Natural Beauty

Let go of all pretenses and you'll find peace.

I'm Home

"It's time to bring this ship into the shore

And throw away the ores forever..."

Happiness is coming home after the long travel.

The Sky's the Limit

Reach for the sky. If there's a will, there's a way.

Azul

Neri's entry for this week's LP theme: Asul (Blue)

Asul ang kulay ng buhay. Sa kahit na anong unos na dumating, babalik ang bughaw na langit - mapayapa at puno ng lalim.

***

Blue is the color of life. After every storm that comes our way, the blue sky will always return - peaceful and full of depth.

Simulang Muli - Start Anew

From City of Friendship

Mabuhay at manigong bagong taon, mga kaibigan! Dahil freestyle ang tema ngayon, eto po ang punong wala masyadong dahon. Kung iisipin napakalungkot naman nito para umpisahan ang bagong taon pero ating tignan ang positibong aral nito - ang pagsisimulang muli ng pagtubo ng mga bagong dahon. Maligayang LP! :)

***

Happy New Year, everyone! Because LP's theme today is freestyle, here's a tree with a few leaves. It looks quite sad to start the new year this way but if we see this in a positive light, it's a lesson of starting anew in growing new leaves. Happy LP! :)

Alone Time

Update: I only noticed now that it's published that it's actually my header, ei? Hahaha. Nice. :D

***

Sorry for this pic because it was only taken using my cellphone so I tweaked a little on the brightness and contrast. ^^

This was taken in Mimosa Leisure Park while I was waiting for a jeep ride. I've always wanted to take a shot on this lone bench and tree (but from a different perspective) since the moment I first saw it on my interview day (before I got the job, of course). However, I don't bring along my camera to work because I'm still shy to get it out and shoot on the grounds.

Hopefully, someday I'd get the courage and the chance to take my dream shot here. Happy weekend, guys! :)

Tech Tags: digital photography, Mimosa Leisure Park, Clarkfield, Pampanga

Tampisaw sa Dalampasigan (Wade for Me on the Shore)

(Read English translation below.)
Pahabol na lahok para sa temang Dalampasigan sa Litratong Pinoy ngayong linggo.

Isa ito sa mga pinakaunang kuha ko noong wala pa akong camera. Dalawang taon na ang nakalilipas mula nang kunan ko ito sa isang dalampasigan sa Olongapo. Hiniram ko lang ang digicam ng ka-opisina kong si Art habang di nya ito ginagamit. Paborito ko kasi ang dagat kahit di ako marunong lumangoy. Kaya dapat kong kunan ng litrato ang mahal kong alon. Hehehe.

Na-post ko na ito sa dati kong personal blog na From the Eyes of a Wanderer. Ibabahagi ko na lang dito ang isinulat ko doon.

pangarap ko na dating makarating sa karagatan at panoorin lang ang pagsalpok ng alon sa dalampasigan...

nakamit ko ang pangarap na iyon nang pumunta kami sa gapo...

hindi ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na lumangoy o magpalutang man lang sa dagat dahil sa kakaunting oras ng aming pamamalagi. nanatili akong nakatayo sa may dalampasigan habang unti-unting hinihintay ang papataas na along dumampi sa aking mga binti.

sa umpisa'y marahang dumarating ang mga alon... napapayapa ang aking kalooban sa pagmasid sa kanilang pagdating. gusto kong maging isa sa kanila... palayo sa mundo ng mga komplikasyon, ng mga problema.

palapit ako nang palapit sa kanila, hanggang sa umabot na ang tubig sa ibabaw ng aking tuhod. lumalakas na rin ang pagdating ng mga alon, tumataas ang tubig na pilit umaakyat sa aking mga binti.

kung sanang ganoon na lamang kasimple ang buhay... payapa, walang iniinda, walang alintana...
ngunit may tumawag sa akin na nagbalik sa akin sa kasalukuyan... sa katotohanan..

tara, uwi na tayo...

***

A "catch-up" entry for the theme Dalampasigan [Shore] in Litratong Pinoy for this week.

This is one of my earliest shots when I still didn't have a camera. Two years have passed since I took this picture at a shore in Olongapo. I just borrowed my officemate Art's digicam while he wasn't using it at that time. I love the sea despite not knowing how to swim so I needed to photograph my beloved waves. Hehehe.

I posted this already in my defunct personal blog, From the Eyes of a Wanderer. I'd like to share what I wrote there.

It has always been a dream of mine to go to the beach and watch the waves hit the shore.

That dream came into reality when we went to Olongapo.

I didn't have the chance to swim or just even bob in the sea because we only had a few hours left before leaving. I kept standing on the shore while waiting for the rushing waves to embrace my legs.

