Pescador Island

Pin It Now!

Pescador Island is a small island located in Tanon Strait in between Cebu and Negros. Who would have thought that this islet have so many wonderful things to offer tourists? Pescador is a diving and snorkeling destination for many foreign and local visitors. This is a marine sanctuary that hosts a wide variety of marine life species.

Pescador was part of our itinerary for our Moalboal trip. However, I wasn’t that excited since I don’t really know how to swim. I had no idea what was in store for me and the rest of the gang.

mga bangka (multiple exposure)

pose. *

Pescador is like a haven filled with different fishes. To tell you the truth, I’m not a snorkeling type of person. I would rather lie down on the sand while the boyfriend hits the waters to take a look at the fishes. Maybe one of the reasons is that I’m afraid of the deep sea. But when you're out in Pescador and you see the different fishes below your boat, you would definitely forget your fear. You'll see many other tourists and scuba divers around the island, as well.

There are many different fishes near the island. Corals of different sizes and colors are abundant. You can clearly see these from your boat because the water is clear. You'll definitely enjoy the place and its beauty. It  is among the most beautiful places I've been to. I think it's a small paradise and I would definitely want to come back and go scuba diving, if I learn to swim. 

the island's rocky terrain. **

shabby place. **

You can rent a boat for a four-hour stay in Pescador for P2, 500 or so. This price depends on the boat size and the equipment it has. Our small boat costs around P2, 500. It has a couple of life vests and can carry around 10 people or less. You can get a bigger boat depending on your needs.

We went to a short excursion of Pescador Island that ended so  soon. We thought there were enough space to walk around Pescador, but there isn't. There's a lighthouse in the island though and some abandoned structures that looked like houses. We were amazed to find two lonely cats in the island. Our boat driver said that a fisherman left (or threw) these cats here in the island. I really felt bad for the cats, especially when one of them looked ill. We fed them our leftovers instead since they were purring all throughout our excursion. They were pretty sweet cats and I felt bad when we were leaving.

sweet kitty

PS. I hope there's someone who can adopt the cats who are in the island. Has anyone seen them lately?

Note:    * - taken with Samsung S II

          ** - taken by Paw with Smena 8M

To Bayawan and Back

Pin It Now!

The boyfriend and I had a short vacation in Bayawan, Negros Oriental, where my folks are currently residing. It was his first time to visit Negros so we were pretty much excited. It was also the first longest trip that we've had together.

Anyhoo, I was supposed to bring with my my CDR-King 35mm camera. However, I forgot it at home and only remembered when we were already on the way to the bus terminal. I wanted to castigate myself for forgetting my camera. I was planning to post film photos of the trip. So, we have to make do of what we have, which are just photos from the boyfriend's SII camera.

beach near Santander port.

fast craft to Sibulan.

We were heading to Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, which was a bit far from Cebu. We opted to go there via land trip, which means we had to sit in the bus for a few hours. It usually takes seven to eight hours to get to Bayawan from Cebu City. This includes the ferry ride from Santander to Sibulan and the jeepney ride from Sibulan to Dumaguete City. From Dumaguete, you'll need to ride another bus to Bayawan City. It's a pretty long trip when you think about it, which why I rarely go there.

Here's the list of vehicles and the fare we spent per person:

• Bus (aircon) from South Bus Terminal to Santander - P140 (student's fare)
• Ferry/Fast craft from Santander to Sibulan - P54 (student's fare)
• Jeep from Sibulan to Dumaguete - P11
• Tricycle from the jeepney terminal to Robinson's Place Dumaguete - P9
• Bus (non-aircon) from Dumaguete to Bayawan - P100

roro from Sibulan to Cebu.

short bus stop at Siaton.

passing by Boljoon.

You have to take the same route on the way back to Cebu. Instead of going to Robinson's, you can immediately head on to the Ceres bus terminal. It's just a walking distance from Robinson's, which is why I prefer having lunch there. So, the boyfriend and I had our brunch there in Robinson's and spent some time walking around with our bags. We, then, continued our trip to Bayawan, which was two to three hours from Dumaguete.

