Manuroy Ta!!

Skywatch#102 Sydney Harbour Bridge

2012-01-26T07:23:00.000-08:00

We were lucky enough that the weather was good during our first time visit to Sydney years ago. Here's the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House as seen from the Sydney ferry:

The above photo is a scanned photo. The digital camera was just starting to get popular when we took our Australia tour years ago. We had 3 cameras at that time and only one was a digital camera, Sony, my first digital camera.

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Skywatch#101 Magellan's Memorial

2012-01-19T06:40:00.000-08:00

With white clouds as its background, this memorial for the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, stands 30 metres high in Punta Engaño, Mactan Island, Cebu. The spot is believed to be the area were Magellan was killed by the native datu, Datu Lapu-lapu, in the Battle of Mactan on 1521, Philippines.

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Skywatch#100 We Shall Not Forget

2012-01-12T07:20:00.000-08:00

This memorial for the fallen soldiers is located at the Corregidor Island. The island is the last stand of the Filipino and American forces against the Japanese occupation during World War II.

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Skywatch#99 Bridge To Samar

2012-01-06T07:55:00.000-08:00

San Juanico Bridge, Philippines

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Skywatch#98 The Blue Hour

2011-12-31T09:52:00.000-08:00

It's called the blue hour. The time when the twilight in the morning or in the evening when daylight or darkness is not full yet. The period actually lasts for just a few minutes than an hour. Still, it's one of my favorite of day because of the play of light not only in the skies but also on earth.

Photo was taken just outside Abreeza Mall by the fountain when the blue hour was transpiring and the moon looked like a hanging comb facing up on the dark blue sky.

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Lamdag Dabaw Floats

2011-12-28T05:46:00.000-08:00

These are some of the participants of the Christmas Lights (Lamdag Dabaw) float parade held last December 21, 2011 along the main streets of Davao City.

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2nd Lamdag Dabaw Characters

2011-12-26T06:06:00.000-08:00

The 2nd Lamdag Dabaw (Lights Parade) was held in the evening of the 21st December, 2011. It was scheduled 6:00 in the evening but for some reason, it started past 7:00 in the evening. By that time, there were already too many people waiting impatiently along Roxas Ave. where we also stood waiting. Nonetheless, the parade was colorful, exciting and fun. Here are some of the character-participants of the parade.

Skywatch#97 Heaven And Sea

2011-12-09T07:27:00.000-08:00

Photo was taken while in the plane on our way from Tacloban City to Cebu City last month. The flight was in the early morning and the overcast skies disappointed my wish for blue skies. Nevertheless, this view more than compensated for the disappointment because it looked like there was no boundary between the overcast greyish skies and still waters off the coast of Mactan Island, Cebu.

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Skywatch#96 MacArthur Landing Memorial, Leyte

2011-12-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

The weather was cranky that day. Rain and sunshine battled with each other while we were on our way to the MacArthur Landing Memorial in Palo, Leyte. Relief washed over me when the sun won out the rain when we arrived at the memorial but the relief was only for a few minutes because rain came hard even if the sun was shining. We decided to have our lunch while waiting out for the rain to stop. Thankfully, our timing was right because the sun shone again after we finished our lunch.

wikipedia:
The MacArthur Landing Memorial in Red Beach, Palo, marks the spot where the American liberation forces landed. The Palo Cathedral was converted into an evacuation hospital for Allied forces during World War II. Hill 522 in Palo was the entrance to the first liberated town in 1944.

I decided to take a photo of the water reflections of the statues of General MacArthur with his soldiers but when I looked closer on my camera, I saw a rider on top of the hat of one of the soldiers. Can you see him?

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Skywatch#95 Rainbow Over San Juanico Strait

2011-11-24T07:33:00.000-08:00

The day started as very sunny and hot but when we got to San Juanico Bridge, the overcast skies came in fast. Suddenly, we were drenched in rain but we kept taking photos. Our driver could not stay on the bridge for fear of getting caught by the police so he had to drive down at the end of the bridge towards Sta. Rita, Samar and came back for us. He did it thrice. The first two tries we wouldn't budge from taking photos while walking down the more than two kilometers length of San Juanico Bridge. By then, the rain and sun already battled it out several times. In between, this rainbow showed over San Juanico Strait. Glorious!

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Skywatch#94 Carmel Monastery of Davao

2011-11-17T06:48:00.000-08:00

Overcast skies threatened my annual church visit last Holy Week. Thankfuly, the rain started when I was already half-way through the list of the churches I was planning to visit that week.

Anyway, this is the Carmel Monastery of Davao or the Carmel of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. It has been more than a decade since I last visited the church and it did not actually changed much. Nevertheless, it is one of the churches that I could actually some real peace and quiet that is conducive to meditation and prayer unlike the bigger churches of the city wherein people can get quite noisy.

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Skywatch#93 Mactan International Airport

2011-11-10T07:26:00.000-08:00

Once again, Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) got the flak for being on the top 10 worst airports in the world. Most complaints were made against NAIA I which is the oldest among the three NAIA's. Sure, the airport made some improvements all through the years but if comparing it with other airports in the region, there are just too much to be done.

While NAIA is getting bad reviews, airport officials of other airports throughout the country should start taking stock of their own airports which likely have the same problems as that of NAIA.

Photos were taken while we were taking off from the Mactan International Airport. The said airport is the gateway to Cebu City and surrounding areas.

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Skywatch#92 Sentosa Island's Cable Car Ride

2011-10-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Sentosa Island's cable car ride provides very good panoramic views of the Port of Singapore, the nearby islands and the facilities of Sentosa Island, Singapore. It was the 3rd time I rode that cable car ride, there were overcast skies but the view on that ride never failed to amaze me.

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Skywatch#91 Hongkong Disneyland's Orbitron

2011-10-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness, it was a clear day when we got to Hongkong Disneyland. There were scattered clouds around but the blue skies assured that it was going to be good day for some exciting fun.

Hongkong Disneyland is probably the smallest Disneyland in the world but it has some exciting features and fun rides to entertain people from all ages. One fun ride that we tried when we went there was Astro Orbitron. Its saucer-shaped rides can accommodate four persons in one ride.

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The Best Honeymoon Destinations Outside of Asia

2011-10-07T08:44:00.001-07:00

Deciding on a location for a honeymoon is a major decision for a couple soon to be married. Should you stay close to home or travel far away? If you travel overseas, will you know enough of the language to get by? Challenges do exist, but the world has some great honeymoon destinations for couples trying to find the best location for their trip.

[View of Tequila Sunrise, a luxury villa in Anguilla, Caribbean]

With its beautiful blue skies, sandy beaches, and endless areas to have fun, the Caribbean is one of the most popular destinations in the world. Featuring a unique food culture, living that mixes the indoors with the outdoors, and spacious homes built to make the most of what land there is, the entire Caribbean region works wonders for each and every guest. Anguilla villas are particularly popular for their mix of modern convenience and island culture; pictured here is Tequila Sunrise, a private retreat in Anguilla that offers some of the greatest comforts around, including beach equipment, rafts for the infinity-edge pool, oversized en-suite bathrooms, enormous king-size beds, and some conveniently large HDTV’s for entertainment. The beautiful sunsets, elegant design, and modern convenience help to make every day exciting, and every night romantic, for any couple that sleeps within its walls.

