A new series have been uploaded

I’ve just uploaded a new series in my portfolio section: Busuanga’s Scarred Landscape. This work consists of a series of Busuanga Island aerial images showing its less populated interior where forests still stand. However, man is fast encroaching this natural environment as kaingin (slash and burn farming) marks the rough terrain, clearings abound, a road bisects and settlements are established.

The island is one of the bigger ones found in the Calamianes group in Northern Palawan. It is also the main area where tourists fly in to enjoy the many pristine islands found here.

Check the series Busuanga’s Scarred Landscape

I’ve always been intrigued with the all steel church of the Minor Basilica of San Sebastian. Thanx to Tina Paterno, who will be heading a restoration project of this impressive edifice, I was able to appreciate further and take preliminary shots of the interior for a future feature in simbahan.net and to help Tina with her advocacy/project.

I can’t help but be wide eyed at the fan vaulting, the neo gothic details of this church but also disheartened at deterioration of the iron cladding that is quite prominent in the interior. These are just a few of the images I took and will be shooting the basilica by next week. Stay tuned.

About the images, I prefer to do this in black and white to focus more on the architectural details than be distracted by the colors and lights.

Worm's eye view of one of the columns of the church. CLICK TO ENLARGE

The impressive fan vaulting of San Sebastian. CLICK TO ENLARGE

Detail of one of the columns

The faithful attending the Good Friday activities just before the procession

Amidst historic buildings built in the 19th century, the faithful spill over to the open courtyard and outside spaces during the solemn Good Friday mass, one of the most important activities of Semana Santa (Holy Week).

San Juan carroza

Maria Magdalena carroza

Last week was kind of hectic as I was shooting some semana santa (Holy Week) preparations and practices in the southeastern part of Cebu. During Good Friday, I was with my ACFJ classmate, Pam, and we went from Boljoon to Carcar. These two images were shot outside Dalaguete church where people and a few carrozas bearing lenten images were stationed.

My follow to the Visita Iglesia Manila guide

28 Spanish colonial era churches that are still standing in the island province of Cebu, cradle of Christianity in the Philippines. Like my previous Visita Iglesia Manila guide, it is loaded with stunning photos, easily digestible histories with a numbered map to boot!

Check it out here