Black and White

Most of my obsessions in photography were capturing good images in a very low light environment. Last night, I tried to experiment my cam in my room with lights off and the only light available was the one coming from my tablet. 

I wasn't so sure about the result of my experiment until I transferred the pictures on my computer. There I saw how bad the pictures were but I found few of them with good angles (at least for me hahaha) that can be helped out with a little bit of edit.

I tried to wipe my oily face but I was never sure if they were all gone until I saw my pictures. Although I tried to hide the shiny oily face through editing, it is still noticeable but at least it is now minimized.

I tried to shot as many as I could but these few good angled shots captured the angry/serious look of mine with that forehead wrinkled in the middle of the eyebrows. 

It is difficult for me to find subjects/models for my practice 101. And as a result, I turned out to be my own model and the things in the house and to wherever I go become my subject.haha

Practice 101

One thing I love about travelling is photography. It is the only thing I can bring with me all the stuff and memories of the places I have traveled where I will never be charged with extra baggages.

One day there was this scheduled brownout from morning until afternoon. I was bored at home and nowhere to go to since I cancelled my trip with Takladtamig Cinco. Suddenly, I came up with the idea to roam around and to take photos of anything along the way. Fortunately, there were lots of subjects for my adventure. 

My first subject is Peewee!!! This puppy is my brother's and I don't know what kind of dog it is. Peewee is so cute, adorable and would always wanted to hang out and play in anybody's feet. 

Peewee is also charming but I was having difficulty in getting good photos. Every time I had a chance of seeing good angles and try to make a move, he would run and play around my feet and everything was ruined. So glad I was able to capture some.

My father saw me clicking the camera on Peewee and at the kitchen, he was calling my name to take photos of the bees under the container of "panggatong na mga kahoy". At first I was not amazed since I was a little bit skeptic if these bees will not come after me and put a needle on me. Afterwards, I was still not amazed since I was not able to capture the image that I wanted.

I went inside the house to see what other things I can use as my subject. I saw this small trophy like statue of two humanoids-like mother/father playing with her/his child. I bought this when I went to Batad, Ifugao to visit the Rice Terraces.

Ukulele!!! I don't know how to use it but I kept it on display in my room. This was a gift from my friend Ella May S. Labadia from Cebu. 

According to the internet, Ukulele is a member of the guitar family and originated in the 19th Century and was taken to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants. 

Tired of looking for subjects, I made my self one. While resting for a moment, I clicked and clicked and clicked the camera on me and this was the result.

Malling is one of my habits. Sometimes, I stroll just to kill the time before going home or in times like this when there's nothing to do at home. I was in the children's corner when I noticed these coin banks. Colorful at first sight that's why it attracts my attention and took a piece of it in my camera.

Near the coin banks were stuffed toys. I saw this little bear hanging on the edge and I was kind of thinking how it will turn out if I take an image of it. And there it is.

Blurring the lights in the photo is one of my obsessions. Bokeh as they called it and for me it is a very fascinating image.

Most lamps in the Philippines are made of piece of glass or tin modified into container of kerosene and used and served as light at night in rural/remote areas. This one was made of tin can poured with salt and used cooking oil. Filipinos are really innovative and resourceful. :)

SM Gensan Opening

Last quarter of 2008 and I was still in General Santos, working, when SM was the talk of the town. It was then sensationalized when it was announced that it will build its own mall in the city. It was a debate in different threads as to where SM will built its structure until it was finalized that the Salazar properties at the back of SOCOTECO II Office is where the SM Gensan will rise. Many were happy since it is just a walking distance from other malls such as Gaisano Mall (the first mall in Gensan), KCC Mall (expanding mall to compete with SM and also building its another mall called Veranza just across the street where they will also build bridges to connect the two together), and a ride away from Robinsons Place.

October 2009 came and but there was no perspective yet of SM Gensan to see for those clamoring fans on how the structure would look like. Will it be like the other SM malls, box type or warehouse like? Although it was a bit disappointment for some who couldn't wait that long, some were happy knowing that most houses/structures in Salazar properties were demolished except for Dunkin' Donuts branch in Santiago boulevard where the contract will expire first quarter of 2010.

It was August 2010 when the perspectives, floor plans, and blue prints came out. All of the SM Gensan fans anticipation for it was finally realized. A two-storey building with modern design will rise. Fencing and construction began the following month and projected to open by last quarter of 2011. Too much excitement for many people, especially those who likes to shop and roam around the new structure in the city.

