D60KREW Walks Pasig River

I've been looking forward for another walk with the D60KREW. I know we've been infamous with long spans of road and this one was a little different. For once we didn't walk that much. It was time to conquer the Pasig River. With the KREW armed and ready to shoot what the line had in store, we were surely not going to disappoint anyone anytime soon.

This was really my first time to ride the ferry. No joke! Even some of my krew mates were also virgins on this course. I saw them on TV a couple of times already (the Catamarans)but didn't know where it starts or ends. I saw these kinds of crafts in shows from travel channels in the Caribbean. The only difference though is the sails. Apart from that, it was sturdy and could cut through waters smoothly. It was surely going to be an exciting trip (which starts at Plaza Mexico) but we were too late for the first scheduled charter (because it falls Saturday 8AM) and too early for the second none at 11:30AM.

We decided to have an impromptu walk and early brunch inside the legendary walls. Plaza Mexico was very nice. I didn't know it even existed to tell you honestly until I saw it from Google maps; but I tell you people should really start noticing places like these.
It makes you feel that nostalgia when you see something that reconnects you to the past. Plaza Mexico pays homage to the galleon trade between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico. That's probably where we got most of the things we have in our language. Lechon, Pantalon, La Mesa, stuff that you normally would have thought normal ain't normal at all. Confusing?! Exactly!!! That's why you have to go there one of these days just so you get to brush up on your history. There are lots of inscriptions there you can learn from. We got brunch after wards.

It was then time to board the Ferry.

To be continued....

Happy Anniversary My D60KREW Family!

It was hightime we did a photowalk again or as we had on some of our printed shirts FOTOWALK NA D60KREW! Because we are celebrating our Anniversary this June. Since the threads conception last year, my dear camera (Trish) and I have been buds with the same breeds as with my peers over at the D60KREW. I learned a lot from doing street photography and portraiture with them. I guess in its simplest form, I did have a lot to learn when I started this hobby and what great news to have but get acquainted with people who have been using the gear more than me... I met the D60KREW family when all I wanted was to take decent pictures and I think I got more out of that.... obviously it spurred lots of hot days under the sun and the camaraderie. All that and the fun quirky moments with the other guys and gals of the krew.

Here are some highlights of the Anniversary walk last Sunday:

Cid Estrada, Ryan Liberato, Ardiel Ross Topacio, Valynn Katrine Mag-usara, Francis Cayetano, Bangge Sella-Mahilum, Andy Rodriguez 洪安洛, Ronald Reyes Orcino, Me , Xander Solis, Andrew Alonto and Ms. Bambit. If names are missing facebook probably had something to do with it hahaha!

There were a lot of group hugs that happened. Some of them were really wacky as you might have known. What can we do, we're a happy bunch! If you combine the antics of the good guys and gals of the D60KREW, the long walk or travel would not probably tire you... but the laughs in between will. This walk was sort of a comeback since we held our first one inside the walls of Intramuros. It was scorching hot but we had a lot of fun!

Here's more of my BTS shots:

D60KREW Belle on a Bell Bangge Mahilum

Ms Bambit, Andrew, Geh, Ryan and Xander taking a rest. It was hot and we were tired!

Carlo, Joseph, Andrew, Ryan, Cid and Xander taking a seat on the streets of Intramuros.

D60KREW Noobs Andrew, Geh and Mhacdo. Ryan stands behind them.

D60KREW FOTOWALK NA! Art Topacio and Bangge wearing it proud!

To everyone who made this photowalk happen and to all my buds in the D60KREW....

Happy Anniversary D60KREW!
Until the next FOTOWALK! =)

Pahiyas Festival Jitters

I am a little excited because my friends from the D60KREW are fixing a trip this Saturday in the south of Manila. A few hours travel would get us into the great town of Quezon for the Pahiyas Festival. I know we haven't done anything like this in a while and I think it is high time that we go and maximize our lenses. We need to have extra preparations in doing this since we are a little lagging with vehicles. We are hiring professionals so I hope this goes as to what we have planned.

I want to also eat Pansit Hab hab. I want to drink lots of buko juice. I want them cold. I want to also eat lucban longaniza. I want to eat all of them LOL.

I want to shoot people looking at their windows. I want to shoot kipings that are so over colorful. I want to also shoot carabaos in the road. I want to do portraits with old people. I want to maximize the use of my zoom lens. I want to see how it performs in very long distances. I want to walk with the parade and go inside houses where we do not even know a single person. I want to do all of that in a single day and spend time with the troops of the D60KREW. It has been long awaited and I am sure we will have a ton of laughs after this weekend. I hope I do justice with the colors I get with my camera. It just got cleaned recently and I want to see those sharp images fly! =)

My Laguna Photowalk with D60KREW

So there you go, I've got more but it would not really be good for the site since it would crawl a lot if I did put more of it here. Maybe soon I'll put the direct link for my photos here so you can all get to see em. Here's the KREW by the way:

From R-L: jake francis vince alex xander joseph Harvie kris Me carlo cid ray bangge me roy bambit olee Glenn
Group Hug PIC courtesy of Ms. Bambit

Along with my obsession with photography comes the arduous task of editing and post processing of all the shots I made in the Laguna photo walk with the D60 KREW. This was one awesome trip but I am still sick from it now but I don't regret the decision to come and enjoy my time with them. I got some of my pictures which I would like to show you now. Maybe it will load a little slow but bear with me alright?

