OF THINGS SEEN AND INTERPETED.....

Sculpted on Wood.....





Selective Focus.....






Light My Way....





Tool Of The Trade.....






Cosmic Shapes.....






Crisologo Street in Vigan is perhaps the most photographed stretch of road here in the Philippines, its picturesque cobblestones and its Spanish architecture serves as a reminder of our colonization by the Spaniards for 400 years.

Me and my photo buddies walked through the street. There were lots of people moving around as it was summer. We certainly wished it was night time soon, so as to clear the street and we can start taking pictures.

Every diner and cafe was full of hungry tourists. But we decided to eat halo-halo and Vigan empanada first at the town plaza food stalls. We resumed the walk after we finished eating merienda, taking pictures of intricate things like wood carvings and other knick knacks.

The other places that we went to were the pagburnayan, the place where the local pottery is made and the Baluarte Zoo, which is basically Governor Chavit Singsong's house but has a zoo and a chapel.

We had a disappointing time at Cafe Leona, what with the not so delectable food, of other dishes being out of stock without informing us early on and not having to wait for its serving and AGAIN having to wait for a looonggg time before our bill arrived after we asked for it 45 minutes earlier! It made us exit the cafe in a hurry, head back to the empanada food stall and buy empanadas and bibingkas to take home and eat. There was a moment when we considered leaving without paying our bill altogether because of the very poor service and the not so good food we got.

I am so excited to show the gang the food at Saramsam Cafe when we get to Laoag! And I hope that will impress them and appreciate Ilocano food as the way it should! c",)

THE CHURCH SQUARE OF BANTAY, ILOCOS SUR.....

St. Agustine Church of Bantay, Ilocos Sur.....




The Belfry.....




Gated Entrance.....




Our Lady Of Charity, "The Patroness Of Ilocandia".....




Inside the Church.....




Eyes Of Faith.....




Sounds Of Antiquity.....






Atop Calvario Hills.....






Bantay, Ilocos Sur is a town that is adjacent to Vigan. It actually is the town before the bus enters the ark that marks the road which leads to Salcedo Plaza. To the average traveler, this town gets overlooked so often because most tourists who chose to ride the buses that start its journey from Metro Manila, automatically disembark at Vigan City itself. Bantay means Guardian in the English language.

According to the elder townsfolk, fishermen found the image of Our Lady of Charity in a wooden box while it floated in Bantaoay River. When people from other towns and provinces found out about it, they tried to carry the statue and claim it, according to their linage. But they failed to do so, with only the people from Bantay the ones able to move the miraculous image and thus, the town became her home. This is one of the stories on how the town got its name. The miraculous image was the town's Bantay. On January 12, 1956, the then Papal Nuncio to the Philippines (the Vatican's equivalent of an ambassador) most Reverend Msgr. Vagnozzi crowned the image as the Patroness of Ilocandia.

The belfry sits on a hilltop (Calvario Hill) overlooking a vast green pastureland and the mountain view of the province of Abra. It was used as a watchtower for invading enemy forces during World Wars I and II. Both the church and belfry stood witnesses to the endless revolts that Ilocanos often staged against the Spaniards with Ilocano Diego Silang's revolt ending when he was killed here in Bantay by a Spanish mestizo named Vico.

A lot has happened in this trip. But we are thankful that we have reached our destination. The club wishes to thank NAYON member James' lola whose name escapes me at the moment ( I better ask James about that c",)) for sharing us her home as Bless, Buboy, Erwin, James and yours truly stayed at her house and did not mind the intrusion. We planned on photographing Vigan at night and when no one else is aound hence the need to stay overnight. Since the house was good enough for a few people, Marc and the rest stayed in a hotel in an area much nearer to Vigan.

But while the sun is still up, onwards to Vigan we shall explore!

A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.....

The Church of Our Lady of The Assumption.....






Ang Kampanaryo.....





Center Aisle.....






Church Buttresses.....






From My Window.....







Another View.....






The Chapel Inside The Convent.....






Running Time.....






A Cross on The Hill.....






Fallen Tree.....






The problem with taking pictures during the summer months is the sunlight is so strong that it tends to wash out the sky. Even if it was just 10 in the morning, the sun's rays seem to be emitting light that one can mistake it to be midday already. Perhaps this is the effect of climate change.

We were fortunate enough to have a driver who has knowledge of the area. I did not know that another road exists for those who go to the Church of Our Lady of The Assumption using their own vehicles. Basically, it is where the parking area is situated. This way prevents people from having to climb the steps heading towards the church if coming from the town plaza, which was a good thing for us, lessens strain on our backs. Try climbing 83 steps with your camera backpack and tripod on this steep hill. It will leave you out of breath when you reach the top!

There was an ongoing wedding when we arrived. We first shot the church from the outside while we waited for the rites to end and shoot the interior. But the sun began to wreck havoc on our photos that we eventually had to shoot somewhere else.

Our deepest gratitude to Sr. Lilian Carranza, who is the one in charge of The Our Lady of The Assumption Spirituality Center. This is the convent that stands beside the church. She gave me a brief history of the place and was kind enough to allow us to enter the convent and shoot interiors.

What I did not know is that even the convent is part of the UNESCO World Heritage proclamation, since it stands on the same lot as the church. The convent needed some immediate repairs on some areas but she has to inform the people from the UNESCO about it since any unauthorized renovation of the structures will automatically make the proclamation null and void. However, some areas have been repaired. Sr. Lilian even said that some of the rooms may be rented out to people looking for cheap accommodations in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur in the near future.

We went to Vigan right after, needing some shut eye!

AS THE DAY MOVES ON.....

This Is The Way NOT To Take A Picture.....