[View of Les Palmiers, a luxury villa in St. Martin, Caribbean]

One aspect of villa travel not always apparent at the start is that in most of the world, many villas are larger structures. Rental homes tend to be constructed first as homes, after all, and they can end up being perhaps a little bit large for just a single couple. There are, however, a few villas constructed with single couples in mind, and particularly honeymoons. One of these romantic getaways is Les Palmiers, a charming single-bedroom villa on the island of St. Martin that mixes privacy with luxury to create the ideal vacation experience. The beautifully furnished rooms help provide comfort without being overbearing, allowing you to live inside the home rather than simply use it. Mosaics line the bathroom, a large HDTV adorns the living room, and a variety of staff members are available on request to do as much or as little room as you want. Perhaps the most ideal location on the entire island, maybe even the entire region, Les Palmiers is a fantastic choice for any couple.

Skywatch#90 Cebu International Airport

2011-10-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

Blue skies over Cebu International Airport while we bought the city's popular food souvenir, pit roasted pig (lechon) in front of the airport.

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Skywatch#89 Sea And Sky

2011-09-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

Photo was taken on our way home from Costa Marina Beach Resort. It was a beautiful, sunny day and I just loved the seeming endless blue and green of sky and the sea

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Skywatch#88 Heaven Is Beautiful

2011-09-22T15:39:00.000-07:00

Going home from a business meeting in Cebu, these clouds made me think of heaven.

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Skywatch#87 Costa Marina Clouds

2011-09-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

The weather cooperated very well that day; fluffy clouds, blue skies and calm waters. We had all the beach resort by ourselves and my friend was truly amazed. After all, Costa Marina Beach Resort is just right beside its more popular counterpart, Paradise Island Beach Resort, Samal Island, IGACOS. There, it could get quite noisy and rowdy but I prefer the quieter Costa Marina.

Too bad we had little time to stay longer on the beach but still, I was quite happy to spend time with my friend.

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Skywatch#86 Dark Clouds Over Willy's Rock

2011-09-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

I would have preferred the blue skies and calm, azure waters of my previous visits in Boracay Island but Typhoon Mina (International name: Nanmadol) could not just cooperate. The sun did its best to come out but the dark clouds always hovered over Boracay during our stay there.

Photo was taken at Willy's Rock. Willy's Rock is one of the famous landmarks of the world-renowned Boracay's White beach, considered as one of the best beaches in the world.

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Compiling All My Travel Contact Numbers

2011-09-04T00:46:00.000-07:00

Through the years of traveling, I accumulated a lot of brochures and contact details (email addresses, landlines and cellphone numbers) of airlines, tour operators, travel agencies, hotel accommodations, plane ticket reservations, and even those of shipping companies, boat operators, drivers including tricycle drivers and all those necessary numbers to keep my travels smooth sailing.

I kept the little notebooks that contain these numbers and from time to time, I browse them to recall some details I had forgotten or whenever somebody would request for some contact numbers of the hotels or tour operators and other what-have-yous. The task requires patience but since I like sharing travel stories, I always accommodated the request. However, because these little notebooks have been increasing in numbers, finding the necessary information has become daunting. So, I’ve been thinking of compiling all my travel contacts in one softcopy. Gotta find some time for that.

Skywatch#85 Kiteboarding At Boracay

2011-09-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

While dark clouds and the sun rays battle for supremacy in that afternoon, I could only watch, took photos and be amazed at the kiteboarders' derring-do as they tackled the tailwinds of Typhoon Mina (International name: Nanmadol) passing by Boracay Island last week.

As the typhoon battered the northern part of the Philippines, the tailwinds of Typhoon Mina made the kiteboarders' play so much fun and scary to watch in Boracay. Some moments, the wind would take them flying a few meters above the waters and in some moments, the wind would slam them back to the waters that I could barely see the top of their heads. For sure, not for the faint-hearted. I wondered if I could do it, actually.

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Boracay Resorts

2011-08-31T20:15:00.000-07:00

I had fun with my mother on our Boracay trip. It was my mother's first trip so I made sure that the resort we would have was not noisy. Blue Mango Inn was the right choice. I shall talk more about my Boracay trip in my next posts.

Anyway, here are the contact numbers of the Boracay resorts in case someone is planning to have a Boracay vacation:

Blue Mango Inn +63.36.2885170

Email address: www.bluemangoinn.com

St. Vincent Cottages +63.36.2884762

email address: http://www.stvincentcottages.com

Boracay Amigos Resort +63.09193710970

You may also contact Josette Hilario (cellphone number:09103616196) as she coordinates for more available Boracay Resorts.

Kadayawan Headdresses

2011-08-24T07:02:00.000-07:00

The tribes of Davao and surrounding areas have always worn colorful clothings, jewelries and accessories not only during celebrations but also while going through their daily lives. Since Kadayawan festival gives honor and tribute to these tribes, the festival is always colorful, thankful and just oozing with enthusiasm and happiness. That's why I love it more than the Araw ng Dabaw (Davao City) celebration. Aside from that, I just love the colorfully creative and indigenous costumes of the contingents for the Indak-indak sa Kadayawan (streetdancing).

Here are some of the headdresses of the Kadayawan contingents.

The headdresses' style and color combination were also worn based on the stature level of the wearer in their society. Almost always, the more colorful and decorative headdresses were worn by the royalty.

Skywatch#84 Skies Over Davao City

2011-08-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

Cloud skies over Davao City on the upper part of the photo

Samal Island on the foreground

Took this photos on the plane on my way to Cebu for some work-related meeting. We had overcast skies that day so I was pretty sure there would be lots of cloud formations when we got airborne.

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My World#126 Durian Time

2011-08-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it was the heavy rains that have been hounding us too much this year or perhaps there is truth about old folks' saying that durian harvest alternately change volumes every year. So, if there were too many durians last year expect to have a little less this year. We had too much last year that our local hospitals reported a rise in number of admitted patients due to high blood pressure (durian is well-known to increase blood pressure).

Last year was like a record harvest not only for durian but also for some local fruits like lanzones, mangosteen, marang, pomelo and etc.

lanzones vendor

It's already mid-August, durian time should have started late July. Sadly, the fruits that we have been expecting to appear especially durian have yet to manifest themselves on the streets. I miss my durian but gee, I am not buying if it's still expensive.

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My World#125 Bread Talk In Davao

2011-08-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

It is finally here and Davaoeños are lining up to taste its goodness. Bread Talk is my favorite take home treat for my family whenever I get to Manila. Now that its Abreeza branch is already operating, it is just so easy to buy my favorite newly-baked bread.

My current favorite is the bread called Spring In the City. At P39, it's so much worth it. Baked in a roll with lots of floss inside it and a sprinkling of onion leaves outside, it was really good.

And this cute smiley bread has a cute name, JJ Baby.

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Skywatch#83 Sentosa Island's Sunset

2011-08-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

We watched the sunset in Sentosa Island as we waited for the show, Songs of the Sea, to start. The sunset was beautiful and the show, really amazing!

