Scene City

Monday, 2 February 2009

The arms of Anselma del Rosario's Home at Pandacan, Pandacan.

Saturday, 1 March 2008

Crossbeak's Journal: Jacinto Ciria Cruz Swimming Pool

Wednesday, 27 February 2008

Sardoz

Sardoz is the father of several kittens, most of whom have an all white fur. He has a big head and moves around the house with an air of authority.

Monday, 25 February 2008

The architecture of this building is one that is worth saving. This is the first building of Adamson University at its present campus at San Marcelino, Ermita. It used to be a seminary ran by the Vincentians. I am glad that the University has improved the façade so that the building can be seen from across the street.

Saturday, 23 February 2008

Sidewalk Service

You need a duplicate key? Door knobs or padlocks for repair? A watch to be fixed? How about changing the heels of your shoes? Take a note at the services offered by those busy sidewalks of Manila. This is Boy who shares a spot for watch repair at Paco.

Friday, 22 February 2008

Fence

A piece of granite fence with plants and a piece of roof at Rizal Park.

Thursday, 21 February 2008

The Cascades

I met the Cascades (John Gummoe, Gabe Lapano, Tony Grasso, and Chuck Crews) when they did a concert at La Salle Bacolod on June 2006. This photo is at a shopping mall at Bacolod.

"Distinguished and Ever Loyal City"

From Rajah Sulaiman to Jaime Cardinal Sin, the city where the river Pasig flows to the bay, witness to centuries of colonial rule, struggles for its rightful place in this global village. The original Manileño has either moved to the suburbs or migrated to the land of milk and honey. What remains are a handful of us natives and migrants from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, watching the transformation, the development and decay of the city we call ours. Join me in the scenes of everyday urban life, of the people who continue to habitate this Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad.

Amateur Photography

My interest in photography was influenced by many people. First and foremost was the late Rolando Ferrer Managing Editor of the Adamson Chronicle who was using a Nikon F which made me realize that my Canon rangefinder was not all that good for serious photography. I was amazed by how much Lando knew about the Nikon system so much so that I promised to get myself a Nikon. I have a high regard for this guy and I was influenced pretty much by the things he liked: writing, shooting photos and drinking beer. He rides a motorcycle but that was one item I stayed away from.

The Second Time Around

I did get a Nikon F photomic and one of those flash bulbs with the rechargeable battery that looks like a lady’s bag. I guess it really does not matter how dumb you are. As long as you have a good camera, you catch the attention if not the respect of others with less impressive equipment. Bert Santos, a commercial photographer using the Roleiflex twin lens became my friend and did the coverage for my wedding.

I stocked up on Nikor lenses, a 35 wide angle and a 135 telephoto. Had I known better, I would have gotten a 28 and a 105. I also got an enlarger and converted my bathroom into a dark room. I met more photographers, the ones who took up fine arts like Cesar Queaño, Nelson Rivera and Manny Santos when I worked with Freddie Ong doing advertising and promotion for Caterpillar Diesel Engines. It was then that I realized that I will stay in the little league when it comes to photography. I used to be Mr. Shoot during family affairs but that dwindled. Somehow, my wife got the hang of it as she became adviser of the school’s photography club.

All these happened many decades ago until the other Christmas, my daughter gave me one of those digital cameras. Nice present, I thought but my son started using it and I was occupied with other things that I never got to using it.

One day, I decided I will shoot again. Perhaps it was Olivier Agustin a young man friend of my son, himself an aspiring photographer, who woke up the interest in shooting photos again. I realize that I will have to update myself with present day technology. And so here I am, fumbling around with this Casio (camera? I always thought they were calculators).

Never mind if the photos are blurred, if the composition is bad and whatever… my eye sight is bad anyway… but that song is correct! Love is lovelier the second time around.

Censored

My internet activities has been unceremoniously castigated by the board of censors (my daughters who are less liberal than my dear wife) and so I stand corrected as follows:

My former photo was observed to be showing too much skin. Having been taken at the Laiya Shoreline, I regret not donning on my hawaiian shirts which these same censors detest. But honestly, I was wearing hawaiian trunks much more decent than my old High School Swimming Team racing trunks by Speedo, made of very thin nylon material the texture and lightness of which I thought would allow me to swim the 100 m free-style below the 1:00 minute mark. Anyway, I obediently removed my scandalous portrait and placed GKC's from whom I quoted my thoughts.

While on this topic, these same censors have in the past called my attention regarding "Dating Girls" coming out as my interest in my Friendster. But here is an explanation: when I was cajoled by someone to register in Friendster, I thought the "Dating Girls" would have been more appropriate than "Dating Boys." While I have corrected this a long time ago, the board of censors does not seem to have a system of checking wheter or not their sanctions have been complied with.

Oh well, we raised them up well, I think.