There are also other routes to get to Dumaguete. You can ride a plane from the Mactan International Airport or a boat from the pier. The plane's definitely faster but expensive. I'm also not that comfortable with an overnight boat ride to Dumaguete, even if you can sleep the entire trip away.

*photos taken by Paw*

Beach-ing at Moalboal

Pin It Now!

Moalboal has a special place in my heart. This place brings back good memories. I would never be bored of  the blue waters and white sands of Moalboal.

We frequent Basdako in Moalboal, mainly because of the affordable huts there. We've also befriended one of the owners, who always give us nice treatment during our stay. I don't know about other places in Basdako, but in Victor's, you can get a small beach hut with your own porch and bathroom for P1, 000 a night. It already has a double bed and a ceiling fan. You can pack your friends inside the hut. I think six to seven people can fit in the hut. Just use a mat for those sleeping on the floor.

beach.

doggies on the beach

To get to Moaboal, look for the Bato via Barili bus in the South Bus Terminal. You'll be paying around P110 for your bus fare. From the town proper, hail a tricycle that can take you to Basdako where you'll pay around P25 per person. Although the trip can be long, you'll definitely thank yourself for spending time to visit the place.

Basdako has a long strip of white-sand shore. I am never afraid to walk barefoot in Moalboal, unlike when I'm in Mactan. The shore has fine sands which I love. The waters are clear and ever so blue. Although it can be packed with people during weekends, it is still a refreshing place to be in.

I always enjoy my stay in Moalboal. During the day, you can knock yourself out with playing beach volley, swimming, or going snorkeling. There are karaoke machines that you can use if you feel like singing your heart out. You can also rent a boat so you can go scuba diving or visit Pescador, which I will write about next time.

manaygonay (caroler)*

almost sunset *

random local kids *

me reloading my Smena *

At night, you can lie down on the sands while watching the stars. Maybe I'll do that next time. You can also opt to spend the night outside, which is safe. My cousin spent her night drinking on the shore with her friends until the break of dawn, which is also cool. However, it's not really my thing. I opted to sleep the night away with my little nephew and the boyfriend.

It is good that many people already visit Moalboal as it helps in boosting local tourism. However, as many people flock, the condition of the place deteriorates. I hope visitors will be responsible enough and throw garbage properly.

PS. I wasn't able to shoot as much during our stay in Moalboal. I found out, after I DO-ed my rolls, that my Smena 8M is broken. I was really disappointed since I only got 14 shots from my 36-shot roll. 

photos taken with Smena 8M

note: * - photos taken by Paw

Review: Smena 8M

Pin It Now!

I mentioned in my post a few weeks ago that I recently got a new addition to my cameras, the Smena 8M. This is a vintage lomo camera that was made in Russia. The word smena translates to "young generation" in English, which was the main market for the camera.

Smena 8M (taken with 500D)

I have a Slovak friend who told me that he bought a Smena 8M 20 years ago, which was only sold for €1. The films he used on the other hand were more expensive than Smena since they were from Germany.

The Smena 8M is made with lightweight plastic materials, which makes it a bit flimsy like other toy cameras. However, it looks like its durable on the outside. Looks can be deceiving so handle your Smena with care. Smena can come with a leather strap with a Lomo logo. It looks really cool and vintage-y. When I wear it in school or in the mall, I get a lot of stares. Well, not really me but my camera.

Smena 8M with its leather case and strap (taken with Samsung S II)

The reason why I love Smena 8m is that you can take multiple exposures with it. My other film cameras cannot do this, unless you manually wind back the film roll and stop somewhere to take another shot. This really got me hyped up when I got my hands on my Smena. 

If you're using Smena 8M for the first time, expect to do a couple of boo-boos. You'll forget to adjust the focus point, the shutter speed and even forget to cock the shutter. I even did those a lot. It's just like shooting manual on your DSLR. However, you need to be absolutely sure that you have properly exposed your subject and adjusted the settings correctly. This is probably one of the hassles of Smena 8M. You'll need to adjust everything. If you're used to shooting automatic SLRs and P&S film cameras, like me, it'll take a lot of practice.