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My World#124 Kadayawan Festival

2011-08-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

August is here again and I am quite excited for it. There may be too much rains nowadays but my favorite of all festivals is keeping my spirit up.

On the 3rd week of August, Kadayawan festival will come alive. Preparations are already underway and news have been circling around that there would be more visitors than ever before. While I would prefer not to have too many visitors during Kadayawan festival, there would be nothing much to do about it considering it has become too popular.

Kadayawan festival is a celebration of thanksgiving for the good harvest and blessings. The festival was patterned from the indigenous people of Davao's celebration of harvest season.

The festival is not only such a foodie's and shopper's delight but it has also become a photographer's delight for its vivid colors and pulsating sounds. Recent news revealed that about an estimated of 5,000 photographers shall converge to take photos of the week-long festival. I am raring to be at the front seat!

For more about the 1st MindaNow Photo Congress that will be held in time for the Kadayawan festival, go here for the details.

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Skywatch#82 Bacuit Bay, Palawan

2011-07-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

Peaceful Bacuit Bay, Palawan on a summer day. Taken from Pangalusian Island peak.

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My World#123 Philippine Churches#9 Baclaran Church (National Shrine Of Our Mother of Perpetual Help)

2011-07-25T07:53:00.000-07:00

Baclaran Church was a part of my childhood days when my mother devoted every Wednesday to visit it for years.

The Baclaran Church (also called Redemptorist Church) or the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of the most popular churches and also considered as one of the largest churches in the Philippines. It houses one of the most revered and celebrated Marian images in the country, called an icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It has been known to be miraculous.

Every Wednesday is popularly known as "Baclaran Day", and devotees flock to Baclaran Church to participate in a popular Marian novena offered for the Blessed Virgin Mary's reputed miraculous aid and intercession.

Baclaran Church is located along Roxas Avenue, Paranaque City. Its modern-Romanesque styled building has a full-seating capacity of 2,000, but as many as 11,000 people including standing can be inside during Masses. (source: wikipedia)

It is just a few minutes walk from the Baclaran station of Manila Metro Rail Transit (MRT3).

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My World#122 Cagayan de Oro's Whitewater Rafting

2011-07-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Before Davao City started having their own whitewater rafting adventure, Cagayan de Oro City already had theirs years ago. Whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro became so popular that it is considered a must-do for visitors and locals. Years ago, the fee was P2,000 (minimum of 4 persons) inclusive of free buffet lunch (grilled seafood, rice and roasted chicken, yummy!), a bottle of mineral water, free use of helmet, paddle, drybag and the rubberboat. I heard that it is now P1,200 minimum of 4 persons but without the delicious buffet lunch.

Before we started tackling the churning waters of Cagayan de Oro river, we were taught the basic rules for whitewater rafting which are: Listen carefully to your leader-boatman. Follow his instructions. Pray, paddle, pray and paddle. Of course, we were also taught how to handle our paddle to keep our rubberboats floating over the churning waters and to prevent ourselves from getting overboard (some did get thrown overboard and survived the churning waters minus the rubberboats).

For beginners, the whitewater rafting runs about 3 hours with 14 rapids to tackle with 10-15 minutes interval for every rapid. Along the way, aside from beautiful sceneries to see, there were lush vegetation and some monkeys gawking curiously at us, water rapids that folded our rubberboat into half, whirlpools and churning waters that almost ate my paddle, and jutting mountain walls (a certain wall had snakes sleeping on its holes/crevices) to tackle.

After some paddling, we took our rest in this cave which turned out to be nerve wracking because of its fast and heavy current that we need to traverse to get to the spot where we can sit on some rocks. Thank goodness for our ever-helpful and vigilant boatmen, they helped us crossed to the other side.

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Skywatch#81 Beijing Sunset

2011-07-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

Covered with smog or just mere fog, the Beijing sunset was beautiful. Took this photo while on top of the ancient towers in Beijing. As the peak hour traffic slowly moved on, the misty reddish-yellow sun set on its own.

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My World#121 Singapore and Expensive Cars

2011-07-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Singapore is one of the places I had visited that got the latest and the most expensive cars running around its streets. We passed by along Raffles Hotel (one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in Singapore) and saw several expensive cars lining up by the hotel's front door. After gawking at the cars, we took some photos. My favorite car there was this Mini Cooper. I took its photo with the Raffles Hotel as its background.

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Skywatch#80 Sunrise At Camiguin Island

2011-07-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

Before heading home from our 3-day travel around Camiguin Island, I decided to wake up early to see the sunrise. On our last night, we stayed by the beach and so I knew that we would be having the best view to see the sunrise. It did not disappoint because it came out blazing with colors.

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My World#120 Costa Marina Beach Resort

2011-07-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

I am getting tired of hearing and seeing the words "ITCZ" or "intertropical convergence zone" because it means more rains. I've been hearing it for months now and they have been coming just a few days apart since summer.

I wish we have more sunny days now with some days spent on the beach like the Costa Marina Beach Resort at the nearby Samal Island. Unlike its next door neighbor, the more popular, Paradise Island Beach Resort, Costa Marina Beach Resort has fewer guests (something my family most prefer). Its waters are clean and really suitable for snorkelling and swimming even for kids.

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Skywatch#79 Caramoan Peninsula Island

2011-07-01T01:57:00.000-07:00

This is one of the islands in Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur we passed by on our way to the town of Guijalo. Guijalo is a 2-hour boat ride from the town of Sabang. It is also be reached by 4-5 hours land travel through dirt roads.

What I like about this photo is that the rolling cotton-like clouds in the background look like they were about to kiss the island as people unknowingly bathed in the waters.

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Skywatch#78 Sunset At Pangalusian Island

2011-06-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

This was taken years ago while traveling with some of my friends in Palawan. Palawan is one of my favorite places on earth.

The sunset photo was taken in Pangalusian Island, Bacuit Bay, Palawan. We were staying at Miniloc Island Resort and was on our way home from a day of island hopping in Bacuit Bay with some of the resort's guests. We asked our boatman if we could be allowed to check out the Pangalusian Island before returning to the resort. The other guests opted to proceed back to the resort. We stopped by Pangalusian and hiked to its peak which to our delight, had an astounding view of Bacuit Bay and nearby islands.

We took the sunset photos while waiting for our boatman to arrive from the resort.

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My World#119 Walk This Way

2011-06-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

Carlos Celdran's Walk This Way tour is one of the Manila tours I have been eyeing for years to get into. Unfortunately, time and money constraints always got in the way.

So, when my chance came, I was truly excited. We met by the entrance of Ft. Santiago, Intramuros, Manila. Before we started, we paid our tour fees and introductions were made. There were about 20 participants for the tour and a lot of them are either Filipino balikbayans or foreigners with their Filipino families.

The tour started at Fort Santiago where the national hero, Jose Rizal, was imprisoned before he was executed. We walked around Intramuros, stopping by several times at some really interesting places (for sure, they are not easy to find in history books).

Fittingly, the tour ended with a special treat of halo-halo. A perennial Filipino cold dessert which was made of shaved ice, sweet young coconut meat, and sweetened purple yam.

