BOB

I am in love with Bag of Beans now, more than ever. I haven’t been in a while here, and apparently they did some minor renovation with the door and windows in the buffet side. Also, each table now has a vase with flowers, a simple addition to the cozy look, but has immensely freshened up the ambiance. I really love the part when I went back to the table from getting food, and for a split second there it’s like I’m in a different place. The way the light hit the wooden tables and chairs spoke of warmth, joy and serenity.

(Plus, their breakfast buffet now serves bacon! Hundred points for Gryffindor! What’s the point of eating at a breakfast buffet without it, anyway?)

I picked the window-side table just so I could be backed up with enough light to take photos; unfortunately, this is the part where my camera’s shutter release button started to be a Kill Joy and decided to just simply stop firing. Hence, the completely blurred shot of the orgasmic blueberry cheesecake.

I have to come back.

STALE AND DRY

MANG BEBOT, THE SUPERSTAR

Finally met Mang Bebot! Every time I read someone’s film camera has a problem, his is always the go-to name in online forum and groups. I think I’ve never heard a bad thing said about this man; only raves of how good he is at what he does. So when my Canon AE-1 Program’s shutter started to hit and miss, I knew it was my time to pay him a visit.

The thing with finding Mang Bebot is his service hours and location. Apparently, he’s in his house in Parañaque during the day, and then goes to his other shop in Manila at night. What a hardworking man! I've asked around about his Manila address, google-mapped it, and then texted him as well to confirm his availability that day. If you plan to visit him too, here’s how:

From North (EDSA):

1. Take the MRT until the last station Taft Avenue.

2. Through the link, transfer to LRT 1 EDSA station.

3. Get off at Quirino Avenue station.

4. Look for Andok’s and cross Taft Avenue. 

5. If you reach Andok’s, you’re already along Quirino Avenue. Walk.

6. Turn left at Leveriza Street (you’ll pass by F.A. Reyes and Bagong Lipunan Streets).

From South (Roxas Boulevard):

1. Turn right at Quirino Avenue.

2. Turn right at Leveriza Street (you’ll pass by Mabini, Adriatico and Camia Streets).

His shop is located at the left side of Leveriza Street, so you might want to stay left while walking. This is where it becomes tricky because there is really no landmark to refer to when finding his shop. I only remember passing by Vergel General Merchandise, Deme Barbershop and then this building named makabata. You will also encounter two road humps. I can’t forget these because I tripped on them both. A few steps more and you’ll see sort of an empty lot, and then a karenderia. In between them is a small, slightly-open door.

When I saw the door, I knew that was it because there’s a lot camera stuff and tools when you take a peek. We walked in, and I introduced myself. We were greeted by Mang Bebot himself and his friend (I assume). The room was small, only about 10 ft x 3 ft, but I kind of got overwhelmed by it and Mang Bebot himself. He’s approachable, so I didn’t have a hard time telling what I came for. Although the shutter was my main problem, I also brought the speedlite that came with it when I bought it and asked if it still can work. He also saw the fungus in my lens, so I also left it for cleaning. I gave P200 (for cleaning) as downpayment, and he told me to come back after three days.

When we came back, I was happy to see that the lens was sparkly clean! He showed me that the shutter release button was already working, and even gave me mini tutorial on how to use my speedlite. I really have not used a speedlite in my life so I was just nodding the whole time with occasional ahhh and OK po. This is where I saw what everybody was raving about. Mang Bebot really knows his stuff and yet still remained a very simple and humble man. Humble I know, because his friend was so proud in telling me about how Mang Bebot was the one responsible for fixing and cleaning Soviet Camera Store's stuff, and there he was, just smiling. I asked him how long he’s been doing this, and he simply answered, "30 years na". Before getting carried away with the Q&A, I paid him 400 for the shutter release button fix, and additional 250 for the working speedlite. Not bad!

I took the opportunity to ask his other shop. If anyone wants to contact him:

Roberto Bartolome (Mang Bebot)

Mobile: 09393013109

Paranaque Address (Day; until 5pm): 6386 Saint Dominic Street, San Antonio, Valley 15, Sucat, Paranaque

Manila Address (Night; 7pm til midnight): 2258 Leveriza Street, Malate, Manila

CONCRETE/JUNGLE

Dared to use a film slower than 400 for a fixed 1/125 sec at f/22 setting.

MORE OF CAFÉ ANTIX

A week or two later after the first visit, I had the chance to go back to Café Antix again. I was up for a meeting that time with friends, and knowing our “agenda” would take time to discuss, we ordered something to consume off the list of their menu.

We tried their lasagna, vigan longganisa pasta (which has an interesting flavor and taste) and all-meat pizza. Then I downed all those carbs with an artsy Strawberry-Oreo frappe.

All these are being gobbled while we’re non-stop talking, joking and laughing while in the “meeting.” Good food plus good friends is a deadly good combo. Before we know it, other customers have left and we were on our own. So I took the chance to go around a bit, and take photos of the nice little things they have.

