D60KREW Walks Pasig River Part II

Photo courtesy of their owners, Ms. Bambit, Myrben Endaya, Ronald Zaguirre, Vincent Locsin, Andy Rodriguez and me.

When we boarded the ferry we waited a couple of minutes. Just when we were about to embark on this journey, a whole TV crew came in running behind schedule. Guess who we spotted!

I knew I've seen her somewhere before but... this is PATANI! She's the infamous pseudo villain in the first installment of Survivor Philippines. We heard she was there for an AXN shoot. It was nice because she gamely posed for us whenever there was an opportunity. It was really a fun day. Who would have thought we would meet people like her on the Pasig River Ferry! We were in store for more!

To start off the journey, the owner himself boarded the craft and said a few things before we went on the river. Mr. Eduardo G. Bondad, President and CEO of the SCC Nautical Transport Services Inc.; he gladly introduced us to what his company has been doing as service to thousands of Filipinos who use this transport system. His fleet of around 8 boats (if I'm not mistaken!) has been doing its deed for around 14 ports (some still being constructed). It basically can fit close to a 150 people, equipped with radio, sound systems, a public address system, comfy blue fixed plastic chairs and clean rest rooms. I've seen a mix of its patrons which range from class BCDE (some of which use this for everyday transport). It was quite comfortable since every water bus is air conditioned as I wouldn't really recommend it otherwise. It would probably climb up a few degrees and spell sun stroke if they didn't have that. There were still some fumes and establishments dumping waste water on the river; and if we were not inside the ferry at that time we'll have to visit the hospital after wards. I spent a lot of time on the front and back deck; it really felt like I was in the Caribbean. The breeze and the sun was nice at that time. I had a lot of shots... but we were all prohibited to shoot on the Malacanang area which understandably would be a huge security risk (Erap might get angry! LOL). I wonder what particular things they do on the line when Oil tankers and Natural Gas filled crafts passed by, that made me more worried than our cams. Even the PSG boarded to make sure we didn't shoot anything there (which is good don't get me wrong!). It was a good move but then again it would have been nice to shoot that historic place (and not just stay viewing the back of the 20 peso bill).

A lot of students frequently do projects and stories here (we met some of them while on the Plaza Mexico Terminal) probably to make them aware of the situation and the efforts put to rehabilitate the Pasig River. If their dreams come true this would really be a good thing to show tourists. I am by no means proud of the stench and trash along the way but if you think about it; we are all doing our share to make it habitable and that by itself is commendable. Maybe if we get the people living along the river to a different location (there's a lot of them!) and get better laws (via Congress making a harsher version and punishment) then it could be a good thing coming here. I guess just like any environmentalist; we are still hopeful this would all still be possible.

Some of us went through all the stations, Plaza Mexico, Escolta, Lawton, Quiapo, PUP, Santa Ana, Lambingan, Valenzuela,Hulo, Guadalupe, Pineda, San Joaquin, Bambang, Kalawaan, Pinagbuhatan - Acasia, Maybunga, Nagpayong and back. It was really my first time and I must say it was a nice experience. I didn't really expect much since the river itself was notorious for horror stories. The 12 million peso catamarans might have something to do with it but overall I enjoyed the time I spent there. It made me look at the river system differently, it gave me hope that one day everything will change. In one way or another there would be more people helping establish efforts to make this river alive again. Special thanks to Ms. Yen Cosare who gave fabulous information on the landmarks along the way. The group would also like to thank OIC Simon Aguilon of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission for giving us the chance to shoot this awesome place. I'd be back for more! I'd really recommend this to my friends for a short trip or something unusual in the oustkirts of the metro!

From left: Jeff, Francis, Ryan, Me, Ronald, Ace, Bambit, Gian, Myrben, Xander, Raymond, Jhem and Bangge.Not in photo because they were late but will be seen in other group hugs: Andy Rodriquez, Vince Locsin, Melvi Morfe and a surprise appearance by landscape master Ray Andallon.

