Litratong Pinoy: BULAKLAK (Flower)

Ang bulaklak na ito ay puno ng sorpresa. Una, hindi ko inaakalang may ganito kagandang bulaklak ang gulay na ito. Kakaunti lang ang may paborito sa gulay na ito at hindi rin naman talaga ako mahilig sa gulay =0 Hindi nakakatulong na kakaiba ang hugis at may pagkamalagkit (sipunin?) ang gulay na ito. Ano nga ba ang gulay na may bulaklak na ganito? =]

Pangalawang sorpresa, ang gulay na ito, kasama ng broccoli, cauliflower, mga bulaklak, mga tilapia, atbp ay pinalalaki at pinalalago sa dalawang ektaryang hardin sa loob ng isang barangay sa kalagitnaan ng Kamaynilaan kung saan bahagi ng elektrisidad na kailangan nila ay mula sa mga solar panels!

Talagang kung gusto, may paraan.

BULAKLAK = FLOWER This flower is full of surprises. First, it comes from a plant that produces a vegetable that is a mismatch to this blossom's beauty. Not too many like this vegetable; I'm don't care much for this veggie since I don't really like vegetables in general. It also doesn't help that this vegetable has an odd shape and has this slimy feel to it. Can you guess what vegetable this flower is associated with?

The second surprise is that this vegetable, aside from broccoli, cauliflowers, ornamental plants, tilapia, and other seasonal edible plants accustomed to growing in different exotic climates are growing in a two-hectare garden inside a village in the heart of Metro Manila, where a part of their electricity needs is being provided by solar panels.

Indeed, if there's a will there is a way.

Flower and Vegetable Garden of Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City, January 2009, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: TIPANAN (Meeting place)

Dahil sa mundo ng mga aklat, nakapunta na ako sa Canada, India, Ingglatera, Tsina, Chile, sa Hogwarts at sa Middle Earth. Nakilala ko ang iba't ibang mga katauhan na naninirahan sa magkakaibang siglo. Nakadaupang-palad ko sila: napaibig at nabigo, nagwagi at nagupo, nadapa at bumangon. Sa mundo ng mga libro, malayo ang nalilibot ko nang imahinasyon lamang ang pasaporte. Lahat nagiging posible.

TIPANAN = MEETING PLACE Because of books, I have been to Canada, India, England, China, Chile, Hogwarts and Middle Earth. I've met different characters living in various time periods. Our paths have crossed: I've fallen in love and have my heart broken; I've savored victory and have been crushed by defeat; I've bled and bounced back. In the world of books, my imagination is my passport to any destination. Anything is possible.

at home, February 2009, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: PUSO (Heart)

Ilang minuto makalipas ang hatinggabi, naglalakad kami sa Kungsgatan sa kalagitnaan ng Stockholm. Tahimik ang mga lansangan, maliban sa panaka-nakang sasakyan. Wala halos naglalakad maliban sa amin- tatlong Pinoy at isang Tanzanian. Sa palibot ng aming hotel, naroon pala ang malaking bahagdan ng mga taga-Stockholm- nasa mga disco at club na pa-morningan.

Ang puso sa larawan na ito ay hindi madaling makita. Alam mong nandyan sya dahil sumusunod ako sa tema. Pero parang natatabunan sya ng kung ano sa kanyang paligid.

Parang ganun din ang tao at pag-ibig. Alam mong dahil tao sya, mayroon syang kakayahang umibig at karapat-dapat syang ibigin. Nguni't maraming pagkakataon, nasa harap na natin sya, pinalalagpas pa natin ang pagkakataong umibig at ibigin...

Anu't ano pa man, ang kuha ko ay bahagyang malabo dahil nagloloko ang kamera ko. Hindi rin nakakatulong na kagagaling lang namin sa Absolut IceBar at syempre... *hik*

PUSO = HEART Minutes after midnight struck, we were walking along Kungsgatan in Stockholm. Not a creature stirred, except for the occasional driver behind the wheel, and us four stragglers- 3 Filipinos and a Tanzanian. We found were the Swedes were hiding, in the bars and clubs that surrounded our hotel which remained open until a littel after the sun rose.

The heart in this photo is not that easy to see. You know there's a heart in the photo since it is this week's theme; there's just a bit of a haze from all that surrounds it. Which is not unlike love. It's often *there*, in front of us, the opportunity and personification of love, but the clouds in our environment get in the way- the chance to love and be loved...

ANYWAY, this photo is a bit blurry because my camera got sick en route to Sweden. It likewise doesn't contribute, the fact that we just had a few drinks in the Absolut IceBar earlier that evening... 8-p

Stockholm, September 2007, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: TSOKOLATE (Chocolate)

Ito ang dating naging usap-usapang biskwit na FILIPINOS, produkto ng Espanya, natagpuan naming laganap sa mga pamilihan sa Finland nung nag-aral ako roon nang pansamantala noong 2007. Hugis-salbabida ang biskwit na malaki-laki lamang nang konti sa limang pisong barya. Dalawang uri ang nakita kong ibinebenta biskwit- isa ay ang tradisyunal na tsokolate at ang isa nama'y iyong puting tsokolate.

May 15 yatang piraso sa bawat pakete at nagkakahalaga ito ng hindi lalagpas sa dalawang euro noong panahong iyon. Paborito ko itong agahan dahil mura, may kasarapan rin, at maaari kong maging almusal para sa 2-3 araw. Maliit lang naman ang aming arawang baon noon. Mainam sa mga nagtitipid. Di ko na alintana ang "kakaibang" tatak nito.

TSOKOLATE = CHOCOLATE This is the then-infamous biscuits FILIPINOS, a product of Spain, which was readily available in various supermarkets in Finland, during the time of my brief study there in 2007. Shaped like a lifesaver, these biscuits are little bigger than the 5-piso coin in diameter. I saw two flavors available- the traditional chocolate flavor and another with white chocolate coating.

Each pack has about 15 pieces, with each pack costing not more than two euros, enough to feed me for about 2-3 days. These biscuits were the breakfast of champions- especially us whose per diem was just enough, its infamous name notwithstanding.

in Hotel Iltatahti, Tampere, Finland, August 2006, using a digicam.