Monday, November 1, 2010

Coron, Palawan

I was very much looking forward to my Coron trip with my high school friends. First, it was going to be a time to relax with some of the closest people in my life. Second, the destination was going to be a new discovery. Lastly, it was an opportunity to shoot. I enjoy taking photos of the sea and its wonders as I've been inlove with it since I was a little boy. I hope that these photos give justice to Coron's beauty. The first highlight of the trip was Kayangan Lake. I could say that this would be my favorite of all the places Coron has to offer. After docking on the island, we followed a mountain trail that leads to the actual lake. At the midpoint of the climb, it offered a perfect vantage point for a perfect scenery. I have seen this type of photo before but I just had to have one that I can call my own.




After that, we continued with the descent and finally reached the lake. The blue lake is surrounded by limestone cliffs and it was breathtaking. We swam our hearts out and had photos underwater. Thanks 2ts for bringing your camera by the way. This is also where we had our lunch. The next part of the trip was the Twin Lagoon. The reason behind the name is that it's like 2 separate salt-water lakes which is separated by a cliff that has a narrow opening. We also enjoyed this part but this was also very tiring. Life vest is a must because the boat would anchor on one side and you would have to swim through the narrow opening to get to the other side. I know it's easier to swim without a life vest but considering the distance that you would have to cover, it's better to be safe.





Our next stop was Banol Beach. This time, we simply had fun by the shore and enjoyed the crystal clear water. This also where we had our merienda. Suman (rice cake) with coke baby.


Banana Beach was our next stop and this is where we spent our 2nd night. It was about an hour and a half boat ride from Banol Beach. If you're tired from the busy and stressful life that Manila brings everyday, I would recommend you spend some time in Banana Beach. It doesn't have the amenities of a 5-star hotel, but it's a quiet place where you can really relax and just listen to sound of the waves. On daytime, you can simply chill on a hammock and kill time. Electricity is not always available but the cottages are equipped with solar panels so that you can charge your iPods or cellphones. Yes, Globe and Smart signal is available on the island and the people are very friendly. On nightime, I would also suggest that you bring mosquito repellent lotions as the rooms are not air conditioned. The residents on the island were very friendly as well.








The following day, we were scheduled to go back to the main town of Coron. Before that, we stopped by at Malcapuya Island which is about a 15 minute boat ride from Banana Beach. I wasn't able to take any photos here as we had to stop away from the the shore due to shallow waters. I hope a panoramic view of the island will do.


Upon arriving in the main town, we went straight to the hotel to leave our baggages. We then proceeded the viewing deck of Mt. Tapyas. To reach the peak, you would have to conquer a total of (I hope my memory serves me right) 724 steps. Kayangan Lake was easy. This was a serious challenge and I am happy to say I did survive. People have different opinions about Mt. Tapyas. Some will say the climb is worth it and some would disagree. I could say it was worth the experience as the view of Coron was stunning. It's just too bad that we arrived late and I only managed to take a couple of shots.





Thursday, September 16, 2010

The Magic Is Here

My cousins came here to Manila to have some little vacation. A day that was supposedly to be spent in the mall ended up in Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. EK, as it is fondly called, was opened in 1996 if my memory serves me right and it is the closest thing we have to Disneyland. I've been to EK countless times and the magic is still there. That is why for this time around, my goal in EK was not to experience the magic again, but to share it. To find the child in all of us again perhaps? Here are some photos I took. As what the wizard says before each ride starts: "Thank you and enjoy the ride."

Flying Fiesta
Patuyo ride. I usually ride this after getting soaked and wet in Rio Grande.

Jungle Log Jam
A quick and wet ride.

Space Shuttle
It has been featured in the news several times due to malfunctioning wherein the train would get stuck in the middle of the ride. Regardless, people still line up for it. Adrenaline rush baby.

Monday, July 5, 2010

DPP 4th Year Anniversary: UNLEASHED

On July 3, 2010, amateur and professional photographers gathered in Bonifacio High Street (BHS) in Taguig City to celebrate the Digital Photographers Philippines 4th Year Anniversary. The event included different workshops by renowned photographers and a couple of live shoots. It was also in this event where the D60 Krew decided to do our live judging for the 50mm Challenge that we did in Intramuros weeks ago. I arrived at Bonifacio High Street at around 10am because I had work the night before and needed to sleep for at least 2 hours. It was my first time to attend and the long queue was overwhelming. The line started at Fully Booked and snaked its way up to Coffee Bean. There were at least 1,500 photographers that day. I already knew that my chances of getting into a class was small. After about 15-20 min of standing and waiting, a lady with a whiteboard was approached. She raised the board and yelled "All classes are full". Bummer. Oh well, next year I'll be early. The D60 Krew met up after the announcement and we proceeded to the live judging of our 50mm challenge. There were only a total of 5 entries that day because some forgot theirs and some were unable to attend. Tita Bambit Gaerlan invited her mentor Sir Rolly Magpayo to be one of the judges and he brought his fellow photographers Alford Ronduen and Ryan Sigua. One by one they judged the each photo.