Framing can be a bit of a problem with Smena since it's made like a rangefinder. So, you've got to develop a technique in shooting that can give you an estimate of how your shots will look like. My boyfriend taught me this technique wherein you look at the viewfinder and see how your subject is framed. Then adjust your camera.

multiple exposure (in Smena 8M)

love (in Smena 8M)

Another thing worth mentioning is the frame counter in Smena 8M, which can be erroneous at times. A number of Smena 8M users do not really rely on the frame counter, I don't too sometimes. Since it's manual, you'll need to adjust the counter yourself, when loading your film cartridge in your camera. I'll make a tutorial on how to do that soon.

The nice thing about Smena is that it has a 40mm T-43 triplet lens with the widest aperture of f/4. This gives you photos a unique saturation. The Smena takes good photos. Light leaks and vignetting are to be expected since this is, of course, a Lomo camera.

cat in Pescador Island (in Smena 8M)

peeking cloud (in Smena 8M)

I couldn't say that Smena isn't a bad camera, because to tell you the truth, I'm in love with it. I've been wanting one for so long. Smena isn't really for those who like to shoot without thinking. Like shooting manual, you need to estimate and adjust your settings. It creates the images that I love and I'm happy with it.

PS. The Smena 8M that I actually got isn't working quite well. The shutter won't open at times resulting to black and empty frames on the film. I will need to send my Smena over to the camera technician for some fixing. This happens when buying vintage cameras online. Make sure that the cameras have been tested with films first. However, it's a risk that one has to take for the love of collecting old cameras. ;)

Sorry Post

Pin It Now!

This is a sorry post. I haven't really updated this blog, as well as my other blog in a month or so. I've been busy with school and work for the past few weeks. I think I've got myself a handful of responsibilities that was too much to handle. But now that I'm finally done with school (I hope), I can now update this blog regularly. 

I've got lots of backlogs to post. I'm also expecting a five-day travel somewhere which I'll be posting here, too. I'm super excited for the future posts. I'm hoping to do more reviews and more travels soon when I get a serious job.

Yay to (part) freedom and to wandering! :)

Laugh and love,

me :)

*photo taken by Paw*

Welcome the New Baby! Smena 8M!

Pin It Now!

I think thank you's are in place before I start this post. I was gifted (late birthday present) by the boyfriend's sisters (including him) a Lomo Smena 8M. Isn't it exciting? Thanks Ates (and thanks Love) ! ;)

Smena 8M is a Russian lomo camera that was created in the '70s. Smena means young generation which was the target market for the model at that time. The Smena 8M was made to be cheap and affordable to fit the budget of young people. These cameras were also made in St. Petersburg, where the famous LC-A (which I also love, btw) was made. The Smena 8M is regarded as a toy camera, but I like to think of it as a vintage one. The camera has a 40mm f/4 T-43 Triplet lens. Although I'm not quite happy that it's not as fast I  wanted but they say that the three lenses create interesting saturation and contrast. You can also flash sync with this nifty camera. It's also user-friendly, especially to photography amateurs, since weather symbol scales that allows the user to easily adjust the shutter speed depending on the weather you are shooting.

To tell you the truth, I've been lusting over Smena 8M even before I started shooting film this year.  I love things with interesting history and I love old things. You could say I love vintage film cameras more than I love toy cameras. The boyfriend can attest to that. I'm just so psyched that I already have a Smena 8M with me along with the original box and Russian manual, though I don't see myself reading Russian or using it in the near future. 

What I love about Smena 8M is it's smell. I kid! But I do love the smell of old items. I also like that it has a bulb option which I am super thrilled about. You can also easily shoot double exposure with the Smena 8M. Other toy cameras, especially those that I possess, would wind themselves with every shoot. You also cannot cock the shutter again which is a hassle. 

I'm super excited to shoot with this latest baby on hand. I'll also be posting some sample photos and a review of the Smena 8M. Gotta go and start shooting! ;)

*photos 1 and 3 were taken with Samsung S II and photo 2 was taken with Canon 500D*

*photos 2 and 3 were taken by Paw*

Ponder

Pin It Now!

Trees are Green (CDR-King 35mm x Kodak Ultra 100)

I oftentimes find myself thoughtful. I've been very liberal. I always allow myself to think and ponder about nature's beautiful mysteries, the intricacies of  human character, and life. I wonder if other people do the same thing, too. 

