The Indios Experience: A photo exhibit

After its two successful outreach projects, Flickristasindios is now holding its first photo exhibit, dubbed as "The Indios Experience". The exhibit will showcase selected individual works of its members from all over the world.

Fellow blogger Jojo Pensica, a.k.a. jobarracuda in Flickrlandia, says:

The exhibit will be about our group – Flickristasindios….who we are, the passion the binds us together, our weekly activities, our beloved photowalks, our small projects and our Outreach Projects.

While the group exhibit aims to make a dent in photography through this exhibit, it also aims to raise funds for its outreach projects. Thus the photos, as well as the Flickristasindios 2009 Calendar, which showcases the group's photos will be on sale during the exhibit. As I have blogged earlier, Flickristasindios has already conducted two outreach projects for the Pantay Elementary School. In the midst of all the preparations for the exhibit, the group is brewing another outreach project for another group.

For the past years, the group, with a membership of 991 as of November 25, 2008 has been very active in Flickr, which has gained for itself the most active Flickr group in the Philippines that, in turn, caught the attention of Yahoo! Philippines, which is the major sponsor of the event. Also supporting this event is TriNoMa Mall, which is providing the venue for free, and Digiprint in printing of the photos.

So you are all invited to the group's exhibit on December 15-19 at the TriNoMa Mall Cinema Lobby.

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Sharing the Gift of Knowledge: The Indios' Way

Bound by a common interest--that is photography, Flickristasindios members go beyond what they see and capture through their lenses. Through their photowalks in the streets of Manila, photography has enabled them to see the stark realities in the plight among the poor. An idea came, "Why not make an outreach project so that we can, in one way or another, help ease the burden of the poor?".

As a result, it came up with a partnership with Red Cross Rizal Chapter in its regular outreach project in the Municipality of Rizal, where Flickristasindios participated by providing snacks for the children of Pantay Elementary School. Everyone was just so eager to help and reach out for the children.

It did not stop there. The members were more eager and enthusiastic to come up with another outreach project that even members who are based abroad expressed their willingness to join. Since we initially held a feeding program for the pupils, we thought of giving something that is close to their needs--that is education. It is also a blessing that my wife works for Children International-Philippines Housing Foundation, Inc., which provides used books. Although it should be easy for us, but propriety dictates that we should go through the right process, by formally asking for some books that we can donate for the school. Sharing the same passion of Flickristasindios, CIPHFI granted our wish by not only giving around 300 books on health, science, art, English, and math, but also other school and art supplies which the teachers would need in preparing their teaching materials, and for the children to use for their art projects.

After planning and coordination work, and mobilizing material, human and financial resources from the members of Flickristasindios, we were able to hold our second outreach project. Last November 15, Flickristasindios conducted its 2nd Outreach Project dubbed as: Book Sharing Project: Sharing the gift of knowledge, with Pantay Elementary School in Teresa Rizal as its partner-beneficiary.

Again, the children were treated to a snack and they received the books in behalf of the school. All the members, once again, felt good about being able to reach out.

In behalf of the Administrators of the Flickristasindios, let me thank all the members who supported this activity and for being a channel of goodwill and development. We also thank the Principal and faculty of Pantay Elementary School, and also Children International - Philippines Housing Foundation for the books we have donated, and for helping this small effort come into reality.


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Sharing the Gift of Knowledge: The Indios' Way

Bound by a common interest--that is photography, members of Flickristasindios goes beyond what they see and capture through their lenses.  Through their photowalks in the streets of Manila, photography has enabled them to see the stark realities in the plight among the poor.  An idea came, "Why not make an outreach project so that we can, in one way or another, help ease the burden of the poor?".

As a result, it came up with a partnership with Red Cross Rizal Chapter in its regular outreach project in the Municipality of Rizal, where Flickristasindios participated by providing snacks for the children of Pantay Elementary School.  Everyone was just so eager to help and reach out for the children.

It did not stop there.  The members were more eager and enthusiastic to come up with another outreach project that even members who are based abroad expressed their willingness to join.  Since we initially held a feeding program for the pupils, we thought of giving something that is close to their needs--that is education.  It is also a blessing that my wife works for Children International-Philippines Housing Foundation, Inc., which provides used books.  Although it should be easy for us, but propriety dictates that we should go through the right process, by formally asking for some books that we can donate for the school.  Sharing the same passion of Flickristasindios, CIPHFI granted our wish by not only giving around 300 books on health, science, art, English, and math, but also other school and art supplies which the teachers would need in preparing their teaching materials, and for the children to use for their art projects.

