at long last...

Finally the long wait is over...my diploma in photojournalism is here!!!

Shiawase :)

feeling of lost....

Take me away from
this madness take me away
Somebody save me!

longing...

I know its that time of the year wherein almost everyone is going gaga over love but here I am feeling stupid as ever.

For my special someone, I love you like no other but I know your not the one

Colorblind by Dresden Dolls

i love you like a brother
and i love you like a child
and i love you like a lover
and i love you dumb and colorblind
and i love you like a mother
even after all you've done
and i love you like no other
but i know
youre not the one...

and i loved you in bright orange
and in violet and in green
and i loved you in such colors
as your eyes have never ever seen
and i loved the way you acted
but your one trick pony's dead
and i loved you unprotected
but you only love in
red

i know its dark for good
i never listen when i should
you only see in black and white
so go on back to your own kind
and i'll go back to mine

i love you like a brother
and i love you like a child
and i love you like a lover
and i love you dumb and colorblind
and i love you like a mother
even after all she's done
and i love you like no other
but i know youre not the one...

Hoping that I can finally let it go....

Day 215-213: Birthday Song

Yesterday is our Nanay's 86 birthday and almost everyone in the neighborhood attended her party. Chicken, fish, pancit and lots and lots of cake we're served and of course our dear lola is excited in entertaining them. Its good to see that she's healthy and drinking beer again hehe.















As the day ends her best friend came along to spend a few days with her. I overheard them talking and laughing over a television show and it makes me think of Tatay. I know she's missing him a lot after all its been 8 years since he passed away but as I look at her I know that she's happy and contended with her life. She's a very strong willed woman who is blessed by a loving husband and a good family. I wish to hear her hearty laughter more in the coming years and continue to be an inspiration for all of us.



As a took this photo of her it makes me think of the "Birthday Song" of Don Mclean. I know that if Tatay is alive he will surely sing this to her. Hehe so 'Nay ako na lang muna ang magdedicate ng kantang eto para sayo....


Birthday Song

If I could say the things I feel, it wouldn't be the same
Some things are not spoken of, some things have no name
Though the words come hard to me, I'll say them just for you
For this is something rare for me this feeling is so new

You see, I love the way you love me
I love the way you smile at me
I love the way we live this life we're in

Long ago I heard the song that lovers sing to me
And through the days with each new phrase I hummed that melody
And all along I loved the song but I never learned it through
But since the day you came along, I've saved it just for you

You see, I love the way you love me
I love the way you smile at me
I love the way we live this life we're in

I don't believe in magic but I do believe in you
And when you say you believe in me there's so much magic I can do

Now you see me, now you don't: watch me dive below
Deep down in your love lake where the sweet fish come and go
And I might sink and I might drown but death don't mean a thing
'Cause life continues right or wrong when I play this birthday song

I learned from you, and you can't even sing



We love you Nanay and happy happy birthday!!!

day 229-226: a day in the beach

I always love beaches for the following reasons:



its the perfect place to get your perfect tan only if you do it right :)



a good place for relaxation and bonding with family and friends



people watching weeh :)



Lastly, finding a good companion such as these two adorable cats.

day 237-236 : letters

Last December I did a general cleaning in my room and this is what I've found:



Reading old letters from my friends, relatives and my mom is like getting to know myself all over again. Its quite nostalgic and fun



Thanks everyone for these timeless memories :)

day 259-247: the best of 2011

Time for some reflections, the following 12 photos are the highlights of my 2011.


January- its good to see my college friends again after so many years.


February- my first try in shooting wedding (thanks for the opportunity Kuya Mel sa uulitin :)


March- spending my birthday in Saigon with my dear friend and classmate Chiloy ^_^


April- taking lighting sessions with Kuya Mel as preparation for my portrait portfolio for ACFJ


May- after one year of studying and 6 months of working for our final portfolios, we're finally done weeh!! Thanks so much for all our mentors and for the good memories and hardships my dear batch mates hehe kudos to all :)


June- Coron!!After our 2 weeks of sleepless nights preparing for the defense its time to sit back, relax and enjoy the beach weeh!!


July- its good to be back in our province after 8 years maupay!!


August- ever been inside a control room of a nuclear power plant?hehe this is one heck of an experience!! hoping the government will covert this mothball BNPP into a more productive way as a tourist destination rather than operating it again.


September- again another once in a lifetime experience to enter a cold storage area for fish the temperature is below 8 degrees Celsius brr.....


