intramuros in monochrome

I did not pay much attention to this roll after I shot it, until now. Ilford, I'm impressed. GR1S is really a gem if you take time to make friends with the auto-focus. B&W and GR1S is such a power couple!

A few random updates:

• I spent a wonderful, long vacation in Melbourne with my family, and lugged four cameras with me on major tourist spots. I do not recommend it (lugging four cameras).
• I have no idea when I'll be able to get money the energy to bring the rolls to the lab
• I've stopped using my default social media accounts, because.
• It's final, I'm not going to renew my domain anymore.
• I'll be moving writing personal stuff elsewhere
• Last, and the most important, update in my life these days is: The Legend of the Blue Sea trailer has been released! 

fort santiago

my little film meetup

Palacio del Gobernador Building

It was around this time last year when Bea and I met for a photowalk. A long overdue meetup. It's funny because our weekend schedules conflict every time one of us would strike up an invite.

Six months and seven back-and-forth invites later, we finally both got a free day, and met at the go-to photowalk location in Manila –— Intramuros.

Bea shooting the Manila Cathedral

Meeting Bea

We met just after lunch near the Manila Cathedral. It was an easy first meetup. Probably one of my easiest, because there wasn't a moment of awkwardness when I met her.

She is who she is online. Cheery, and energetic. Later I found out that this is not just a mere impression.

It was a hot afternoon.

She is, indeed, full of energy—carrying that backpack with God knows how many camera/lenses inside haha! Not to mention an SLR and a TLR camera hanging around her neck.

She was constantly shooting, if not eyeing for a good angle of a photo. My energy was no match.

Hello, Bea!

As dusk fell, we sat at the back of Fort Santiago with the Pasig River as our background. We talked about film, other film enthusiasts, and how she learned to develop film. Then I borrowed her Rolleiflex and tinkered it for a bit.

Who knew that one year later, I would care for and own a TLR myself :)

Bea with my Ricoh GR1S, and her Canon FTb and Rolleiflex(!)

That's Bureau of Treasury Building in the background

On being part of a community

I was glad Bea asked me first for a meetup. I don't think I could muster the courage to ask anyone online to meet in person. Hello, introversion! Plus, I'm not as chirpy (if ever I am) here/online as I am in person.

But no matter how much I keep things to myself, it is still good to be part of a community and meet people with the same passion. It is nice to know that even if film isn't widely used these days, there's still a good chunk of people who are also passionate, supportive and helpful in keeping film alive.

Whatever your hobby/passion may be, I recommend finding a community with the same interest and enthusiasm as yours. You'll be surprised by how much you'll learn.

intramuros

cafe de seoul

It was one of those days when an idea presents itself out of nowhere and I am not in the mood to follow my daily routine or to attend to responsibilities. So I headed out to the coffee shop I have always been meaning to visit: Cafe de Seoul. The first time I went here failed because it was closed, but I got in on this second try :)

Would love to have some time again to visit, I really had a good time with their caffé latte!

MANILA SKY

What I lack in words, I make up for high dosage of skies. 

INTRAMUROS PASYAL SUNDAY

I have already said this before, that one of my dream jobs is to be a part of Department of Tourism's campaign, It's more fun in the Philippines. I think the materials are really fresh, creative and very witty :) I imagine shooting for that campaign must be life-fulfilling, getting to travel and discover more of the thousands of islands in your own land. But while I can see that this dream is not happening when I'm in an office desk eight hours a day at five times a week, my office job pays for the rolls of film I enjoy shooting with when days-off and short trips come, like this one :) I still get to be in my dream job once in a while.

On a one fine Sunday of March, I paid a visit to Viva Manila's flagship project, the Intramuros Pasyal Sunday. Pasyal is a Tagalog word which means, stroll. Simply put, you get to stroll within the Walled City, check out the local artisans, participate in the street fair and even dine after walking the entire Gen. Luna Street.

I only knew about poetry slam when I read Colleen Hoover's book Slammed, and I'm glad to see a live one here :)

Sometimes I feel like I'm one of those kids jumping, reaching for the bubbles of my dreams only to get a few mist in the face. But I say it's still worthwhile :)

P.S. My ultimate dream job is to be a National Geographic photographer. I can visualize it clearly when I sleep :D