On the Way to the Tarlac Monastery

Here are more photographs that I took during our trip to the Tarlac Monastery. Only the brightness, contrast and colors have been edited.

DSPC Entries: Photojournalism Contest

I joined the DSPC (Division Schools Press Conference) Photojournalism contest in English this October 8 - 9 of 2009. As photojournalists, we were tasked to shoot photographs which is related to human interest. In photojournalism, the photographs shouldn't be snapshots or orchestrated photographs, but photographs depicting stories of people. In photojournalism, captions must support the photographs and mustn't be the obvious but the deeper meaning of the photograph.

In photojournalism, I learned a lot about the lives of different people. Because while shooting, we get to interview the people. I also encounter different kinds of personalities that's why I realized that I should always prepare myself for whatever I would encounter.

Fortunately, I bagged the first place for photojournalism in english and I would proceed to the Regional Schools Press Conference, wish me luck!

ALL HER LIFE. An 80-year old woman gets a living from the busy streets of Angeles City for twenty years.

CHILDHOOD? Two little boys spend their childhood strolling the streets of Angeles City to beg for alms.

SURVIVING. A woman sits empty-handed on the bridge but still asks for alms to sustain her needs.

Artworks: Soft Pastel

So here are some of my "soft pastel" drawings. I am still practicing using this kind of medium. These are some of my first drawings using this medium - soft pastel, hard variety.

This is my first drawing using soft pastels. "Voyage"

"Crepusular Light"

"Ocean's Whisper"

A Visit in the Tarlac Monastery

Below is a photograph of the Jesus Christ in the Tarlac Monastery. It is located at the very peak of the mountain. A peaceful and serene atmosphere surrounds the place. Masses are held 10:30 am everyday, except for Thursday, and a 3:00 mass on Sunday.

After a very long trip going there, it was just so worth it. We plan to go back there soon!

A Piece of Thought on the Reality of Life

In my "day dreaming" state, a questioned popped out of my mind. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF PEOPLE WHO EXPECT DEATH'S CALL FROM THOSE WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHEN DEATH WOULD KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR?

The people who expect death's call are most of those who have terminal sicknesses and they know that they only have few days, months or years to live. While the people who have no idea when death would knock on their door refers to most ordinary, healthy people.

Once a person encounters or has a terminal sickness, he or she would know how many more days are left before he or she dies. And most of those who have a terminal sickness uses his or her last days to do what they needed to do and to make the most out of what's left with them. I really admire these people. But I can also say that once some of these people realize that they are about to die, they give up on life and just wait for the day to come. But that's life! People do come and go. We may have seen a lot of people pass away and other new babies to be born on earth.

Everything in life has an end. We could never live forever, therefore, we too, like those who have terminal sickness, also have our days numbered. That makes us totally not different from them. We may not even know that we could die first than those who are diseased. The possible difference between the two is that people who know the day of their death make the most out of the days that are left with them while some people who have no idea of what day they would die just wander around and usually use their remaining days regretting for the past mistakes and wrong decisions they had.

Every time the clock ticks a second, we are moving farther from our childhood and moving closer to our death. Must we use the remaining seconds bothering to worry about what had happened in our past? There isn't any time left for that. But as soon as we are still alive, it would never be too late to do whatever we need to do. The earliest time to do what is needed to be done is NOW.

Always remember, the time is always ticking and it would never stop.

Playing the Flute

First, I was using a bamboo flute in playing. Then I was telling my mom that the real flute (which is the silver one) really looks good and I bet would really sound way better. But still, I kept practicing using the bamboo flute but I wasn't satisfied with the sound it produced. Surprisingly, on my birthday, I came home and saw a black case in the table with a note written from my ninong Gelo. It was a birthday gift for me.

To my surprise, when I opened it, it was the flute I kept wishing I would have! I never knew how to play it or make it sound at first. Because it doesn't require just any simple blowing. The way you blow and the way you shape your lips could change the sound the flute would produce. After few months, I tried playing songs but I still didn't use sheet music or notes. Good thing, I was given a "how to play the flute" book, where notes and exercises were written. And in through Video Sheet Music in Youtube, I get to choose from a variety of songs to play. In that Video Sheet Music, there is a background music and the sheet music is shown in the video.

I just played the flute today and I'm trying to improve my skill and technique everyday. So far, I'm not yet taking flute classes, but if I could, I would really love to.

