Lantaw - Philippines Outdoor and Travel Photos

mt. romelo: buruwisan and lansones addiction

2012-02-22T21:06:00.002+08:00

Call it "addiction" or "passion". I went back to Romelo after being there just two weeks before. Our Pulag trek was cancelled due to the weather but some of my friends and I decided not to let this weekend pass by without a trek somewhere.

It has been raining so the weather is much more suitable for shooting waterfalls, and the only place I could think of that is near Manila and has a number of easily accessible waterfalls is Mt. Romelo.

horse power

We started to trek at around 5:00 in the morning. Trail was muddier than the last time I was there (with another group), no thanks to the horses trudging up and down the trails to ferry just about anything.

Here are some of my shots during that weekend:

Buruwisan Flow

Buruwisan in late afternoon

Initimate

Hard Wood

Lansones Falls

mt. batulao day trek

2012-02-12T20:18:00.005+08:00

I've always been facinated with Mt. Batulao, one of the most picturesque mountain in Luzon. Its not hard to climb/trek - a day trek is absolutely possible, and there are plenty of opportunities to snap landscape photos.

(Larger version of the photo above can be viewed here)

My friends and I have been planning a day trek for quite some time but never really materialized due to conflicting schedules, up until last weekend.

The jump off point is just about 2 hours bus ride from Manila, so its feasible to include a sunrise shoot in the itinerary, which we did not because we were too lazy to carry tripods. It was actually a good thing, the sun did not show up until around 8 in the morning. It was a cold and very foggy day and I even thought the heavens will open up and ruin the trek. I heard the trails get really muddy when it rains.

work horse

There was a drizzle by the time we started up. We passed through a small village and after a while reached the trail head. It was a narrow line, but clean and well trodden both by trekkers and horses. The sun's up now but the wind is still chilly. Low lying clouds occasionally cover the main peak which we can already see.

Batulao trekker

One of the good things I like, or began to like, about the trek was that there was no radical elevation change. I'm guessing there not much difference, maybe just a couple hundred meters, between the trail head's elevation and that of the main peak.

ridge

The (new) trail is also quite well established and all you have to do is to follow the line that runs along the ridge, and up and down some of the peaks. There are detours as well, as following the trail up some of the peaks can be daunting. Some parts are just a foot wide with a long way down on both sides, not very fun for those prone to vertigo.

follow the line

After several minutes we reached Peak #1. It has a nice spot where you can see the line that goes up to the main peak past some of the campsites and smaller peaks. It gives you an idea of whats in store. Though it has become much warmer now, the wind was blowing pretty hard. Once or twice I almost said bye to my hat.

Camp 7

Camp #7 is where one starts to realize how popular Batulao is as a trekking destination. Its one of the larger camps and judging from number of tents there one could surmise that the trail will be crowded soon as everyone hikes up to the main peak.

Camp 8

tent row

Camp #8 is no exception. Its much larger and bigger tent city than Camp #7. I think this the main camp for as soon as we step foot on it a local approached us saying: "20 pesos sir, and please register".

registration stop

hauling supplies

We later found out why there's a lot of people there that weekend: its the anniversary of the new trail (which opened Feb 2008) and the locals are treating everyone to a feast (pigs, goats, and chickens were slaughtered for the dinner feast).

decisions, decisions

After a quick breather we decided to push on as the sun's getting high. There was one really scary peak right after camp 8. Its not that high but its steep, the trail very narrow and dusty and loose ("well beaten" would be an understatement). Luckily we a group heading back to camp who pointed out a detour, a nice trail well covered with bamboo and huge trees. It was a welcome respite from the now blazing sun.

shaded detour

The trail bypasses scary peak and you emerge near Camp 10, the last camp before the assault to the peak.

view from camp 10

Camp 10 has a nice view of the ridge we just came from (all the way to Camp 7), and has a good view of what the trail is like heading up to the main peak. And judging from the looks of the folks coming down from the peak, it can be one of longest few minutes up. Batulao has its mini-version of the "Hillary Step".

trail blazer

We decided to wait until the huge group from the peak has descended to Camp 10 before starting our "assault". Trekkers have been pounding the trail heavily for the past few days that the final leg up to the peak is so loose there is not much to hold on to. I was practically crawling on all fours on some of the sections, and small rocks are rolling down. Longest few minutes indeed.

rain from afar

Group after group soon arrived and crowded the peak. The view was great but the light could be much better. After a few minutes we decided to head down as dark rain clouds are looming.

crowded peak

By the time we reached Camp 10 the clouds disappeared and the light was divine. Too bad we were a long way from the peak and I certainly do not wish trek up that trail twice in a day.

new friends

On the way back to Camp 8 we met some new friends who happen to follow this blog (yey!). It was a great day trek, and I certainly would like to go back there again for an overnighter. It would be interesting to catch both sunrise and sunset from Batulao.

heading back

trekking down

More photos:

mt romelo: buruwisan and lansones falls revisited

2012-02-05T21:20:00.002+08:00

Revisited the Mt. Romelo last weekend for its waterfalls (Buruwisan, Lansones, and Batya-batya). This trek yielded both pleasant and unpleasant surprises.

The trail was not very muddy, in a Romelo kind of way. When trekkers say the trail is muddy, it means knee-deep mud. This time it was more manageable, but it does not mean you'll reach the campsite squeaky clean - nobody does in Mt. Romelo.

We started the trek just after sunrise and reach the campsite after close to two hours. The campsite changed a bit since the last time I was there - more cottages now and the stores are well stocked. I took a mental note not to haul up mineral water next time, there's plenty being sold up there.

The best time to shoot Buruwisan is early in the morning when the rest are still preparing breakfast or while other are still trekking up. After putting down our gear, I accompanied a fellow photog (first timer in Romelo) down to Buruwisan.

view heading down to Buruwisan falls

As we approached the falls via a steep trail, the scene opened up like it was the first time I saw it. After countless treks here, Buruwisan still manages to enthrall me. I setup my tripod and took a few shots.

Although it had been raining the previous days, Buruwisan's water volume was surprisingly small. I've seen Buruwisan after a storm (or was it during a storm) and it was raging. This time its more tamed. The falls looked like a column of falling sugar when shot using a longer shutter speed.

yellow leaves

All around the area are yellow leaves from the large balete trees. It was a surreal look, like autumn in a tropical settings. I figured the leaves are new, I mean they just fell, judging from their bright yellow colors.

Buruwisan is such a popular campsite you can't really shoot the place without getting crowded after some time. People came soon enough (Buruwisan's catch basin is a popular swimming spot) so we decided to head back to camp. I decided not to pitch a tent anymore and just one of the cottages (300/night rental).

downstream from Buruwisan

After a hearty lunch we went down again, this time we headed to Lansones falls located downstream from Buruwisan. A group of campers pitched their tent at the edge of the catch basin - not a good idea in my opinion. They will be swept like twigs in case there is a flash flood.

mini-cascades near Lansones

Lansones does not share the same "water line" as Buruwisan. Its smaller but equally photogenic as Buruwisan. The mini cascades you'll see if you follow the stream up to Lansones are worth the photographer's time.

Lansones Falls

While Buruwisan can sometimes give you these nasty water-sprays if you shoot it up close, Lansones is very tame to shoot. I guess its because its in a much tighter place thus there's not much wind.

Its best to shoot in the late afternoon to have a bit of light as it faces the west. Situated under a small gorge covered with a canopy of trees, it tends to be dark there.

We went to Batya-batya the next day but I did not bother to bring my camera anymore. I know the place would be crowded. Of the three waterfalls there, I think Batya-batya is the least photogenic.

And the unpleasant surprise of the trip? Its the hard evidence of authorized use of my photos my the Mayor's office in Siniloan. Some moron reasoned that since they can easily download the photo from the Internet, its already public domain. I guess these idiots have no idea what copyright infringement is.

unauthorized use

bachang: batad rice terraces rehabilitation initiative

2012-01-27T11:22:00.005+08:00

Batad rice terraces - one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Philippines. You feel nothing less than awe once you are there marveling at the grand scene before you. You can stand there for hours pondering how generations of Ifugaos have carved the mountain side into an amphitheater of rice terraces.

But do you know that Batad needs help nowadays? Years of neglect and natural disasters have marred this beautiful piece of engineering. The first time I saw it I could not help but notice this huge landslide on one side of the mountain.

Several folks who have been frequenting Batad felt that we too, not just the locals, have the responsibility to preserve the place. We benefit from it as much as the locals do, or maybe more. Thus the "Bachang Initiative" was born.

Bachang initiative

I have been most fortunate to play a very small part in the preparation for the kick off. We set off to Batad one sunny weekend, riding on the top of a jeep, to deliver tools, computers, and school supplies donated by various kind hearted individuals. We were a motley crew but with a common goal.

top load

From the main town of Banaue, it takes about 1.5 hours along rough yet scenic road. Riding "top-load" is the best way to go if you want to have a first class view of the scenery. Yes it looks dangerous and foolhardy (several foreigners we met along the way are making signs of the cross :D) but its actually safe. The jeep took us all the way to the Saddle Ridge, the trail head going to Batad village. From there its all on foot.

unloading

donated tools and stuff

From Saddle its a mostly downhill hike to the village. The scene along way is already an excellent indication of how beautiful our destination was. A friend and I hiked ahead of the main group as "advance party". I was practially running, too excited to see Batad. Our guide said its about an hour hike. We left our guide eating dust, we made it in about 30 minutes :D.

trail view

The first scene that greeted me once we reached the "Viewpoint", a ridge overlooking the main village and the rice terraces below was simply too awe-inspiring. I practically just stood there, trying to catch my breath while taking in this grand scene before me.

first look

awed by Batad

grand view

The rest of the day was spent organizing logistics and scouting locations for the kick-off activity, but there were some opportunities to shoot the place, especially near sundown and sunset.

Here are some sunrise and early morning scenes:

I left Batad that weekend fully convinced that this special place needs all the help it can get. Its something that needs to be seen, experienced, and appreciated by generations to come. I will be back soon.

About Bachang

Bachang ('vfa-dchang) or Baddang means "Bayanihan" in Ifugao dialect. Traditionally, the Ifugao's held the Bachang to assist a farmer in performing farm chores or house repairs. Bachang will be a work-in progress activity in Batad Village. On top of the usual tour packages and itinerary in Banaue, the community of Batad is opening their doors to all VolunTOURISTS to a unique participatory activity of "stonewalling" in order to restore and rehabilitate the damaged portions of the rice terraces during the past typhoons.

Be a Batad Weekend Warrior and help fight for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Batad Rice Terraces. Visit the Batad Weekend Warror Facebook page.

hidden falls of laguna (buntot palos)

2012-01-19T22:09:00.001+08:00

I always wanted to see how the Hidden Falls of Pangil, Laguna looked like during the rainy season. I visited it once before on a summer month and was amazed on how the falls is seemingly impervious to the dry season. While rivers and streams are drying up everywhere, it remained large.

I got my wish the other weekend. Together with some friends I went there for a day trek. The trail was muddy as hell and it took us a little under 3 hours to reach the camp site. From the campsite its a treacherous and very steep climb down to the falls with only tree roots to hold on to.

The sight that greeted us was simple breath taking. The small canyon reverberate with the thundering roar of Buntot Palos (locals by the way refer to the falls more as "Hidden" than "Buntot Palos"). The falls was huge!

The problem now was how to shoot it. I can't get much closer due to the ridiculous amounts of spray it seemed like its raining while there is a blue sky above. The current of the downstream flow was strong it was difficult to cross from one boulder to another.

In the end, I got contented with limited POVs and limited shots. Here are some other shots without water droplets on my filter:

lake sebu twilight colors

2012-01-15T20:58:00.003+08:00

I always try not to miss any sunset or sunrise whenever I travel. Those are the two most important times of the day. Its like nature's Sunday best - she puts on her best colors and briefly shows off. She wouldn't wait for anyone, you have to be there.

So even after a day of shooting waterfalls in Lake Sebu and visiting T'nalak weavers (hope to post this soon), I mustered the energy to explore some sunset locations by the main lake.

While sunrise that day had some very interesting colors and moods, sunset was a treat on its own. What I like most about sunsets is that everything is winding down and slowly coming to a halt. In a place like Lake Sebu where even the busiest of hours still appears laid back, "winding down" is taken into a whole new level. Even the wind that evening seemed to understand that concept as it softly caresses the lake.

A local was fishing from a dugout canoe a few meters from where I was shooting. I asked him about his catch as he was about to leave. "Not much", he said. "I just do this to relax at the end of the day". It occurred to me that that is what I was actually doing. At the end of a very long day, I was actually looking forward to relaxing by shooting the sunset.

After seeing nature flaunt her best colors, the fact that my feet are buried in mud and the mosquitoes are already feasting on my legs seemed irrelevant and a minor inconvenience.

lake seloton: morning activities

2012-01-12T20:25:00.004+08:00

Dugout canoes, with men sitting precariously on one end, slide silently across Lake Seloton's placid waters. This is as hectic as it gets on a busy morning after a beautiful sunrise.

tending the net

You'll hear a soft splash or two occasionally as one local checks his net he laid out a few hours before. The small lake has seen an increase in the number of fish cages over the years. Folks however are still allowed to fish around these cages (and not from them of course).

Seloton bamboo cages

Soon small pails on the canoes are getting filled with tilapia, some are "layaw" (wild) and most probably are "escapees" from nearby fish pens.

On the nearby shores you'll see folks doing their morning chores like cleaning or washing the nets. Everything here resolves around the lake.

lake side

Before the sun gets really high, the canoes would gather in groups in some spots on the shore. Fish buyers or "compradors" would come and see the day's catch.

checking the day's catch

It would not be cost effective for the locals to sell their small bounty by themselves on the town's market, so they sell some of the catch to these compradors. The rest are allocated for their daily consumption.

concluding the morning's business

Within a few minutes the deal is made and cash is exchanged. Everybody goes off their separate ways and head home, just in time for breakfast.

all done

Here are more photos:

Lake Seloton is one of the three lakes in Lake Sebu - an idyllic mountain town in the province of South Cotabato (southern Mindanao).

Check out the beautiful sunrise that day:
http://lantaw.blogspot.com/2012/01/lake-sebu-lake-seloton-sunrise.html

lake sebu 7 falls: hikong alu and hikong bente

2012-01-08T07:00:00.007+08:00

One of the main attractions of the idyllic mountain town of Lake Sebu (apart from the 3 lakes of course, and more recently the zip line) is its famed 7 Falls.

Out of the seven waterfalls, 5 are accessible, with the first two falls being the most accessible. In fact these have become tourist traps, well at least the area around these two falls ever since the installation of the equally famous Lake Sebu zip line. While the adrenalin junkies would head straight to the zip line, some would head to the first falls for the requisite posterity shots. Fewer still would venture very near the falls to experience its raw beauty. I bet even fewer know its real name which is Hikong Alu. It was called "Dongon Falls" before, much to the disagreement of most locals.

Of the 7, Hikong Alu is the widest and its waters the most silky smooth in terms of flow. If waterfalls have gender, this would be a woman with long flowing hair. And like women, this falls is temperamental as it is beautiful.

Hikong Alu rages on

To shoot it up close was such a delightful challenge involving wits, patience, an umbrella, and lots of lens wipes. The mist is thick and wind so strong it seemed like it was raining. My umbrella had been blown away couple of times. You cannot take it by the horns, so to speak, but instead you have to go with its flow. Between its rages are periods of calm when the wind dies down and the water spray becomes manageable. These "peace times" are the perfect window to shoot: remove lens cover, wipe filter, focus, shoot, and then pray the wind does not pick up or else your shots end up with noticeable water sprays.

persistence is the key

It takes patience, with lots of unusable shots just to get a few. However I was really drawn into it I did not fully realize that I was barefoot already, with my sandals stuck in the mud somewhere.

Hikong Bente and wild flowers

The second of the 7 Falls, Hikong Bente (Immeasurable), is the tallest and equally nasty when it comes to dishing our water sprays. But it was tamer that day and I wonder why.

water now mostly flow on the left side

I did not like what the Provincial Government of South Cotabato (my very own province tsk!) did to the rocks near the catch basin. You cannot make nature look better, it already is at its best.

See some photos of the Hikong Bente before they decided to do landscaping of their own:
http://lantaw.blogspot.com/2009/04/lake-sebu-falls-2-up-close.html

malaysia: putrajaya at night

2012-01-06T19:58:00.004+08:00

I read somewhere that the best time to see Putrajaya is at night. So I set out to see the lights, together with some friends, on our last night of stay (courtesy of Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards). Indeed it was a breathtaking sight. They certainly did not scrimp on anything when it comes to lighting their buildings and bridges.

We started our night foray from Putra Mosque (where else!). The mosque figures in every poster of Putrajaya, and its close proximity to Perdana Putra (Prime MInister's office) further reinforces the idea that its at the center of everything in the city. I would not contest this, the mosque simply is iconic and recognizable.

lower level (with the food courts)

After a hearty meal (read: carbo loading) in one of the food court adjacent to the mosque we waited for the sunrise. The colors I imagined never came. The weather had been lousy for the few days we were there. However the brilliance and colors of the city lights more than made up for the lack luster sunset.

Masjid Putra after sundown

The best way to go around Putrajaya, especially at night (and a weekend night), is via car. If you are simply sightseeing then a taxi is a good choice. However, if you plan to take photos where each take can be several minutes long, then be prepared to pay a hefty taxi fare if you want your cab to wait for you at each location. Otherwise, do the next best thing: walk. Its good for your health, and your pocket.

Seri Wawasan bridge

From Putra Mosque, we walked to the nearby Seri Wawasan bridge. "Nearby" is a very debatable word. I swear the bridge looked very near when viewed from Masjid Putra. Its not as if we had a choice, so walk we had to.

Putra Mosque and Perdana Putra

The view from under the bridge was worth all the burned calories (which is a good thing actually!). It also offers a good view of Perdana Putra and Putra Mosque. There are benches where one (or two if you have a date) can spend hours just enjoying the night scene. Surprisingly the nearby park was empty.

After having our fill of the bridge, we decided to proceed to the nearby Iron Mosque (take note of the "nearby" word). I think they purposely made everything big, shiny, and colorful in Putrajaya to make them appear closer than they seem.

