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.

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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