PhotoHunt: MONOCHROME

The twists and turns of the lives of The Beatles were succinctly captured in the The Beatles Story at the Albert Dock near the city center of the Fab Four's hometown of Liverpool, England. The exhibition featured details from their early days as struggling musicians, to their rise as global icons, to their eventual parting of ways and treading parallel but inextricably linked paths.

Amidst the cacophony of decades of memorabilia, the very last section of the exhibit stood out for me- a shrine of sorts for arguably the world's favorite Beatle, John Lennon: just a piano, a guitar, and images of John, stripped of all star power, enduring.

Liverpool, England, Decmber 2012, using a digicam.

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PhotoHunt: MINISCULE

While standing beneath the Eiffel Tower, with its rich history, massive structure, and dazzling persona, I was cloaked with sheer awe. It is such a blessing to be beside a world icon, immortalized by artists, dissected by scientists, loved by many.

Paris, January 2013, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: SEASONAL

All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day give us the timely, and not often ignored, reminder of our own mortality, death's inevitability, and the importance of living life to the fullest. Until we reach our final destination.

Heritage Park, Taguig City, November 2012, using a phonecam.

PhotoHunt: DANCE

Love her or hate her, Lady Gaga surely knows how to make a 10,000-plus-strong crowd sing and sway with her.

SM Mall of Asia Arena, May 2012, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: POINT

I know to many, if not most, drivers in the United States, these freeway signs make sense. But for a newbie traveler like myself, it is almost always a source of confusion. Good thing these actually very informative signages are placed a good distance where, say, the roads fork or the exits are due to appear; else, they would be rendered useless as I would have already missed these supposed turns and ramps.

But then, there's always the GPS...

while on an East Coast road trip, New Year's Eve 2011, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: GATHER

At the Smithsonian Castle, its "America's Treasure Chest" exhibition features a display of the footwear created by different Native American tribes. It honors a heritage that continues in the face of gnawing, convenient modernity.

It also brings to mind an adage attributed to Native Americans, the one that discourages judging another individual until you've walked a day in their shoes- or mocassins...

May this New Year bring us all a sense of belongingness, and bring us all towards a sense of equity and fairness.

Smithsonian Castle, Washington DC, December 2011, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: WRONG

Is this in Thailand? Nope.

How about Hong Kong? Not in HK.

This must be in Indonesia then, is it? Not in Indonesia either.

These giant Buddhas are located in the town of Gerona, in the province of Tarlac in the Philippines. They are housed in a massive outdoor floating-fishing-village-style restaurant complex called Isdaan, located some 120 kms north of Manila. The place is always packed so the service can at times be slow- but the food is always worth the wait.

ISDAAN, Gerona, Tarlac, September 2010, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: SYMBOLIC

"Reunion"
Painting by BENCAB
Acrylic on canvas
1994
150 x 120 cms

Housed at the fantastic BENCAB Museum, a jewel of Filipino artistry tucked in the mountains of northern Luzon, "REUNION" depicts the happy ending of each journey, whether the sojourn itself was a pleasant one or not.

*** My thoughts and prayers are with the communities being battered by Typhoon MINA in the northeastern part of the Philippines as well as family and friends preparing for Hurricane IRENE by the eastern seaboard of the United States. May we all have happy reunions after these storms pass. ***

off Baguio City in the BenCab Museum, Tuba, Benguet, September 2010, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: DRINK

Even bears couldn't resist the call of the river, fresh and flowing freely through the center of downtown Gatlinburg...

But something must be wrong with the water though: it turned the bears into stone! Talk about *hard water* lol

Gatlinburg, April 2008, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: TOGETHER

Its reputation precedes it the world over. To watch a Cirque Du Soleil performance is arguably a mainstay in many people's bucket list, what with their much-publicized death-defying stunts, intricate costumes, and overall jaw-dropping productions. That's why when the Cirque came to Manila, no doubt we really had to go.

Cirque did not disappoint. The 2.5-hour show was a huge cauldron of music and humor, a visual feast that often caused by heart to almost jump out of my chest and/or my jaw to drop to the floor. Some sections were more spectacular than the others, but each minute of the show had its stamp of Cirque hard work and artistry on it.