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Skywatch#77 Ruin Of Cagsawa Church

2011-06-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

This church tower is what remains of the Cagsawa Church. The church which was actually huge as what we saw from its old photo was buried during the 1800s eruption of the nearby Mt. Mayon. Nowadays, the ruin of Cagsawa Church is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Bicol Region.

Cagsawa is located at Daraga, Albay, Bicol Region. Mt. Mayon is most active volcano in the Philippines.

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My World#118 Independence Day

2011-06-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

June 12 is Araw ng Kalayaan or Philippine's Independence Day. Philippine flags are on display almost everywhere.

This year's theme for the 113th anniversary of the Philippine's Independence Day is "Kalayaan: Paninindigan ng Bayan" or "Freedom: The Stand of the People".

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Skywatch#76 Up, Up And Away!

2011-06-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

I took this photo while waiting for our boat ride from Costa Marina Beach Resort to Davao mainland. I was just thinking that the PAL (Philippine Airline) plane looks like a big bird soaring high through the fluffy clouds.

The flag carrier used to dominate the commercial flights but now, Cebu Pacific Air is doing that. Big thanks to their plane ticket sales promo especially the piso fare and zero fare. Still, PAL has retained a lot of its loyal customers.

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Save The Philippines Seas

2011-06-08T07:36:00.001-07:00

The first and only time I did scubadiving, I was tickled pink or should I say, tickled brown to my toes. It happened in El Nido, Palawan.

I was so excited and happy that I could not breathe properly through my breathing apparatus. I even almost forgot to neutralize when I saw the colorful corals swirling like delicate silk curtains in the sea waters. Nemo and his kind was frolicking among the corals and it took me a nanosecond trying to reach out for them. Good thing, my dive instructor who could easily pass up for a movie actor was quick enough to remind me by sign language that it was prohibited to touch them.

Being underwater was a surreal experience, but I would like to do it over again and again. It was only through that experience that I was able to fully appreciate the beauty of the Philippine seas. I grew up near the waters and I saw how it was a huge part of a lot of people like the fishermen and the families. Fish is also part of the main diet of the Filipinos.

For me, the scuba diving experience made me realize that I've come full circle. A circle that I want to experience again and again.

The recent news of seized contrabands of black corals, sea turtles and other marine life had me worried and angered. How could this black souls decimate an entire coral reef twice as big as overpopulated Manila just for the greed? Have they thought about the effects of what they had done? God knows, it might take another generation or maybe more generations before those decimated coral reefs could recover (if they recover at all).

I really hope and pray that the culprits be found and properly executed up to the full extent of the law. I also really hope and pray that the proper authorities in cooperation of the private sector will work hand in hand to resolve this dreadful incident immediately. The culprits did not only destroy the corals and the marine life of our seas but they also destroyed a huge part of our heritage.

In the meantime, let us be vigilant against those people who destroy our seas.

My World#117 Boosting Davao Tourism

2011-06-06T05:02:00.000-07:00

This is the presentation display inside Abreeza Mall featuring the weaving industry of the indigenous people of Davao. Known for their colorful and intricate designs on their costumes and other wearables, the indigenous people

The City Government of Davao in partnership with Department of Tourism is trying to boost the city’s tourism industry for this year. Already known as the adventure capital of the Philippines for its numerous adventurous activities like mountain climbing, white water rafting, ziplining and more, Davao City is also being geared as the melting pot of Philippine indigenous cultures in Mindanao.

The city of Davao is home to various indigenous communities of which are part of the last tribes of Mindanao. Struggling with the rapid loss of their ancestral lands, extreme poverty, lack of education and apathy among its younger generation, the tribes’ populations are dwindling and their culture deteriorating.

With the thrust of the city government towards tourism industry, the indigenous people are being given hope to show their culture and heritage to the world and at the same time, retain and nurture them for the future generation.

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Skywatch#75 Low Tide At Costa Marina

2011-06-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

Summer has been short and rainy and rainy and short. It was actually not summer at all. So, I didn't have my fill of beach days and I'm missing them right now. Maybe, because I'm feeling tired and low that I just want to lay back by the beach, relax and regroup.

That is my mother and my niece on their way to the deeper part of Costa Marina Beach Resort. Photo was taken while the skies were threatening low again but thankfully, the sun prevailed that day.

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My World#116 Abreeza's Dancing Fairies

2011-05-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

For me, Ayala Abreeza Mall is just one too many malls in my city. But what made me go there to check it out? Their dancing fairies.

When I first went to Ayala Abreeza Mall, it was for the Canon's Photo Shoot and Run contest. I was hoping to find the dancing fairies somewhere in the maze-like lobbies of the newly-opened mall but I could not find them after walking around for hours. I actually first saw them in a national newspaper announcing the opening of the mall.

My mistake was I did not get inside their department store. I only saw these dancing fairies on the next day when I took my mother to see the mall. Knowing that she likes the home section of any malls, I took her inside the department store. And voila! There are the dancing fairies right in the middle of the department store.

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Skywatch#74 Ayala Abreeza's Food Court

2011-05-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

Aside from the fact that it still needs a lot of work, the foodcourt of newly-opened mall, Ayala Abreeza, was not airconditioned. The saving grace though was the view from the food court because it has an open balcony at the back and one can actually see the parts of Barangay Obrero and the mountains of nearby Samal Island. Also, the ongoing work at the mall complex can be seen from the foodcourt's balcony. I heard that there would be a condominium hotel and a call center building to be added in the plans.

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SM City Cebu’s Traveller’s Lounge

2011-05-24T08:11:00.001-07:00

It was a relief and a nice surprise to find a traveller’s lounge in a mall. After all, most Filipino travelers tend to leave their luggages not in the airport’s locker rooms but in the malls’ baggage counter.

I found out about SM City Cebu’s Traveller’s Lounge thru our conversation from the airport to the mall. Knowing that the mall was still closed, I asked our driver to find us a restaurant at the mall that has opened before the mall hours. He then suggested that we might be better off at the traveller’s lounge.

The lounge is located at the back of the mall, on the left side of Radisson Blu Hotel. It has shower and toilet rooms, a counter for information, currency exchange, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and telephone booths. There are also some stalls for snacks, coffee and meals, pasalubongs, souvenirs like t-shirts, keychains, bags and etc. It has free WIFI connection and finally, you can leave your luggage their for a P30 baggage deposit fee. Another convenience for this lounge is that the taxi line is located right infront of it.

I do hope that more of SM malls or rather, more of the malls have the traveler’s lounge. It really helped us in our stopover in the mall considering that we had to have our meals before continuing our travel. It would have been very inconvenient lugging our big bags around the mall looking for some place to eat or just while away the time before proceeding to their next destination.

Skywatch#73 Tornado Over Mt. Apo?

2011-05-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

While we sit on our boat waiting for others, I saw this tornado-shaped cloud hanging over the mighty Mt. Apo.

It changed shape slightly after a few minutes but still it hovered over Mt. Apo.

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Hulagway Sa Kinabuhi#1 Latayan (Bridge)

2011-05-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

Latayan ni na padulong sa kan-anan sulod sa Maxima Aqua Fun Resort. Lalom ang yuta sa ilalom kaya medyo hadlok agian.