Last quarter of 2011 came but the building construction was still far from the finish line. Many were asking and questioning if it can make it to its original plan. Unfortunately, the original plan was revised. From two-storey, it became a three-storey building. The seven-storey car park was trimmed down to five-storey. It was again anticipated that it might open sometime in March 2012 in time for the graduation and summer.

2012 it is. The most exciting part of the year for SM Gensan and its fans. It didn't open in first and second quarter of the year but at last in opened this month. August 10, 2012 was the opening day. For the first time Santiago boulevard had a slightly heavy traffic. When there was no SM yet, this boulevard is very huge for few riders that pass by. But now, it was like we need to widen the road and put extra traffic lights in corners Santiago/San Miguel and Santiago/J. Catolico.

On its first three days, a lot of celebrities were invited. There were celebrities' mall shows from time to time on August 10-12, 2012. 

This is the atrium. It was full of mall goers during celebrities' mall show. The people were so loud like you can almost hear screams from a collapsing building. That's how I describe the noise I heard at that moment. The stairs, ground and hallways around this atrium were really full of people. If you try to cross from the restaurants to the department store, you can find ways through the narrow spaces around that atrium. 

This is where the mall shows happen. When it is time for the celebrities to show, the crowd would grow and most of them were teenagers.

This is the Al Fresco facing the five-storey car park. There were restaurants around here and some branded coffee shops are soon to open this August until October this year. On its first three days, every night was a band night. Local bands and celebrity singers performed here while nice fountain show facing the car park also entertained the people.

This is the tallest and very modern car park in South Central Mindanao so far and it is connected to the department store. 

A lot of people during the opening were students. You can easily notice them because a bunch of them were still in their school uniforms. Seeing them made me realized that there were lots of schools sprouting in Gensan already. There were uniforms that were unfamiliar to me and I was not able to see during my student and working days in Gensan.

The fountain show. So glad that those street children were not captured in this shot. A lot of street children were really happy seeing the fountain lights changing colors from time to time. Due to their amazement, they couldn't help themselves but took shower from these fountains and play around.

Facing the Al Fresco feels relaxing not only because of the fountain show but of the colors of building as well. At the center, bands and singers performed starting 6pm. 

People were so amazed by these water fountains. It is better than the water fountains in front of the City Hall. Almost everybody who had their cameras that time would stop by and took pictures of it.

People were starting to gather again for the next batch of celebrities to perform. I was not able to capture full packed atrium during the mall shows due to difficulty in finding good location with good visibility.

This atrium I think is the biggest from other malls that I used to visit. 

There are two ways to get to the cinema. This one is connected to the food court. The food court by the way is quite smaller than other SM malls.

This is still a way to the cinema. Those crowds were buying tickets. The cinema actually is different from other cinemas I saw. I think the screen is very suitable for 3D since it is very wide and huge. While I was watching Bourne Legacy, I thought my eyes were getting larger and wider at the same time to suit them to the wide screen. Maybe my eyes were just used to smaller screens. The price is also affordable and can compensate the ambiance, screen, seats and sounds. By the way, upon payment for the cinema ticket, a card will be given aside from the ticket and it will be used to enter the cinema. It just like you are entering the MRT/LRT that you have to insert the card to the machine slot and the gate will open for you.

This is the empty side of the 3rd level. There were so many vacant stalls in this level.

One of the most visited stalls in this mall where the customers were actually shopping and not just window shopping was the Toy Kingdom. As you can see, Toy Kingdom was very crowded.

For those who like gadgets, visit the Cyberzone. Lots gadget stores here and lots of new gadgets were displayed. Acer, Canon and Samsung have their own stall in this zone.

That was the stage where the celebrities performed. There was a small box room beside it where the celebrities wait until their performance. Small number of people started to gather for another celebrity mall show.

This is the elevator with scenic view and surrounded by stairs. 

This side of the mall is the entrance from and exit to Santiago Boulevard.

Iloilo, Aklan and Boracay

I have been travelling a lot for the past three (3) years and already toured Iloilo City but this is the first time I went to Boracay (and for FREE)!!! :D

These are some pictures I took during the travel.

Iloilo City Hall

This is the new Iloilo City Hall which opened to the public just few months ago. It is an eight (8) storey building where the 7th and 8th floor are using the solar-power installed at the roof top.

San Jose Parish Church   

We just happen to passed by when I took this picture. It is near the new City Hall of Iloilo. When I read in the internet about this church, I was astound by the fact that it is the first ever church in Iloilo City built around 1607 (http://www.exploreiloilo.com/san-jose-church). 

