Related Posts with Thumbnails

Shooting cascades in Papa-a

As soon as I saw small cascades running down the stream, I immediately thought it would be good to do long exposures. It was just disappointing that I did not bring my tripod [again!]. But then I felt I had to shoot.

Awesome sunset in Butuan City

It is not very often you get to witness a stunning sunset that gives you goosebumps. For a photography junkie like me, you should never, never, never let it pass just like that.

Winning a photo contest

Winning a photo contest for the first time (well, officially and with a prize for that matter) gives a different high!

Missing Cordi

From afar, I could already see the clouds rolling over the mountaintops. It was a sight to behold. So I asked the driver of our vehicle going to Buguias, Benguet to stop so I can capture this once-in-lifetime scene.

Cory Aquino: An inexhaustible gift to democracy

She further stressed the belief that the Filipino people, as a nation, can be great again. During her last State of the Nation Address (SONA), she said: I believe in the inexhaustible giftedness of the Filipino people.

Conversation with a cab driver on climate change

Ironically, this cab driver who would like to contribute something help curb climate change and global warming, by planting his narra tree becomes discouraged and disappointed...

At home [and at peace] with HDR Photography

HDR is not bad per se. HDR is nice to learn. In fact it is a must for non-pro like me to learn HDR to learn more about shadow and light and exposure, which is the crux of photography.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

By popular demand

Wordmark of FlickrImage via Wikipedia
I have been a Flickr user since March 2007 or 3 years and 7 months to be exact. My PRO account expires on November 5, 2010.

So far I have been satisfied with Flickr services, especially when it comes to protecting my photos from being stolen through its privacy and copyright options, and several features that allow me to see how my individual photos fared in the internet, and how they appealed to the viewers. I might renew it again when the time comes.

Compared to other flickr users, this statistics is nothing, but just the same, I just want to share with you several photos based on popularity. : (You may click the image to view the larger size).

Most Interesting:
Broken wings

Most Viewed: 3852 views
Si Superboy at tumbang-preso

Most Favorited: 42 people favorited
Chocolate hills redux

Most commented: 101 comments.



Peace out! Yo!

Thanks to all those who patronize my photos!

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Thursday, October 7, 2010

"I like it on my keyboard."


Last night, I was browsing through Facebook and saw a couple of statuses from two of my female friends.  One "I like it on my bed." and another likes it "in the closet."

Apparently, this is another creative way of spreading the awareness of and support to the fight against breast cancer.  Even if I am not a woman, but I have a wife, sisters, women friends and relatives, so I am joining all in spreading this campaign. It can be recalled that last year, 2009, it was all about the color of underwear. So, "I like it on my keyboard."

My late mom also had a stage 2 breast cancer.  That is why this issue is very important to me.  After all, I was nursed with her breasts when I was a baby.  She passed away two years ago due to some undiagnosed disease (but could be related to breast cancer). Initially, my mother received the "bad news" with a heavy heart.  Assurance from us, her children, telling her that breast cancer can now be treated, helped her understand and recover fast.  Indeed, she survived it and was declared cancer free until her untimely and unexpected death.

Hearing the words "breast cancer" doesn't always mean an end. Rather a woman can take it as the beginning of learning how to fight, getting the facts, and finding hope.

Some important lessons can be drawn from my mom's experience:

  1. Knowing the real score.  It is important that the patient knows her condition.  It is her body and she has every right to every information on the illness she has.  Gone were those days when cancer was to be kept a secret.  It has to be out in the open so that one can openly wage a battle against it.
  2. Know thy enemy. One needs to confirm (and re-confirm, if needed, by getting a second opinion) if, indeed, one has the big C.  Laboratory tests and diagnosis, and prognosis are very important information in waging a battle against it.  One needs to know her nemesis, so that she can attack its weaknesses as well as allow her to prepare and strategize for the "battle".
  3. Gathering your ranks to support the patient, as well as in battling the disease.  Cancer is not easy--financially and physically speaking. The big C can drain both.  It can drain a patient morally and spiritually.  That is why, the family or even the entire clan (if possible) must be involved in giving moral support, offering prayers, and even financial support. Likewise one's circle of friends is equally important in every way.
In addition to the above lessons, every woman and man, must be fully aware of and learn about breast cancer.  For Filipino women, you can browse through the Philippine Foundation for BREAST Care, Inc. One can also learn more about breast cancer at Pink Ribbon Official Website.




