Category Archives: Pilipinas

Pier Snapshots: Balanacan Port

Leave a comment Posted by on May 7, 2015
image

Mother Mary statue in Balanacan Port

When I’m in Manila it doesn’t feel like I’m living in an archipelago, but whenever I travel by sea, that’s when I can deeply feel our life in the archipelago. In my childhood days, I would travel for 2 hours by sea between Negros and Panay islands via Negros Navigation ferries. My favorite part of the voyage was seeing the Siete Pecados (group of seven islets). In my university years, I would travel between Negros and Cebu islands via RoRo vessels and my favorite part was seeing some dolphins across the strait. I would also travel by sea between Visayas and Mindanao or between Visayas and Luzon and these long voyages mean seeing plenty of islets and islands along the way. There was always land in my line of sight.

image

Moreover, I remember countless of sea trips for leisure such as between Cebu and Bohol islands, between Negros and Siquijor islands, between Luzon and Mindoro islands, and many more. So many islands, and likewise so many ports. Siquijor Port is one of the two seaports where I find the surrounding water and seascape quite beautiful. The other one is the Balanacan Port in Marinduque Island.

image

Napocor’s Power Barge

image

Last of the passengers boarding the RoRo vessel bound for Lucena

image

View from the Starhorse Lines RoRo vessel still docked at the Balanacan Port

Marinduque , , , , ,

Overloaded Tricycle

Leave a comment Posted by on May 6, 2015
image

Sta Cruz, Marinduque: A tricycle with cargo occupying even the driver’s seat

The arrangement of stuff to maximize the load of a transport is not unusual in the country, or generally, in third world countries. Because of limited resources, improvisation and art seen in day to day life make third world countries more interesting than sterile and expensive cities.

image

image

Arrangement, Marinduque, Transport , , ,

Typography: Starhorse Lines

Leave a comment Posted by on May 5, 2015
image

Starhorse Lines vessel at Dalahican Port, Lucena

A RoRo vessel bound for Marinduque at Dalahican Port in Lucena.

Public Transportation, Quezon, Typography , , , , , ,

Bamboo Carrying Pole

Leave a comment Posted by on April 24, 2015

image

Split bamboo pole is the most applicable equipment for this guy to manually carry as many huge bags of food stuff as possible. Though rudimentary, his effort in making sure that the load in both ends is of equal weight shouldn’t be discounted.

Apparatus, Metro Manila ,

Queue Chairs

Leave a comment Posted by on April 19, 2015
image

Sitting queue at the COMELEC (Commission on Elections) voters registration in this precinct

Rows of chair are sometimes provided in queues for relief and comfort. The sequence is usually row by row (not column by column).  Specifically, row 1:column 1, then row 1:column 2, then row 1 column 3…row 2:column 1, row 2:column 2, row 2:column 3… and so on.

image

From the queue chair's point of view

This sitting queue method is quite common in the country. Either butts synchronously slide to the next chair for the line to move, or if the next chair is a bit far that sliding becomes precarious, you’ll see people stand up, step sideways, then sit down (repeat n times).

Metro Manila, Pinoy Way of Life , , , , ,

Terminal 1 Rolling Store

1 Comment Posted by on April 2, 2015
image

Rolling store - only in Terminal 1

Hungry or thirsty while waiting by the check-in counters at NAIA Terminal 1? No problem. There are several rolling stores at your service.

Metro Manila, Pinoy Way of Life , , ,

Bumble V

Leave a comment Posted by on April 1, 2015
image

A gas station in Bacolod City

Negros Occidental, Signs , ,

Kuhol Eggs

Leave a comment Posted by on March 24, 2015

image

On returning to Lake Caliraya for a weekend escape from the urban noise (e.g. car engine noise), I noticed plenty of kuhol (snail) egg clusters in plants, tree trunks, boulders, boat dock, and boats this month. So apart from sitting crossed-leg on the dock waiting and watching for the occasional jump of fish in the water, birdwatching sans binoculars, reading Robert Parker’s Spenser novel, and other “doing nothing” activities, I thought about keeping stock photos of kuhol eggs.

