Safari Year Five

I quietly celebrated my photoblog’s fifth year online this week. While swimming through some posts through the years, I am grateful for having experienced so many places, so much culture, and myriad events. I am even more grateful that I have began to see anything and everything as “blog-able” – no need to wait for an elusive double rainbow or the perfect symmetry of sun, sea, and sky. The last five years online have helped teach me that I make the so-called Kodak moments, and each is a Kodak moment- if I choose it to be. No scenery is too grand or too murky for beauty and wonder to reside in.

To celebrate my blogoversary, allow me to re-dedicate this blog with words I have used to launch it five years ago:

This photoblog is inspired by Dan Eldon, a young photojournalist who was killed while on duty in Somalia. Reckoned by many to have been a premature death, he left an extensive set of journals chronicling a life that was short but truly well-lived. Thank you, Dan, for reminding me that each moment is a golden photo opportunity, to be grabbed, savored, captured, framed, and shared…

This safari that is my life is still so good.

--==+==--

I am a firm believer in Dan Eldon’s mission statement that

"The most important part of vehicle maintenance is clean windows, so if you are broken down, you will enjoy the beauty of the view."





In a recent road trip, I am glad the owner of the vehicle we were in was of the same thinking, too. The view from Valencia City to Cagayan De Oro City was simply awesome- a 130-kilometer trip punctuated by rolling hills, gorgeous skies, and imposing mountains. Now, I had to be a bit creative to capture my surroundings since we were cruising at a speed that was meant to enable us to join a meeting without being late.

on the road in Bukidnon,April 2012, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: HANDS

Madonna and Child, hands outstretched, bestowing blessings upon the faithful, connecting heaven and earth, from Their home at the Monastery of the Transfiguration, Malaybalay City.

Bukidnon, April, 2007, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: TRIANGLE

I will never grow weary of this church. It's a place that feels so very close to God- the roof seemingly like hands clasped in prayer pointed heaven-ward, with a light breeze and warm sun swirling about, assuring the faithful of a Supreme Being that continues to hear, provide, bless.

Monastery of the Transfiguration, City of Malaybalay, April 2007, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy (LP): MADUMI (Dirty)

Taliwas sa mga kapwa natin Asyano, ang Pilipino na marahil ang pinakamaboka sa mga naninirahan sa sinasabing Silangang bahagi ng mundo. Imbis na mangimi o tumahi-tahimik na lamang, may nadarama tayong laya na isigaw at isagawa ang ating mga nasasaisip. At ito ay kitang-kita sa mga halalan sa Pilipinas. Hindi lamang sila simpleng gawaing politikal; madalas, nagmimistula itong pista.

Hindi na bago ang makakita ng mga bandi-bandiritas ng mga poster at patalastas ng mga kandidato sa bawat pader ng bayan. Walang pinatatawad na bakanteng espasyo. Subali't higit sa duming iniiwan ng mga pulyetos at mga poster, ang tiwaling pangangampanya gamit ang dahas, pera, at pananakot ang mga pinapanalangin ko na mabago sa Pilipinas, sa panahon ng eleksiyon at palagi.

MADUMI = DIRTY Unlike our neighbors, Filipinos arguably are the most outspoken among Asians. Rather than be silent, we express our freedom by speaking or living out our thoughts and ideals. This is very evident in the way elections happen in the Philippines. They are not mere political exercises but celebrations by themselves.

It is not uncommon to see the visual clutter, posters of candidates festooned over every centimeter of empty vertical space. But more than the mess evident in our leaflets- and brochures-strewn streets, the dirt I pray that the country will be cleansed of is the culture of guns, goons, and gold dominating the nation during election time... and beyond.

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, April 2007, using my Canon A430 digicam.