This was taken on a fountain inside the premises of the Pila Laguna Church. It was floating on the second level I kinda pushed it in the water before I took a photo of it. Nice huh?!

This was taken inside the garden of the Rizal Shrine. They say that most of the plants and trees they planted there are all based on the former ones that existed in Rizal's time. I was a little disappointed about the shrine's color (they painted it green) but this Gumamela flower just POP in this scene. I've kinda been good at MACRO shots but never insisted going this path. Maybe soon when I get the hang of it I'll probably pursue it. But for now I like Glamor/Fashion and portrait shots more.

This is an untouched photo taken inside the Pila Laguna Church, it was raining outside so we were all trapped taking pics inside the church. I used flash but it kinda bounced off the gate where this was, it resulted into a nice shadow effect.

This was the church in Liliw Laguna where only a couple of us took shots. We were hurried by the other KREW so we kinda only took a few.

This was inside the garden of the Rizal Shrine. This was usually the place where Rizal and his siblings played during the day. It seems they were pretty well off at that time. Their stuff were kinda neat for an old family.

D60 KREW Conquers Laguna!

Us @ Petron Treats @ South Super Highway

I literally just got off the van and went back to work. Geeze! This was one fun day... I guess I enjoyed the company... the small laughs in between and the jokes that cracked me up. The D60KREW just conquered Laguna!

From Left to Right: Vince, Jake (sorry tama ba? hehe) , Xander, John (that's me!), Vangie, Carlo, Francis (slightly hidden), Cid, Olee, Roy, Alex, Ms. Bambit, Ray, and Rye (I'm a lil hard in remembering names sorry if I misrepresented anybody! heheh)

It was a hot ride but I guess that doesn't matter anymore since we all jumped into this awesome photo shoot. Early morning at 2AM I woke up and never slept again because I know I'll probably never wake up if I did. Went to Cubao around 4:30 AM and met some of the guys and gal and got out of QC at about 5:15 AM. We went back to Eastwood since we forgot to fetch Cid in C5. Met the others at the Sucat exit and waited for Olee in the Petron Treats Station along South Superhighway. We started the journey in Calamba, Laguna where the country's national hero Jose Rizal spent his childhood... the green paint on it was a little disappointing... but the things inside the house and the facade was greatly appreciated by me and my peers. I got a lot of macro shots also done on the garden outside his home.

US D60KREW @ Rizal Shrine!

There was also a nipa hut where the young Rizal and his siblings usually play. The beds, tables and chairs inside the home were old and rustic. The porcelain inside the cabinets were all heirlooms of the Rizal family and had some inscriptions on it that it was passed on from generation to generation. It was nice too see that!

D60KREW @ San Juan De Letran Calamba Campus

The second stop was a couple of landscape shots inside the San Juan De Letran Campus in Calamba which was a few kilometers away from Rizal's house. It was nice to see the landscape and the mountains behind it. It was definitely breathtaking. Although we were a little tired already we still managed to go to another one after that.

Boy Scout's Camp @ Mt. Makiling Laguna

US @ Philippine High School for the Arts on top of Mt. Makiling, Laguna

The third place was the boy scouts camp in Mt. Makiling, the path was really steep and the curves were really that hard to maneuver in. I didn't have that much photos there so we went on an overlooking site at the top of Mt. Makiling where the Philippine High School for the Arts was on. The place was grand but most of the views were blocked by human high grass stalks called talahib. It was really nice to see some sort of a basin inside Laguna De Bay. Aside from that, the lake also had an island in the center of it that had casinos owned by the Governor of the province. It figures why she won the elections! Where did she get the money? Go figure!

That's not my problem anyway! So, the next stop we had was in UP Los Baños. Even if we did not have that much photos in UP, it was at least nice to be there. I mean, I've never been there believe me or not. We ate lunch at the outskirts of the campus and everyone was sizzling under the sweltering heat of the sun! Ouch! I'm a negroid again!

Speaking of SIZZLING... I ate a TBONE straight from the hot plate. It was tough but what can an ordinary carnivore do in this day and age... of course eat chicken from Rye! Heheh Man! It was a lot to chew and swallow in one sitting. I guess everybody else was hungry at that time, and a lil bit sleepy too after that. I heard some suggesting a 30 minute siesta but that wouldn't really work... so we hopped on the van again; and went to our next destination Pila, Laguna.

