Inspirations

2007-09-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Fluid

Taken with a Canon Powershot G5

2007-07-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

The decorations you see were made by Eric, Alvin and I. The celebration took the theme of the old Spanish stained glass to commemorate the coming of the Spanish missionaries. Taken with a Canon DSLR 350D.

2007-06-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

These photos were shot in Cebu using a very simple, uncomplicated, three-function digital camera. This proves that you really do not need an expensive DSLR to get great pictures. Salamat Caloy!

2007-04-14T23:39:00.000-07:00

Corregidor Island with Mark Lopez, SJ

2006-11-04T19:57:00.000-08:00

Coming Home

2006-11-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

Bros Flores as he entered the Society :)

2006-08-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

Contemplatio

2006-07-10T04:58:00.000-07:00

An Invitation to young professionals and college students:

2006-05-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

The Jesuit Jubilee logo

2006-05-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

Another Beautiful Day in Baguio

2006-04-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

The three images when our country declares a president.

2006-04-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

2006-02-24T17:21:00.000-08:00

2006-01-22T05:42:00.000-08:00

Atoy Salazar's vow day. December 16, 2005
Oratory of St. Ignatius of Loyola
Loyola House of Studies
Ateneo de Manila University
Quezon City, Philippines

2006-01-22T02:40:00.000-08:00

Plane shot over the Lake of Taal

2006-01-22T02:39:00.000-08:00

Lucky shot. New Year 2006

2006-01-22T02:35:00.000-08:00

Taken at Cebu City. My boat arrived at 6am of December 19, 2005. We were greeted by these Badjao.

2006-01-22T02:27:00.000-08:00

Contemplatio ad Amorem. The fifth week.

2006-01-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

MY FAMILY

My sister Chiclet and my father.

My nanay Flora , my sister Monica and my tatay Pito

My sister Monica.

My bro Marvin and me

My pamangkin Lester and his mom Lesley

2006-01-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

December Magic: The Philippine Daily Inquirer featured the front plaza of our provincial capitol on their front page. When I got home to CDO last month, I took some pictures of the plaza together with my family. The whole area has changed because of the bright lights and the many people who now frequent this place. Before, the plaza in front of the capitol was a place avoided by people and frequented by those who wanted to do something sleazy. This was dark and dirty. Now it has become a family picnic area. In the morning (I was told), that joggers also now use this plaza instead of going to the always-full sports stadium. The proper name of the plaza is MacArthur Park. I got these pictures with a Canon Rebel T5 SLR with an ISO 200 film.

2006-01-03T20:40:00.000-08:00

Wedding Opportunity. December 17, 2005: This was the first time that I covered a wedding event. I was working together with professional photographers hired by the couple. At first, I was very much insecure with my equipment. But later on I got the hang of shooting at the couple. Weddings are great events to cover if you have the skill for it. After this experience, I concluded that covering events is not my forte. Nevertheless, I would like to share with you some shots I took. The pictures were taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T5, with a Kodak ISO 400 film. I digitized them through a local developer.

2005-12-31T08:37:00.000-08:00

Cagayan de Oro White Water Adventure

Before I left for Manila, a friend in the Society of Jesus invited me to join him in white water rafting. Cagayan de Oro, my home city, is famous for the white water adventure it offers. The number of rapids, on a clear day is 14. But, if you get lucky (like when it rained the night before), you will experience more by passing through 16 to 20 rapids. The place is good for first timers. I took these shots using a Canon IXUS with 4.0 mpixels. This is the starting point of the white water rafting. The name of the place is Kabula.

2005-12-04T05:14:00.000-08:00

Katipunan at high speed.

2005-11-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

The Process of Self-Expression

Why do we take photographs? Do we take them for other people to admire our skill? Do we take them as record, document or as trophy? Do we create them to advertise to our friends that we are having a beautiful, sucessful, enviable life, or do we create them for ourselves, a process of expressing how we feel to be alive in our world.

