Catching Clark on Camera

Just arrived from an office outing at Clarkfield Pampanga. There was no event there that day, so I just roamed around, with digicam in hand, and took memorabilias of the place. Here are some of my favorite photos...


Violet. The perfect blend of the radiance of red and the coolness of blue. There is something about this color that pleases my eyes, more so if they are in the form of a flower tree in full bloom. I found one in Mimosa. Instead of picking the flowers (which would possibly get me into trouble with the security guards) I just took their picture and preserved it on my photoblogck.



Here are my two brothers, Rick and Ray, walking around the Mimosa compound in the afternoon sun.



Walking around the peaceful and secure neighborhood, I saw a rather poetic scene behind the white gate that enclosed the compound: a winding pathway lined with trees and scattered leaves.



My brother Rick and our churchmate Apple, reminiscing their childhood days on a playground -- a few minutes before a security guard came over and told us that a 10PM curfew was being implemented in the area. I looked at my watch and realized we were two hours beyond curfew time.



A night shot of our cook out at the backyard. We grilled fish and liempo (which explains the smoke in the picture) and paired it with green mango salad. The dinner was simply sumptuous.

Lovelier the Second Time Around

I paid a visit to the twin lakes again. The trip was not on our itinerary but the governor suggested that I take our media friends on a tour of the lakes. I was more than willing to do so. No time is wasted in seeing the twin lakes of Sibulan.


We left the hotel at around 6a.m. for an early morning trip to Sibulan, an hour's drive from Dumaguete. We traveled mostly on dirt road, though portions of it are already paved by the local government. Upon reaching the end of the road, we found ourselves on top of Mount Talinis, and a few feet from the road is lake Balinsasayao. It was 7a.m., and the morning mist still canopied over the mountains.


We descended onto the basin of the lake, where we saw a kid fishing on shallow water. As we approached him, we discovered that there were already three tilapias in his basket. I simply had to take his picture. The simplicity I saw in the scene was one of the most beautiful I have ever encountered.


Royal blue bancas line one side of the lake, ready to take its passengers on a memorable and meaningful exploration. The area is largely undeveloped. There is but a small cottage up the slope and the surrounding forests are untouched. It is a real paradise for nature lovers like me.


This was our banca, facing towards the ridge that separated Balinsasayao from its twin, Danao. The great lake was beckoning us to come and start our morning exercise of paddling and mountain-climbing.


I took a picture of my companions while we were on a banca, paddling our way to the other side of the lake. The serenity of the place also set us in a rather reflective mood. We quietly paddled our boat while listening to the symphony of birds and crickets on the woods on top of the mountain slopes and beholding the panoramic view of the mist-covered mountain.


Upon reaching the other side of the lake, we climbed the ridge that led to Danao lake. During my first trip here, the path to Danao was a muddy trek up the mountain then down to the lake's basin. This time, I noticed that the local government had already placed stepping stones that made the climb easier. Upon reaching the pinnacle, I took this picture of Danao lake from the top of the ridge. I still wanted to go down and complete the quest but my companions were less adventurous today and opted to go back to our banca.

I may not have completed the trek this time around, but my second trip to the lakes may be described as less adventurous yet more meaningful. The place was lovelier the second time around. It is now that I have come to appreciate the stillness of the lakes, and can say I have experienced what King David said in Psalm 23. He leads me beside quiet waters.

Treasure Hunting in Silliman

One of my favorite schools is Silliman University. Somewhere within this 52-hectare campus are rare treasures not found just anywhere in the country. I had the opportunity to explore the far ends of the campus one day, and here is what I discovered...


Silliman Hall, the oldest building in the campus, houses several artifacts excavated from areas within Negros Oriental. There are rumors that some have seen ghosts in this part of Silliman since certain artifacts found in this hall are actually burial jars and ancient wooden coffins. One of the burial jars even had a skull in it! Well... I saw the skull but I haven't seen any ghosts.


Behind Silliman Hall stands the Gate of Service, one of the four pillars of the university. Part of the graduation rites of Silliman includes a walk through the Gate, a symbolic ritual showing that it is time for the graduates to serve their country. In this picture Publications Officer Mark Garcia explains to members of media the beginnings of Silliman University, and its four pillars: the Gates of Service, Knowledge, Opportunity and Discovery. And guess what, they say that this university is very active in sending its teachers and students to other universities in the US. Hmmmm... maybe I can take up a masteral study there...


