Kalapating Dagat | A National Women’s Month Feature

Regina Catalan is the caretaker of Wawa Park. A leisure ground in Paete on the lakeshore of Laguna de Bay where people laze around, breathe air, or simply watch the "kalapating dagat." "Yang mga yan nagkukulay itim ang dibdib pag haharap na sa habagat, pag magtatag-ulan. Kulay puti naman pag parating na ang tag-init, Aling …

ABACALERO

The Philippines supplies almost all of the world's abaca needs. This should make every abacalero in the country a baron. Unfortunately, abaca farming is not without issues: calamities, pests, and the insatiable desire called innovation. For example, the BSP, just recently, shifted into using polymer for the country's banknotes instead of abaca-made peso bills. Leaving …

THE FLAGMAN

Evalore Rafan, 70, reporting for duty as volunteer 'flagman' directing traffic at the deadly "Bitukang Manok" in Pagbilao, Quezon. Earning a living from loose change tossed by passing motorists — since 1971.

BINTANA PHOTOGRAPHY: WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD BUT CAN’T GO OUT

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 …

HOMELESSNESS

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 …

OF CALAMITY 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 …