I particularly liked this old typewriter that they only had now as display. Also notice the transistor radio on the side :)

The interior is obviously vintage-inspired, hence the nick Antix. The way the old Filipino look was portrayed is for me, subtle yet tasteful. I really thought I’d get underexposed photos with the kind of lighting they had (it was dark yellow-orange), but the texture in this place is too pretty to ignore, so I gladly obliged to just click away.

They didn’t turn out so bad, I guess :)

HANGIN' BY A MOMENT

Letting go of all I’ve held on to
I’m standing here until you make me move

MARING'S AFTERMATH

Nature has its own way of starting over.

QUIZNO'S

Dinner with work friends after the chess tournament c/o the company’s sportsfest. Had a hard time working on a proper exposure because the lighting was bad, hence the obvious grain.

Forgot the name of my sandwich, but it’s good. However, I’m still leaning toward Subway.

MARING

Shot during the first day when typhoon Maring hit Manila/Cavite only three weeks ago.

BLUE BORACAY

Been a few times to Boracay but I have never talked or blogged about it much in detail simply because.. I can’t. I’ve always thought putting the experience to words would make the great memories seem less. I’d usually throw a couple of photos here and there, and usually, that’s it. Can’t say this post would be different, but I’m going to try to at least document some parts of it only because I’d like to share some photos I took using film hehe.

My recent trip to Boracay a few months ago was the first time I used film to capture the trip. I brought my Superheadz Ultra Wide and Slim and loaded it with expired DNP Centuria 400. Speaking of first times, it was also my first to stay at Station 1. Other previous trips were all spent in our go-to budget hotel in Station 2 because it’s most accessible to anything you need and want when in you’re in the beach *cough*food and alcohol*cough*.

Stayed in True Home Hotel and was lucky to catch a deal of their Presidential Suite. And boy was it huge! I think it has twice the size of a condo unit, with this veranda overlooking the turquoise water and palm trees.

One of the things I love about being in Boracay is probably also the sole reason why I keep on going back: FREEDOM. You can do whatever the eff you like for as long as you want without being constricted of time and space. Okay, lack of time and space is obviously an exaggeration but it is how it feels like it! Me, I like tiring my legs with walking in the almost-powder sand, traversing station to station, and simply inhaling the life in the beach.

Never to be missed. 

Ordering a frappe to go and then walk more until this spot right here.

This spot has been a witness to many dear memories with my friends. From laughing our innards out to simply sitting under the tree marveling on the beauty of taking a break on life.

And just nearby, of course there’s the obligatory tourist-y photo of Willy’s Rock.

Dumb Moment: I only knew it was called Willy’s Rock until this trip. I’ve always just called it as “yung Grotto.”

The (underground) famous Real Coffee. Home of Calamansi Muffins. Bought some before, didn’t understand the hype though, sorry (I’m not sorry).

Another first for me, eating a chori burger. I like the barbecue(?) sauce :)

Saw this adorable twins playing in the sand with their matching shirts and panda caps.

Inside D’Mall.

When it comes to the nightlife in Boracay, there’s nothing much I can say about.. because there’s only a little of my consciousness that is usually left hahaha! The “chill” level in this place is nuts. There’s nothing in life I would want to do than to lay my back on a bean bag holding a <insert some orange-y alcoholic drink here> in hand, listening to a dude in the tent nailing a John Mayer song, while gazing at the stars, and then occasionally closing my eyes for a brief moment just so I could collect all my senses and keep them in vacuum, never to be forgotten EVER. My most wasted moments in my short (hwehwehwe) drinking life are here in Boracay. As in the numb-face, passing-out-in-a-sec levels, hahaha! Truly, the moments I live for :)

Moved to Willy’s Beach Club Hotel after a couple of days. It was a little hard to leave the big room with a gorgeous view, but nevertheless I also enjoyed hanging out at Willy’s yard.

Three-fourths of this trip was spent in cloudy weather. There was even a night when it rained pretty hard (the reason why most of the photos were a little grainy and underexposed). So it was only until the last day when the sun came out in all its glory, as if trying to make it up to me. There was only little time to do a few clicks, but my last shots before going home turned out to be my favorites out of all the rolls. And this is where the expired DNP Centuria surprised me, because I freakin’ loved the blue tones on the beach!

When I first went to Boracay, I had this shot of the beach and turquoise water against the full-blown mallows of clouds. Since then, that photo had always been my go-to photo of Boracay. So I was really amazed when I had almost replicate it in film!

2009 (Digital)

2013 (Film)

Home away from home:) I really like how the clouds looked like in paintings.

And then it was time to leave and catch the flight back. Was dropped off at the other port which was quite a scenery in itself.

Boarded on a boat, and then rode another 1 and a half hour bus ride to the airport in Kalibo.

This post doesn’t even cover a third of the trip, but this is way too long of a post already. It shouldn’t be an eye sore because I rarely do blow by blow accounts now. Not bad for a one time-big time thing hehe.

Will workout on updating often. For now, The End. 

Btw, I suck at closing posts.