Friday, September 24, 2010

Announcing the Top 10 CNN Heroes 2010

CNNImage via WikipediaPreviously, I blogged about CNN's announcement about its search for the CNN Heroes 2010.  Well, there is no Filipino nominee this time, but I am sure, there is no dearth of exemplary Filipinos, doing their heroic acts.
The Top 10 Nominees include:
  1. Guadalupe Arizpe De La Vega
  2. Susan Burton
  3. Linda Fondren
  4. Anuradha Noirala
  5. Naryanan Krishnan
  6. Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow
  7. Harmon Parker
  8. Aki Ra
  9. Evans Wadongo
  10. Dan Wallrath
Read more about their profiles, heroism, and vote HERE.
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    Wednesday, September 22, 2010

    Who will be the 2010 CNN Hero of the Year?

    The CNN Center in Atlanta.Image via WikipediaCNN has made an announcement that it will disclose its 2010 Top 10 CNN Heroes.  According to CNN, the announcement will be made on September 23, 2010, at 1PM at CNN.com., which will commence an online voting.

    We recall that, in 2009, Efren PeƱaflorida, a street educator from the province of Cavite was bagged the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.  He also made the famous quote "We are the change that this world needs to be."

    Will there be a Filipino nominee again this year?  Let us find out on Thursday, September 23. In the meantime, let us watch CNN's video on Efren:


    Video Credit: CNN.com

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    Saturday, September 18, 2010

    Video | Manila : Queen of the Pacific


    My late father always talked about his Escolta walks.  As a kid who grew in the province, I never had an inkling of how Manila looked like.  I only knew about it from my father's pictures, and later on when I had the chance to tag along with my parents.  He endlessly talked about how beautiful Escolta and Avenida Rizal was.

    We know that Escolta was the center of business and trade, much like Ayala Avenue and the Entire Ayala Center, then we had Cubao, Greenhills, and now, we have Libis, Rockwell, and the latest to grow are Fort Bonifacio and Madrigal Business Center in Alabang.  Avenida Rizal, then, was the center for the culture and the arts, where movies were shown and stage plays were held--like London's West End or New York's Broadway.

    Having the chance to work in Intramuros in the early 90s made me appreciate the ruins and architecture of Old Manila, and of course, Escolta and Avenida Rizal.  Intramuros, for its being a tourism destination is being preserved and reconstructed to its old glory. Escolta, since early 90s has not changed much.  Perhaps, there are only more traffic and people now.  Needless to say, Avenida Rizal is in shambles. This dingy and grimy place is now home to rotting buildings, peddlers, crooks, street people, and heavy traffic. It is ironic that this strip where Manila culturati has taken its roots, has become a place for lewd movies and sexy stage performances, and worst, a place for prostitution.
    Under Mayor Lito Atienza, Avenida Rizal, which was even named after the country's national hero, was given a much-needed facelift.  It was cleared from traffic and was converted into a street mall.  Now, under the leadership of Mayor Lim, the place has gone back to its sham image.

    In my photowalks to these places, it is just sad to witness Filipinos' lack of appreciation for history, culture and tradition--which must translate into preservation or restoration of historical places and architecture.  I could only marvel at the thought that Manila was once a pride in Southeast Asia or even the Pacific.

    Well, it is not too late to bring back the lost glory of Manila. There are still buildings that can be salvaged from rotting and total destruction.  We only need to clean up these places and at least repaint their facades, and once and for all, get rid of those hanging cables and wires!  Bury them under!   In fact the El Hogar building in Binondo area is now undergoing a major renovation and restoration to be a future site for business and trade. I just hope the National Historical Institute and Manila's planner's would be more gungho about this. 





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    Friday, August 20, 2010

    PAL Photo Contest: Another copyright infringement?