The second largest collection of Brydes whale bones can be found in Silliman University (the largest is in Japan). The photo above shows the skull of a Byrdes whale, and the surrounding shelves are filled with other bone pieces. This skull is so large that I can't imagine how it is like to stand beside the living creature - and to think this is just its head!


Behind Silliman's Marine Lab is a crocodile farm. These predators are so cunning they can stand still that you can mistake them for a dead croc or a lifeless branch. Their unsuspecting prey then comes near enough, not knowing that in the next few seconds, they have just become the croc's dinner. Good thing these crocs didn't snap at my hand while I took this picture, or I would have ended up like Captain Hook.


This is one of the rare finds in Silliman University - a copy of one of Dr. Jose Rizal's books in his own handwriting! You can also see the editing marks that Rizal made on this draft. Such treasure is preserved in Silliman's library, which houses one of the largest volumes of books in the country.


I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Dr. Doromal was actually the 6th President of Silliman University. He is a very congenial man whom I met in FEBC where he was board member and I was the assistant of Caloy Pena, the FEBC President at that time. A very good natured board member, his witty remarks made the board meetings very enjoyable. When I left FEBC, I met Dr. Doromal again during committee meetings for a musical organized by KilosBayan, an NGO founded by former senator Jovito Salonga. Again, Dr. Doromal made the meetings more interesting with his quips and banters. Seeing his picture as the 6th president of Silliman University, I begin to wonder how it's like having him as college professor.

Rivendell in Dumaguete

I found myself in a Rivendell-like place in Dumaguete during a campus tour. Foundation University is the loveliest campus I have ever visited. It is small compared to the other more prestigious universities I've visited, but the place is reminscient of elven lore that has fascinated me in the movie Lord of the Rings.


In the middle of the campus is a garden. A fish pond covered with lilies is the centerpiece, surrounded by study nooks shaded by bright-colored bouganvillas. At the far end of the garden is a statue of Dr. Jose Rizal as a writer. Seeing places like these, I now know why they call Dumaguete a writer's haven.



Underneath bougainvilla trees, Foundation University students study, conduct group meetings or simply enjoy a relaxing time with friends. Such is the work of their BOT Chairman, Dean Sinco, a US-educated architect, who gave each corner of the university a daub of his creativity.



Foundation University is non-sectarian and non-profit, yet it instills a strong sense of values among its students. Its president, Dr. Mira Sinco, is one lady with a passion for values and ethics formation. She is also like a strict mother. There are times when she catches a male student wearing earrings, she would tell him "I think those earrings look better on me." She then borrows the earrings for the whole day, and returns it when the student is ready to leave the campus. This lady can also be seen around campus carrying a pair of scissors, offering a free haircut to male students caught with long hair.



Beneath the classic look of the university grounds, are advanced facilities that can support a medical transcription business. Entheos IT, a ICT company that has set up operations inside the university, employs graduates of medical courses who are trained to transcribe audio clips of doctors from abroad. This is one of the job opportunities that await the university graduates. Now they don't have to go to the overpopulated and overpolluted Manila just to get a job. They can enjoy their Rivendell while working inside high-tech facilities.

Tsunamis at Caliraya

April 16, 2005. There were small tsunamis that occurred in a pool near the Caliraya lake. I caught evidences of the cause on my digicam, and here is my account...


Meet Marian. Some people in the pool may have mistaken this girl for a salbabida - aside from her shape, she simply floats on water without having to tread. I tried applying the known laws in physics and biology to explain this phenomenon but never reached a conclusion. Just before the day ended, Marian decided to try the diving board. Despite the curious onlookers, this ???-pounder lady strutted onto the end of the pool and mounted the board. And dive she did! A few minutes after landing on the water, the lifeguard took a hose and refilled the pool with water. (No joke!)


After the tiny tsunami, some water creatures such as this brown sea lion joyfully jumped into the pool. This is Ariel, whose worst fear for the day was getting sunburned, since his skin was already peeling from the summer scorch. But it seems not even the hot afternoon sun can deter him from having a fun and memorable day in Caliraya. He was one happy seal.