Caticlan Port

I was reminded checking into the airport when I entered this Caticlan Port. There were terminal tickets being issued and presented upon checking into departure area. 

Boracay (Station 2)

When we arrived at La Carmela de Boracay Resort, I immediately took some pictures of the beach upon settling all my things in our room. The color of the beach is nice where you can see light green to dark blue from where I stand. Since it is already passed summer, we cannot see the crystal clear water but a bunch of tides brought by upcoming monsoons.

The Hats

While waiting for the boat for our island hopping adventure, I took some pictures of these ladies who have these colorful hats.

This is near Crocodile Island and Crystal Cove

This is where we swim during our island hopping adventure. The water is clear, there were fishes around the boat and we enjoyed swimming and photo shoot below that reef where there were shades for those who wanted to be protected from the sun ray effects.

Banana Boating Group 1

One of the adventures we took advantage during our  island hopping is the banana boating. We were able to see the reefs of Boracay and other tourists who enjoyed other rides as well.

Banana Boating Group 2

We were two groups when we do this banana boating. It was fun like we were competing with the other group. But we never experienced the "hulog" thing as it was prohibited to secure safety of the passengers.

Parasailing

They said once you are in another place with full of fun and adventures, you have to take all the opportunities as much as possible though it may take some of your money. I availed this parasailing but I was a little disappointed because I felt I almost fell asleep because of the wind and maybe because I was tired of all the rides I took before this.

Jet ski was fun

Jet ski was fun. If I will be given a chance to ride it again, I will grab it. The thrill of riding this water bike is amazing especially when you bumped into big waves. It was a lot of fun. 

Accessories at THE TALIPAPA

If you want some "pasalubong", you can go to "the talipapa" where you can ask for discounts for bundle of purchases.

Sunset at Station 1

I wasn't able to capture the sunset during our day 1 in Boracay due to unfavorable weather condition, in short it rained. At day 2, the sunset view was not as I expected. I wanted to see the amazing sunset I saw in the internet. Unfortunately, this is the best shot I get. A piece of advice, if you want to catch a good picture of the sunset in Boracay, be there during summer.

Boats, sunset, Station 1

When we were waiting for the sunset, we happened to pass by these boats and many tourists are walking back and forth from station 1 to station 2. Lots of these people got to play skim boarding along the shore and some did other water sports.

Fire Dance at night

At night, there were so many fire dancers performing at different bars along the beach. Many of these fire dancers or shall I say all these fire dancers we saw are all lady boys.

Ang mga Mananagat!hehe

Our last day in Boracay. Many of my company took advantage of the beach since we will be leaving in just a few hours. 

Chandelier at SJB Mansion 

When we leave Boracay, we went to Sampaguita Gardens in New Washington, Aklan. There was an entrance fee of P50 per head and one person free for every group of 6. The entrance fee in consumable where you can exchange the coupon with the available food, drinks, accessories and entrance fee on other facilities.  

Jojo's Christmas Cottage at Sampaguita Gardens

This is the famous Jojo's Christmas Cottage where everyday is Christmas Day with is all year round Christmas decorations inside and outside of the house. This was featured in many tv shows in the Philippines including Rated K.

This is a display inside the Jojo's Christmas cottage. Aside from this miniature village, there were lots of Santa dolls inside, Christmas trees, angels, Christmas socks, and other Christmas decorations. The only thing I really wanted aside from the decorations is the air conditioning. They should put on the aircon since it was too hot inside. I could feel all my sweat flowing inside of my shirt because of the warm temperature.

Koronadal City: Von's Spicy Squid and Chicken with Vegies Pasta

It's Saturday and just a few days before this, I experimented Seafood and Mushroom Pasta. At this very moment, I was very inspired to do something with pasta again but with different toppings. Gonna cook Spicy Squid and Chicken with Vegies Pasta!!!

I opened the fridge and saw chicken, squid, breading mix, vegetables such as broccoli and asparagus. I don't know what to do at first but later on I thought of mixing the meats with breading and spices and fry them. Sauteed other ingredients together with the vegetables in olive oil and mixed the squid and chicken. Mixed and tasted them until I satisfied my self with the taste that I wanted. A bit hot/spicy and the liquid from it served as the pasta's sauce with full of flavors.

Compared to the Seafood and Mushroom Pasta, I think I would go for both. They were really deliciouso!!! I bet someone is mouth watering right now. I am not saying that it is you who are reading but me. But if you are, :p !!!!