Iron Mosque with Seri Saujana Bridge (background)

After a good amount of walking we reached the Iron Mosque, aka Masjid Besi, or if you are fond of memorizing long names: Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque. We found out that although it looked really good from a distance, its quite overwhelming at close range. This mosque is simply huge! Its capacity of about 25,000 people overshadows the 15,000 capacity of Putra Mosque. (Wikipedia has some fancy description of the mosque)

shot by the lake side (over the railings)

All in all we walked for more than 3 hours and covered 3 Precincts (1 - 3). We were worn out by the time we reach Iron Mosque that I think nobody even bothered to take photos anymore. I went inside the mosque, asked one of the locals to help us get a cab using my phone, then waited by the curb side for our ride. It was quite a night.

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lake sebu: lake seloton sunrise

2012-01-03T08:17:00.003+08:00

It seems fitting that my first post of the year will be about new beginnings. Here are some images of the break of dawn in a scenic lake called Lake Seloton.

Lake Seloton has always been a favorite when shooting the sunrise in Lake Sebu (lest you get confused, the town has 3 lakes: Lake Sebu, Lake Seloton, and Lake Lahit. The town is named after the largest of the 3 lakes which is Lake Sebu). There's a spot there by the lake where one gets a good view of the sunrise, and it does not involve any trekking.

magical blue hour

One can stay in one of the resorts by Lake Seloton (basic accommodations, no frills), but my group decided to stay near the main lake. We just took a short motorcycle ride to Lake Seloton at around 4.30 AM. You have to arrange for transportation the night before; nobody's awake that early especially with Lake Sebu's chilly weather.

Here are more photos:

Check out more photos and stories about Lake Seloton here.

If you want to shoot scene like this, head out to Sunrise Garden Lake Resort next time you are in Lake Sebu.

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Lantaw looks back at 2011

2011-12-31T21:58:00.008+08:00

With just a few hours left in 2011, I'm looking back at a very fruitful year. I've been to new places and met new friends. I'd like to share the highlights of 2011.

January
Started 2011 with a visit to Baler, it was my first time there. Weather was foul but it did not stop us from shooting. In fact it was perfect for some very moody shots. We explored coastal scenes as well as Baler's poster waterfalls.

Diguisit Bay

Ditumabo Falls

February
I found myself wandering back to favorite spots in western Pangasinan: the shorelines of Labrador and the quaint fishing village of Tambobong.

broken seawall in Labrador

sunset in Colibra island (Tambobong)

seaweed gatherer in Tambobong

February was a busy month. From western Pangasinan, its down to Sarangani in southern Mindanao.

mangrove roots in Maasim, Sarangani

South Cotabato's iconic peak: Mt. Matutum

March
Its back to Nagsasa cove. Twice.

moon set in Nagsasa

backwoods trail

On my second visit not much happened, except whole mountains around us went up in fiery rage :D. It was quite a night.

wildfire night

Nagsasa sunset

April
Summer is usually a great time to see town fiestas in the Philippines. I got to experience Tarlac hospitality in a small rural town of Mayantoc (thanks to Mon Corpuz!).

ferris wheel with perigee moon

Mayantoc rural sunset

river scene at sunset

May
May was hectic! First it was visit to the quintessential summer capital of the Philippines with my family. Though most of the places there have already been shot a million times, I tried to find some fresh POVs in some of the tourist traps.

sunrise in Mines View park

Baguio Cathedral after sunrise

We also visited a not-so-usual Baguio destination: Balantoc mines. We got to experience for a few hours how it is to be a miner, complete with dynamite blasting :) (though I still have to post photos of this in this blog)

faux miners :)

I went back to Zambales, this time to the grand cove of Silanguin.

Silanguin sunset

Before the month ended, I went back to Sarangani for more of the mangroves and also shot scenes of the busy fish port for the first time. Gensan is not called the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines" for nothing.

first light

fish port scene

weighing queue

June
No travels. Man's gotta rest :)

July
I'm back on the road again. This time to Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro with BPP folks for an outreach activity in a Mangyan community.

Black Pencil Project outreach

Mangyan elder

From Mindoro, I journeyed up with some friends to the mountain town of Adams near the northern tip of Luzon. Its was a weekend of waterfalls, and waterfalls, and waterfalls, and some bugnay wine tasting in between.

Adam's Lovers' Peak

fruit wines

Anuplig Falls

August
I visited a place close to home and closer to my heart: the highland town of Lake Sebu. Spent a morning enjoying the scenes around the 3 lakes and then visiting a young master dreamweaver.

Lake Seloton

young dreamweaver

September
Its out of the country this time. My wife and I visited Vietnam; spent several days in town in Mekong Delta and also found time to go around Saigon.

public market in Vinh Long

Saigon City Hall

Mekong River

I still have a ton of photos to post from my Vietnam trip and will try to squeeze them in succeeding posts.

October
Went on a day trip to Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo, Laguna. Its a scenic spot frequented by photographers since its close to Metro Manila.

morning scene in Sampaloc Lake

September was capped with visit to Capones Island for some sunrise and sunset photos, as well as visit the iconic Capones Lighthouse.

Capones Lighthouse

Capones sunset

November
The end of year is nearing but I still manage to squeeze in a few trips. This time its to a scenic mountain village of Imugan for its waterfalls and the nearby pine forest in Salacsac.

Imugan Falls

Salacsac pine forest

The second trip for the month was to the historic Taal town in Batangas for a photowalk.

night market in Taal

Taal Basilica at sunset

December
Its already December but 2011 still has some surprises installed for me. I went to Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya in Malaysia courtesy of Nuffnang for the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards (Lantaw was a finalist under the Best Photography Blog category).

Putra Mosque

Petronas Towers

traded my dry fit shirt and pants for a tuxedo :)

Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards night in Putraja, Malaysia

As a last hurrah for 2011, I played "guide" to several of my photog friends from Manila. We went around Lake Sebu and was also able to shoot the fish port (again) for its "beautifully organized chaotic scene" (as one friend put it). I still have to go through a ton of photos but here's a preview:

2011 has been a great year: full of great travels and great company. This blog has been blessed with a few things, including:

Winner of Best Photo Blog in Philippine Blog Awards (Mindanao)
Finalist for Best Photo Blog in Philippine Blog Awards (National)
Winner of Top Photo Post in Philippine Blog Awards (National)
Finalist for Best Photography Blog in the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards 2011
Featured Photographer of the Week in Manila Bulletin's Picture Perfect section

I hope that 2012 will be as bountiful as this year. Happy New Year everyone!!! I hope you enjoyed seeing my part of the world through my lens.

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kuala lumpur: petronas twin towers and city lights

2011-12-26T07:08:00.001+08:00

There is always magical about dusk as it falls on a city. As the lights start to shine, a city is transformed from a grey jungle to a lively and colorful place. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital, is one such place.

city lights from G Tower

Who brings a tripod to a cocktail party? Photographers do, especially if the venue is a bar called "Sky Bar" at the top of one of the towering steel giants right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. A free things ran through my mind as we headed to G Tower one evening: city lights at dusk and fully lighted Petronas Twin Towers.

city comes alive

While the rest of our group were enjoying the music and heavenly cocktail mixes (so they say) by an award winnning bartender (whose name I missed), I fully hooked and mesmerized by the scene outside. As soon as the clouds turned pink and the street lights turned on, the city came alive.

doubled double

From the bar we can see the ubiquitous Petronas Towers glowing like a gem. These two towers can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. They once ruled the skies as the tallest buildings until Taipei 101 bumped them off in 2004 (both towers still remain as the tallest twin towers in the world).

Not satisfied with the POV in the Sky Bar, I decided to get a closer look of the towers, together with a couple of kindred spirits (read: folks who bring tripods to a cocktail party :D). The towers were just a couple of minutes walk from where we are.

ubiquitous

The "couple of minutes walk" is not really a short walk if you are with photogs who constantly stop to setup and take shots :D. The towers, huge as they are, always seem to be very near. The humid weather was also a mild nuisance.

All these small inconveniences did not matter once we reached the front of the towers. All I could mutter for the first few minutes was "Wow!". They sure don't mind their electricity bill :D.

from KLCC park

We jostled spaces with some of the photographers already there. After having our fill shooting from the front, we headed to the back at the KLCC park for a few more shoots before we got unceremoniously shooed away by one of the guards. Park closes at 10PM.

2011: Merry Christmas from South Cotabato!

2011-12-24T20:38:00.005+08:00

May everyone have a Blessed and Merry Christmas! Here's some Christmas colors from my hometown, taken during a quick break from preparing our Christmas dinner (there is always time for photos :D)

South Cotabato Provincial Capitol building

May we always remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Christ the King Cathedral

putrajaya: revisiting masjid putra

2011-12-22T14:56:00.001+08:00

While some are contented with visiting a place once, filling their memory cards with shots, and then moving on to the next spot, I firmly believe that it takes several visits before you can get the shots you want. Condition varies all the time, weather and the quality of light changes on a daily basis. So for the second day in a row I revisited Putrajaya Mosque at sunrise.

Since we were with a friend who was not able to shoot the previous day, I decided to go back to Kelab Tasik. Skies have been gray the previous day and usually rains in the afternoon but we had relatively good weather that dawn.

Seri Perdana

Being there the previous day made me more comfortable with the place. This time I had a good idea of what I wanted to shoot. While waiting for the sunrise I tried shooting a nearby bridge called Seri Perdana bridge. It spans 370 meters across the man made lake, connecting the Putrajaya Lake Club area to the Perdana Putra where the Prime Minister of Malaysia holds office. Just like all the bridges in Putrajaya, Seri Perdana is dramatically lighted. There were fast moving clouds up above but no ripples on the water. The clouds reflected the warm glow of the street lights, making the scene very surreal.

magic hour

Sunrise was again disappointing, the clouds were too thick and covered the sun. But we got very good colors due the "blue hour".

We wanted to see the mosque up close so we walked and crossed Seri Perdana, went around the Perdana Putra building, and then finally to the wide open parking space in front of the mosque. It was so wide it can easily fit several football fields. The sun was up but not quite as it hides behind clouds. We saw several bikers and joggers going round the open space.

Putra Mosque facade

We tried to go inside and shoot the interior but was not permitted. It was just after morning prayers and the floors are being cleaned. Tourists are permitted to enter during specific times only (9:00-9:30AM, 2:30-3:00PM, and 6:00-6:30PM, if I recall the times correctly).

While waiting for our cab back to where we are staying, I managed to take a few snaps from a "permissible location".

shiny courtyard

My fascination with this mosque did not end here. We came back at sunset but was not able to make the 6PM schedule. Nevertheless I was able to take some shots from different POVs. More of this soon.

putrajaya: putra mosque for the first time

2011-12-20T22:16:00.003+08:00

I recently got a free trip to Putrajaya, a beautiful “planned city” about 25 kilometers southwest of Kuala Lumpur, for the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards 2011. While some of the invited bloggers probably got down to planning what to wear for that gala event - it’s the “Oscars” of the Asia Pacific blogsphere after all, I got busy to planning what to shoot in Putrajaya.

I got excited once I saw some photos of Putrajaya: grand mosques and buildings and beautiful bridges. The city planners certainly made sure everything looked beautiful. One of the most beautiful and iconic of the buildings there is the Putra Mosque or the Masjid Putra (nicknamed “Pink mosque” for obvious reasons).

I got down to the usual planning: where the sunrise/sunset would be, what time, where the best POVs are based on the existing photos (cross referenced with Google map), etc. I also emailed some Malaysian photographers I came across in Flickr for tips.

The next day after the awards night while most are still in slumber land due to what was probably a rockin’ after-party (which I did not attend), another Pinoy blogger (Michael of iPinoyLike) and I were headed to one of my planned locations to shoot. Sunrise that day was at 7AM, pretty late than what I am used to actually so waking up was not a problem.

We managed to get a cab (transportation in Putrajaya is a big problem, you always have to book your ride in advance) and after a seemingly long ride on a wide empty highway (I’m pretty sure our cab driver was lost by the way, even after I showed him a printed map and pointed where we wanted to go) we arrived at Kelab Tasik or Putrajaya Lake Club as just the dawn is breaking.

momentary color burst

What’s great about the Kelab Tasik POV is that you get to shoot the Prime Minister’s office as well.

rowers dwarfed by the imposing mosque

As the sun finally rose and broke through the clouds, the mosque’s pink color was made more evident. Everything was still except for the soft morning breeze that created small ripples on the lake and a group of rowers nearby were preparing their boat.

early morning reflections

Though the sunrise was not spectacular that morning, I felt quite good about being there. There is a deep sense of serenity in this place that can make one be more thankful of the new day.

Watch out for more photos of Putra Mosque (yup I returned the next morning for more :D)

makati: ayala symphony of lights 2011

2011-12-11T12:25:00.003+08:00

Now in its third year, the Ayala Symphony of Lights in the Ayala Triangle (near Makati Stock Exchange) continues to draw and amaze crowds.

Makati Stock Exchange

I have not seen the previous years' light show (but I have seen photos) and this time I wanted to see it for myself. Finally got the chance last weekend. I also took it as an opportunity to shoot, however limited, around the area (Ayala Triangle) which on ordinary days are restricted to photographers (well at least those carrying SLRs).

before the show

It had been raining for several days already, especially during the afternoon and evening, but the sky decided to take a break last Saturday night. I hurried to Ayala and was able to catch the 2nd show of the night. The show runs every hour from 6PM to 9PM and each run takes about 10 minutes. That means I only have 3 chances of shooting the light show that night.

inflatable stars

The squandered the first chance, going around and trying to get a feel of the place. It was my first time and I did not know what'll happen (when certain lights will light up, what color, what sequences, where to best shoot, etc). I was also torn between shooting and actually enjoying the music and light display, and recording a video with by mobile device.

more stars

I found out that the light show is more video friendly (of course it is! :D). The light/colors quickly changes with the music (popular Christmas songs), so doing long exposures are not advisable. I bumped up my ISO up to a value where noise is still manageable (my DSLR is already considered a pre-historic so I don't have the luxury of high ISOs). Each of my shots was done using a short 3-8 second window.

There was also limited chance of changing POVs during the actual show. You'll risk bumping into other people completely transfixed on the light spectacle that is unfolding. So with 2 more shows remaining that night, I had only 2 chances of changing POVs. You'll see in the succeeding photos that the POVs are similar. What I tried capturing that night was the mood of the place.

Here's the first set:

Here are the photos from the last show of the night:

A side attraction (quite literally) is the Nativity Scene located in one corner. I saw photos of the previous year's "belen" and I think it was better.

More info:

Show is free
Runs every hour between 6PM to 9PM
Light designed by Voltaire de Jesus

Photographer of the Week (Picture Perfect/Manila Bulletin)

2011-12-06T23:20:00.004+08:00

I'm honored to be the featured photographer for this week's Picture Perfect section (December 7, 2011) of Manila Bulletin (Philippine's leading newspaper). I'll update this post with excerpts from the article (a great feature written by Yugel Losorata) as well as insights behind selected photos included in the feature.

Thanks to Picture Perfect and Manila Bulletin!

nueva vizcaya: salacsac pine forest and malico fields

2011-12-01T20:24:00.005+08:00

If you like those "places at the end of the road", then you'll feel right at home in Malico or Salacsac.

While in Imugan, my travel companion and I decided to check out the pine forest in Salacsac. It was literally at the end of the road and sits on the border between the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan (in fact both provinces lay claim to it).

There is a single road that leads up to the mountains from Imugan. The accessibility varies per season, and even locals in Imugan can only muster a guess as to whether the roads are passable or not. "We've seen the blue jeep going down to Imugan and up to Malico in the afternoon, so I guess road is better these days", said one.

So after breakfast one morning in Imugan, we headed up to Salacsac. Turned out the road was in one of its better conditions. The trip was a breeze, cool one at that, and within less than 30 minutes we were already in Malico, the barangay before Salascac. My watch indicated 1300 MASL and the wind was chilly even at mid morning.

where the clouds touch the land

We stopped by a field being planted with cabbage. Our guide said it looked like La Trinidad of Benguet before it got too populated. Here all you see are a few houses and acres of open fields. The hills at the end of the fields are softly caressed by the clouds. This is certainly paradise.

cabbage fields

We then proceeded to Salacsac for the pine forest. Friends who visited Salacsac before said they have to walk more than one hour from Malico. Lucky us the road was OK, and within 15 minutes we were in Salacsac. We left our jeep on top on a hill and hiked down to the village.

hike down to Salacsac

If Malico was sleepy, Salacsac was almost deserted. In fact they have to close down the school there for lack of students.

perfect day for a hike

The remoteness of the place contributed to its appeal. The air was cool and filled with the sweet scent of pine.

towering pines

You can sit in an overlooking place (you can see the plains of Pangasinan below) and get lulled by the rustling of the pine needles. Its one of those place you'll wish you'll never leave. I hope one of these days I can camp here.

empty shed, empty school

Here are some more of the photos I took in our short visit to Salacsac:

Lantaw is Best Photography Blog in the Philippine Blog Awards 2011 (Mindanao)

2011-11-29T08:33:00.008+08:00

Thank you Philippine Blog Awards! I was not able to attend the awards night in General Santos last November 26, 2011 so I'll just point you to PBA's FB page for some of the photos of what I heard was a very successful and fun evening.

Update: December 3, 2011

One of the post in this blog won the Top Photo Post award in the recent Philippine Blog Awards 2011 (National Level). Here a link to the winning post.

taal town: panutsa factory

2011-11-26T12:38:00.005+08:00

If you've been to bus stations for traveling to the provinces, which I figured most of us have as buses are the most common mode of transport here in the Philippines, most likely you've bought some snacks and local sweets. Ever wondered how these flat peanut filled panutsa (or panocha, or bandi) are made?

