Binondo

June 24, 2014 by Hedwig de Leon

After almost two years of almost not touching equipment, I’m back. Of course it is tempting to say “with a vengeance,” but then that means shooting all the time. Maybe I would, yes?

Saturday found me in Binondo, with a historical tour by a good friend and co Iyas fellow, Jeffrey Yap. The guy doesn’t do it for the money–he’s just so passionate about Manila that he does it for free. The tour cost P580, but it included eight foodstops, and by the fifth or sixth, most of us were just taking little bits for the taste of it, and those with enough fortitude in hauling food brought home probably enough for the next day’s meal.

Oh, he gave each of us a Mark Twain book, too!

Meeting place: Binondo church

Jeffrey (leftmost) gives a brief lecture on Binondo history and what to expect from the tour.

Mirror selfie, with Jeff & darn good friend Louise.

Missing a Period (No, not the bloody kind)

July 22, 2012 by Hedwig de Leon

The other day I was driving home in rainy-Friday traffic and listening to Cynthia Alexander’s Walk Down the Road album. There was a deep sadness to it, sadness of a happy kind if ever there is such. It’s probably not accurate to say that it is the musician I miss–we were never the kind of BFFs who chat on the phone or meet up for lunch or coffee; it’s more like I see her on her gigs and she drops by our table for a little chat, and of course there’s the annual Bloom exhibit. While I love her music, I can always listen to all her albums and it’s so easy to just watch her on Youtube.

So what do I miss, exactly?

at 19 East, the send-off series

It’s a period of time, in my life. A time that I wouldn’t exactly want to go through all over again but it was one when silver linings shone through with such intensity that the dark clouds were nearly eclipsed. It was a time when old friends vanished precisely when I needed them most, a time when there was trouble in practically all fronts. And this was the time when a friend stood by me, kept me sane, kept me company. A friend who endured and never complained about the obnoxious other “friends” that I sometimes brought. And we went to Cynthia’s gigs. Never mind that she lives about fifty kilometers away from Conspi. Cynthia’s gigs were practically the only thing that could make her travel that far, and back, in the wee hours of the morning.

It’s the warmth of Cynthia, who never treated us like the bug-eyed fans that we were. It’s her interaction with the band, never acting like she’s the star of the show. It’s Mlou’s multi instrument stunt. It’s CJ Wasu’s tablas. It’s Cynthia’s almost-shy way of acknowledging your presence even in a packed Conspi, her reprimands of my smoking, our hesitation to order sisig or anything non-vegetarian and the silly fear that the smell of a pig’s face on a sizzling plate might cause her to faint. Cynthia, if ever you read this, apologies, but that gave us a good laugh.

I can only wish her all the best, and thank her for the huge part her gigs and music played in the bonds of friendship formed. As for my friend, I’m sure I’ll see her, maybe in gigs down south this time.

Post-Quest, inside a classroom

June 9, 2011 by Hedwig de Leon

The quest proceeded quite smoothly, with most of the “spirits” agreeing to “move on,” while the ghost of a La Sallian brother has assigned himself as caretaker of the chapel. I was expecting, or at least ready, for some “irregularities,” like perhaps capturing some images of spirits in the shots. Other than the orbs, there was none. As far as I can tell anyway.

After the quest, Perez gave a short lecture on psychology in one of the classrooms at the main building. And that was when my perfectly functioning gear — I simultaneously shot with a 5D and a 30D, handheld, natural light — began getting trippy. Initially, I couldn’t get my meter readings right, and that was quite annoying, because the shoot at the dark chapel during the quest was far more difficult and yet I encountered no major hitches. But here inside a bright classroom?

Anyway, when I finally viewed the post-Quest photos, I kind of understood why. Well, not really. But maybe those colored bands and pillars of light messed with my settings. Or gear. Whatever.

Spirit Quest at DLSU

June 9, 2011 by Hedwig de Leon

Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament, LS Building, DLSU. I suppose every La Sallian has heard of the stories of hauntings and sightings at the Chapel. It goes back to World War II, when some families from nearby areas sought refuge at then De La Salle College. The brothers accommodated them; the group and some brothers were in the Chapel when the Japs came in, and killed everyone, children included.

Finally, DLSU called in Tony Perez, a playwright, painter, and shaman, to conduct a Spirit Quest. A quest is not a ghost-busting job in the movie sense; it really is a loving ritual–the spirits are sent love and light and encouraged to “move on.”

