Natalie Quintos Uhing was an artist. 24-carat artisan in body, mind and spirit. The lady behind the “SmallestForest,” a now defunct blogsite of avant garde arts and crafts. Married to Kris Larson, the man who sailed the world on an engineless junkyard boat. So they were sort of a “John and Yoko” pair. Living in … Continue reading NAT QUINTOS UHING: IN MEMORIAM
I must have spent summer washing my hands. As well as listening to the race of COVID case-count vs. “ayuda.” The drill goes on till now. Sometimes, I’m out for some photos too. My IATF-given freedom enabled me to move around. In places at a time when only a few would rather be. On March … Continue reading IN PHOTOS: THE SUMMER OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
It’s not illegal to drink alcohol in Manila. The liquor ban prohibits the sale and distribution of alcoholic drinks — not their consumption. So, if Juan has a stockpile of wines and beers prior to the liquor ban, it’s for Juan to keep and enjoy. If not, he would have to find spirits where spirits … Continue reading LOCKDOWN BREW
A man walked up to me one day asking for alms. Not the common beggar, he is part of a construction crew apparently holed up at the Rizal Memorial Stadium facelift project, mothballed by the lockdown. They were left to fend for themselves, with no other recourse but to beg people. When the city shut … Continue reading THE RISE OF BEGGARS
To have the authority to move around when everyone else is locked down is something. Times like these, I prefer to be out there being of service. If this is war, I’d like to be on the battlefront. These are ambagan days. Besides, nobody wants to be ECQed this long. Being part of the government’s … Continue reading NOTES FROM MANILA’S EMPTY STREETS
Baler. Three weeks pre-lockdown spell. COVID-free…as free as the wind blows. Continue reading SANDALS ON THE SHORE
“Suffer The Last Supper” is a photographic experience with Iriga City’s noted artist Alfonso “Al” Oliva. A chronological look at the making of what could probably be his most taxing project: life-size sculpture of Christ’s final meal with the apostles, built atop a sacred hill called Inorogan. Schoolteacher-turned-painter-sculptor-landscape artist-madman, Alfonso Oliva is the artisan behind … Continue reading PHOTO STORY: SUFFER THE LAST SUPPER
An enlightenment I picked up somewhere for this covidlization: The World says “PANIC, PANIC EVERYTHING IS OUT OF CONTROL” The Buddhist says “Relax, relax, everything is out of control” ___ There is a healing process going on. Silent and painful. I have to look back at the Egongots. See if there is a sign of … Continue reading THE EGONGOTS
We shall stop talking about death and think about life for a while. Continue reading IN PHOTOS: LA TRINIDAD VALLEY HARVEST
Home quarantine an ordeal for you? For street photographers, it’s twice the agony. I was aching to see the empty streets of Manila yesterday, and got the opportunity (and legitimate reason) to drive around so. The feel was incredibly eerie. The barren city seemed like a lay of the land unknown to us. Driving was … Continue reading BINTANA PHOTOGRAPHY: WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD BUT CAN’T GO OUT
On this day in 2008, I started malate.wordpress.com. In glorification of Manila’s finest district: Malate. My adopted battleground. Ironically, today, on this same date, and for an ordinary reason, I am leaving the place. After twelve years of residency. Let me see. I have been to Malolos. I have been to Quezon city. I have … Continue reading HOMELESSNESS
If you are an Enrich Magazine reader you might find me on page 79 of this month’s issue — very miniscule in the background. Or you might not. Earlier today, I received a surprise message from Rose Castillo of the Isabelita Rosueta Organization (IROG). She texted me about our outreach program last October which was … Continue reading OF CHARITY AND PHOTOGRAPHY
The night before the Taal Volcano eruption, a huge fire broke out at the Legazpi Tower, right across our office building. I joined the crowd of firefighters and usiseros hoping for a photo-journalistic shot of the chaotic scene. I, the social mediaman. Unfortunately, no shot was up for keeps. Not even a facebookable one. I … Continue reading OF CALAMITY AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Harrison Plaza signing off December 31, 2019. End of an era. Along with it, a mess of memories. Here’s my collection of random images of HP scenes spanning ten years ago onwards. The ones easily available at hand. Although not really a photographer’s shangri-la, I am nevertheless glad to have taken some time for aimless … Continue reading HARRISON PLAZA ONE LAST SHOT
Find out how the years have passed you by, simply by seeing how your once revered pop idols grow old. I’ve just watched a senior citizened Depeche Mode on Youtube. Another way to be cognizant of the “feebling in years”, is to observe odd sleeping habits. When I was a little boy I would wake … Continue reading EVENING SHADOWS
