What can I do the rain would not stop from pouring

The weather station said there's no typhoon but it's been raining for the past days. It just won't stop. At the end of the day, I usually end up getting soaked.

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[random:]

... I am having difficulty with my current sched right now. work is loaded and i enrolled 6 units of subjects for my MA class, Tuesday and Thursday. I was advised by the Graduate School Office to take all my subjects and one penalty course this sem because I am already in my maximum residency. I am supposed to have my thesis proposal defense this sem and my thesis next sem. geesuz. i don't know what to do with my time.

... as if work and MA are not enough, Oki and I are attending two yoga classes in a week (Mon and Thurs) but since I have a class every Thurs, I had to take the Sat morning session instead.

...travels, I had to give this up =(

...Christmas is fast approaching. Faster than I thought. Heck.

...when it comes to Crackhead and her pregnancy i am on pins and needles.

...i've never prayed this hard, everynight.

Hazy look

There’s no trick. I didn’t tweak this in the photoshop. I took this shot in Ilocos Norte at the front of the infamous (haunted) The Mansion. We were staying in an air-conditioned room and the lens of the camera was having its "moist moment" (which I hated) when I decided to go out and take photos of the early morning dew. It rained last night. Anyway, I wiped the center of the foggy lens in circular, slow motion, leaving the moist portion around the circumference creating a nice, foggy effect on the side. Hence, the photo.

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I’ve been thinking of deleting this blog. I wasn’t even updating or making an effort to write an entry. I have got tons of photos to post but I rarely had the time. Also, I noticed that most of my shots do not say anything, they lack emotions, which leads me to the conclusion that: I have a life and that I am happy. The only time I turn to this blog is when I am hitting rock bottom (or at least the feeling of it). Yesterday, I decided to breathe life to this blog at least for the meantime. A secret keeper must turn to something if she wants to keep herself intact and sane.

Today, I realized I need this blog after all. I need to vent. I need to write (even though sometimes it doesn’t make sense). I need this blog because…let me borrow my friend’s line: “to reaffirm my existence.” Geezus, I guess I am having one of those “hitting rock bottom” again…all because of a simple spite I heard this morning.

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Sometimes the message is just in front of you!

I found this temporary stall beside Jollibee in Ilocos Norte selling shirts with interesting message printed on them.

English translation:

Life is like a wheel, sometimes your up sometimes in the vulcanizing shop·

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[postscript]

What do you call a person who intentionally pisses people off?

A douche bag.

This person is starting to annoy me, so much so that I just wanted to burry myself alive just to get away from him. But as the saying goes, “You can run, but you cannot hide.”

At 3:44 AM while I was snoozing my way to dreamland I was awakened by an annoying text from this person who’s mind has been greatly affected by his misconstrued notion of the truth. It’s a shame that some people have been gallantly feeding his paranoia that it is now the size of the map of Asia. Excuse the exaggeration but this guy has gotten way beyond being normal. Normal meaning rationale and considerate to other people’s feelings.

At 3:57 AM another one of his annoying, grudge-fest messages entered into my inbox. This time, he was accusing the girl as liar and in denial of her true feelings to this guy whom we know for certain is just a friend. The girl that this guy was accusing was my friend. To make the matter worst, the guy who’s been sending these annoying messages is also a friend. One of these days, I am planning to “erase” him in my life. Totally.

After his successive SMS, I wasn’t able to sleep. Everything went bad from the time I received his last message until the time I decided to got off the bed tired of looking lull at my room's ceiling.

My morning started from bad to being worst. Thanks to this guy.

From the ground

A lot of things have been happening lately, mostly about work, and I always feel like stretching the time just to accommodate everything that I need to do for the day.

I feel like I am always on the ground, lying and languidly sinking. Can someone pull me out?!

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I will have my first food photoshoot tomorrow. I would like to thank Oggie for the tips. I appreciate it a lot.

