'Got Lucky! 'Got published! 'Got a $100 bucks!

At first, I couldn't believe it! When the JPG Team emailed me that the photo I submitted for the street fashion theme is getting published!!! But then, seeing is believing!!!

And see, I received the hundred-dollar check today! Yahoo!

No doubt, today is a lucky day!

Sandugo 2008 is History

(photo by: Ryan Macalandag)

The Sandugo Street Dancing 2008 is now history. Although, organizers repeatedly said this year's was just an exhibition, and not a competition, still, special prizes had to be given out.

Here's the list of winners:

3 Major Awards (all 3, said to be of equal standing, received P50,000 + trophy)
1. Best in Street Dancing - Jagna
2. Best in Field Performance - Maribojoc
3. Best in Production Design - Pamilacan Island, Baclayon

Minor Awards (P20,000 + trophy)
1. Most Creative - Catigbian National High School
2. Most Lively - Carmen
3. Best in Costume - Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School
4. Best in Instrumentation - University of Bohol
5. Best in Overall Impact - Catigbian National High School

Heard at the Sandugo Street Dancing scene:
1. The whole thing was so mismanaged. Started 2 hours late. The whole event dragged on like the train of a drag queen's gown...
2. Organizer, Carmen Gatal was seen driving in and out of the streets while the street dancing went on, supervising the whole hoopla... Comment: she should've at least a driver. The hands-on operation is not admirable, this time. Further comment: Delegate. Delegate.
3. What the hell was Pichay doing there? Yah, that guy that didn't get planted in the Senate. GMO man gud.
4. The Pamilacan Island Contingent sponsored by philanthropist Bea Zobel c/o Globe: Overrated? You tell me.
5. No Sandugo Oracles this time. But apparently it was still there. They just moved to this island known for their cute dolphins.
6. No show Aumentado? No show Chatto, Jala, Cajes? What's the drama? Grabe na pud. All for Gloria's SONA. Bahh. They could've still caught the Cebu-Manila flight, no? Tsk...
7. Why don't we celebrate Sandugo every 3 or 4 years to coincide with the TBTK since we seem to be saving all the fun for that one overrated event? Hmm...
8. The Araneta duo emcees were biting! They dripped with sarcasm all over. Did they have to mention that hunchback joke? So unchristian. So unchristian. Maybe because they do it every year? Time to retire? Or shift to a career in stand-up comedy.
9. The program was really an anarchy. No one seemed to be manning the whole thing. No director in sight. No stage managers in sight. Haayyy...
10. If Sandugo 2007 was anemic, what of 2008? I don't even want to know.

WALK OUT, the Documentary

5 Minute Documentary on the commercialization of Philippine State Tertiary Education.

Produced by: Mick Basa

Acknowledgement:
Jeffrey Tupas / PDI
Nisa Opalla / Atenews
Makpil Camacho / UP Min
Moslemen Macarambon Jr / http://www.ympn.org
Karlos Manlupig / LFS

Soundtrack:

"Kalayaan" by Noel Cabangon
"Mag-aaral" by Musikangbayan

This documentary was presented to Ms. Gemima Galang, instructor: Principles of Writing for TV (MC 104). Mass Communication program, Ateneo de Davao University

Of Sunburns, Snorkeling and Finding Nemo

Snorkeling in Balicasag Island, Panglao, Bohol

Unbelievable. They look straight at you, doe-eyed and incredibly cute, you can’t help but stare back as intently, as adorably. Clown fishes.

Clown fishes by their writhing anemone. They have to be the most adorable sea creatures ever. And very brave, too, they don’t dart away at the site of mere humans. I couldn’t believe I met them, just then. And there. At a beach whose coral reef was previously unheard of (at least by me). Punta Cruz Beach in Maribojoc, Bohol isn’t exactly the best beach in Bohol. There’s barely any sand, the seashore’s rocky with the kind that maims, and it’s dotted with sea urchins, huge sea urchins. The place is flocked with locals and tourists alike because of the centuries-old triangle-planned stone watchtower, Punta Cruz. And it’s not as crowded as the ones in Panglao. It still has the rustic feel about it.

Punta Cruz, Maribojoc, Bohol

Anyway, it was only the second time in a year that I actually swam in seawater. Going to the beach for me mostly meant just hanging out with friends, enjoying the view, picnicking, stuff other than swimming. The first time was the previous weekend in Panggangan Island, Calape, Bohol. I swam because it would be my first time to actually snorkel. I decided to snorkel because it was about time I did. And I was so glad I did, at last. I was even thinking, why the heck didn’t I do this way, way before?

Panggangan Island, Calape, Bohol

Okay, I know why. One, I don’t know how to swim. I previously thought that you had to go into the deep to actually see the beautiful fishes and corals. Not exactly. In Punta Cruz, the feeling was intimate, the coral reef was only a few meters from the shore and the water was just about chest deep.

I got a new 'skin-pa-lang-damit-na' top

Two, I only then realized? My skin burned too fast. So maybe I was a little too carried away, swimming with all the lovely fishes of a heady assortment, blue ones, those striped black and yellow, clown fishes (turns out I only knew so little fishes) that I exposed my back too long under the seething sun. The result? The nastiest sunburn mark ever, brutally slapped on my back.