After planning and coordination work, and mobilizing material, human and financial resources from the members of Flickristasindios, we were able to hold our second outreach project.  Last November 15, Flickristasindios conducted its 2nd Outreach Project dubbed as: Book Sharing Project: Sharing the gift of knowledge, with Pantay Elementary School in Teresa Rizal as its partner-beneficiary.

Again, the children were treated to a snack and they received the books in behalf of the school. All the members, once again, felt good about being able to reach out.

In behalf of the Administrators of the Flickristasindios, let me thank all the members who supported this activity and for being a channel of goodwill and development.  We also thank the Principal and faculty of Pantay Elementary School, and also Children International - Philippines Housing Foundation for the books we have donated, and for helping this small effort come into reality.

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Photography 101: Other lessons learned

Earlier, I blogged about my first two (2) Explored photos in Yahoo! Flickr. This week, the rest just came out one after the other, and I was so happy about it. Why not? it landed in the Top 500 photos of the day they were uploaded. Some of them were already dropped since the ranking differs each day--depending on whether there are still people who view and comment on the photos--and when they are dropped, that means they lose their "interesting-ness."

However, more than being in the Top 500 among the thousands of photos uploaded and viewed each day, it is the realization that there are photographers in Flickr who see something good about my craft. Being in Explore is just an icing on the cake. Sourgraping? No, of course. What counts more to me is the fact that my Flickr friends pat my back and show their affirmation that I have something good to show the world. (Or am I the only one thinking about it? lols!) Even if I only had a photo viewed and commented only once, but whose view and comments comes from a photographer I really admire, is enough gratification for me.

One photography club emailed me after joining them, and told me "Welcome to the real photography club!"

Being a thinking person, I reflected, "What did he mean by that?" --That Flickr groups are not real photography clubs? Ergo, I had second thoughts in joining but eventually joined--yeah, to get the feel of it. Eventually, however, it waned and lost my interest in the "real photography club".

I have some valid reasons to shy away from the group. First, I felt I did not get the warm welcome. I am not expecting the red carpet rolled out before me. But you know, you will feel when you are welcome or not. Second, I have some valid observations that I think will not fit my personality.

The "club" with its connotation of exclusivity, is, to me, so high-strung that it loses its ground, and has the tendency to close its doors to many other possibilities, networks and interactions among other photography groups and even individual photographers. The number of exclusive cliques in the group leaves you out-of-place and some of its members believe they are the best photographers while toting their expensive gears, left and right, front and back. Competition among the members is so strong that the photos you see online are the ones that are not worth commenting on (pardon me for this, because even though I have no formal training in photography, I can decipher whether or not one is a good photo).

It is very much unlike Flickr, which is a friendly learning environment, where amateur/ hobbyists and professional photographers alike share their knowledge in photography. I do not know but in that "club", there seems to be a form of "habit" not to show their photos online. It is also very much unlike Flickr where there are no strict rules. Artistry has no bounds and rules. It just does not augur well for me who has a free mind and will expressed through my creative juices. And the most important of all, it is also very much unlike Flickr where I am always welcomed or feel welcomed!

Anyway, enough for the rants. Let me thank my Flickr friends, and online friends who showed their support in my craft by at (at least) viewing my photos.

Thank you so much!

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Here are my photos that made it to the Flickr Top 500 based on "interestingness."


1. SEARCHING for meaning, 2. Almost blinded, 3. A day's reward, 4. Tingala [Look(ing) up], 5. Searching, 6. Study 009, 7. Repleksyon [reflection], 8. Idlip [nap], 9. Basco Light House, 10. PAIN, 11. Race, 12. Imagoism Thursday - Essence, 13. Pinoy Kodakeros give back, 14. Batas [Law], 15. Oblation

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

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Inkblots™ Home

Introducing my new home page: Inkblots™ Home.

This is an aggregator of my blogs, photography, personal and photography networks.

Please feel free to link. Thank you!

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I am explored!

For two years in Flickr, and flickr-ring, I always wondered how is it to be explored. Flickr's Explore page consists of 500 photos of the day based on interesting-ness and is chosen using a secret algorithm only Yahoo and Explore people would know. Being in explore to some gives them that kind of pride and say: "Hey I am explored!" For some, being explored means winning a lottery. Some add this as a feather in their cap.

My friends kept on asking me, why on earth don't I have any explored photo? I said I don't know why. I really don't know why. I am not really interested, after all. What matters to me are the real comments of my friends who have always appreciated my photos in Flickr. Nevertheless, the question kept on nagging me. So now I am more interested to find out how "explore" works rather than being explored.