My World#115 The Marginalized Badjao

2011-05-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

Somebody asked me before if I ever knew any one of this people that was able to get out of the extreme poverty that were commonly attached to them. My answer was "None." I would be really happy to see one but the ones I have seen so far were those in the streets begging for alms.

They belong to the indigenous people called Badjao or the sea gypsies. They commonly lived in shanties by the sea and made their living by begging in the streets. Some made their living as fishermen and divers of pearls many years ago but extreme poverty drove them to beg for coins in the streets or coins throw out into the waters and they dive for them.

Most of them married young and a lot had their own kids while they were still teens. Most of them never went to school and because of this, the cycle of extreme poverty were passed on from generation to generation.

There were government and private programs to help them with their livelihood. Programs to help them keep out of the streets especially their children. But so far, I have yet to see a Badjao who has gone successful. Hopefully, someday soon.

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Skywatch#72 May Peace Prevail

2011-05-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

"May peace prevail." and I wish the same.

This was taken at the Carmen Hill, Chocolate Hills, Bohol.

It was raining when we reached Carmen Hill of Chocolate Hills, Bohol. I knew it would be slippery going up the steep stairs but when my mother said that she wanted to go up, we slowly made our way as the wind and rain swirled around us. Slow going but we made it to the top to see the more than a thousand hills scattered around several barangays in the central part of Bohol island.

They looked like they were part of the skies as most of them were shrouded in fog and rain but the ones we can see nearby more than made up for the trip. After taking photos, we slowly made our way down the walkway instead of the stairs and we had another surprise here.

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My World#114 Parade of the Philippine Presidents

2011-05-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

Located at the seafront complex of Intramuros, Old Manila is the Parade of the Philippine Presidents from Aguinaldo to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. There's a sign that says "Galeria delos Presedentes dela Republica Pilipina" which I loosely translated as the "Gallery of the Presidents of the Philippine Republic".

Each one of them was carefully done, I even tried knocking on some of them to ascertain what they were made of. If I'm not mistaken, they were made of aluminum or some kind of steel.

My favorite, of course, is that of the former President Corazon Aquino. Hers was surrounded by the images of events during her presidency, most prominently that of the EDSA Revolution.

Just beside this place is the Intramuros golf course.

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Skywatch#71 View From Singapore Flyer

2011-04-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

Singapore Flyer is one of the attractions we've tried in Singapore. It started operation in 2008 and is taller than the London Eye. It is located near the shore of Singapore's Marina Bay and the view from the Flyer is really spectacular.

Next time I get to visit Singapore, I will try the Singapore Flyer on a nighttime and I'll make sure to bring my tripod.

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My World#113 Singapore Night Skyline By the Esplanade

2011-04-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

The Singapore night skyline as taken from the Esplanade.

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Skywatch# 70 Bohol Dolphin Watching

2011-04-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

My mother thought I was joking when I said we could watch dolphins in the wild while we were in Bohol. She realized I was serious when I hired a boatman to take us to where the dolphins were. The dolphins mostly swam around the waters of Pamilacan and Balicasag Islands.

The day started with drizzling rain and I prayed that the skies would clear and the waters would be relatively calm as we do our dolphin watching. Years ago, when I first did the dolphin watching, it only took us less than an hour to get to where the dolphins converged. Plus, there were fewer boat rentals wandering around looking for the dolphins.

This time, the number of boat rentals increased by threefold. They were about thirty dolphin watching boats carrying excited dolphin watchers that day.

As the minutes ticked by without so much a ripple from any dolphins' flippers, I was getting apprehensive. I wanted my mother to see the dolphins in the wild before we leave Bohol. Thankfully, the rain stopped, the skies cleared and the waters were calm which somehow eased her nerves being in the boat for awhile. While some watchers were excitedly waiting ready with their camera, I saw this boatman calmly waiting on his boat.

Finally, a ripple on the waters got the boats scrambling after it. I strained my eyes and just in time saw flippers gently bobbing in and out of the waters. Dolphins!! My mother saw them too and was happily amazed.

Mission accomplished even if I didn't get better photos of the Bohol dolphins.

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My World#112 Philippine Churches Part 8: Basilic Minore del Sto. Nino

2011-04-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

It's time for the centuries-old tradition Visita Iglesia this coming Holy Thursday. I have yet to decide what churches to choose. It would be easier to choose if I am somewhere the northern or middle part of the country with their centuries-old churches.

I've started to appreciate the Visita Iglesia (church visits) years ago when I did it in Ilocos. The centuries-old churches of the Philippines are really beautiful. There are so many of them that doing the Visita Iglesia need not to be boring.

One of the churches I find interesting is the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino in Cebu City. I showed the photos of its facade earlier here. Here're the photos inside..

The miraculous Sto. Nino

The frescoes of the church

One of the antique paintings inside the church museum which is located on the left portion of the church

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Skywatch#69 Singapore's Night SkyShow

2011-04-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

Every night, Singapore night sky lights up with a kaleidoscope of colors from Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Flyer and the Esplanade. It was such a photographer's dream to capture these colors.

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My World#111 My Prayers For You

2011-04-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

There were candles for love, protection, good luck and more. They stand near the entrance of Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino and offer you this.

If you like, they can even pray for you like you never prayed fervently. A little donation is all they ask. I wonder if the heavens can hear them. Probably, because my friend asked her prayers for protection in our travel. We did fine, thank God.

They even have their uniform while the mass was being celebrated. Here they are having lunch break while on their uniform.

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Skywatch#68 Singapore Skyline

2011-04-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

Singapore's skyline as taken while waiting for our companions outside the entrance of Singapore Flyer.

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Bohol Tour Contact Numbers

2011-04-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

Friends and acquaintances have been asking about the contact numbers of our Bohol Tour Van driver, our Bohol rental boat and the Bohol beach resort accomodations. So, I've decided to just post these numbers in case somebody needs them for their Bohol vacation. Here they are:

Bohol tour van (Ritchie) - 09154486772, 09197654571
Panglao rental boat (Dodong) for dolphin watching - 09081534117 rental rate: P1,500-P2,000 a day
Dumaluan Beach Resort, Panglao, Bohol - 09178834888, (038) 5029092
email address: resort@dumaluanbeach.com
website: www.dumaluanbeach.com

My World#110 Hanging Bridge, Sevilla, Bohol

2011-04-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

It used to be just the locals and occasional curious-seekers who dared cross the hanging bridge at Sevilla, Bohol. The first time I got there ages ago, the interwoven bamboos were really old and weathered while the steel cables holding the bridge were rusty, aged in need of replacement that I dared to cross only a few steps into the hanging bridge. The combination of feeling the fear that the hanging bridge might give out and the swaying motion while walking on it did me in.

Fast forward to present-day...I resolved to cross the hanging bridge until I reach the other side. I told my mother that we would be doing it together and she seemed excited about the prospect.

Oops..was I wrong. The moment she saw the hanging bamboo bridge which by the way has grown wider (I think) and sporting a twin bridge with newer interwoven bamboo floors with better-looking steel cables, she withdrew her consent. No can do, girl. You are on your own, she said. Since I didn't want to leave her alone while people were jostling to line up to walk the bridge, I decided to just take some photos of those who conquered the Hanging Bridge of Bohol.