We had the chance to visit a "panutsa factory" in the heritage town of Taal one humid afternoon. The first thing vendors do when you step off the bus in front of the Taal Basilica is sell you either familia candles or panutsa. Its a cottage industry here, quite in a literal sense.

flattening panutsa

In a small dimly lit shack, several women are flattening hot caramelized unrefined sugar and peanuts on blackened ply boards using ring molds. The syrup is cooked in batches using a large wok over a wood fired stove.

panutsa operations

I was surprised to know that this small operation is not so small at all. On a usual day, they use about 3-4 sacks of unrefined sugar, 5 sacks of peanuts, and produce more than 2,000 pieces of panutsa. Cost of labor and materials can be as much as Php 30,000 (700USD) per day.

packaging

When the syrup solidifies they are scraped off the boards and wrapped in plastic. The entire process per batch just takes minutes.

These disks of peanuts and brown sugar are simply too irresistible to people with sweet tooth most do not really care about the conditions these were manufactured in.

Mang J, one of the hands in the panutsa factory

taal town: a smugmug photowalk

2011-11-21T13:30:00.008+08:00

Though I've been to Taal a couple of years ago, I welcomed the chance to revisit it with old and new friends. So when the local SmugMug group organized a photowalk I did not hesitate to sign up.

Taal is one of the places to get a glimpse of Philippine's colonial past. Old colonial houses seeped in history and centuries old churches are well preserved and are accessible to the general public. Taal's advantage over Vigan (another heritage town far up north in Ilocos) is that its only a few hours away from Manila (Vigan is a good 9-10 hours bus ride).

Our first stop was the Taal Basilica (Basilica de San Martin de Tours). Through I had taken photos of this grand church before, it still offered lots of nice angles to keep our group occupied.

one of the side altars

We went up the bell tower to get a spectacular view of the town and its surrounding vistas.

Basilica rooftop

After lunch we made a quick detour from the usual destinations to a "panutsa" factory. It was something which was new to all of us in the group. Panutsa is a sweet Filipino delicacy made of caramelized brown sugar and peanuts. Its very common in this region and you'll see vendors selling this in bus stations, churches, and almost all public places. (More photos of the panutsa factory in separate post).

peek at the panutsa factory

We also made a quick stop at the miraculous Our Lady of Caysasay church. Just like the Basilica, it offered a few more nice POVs just when you think you've seen it all.

Our Lady of Caysasay facade

view of the altar from the pulpit

After Caysasay church, off we go two of the popular old houses in Taal: the Agoncillo house and the Villavicencio "Gift House" (both houses are being maintained by the Villavicencio family). Whats great about these places in Taal is that they are within very short distances from one another, usually just a few minutes walk. I did not shoot much in the Villavicencio house due to lack of time (besides I was able to take photos of the interior during my previous visit).

house of Gregorio Agoncillo

We were back to the Basilica just before sundown. The church directly faces the west so its corral stone facade turn golden a few minutes before the sunset. Unfortunately the sun hid behind clouds just as it was nearing the horizon.

Basilica at sunset

The upside was that the clouds exploded in amazing hues of orange, red, and pink.

merry-go-round

The small fair in front of the church (practically at the Basilica's doorstep) came alive as the last colors in the western sky faded.

night market comes alive

We posed for the requisite group hug before darkness finally win over and necessitate the use of ridiculously high ISOs. Tired but happy of our "keeper shots", we made our way back to our van and settled in for the trip back to Manila.

Pieces of History

Gregorio Agoncillo is the nephew of Felipe Agoncillo, a lawyer who took part in the Treaty of Paris negotiations that resulted to the sale of the Philippines to United States by Spain.
Felipe's wife Marcela Mariño was the seamstress of the first Philippine flag. Their family mansion later became known as Agoncillo house. So there are two Agoncillo houses in Taal.

manila: kalesa by the crossroads

2011-11-16T22:15:00.006+08:00

A kalesa (horse drawn carriage) in a street corner in Roxas Blvd right across Rizal Park. The kalesa is a quintessential symbol of old Manila and can usually be seen in the Intramuros (famous Walled City) and Rizal Park area.

Both locations are recently in the headlines (at least in the local photography scene) because of the "No shooting" policy, causing very strong reactions from local photographers. Imagine, we are not allowed to shoot in both these iconic locations - the very heart of Manila. Actually that policy has been there for the longest, especially for Intramuros. Lots of stories about photo hobbyists being chased out of Intramuros by "guardia sibils", particularly those with DSLRs. I tried shooting at Fort Santiago inside Intramuros once and was instantly shooed away the moment I took out my camera. Point and shoot cameras are OK, DSLRs are a big NO. Somehow they equated DSLR with commercial work, add a tripod and some flash guns to your gear and I guarantee you'll get the instant: "No shooting here!".

Weird sense of direction from the part of DOT (Department of Tourism) if they are really trying to promote these places. As a knee jerk reaction to the outrage and the protests, DOT later released some explanations and guidelines for the "No Shooting" policy, covering "commercial photography" primarily.

The photo above was not taken with a tripod, the pavement was used. So its not commercial photography :)

Lantaw is a finalist in Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards 2011!

2011-11-14T22:01:00.017+08:00

Lantaw joins other finalists in Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards 2011 - the most prestigious of its kind this part of the globe!

I feel humbled to be part of this, knowing the sheer number of nominations and knowing the best of the best will be there. Frankly I'm not even sure how Lantaw got there, but its official, this blog is one of the five finalist for the Best Photography Blog category :). Thank you for that!

On December 16, the finalists as well as special guests (the who's who of the blogging community) will be treated to a night of glitz and glamour in Kuala Lumpur. That in itself is a great reward. But there is a way to make that night extra special. How? Vote for Lantaw! :). I'm sure Lantaw will be up against really great blogs, but if you enjoyed the photos here, maybe you can spare a few minutes and a few clicks to vote :).

By November 15(evening), the voting will commence here:
http://awards.nuffnang.com/2011/votes/
(voting is until November 27)

Support Pinoy bloggers in Nuffnang Blog Awards:

BEST FOOD BLOG - thefatkidinside.com
BEST TRAVEL BLOG - justwandering.org
BEST FASHION BLOG - itscamilleco.com
BEST PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG - lantaw.blogspot.com
BEST GEEK BLOG - geekout.ph
BEST GEEK BLOG - yugatech.com
BEST PARENTING BLOG - themisischronicles.com
BEST LIFESTYLE BLOG - jenniepperson.com
MOST ORIGINAL BLOG DESIGN - blog.ditz-revolution.net
HIDDEN GEM - googlygooeys.com

american cemetery in infrared

2011-11-13T00:30:00.003+08:00

Its a surreal place even in "normal light" and rendering it in infrared made it even more eerie.

The American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio is one of the favorite places of photographers in Metro Manila. While there are sections that are off limits, the rest of the grounds are accessible to the general public. Even on a weekend the place is quiet and seemingly deserted.

Here are my takes on a scorching hot midday, unfortunately that's the best time to take infrared photos is when its really sunny.

These are all "false color" IR. The original color of the photos is of course RED. Not all lenses by the way are good for taking infrared photos. Most of the ultrawide lenses in the market produce "hot spots" - bright areas right smack in the middle of your photo. For these photos I used a borrowed 10-24mm Nikkor with Haida IR720 (equivalent to the more popular Hoya R72 filter)

nueva vizcaya: imugan falls

2011-11-10T12:55:00.008+08:00

I had my sights on Imugan Falls for quite some time now. Several of my friends had visited the place a year or two ago but I had to be somewhere else at that time. After a few failed attempts to go there, one finally pushed through, this time with a blogger friend (DongHo). It’s a 6-hour trip just to see the falls, a trip I was glad to take.

Imugan is one of the barangays of Sta. Fe, a sleepy town in province of Nueva Vizcaya. Imugan is nestled high up in the Caraballo Mountain Range bordering Nueva Vizcaya and the province of Pangasinan. It’s one of those places where if you look both ways you can see everything. Not much to see there for tourists (except for the waterfalls of course!) but nature lovers would find this remote and rustic village a perfect getaway place . Researchers, both foreign and local, have also been frequenting the place. Imugan, you see, is the only place in the Philippines where they have a carbon trading initiative (in line with the Kyoto Protocol) and a very successful sustainable forest management program.

welcome scene in Imugan

We arrived at about noon on a cold and foggy day. I checked my altimeter: its 950 meters above sea. The trip went well; I remembered reading how bad the road was leading up to Imugan. It took us just about 30 minutes on a tricycle, our driver had no trouble navigating the narrow road (there were a few instances where I swear we were just inches from the ledge) even when the fog reduced the visibility considerably.

We were referred to the Kalahan Dormitory for lodging. It was spartan yet clean. The place is being maintained by the Kalahan Foundation (setup by the community, the whole of Imugan is ancestral domain of the Kalahan tribe).

bridge to the trail (near the dorm)

After a hearty lunch, we set out to hike to the falls. The foggy weather was holding and there was a light shower, perfect to photographing waterfalls. The waterfalls deities must have been favoring us, for the locals mentioned that it was very sunny the previous day.

flowers by the trail

The trail was well established, single track and runs by the side of the mountain. It’s one of the easiest treks to a waterfall I’ve been able to take: no mudslides, no treacherous descents. In fact it was scenic, with one section of the trail lined with flowers and another one with a moss wall.

mossy trail

The fog enhanced the mood of the place. What do you get when you trek with two photographers? A very slow trek! Our local guide was obviously bored.

finally, Imugan falls

When we finally managed to reach the falls, my first reaction was awed fascination of the scene in front of me. I was like a kid who entered a candy store. I quickly ran through a series of mental images: photos of this falls made by other photographers, trying to decide how I’m going to shoot this and from which vantage points.

I figured the best way to do this was to shoot from a distance downstream and then work my way up. Here’s what I got:

There was a trail going up the top of the falls but our guide advised against taking it since the recent rains have made it very slippery.

lake sebu: t'boli elder portraits

2011-11-08T19:27:00.000+08:00

Two of the elders, Waye and Kiboy Kayungan, of Sitio Lamkua in Lake Sebu permitted us to take a couple of snaps. Kiboy (left in the photo below) is one of the "dreamweavers" in Lake Sebu. Only the T'boli women are allowed to weave the T'nalak.

capones island: sunrise and sunset moods

2011-10-30T20:43:00.003+08:00

I was excited to revisit this beautiful rock just off the coast of Zambales. After a series of nasty typhoons, several ones in the span of a few weeks, weather was cooperating.

Its the perfect place for photographers fascinated by the great outdoors. Capones is raw, deserted, and wild. It has good views of the sunrise and sunset, and its easily accessible from Pundakit.

We started off early, by 4:30 AM we were already on an outrigger boat headed to the island. You can easily discern Capones' characteristic silhouette from the shores of Pundakit even on a dark night. After 30 uneventful minutes we hit the shores on the south side of the island. There were some local fishermen camping out, awakened by our arrival.

The first light of the day was already breaking and as soon as we dropped off our stuff, off we went planned locations. There was no need to scout as most of us have been in this island several times before. Instead of shooting by the beach, I decided to hike up to the hill on the middle part of the island. By the time I reached the top, sunrise was well on its way (first photo on this post).

who let the dog out?

I had this POV in mind and I was hoping for some colors on the west (anti-sunset). While the eastern sky was ablaze, there was nothing spectacular on the western side. An interesting thing happened though: I was surprised to see two dogs approached me. I know that nobody lives here. One of them followed me around and decided that she's a good foreground element. [Recently the Navy decided to put up a small detachment in this deserted island to thwart attempts of some individual to develop this into an island resort. The two dogs are their "guard dogs"].

We spend the rest of the day sleeping under the shade of the huge rocks. The other locals were fishing non-stop and would occasionally go back to camp to put their catch in a cooler (or sometimes straight to the coals). They are fishing with long "old school" bamboo poles and the bait are small fish and crustaceans.

sunset fisherman

By sundown the tide has ebbed, revealing interesting rock formations on one end of the island. But I decided to head out to the small hill where I shot the sunrise earlier. Its going to be hilltops for me for the rest of the trip.

clouds aglow on the east

I got some really good colors on the eastern skies (anti-sunset). I wished I had a 10-stop ND filter with me as there was some fast cloud movements.

rock garden anti-sunset

Though I had some shots of the anti-sunset that I really liked, sunset that day did a weak finish. I was hoping for more colors.

sunset by the rock garden

Woke up early the next morning for the sunrise. Climbed a hill (again) closer to our campsite. I was dismayed by the colors. I can hear the island saying "you can't have it all".

muted sunrise

The consolation was some very interesting crepuscular rays in the anti-sunrise direction. This seldom happens as most rays radiate from where the light source is.

crepuscular rays

zambales: more of capones lighthouse

2011-10-29T20:35:00.005+08:00

Though I know that Capones lighthouse has been shot to death by all camera toting beach hoppers (its a requisite side trip for those heading to/from the coves of Anawangin or Nagsasa), I could not help but take a few more for myself.

Cliche as the shots may be, the weather that day was just irresistible and perfect for postcard shots, with blue skies and warm early morning sun hitting lighthouse. Been here several times before but the weather was just drab. The "talahib" grasses were greener too.

There was an effort to revive the lighthouse, evident from the solar panels nearby. The lantern room had been refurbished and the lamp was replaced with a modern one. But while the tower looked new, the rest of the structures like the keeper's house were left to decay.

zambales: capones lighthouse

2011-10-26T12:45:00.001+08:00

Spent the previous weekend in the deserted Capones island in Zambales. More photos to come as I get to sort them. Work's getting in the way :).

sarangani: lowtide sunrise by the mangroves

2011-10-13T09:12:00.003+08:00

Have you ever got that feeling that you were exactly in the right place at the right time after taking an image? Well this is one of those images that made me feel that way.

It's not often that I get to visit this place in the outskirts of General Santos down south (way down south). I get to go home every few months, but on one of those trips everything just fell perfectly into place: low tide synchronized with sunrise, the sun's position was just right for the POV I envisioned, willing friends to accompany me there, and Mother Nature's decision to show us some extreme colors that morning.

Few realize the challenges of outdoor photography and what's involved: the planning and research, expenses, the physical rigors and the presence of mind to still compose and shoot after a long trek, skills and equipment, and the discipline to drag yourself out of bed at an ungodly hour. But when you hit pay dirt, the feeling is simply sublime.

vietnam: mekong delta's brick making (ben tre)

2011-10-10T16:33:00.005+08:00

Just one hour away from the hustle and bustle of Saigon is the lush water world of Mekong Delta.

After a red-eye flight to Saigon, we headed straight down south to Ben Tre to get a glimpse of the daily life in this vast flat maze of rivers, streams, and canals.

crossing over Ben Tre bridge

Covering more than 3.7 million hectares [according to guidebook], this part of Vietnam is more water than land, with the towns acting as "stations" along the major rivers. Its so flat that points above 5 meters are quite rare.

welcomed with a smile (onboard a "vo lai")

The first scene that greeted us was the thick brown river. "There's more than 26,000 kilometers of that here", said our guide while pointing to the river. Obviously the way to go around here is on a boat. So on an overcast morning we boarded a small ferry called "do ngang" and was on our way to see some of the sights in Ben Tre.

Our first stop that day was a brick factory. Along the way I already saw piles of bricks by the embankment, probably waiting to be picked up, and passed by flat bottomed ferry boats called "chet" with their belly fully loaded with bricks.

Did not fully realize that brick making is a major industry here until spending two days in the delta, passing through the urban areas of Ben Tre, Can Tho, and Vinh Long. I saw that 90% of the structures are made of bricks, probably even a 100%, just couldn't tell whats under some of the finished facade. All buildings currently under construction use bricks.

brick domes

From afar I saw a series of large brick cones, the tips of huge kilns used to bake the bricks. The bright red/orange piles of neatly stacked bricks are unmistakable from a distance.

baked and ready to go

The process of brick making has not changed since and they still adhere to traditional methods. Its a very manual process and takes around 25 days to complete, from molding the bricks to drying and finally to baking the bricks to orange perfection. The bricks are then sold at an outrageously cheap price of 1000 dong (.045 USD) per piece.

all fired up

Rice husk are used to fire up the gigantic kilns [There were studies already on how brick making has contributed to air pollution in Mekong Delta and how this can be reduced using modernized kilns]

ca phe (or cha) time

We caught the brick makers on their break time so there was not much activity to see apart from people in hammocks enjoying their ca phe or cha. In Vietnam, people are always within a few feet of a cup of iced or hot coffee and tea.

offering

I went around the factory, taking a few snap shots, before I decided that I have enough soot and ash on my self and my camera.

kiln with baked bricks

After the trip I tried to research why bricks are the main construction materials here. Then it dawned on me, they really don't have much of a choice. In this vast water world, construction-grade sand and rocks are hard, if not impossible, to source. What they have in seemingly endless supply are mud and clay brought by the river after passing through several countries [China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia] and depositing the materials in this rich delta.

laguna: dawn breaks in sampaloc lake

2011-10-02T18:50:00.004+08:00

Sampaloc Lake is often described as the largest and the most beautiful lake of the seven lakes in San Pablo in the province of Laguna.

I did not pass up the chance to shoot sunrise there when I got an invite from one of my friends. I've seen countless photos of the lake, mostly taken at sunrise, with lotus flowers in the foreground and the mysterious Mt. Banahaw in the background. The lake always seems so serene.

dawn breaks

We left Manila at 2AM and was there in San Pablo well before dawn. Little did I know that the lake was in fact right smack in the middle of San Pablo. In fact its just behind the city hall.

bamboo raft

The lake was not very large, just about 1.2 kilometers in diameter at its widest. Its actually an inactive volcanic maar, a shallow volcanic crater, that got filled with water overtime.

sunrise paddler

Things around the lake began to stir as the first rays of the day broke through low lying clouds in the east. I could see small fishpens, not very many, and I suspect fishing in this lake in not really a big industry. The lake was too small, but relatively clean.

