salt&bleach

Tag: travel

  • 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!

  • 45 Years of Amy & Eugene

    45 Years of Amy & Eugene

    Campo

    I can’t recall the last time I was here for a wedding. I know, however, that I have shot a couple of weddings at this church.

    This was a last minute pitch by Therese Red whose wedding I shot back in 2013. It will be their Mama & Papa’s 45th Year Anniversary. They could have waited for 50, but you know, why not?

    Luckily, our schedules were on our side so here goes.

    Therese’s Mama & Papa didn’t have the slightest idea that their kids planned for this renewal of vows. I arrived in a blue shirt as that was the running motif for the event. I can tell how everyone loved Amy & Eugene judging by the excitement I felt as soon as I entered the church.

    As soon as the church doors opened, Amy was overcome with emotions. It was such a happy day full of happy and fulfilled tears.

    I held my ground. It is not easy witnessing all of these emotions. It, too, reminds me of so many beautiful things. I had to constantly decide when to click and when to just let it all in.

    Ceremony

    When the dust settled and Eugene & Amy were ably seated in front of the altar, the ceremony began.

    While taking the pictures, I thought, “these people looked familiar.” But of course,I must have taken their pictures many years ago.

    For most, taking photos at the church might seem the most boring. To me, however, I think it is the most important and it stretches you creatively because you aren’t as free as during preparations or the reception.

    I love the photography work I get to do these days. You know what I mean? They still tire me, especially because I’ve aged but despite the toll it leaves after every assignment, I find myself fulfilled. It’s like I’ve preserved people’s feelings so that when they look back at the images I took, they will remember the exact same feeling they had at the very moment it took place.

    And before we knew it, Amy & Eugene had renewed their vows in front of the people they love and who love them. Towards the end of the mass, the priest told everyone how 45 years ago, it was just Amy & Eugene in front of the altar and that now he really admired seeing their 3 daughters, assist them while the ceremony was under way. It felt a lot like Life.

    I also had the chance to take a picture of both Amy & Eugene surrounded by everybody. It wasn’t too small of a group, but luckily they fit in my camera. And then, of course, with their daughters and family.

    Everyone, Amy & Eugene 45 years and counting.

    Life

    I am not a good planner. When I left work to become a photographer back in 2013, I didn’t have the slightest idea that I was going to be in for a roller coaster ride.

    It was fulfilling most of the time, but there were also times when I felt exhausted and confused. So I stuck to my guns and focused on the people in front of me. Trying hard as I might to make sure who they see in the pictures are they themselves.

    While I can’t deny that photography had its fair share of monetary rewards, to me it wasn’t always about the money. It was always about the people, going through all of these words and deciding in the end that they’d like me to be there on the most important days of their lives.

    Thank You Therese Red for inviting me over to take these pictures for you & your family. I am grateful.

  • A Wedding in Dumaguete

    A Wedding in Dumaguete

    The last wedding I shot in Dumaguete City was back in July of 2019. It was a small crowd pretty much like the one in the pictures below and the fact of the matter is, it is because of that wedding that Febe & Dylan came across me as I wrote down in the previous post. When I received Febe’s message in Facebook last year, I immediately knew we were going to get along just fine.

    I took the boat from Pier 1 in Cebu City. I planned on sleeping in until 5AM but when it docked in Dumaguete, they turned the air conditioning off. I stayed on one of the boats benches until I could see bits of the sunrise before heading out to meet my cousin for breakfast.

    As always, the boys didn’t want too many pictures so we just obliged and took a few.

    The ladies, on the other hand, were a bit game so I dragged them out of the house but still put them on the shade on their “terno” shades.

    Details

    I was quite surprised when I arrived and was asked to sign something for the details. Luckily, I don’t prioritize details so I managed to squeeze my way out of the situation. I did took some photos of the said details, but I didn’t make an effort to highlight them.

    Casa Bianca and Yucca Villa, the Airbnb places that Febe and Dylan booked were certainly nice. It provided a lot of backdrops which didn’t require too much effort.

    The ceremony was scheduled at 2PM at a church nearby. We quickly finished the preparations and arrived at church an hour early.

    You will need to scroll left or right on the next set of pictures. Otherwise, this is going to en up a bit longer than usual.

    And as always, a kiss to seal the deal.

    The reception followed at The Barn in Valencia. I didn’t drive so I rode with the rest of the guests. Febe & Dylan wrote wedding day letters and read it to each other before the reception started.

