Anawangin : Strange but beautiful

Anawangin cove in Zambales.
This the the place of isolation and serenity.
I went to Anawangin last weekend for a photoshoot get-away and i was awed by the beauty of this place. Tucked between the rugged mountains of Zambales, Anawangin is like an undiscovered paradise, and i hope it will remain that way.


Approaching the shorelines

As the small out-rigger boat which i rode from Pundakit beach to Anawangin approaches the shoreline the first thing that you will notice are the pine trees that adorns the place. It was quite unusual because i am used to palm trees or coconut trees that usually grows on sandy beaches, but not in Anawangin.


Campers
You need to bring a tent for an overnight stay in Anawangin.
The place has no resorts or comfortable ammenities, just the basics of life ; a place for fix your tent to rest your weary body, an outhouse for the loo, a manual water pump for bath water and the stars to illuminate you at night.


Luscious pine trees in towering heights


As the sun rolls behind the earth and the clock is finally dead





Beautiful Anawangin sunsets


The deadwood on top of the hill



The beach as the wave embraces the sand

As i strolled the beach front i can hear the wind howling as if a strong rain is coming, but i was told by one of the locals that it was just the wind grinding against the leaves of the pine trees. Now that was strange, but beautiful.


Pines along the riverbanks

The terrain on this place is like no other. It's like a wilderness in the tropics. One can sense the feeling of being in Alaska sans the snow. The river just a few meters from the beach is like those rivers in the cold wilderness of foreign places where salmons and grislly bears usually habitates, only that in Anawangin the river was quiet. It was actualy serene that one can fall asleep on the sandy river banks, just lying on the sand thinking about nothing. I did that and it was splendid.

At night on a clear moonlit sky the canopy of stars are overwhelming. It's been years since the last time i star gazed and out there the constellations are very visible i even caught a shooting star. I felt like a kid again making a quick wish as the shooting star breezes through the sky so swift it was gone as fast as it appeared.






There is no place like this.
The sand is fine, the water is crystal clear and the landscape is very beautiful.
It is a photographer's paradise.

Bantayan (Children of the sea in monochrome)

These shots were taken while i was in Bantayan Island in Cebu.
I specially like these photos, it makes me smile.

I think each one of us is a kid at heart just wanting to get out.













Work like you don't need the money
Laugh like your life depended on it
Dance like no one is watching
Live the life!

Like the flowing water

These are just random water shots taken from various locations.
No specific write-ups on this one, just water.


Bantayan shorelines

Anawangin at dusk







Stream at Mt. Isarog






Panicuason Hot Spring

Naga City : Seize the Lights

Nightlights at Plaza Quince Martirez

I am always fascinated with lights, be it the lights in my small apartment or the city lights outside, in the open, under the stars.
And I am not talking about fluorescent lights, those are for the moths!
What I am into are the warm lights, neon lights and luminous lights that usually adorn the streets or cityscapes.



San Francisco Church

I am also fond of warm flooding lights of the churches.
I think they add more to the solemnity and ethereal aura of this place of worship.




Inside the Naga Cathedral Church

Night-lights are the ones that really gives a place its life and colors. I mean the daylight is good and happy but it is the night-lights that makes up the personality of a certain place.
Night lights has this attitude that nocturnal people like me can appreciate.

These are some of them from my hometown in Naga City.

Carpe Noctem!


Morning lights in Naga City


Nativity in lights


The Cam Sur Water Sports Complex at night

Bantayan Island : Boats of Bantayan

Fisherman alighting from the boat

All for one

Just like the next tourist I go to the beach to unwind, to relax and to take pictures




I went to Bantayan Island in Cebu last November.
With my bare feet covered with sand and my camera hanging on my neck I roamed along the coastlines of the island where the resorts are few and far between, I snapped some pictures for the sake of memories and posterity, to cherish and to share.



The boats of Bantayan Island!




Solitary blue boat on the shorelines of Bantayan


Anchored in the sand

Basking in the morning lights



Waiting for the tides to come up

Malapascua : Beach Bum

Sunrise at Malapascua

There must be a reason why people go to the beaches, and that reason could be the isolation and serenity that the beach can offer.

So if you happen to find a good one make sure you stay for a while, take a deep breath, enjoy the sun, the sand and the crystal blue waters. I did and it was splendid!

Small boat with floating cottage on the baclground

"The sun may burn our skins and the sand may rub our soles but the water will cleanse our body and the beach will recharge our stressed out souls. All these things may take a little of our time away, but it’s a great escape.

Life’s a beach!

Traslacion : Faith in numbers

As the crowd gathered to embrace the Image

The main religious events during the Penafrancia Fiesta are the Traslacion and Fluvial Procession. These are the processions of our Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia which is the Patron of the Bicolanos. We affectionately call Her "INA" as we refer Her to a guiding Mother.


Illuminated

Traslacion means "To Transfer". This is the event wherein the Blessed Image of Our Lady of Penafrancia is being transferred from the shrine in the Basilica Minore to the Naga Cathedral Church. The procession is being held in the afternnoon on a Friday of the 2nd week of September.


Paddling for One

The highlight of the Penafrancia Festival is the Fluvial Procession which is being held in the afternoon of the third Saturday of September, this is the fiesta day. The images are being brought back from Cathedral to Basilica via the road to "Centro" and the Naga City river. The images are accompanied by priests, devotees and voyadores. A flat boat we call Pagoda is being used to transfer the images and Voyadores on little boats paddled as they towed the Virgin's pagoda until it reaches the river banks of Basilica. Devotees and guests on the route of the procession wave with their white handkerchiefs as the procession passes by.
Shouts of " Viva la Virgen" and "Viva el Divino Rostro" echoes all over the place.


Emotion of devotion



The Traslacion Mass