Manila Bay after the storm

After the storms Egay, Chedeng & Dodong left the country, I finally got a chance to visit the "new" Baywalk, but instead I saw something really disgusting. All this in plain sight of everyone.





This is how Manila Bay looked after the storm.
(Photos were taken last Aug. 20, 2007)

Impromptu Night Shooting

What was supposed to be a fireworks shoot became an impromptu night shooting.


June 24, the "Araw ng Maynila" (Manila Day) celebration, was held at Rajah Sulayman Park. This was the last week of outgoing Mayor Lito Atienza, who hosted the event and made his farewell address to the Manilenos.

And once again, I attempted to capture fireworks, something I've failed at accomplishing on numerous occasions. I had set up early on top of a truck and patiently waited through a long series of performances, only to find out that I was facing the opposite direction. Though I was able to reposition the tripod, my view was already being blocked by the workers standing on the truck.


I did manage to get my shots, but the results didn't come out as nice as I hoped it would. Frustrated and not wanting to go home emptyhanded, I ended up walking around the park, shooting anything around me.






3 hours later, with my battery nearly depleted, I decided to call it a night and took a cab home. The pictures weren't spectacular, but at least I was able to pull off a few good shots.


It was an exhausting night but at least it wasn't a total loss.

Avenida Now

During his campaign, Alfredo Lim promised to reopen Avenida to vehicular traffic if re-elected Manila Mayor. AND HE MEANT IT!



Immediately after taking office, the removal of the pedestrian bricks and tiles and laying of asphalt immediately began. Work was done in just about 2 weeks that I was unaware that the ribbon cutting ceremonies already took place.





A month after the re-opening of Avenida, I passed by to see how the place looked. People are back on the sidewalks, jeepneys are back to their usual routes and stores along Avenida began to re-open.



But sad to say, the establishments that once made Avenida a nice place to shop are now gone. Goodwill Bookstore is now an "ukay-ukay" store, Fairmart / Fair Center is practically dead and a once famous movie house is being torn down to become a motel, just to name a few. The only "decent" establishment left standing is National Bookstore, and that place is only packed during school openings.




It took me several trips to gather these shots because I don't pass by Avenida that often anymore, not to mention the fear of having the digicam snatched away.


And of course, I just couldn't resist not taking night shots. So here is a look at Avenida at night.

Transform Them

During my photowalk last week, I came across these 2 vehicles that resembles the vehicle form of the characters from the classic "Transformers" TV show, Optimus Prime & Bumblebee.


I took these pictures just for fun. I wonder how much it would cost to "Pimp these Rides"?

Night shots around City Hall

There are days when I feel I just have to shoot something. In this case, this something was the Manila City Hall building, particularly the clock tower. And why settle for just ordinary snapshots when I can do night shots instead.

After work, I proceeded to the Walls of Intramuros, with tripod in hand, I set up on a nice spot across the Manila Bulletin building and waited for night time when the lights of the City Hall Clock tower would be turned on.



As soon as the clock tower lit up, I started shooting. Some students were looking at me, probably thinking I was a photographer from MB. On a side note, the Walls of Intramuros is very dark at night. What little source of light I had came from the spotlights of the golf course. I couldn't believe there were no lights or lamp posts installed here.


I also set up along the National Museum & the Bonifacio Shrine and took shots from there.

More than 2 hours had passed. It was late, dark and I could hear the sound of thunder already. Not to mention that it was a weekday and I still had work the next day. You’d think this photowalker would go home already. But nooo… he just had to keep shooting.



Last stop was the Manila Post Office Building. After taking several shots, exhaustion kicked in and finally I decided to pack up and head home. But not before taking one last shot.