LITRATISTANG KAPAMPANGAN PHOTOWALK CONTEST: It was a gorgeous day

The Litratistang Kapampangan (LK) held their first ever photo exhibit at SM City Clark Pampanga from November 13 to 17, 2011. Their photographs were displayed at the main entrance of the mall. The LK is a group of photographers in Pampanga whose one of their advocacy is to promote the tourist spots of the province through their photography.

As part of their opening day celebration, a photowalk was held in the morning. Registration started at 7:30 AM and the photowalk commenced around 9:00 AM. The theme of the photowalk was “CULIAT, QUENG MATA NING LITRATISTANG KAPAMPANGAN” (Angeles City, in the eye of the Kapampangan photographer). After the instructions were given, the participants went on their respective ways to shoot around Angeles City. I rode my motorcycle and headed to downtown Angeles City, but I have to stop for a quick Mc breakfast meal and coffee. After a 10 minute meal I went to the most photographed building in Angeles City, The Sto. Rosario Church.

The Sto. Rosario Church (The Holy Rosary Church) was constructed by Filipino peasants from 1877 to 1896 by forced labor under the Spanish Colonial government. It also served as a military hospital by the US Army during the war. It is an iconic building in Angeles City and cliché pictures are inevitable.  The challenge was how to exhibit the church in a different perspective. I walked back and forth across the church and looked for my angles. I had a couple of good shots and went back to SM Clark for the submission of my entries (maximum of 3 images per participant).

At around 3:30 PM the ribbon cutting ceremony for the LK photo exhibit commenced, headed by the tourism city officer of Angeles City Ms. Christine Nunag and Mr. Ruston Banal, an award winning photographer and art historian from Betis, Pampanga. The exhibit was opened to the public.

Late in the afternoon was the announcement of the on the spot photowalk contest winners. All of the participants' entries were already posted on the LK's exhibit area except for 5 other photographs. 4 runner ups and the best photo await to be announced.

And when they announced the 4 runner ups, the last photo that was raised was my entry... THE BEST PHOTO!!!

This photograph is not the best image to show the picturesque church, but the blue sky, the lit sign of Sto. Entierro St., the almost silhouetted church, the rays of the sun and the unpleasant at the same time beautiful nuisance of the telephone, cable and power lines were what compelled me to take this particular shot.  

I went home and showed the trophy to my mother.

All went well; it was a gorgeous day.

Thank you Litratistang Kapampangan for the award. Godspeed on your next project.

http://badstg.multiply.com/photos/album/95/My_first_trophy

"PYESTANG TUGAK 2011" : The Frog Festival / City of San Fernando, Pampanga

The “Pyestang Tugak” celebration was first organized in 2003 to promote diverse Kapampangan frog traditions. “Tugak” is the Kapampangan term for frog and yes the frogs are the stars of the show (I’m sure Kermit the frog is proud of his relatives). This year's festivities started on the12th of October till 15th October 2011.

Pampanga being a rice granary, frogs thrived in abundance in this kind of environment and this festival exhibits the traditional way of catching frogs with a bamboo rod and a line with earthworm as bait called “paduasan”. The event also showcases various culinary ways in preparing frogs but Kapampangans are more famous with the delicacy called “betute” or stuffed frog. The frog belly is stuffed with minced frog meat with herbs and spices and then deep fried. Don’t get intimated by the sight of this delicacy, as they say frogs taste like chicken but better and I agree with that. This year the cooking event was not included in the program. The committee is giving the amphibians some time to propagate because their environment is slightly decreasing due to the urbanization of the city.

The Festival also includes frog race, frog chorale and the last day of the event was the street dance and mascot costume competition which was held at Robinsons Starmills. The participants are from different schools of the City of San Fernando. The scorching heat didn’t impede the Kapampangan spirit. Sweats are flowing like raindrops on their faces but still their smiles and passion are prevalent.

It was the first time I get to see the Street Dance Competition and I was really impressed by the costumes and the efforts exerted by each participants. Hopefully one day the Pyestang Tugak will become one of the most sought after festival in the country. We will have to wait and see.

Until the next Kapampangan frog leaps.

 

http://badstg.multiply.com/photos/album/94

Pampanga Photographers' Network : GRAND ASSEMBLY

The Pampanga Phototographers' Network (PPN) held their first ever Grand Assembly last October 1, 2011 at The Old Pamintuan Mansion, Angeles City.I have to wake up a little early for the registration of the members starts at 6 AM. The venue was The Old Pamintuan Mansion. I always pass by this place whenever I go to Angeles City but never got the chance to enter and explore it. This place served as the seat of government of the First Philippines Republic under General Emilio Aguinaldo on 1899. It was a very good venue for photographers.

shoot the shooter

The Committee for the events prepared a very engaging program. After the registration around 8AM we huddle up for the Photowalk which was also a on the spot photo contest among the members. The route was on the streets of Miranda, Rizal, Sto Rosario and Lakandula. The people of Angeles are very gracious in taking their pictures... well... most of them. I went inside a local barber shop and ask the people inside if I can take their pictures, I was turned down 3 times by one of the customers. It would have made a good composition. After almost 2 hours of photographing the streets we head back to The Old Pamintuan Mansion and submitted our chosen photograph for the Photowalk.

submission of photowalk entries

When the VIP’s arrived, headed by Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan, the ribbon cutting and the opening of the Pampanga Photographers’ Network Photo Exhibit commenced. In his speech, Mayor Pamintuan showed his support for the Kapampangan photographers and how photography will play an important role in promoting Angeles City and the whole province of Pampanga.