Kudos to QCPC and D5KLUB who went with us on this great trip! I'm sure there will be more of us next time! Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

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....

Daily Moo's 09162010

I think I have to order Jollibee again. It's like staple here so we can't order in the wee hours of the morning for other restaurants because that is the only one open. Choices? It's either that or Rufo's which only get's us to choose on fried saturated induced food stuff. Healthy choice?! We have no choice!

I'm going to Plaza Mexico for a photowalk with my buddies over at D60KREW. I had a blast the last time we went to Binan, Laguna. This one in particular is a journey in Pasig River. The ferry ride starts at that place but I haven't been there before. I'm preparing as early as now so I won't get lost. Then again I wouldn't know til then.

I'm planning to buy a couple of light stands, a softbox and 2 flashes plus triggers and receivers. It's going to cost me a lot but I think I need it more than ever to move forward with my career in photography hehe. Otherwise, I'll just quit! haha!

It's my first time to wear my new contact lenses. It's kinda on the Hazel - light brown shade. I hope it does look good on my eyes. I'm gunning for the GOODLOOKING Spaniard look and I hope this completes it. Don't make kontra! I'm gonna hit you! (Bangasin ko mukha mo!) Hehehe...

Someone revived the Anti Littering Law again in Congress. Don't they have too many laws to think about other than this?! It has been done so many times already and did we really get cleaned up? Were these laws really implemented? Were there people jailed because of it?! I don't think so! But this morning there were a couple of agents who caught 190 pedestrians loitering around town. It includes drivers who didn't have trash bins inside their jeepneys. They are all going to get fined today and forgotten tomorrow. Welcome to the Philippines where we always practice Ningas Cogon!


See you later! Tataaaa!

The City of Biñan at Night

This is one of the few occurrences that I have to do long exposures. To tell you honestly I hate bringing tripods because mine is heavy and bulky. With the whole schedule riding on 8PM to 4AM I could have just concentrated on the model shoot but I decided to go with the flow and try out what I haven't been doing much in photography. So I said to myself, "I'll try this one now!".

Everyone did setup their tripods and I was trying to get a hint on what I'll do. We were all secured and I felt the security the Mayor sent us did a very good job about letting us know we're safe. I was having a hard time pressing the button on my cam because it was also getting the images a little blurred. Then I remembered, "Wait, I think I have a remote in my bag" so I hurriedly scuffled to find it and there it was on the side pocket. I got to shoot comfortably after that. Exposures took a few seconds and I was trying not to have flares on it. All in all I did a good job but not quite, see those flares? It's because I didn't remove my UV filter ha-ha!

Anyway, I'm sure there will be another time for this. I had a really nice time in Biñan and I'm sure the night scenes are all nicely captured. When will I do this again?! Maybe in a few weeks, I just don't have the time to do so in the evening because I work at these hours. I'll have someone teach me about it so I'll be a well rounded photographer. Wouldn't that be nice?! =)

The Scott Kelby Photowalk

I have been looking forward to this year's Scott Kelby photowalk and it looks like things are getting better. I am waitlisted right now with Ms Bambit the D60KREW lead photog and I have my reservations with the UE Litratistas too. It would be nice for a first activity with them and if you ask me its better if in this case I do it the Red Warrior way. That's the catch line they have on the site and I must say it does fit like a glove. Their path would be in the greater manila-binondo area and since it has been approved I'll try my best to be included in the first 50 that will register for that walk. He must also assign marshals so we know how this whole thing would end up. This thing must be organized as soon as possible.