Some dolphins then followed suit. This is JR, the better swimmer in the group who gained a lot of cheers and claps as he displayed an array of tumbles and spins on the diving board. Despite his great talent however, Marian stole the limelight from him just by jumping from the diveboard. JR may have performed pirhouettes, but Marian made waves. Literally.

All these happened one afternoon while I was happily swimming in 10-feet-deep water, though I did not know how to tread. The adventurous side of me told me to join my companions on that 10-feet-deep part of the pool, and just stay on the sides for safety reasons. Good thing I was already out of the pool when the phenomenon happened. Seeing the evidences above, I can jump into the conclusion (not the pool) that small tsunamis can happen on a 10-feet-deep pool, caused not by an earthquake below it, but by an earthshaking force above it.

At Daybreak

Day Two, 5:30 am. The sky was still dark, the sea breeze cool, and the only sounds you hear are the splash of waves on the shore. I walked around the resort, and watched the early fisherfolks paddling across the sea. There was something serene and profound in the way these people go about their daily tasks. Perhaps it is the quietness of the dawn and vastness of the ocean they experience everyday -- and which I long to experience more frequently. For it is always a stark reminder of the infinite greatness of the God of the Universe.

Soon enough, a soft golden glow was emerging at the other side of the sea, its colors blending with the dark blue hue of the sky. It grew brighter each passing minute. Soon, came the sunrise. I captured the majesty of the moment on my camera, then prepared myself for another journey and a new set of discoveries.

From Dawn Till Dusk

A day after holy week, I found myself in Dumaguete accompanynig two media friends who want to write about the city. I've been in and out of Negros Oriental the past five months, but I have yet to discover more of the province's abundant natural resources and the richness of its culture. In this blogck entry, let me share with you my most recent discoveries...


5:45 am. I usually take photos of the sunrise with clouds above me. Today, I shot the sunrise with clouds below me. Our plane left Manila at 5:45 am -- the sky was still dark and the city streets still empty of busy vehicles. Halfway into the hour-long flight, the sun rays started to peek through the cumulus clouds. With only ten people on the plane, I was able to move from one seat to the other, to get a good angle of the sunrise. Here is the scene from my airplane window: the sunrise at around 20,000 feet above sea level.


Our work began the minute the plane touched down on Dumaguete's airport. Soon, we found ourselves in a series of meetings, briefings and tours that I did not have enough time to savor the refreshing landscape. Relief came after a hearty lunch at Rizal Boulevard when they took us back to South Seas Resort for an hour of relaxation. Lacking in sleep and overloaded with too much information in just half a day, I went straight to my room to grab a few winks and recharge my batteries. One hour was enough to refresh me. I even had enough time to enjoy the scenery outside my window where white boats sailed across the sea. I found the image to be so refreshing that I simply had to preserve it on my digicam.


A tour of Silliman University was next on our itinerary. It is a very impressive school -- next to the University of the Philippines, of course (love your own! hehe). An extensive fiber-optic network runs through the whole campus alongside century-old acacia trees. It was a perfect blend of the old and the new. We were in the campus' oldest buildings when I saw a familiar scene -- and took this photo with memories of my own school.


At day's end, we proceeded to Bacong town to visit a small stonecraft factory called Noah. The owner was a sweet old lady who shared with us how God led her to start their stonecraft business, and, because of her faithfulness, her work prospered. Hearing her stories, I was inspired to wander around her factory, and see for myself the once small business that blossomed into an enterprise that employs over 200 workers. I soon discovered that the factory was situated near the seashore. I took out my camera to take a picture of the sunset, but then I remembered... I was in Negros Oriental! It is that part of the island where the sun rises. Even without an image of the sunset, I took this picture, smiling at the thought that each time the sun shows itself on this part of the Negros island, it is always rising.



I never expected to have an enjoyable dinner with the governor and Dumaguete's big businessmen. I thought I'd be too tired to even appreciate the food, but these people are such a jovial bunch that I found myself amused by their stories and ideas. While chatting with them about kayaks and sharks and lakes and fishes, a scene has caught my eye: out in the open sea was a lone fishing boat, its tiny silhouette visible only through the faint moonlight's reflection on the waters. I sneaked out of the group for a while to capture its image on my camera.

