MANO PO.....THE NAYON WAY.....

The Wacky Group Photo.....




Ito, Tunay na Chinese.....




Ito, May Pagka-Chinese.....




Ito, May Pagka-Chinese Din.....




Ito, Mukha Bang Chinese?.....




Ito, Mas Mukha Bang Chinese?....




Ito, Feeling Chinese.....




Ito, Nagpapanggap na Chinese.....




Ito, Ang Chinese na Best Friend ni Wanda!.....





I don't like to have my picture taken. That is why I became a photographer! But on a sunny day, when my mood tells me otherwise, I relent and this fierce persona gets out of me and decides she's the model of the day and begins to strike a pose! As I said, this happens rarely, okay?

So it's time for the annual Christmas Party once again. And Nayon Christmas Parties are like sleep overs for adult people. It seems that the Penthouse Suite of the Miramar Hotel is the favorite place to have the party and since it is a hotel room, we can stay overnight. And along side the party is the annual photo op. As a tradition, the club agrees on a particular theme during the party and everyone is required to dress according to the theme and have their pictures taken as a requirement to replace the banner photo on the Nayon website. Except for the 1950's scene which was done in Black and White and which was the follow up to the well known montage of 2003, I have not seen any photo at all that is worthy to replace the banner! We do have graphic artists in our midst, they are just so busy with their jobs right now. Until I get to see a decent group photo with me on it, I guess I just have to continue to dream on. Who knows, I might be in the mood and strut my stuff!

This year's theme is Chinese! C'mon people, do I look like one? If you think that's funny how about a pure bred insulares like Betty? Does she look like one? I'd rather eat Chinese Food than be one! A real Chinese bred in our group, Bless isn't around though as she has to be at her sister's wedding. And me be dressed in Cheongsam silk? I bet reed thin people like Kate Moss will look good in it not the curvaceous people like me! Oh well, I just have to suck it up and be a real trooper for this one.

ORIGINAL PHILIPPINE MUSIC.....

The Ad That Said It All.....





The Host For The Day.....





Martin's New Album, "Milestones".....





The man himself, Mr. Martin Nievera.....











"Sana'y ika'y muling makita ko. Damhin ang tibok ng puso ko!" Taken From "Kahit Isang Saglit" By Martin Nievera.....









I was suppose to meet my friend Lani at PGH yesterday to catch up on things about life, gossip a little and check out what is happening on her part of the world now that she is married. Just when I was on my way, I received a text from her telling me that she had to go home early and postpone our meeting since she had to do an errand for her aunt. For some reason, I kind a had a feeling about our meeting not pushing through so when she told me her news, I accepted it eventually. I was disappointed because I really wanted to see my old friend. It's a good thing though that I brought my camera with me, I guess I'll just have to take pictures of whatever catches my fancy. So off to Robinson's Place in Manila I went.

I noticed that rows of chairs, a sound system and a lighting system were placed in the middle of the mall along the Orosa entrance. It was cordoned off, a sign that a show was scheduled for that day and was about to start. My curiosity lead me to the roped area and read the ad that Mr. Martin Nievera shall be performing on that day. The mall tour is part of his promotion for his new album.

To cut to the chase, I bought a copy of his new cd which entitled me to the free concert, which I waited for to start (the ad said 5 pm but Martin showed up at 7 pm!), which enabled me to take shots of him, which made me fall in line for his autograph and souvenir photo, which made me come home late that night and which made me wonder just what exactly did he do to wreck his marriage to Pops? He isn't exactly a handsome guy but he just oozes with charm and wit! Hmmm, I guess any girl will really fall for that!

Me and my friends in high school used to go gaga on him and Pops. They would watch concerts that the two starred in with each other or doing their solo gigs. Some buy fan magazines that feature either of them. I would stay late at night and watch Penthouse Live every Sunday evening at channel 7. Failure to watch the show means I won't be able to share in the gossip the next day with my friends as we decipher clues in the show that will prove that a relationship does exist between the two (when it was still a secret). They only admitted that something was going on between them when they announced their engagement and Pops was pregnant with Robin.

I have never watched his concerts before and when I heard him sing live, I was blown away! He really has an awesome singing voice and he has the ability to engage with his audience by the way he interprets and sings his repertoire. The guy may have his flaws but he is still such a fine singer!

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY.....

NAYON Members Join The Procession.....





An Image of St. Joseph With The Baby Jesus.....





Different Images Of Mother Mary.....


















As a Roman Catholic, I never fully understood the value of Mother Mary in my life before. My concept of her was she was just a statue being passed around. During my years as a child, a statue of Mother Mary was being passed from one house to another. The exact tradition was this statue was supposed to stay in a house for a week, the family members are encouraged to pray the rosary during its stay and when the end of the week has come, the image was then sent to another house. Who's statue was it? I don't know. Before it came to my neighborhood, where did it come from? I don't know.

I studied in a Catholic school, Nazareth School when I reached my high school years. The school was under the Daughters of Hijas de Jesus, the female equivalent of the Society of Jesus which is better known as the Jesuit Priests. It was in this school that I soon became aware of Mary's importance in our life. Lectures about her life were repeatedly expounded to us in class and the more I got to know her background, the more I appreciated her contributions to the faith. It made me aware of the significance of these dates: September 8 and December 8, the former as Mary's birthday and the latter as the day she conceived Jesus (Immaculate Conception). These days are designated days of obligation by the church, a time when Catholics are obligated to go to Mass which is celebrated in her honor.