At first the waves were gentle... I was pacified just by seeing them coming. I wanted to be one with them... away from the world full of complications, full of problems.

Eventually I came nearer and nearer to them, until the water reached above my knees. The current was also getting stronger, the water climbing up my legs.

If only life were that simple... peaceful, no worries, no anxieties...
But someone called for me to come back to the present... to reality...

Let's go home...

Little As You Are

As little as each santan flower may seem, when bunched up they compose a bigger flower. So as each little kindness we do, when taken as a whole makes the world a better place to live in.

The pink santan flowers are lovingly dedicated to Emcee, one of my dearest blogging sisters. Despite us not seeing and knowing each other, she has touched my life with her sweetness. Happy birthday, sis! ^^

PS. I would also like to congratulate my twin sis blogger Enday (we also don't know each other actually) for getting the Idol Blog this week. Yay! Go, kambal! ^^

PS2. Sorry, but I was busy for the past few days, thus I haven't had the time to update. Will also need to re-post most of the entries for the new layout. Sheesh, lots of work, so little time. Hehe.

Tech Tags: digital photography, santan, pink

Luntiang Lumot (Moss Green)

Maligayang Litratong Pinoy (LP), mga kapatid! Bago ko umpisahan ang lahok kong ito, nakikiusap lang po ako na sana suportahan ninyo ako sa kasalukuyang botohang nagaganap para sa Idol Blog '08. Maaari po lamang na pakiboto ang Galleria Neri sa poll sa kanang sidebar. Salamat po! Kung gusto nyo pong bumoto araw-araw hanggang July 19, hindi ko po kayo pipigilan. Hehehe.

Happy Litratong Pinoy (LP), brothers and sisters! Before I start this entry, I would just like to ask for your support in the current election that's happening for Idol Blog '08. If you could just vote Galleria Neri in the poll at the right sidebar. Thanks! If you like to vote everyday till July 19, I won't stop your good purpose. Hehehe.



Para sa aking ikalimang lahok sa LP sa temang Luntian, eto po ang lumot sa aming hardin. Literal na moss green kumbaga. Yun lang po. Bow. Hehehe. Speechless ako ngayon eh. (At kung may oras pa po kayo, kung maaari din lang po na pakiboto rin ang blog kong NER sa CarlotaOnline. Hindi ko rin po kayo pipigilan na iboto ito araw-araw hanggang July 19 din. Maraming maraming salamat po!) :D

For my fifth LP entry in today's theme Green, here's moss from our garden. Literal moss green. Bow. Hehehe. I'm speechless right now. (And if you still have time, if you can please vote for my blog NER at CarlotaOnline. I won't stop you from voting there everyday till July 19 also. Many thanks!) :D

Pliant Like the Bamboo

I.V. Mallari likened the Filipino people to the bamboo in his poem "Pliant Like the Bamboo." (However I can't find a copy of it now. Sorry.)

The Filipino character is similar to the bamboo because it has flexibility, endurance, and harmony with nature. It bends with the wind, but can survive a storm. Just like the bamboo, the Filipino nation goes along with the forces of nature and politics. It copes with "fate" rather than fights against it. The Filipino mind is pliant in the sense that it is open to new ideas. Although the Filipino is trusting, he is also capable of standing up for his own beliefs. He will not tolerate betrayal and oppression. Filipinos in general are protective of their hard-won independence, and they will fight for their freedom at all costs.

Source: Philippine Islands

I truly agree that the coping mechanism of Filipinos is like the bamboo. Though sometimes are coping becomes "forgetting." Comment stops here. Hehe.

Tech Tags: digital photography, bamboo, Filipinos

Nasaan na ang Bahay Kubo? (Where is the Nipa Hut?)

Bahay Kubo



Bahay kubo kahit munti
ang halaman doon ay sari-sari
singkamas at talong



sigarilyas at mani
sitaw, bataw, patani
kundol, patola, upo't kalabasa



at saka mayroon pa labanos, mustasa
sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya
sa paligid-ligid ay puno ng linga.


This was supposed to be my LP entry for the theme Tatak Pinoy yesterday. However I would have written a melodramatic LP post again (such that the hut represents the current situation of the Philippines) so I chose the cross-carrying Kapampangans instead.

I have always loved the barrio --- the fresh air, lush greenery and simple life.

"Live simply so that others may simply live." - Mahatma Gandhi

Tech Tags: digital photography, bahay kubo, nipa hut, Philippine folk song, Mahatma Gandhi, Sapa Libutad, Angeles City, Pampanga, province

Beautiful Old Age

Dried and crumpled, these old leaves look beautiful even beside their fresh and young conterparts.

