Planet Quiapo: The Feast of the Black Nazarene

This feast is always highlighted with the fluvial procession of the Black Nazarene. Millions of devotees attend this one day event from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church, hoping to get a chance to touch the miraculous 400 year old image of Jesus Christ. 

It was my first time to cover such an event and with all the news of people getting hurt every year or even dying from the stampede, I was very precautious that I did not get to where the action was. To add to that,the weather was not very cooperative in the morning, and I am sure my camera is not water resistant.... 

...Or maybe I was just finding excuses for being a chicken on that fateful day of January 9, 2011. 

That being said, I focused my shooting on the side streets, the alleyways, the old shops of Manila and the people I met along the way. I'm sure all the photographers would document the procession, so I opted to cover the sights, sounds, taste and texture of Quiapo as this festival is happening. 

This is my side trip experience. This is Planet Quiapo (drum roll...)

Will play for food - This blind musician sits along the stairway to the underpass. his makeshift mic stand, his electric guitar and amplifiers are his tools of trade.

Dragon Dancers - A group of kids going from one shop to another spreading some good luck with their dragon dance accompanied by wicked percussions

Tapsilog, Tocilog, Analog - An old shop of analog goodies in a digital world.

Quiapo Circa 2011 - This shot will eventually be as old as the effect I wanted to show in the photograph

The Replica - Thousands bring replicas of the Black Nazarene. And devotees would touch them just the same.

Will Eat Fire for Food - Street performers will do anything for a few pesos. But I personally think they play a big role in making this festival more lively and gay. (get it? gay?..corny)

Please view the entire set at:
Multiply: malubs photography
Facebook Page: malubs photography

copyright malubs photography 2011

The Kythe Foundation

My latest shoot with the kids of Kythe Foundation. Full set found at: http://malubs9.multiply.com/photos/album/112/Kythe_Foundation_Part_1

The Rebel Yell of P&S Photography

DSLR is the new Nokia.

There is a rising star creeping its way into becoming a craze: the DSLR. Everywhere you go, you find people hand carrying a DSLR as if they're all field reporters covering an event in malls, parks, clubs and even churches. It has never been this big since the Nokia craze, when everyone had to own the latest Nokia phone despite struggling finances. Perhaps the whole idea of going digital and eliminating the use of films have paved the way for aspiring photographers to skip the analog phase and strut along the catwalk of spoonfeed photography. Here you don't have to be too mindful of the 

settings, since it's easy to delete unwanted shots and retain the pro-tographeresque shots. To top it all, there is the magic of photo editing softwares to further enhance the trickery into a full fledged work of art. I should know, because I do it!

Here are 10 photo ops normally followed by the DSLR owners:

1. Pseudo Model Shoots - Photo ops in the park, malls, cemetery, etc  with aspiring models with the hair, make up, costume and props. Photographers would then shout "look here"...SMIZE!
2. Food Photography - Taking shots of your food 3 minutes before you chow it down.
3. Jump Shots - In beaches with a group of friends
4. Product photography - Taking shots of your beer or cocktail, before taking the actual shot. (nice!)
5. Street Photography - Exposing the urban poor in an artsy fartsy manner, then leaving them alone after you get the wanted shot.
6. Travelogue - Taking pictures of churches, landscapes, festivals, etc. To make it more amazing, you were able to include yourself in all of the shots while you are also the photographer. 
7. Sunset Shots - no explanation needed. the most common to date.
8. Harbour Square Shots - I just had to mention this! hahaha. It's the rite of passage to every manila based DSLR owner to the world of photography.
9. Self Portraits - The hand-held-shoot-from-the-top pointing-the-camera-to-yourself maneuver. This works well with P&S or camera phones. Stupid if you use your DSLR with this.
10. Paparazzi - The douchebag photographer who takes shots of strangers (oftentimes beautiful ladies) for his personal collection.

The question is: are the DSLR owners, with all their expensive, highly advanced gadgets and a Million dollar bag full of goodies (lenses,filters,etc) maximizing their toys to its full use? Is it more of a fashion statement, an instant label as a "photographer", or a status symbol? 

The answer can only be found in the photos they take.

This is my rebel yell to all P&S users: Gadgets don't make photographers out of their owners. Their works do.  

All photos taken by my P&S and the wonders of photo editing softwares to increase contrast.

complete set of P&S photography can be found at:

http://malubs9.multiply.com/photos/album/110/point_shoot_photography_

copyright malubs photography 2010

Diplomat Hotel: Historical Misery

A bit of History: Dominican Hills was built in May 1915 that served as a vacation house in Baguio City. A month later it was transformed into a school called Collegio del Santissimo Rosario, to take advantage of tax excemptions. However, due to the minimal number of enrollees, it was reverted back to its original state of being a vacation house sanitarium.

World War II came and it served as a refugee camp. It endured several bombings and brutal killings of nuns and priests who assisted the victims. It was eventually damaged when the Japanese Army Liberation Forces bombed the area, and restoration took place only after the war in 1947.

