Circumnavigating Northern Luzon

City, Tamauini Church, Sword making in Brgy. Lirio Bajo, Callao Cave in Penablanca, Cavalry Hills, Iguig, Pottery Making in Iguig, Alcala Church, Lallo Church, Aparri, Port Irene, San Vicente Port, Crocodile Island, Palaui Island, Patapat Highway, Bangui Windmills, Vigan, San Fernando, La Union

I miss you Abby!!!

Nikon D90 + 12-24 F/4

0.05 sec (1/20), f/4, 24 mm, ISO 1600, no flash

Merry Christmas!

Nikon D90 + 18-200 vr
.033 sec (1/30), f/5.3, 105 mm, 800 ISO, no flash

---
What a Christmas!
Thank you for all the blessings!
To God be the Glory!

Finally... a carbon fiber tripod of my own!

Benro C-168 m8 Carbon Fiber Travel Angel Tripod and a Benro B-0 2nd Generation Professional Ball Head.

This should cure my gear acquisition syndrome for now. I promise not to buy anything after this (I hope!) . Have to stay away from PhotoWorld end of January! Or else, patay nanaman.... IR, ND8, Wide Angle filter holder with ND Grad...

Lately, I've been reading Really Right Stuff. Bad idea. 'm drooling for a BD80-L bracket, MPR-CL nodal slide and PCL-1 panning clamp. That's about 500 bucks! Can't afford that shit, so I am hoping I can put up something similar by trying my luck in Hidalgo. I'm sure they have different kind of plates there. Papawelding ko nalang sa kanto! Lolz...

Hmmm... 20mm or 24mm or 28mm?

Just small things...

taken at MOA, D80+12-24, tilt-shift effect

Closed Window

But you opened it (though on the pic it still closed, lolz...)
You have made me realize the good things in me...
You appreciate the things I do for you...
You understand, you listen, you give advise...
What more can I ask?
Love you Abby!

And to the stalkers out there... yah, you kow who you are....
I have 2 words for you....
God bless. :D

Time...

I need time to shoot,
time to upload photos,
a time off...

ISO 1600 tests

0.025 sec (1/40), f/3.5, 18 mm, ISO 1600


0.077 sec (1/13), f/4, 32 mm, ISO 1600

Useable high ISO. A big improvement over the D80.

Both taken using a Nikon D90 with 18-200mm AF-S VR DX.

The most beautiful woman in my life...

Beautiful inside out. No pretension. No condition.

A success!!!

We arrived Manila early this morning. Thanks to all those who have given support to the Black Pencil Project. As of this writing, the pencils, crayons, erasers, and other supplies are now in the towns of Banaue and Mayoyao in Ifugao. Photos will be posted next.
----
1. I'm so in love right now. I love you Abby!
2. The D90 is worth it. I'm so happy.
3. The group had fun (I hope). Such a happy bunch. I'm so glad.
---

Black Pencil Project goes back to Banaue!

Last night... actually early this morning...


The group preparing the pencils, crayons, erasers, sharpeners for today's trip to Banaue. We are set to go to Banaue tonight for a 3 day adventure - Banaue, Batad, Mayoyao and Magat.

With 2,000 pcs. of pencils, 400 sets of crayons plus a few others, we hope to bring smile to the faces of the children this part of Ifugao.

Advance Merry Christmas Banaue!

To know more about this project and for donations, please visit our Official Blog http://blackpencilproject.blogspot.com

Thanks,
edwink in behalf of the BPP team

After 2 years...

Thank you God for the blessings!

Tenglawan

Wanna know?

I passed this marker more than 10 times already during my past trips to Banaue and Sagada. Finally, just this weekend, I was able to set foot on the highest point in the highest highway in the country!!! Yahoo!!!



Great stuff:

-I have a new job, great company, great culture. Process and result oriented.
-I have my own office with a great view of Manila bay!
-I got my first paycheck. Great!
-Great climb at Mt. Tenglawan, enjoy na, we helped kids pa!
-D90 itch... may not be an itch anymore... soon.
-A beautiful, loving, caring and very supportive woman at my side.

Not so's...

