An Afternoon in Binondo - Manila

About a year ago, a friend invited me to a free seminar on “Traveling with a Camera” in Glorietta 4 presented by Jay Alonzo of AFI and from then on I received emails from their organizer Cecille Cruz on events and workshops hosted by Ayala Foundation.

I never got the chance to join again because of my busy schedule until last week when they hosted a photo and travel trip to Binondo which is very familiar place to me since I lived in Tondo since I got married. It’s my way going home from the office specially when its already traffic in the Pier area.

It was a fun day and a great experience though I was thinking of a more historic trip because I wanted to see old houses, historical landmarks and other sort of well-known value like the Luna’s house or something like that. But nonetheless, we’ve gone to places which I haven’t been and the stores which have significant values in our Filipino-Chinese history.

The great thing about it is that we got featured in newspapers and our entries were exhibited in AFI library. I'm looking forward for more trips like this.

Jezel Kathrene - Fabulous @ 18

A week before I left for training in the States last December, I went through a foot surgery. And five days after, I got to shoot Jezel’s pictorial for her tarps, invites and signature board.

It’s kinda hard especially when you’re kneeling or on an awkward position but I didn't pay much attention. I just wanted to make my client happy and I’m also preparing my foot for my three weeks travel in a couple of days.

We went to UP Diliman and the weather was just right and sun rays were passing through the trees’ leaves at about 2 in the afternoon. I’ve been there before for a friend’s Prenup but I wanted to explore the place just a little more.

Jezel was fabulous!

Click here to view her album.

"Thrilla in Manila" Part 1 of 3

Remember my officemate Jake who always calls me "Howie Mandel" on my January post? Well, he still does and asks me to help him cleanup his laptop with applications that’s making it crawl whenever he open any file or program.

And so I did and recommended that he upgrade his RAM to at least 1GB or better 2GB because he only has 512MB. For two days during my free time, I’d work on his machine and uninstall applications that he doesn’t need or seldom used.

After I’m done, he handed me a paper that I cannot agree not to accept because it’s an SI gift. He ask me what I really want to have and I said “Owning a “Thrilla in Manila” SI cover is an important cover for me to have because we Filipinos are just born a devoted boxing fan.

Not only it’s about the greatest boxing icon, the most significant about it is, it was held here in our country and was refereed by a Filipino in Carlos Padilla. Whenever I watch a game or show in Araneta Coliseum, I would pass by the poster of Ali vs. Frazer fight in 1975.

Today, I’ll be counting three more weeks and this important SI cover will be mine. Thanks again Jake!

Spiderman - Reprised

As I’ve said before, "Someday, I’m gonna paint Spidey’s backboard with a lighter color." Well, guess what, I don’t have to wait any longer. My father-in-law did it for me…

Criticism spread fast in our house on Spidey’s visibility against its background, so I told them that I’m going to repaint it with a lighter one so he’ll be seen even from afar. On Monday while we’re having our dinner, Dad asked me if it’s alright if he’ll be the one to do the painting and I said yes rightaway...

He loves to paint and here’s the result with him shaking hands with Spidey below…

Thanks, Daddy Ben! This is way too cool!

Empire of the Sun and a Weekend in Recto

When I was little, Claro M. Recto Street, formerly known as Azcarraga Street used to be my hub. We once lived in the third floor of an apartment in the streets of Soler corner Severino in Quiapo for almost five years and at the end of Severino is CM Recto, the most popular street for students at that time.

Every weekend, my agenda was to scout Recto on movies that accept 11 year-old kid like me. Oftentimes, I got lucky to watch the most interesting movies at that time from Tagalog to foreign movies with movie passes that my mom got from friends. One of these great movies is Steven Spielberg’s “Empire of the Sun” which featured a story of a boy of my age who was caught in the time of World War II.

I remember when I watched this movie, it was a weekend around nine in the morning and the movie houses in Quiapo and Recto are already open. Most of the times, I can see that I’m the only person watching inside the theater but I wasn’t afraid though it was very cold inside. With my small body and just wearing a shirt, a short pants and a pair of sandals makes me fold in my seat until my shirt is stretched enough to cover my whole body while doing an Indian sit on my chair.

Some of the names of the theaters that I was a suki of are Maxim, Tandem and Ever Emporium Cinemas. In the morning, I’d go for early breakfast and if we have extra money, my mom would buy us a hot and delicious pancit together with pandesal from Sandra bakery in Recto. After a heavy breakfast, I’d start my strolling and look for something to do…

I am always alone when I do these adventures, as I always did with my adventures in our barrio in Sorsogon. I explore the river and roam the fields all by myself. I always got the privilege to sing our national anthem more than five times a week, five at school and the others at the theater.

My favorite theater is Tandem, located at the corner of Recto and Severino which is less than a hundred steps from where we lived. On the second floor of the building is a video games arcade so whenever I got extra money, I’d play there. If I don’t have money, I’ll just watch the other kids play. At the ground floor are clothes and shoes stores. At the basement are billiards tables where you'll find college students playing or gambling.

Empire of the Sun introduces me to Spielberg and Christian Bale. So when Batman Begins was shown, I remember Bale as the boy almost same as my age who’s journey in that movie has been a similar path as mine, survival.

In Quiapo, you must be street smart; else, you’ll get into some kind of trouble with bully kids. Good thing for me, I got a bat cave that I can be at peace, a theater…