Memories of KES '91

Things that I miss in Grade School?... My first schedule was 2 Subjects and a Recess. My teacher in Kindergarten. My teacher in Gradeschool. The Boyscout thingys and the paniki on the flagpole. The first set of friends I made. The first best friends I had. First crush. First encounter of porn LOL. The cheap nutriban, biko, spaghetti and shake. How cheap? 1peso nutriban, 1peso biko, 5 peso spaghetti, 1 or 2 peso shake. 5peso ice cream on bread. Scramble. Green Mango and Singkamas on stick with bagoong. The cheap toys sold outside the school. Cheese curls with free growing frogs in water. Bioman kids membership. Super Mario. Overnights. The visit to classmate's houses. Uncle Bob's Lucky Seven club. Penpen de Sarapen. Acting workshops. Acting stints here and there. Commercials. First paycheck. First bankbook. The free softdrinks. Free books. Gardening. Pechay from the garden LOL.

Science projects. Science speeches. Corporal punishment on kids. Dance troupes. Choir. Practices. Cleaning rooms. Sewing class. The fine art of pagbuburda LOL. Patintero in the early morning. Fountains. School programs with Lilet. Imelda Marcos. Principals. Supervisors. Tough guys. Bitchy Girls. Closing parties. Christmas Parties. Gumamela and bubbles. Agawan Base. Tumbang Preso. Volleyball. Kalesteniks. Carpentry. Vinyl tiles. Burned down buildings. Graduations. Separate lives.

All those happened 20 sumthin years ago. I got to see that again a couple of days ago. I reminisced and drank a couple of bottles of beer with them again. I got to sing with them too. I bet we'll be doing it again soon. How? I don't know yet but I am hoping we'll see more of each other. Right guys? Did I miss anything?! =)

Are you ready for the November get together?!

Writing Inspirations

I guess there are a lot of things to write about today. Actually one of them is making me smile until now (and making me inspired to start) because I haven't been giving that much attention to it lately. To tell you honestly I am overwhelmed when someone likes the bit I wrote for the small town I visited a few days ago. Its main subject was; the city and its people. When I take the time to write posts like that, it comes with the experience and the things I remember from the trip. I guess we have different ways and means of getting inspiration. The subjects at Article Alley would probably get you interested. They make free content you can probably get that writing or reading itch resolved.

If it comes to you one day and you have something in your head that wants to get out, getting your own domain might be good so you can start doing what I did six years ago. I started with a blank page like anyone else; just look at how much stuff is here now. If you want to publish your thoughts and ideas then this bit is for you. I'm telling you it's really not that hard, you just have to make sure you write from the heart. Otherwise... no one would be interested in what you are doing and brush you off. That would be the right thing to do!

Vote for the Philippines!

I guess these days we all have time to surf the Internet and based on the results we have some overwhelming response from people here and the other ones who live abroad. Some of them are expats and OFW's and I know you probably have one in your family that does work there. They all voted already so why shouldn't you do the same right?!


Clean and Clear

Photos courtesy of Ms Cecille of Chuvaness.com

It's that Clean and Clear product that Filipinos have been using for years... since it is available around the world, they are holding a search for top best friends/models for their product. Why the hell should we lose to some other country when obviously we look far better than the other competitors there. Mariel and Isa won the Philippine leg and if you think about it the other entries there from the Southeast Asian region, I don't think they stand a chance. You can vote once a day until September 13. I heard there are rumors that someone is doing "Lutong Macau" in that contest so let's overwhelm them with our online presence ok?! Vote for them by CLICKING HERE. Prizes are also up for grabs and are randomly chosen so vote now!


Miss Universe - Maria Venus Raj


This controversial lady we sent to the Miss Universe pageant is currently leading but we need to still keep voting and get her average above everyone else. I know you might have some bets but please register on their site, confirm your email and click Contestants > Venus Raj. Then choose 5 stars on the photo so we'll have her on the leaderboard okay? I know a lot of you are watching this event so why not do it for the Philippines right?!

Hurry and register now!

