salt&bleach

Tag: candid family pictures cebu city

  • Wedding Crashers

    Wedding Crashers

    To Dalaguete & Back

    We almost didn’t make it to this invitation because Kuya’s District Meet Scrabble Game was supposed to happen. Fortunately, it was rescheduled, so I thought we were meant to drive down to Dalaguete.

    The invitation came from Creselda & Kevin. I got to know them years ago, when I help put together the IT ServiceDesk Operations for Aboitiz Equity Ventures. They were On-the-Job Trainees & scholars of Passerelles Numeriques from the University of San Carlos. Kevin worked with the Network Team while Sed worked with me at the Service Desk. 2 years ago, I took wedding photos for Joy, another one of those Trainees.

    • Our usual Argao stop
    • Break time
    • Curious as ever
    • Geese

    We dressed comfortably for the drive but brought along wedding clothes and planned to change when we arrived at Dalaguete.

    I intended to bring a big camera but I knew I couldn’t pull it out with the kids in tow. So back to the mighty, mighty iPhone for some wedding related photos.

    Gone were the days where I could take as many photos as I could, you know? Growing kids meant less time for extracurricular things. Not complaining. I know when all of these will pass, I’m going to miss every second of being able to carry them around with me.

    The reception was towards Alcoy and I was glad it had a sea front because Kuya and Coxon loved it.

    I wanted to wait for the reception but time didn’t allow us. I didn’t want to arrive too late back in the city. So we hand around and left just as the reception was starting. Nevertheless, I was so glad I had the chance to drive and be part of Creselda & Kevin’s day. It was heavy on the heart but terribly beautiful at the same time.

  • A Random Sunday

    A Random Sunday

    Canta

    And just like that, we were back at Canta Homestead in Lutopan, Toledo City. The immediate answer was “Yes” when Jao inquired if we would like to visit the Bukid Collective that they were holding over the weekend.

    Coincidentally, we are neighbors which spelled convenience. Jao and his kids (AA, Gab & Chelsea) fetched us at the house and off we drove to Cantabaco via Uling in Naga City.

    Cosmos

    The same familiar flower greeted us at the entrance. I particularly like how the place is surrounded by Cosmos. It wasn’t as plenty as way back in March but undeniably noticeable still.

    There were all sort of things for sale around the homestead. Books, crafts, coffee, food, you name it. When we arrived, there was a candle making workshop happening. Maybe Angeline & Kuya can join in next time.

    On our way, Jao & I picked up coffee from Pick Up Coffee. Hahaha. What?

    Pictures

    I thought I’d bring the large camera for a change, you know? I’ve always relied on the phone for pictures but this drive sounded like a nice time to practice. These were taken by the ever reliable Mark III & 50mm lense.

    We didn’t notice it was time for lunch until Coxon asked for spaghetti. He turned down Jollibee but we ended up driving there anyway.

    It rained quite a bit just before we finished our late lunch. Afraid we’d get soaked, we opted to stay inside Jollibee in Toledo City until the rain wasn’t pouring too much. The kids agreed to hangout at the house when we got to the city but it was actually dark when we got home and tomorrow’s Monday, so Jao and his kids just dropped us off. It looks like there will be part 2 next Sunday.

    If you’ve read until here, Thank You!

  • Renji’s Baptism

    Renji’s Baptism

    6 Years

    I last took photos of Roche & Auden back in 2019. They were one of those who didn’t want too many pictures and asked me to come to their wedding.

    While I was in Dumaguete a couple of weeks ago, Auden messaged to ask if I can take pictures on Renji’s Baptism. I checked the schedule and agreed.

    This year has been more of familiar faces in front of my camera and I could not be any happier.

    Auden told me the baptism was going to be held at San Pedro Calungsod in Jakosalem Street. Somehow, that place is the only place I’m shooting at these days. These two got married at the chapel up ahead, I got married at the same chapel and so many people, whose photos I took when they exchanged I do’s, got married there too. It was bittersweet driving inside the compound.

    6 Years

    I kind of forgot how 6 years is such a long time, you know? When I saw Auden at church, I asked here where her little boy was. When she pointed at him, I was surprised he wasn’t so little anymore. Then I remembered that we grow old and the only little boy now was Renji.

    After the ceremony, we headed to Citadines for a little luncheon. Roche & Auden prepared a brief program and made sure food was abundant. I took more photos, I even joined and won in a song guessing game before we called it a day.

    “I’m all out of love, I’m so lost without you”, Auden declared. I told my teammates, that’s Air Supply and then earned 500. Hahaha.

    We didn’t take too long. Before I left, I took a few more photos as this was a rare time where everyone was there. Roche told me to take it easy with the editing, but I thought, I could write about it on the blog so here it is. Thank You Roche & Auden for asking me to come to Renji’s Baptism.

  • Duwa-duwa at Canta Homestead

    Duwa-duwa at Canta Homestead

    We were kidding around and joking about how difficult it was trying to carve our own bamboo spoons when I realized that all of these were the typical duwa-duwa growing up. We’d build our own toy trucks with used slippers as wheels, forage for wood in the neighborhood to build a fire, use a tin can to boil ipil-ipil leaves, make swords using worn our bamboo fences and so many other imaginative things we could come up with because that was pretty much the only thing we had back then. We were lucky! Now we have to organize these sorts of things so the these little ones get a taste of what it was like growing up in the 80’s and 90’s.

    Cantabaco

    I was a little familiar with the place as I spent a few years in Elementary at La Salle in Toledo City. Kuya, Coxon and I left Cebu City at 7AM and passed by Manipis on our way to Canta Homestead.

    Cosmos

    Greeting us, as soon as we’d stepped out of the car, were these Cosmos flowers in full bloom.

    There were only a few of us but luckily there were also kids around. Coxon enjoyed playing around with the little ones while Kuya focused on the “life skills” at hand. Hahaha,

    First order of business was to gather wood for the fire.

    And then making the spoons out of bamboo. Right Kuya?

    After lunch, we tried our hands at eco printing our totes with pigments from nearby flowers and leaves. The kids, again, including the adults had the time of their lives.

    We spent the remainder of our free time chatting while doing the finishing touches of our totes and the kids playing like there’s no end in sight.

    And before we knew it, it was time to drive home. But not before a picture of Kuya and Coxon.

    Thank You Forest School and Thank You Canta Homestead! Until next time…

  • A Little Weekend Getaway

    A Little Weekend Getaway

    Hello again. I thought I could get by without running a blog. Turns out, I can’t. Luckily, WordPress looked like something I could probably keep so here I am.

    When the years pile up, I hope I’d get the chance to restore old posts from the old blog until then, I’ll keep writing.

    Doc, Di & RJ

    I first shot this trio towards the end of 2020. I remember eating lechon right after that shoot in December.

    I trailed their car when I first came here back in 2023 and was happy I still figured my way despite it being hidden in the middle of the mountains. This time, I brought Kuya & Coxon with me. I’ll reserve some of those pictures for later.

    Sunset

    We almost didn’t make it for sunset but I’m glad we still caught a few minutes of the marvelous early evening light.

    I was initially planning to post the pictures that happened after these few photos. It’s looking like that is going to wait a little bit after this is done and I’ve figured my way into this new blog site.

    Dear Di, I’m not judging you 😀 Hahahaha. But if I have to, I’d say wonderful things. You know?

    And I’m just going to end this here. With the silhouette of the of the mountains adding a little bit of enchantment to that weekend that myself and the kids had. How can we ever thank you Doc, Di & Rj. Until the next!