    Before we let the entourage enjoy some refreshments, we took them out for a quick all together photo. After which, I told them to leave Febe & Dylan behind for some potraits.

    No Fuss

    The reception party didn’t take too long. We were done before 7:00PM. The longest part of it was the entrance. Of course, the cake was sliced, wine opened and some speeches too!

    And just like how it was back at the church, a longer kiss to signal the end of the wedding day and the beginning of the married life. Thank You Febe & Dylan for allowing me to preserve some of these memories for you.

  • Christmas of 2024

    Christmas of 2024

    It took me a little while to find the time to write about Christmas from last year. I always write about the holidays but lately, time is scarce. If I’m not at work, I usually spend everything with the kids and then insert a little room for bike adventures if only to get that much needed exercise.

    We spent Christmas in Las Piñas and then went home shortly after to spend the new year at the house. I hope, this time, I manage to keep this blog for as long as I can so that the boys can back read when they are all grown up.

    Cousins

    I booked tickets to fly out to Las Piñas for Christmas as soon as I learned that their cousins from Australia were also coming home. Here they are with their Lolo Rudy.

    Airport & airplane things

    • Scroll left & right

    Sadly, I was mostly watching over the kids so I didn’t have too many pictures of them enjoying Christmas Day at their Lola Syv’s house in Tagaytay. The ones below, however, is when their Tita Ayla brought us to Tanay for a little adventure.

    I remember the not too far away drive from Las Piñas while passing by Marikina for breakfast and take out coffee. Scroll left and right for more of our pictures in Tanay.

    • We saw a horse
    • This is Pollie. She wants a cracker but she’s not a cracker.
    • River time.
    • Talahib life.

    When we got back to Manila, we passed by our little family in QC and then headed to BGC for cousin Wolfie’s birthday.

    We also had the time to see their Tita Tanya and her kids. She took the kids to Kinder City in Evia and then had them try the chicken at Fireside in Molito.

    On our last day, I took them to the playground in Almanza. The ground was still wet but Kuya & Coxon had fun nonetheless.

    After lunch we left for the airport to catch our afternoon flight back to Cebu.

    • Scroll left and right

    And before we knew it, we were finally home. It’s not easy traveling with two kids in tow but somehow, I find it terribly beautiful – messy but wonderful. The next travel will be a little different. Kuya will almost be a teenager and Coxon will learn more tricks. I’m writing all of this down so I can remember things that happen on Decembers. I love you Kuya & Coxon.

  • A Spontaneous Drive

    A Spontaneous Drive

    I don’t plan weekend things for the kids and usually just let things flow, you know? But last weekend, a drive to Tabuelan sounded interestingly hard to resist. After lunch at Hoshino in SM JMall, we drove all the way to Durhan White Beach Resort in Tabuelan stopping only in Jollibee Compostella to answer nature’s call and in Metro Danao to get chips, water & ice tea for the kids.

    Squishmallows

    Lately, Coxon doesn’t want to sit in his car seat, opting instead to sit with Kuya together with some squishmallows. During long drives, they lay squeezed together sleeping the drive away. Here, however, you can see them a little excited.

    I picked Tabuelan, despite it being a little away from the city, thinking about the majestic sunset it offers. It’s a town on the west side of Cebu island. West can only mean sunset, and lately, the sunsets in the city has been really full of colour. In my head, Tabuelan and the rest of the west can only mean even better if not the best sky shows.

    Kuya didn’t want to get salty and wanted to play with the sand so only Coxon and myself changed to our swim clothes.

    I was a little disappointed at first because the sunset, while wonderful, looked like something I’ve seen over and over. It wasn’t after the sun had sunk into the horizon where the colors exploded.

    Before We Knew It

    The sky changed colours a few minutes after I put on dry clothes for Coxon. I hurried and changed too so I can get a glimpse of the sky show. I snapped this picture of Kuya admiring the colours suspended over the vast canvass in front of our eyes..

    Three

    There are so many things that we go through every day. We laugh, play games, we argue, we cry but our days always end the same. The three of us in bed, whispering prayers of gratefulness for the things we are able to understand and for heavy things in our rearview mirror, especially.

    We left while there was still hints of colour in the sky. It was getting dark and I was a little anxious driving through Tabuelan to Logo. I remember it being always dark. Plus, we were hungry and McDonalds in a Danao was still a long shot.

    I can only wish for another opportunity such as this in the nearest future. Good seeing you Tabuelan!