Stained Glass Window.....





Chandelier.....





Zooming In.....





In Christ's Presence.....






Is That The Eiffel Tower?






Breakfast for the group was at Jollibee in Candon City, Ilocos Sur. We had our fill of McDonald's the night we set off for the trip that is why we switched fast food chains. Besides, Jollibee offered more rice meals in their breakfast menu. Otherwise it's McDonalds for me. I can't believe this has turned into a discourse about fast food restaurants, I better cut it and proceed with the storytelling.

The church of Candon sits in the middle of the town plaza which is directly across the main road and a stone's throw away from Jollibee. I have never seen the interior of this church. And from what I recall, the interior has recently been fixed and renovated.

Well, the team went right away to shoot the church after eating breakfast. The funny thing was we all started to feel sleepy after the meal. Taking pictures of the church fortunately woke us up and started the creative juice to flow. We were concerned about the time though. Our primary target was to shoot the church at Sta. Maria, the one included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. We did not want to arrive there by noon time.

What struck me with this church was the way how light illuminates the church. Even if the lights from the chandeliers were switched off, there was enough ambient light to take photos of the interior. The color palate used inside the church which was made up of pastel shades of blue and yellow made the sunlight entering the windows to bounce off the walls providing the illumination.

The altar was being prepared for I guess, a wedding ceremony. To my surprise, I saw the husband of one of my nieces. It turns out that he is a close relative to one of the parties getting married.

We didn't stay long. In fact, the shot of the exterior of the church was taken with me inside the van, hence the partial blockage of the top of the bell tower. But since this is the only shot of the facade of this church, I posted the photo. I guess I just have to bring my camera the next time I pass by Candon and get a better photo of this view. Now onwards to Sta. Maria we go.....

THE CHURCH OF STA. LUCIA, ILOCOS SUR

The Facade Of The Church.....




Statue Of The Risen Christ.....




Church Interiors.....





Centuries Old Bricks.....





From The Choir Loft....




The Altar.....




I Wish I Have An UWA Lens.....




Baptismal Chamber.....




The Big Dome.....




The Bell Tower.....




Pana-panahon.....




The club decided to go on a photo trip this summer. The obvious choice was to visit the provinces of Northern Luzon. I jumped on the opportunity to go with them, since it is rather difficult, logistics wise to go to a place of interest and shoot without your own ride. Secondly, the fact that we are all shooters is a plus, I don't have to worry of other people getting bored while I take photos. Thirdly, the fact that the people who shall be going to the trip are no strangers to me just increases the level of expectation, of this trip going to be an enjoyable one. I was asked to do the itinerary, being someone whose roots are from Ilocoslovakia.

We left Quezon City at 11 pm of April 9, 2010; as me and members of the club started our journey to explore Northern Luzon.

Personally, I have not been to places extremely up north, particularly in Pagudpud and Cape Bojeador. Nor have I seen the viaduct. Last November, I decided to take a close look of the Bangui Wind Farm on my own, out of curiosity. If ever, this will be my second trip to the wind farm then.

The driver of the van that we rented started to get sleepy after driving all through the night. Apparently, he came straight from work and only had an hours rest before he sat behind the steering wheel of the van. I didn't want to stop in a place that was dark and unfamiliar to me. The Shell gas station which my cousin uses as his stop whenever he drives a private vehicle during night travels for a power nap in Rosario, La Union has been bypassed a few hours ago. I then suggested to park at the parking lot of the church in my hometown of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur.

The thing about itineraries is that it just acts as a guide for a structured travel. It does not mean that one has to follow it strictly. Rather, one must be flexible enough to alter the guide, as the situation may call for.

Stopping over at Sta. Lucia was NOT in the itinerary itself but the situation called for it. Initially, the plan was to be at the Quirino Bridge in Santa, Ilocos Sur at the break of dawn for that early morning landscape photography. But I started to worry about the driver hence the stopover. It is the place I am most familiar with.

The daily early morning mass had just started when we arrived. I asked the group to be inconspicuous with their movements around the church so us not to disturb those inside.

The group also had a rare chance to meet one of my aunts as she came out of the church after the early morning mass and I asked her about obtaining permission to shoot. Eventually, the parish priest saw our camera wielding team and gave his permission for us to roam freely and shoot after we talked. He even asked someone to open the lights in the altar while we took photographs. My profound gratitude to him for allowing us to shoot as my friends did find the church unique and beautiful.

So we took photographs while the driver slept. It made me realize that there were nooks and crannies of the church that I have never been to. It was my first time to climb the old and dilapidated stairs and shoot from above the choir loft. It was also the first time for me to see the small room were the sacrament of baptism is performed.

We could have stayed longer but the driver had awaken from his nap, ready to drive and to continue our journey. The others agreed to move on as most of us started to feel hunger pangs. Thank God for Jollibee! c",)

IN ADDITION TO MY LAST POST.....

Manila Cathedral In Black And White.....






Procession Of The Faithful.....






Our Lady Of Guadalupe Chapel.....






Tunnel Scenes.....






Random Sightings.....






American Dream.....






Garden Marker.....






Buhay Estudyante....






Past And Present.....






White Brick.....






Holy Week has passed and unlike before where in I went out to shoot the rites being observed during this season, I decided to stay put in the house and continued to inspect past photographs that I took pictures of, particularly of the ones taken during my one day shoot out of Intramuros. This respite also gave me the time necessary to arrange the logistics as I get ready to go on a trip of the Ilocos Region on April 9, 2010. What is so special about this trip is that it will be a great opportunity to shoot until we drop literally! I shall be saving my stories about this trip definitely.

In the meantime, here are additional photos taken at Intramuros.