October- my first solo exhibit, Realities a photo story on Cosplay being shown in SM Mall of Asia during the 2011 Cosplay Mania thanks everyone for making this possible :)


November- travel again hehe this time in Angkor Wat wherein I met new friends and great photographers


December- after 4 years its good to spend Christmas with the whole family in the Philippines :)

2011 is a good year thanks to my family, friends and all the blessings and challenges Lord God for this new year I pray that Your will should be done again Glory be to the Highest!!

day 276-266: 6 days, 3 countries, new friends, great adventure :)

Where was I a week ago hmm let the photos tell you my tale...



Bus terminal in Bangkok to Siem Riep. I've waited for about 7 hrs before I can board that bus argh!!!



The culmination of AngkorWat Photo Festival 2011. This last night of the festival they showcase the works of 27 young photographers who participated in this year's workshop. I was able to be inspired and to meet new friends and great Asian and Westerner photographers. What a great night of learning, drinking and just having fun hehe :)



Angkor Wat temple!!! Weeh got a tiring and fun tour together with Chiloy's batch mates in the workshop. Too bad were not able to see all the temples but at least we got this nice sunset



After walking in the temple I finally experience a very tickling foot massage :) and its only for 2 dollars with free beer



Phnom Penh a four hour bus trip from Siem Riep, we only stay here for one night just to see the photo festival.



One of the exhibit story in the Phnom Penh photo festival. Its a work of one of Chiloy's batch mate, I just love the lighting in these photos. Good portraits!



Back in the city of motorcycles hehe. Good evening Saigon!!



A pretty cat guarding the bag store ^_^



The greatest ice cream in the world!! Haha why is it that we always have a hard time looking at this place imagine we even go inside a travel agency just to ask for directions ^^;



What a good way to spend our last night in Saigon, eating in our favorite noodle place :)

Great travel, new friends, inspiring photos hehe life is good :)

day 328-326: rush hour

Bumper to bumper. Both public and private vehicles are stuck in a traffic during rush hour in EDSA.



Going home. Commuters from all over the city are hurrying home during the rush hour at the top of a hanging bridge in North EDSA.



Waiting. Passengers are waiting for vans and fx in the terminal area of Trinoma mall, North EDSA.

day 329: Hard worker

Hard worker. A child vendor of "chicharon" or dried pig skin stands in a jeepney trying to sell his goods.

day 330: Pasko na!

Pasko na!Passerbys look into Christmas trees and other decoration display along Mc Arthur Highway Meycauayan City. Philippines is said to be the country that has the longest preparation and celebration of Christmas.

day 331: dinner time

Dinner time. Before going home, people eat street foods like "itlog pugo" also known as quail eggs along North EDSA.

day 332: Morning walk

An old woman and a child taking a morning walk inside their subdivision in Meycauayan, Bulacan

day 333: worker at night

A vendor of mangoes waits atop a bridge for customers.

*Theme for this month is photojournalism. I started with feature photos of last weekend Cosplay Mania 2011. For the coming days I'll be posting singles that tells a story about current events, slice of life, spot news, features/lifestyle, portraits, and sports.

This is my favorite genre of photography stay tune for more stories guys

see you,
AC

day 335 and 334: Cosplay Mania 2011

Last weekend held the biggest cosplay event in the country known as Cosplay Mania 2011. Cosplay is a pop subculture in which people wear costumes and portray their favorite characters from comics,video games, anime, graphic novels, live actions and movies.



Kosupre!!People taking photos of cosplayers is a common site during the first day of Cosplay Mania 2011 in SMX Convention Mall of Asia Pasay City, Philippines.



Archnemesis. Cosplayer portraying as Shockwave, the antagonist in the third movie of Transformers, performs during the Project Cosplay Solo Competition in SMX Malll of Asia, Pasay City, Philippines.



Helping out.Cosplayers help out each other before they do their catwalk



International cosplayers from Thailand perform their skit during the second day of Cosplay Mania 2011

day 336: sa wakas...

For me the main responsibility of a documentary photographer is to share to the public the story of your subject. Tomorrow and this Sunday, I'll be having a photo exhibit on Realities- a photo story on the social understanding of the pop subculture known as cosplay.

This is my thesis during my diploma course in photojournalism in ACFJ (2010-2011), but its more than just that. For me this is a story of different people who find themselves an interesting culture in which they can share their creativity and individuality to the others.

Thanks to Project 8, Guy Singson, Zoila and Lira of UPAME and Gaz and Annie from UST and cosplay.ph .Its a privilege to document your wonderful stories guys and I hope I'm able to bring justice to it.

This story is dedicated to you and all the cosplayers in the Philippines. Keep the culture alive and let it grow for the future generation.

Many thanks to Lea Guerrero, Arthur Diono, Alex Baluyot, Gigie Cruz-Sy, Cristina Derillo, Jenny Tuazon and for all those who support my one year project :) (hehe I sound like Lolit Solis)

Kudos to all of you!!

day 337: atop

Manila at night...