These are photos taken during the quest at the chapel. Note that my gear measured up to the job, in a chapel lit practically by just a few candles. I say that for a reason other than bragging abut gear, as the post-quest photos will show.

The Possessed

February 10, 2011 by Hedwig de Leon

07 February marked the opening of “The Possessed,” a one-man exhibit of painter Poch Naval, at 8lanc Gallery, Salcedo-Makati. The artist “played with a historical document (by Pigafetta!), enlarged some words until until another story can be made out.” The concept sounded deceptively simple, yet looking at the works, there was nothing simple about it; the series was a mind-bender (or mind f**ker, if you will). Until then, I never realized how difficult it would be to look at a drawing, not on a blank canvas, but superimposed on prints. Concentrate on lines of words, or paint? I still have no answer, other than to look at it long enough, see what comes out, and walk away a lot richer for it.

8lanc Gallery is at 107, H.V.dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati.

China Crisis @ Venice Piazza, Mc Kinley Hill

January 26, 2011 by Hedwig de Leon

I thought it was plain Wishful Thinking when I found out the day before that, Yes, there is a go- ahead to cover China Crisis. The day before that, I didn’t even know they were in Manila! Fun fun shoot, this. China Crisis is such a cool band to cover!

Michael Jackson & Robocop at the Piazza

January 24, 2011 by Hedwig de Leon

Aching back after a full day and hours of running around with multiple gear, heading to another gig, but just couldn’t resist. Their costumes and make-up are sci-fi flick good, gotta hand it to them.

Between China Crisis

January 24, 2011 by Hedwig de Leon

It was a darn good thing to have attended and shot China Crisis’ gig last night at McKinley Hill. There is something about gigs, music lovers, and I guess, photographers. At a time when many people are borderline paranoid-distrustful, such camaraderie is such a breath of fresh air! Sometime during the gig, a total stranger handed me his camera, an apparently very new EOS 60D, and asked me to figure out the movie function controls! I was so sorry that a 60D is a piece of gear that I haven’t tried, and couldn’t be of much help. That little encounter made me smile, though. Later on, the same guy handed me his camera again, this time for me to take his picture with China Crisis jamming it up in the background. I was happy to oblige. Afterwards, I went for a cigarette break at the side. This time two guys approached me, asking to be photographed, but they didn’t bring their cameras. Easy. One of them gave me his calling card with his email address on it. Gave him mine, in exchange. Of course I’m not exactly hoping that they will be my new best friends, but encounters like these are certainly one of the perks of the job. Sure, standing for hours with several kilos of gear hanging on you can be a literal pain, but it sure is worth it. Posting some outtakes now; it is 1am, and shots of China Crisis will have to wait another day.

Two of them are my friends; the rest just asked to be photographed. Perhaps I’ll never see them again, but the exchange of goodwill was great!

Fuego! Still

January 20, 2011 by Hedwig de Leon

Instead of an essay for an opening board or such, a poem dedicated to fire, by a daughter of fire.

Baba’s Child

Hedwig de Leon

By your gait I can tell; I know

when you are off for leisure, the pace

of unhurried cadence breaking

into a dance. It never fails to rupture

my trance: the leaps, stomps and pirouettes

of bare feet on yielding grass.

At times it is the certainty, the sure

footed march to war: I feel each inhale

each exhale each breath; never

labored always calm all ways

Quiet. The perfect backdrop

to your scream in the sky; the perfect

Silence soon shattered as heaven

roars with thunder and lightning zigs

and zags across the skies.

In a hammock on your back I lie

Cradled, nibbling fruits and nuts, wondering

Why? Why must you carry me in a sack

on your back even when you fight? Or hold

me to your chest while you snooze?

A shrug.

Great. Should I pester you for an answer, pelt

You with nuts, maybe? But then you

Opened an eye before I could: “Because,

You said, “you are a brat.”

“My brat.“

August 2010

Fuego!

January 20, 2011 by Hedwig de Leon

19 Auagust 2010, and Fuego! opened at Penguin. Late post, yes, very. I kind of got a little possessive of my little fire babies, didn’t exactly want them out there in the wild cyber world. Silly, huh? But come on, give a photog a break. There was a lot that went on: African drummers came, Earth dancers came, goodness, even my Mom came. That really was the biggest surprise of the night. I was scared of a people-less opening, but No, we ended up drinking beer on the sidewalks. It was a fun night, problem is I couldn’t document it. Good thing some friends took some. Coming up, soon!