Mayor Ed Pamintuan



A few weeks before the Grand Assembly, interested PPN members were asked to submit maximum of 3 recently taken photographs around Pampanga and should be converted in black and white. The top 60 images will be selected for the exhibit. Fortunately, all of the 3 images I have sent were chosen for the exhibit.

Lunch was served as visitors and fellow members roam around the exhibits and photographers got their chance to shoot models with Filipiniana theme throughout the program. 



Litratistang Kapampangan on the trigger



behind the scene

 

even photographers are make up artist

 


 

Later in the afternoon, we were given an overview of the tourism plans for Angeles City and their month long activities for FIESTANG KULIAT 2011.

It was followed by a series of Photography talks by fellow Kapampangan photographers who have marked their names in the photography world here in the Philippines. First was Mr. Borj Meneses. He talked about how he started as a painter and eventually to graphic design and photography. He made a point in following your influences. What really caught me with his lecture was “you can never be a master of everything”. His secret, “Practice... there is no shortcut” (that was what he said on his last slideshow after showing all the nude photos he took). And he has a good sense of humor too. Secondly, Mr. Lee Viray Cahili. He told a short anecdote on how he shied away from photography and how his passion affected his personal life and the life of the people around him. It was also inspiring to hear how he won quite a number of photography contests one of which was the Photographer of the year for Photoworld Cup 2009. His tip was “it’s all about research”. Lastly was Mr. Glenn Tungol, a fashion and celebrity photographer. He gave a brief lecture on how to study the lighting used in a photograph, proper studio lighting position and how to deal with models during a photo shoot. He is truly a master with lighting. A very entertaining and energetic person as well.

Mr. Dennis Borj Meneses

The last part of the program was the awarding of the winners for the Photowalk and the Exhibit. There were a lot of good entries from fellow walkers. One thing I have learned about the on the spot photowalk was in choosing your submission “trust your instinct”. My submitted picture for the photowalk did not even make it to the top 10. Fortunately one of my entries for the exhibit was among the 3 runner ups. That was good enough to complete my day.

It was exuberating shooting with fellow Kapampangan with overwhelming enthusiasm to photography.

Thank you very much to the PPN Committee most especially to Mr. Lee Viray Cahili, Mr. Borj Meneses, Mr. Glenn Tungol, Litratistang Kapampangan,  Lenti Camera Club, Kapampangan Kamera Klub, Shutters6 Photography, maARTi fotografi it was nice meeting you all.

Till the next shutter clicks.  



my exhibited entry / Sir Glenn thanks for the humbling compliment



http://badstg.multiply.com/photos/album/93/PHOTOWALK_with_Pampanga_Photographers_Network

http://badstg.multiply.com/photos/album/92/EXHIBITED

The most important thing you can give is...

I was told that I am gold
But for you I will not hold
My moments are precious indeed
Every instance you have to heed

All through your life I will be there
Every emotion every grin every tear
You will revolve around my world
From your youth till you get old

I am a wheel and I am a space
I will give these to you with grace
You may try to speed me up
But for you I will not stop

You may measure me or divide me
Share me… I will give in to you for free
But you have to spend me wisely
Because there’s no way you can come back to me…

...TIME



(image above : the Sta Ana family of Lipa, Batangas)

AFTERNOON SHEPHERD: a farm boy's flare

Have you ever wondered and looked back at your childhood?

The rice fields of Pampanga, Philippines. These were once my playground when I was a kid. We used to play baseball, running games, and even mini Olympics during fiesta celebration around these fields of greens and soil.

We hunted birds with our slingshots and catch fish on the nearby pond with our home made hooks and snares.







 

In our mischievous ways we climbed mango and guava trees knowing that no one is around and ran as fast as we can when we see the furious landowner on his way with his stick and his dogs.

Coming from a family of farmers I’ve done a few chores in the farm land as well. Me and my cousins used to help our Ingkong (grandfather) plant and harvest rice and corn and gave us money after. It was not really a responsibility on our part but more of a fun thing to do as a kid.

I have visited this place many times during my vacation to catch sunsets. But there was this boy who caught my attention every afternoon, I see him doing the same thing, riding his carabao grazing on the rice field.

And that made me wonder, whether this boy will be a farmer like his father or will he be a farmer's master?