There are many things not to like about Batanes, lack of good hotels, frequent brown outs, sporadic cell signals or lack of it outside Basco, the capital. Add to it no fast foods, dearth of good eating place, no Starbucks, only tricycles for taxi, jeepneys for travel outside Basco or rent your own van for […]
It is our routine. Almost every Sunday, if it’s not raining, no other commitments, I pick him up around 8:30 in the morning. His house is just 10 minutes away. Two beeps and a minute later, he comes shuffling out, usually accompanied by his eldest of this three Granddaughters Daphne. We proceed to the UP […]
They say that ” Travel Broadens the Mind” and I concur wholeheartedly. Different lands, culture and people are what make traveling an adventure every time. My visit to Bangkok is my first after a long while and I have no illusion that it will still be the same as it was 40 years ago. There […]
“Why are you wearing that shirt again?” My wife asked, in a tone that was unmistakably coy, meaning she knows the answer but wants me to admit it. “It was there on top of the pile.” I replied in a defensive tone. “No, it was not. I placed it at the bottom of the pile, just […]
It has been said that people are the same all over the world. Perhaps each have different habits, culture, food, etc but basically, deep down, they all have the same reaction to crisis, survival, family and one of the most basic of all human interaction, buying or selling something. I found out in Siem Reap […]
A Diamond or any precious stone is considered valuable. Its beauty, uniqueness, scarcity and sometimes it is one of a kind makes it prized and treasured. Something to be passed on to the next generation, given to someone you love to be appreciated and enjoyed. Mere mention of treasure and the mind immediately think of […]
I’m going out on a limb here. I will say that all photographers like to travel and the more exotic the place the more they want to go there. But first before we go any further, let us define exotic. Webster defines it as not native, foreign, having a strange allure, not common etc. So, […]
Whenever we go on an On-The-Spot competition (OTS), there is always that excitement, thinking and hoping that one would find a photograph worthy of being kept possibly blown up and displayed where it can be viewed and shared with others. Wishing that one would find a moment in time where a congruence of light, subject […]
There was a time when I was to visit Batanes for something like the 10th time when my wife who has never been there asked ” Is there a place in Batanes that you have not seen? The interview went like this. ” Um.. No” “Did not photograph?” “Umm…. No” “So why do you keep […]
When ever Rudy and I visit Batanes, one of the first things we do is to go to Valugan the following morning. Wake up at 4:30 AM, have 3 in 1 coffee and off we go. Since Valugan is facing East, we want to set up before there is light. There are two distinct areas […]
If you ask a lifetime member who his BFFs are, I would venture a guess that most of them are in the club. Look at Louie and Raymund, Doc Castro and Ruben, Emil and Waldy Cruz, Rudy and many members, plus so many budding friendships that I see every club meetings. They are like like […]
“Hello Grasshopper, Long time no see or hear!” “Yes master, I’ve spent a lot of time meditating and thinking about changes taking place in CCP.” “Oh! How so?” “Even if you’re half observant as I am, You will notice that Times are a-changing” “It’s been changing even in Bob Dylan’s time!” “Yes master, but this […]
Leicas, Alfa Romeos, Tube Amps and Doc Amado by Dennis Zamora I consider it a treat when people surprise me in a positive manner. My interview of Amado Castro, or Doc Amado as he is referred to fondly in the club, was indeed a real treat for this very reason. We began by discussing his […]