image

A pair of kuhol picked from the water

Seeing those pink eggs very close while taking pictures, I wondered if there is some kind of pattern in the count of eggs per elongated mass. Right now, I also wonder if the egg adhesive can be used as household adhesive. Seems like the substance can bond on a variety of surfaces and is even water resistant.

image

In demand real estate for laying eggs

image

I guess any surface will do

image

Even on mother-in-laws tongue (plant)

image

Perhaps any leaf will do

image

Some on boulders

image

I wonder if they all laid eggs at the same time in this trunk

image

Snail still laying eggs

Creature, Laguna , , , , ,

Sunday Snapshot: Canoe in the Lake

Leave a comment Posted by on March 22, 2015

image

This man was paddling towards a spot in the lake where he can leave his canoe, put on his mask, and take out his spear gun. I watched him go in the water (from the opposite side) for spearfishing.

Laguna, Snapshot of the Day , , , ,

Chaolong

Leave a comment Posted by on March 15, 2015

image

When talking about examples of regional fastfood such as batchoy in Iloilo, lomi in Batangas, pancit cabagan in Isabela, ngo hiong in Cebu, satti in Zamboanga, inasal in Bacolod and so on, for Puerto Princesa it’s the chaolong. Chaolong is a Vietnamese influenced rice noodle soup with meat (e.g. pork, or beef) and basil. It’s the broth that tastes Vietnamese.

image

From the inside of the chaolong eating house

image

Chaolong with pork bones

Food, Palawan , , ,

Pre-measured Petrol

Leave a comment Posted by on March 11, 2015
image

El Nido, Palawan: A liter of petrol in Coca-Cola bottles

Palawan, Receptacle , , , ,

Humblest WWII Monument

Leave a comment Posted by on March 10, 2015
image

The Writings: This project is dedicated to the patriotic and brave men of Barangay Granada who offered their lives in defense of freedom and democracy during World War II

With respect to the immortalization of our World War II history, the country, being a major participant of the war has quite a number of World War II monuments, memorials, and shrines. As I write this, I’m recalling those I’ve visited.

Corregidor has plenty of reminders of the war including a commanding statue of MacArthur. Seems the entire island is a World War II monument, which makes it the biggest one in the country. Then I saw MacArthur once more in his Leyte landing memorial at Palo beach. And yet again, MacArthur again in a similar landing memorial (Luzon landing this time), plus some other World War II displays at Lingayen Capitol grounds in Pangasinan. Up north in Ifugao, there’s a peaceful looking World War II shrine in Kiangan amidst the surrounding mountains. Kiangan is where Yamashita surrendered. In this shrine, I had one of the most pleasant memorial stroll.

Some memorials evoke solemnity more than the others that I tend to unconsciously reflect from the powerful words and images carved in the stones or walls. The magnificent World War II memorial in Washington DC for one, where the arch that says “Pacific” has the power to produce goose bumps in me.  Likewise in the country, the Libingan ng mga Bayani was originally established as a tribute to Filipinos who fought and died in World War II, while the somber American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig is for the Americans who perished in the war. Similarly, the tranquil Japanese Garden Memorial Park in Caliraya is the burial ground of Yamashita, and a shrine for the Japanese soldiers who also perished. I saw strings of thousand origami cranes being offered in here. One day, I will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in Japan.

Those listed above are quite well known World War II monuments. Yet, around two months ago in Bacolod, while I was running on the highway with sugarcane field in both sides, I came upon a World War II statue by the roadside in Barangay Granada. This barangay monument is dedicated to its constituents who lost their lives in defense of freedom during World War II. By far, this is the most humble World War II memorial I’ve been to.

Negros Occidental, Tale , , , , , , , ,

Tiny Rizal Monument

Leave a comment Posted by on March 8, 2015
image

Scaled down Rizal monument in the townhall grounds of El Nido

Throughout the Philippine islands, one can usually see Jose Rizal statue in schools, government buildings, and public plaza. So far, the monument in El Nido town is the tiniest one I’ve seen.

