SUNSET

I wrote this blog a little bit late but posted this picture a day after I went this place. Still in mind how the two masters of landscape photography, taught us to do the right way and enhance our photos of landscape. I wasn't able to upload my pictures right away due to hectic schedules back then in Manila after our trip... It was a two days workshop full of brain storming and techniques about landscape photography. A very fun learning and noble workshop that you are able to take good photographs, every single topic of the seminar is not a waste of time even a single minute.

TEST SHOOTS

This is a sample shoot that have taken before the sunset at Lucena, Quezon during our first day of seminar. I know in composition wise, this photo is lack of good ingredients to satisfy the viewer... Well, it's a first test shoot to apply what we have learned on the first day. Actually I am also lack of equipment hahaha, I just borrowed some filters and good tripod from our masters just to do the practice... Learning? Yes! if you are going to a battle, go in full battle gear...

TYPHOON BUTCHOY

Even though the typhoon Butchoy actually hits the Philippines exactly on the same day of our workshop, we are still blessed to capture a beautiful sunset. A very cloudy day due to bad weather isn't a reason and hindrance for us to practice... even in a bad day we are CHASING LIGHT!

SECOND DAY

Another moody day... we rose up early morning as early as 4:00am, doing some preparations and expecting to capture a beautiful sunrise at Pagbilao, Quezon point of view. Another cloudy day, we didn't experienced any hard rains during our two days of seminar but sunrise and sunset on that day were not exactly beautiful as expected, but we were still able to practice how our mentors taught us.

MENTORS

I know i haven't mentioned yet the names of the two Master photographers of the Philippines' most premier landscape photography workshop, it is an honor to introduce the two good guys as Master Edwin Martinez  and Master Jay Jallorina of "CHASING LIGHT". Who are unselfishly sharing their techniques and experience to those who are willing to learn the art of landscape photography, they have the expertise to this kind of field that you are able to learn from... It is a highly recommended workshop if you have passion in a landscape photography... I am glad to be an alumni and graduated as "Chasing Light Class21"... follow this page >>> http://www.facebook.com/ChasingLightWorkshop

HOW TO GET THERE

From Manila you can take a bus in Cubao going to Lucena, Terminals for lucena are.. From Manuela metropolis Alabang, ride an N. dela Rosa or Jac Liner bus to Lucena, or an AB Liner or Barney Autolines bus to Guinayangan via Lucena... From Lawton, ride an N. dela Rosa bus to Lucena... From Edsa Kamuning/Kamias, ride a Jac, Lucena Lines, Grand Star, or Tritran bus to Lucena... From Edsa-New York, ride a JAM Transit bus to Lucena... From Edsa Pasay, ride a BLTB, Philtranco, JB Line Bicol Express, or Inland Trailways bus to Lucena... From Pureza, ride an AB Liner bus to Guinayangan via Lucena.

Jac, Lucena Lines, Grand Star, or Tritran bus to Lucena... You can also take a ride all buses bound for Bicol, Naga, Legaspi and Catanduanes, Fare is P 220.00 for an aircon bus... After you reach Lucena, you can ask for a jeep going to Pagbilao fare is just P 8.00, I think there are resort and hotels  also available along the vicinity but we stayed at Ouan's Farm Resort where we spent our two days workshop... You can spend your vacation to this resort with family it has a big pool and the staffs are very accommodating and approachable, they have big rooms that can accommodate family or corporate events.

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EARLY BUSY DAY

After the rain fell at night, people were busy retouching the decorations in preparation for the day of festivity. Grand price winner is P 100,000.00 at stake for the winning house best in decorations... participants of the contest were doing their best to make their house colorful, of course by using  products from the farm, vegetables, rice and other useful materials would represents.

KIPINGS

It is a leaf shape wafer made of rice paste added with different colors. During Pahiyas festival people usually integrated this kipings for their house decoration to make it colorful with various shapes and sizes. Making of this Kipings is simply have traditional beliefs, to prevent kipings to crack, it should be observed total silence while mixing the rice paste.

PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

It is a display of good harvest decorated in their houses in honor to the Patron Saint of farmers San Isidro Labrador... During Pahiyas Festival different houses are competing to the best decorated and colorful houses using their bountiful products from the farm.

RICE FOR LIFE

Kipings made of rice paste are always the main attraction that always used to make their houses colorful, as this house was barely hand decorated with almost 80% from rice. Yearly the residents of Lucban were doing this Pahiyas festival as one of the most colorful festival in the Philippines honoring for their Saint of Farmers.

KAMAY NI HESUS

Kamay ni Hesus (Hand of Jesus) is a healing church located in Lucban, Quezon, one of the biggest images of Jesus Christ, upon reaching this statue up to the top you can go through the hill by passing 14 station of the cross. It is popular pilgrimage destination in Quezon particularly during Lenten. 

