After Typhoon Nina’s devastation of Iriga city, Irigueños were faced with an enormous task of clearing the place. Everyday tons of waste have to be dealt with. I watched from atop Ilian Hill this remarkable scene unfolds as everyone starts setting debris on fire: the whole city appears to go up in smoke! The following … Continue reading THE SUNSET ON YOUR FACE
A long overdue Thank You note to my friend from way down there in Guimaras, the good prosecutor from Iloilo, Jo Lacson, for arranging us a date with the Bantay Dagat of Nueva Valencia. On her red-letter day. Salamat! Also to my skipper Hannah Gargalicana, for paddling me to the awesome floating bamboo cottage for … Continue reading PHOTODRIFT: SEA SENTINELS, TAKLONG ISLAND NATIONAL MARINE RESERVE
Silence came upon me hearing my teenage señorita surmise about her late grandfather: “perhaps Lolo is far away now, he is no longer making any signs.” Paramdam is special to us bereaved ones. Sort of a pride and joy. To sense Tatay trying to keep in touch in any way is a consolation. Everybody wants … Continue reading SENDOFF
Sundowning, in medical terms, refer to a state of confusion, disorientation, and agitation which occurs during late afternoon up to early evening. An inexplicable behaviour with unknown cause. Twilight Zone is for real. This is particularly true in our office. Oras de Peligro. When the clock strikes four, everyone makes a mad, mad, mad dash … Continue reading SUNDOWN IRIGA CITY
I recall two occassions when I drove my father crazy. First, when I broke the family’s 18th century crystal damajuana to smithereens. The other — a terrible crime — when I accidentally recorded my voice over his Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits cassette tape. All my other sins fell short of these two atrocities. Now there … Continue reading REDEMPTION
Caramoan is pretty much all the same. White sandy beaches. Crystal clear water. Island-hopping. Survivor Series. The usual. There is more to the peninsula, and the people, not everyone can see. Let me walk you to the Street side of Caramoan: There is no premium gasoline in Caramoan. The next gas station with this combustible … Continue reading PHOTOWALK CARAMOAN
I have never really hugged my father. It’s only now that I’ve put my arms around him. But that’s to help walk him up to the bathroom. The pain has reduced his range to barely a few steps off of hospital bed. We are in the closing days of his final stand vs the big … Continue reading PHOTOWALK BAGUIO CITY
Street Photography is time consuming. One needs to observe. Make out. Spot. Pay attention. My teacher used to say I don’t always pay attention. I never really had the time. Continue reading STREET PHOTOGRAPHY IF YOU HAVE THE TIME
Where are the souls of Millennium Park? Were it not for a men-at-work scene on the strand, the place would be a complete desolation. Screwballs can shit here anytime and not worry of a disruption. And they do. I have put up with the stench of the park today just to pass time; snap a … Continue reading PHOTO STORY: SAVING GRACE
Carving with a 50mm prime lens. Struggling. I’m a stranger to 50mm. As tutus are to firetruck. February is grand. Cool ‘amihan’ winds. The glaze. No picnic. Continue reading TRIPPING THE LIGHT FEBRUARY
The blackout has freed the neighborhood of videoke noise for a while. What a relief. At least for a few weeks. Now, a taong-grasa has occupied one of the videoke houses. Filthied the place with shits and more. Hoohaa. Videoke should be banned forever. It’s not just the noise. It’s the lousy melodies. I can … Continue reading AFTERMATH
This is my first ice-cold beer in weeks. I’ve just come from a poweroutaged, internetless land: Camarines Sur. Ground-zero for super typhoon Nina. On Christmas night 2016, the last and strongest typhoon of the year struck the province. For more than four hours, Bicolanos holed themselves up from Nina’s destructive winds. A force so familiar … Continue reading PHOTO ESSAY: THE CHRISTMAS TREES OF IRIGA CITY
The boys of Crescini bridge don’t fall for any digital toys. Their wings are not for hugging devices. I was on my way to pick up the Cereal Killer at school when I chanced upon them — hanging in mid-air. It’d be great to introduce him to these young daredevils. I’d like to show him … Continue reading NO TV
Google Street View has finally covered the nooks and crannies of Iriga. The Prius, Google’s camera-fortressed vehicle, even chanced upon me as I was on my ‘walk business’ around this city. Yep, here’s yours truly on this sleepy side of town taking one step at a time. Tsamba. People are more likely to get crushed … Continue reading BUTTERFLIES