Alford Ronduen in stripes, Ryan Sigua on the laptop, and Rolly Magpayo standing at the back. Photo by Bambit Gaerlan

After entering their scores, they gave their comments and insights on each photo. The photos didn't have names to keep the competition impartial and free from biases because according to the Krew members (core group), Sir Rolly already knew how some of the members shoot. Honestly I was reluctant to submit an entry because the 50mm challenge was a real challenge for me. I wasn't comfortable in shooting in a single focal length. But, it was only a fun competition and I would love to hear comments so that I would know where to improve. When they were holding my entry, I was really surprised when they agreed that it was their favorite among the 5 entries. Surely, they were being nice and not really harsh but hey, it's not everyday that skilled and talented photographers would praise my work. In fact, that may never happen again hahaha! I won my first competition and it was fun. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to win. My bets were the photos of Xander Solis and Art Topacio's portrait of Ate Bangs. At then end, I won a Nikon Shirt (courtesy of Rolly Magpayo) and a USB.

My entry: A crippled man selling rosaries. Sir Rolly Magpayo said I could have cropped it a little more because there were still too many space on the left side.

After the competition, we had out lunch at Brothers Burgers. I suddenly felt hungry after I typed that. Anyway, after lunch we changed to our D60 Krew shirts to be in uniform. We went to back to Fully Booked to check out the classes and yes they were all full with people standing at the back. Since it was still hot outside, we decided to rest by the 2nd floor escalator area of Fully Booked. I would look at the people passing by, checking out their gears. Man, some had these huge camera bags.

A snapshot I took while we were resting.

The Krew deciding what to do next.

Photo by Bambit Gaerlan, that's me at the far end.

After around an hour of rest and chit-chat, we decided to go for a merienda which is a very common Filipino practice. What's the best merienda when it's hot? Of course another Filipino favorite, halo-halo! We walked to Market-Market to have a halo-halo at Chowking. At around 4pm, we decided to head back to BHS for the group hug (term for group shot). After the group hug, the live shoot with a model was up next. Photographers rushed to the fountain area of BHS where the live shoot was about to start. It was headed by Pillar Tuason, the editor-in-chief of DPP Magazine and a leading portait photographer in the country. Due to the numbers of photographers, I wasn't able to get a shot at the model. My next stop was the live shoot for sports and action photography. It was headed by Mark Dimalanta, a photographer who recently moved back here in the Philippines. He previously took shots for Surf Magazine in the US. Our subjects were local skateboarders who were kind enough to do some tricks for us.

My attempt at sports photography. Skateboarder doing an "Ollie" over a trash bin.

It was almost 6pm. Amer was to celebrate his birthday that evening. I had to leave early. Others stayed for the live judging and real party. It was a successful event in my opinion. People came there to learn and have fun and people left the event having both. Hopefully, I will be there for next year's party.

Monday, June 21, 2010

D60 Krew Anniversary Walk

D60 Krew - Photo by Bambit Gaerlan

Last June 2009, Nikon D60 users of the Digital Photographer Philippines (DPP) website decided to form a group where they can share their passion for photography. They started doing photo walks in different places in Manila. After a year, some of them had upgraded their cameras, others have specialized in other fields of photography. On June 13, 2010, the krew had their anniversary walk and went back to their roots - street photography. I was fortunate to join them.

Baluarte de San Diego

The location was at the walled city of Intramuros. It was at this place where the Krew had their official photo walk. Intramuros, located along the southern bank of the Pasig River, was built by the Spaniard in the 16th century and is the oldest district of the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippinses. Its name, in Latin, intramuros, literally "within the walls", meaning within the wall enclosure of the city/fortress, also describes its structure as it is surrounded by thick, high walls and moats. During the Spanish colonial period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself.



How do I get to Intramuros?

Light Rail Transit – LRT
If you are coming to Intramuros by LRT, get off at the United Nations Station. From here it is only a 20 to 25 minute stroll to the gates of Intramuros.