Palawan , , ,

Generic Fiesta Ornamentation

Leave a comment Posted by on March 4, 2015
image

Banderitas in El Nido town for the upcoming Balinsasayaw Festival this March

The most visible generic sign of an approaching town fiesta is no other than the banderitas. These precursory colorful flying triangles effectively set the mood of the townsfolk for the festivities.

Palawan, Pinoy Way of Life , , , ,

Beach Snapshots: El Nido Town & Caalan

Leave a comment Posted by on March 3, 2015
image

Life in the tropics (town beach)

image

Somewhere at the right side of El Nido town beach

image

Either walk or paddle to Caalan beach from the town

image

One cannot resist self immersion in the clear waters of Caalan beach

image

Famished? Paddle (or walk) to Gawad Kalinga restaurant somewhere in the stretch of Caalan beach that is nearer to the town. The atmosphere was tropically idyllic as you sip fresh buko juice and snack on calamari

Palawan , , , , ,

Pleonasmic Signs in El Nido

Leave a comment Posted by on February 28, 2015
image

The word inn and its synonyms namely, hostel, pension, and rooms

Sometimes extra words were added unconciously so as to be absolutely clear, though some readers may find it unnecessary, at times funny, but oftentimes an effective way to reduce the probability of misinterpretation.

image

Then the use of 'lodge' in another El Nido Inn sign

One example is the multiple signs of El Nido Inn where its redundancy gives one a  very clear message that it is indeed an accommodation, a very cheap one.

image

Cottages in this one

image

Cheap accommodation for global visitors

Other examples are a couple of dive shop signages wanting to emphasize diving in the water just in case you have different sort of diving in mind. Finally, a life vest to make you safe.

image

image

image

Safety life vest

Palawan, Typography, Words , , ,

Corong Corong Sundown

1 Comment Posted by on February 27, 2015

image

image

image

image

Palawan, Sunrise Sunset , , , ,

Sound of Silence in Lake Caliraya

Leave a comment Posted by on February 22, 2015

image

Meanwhile, Lake Caliraya provides every little thing that is needed for a quiet break, devoid of man-made sounds and all those unnecessary things one can do away to thrive on earth. Someplace that is somewhere close-by Metro Manila.

image

Still waters - perfect for kayaking and spotting birds from one shore to the next while doing so

Some tools for better living are intangible things such as contentment, peaceful inner self, uncomplicated existence in the midst of other human beings, and indifference to money. Other than those, natural surroundings are something tangible that contribute to better living if one spends a great deal of time (in one’s lifetime) on it – wherever that may be, and it can be as near as Lake Caliraya.

image

It's not often where one can see the end of the rainbow

image

This lakeshore property has no right of way, hence the presence of that barge. I kind of like it this way though

image

Resident dog named Bingo, and one of the many birds in the lake

image

A place to sleep and read can be something as comfortable as this camper yet none of those unnecessary things in life. Again, I like it this way

image

More campers for like-minded individuals who often come here

image

Dock for small boats with unintentional greenery on its thatched roof

Laguna , , ,

Of Santo Papa and Banca

Leave a comment Posted by on January 20, 2015
image

Walking by the shore of Pundaquit days ago, I saw this banca while the Santo Papa was in Manila. So I thought about the pope and nothing else

I imagine that one day the Santo Papa might ride a banca to visit the fisher folks like how I often visualize Jesus Christ – mingling among the fishermen including Simon. Simon later on became Peter the Apostle, the first pope in history.  So perhaps the banca is better suited as popemobile, at least symbolically.

Seasonal, Transport, Zambales , , , ,

Plying Subic Bay for Seashell Shoppers

Leave a comment Posted by on January 19, 2015

image

As much as I want to buy from them for their livelihood sake and for those pretty conches, I can’t bring myself to do that. It may encourage this kind of damaging trade.

image

Olongapo , , , , , ,

← Older posts

Newer posts →