A narrow cemented road winds around the lake and has become quite popular with joggers and bikers. A small section of the lake side was made into some sort of park, with tables and chairs. It was a good place to watch the sun rise.

fish traps

I turned my attention to the activities in the lake. I noticed that instead of canoes (in some lakes dugout canoes are common) and bangka, fisher-folks here prefer bamboo rafts.

getting ready

The western side of the lake is where most of the fish pens are. I read that most of the pens contain tilapia, but carp and bangus are also farmed here, but maybe not in great quantities. The lake also yields several species of shrimps.

cleaning the cages

As I watched the morning flurry, I took a mental note of trying out the local delicacies - maybe fresh catch from the lake (there are small restaurants by the lake shore) if I have the chance on the next visit.

breakfast

Before we left I noticed a man fishing on a canoe with a young girl, probably his daughter. It is in places like this where you can see that nature does provides, if one can wake up early.

serene

Sampaloc Lake, like the rest of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo, are being threatened by human exploitation. It is not difficult to see that soon more and more fish cages will cover the lake. The lake is not even that deep, just 20 meters on the average, and the nitrogen levels can easily spike up, no thanks to excess fish feeds. Commercial structures near the lake side also contributes to garbage in the lake.

vietnam: a night in can tho

2011-09-27T21:43:00.006+08:00

Although our main purpose in Can Tho was to see Mekong Delta’s rural side, I welcomed the chance to have a glimpse of the town’s urban area during a short night stroll.

We arrive in Can Tho just before sunset after spending a day exploring the river system and canals near Ben Tre some 3 hours away (I’ll write about this soon).

Though the rains have stopped I did not held my breathe for sunset, as the sky is still a dull shade of gray. After setting our stuff in our room, my wife and I went out to find a place to eat. I had other intentions of course – to shoot.

It was blue hour by the time we went out – perfect, what’s not was that I found out that my tripod, which I had never taken out of its bag ever since we landed in Saigon, was cracked at the center column where you attach the head - its barely usable! So much for handling fragile items, thank you Cebu Pacific!

Finding dinner was bumped off the top of the list with finding a ”super glue”. A hardware store (we found one nearby) shopkeeper listed intently for several minutes while I explained the problem animatedly with elaborate hand gestures, then smiled sheepishly and said “No English”, breath stinking with beer. Agitation was turning into frustration.

Next we tried a supermarket, surely they have some form of glue or epoxy, but of course we got the usual “No”. We had no choice but to check every aisle. Found one, bought several tubes, but discovered my tripod problem is not easily fixed. I resigned to the fact that I won’t be shooting much that night.

walking the streets of Can Tho

We walked along one of the major streets of Can Tho, looking for a place to eat. The streets are similar to Saigon’s: line with food stalls and hawkers, overflowing with motorcycles and scooters (Can Tho is Mekong Delta’s unofficial capital and is also a “university town”). Crossing the street always requires patience, courage, some quick thinking with matching quick feet.

moon cakes

We passed by several brightly lighted stalls selling moon cakes, bought a sample after agreeing we are not being ripped off with the price, though my wife still thinks its expensive for 55,000 dong (about 2.5 USD) a piece. I told her its because it has “stuff” in it. We were famished and we consumed one in record time.

for the happy hour

Language is always a barrier in ordering food. We bypassed several food stalls after quickly surveying what the others are eating: mostly seafood stuff, some soup, and grilled meat, and deciding we won’t be able to effectively communicate what we want to eat. In the end we decided to go for the safest bet: pho.

you choose, I prepare

We found a stall manned by a young man who was more interested on talking on his mobile than getting our order (I’m sure he is talking to a girl). He smiled while we described what we want and then went to preparing our pho. I wanted beef while my wife wanted chicken. After a few minutes we got our noodles: mine with chicken and pork while my wife got pork with her pho. Pho is pho so we did not complain. He must have seen us eyeing with curiosity what the others are ordering for he kept on bringing us freebies. “No charge”, he said. After dinner we had several glasses of free cha.

dawn stirs

The next morning I woke up at 4AM, picked up my tripod – doused the crack with several tubes of super glue the previous night, and head out to shoot sunrise in one of Hậu River’s tributaries (Hau is also known as Bassac River. It starts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia). I had to wake up someone to open the front door. It’s pretty common in Vietnam for hotels to lock their front doors after midnight.

trade fair arch

The streets are alive already. I passed by a balloon arc announcing an international trade fair. This is the new Vietnam: socialism is giving way to capitalism. Business is booming, especially in cities like Saigon, and more people want to make more money. The years of the trade embargo are but a distant memory.

I found good spot facing the east on the bridge along Nguyen Trai. A group of drunks nearby, who were probably drinking since the previous night, were eyeing me with curiosity. Several motorists stopped, asked me if I was “media”. I showed them several of my shots, they nodded approvingly, perhaps just to be polite, then went on their way.

Hau Giang tributary

Sunrise was dismal and the constant buckling of the bridge as huge trucks pass by did not help some of my shots at all. But I enjoyed watching the blue colors of dawn playing tug of war with the rust color of the river.

too early for iced coffee

On the way back to the hotel I stopped by a stall selling coffee and tea. Aside from pho, coffee and tea are also universal in Vietnam. People start their day with either or all of these three. Somehow I managed to order iced coffee (ca phe da). I could not understand how much to pay so I just showed the lady selling coffee my wallet. She picked out a 2000 dong bill. She could have picked out more bills, I was willing to pay more, but she didn't.

Further along I stopped by a woman selling colored sticky rice wrapped in thin pancake and rice paper. An old man asked me something in Vietnamese. Somehow I understood the question for he replied “Ahh” when I told him I am a Filipino. He smiled and waved when I said I have to go.

In retrospect I find Can Tho a friendlier place than Saigon.

vietnam: vinh long public market

2011-09-25T18:52:00.002+08:00

A quick stop in the public market along the Mekong River presented an opportunity to check out the street scenes in Vinh Long and maybe buy some local fruits .

The town is the capital of the province of the same name and is still largely rural. Most visiting the Mekong Delta simply passes through this town on the way to Can Tho, or do a quick restroom stop.

"Thirty minutes, then we go", our Vietnamese guide reminded. While some of us were eager to get down, probably for different reasons, he seemed largely uninterested, he probably passed through this town a thousand times.

too young?

While my companions wandered around, I kept to one side of the street, distancing myself from the market crowd. Its a good way to observe and not intimidate people when taking photos. On the other side a young policeman, too young in my opinion, kept a watchful eye. He probably is more bored than our tour guide.

rambutan lady

A friend who visited Vietnam before had this to say: "same same, but different". The scene is oddly familiar, but like the one I'm used to in Manila's Divisoria or Chinatown area. Everything seemed the same, from the good being hawked to the regular fruits and veggies. But the conical straw hats, the crazy stream of motorcycles, bikes, and scooters, and the signage I can't read tells me I'm in a different place.

dragon fruits and guava

My wife took fancy on some dragon fruits and grenadine - uncommon fruits in the Philippines. A fellow tourist, a Vietnamese now living in Paris, bought quite a few dragon fruits, remarking how expensive these are back in France. He helped us haggle for a kilo of grenadine and dragon fruits, reminding us always that its a common practice in Vietnam.

quiet conversations

We went inside the main building looking for some face masks that are quite common among the commuters here. Inside are more stuff, a variety of merchandise from powdered soaps to brooms. Judging from the looks others in our group, this must have been an interesting sight, something new. I swore I did not feel like a foreigner in this place.

beans

The Mekong Delta region is one of the fruit and vegetable baskets of Vietnam, and its quite evident here. They say if you want to know more about a place, then go to its market.

veggies

afternoon snacks

One the way back to the bus I came across an interesting item: a big motorbike with a soldier's helmet hung over one end of its handle bar. I have not seen that much reminder of the old war in the country side and even in Saigon (expect probably in the War Museum in Saigon, if one wants to be reminded).

Joe's ride

They say that the Vietnamese did not choose to forget about the war, but more like they know nothing good can come out of dwelling in the past. They are not vindictive and do not display animosity towards the "Joes" who once leveled their country side (especially in the north). I could almost hear someone say to an American: "Hey you dropped tons of bombs, napalmed our forest, left countless land mines in our fields, and poisoned us with Agent Orange, but its all in the past. Now let drink chả and cà phê đá".

vietnam: saigon's landmarks and tourist traps

2011-09-16T11:43:00.016+08:00

Although we only stayed in Saigon on the last part of our visit to Vietnam, I thought I’d start my series of posts with some of the recognizable icons (places and buildings) that are usually associated with Ho Chi Minh.

We arrived in Saigon (from Can Tho) on a rainy evening. After a few days, I’ve confirmed that there are generally two seasons here just like in the Philippines: the wet and the wetter seasons.

busy De Tham street

We stayed in one of the inns in De Tham in the backpackers’ area (in District 1). This is a convenient location: near the tour agencies where you can get guides and tour packages, the bus stations (heading north to Hanoi or southeast to Cambodia or Mekong Delta), and near the Saigon “attractions”. In fact the one we chose is right beside a tour agency’s office, so no need for a taxi.

After dropping our bags in our room, we decided to do the touristy thing to do: shop and explore Saigon’s night-scape. Of course my wife insisted we pass by the night market at Ben Thanh first.

heading to Ben Thanh

Sure enough it was just a short walk from De Tham along Pham Ngu Lao.

bargain hunter

The streets along one side of Ben Thanh market is lined stalls selling mostly souvenir stuff. The street is shared with motorist as well. How’s that for dangerous shopping!

shoppers and a busy street

I don’t really see the attraction to this night market. For one, there are more choices if you visit Ben Thanh area at day time. Secondly, the prices are not even lower at the night market - it’s the opposite in fact, probably because more tourists visit the night market (as daytime is reserved for tours).

what-nots for sale

There food stalls as well, perfect for a bowl of hot pho that will surely re-energize a tired shopper. You can't seem to walk a few meters here without coming across someone selling street food.

food stop

The universal rule in bargain shopping in Saigon is to haggle, but make sure you buy the item once you get the seller to agree with your desired price. It’s also interesting to note that items are priced not just based on their value but also partly your capacity to pay (as perceived by the seller), so look poor. I also found out that if you stand long enough in front of a stall, someone will soon drag you by the arm into the stall and try to sell you stuff. Talk about aggressive selling!

downtown Saigon

After buying a few stuff, we decided to head to some of the iconic buildings as I’m sure they’ll be dramatically lighted at night time. We decided to hire motorcycles to take us around. The buildings are actually within walking distance (everything is, if you have the time and energy to walk) but 3+ hours of traveling by bus has drained us a bit.

Opera House

Our first stop was the Saigon Opera House (Municipal Theatre) in the chic part of the city. The guides often refer to this as a fine example of French Colonial architecture in Vietnam, although it pales in comparison to its Hanoi counterpart – at least according to some guide books. It looked magnificent nevertheless.

busy flow

In this part of the city you can actually see a bit more cars, quite a rarity.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Next we went to see the Notre Dame Cathedral in Dong Khoi Street. The façade was not lighted directly but I can see beautiful red brick façade. There was a crowd doing novena in front of the church that time. Built by the French in the late 1800s, the Cathedral continues to be one of the most recognizable symbols of Catholicism in Vietnam.

City Hall

On the way back to Ben Thanh market we made a quick stopover at the most photographed building in Saigon: Ho Chi Minh City Hall or Hôtel de Ville de Saigon. It was the City Hall under the French but now it’s officially the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee building.

from across the street

In front of this gothic parody of the Hotel de Ville in Paris is a small park with the statue of Ho Chi Minh.

The highlight of the evening was when, after the tour, one of the motorcycle drivers (who appeared helpful earlier) insisted we pay double the agreed fare. Classic rip off! It just confirms what I read about how “tricky” getting around Saigon is. You are not safe even if you take the taxi. They have even elevated the tampering of taxi meters to an art.

where else but to Ben Thanh again!

The next day we “developed” a new countermeasure to overpricing: give the seller a piercing look when you think you are being ripped off and you’ll immediately get a discount. It works btw, at least with the lady selling baguette. We went back to Ben Thanh market, my wife was “curious” about what’s inside while I wanted to shoot the facade.

as seen from the roundabout

Next we headed to the City Hall, this time we walked. The small park, which I did not noticed much the previous night, was beautiful. I also wanted to see the basilica again in daylight so we proceeded there after taking a few posterity snaps of the City hall.

Cathedral in the sun

The Notre Dame Cathedral was also grand in the full sun. Several couples in wedding suits and dresses were having their pictures taken all around the church.

Virgin Mary statue

There was a time in Oct 2005 when someone reported that the statue shed tears, prompting a huge crowd to gather and disrupted the traffic.

Saigon ride

We met two motorcycle drivers who wanted to prove that not everyone in Saigon are scums bent to rip you off. They offered us a tour of some of the pagodas in Cholon (Saigon’s China town, will write a separate post on it) and while it’s a bit far they did not charge us much.

They even gave us some good luck charms from one of the pagodas. They reasoned if you do what’s right then everybody’s happy. Tourists are happy, you are happy, and your family will be blessed with good luck.

Binh Tay Market

The Cholon tour was capped by a visit to Binh Tay Market (what's a day without shopping). Our driver said most of those selling stuff in Ben Thanh actually get their goods here. I also noticed the absence of tourists in the area, except for us and probably a few who blended in too well.

Best part of the visit to Binh Tay, apart from the incredible bargains, was the several glasses of free ice tea from complete strangers. Everywhere we went folks mistake my wife for a Vietnamese who married a Filipino. She does look like a local especially with that conical hat on, and sound like one too with her few mastered phrases (all of which had something to do with shopping). Our guide said her accent is good. I, on the other hand, was a dead give away with the flags on my shirt, camera, tripod, and backpack.

lake sebu: hidden traangkini cascades

2011-09-11T20:09:00.005+08:00

Looking for an alternative destination in Lake Sebu? Try the refreshingly cold cascades of Traangkini. Most would surely head first to the 2nd Falls for the zip line in Lake Sebu, but if you are looking for a quiet place to cool down, the cascades of Traangkini is the perfect place.

raw beauty

The place got its name from the T'boli word "tdaan-kini" which loosely translated means an intersection of two streams, one which is hot ("kini"). According to the locals, the hot stream remains warm even on a cold night. Traangkini is one of the major water sources of Lake Seloton.

wildflowers

The cascades however are further upstream on the cold stream. Although most outsiders thought Traangkini (or Traan-kini) is a name of a waterfalls, its actually a series of small cascades, some just 4-5 feet tall. There is also no specific spot, and the current "Traangkini" is further upstream of the previous swimming spot. It "moves" as new more beautiful nooks are discovered upstream.

Traangkini is just a short habal-habal ride from the poblacion. However its best to get drivers who actually live near the sitio as the road conditions change on a daily basis, especially during the rainy season. If you ask around the habal habal drivers you'll get conflicting answers as to how bad the current road is.

fields of green

Along the way you'll pass by verdant rice fields and scenery a bit different from the lake side views.

home on the range

The habal-habal will not be able to take you right to the cascades. There is a bit of a hike, about 20-30 minutes depending on how fit you are. This hike will surely make you long for the cold waters that awaits you in Traangkini.

cool and refreshing

The South Cotabato government is actively promoting Lake Sebu as a tourist destination, and spots like Traangkini are likely to be "highlighted". I was talking to some of the elders the last time I was there and there was a mention that the provincial government is already considering "developing" Traangkini by building a road that will lead you right to the river. A staff of the tourism office had been there a previously "taking measurements" around the place.

I just hope that the government's idea of "development" does not involve building concrete tables around the place and creating swimming pools. Sometimes by developing the place we destroy the very reason people hike or go there.

lake sebu: profile of a young T'nalak weaver

2011-09-04T20:37:00.003+08:00

By just looking at the portrait, one cannot imagine that this beautiful young T'boli lady is one of the masters of an art that has been handed down from mother to daughter for ages.

This art I've mentioned is the weaving of the T'nalak cloth, one of the hallmarks of the rich culture of the T'boli tribe of southern Mindanao. The weaving is exclusive to the women of the tribe and it takes years of practice before one can learn the whole tedious process and more years, and probably lots of inspiration, before a unique design can be attributed to a weaver. But by the age of 12, Divina already started weaving and producing complex designs.

the youngest "dreaweaver"

I met Divina 2 years ago when I documented the T'nalak weaving process for one of UN's agencies. I had the privilege of shooting her and other "dreamweavers" - a group of T'boli women featured in a book entitled "Dreamweavers" by Neal M. Oshima. Divina is the youngest of the group.

Lake Sebu's T'nalak weavers are nicknamed "dreamweavers" because the patterns they use in the weaving are supposed to be inspired by their dreams. Its a complex process involving close to 10 steps.

Divina finished T'nalak cloth

This recent set of photos were taken in Man family's weaving hut in Lamkua, one of Lake Sebu's highland sitios (quite a motorcycle ride). Divina's sister Elena and mom Yab are also master weavers (and both were also featured in the book). Yab is considered one of the icons of T'nalak weaving, with more than 100 designs to her name.

Divina working on her loom (just one of the stages in the process)

Divina is one of the faces of the new generation of weavers, keeping this tradition alive for future generations. Even in the face of mass produced low quality T'nalak (the ones usually sold to tourists in Lake Sebu), she and other young master weavers adhere to traditional ways of producing T'nalak. Its a tedious process (which I hope to feature soon), but the output is priceless art: an imprint of the dreams of the T'boli people.

lake sebu: random images of a beautiful place

2011-08-21T23:08:00.001+08:00

sunrise in Lake Seloton

Lake Sebu is one of those places that has this tendency to tug incessantly at your heart. It beckons you to return again and again. You happily give in and rediscover the place anew. Just when you think you've seen everything there, it gives you another set of beautiful memories.

The place is near my hometown so I scheduled a day of visit the last time I went home. I could never count how many times I've visited Lake Sebu. It has changed a lot ever since the concrete winding road was finished, finally making this picturesque town of 3 lakes and 7 falls more accessible to the lowland. Now it takes less than 1 hour drive from hometown, far less than the 4 days it takes before the road was built.

My first stop in Lake Sebu, if I am with photographer friends, is a quiet little resort in Lake Seloton. If the names confuse you, its because the town is named after the largest of the three lakes (Lake Sebu, Lake Seloton, and Lake Lahit. So Lake Sebu is the name of both the town and one of the lakes there). Lake Seloton is sometimes referred to as the "Sunrise Lake" because its easily accessible shoreline directly faces the east.

It was cold that morning (reminded me of Baguio) and while most everyone else if still asleep, we are already in "our proper places", cameras mounted on tripods, and waiting for the sun.