I create images because the act of looking helps me to slow down and actually look at the life I am living. It gets me 'out of my head' and into my world - it helps me to connect and appreciate what is around me, and this act helps me to express myself. Art is about expressing yourself. It doesn't really matter if no one 'gets it' so long as it was a meaningful exercise to you. Buddhist monks make 'Mandala' paintings by pouring sand slowly and carefully to create intricate designs. They work on the art for days and then tip it into the sea when they are finished. The art is often about the process rather than the outcome. When someone appreciates your art it is indeed rewarding. Someone else understands us - someone else 'gets it' too.

- Mark Galer

Foundations of Art and Design (3rd ed), p. 9

Focal Press

________________________

My Reflection

I read this part of the book stated above and it strucked me because it articulated the reason why I am doing photography. It is all about self-expression and even more. It is also about sharing the talent to see things differently. As a novice in photography, I am fulfilled when others see what I wanted them to see. I feel it is a gift which should be shared. In the hustle and bustle of urban life, sometimes it is easy to miss out a beautiful sunset, or a small bird on top of a bough, or the formation of dead leaves, or the trance of light in the evening traffic. All of these can be set aside because of the other things which we feel are important. I wish to transcend from what Mark Galer said. It is not only a self-expression, it is a gift that is meant to be shared to others. A self that is given to others.

2005-11-26T21:30:00.000-08:00

The second trial in the novitiate is what we call as the Mission Trial. The novices are sent to the different mission districts of the Philippine province and live a life of a missionary. Mostly spending time doing pastoral work in the parish. I was assigned to Mabuhay, Olutanga Island of Zamboanga Sibugay together with EJ Gerilla. After spending one week in immersing in a family in a rural area, I spent the last three weeks giving recollections and retreats to the Xavier High School students. The photos above were taken during a special day, in which students have the opportunity to throw water to everyone. And I mean everyone, including their teachers. I missed those kids and I miss the life in the island. This was taken with an Olympus digital camera.

2005-11-20T17:15:00.000-08:00

Ducks in their er... diamond formation? Taken at the Gourmet Retreat Center in Tagaytay. As soon as we came near the pond, they all came splashing to the pond. Talk about deficiency in attention. They all hurried down to the pond and strutted themselves in front of us. They must actually recognize a camera since they came nearer to me. Wonderful, noisy ducks who know how to pose.

2005-11-20T04:57:00.000-08:00

Last September, my batchmates and I went to Naga City, to witness the Peñafrancia festival. While there, I was tasked by Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ to take some pictures of the Ateneo de Naga Church, named in honor of Christ the King. This is not my first structural pictures. Probably, Fr. Rene liked my pictures during the Cavite tour, so he commissioned me to do this one. The Baroque design that you see here was actually an idea of Fr. Rene. There is no painting that you see, because they hope moss would cover it in ten years time. By that time, it will have a rustic and old aura, which would make it comparable with the old churches around the Bicol region. Of course the interior is very modern. But then again, just trying to blend in with the area. Taken with a Canon SLR, Kodak ISO 400 film.

2005-11-17T05:32:00.000-08:00

The vow cross: after the Jesuit novice finishes two years in the novitiate, he pronounces his three perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. To mark this perpetual promise, he is given this cross to remind him of God's infinite goodness. The vow crosses that you see were given to me and my 9 other batchmates, as we pronounced our vows last May 31, 2005.

2005-11-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

This shot was taken on the way to Baguio taking the Kennon Road. I was sitting in a van speeding at around 40 km/h. Just imagine the timing and the speed of the shutter that I used. But then again, this is a "tsamba" shot. click! click! click!

2005-11-08T07:03:00.000-08:00

And two roads merge again. Don't we all come from different roads? Trekking our own lives, living out our dreams? And yet, we all come together to trek in this road. Sometimes though, we find other roads we feel is ours to take. But in the end, it is all but the same road we all take. And we merge again.

2005-11-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Playing with the light...
Dawn mass at Naga City

2005-11-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

Theme: Conversations

2005-11-01T18:27:00.000-08:00

Pine trees. Cool mornings. Soft sun. Baguio.

2005-11-01T07:54:00.000-08:00

Morning Shots.

Favorite subject: sun. It is dificult to catch the sun, but if you do, simply beautiful.