Weekend Road Trip

It was a weekend of road trip adventures -- from a kiddie party in Cavite, to a Cranium game over coffee in Tagaytay, to a table tennis match back in Manila. Each stop was as memorable as the next, but the day's highlight was our short visit to Taal Lake. The scene was picturesque -- Taal volcano's crater peeked several meters above the hazy blue waters while silhouettes of cumulous clouds flew across the sunset-painted sky. I took photos of my friends while they viewed the volcano. Here is what I captured on my camera...


Pierre tinkered with his new Sony Cybershot W1, which he bought in Singapore at almost 25% less than its usual price here in Manila.


Third looked intently at the volcano, perhaps remembering his adventure at its crater several weeks ago.


Something up in the sky caught Macoy's attention -- or perhaps he was just looking at how the breeze was blowing through his hair.

Deo was also with us, but he was moving up and about that we were not able to take his picture (I think such was the effect of "The Flash" shirt he wore that day). I wasn't successful in catching Deo's image on my digicam, but Pierre was -- and on this picture (of me, also taking a picture of him), he caught on his camera the blurry image of "The Flash"...

Photography Pep Talk

There was a one-hour window in my series of meetings today, and I decided to spend it along the acacia-lined campus of the University of the Philippines in Diliman. The trees had a refreshing color that afternoon, so I tried applying the impromptu photo101 lessons Luis gave me during an event the night before. To my dismay, I realized the great disparity between my point-and-shoot Sony Cybershot P93 and his digital SLR, a Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel ). As I tinkered with my camera's manual mode, an elderly man in his sixties approached me and asked how my pictures were doing. He carried Sony Cybershot DSC-F828, and I knew my shots cannot be as vivid as his. He showed me how to use the program mode of my camera to increase the exposure. My photos did come out brighter, but I am resigned to the fact that the ordinary lens of my P93 cannot compete with the Carl Zeiss lens of his F828. I thanked him for his tips, and took his photo as he walked away.

Bibingka Crepes!

I just had a one-of-a-kind bibingka-crepe treat in Tomas Morato. Took this picture of Macoy at Half Moon cafeteria where we had our "unplanned" dessert after dinner. It all started at Starbucks, where the group proceeded to have coffee after the delightful dinner at Teriyaki Boy. Before ordering coffee, one of us uttered the word "bibingka crepes." The next thing I knew, we were already on a joy ride towards a small open-air cafe near ABS-CBN. Deo treated us to a succulent set of crepe-like bibingkas stuffed with chocolate, cheese and peanuts. I'd say it was exceptional! I can't wait to visit that little cafe again.

Friday Fellowship

Seems I will be frequenting McCafe Greenbelt every Friday now, where we hold our IVCF cellgroup. I was actually looking for a small group in Makati, and of course, my first choice was CCC since my spiritual journey with friends in this organization back in college was life-changing. For some time, I was part of their Makati Professional Ministry after graduation, but have lost touch when I was assigned to the FEBC head office in Valenzuela. Now that I'm back in Makati, I can't seem to find them. Good thing my IVCF friends, Dave and Hope, have invited me to join their cell group every Friday night. I'm glad to have discovered this group. Now my Friday nights will be filled with food... spiritual, that is. And perhaps some coffee and pastries on the side. =)

Coke, Crackers & Letters

I'm starting to get fascinated with monotones. Took this picture of Third when I dropped by their place after my highway adventure. We were chatting over coke and crackers in their dining room while Pierre read a letter I wrote to him in December 1998. It was only now that I was able to give it to him because, admittedly, I forgot to mail it, and soon lost it. Good thing I accidentally discovered it in one of my shelf drawers. He was able to finally read the letter -- after six years. Just ask him if it was worth the wait.

Classic

UCC Cafe looks classic in monotone. As we waited for our friends to arrive, Syvel and Chad talk about an upcoming event they were coordinating. It was Dawn's post-birthday treat to her DZFE friends that day -- seems like the fellowship, which was once broken, was renewed. We all went our separate ways (it was only Tiff who was left to manage the station) but still, we are all united in our concern for DZFE. We wouldn't want to see all the hard work and long nights we put in for the station simply go to waste. But times are hard, funds are low, airtime has to be cut, and DZFE could be losing listeners. Prayers are needed. Its music may be timeless, but it does not guarantee that the station is too.