Lotus flower in Lake Seloton

We did not get any blazing sunrise colors that morning but in hindsight I still think we got lucky. I was able to see another mood of the place, and it was beautiful even in monochromatic ambiance.

flowers and reflections

By the time our breakfast was ready, the sun was fully up. The lotus flowers are fully open, as if to welcome the new day (by late afternoon they will close up again).

enroute to fish pens

The lake was busy with fisherfolks in dugout canoes heading to their tilapia pens. But even with all the activities, the tranquility still hangs all over the place.

an old dugout canoe

For a moment, you can actually hear the world speak to you and greets you with a warm "hello and good morning", unlike in the gray and steel jungle of the metropolis where each day is greeted with numbers, tasks and lists, and techno-whatnots.

tranquil morning

The day has not even really started yet, as I was actually there to visit one of the youngest "dreamweavers", but I feel that the place have already given me so much.

Up next: One of the youngest masters of T'nalak weaving and a cool spot called Traangkini

adams: anuplig, maligligay, inuwayan, and cabacan falls

2011-08-07T20:26:00.001+08:00

Adams' poster falls: Anuplig

If there is one place where you have access to dozens of waterfalls in hiking distance of each other, that would be Adams in Ilocos Norte. Tucked in a lush green valley and surrounded by rain forest, some consider this small town as the "land of waterfalls". The signages around the town pointing you to trails leading to various waterfalls further reinforce that title.

Adams had been on my travel list for quite some time, but did not get the chance to visit it until recently. Its at least a 12 hour trip from Manila, and the weather had to be right. The "bad weather" considered by some for traveling is the best weather for shooting waterfalls. Rains make the falls fuller, and overcast skies are great for even lighting. But one weekend, our schedules and weather just fell into proper places, so I found myself (together with 3 other friends) enjoying the cool clime of Adams.

Our first destination that day was Anuplig Falls. Its the poster falls of Adams and supposedly very accessible. After a hearty lunch and a much needed quick shuteye (we rode the overnight bus from Manila), we started our trek to Anuplig, which according to our guide is just very near. (In Adams, everything is VERY near. When we asked our guide where this falls is, he replied: "nandyan lang yan" or "its just over there". We later found out that it really was just over there, over that mountain we see in the distance.)

Thirty minutes into the hike and our guide started getting questions like "are we there yet?". His reply of "we are already 1/2 of the way" did not help much. We reached the falls after an hour and fifteen minutes. The trail was actually well established and only the few hundred meters before the falls is treacherous.

Anuplig in warm light

I felt re-energized the moment I saw the falls. There's an air of mystery to it, probably due to the fact that its partially covered by a rock wall.

mysterious Anuplig

I was not able to shoot more than 10 frames when it started to drizzle which then turned to rain. Its one of the disadvantages of shooting in this weather - you only have a small window sometimes. Nevertheless I was quite happy with some of my shots.

Its more waterfalls the next day. After the sunrise shoot in Lover's Peak and a hearty breakfast (quite surprising how we woke up early considering the amount of wine we had at dinner the previous night) we were off again, planning to visit as many falls as we can that day. It was a sunny morning but I was hoping for some cloud cover later that day.

First stop was Maligligay falls (aka Pablo falls). The hike was supposedly much shorter than that of Anuplig. As usual, we got the "its just over there" reply when we asked how far it is. Our guide the previous day is not familiar with the trail so we had to get the services of another guide from a nearby community.

Unlike trail to Anuplig, the one to Maligligay is much more difficult. A few minutes into the hike and the trail turned single track with loose soil and slippery rocks. On your right is a wall of wet rocks and roots, on your left a steep drop to a river few hundred meters below. One slip and its bad news for you and your equipment.

Maligligay top layer

The trail led to the top of the first layer and we reached it just in time for lunch. By this time sun light has become tamer and passing clouds diffused it. Again good thing for shooting waterfalls, but it also means our window is closing. I shot a few frames before eating our packed lunch.

The second layer is much bigger but there's no trail going down. We had to nimbly slide down a rock face with only shrubs and tree roots to hold on to.

Maligligay downstream

The lodged log nicknamed by a friend, who visited the falls before us, as "bathing bear" (well, because it looks like a bear enjoying the falls) is still there.

second layer with "bathing bear"

It was a quick shoot and we had to pack up because of, you guessed it, rain. It was pouring when we reached the trail head. We waited the rain out a while before heading back to the poblacion for 2 more waterfalls.

This time our guide promised its really just very near. One of my friends decided to call it day (his knee is already troubling him) while the rest of decided to push on.

The trail started from a rickety hanging bridge just in front of the town center. It started raining again but I did not care as I am wet already. I was prepared and made sure my gears are properly waterproofed.

The trail was almost flat - no more slippery climbs. After less than 30 minutes we reached Inuwayan falls, a small twin cascade sitting right in the middle of the town mayor's farm.

Inuwayan falls

There was not much to shoot in Inuwayan so we proceeded to Cabacan Falls which is just less than 10 minutes away.

Cabacan falls

Cabacan is just a small cascade, probably 15 feet high, with a shallow catch basin. The view from downstream is obscured by logs and huge rocks.

ferns at Cabacan falls

The rain finally let up so I was able to shoot without having to worry about droplets on the front of my lens.

framed by the forest

By the time we trudged back to town, the excitement has winded down and I started to feel my aching muscles. Tired and hungry, we slowly made our way back to our homestay. We must have been so hungry, for the platefuls of hot pancit quickly disappeared as soon as they are served.

adams: lovers' peak mountain light

2011-07-23T19:50:00.002+08:00

mountain light

Literally just at Adam's backyard, this one is about 30 minutes walk from where we stayed. It offered one of the best mountain views of sunrise I've seen.

Our guide found it weird that we went there while the rest of the town is still in slumber land. The previous night he was suggesting that about 6-7AM would be a great time to go there for sunrise watching. I said "No, we'll wake up at 4AM"

fog cover

We managed to peel ourselves off the bed when our wake up alarms went off. Quite surprising actually, considering the amount of wine we had the previous night (in my previous post I mentioned how I tasted one of the best fruit wines in Adams).

sunrise rays

Half way through the hike I could already see the first rays of the day breaking through the fog layers that blanketed the mountains in the east. We all seemed to not mind the uphill walk, as we are all excited what Lovers' Peak have to offer.

The peak was fog covered when we reached it, but within seconds the fog began to recede and we can already discern the valley below. Then the light show started.

Lovers' Peak layers

The light show was accompanied by the beautiful slow dance of the fog. It changed form, flowed, disappeared, and reappeared in another place. I was like a kid in a candy store, not knowing which direction to shoot first.

grand view

Before it was even over I could already see why they call the place "Lovers' Peak". It certainly is one of the most beautiful parts of town. Like a lover, the place have a way of clinging on to you (and I'm not referring to the countless amorseko or crabgrass that I still have to remove from my shorts and shirt).

adams: ilocos norte's garden of eden

2011-07-17T21:07:00.000+08:00

welcome to Adams, population: 1800

A small town - the smallest in the Philippines with only 1 barangay, nestled in a valley surrounded by pristine rain forest near the northern edge of Luzon. It was our home for two stress free days. Limited cellphone signal (currently only Globe works), no 3G, no emails.

Adams lived up to how it got its name. There were several variations of the story but the main theme remain the same: it looked like the garden of Eden or the garden of Adam and Eve when early settlers first laid eyes on the lush valley - rich in natural resources and has a very diverse flora and fauna.

lush green valley

The place became a melting of different tribes from Apayao and Cordillera region. Currently the population consist of different Igorot groups (Kankana-ey, Isneg), Yapayao, and Bago - just to name a few. Its a perfect example of how different cultures coexist harmoniously with one another.

There are so many dimensions to the place: people, culture, food, and scenic beauty. So many to cover in one visit, but here are bits and pieces of Adams:

Baset hanging bridge
Its the longest hanging bridge in the province of Ilocos Norte. During the rainy season when the river overflows and covers the small concrete bridge below, this bridge becomes Adams' lifeline to the outside. Its a great experience crossing this bridge (not for those with vertigo) on foot. Some daredevil ones cross this on motorcycle (most common mode of transportation there), much to the chagrin of their passengers.

crossing the into Adams
Adams is just 13.5 kilometers from the main highway but it looked like far away place, much different from the coastal scenery of Ilocos Norte. A few minutes into the ride to Adams, the salty and humid sea breeze is replaced by a cool mountain air. The dirt road is like a corridor cut through a heavily forested area. You'll know when you are near the town proper when you cross the crystal clear Bolo river. Fed by countless waterfalls if there is one reason to go to Adams then this is it - at least for me), the river traverses the town and empties in Bangui Bay in the north.

serenity of Ilyn's place
Built piece by piece by the Chens, this place is truly a labor of love and one of the best homestays (a "homey place" as the Adams folks would call it). Ilyn used to be an OFW in Taiwan but later decided to settle in her home town of Adams. A colleague of hers, a Taiwanese national, followed her here and the rest is a love story that became the foundation of this homey place.

fruit wines
Adams has some of the best local fruit wines I've every tasted. Dr. Bielmaju, who owned a small winery, treated us to an evening of wine tasting which lasted from dinner time to near midnight - much to the delight of a wine connoisseur companion. The town folks started experimenting blends and producing wines starting 2008. Currently there are about 63 wine makers and producers.

Bugnay wine
Of the fruit wines in Adams, the Bugnay (wild blackberry or currant tree) wine is my favorite. Bugnay's richly color fruit (ranges from red, to deep crimson, to violet and black) is also a favorite of mine as a kid. If there is one wine that will put Adams on the wine map of the Philippines, then this would be it.

waterfalls of Adams
For those who love nature and the great outdoors, Adams is a perfect place. It has countless hiking trails that culminates in a pristine waterfall. Its as if every hike there has a prize of a cool dip at the end of the trail. On our short stay there we manage to visit four beautiful waterfalls, which I think deserves a separate post.

mansalay: hanunoo mangyans of oriental mindoro (elders)

2011-07-06T17:54:00.001+08:00

a Hanunoo elder displaying one of his prized possession: the bolo

The Hanunoos are one of the 7 Mangyan tribes in the island of Mindoro. Of the Mangyan tribes, only they have their own script. The Hanunoos are concentrated in the town of Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro where they settled in 53 sitios (small villages).

Here are some of the interesting personalities I've met one weekend in Sitio Hawili in Brgy Panaytayan while doing outreach work with some volunteers from Black Pencil Project:

under a drizzle
An elder prepares his nga-nga under a drizzle. Nga-nga is a mixture of betel nut, lime, and other spicy stuff, wrapped in mint leaf and then chewed. Older men of the tribe still wear their traditional bahag (loin-cloth) and usually carries a small sling bag which I'm guessing would contain ingredients for their nga-nga, among other things. I tried to take a portrait of him but he dismissed me with a wave of his hand.

a toothless smile
Aside from his toothless grin (thanks partly to nga-nga) he is equally proud of one of his prized possession: his bolo. Every adult (men and women) have in their possession some form of short or long blade - an indispensable tool in the forest.

His name is Lawaan Bado, an elder of Sitio Gaang. He was a bit reserved the first time I met him, but soon warmed up to me as I try to strike a conversation every chance I get. One of the elders, Berek, translated for me and I tried to use whatever words I gleaned from conversations with others in the past 1.5 days. At first he did not like to have his picture taken but in the end agreed to pose for us, after he saw how good he looked in my camera's LCD.

I asked him how old he was and he said he does not know anymore, but he knows he was just about 3 years old during the Japanese occupation. That would make him about 73 years old.

He asked me if I had some drink with me, I presumed it was liquor. Told him I did not but we brought some locally made cigars. Turned out he does not smoke and prefers his "nga-nga" over tobacco.

One of the volunteers said, "He good-humoredly refused toothbrush when we first offered. Resigned to the hopeless case for a pearly white teeth".

the leader
Berek is one of the leaders of Sitio Boro boro. His son and son-in-law are para-teachers in his sitio. Helped me on several occasions with my conversation with some of the elders by translating.

intent on knowing our intentions
Berek intently listens to our group's presentation. He is one of the vocal elders, asking questions about our group and our intentions. At one point he stood up and asked us point blank: "What do you want in return?". With all the boxes of school supplies and equipment and food we brought, I understand why they are wary of our motives. They must have come across a cunning tribe of lowlanders called "politicians" before. We told them we want nothing in return except to put what we will be giving to good use.

doting grandpa
Mario is one of the locals in Sitio Hawili. He would agree for portraits but won't look directly into the camera. I always see him with his grandchildren.

the elders

black pencil project: mangyans of mansalay

2011-07-02T11:56:00.009+08:00

colors of Mansalay Mangyans

Could we change lives given just a weekend? With the right group of dedicated individuals, we easily can.

life changing box

The heavy rains, thanks to Typhoon Falcon, did not stop the group that Friday night. Metro Manila's every corner is flooded but we managed to make the rendezvous and catch the bus headed to a town in Oriental Mindoro, an island south of Luzon. The destination: Mansalay, home of the Hanunoo Mangyans (one of the 7 Mangyan tribes in Mindoro). The mission: distribute school supplies to about 300 or so school children (official list indicates 320).

The group is made up of professionals from various fields, but that weekend we were all volunteers of Black Pencil Project

"Black Pencil Project is a grass-root, hobby-based, volunteer organization with core advocacies focused on child's primary education in remote and indigenous communities in the Philippines. Primarily founded as a collective initiative, Black Pencil Project fosters shared responsibility using individual's skill and talent through AdvenTourism and VolunTourism programs." - Mon Corpuz, one of the founders.

This particular trip was organized by a group of BPP volunteers - running enthusiasts who initiated the Run For Pencils project. The fundraising initiative aimed to collect pledges for every kilometer a runner covers.

I was fortunate to be invited to tag along and I almost backed out of it due to a conflict with schedule. Looking back at that weekend, I would not miss it for the world, not even with the flood and the huge waves that delayed our island crossing from Batangas pier to Calapan.

Here are some of the photos I took (with more photos soon):

photog and cook

One of BPP founders Mon Corpuz, camera in one hand and ladle in another. He was the chef of the soup kitchen, alternating between taking photos and stirring 3-4 large pots of steaming pasta soup. That weekend we fed more than 200 people lunch, dinner, breakfast the next day, and mid morning snack of macaroni soup. I was one of Mon's assistants but I would often leave him to hunt for photos.

kitchen

This is where we cook. There are no decent firewood, mostly just wet bamboo and coconut "paklang" (branches). These made a lot of smoke and hurt the eyes.We were all crying by the time we are finished cooking.

helping out

One of the elders helping out, creating a makeshift roof over our "kitchen"

cooking rice

Rice is not a staple part of their diet, but that weekend the group brought a sack. The whole community enjoyed hot steamy rice for several meals.

outdoor classroom

One of the activities the group did was a coloring exercise, done under the cool shade of a large mango tree (with lots of low hanging fruits you can just grab). The sketches that were used depict Mangyan daily life.

volunteers

Distributing school supplies: bags and notebook, pencils and pens, crayons and notepads, water bottles and toothbrushes, sports equipment, and everything in between.

school kit

A Mangyan kid takes away her kit. Not all of the children were able to make it to where we camped The river had swelled due to the heavy rains and it was difficult to get across. Some of the kids have to walk for 5 hours to get to where we are.

the compound
Our home and activity area for two days. This is where all of us, volunteers and different groups from various sitios, ate and slept. Some of our group stayed on a small hut on a hill just beyond this compound, while some pitched a tent. There are no bathrooms and CRs of course. We had to take a bath in the river and they had to create a temporary CR for us (read: dig a hole and cover it with anahaw leaves)

Mangyan kids
I still don't have the exact number how many of them were able to make it there that weekend but there was enough number to keep the volunteers occupied, from manning the kitchen, telling stories, and organizing/facilitating parlor games.

happy smiling faces
Some of the children with their parents and para-teachers, all beaming and happy.

The pictures may not say it all (I hope to post more) but it was a life changing experience, probably for both the volunteers and the Mangyan kids. The Mangyans are a resilient tribe, making do with what they have. They understood the importance of literacy for their children and have used whatever resources they have, be it a simple hut for a classroom or engaging volunteer teachers, to uphold and sustain this.

I've learned that among the 7 Mangyan tribes, the Hanunoos have their own form of writing. They showed me how to write my own name using their script.

I've learned that their dialect have a lot of words in common with my own (Hiligaynon) and that of my grandparents (Kinaray-a). Somehow I (or they) felt some gap has been bridged as soon as I started using these words and phrases in conversation with them.

As we parted ways that weekend, Imelda, of the the para-teachers, told me repeatedly: "Allan, wag mo kaming kalimutan" (don't forget us). I don't think I ever will.

More photos soon.

Know the dedicated people behind this here.

gensan: tuna capital of the philippines

2011-06-17T12:40:00.001+08:00

tuna bounty

I'm sharing morning scenes at the Gensan fishport where the tuna bounty is unloaded and hauled, weighed, classified, and sold. Gensan is considered to be the Tuna Capital of the Philippines - processing tons of tuna daily, from yellowfin to skipjacks.

tuna lined up for classification

This is definitely big business here. With a world class fish port (officially called General Santos Fishport Complex) capable of handling hundreds of boats daily, tons of tuna changes hands here. Some go straight to export, other to the tuna processing plants and canneries. Gensan has 7 of the 10 canneries in the country, generating thousands of jobs.

man carrying an adult tuna

Of the variety of catch that reaches the fish port, more than 50% are tuna species. An adult yellowfin tuna can easily weigh 30-50 kg. All around the fish port you'll see men carrying these huge tuna.

weighing queue

Queue at the weighing station. Each tuna is weighed before it can be classified. These guys have been standing there for quite some time. Just imagine how heavy the load they are carrying.

scale master

From the fishing boats, the tuna is brought to weighing stations. Usually, every boat owner has his/her own weighing station.

deep sea catchers

These are the folks who make it happen. They are away for weeks and go to fishing groups as far as the borders of Indonesia and Palau. Before they leave they usually borrow money from the financier/boat owner and leave it with their families. If they get lucky they'll have sufficient haul to cover their debts when they get back. If not, they'll try again on the next fishing expedition. According to some fishermen, its getting difficult to catch tuna and they have to get farther out. Some have even got caught illegally fishing in Indonesian fishing grounds.

the haul

Close to 50 boats arrive daily to unload their catch weighing several tons. The best of the catch of course goes to the export market, while the local market gets the class C.

nothing is wasted

Meat is trimmed from the gills and are sold in the local market. There was a time when tuna tail, "panga" (jaw), and innards are sold very cheap or just given way as freebies.Nowadays everything is maximized for profit.