I've tried playing River Flows in You by Yiruma and You Raise Me Up. But I haven't finished playing a whole song yet. But at least, I could read and follow sheet music right now. I'm only having a hard time with playing the high notes in the flute. So, I need to keep on practicing!

I hope after a few practices, I'll get to play the whole song. I'll keep updating on my improvement :)

Expect the Unexpected

Many may have passed away in this year of 2009, especially public figures, Michael Jackson, Cory Aquino and an Iglesia leader "Ka Erdy" Manalo. Many unexpected deaths in our families may have occured too. So what is my point?

All of us must expect the unexpected, for life would never be predictable. Some people may say that life is predictable because they do the same thing over and over again. But what would happen to us would never be predictable. It's a cliche to say that, in a snap of a finger everything can change. But it is actually very true.

Life is meant to be lived. Life isn't meant to be wasted at all. It is more appropriate to say, living life, instead of spending life. There is a difference between the two. Spending life may just merely mean, sleeping, eating, going to work or school and doing human related activities. But what would be its importance if we make everything a habit? Life is meant to be lived. Let us not do everything out of duty, but out of love. We must always find the love in what we are doing so everything would be worth it.

Mom's Portrait

I would want to share a black and white portrait of my mom which was taken using natural light and very minimal editing.

My Photography Journey

This is a photo of me in Palawan with my Canon EOS 400D and a Canon Zoom Lens EF 70 - 200 mm 1:4 L IS USM.

I started photography in late 2006. I can still remember that I used my Canon Digital iXus I, point and shoot camera to take photos. I started playing with its settings and photographing still life photos. Those were my first photographs.

Then when my cousin came home, he was bringing his Canon EOS 30D. I gave it a try and said, woah. This is nice.

As my grade 6 graduation gift in March 2007, my dad's gift for me was a Canon EOS 400D. At first, I didn't really know how to use it! I was kinda confused taking photographs looking at the viewfinder because I was used taking photos in a live view, like that of a point and shoot camera. So finally, I had my first shot in that camera. Cool!

I loved taking macro photos during those times. I took a photograph of a small flower then and had it published in the Manila Bulletin, Picture Perfect area of Raffy Paredes. As a first timer, I was totally happy when I saw the photograph in the newspaper.

Then in my thirteenth birthday in December 2007, my friend and I whose birthday is also in December, decided to create a scrapbook with our photos together. I went to their house and brought clothes, and of course, my camera and tripod. We really had fun taking photographs together. And our next photoshoot was in our home. Of course, as a twelve year old, I didn't have my own studio. Therefore, I improvised. I used a black cloth as a background and inserted it in the curtain rod. I used flashlights for the lighting. I took her photos and they turned out good. I submitted it again in Manila Bulletin, Picture Perfect area and received an e-mail from Raffy Paredes that my photographs were posted again.

When I was thirteen, a second year student, I became a photojournalist of the school and I started to join competitions in photojournalism. It really had been tough for me. The first one was the DSPC (Division Schools Press Conference). I bagged the first place for photojournalism and never expected it! So I advanced to the next one which is the RSPC (Regional Schools Press Conference). It was a big event. But during the RSPC, it was where problems came it. First, some of our films were stuck in the camera or wouldn't load at all. Then my next problem was that the film camera that I was using didn't want to work. So thanks to my teacher, he bought a compact film camera. I used that to take photographs. I never discouraged myself seeing others having good, working cameras. But I told myself that, "The outcome of the photograph isn't with the quality of the camera, but it is with the determination of a photographer to make the photograph look good." With what happened, I never expected myself to be in the top 10. I thought everything would be okay after that, but still, no! Haha. When we were layouting our photographs, I didn't receive my photographs. I decided between two things (to not speak up and use the photographs that were given to me; or to speak up and find my photographs). Of course, I decided to speak up and to find my photographs. It went on for hours, until I found that my photos were layouted in another student's work - take note: a grade school student. So how could those photos be mixed even if they had their codes? I guess it was because of the time limit in developing the photos and we were really many that's why these kinds of problems occur. We were questioned with the photos we took in order to find out whose photographs were those. I kept telling myself, does this student know that this isn't her photographs? Or did she have the same photographs as I did? Finally, I was given a time to layout my photos in a limited time.