    I have gotten tired of commenting on photo contests, which are, allegedly, violating the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

    But then, here is another one brandishing its audacity in the midst of Filipino photographers who are fighting for intellectual property rights.  This is happening despite the fact that they hired a professional photographer, affiliated with the Camera Club of the Philippines.  Later on, they stripped off the "Camera Club of the Philippines" and replaced the tag "advertising and travel photographer" to the commissioned photographer, Bien Bautista, who seemed to have forgotten about the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.  The CCP must have been seething in anger that they have been dragged into this brouhaha.

    While the contest rules protect PAL from infringement of intellectual property rights as mentioned in Rule No. 10, it does not take into consideration the intellectual property rights of the photographer in Rule No. 16 which mentions that: (click photo on the left for bigger view).





    "By entering the contest and submitting his/her entry/ies, each participant agrees and acknowledges that PAL is permitted to receive the photograph or image entry/ies, and that he/she transfers and turns over to Philippine Airlines the full ownership of the copyright to the photos or images."
    Unless, this is a commissioned work, full copyright can be transferred to PAL where the photographer would just have to sign a waiver.  But this is not a commissioned work.  Period.

    I am sure, I am not a lone amateur photographer who is against or disappointed with this contest.

    The prizes are equally disappointing, despite the fact that they are giving away round-trip tickets to LA, Brisbane, and Hong Kong!  If somebody wins, he or she has to deal with securing a US Visa and Australian Visa, not mentioning the transportation and travel allowance just so one can "enjoy" the prizes.

    Good luck to those who can afford to lose their copyrights and fall prey to the seemingly exciting prizes!







    Monday, July 12, 2010

    A people's victory



    I have been wanting to create a video of my photo documentaries. Last Friday night, I tried to learn more about Olympus Studio 2 software which came as a bundle with my camera, which I haven't used for so long. I was more bent on using Adobe Photoshop CS3 for photo editing.

    I came to realize I could actually do time lapse tethered shooting with Olympus Studio 2 and make it into a movie. I tried it for 50 photos inside the house under poor lighting conditions, and I was so excited with the result even with poor quality photos, that I might do a time lapse photography one of these days, if time permits. So, I tried to make the time lapse photos into a movie with Windows Movie Maker but I could not figure out how to set the intervals into 1/16 second or less. So I tried it with Picasa 3, which is a freeware in Google, and it has a function for time lapse.

    Back to this video, I wanted to share the inauguration photos without me worrying of my photos landing in the hands of crooks,and of course to share the photos in a way it can be more appreciated. So here it is, trying hard in weaving a story out of the photos, editing and musical scoring.

    Needless to say, I am a frustrated film director.










    Saturday, July 3, 2010

    What now, Filipinos?

    Panata sa Pagbabago

    So, the automated election fever took us by surprise!  Filipinos was in awe how fast can we determine the next leader of the country.  Of course, there were fears and premonitions of cheating--the hi-tech way and the electoral protest for the position of Vice President is still much alive.

    The country has just inaugurated its Number 1 "employee" [as the President, himself, calls the Filipino people as his "boss"].

    Witnessing the inaugural last June 30 was, for me, a privilege.  People across ages and class, and even different nationalities came in droves to witness this historic event.  It is important, not only because the President and the Vice President were sworn into office. Being the "boss" of President Benigno C. Aquino III, the Filipino people also took their oath as "employers".

    The message was clear, and everyone needs CHANGE, and everyone needs to be PART of that CHANGE. Thus, I am sharing a photo of the copy of the "Panata sa Pagbabago" that everyone recited towards the end of the inaugural program. It is my fervent wish that this would take root in our hearts.

    The Filipinos are pinning so much hope on the leadership--hoping that the President and his technocrats can solve the country's problem in 6 years. Six (6) years is but a short period.  Needless to say, we are again at the crossroads of re-building the nation.

    Without moralizing, let us all join hands in making the nation great again. After all, as "employers" of the President, we have that accountability too.