Adrift (Minolta Maxxum 3 x Lucky Super 200)

It's not like I want to look (or think?) cool. Sometimes,  life becomes too mundane or things just screw up. Then, you begin to wonder about the reasons behind everything, behind every action (if there is any). I wonder if there's a point, aside from personal satisfaction and social norms, that drives life.

I would like to believe that there's a greater cause to my short and miserable life. I would want to believe in something good and happy, no matter how bad reality kicks me.

bubbles (Minolta Maxxum 3 x Kodak Ultramax 400)

Review: Sunny Juice Box Film Camera

Pin It Now!

With my previous post about my new Sunny Juice Box film camera here, I've mentioned that I accidentally dropped it, exposed the film, and even caused some scratches. It's actually gifted by the boyfriend.

But let's talk about the camera when before that accident. The Sunny Juice Box was ordered straight from eBay, the boyfriend said. Unfortunately, it wasn't in good condition when it arrived. The flap in front of the lens which is supposed to move along with the shutter doesn't work. The boyfriend decided not to return the camera since it would be a hassle.

Note that the flap also moves as your press the shutter which ends up covering your photos. I've decided to stick a tape around the lens to prevent the flap from covering my shot. Will test it out soon.

One thing I like about this cutesy camera is it's cool look. A lot of my friends mistake it for a real juice box which makes it a really good camera for street photography. It's really discreet and you'd get a lot of wows when you explain it's actually a film camera. 

a bit dark for a cloudy day. (Centuria DNP 400)

taahoooo. (Centuria DNP 400)

Clouds. (Centuria DNP 400)

It also takes good enough photos and what you'd expect from other toy cameras. It has a bit of vignette to the shots which I personally like. However, I think shooting with it in broad daylight is advisable. It doesn't have a flash of its own which makes it not suitable for shooting in cloudy days or dim rooms. I personally prefer using the 400 ISO films for this camera. 

You should know that the Juice Box is a bit flimsy. I think it's even more fragile than the CDR-King 35mm film camera. This probably explains why it was already broken when we got it. Another thing is the counter in the camera does not really count right. I've also read another blog saying this and I didn't believe until I tested it out. I don't count my shots anymore since it's no use.

this is the flap. :(

Terraces (Fujifilm 200)

A word of caution: when trying to rewind your film, make sure it's all wound up. You'll end up exposing some of shots when you excitedly open it up, just like what I did with my latest roll from the Juice Box. I wanted to choke myself for exposing the film twice! I lost a lot of my shots. :(

I do love this camera but I'm just having issues with how flimsy it is and why it doesn't have a hand strap. I'd definitely use it again, or maybe buy another one in the hope of having a better-working camera. 

Good Deeds

Pin It Now!

I am amazed at how different people can be, yet they can be united with a single goal.

the usual meeting place: Guadalupe Church

the volunteers with their backpacks.

Last week, July 15, a group of hiking and trekking enthusiasts in Cebu got together to share an amazing day with some kids in Kahugan, Sapangdaku. This area is a part of  a trail that a number of local hiking enthusiasts frequent. Personally, I also like the trail being easy and convenient especially if you are looking for a sweaty day trek. Since the place is a go-to place for us, we've also befriended a number of the locals.

This is one of the reasons why we are giving back to the community who've allowed us many times to pass by the place. Kahugan, like other mountain areas in Cebu City, is not that privileged. Most of the locals live in small huts and don't have much. No matter how difficult we think life is for us, these people have more problems. We are still more privileged compared to them. 

the school supplies. thanks sponsors!

waiting for their turn

This is the second time (or third) that a group of trekkers are giving away school supplies to the kids in Kahugan. It's nice to see kids excited with what you're giving them, even if it's not much. It's also nice to see people help with this great cause.

The train wasn't really as easy as we wanted, especially when it rained the night before. I also brought with me a friend from NYC who was having a bit difficulty with the trail. However, all the sweat and hard work paid off once you get to see the kids happy with what you gave them.

the view of the city.

butoooong

hello blue sky! :)

You don't really need to organize a big event just to give back to any community. Oftentimes, it only takes a drunken night to instigate such an activity.

