Mt. Pulag

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2,922m Above Sea-level
Kabayan, Benguet
Cordillera Administrative Region
28 to 29 April 2012
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"The good thing about being a landscape photographer is that you have to seek out the landscape. You've got to be there, you've got to be present."

-- Per Bak Jensen

A friend from work and I had to arrange our schedules months before to secure 2 days rest for this trip. Both of us knew that it WILL be hell for us to go to work immediately after the climb itself so it was necessary that our bodies recuperate from the beating. And we were bloody right.

taken at the campsite

Anawangin Cove

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Brgy. Pundaquit
San Antonio, Zambales 
Central Luzon
05 to 09 April 2012
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As usual, I went to my brother's house the night before for early departure. The difference this time was I was sick with fever and flu. They were a bit worried but I told them that it was okay. Sea water and breeze are alternatives for saline solution-- a good thing if you have sticky phlegm that hinders breathing; plus, I haven't been out under the sun for God-knows-how-long already. True story. When your life revolves within hospital walls, it will seem like you're no longer friends with daylight-- the kinder type of daylight, and not the harshness of the afternoon heat...

and i soaked it all up-- sun, sea, and breeze.

Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA)

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San Narciso, Zambales
Central Luzon
21 February 2012 
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A day before, I received a text from my brother, asking if he could borrow the camera. He said he was going to PMMA the following day. I was suddenly very awake despite having just revived myself from a near coma-like state, induced by two 16-hours shift. Anyway, I replied and told him that Feb 21 was a rest day for me. He told me then that it'd be better if I slept in their house because we were leaving early; and, so I did.


We left the house at around 5:30am and passed by The Fort. Took pictures while waiting and experimented on the camera's shutter speed.

Parked

Up Dharma Down

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Terno Inferno
SaGuijo, Makati City
National Capital Region
18 February 2012
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Taking a break from all those nature trippings, here's a bit of our local urban scene.

Up Dharma Down

17th Hot Air Balloon Festival

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Air Force City/Clark Airfield
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
Central Luzon
12 February 2012
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Woke up early that day and asked my uncle to drive me off to my friend's house so he'd know where to pick me up as well. While waiting, I finally got myself acquainted with Simon.

The Satellite Dish: Grumpy Kitty Does Not Approve

Pagsanjan "Magdapio" Falls

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Lumban-Caliraya-Cavinti Road
Pagsanjan, Laguna
CALABARZON, Region IV-A
29 January 2012
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One month prior, I contacted a college friend who does part-time work as a nature trip guide regarding his tour of Pagsanjan Falls. A week before, I found out that they had moved the trip to 12 February as a pre-Valentine's day event, and told me that he'd keep me posted if we're still good to go on the 29th. Four days before the trip, he sent me an SMS saying that we're good to go even though it's just the two of us; implying, if I was crazy enough to take the land route.


'If I was crazy enough,' he says...

San Guillermo Parish

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Bacolor, Pampanga 
Central Luzon
28 January 2012
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For my first entry, I was supposed to document our little sight-seeing moments up in Mt. Pinatubo's crater lake, but unfortunately there was some sort of military activity in the area. We arrived at the base camp at around 9am, and trekkers were only permitted to go as early as 4am and descend at around 8am, so it was already too late for us either way. It was really disappointing but, as what I have learned a long time ago, things happen for a reason-- and most of them happen for a better cause too.

Despite our spirits getting dampened by that experience, my two buddies and I decided to search for an alternative. A few minutes of driving later, our "alternative route" presented itself (quite unusually, since we're not really the type to drive miles and miles away from our comfort zone in Makati or The Fort just to see churches) in the form of an old sunken-in-volcanic-ashes church: San Guillermo Parish, Pampanga.

Not quite Pinatubo, but hey... we're stepping on something that CAME from it at least. XD