So I deleted my Bighugelabs account that provides the service Flickr Scout--the one that looks for your photos in explore. I thought that there might be some problems with my account because there was a time that I unlinked my Flickr account for fear that it would be used by a third party. Then I signed up again, and made sure both applications were linked. Still there was none. So I tinkered in my Flickr account--where I saw I disallowed third party APIs (Application Programming Interface), so I allowed all APIs to run into my Flickr account.  Then voila!  I found one last night!  This morning, I found two.

So after two years in flickr, I have been "rewarded" with "explored" photos--oh well, not that majority of my photos are interesting.  They just did not manage to get into the 500 most interesting photos of the day among the hundreds of thousands of photos being uploaded. [Sourgraping! Lols!].  So here they are: ordinary photos that made to Top 500 in that particular day:

1. Almost blinded, 2. Searching
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

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Ang ngiti ni Nog-nog

Si Nog-nog ay isang batang palaboy sa Binondo. Makulit at hungkag sa wastong kaugalian na natututunan ng isang batang normal sa isang normal na tahanan. Ngunit narunong siyang makihalubilo sa lansangan--street smart, ika nga.

Subalit sa bawat pag-click ng camera, napapahinahon mo sya--tila tumitigil ang gulo at ingay ng mundong ginagalawan niya. Pakiramdam niya, napa-importanteng tao nya kung bakit sya kinukuhanan ng larawan--isang panandaliang kasikatan, isang panandaliang kaligayahan, ilang sandaling pagtigil ng di kaaya-ayang salitang namumutawi sa kanyang bibig--at sa kanyang pagngiti, tumitikom ito..sandaling nahahalinhan ng kapayapaan, ng isang ngiting umaapaw ng pagmamalaki, ng pag-asa, at ng kaligayahan.

Ngiti pa bata!


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On being part of a rich heritage

Last July 26, members of Pinoy Kodakero members, (that includes me) shared their talents to a worthy cause to San Carlos Seminary in building up their Heritage Hall, aptly called Bulwagang Karlista. It was a fun-filled day, not mentioning of course the sumptuous meals given to us! More importantly, however, is the fact that we were able to share our talents for the Glory of God!

On November 3, after three months of conceptualizing, renovating, selecting artifacts, photos, and memorabilia for display, San Carlos Seminary finally inaugurated the new Bulwagang Karlista, which included the photos of the PK members.

Bulwagang Karlista (BK) at a Glance

1. Appreciation, 2. Memorabilia, 3. Humilitas, 4. My work on display

The exhibit hall is divided into 6 areas: history, seminary life, altar area, photo mosaic, snap shots and tribute wall. As contained in the brochure of BK:

The Bulwagang Karlista is not meant to be merely a repository of old photographs and dusty artifacts--remnants of an era long gone by. It is envisioned to be a shrine dedicated to the Karlista Spirit.

Indeed, BK boasts of its rich with history and pride. It even showcases a lei given by Mother Theresa to Fr. Albert Meersschaert, CICM, and the chair an chasuble used by Pope John Paul II during his visit to the Philippines in 1995.

Being part of their heritage is both fulfilling and a humbling experience. I never knew that some of my photos were actually chosen for the exhibit. Before I took these photos, I had to remind myself, this is all for the Glory of God. Nevertheless, I feel like I am in heaven for two of my photos are on display. One in Samut-sari section and one in Paghuhubog wall.


Finally, I quote:

While it may be said that the greatness of the Karlista Spirit will never be sufficiently contained within the walls of this meager hall, our collective memorial, however, is good enough beginning; for remembrance is teh language of a grateful heart.

To the Karlistas, thank you too for making me (us) part of this undertaking!

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Capturing Undas 2008

Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome. [Isaac Asimov]



Capturing All Saints' Day through the lenses always gives me that creepy feeling. Therefore I took photos therefore were simply iconic and suggestive of what it is all about.

This year is my first time to document a part of Philippine Culture and Tradition--All Saints' Day/ All Souls' Day. However, I do not have plenty of photos since I did not have much time going around the cemetery. Besides, the people in my hometown are not used to being photographed in the solemnity of remembering their departed loved ones, so I decided to leave them in peace and privacy.

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Post Script

After shooting some, I felt a tic on my left uper eye lid. I got scared. I thought, nabati ako ng mga spirits in the cemetery. I got scared and just contented myself with a few shots.

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