WELCOME

Every Filipino and other tourists are very welcome to visit as this Lucban celebrates Pahiyas Festival every 15th day of May of the year and one of the Philippines' colorful fiestas you can visit and experience. People here are very warmed in welcoming visitors and guests... If you have plan to visit lucban during fiesta make sure you have to booked a head of time as this place were visited by a thousand tourist from different places. 

THE CHURCH

The first church, built in 1595, was ruined in 1629. The second church was constructed between 1630 and 1640, but was seriously damaged by fire in 1733. The present church was completed in 1738 and the convent in 1743

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COLOR OF LIFE

Colorful as it is... Converting this pictures in HDR is simply defining and giving highlights for the beautiful colors of Pahiyas Festival only here to be found in Lucban, Quezon... Every 15th day of May, Lucban is celebrating their Festivity in commemoration and honoring their Patron Saint of farmers San Isidro Labrador. It is a one month celebration from May 1 to May 30...

     

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DILIGENT PEOPLE OF LUCBAN

A night before the big event people of Lucban were very busy decorating their houses to make it colorful to commemorate the Festivity of their Patron Saint. The Lucban Government in coordination with the Local Department of Tourism and with the help of NGO's raised the winning pot to P100,000.00 at stake for the winner of the Best Decorated house of Pahiyas

MEN vs WOMEN

Can't help to ignore this man to click some photos as he is doing the usual work done by a woman... Busy doing some arrangement of colorful and hand made flowers decoration. Best to offer for all guest and visitors who are interested to buy their products.

PRODUCTS TO OFFER

Longanisa here longanisa there... Obviously you can find a tasty food longanisa in Lucban, one of their special food products best to offer.

FAMOUS HAB-HAB

Now i understand why they called it Hab-hab... It is one way of eating pancit (cooked noodles) with out using any condiments, pancit is placed in a banana leaf serves as plate eating the pancit directly through it.

LONGANISA

A must to try food of Lucban... Anywhere in lucban you can see this street food grilled longanisa, taste is different from other longanisa products, it is more on garlic flavored sausage.

PILIPIT

When i was young i remembered my mother always cooked and prepared us tasty pilipit made from sticky rice, fried with a brown sugar... Well this pilipit is far different from the pilipit i usually ate, Lucban pilipit basically still made of sticky rice deep fried and covered with a crispy brown sugar but the add on is they put ground squash that makes the food yellow in color but very tasty and nutritious, i can't resist to try it.

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First thing in mind during my visit to my hometown is to take some photographs of the City, it was late at night already came from a tour and i decided to drop off to the Carlos P. Garcia park thinking some compositions which i had come up taking pictures of the land marks of the park...

Trivia:

General Santos City is Located in Region XI of southern Mindanao, at the southernmost tip of the archipelago, covers a total area of 536 sq. kilometers. Annual population growth rate is 5.1%, in 2000 population placed at 411,822. The entire region is a typhoon free it is covered by a surrounding of the vast mountain ranges, the climate will range from 21c on a cold month and 36c during hot, and 28c on average temperature. There is no specific official language as most of the people speak bilingual while cebuano is widely spoken, people may also conversant to English as this is also widely used in all schools, offices, establishments and public informations as medium conversation. Cultural and religious freedom on this region is recognized, while majority are Catholics, second Christian religions and Islam.

The City of General Santos (known as Dadiangás, and abbreviated G.S.C. or GenSan.;Cebuano: Dakbayan sa General Santos) is the southernmos port city of the Philippines. Being a highly urbanized first class city, GenSan is one of the most populous urban centers in the country with a population of 538,086 as per census data of 2010. The city is bounded by municipalities of Sarangani Province namely Alabel in the East of the city, and Maasim in the South. The city is likewise bounded by South Cotabato municipality of Polomolok and Sarangani Province municipality of Malungon the north, and the municipality of T'boli in the west of the city. General Santos City is the center of commerce, trade, and logistics of Region XII and the South Cotabato, Cotabato City,Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and General Santos City (SOCCSKSRAGEN) Growth area.Wikipedia

General Santos City celebrates the Kalilangan every month of February. "KALILANGAN" means festival, festivity or jubilation. It is a social gathering marked by exchanging of amenities among traditional leaders, elders, allies and subordinates in varying tones. In a broader perspective, Kalilangan projects a positive and dynamic meaning for it engulfs the artistic, humane and altruistic aspects of social interaction that takes place in any occasion or celebration. Kalilangan is a noble tradition. It is a complete work of art nourished and nurtured by rich cultural heritage that has withstand the test of time from generation to generation.Wikipedia

Gensan City Hall

I tried to capture nightscape of the city in a busy traffic, but it was late at night already my friend told me to shoot it from the Sydney Hotel's view, i have seen this pictures several times from other photographers, still temp to shoot also at the same view. But we ended up just shooting along the road.

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