Check out this flickr album for more photos.

sarangani: sublime dawn by the mangroves

2011-05-28T12:51:00.001+08:00

epitome of serenity

Sometimes you have to go back to familiar spots to catch it in a really good light. I was glad I exactly did just that during a weekend trip back home.

It was a quick trip, arrived on a Saturday and then leaving the next Monday. I was looking for a place to shoot when I remembered this small beach just outside General Santos where full grown mangroves abound. Last time I visited it, I got lucky with the light. Hoped luck is still with me this time around.

first light

Like my previous trip to this area, my wife (patiently) accompanied me. She perfectly understood an outdoor photographer's (peculiar) fascination sunrises and sunsets. We go out while everyone's still asleep and we stay out late and still shoot while everyone else is having dinner already.

We woke up at 3.30AM, sunrise was at 5.30AM that day. The first taxi we contracted backed out when the driver learned on where we are going. The place is at the border of General Santos city and the town of Maasim in Sarangani, outside of what most consider as the "safe zone".

sturdy and steady

As expected, we had the small area to ourselves. It was high tide so the mangroves roots I was able to shoot before are still underwater. I decided to shoot at the opposite end of the beach were there are sturdy mangroves standing like silent sea sentinels.

It was a short but sweet sunrise - the colors did not linger very long, but I savored every moment of it. I guess I love sunrises more than sunsets. There is a more peaceful feeling associated with sunrises. Many can witness a sunset, but only the few who manage to actually wake up early are blessed with the privilege of witnessing the first colors of the day.

sentinel

We were back at the hotel by 7AM. The front desk clerk appeared confused, thinking I was on my way out to shoot (I mentioned the previous night I wanted to take photos of mangroves as I was looking for a calendar with tide information). Told him, with a grin, that I was done already. Outdoor photographers are a weird bunch.

silanguin cove: glorious colors on a stormy weekend

2011-05-17T21:19:00.002+08:00

Silanguin's sunset colors

I had the chance to revisit Zambales' grand cove. This time with a group of outdoor photography enthusiasts from the company I work for (yup, I too have a day job).

I decided to skip Nagsasa (one of my favorites also) and instead head to Silanguin. I knew how packed Nagsasa cove would get in the peak of summer. Silanguin, on the other hand, remained crowd-free, thanks to its remoteness. Its a good 1 hour boat ride to the mouth of the cove from Pundaquit, and another 20 minutes or so before you hit the inner beach. That weekend we had the entire cove (the biggest of the 4 in Zambales) all to ourselves - all 4 km of beautiful beach

My favorite part of the cove is its southern end - full of interesting rock formations and photographic opportunities. Its a good 2-km hike from our campsite but its worth the trouble. The summer heat had turned the nearby hills golden and brown making the scenery looked like it was autumn.

painted sky

Its was an overcast afternoon but the clouds began to break just as sunset was nearing. I did not know that a typhoon is already brewing on the country's eastern side and it is raining hard back in Manila.

anti-sunset colors

The drama that unfolded right after the sun went down as overwhelming. Suddenly the sky all around us lit up in color. A huge expanse of the eastern sky was ablaze in warm tones of orange which then turned to crimson.

Silanguin pastel colors

Everywhere you turn there's a glowing cloud in shades of orange, yellow, pink, and red. It was a feast for the eyes.

It was already dark when we packed up our gears. The stars hid behind a blanket of clouds evening. The stormy weather finally caught up with us.

photographers at work

Sunrise the next morning was cloudy but we managed to squeeze a few usable shots before heading back to camp for breakfast. I have not finished preparing our meal when I heard the unmistakable sound of an incoming boat. Our boatman decided to fetch us early as the waves are getting bigger and dark clouds are looming. We hurriedly broke camp, stuffed our food into containers, and hopped into the outrigger boat. The first few minutes of the ride was indicative of what's in store for us outside of the cove.

pine tree stump

It was the longest 2-hour boat ride I've ever been in. Our boat pitched, lurched, and bucked too many times to count. If our boat had been the usual 4-person boat, I swore the waves would have turned it into pieces of floating wood.

Most of us were drenched by the time we reached Pundaquit but still thankful we made it back in one piece. It felt like Silanguin had compensated us in advance with the colors of sunset the previous day for what would be a rough boat ride the next morning.

baguio: mines view sunrise

2011-05-06T15:15:00.002+08:00

a flower patch in Mines View

Even one of the most famous tourist trap in Baguio, Philippine's quintessential "summer capital", looks different (in a good way) during sunrise.

mountain layers

Sneaking out to shoot is a bit difficult when you are in a family vacation. The typical day consist visiting a tourist trap, snapping posterity photos, and then moving on to the next one. By late afternoon, just when the light is starting to get warm and beautiful, you are already heading home because everyone's tired. On the way home you see the clouds burst into colors and you wish you can stop and take a photo. Nope, everyone's tired.

uncrowded Mines View

The best way is to actually shoot at sunrise. Everyone's asleep and there is no one to bother you. So its just what my brother and I did a couple of weeks ago when we were in Baguio.

mountain light

Baguio is a popular destination and no place remains there that had not been shot to death by DSLR totting visitors. Our choice of location, Mines View Park, is crowded even on a typical weekday. But for two successive mornings we were able to enjoy the place and see it in a different light.

by the edge

The first time I shot sunrise in Mines View was more than 5 years ago. During that time what I had was just a point and shoot camera. It was a beautiful experience back then, and it still is.

old but still strong

mayantoc: summer capital of tarlac

2011-05-02T11:52:00.000+08:00

fiery river sunset in Mayantoc

I have to admit that I've never heard of the town Mayantoc even though I (almost) passed by it countless times whenever I'm passing through the province of Tarlac en route to Pangasinan. An invite from a friend to attend Mayantoc's fiesta patronal led me to discover a rustic town and its charming and hospitable folks.

If there is one thing that abounds in Maantoc, its rivers and streams. Camiling river and its tributaries criss-cross the town, providing countless swimming nooks. Folks from nearby towns and provinces flock to Mayantoc during the hot summer months to cool off. You don't even have to go far, you'll find cool clear water just a stone throw away from the town center.

a cool swimming nook

Going around Mayantoc gave me the impression that it has not changed much for a long time. It rural scenes brought back memories of long gone rice fields and haystacks in my own hometown, now erased by urbanization.

a haystack in sunset

Here the rivers and streams not only refresh but also nourish the land. A good portion of the town's land area is still devoted to farming.

lone tree

On our second morning of our stay there, our host brought us to the hilly part of the town to wait for the sunrise. The cold morning breeze reminded me of other "summer capitals" I've visited.

Mayantoc daybreak

We climbed up a small hill to get a good view of the surrounding areas. While waiting for the first light of day, I lay on the ground and watch the nightjars flew to and fro just above us.

one of the Bantay Lima peaks at dawn

We had a great view of the town in the east, still blanketed in fog, as the sun rose. On the opposite direction, of the Bantay Lima (Five Mountains) peaks, Mayantoc's recognizable landmarks, stood steadfast against a rosy sky backdrop.

mayantoc: perya at night

2011-04-19T21:15:00.002+08:00

perya at night

A town fiesta will not be complete without the "perya" or circus/fair. The town's plaza comes to life at night with dazzling lights, rides, freak shows, and hawkers selling just about anything.

I had the chance to wander around a perya one cool evening after our third dinner (twas the night before the fiesta in the town of Mayantoc - considered to be the Summer capital of the province of Tarlac). You have to visit a fiesta in the province to really appreciate real Filipino hospitality.

the "wooden bucket"

Our first stop was the Motorcycle Daredevil show. Judging from the queue, this is the cash cow of the perya. The show is just a couple of minutes and the entrance fee is 25 pesos per person. There was no shortage of people wanting to see a stunt-person ride his motorcycle on a vertical wall, round what resembles a giant wooden bucket. Fine demonstration of physics.

breaktime

Sometimes a DSLR is like a Press ID, it allows entrance to places where the public is usually restricted. In this case we were allowed to enter the "wooden bucket" and take shots while the rider is taking a break. My friend Zer even went as far as staying there (inside) while the rider was performing his stunt. I can't stand the ear piercing shrill of his motorcycle, which was enough to scare even the banshees.

daredevil's ride

The ever-present ruweda or ferris wheel caught my eye too. That night was the night of the perigee moon and although I was not able to shoot it at moonrise earlier, I chanced upon it on top of this colorful wheel. Quite a sight.

ruweda with perigee moon

And of course there were other rides, some with fancy names like Octopus or Spaceship, and freak shows like the Queen of Snakes. As the night progressed, the crowd got thicker and it was hard to get decent shots without people tripping on your tripod. After going around for a while I decided to just hit the sack. Tomorrow's going to be the actual fiesta - and that means a whole day of non-stop eating.

tambobong: perfect summer escape

2011-04-10T11:57:00.001+08:00

perfect beach weather in Tambobong

Looking for the perfect summer getaway? Then head out to the rustic fishing village that is Tambobong.

Of the several years that I've been frequenting the place, I have not seen it changed much. Its still a quiet fishing village with warm and welcoming locals, fine white sand beaches, and countless little coves and nooks to keep a sand rat happy for days.

There are only two "resorts", one called Matabang and other called Tambobong White Beach, both offering basic accommodations. There are no fancy ones, much to my liking as I prefer to enjoy the place in its pure and basic state. I prefer to stay with one of the locals. The hellish rough roads have kept the place "isolated", though one of the routes going there has tremendously improved. I wonder how long before major tourism is established in the place.

lazy Sunday morning

I like the laid back existence there. If you wake up early enough you might catch nature's "flag raising ceremony" against a backdrop of unbelievable colors.

lowtide sunrise

As the sun comes up, the beach comes alive with activity. During lowtide, folks young and old go out to collect seaweeds and shellfish. In a place like this, nature truly provides, all you have to do is go out and collect the bounty.

seaweed collector at sunrise

You might chance upon boats coming home from a night of fishing just off Dasol bay.

"bayanihan"

After breakfast, things go back to a slow and steady pace. You can hit the beach for your morning swim, or laze out on a hammock with an ice cold drink and a good book.

nagsasa cove: baptism of water and fire

2011-03-31T22:19:00.002+08:00

wild fire survivor

It was quite a weekend. Huge waves, strong winds, and blazing wild fires that devastated whole mountains. Nagsasa cove certainly outdid itself this time.

I followed my usual itinerary: bus ride at midnight and an early boat ride to the cove, just in time for the sunrise. This is already by 3rd trip to the cove this year.

My brother, although still tired from an 11-hour flight, felt excited about this camp trip, enticed by my tales and photos of scenic beaches with pine tree and surreal moonlit boat rides with glowing bioluminescent planktons.

We were right on schedule and by 4AM we were on our way to the cove. The moon was not too bright and the sea was almost black, but no glowing planktons.

The wind picked up by the time we passed Anawangin (the first cove). The waves grew larger and soon both of us were drenched, well me mostly since I gave my poncho to my brother. It started to get real scary by the time we reached the mouth of Nagsasa cove. All I could see is white surf and it seemed like are being tossed around like a rider on a bronco. Scenes from the movie the Perfect Storm flashed. The wind was so strong the waves were actually coming from the shore (and not to the shore). We were practically going head on with them and our boatman is finding it hard to steer. Less than 1 minute into cove, which seemed like forever, and the boatman threw in the towel. We have to turn back.

We made our way to Talisayin cove, the one between Nagsasa and Anawangin. I was still shaken when we reached the shores of Talisayin. Wet, cold and shivering, and hungry, we tried to sleep on the sand.

Talisayin dawn

The consolation that morning was the glorious sunrise. It was my first time to see such explosion of sunrise colors in the coves, and we are not in the right place to shoot it. A mountain separates Talisayin from Nagsasa and it practically blocks the sunrise view. But it was no doubt a great sunrise.

By 7AM we made our way back to Nagsasa. This time we were able to enter the cove. From the mouth it’s still 3 kilometers to the shore.

Midway the waves got big again but this time it’s too late to turn back. It was one hell of a ride, the one that requires you to say the Lord’s Prayer non-stop and mutter “are we there yet” in between. I was half expecting our small boat to shatter into pieces as it pounded the waves and the waves hit back.

We made the shore in one piece. And my brother’s first words on Nagsasa: “You sure picked a great day to introduce me to Nagsasa”, or something like that.

swimming nook

The day was a lot better as it progressed. We spent the day on a hammock or taking a refreshing dip in the river at the back of the camp site.

dead tree roots at dusk

Sunset was deceptively serene, showing no hint or indication of what’s coming to us later in the evening. My brother remarked how intense Nagsasa’s welcome was for him: an early morning bath from the scary boat ride and a raging wild fire in the evening - a baptism by water and fire.

serene amidst the chaos (dawn)

Sunrise scene the next day did not show hints of the chaos that ensured the previous night. Nagsasa returned to its quiet and serene mood.

Pundakit shores

The boat ride on the way back to Pundakit was still rough, but we got rewarded with a surreal lighting when we reached the beach. It was the first that I saw the sea at its most bluest/greenest from that place.

Pundakit island hoppers

It was an intense weekend, but all’s well that ends well.

nagsasa wildfire: night of the burning mountains

2011-03-27T22:56:00.005+08:00

burning mountains

It was a spectacular sight, and equally horrifying. The whole mountain was ablaze. Loud crackling sound rang through out the cove as trees were consumed. It was so far the largest bush fire or wildfire Nagsasa cove has ever seen.

Bush fires, started by hunters trying to flush out their game, are pretty common in the coves including Nagsasa. I saw reminders of it during my previous visit. The locals have gotten used to it as it happens every year and has become part of the life cycle of the cove. Usually it stayed at a distance from the inhabited parts. But as we all know, with Nature, nothing is really that predictable.

early stages

Some of our friends have spotted the small fire a kilometer or so in land earlier that day. On the way to the cove, I also spotted several burning patches on the mountains. According to our campsite caretaker, the fire dies when it reached a certain point, like a stream that acts as a natural fire barrier. However that night there was a another ingredient to the deadly mix: very strong winds, the same ones that created huge waves at the mouth of the coves earlier that day (we were forced to turn back, the movie the "Perfect Storm" came to mind. But that's another story).

just at the back of the camp site

By dinner time the fire has gotten aggressive, we can see the glow from afar and it kept getting bigger and bigger. I kept prodding my friends to check it out. Some of us even brought their tripod and camera and jokingly remarked, "Night shoot!". It was only when we reached the open area at the center of the cove that we saw the extent of the fire and how it was proceeding faster to where we are. My brother, whom I dragged here straight out of an 11-hour flight, muttered "Just great, huge waves this morning and now a huge bonfire".

I immediately went back to the campsite and talked to the caretaker, who in turn assured me not to worry because we are at a safe distance from the fire. Everyone was still on a jolly camp mood, most oblivious to whats happening at the backwoods.

raging

The fire kept raging, fueled by the dry grasses and fanned by the strong winds. I went around some of the groups and told them about the fire at the back. Within thirty minutes from the time we checked it out, it was already less than 200 meters from where we are. The fire is advancing both at our rear and our right.

By this time it got everyone's attention and people started to break camp. Some simply plucked their tents out of the ground. Heavy smoke is already enveloping the campsite. I told my brother to simply bring the essentials and leave the rest behind, then we started heading to the camp site at the south of the cove.

further advancing

We waited for close to 4 hours before the fire waned. It got close to our campsite, too close in fact. Part of where people camp at the back was burned. Thankfully nobody was hurt. Heavy smoke was still lingering when we got back to the campsite at midnight. I was dead tired and dozed off the moment I lay my back on our sand filled tent.

black and brown

The next day we saw the extent of the damage. Some of trees on our favorite sunrise location are still burning. The whole mountain on the north side of the cove was black and brown, gone is the green grass cover.

burned trail

Nature will surely rebound, as it always has. Fires like this will still happen in the future unless these hunters are caught. It may be impractical to police this huge expanse of a mountain range at the moment so educating the communities around the area could be a good start.

nagsasa cove: amidst changes

2011-03-21T12:39:00.001+08:00

cove's twilight colors

This is my second visit to the cove (this year) in a span of just a few weeks. The trip was almost canceled due to the tsunami warning on the Philippine's eastern side a few hours after the Japan earthquake.

We decided the trip as a "go" after the dreaded tsunami forecast schedule passed without any incident and the warning lifted. The cove is on Luzon's western side so we figured we are pretty much away from the danger.

The 1 hour boat ride was pleasantly uneventful. It was still dark when we went out to sea. My friends Ferdz of Ironwulf and Oggie of lagalog, visiting Nagsasa cove for the first time, enjoyed the neon glow of bio luminescent planktons as our boat cuts through the pitch black sea. I tried to get some sleep but was awakened by a spray of salty water. After about an hour of calm sea, we are now entering the cove and heading into the wind, with good sized waves coming towards us. This is how Nagsasa welcome early visitors: a morning shower.

Mang Ador's quiet nook at the north end

We were just in time for sunrise. We went around after setting our stuff in Mang Ador's campsite in the north end of the beach. The south side, the sleepy part of the cove I described here before, is now a packed tent city during the weekends. Some of the locals have sold their rights to their land to some enterprising folks who in turn have started "developing" the place. Concrete structures are becoming common. A loud karaoke nearby blasted Europe's "The Final Countdown" while we were trying to shoot. Quite a fitting soundtrack considering whats happening to the place.

inviting beach

Something's never changed though. The beach was as beautiful as I can remember it. Mang Ador's campsite is kept clean and free of "developments". There you can make yourself comfortable in a hammock and listed to the rustling of the pine needles.

tending the net

By sundown the beach front is alive with activities - locals tending their nets and campers going around for an sunset stroll.

