Siquijor: The Island of Fire

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the fine stretch of beach near Siquijor's port

Siquijor is considered among the most mysterious islands in the country. It is filled with stories of witchcraft and the unknown elements. It is believed that witches reside in the island and people can get love potions. And, the stories go on.

Despite the many rumors about this little island, it has blossomed in the recent years. Many tourists flock not to search for love potions, but to look for a relaxing haven. The little province is now bustling with tourists from different parts of the world that foreign faces are becoming a norm.

boats in Liloan, Santander

Dumaguete City pier

Getting to Siquijor can be a long trip. It will take roughly five hours or so to arrive in Siquijor from Cebu City. You need to take a bus ride (PhP175) from the South Bus Terminal to Liloan, Santander. Upon reaching Liloan, get a ticket for the fast craft (PhP 62) to Sibulan, Negros Oriental. There are jeeps and tricycles waiting at the port of Sibulan that all go to Dumaguete. The jeepney ride from Sibulan to Dumaguete City costs PhP 11for every person while the tricycle tends to be slightly pricey. Ask for directions to the pier in Dumaguete's boulevard and get on the boat to the Siquijor. There are different vessels going to Siquijor. The air-conditioned Ocean Jet costs P220 per passenger while the other fast crafts are around P120.

the port in Siquijor

When you arrive at the port of Siquijor, you are greeted with crystal clear blue waters. It's one of the cleanest ports I've ever seen. It makes you really excited for what the island has to offer. The place is squeaky clean. It's really a refreshing break from the bustling city life. The life and time is slow in Siquijor. With the places and people to meet, time's not enough.

Aside from that, the residents in Siquijor are just generally nice and accommodating. Although I've encountered a few annoying ones, most of the people are happy and helpful. They're also very laidback and calm.

the empty streets in Siquijor

schoolkids on a Saturday

people (and animals) in Siquijor walk only!

I'm looking forward to revisiting Siquijor next year. According to the locals, the peak season in the island is from October to April. It's the time when many foreign tourists flock the island. However, we went to Siquijor last month and found a decent number of Filipino tourists out and about. We're hoping to get back during the peak season and meet other travelers.

Konica C35 x Fujicolor 200

Remembering UP Cebu

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seal
Nikon L35 x Fujicolor 200

I miss being in school. It's ironic because I badly wanted to finish my degree and get out three semesters (especially when I was among the oldest in the campus already). However, now that I'm done I feel nostalgic about the corridors, classrooms, the empty spaces, and my classmates in UP.

Oble then in bronze
Centuria DNP 400 x CD-R King

Oble now feeling grey
Nikon L35 x Fujicolor 200

My mind lingers to my contemplative walks to and fro my classes. I've always liked walking alone along the covered walk and dark corridors in the undergraduate building. It makes me feel alone yet surrounded with the other students headed to their respective classes. I spent most of my vacant periods hiding on the veranda of the MassCom wing while my friends were smoking. I liked going to school early to clear my mind and even to cry.

I went to school briefly a week ago to meet a former classmate. It felt like home. Many things were new to me. Despite the changes, it was that contemplative air in UP that makes me at ease. The school molded me into who I am today. Much of my values and principles in life were formed during college. I became more accepting and more open because UP nurtured those qualities aside from critical thinking.

this way, please
Nikon L35 x Fujicolor 200

them huts in school
Nikon L35 x Fujicolor 200

looking UP
Smena 8M x Euro Color 200

Throughout my excessive stay in college, the school campus has always been my favorite subject in my film photos. I guess it was just natural to document the beauty of something as mundane as school. A part of me wanted to capture the school as it was. Another reason was to keep the memories alive.

It's funny how bitter-sweet college life really is. We never solely hate or love it. There will always be a memorable classroom where you feel in love with a classmate's shy smile and another room where you cried when you broke your heart or failed your exam. There are those favorite tambayans you used to hangout with friends and those you spent your drunken moments in.

a memorable bit
Smena 8M x Euro Color 200

can you tell I like the trees here?
juice box camera x Centuria DNP 400

For me, college is that period in life where I discovered more of the world and what it truly means to be educated and free.

Review: Canon Snappy Q

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the Canon Snappy Q *

I "borrowed" this camera from my parents when I visited them two years ago. This is the first and only film camera my parents had because they weren't into photography. I have fond memories of the using the camera during the end-of-the-year school recognition and other school activities. My parents weren't really keen in taking photos so I was always the one who took photos during events.

When I rekindled my love for film, I decided to give this camera a go. I wasn't expecting much from it, being a point and shoot camera. I do remember that it took decent family photos but it wasn't really that great.

automatic pop-up flash *

shutter button and film counter above *

The Snappy Q is a 35 mm point and shoot film camera from Canon. It's a fixed focus camera with an f/4.5 lens and a 1/70 shutter speed. It can only use films with ISO/ASA 100/200 and 400. The film advances automatically after every frame is shot. Since it's an automatic camera, the Snappy requires two AA batteries. It also has a pop up flash for shooting in the dark.

When I got the film back from the lab, I was a bit impressed with the sharpness of the camera. It was definitely better than the other point and shoot cameras I've used. It can definitely shoot great images.