One should not fear of growing old. Instead it should be embraced; for nowadays, only few live to old age.

One should fear of having not grown in life's wisdom. ;)

Tech Tags: digital photography, dried leaves, old,age, crumpled,brown

First Cloud

Well, as the title implies, this is my first cloud post here. (I can't even think of a good enough title.) And one of the first good shots I ever took of clouds, which was just a few hours ago at Sapa Libutad, Angeles City. I visited Mama's cousins there for the first time.

Clouds were the main reason I got into thinking of photography way back in 4th year high school. I dreamt of having a camera just so I could take pictures of the sky, nothing else. I have always loved the sky --- its grand blueness and cotton clouds at day; and its glittery stars and lovely moon at night.

So after almost eight years of waiting... here's a cloud for you. :D

Tech Tags: digital photography, cirrus clouds, blue sky

Untouched

This will surely be one of my personal favorites.

As the title implies, this image hasn't been touched or edited by any application. (But then, I can only count the edited images in this blog on my left hand.) But what makes it stand out among my untouched images is that I haven't even used any custom settings in my camera to get this green and gray shot.

That's what I also like with a few people --- untouched. Pure hearts, sincere souls. So rare can you find such individuals; that it's a treasure to have such friends.

I'm blessed to find some untouched gems on my way. Have you found yours?

Tech Tags: digital photography, pebbles, leaf

Princess of the Stars

Let's pray for the victims of Typhoon Frank, especially for the rescue of the missing passengers and crew of the capsized MV Princess of the Stars in Romblon.

I am deeply saddened by the tragedy and may this sampaguita be a symbol of hope for the search of the missing victims. May they be found safe and sound at the soonest time possible.

As of this writing, only 57 survivors have been reported while 20 are dead out of the 800+ people in the ship. Click the ship's image (taken from GMANews.TV) at the right to read Inquirer's special report on Typhoon Frank.

Tech Tags: digital photography, sampaguita, Typhoon Frank, MV Princess of the Stars

Something Green and Horny

So after my serious post yesterday, let's do away with a little humor for now. ;)

I want some comedy now because I'm getting a bit pressured with the comments on Papa's photo. Perhaps I overdid it, ei? :D

TGIF, guys. Have a cool and happy weekend! :)

Independence

Today the Philippines is celebrating its Independence Day because of a republic act that moved the original June 12 Independence Day on a Monday.

I also took this picture while riding on a provincial bus going to Manila but fortunately I was on a regular passenger seat unlike the other time. Thus I used my cellphone to take this, not my S5, and still some reflections on the glass. :D

We can never be fully independent. At some point, someday, you'll need someone for something. Or for just being that special someone. But we take for granted that Someone is already here with us... all the time.

Tech Tags: photography, places, clouds, trees, NLEX, nature

Somewhere Down the Road

Somewhere down the road
Our paths are gonna cross again
It doesn't really matter when

This pic and song excerpt (not the whole song) are dedicated to my friends who are out of the country, namely Prick, Yen, Pepe, Loim and his lovely wife Wim who's leaving later in the afternoon.May God always keep you safe. Till we meet again... in SG? ;)

I took this pic using my cellphone while sitting on the conductor's seat of a provincial bus going to Manila. That's why you'll notice that this image is not as sharp as compared to my previous post despite that they have the same resolution. And you can see reflections on the glass. Hehe.

We're always on a journey towards our hopes and dreams. Have a happy and safe trip ahead! :)

Tech Tags: photography, places, nature, trees, NLEX, road, highway

Let It Rain

It's June. Therefore the official month for the rainy season. It's not raining now but for the past weeks it has been raining almost every afternoon.

When you think about the past crisis with no rain, downpour is a welcoming thought. Not until the streets get flooded and my feet get wet.

Here in the Philippines, the start of classes depict the start of flood-eds. You go into the adventure of avoiding splashes and getting your new black doll shoes squishy to reach your beloved alma mater. Only to find out that the classes are suspended. Nyahaha! Torture, sweet torture!

Tech Tags: photography, rain, flood

Behind Bars

The indistinct red lines are the balcony grille. But who would have guessed? :D

Perhaps we can make this pic an analogy of our lives.

We're always behind bars. Be that our emotional insecurities, financial worries, physical disabilities, spiritual numbness, whatever.

But what do you see in this image? The grille or the trees?

If we focus more on the beauty and goodness that surrounds us, and I know that's difficult nowadays, we will see that the world is still a better place to live in despite having the limitations we have of ourselves. There's always something to thank God for.

What are your blessings today?

Tech Tags: digital photography, trees, grill