Small Piece on Comic Con

Out on the East.

This short vacation in New York proved to be a test of how long can a person walk. Depp, Bee and I scurry around the city with our hands clenched tightly around the little money we had. We were mainly stuck with the dilemma of pooling money to ride the subway or walk fifteen blocks, but always opted for the latter. The first day I spent was exhausting as I had stood and drank the night before, got barely any sleep and just hopped on a 6AM flight like a zombie but this trip relieved it all even the loneliness and homesickness I felt for months as I was finally together with friends from back home. 

And so after a train from New Jersey the adventure begins in dirty white-blue tiled grimy Penn Station, a large scale slightly better version of Quiapo underground pass in Manila as it has the same feel with people just scrambling to get where they need to go. A lot of things reminded me of Manila in NYC from the smell of the sewer to the loud metal clanging like thunder above your head from the train passing as you are walking on the sidewalk filled with vendors of pirated films, bootleg clothes, and street foods from every continent. I guess thats part of the reason I want to live here, its a better version as Manila, second reason is the Jollibee branch. 

As cliche as it sounds it really felt like you were sucked in a movie when you first take it all in. We had a movie like moment of almost getting soaked from gushing fire hydrant water as we were eating breakfast in Times Square. Long story short, guy was fixing the fire hydrant when he messed up and it exploded and we were saved by our quick reflexes. Some stray observations: there's a minimum of 5 elmo mascots in Times Square, Moms who jog and push baby strollers at the same time in Central Park is kinda amazing, Van Gogh's starry starry night almost made me leave in tears, Every block is an alternating smell of pretzel and shawarma, Brooklyn bridge is smaller than I expected, Shake Shack burger is the best thing and the only reason I will eat a burger, You will always get lost in the subway so don't ever be afraid to ask for directions. 

I left New York with a smile on my face and a sigh of relief as I thought finally! I can rest my feet from all the walking but eventually came back to Chicago telling Depp and Bee how I wish we had more time and did this and that. We were faced with the reality of going back to our normal lives but deep inside I hoped all three of us were headed to the same home, and by home I mean the land where we were born, Philippines.

photos were taken mostly by Depp

Ceramic Dynamics

I was on the road with my family in Bicol, Albay and we just came from a visit at a waterfall hidden in the mountains. On our way to a place we could eat my Aunt asked me if I wanted to visit The Philippine Ceramics Arts and Crafts Center, I couldn't pass on that because I've always wanted to photograph pottery and even try it myself since I think its a technique driven art that is such a different discipline from all the other arts. This ceramic center is located at Brgy. Putsan in Tiwi, Albay.

The visit was short but amazing I was kinda in awe of how they shape and form the pots and it looks so easy, but I've tried it, and its definitely harder than it looks. the place isn't boring at all because you feel a sense of community upon arriving, when we went here some workers are singing karaoke and everybody looked like they were enjoying themselves. When I asked them if I could try they said to go for it, one of them guided me but I still ended up with ugly looking pots. They let me have the ones I made free of charge, So I went home and let my poorly made pot dry out in the sun and let my aunt plant something on it. 

A Different Current

CARAMOAN, PHILIPPINES

No one expected I would end up choosing travel photography as my thesis in college, I surprised even myself. I guess what I really needed that time was something fresh and an experience that would change how I view things in this world. The place I went to have an adventure I wouldn't forget is Caramoan, located at Luzon's Bicol region it is one of the Philippine's best beaches to go to. Caramoan was also the location of the hit survival reality TV show "Survivor". Its perfect for the show since Caramoan has a lot of uninhabited islands that the community still wants to keep it the way it is. 

Traveling from Manila to Caramoan has its difficulties since its in a remote area, but you'll immediately forget about how far you've traveled once you get to see how majestic the place is. 

Caramoan's town center is where you can buy your needed supplies like drinking water, food, fire wood if you are camping and other necessities. 

Tricycles are the main transportation in this town, its cheap and it will take you to the main beach (barangay paniman) where all the guest houses and lodgings are plus its where you can rent boats that will take you to the islands.

Umang cave is a must see in Caramoan. There are two ways to get to this cave, one is a 30 minute hike in the plains and up a side of the mountain, the other is a 2 minute boat ride and climbing makeshift stairs from roots of the surrounding trees which takes up about 15 minutes. This cave is a cathedral type of cave. the name "Umang" literally translates to "hermit crab".

Hike going to Umang cave.

A young fisherman fixing his net. Fishing is the the community's number one source of income since Caramoan is facing the pacific ocean.

Freshly caught crab that is going to be sold at the market or sold to restaurants nearby. Tourists can also purchase freshly caught seafood from the fisherman before they are sold in the market, all you have to do is ask around.

Lajos Island, is one of the nearby islands, it takes a 10 minute boat ride to get here. This island is one of the popular ones and it gets crowded during the summer. It has fine white sand beach thats between two limestone islands.

A hidden lagoon is located in an island called "Matukad". To reach this you have to rock climb a height of a 2 story building, its a fun experience and you just have to go for it if you want to see what the locals are calling "the princess of caramoan". A single milkfish is this lagoon's territory and this fish they say is shrouded with mystery and a intriguing story that the locals will tell you. I was really excited to see the fish with my own eyes and the story behind it baffled my curiosity that it encouraged me to rock climb to see it. 

Those living in Caramoan are lovely people, they have a very simple lifestyle and they genuinely care for the land they live in. They all support and want to preserve the islands. The experience was one of the best I've had because for me it felt like I finally let go of my qualms, I had no cellphone reception and I was only connected with nature. These trips make you feel like human again and forget the everyday hassles of the city and technology. I was surrounded with great people that taught me a lot about the place that it never even felt like I was doing it for school so I can graduate, I was just basking in the experience. This trip made me realized that I want to do this for the rest of my life. Travel, live and take photographs of it.