In 1973, Dominican Hills was acquired by Tony Agpaoa and converted it into a 33-bedroom hotel with it's new name: Diplomat Hotel. Visitors were believed to have seen ghostly apparitions of nuns, priests and a white lady during their stay.

In 1987, with the passing of the owner, Diplomat Hotel ceased operations and the entire place was abandoned.

Much has been said about the strange experiences of people who live near the hotel. The white lady and all the other elements still roam around the halls and shouts of agony and loud banging echo along these empty walls as if re-enacting the brutal killings from the war. 

I entered the abandoned building without the slightest spec of fear of what I could possibly encounter in this "damned" place. My heart was in a whirlwind of emotions. Equipped with a short prayer and my camera, I began to shoot decaying walls, dark lit alleys and an empty courtyard. The cool breeze and the setting sun of Baguio at dusk adds to the eerie effect. Nothing unique, I suppose.

But the best shots I took that were only developed in my mind and can never be seen in any blog (not even mine) were mental snapshots of the ironies of how this place became so famous. Its dark past, the brutal slayings and the unrested spirits form a concoction of its tragic beauty that makes everyone so interested about the haunted hotel.

Face it, we are amused over their historical miseries . Maybe that's why they still haunt us. 

See full set on:  http://malubs9.multiply.com/links/item/12/Philippines_Haunted_Hotel_Baguio_City

Baguio City: Mt. Cabuyao

Last weekend I visited Baguio City hoping to find some good subjects to shoot. In my last visit two years ago, I only had with me a mental camera and took "mental shots" of places since I did not have a DSLR yet and wasn't into photography. Though i think those mental photos did not turn out right either.. So this time, albeit the numerous times I went to the City of Pines, I felt like a tourist again! And to make things more exciting, I went to the places I have never set my foot on (see image)

Radar on Mt. Cabuyao.

I have read articles and blogs that Mt Cabuyao and Mt Sto Tomas are the highest peaks in Baguio. From there you will have a 360-degree view of the entire city from the vantage point of God and clouds dance in different formations within your eye level. The road going there is a haven for hikers and mountain bikers, for its rugged and adventurous terrain and it wasn't a popular idea to bring a sedan. So I did.... It's nothing serious, really,  just a 45 degree or so uphill ride on rocks with the size of basketballs along a path fit for one vehicle at the edge of a cliff. I was literally driving with one eye shut and cursing myself for my rebelliousness.

The radar is seen from the city proper as two small ears on top of a mountain. They usually call it Mickey Mouse for resembling the ears of the Disney character.
 Upon reaching the summit, the "ears" were surprisingly huge, but the access to the picturesque view is blocked by a military facility. As I was looking for other locations for the quest for a good shot I noticed two angels at the other side of the fence serving as guards to heaven's balcony:  JC and Jjamppong.

They are brothers who live inside the compound as their parents work as caretakers to the facility. Their features are strikingly unique with  dark eyes, rosy cheeks and brown skin. These Mongolian-looking kids are just awesome subjects and too love to be photographed!

 I realized that capturing the right shots doesn't always come from the obvious. The element of surprise can create wonders. In my experience, I planned to go through the worst terrain uphill because my mind was set on scenic mountain shots of baguio. And now, these two kids, with nothing but pure emotions have just moved mountains from my perspective.

SELL OUT!

This morning I was greeted by a warm rejection email from a photography company
who promises to create a "career" out of their talents. I figured I already have a career elsewhere as a corporate slave driver (aka Manager) and that photography for me is more of a hobby-cum-expression. I was programmed to believe that the path to becoming a pro, though difficult, will eventually be paved with the right mindset and insane marketing. Definitely naive, like the ideals of a fresh grad on his first day of work as he opens the doors to the corporate world. Yet I wanna keep it that way and somehow it made me think that I am glad I was rejected, because if not I'd be "that-one-thing" independent artists fear to become: a CORPORATE SELL OUT. Or perhaps I'm just plain bitter for being rejected and being left out from "the" Big Break...hahhaha

And so in my bitter state and corporate attire, I begin this blog. And this first post allows me to introduce myself (as a photographer, and not a writer) and my pet project.

My name is Christian and I am the freak behind malubs photography. I've been hooked to this drug for only a year as I bought my Nikon D80 last November 2008 without the slightest idea on how to change film..until I realized it was digital (corny). I joined a basic photography course a month later under FPPF (Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation) and realized my potentials when I bagged two awards in the two categories of our final project:

Lansangan
2nd Place, Environmental Photography Category
Bulaga!
3rd Place, Still Life Category - Umbrella

Since then, this insanity has encouraged me to improve my skills and broaden my discipline as an aspiring photographer. I instantly nurtured a passion over things I see in the eyes of my lens:

In Photojournalism

Portraiture

Concert

Fashion

Food Photography























I began seeing the world in still frames and in fourteen months, with a myriad of photos taken, seminars attended and money spent, I have created a decent looking portfolio in multiply (www.malubs9.multiply.com ) and gained friends who constantly follow my posts.

This blog is my pet project. It is the documentation of my second year in photography moving forward to oblivion, and enjoying every minute of it. If you feel that I deserve a second look, please be a follower and leave comments. Thank you!