P.S. Tourism also caught up with the hanging bridge. There are more people (more tourists) who dared cross it that the entrance is now P10 per person. (I should've crossed that bridge when it was just free!) Some ambulant vendors, public toilet and a parking space were already added nearby since the last time I've been there. Ah....progress! even as quaint as crossing the hanging bridge of Bohol is now making money!

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Skywatch#67 Magellan's Cross, Cebu City

2011-03-31T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Chapel of Magellan's Cross located at Magallanes St., Cebu City

Magellan's cross is the cross planted by Spanish and Portuguese explorers led by Ferdinand Magellan. It was a symbol of the Christianity in the Philippines and also, the city of Cebu.

The original cross is now encased inside a wooden cross housed in a chapel next to the Basilica Minore de Cebu. It is one of Cebu City's main tourist destinations.

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My World#109 (Philippine Churches Part 8): Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino, Cebu

2011-03-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Minor Basilica of the Santo Niño or Basilica Minore del Santo Niño is a 16th century church in Cebu City in the Philippines. It was built purportedly on the spot where the image of the Santo Niño, a sculpture depicting the Holy Child Jesus found by Spanish explorers in 1565 preserved in a burned wooden box which was left behind during the 1521 Magellan expedition.
source: Wikipedia

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My World#108 Araw Ng Dabaw Celebration

2011-03-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

Once again, it is our city's foundation day. Instead of a one-day celebration tomorrow, March 16, we are having a three-day celebration which started this Monday. I was looking forward to watching the annual Araw ng Dabaw civic parade but because of work, I'll be out of town instead. So, I'll just be posting photos I took last year.

Davao City has two annual festivals that locals really look forward to. One is the more popular Kadayawan Festival which is usually being held on the third week of August and this older festival, the Araw ng Dabaw (Davao Day), to celebrate our city's foundation day. March 16, 2011 is city's 74th foundation day.

There are a lot of activities lined up for this event but one of the much-awaited highlights is the civic-parade which is usually held every morning of March 16 along the main downtown streets. Well-attended and quite long (it usually lasts at least two hours), the parade usually starts with the city mayor and his city councilors at the head of the parade. Then, the government agencies preceding the private sector agencies.

What I like in watching the civic parade is that not only it is quite colorful but it also shows the cultural diversity of the city. I've also observed that the city has so many young people around than old ones which could be one of the reasons why it is considered one of the most fast-developing cities in the country.

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Skywatch#66 Out Into The Plaza

2011-03-10T06:17:00.000-08:00

This is the plaza fronting the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino. The locals call it as the plaza but it is actually the Pilgrim Centre which was completed last 1990. It was constructed to accommodate the throngs of people who come and fill-up the basilica during celebrations like Sinulog festival.

Taken inside the basilica.

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My World#107 They Waved At Him

2011-03-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

We were there to visit the the Basilica del Sto. Nino of Cebu City and while we were taking photos outside, we saw this...

A friend asked if I knew why people wave outside the church but I only thought that somebody was just waving at somebody who was inside the church so, I observed more and then, I saw this..

and this and more of them...

The reason: it is customary for most locals (even visitors who had known about it) to wave at the image of the Child Jesus (long considered miraculous) that is being housed inside the church as they pass by it. It was their way of paying their respects to him as they go about their daily lives. Such a nice gesture.

My World#106 It's Football Day

2011-02-28T06:46:00.000-08:00

The kids' face were wrinkled in concentration. Their feet were running fast as much as they could muster. One can see that they were determined to get the ball and make the goal. While just at the rim of the football field, their mothers were hauling their hearts out cheering the children on. One mother said that she could've played to make the goal for her boy but all she could was just to watch and nibble on her fingernails in anticipation.

His mama asked me to take her boy's photo before he continue the game after a brief break but he was already on his feet running to the middle of the field. She called him back and he went back slowly while keeping an eye to the referee. So, he posed with his brows wrinkled, his face and body covered with sweat.

She was the only girl I saw who played in their age bracket but she sure made the boys' lives more difficult in the football field.

Good form from a young and aspiring football player.

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My World#105 Going For The Run

2011-02-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

I was curious how those weekend runs go. Running is now popular and there's always an organized run every weekend. I haven't tried one yet as I preferred doing tennis or badminton on those days. I readily agreed though when a friend suggested that we take some photographs on the scheduled run especially so that another photographer-friend will run a 10 kilometer for the first time.

It took me quite a determination to wake up this early. The run is scheduled to start at 5am. Happily and groggily, I made it to the assembly place.

The organizers prepped the participants up by warm-ups and stretchings. A little dancing was mixed-in too.

I find it interesting that there were a lot of participants in all ages. They came in groups: families, officemates, classmates and friends.

They came in solos and twos:

Some actually ran and some preferred to walk:

It was good to know that thru running and/or walking, people are improving their health but what I'm really happy about is that most of the shots except for the first two were taken while we were on a moving car. We were sitting at the back of the fast running pick-up (the driver seemed to be in a hurry) and we tried to take photos and prayed that they didn't get blurry too much.

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Skywatch#65 Punta Dumalag Sunset

2011-02-17T06:48:00.000-08:00

We were hoping for a blazing and colorful sunset but we went to the wrong side of the Punta Dumalag peninsula. It was too late when we learned that we need to transfer to another location. So, here's what I got for the sunset photoshoot. A tranquil, blue-gray scene with the clouded-over Mt. Apo as the background.

My World#104 A No-Sunset Photoshoot at Punta Dumalag

2011-02-15T07:09:00.000-08:00

Punta Dumalag is a peninsula that juts out of Davao Gulf. It has a turtle sanctuary and a mangrove area that are being preserved in coordination between the private and the government sectors. It is a beautiful place and it has a no-swimming zone which I heartily agree on because the other side of the peninsula is already starting to get congested with beach resorts.

Aside from the mangrove area and the turtle sanctuary, this lone tree which is standing a few meters away from the beach is one of the interesting features of the place.

We were supposed to do a sunset photoshoot at the area but we got the location wrong. We should've been at the other side of the peninsula to see the sunset. I was also expecting to see and to take photos of some of the sea turtle hatchlings but they were not there. However, there were three or four mature Hawksbill sea turtles in two cages by the beach.

With the unexpected turn of events on our planned sunset photoshoot, it was a good thing that some of our co-photographers brought a model to pose for us. So, after taking photos of the area, I gave my attention to our model and snapped away.

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Skywatch#64 Sunrise At Sea

2011-02-10T06:14:00.000-08:00

This fishing boat was coming in at the Sta. Ana wharf as the dawn was breaking. The dark sky was starting to show tinges of red and yellow.

And the sun came out blazing that day..

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My World#103 Sta. Ana Wharf At Dawn

2011-02-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

I woke up before 3am in the morning and hurried to the meeting point, Mc Donald's fastfood. The place was already full at 4am in the morning. All of us were excited as most of would be having this sunrise photoshoot for the first time. A few people were already lingering at the Sta. Ana Wharf when we arrived. Most of them were laborers and fishermen on their work shift. We immediately got busy and set up our tripods. Here're some of the shots...