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    Tuesday, April 27, 2010

    2010 Election List of Candidates

    Barely two weeks before the elections, have you decided who will you vote?  Do you know your presidentiables, vice presidentiables and senatoriables?  The candidates to three key positions may be easy to remember, but hey!  There are new faces and names in the senatoriable line up.  It may be worthy to check them out!

    Moreover, although we only need to choose one (1) PartyList, but there are 187 candidates to choose from.

    So you want to make a list before you go to the precinct booth? Check these documents which I downloaded from the COMELEC Website.

    Choose wisely!

    Please feel free to share this article to your friends via Facebook or email....(look at the link icons below the article).

    Presidentiables


    Tuesday, March 23, 2010

    2010 Earth Hour Pilipinas and Photo/Video Contest

    Earth HourLAST YEAR, my kids and their cousins participated in observing Earth Hour. This year, my family will be participating again!

    This year Earth Hour Philippines aims for the participation of over 15 Million Filipinos in over 1000 towns and cities nationwide. Globally, 807 cities, towns and cities in 82 countries across every continent have already signed up. (Source: Earth Hour Pilipinas. )

    This year, the Philippines must take Earth Hour seriously, now that we are ravaged by El NiƱo phenomenon.

    Monday, March 22, 2010

    WWD 2010: Clean Water for a Healthy World

    Hugas-kamay
    Today, March 22, 2010, is world water day!  On the side of this planet, it is a few hours away to March 23.  But then, better late than never expressing my opinion on this issue.

    Conversation with a cab driver on climate change

    all praises
    Coming from old Sta. Mesa, and exhausted from the long walk in my ocular inspection of the Ondoy-affected community that my project is intending to assist, I took a cab going back to Quezon City. We passed through the stretch of Quezon Avenue. Along this road is a few hundred meters stretch lined with decades-old mahogany trees, which are now beginning to regenerate their foliage after the “fall” during the cold season. For some reasons it follows the 4-season cycle. (it is now spring in the Western Hemisphere).

    Sunday, March 14, 2010

    Blogger template designer

    I am glad I have gone back to Blogger format.  While trying to figure out how I can revise the CSS and HTML of my uploaded template, I found this link in the layout page.

    For Blogger format users, there is a new feature through its Draft Blogger called Template Designer.  All you need is to make Draft Blogger your default blogger dashboard so that it will show.

    Below are the features of this new function in Blogger format:

    Click the "Template Designer" Link to bring you to the page.

    Choose a template from the selection. At this point, there are four (4) designs where you can choose from. I just hope there would be more template options soon.

    Saturday, March 13, 2010

    Manny Pacquiao jokes

    Pacman and me! For the win!

    I am not usually reading spam mails but this one really caught my attention!

    Genie: Bibigyan kita ng isang kahilingan.
    Aling Dionisia: Talaga?... gusto ko gumanda!
    Genie: Buksan mo ang bote.
    Aling Dionisia: At gaganda na ako?
    Genie: Hindi. Babalik na lang ako sa loob.

    Pacman: Sabi ng titser ko, bakit daw ang eggplant walang egg?
    Aling Dionisia: Sabihon mo sa titser mo, na pag me egg yun, turta na yan, TURTA!

    Reporter: Ngayong nanalo ka Manny, anong pasalubong mo kay Jinkee?
    Manny: Ibon syempre. Mahilig sya dun e.
    Reporter: Ibon? Anong klaseng ibon?
    Manny: Yung mga lipstek, pangmik up ba? Basta mga Ibon products! Yo know...

    Saturday, February 27, 2010

    I was wrong!

    IMG_0045

    I must admit, I was wrong when I transferred my blog to another blog format.  I apologize for giving you a roundabout when it comes to my blogs!  My bad! But let me explain...

    My 129th post...what else to blog about?

    If pens were daggers

    This is my 129th post since I I had my first post last April 28, 2007. This blog was born on April 27, 2007. It is almost three (3) years since then!

    I have covered several topics:

    * Blogging and technology
    * Development issues
    * Public policy and governance
    * Entertainment and the arts
    * Culture and tradition
    * Photography
    * Psychology
    * Work, and
    * Other themes like Christmas and events.

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