boracay: sunset

boracay: rocks

boracay: chill

still doing a boracay series of photographs

boracay: bulabog beach

Bulabog Beach is the 2.5km long water sports beach of Boracay, and is located on the east side of the island. It is home for much of the windsurfing and kite boarding,and also has jet skis, parasailing and boating of all types. It is a 5 minute walk to D’Mall, 10 minutes to White Beach. There are some resorts here as well. The beach is protected by an offshore coral reef. It is less developed and quieter than White Beach. Considered as the "Number One kite boarding beach in Asia."

Bulabog Beach comes alive during the early months of each year when windsurfers skim through its waters. Amateurs and professionals take advantage of the strong winds as they race from one end to the other., truly a windsurfer's paradise. In addition to windsurfers, kiteboarders also now enjoy the strong wind until the month of June and July, when the southwest monsoon begins. Bulabog Beach is often deserted, allowing you to feel the "Other side" of boracay during a walk there.

boracay: paddle board

travel: boracay

sorry if i have not been updating this site as much as i want to.. i know you guys want to see more of manila but there's too much to do but so little time, so for now i'll be posting a series of pictures from the beautiful island of boracay that i took this summer and share with you the beauty of this paradise.

Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide.

useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boracay
http://wikitravel.org/en/Boracay
http://www.boracayonline.com/island/about.html

manila hostage crisis

with the recent tragedy over the hostage crisis here in manila, i would like to make a plea to everyone to remain objective and not vent frustration and anger towards the whole Filipino nation... Manila is still my home, the Philippines is still a beautiful country, and the Filipinos are warm and caring in general no matter what one stupid man did, or how incompetent the policemen were, and how irresponsible was the media during that fateful event...

we are sorry it happened and ended the way it did... i guess most of the sentiments of all Filipinos are well explained and written by this teenager...

=====

August 23, 2010

"A letter from a teenage Filipino to the WHOLE WORLD”

As you are reading this letter, I bet that you have seen/heard about what happened earlier in our country.

Tourists were hostages of a policeman here, Rolando Mendoza. After a few hours of the horrible crime, some of the victims were dead including the hostage-taker.

I wrote this letter not just to apologize but also to let everyone know that we Filipinos are not all like Mendoza. We are loving and good-hearted people.

For so many years, our country has been standing tall and surpassing every dilemma; be it small or big. Years ago (back when I wasn’t born yet), you have watched us fight for what we think is right. We fought for the democracy of our nation.. The EDSA revolution. But that’s just one out of many.

Second. We Filipinos have been serving other countries for our families and we treat you as our own as well. With all due respect, I thank you all for giving us the trust through the years. For helping us to become what we are now.

The Philippines is more than just a group of islands. We are a nation of strong and remarkable people. A country of beauty and love known to be hospitable and well-valued. I humbly apologize for what happened tonight. No one in this world would want something like that to happen for life should be valued.

I politely ask the attention of the world. Please do not judge and mistreat us just because of what happened tonight. I have been searching the net and found terrible things. Hong Kong advices to avoid travels here, China and HK bans Filipinos and that Philippines is the worst place to go.

I can’t blame you for what you have decided but I hope that you could understand. Our country is now in a sea of problems. And I know for sure that we helped you in a way or another. Let peace and understanding reign this time.

I know that this letter will just be trash but I wish that you would understand. On behalf of the Philippine population.. WE ARE SORRY.

As a song puts it…

And I believe that in my life I will see an end to hopelessness, giving-up and suffering. And we all stand together this one time then no one will get left behind. Stand up for life. STAND UP FOR LOVE

Sincerely yours,

Reigno Jose Dilao
Catbalogan City, Samar

Source: http://dabz0326.tumblr.com/

san isidro labrador

During the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival, each household tries to outdo each other in friendly competition as they vie for honor of recognizing their creativity. The Pahiyas Festival is held every 15th of May in Lucban, Quezon.

Farmers show their bountiful produce such as chayote, radish, pepper and grains of rice. There are miniatures locally known as "anok", fruits, vegetables and longganisa. The handicraft manufacturer has his house decked with colorful buri/buntal hats, bags, placemats and others.

The most traditional and certainly the most attractive décor comes of course in the form of "kiping" which are adorn and strung together to form all sorts of shapes, from chandelier called "arangya" to huge flowers. Kiping is made from ground rice flour, shaped using "cabal" leaves or other leaf forms and colored in radiant red, fuschia, yellow, green and other bright shades. When kiping catches the light of the sun it turns into a veritable cascades of color.

The celebration is a form of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and in honor of the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro de Labrador. A procession of the image of San Isidro is planned long before the festival and it is said that houses along the route of the procession passes will be especially favored and blessed in the coming year. It is from this belief that the lavish decoration of the home began. After all, one must welcome the saint's blessings with rapture and gratitude.

little people aka anok

These are miniatures locally known as anok, usually used as part of decoration of the houses during the pahiyas festival

pahiyas windows

pahiyas windows

pahiyas windows

pahiyas windows

pahiyas windows

banig

sombrero

strawman

tapayan

gata

sayote man

star fruit

i dunno what is this exactly, if it's a fruit or a vegetable... all i know is that they look cute and artificial from afar

actually upclose they even look more artificial, like those plastic toy fruits... it was only when i actually touched this "star fruit" that i realized they're real.  you guys know what's the name of this fruit? if it is indeed a fruit

tomatoes

bountiful harvest

winner

details of a decorated house in lucban, quezon

this house is one of the winners in the competition at the pahiyas festival 2010

lucban longanisa

Longganisa Lucban is a garlicky slightly sour sausage that is quite similar to chorizo de bilbao, the famous garlic sausage from Spain. Learn how to prepare your own longanisa here

bright colors

Took this photo at Quezon during the Pahiyas Festival and just fits the august CDP theme day: bright colors. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

During the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival, each household tries to outdo each other in friendly competition as they vie for honor of recognizing their creativity.

Farmers show their bountiful produce such as chayote, radish, pepper and grains of rice. There are miniatures locally known as "ANOK", fruits, vegetables and longganisa. The handicraft manufacturer has his house decked with colorful buri/buntal hats, bags, placemats and others.

The most traditional and certainly the most attractive décor comes of course in the form of "KIPING" which are adorn and strung together to form all sorts of shapes, from chandelier called "ARANGYA" to huge flowers. Kiping is made from ground rice flour, shaped using "cabal" leaves or other leaf forms and colored in radiant red, fuschia, yellow, green and other bright shades. When kiping catches the light of the sun it turns into a veritable cascades of color.

The celebration is a form of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and in honor of the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro de Labrador. A procession of the image of San Isidro is planned long before the festival and it is said that houses along the route of the procession passes will be especially favored and blessed in the coming year. It is from this belief that the lavish decoration of the home began. After all, one must welcome the saint's blessings with rapture and gratitude.