Balicasag Island, Panglao, Bohol

Three, I don’t know how to swim. Okay. So, apparently, I could still snorkel in the deeper parts with the life vest on. I learned this, in fact, the following week, when another opportunity to go swimming and snorkeling presented itself, I again grabbed it. And at the famous dive site, Balicasag Island too, southwest off Panglao Island. (And this time, with a GoPro Hero, first roll of film inside, strapped to my wrist.)That was my first time, too, actually swimming in the deep. The place was trenched, we were just at the border between the not so deep (where the bottom of the sea is still visible) and the deep deep (where the water is so endlessly bluuuueeee, like seeing in the dark only it’s blue not black, it’s scaaarrrry). It was a wonderful experience. Not as intimate as the Punta Cruz snorkel but more breathtaking, spine-tingling, thrilling. It actually felt like I just conquered something really big after that swim. I again found Nemo, bigger and bolder. More corals and fishes. And a huge shiny swirl of jack fishes, the stuff that you only see on TV.

Next stop: Pamilacan Island, Baclayon, Bohol

Four, I’m really not as adventurous as one would think. But all this, is gonna change. I’m going scuba diving this weekend – not!

Of course I don’t have the moolah to do that, not just yet, moreso, the guts. One step, or one stroke, at a time, I guess. And my skin hasn’t recovered yet. Though ultimately, I don’t think sunburns would matter much any more. (We again went to the beach, in Manga this city, last Sunday, making it the fourth in a row, but remnants of Frank’s powers were still there, the sea wasn’t just as charming that time.) But if come weekend, the beach would again summon me? I don’t think I can say no any longer. Snorkel set in one hand, sunscreen lotion on the other, lord of the seas, here I come!

Sunset view from Tagbilaran City

Yes, We Can!

This is an awesome video of an awesome song inspired from an awesome speech. I wish we had as riveting politicians. I would readily create a video like this for him or her. I still believe that it is quite incredible for the US of A to have a colored President, but I'm willing to rethink my view. Obama just might can.

The Dead

I discovered this ages ago and am rediscovering it after a recent death in the family. Very poignant.

We Let Her Die

May 1. Late afternoon. I was awoken by my sister Eden's squealish cry which only meant one thing - Honey died.

Honey is the daughter of a cousin. Honey was 12 and was living at my sister's. Honey's been admitted at the government hospital since Sunday, of a platelet disease, ITP. She's been transfused with nearly 20 bags of blood in the last three days. And watching her lifeless body at her hospital bed, her face and body, bruised and blood-streaked, the rejected gallon-ful of deep-crimson blood nearby, her mother's distressing cry, infectious, tears started streaming down my cheeks.

My first thought: we let her die. It was true. We did.

And now, we drown ourselves in our own tears.

Dig this

Submitted to JPG Issue 17: Street Fashion.
Is it a good fit? Vote Now!

Would you watch Ploning?

I don't get this movie. Not yet. Not from the trailers. Not from the website info. Plus it's too star-studded. The cinematography is promising though. Will I watch this movie? Possibly.
Well, would you?

Which came first?

I'm so happy. I finally completely downloaded one of my all-time-favorite-i-am-yet-to-see movies. After so many attempts, wohooooo, at looooong last - IL POSTINO. I started downloading it Saturday afternoon and almost didnt believe it'd get done when I left my laptop while it was at it until tonight and wohoooooo! Un-fucking-believable.

"What came first the music or the misery?" Plus, plus, a bonus - HIGH FIDELITY. One of my all-time-favorite-i've-watched-too-many-a-times movies. Dang. I love this film. And I can't believe I haven't even read the book.

I'm watching it right now. 'Loooove it. And I had a light-bulb moment just this past instant: I think my favorite actor really is John Cusack. (Move over, Brad Pitt.) The guy's a cutie and he does cool movies, cool roles, which makes him hot.

And oh yah, the IL POSTINO? It's a Spanish movie. Spanish-language. And my downloaded copy? No subtitles, of course. I guess you really couldn't have your cake and eat it, too.

But I will. I'm gonna learn Spanish - not. I'll download the subtitles. Meanwhile, I'm just gonna delight on the fact that I have a copy of IL POSTINO. That's enough, for now. Woohoooooo!

Pablo Neruda. You're a genius!

Summer Splash

(Cover Design and Text by Me. Photos by Ryan Macalandag)

Summer must go on. Rain or shine.

But now that the splendor of summer sunshine has finally crept from behind the clouds, the downpours which threatened of a wet ‘dry season’, now all but intermittent drizzles, or perhaps mere mirages in the seething heat – summer, as we know it, is definitely on.
Pleasures abound in this island paradise we call home, the Bol-anon summertime itinerary should be as profuse.

This summer, seize a waterfall.

Mag-aso Falls in Antequera might be the most accessible from the city, but the must-visit: Bohol’s highest drop of frothy white water, Candijay’s Can-umantad Falls.

Getting there might entail light trekking onto rolling hillsides and a bustling river leading up to the foot of the Can-umantad, but it’s all worth it. When feathery mists start touching your searing skin, while still scrambling the last tricky hurdles towards base of the falls, the only recourse is to succumb to nature’s majesty.

An encounter with a towering waterfall is an exercise of veneration towards a power that’s beyond us. You look up, spread your arms, close your eyes, and be drenched and cleansed with the waters from heaven.

And you’ll believe, Bohol is paradise.


Other waterfall attractions spread throughout Bohol are the Inambacan Falls in Antequera, Kawasan Falls and Niluksoan Falls in Balilihan, Camugao Falls in San Isidro, Dimiao’s Twin Falls and Pahangog Twin Falls & Caverns, Kinahugan Falls in Jagna, Tontonan Falls in Loboc, and Kawasan Falls in Trinidad. You might want to seek the help of local adventure groups like the Divine Word Outdoor Club for the trickier falls adventure.

(Oops... You're reading this first. This article is the cover of tomorrow's LifestyleBohol, the lifestyle section of the Bohol Chronicle Sunday Edition.)