Taxi
Taking a taxi is very easy as Intramuros is such a popular destination all taxi drivers know where it is.

Jeepney
Take the jeepney that travels down Bonifacio Drive as this is where you will want to get off.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Oplan Ondoy

It has been raining lately. While walking in the streets of Makati, I noticed that people were wearing jackets and had umbrellas. Yes, this is the "winter" season for Filipinos where they have a reason to wear their winter clothes. But anyway, this isn't what this post is all about. While walking, I had the chance to reflect on what happened last year's rainy season. Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana, international name) submerged Metro Manila in just a mattter of hours. I was at the office doing my mundane yet sometimes exciting work. At around 5:00 pm, I checked the news online and there it was. Photos around the metro were being posted by everyone. People waiting for rescue on top of their roofs, cars crashing to one another because of the flowing flood. When I went home, I had to walk 3 blocks because the flood in our area was waist level and cars couldn't pass through. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a "state of calamity" for the areas of Luzon. For days, television and newspaper headlines would be about Ondoy - the damage it brought, the actions of the government about it. I was watching the news and there they were, hundreds of people homeless. Where was I? Home, at the third floor of our building, drinking a hot cup of Milo, warm, safe. At that moment I just felt that I had to do something. For starters, I pledged a portion of my salary to the victims of the typhoon. But It wasn't enough. I wanted to be in the front. Amer Mitmug, a friend of mine for 13 years, said his office, Al-Amanah Bank under Development Bank of the Philippines together with Metro Rail Transit Corporation, will be conducting a relief mission for families affected by Ondoy in Marikina City. I gladly said that I wanted to join and help in any way. On the morning of October 3, 2009, I met Amer and Maharlika Alonto, my cousin who also works at Al-Amanah Bank, at McDonald's Katipunan and together we went to the relief site. It was at the vacant lot at the foot of Tumana Bridge in Balara, Quezon City.


Boy holding a pack of relief good and a bowl of hot "lugaw".

At the relief site, we met their other co-workers Jack Darimbang and Nas Abdullatif. The operations started at around 8:00 am where we distributed over 500 relief packs that contained a blanket, canned goods and instant noodles. First aids and basic medicines were provided by the medical team. A feeding program was also conducted for around 2,500 individuals. Ondoy's total damage was estimated at $100 million and brought at least 464 deaths. I couldn't really say if this was a fulfilling experience because I knew there were still many who needed help. I am no Bill Gates where I can share my wealth to the many. Nevertheless, I hope that in the future, I can once again help to those who are in need in times of disaster.


Amer, Jack, and Nas


My cousin Maharlika, the one in front

Facts and figures:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Ketsana
http://www.devbankphil.com.ph/News/news_full.php?articleid=00455

Monday, June 7, 2010

Portaits

Leah Delos Santos

Personally, I find portrait as the most challenging field of photography. It involves creating the right amount/type of light and engagement with the model. My peoples skills suck. I have no idea how to engage. It is the reason why people at first have the first impression on me that I'm an arrogant fool. With this said, I was fortunate enough that on the 2 photo shoots that I've been to, I was in the company of skilled and talented portrait photographers.

Cristina Ponce

My first shoot was back in February and it was an outdoor theme done at the Marikina Riverbanks. Jover Vasquez, a photographer I met in the Digital Photographer Philippines (DPP) forum invited me to join. He, along with Renen Belen and Art Topacio, organized the shoot. They are members of the D60 Krew of DPP. On that same shoot, I met the Love Radio's Papa Jack who happened to be into photography as well. I also met Alex Briones who at that time was also a newbie in photography like me. The sun was high in the sky as we started to shoot around mid-day. I borrowed reflectors by the way because all I had brought with me was my ever reliable Nikon D60. I literally had no idea what were needed for portait shoots. It was there I learned that since we were using ambient light, a reflector would do just fine. After taking my first shot, I was awed at what a simple reflector can do to a photo.

