. Captured these flag in front of Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in PICC compound. It's been 110 years of freedom, where are we now???

The problem in doing street and urban photography is that there are times that you walk and walk and all you got is 5 to 10 shots where 70-80% will be deleted later on. During that time, try to be creative (lol). Try to capture anything that you think is interesting like the one above. I captured this low flying Cebu Pacific Plane. I never think of using it but when I got back home and look at my shot, a light bulb hits my mind to rotate the photo and place the plane diagonally in the upper left corner of the frame. I hope you like it like I do.

Always try to capture as many sceneries or architectural photos. After all the streets are public places. You can take as many photos as you can and don't let other people intimidate you but be always be polite in dealing with people or security guards.

The old stair of the old wall of Intramuros

The Harbour Place in PICC

The Manila Skyline by the Bay

Unlike in other types of photography, street photography is quite more challenging in terms of dealing with your subjects. Some of your subjects are too shy to face the camera so it is more advisable to go under your stealth mode to capture your subject in their natural way of life. In my case I always use my zoom lens to go under the snipper mode instead of the stealth mode. Below are my street photos captured last Sunday:

After the long journey along the streets of Manila, to watch the sunset in Manila bay is a priceless reward...