*photos taken with Centuria DNP 400 (expired) in Juice Box camera*

Portraits: Blood Brothers

Pin It Now!

I met Charles and James along the coastline of Lapu-Lapu City. Who wouldn't be intrigued with some kids walking along the shore who look appear to be in search for something really important. I actually thought that they were looking for  seashells.

I braved through the slipppery and rocky Mactan shore just to talk to these little kids. These two boys were actually getting fish to play with. I saw Charles bringing a small plastic container where all of his Kuya James' catches would go. They even got a small puffer fish, the first time I saw one in person.

James with his catch.

Charles and James were spending their summer vacation in Lapu-Lapu City. For the rest of the year, they spend school days in Pardo with their grandparents, where they also go to school. It turns out that when thet are in Lapu-Lapu, they come to the shore every day during low tide. They either catch fishes for fun or collect seashells for their meal.

That day, James was bringing with him a makeshift pana (bow) to catch the small fishes. I must say he's also very good in using it. I couldn't even catch a fish. He slowly observes the rocks to check out the fishes and swiftly triggers his bow to capture the small fish.

Charles and the puffer fish.

James and Charles were really fun to talk to. They answer your questions without hesitation. When I ask questions, Charles would shyly smile and answer in his really cute small voice. Charles was always serious in catching fishes but in between he would happily answer any inquiries. Their sheer honesty is one of the reasons why I like talking to kids.

*photos taken with Fujifilm XTRA 400 (expired) in Minolta Maxxum 3*

Discover!

Pin It Now!

Note: This was a blog I wrote back in October 14, 2009. This was about a beloved teacher's advice to me after doing an interview with him for the school paper. This was the last advice I got from him. I really miss him, but I will no longer shed tears for him. He is loved and I know he is in a better place.

Sir, I'm now out of my comfort zone and I'm doing a lot of crazy shit. It took time, but I took your advice and I'm glad you told me so.

in UP Cebu (taken with CDR-King 35mm x expired Kodak Ultra 100)

Everyone of us has very beloved comfort zones. Those are specific places, things, people or clothes that we feel, obviously, too comfortable that they make up most of us. Those comfort zones are too well known to us. Comfort zones are like home.

I remember a professor of mine once told me to go out, not literally. He said that I should try going out and have fun. I smiled and told him: Sir, Facebook's too comfy for me. Then, I walked away and closed the faculty room.

It was just then that I realized that I was spending too much time in my comfort zones. I never really tried to go out of that comfy feel and tried something new. I was too scared of going out. Too scared of something new. I loved the old and the normal too much.

I think it's bf that fear of new things. You don;t get to learn. You just do the same things over and over. Even if it's fear that's stopping you, try to face that fear or else it'll imprison you in your comfort zones.

I admit that I am too much attached. I know I should try new things for myself. Like what my professor said, it's a huge world out there. It's too bad when you don't even get to see and try things before you die.

Yeah, probably he's right. I should go out and not just keep myself inside books. I should try to be outside. It might be scary, but it's the only time to get exposed and learn. It's a time to be out there and discover.

Try. Discover. Be out there.

Kids and Kites

Pin It Now!

One of the best memories I had with my internship was meeting these kids in Lapu-Lapu City. I suggested the place to my senior writer, Reb, when he was looking for some kite-flying kids for a feature. I've seen a couple of kites near the Mandaue-Mactan bridge which led me to suggesting the story.

john-john

We were surprised that an innocent kite-flying story had some deeper story. John-john's story was like those you'd see in movies. He was battered by his grand uncle in Leyte and came back to Cebu even without a single cent for the boat fare. Despite all that, he had a simple goal for summer and that's to make kites. 

Looking at these kids I can't help but feel how selfish I've become. As we get old, we tend to want bigger and nicer things. However, kids just want to make and fly kites that they can be proud of. They just laugh and joke around like they don't have any problems, even if they have big ones. I wish I can still have their enthusiasm and outlook in life, especially during dragging days.

john-john looking up at the kites.

*photos taken with Fujifilm XTRA 400 (expired) in Minolta Maxxum 3*