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“you were there
a few breath away from me
catching glimpses
has been an annoying habit
I think my face flush
an awful lots of time.”

Heck, why did you have to say that we are “a love team” when I knew all along that you meant nothing by it but an awful attempt to joke around. And you said it in the most awkward moment. In front of your dad and a bunch of “strangers”. Woot.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

"There was neither beginning nor end to this sorrow. Nor understanding." - Carson McCullers

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This post is for a dear friend. Every piece of me emphatizes with you.

Every pain, anxiety, regret...I hope they'd be gone sooner than expected.

Two years of pain is hell. Iinom na lang natin yan!

Beating the summer heat

This is the second part of my tomatoland series...

…tomatoes from the truck go through a water canal to wash them. Those in the basket are for grading.

…they are subjected into a thorough wash. I love those bubbles!

…then through a panel container for another bath.

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[postscript:]

A few days ago, I watched the film Hunger—Steve McQueen’s portrayal of Bobby Sands, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) member who led the 1981 Irish hunger strike and participated in the no wash protest in which Republican prisoners tried to win political status.

Although a fictional documentary, the movie is bone-shaking and overflowing with haunting images. Speaking of filth and darkness, my sense of smell and sensitivity is wary while watching this film. It is graphic both in its depiction of the failing human body and in its staging of prison beatings and humiliations.Even if you don’t agree with the beliefs of the IRA, you can’t help but admire the courage and tenacity of the inmates in fighting for what they believe.

This is not an easy film to watch, but the story is worth remembering—choosing a painful death all because of a profound dedication and belief; all for independence.

And why is it that when everything seems calm and compliant, here comes a powerful surge that will leave you bewildered and defenseless?

…here comes the woter!

…and more!

I had the chance to visit tomato land in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte last week. We were toured around the processing plant and I was specifically in awe after seeing a truckload of tomatoes being unloaded into a water canal leading into a huge pool of tomatoes. I never seen a pool so huge and err, so red. Will post a series on this next time.

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the Lenten Season!

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[postscript:]

Sorry for the (very) long title. I just have to include that one. :-)

Locked in, locked out

I thought I could get through to anyone. Read through their eyes; say the words before someone says them out loud. It seemed like I could get hold of someone's mind. Look through them. Read between the lines. Get a clue from their actions. I guess I was wrong. After all, even though I have known you for so long, I have never really known who you are.

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Staying behind

Staying behind from the pack enables me to see the whole picture, particularly those that I am bound to miss when I am in front. I stay behind so that I could observe you— how you move, which way you go, who you stare at, who you talk to, for how long, why…

but mostly, I stay behind so that I would know when’s the time that you look back and finally notice me from the crowd.

"Hello, tumingin ka naman sa likod kahit paminsan-minsan!"

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Exploring Bangui Wind Mills in various angles

I got fixated with the idea of capturing the Bangui Wind Mills in its most unusual stance that I have exhausted my effort in getting it in various angles. The task was exhausting but how will I achieve something if I didn't explore, right? Some things are worth giving a shot even if it means being pooped at the end of the day.

The road leading to the Bangui Wind Mills

My first day at the wind farm, we went by the Burgos town proper and headed for the Bangui Bay via the first directional marker we spotted. We passed through a gravel road all the way to a downward slope going down to the beach. From inside the car, I could already see the wind mills. The first thing I did was to capture the wind mills from the car, the road leading to the beach.

The Bangui Wind Mill from the observation deck

On my second day, we proceeded first to the Bangui Bay observation deck. The marker is easy to miss but since our driver knew where we are heading, it was easy to track which side of the road we’re gonna set off. From the viewdeck, the spaces between the 15 turbines are easy to notice. There’s not much room for creative shots here because the angle is very limited. Either you take from each side or the center. Or could be that I wasn’t just being creative enough.