We tried our best to get some old houses in the D60 cameras that we had but after a few shots outside we all went inside the church to pray and get some of those evils off. I don't know if it was me or something in me, but it suddenly was dark outside... a few drops, then lightning and thunder... drips a little... then the whole cats dogs and the zoo fell down. We were all trapped inside the church for a good hour or so because if we went out we would probably have had all our gears wet. That would not be a pretty picture! I got a few excellent shots there that didn't require that much post processing but since I'm not at home yet at the time I'm writing this novel LOL, I would probably be able to post that later ayt!?

After the few rounds of Green Sweet Cold Gulaman from the Rye Foundation heheh... we skipped and hopped to the vehicles again and went to Nagcarlan, Laguna. The specific location was the Underground Graves that the municipality was known for. I guess that is what you call catacombs too right? Well I didn't have time to check that out on Google so I'd let you do that instead hehehe... This was where most Filipinos at war planned schemes against conquistadores from other countries. This was some sort of a secret meeting place. The graves were indeed kinda creepy but the outside was a bit picturesque and very rustic. We didn't have that much paid for entrances because most of these sites we visited were for free and only required donations which can probably range from 6 to 7 million dollars... joke! any amount will do actually! It rained a little but it did not dampen our spirits so we went to our final destination for pasalubong shopping Liliw, Laguna!

It was nice there although it looked like a market of some sort I enjoyed haggling a little with the locals on biscuits and sweets and the Uraro cookies I like. I kinda was confused between this URARO and the ARARO cookies we had in Bacolod... I guess that version in the visayas was sweeter and whiter than this one. The Uraro cookies looked more like butter cookies when baked til golden brown. We even had free samples before we bought anything. That lady who sold us these was quite good I guess, or is it because we were tourists? I dunno! Heheh... We also passed by the Liliw Sacred Heart Church which looked like a ton of bricks! It was nice outside and equally nice inside too. I took some pictures but couldn't post it because I'm still at work typing this in. Darn! I wanna go home! Hahah...

(Stopped for a while and took a shower, reflected on the things we did wrong like shouting inside the church and cursing on one time or the other heheh... changed clothes because I felt filthy!)

Continuing...

Group Hug @ Nagcarlan, Laguna

Everybody forgot to take group hug pictures in Nagcarlan so we all went back to that place and shot a few. Ms. Bambit and Carlo did set up their cams and went on clicking their remotes so we can take pictures of ourselves and jump on a few frames. It was hilarious because Bangge and Roy kept cracking up jokes while doing this... and the other things between trips the whole day heheh.

It was really fun and I had such a nice time with the guys at D60Krew. I guess we all went home with tired feet, but very happy faces because we did enjoy each other's company. The camaraderie and the joy a good shoot can deliver is just priceless! I guess that's what the D60Krew did today, and I hope this isn't the last of it!

Thank you D60KREW for this wonderful trip!

P.S. Credits to photos are from Ms. Bambit Gaerlan

The D60 KREW Out of Town Photo Walk!

It's going to be one great weekend for me because my D60 KREW are planning a photo walk in the south. Since we were just roaming around the metro the past few weeks, this will be our first out of town event. I'm sure I am not the only one excited! Details about the KREW's shirt are also being taken cared of by the gang. It looks awesome too!

Well not just that, we were initially planning to go on an East to South route but we would probably be better off going directly to the South Super Highway via EDSA since we are gonna have problems as nobody really knows the route from that end. There are some members from the Southern part of the metro who knows some of the landmarks there so we have a better chance of getting there earlier if we choose that path instead. Check out the itinerary put in the works put together by Vince Serrano:

1) Rizal Shrine, Calamba
2) Church of St. Peter of Alcantara, Pakil
3) St. James and Apostle Church, Paete
4) St. Gregory Church, Majayjay
5) Underground Cemetery, Nagcarlan
6) Mt. Makiling
7) University of the Philippines, Los Baños
8) Makiling Botanic Gardens
9) IRRI Riceworld Museum and Learning Center
10) Boy Scouts Jamboree

The route would need us to be in Cubao as early as 4:30AM. Then off to Calamba for about 1.5hours - 2hours. We will be at the Rizal Shrine which has the St.John the baptist Church and Calamba Plaza right beside it. After that we will go to LosBaños for for the other landmarks. We need to finish that in about 45mins. After LosBaños, we will go to Paete for about 1.5hours-2hours or Majayjay as an option because going to Paete and Majayjay would have different routes. We will have lunch in TAYTAY FALLS the same location, where most tourists usually buy rice and lechon manok in Sta CRUZ for picnic/lunch at the falls. That is just an awesome weekend huh? Can't wait to shoot and spend time with the D60 KREW!!!!