Estan Cabigas

A few weeks ago, I’ve been following Erwin, a high school student in Batangas for a project. He is a scholar for a local NGO, Sambat Trust, dedicated to reading literacy as well as putting children to school.

A walk along the busy major and sidestreets of the old district of Quiapo in Manila can be an experience: organized chaos that typify this capital. However, faith and fate are very much present. From the stunning neo-gothic architecture of the all-steel edifice of San Sebastian Minor Basilica dwarfing jeepneys and people, to the more mundane and humble carendiria or street diner with its almost life size icon of the Sto. Nino (Holy Child).

A walk near Quiapo Church, one can stumble upon rather innocent trinkets that upon close inspections are anting-antings, amulets, that are engraved with religious and pseudo latin inscriptions whose purpose is to protect one from the deadly hit of a bullet.

The North Face organized the Thrill of the Trail, Bohol leg last Sunday in the municipality of Danao. I was part of the media people (as a blogger) who was brought in to cover the event. Below are a selection of the photos. More, about 356 images, at my Fit and Run blog.

Despite the cool weather in the mountain town of Banaue, Ifugao, people still find a soothing relief to the mild heat of summer by having halohalo, that pinoy iced dessert commonly eaten during the hot months. One thing that struck me is the presence of elbow macaroni as one of the ingredients which was kind of interesting. Check my blog post at langyaw.com for more on this one.

I participated in The New York Times’s A Moment In Time photo project where photographers, both amateurs and professionals using any kind of camera including a camphone, can take a picture at 1500H UTC (2300H here in the Philippines). Photos are said to be posted by the NY Times via their Lens blog sometime this Monday (Sunday, their time).

I was actually walking home from watching Ironman 2 in Glorietta and was quite disappointed since Dela Rosa St. was already deserted. Not a single, interesting soul can be found. A few minutes past 2300H, I stumbled upon this sleeping homeless man and thought that I should just take his photo and use it, when there’s nothing else I can shoot.

Finally, got no choice but to use this one.