I was really stressed out. But I was thankful that I experienced these in the contest in order for me to learn a lesson. As my teacher said, "Welcome to the real world." He's right.

The next day was the awarding and my birthday! December 9, 2008. We went to the venue and I looked if I was in the top ten. Even though I didn't arrive first, second or third, surprisingly, with all that had happened, I still arrived as a fifth place. It was overwhelming and I was really thankful for what I had experienced. It was both a challenge and blessing to me. The point I would like to raise in this story is that, we musn't be discouraged whenever things doesn't favor with us, and we must learn how to speak up if we know there is something going wrong. I'm not that kind of person, but, I was able to do it. :)

Moving on with my photography journey, my next and last contest was the UP Aguman. The theme was, A Modern Kapampangan. We were asked to submit an 8x10 photograph, with a title and a caption. And tada! That would be my entry. It was way easier than the previous contests I've joined. It it was less stressful. I took a photograph of a tricycle driver and its background was a kalesa. Thankfully, I arrived first place in the contest.

That year of photography really taught me a lot. It showed me the ups and downs in joining contests and it too, made me stronger.

In that year of April 2009, I took a photography workshop in Manila, which is the FPPF. It lasted for five Sundays. I've met a lot of people, learned a lot of techniques in photography and I was one of the youngest in the group. I got to improve my photography techniques and learned a lot more about my camera's settings.

And this year, I'm not joining any contests yet. I'll keep on updating!

4 Signs of Stroke

I received an email which was entitled, 4 signs of stroke. I would want to share it to you so you would know the indications of a stroke :)

1. ask the person to smile
2. ask the person to talk and speak a simple sentence (coherently)
3. ask the person to raise both arms

If the individual has any problem with any of these tasks, probably, he or she is experiencing stroke. Another sign of stroke is this:

4. ask the person to stick out his/her tongue (if the tongue is crooked or going from one side to another, it is an indication of stroke)

* note: twenty percent of those who experience stroke are below 55 years old, so not only elders experience this.

Most Used Subject: In Fort Santiago

Yeah, a fountain. It is the most abused or used subject in Fort Santiago. FPPF (Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation) students is familiar with this most "abused subject" as they say ;)

After how many attempts, here is a photograph of a fountain which was taken using a slow shutter speed for its flowing effect. When I took photographs of fountains before, I just took a photograph of it using a fast shutter speed because I couldn't hold steady my camera. The water looked frozen into little ice drops. But once I applied the techniques I've learned, this is the outcome of a waterfall whose water isn't frozen water, but flowing water.

Contrasting Colors

Six red apples and one green apple. I thought of this concept in order to show the contrast between two colors (red and green), and when they are put together, they create a good effect. I usd natural lighting here, a black cloth for the background and some boards to cover excess light coming from different direction. It also has editing for an enhanced photographic effect.

Palawan Landscapes

These two shots are some of my favorites which were taken in Palawan during the island hopping. These photographs are from the Snake Island in Palawan.

Self Portraits

Tada! Here are some of my self portraits that I just took this afternoon. The photographs may not look close to perfect, but at least, I was able to take these photographs using the technology of the self timer! ;)

Taking a self portrait is pretty challenging because there are a lot of things to put into consideration before and after taking the photograph.

1. Check if the subject (me) is focused.
2. Check if the zoom of the camera is right for the desired effect of the photo.
3. Ask myself if I am still in the frame of the camera.
4. Check the photograph in order to correct any mistakes in lighting, aperture, focus, etc.

I bet it is easier taking portraits of other people because you get to see immediately the outcome of the photograph. I hope that my next self portraits would be better than these. I'l keep posting!

Reading "The Shack"

The Shack is one of my favorite novels I've read so far. It is written by William P. Young.

The story focuses on its main character, Mackenzie or Mack. He goes through a series of trials especially when his daughter Missy, was abducted during their vacation.

After three years, he receives a note which was signed "Papa" (a name which his wife uses to call God). In the message, he is being asked to return to the shack, where his little Missy was murdered. When he reaches the shack, he would have an encounter with God which could change his perspective of God and life forever.

Like Mack, reading this book opened up things I didn't understand about life. It inspired me because I understood clearly that God has a reason for every single thing that happens to us. And He never intends anything wrong to happen in our lives. There would always have a reason behind everything.

Isn't that nice to know?

THIS BOOK IS WORTH READING!