Kadaugan sa Mactan 2013

Santa Ana Chapel in Toledo

I think the Snappy is just a little bulky for my taste and it's also a bit heavy. Its odd shape makes it harder to hold on to the camera during photo walks (especially that camera strap got broken a decade ago). However, it can be a great go-to camera for photo walks or just for daily use without bringing the too-heavy SLRs or rangefinders but getting good results.

Hey, Ronald!

flowers in the chapel.

I'll surely be bring it out next time for more play and shoots. It's a great compact camera for regular shooting.

Canon Snappy Q x Centuria DNP 400

* taken with Canon 500D

Manila: First Flight

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off to Manila

Let me tell you a secret: I've never flown anywhere. I guess I've never been anywhere aside from Cebu and Negros my entire life. My travels have always consisted of long bus and boat rides to wherever I was heading. I've never been on a plane until early this year.

Due to my work as a writer in a local publication in Cebu, I get to travel and go to different places to attend corporate events. My editor sent me to Manila last February to attend Daikin's product launch. It was my first trip to Manila and my first time on a plane.

my view from the hotel room

I was pretty excited about the trip so I readied two rolls of films and my well-loved CD-R King film camera. I googled pretty much the places I wanted to visit within the vicinity of our hotel, the InterContinental Hotel in Makati. I guess the hotel's location made going around the city easier. I only had to walk around the area.

I was nervously excited about flying. It was that kind of feeling that makes you want to wail and puke at the same time. I also have acrophobia so flying was definitely scary for me. 

Aside from that fear of flying, I also had reservations about Manila. Although I know a lot of friends in Manila, watching all those news about robbery, murders, and accidents all happening in Manila was pretty horrific.

fishpond in Greenbelt

My colleague and I went around the malls in Makati, especially those near our hotel. It was just a simple stroll in their massive interconnected shopping malls. I visited the Ayala Museum, which probably was my best experience during the trip. I love museums and I especially enjoyed looking at their intensive gold collection. I was also able to meet up with a close friend, who now resides in Malate. He took me around the city and invited me to a late dinner at Aristocrat along Manila Bay.

I know I sound like a probinsyana in the city, but it definitely was invigorating seeing new stuff in Manila. I frequent provinces and the beach when traveling, and being in a bigger city than Cebu was a first for me.

looking up in Greenbelt

Manila was good to me despite that scary experience with traffic on the way to the airport and the taxi driver asking for more than what was due. I definitely want to be back and discover more of what the capital has to offer. What places should I visit next?

all photos taken with CD-R King camera x Fuji XTRA 400

The Blogger's Back

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I know. I know. I've done it n times already. I've been foregoing blogging for the demands of my multitudes of work and I wasn't quite happy about it either. However, I've promised myself this year to make time for blogging. Lately, I've found myself down without any outlet to express myself.

Even if I'm already working full-time as a writer in a newspaper, blogging will always have a special place in my heart. It was through blogging that I was able to cope with my angsty and problematic teenage and college years. When I 'formally' blogged, I met a lot of readers and fellow bloggers that made me more attached to the trade. It just felt right to go back to blogging.

So, I'm officially back! Yay!

To make up for all the lost time and undeveloped film rolls, I will be posting all of them nine rolls of film soon. I know I have to make that important trip to my film lab this weekend to start the ball rolling. I'm super excited! Aside from that, I'll be making a few trips in a few weeks so just keep posted.

So let's start with this photo I unearthed when I randomly developed a film roll from my stash. I took this two years ago. Just shows how much I've been neglecting (and keeping) my films.

Balloons. CD-R King x Centuria DNP 400

Btw, I REEEEAAAALLLYYYY  miss this part the internet! Hugs!

I'm back to blogging! Watch out for my upcoming posts next week! ;)

Portraits: Cyrine

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I've known Cycy for almost three years now, meeting her through a hiking group. She's got a really vibrant personality and she's a friend that you can rely on during the most frustrating times. She's a  really pretty girl, though she may act boyish with this new pixie hair (which I envy by the way). She used to have long curly locks, which is why many of friends call us kambal (twins). Her middle name is Ortiz, which is also my last name. However, we're not related by blood nor by law. I fancy her being my sister from another mother though.

Cycy is a free spirit. She has this sweet disposition that's just so contagious. You'll also feel happy and carefree when you're around her. She knows how to make you feel comfortable with her. She's the epitome of all things feminine, but she's one of the hardcore women hikers/climbers I know. This goes to show that you can never really judge someone with just looks.

I requested her to be my model for my little online store, Spektra, while it was still active. This explains these photos, which I took from UP Cebu's volleyball court. I haven't really updated the store recently since I'm busy with my new work. Spektra is currently in hibernation. I'm still thinking whether or not to reopen the store again soon with the schedule permits.

PS. I honestly have a fear of taking other people's photos. I've always felt that I can never justify how they look. I think there's just so many things in a person and being a noob as I am, I can never provide that spark in people's eyes that are very much alive in real life. Since I took that leap of shooting portraits, I realized there's so many things to learn and master. Although I'm still a newbie with portraits, I'm enjoying every bit of experience I'm having and every piece of information I'm digesting. 

Pescador Island

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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