If I don't end up on the first walk I joined, I'll end up going to another one that is sweet and perfect for the occasion. I haven't met some of the guys but I'm surely going to enjoy it! The subjects are going to be people, old manila and probably some everyday scenes in that area. I remember the walk we had in paco that had so many people in the streets and I got to shoot a part of the esteros that burned down a couple of days after. What is heartbreaking is that over 5000 families lost their homes. =(

SSDD

The Pahiyas Festival had lots of homes decorated with vegetables and food in their walls and leafs made of grounded rice colored in pastel. This one was a close up shot in one of the flowers which at first I thought was just painted and adorned with beads but looking at it this close only shows it was all arranged beans. Imagine how hard it was for them to do this one by one. I like it a lot.

This was the first building we got our eyes into. See how huge this is?! I think this is the winner since they went all out on this one. The strips on the edges are all made of rice and rice stalks. Some of the round objects are all dried flowers and ground rice powder. The colored walls are made of vegetables. The flower petals are all made of anahaw, a plant normally used to make hand fans.

The petals of this flower is made of KIPING which is grounded rice added with water and coloring then put into real leaves and let to set out in the sun. After it dries they either hook them up with sticks like this or arrange them with threads and put them up as lanterns. The middle part of this flower is made of beans obviously.

These are paper mache giants. Made of old clothes and paper. These are worn by strong men on sundays and meant to scare kids. Oh no this is not halloween. LOL

This was the first pair of giants that greeted us when we arrived in Lucban, Quezon the main town where the festivities were held.

This was actually a great day for working out but I did not get to the gym. Apparently it was better for me to get into my house first so I went ahead and did my best to finish post processing my photos. I didn't really finish it but I got to do only several of them. I'm gonna finish the others soon. ^_^

The D60KREW PACO Photowalk

It's high time once again and we are going to do another photo walk courtesy of my photographer buddies at D60KREW. Here is the route proposed:

I am not quite familiar with Plaza Dilao, nor know where that is but I think there would be some additional instructions how to get there. Wait, they just posted it now... it looks like we will meet in a more familiar location which is Pedro Gil LRT Station. Then ride a jeep from there and get dropped off some few kilometers from there. Apparently Plaza Dilao is just three short blocks away from the corner of Pedro Gil and Osmena. Now where is Osmena? LOL hahahaha

I think I know how to get there now... I'm gonna charge my batteries now so it could last the whole day. I'm sure with the caliber of the guys the actual 4GB memory card is not enough for this walk. I'm gonna bring Trish and her sisters (my D60 and her lenses) Kit and Ziggy. I now have names for my gadgets so we could be better acquainted. =) Kit is the mighty kit lens (18-55mm VR) and Ziggy is the new one 70-300mm APO DG MACRO with built in motor! I got her expensively but I really think it's worth it! =) Love em all!

NOCTURNALS

It was a great day, well not so great because I was lacking sleep from my photo shoot last Saturday where we almost got side swiped by drifters in Greenhills. That was a nice event though I could have prepared more the next day for the NOCTURNALS photowalk that was held in University of the Philippines. I know, don't ask why I still had time to go to work even if I woke up early for this one. I guess I had the urge of taking shots even when I was dead asleep the day before.



The NOCTURNALS by the way are composed of men and women (although I have not seen on yet!) that work for call centers around the metro. Since we had call center operations too, I think I qualified for that so I went ahead and met the people behind the images I've seen in Digital Photographer Philippines (a photography forum). The call time was around 8AM but I think I arrived there around 10 sumthin. I couldn't remember I was so sleepy even in the cab. When I got there, there was an event so they closed some of the streets. Little did I know the cab driver already passed the oblation's street so I asked him to stop... Grrr... I had to pay for that and walk back imagine that!

Anyway, I met Ismael Alippudin and Aleksys Paat in the steps of the Main Building. Introduced myself then we headed to the Bell tower. We took a couple of shots there, the Beta way, and the Sunken Garden. It was nice to see more people. At least I would not be contained in just a few groups I joined earlier. Now there will be VARIETY as they say in what I do because each group has their strengths. I hope I can contribute to them what I have learned in the past, and learn more of what they already know. The important thing is, we were all having fun! Here are a couple of shots from that photo walk. Enjoy!