Every first Sunday of December a group whose name I can't recall, organizes a Marian procession with the route covering the streets of Intramuros. This procession is significant for it gives the Filipinos who have panatas to Virgin Mary, the chance to come and offer their prayers to her. A total of 50 to 70 statues of Mary from different parts of the country come to Manila to participate in the event. Even well known images like the Our Lady of Manaoag from Pangasinan and the Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia from Naga in Bicol can be seen in this procession. I do admit that I don't even know the names of most of the statues. Most of them are considered antiques, being hundreds of years old.

My first time to join the on the spot photography contest was the inaugural staging of this event. Cash prize was 50,000 pesos for the winning entry. Ahh, those were the days when sponsors were generous and an event like this landed on the society pages of broadsheets. And because film photography was still the norm and photoshop still didn't exist, photographers really had to use their imagination and creativity to come up with photographs which we thought were our winning entry. And with all the photo clubs that were under the FPPF, it was our photo club, NAYON which got the most number of top ten entries. This record, has not been challenged by any other photo club since then. Thus, even if there are no more generous sponsors, even if cash prizes are no longer being given away, even if the event seems to have lost its luster in these days of commercialism and fast paced lifestyle, we at NAYON still continue to shoot the event. As Buboy puts it, "Ito ang panata natin. Tatapusin natin ang taon sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng litrato ng mga imaheng ito at sisimulan ang darating na taon sa pagpapakita ng mga litratong ito."

Well said Buboy! Here is a glimpse of the different Virgin Mary that joined the procession last Sunday.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.....

The Manila Symphony Orchestra.....





Tevye (Miguel Faustmann) And The Male Ensemble.....





Golde (Pinky Marquez) And The Female Ensemble.....





Cris Villonco Leads The Teens.....





Tzeitel and Golde.....





Hodel.....





Tevye, The Poor Dairyman.....





Avrahm And Two VIllagers.....





Tevye's Family With Guests.....





Lazar Wolf.....





Lovebirds Tzietel And Motel.....





The Villagers Merrymaking.....





The Matchmaker.....





The Ghost Of Christmas Past?!?.....





Fyedka, Chava And The Villagers.....





An Awesome Wedding.....





The Fiddler on the Stage.....




I first heard and watched this play when I was in highschool. During one of our alloted AVR time in school, my class watched the original film version of it. What I can recall about this film was the beautiful and catchy music, from the song of the main lead character singing, "If I was a rich man, doobeedebeedeebeedee....." to the group singing of "Sunrise, sunset!", what is there not to like? However, I could not recall the film's story line. All I can remember is that it features a fiddler, it involves tradition and is set in a Jewish community in Russia. I also recall that the movie is a great film, or else my AVR teacher, who is a nun, won't be letting her wards to watch it.

As the photo club I belong to reached an agreement with Repertory Philippines as main picture providers of photographs to be used in press releases, advertising and even for their souvenir programs, we were asked to take photos of their dress rehearsals. And this gave me a chance to refresh my memory and watch the story of Tevye unfold once again.

I really am so impressed with the quality of stage actors and actresses that our country has. For an English as a foreign language speaking nation, we can compete and show others that we can produce English speaking theater productions as a native English speaking country can. And we are versatile enough that we can do varied roles.

Fiddler on the Roof is the last theater production of Repertory Philippines for the year 2007. It formally starts on the 9th of November and runs until December 16. Venue is Greenbelt 1 Onstage. Directed by Baby Barredo and Robbie Guevarra.

A PRESCHOOL CELEBRATES ITS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY.....

OLL Child Guidance Center Teachers.....





Lian's Dad, Dr. Nemenzo.....





The School Administrator.....





Dinner Guests.....

















I met my friend and long time photography buddy Lian in a portraiture class held at Design Center Philippines at the CCP Complex a few years ago. She owned a preschool and during that time, it was evident that she really was engrossed with it, being the school's administrator and teacher. Apparently, the school was a business of her Lola, her mom's mom and it was passed on from grand mom, to mom and finally to her. Although she still consults her mom when decisions about the school have to be made. And the reason behind why she attended that portraiture class? So that she can take the class pictures of her students and not assign it to someone anymore! Ha! Ha! Ha!

These days, she is as busy as a bee. Her preschool, Our Lady Of Lourdes Child Guidance Center is celebrating its 50th Anniversary! Now, can anyone beat that among preschools? The school is even older than me! c",) And there are a lot of activities lined up for it. I heard her talking about sending out letters to former students for a grand reunion to be held at the school, a school play to be held at one of the theaters of SM Megamall and so many others (I have to ask her formally just what are these activities so as not to second guess).

And what so great about her school? I am not an educator, my own mom is, she being my teacher during my first few years in grade school. But I do understand what Lian meant when she said her school employs a non traditional method of teaching. It involves the enhancement of a child's skills first, in order to assess a child's potential and areas where a child is good at.

She asked me to cover the reunion dinner over at her school and house. It was great to see her family in full force. Even Von, her husband, who is also busy and somewhat gained celebrity status now that he was featured in Time Magazine as one of the "Warriors of the Environment" for being the head honcho of Greenpeace in Southeast Asia; went home to attend the celebrations. Just how big that Time issue was? He got mentioned along such prominent names as Al Gore and Mikhail Gorbachev! Yeah, that BIG!

Congratulations sis! This is an added feather on your cap!