Rochelle Junio

Sometime in May, I got an invite for another shoot and this time it was from Alex Briones. You would definitely know when someone has the natural talent for photography. I noticed it because even though he only started holding a DSLR camera early in January of this year, he knew what to do with the models in our Marikina Shoot. This time around, his skills improved as he also attended workshops by Jo Avilla. The venue of the shoot was in his home in Maia Alta, Antipolo City. Surprisingly, the man had the needed gears. Softbox, light stands, umbrella, background etc. His Canon 1000d was also upgraded to a 7d. You could really tell that he was serious with photography. It was an amazing experience. Strobing was a new type of portrait photography where it is like a whole new science and he shared his knowledge with us. His wife, Weng, was the make-up artist - a very kind woman who demonstrated what Filipino hospitality is all about. It was also good to see Jover again and meet new people like Bong PestaƱas, professional photographer of 9th Avenue Photography who lent me a spare battery (really need to buy a spare one). I also met the funny man Franz "Pang" Valenzuela who gave us a ride to Sta.Lucia Mall. It was a very hot day but after a whole day of shooting and learning, it was definitely worth it. Portrait photography, challenging indeed.

Athena Vica

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Puerto Galera


I didn't want to end my summer without tasting the ocean. At the last week of May, I decided to go to White Beach, Puerto Galera in Mindoro Oriental with my friends to have my piece of the the summer heat. We scheduled the trip June 5, 2010 hoping that the rainy season has yet to arrive. After all, the news said that the hot season which the country was having would extend by July. We left Manila on a fair morning and arrived at Batangas Port by mid-day. The sun was shining high above. My friend Wawan said, "At least ok yung weather (at least the weather is fine)." I remembered a line from the movie Troy and said it to him. The line was from Prince Hector as they were sailing back to Troy and Paris said it was a good day to sail. Prince Hector's reply was "sometimes, the Gods bless you in the morning and curse you in the afternoon." We both laughed. We arrived at White Beach with the sun still high above the sky and no clouds to cover it. We checked in our things at the resort and went out to take our lunch.

My friends: Joy, Wawan, Amer

In just a span of an hour or so, the Gods did curse the afternoon. Gray clouds began to multiply and thunders were roaring. It rained and poured. So much for the summer heat and my plans for sunset shoots. Nevertheless, this is the beauty when we are in the company of our friends. You could be stuck in the most inconvenient situations and still manage to laugh and have fun. Although the "hot" summer trip didn't turn out as planned, we made each moment count. A chat by the beach with friends, drinking shakes or sodas - these are the important recipes for a relaxing weekend.



How to get there:
Manila-Batangas Port
Bus Ride (Buendia-Taft Station, P166.50)
Batangas Port - White Beach
Boat Ride (P250.00)

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Albir and Fam's Wedding


Early this year, I received a text from my cousin that he was about to get married. Albir (my cousin) is one of the few people in my life whom I have shared different experiences with. When I say different, it means the good ones and bad ones. I prefer not to go into the details. What I just want to say is that, when he said that I should attend his wedding, there was no way that I could be stopped. I had to be there. The date was March 7 and the venue was in Davao City. It was the place where the couple met, hence, it is only right and fitting that it was there in Davao they should be wed. A lot of people might not know, but Albir's passion for love and romance is second to none. With the numbers of romantic movies (Filipino and English) he has seen, why wouldn't he? For so many years, the man was in a quest for true love and happiness. Who would have known that he would find it in Davao? It never came to my thought that one day, he would have to work in Davao and stay there. Life is beautiful. It may put a fork in your road one day and you wouldn't know that something special is there on the other end. With life's so many surprises, we mortals can only wonder and speculate. To Albir and Fam, best wishes.


Promise of love









Lake Lanao


Lake Lanao, or Ranaw as locals call it, is located in the province of Lanao del Sur. This is the second deepest lake in the Philippines and is also included in the 15 ancient lakes in the world. This lake is a source of livelihood to many Maranaws or Meranaos (people of the lake). It is in this lake where I first had my swimming lessons. My father used to tell me that if you do not know how to swim, then you are not a Meranao. I can still remember it was in the year of 1995 and we went to Marawi for a vacation. My cousins (who all grew up by the lake) and I made it a habit to swim every morning. Of course I, who didn't know how to swim, was just on shallow waters all alone. They would call me and tease me because I was nearing my teens and I still didn't know how to swim. You could say that I just took the risk. There was a platform where the water was deep enough for a dive. Without any second thoughts, I jumped. After hitting the water, I guess everything came natural. I started to thread and was doing it well even though I had never done it before. The next thing I knew, I was swimming. I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of other people who have their own stories of the lake. It is one of those things that would still make a trip to Marawi worthwhile. It is in this place where I have experienced one of the most beautiful sunrises. With the cool weather that Marawi has to offer, you could just sit down by the lake, take a sip of coffee, and breathe in life.

How to get there from Manila?

Plane: Manila - Cagayan de Oro
Airport: FX, Car - Cagayan de Oro - Marawi (around P200-P400 each)