TAOIST TEMPLE IN CEBU

This typical lazy Sunday got me browsing through folders of my film scans, and I coincidentally bumped into these photos of the Taoist Temple in Cebu City, October of last year. Thought they deserve to be shared since this long weekend that I lazily enjoyed was because of the Chinese New Year. Can't wait for my Eng Bee Tin delicacies tomorrow! :)

FUZZY KOMIKS

Cool comic wallpaper inside an Island Souvenir booth at Mactan Cebu International Airport.

These were the cover pages of old comic books for children in the Philippines. Funny Komiks had me thrown back to my childhood days instantly! When I was 6 or 7 years old, I remember tagging along with my mum at the market during weekends, and before going home she'd make sure my brothers and I have the latest issue for the week :)) Good old memories do make me feel warm and fuzzy!

QUEEN

 

SOUTH

MAJESTIC

It was devastating to see old churches in Bohol and Cebu built in 1700s and 1800s brought down to rubbles due to a 7.2 magnitude earthquake just last week. I had the chance to visit Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the churches that sustained damaged, two weeks prior to that unfortunate event.

I think I was able to utter a very audible "Oh, wow.." the moment I stepped out of the car in the parking lot. It was magical! The round lanterns that dangled from the trees immediately set a certain tranquil mood for me. I'm easily floored with settings like this.

And then there was the actual cathedral that stood up like a majestic king, praised by everyone that laid eyes on him.

Was able to step inside for a few minutes while there was an on-going mass ceremony, and holy mother of churches! The view inside was quite breath-taking. The pillars, the ceiling and most importantly, the altar (obviously, the entirety of it) was stunning. I was filled with awe that it disabled me to take a single photo while inside. There was no prohibition to cameras, but the sacred feel quietly sent that message to me, so I chose not to snap a shot.

I really hope that all damaged churches get the best possible restoration immediately. They are truly gems.

A 17TH CENTURY HOUSE IN CEBU

Last stop of our one-day city tour in Cebu is one of the oldest houses in the Philippines, and possibly the oldest Chinese house outside of China: the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral Home.

I was so eager to shoot everything about this 2-storey structure because I like wood and the little details in general. A bit let down for me though was it had very minimal lighting inside. I was forced to dial down my shutter speed to 1/15, 1/30 at most. I can only imagine how everything looked and felt like if they were shot in daylight, but I guess the yellow light bulbs accompanied by the night time gave a different perspective to it. Yes, the creepy-goosebump-y side, perfect for a textbook horror film :)

There were statues of saints in almost every corner of the house, which tells you how religion, specifically Catholicism, was a real big deal back then, a great influence from the Spanish colony.

Love these tea pot sets and embroidery.

The second floor holds the dining area and kitchen. At this point, my light meter is already blinking at 1, but I casually ignored it and still fired away consecutively :)

Details, details, details.

 95 percent of the roof and walls are original. The house was constructed sometime in 1700 using coral stones glued together by egg whites. 1700! EGG WHITES!

The backyard was beautiful. It was surrounded by jars of clay, bonsai plants and a 14-foot wishing well. Sadly, it was too dark in the area to photograph them all :(

See the roof of the house inside? It's made up of stacks of clay supported by molave wood, and a piece of clay weighs a kilogram. I'm guessing there were a thousand pieces in here (what a heavyweight!).

So much history in one house. It's very interesting to see the past, how things worked back then, how these materials were built to last, and how it is still being nurtured and taken care of in the present. Jose Rizal would be proud, I guess? :)

P.S.

Would love to hear how you guys handle taking photos in places with very limited lighting :)