Sometime ago I escaped the city and hied off to Sagada. There I met Rocky, smoking some weed, squatting on a sidewalk. He agreed to a couple of photos, jested that I stole his soul. I owe the guy—I promised to send photos of Sagada, but unfortunately I lost the snail-mail address that he wrote on tiny piece of paper. If any of you know him, do drop me a line where I can send his photos. Thank you, Rocky, and thank you to whoever helps.
I read somewhere that when you meet your greatest love, you also meet your greatest fear. While I can’t exactly agree with it–all because I can’t say what or who my greatest love is–there’s my family, friends, special others, pets, passions–there is one fella that makes me worried to distraction:
This guy moved in with me without so much as a “May I?” The feral that this rascal is, he comes and goes as he pleases, and once vanished. I literally trespassed in search, but no luck. Came home three darn days later–thin and full of dust. Argh. Can’t say this sweet rascal is the one I love most, but he does give me the most headache–people can complain or call 911 to ask for help, but what’s a cat to do except suffer in silence or suffer in meows?
We stand, they say, on the shoulders of our ancestors. Some religions go as far as advocating Ancestor Worship, but in the Philippine culture that I grew up in, it seems visiting our ancestors’ graves every All Saint’s suffices. Last 01 Nov, my brother and I realized that our ancestral gravesite is most likely the last old timer hold out—almost all have been renovated or newly built/re-built. Perhaps in time we will be “forced” to do so as well and put some enclosure on the open space that our grandfathers have chosen as their final resting place. Two days later, I was back, to visit my father and document the place. Not for the last time, I hope.
Sometime before I took this shot, fellow photogs and I literally chased the sunset deep inside Laguna after having been told of this “marvelous view overlooking …” The chase took us to territories unsafe–in ways more than one–and decided to back off. Frustrated, of course. Until one day at the beach in Pannasinan, while everyone was resting after a long tiring drive, I patiently sat at the terrace armed with an ipod and San Mig Light. You ain’t getting away this time, elusive Sun!
Remember that b&W challenge that hit FB sometime ago? Here’s mine —
If there’s one deathbed regret I’d have, it’d be not having gone to the sea often enough. There has always been this fantasy/dream/wish/wishful thinking of being able to breathe underwater and just play with the fishies. Being a writer-photographer-rescue diver, many people ask why I have not gone into underwater photography. To me it’s simply not wanting to worry about anything–like taking care of gear, thinking of what shots to take, etc. etc–when I’m in the water. It really is, to me, a sort of homecoming. Perhaps some unconscious desire to just float around without a care, like we all once did in our mothers’ wombs. (Okay, amateur psychologists, get off my case, will ya? :p)
Yeah, that’s me in the corner, and No, not losing any religion.
The lucky bum that I am, I got invited to a private beach, close to undeveloped, and where local fishermen still fish the traditional way–fully manual. They set out in un-motorized boats, cast their nets, wait for a couple of hours, and in full bayanihan fashion, all the men–even young boys–help tow everything back to shore. I felt so bad seeing that they caught a whole damn lot of seaweed–not the edible kind–and only two fish. Not for long, though. The fisherfolk were so high spirited that when they saw me shooting, they even joked about having exposure on Facebook!
This is the day’s catch, and all the trouble it took! These babies must be worth their weight in gold.
Somewhere in Sta. Maria there is a small, private family chapel, but let the simplicity fool no one. Exploring the grounds leaves no doubt that the place is truly blessed, and I dare say, sacred.
Over three hundred kilometers and six hours from Manila. We took off way before sunrise to hit SCTex/TPLex area at the crack of dawn. It was one dark, chilly, foggy morning and visibility was but a few meters, pretty tho. At some point I got sick of shooting through the windshield–just wasn’t cutting it–rolled my window down, only to have my lens all fogged up. Downside of travelling light–too light, it seems–I only brought a tiny Leica. Horrors, no spare, no back up!
As we reached that part of the highway surrounded by fields, the sun seemed to rise “again.” I say “again” because it was hidden by mountains & trees, and voila, my lens has cleared!
Then a sign says “Reduce speed.” Of course, scenery demands it.
Sta. Maria, built on top of a hill was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_Church for loads of historical info.
Sunset, Sta. Maria Church, Ilocos.
Sta. Maria Church
H Photography 