An amazing experience it was, to be front and center when the Cirque came to town =]

lobby of the Cirque's Grand Chapiteau, Quirino Grandstand, Manila, July 2011, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: PANGLINIS (Cleaning material)

May isang paniniwala na kung anuman ang gagawin mo sa unang araw ng bagong taon, ito ang magiging salamin ng kakahinatnan ng iyong buong taon. Ang mga baga-bagaheng ito basura ang tumambad sa amin matapos ang magdamagang kasiyahan sa pagsalubong sa bagong taon sa Gatlinburg. Masasabi ko namang hindi naging basura ang sumunod na 364 days matapos ang araw na kinunan ang larawang ito; sa dulo ng lahat, tayo pa rin ang magpapasya at gagawa ng paraan kung gaano kabulok o makabuluhan ang ating buhay =]

PANGLINIS = CLEANING MATERIAL

There's a certain belief that whatever you do or whatever happens on the first day of the new year, that will set the tone for the ensuing year. These bags of post-celebratory trash greeted us on January 1st in Gatlinburg. I can say confidently that the 364 days that followed this 'trashy' encounter is not the least bit trashy. After all, it is still up to us on how disastrous or victorious our lives will be =]

Gatlinburg, TN, January 2010, using a digicam.

Wordless Wednesday: JUNIOR

British nationals tracing their roots in Villasis town in Pangasinan province erected this Clock Tower a la Westminster's in front of their Town Hall.

municipal hall complex, town of Villasis, September 2010, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: ITO (This)

Ang sagot sa tanong ng marami kung nasaan ba talaga si Batman.

ITO = THIS
The response to the question- where IS Batman?

along Interstate 40, Hendersonville, April, 2008, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: MALAMBOT (Soft)

Tila mga mananayaw ng karagatan ang mga dikyang ito, isa sa mga tampok na lamang dagat sa Manila Ocean Park. Ang kanilang nakabibighaning kagandahan ay napupuluputan naman ng kakaibang kamandag. Ibayong ingat ang paalala sa ating lahat- nilalang na dapat hanggang tingin lamang tayo.

MALAMBOT = SOFT

They are the ocean's dancers, one of the featured creatures at the Manila Ocean Park. Their enchanting beauty is embraced by a most unusual venom. Extreme care is advised to everyone; it is one of those entities better admired from afar, sans touching.

Manila Ocean Park, Manila, September 2010, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: RESURRECTION

Amidst the cacophony of life's distractions and the din of beauty that can be overwhelming yet empty, here's to another year of just Being.

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My camera may have found its way to another pair of hands but the eye behind it will find ways to document this wonderful ride =]


Sonya's Garden, near Tagaytay City, December 2010, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: ITCHY

How I wish my neck is as agile as theirs, to take care of nasty itches all over =]

Sea World Florida, December 2009, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: DARK

The Colonial Park Cemetery is a must-visit for history buff and more so for those out to explore the reality behind the city touted to be America's most haunted. The Ghosts and Gravestones tour is a great way of marrying both interests. I took it two years ago and I highly recommend it. But only for those who dare =]

Savannah, May 2008, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: ORANGE

The long 400-plus-mile, eight-hour drive to Florida from South Carolina was soothed by the Sunshine State's free-flowing offering of their finest OJ at the Welcome Center. But first, the customary pose beside the sign declaring we've arrived =]

State Welcome Center at the border between Georgia and Florida, December 2009, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: LETTERS

For many travelers, churches, antiques, and bargains are part of their itinerary. As for myself, no trip is complete without taking home stamps or snapping pics of mailboxes or post offices.

If only my office (e)mail (in)box can be as ornate and handsome as this one in front of The Beaufort Inn...

The Beaufort Inn, Beaufort, April 2008, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: MAKAPAL (Thick)

Namamalas ang ganda ng mga kwitis kapag ang kalangitan ay sadlak sa karimlan. Kasama ng nakabibighani nilang liwanag at hugis ay ang kaakibat na pansamantalang lambong ng usok. Gayunpaman, pinipili pa rin masdan ang kanilang rikit at tiisin ang pansamantalang yakap ng hanging di na dalisay.

MAKAPAL = THICK

The beauty of fireworks is best enjoyed when the night is at its darkest. In tandem with the enchanting embers is a temporary cloak of noxious air. Despite the latter, many still choose to savor the ephemeral brilliance of fireworks.

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, November 2009 using a digicam.

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