I was not sure if this guy was able to snatch a few winks with his bike seat as his pillow while dawn was breaking..

My co-photographers striking a pose...

We saw these two guys diving while the sun was rising in the background. One of the lady-photographers approached them and asked them to do some more dives so we could take some photos. They did a few more dives to our delight. At the same instance, a fisherman paddling on his boat passed by. A nice serendipitous setting.

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Skywatch#63 I Wish For A Sunny Day

2011-02-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

A colossal snowstorm that buried half of USA in inches of snow, a super cyclone that battered Australia for days and on our side of the planet, rains and overcast skies rule this week. I really, really miss the sun now. So, am posting some sunny day photos just to remind myself and everybody out there that things will get better.

All photos were taken thru my cellphone camera.

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My World#102 Streetchildren

2011-01-31T08:01:00.000-08:00

They were all sweaty, dirty and smelled of the sun. They were probably out in the streets for hours everyday but when they were called to gather even with the obvious appearance of the food, they came in slowly.

They were told to sit and they obeyed...for a while. Some actually tried to sit properly while we gave them their packed meal of Jollibee Chicken Joy but for somebody who probably was used to scrounge for food out in the streets, a clean meal needs to be taken care of the fastest and easiest way one can think of.

Squatting in front of the chair while tackling the Jollibee Chicken Joy is the best way to handle the food for these streetchildren. I was just happy to see them enjoying their food...anyway they eat it.

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Photos were taken during our outreach program for streetchildren last December.

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Skywatch#62 Eternal Flame Of Freedom, Corregidor

2011-01-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

Eternal Flame of Freedom - A large steel sculpture which symbolizes the Flame of Freedom burning eternally. It is located at the rear of the Pacific War Memorial dome on a raised platform which provides visitors a breathtaking panoramic view of Manila Bay, the Bataan Peninsula, and the coastline of Cavite. Designed by Aristides Demetrios, the sculpture commemorates the sacrifices, hopes and aspirations, and the heroic struggle by the United States and the Philippines to preserve freedom for future generations. The sculpture stands as a reminder that all men will fight as one if need to be to defend a nation's liberty.
source: www.corregidorisland.com

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My World#101 Poverty At The Young Age

2011-01-24T07:12:00.000-08:00

I saw this family while waiting outside a mall for my friends. The mother was obviously a street sweeper and was in a hurry to finish her work in that area. She called out her kids to help but they were busy playing by the street. A few minutes after and after several urgent calls from their mother, they started to help. The older one took the garbage can nearer to her mother, while the smaller one helped bring the mother's things.

It was heartwarming to see that the kids know how to help each other out and at the same time, saddening to see that they experience poverty at such young age.

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Skywatch#61 View From The 2nd Floor

2011-01-21T07:11:00.000-08:00

Photo was taken from the window of our seminar venue last year. As good as it was to learn something, seminars can get boring after seating for several hours in several days. So, I took this photo from the 2nd floor where our seminar venue was while taking a break.

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My World#100 House Of Hope

2011-01-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

A trace of weariness lined her face; a kind of weariness that was commonly absent among healthy kids her age. She tried to smile but while she looked sweet at times, she could not help but grimace at other times. She wanted to keep her shoulder-length hair but her treatment made it all impossible. She even thought her treatment won't happen because they were really poor but thank God to some kind-hearted individuals who helped her, her treatments pushed through. Difficult as it was, she was always hopeful. Her illness made her family poorer but she promised herself that once she gets well, she will work hard. Not only that, she plans to return to House of Hope. The place where indigent children stricken of cancer were being housed while undergoing treatment.

She is one of them now but she hopes she'll be able to get away from it.

Last month, I went on an outreach program for cancer-stricken children who were staying at the House of Hope. House of Hope is a halfway house for children with cancer and their families while they are having treatment at the Davao Regional Medical and Training Center. They were mostly indigent families.

Our group invited some cosplayers to entertain the kids and their families. Canon lent us some digital point and shoot cameras for the kids' use.

At the end of the day, the kids and their families such a grand time. It was so heartwarming to see and I'm proud that I have become a part of it.

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Skywatch#60 Sunday Flea Market

2011-01-14T06:32:00.000-08:00

We decided to check out the Sunday flea market near the San Pedro Cathedral. The flea market was there in time for the Christmas season and that Sunday was their last day there. So, off we go for some cheap buys. Unfortunately, we got too busy taking photos of the City Hall that we were not able to explore much of the flea market. We ended up buying some ornamental plants though.

This photo was taken from the 2nd level of the restaurant. The flea market was just below.

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My World#99 More Photos from Lamdag Dabaw...

2011-01-10T07:01:00.000-08:00

I promised to post more of the photos from 1st Lamdag Dabaw (Davao Lights) Festival. Here are some of the character-participants from the festival....

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Skywatch#59 People's Park Dancing Water Fountain

2011-01-07T08:40:00.000-08:00

The newly installed dancing water fountain of People's Park. It was opened in time for the Christmas season 2010.

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My World#98 More Lights At Mana House

2011-01-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

It never fails to surpass itself every year. Once again, Mana House came up something spectacular for its annual Christmas lights display. For this year, the theme is "Fantasyland".

A few blocks away from Mana House which is located along J.P. Laurel Ave., traffic started to stall. I know that the place is a people-magnet but still, I was surprised to see the big turn-out of people gawking and taking pictures of the place. They were by the busloads!

The previous annual Mana House lights display only covered the facade and front yard of the popular antique store. This time, the lights reached its side buildings and way above the roofs of the store. They almost look like they were trying to reach up to the skies.

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Skywatch#58 Happy New Year, Everyone!

2010-12-31T07:44:00.000-08:00

May there be more blessings for all of us in the coming 2011. Happy New Year, everyone!

Photos were taken from the People's Park, Davao City.

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My World#97 Lamdag Dabaw, the 1st Davao Lights Festival

2010-12-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

The 1st Lights Festival (Lamdag Dabaw) was held last December 19, 2010, a Sunday. The day started all rainy and for a while I thought it wouldn't stop. A feeling of worry probably not only felt by me but also by the participants and organizers of the event. Mercifully, the rain slowed to a drizzle in the afternoon and then, stopped minutes before the event started at exactly 6:30 in the evening.

Compared to the more popular Kadayawan festival, a few people waited along the streets inspite of public announcements made by the organizers. I actually liked it because I was able to take photos without too much elbowing from others..hehehe!

This iconic lighted Coke trailer buses always delight me whenever I see them, I don't know why.

What is Filipino Christmas without the parols (native Christmas lanterns)...

The Crocodie Park came in with fire dancers and their snakes.

Because of the rains, some floats were not able to fully maximize the lights they had and worse, some lights actually went pfft...Nonetheless, the event was really a delight and I am looking forward for the next year's event.

More photos coming...

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My World#96 Santa Claus Galore!

2010-12-13T21:42:00.000-08:00

The house was already full of Christmas decorations even if it was still November when we did the photoshoot. Not that we mind because even if the weather dampened our photoshoot session, the Santa Claus decorations cheered us up. They were really everywhere!

We were not allowed inside the house so each time I ran out of ideas in shooting the models, I turn to the house and did some paparazzi shots inside thru the glass windows.