Where else but http://www.missuniverse.com!

The City of Biñan, Laguna

I was really looking forward to a very great day of photowalks again with my peers from the D60KREW. The plan was to go somewhere remote but barely near Metro Manila and find places and faces under this li'l old country of ours that we haven't visited yet. We have walked quite a number of places in the South but we never got to see the city of Biñan, Laguna. We always passed by the highway and had never seen it this close. I immediately signed up when the opportunity knocked. Like every walk we had, I was in for a treat!Ms. Bambit Gaerlan contacted people from the city hall to have our permit secured. I was thinking it was only to get us to shoot places where we needed to but lo and behold even our security detail was arranged. I said to myself "Hey! the people are really nice here to even bother and do that!". To say the least I was really impressed about the reception. Once we got down from the decades old PNR Train from Manila, they immediately escorted us to the place we initially decided to start off which is the McDonalds branch along the highway.

First salvo of Group hug @McDO with the D60KREW Photo courtesy of Ms. Bambit Gaerlan (not in photo since she is the one shooting!)

We met with Ms. Roseann Gonzales the Administrative Aide of Mayor Marlyn "Len" B. Alonte-Naguiat and exchanged pleasantries. I was impressed at the way they welcomed us into their town. They extended this much attention to us and had us secured while shooting (hence no worrying about our gears). I never expected it was going to be that grand but hey, I guess people from this place was better receiving people. It's a great trait of Filipinos but we seldom see that anymore even in Manila. I felt really special and it was probably the same with my peers.

That's Ms. Roseann Gonzales (on the left) and the specially happy guy Michael Olino (far right) on the beginning of the walk. This was around 10:00pm if I'm not mistaken.

We lined up initially to get dinner at Mc Donald's since that was in the itinerary. The store manager had us wait on our seats and just got our orders, little did we know it was already paid for by Ms. Roseann Gonzales. That was a big surprise to all of us, I mean... talk about royal treatment huh?! We talked about it a little and decided to do a small payback, we'll let them use some of the images we produce on this walk. They'll probably have all their brochures and posters up soon with them. I'm really glad about the courtesy extended to us just by merely going through documents and a permit, we have the Mayor and her good people to thank for that.
Off we went to the streets of Biñan. It was a little different than when I last saw it (since my Uncle owns a local luxury auto shop I frequently went to in the past though I never got out to town that much) but I guess it was also because we are doing this photo walk in the wee hours of the evening and the morning after. The subjects were old houses, old mansions since Rizal's time and the small quaint homages to the local hero. I also think part of the charm of Biñan is its people. You can't imagine how endearing it was to talk with the locals. They are all friendly; actually I was cringing a little because of the fact that they were friendlier than me. It was like a second breeze to what little things I know about the place. It was nice all in all.
I tested out what I knew in long exposures. It was a must in this photo walk since we didn't have that much light. The wee hours of the morning drew near and there were only a couple of vehicles to shoot at. I had a few shots but I won't be posting them yet (they are still in post processing). The great people of the City hall patiently waited for us to finish our shots.

Municipal Special Action Group (MSAG), led by Mr. Bobby Veracruz (5th from right) and his team Dennis Tanael, Lando Parot, Ariel Almazora, Bhos Reyes (4th from right), Reynaldo Ambas, Roy Ringon, Dodgie Disonglo and Joewel Morales.
Photos courtesy of Ms. Bambit Gaerlan

I guess you are all wondering why I'm not posting any of the great shots from the walk right? I think I already did capture the best ones here. I learned something more special than the sights and places that Biñan, Laguna has... it was it's people. You can put a person in the nicest mansions or greatest creations of God but if you put a man on a simple location and had the traits like of those we met, it's amazing! I felt the greatest treasure that they have in this city was not the Puto Binan(which comes a close second!), or the landmarks, or historical figures, it was them... THE PEOPLE... and I'm sure the Mayor and the people behind the success of our walk knows it.

For everything that you have done for us in Biñan, Laguna... Thank you so much from all of us at D60KREW!