Nagsasa dusk

Everything settled down as twilight falls. We had great conversations over a simple meal that evening. We tucked in early, anticipating the sunrise the next day. On the other side of the cove, the drinking sessions are just starting.

I woke up early the next morning. I slept soundly but the cold early morning wind (I slept on a hammock) jump-started my day. After a cup of coffee, its off to the back of the campsite for the sunrise.

dawn at Wild Horse Creek

After breakfast we had a chance to hike to the mountains at the back of the falls, looking for some waterfalls to shoot.

backwoods trail

Along the way we passed through a burnt landscape - a product of hunters trying to flush out their game. They start a small fire which can sometimes get out of control. In this case it did and turned a whole mountain brown.

burnt landscape

We reached the supposedly beautiful waterfalls after more than 1 hour of hiking under a searing sun. But it was dry was there was not even a trickle. The upside was the catch basin is still filled with crystal clear cold water. Not just cool, but cold. Freezing cold. It was weird taking a dip in cold water in the middle of a hot summer day.

where have all the trees gone?

A lot of changes is happening to the cove. The land is constantly "reconfiguring" itself. The fire that has burned the backwoods will trigger fresh growth and nature will heal itself. Fire has always been nature's cleanser.

The busy campsite at the south side is another matter. Soon there will be more generators, and with it more karaoke machines. Soon Nagsasa will be just another Anawangin.

nagsasa cove: zambales' not-so-hidden-gem-anymore

2011-03-06T10:02:00.001+08:00

moonset in Nagsasa

Return to Nagsasa, the not-so-hidden-gem-anymore of Zambales and reconnecting with old acquaintances. This is my 4th visit after two years.

We had good weather that weekend. We arrived just in time for the sunrise. A full moon was setting on the west and the tide was low.

Nagsasa shore after sunrise

I did a look around after setting camp (which was quick, I just brought a hammock). A lot has changed: new campsites on the southern end (first thing we suggested before was that they should have decent CRs and water). Several years before, it was just a sleepy settlement with just a couple of houses. It’s great to know that people are making a good living; even Mang Ador (caretaker of the first campsite) has a new boat now with "Mang Ador Campsite" brightly painted on its sides. He also had additional huts now and tables.

overlooking the cove

I wanted to see if I can take a shot from a vantage point overlooking the cove so I decided to climb one of the hills at the back of Mang Ador’s campsite. The view was great, but I had to settle taking the shot while the sun is high. During sunrise, the hills would be back lighted, and at late in the afternoon my foreground will be in deep shadows.

perfect place for a cool dip

The “free time” between lunch and sunset was spent cooling off by the river that cuts through right in the middle of the cove. The shifting sand at the beach had partially covered the mouth of the river thus a small shallow lake formed inland. There was a time when some parts of the lake were more than 5 feet deep.

serene sunset

Sunset is my favorite time here; the cove has a good view of the west. It’s the time when the cove is at is most serene, with everything and everyone settling down. Even with several groups camping there, the place almost seemed deserted.

dusk colors

As I wait for the sun to come down, I pondered on what kept me coming back. I have no doubt that the place is becoming more popular as each summer passed by. It’s getting crowded too (it is already crowded by my standards). Even the landscape seemed to have "reconfigured" itself, but I cannot deny that its beauty has endured.

our group, first time in Nagsasa (circa 2009)

The place certainly did change. People came and went. I missed Mang Jun "Kidlat" and his family (my favorite subjects for portraits). Mang Ador's wife lost her fight with the big C just this January. I was not able to visit the place as often as I would like, but we kept in touch whenever we can (or whenever they are within cell phone coverage area).

I promised Mang Ador I’ll be back again with printed copies of photos I once took, to remember the smiles of those who are not there anymore. I intend to keep that promise.

sarangani: mangroves at lowtide and an iconic peak in a beautiful light

2011-02-27T18:40:00.000+08:00

"bed of nails" - a sunrise in Sarangani province

A recent trip back home a few weeks ago had me chasing low tide sunrise and sunset around Sarangani province.

The conditions was perfect that weekend: it's going to be lowtide at both the sunset and sunrise according to the tide forecast. As Sarangani bay had both POVs for sunrise and sunset (at opposite ends of the bay), I decided to revisit my favorite mangroves area there. But there was one catch - its a Valentine's weekend and my better half might not be keen on running around with me, getting to remote locations at ungodly hours.

I broached the subject of shooting the mangroves in Alabel, some 15km east of General Santos. I reasoned about how its perfect timing: lowtide at sunset, how I felt sunset will be great today, etc, but the deal clincher was how dinner would be perfect at the best crab restaurant in town after the shoot.

Nature couldn't decide that afternoon whether to rain or not. Twice I almost canceled the trip as the sky alternate between gloomy and sunny but decided to push through rather than regret the chance to shoot the scene I wanted.

a lone mangrove at sunset

The conditions were perfect while we were on our way to the location. Light was great and the beach deserted. Minutes before sunset rain clouds formed again, blocking the sun but adding to the drama of the scene. The clouds were moving as wind was blowing eastward. I figured (and hoped) the sky will clear in time for sunset.

Remember I mentioned that nature could not decided whether to rain or not that afternoon? Well it finally decided right on sunset. The wind stopped, the rain clouds got darker, the buckets of rain fell down. So much for sunset colors.

The saving grace for that trip was the crab restaurant that did not disappoint. Deal's a deal, sunset colors or not.

After dinner I casually mentioned again that its going to be low tide again tomorrow at sunrise and there's there perfect spot in Maasim (some 25 km away) with beautiful mangrove trees. Thought timing was perfect and she said dinner was great. A deal was struck again.

Friends from Koronadal (my hometown 50 km away from General Santos) decided to join me that morning. We found ourselves looking for our POVs at 4am in a deserted beach in Maasim. My friend's truck got stuck in the sand while looking for a place to park but we had more pressing matters. Sun's going to be up soon.

an explosive sunrise in Maasim

This time sunrise did not disappoint.We all had smiles on our faces (except one friend who forgot to bring the batteries he charged the night before) after the shoot. "Okay, time to get our truck unstuck, and no more shooting for the weekend", the boss said, seeing we had a great shoot. She spent the whole time sleeping in a rickety cottage by the shore, oblivious to the beautiful scene.

beautiful Maasim mangroves

Woke up early on Valentine's day. No, I was not planning to shoot the sunrise (no more photography for the weekend, remember?). Greeted my wife a "Happy Valentine's day" and went out (planning) to jog and drop by the flower stands on the way back.

Mt. Matutum - South Cotabato's iconic peak

As soon as I stepped out I saw a dawn sky bathed with amazing colors. I quickly grabbed my gears and headed to the nearby hills of Matulas, the roses can wait :D. I only got the tail end of the light display, but I'm not complaining. It was a great sunrise.Oh, the roses! :D I later got her a bunch of heart shaped balloons.

tambobong: intense sunset in cabacungan cove

2011-02-18T13:14:00.000+08:00

the sun goes down in Tambobong

A trip to my favorite spot in Pangasinan once again yielded one of the most amazing sunset’s I’ve seen.

I never fail to head out to Cabacungan cove whenever I’m in the quaint fishing village of Tambobong in western Pangasinan. The cove, on a small island in Cainan point, offers a fantastic view of the western skies. I got some of my most memorable sunset shots from here, and each time I visit, the place offers something different.

The tide table indicated it will be high tide come sunset but we proceeded there anyway. The place had changed a bit – thorny bushes had reclaimed the trail we once used and the land seemed a bit parched than I remembered.

Cabacungan cove

At low tide, a seaweed covered floor dotted with small pools is revealed – perfect for foreground, but I guess it’ll be for the next visit. I wandered around while waiting for the sunset, trying to look for a suitable POV. I was wishing for some “greens” or some wild flowers I can use for foreground elements but found none what would best go with the view I’m after. Sometimes you just can’t get what you want. It’s one of the challenging (and fun) things about outdoor photography. You can to a place hoping to photograph a scene you had in mind and then nature gives you a different one.

painted sky

What I thought would be a mediocre sunset (it started with muted colors) suddenly redeemed itself with an explosion of colors: a bloodied sky with deep crimson, bright yellows and oranges. By the time this happened, the sun is already below the horizon, and the land is already getting dark. Time for plan B: silhouettes.

coastal silhouettes

Not to be outmatched with the outrageous display of colors in the western skies, the clouds in the anti-sunset direction (east) glowed eerily in pastel colors.

dusk colors

The afterglow lingered for almost half an hour after the sun went down. It was the “longest” sunset I’ve seen so far.

labrador: sunrise by the broken seawall

2011-02-03T11:07:00.004+08:00

a seawall in Labrador

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Outdoor photographers say a picture is sometimes equivalent to damaged equipment, occasional bruises, or worse – broken limbs.

A viewer may marvel at a beautiful waterfall photo, the photographer may remember hours of trekking through muddy trails and leech infested streams. You may see serene coastal sunrise or sunset, I see bruises from sharp coral rocks, sunburn, and a camera nearly lost to the sea.

It’s always a challenge but somehow we keep on coming back. I think the challenge is not in the technical aspects of taking of the photo - sure we know how to use our filters and lenses and we are pretty much aware of how to maximize DOF in our landscapes by using the hyperfocal distance - the hard part is getting there and dealing with the elements (lucky you studio photographer!).

Last weekend’s trip to Pangasinan was great example. Everybody seemed to be going somewhere that Friday night, my friend Erick and I had trouble finding a (good) bus bound for either Alaminos or Dagupan. After checking out several bus stations, we finally found one - non aircon bus and last trip for the night. We had a great seat (eye roll), right at the end of the bus together with a rowdy crowd, piles of boxes and whatnots, and a rooster to boot. Yes, a rooster. Stuff like these scares the sandman away.

Five (no sleep) hours later, we arrived and met up with a group of friends in Dagupan and proceeded southwards to Dasol. This time transportation was upgraded, but there’s no time to get comfy, it’ll be sunrise in a few minutes. We stopped by an open beach lined with a broken sea wall and waited for the sun.

thats me

I would say lack of sleep sometimes makes you courageous (read: dumb) for I had foregone most of my usual precautions. I “courageously” went to a section where I thought where the waves are “tamer”. I was happily clicking away when a huge wave suddenly dumped a bucket of seawater on me. That’s when I realized the following: I have two phones in my pocket which are not “zip locked”, I forgot to put on the rain cover for my bag (which I should have left on the shore in the first place), and I had decided not to use my camera’s “rain coat” as well because I thought it was cumbersome. The feeling of elation at seeing great sunrise colors was replaced with pure panic – my camera is not exactly weather sealed (I’m sure my brother, who gave that camera as a gift after I had a “sea accident” with the previous one he gave, would say “what the hell?!?” when he reads this). As if to add insult to injury, I slipped on the way down.

one last hurrah after I cleaned up my gears, the sun's a bit high now

So while the rest of my friends are fully immersed in capturing the beauty of sunrise that morning, I was there at the side, frantically cleaning my gears like a dog licking his wounds. I really thought everything’s damaged, but my some stroke of luck they weren’t (God bless you Sigma and Nikon engineers! – I wish I can say the same to the blokes of Canon hehehe). My phones survived, and so did the rest of my gears. I’ve gotten through the weekend and went home with some keepers.

Now you understand that while I’m happy to share my photos in my blog and photostreams in Facebook and Flickr, I say this to thieves who use them without permission: what the hell?!?!

baler: diguisit bay moods

2011-01-18T19:33:00.000+08:00

moody Pacific

Huge waves and rugged coastline shaped by the Pacific Ocean characterized the surfing town of Baler. One of the interesting places there is Diguisit bay. Located in Brgy Zabali, its just a few minutes outside of town proper by tricycle.

There is a picnic area there frequented by locals and tourists alike. Tall grotto-like sea stacks with wind battered trees are just a few meters from shore. I imagined what the sunset can be like: fiery skies, crashing waves, towering sea-stacks. But the Pacific had other plans, and just gave us the last two in the list, maybe the fiery sky is reserved for the next visit.

Diguisit muted sunset

Sunset on our first day lacked the colors I imagined, but it made it up with an interesting mood. For a few seconds, a golden layer of colors managed to break through the thick rain clouds.

scale of things

Tenacious beings that we are, we headed there again the next day for a second try. And for the second time, the Pacific said "No!". Sunset was gloomier than the previous day.

with Aniao islet in the distance

But in hindsight, I am thankful for that particular weather. It gives the place, often shown in bright blue skies and near perfect weather, a different character.

tupi: tarsier sanctuary in linan (south cotabato)

2011-01-10T21:18:00.004+08:00

a tarsier in Linan

They have become one of Philippine’s tourism mascots, figuring in posters and logos including the most recent Department of Tourism’s (failed) “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” logo. Although they are found in various places in the archipelago (central eastern and southern provinces), most people associate the tarsier with the island of Bohol.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that these endangered primates are thriving practically right in my province’s backyard.

There had been reported sightings of tarsiers in the forested areas of South Cotabato, like the areas near Mt. Parker or the settlements at the foot of Mt. Matutum. But I guess nobody really gave that much attention until people started noticing images of tarsiers on souvenir t-shirts from Bohol. Their first reaction: “So they are called tarsiers… we’ve seen those in the hills near our village”. The B’laans call tarsiers “tukay mal” or “small monkey”.

tukay mal

It was just recently (the project started July 2010) that the provincial government of South Cotabato started seriously advocating the protection of their habitat. According to the local officials, it was hard at first to convince the locals to stop their slash and burn practices. Charcoal-making is also the most common source of livelihood – that meant cutting trees. Eventually people realized the importance of the wildlife around them. They stopped their destructive practices and the forest rebounded. Now there is a healthy population of tarsiers near Bagong Silang – a small B’laan village in Brgy. Linan in Tupi. Linan, located at the foot of Mt. Matutum, is now known as the (unofficial) “tarsier sanctuary” of South Cotabato.

built for jumping

In Bohol they have developed a semi-wild enclosure to keep the tarsiers in, but tarsiers in Linan, which could be another subspecies, are wild. The first time I went to Linan I was not able to see one. Contrary to what some think, tarsiers are fast – they can jump several meters from tree to tree (thanks to their very long hind legs – they have long tarsus bones, hence their name) and they hide in burrows or holes/cracks on trees/rocks. Catching one in the wild isn't easy.

close encounter

I was finally able to see a Linan tarsier few weeks ago when my family and several friends went there to distribute school supplies to the B’laan kids (courtesy of Black Pencil Project). We “borrowed” one from the nearby forest and release it again after we took photos. There are days when you can find the tarsiers just near the perimeter of the village.

sharp teeth - perfect for munching on crickets

The tarsier looked timid, but it’s actually a predator, feeding on insects primarily and is known to hunt small birds and lizards too. They are nocturnal but some could also be active during the day. Philippine tarsiers are said to be territorial and usually sleep and hunt alone.

Some villagers had once tried keeping them as pets, but they are known to kill themselves in captivity. Now they are aware of how precious these tarsiers are and how they need to be protected. A lot of work still needs to be done if the local government wants a sustainable conservation program just like what they are doing in the Philippine Tarsier sanctuary in Corella in Bohol.

Aside from tarsiers, forested area at the foot of Mt. Matutum is also home to squirrels, flying foxes, civets, and several species of eagles.

2011: its 1/1/11, a new year and a fresh start

2011-01-01T20:51:00.006+08:00

Its the first day of 2011, a new year and a fresh start. 2010 had been a great year, full of exciting travels and new friends. Join me in looking back at the previous year's favorite photos and adventures.

January
Started 2010 with a trip to the coastal town of Alabel in Sarangani province to photograph its mangroves. Mangroves play an important part in the coastal ecosystem, and it was great to see a reforestation area in Kawas with full grown mangroves.

strong and sturdy

February
Found myself revisiting a favorite cove in Zambales, and setting foot on another one for the first time.

Nagsasa evening colors

While Nagsasa is the most picturesque of the Zambales coves, Silanguin is the grandest, with a shoreline more than 3 times longer than Nagsasa.

Silanguin dusk

March
Its summer time and what best way to spend it than hitting the beach. Together with a group of photo enthusiasts, I visited my favorite nook in Pangasinan: the quaint fishing village of Tambobong.

sunset at Nalasin point

From the beach, I soon found myself trekking to Laguna's Hidden Falls (aka Buntot Palos) in the lakeside town of Pangil. The trek was easy, but the climb down to the falls was a challenge. On the first day there I accidentally smashed by circular polarizer on a rock when I slipped on a moss covered boulder - one of the hazards of outdoor photography

Buntot Palos

April

Summer was in full swing. I journeyed to the northern-most province in Luzon and to the southern-most province of mainland Mindanao.

sunrise in Maasim, Sarangani

rosy morning in Bangui windmills

May
High above the tree tops, I rode the most scenic zip line in the Philippines: the two segment Lake Sebu zip line.

soaring

Famous for its three lakes, the ancestral home of the T'bolis now draws adrenaline junkies.

Hikong Bente falls

From the cool mountain air of Lake Sebu, it was beach time the next few days as I went around Samal island with the family in tow.

Babak sunset

June

Its difficult to find one word to describe Coron - "magical" seems understated. Its natural wonders, both below and above the sea captured the imagination of many.

sunset in Coron

Kayangan Lake

July

July was a busy month, with the demands of a new job piling up. But I was able to squeeze in a weekend on a beautiful rock off the coast of Zambales: Capones island.

sunset on the edge

August

Its the middle of the rainy season and its best spent photographing waterfalls. The multi-layer Balagbag falls in Real Quezon was a perfect daytrip destination.

silky Balagbag

While its rainy in Luzon, its still perfect beach weather down south in Gumasa in Glan (Sarangani province).

Gumasa sailboat

September

We were drawn back to the magnetic north: the province of Ilocos Norte. It was a weekend of rugged coastal seascape, waterfalls, and iconic churches.

Kapurpurawan rock formation

Kaangrian waterfalls

Paoay Church

October

Its a solo trip this time to Concepcion in northern Panay. I spent a quiet weekend in Bolobadiangan Island, famous for its long sandbar.

muted sunset

Bolobadiangan shore

Of course a trip to Iloilo is not complete without dropping by some of its heritage churches.

