PhotoHunt: MOTHER

This hardy-looking, wagon-driving, tough-as-nails pioneer mom seems out of place in Brooklyn. But I guess as mothers are wont to do, they conquer new territory for their cubs, blaze trails for us and with us, prying open portals to opportunities they've never had, ushering us into lives that are far better than theirs.

Because of or despite having kids like these-



Thank you to all moms for all that you do. Thank you for putting up with our tantrums and inanities. Should it be meant for us, may we become even just half as great a parent as you have been to us-

somewhere in Brooklyn, May 2008, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: SWEET

A random romp in Central Park yields a treasure that will rival any of those housed in the nearby Metropolitan Museum of Art.

on a bench in Central Park, April 2008, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: CURVED

Home for two million pieces of art spanning past five thousand years of humanity is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This almost-120-year-old building, itself a masterpiece, has two million square feet of cavernous halls and intimate spaces that complement perfectly the Monets and the mummies residing within them.

1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
New York, New York 10028-0198
Information: 212-535-7710

New York City, April 2008, using a digicamera.

Wordless Wednesday: RISKY

I honestly felt ok, safe even, when my uncle and I traversed the Big Apple by way of its extensive subterranean train system. But this station, I feel, is where Capulets pass through with caution.

a New York City subway station, May 2008, using a digicam.

Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change / Litratong Pinoy: MAAGAP (Timely)

Bagaman maraming haka-haka sa dahilan ng kanilang pagkawala sa ibabaw ng mundo, sa dulo ng lahat ay ayaw kong danasin ng sangkatauhan ang kapalaran ng mga dinosaur. Sa bilis ng pagkawasak ng ating kalikasan sa harap ng ating bulagsak na pamumuhay, tayong mga tao rin ang lumalason sa ating pagkukunan ng pagkain, maiinom, at mapagkakakitaan. Ang kakaibang panahon at klima ay nagbabadya ng hindi magandang pangitain para sa ating kinabukasan. Ang panahon ng maagap na pagkilos ay ngayon na.

May magagawa pa tayo upang pangalagaan ang ating mundo! Narito ang ilang mungkahi:

1. Sumakay ng bus o LRT/MRT imbis na gumamit ng sariling sasakyan.
2. Kung mahangin at maaraw rin lang naman, isampay na agad ang mga nilabhan kaysa gamitin ang spinner o dryer ng washing machine.
3. Kapag hindi na ginagamit ang computer o anumang appliance, patayin na ito nang tuluyan.

Ang iba pang maaaring gawin ay makikita sa listahan ng Time Magazine na The Global Warming Survival Guide.

Sabi nga ng Simabahang Lingkod ng Bayan- Manalangin, Makialam, Manindigan- para sa bayan at sa sangkatauhan.

MAAGAP = TIMELY

There are many theories about how and why they departed from the earth; but one thing is for sure: I do not want humanity to suffer the fate of the dinosaurs. Sadly, the rate of environmental degradation reflects our utter lack of respect for our food, water, and livelihood resources. The erratic weather patterns and climate changes are red flags already that something is not quite right. The time for decisive action is now.

It's not yet too late. We can still do something to help fend off climate change, even in our own small ways. Here's how:

1. Ride the bus or any other mass transport instead of bringing your own vehicle.
2. Whenever it is windy and/or sunny outside, dry clothes on the clotheslines instead of using you washing machine's spinner or dryer.
3. Shutdown your computer or any other appliance and pull the plug when they are no longer in use.

More ways to be a hero for the environment can be found in TIME Magazine's The Global Warming Survival Guide.

As the mantra of the Catholic Church organization's Sabi nga ng Simabahang Lingkod ng Bayan goes: Pray, Participate, Make a Stand- for the nation and the planet.

American Museum of Natural History, New York City, May 2008, using a digicam.

PhotoHunt: ELECTRIC

The City That Never Sleeps exudes a Spirit That Will Never Waver.

Lit as brightly as its buildings is a soul that is so multi-faceted it's hard not to feel at home in it somehow. You cannot visit New York City and leave untouched by its intensity, its vibe, its culture, its humanity.

May all those who perished in 9/11 rest in peace. May their families find comfort and consolation. May our world continue to come together and work to maintain lasting peace.

across the Hudson River, New Jersey, May 2008, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: LAKAD (Walk)

Sa habang 1.8 kilometro, isa na yata sa pinakamahabang tuluy-tuloy kong nalakad sa buong buhay ko ang Brooklyn Bridge sa New York City. Isang kakaibang karanasan ang tumapak sa naturang tulay na may edad 125 taong gulang, pati na rin ang mahawakan ang mga ga-higanteng mga piraso ng bato at hibla ng bakal at matanaw ang East River at Manhattan skyline mula sa tulay, at madama ang patuloy na pagbugso ng hangin mula sa karagatan ng Atlantiko.