The Bangui Wind Mills from the east side of the beach

From the viewdeck, we passed by the Baruyen Bridge wherein another marker is in placed. We headed for the beach to get a closer encounter at the windmills. We passed by this one big house surrounded by a long line of fence. On the left are the colossal windmills grinding their blades with the wind.

David and Goliath. I asked Jay to stand beside one of the windmills to compare sizes.

Standing underneath the windmill felt too good to be true. It’s so huge. I asked Jay to pose at the base of the windmill for size comparison. Going through some Internet searching, I found out that each of the 15 turbines is 70 meters high which is roughly equivalent to a 23-storey building.. Each blade is 41 meters long which is almost the size of an Olympic sized pool (which is 50 meters long).

When the wind blows, either we take it or we go against it

The Bangui Wind Mill is perhaps one of the most photographed places in the province of Ilocos Norte so it was quite a challenge for every photographer to get an angle that is far from being ordinary (or at least an angle that we don't normally see in postcards).

On different days, I went to the Wind Farm twice. One in the morning via the Bangui Bay observation deck and another during the late afternoon via the beach to see these gigantic wind monster upclose.

In the relevancy of the issue of climate change, visiting the Bangui Wind Mill is literally a ‘breath of fresh air’. The 15 turbines installed on-shore were arranged in a single row and in equal spaces apart. The direction of the wind comes mostly from the northeast optimizing the full benefit of the wind which comes from the bay to towards the land. Low carbon technology like the windmill helps in reducing the emission of harmful greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Likewise, it hastens and facilitates government’s program on augmenting power source in the rural areas.

The Bangui Wind Mill from the west side (facing the bay) via the first marker route going to the downward slope to the beach.

This shot was taken in the late afternoon. I was hoping to get a good sunset. But sunset was nowhere good that day. Literally, the wind was blowing hard on me that I could hardly get a good bearing to take a decent shot. My hair was getting wild, the sea water was ecstatic splashing hard on the sand. The only consolotion is that, it was just us in the beach so there were no people to obstruct my frame.

The Bangui Wind Mill at the background from the east side of the beach going coming from the observation deck.

The next day, I went there again using a different route. This time I explored the east side of the beach going down from the observation deck. It was a hot day and the sunstreaks were perforating on my skin. Upclose, the turbines are extremely huge that it won't even fit into my frame. I felt like I was looking up at a giant robot waiting to slice me in half. Then I found these long lines of thorns just near the shore and thought of the above shot.

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Postscript:

[Visayas Avenue, sa isang sulok]
ang sakit pala magpanggap. yung magkunwaring masaya ka. patawa-tawa. kunwari wala lang. nakikibiro pero ang totoo gusto nang manapak ng mukha. tumatawa sa jokes. kahit tila kumikibot-kibot ang panga sa pigil. pigil na di maiyak. pigil na wag mainggit. dapat wala nang tapunan ng pansin. kung bakit pinapansin pa. lumalayo na nga. bakit kase hindi na lang hayaan sa sulok. sana di mo na lang ako pinuri. mas type ko ang mga asaran. kahit papaano may dahilan ako. dahilan para umiyak. naknakan.

The finest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to oneself

Miks, Jud, Rayts, Eve

We were trying to form the word L-O-V-E. Trying to bend and curve our not so flexible bodies so that we will be able to come up with the word. The “E” came as the biggest problem to form. And I was assigned for the letter and failed to deliver (like I always do).

“E” for emotional. Elusive. Extraordinary. Enthusiastic. Instead I formed the other “E”. E for emportant. Entelligent. Encredible. Empressive. Enspiring. Ennovative. Which is everything but me. I can’t imagine being a human “E”.

So instead, we decided to have our own individual poses. Switched positions here and there, made a fine, lasting look at the blue water and had Dax click the shutter. Ahh, I just love watching the sea.

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The BEAUTY of Pagudpud Island

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, do some soul searching, be one with nature without spending much and still enjoy the luxury of a less crowded beach, pristine water and powdery sand—Pagudpud Island is the best getaway!

