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
It’s not easy being a photowalk leader. Specially when you are herding big names in Philippine photography: Arlene Donaire, Linus Escandor, Ka Art de Vera Jr. and so on. You have to please these guys. And the rest of the pack. How did they end up in my walk is like, all the gin bars … Continue reading PHOTOWALK PAETE
I’m taking the annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk (SKWWPW) in Paete, Laguna on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Photographers, street photographers, travel photographers, amateurs, pros, hobbyists, or simply looking around. If you are somewhere near, this is your chance to photowalk the place. Paete is a good place for photography. An artisan’s realm. The Carving Capital … Continue reading THIS MESSAGE WILL SELF DESTRUCT IN FIVE DAYS. PHILIPPINE TIME.
What is it with convenience stores always asking for smaller bills — when I don’t have small bills nor large bills. Thirty years ago, I would drop in a convenience store with only a small bill, and I could bring me home a pack of bread, cheese, a can of milk, cake mix, and so … Continue reading ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM LACSON STREET
Jun Jacolbe is not my mentor. Not even my idol. I don’t really know the man. But he transformed the way I view photography forever. Unwittingly. One day not too long ago, I sat on a banquet table across this gray-haired gray-goateed stranger, eavesdropping on his conversation with another guy about black and white street … Continue reading PARTING SHOT
The Cereal Killer and I used to walk around town before sundown. No complaints, no objections. Because for every disciplined effort there is a 7-Eleven treat. But that was long ago. The kid doesn’t live here anymore. What we have here now is a 14-year-old couch potato. Still notorious for cereals though. But lost in … Continue reading SLEEPWALK
But first congratulations to the Manileños. Finally, a break. As a resident, commuter, consumer, photowalker from Malate, I share everyone’s sentiment: Manila is in decay. Nabubulok na. The city is wasting away. Manila has become a sewage. Manila is now a dump. Manila is No. 1 in the world’s shittiest cities. And so on. All … Continue reading DEAR ISKO MORENO, ARE YOU THE ANSWER TO OUR BATSIGNAL
Mierkoles Santo. The women prepare “Ina” for the procession. While the men do the cooking. They have a troop of parabuligs to feed. Devotees who would parade Ina around the town — on their shoulders. But that was long ago. Today, Ina rides on a chariot. Breaking up that old gang of parabuligs. Still, the … Continue reading SAGRADA
To continue with my steps along Duterterritory — till my socks smell like durian: An army officer confronted me for taking photos of his men in formation along Magsaysay street. On the big “Araw ng Dabaw” celebration. When asked from what setup I was shooting for, I said STFU. He’d probably took it as some … Continue reading TILL MY SOCKS SMELL LIKE DURIAN PART 2
Borongan is not very near. You need to travel across different languages to get there. For the Philippine Information Agency to simply copy-paste my notes about eatables I experienced in Borongan, is contemptible. Wednesday, Patch Salarzon, very eagle-eyed, alerted me about the PIA’s lifting of some pieces from my decade old article Borongan Appetit! and … Continue reading P FOR PLAGIARIZED