-I'm having problems uploading pics here in blogspot. The auto-resize doesn't work anymore.
-I'm in the middle of something... need to work this out.
-Need more sleep time.
-Chismis nanaman? Di na ba kayo magbabago? Say it in front of me, para malaman nyo hinahanap nyo.

Im lost...

You say I am...

Those just got to be the most painful words said to me...

Everything's new...

Mall of Asia, October 4, 2008
Model: Xeres
MUA : Kate Aguilar

---

Got a new job. It's so overwhelming that I can't find the right words to use. All I can say is that, God is good!

The downside... now I don't have enough time for my extra-curricular's...

I have not posted lately. Hardly have time to check my mail, and upload pics. Need to work on so many things, so little time... so much responsibility, limited resources... I'm tired... I need a real vacation... like a 1 week, Cordillera expedition...

Buti nalang... andyan ang mahal ko... she give's me strength... she brings smile to me... she makes me happy... I love you Abbyko!

Ang pag tawid sa Laguna de Bay

September 20-21, 2008
Mt. Tagapo ala "Susong Dalaga"
Brgy. Janosa, Talim Island, Binangonan, Rizal



Laguna de Bay is the larges lake in the country. It is a freshwater lake thus the fish pens scattered all over. Water lilies are everywhere and are considered pests. They destroy fish pens and can damage the bangka's propeller. The ride was about an hour (costs PhP 40 if public bangka). On the left, one can see the other baranggays of Binangonan, and on the right, it is possible to see the buildings of Makati and Ortigas. Sadly, the weather wasn't cooperating that day. Far ahead, we can see Talim Island, and a peak called Mt. Tagapo (aka Susong Dalaga), our destination that weekend.

More photos here.

Black Pencil Project on ABS-CBN NEWS.COM!

Changing the world one pencil at a time
By TRINA LAGURA, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/24/2008 9:53 AM



Early June of this year, friends Edmond Corpuz, Edwin Karganilla and Zer Cabatuan took a time off their respective busy lives in the city to do the other thing that they love, photography, which they fondly refer to as their "stress-reliever." They were gunning for the scenic spot of the famous Banaue rice terraces in Ifugao province. Armed with their lens and P500 worth of black pencils, they set out on their trek. Their cameras were for the landscape and the black pencils were for the local children who would usually mob new faces.

Read the rest of the article here

Why was I happy this past week...

Mali - Sir John Chua's pet
----

Have you ever experienced waking up smiling? These past few days I was. And it felt so good.

I'm at my crossroads, actually 2 sets of crossroads. The first one is leading me towards a direction of improvement and gain, the other points to what seems to be a dead end. The change will definitely improve everything. And I have been waiting for this for so long. Finally, a clearer and better future ahead of me. I think I deserve this.

But what's this? The dead end seems opening up. Is it for me, or for them? Is this true or will this just be another promise and another lie? I can't continue if there's no clear direction. I can't wait. Not for nothing. Le me know soon, or else...

The other crossroad... well not really. I know what I want. There's no need to choose, for I already made a decision. I will be with you soon. Can't wait.

Black Pencil Project to be featured in ABS-CBN

Inspired with the kids who serenaded us at Cambulo Village, Banaue, Ifugao Province, we formed the Black Pencil Project - a personal initiative to help provide pencils through resources mobilizations to public elementary schools in the remote barangays accross the country. It aims to encourage localized participation and individual commitment of goodwill in support to government education programs in the countryside.

Initial beneficiaries of the project are kids in Cambulo, Banaue, Ifugao.

We raised 700 pesos and a bunch of pencils from the recent Basic Photography Workshop, myself and Mon conducted (for free) with my montaineering group Boondockers. This coming Tuesday, we will be meeting with ABS-CBN. They will feature our initiative in their website. Hopefully this will create awareness and promote the Black Pencil Project



Click here to view video on YouTube.



Self Portrait, with Zer and Mon. Im the one in the middle. =)

We are also known as AkosiSuperEdwink.

akosizer - Zer
Super_ed - Mon
Edwink - Edwin (me!)

all members of Pinoyphotography.Org (the forum and the photography club)

2 years

I've been waiting for this for the longest time. There's nothing I could want more.
Please let me go. I wish to go...

Sincere

I've never felt that stupid until that Sunday morning.
There's nothing I can do to correct what I have done.
But please, give me a chance to redeem myself.
I will make it up to you I swear.

