HARBOR VIEW AT NIGHT.....

Across Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila And Mall Of Asia.....




Row Of Buildings Along Roxas Boulevard.....




The Cultural Center of The Philippines complex has been a favorite practice ground of people who are into photography. This is because it offers a scenic view of the buildings that stand tall along nearby Roxas Boulevard and it is also the best place to capture a stunning sunset. This is despite of the fact that photography is basically prohibited in this area. But what can the guards do? They just can not reprimand people all the time. I did notice though that the guards seem to be on the look out for groups who are doing engagement shoots rather than the novice photographer, carrying a tripod and shooting.

So one day, I went to CCP during the afternoon and decided to wait until dusk to start shooting. As for the reason why it took me this long to take pictures of the harbor area during the night is totally beyond me. I guess I just felt that it was time to do so.

Oh, by the way, in case one asks me, the row of lights that can be seen at the bottom of the photograph comes from those horrendous lighting fixtures that the city government of Manila decided to install. Talking about an overkill.....

TOTUS TUUS.....

A Portrait of Pope John Paul II.....






Outside the Basilica.....






St. Peter's Square.....












The Caption Tells It All.....






Double Exposure.....







They say photographers will go to any length in order to get that perfect shot. Who "they" are, I do not know. But come to think of it, perhaps the statement came from photographers themselves, as an affirmation whenever a photographer faces staggering odds in doing their jobs.

I encountered my own "do it or else" situation early in my photographic journey. It was 1994 and Pope John Paul II came to Manila. It was the last day of the pope's stay in Manila and I wanted to get a photo of him using a Canon A1 film slr. I got into serious photography with this camera a few days earlier and I did not even own a dedicated flash gun. But my desire to take a photograph of him was so strong that I had to call my parents that day and told them I was not going to come home that night since I was with a few other people who camped outside of the Apostolic Nunciature (the Vatican's equivalent of an embassy) to catch a glimpse of the Pope in his place of stay. I was still unfamiliar with the camera though as I was used to using the film equivalent of a point and shoot digital camera. But this experience of talking to complete strangers as we sat on that closed to traffic section of Taft Avenue, of foregoing sleep and of waiting for the right time to take a photograph (what I call the stalker mode) as I sat outside made me realize that I had a photographer's trait in me. Was I able to get a good picture of the pope? No, because what I thought would happen did not happen when morning came, which was the pope opening his windows when he sees the crowd outside. Was I disappointed for not achieving my goal? A little but I got to see the pope! How cool was that during those times?

May 1, 2011 will be known as the day of his beatification. This is the second step in Canonization which he revised and made more precise into three steps in 1983. Just as I witnessed his proclamation as a pope, his journeys to this country, his slow decline of health and his eventual death, I watched his beatification ceremony. I felt compelled to take a few snaps of the tv screen, which would serve as a reminder for me of this day.

It was rather tricky to get the photos as I was not sure how digital single lens reflex cameras react to television screens. I applied any knowledge that I acquired based on experience of shooting slides off computer screens and these were the results that I got. Photos were then fixed with Photoshop to improve contrast, remove the television screen borders and flatten the photos a bit. The lines on the pictures are the light rays that the television screen emits when it is turned on. Now try this technique!

BACK FROM THE US OF A.....

Charles With Wife Rose And Sister Tintin.....









It is quite odd to meet some of my relatives from my maternal lineage who I have not seen in a long time. For one thing, there is this apprehension that time and distance have somehow conspired to allow the minds of these rather young people to forget.

Such was the feeling when I asked one of my older cousins, Manang Ella about her kids, who happened to be in the country at the moment. Manang Ella and her husband Manong Eric migrated to the US sometime around the 1990's. They were able to take their two younger kids, Tintin (who was just a toddler then) and Amang (who was only a cute little baby then). Their eldest child, Charles, was the one who got left behind a bit due to over age but was able to follow soon with the rest of the clan.

My cousin was one of those next of kin who briefly stayed with us, as they needed a place to stay when they went to Manila for their college education during my childhood since my parents were the ones who were based in Manila during the early 1970's. Sure, my Aunts Veron and Trining and her kids, Manang Jeanette, Manang Verna and Manang Vicki are around but they are different, being Manila born and raised here just like the brothers and I. Imagine the age difference between Manang Ella and I! c",)

Slowly, Manang Ella and others who followed her path, became our circle of relatives who became Manila based. Even when she found a job, she and her sister (the late Manang Dida) would come to our small place in Sampaloc and spend a weekend with my family. At times, my mother and I would visit their office in Vito Cruz since their office was the one responsible for making the checks for the salaries of public school teachers which was my mom's occupation. Other times, my mother and I were the ones who visited their respective homes.

Fast forward to the present. I'm going to meet people that I have not seen since the day Manang Dida died. Some I have not met ever in my lifetime. So it was such a pleasure to see Charles and the rest of his family, the mother of his children Rose and the kids themselves. The eldest Charo was just an infant being held by her mom when I last saw her. And now they have two other kids that I basically do not know. Charles' only sister, Tintin was only seven years old, if I recall correctly, when she migrated to the US. Today she also is married and has kids of her own.

I talked to Tintin via sms and we agreed to meet at SM North Edsa. Imagine my relief when Charles was the one who saw me first! He! He! He! This man-child ( I say this with fondness as he doesn't look his age) nephew of mine still looks the same. If he gets rid of his beer belly then one can mistake him for a young lad. My image of Tintin, that of a seven year old little girl was replaced by an adult version instantly. And Charo? She has her dad's genes.

I handed Charles the package that I asked that be delivered to my mother when they go back to the States. Seeing him all grown up and with his family made me laugh quite a bit. They look like a group of friends hanging out. Too bad Amang did not join them for this trip. Meeting this nephew of mine would be awesome as I heard he is into photography just like her smart and clever aunt! c",)