PhotoHunt: DAILY

Everyday, from 1859 to 1933, the Hunting Island Lighthouse stood as a sentinel of safety for those plying the coast of South Carolina. Today, some 150 years after its first version was erected, it remains an icon of the eastern seaboard's rich maritime history, currently the only lighthouse in South Carolina that is open to the public.

Hunting Island State Park, April 2008, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: HUSAY (Ability)

Mabilis na pag-iisip, malinaw na paningin, matalas na pandinig, matiyagang dila, payapang kalooban, matatag na kamay, maliksing mga paa: ito ang pinapanalangin ko sa tuwing titingin ako ng pasyente, lalo na noong nasa Philippine General Hospital pa ako. Ito rin ang kaparehong panalangin namin ng pumunta kami sa isang bayan 1,000km ang layo sa Kamaynilaan upang magsagawa ng libreng serbisyong medikal at pag-oopera. Awa ng Diyos, nagamit naman Niya kaming instrumento ng paghilom sa maraming kababayan natin sa naturang lugar. Siya talaga ang Sanhi at Pinagmumulan ng galing ng bawat isang manggagamot.

Ang iba pang kwento ng kahusayan, kasama na ang pagmumuni ko tungkol sa EDSA People Power Revolution na ginugunita natin sa linggong ito ay mahahanap dito. Salamat sa mga nangangasiwa ng Litratong Pinoy sa pagpapahintulot na ako'y magkapagbahagi ng lahok sa linggong ito.

HUSAY = ABILITY

Alert mind, sharp vision, piqued ears, patient tongue, peaceful heart, steady hands, quick feet: these are what I pray for every time I'd take care of a patient, especially while I was still under training at the Philippine General Hospital. This same prayer emanated from our lips when we undertook a medical and surgical mission in a province some 1,000 kms from the capital. With God's grace we were instruments of His love to a good number of indigent patients there. He is truly the Reason for and Source of all healing coursed through physicians.

Other stories of great skill and heroism, including my own musings on the EDSA People Power Revolution which we celebrate this week, can be found here. Thank you to the administrators for Litratong Pinoy for allowing me to guest post =]

Sogod District Hospital, August, 2006, using a digicam.

Wordless Wednesday: ARISEN

This is the Manila Cathedral, more formally known as the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral - Basilica, built in Intramuros- the Old Walled City of Manila. This is actually the building's eight incarnation, having been ravaged repeatedly by natural as well as human-made disasters since the 1580's. The seventh version of the cathedral did not survive the Second World War; it was almost reduced to ruble as the Battle of the Liberation of Manila raged on, this same month exactly 65 years ago.

It is both a sanctuary for the faithful as well as repository of historical and religious artifacts, testaments to the indomitable Filipino spirit throughout the centuries.

The Manila Cathedral, Manila, June 2009, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: CUDDLY

The Sesame Street gang will always have a special place in my heart. They practically baby-sat me when I was young, helped me learn the alphabet, fortified my knowledge of numbers. They also taught me some valuable kid-life lessons on friendship, being a sibling, and the reality of a multi-cultured, multi-species world (birds, elephants, and monsters CAN thrive beside one another!).

For those and a host of other sentimental reasons, I would not have forgiven myself if we weren't able to catch their performance at SeaWorld this past Christmas Day. They did not disappoint. It was such a treat to see them perform their tricks on stage, complete with their signature giggles and sunshiny-ness.

The half-hour performance was indeed a delight for kids and those still young at heart =]

SeaWorld Orlando, December 2009, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: BATIK (Spots)

Nakapaskil ang kanyang mukha sa maraming bahagi ng siyudad isa, dalawang taon pa bago maghalalan. Lalo na nung nakaraang piyesta, halos bawat poste ay tangan-tangan ang kanyang larawan na may kasamang malugod na pagbati. Ang mga programa ng lunsod ay kapansin-pansin na pinapangalanan upang magsimula gamit ang unang titik ng kanyang pangalan, gitnang pangalan, at apelyido- ang nagagawa nga naman na ang iyong kabiyak ang nakaupong punong-lunsod. Siya ang nakatakdang humalili sa kanyang asawa- kung ang pagbabatayan ay ang siyudad naming namumutiktik sa kanyang mga poster. Malaman-laman ko na lang bigla- yung tatay ni Mayor pala ang tatakbo...

BATIK = SPOTS

Her face has been plastered all over the city one, two years before the elections were to happen. Especially during last year's foundation day ceremonies, almost every light post played host to her posters containing her greetings and congratulations. Local government programs and slogans were carefully being (re-)named so that the key words would begin with the same letters as her initials- the things that can be done when your husband is the incumbent city mayor. She has been the anointed successor- if the number of her posters were to be the measure. But I surely was surprised- his father is the candidate for city mayor...

Taguig City, July 2009, using a digicam.

Wordless Wednesday: LIGHT/BEER

From the 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

Clark Field, Angeles City, February 2010, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: BROKEN

A most underrated joy is seeing the sun rise and pierce the darkness, one of those events which doesn't require kilometric journeys and can be enjoyed from one's very home.

mountains of eastern Metro Manila as seen from my bedroom at home, June 2009, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: IYO (Yours)

...At wala nang iba pa.

IYO = YOURS

... And nobody else's.

Sanctuario De San Antonio, Makati City, May 2007, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: AVERAGE

The tour guide said this statue holds the distinction of being the only one in Savannah's fabled squares that is not of a high-ranking general or military leader. This is the likeness of a supposedly "ordinary" sergeant, William Jasper, who distinguished himself through various displays of valor during the struggle for American independence in the 1770's. A most prominent story is the way he held aloft the flag of South Carolina amidst enemy fire, after it was shot at and toppled by by the British, serving as a rallying point and beacon of hope for his fellow soldiers.

Truly, this and other deeds are worth remembering and celebrating; God knows how much we all need to think of less of ourselves and more of others...

Madison Square, Savannah, May 2008, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: AKIN (Mine)

Hindi (pa).

AKIN = MINE

It's not (yet).

=]

on a breakwater off Paradise Island beach resort, Samal Island, Davao City, March 2009, using a digicam.

Wordless Tuesday: RICH

While a number of structures around it have fallen to either decay or the ravages of a recent earthquake, this doorway in Kota Gede maintains the original artistry befitting the royal residence and burial sites it leads to.

Yogyakarta, June 2007, using a digicam.