You could be a writer or an artist searching for your muse and you might find it here.

I know that sounds like one of those Tourism advertisement (minus the flair) but that’s the best way I know how to promote this place. A lot of people have considered Pagudpud over the overrated sandy beach of Boracay and I can’t say more. I’ve been both places and the sand in Boracay is finer and whiter but Pagudpud has its own beauty to offer. For one, Pagudpud is no commercial frills which I appreciated more.

Here are some proofs of that non-commercial frills....yeba!

I love this line of coconut trees following the long cove.

Here comes the sand...

At the other side of the shore are colorful boats parading in their glorious stances.

There are a few vendors selling necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and earrings made from seashells, jades, stones, etc. Just pretty!

And then not far from where I was standing, here comes the agile rower and the artistic poser making time for his daily sunbath.

Lovers in Pagudpud. I saw this huge billboard ad along Quezon Avenue Station and tried my own version of it. I asked real lovers, Miks and Jay to make the pose for me. Thanks guys!

This is is no commercial. She was really coming to my side. Love the yellow dress and the sunburnt skin.

My tired, ugly foot making my best run on the sand. You will never see a foot as ugly as this! ;p

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How to get there? (In reference to Kyels question)

If by air:

You take the flight from Manila to Laoag City (provincial capital of Ilocos Norte). From Laoag you take a mini-bus, rent a car or hire a private vehicle to Pagudpud Island. Buses leave from Laoag every half hour or less frequently, depending on how quickly they fill up. The fare is reasonable, and the trip takes about an hour.

If by land:

From Manila you’ll take the bus to Laoag, Ilocos Norte (8 hours or more expect stopovers). There are bus companies that travel to Pagudpud from Manila. You'll be traveling about 350 miles, and would take 12 hours or more. Commuter buses often stop to unload passengers or pick up new ones. Night trips are (always) preferred. You’ll just sleep and eat the long drive. From Laoag City, just continue the trip all the way to Pagudpud, Island.

In celebration of the Lenten Season...

Batac Church, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

...most people will be out on a break either to go out of town (or country) and enjoy the four-day holiday. My boss is in Cambodia right now, probably enjoying the mystifying beauty of Angkor Wat. Most people I know are some place else making the most out of the free time. I will just be in Laguna. How exciting! :-/

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PAH GOOD POOD

We went up north last week and gloated to our hearts' content with what Pagudpud Beach has to offer. Tagged as “Boracay of the North”, this beach is no stranger to local tourists.

The beach is located on the northwest tip of Ilocos Norte and is bounded to the south by the town of Bangui and to the east by the Cordillera Mountain Range and Cagayan Province. To the west and north, lies the South China Sea.

From Manila to Laoag (the capital city of Ilocos Norte) it is about 350 miles (10-12 hours drive). Except for the long, exhausting travel from the city, I guess everything is pretty much worth the time and effort. All around, the ocean and sky are saturated in varying shades of blue (my favorite color).

Powder white sand, deep blue sea, pristine water set against the luxuriant hills and mountains--

Best of all-- it was just us, the beach, and a few other foreign tourists savoring the same wondrous paradise we are enjoying. The sun was blazing hot making the blue deeper than the usual, and the sand whiter and more powdery. The place provided the best set-up to take tons of photos.

But let me pan the camera a little and switch the focus…not on the beauty of the island but to the lens and the eyes who were taking the photos. :-)

THE SUBJECT: Pagudpud Island, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jay, Miks, Rayts, Dax, and Eve

Jay trying to hit the jackpot with his four eyes.

Miks' eyes obviously need some shade to see better beyond those overexposed white sand.

Rayts: There are always two people in every picture, the photographer and the viewer. (Thanks Jay for the photo)

Dax likes to borrow everything: my cap, Jay's camera, and a photographer's pose. :-D

We all feel Eve, especially with that Yoko Ono's classic hairdo.

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