Miagao church

November

Time for my yearly pilgrimage to Candaba wetlands, a bird sanctuary in Pampanga. Was not able to get good photos of the birds but was gifted with a beautiful sunset.

Candaba sunset

Together with several kindred spirits, I was able to visit Aurora province (long overdue) on Luzon's east coast, facing the temperamental Pacific Ocean.

moody morning in Ampere beach

clash of the Pacific waves in Diguisit Bay

Ditumabo: the Mother Falls

December

The season of giving. My family and I, together with a few close friends, spent a day in a B'laan community in Bagong Silang in Linan, a small barangay at the foot of Mt. Matutum in Tupi, South Cotabato.

hike to Bagong Silang

We distributed school supplies (courtesy of Black Pencil Project) to about 50 B'laan kids.

school supplies from Black Pencil Project

This community is the designated protector of the tarsier sanctuary near the village (yes, tarsiers are not exclusive to Bohol). They have stopped with their slash and burn practices to protect the thriving population of tarsiers in the nearby hills.

a tarsier in Linan

2010 had been a good year. It has a few downs, but in the end, all's well that ends well. May 2011 be even better.

This post won the Top Photo Post in the Philippine Blog Awards 2011.

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Merry Christmas and look beyond the lights

2010-12-25T09:22:00.003+08:00

a bright Christmas to every one!

May your Christmas be as bright and bountiful as the Christmas lights all around you!

Christmas tree at Venice Piazza in Fort Bonifacio

The Christmas rush, preparing for the trip back home, and the year end demands of work left me with too little time to go around and see the spectacle of Christmas lights displays around the metro.

Santa house

My favorite Policarpio Street in Boni, Mandaluyong (since its near where I live) has a lot less lights this year. Most of the houses did not put out their yearly light display but the popular House of Santa and fully lighted Dalisay mansion just across it are still as bright as ever.

Lights of Policarpio

Beautiful as they are, I hope we all look beyond the extravagant display and find the true spirit of Christmas. As the lights shine brightly around us, may we ourselves shine light into the lives of the people we meet.

aurora: towers of ampere beach

2010-12-15T21:38:00.002+08:00

Ampere beach at dawn

Located about 20 kilometers north of the surfing town of Baler in Aurora province, many photographers frequent this beach for its distinctive sea stacks and large smooth boulders lining the shore.

For two successive mornings my fellow photo enthusiasts and I dragged ourselves out of bed at 3AM, rode a tricycle for about an 45 minutes to get to this place. We arrived there while its still dark, sat on the rocks by the beach and listen to the Pacific waves thunder as they pounded the shore. Patiently we wait for that glorious light of dawn.

silent and resolute

Sunrise did came, as expected, but without the glorious colors I hoped for. But what the dawn lacked in color it more than made up for in the mood and character of the light.

smokey

That's one of the things I like about landscape photography, you'll never know what you'll get. Nature always has some surprise in store for you and its up to you to make do of what it dishes out.

ditumabo falls: aurora's "mother falls"

2010-12-08T22:30:00.001+08:00

Ditumabo Falls

This amazing wonder is not called Aurora's "Mother Falls" for nothing. Standing more than a hundred feet, water thunders as it hits the catch basin. I watched in awe as the spray swirled around us. Standing a few feet away from the falls, I could certainly feel its power.

The falls in nested in a glen at the foot of the mountains bordering the town of San Luis in Aurora province, a picturesque province in Luzon's eastern side (made popular by the surfing spots in its capital town of Baler). The falls is a good 30-45 minutes hike, depending on where you'll start the hike. The rough road leading to the actual trail head (where you'll see a non operational hydro electric power plant) gets pretty bad at times.

downstream

From the trail head, we followed the river upstream. The water was icy cold and there are sections where we had to climb over slippery boulders. If you are hiking there with your camera gears, a dry bag is an absolute necessity. Along the way you'll see the water pipes that lead up to the falls.

Leading to the falls

This falls was one of the challenging ones to shoot. A small dam was constructed to close its catch basin and to get its full length, you'll have to come closer and be in its "spray zone". It was practically raining in there and everyone of us were all wet. I was glad I brought a "camera raincoat", thus my camera was protected as only the front of the lens is exposed.

up close

There are spots were the sprays are coming from above and from the back. These are the sweet spots where you'll least likely to get water droplets on your lens.

The mist is constantly swirling around us, as if we're in a vortex. This is being fueled by the strong wind generated as the water hits the catch basin. But there are lull times, a window of a few seconds where you can take off your lens cap, shoot 1 or two frames before your lens gets fogged up again. Its a lot of work for a few shots, but seeing the beauty of the place was enough reward.

candaba wetlands: bird sanctuary yearly pilgrimage

2010-11-08T22:29:00.005+08:00

the lone watch tower in the swamp

It has become a yearly pilgrimage: trek to the bird sanctuary in Candaba wetlands on the first week of November (last year I went there on November 1 - the All Saints Day feast), and wait for the sun to go down. Its a perfect day trip, watch the birds feed at sundown, and be rewarded with great sunset colors.

Candaba is home to wild migratory birds trying to escape the winter cold of the northern hemisphere, some just passing through, while some never left and made the wetlands their permanent abode.

egrets, terns, and egrets (from a previous trip)

Located between the towns of Baliuag and Candaba, the wetland is an ideal nesting ground for the birds. The road between the two towns is muddy at best, and every once in a while the swamp reclaims the road. There are no public transportation plying that route, who would when one day the road is there, the next its gone after a heavy rain. It was a perfect place for the birds, nobody is there to disturb them.

But maybe not for long.

its common here to use the road for drying palay

The cemented highway is already half way through the swamp. Soon it will reach the town of Candaba. Soon there will be lots of vehicles that will be using that road. The sanctuary is also shrinking as more and more lands near the road are being used for farming.

whiskered terms (from last year's trip)

This year I did not see much of the birds, I thought I came in the right season (Nov-Jan is supposed to be the "birding season").

There were a lot of people on the highway that afternoon, some working on the concreting of the road, some drying their palay. I decided to hike further into the swamp, about 1.5 km from the road, on a muddy trail. Not many birds along the way.

otherworldly glow

But what it lacked in birds this year, the swamp made up for by giving this surreal sunset colors. A few minutes before the sun went down, the dark rain clouds on the east suddenly gave off this otherworldly glow. It was as if someone shone a huge amber fog-light through the clouds. The place was suddenly flooded with this warm soft light. I've seen countless warm sunset, but nothing like this. For a moment I forgot that what I was supposedly shooting was the setting sun at the opposite direction.

swamp sunset reflections

Its a great feeling being lone in the middle of nowhere witnessing the day's curtain call. I would have stayed much longer but then reality kicked in: its getting dark and I have a long hike back (alone) to the main road.

Candaba afterglow

Along the trail I could hear all sorts of noises - the squeaks and squawks and the rustling of the weeds as they sway with the soft evening breeze. The birds are still there, not in plain sight, but they are still there.

After reaching the highway, I still have to walk a few kilometers to the nearest barangay to get a ride to the town of Baliuag. I purposely did not arrange for a pick-up, I was actually looking forward to this long "Candaba walk". The moon was up and the evening breeze was refreshing. Perfect conditions for an evening stroll.

See other views of the world in That's My World.

iloilo: sidetrip to jaro, miagao, and guimbal for the churches

2010-11-01T19:25:00.002+08:00

Jaro Cathedral right after sunrise, the garden at the front was removed

A trip to Iloilo is not complete without dropping by a church or two to marvel at their beautiful forms. Iloilo has of lots of these architectural gems, each town has its own iconic and historical church or cathedral - a reminder of the rich Roman Catholic influence brought about by almost 400 years of Spanish rule.
I visited a few on my last trip there, beginning with Jaro Cathedral. I went straight to the cathedral after arriving on an early morning flight. There are vans that conveniently pass by Jaro plaza where the church is located, so it was my first stop before breakfast.

ceiling paintings

The cathedral is still ongoing renovations/restoration. The last time I visited it, there were scaffolding all over the church interior, and as of this writing, the altar area is still being worked on.

After spending some quiet time in Concepcion, I made it a point to visit Miagao church. Just like Jaro Cathedral on my last visit, Miagao church was undergoing maintenance. This time I'm hoping to take photos of the facade sans the scaffolding.

the best time to visit Miagao is after sunrise.

I took a jeep heading south to San Joaquin before sunrise and got off in Miagao plaza near the church. The 45-minute trip was uneventful and air was cool from last night's heavy downpour. The sky was overcast but I was optimistic the sun will come out. And it did, after almost 2 hours of waiting.

Miagao church's famous bas-relief

This UNESCO Heritage Site (Baroque Churches of the Philippines) is worth the visit every single time. Its cream colored coral stones and intricate bas-relief glowed in the early morning sun.

beautiful baroque architecture

On the way back to the city, a dropped by Guimbal's small church. Officially known as Church of San Nicalas of Tolentino, it was built in 1774 under the supervision of a Spanish priest named Fr. Campos.

Guimbal Church

The church design is evidently baroque, but one can see Oriental and Corinthian elements such as the columns, pillars, and rosettes. The current belfry is not the original structure but the replacement was made to complement the look of the church.

facade up close

I was not able to take photos of the church interior as it was close to noon already, and I have to hurry back to my hotel, pack my stuff, and catch an afternoon flight back to Manila.

bolobadiangan island: sunbirds, bantam chickens, blue skies, and puffy white clouds

2010-10-24T15:25:00.003+08:00

Bolobadiangan tamsi

I missed the sunrise that morning, something that rarely happens when I'm on a trip. Blame it on the cool breeze that passes through my open cottage and the lull of the gentle waves, with the light rain around midnight sealing the deal.

I was woken up by the high pitched chirps of sunbirds zipping to and fro between trees that line up the shore. As a kid I find these tamsi (as they are known locally) uhm annoying. We have a lot of them in my hometown but I have not heard or seen one for decades as our place became "progressive". That morning I welcomed their song.

bantam chicken

I stepped out of my cottage, felt the warm sand, and head straight to the water for a morning dip. I watched from a distance how the island is a-buzz with activity: sunbirds darting from one tree to another for their breakfast (nectar and insects), the island's resident bantam chickens roaming around, and just off the island fishermen were hauling the nets they cast a few hours ago. Everything seems to be in silent harmony.

lazy morning

After breakfast I went straight to the hammock, flipped lazily through the pages of an inflight magazine, and soon was back in dreamland. I woke up with the sun on my face. The sky was deep blue with puffy white clouds. It was a perfect day.

blue skies and puffy white clouds

How I wished that time would stop, but all things perfect come to an end. With a heavy heart I started packing my stuff, time to get back to Iloilo City in a few hours.

sandbar bangka

My time there was short but sweet, and I try to dwell more on the sweet part. I'll be back to the sandbar for sure.

iloilo: concepcion's bolobadiangan island

2010-10-21T20:43:00.007+08:00

welcome lounge

With a super typhoon threatening central and northern Luzon (and expected to bring heavy rains to Manila as well), I hopped on a early morning flight to Iloilo city. My tentative destination: Bolobadiangan island in Concepcion, a quiet fishing town on Panay's north eastern coast, some 2-3 hours away from Iloilo City.

You're probably wondering why I stated "tentative". My trip coincided with the Masskara festival in Bacolod, just 45 minutes away by fast craft. If the weather turns sour by the time I land in Iloilo city, I'll head to Bacolod for the festival instead (I'm not very fond of festivals though). Its one of the perks of traveling alone, destination can be anywhere.

HPQ buses are the only ones with direct route to Concepcion

Thankfully it was nice and sunny in Iloilo. So I proceeded to Tagbak terminal in Jaro district and boarded an HPQ bus to Concepcion. It was an interesting 3 hour bus ride passing through quaint coastal towns (we passed by Barotac Nuevo, my dad's ancestral town. I know I have lots of relatives there but I don't know anyone). Every few kilometers the bus would stop, pick up some farm produce like rice grains and livestock. I chatted with some of the passengers since I know the local dialect (they would notice how my accent is different) and before I knew it 3 hours have passed and we are already in Concepcion.

Unlike the island of Guimaras where transportation and tourism are well established, Concepcion is as untouristy as it can get. Boat trips to the nearby islands don't really have schedules. You can either have someone from the island you are visiting fetch you (if you have contacts there) or you can hitch a ride with locals returning home after they are finished with their business in town. I was planning to do the former but the contact number I was given was not answering, so after buying supplies I proceeded to the port area and asked around for boats that may pass by Bolobadiangan. There were a few who offered, but they were not sure what time they would leave. Dark rain clouds are beginning to form and I'm desperate for a ride. Luckily a man with a small outrigger boat offered, he is returning home, its out of the way but he'll drop me off if I reimburse him for his gasoline. I asked him how much, and he replied: "what ever you think is fair".

Bolobadiangan's sand bar after a brief downpour

It was 30 minute boat ride to the sand bar that juts out some 200 meters out to the sea (maybe longer at low-tide) at the northern end of Bolobadiangan island. Its a small island with only about 7 families there. The northern part is owned by the Eusala family, relatively well off by island standards with their concrete houses (and electricity provided by a solar panel and generator). They built several (open) cottages and aptly named the place "Sandbar Island Beach resort".

spartan accommodations

I was met by Mang Sonny (the family's patriarch) and he helped me settle in one of the cottages. Its off season and they are not expecting more visitors so I had the place all to myself. Rain started to fall, the sea breeze was cool, soon I was snoozing.

view from mangroves area

The rain stopped as quickly as it started and the skies cleared. I still have 4 hours till sunset so I decided to have a look around the nearby islands.

Pan de Azucar (Mt. Manaphag) can be seen from anywhere in Concepcion

We went to Agho island but found it in a state of disarray, the beach area was littered with garbage brought in by the sea and the small cottages needs some serious repair work.

beach head in Agho Island

Dropped by Malangabang for a few minutes (most populated island, with stores where you can buy food and supplies) but I decided to forego Pan de Azucar island and head back to Bolobadiangan as the sun is getting low. I plan to scout vantage points for sunset but I think I was more inserted in getting back to my hammock.

epitome of serenity

Sunset that day had muted colors, but I did not really care. I spent more time enjoying the place rather taking photos of every nook and cranny. Dinner was steamed "kasag" (blue crabs) and grilled fish I bought from two kids earlier. (Mang Sonny pointed out to me where I should stand and wave to small boats going to a specific direction if I want to buy fresh catch). We exchanged ideas about environment conservation over our simple dinner. Mang Sonny's family is quite passionate about it. They have a coral garden and a protected area for giant clams at the western side of the island and visitors can see these clams at low-tide. The area around the northern part of the island is also declared a no-fishing zone.

It was hammock time again after dinner. No drinking crowds, no blaring music.

Some tips

Although HPQ buses are the only ones that go to Concepcion directly from Iloilo, they are not exactly the fastest. They would stop every few kilometers to pick up everyone and everything from livestock to farm produce. Its faster if you ride a Ceres bus, they have 1-stop trips to Sara. From Sara you can take jeeps or the HPQ buses to Concepcion (only 7.5 kilometers away). Your 3-hour trip will take half as long.
Get your supplies (water, food stuff, etc) in Concepcion. Prices will double on the islands such as in Malangabang island. Most of the islands don't even have stores.
Boat rates vary a lot, some are reasonable, some are not, especially if you really stick out of the crowd. Haggle. You can drop by their "tourism office" (adjacent to their town hall ) but tell them you want to just hitch a ride with one of the locals. If you are with a large group you can hire a whole boat for the trip.
Planning to buy some dried pusit (squid) in Iloilo city for pasalubong? Get them in Concepcion instead, they are much cheaper there. Those being sold in pasalubong shops in the city mostly like came from northern towns like Estancia and Concepcion.

paoay church at sundown

2010-10-09T09:57:00.001+08:00

Paoay sundown colors

The setting sun warmed up the facade, its blocks of coral rocks turned golden. For a few seconds, the passing clouds turned pink, providing a great backdrop for this quaint church in Paoay.

Its probably one of the most photographed churches in Ilocos Norte. The church directly faces the west, making it picture perfect at sunset. We made a quick detour to Paoay on the way back to Manila after a weekend further north in Burgos and Bangui (Kapurpurawan rock formation and Bangui windmills).

Info tidbits about Paoay church:

Officially known as St. Augustine Church, it was named UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 (one of the four Baroque churches in Philippines to be included in the list. The other one I've visited is Miagao church)
Architecture is a combination of Baroque, Gothic, and Oriental designs
Its 1.67-meter thick walls are supported by 24 curved buttresses, making it very resilient to earthquakes.

kapurpurawan rock formation in a different light

2010-09-25T13:24:00.001+08:00

rosy clouds

Its a surreal place made even more magical by the first light of the day. As the sun rose from slumber, pink and orange clouds accentuated the Kapurpurawan's otherworldly form.

I've been there twice already, an afternoon visit on both occasions. The white rock glowed in the late afternoon sun. It was quite a sight, but I longed to see it at sunrise (or sunset) when its empty of the tourist hordes. You see Kapurpurawan is quite popular with the Ilocos tourists lately, with bus loads of people making a stopover. They climb up the rock formation, have their posterity photos taken, leave their trash behind, and take a piece of the place with them - literally small pieces of the place as the rock formation is made up of soft chalk-like rocks that gets eroded every time you tread on it.

Kapurpurawan dawn

The chance to visit it again came just a couple of weeks ago. This time we made it a point to visit Kapurpurawan at an ungodly hour. By 4AM we were already at this huge field carpeted with bonsai-like coastal shrubs. At the end of this field lies the rock formation, its silhouette taking a more defined form as the dawn breaks. We had the place to ourselves, save for a couple of locals hunting for crabs.

pool reflections

I stayed off the rock this time. I can't really say for sure how long this natural monument will last, considering the daily abuse it gets from both nature and man. The locals noticed that Kapurpurawan's form have changed drastically in just a few years, thanks to erosion.

windswept trees near Kapupurawan

There really has been no conscious effort to preserve this place, and that seem to apply to a huge number of Philippine's natural and historical treasures. We have a weird way of promoting eco-tourism.

See photos of Kapurpurawan from my previous visits here.