Yes to you...

I thought honesty would free me. I believe showing my true self is my way of showing sincerity. Now, it seems that I have made a mistake. Or maybe, I did not. I don't know. But one thing I do know, is I am rebuilding my life. I'm putting things in order. I may have started on the wrong side of the boat, but I am correcting my mistakes. My wish is to be given a chance. A chance to prove myself.

I would want to workout things first, before going into this new journey. I will make sure that every step I take, will be for the right direction. I can't afford to be lost. I need to find the correct path that would hopefully lead me to you.

Yes to you.


Edit:

Is it you? But why do these to me... don't you see? tsk tsk tsk...

What's going on lately...

I miss Cordillera, specifically Sagada and Banaue. The June Cambulo-Batad-Bangaan adventure is still fresh in my mind. The trip brought a sense of relief and a much needed break from work and life. Photography and traveling has been my refuge. I thank the Lord for giving me the resources and time. All of my photos are for you Lord. Thank you!

More on photography, the 12-24 came really as a surprise. Though I lost my SB800 and 50 1.4 (to fund for this UWA), I feel it was worth the loss. I have so much to learn with this wide angle, and I hope I could be as good as my bud Zer.

Inspired with the recent PiPho photo-op with master Edwin Martinez I am seriously considering to get an IR filter, ND8 and a ND Grad Cokin. But my main worry is that on my monthly (okay, almost weekly) climbs, I don't have time to setup a tripod and shoot slow shutter. Backpacking is fast paced and I can't be the cause of the delay for the group. We have an Itineray to follow, chores and roles to do. Photography is second to my backpacking when we are up there.

Sideline: I promised myself that I will not involve myself in "Photography service for pay". I don't have the time, and don't have the eagerness to shoot events, weddings and others. I'm a landscape photographer, a traveler. I love shooting the sky, mountains, rivers, sunrise, sunsets... but it seems that opportunity keeps on knocking at my door. I recently covered a friend's civil wedding in Pamapangga. Quite ironic actually. Did learn a few things, and true enough, I had problems submitting the photos for I lack time. Shot one corporate event, the Davao trip and now another wedding end of September. Maybe this is for me. If so, I would want to do these on the sides, not a primary objective, maybe just to fund my GAStos attacks.

I sent my "Batad Wide" photo already. I hope it met the deadline. God willingly, it will be on the cover page. My first feature if ever. Thank you again Lord!

oh, and about GAS... I was waiting for the D90 to come out. And it was launched last August 27. And soon it will be on the shelves of Hidalgo stores. This is what i've been wanting for the longest time... low noise, faster fps, bigger/better LCD, active D-lighting, sensor cleaning... all in a small and light D80 like package. I don't know how I can afford to get one. Maybe thru "sidelines". I dunno...

So funny...

Can't help but laugh at myself.
I try to make things happen...
And they do happen.
But not the way I want I want things to happen...
Lolz...

8/20/2008 3:01:01 PM

It happened again. Silly me.

A moment

I stand forcefully, combating the strong wind...
I stare intently, on the clouds passing by me...
That's where I was... That's where I will be...
With your arms wrapped around me...

If God will allow me...
I want to do it over again and over again...

The playground

12-24, 8 frames, P-mode, PS CS3 auto stitched
---
Back to basics.

One Saturday With The Light Chaser

August 9, 2008 - Pagnsanjan Laguna
Thanks to Edwin Martinez for the invite.

more here: www.pinoyphotography.org

A blessing

Finally, a person who believes me
and who understands me.
Thank you kabalen...

Pakikibagay at pakikisama...

saan ang hangganan?

Ang lawin sa paglubog ng araw...

Parehong bundok,
parehong samahan,
puno ng kasiyahan,
walang iwanan,
mga tunay na kaibigan.

UWAaawww!

Let's see what this baby can do...

Something new came up...

50mm 1.4 + manual extension tubes

----

One does not need to be afraid.  It's a cycle that everyone has to go thru.  

I am happy.  Thank you Lord, for this new blessing.  

And it came true. All of them.

Mang Ben is one of the respected elders who lives in Batad. He has a small hut, within his rice paddies, overlooking the village of Batad.  