The models' faces were reflected on the glass windows when I took this photo.

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Skywatch#57 Moon Over Us

2010-12-09T17:42:00.000-08:00

We were too busy taking photographs that time slipped by unnoticed. When I looked up, the skies were already dark and the moon was flitting in and out of the skies.

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My World#95 Halloween Has Gone, Here Is Christmas!

2010-12-06T17:55:00.000-08:00

Halloween has gone, but this owl stays out in the garden. This stone owl was standing on a flower pot in a corner garden while I was with a group of photographers. We were waiting for the models to finish their make-ups and this cute little owl peeping out among the plants was really cute.

In the meantime, houses even trees are getting decorated with Christmas decorations and Christmas lights. The photo below was taken as the sun was setting. I just love the dark blue tinge of the skies in the background.

Meanwhile, I've already started decorating our house too this weekend. They may be pretty to see but tiring to put up so I'm taking it slow.

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Skywatch#56 In Honor Of The Filipino Woman

2010-12-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

This statue of the Filipino Woman is found at the Tail End of Corregidor Island. It is just beside Filipino Heroes Memorial. The statue also faces the memorial parks of Philippine presidents Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña.

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Skywatch#55 Spanish Lighthouse

2010-11-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

This is the Spanish Lighthouse of Corregidor Island, Luzon. Thankfully, we were able to climb it to its top. The view was marvellous but my knees were almost wobbly due to the rickety stairs.

Wikipedia:
The lighthouse is one of the oldest landmarks in Corregidor. A lighthouse with a beam range of 33 miles (53 km). It was first built by the Spaniards in 1836 and was replaced with a better one in 1853. The second lighthouse was further improved in 1892 and was reduced to ruins during the siege of Corregidor. This rehabilitated lighthouse stands on the same spot where the second lighthouse stood before.

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My World#94 It's A Legoland!

2010-11-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

We stopped by Mall of Asia before taking our flight home. The purpose was to buy some take home goods but we also did some sightseeing on the side. The mall was already full of Christmas decorations but what really caught my eyes was their Christmas-themed Lego communities encased in glass boxes.

The Legoland was a favorite among the crowd: old and young alike...

I saw this boy in light blue T-shirt staring unblinkingly at the Lego toys. Not surprisingly I suppose, it was just so amazing to imagine those Lego bricks made into everything possible.

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Skywatch#54 Manila By The Sea

2010-11-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

The day started out with overcast skies. I prayed and kept my fingers crossed that there won't be any rain while we do the Corregidor island tour. Luckily, overcast skies cleared out and we enjoyed the island tour immensely. On our way back to Manila on a ferry boat, the view was pretty out there so decided to take a few shots of the Manila skyline. Here is one...

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My World#93 Gone Fishing At Eden

2010-11-15T18:54:00.000-08:00

During their visit a few months ago, my US relatives wanted to go fishing. It was a good thing that when we went to visit Eden Nature Park, their fishing village was open. So, we rented a fishing rod and got some baits for my aunts. I actually thought we'd be there for hours before we can catch some fish but in just a few minutes, my aunts got some good-sized tilapias one after the other.

There are several huts scattered around Eden Nature Park's Fishing Village. People who caught some fish would have their catch cleaned and cooked for a good meal.

While waiting for our meals, some peacocks wait for their turn on the left-overs. This white peacock was perched above the roof eyeing our tilapia and rice meals.

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Skywatch#53 Skies Over All Soul's Day

2010-11-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

It rained the night before so I thought that we would have a cooler day the next day. Wrong! The sun came out strong, the air was humid. We stayed until early in the afternoon and all that time, I could feel the sweat trickling down my spine. Thankfully, the lovely blue skies over All Soul's Day were made for good photos.

For the Chinese, the symbol of fish means eternity and happiness. I saw this fish on top of the Chinese temple inside the cemetery.

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My World#92 All Soul's Day, Filipino-Chinese Style

2010-11-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

As far as I can remember, trick or treating became popular here just only a few years ago. I grew up with visits to the graves of our deads during All Saint's and All Soul's Day. Usually, the visits start as early as on the 30th of October.

There are different set-ups in our city's Chinese cemetery. More prominent families have their own mausoleums that could include amenities such as their own bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms. A lot of these mausoleums are quite luxurious that gawking at them is a common pastime for us.

Some families prefer the apartment type which could accommodate two to four coffins.

While others just have the common set-up of having the graves lined up side by side...

As tradition goes, flowers and candles are the normal offerings but food never came last too.

Candles preferably red and even better, big with dragon designs are lighted at the grave, incense candles burn without let-up. Chinese paper money are burned constantly on a bin (meaning: to provide finances to the dead spirit).

Food is offered abundantly and as offerings, it is considered a taboo to eat them. Of course, food for the visitors are always there.

Usually, this season is also the time for family get-togethers. Thus, family members and visitors stay for hours, talk and update on each other's lives.

The Chinese has a lot of influence in the way we celebrate our All Soul's Day or as we call it as "Undas". However, Chinese style is more solemn compared to its Filipino counterpart which has a fiesta atmosphere in it.

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Skywatch#52 Davao Muslim Mosques

2010-10-28T15:47:00.000-07:00

We visited two Muslim mosques and a Catholic church last weekend. It was my first time to get inside a Muslim mosque and I was really quite curious. Both mosques were not that large and in fact quite simple in design.

The first one was located among the slums and while it was small, the people we found there were quite accommodating and curious with us. The 2nd one was larger but the mosque was closed after the worship hour and the caretaker wouldn't let us in. He did let us took picture of the perimeters of the mosque though.

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My World#91 Canon Photomarathon 2010 – Davao Leg

2010-10-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

Davao City had its first Canon Photomarathon just this weekend. It was well-attended by photography buffs who came complete with their photography arsenals. The venue was held at Davao Convention Center.

The photomarathon had three themes for the day. The participants then were given two hours and a half to submit their entries. Top prize was the latest Canon DSLR EOS60D aside from that, participants were given t-shirts, caps, free printing from Canon PIXMA printers and more fun giveaways.

And these are the participants on their way out of the venue to look for their first theme entries.

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Skywatch#51 Changing Colors

2010-10-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

I took these photos in a span of just a few minutes from each other. It's just amazing that the colors of the sky change so fast in just a short time.

Photos were taken at Brgy. Lucap, Alaminos, Pangasinan. The place is the jump-off point in going to the famous Hundred Islands National Park.

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My World#90 Who Can Climb The Highest?

2010-10-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

I first heard them shouting while playing on the playground right next to the tennis court. While we were having a break from our game, I peeped out to check why they were so noisy. It turned out that they were having a mini-contest on who could climb the highest on those trees.

It was quite dangerous and we asked them to stop. I took the first shot while they were climbing down.

I think, this is a better height to climb on than those tall trees, whadya think? :)

The kids stayed for awhile and watched us continue our tennis game. During our breaks, we learned that they were actually gathering firewood and was just taking a break to climb trees. Ah, kids!

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Skywatch#50 Sky And Water At Paradise

2010-10-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

I took this photo on my way to the boat at Paradise Beach Resort, Samal Island.

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