A church bench probably late 19th or early 20th century from Liloan, Cebu

The church book project, Balaanong Bahandi, that I’m currently involved in is coming at a critical stage as we’re already wrapping up for the last images. While there are still photos to be shot, these are, however, quite very few as I have almost finished all the structures and artifacts in the area that was assigned to me except for just three locations.

Tomorrow, I will be in Argao in southern Cebu for the ivory images at the museum. Really, I’m looking forward to this one as I was just in awe when I saw images of the place and the treasures it contains. If ever the weather will permit, I should finish all shoot by Thursday for the Danao Church façade and the centuries old moro watchtower in Catmon Daan.

After all these, here comes the more tedious part: editing the images for the book. Right now, I will need to process around 350 photos and submit this to the printer and book designer as well as schedule proofing with the printer.

I just hope that I will be finished with these as soon as possible and settle other important matters in Makati.

Façade of Tuburan Church, part of an ongoing book project.

It’s been a streak of bad luck the past two days as I grappled with a busted notebook computer, a busted hard drive and a shelved book project happening in succession. Is this a case of tripple whammy?

Two days ago, I woke up, turned my HP notebook computer and froze as I heard the dreaded three beeps: one long followed by two short ones. I didn’t want to hear it as it’s a sure sign that the video card has problems. Unfortunately, the component is embedded in the mother board and that just means that its big trouble for me. With my unit out of warranty, replacing the mother board will cost me more than $400. An amount that I’m not ready to part with at this time.

While my notebook computer had problems, I bought an external hard drive (SATA) enclosure to retrieve precious files for an important screening of images for an ongoing book project. To my chagrin, all I heard was the clung, clung, clung sound indicating that the internal arm of the drive is unable to move freely. God, this drive has serious physical problems! It can’t read and can’t be detected. Pufft! There goes my PSD files that I’ve labored to process and edit the past few days.

And then, I just received an email informing me that the U.S. based Pinoy publisher shelved the book project due to the bad economic condition in the United States. This was supposed to start this month.

Right now, dark clouds are swirling over my head as I’m pondered the coming months ahead. Busted gear will entail a big expense while I also need, badly, that book project.

Meanwhile, I’m wrapping up the shoot for the series of churches that was assigned to me here in Cebu for an upcoming book which is tentatively scheduled for launching this November while a preselling activity as well as photo exhbit will be held this 3 July. It’s a crunch for me at a really bad, bad time.

I need some consolation now.

This slideshow is a bigger edit and consists of 27 images.

I’ve decided to make a slideshow of the A Ritual of Faith work and this time, it consists of 27 images. Except for two, I used these as my submission to the Prix Mark Grosset contest.

This shows more aspect of the preparation and ritual, which I think is also important in understanding more about the subject. I was really tempted to do an edit of 30 or more images but finally settled for these set.

A flagellant trying on his tukarol (headress) for fit and balance.

A Ritual of Faith is my main story for my final portfolio in the ACFJ Diploma in Photojournalism course. It is a work on traditional faith in a northern town in Quezon province that is in danger of disappearing in the next few years.

Self flagellation as an act of penitence has its origins in the 11th century in Italy that spread to Europe including Spain. The practice was introduced in the Philippines by Spanish missionaries during the late 16th century. In the past 400 years, it has been adopted and adapted to become an indigenous ritual. Today, it is mainly performed in Central Luzon, Metro Manila and some provinces in Southern Tagalog and climaxes on Good Friday of Holy Week.

Practitioners, do it as a petition or supplication in the form of a panata or vow, sworn for a fixed period of years. It is intended for the healing of a sick relative or a member of the family or, in many instances, as a spiritual investment in the hope that God will grant grace for the family as well as protection from harm and misfortune.

Most, if not all, of the penitents are Roman Catholics. For them, this is the most important and most solemn of days wherein this kind of self mortification is the ultimate expression of sacrifice in order to share in the passion and suffering of Christ.

In the coastal barrio of Boboin, Infanta, Quezon, around 5 hours trip east of Manila, the self flagellation practice is unique because of the elaborate costume that the penitents don. This sets it apart from the rest of the other flagellants found in other parts of Luzon. The outfit consists of a saya or skirt made from dried banana leaves, a panyabat, the flog, tipped with wooden pegs and a floral headdress called the tukarol.

In the 1950s, as much as 300 men from different barrios perfomed this ritual. By 2009, only around 30 can be found and are mainly from Boboin.

A spider being readied for a fight.

Good news! After talking with my adviser, Philippine Daily Inquirer’s chief photographer, Ernie Sarmiento, I will proceed with the gagamboy story. I have enough images to make one and I will be pursuing this one beyond the course. Well, I really had no choice but to go on with it as time is really tight. I was initially thinking of my La Loma slaughterhouse story as I have already most images but my time won’t permit it.

I just hope, it will pass the panel’s scrutiny.