Basically Boracay

We braved the bagyo, typhoon Odette also known internationally as Usagi. Reports say that so far, it is the strongest storm to hit the entire planet for this year. So basically, there were just white sand, good food and a not so gentle breeze at Travel+Leisure Magazine’s 2^nd Best Island in the World. No complaints.

press play

white, wide, open

they come in three-s

too windy to sail

are you ready?

photobomber!

National Heroes Day

It’s National Heroes Day.

And today is no ordinary Meatless Monday.

We are zero-ing on PORK!

Randy David: "Here, in our country, I believe that the anger is directed not against any person in particular, but against an entire system—a way of doing things—that permits elected officials to enrich themselves in power, while ensuring their and their relatives’ monopoly on power through acts of patronage. It is a system that feeds on the poverty and powerless of the many, corrupting every modern institution that stands in the way of the selfish agenda of those in power."

Yoki's Farm

Eccentricity at its finest. 

Somewhere in Mendez, Cavite we found a hydrophonics farm, an aviary and a collection of the most exquisite knickknacks- from Venus de Milo to Genghis Khan all in one garden. It was supposed to be just a pre-birthday treat for my father but this turned out really really goood!

was he a Pharaoh?

the Lotus position

How to get there:

Yoki’s Farm

Tabluan Road, Barangay Palocpoc 1, Mendez, Cavite

Tel: +63-922-8014220

Hours: 8:00-11:00am, 1:00-4:00pm

Entrance fee: Php100/person, small children come in free

Coming from Manila, look out for the following landmarks:

 1 .Mushroom Burger

2. Bag of Beans

3. Turn right at the block immediately after Bag of Beans(where you’ll see a sign directing you to turn right to Hacienda Isabella.) It’s around 15 to 20 minutes straight going down the hill. Soon, you’ll spot a sharp U-turn. Take the u-turn and continue on that road. Once you see a small intersection, turn left and then soon enough, another left. You’ll know you’re close when you reach Tabluan Road. You’ll see a big black gate with “YOKI” emblazoned on it. The farm doesn’t have a sign so be careful or you’ll miss it.

the freshest lettuce and more!

exquisite!

lush greens

QWERTY pad

slowly but surely

a Roman gladiator guarding the HUGE Buddha?

alien life in Jade

follow the light

still, another unlikely pair

Palawan is World's Best Island

Palawan was voted as Travel+Leisure's World's Best Island for 2013. I was recently in Coron, Busuanga- one of the many islands in Palawan with some of my best friends from Pagcor and with my best brother, Mark. Because anything less than the best is a felony. (Even if it was Vanilla Ice who sang that.)

ah Coron! Magnifique!

Clarity!

Bulungan Beach. They say that a witchdoctor still lives here.

ofcourse you know where it's at - Kayangan Lake!

the mountain ranges surrounding Mt. Tapyas

mangroves at the Coron Youth Club

There’s more to it than being the country’s last ecological frontier or the Underground River making it to the elite Wonders of Nature list. For instance, Busuanga Airport, the gateway to Coron is smacked in the mountain ranges of the Yulo King Ranch. It was actually a cattle ranch/reserve named after one of former President Marcos’ closest friends, Mr. Yulo. It was put up in 1976 and cows were placed for dispersal in the 140,000 sqms piece of land.

stalled by the cows at the Yulo King Ranch

at the Coron Youth Club, yes it's an island

Mt. Tapyas sunset

just enjoying the view at the Mt. Tapyas deck

docked at the Bulungan Beach for Lunch

here's what you'll see when you reach the deck

approaching Kayangan Lake

waiting for our late lunch at the Coron Edge Bar & Restaurant

In Black and White

I fell in love with photography long before printing or publishing photos in black and white was just an artsy choice but was a necessity. In fact it was the only way to pass my Photography 101 and Photojournalism classes. During the late 90’s (when I was still a freshman at the College of Mass Communication (CMC) in UP,) the use of digital cameras were discouraged. We had to do it the old-fashioned way: load our manual SLR cameras with black & white film, process the negative, project the image on the light sensitive photo paper and finally process and print that projected image. And yes, I have spent a chunk of my time in the dark room and have crashed into someone a couple of times.

Like most film students, Necopan too was one of my favorite brands.

Philippine Post Office, Liwasang Bonifacio, 1998

heavily guarded

The Oblation, University of the Philippines (2001)

I heard the people roar at the Senate grounds (Jericho March, 2001)

Deposed President Erap effigy way back in 2001 at Mendiola.
 But people have short memories--- he is now elected Mayor of Manila 

 It was definitely in my college soundtrack.

The truth shall set you free

Woe to those who rob the poor

we all wanted to change the world

A boy named Jao at the Jericho March (2001)
He'd be around 15yrs.old now if he was 3 then

Living the Legend of Amansinaya

This is one of my favorite spots in my hometown-Batangas. Amansinaya Mountain Resort is at San Gabriel, Laurel, Batangas. Laurel also has an excellent view of Taal Volcano which is the world’s smallest active volcano.

Legend has it that Bathala stood against the great love of Amansinaya (the goddess of the sea) and Kalangitan (god of the heavens.) But according to the myth, love indeed conquered all as Amansinaya tried to reach the heavens for Kalangitan and built her own water kingdom on top of the mountains. Amansinaya Mountain Resort is truly a place where the water kisses the sky. 
Located in the elevated gardens of Hacienda Cascada, surrounded by lush green landscape, it is a getaway hidden in the mountains. The Amansinaya experience is a magical escape reliving the tale of the two star-crossed lovers beckoning all to indulge in the richness of the mountains, water and sky.

Peace. This reminds me of yoga's gentle flow.

this cave gives an excellent view of the Ambon-ambon waterfalls

loving him was red

manna from heaven

the sharp rock formations guard the waterfall

perpetually stained