Ang itaas na bahagi ng tulay ay nakalaan sa mga taong naglalakad o nagbibisikleta. Ang mas mababang bahagi ay laan sa may 145,000 libong sasakyang tumatawid papunta at galing ng Manhattan at Brooklyn. Ang magkabaligtarang larawan ng mga taong ito na matatagpuan sa bahagi ng Brooklyn Bridge na nakalaan para sa mga bumabagtas sa tulay nang palakad, ay makikita malapit na malapit sa pinakagitnang bahagi ng kahabaan ng tulay. Nang maabot namin ang bahaging ito ay parang gusto ko nang bumalik papuntang Manhattan pero tumuloy pa rin kaming tumawid hanggang sa umabot kami sa bahagi ng Brooklyn- kung saan kami bahagyang nawala =]

LAKAD = WALK At 1.8 kilometers, walking on the Brooklyn Bridge was I believe one of the longest continuous walking adventures I've ever had. It was quite an experience, being able to touch the huge slabs of stone and the twisted metal cables, taking in a different view of the East River and the Manhattan skyline, even feeling the steady Atlantic breeze.

The upper deck of the bridge is for foot and bicycle traffic, lower decks are for the 145,000 vehicular traffic crossing to and from Manhattan and Brooklyn. This head-to-head symbol for the foot path is located at or very close to the midpoint of the bridge. I thought of turning back and return to where we began, but Brooklyn (on which I have never set foot on) beckoned. So cross the entire length of the bridge we did. Before we knew it we were *slightly* lost in Brooklyn, which made the experience triply fun.

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, May 2008, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: NAKAKAKILABOT (Hair-raising)

Ito ang libingan sa bakuran ng Kapilya ng San Pablo sa parokya ng Sangtatlo sa lunsod ng Nuweba York. May dalawang daang taon na ang tanda ng libingang ito kung saan nakahimlay ang ilang kilalang tao sa lipunang Amerikano.

Nagkaroon ng panibagong kahulugan ang libingang mula noong Setyembre 11, 2001. Dahil sa mga puno sa palibot ng bakurang ito, hindi nagkaroon ng matinding pinsala ang Kapilya ng San Pablo mula sa pagguho ng World Trade Center na katapat na katapat nito, di tulad ng mga nakapaligid na mga gusali sa kanya. Sa loob ng walong buwan, naging lunan din ang simbahan para sa mga bibigay kalinga para sa mga kawan ng mga pamatay-sunog, pulis, at mga volunteer na tumulong maghukay para sa mga labi ng mga natabunan sa pagbagsak ng mga tore ng WTC.

NAKAKAKILABOT - HAIR-RAISING This is the churchyard of St. Paul's Chapel in the parish of Trinity, New York City. Many prominent Americans are buried in this 200-plus year-old site.

This place gained more prominence since September 11, 2001. Because of the trees surrounding this churchyard, St. Paul's did not incur any substantial damage from the debris of the fall of the World Trade Center twin towers (which was just across it), unlike the skyscrapers beside the former. For about eight months, it became home to firefighters, police personnel, and other volunteers who helped sift through the ruble looking for WTC survivors.


St. Paul's Chapel, Church St, New York City, December 2006, using a digicamera.

Litratong Pinoy (LP): LIWANAG (Light)

Hindi maitatanggi ang kinang ng New York City salamat sa liwanag ng kanyang mga lansangan dahil sa mga naglalakihang patalastas ng mga produkto at palabas sa kanyang mga entablado. Isa ang New York City sa limang lugar na gusto kong mapuntahan bago ako mamatay. Buhay na buhay ang siyudad na ito; ang sining at kultura ay makikita, maaamoy, madarama, maririnig, malalasahan mo halos saan mo ipaling ang iyong kamalayan.

LIWANAG = LIGHT. New York City has an unmistakable glimmer and glamor, thanks to the myriad gigantic signages advertising products and shows. New York City is one of my top five must-see places before I die. The Big Apple is just bursting at the seams with life; arts and culture is so palpable I taste, see, hear, smell, feel it wherever I turn.

off Broadway, New York City, April 2008, using a Sony DSC-S730.