Mang Ben wore a necklace, where a bunch of long hair strands is attached.  

We were told that it was his wife's hair. 

Such a humbling experience to meet Mang Ben, a nice person with a colorful character

----

I knew it would. I saw what would happen. But why did I still do it? Because I had to take the risk. I had to conquer my fears. If I did not, it would surely hunt me for the rest of my life. "What if's" can only be answered if actions were taken. And I did. I thank the Lord for giving me the strength and the courage to travel in this long winding road. I am blaming no one. It was my choosing, it was my destiny.

This travel is taking quite a while from what I wanted. I have endured so much. Pain, defeat and agony. Turning around and going back would make the risks I took worthless. So I will continue to travel, hoping that when the end comes, it's a sight to behold. A perfect one, that God has specially chosen for me.

Portrait of a Filipino

Title: Man of Batad
Location: Batad, Banaue, Ifugao Province, Philippines
Date Taken: June 7, 2008

This came as a surprise. What a nice birthday gift! Thank you!
3rd Place - FPPF Photo World Cup 2008 JUNE Portrait of A Filipino

Early morning message

"The most important thing is not to be bitter over life's difficulties. Learn to let go of the past and recognize that everyday won't be sunny,  and when you find yourself lost in darkness and despair, remember - its only in the black of the night that you can see the stars, and those stars will lead you back home.  So don't be afraid to make mistakes, to stumble to fall...  Because most of the time, the greatest rewards come from doing things that scare you most."

Ang barkada...

Ano nga ba?

Sablay

Some people say being techie is a gift.
For me it's a curse.

Lesson learned:
What you don't see, you don't know, won't hurt you.

Thoughts of pain

Like a river that flows endlessly
My thoughts carried to eternity
Believers are nowehere
Contradictions are everywhere
Why was I treated like this
What actions did I miss
Forgiveness at this time I can't make
This time, it should be me, for my sake
If they say or does not
It doesn't matter...
I'll pray to the Lord...
that's all I would do.

It takes two

2:00AM, walang tulog, taga na van, adik na mga kasama,  panis na chowking, apat na litro tubig, day pack,  pitch kunwari, tulog sa ground sheet, Oh shit! literally, daming baka, daming shit, bulalo sa mahogany,  aldente na tawilis, saya sayang lakad. masayang samahan,  masayang akyat. masayang tropa. walang iwanan.

Skin deep

God will make a way

God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength

For each new day

He will make a way

He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness

He'll lead me

And rivers in the desert will I see

Heaven and earth will fade

But His Word will still remain

He will do something new today 

Friendship?

I had enough. So be it. I don't need nobody.

Angst

I was trying to prove something. I was trying to get someone to understand. I have been trying for weeks.

Today, I still feel the same way. I want others to understand and to know. I want everybody to ask. Why? Because I am surprised why no one has dared ask me. Not a single person approached and asked me what happened. I came into conclusion that they already have talked to whoever, and gotten there whatever side of the story. I maybe wrong, and probably is. But why the silence? Can you blame me for asking?

For weeks, I faced this dilemma alone. I have no one to talk too. I don't think anybody would understand how that felt. Zero. Nodda. None.. Nobody. All I needed was for someone to tell me, that I didn't do wrong. I want re-affirmation that I did good. I don't want to put blame to others, but wanted for others to see the right in me. Or, again, I maybe wrong. I maybe at the wrong side of the boat. I maybe the one to blame. Maybe that's what I really needed, someone to knock the hell out of me and tell me that I fucked up.

If a person is open to the idea that he maybe wrong, shouldn't we give him the benefit of the doubt, and possibly consider the idea, that he maybe right after all?

Proving who's right and wrong is a lame excuse. It's unprofessional and an immature way of thinking. But sometimes the solution to a problem is going back to basics. Who did what and why? Another point to consider is the present situation. Who has what, and who has nothing? What changed and what did not? Who's smiling, who's crying? Who's utterly boasting, and who's self keeping?

Am I expecting others to think the same way? Yes!!! A hundred gazillion Yes!

But honestly... no.

I don't expect for others to understand. I don't want others to know. I am not wanting for everyone to ask me, why and what happened.

You know why?

Because no one in this world would understand how I am feeling right now....